Matthew Ratcliffe
Let’s open up debate about lockdowns
There’s no place in all of this for unsubstantiated claims or attempts to dismiss those who encourage the sensible consideration of alternatives
Why it is right to question the orthodox Covid-19 narrative
The authors of ‘Welcome to Covidworld’ defend their stance
Welcome to Covidworld
Ian James Kidd and Matthew Ratcliffe assess our new altered reality, where accepted norms do not apply
Why Reform is rubbish
Its top-heavy structure and patchy talent mean it cannot seize a massive opportunity
Face to face with history
Holbein at the Tudor Court brings the English Renaissance court back to vivid life
In praise of people’s parks
A civilising tradition has been sadly neglected
Oxfam’s degrowth agenda
Why do so many NGOs pursue a radical green agenda that will hurt the poorest most?
Lies, damned lies, and biopics
Ridley Scott’s casual treatment of truth in Napoleon does a disservice to both history and storytelling
Cognition porn and discursive dehumanisation
Cultural and political discourse can follow the reductive yet seductive logic of pornography
The return of Spencerian liberalism
Richard Hanania is a figure of fun for many, but he represents a broader return to liberalism’s sinister origins
You can’t judge a book by its cover
All novels should be like this: stripped of the necessary but boring connective tissue
The bad old days
The “golden years” of publishing were characterised by booze, bullying and amateurishness
The big winner of recent opinion polling is despair
As we approach the next election, few people are optimistic about Sunak or Starmer