David Cameron
The claret of the gods
I cannot remember a jollier lunch. There are two brothers, Sebastian and Nicholas Payne, both practical epicureans. They have made…
A lot to ask
David Cameron is now facing the biggest challenge of his leadership: how to renegotiate Britain’s membership of the EU without…
Cameron’s dark evening of the soul
At 6.30 p.m. on 7 May, the Camerons invited guests at their home in Oxfordshire into the garden for a…
The Spectator’s notes
Two beautiful volumes in a cloth-bound case reach me. They are Speeches and Articles by HRH The Prince of Wales…
Ed’s campaign was fine. The problem is his party
Patrick Wintour is one of the best political editors around. For the Guardian he’s been for decades a cool and…
Pedant’s revolt
Jonathan Portes, master of the political correction
Diary
For the first time since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team six years ago, a Test match side…
The march of the ‘yes’ men
Forty years ago this week, Britain voted to remain part of the European Community. That remains the only direct vote…
The Spectator’s Notes
We in the West all hate Sepp Blatter, so we pay too little attention to the manner in which the…
Brain fade
‘Aa-aah,’ groaned my husband, ‘we fade to grey.’ He had never been much of a Young Romantic, even when Visage…
Redefining aid
In this week’s Queen’s Speech, the government promised as usual to cut red tape for businesses. But David Cameron is…
Cameron’s EU rollercoaster
We have just had a very insular general election campaign, but the mood at Westminster is now determined by news…
Does anyone really expect the EU referendum to resolve anything?
I suppose, if you could look deep into the mind of somebody who was passionately keen that Britain should leave…
Cameron’s friend in Brussels
Hungary’s Viktor Orban could be the PM’s most influential ally in EU renegotiations. So what does he want – and what can he get?
A small majority means big challenges
In ancient Rome, when a general rode in triumph through the city, a slave would stand behind him whispering into…
Cameron’s new mission
As David Cameron lined up beside Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband at the Cenotaph on the day after the general…
Portrait of the week
Home David Cameron, the Prime Minister, soon got used to the surprise of the Conservatives being returned in the general…
The Spectator’s notes
David Cameron is taking a bit of trouble to unite his parliamentary party. Having built a coalition outside it last…
Full employment, Prime Minister? What exactly do you mean by that?
‘Two million jobs have been created since 2010 — but there will not be a moment of rest until we…
High life
OK. Magnanimity in victory is a sine qua non among civilised men and women, so let me not be the…
Long life
On election day I was in Puglia in the ‘heel’ of Italy, where interest in British politics could hardly be…
Cameron’s great secret: he’s not a very good politician
This was a vital election. A Tory failure would have been an act of political treason. Five years ago, the…
Portrait of the week
Home The country went to the polls. David Cameron, the Conservative leader, prepared by going around with his sleeves rolled…
The disunited kingdom
This was the Scottish election. Where next for the Union now?
Letters
An instinctive Tory faith Sir: For once Bruce Anderson does not exaggerate: David Cameron did indeed win golden opinions for…
