We should all cherish the humble hot cross bun
Dr Gavin Ashenden, a former chaplain to the Queen, can always be relied on for a trenchant opinion in matters theological, but now he has ventured into…
It is time to reboot Britain’s nuclear programme
Among the many mistakes made by governments down the years to secure the UK’s energy supplies, the greatest has concerned nuclear power. The costs involved, and campaigning…
Rishi Sunak’s mini-Budget must return security to the economy
An age of comfort, freedom and peace, for those of us in the West at least, is coming to an end. A world many judged to be…
Dynasties II, review: savage catfights worthy of Joan Collins
In the first series of Dynasties, penguins offered comedy and chimps familiarity, lions brought majesty and hunting dogs, novelty. With elephants and cheetahs to come, it was…
The name’s Shelby… Tommy Shelby: have we met our new James Bond?
Cillian Murphy has recently been dragged into the “conversation” about the next James Bond. Presumably, this is because he combines the key attributes of two previous 007s…
Defence budget will not rise despite Ukraine war, Rishi Sunak signals
It had previously been suggested that the defence budget may increase amid concerns about the UK’s readiness for war if the conflict in Ukraine draws in Nato…
Ministerial grace-and-favour homes could be used to house Ukrainian refugees
Chequers, Chevening and other ministerial grace-and-favour homes could house Ukrainian refugees after Boris Johnson ordered officials to review their use to help the humanitarian crisis. Government sources…
PM and Chancellor signal a fuel duty cut as they pledge to tackle cost of living crisis in Spring Statement
The cost of a litre is up 50p on last year at a record 165.9p per litre for petrol and 177.3p per litre for diesel. The cost…
‘Both sides of the story’ of British Empire should be told, says equalities minister
Ms Badenoch said she was concerned that people who agree with Dr Tony Sewell might feel shut down by the actions of the University of Nottingham. “Ethnic…
Harvey Thomas, political adviser who transformed Tory campaigns and party conferences for Margaret Thatcher – obituary
Lord Thorneycroft, party chairman either side of Mrs Thatcher’s 1979 election victory, kept him on as a consultant to liven up party rallies. His first, at Wembley,…
Chancellor considering plans to wipe out National Insurance rise for lowest paid workers
The Resolution Foundation will on Monday urge the Chancellor also to raise working age and pensioner benefits by a further five percentage points to 8.1 per cent…
Germany calls for fresh talks over a free trade agreement between the EU and the US
Germany’s finance minister has called for a renewed push on securing a trade deal between the European Union and the United States in light of the invasion…
French far-Left presidential candidate pledges amnesty for convicted ‘gilets jaunes’
“My government will repair everything that can be repaired for the victims of authoritarianism,” Mr Mélenchon said. “It will give amnesty to all the convicted Yellow Vests,…
Demand for iodine tablets surge amid fears of nuclear war
Demand for iodine tablets has rocketed in the UK and EU as the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine stokes fears of nuclear war. UK manufacturer Oxford Health Company…
Inside Azov, the far-Right brigade killing Russian generals and playing a PR game in the Ukraine war
In 2018, the battalion put out a slickly produced video showing hundreds of young men in fatigues marching in formation to a torch-lit fortress in Kyiv. They…
My Mariupol diary: ‘The basement is all we have left – and now it’s on fire’
The trouble didn’t end there. Fire in the third stairwell. It’s -10C outside and windy. The fire quickly spread from floor to floor. There is nothing to…
Inside the secret government unit returning fire on Vladimir Putin’s ‘weaponised lies’
The cell’s crucial audiences are in Russia and Ukraine. Shortly after the start of the invasion, the unit was responsible for disseminating a video in which Boris…
Putin’s gambit – decoding the Kremlin’s next move
Russia’s forces may indeed be overstretched and underpowered, but that doesn’t mean Putin is at a point where he is forced to quit. As Kotkin warns, a…
War, inflation, shortages – but Sunak has space to reverse tax hike
But when it comes to borrowing next year and afterwards the picture is going to be a good deal worse. I suspect that the OBR will be…
Higher energy bills to force M&S food and clothing costs higher
Marks & Spencer clothes and food is set to become more expensive as the retailer battles increased energy costs, intensified by the war in Ukraine. Chairman Archie…
Rishi Sunak hints at fuel duty cut: Of course we will help with cost of living
Rishi Sunak has said the Government will “of course” ease the cost of living “where we can”, as he hinted at a cut to fuel duty in…
Gove attacks ‘cartel’ of big property developers
Michael Gove has opened up a new front in his war with Britain’s biggest housebuilders after describing them as a “cartel” in comments to Conservative activists. The Housing Secretary…
Rishi Sunak distances himself from Boris Johnson’s comparison between Ukraine war and Brexit
The comments have been condemned by Labour, some Conservatives and European diplomats, including Donald Tusk, the former president of the European Council, who said the speech was…
Liz Truss condemns Russian abduction of Mariupol citizens ‘forcibly taken’ across the border
Mariupol, a strategic port on the Azov Sea, has seen the greatest damage of any Ukrainian city since Russia invaded last month. Mariupol’s city council said that…
Questor: Fever-Tree’s adaptability will enable it to overcome the inflationary challenge
These measures may, of course, fail to fully offset rampant inflation over the coming months. However, the company has a solid balance sheet, which includes net cash of £166m,…