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.

The US election is back on a knife-edge. Republicans hoped last night’s debate would expose Kamala Harris’s weaknesses. ‘They forgot that, when it comes to one-on-one intellectual sparring matches with candidates who aren’t senile, Donald Trump is very bad indeed,’ writes Freddy Gray. ‘A skilled politician would have been able to unpick Harris’s act, but Trump could not.’ Harris is enigmatic to the point of absurdity, but Trump failed to pin her down and may well have squandered his narrow lead.

 

Gordon Brown back at the Treasury – but does Osborne’s spirit reign? Katy Balls reveals Gordon Brown paid a surprise visit to Rachel Reeves at the Treasury last week. It delighted his old supporters. These days, however, Reeves is most frequently compared with another chancellor: George Osborne. Some Labour MPs fear that Keir Starmer’s gloomy messaging – intended to intensify blame on the Tories – may hamper efforts to get companies to invest in the UK. The risk for Reeves is that, no matter what her intentions, she appears more Osborne than Brown – all tunnel and no light. ‘I voted for the winter fuel cut,’ says one new Labour MP. ‘I didn’t want to have the whip removed. But we need a sense of what the point of all this is.’

 

Max Jeffery: my night with the paedo-hunters. London Overwatch, a paedophile hunting group, pose as children online to snare unsuspecting sexual predators. They then confront the suspect and livestream the arrest to thousands of viewers. The Spectator’s Max Jeffery went along to see them catch a man who believes he has been speaking to a 14-year-old girl. ‘It’s a moment of horrid joy,’ Max reflects as the suspected paedophile sits in a ‘nonce chair’ while they wait for the police to come.

 

Fraser Nelson: a new chapter for The Spectator. Fraser Nelson, The Spectator’s Editor, reflects upon the sale of the magazine to Sir Paul Marshall. ‘His faith in our prospects is reflected in the size of the deal: £100 million, five times what we were valued at when we split from the Daily Telegraph in 2005... The result stands as a spectacular vindication of what my colleagues have achieved.’ Fraser recalls how, 50 years ago, Sir Henry Keswick and Alexander Chancellor saved the magazine by restoring its editorial independence. ‘As Sir Paul has made clear, it’s a formula he seeks to protect and invest in.’ Charles Moore also reflects on the deal. ‘A few days ago, Sir Henry Keswick rang me, having got wind of a deal. He has been very fond of the paper ever since he bought it almost 50 years ago. “I paid £100,000 for it,” said Henry, “What will it go for now?” “Guess,” I said. “£5 million?” “No,” I said, “the rumoured figure is £100 million.” There was a brief digestive silence at the other end.’