referendum
Nordic dream or nightmare?: The Mark, by Frida Isberg, reviewed
A test has been developed in Iceland to assess a citizen’s sensitivity and potential for anti-social behaviour. Will the looming referendum make it compulsory?
The crushing defeat of Australia’s divisive Voice referendum
Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, urged his fellow Australians to take ‘the opportunity to make history’ today. And they did,…
Why did Australia vote No in the Voice referendum?
I’m in Sydney for the Voice referendum result and was ready to settle in and watch the declarations for each…
Australia’s disastrous referendum
My partner and I have just returned from the most magical trip. As guests of Western Australia’s tourist board we’ve…
We could learn a thing or two from Swiss democracy
There was another referendum in Switzerland over the weekend. This one was about protecting the young from the evils of…
Television, not social media, is fracturing our society
All it took for the Twitter mob to descend on me was a retweet from Michael Gove. Message after message…
I’m sorry because I failed: An interview with David Cameron
‘How have you been?’ David Cameron asks, bounding up to meet me. Fine, I say, then make the mistake of…
Must ‘the will of the people’ always be respected?
I’ve always respected Alistair Darling and cannot imagine him saying anything ill-considered. But listening to him interviewed last Monday on…
Four year terms are a bad idea
The election of Donald Trump, the vote for Brexit, and the return of One Nation have all threatened the centre-right status…
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…
Long life
As we prepare in Britain for our momentous referendum in June, Italy has just had one. It happened last Sunday…
Portrait of the week
Home An official analysis by the Cabinet Office said that if Britain left the EU it would lead to a…
The Spectator’s notes
The government, or at least David Cameron’s bit of it, seems to think that trade is something that takes place…
The Spectator’s notes
One of the oddest features of the cabinet majority for staying in the EU is that almost no one in…
Cameron’s “deal” has backfired – badly. So what will he do now?
Throughout his negotiations with the European Union, David Cameron was fatally undermined by his own lack of resolve. He was…
Portrait of the week
Home David Cameron, the Prime Minister, made a speech in Wiltshire about a letter from Donald Tusk, the president of…
Stay or leave, Europe is sinking anyway
As Tory ministers wrestle with their consciences before the EU referendum, an intriguing new argument for voting to stay has…
What Brexit looks like
Life outside the EU would be good for Britain
The Spectator’s Notes
At the end of next week, a judge will decide whether the ‘trial of the facts’ can proceed now that…
Exit strategy vs stay-in power
By this time next year Britain will, if the government has its way, have voted on whether or not this…
Cameron’s great escape
An interview with the Prime Minister
Portrait of the week
Home Two groups were launched, one in favour of remaining in the European Union and the other in favour of…
The Spectator’s notes
Watching the very pleasant Liz Kendall on television this week, I was struck by how extraordinary it is that more…
The Spectator’s notes
Even if everything goes wronger still, the Greek No vote is a great victory for the left. Until now, the…
Greeks just want to keep what they’ve got
We were breakfasting outside on the morning of the Greek referendum. The result could only be guessed at and all…
