Europe’s latest wave of Covid authoritarianism has set a dangerous new precedent
Across Europe, basic norms of civilised society are giving way to panic. The unvaccinated are being excluded from an ever-wider range of basic rights. Austria has criminalised…
Tory MPs want Downing Street to bring in ‘big beast’ to boost political operation
The MP said: “There’s another piece here about why they left it to the 11th hour to start rallying people. It fits into the pattern of poor…
Cut taxes or Brexit will fail, says Lord Frost
It came after ministers made changes critics believe “disadvantage the less well-off”. Although the rebels failed, the backlash is set to spread to the Lords where former…
Annuity or drawdown: which is best for a £100k, £500k and £1m pension pot
A 65-year-old with a £100,000 pension who used their whole pot to buy an annuity would get a yearly fixed income of £3,860. By opting for the…
How much does a comfortable retirement really cost?
A life of luxury would cost a single person £31,000 every year or £41,000 for a two-person household, the Which? report found. Someone who could take that…
Buy-to-let tax loopholes: how landlords can keep more of their income
Landlords will still be struggling with lost rental income property investors tackle a near-£400m rent debt blackhole in the wake of the pandemic. Coronavirus and successive lockdowns…
Little-known inheritance tax hack that could save families £140k
Almost two million people said they planned to downsize last year after the stamp duty holiday removed one of the greatest barriers to moving, according to property…
How to de-ice your car windscreen in frosty weather
How to de-ice a car The only things you should ever use to de-ice your car is an appropriate ice scraper and/or some de-icer liquid. Some drivers…
Ford Ranger Raptor: the £50,000 pick-up that challenges the bounds of commercial vehicles
Best of all, prices start at around £64,000 in the UK, some £14,000 more than buying a diesel Raptor from your local dealer. Ford’s most extreme off-roader…
The 10 best electric cars to buy in 2021, from the Audi e-tron GT to the Volkswagen ID.3
The Government has announced that, by 2030, no purely petrol or diesel cars will be allowed to be sold brand new in the UK and that, by 2035,…
‘My ex-partner would take his anger out on my dog – I’d rather he hurt me’
‘Sometimes it can be difficult when the dogs go back to their owners. I seem to feel a special attachment to the ones who’ve caused me the…
The best (and worst) of the high-street Christmas sandwiches and drinks
Very generous on the cheese, which oozes out seductively. The cranberry flavour was strong, and the bread decent, but the main let down here was the flaccid…
The best white wines to buy for Christmas 2021
Palacio di Fefiñanes Albariño 2020 Rías Baixas, Spain (13%, Waitrose, £16.99) I was going to recommend the Wine Society’s Exhibition Albariño, but it will almost have sold…
How to create a stylish Christmas hamper
Top notch tea and coffee are hamper staples, and now you can choose ethical brands. The Rare Tea Company, set up by former banker Henrietta Lovell, sources…
‘At 41 I had life-saving cancer surgery – and was left with a life-changing swelling condition’
At the age of 41, my life was turned upside down. Following a routine smear test in 2000, I was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer. Sitting…
The inconvenient truth about antidepressants
After the loss of her 16-year-old daughter Jenny to suicide, 60-year-old Jenetta Bary went onto antidepressants for a couple of months. “It left me feeling deadened and…
Chris Whitty’s stairs and the doctrine of incidental exercise
Incidental exercise is also easy to incorporate during your working day. With many of us returning to the office, Davies says that there are many things…
Two mothers died ‘after catching herpes from same caesarean surgeon’
Two mothers who died after giving birth may have caught an infection from the same surgeon during their caesareans, documents suggest. Kimberly Sampson, 29, and Samantha Mulcahy,…
Why I’m not selfish for refusing to wear a mask
Last week I was in Waitrose, doing my food shopping. Bare-faced and mask-free, I spied an old friend. As I wheeled my trolley over to her, smiling,…
Best Christmas hampers 2021: luxurious food and drink gifts for every taste and budget
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a wicker box stamped with that distinctive F and M. Fortnum & Mason’s hampers are synonymous with Christmas gifting, and this year’s…
Will school Scrooges put paid to children’s Nativity dreams?
One of the sweetest joys of the festive season is the Nativity play. I feel deeply nostalgic for the time when I had to find a stripey…
‘I removed my age from my CV to get a job in midlife’
I’m not ashamed of being in my 50s, and I’ve never tried to look younger. I haven’t exactly lied about my age during my job hunt, but…
How to be a modern grandparent: 10 rules you might not know but definitely should
1. Can I have a say in what they’re called? Before the birth perhaps but definitely not after. Our whole family has spent ages listening to names…
How to tell if you’ve been hit by HOGO – the Hassle of Going Out
Working from home has killed the after-work drink, while our uniform of elasticated sweatpants and slippers means that we’re no longer sure how to dress. Anna is…
Sajid Javid is yet to find his voice as Health Secretary. Time is running out
Sajid Javid was once described as “more Thatcherite than Thatcher”. His Ministerial office is adorned by a picture of the Iron Lady. At his 2019 leadership campaign…