Iain Duncan Smith
How has the Conservative party’s ‘Dr No’ escaped everyone’s notice for so long?
This malevolent figure has been at the centre of the party for more than 40 years, says Nadine Dorries. But nothing in The Plot bears much relation to reality
Diary
I only voted in one no-confidence motion. The leader was Iain Duncan Smith, and it was a bit awkward. I…
A short history of political violence
The ugly attack on Iain Duncan Smith by five protestors at the Tory conference in Manchester has been widely seen…
Unwelcome news
A character in David Hare’s Skylight claims she has at last found contentment by no longer opening newspapers or watching…
History holds far fewer lessons for Brexit than both sides think
How we love bringing history into our political debates. It may seem strange in a country where so little history…
Brexit Tories are feeling disrespected. How awful
There are moments when one wonders whether one is seeing and hearing the same things as others. For me such…
How to save Conservatism
Iain Duncan Smith on the fallout from his shock resignation
Osborne’s on the back foot but his Living Wage deserves praise
It was unfashionable of me to write in praise of George Osborne on Budget day. I did so, you may…
Spectator’s Notes
Why have David Cameron and George Osborne overreached? Why are so many in their own party no longer disposed to…
The human factor
Just over 30 years ago, Margaret Thatcher’s government decided to look at local government finance. A young aide, John Redwood,…
Long life
For a politician to draw attention to his own deficiencies is a desperate attempt to curry favour with the electorate…
Britain’s dirty secret
A documentary has finally exposed what life is like at the bottom. So why is the left so angry?
The return of compassionate Conservatism
‘Has the Secretary of State, like me, managed to watch programmes such as Benefits Street and On Benefits & Proud?…
Welfare wars
George Osborne is refreshingly uninterested in his public image, believing that he will be judged by the success (or otherwise)…
