The Spectator

The Spectator was established in 1828, and is the oldest continuously published magazine in the English language. The Spectator’s taste for controversy, however, remains undiminished. There is no party line to which The Spectator’s writers are bound - originality of thought and elegance of expression are the sole editorial constraints.

The trial issue contains a “Thought Crime Special” with articles from Melanie Phillips, “I think, therefore I’m guilty”; Christopher Booker writes about “Scientists in hiding; the demonisation of academics who question the consensus”; Alan Rusbridger explores “How to stifle the press” and how England’s libel laws make it easy.

UK politics come under scrutiny from James Forsyth, Brendan O’Neill ponders if teenagers could ever be “Drunk and orderly”; while Tom Hollander writes his diary and James Delingpole says eat local organic food if you like, but don’t kid yourself that it’s ‘green’. 

The Spectator’s regular arts coverage includes books, theatre, opera, cinema and exhibitions.

Niall Ferguson: Bibi is the Iron Prime Minister. Benjamin Netanyahu is Israel’s Bismarck, argue Niall Ferguson and Jay Mens. Both leaders show a ‘Machiavellian mastery of the dirty game of politics, domestic and international’. But perhaps the most profound similarity between them is the way they look at history: ‘Survival is more important than ideology, a principle that extends as much to one’s own political career as to the life of the state.’ Like Bismarck, then, Netanyahu has a vision of perpetual struggle.

 

Iran’s choice is martyrdom or humiliation. Iran finally responded to a series of devastating attacks on its soil and its main proxy, Hezbollah. But Tehran’s missile barrage on Tuesday may now see the regime self-immolated, writes Paul Wood. ‘Iran made a big mistake tonight and it will pay for it,’ Benjamin Netanyahu said. He’s now consulting the US for support for Israel’s response – a response that could target Iran’s nuclear weapons programme and oil facilities. The Middle East is often on the brink, but this time the struggle could be existential.

 

Fraser Nelson: confessions of an editor. In his final issue as editor of The Spectator, Fraser Nelson reflects on his 15 years and 786 issues at the helm. What are some of the secrets of the magazine’s success? ‘While some newspapers put a zero-alcohol policy in place, we had a notice on our fridge asking staff to make sure that two bottles of Pol Roger were chilling at all times. My office has a well-stocked whisky cabinet and I judged our general success by the speed with which that whisky mysteri-ously evaporated overnight. An article about us in the New York Times had a quote that summed things up well: “It’s a very serious professional operation pretending to be a bunch of champagne dilettantes.”’

 

Starmer’s set-up isn’t working. Katy Balls reports from the Conservative party conference in Birmingham where she says the mood was surprisingly upbeat. ‘It’s like being drunk at the wake after the funeral,’ remarked one Tory strategist. Tories are looking with glee at Labour’s misfortunes. The government’s popularity is plunging in the polls and a reported rift between Sue Gray and Morgan McSweeney is causing problems in Whitehall. ‘There is a total lack of direction,’ says a Labour figure. A new cabinet secretary, starting in January, offers Starmer a chance to look again at his set-up, before the current malaise becomes a long-term dysfunction in Downing Street.

 

Nigel Havers: my memories of Maggie Smith. The actor Nigel Havers, who worked with Maggie Smith on Downton Abbey, shares his memories of her. ‘I saw her relatively recently and greeted her by saying how marvellous she looked. “Clutching at straws, darling, you’re clutching at straws,” she replied.’