Acclaimed
When the hype becomes the story
As Hilary Mantel’s The Mirror and the Light is released this week, Alexander Larman examines the over-excitement of high-profile releases
Labour’s insecurity counsel
A strategy of concession and apology will not build Britain’s soft power
Anti-Christian persecution is an international problem
Britain should use its diplomatic influence to help
The dismal state of British defence
The UK’s defence strategy is a combination of hope and vibes
The Meloni effect
How the Italian prime minister could reshape European politics
Must-Miss TV
Your regular Critic round-up of the hottest shows and films.
How Putin uses history as a weapon
Russia’s new Tsar has rewritten the national story
Biden’s legacy of escalation
His last decisions could determine the state of global politics
Sectarianism contra socialism
How did “left-wing” MPs end up voting for the VAT exemption for private schools?
The problem with Rachel Reeves’s pension pretensions
Bigger funds are not the key to effective investments
On the King’s Road to ruin
The decline of commerce on Chelsea’s celebrated street is a worrying sign for London
No interest in national interests
The government is not putting Britain first
