The Spectator

The Spectator is Britain’s oldest and most influential magazine, with incisive political and economic analysis, unrivalled books and arts reviews, and unmissable lifestyle writing, plus the funniest cartoons. It’s more cocktail party than political party, and we’d love it if you joined us.

Power struggle

The Spectator

CONTRIBUTORS

PORTRAIT OF THE WEEK

DIARY

Labour’s capital losses

THE SPECTATOR’S NOTES

Game plan • Trump is rapidly dismantling Xi’s anti-America coalition

Little Song

LETTER FROM DUBAI

Dubai’s Ritz spirit

‘Whose side are you on?’ • How Keir Starmer alienated Britain’s allies over Iran

Winter’s First-born Snow

Operation Epic Muddle • Inside MAGA’s meltdown over Iran

A hush falls, then Starmer speaks

Education needs a great leap backwards

Mental block • When progressive ideology kills

Is this Starmer’s finest hour?

Cheer and loathing • The tyranny of niceness must be resisted

Misguided empire

The homoeroticism of looksmaxxing

Iran’s martyr complex • Ancient history could be on the side of Khamenei’s supporters

LETTERS

Inflation is steaming towards us from the Strait of Hormuz

A terrible beauty • Tim Butcher on the corrupting power of gold

Blood-stained laurels

Fish out of water

Into the woods

Steamy stuff

Selfian flourishes

Secrets and lies

Massacre of the innocents

The new Wagnerian A-lister • Since his first Wotan in Naples in 2023, the baritone Christopher Maltman has found himself in demand on every major stage. Richard Bratby spoke to him

Restoration tragedy • The failure of plans to rebuild and repair the Palace of Westminster could have catastrophic consequences, says Alex Diggins

There will be blood

Links to rock past

Piatti Quartet: Phantasy

There’s something about Mary Ann

The full English

Kitchen sink drama

Past lives

50p coins

Still life

Real life

The turf

Marry me chicken

Top draw

The borrowers

2742: The Hobbit

Why I’m a proud Zionist

The Battle for Britain

Kane is able

DEAR MARY YOUR PROBLEMS SOLVED

Counter intelligence

Grandee