When I was presenting the news on BBC1 in the 1980s I firmly believed that the Beeb was the best broadcasting outlet in the world and the channel of choice for quality. It had strength in depth throughout its range of content — from my own bailiwick of news and current affairs through drama, comedy, … Read more
BBC Newsnight’s editor Katie Razzall shared her embarrassment at being appointed as a white woman to chair a session on ‘racism in TV newsrooms’ at a media festival. The 49-year-old told the online Edinburgh TV Festival this week: ‘My chairing this panel as a white woman is indicative of the challenge we are all facing.’ It comes … Read more
DAME CAROLYN FAIRBAIRN: Ghost town Britain HAS to get back to work and Boris Johnson must lead the way By Dame Carolyn Fairbairn For The Daily Mail Published: 08:50 BST, 27 August 2020 | Updated: 08:56 BST, 27 August 2020 CBI director-general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn Decisions taken over the next few weeks will shape our … Read more
The footage could hardly be more chilling, like something from the wilder fringes of Hollywood’s dystopian imagination. A woman sits at a table, recoiling in fear. She is penned in, surrounded by a mob of masked men and women, their clenched fists raised menacingly in the air. Again and again the rhythmic chants go up: … Read more
Years ago, an enterprising estate agent called Roy Brooks was well-known for his decidedly off-beat property advertisements. Instead of delivering hand-me-down flannel about ‘highly sought after’ homes ‘with a wealth of original features’, Brooks delighted in highlighting all the worst points of a property. ‘Wanted: someone with taste, means and a stomach strong enough to … Read more
As excuses to cancel dinner go, the text message sent by Tony Abbott to a British friend newly arrived in Sydney is hard to beat. ‘Sorry to do this at short notice, mate, but I’m trying to put out these damned bush fires.’ He wasn’t joking. The former Australian leader and volunteer fireman had flown … Read more
The wicked old Soviet Union had a privileged administrative class. By Soviet standards they were well paid, and the lucky ones got dachas — cushy second homes. These unaccountable bureaucrats were called the nomenklatura. Although Britain is a parliamentary democracy, we have developed our own nomenklatura. They are highly remunerated and not infrequently incompetent. Although … Read more
Harry Maguire is the most expensive defender in the world, a gifted 27-year-old chosen to play for his country, given the honour of captaining Manchester United who paid £85million to secure him. Unlike most 27-year-olds who are still living with mum and dad, unable to afford a home of their own, Harry’s talent has brought … Read more
SARAH VINE: One of my least favourite questions to be asked is: if I could go back in time and eliminate one person from history, who would it be?
‘Megsplaining’ is a new concept, pioneered by the Duchess of Sussex. The definition of to ‘Megsplain’ is ‘to make a banal or meaningless statement in a courageous, virtuous tone’. How fluent are you in the art of Megsplaining? To find out, take this simple test . . . 1) Before marrying Prince Harry, Meghan Markle … Read more