Labour’s mercurial kingmaker
The eventful career of Josh Simons, the man who gave up his seat for Andy Burnham
Hurty words
Robust debate is to be celebrated, not condemned
In defence of Lara Bird
There is nothing weird or dishonest about having a dual existence
Department heads must roll
Apologies for gender dissidents are not enough — there must be consequences too
Tasty tunes
The Chocolate Soldier, Opera della Luna, Wilton’s Music Hall
Election objections
Andy Burnham doesn’t need a general election mandate
Burying their heads in the ash
The battle against the illicit tobacco market has not been won
Will Andy Burnham be a literary leader?
Burnham is a rare politician who reads books — but how will they affect his premiership?
Dead reckoning
How Britain forgot the sea (and why it matters)
In partial defence of Steve Bray
You can’t blame the pro-EU irritant for making British politics undignified
What if the AI bubble bursts?
Arguing that an AI bubble is a good thing reeks of techno-optimist complacency
The knife and the bone
After war and repression, Iranian dissidents believe the regime’s reckoning is near — but Tehran’s influence reaches far beyond its borders
How the Civil Service was the ruin of Keir Starmer
A weak and indecisive prime minister delegated too much to Whitehall
Keeping us on message
the UK’s secret government propaganda unit dedicated to praising multiculturalism
A massive cross-party achievement
The new V&A East Museum has surpassed all expectations
It’s time to see Brexit through
The next government must finally drag Britain out of the European Union’s tractor beam
Scotland’s biggest legal scandal
Hundreds of men could have being denied their right to a fair trial because of a justice system that rules important character evidence inadmissible
Dear Prudence
A reflection on the Tory Party’s historic suspicion of interventionism
Jorge Luis Borges
A giant of Spanish letters who was forged by childhood exposure to his father’s vast English library
Peston’s Inbox
Burnham: “Ay up! I’m a northerner”
The EU must change course on energy
European industry is finally standing up to irrational EU climate policies
Regulations without services
How the state is prohibiting without providing
Picking at old wounds
The campaign to rejoin the EU has been revived
The intractable problems pulling modern Britain apart
When does upholding free speech become an act of self-sabotage?
The errata of history
Misprints are just one in a catalogue of literary disorders
DeepMind delusion
The superstar Demis Hassabis is on a mission to create a God-like superintelligence
Eulogy for rural life
A growing sense of gloom pervades Starmer’s Britain
Wilde times at the country house
Gerald Barry’s outrage The Importance of Being Earnest manages to overmatch the virtuoso original
Confessions of an aging pop queen
Madonna once assured us that being an adult woman was something to aspire to
Facing demons
On the highs and lows of demonic infestation
The spy chief who sold us Blue Nun
Raise a glass to a long life, very well lived
The praises of a neglected vegetable
Summer calls for cold cucumbers
Rewatching a TV show from a lost world
In River Cottage, a chef escaped to Dorset from London in search of the good life
Unusual summer reds
Think exotic spices, maraschino cherries and curly shoes
Hurry hurry to Chop Chop
Gambling on Cantonese cuisine