Politics & Comment
I comment regularly on British and American politics, with a broad focus on foreign policy. I also maintain a particular expertise in the internal workings of the Conservative Party. I have contributed columns to most major British newspapers, starting my career at The Spectator, and am currently most likely to be found at The Financial Times and The Guardian, as well as number of US outlets. I have recently joined the Board of Index on Censorship.
In addition to my perspective as an intellectual historian, I also have a strong hinterland in the Anglican church, and write regularly on issues of faith and ethics. Much of my insight into British politics has been shaped by my time as part of the team responsible for establishing Bright Blue, the think tank associated with the Tory modernisation agenda. In 2014, I published a collection of essays with Ryan Shorthouse on the future of the Conservative Party, entitled The Modernisers’ Manifesto, for Bright Blue.
I have also made available here the three articles I wrote in late 2017 about Damian Green MP, which formed part of the #metoo movement and eventually led to his resignation as First Secretary of State. Originally published behind paywalls, they were widely reported in more sensationalist terms and it is important to me that my own words on the matter are publicly available.
Like most people who write for newspapers, I have no control over the headlines added to my articles. So I sometimes post articles here with my own choice of headlines, when I feel strongly that the published headlines are inappropriate.
Five phrases to ban from the Tory leadership race
written for The Spectator, 5th July 2016 The race is on to get out of the bottom, as the Spice Girls never quite sang about Liam Fox. And isn’t it depressing? I don’t just mean the Conservative leadership contest itself – unlike the Labour Party, the Tories seem to be able to organise a sack-race...
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Forget the fighting. We’re entering a period of unparalleled opportunity for the Tories
written for The Spectator, 1st July 2016 Auf wiedersehen, Boris. He’ll be back, like a blond, bloated Voldemort inhabiting another life form – Top Gear host? Archbishop of York? Or endless BBC camping tours of Britain on a bike, the Portillo of the Portacabin? As Boris’ agent collects the offers...
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Thoughts on Orlando, from the pews.
There is a general rule that one should wait a week to analyse a tragedy. If one has the rare eloquence of Alex Massie, or, like Andrew Mitchell, the personal knowledge to re-vivify a dead friend in tribute, there may be exceptions. But in these first few days, fragments of evidence bubble to the surface...
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Why Britain doesn’t play politics with gun tragedy
written for CNN, 18th June 2016 It was lunchtime on a warm, dull Friday in the West Yorkshire village of Birstall, UK, when locals gathered for an unusual vigil. In the paved marketplace of this small northern town of 15,000, Prime Minister David Cameron stood in silent tribute to fallen colleague Jo...
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The British Left’s Weak Anti-Semitic Excuse
written for The Daily Beast, 5th May 2016 Nearly two years ago, Indhu Rubasingham, the director of London’s Tricycle Theatre, cancelled the venue’s deal to host a Jewish Film Festival, citing the ongoing hostilities in Gaza. “The festival receives funding from the Israeli embassy,” Rubasingham...
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Is the West ever going to stand up to Vladimir Putin?
an edited version of this article was published at The Spectator, 21st January 2016 If you walk down Holland Park Avenue, down the hill to Shepherd’s Bush, you’ll come across a statue wreathed with peonies, lit by a single candle. Two years ago, in February 2014, the flowers stretched almost to the...
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