https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook Analysis of British life and politics, in the tradition of Walter Bagehot, editor of The Economist from 1861-77 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:18:54 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2019/06/20/and-then-there-were-two Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt progress to the final stage of the Tory leadership contest /content/8tamevbq8ssjc902j961dajroq2q3n05 Thu, 20 Jun 2019 19:17:42 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2019/06/19/the-centre-cannot-hold-the-failure-of-change-uk-and-the-atrophying-of-political-thought Our columnist reflects on why those trying to shake up contemporary politics have been destined to fail /content/8jmr23qcf3brr071n47s5k2j3i10a8kc Wed, 19 Jun 2019 16:08:05 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2019/06/18/on-britain-beyond-brexit-and-the-future-of-conservatism Our columnist reflects on the turmoil facing the Conservative Party /content/rdch97gft2sn671els6f0egem0b48sqf Tue, 18 Jun 2019 12:00:15 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2019/05/20/on-change-uks-inadequacies-political-agreements-and-missing-scots Our Britain columnist muses over the decline of Scottish influence in Westminster /content/envlc2i41ni90lhupnve0oq1crfthpif Mon, 20 May 2019 16:03:00 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2019/04/26/on-fleabag-a-corbyn-government-and-kenneth-clarkes-tandoori-moments Our Britain columnist laments the decline of working-class culture /content/3hu95m31noji8csr0ttfnccuq379jg3a Fri, 26 Apr 2019 11:47:49 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2019/04/19/on-game-of-thrones-conservatism-israel-and-lidl Our political columnist pitches a dynastic new television show /content/ofm4fqnsovt2okn0fttgjapk70dssvp8 Fri, 19 Apr 2019 10:08:16 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2019/04/05/on-parliamentarians-talented-vainglorious-entertaining-and-anarchic Our Britain columnist considers the best and the worst of MPs in a lively week in the House of Commons and beyond /content/ujbdpkig56d3h76thd113dp79cfqsev3 Fri, 05 Apr 2019 12:51:15 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2019/03/22/on-political-caricatures-real-policies-and-the-idea-of-public-service Our Britain columnist worries about the lack of talent in the foreground of British politics /content/88d1lh5c1kbbufg0h7lubqbedu0brbdt Fri, 22 Mar 2019 13:18:30 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2019/03/15/on-democracy-sir-lewis-namier-and-the-struggles-of-the-super-rich Our Britain columnist has not lost all faith in his country’s parliament /content/2hmkrl0bgsj1jgeg931ktolj67htujan Fri, 15 Mar 2019 13:08:34 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2019/03/08/on-political-paralysis-british-intellectuals-and-the-wisdom-of-victorians Our Britain columnist offers Theresa May a dramatic suggestion /content/mr4k4uaharfgc91jojq2rjrb4jgn0u03 Fri, 08 Mar 2019 15:20:29 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2019/03/01/on-protesting-nuns-a-labour-defection-and-a-story-about-andre-previn This week, things are not what they seem for our Britain columnist /content/rasj35lm9tiqesj6hpv9upu33japaa41 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 14:09:59 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2019/02/22/on-brexit-films-brexit-books-and-brexit-television Our Bagehot columnist shares some thoughts, from Los Angeles to Alan Partridge /content/ucpg6b9eee5i6k5uldpjakfa14up1h23 Fri, 22 Feb 2019 14:12:06 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2018/11/15/britains-government-slides-into-chaos Theresa May’s Brexit deal provokes cabinet resignations and speculation of a leadership challenge /content/396ntnn095j1a28g4v69a1hl1mjlli4n Thu, 15 Nov 2018 23:41:19 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2018/10/02/boris-johnson-takes-centre-stage-from-the-sidelines The former foreign secretary won a huge crowd for his address to a fringe meeting /content/3k747onujm9blrm9l12rv2ebp7nlo4a6 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 17:27:09 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2018/10/02/of-blue-suits-and-smelly-trainers You can spot a Tory or a Corbynista from miles away /content/q8hv2t20n8u174tvcftsjga2q6rv224i Tue, 02 Oct 2018 09:43:44 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2018/10/01/the-tory-party-is-split-down-the-middle But then so is Britain /content/pu45d4o22nisjbnhoa9iu5s0cfb8e6c4 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 17:48:32 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2018/10/01/what-birmingham-means-to-todays-conservatives A reminder of the failure of the Erdington strategy /content/d81r8lcf1k3d8180uurl8ddgb20e93bl Mon, 01 Oct 2018 17:40:56 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2018/09/24/john-mcdonnell-offers-an-ambitious-alternative-economic-policy It’s a pity it’s so badly thought out /content/crvpm1vj4jem02mgfga3d16ghet1m7uv Mon, 24 Sep 2018 18:51:57 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2018/08/25/americans-are-doing-a-good-job-of-misunderstanding-britain The country is either embracing too much globalisation or not enough /content/ms9jdshlsiq5njo1850et6hj9ogg29bh Sat, 25 Aug 2018 14:00:50 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2018/07/06/labour-is-no-longer-the-party-of-the-traditional-working-class That may be a sensible tactic /content/uu96mevqilsjlqc3q1jjom51lv0s2r0i Fri, 06 Jul 2018 08:48:31 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2018/06/12/some-thoughts-on-the-crisis-of-liberalism-and-how-to-fix-it Liberalism needs nothing less than a great rebalancing if it is to regain its intellectual and political vitality /content/0dmrlujl5d5v0ci8qe3ei769j1jl9tap Tue, 12 Jun 2018 16:58:43 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2018/05/04/sounding-the-death-knell-for-corbynmania Labour’s so-so performance in the local elections raises questions about Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership /content/lqtfu6qgha01c5dc3bdhf9p9u3fvgbbb Fri, 04 May 2018 09:56:30 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2018/04/30/amber-rudds-resignation-throws-theresa-mays-government-into-crisis The home secretary’s departure could tilt the balance of power in both the cabinet and the party at large /content/8kpnaic7s0rbn1lg94p6b1no7f12qack Mon, 30 Apr 2018 12:00:58 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2018/03/21/coming-face-to-neck-with-vladimir-putin Bagehot remembers several surreal visits to a frozen St Petersburg and a booming Moscow /content/d6c74svgtoirf8olm7cgu9upp5pvn187 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 10:24:31 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2018/03/16/some-thoughts-on-the-open-v-closed-divide It is not as simple as it seems /content/84ffv8qtohi7h2q14p9cfaiqfmn53reb Fri, 16 Mar 2018 14:42:16 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2018/01/08/theresa-may-wastes-an-opportunity-to-regalvanise-her-party The prime minister’s inability to shake up her cabinet highlights the weakness of her position /content/6a6j1g2a19if38jc50j9clb5sa784rkb Mon, 08 Jan 2018 17:50:57 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/12/21/damian-greens-exit-gives-theresa-may-a-problem-and-an-opportunity The deputy prime minister’s resignation presents an excuse for a much-needed cabinet reshuffle /content/8i7btb5ujpmiohrr4gro276i5k72bl0c Thu, 21 Dec 2017 12:21:20 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/10/03/a-strange-disease-has-taken-hold-of-british-politics A once-sensible country is in the grip of millenarianism /content/dqosjp2r9ha7rcup6csi7umm58q8emnh Tue, 03 Oct 2017 13:46:24 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/10/02/the-tory-conference-reflects-the-dismal-state-of-the-party Look beyond the protests outside, and the convention is a bland affair /content/vlca3r1sfsv52p2bkc2ha2eb5ft4ttpe Mon, 02 Oct 2017 19:45:13 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/09/27/how-the-corbynites-want-to-reverse-the-1980s Labour plans to use Margaret Thatcher’s methods to overturn the Thatcher revolution /content/55i6ah3d1t3ijss74hp5en16jbt4fskj Wed, 27 Sep 2017 09:22:27 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/09/26/an-evening-with-momentum-at-the-labour-party-conference The left-wing grassroots movement is perfecting the art of revolution as recreation /content/uukhigs37vsldmubtoh940jq6qbanjh9 Tue, 26 Sep 2017 12:18:16 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/09/25/the-labour-party-is-in-jubilant-mood-as-it-meets-for-its-annual-conference Jeremy Corbyn excites his fans in Brighton /content/ku5ok1fli3tv69l3ni6v1n7vjg3kpg2f Mon, 25 Sep 2017 14:43:20 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/08/31/whatever-she-may-say-theresa-may-wont-fight-the-next-election Her biggest task now is to help choose someone who can /content/h71lmep4cm303l7qkh2th6rmo7rco0pe Thu, 31 Aug 2017 13:42:32 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/06/16/the-politics-of-a-tragedy A horrific fire in a tower block in Kensington is adding to Britain’s anti-establishment mood /content/3m7u2kpahahi9gqrlb2onejviqj7285s Fri, 16 Jun 2017 16:14:32 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/06/09/the-lesson-from-tonights-astonishing-results-campaigns-matter The Conservatives ran one of the worst campaigns in memory /content/6l3d0be2g6480gpv65snu84solsjhis8 Fri, 09 Jun 2017 03:22:16 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/05/11/unpicking-the-corbynist-manifesto The leaked document reveals a great deal about the internal state of the Labour Party /content/nfvnas010d1udso3a2dn3297s07em38b Thu, 11 May 2017 14:29:14 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/05/09/a-brief-history-of-one-nation-conservatism The phrase—and its application—have evolved since Benjamin Disraeli coined it in 1837 /content/ksu9tkcl3ikk61kcpaerjt074qbd0gj6 Tue, 09 May 2017 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/04/30/on-the-ground-with-andy-street-in-birmingham A report from Britain’s most important political battle ground, the West Midlands /content/0bhe4vb0jdumglaet9o5hibhj2udukga Sun, 30 Apr 2017 12:44:52 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/04/22/the-tragedy-of-len-mccluskeys-re-election-as-head-of-unite One of Britain’s most powerful trade unions will continue to be led towards the hard left /content/osv2focdpuoh2lp54v61hshhash6hura Sat, 22 Apr 2017 15:49:56 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/04/21/to-understand-britain-today-look-to-the-17th-century Our new Bagehot columnist considers the state of the nation /content/p71l2lr33gao2gscgduk999jduhfb6dg Fri, 21 Apr 2017 12:48:45 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/04/03/a-farewell-to-britain Our former Bagehot columnist reflects on Britain’s past, present and future /content/t9tjtbs0c6np6i287pud5udb7e3h5m7b Mon, 03 Apr 2017 23:26:33 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/02/24/labour-and-ukip-both-give-tories-cause-for-delight With one front closed and an enfeebled opposition, Theresa May can turn to the Lib Dems /content/0o04qk5u8052q9qqnl5abgc086qfrcur Fri, 24 Feb 2017 08:36:58 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/02/23/the-pragmatic-case-for-moving-britains-capital-to-manchester The vast Victorian complex by the Thames is in a dreadful state /content/f4ga0tluc1888ov6tu329dvrtvahkus3 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 19:20:59 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/02/17/tony-blair-is-right-on-brexit-now-he-should-get-into-the-trenches-or-back-off If the former prime minister wants to return to British politics, here is how he should do it /content/4hqp90j3lqq6s8tsrumshbc77go2iipp Fri, 17 Feb 2017 12:50:50 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/01/30/what-brexit-and-donald-trump-have-in-common An anti-Trump petition goes viral in Britain, but not in pro-Leave constituencies /content/nc36f1f49mtohrf60hsv0t3r1phaecv2 Mon, 30 Jan 2017 17:50:57 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/01/24/a-court-ruling-on-article-50-hints-at-britains-coming-constitutional-storm The argument over the rights of lawmakers will not be the last post-Brexit constitutional quandary /content/7e2geisjavmhgiqrkh237ct1e9pvdlpk Tue, 24 Jan 2017 12:55:41 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/01/20/britain-should-seek-donald-trumps-respect-not-his-affection On the dangers of becoming Europe’s answer to Chris Christie /content/vlq5hjr05dou6p163ff8h8bd0agig9dv Fri, 20 Jan 2017 13:46:43 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2017/01/17/theresa-may-confirms-britain-is-heading-for-brexit-max Britain will leave the single market and the customs union /content/20vbj850vtocl73pckvt527scchhor4k Tue, 17 Jan 2017 14:01:24 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/12/02/on-the-dangers-of-comparing-every-political-event-to-donald-trump Talking about the similarities between populists is all the rage. Sadly, talking about their differences is not /content/r4nhp1ihicid12e4793se1uc35qqm67h Fri, 02 Dec 2016 22:04:15 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/12/02/labour-not-the-tories-should-be-most-worried-by-the-richmond-park-result But Conservatives cannot sit back either /content/o15ap3the1kgp764hggb5ftmt7thlh2n Fri, 02 Dec 2016 10:08:35 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/11/18/anglo-german-relations-are-defined-by-mutual-incomprehension A meeting between Theresa May and Angela Merkel underscores the awkwardness /content/c64pjgri86ib1ab3apibtsj617qhvt7n Fri, 18 Nov 2016 15:02:01 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/11/09/donald-trumps-win-will-make-brexit-more-painful /content/7jg8mned00aurv1a0huo1d5kq9i401s7 Wed, 09 Nov 2016 11:20:52 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/10/21/the-witney-campaign-offers-the-lib-dems-a-road-out-of-the-wilderness /content/hdlses0o52m4npmk4kaoe8lre0a59n0p Fri, 21 Oct 2016 10:30:18 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/10/13/nicola-sturgeons-consultation-on-a-new-scottish-independence-referendum-gets-her-out-of-a-tight-spot But devolution, rather than independence, may be her goal /content/1vqtbvooejb32jlvrr9nopk03u67pgtm Thu, 13 Oct 2016 15:05:21 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/10/02/parliament-must-push-for-a-bigger-role-in-the-brexit-negotiations The prime minister provides some detail on Britain’s exit from the European Union—but also raises a host of questions /content/7okgur1vaon4pga5nncsqf1hiad34k30 Sun, 02 Oct 2016 13:41:07 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/09/24/jeremy-corbyn-is-re-elected-with-an-increased-mandate /content/rapatljigaho758m3q7k78d3prihsbam Sat, 24 Sep 2016 12:12:16 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/09/20/what-is-the-point-of-the-liberal-democrats /content/1s3n51gujmk541dp3l1a4he08fonkm70 Tue, 20 Sep 2016 17:03:17 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/08/12/why-a-true-labour-splinter-party-could-succeed-where-the-sdp-failed /content/ar1r88plvetr7liltpo09k272bj5j5s3 Fri, 12 Aug 2016 15:43:59 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/07/31/britains-newly-interventionist-economic-consensus-is-a-question-not-an-answer /content/craubdvdr3rajus1qf2qe7g2po6g8nof Sun, 31 Jul 2016 16:09:23 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/07/14/britains-new-prime-minister-will-regret-appointing-boris-johnson /content/9ilvllj5i1ptudib3uvli0aaj1u8ih7b Thu, 14 Jul 2016 21:27:43 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/07/11/theresa-may-will-be-britains-next-prime-minister After Andrea Leadsom drops out of the race, Mrs May will surely consider an early election /content/82a90fniu973vjrf85t041jpkslfbhck Mon, 11 Jul 2016 14:29:55 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/07/01/if-labour-wont-stand-up-for-remain-voters-its-time-for-a-new-party Britain's liberal centre is near-empty. Time for a new political force? /content/cufhpba8s2dmnnuo95omfpccs0nchdkp Fri, 01 Jul 2016 17:32:54 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/06/26/britain-is-sailing-into-a-storm-with-no-one-at-the-wheel /content/58pfr1vs9puu9bghhbj10g5p2ge8cbrl Sun, 26 Jun 2016 19:47:35 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/06/24/david-cameron-quits-downing-street-with-a-ruined-legacy Mr Cameron’s tenure will be defined by a nation-changing misstep, one guaranteed to scar Britain for decades /content/ac5cge00uua5pv1r1p33cabump1eihtp Fri, 24 Jun 2016 08:40:33 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/06/21/beware-the-brintroverts Have polls putting Leave ahead overlooked shy, indecisive and hard-to-reach voters? /content/88cht1489hm1hdd6tojqkrb8u582h6r2 Tue, 21 Jun 2016 09:13:57 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/06/17/the-price-of-caring Britain’s MPs deserve much more credit than they get /content/p36gsaprp3gps6of7peh4ihu6q5pim33 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 15:57:24 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/06/14/leave-is-gaining-ground-but-do-not-rule-out-remain-just-yet /content/iqbn9ihvdo994h86hm6bkdlgo372530i Tue, 14 Jun 2016 20:58:23 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/06/07/young-voters-your-country-needs-you The Brexit referendum will decide the Britain of the future. Young voters are best equipped to judge what that should be /content/2ropc6afl76m4ctdfkf1e8mmavis4v1l Tue, 07 Jun 2016 07:47:19 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/05/30/the-remain-campaign-must-outlive-the-referendum /content/7d0vgjlhdun750tfn7man2eh6lvurknu Mon, 30 May 2016 13:30:35 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/05/27/the-leave-campaigns-dog-whistle-strategy-will-only-succeed-if-remain-voters-fail-to-turn-out /content/sjn2vthscdm1e117ms2jck5g9k5llttm Fri, 27 May 2016 10:04:07 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/05/08/why-zac-goldsmiths-extremism-attacks-on-sadiq-khan-were-wrong /content/regsc3mf4dd7qr6vktrpbu341gmaqpiq Sun, 08 May 2016 20:40:12 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/05/06/sadiq-khan-will-be-londons-new-mayor /content/cjtr59fncvvcnl07fjhka63jt6atrndd Fri, 06 May 2016 18:39:30 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/05/06/low-expectations-cloud-labours-abysmal-local-elections-performance /content/bmnfq0dmeo8541dbfvs2hpsfjv0ardc8 Fri, 06 May 2016 12:16:12 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/05/03/leicester-citys-success-suggests-globalisation-is-strengthening-not-killing-english-football /content/okimgprnsl1dl4mso9joptfgifhk52ig Tue, 03 May 2016 12:41:54 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/04/28/guest-post-why-comparing-israel-to-the-nazis-is-always-anti-semitic /content/i8v43ghaa0cnh5igfag3gjmvem81ukqi Thu, 28 Apr 2016 19:19:46 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/04/28/by-tolerating-jeremy-corbyn-labours-moderates-are-complicit-in-their-partys-shame /content/a0dvm7timfj0bl221b8tckrr5ocjs7ij Thu, 28 Apr 2016 18:18:48 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/04/22/barack-obama-is-right-britain-could-lead-europe-if-it-wanted-to Barack Obama is right: Britain could lead Europe if it wanted to /content/01v4mi2lkmlsuc3pcnooil9hpkl1fcb2 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:53:43 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/04/14/the-telling-sincerity-of-jeremy-corbyns-eu-conversion /content/1ksm9ih8jq8dib6nvtrtcvidvnbi893m Thu, 14 Apr 2016 12:30:18 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/04/10/what-the-panama-papers-really-reveal-about-david-cameron What the Panama papers really reveal about David Cameron /content/mbvrbo1hnsddufo05egbknopdot36j3f Sun, 10 Apr 2016 21:12:23 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/03/31/transcript-interview-with-will-straw /content/gkgpct0f8hhksjjts37a723a3qjsmavk Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:03:21 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/02/29/the-cosmopolitan-communitarian-divide-explains-britains-eu-split /content/q04c2f6uf514tgldjfpkqoa7rf6hlrb5 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 08:19:53 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/02/23/an-interview-with-ian-bremmer /content/c8s6ntgsfcd8ssdc125uim77a92l4l4j Tue, 23 Feb 2016 13:55:35 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/02/21/boris-johnson-is-wrong-in-the-21st-century-sovereignty-is-always-relative /content/771c3lslikd9i9e5se0sq539qe5hk1q5 Sun, 21 Feb 2016 15:54:06 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/02/20/the-brexit-referendum-on-june-23rd-will-be-all-about-david-cameron /content/r879upe2og01rn1eg9lfq07ltrroia0b Sat, 20 Feb 2016 14:47:53 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/02/18/keep-david-camerons-renegotiation-in-perspective /content/84i5e7im4dg018im86q5c8d8dnotsogp Thu, 18 Feb 2016 22:34:53 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/02/04/an-interview-with-sadiq-khan /content/hetlgcptf27npvpdut1d25if48ob7vkc Thu, 04 Feb 2016 17:59:20 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/02/01/the-emergency-brake-is-only-symbolic-but-it-will-probably-work /content/9dbjgvso0m7636265er8fjrn6q08k71s Mon, 01 Feb 2016 12:29:53 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/01/21/an-interview-with-dominic-cummings A leading anti-EU campaigner discusses the upcoming referendum battle and his optimistic case for Brexit /content/r449haab9jriv9o2arv8839633r8mol2 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 10:28:55 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/01/12/blame-the-british-public-for-the-junior-doctors-strike /content/9oekdqgtc8qi6tkr9369uvgddr79afrn Tue, 12 Jan 2016 14:39:30 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2016/01/06/the-labour-party-is-heading-for-a-showdown-on-trident /content/gtji9mvs45t6fosmpu02sesc36addoio Wed, 06 Jan 2016 09:16:18 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2015/12/01/everything-you-need-to-know-about-labours-rolling-crisis /content/m26q9q5n14abu4rb9t83ph9ldemapt9h Tue, 01 Dec 2015 14:14:30 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2015/11/17/labours-sensibles-are-starting-to-push-back-but-they-should-push-harder /content/o2p8cg97pjb4q7r7cudrt3a0dtd5kben Tue, 17 Nov 2015 15:13:28 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2015/11/10/david-cameron-is-playing-a-self-inflicted-bad-hand-well /content/afdvbe6ae1b27eosf6rsu61qtb8s0f2q Tue, 10 Nov 2015 12:13:39 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2015/10/29/the-bile-spewed-at-tony-blair-is-not-just-unfair-it-is-counter-productive /content/6kjkrmu3t01uuvq0h41ocfkgp24he41i Thu, 29 Oct 2015 20:39:09 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2015/10/27/the-conservatives-deserve-little-sympathy-for-their-defeat-on-tax-credits Britain's upper house deals a blow to the government by voting to stall planned cuts to tax credits /content/44d4ai1o699k00aglkvf2k7rjc7ls82v Tue, 27 Oct 2015 00:45:36 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2015/10/23/the-case-for-ditching-the-nhs /content/3dot0q6vi6d7qgc29curj8rvoanrsp13 Fri, 23 Oct 2015 14:30:24 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2015/10/22/english-only-votes-set-britain-on-the-path-to-federalisation-or-break-up /content/e2a8onp4bvu6clgiehiq9f8f2eboh3rs Thu, 22 Oct 2015 17:54:47 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2015/10/17/the-scottish-national-partys-triumphant-hesitancy /content/c499k90t0d2kkckibca5l1vnch47e9t1 Sat, 17 Oct 2015 16:51:22 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2015/10/11/what-geoffrey-howes-career-revealed-about-power-and-thatcherism /content/okv28gug862sjmcqlai771b9kpuc52sq Sun, 11 Oct 2015 09:41:54 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2015/10/05/george-osbornes-plan-to-let-boomtowns-boom-and-failing-towns-fail /content/nesam4h76uv9leagnhlgc3th7l9ldseq Mon, 05 Oct 2015 11:56:31 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2015/10/03/the-art-of-moderation /content/tep1ohe9pbj3ora28sqnpbojk2t1khpd Sat, 03 Oct 2015 16:50:08 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2015/10/01/corbyn-cluedo /content/tgs6nj5phu89sepvg15ugo11j74uq2ut Thu, 01 Oct 2015 19:08:29 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2015/09/29/the-will-to-powerlessness /content/vrbca39ov6gtcvh2vem3lqkkqfuubjbq Tue, 29 Sep 2015 15:32:51 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2015/09/27/a-jeremy-corbyn-primer /content/suce7b97338be3earki5klrjso2g2hmj Sun, 27 Sep 2015 05:43:55 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2015/09/26/the-two-worlds-of-out /content/s0caimask5jt42lokru0hqrvifjsn8g0 Sat, 26 Sep 2015 09:26:39 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2015/09/24/an-interview-with-george-osborne /content/b6pm96cit00t8sqh74ci75o5ulq6beql Thu, 24 Sep 2015 13:30:27 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2015/09/24/reanimating-bagehots-notebook /content/8pbnunrg8b6kldcgn6lp7e60ks879mm4 Thu, 24 Sep 2015 11:37:29 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2015/03/11/thoughts-on-the-debates Dave is certain to win them, isn't he? /content/5n3r7td2d341rida5ud5ug589kntok4t Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:11:03 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2014/09/30/alas-poor-brick An especially funny turn from the mayor of London /content/vdctg3h0n8tga55m6friissuemi6qdpb Tue, 30 Sep 2014 21:22:10 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2014/01/03/come-what-may A backlash against the business practices of Silicon Valley may be on the way /content/umo864mju88b1p9f2vu0qdhb3c87a63a Fri, 03 Jan 2014 10:00:48 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/06/28/britains-cheering-gloom As Bagehot leaves for a new posting in America, a valedictory thought about the anger of British voters /content/6ng0n4enn3i9odd0cgovt2hdk8fv6vp2 Thu, 28 Jun 2012 23:56:43 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/06/21/a-brixit-looms Though no large British political party wants to leave the EU, an exit seems ever more likely /content/lr0lt0oda0icn16mb4jbofhe1c14apl4 Thu, 21 Jun 2012 15:49:17 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/06/15/george-osbornes-horrible-spring Much criticism of the chancellor of the exchequer doesn't matter. Some he should heed /content/ulc3ho1jgjj6v5628gc5spp48ajs5d2s Fri, 15 Jun 2012 06:10:05 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/06/07/the-ukip-insurgency Time to take Britain's anti-EU fringe party seriously /content/a9h4bsqjm41ig2scdc873iork22jjjir Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:11:36 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/06/01/some-ideas-for-improving-britains-relations-with-europe-why-they-may-not-work A map of the current state of British relations with the European Union /content/k572frujthke2acf6jf2iihst3hugro4 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 16:14:58 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/05/31/order-order On the road with John Bercow, the man trying to make the British love the House of Commons /content/p509f62imn1b19dvna6pu3gk6tqbgfgf Thu, 31 May 2012 17:20:28 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/05/24/what-the-diamond-jubilee-says-about-britain How Diamond Jubilee Britain compares to the nation that celebrated the Silver Jubilee and the Golden Jubilee /content/6q7in06ha19npbloq3ot95v086uc9it1 Thu, 24 May 2012 16:24:56 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/05/11/president-hollandes-first-tax-refugee-sighted-in-london The 75% top rate works its magic /content/unkds6kpsb82q9qm2q54pllf1m2jq6kv Fri, 11 May 2012 16:53:04 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/05/11/the-chances-of-a-british-referendum-on-eu-membership-are-growing Neither David Cameron not Ed Miliband really want a referendum, but they may end up with no choice /content/opi4l1bur66r50diukngkpja9t8shibk Fri, 11 May 2012 09:54:47 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/05/11/house-repairs What lies beneath a seemingly abstruse row about House of Lords reform /content/dvrk16iarbo4ni8ba1arsob8209ehlg7 Fri, 11 May 2012 08:43:21 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/05/04/britain-says-no-to-elected-mayors Tories bear some of the blame for a big set-back for the cause of reform /content/q7nmja2jtfpa0mifmrv3u6n5q9or2nie Fri, 04 May 2012 19:56:48 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/05/04/should-britains-government-offer-an-in-out-referendum-on-eu-membership Maybe Europe will leave Britain, before Britain leaves Europe /content/kjnmka7biol1vq2uqtic6h4nrjngtibb Fri, 04 May 2012 12:56:15 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/05/03/selling-britain-to-the-world Friendliness mixed with self-interest: William Hague's strategy for British diplomacy /content/msmodn3b1am32liv93jnp7otf2gasv8p Thu, 03 May 2012 15:49:34 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/05/01/if-tom-watson-really-believes-rupert-murdoch-is-a-menace-why-didnt-he-work-for-a-cross-party-report-condemning-him Labour MPs choose partisan point-scoring over a condemnation of wrongdoing by the Murdoch media empire /content/23u0ad4rsojm6mpnith6lpijfg4k30ln Tue, 01 May 2012 15:05:55 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/05/01/why-do-people-defend-failing-schools-but-not-failing-hospitals The perils of drawing parallels between health and education /content/br0kp7m8j0alkob4hkfduvg1sotbgjc4 Tue, 01 May 2012 12:19:24 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/04/26/are-british-newspapers-a-menace-to-democracy Reasons for optimism, even amidst the gloom /content/d4n6gj4h2m5lno3una2bjvo7hb94o8br Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:40:13 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/04/25/britains-educational-secret-weapon-chilly-rigour Easy is not good /content/ttq9drpq7bf4mffctm78anb19v6onpiq Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:43:54 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/04/24/the-british-governments-prosperity-agenda-hits-the-road With the British Foreign Secretary in Hanoi /content/mii9prkhnjv8drgqpoijrtibs0ko20u9 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:25:49 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/04/19/why-elected-mayors-matter Foes of elected mayors detect a plot to drive radical public sector reforms; they're right /content/uf5l27ne21dbk167ggjieclvosdihggr Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:13:41 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/04/17/why-the-debate-over-british-shale-gas-extraction-is-for-high-stakes Not just a domestic argument /content/72th3tthfs66ufnnn9nio2lr7ka98qg9 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:13:31 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/04/12/cutty-sark-britain British Eurosceptics try out a new line of argument: who needs European markets anyway? /content/pd1bst3r8hs0h384fs014s82se14lbhu Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:35:19 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/04/04/david-camerons-bad-week The real lesson from a spate of grim headlines: British voters are losing faith in mainstream parties /content/qmjreku6fldrk7jm5ufprirsrbqk43ph Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:12:52 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/04/02/intruding-on-the-easter-of-others In an unexpected detour, Bagehot finds himself on religious radio /content/a08sbdhf3gfh0fpemaprl1r6r5eeqtj5 Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:43:39 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/04/02/another-reason-why-the-tory-right-are-wrong-about-gay-marriage Forgetting the lessons of "back to basics" /content/85lebljopf6niv7mqoof03vob9fg4imm Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:25:32 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/03/30/wait-till-the-sun-hears-that-the-eu-wont-let-george-osborne-reverse-the-pasty-tax The campaign to reverse the pasty tax is up against the clock /content/nm6bajoipjhvk5laf6si8i2vl889kci5 Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:47:16 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/03/29/londons-infantilised-mayoral-elections Until London's mayor has to raise money as well as spend it, a great city will never grow up /content/8hjbsac5l98rqqoorekm2j37b04luhmg Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:52:33 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/03/29/pasty-gate-is-a-proxy-for-tory-angst-about-class-but-class-is-a-proxy-for-the-anger-of-the-tory-right The madness of a Westminster village in full cry about David Cameron's poshness /content/0n97j14pudmi5mua06bjuie82ppt1ksu Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:47:23 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/03/23/george-osbornes-granny-tax-woes-are-not-about-political-clumsiness-but-cowardice If you are taking tough decisions in the name of fairness, tell people that is what you are doing /content/vn81v1gip5g5b6hjhi6lq8et2oq6327l Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:17:43 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/03/22/the-myth-of-the-hedge-fund-boss-boasting-about-paying-less-tax-than-his-cleaner George Osborne, under pressure to defend his budget, commits a small act of violence against the historical record /content/5lkihm421uq9q4r74lr9vc9oc4inkkbn Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:23:26 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/03/22/a-notting-hill-budget-from-george-osborne The chancellor sends a signal about evolving British attitudes to earned and unearned wealth /content/ij65tm30eueuq1u9k46e1defls839gn0 Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:26:00 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/03/21/so-what-happened-to-budget-purdah The most-leaked secret in Whitehall history /content/h9gk85r8p4ur4v7s53mtcflm131m2m57 Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:46:13 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/03/20/reclaiming-tax-transparency-from-the-angry-right Three cheers for Ben Gummer, a new Tory MP who has done all sides of British politics a service /content/lm1k6n5ar6hfvhti7q6ka1ib4aahv28e Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:07:27 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/03/19/look-beyond-the-domestic-rows-and-george-osborne-is-planning-a-budget-aimed-squarely-at-multi-nationals-and-footloose-capital The rhetoric is local, but the message is global /content/cbc66dpn601uapg6pqmckepngahhb3h5 Mon, 19 Mar 2012 22:26:03 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/03/15/ever-closer-together-rarely-as-far-apart David Cameron, visiting America, discovers two allies converging and diverging at the same time /content/e0k6utk2krurjkjifgtqrab6rdbf8qh7 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:27:32 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/03/15/the-evolving-western-plan-for-syria David Cameron and Barack Obama go public with their anger at Russia for shielding the Assad regime /content/jennk061rikt9dsmpvdp426irjsulka1 Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:52:49 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/03/14/for-once-an-american-president-uses-a-british-prime-minister-for-a-photo-op Barack Obama woos Ohio with the help of David Cameron /content/44qg32ihmvqvu4clnimpdv2o88kene85 Wed, 14 Mar 2012 01:58:56 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/03/13/britain-ponders-an-innovative-invitation-to-bond-markets-give-us-your-money-forever Perpetual gilts and other temptations /content/bv0c6oahp2jm0hr4ai3142dsvid7gnid Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:44:07 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/03/08/remembering-an-unconventional-democrat-and-scholar-of-walter-bagehots-works An obituary of Norman St John-Stevas /content/cqcc6av3nk9fqo6q30rt44ntn8civhed Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:12:19 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/03/05/signalling-a-left-turn-or-just-pandering-nick-clegg-blames-the-labour-government-for-not-spending-enough The deputy prime minister sucks up to the people of Wales /content/in5d2ggph1tjre5s51qa9atmuvuvi5af Mon, 05 Mar 2012 18:46:19 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/03/01/david-camerons-race-problem If the Conservative Party cannot woo more black and Asian voters, it will struggle to win the seats needed for an overall majority /content/oq0r48ius6bvsnoi8tt4imeqhlcqqvj9 Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:36:28 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/02/27/health-and-safety-madness-a-menace-with-ancient-british-roots British workers have not always been so risk-averse. But they have always been stroppy /content/5mh5ku82h390at9a35nu71cfi5usnge1 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:12:53 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/02/23/lessons-from-jersey-the-only-place-under-the-british-crown-that-already-elects-police-chiefs The emptiness of a shouting match pitting "tough" against "soft" justice, and assuming that voters always want toughness /content/4ldc7371cit8qp8ftmgmm5oju0ujs6am Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:12:31 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/02/16/the-clegg-paradox The calls keep multiplying for Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats to stake out more distinctive positions, but the Lib Dems' most distinctive positions are not always very popular /content/0mtlcnidd0skqed1n1ig4tg7s2lcjms7 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:35:11 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/02/10/the-oddity-of-britains-human-rights-debate The Right need to regain a sense of proportion /content/gl14s021u027ojjcpghurteek7eh28v5 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:19:37 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/02/09/the-british-lose-faith-in-meritocracy The row about high pay for bankers is about something bigger /content/8tebdqqdbof9dv3ifmqijjvq1q2ife29 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:14:39 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/02/07/interviewing-andrew-marr-about-the-queen He is glad that the Queen has never granted an interview, but would not turn an interview down, if offered /content/9hu07epk6imft1o0ckafopi0l6l14jac Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:11:48 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/02/03/britains-green-minded-climate-change-minister-resigns-why-thats-good-for-the-environment Why it is good news that Chris Huhne is out of the government /content/ruuosdl97gbhc167vmebdutfqnfpnjr3 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:04:48 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/02/02/visiting-an-inspiring-school-in-a-tough-london-neighbourhood The quest for good schools everywhere; or, can Britain pull off bog-standard excellence? /content/jibgdngsb769q8h903ualii0t5j4k729 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:31:12 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/01/31/when-the-daily-mail-and-polly-toynbee-are-united-in-self-righteous-anger-be-afraid Cross-party glee at the humiliation of Fred Goodwin, a very unpopular man /content/7l3057290t5c9ltjhn0f14j0rk9bnh6u Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:50:12 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/01/26/seen-and-thus-believed-britain-falls-back-in-love-with-its-dutiful-tireless-monarch A slew of royal books reviewed /content/stcn4vbkar9vg315jjbs2u5einlamrna Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:59:04 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/01/26/to-the-barricades-british-defenders-of-open-markets What really lurks behind a series of seemingly domestic British rows about fairness and capitalism /content/lanupkml2som5tht7mv1rlp8tjdn7hpg Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:27:08 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/01/19/alex-salmond-little-englander The Scottish independence leader and his misplaced hatred of Britishness /content/u9bc8dpp5r8ike0hqcrno21qtd6tao7l Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:51:21 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/01/17/david-hockney-national-treasure A big new show by Britain's "greatest living painter" celebrates the English landscape: oddly, the best paintings could be of anywhere /content/fa7toa6t7r90l5389vmh4kp0185l5t84 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:26:33 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/01/16/now-come-the-calls-for-the-english-to-be-given-a-say How many governments do the British want? /content/jspu0u4glhkb73qnupheh3u1o88q1p0r Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:40:22 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/01/12/ed-miliband-says-some-bold-new-things-about-austerity-britain-but-voters-are-not-listening The Labour leader is a mid-sized politician making giant claims about his power to re-shape Britain's economy /content/c81ngeceu6ug68piu70eiit6ciene168 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:14:02 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/01/12/interviewing-alex-salmond-the-man-who-wants-to-break-up-britain Scotland's first minister knows his own country, he is oddly out of date about the English /content/66vv0snmmhbilvrn6h7orvp5anikrv9p Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:28:41 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/01/09/david-cameron-tells-scottish-nationalists-to-put-up-or-shut-up-on-independence A bold move by the prime minister of the United Kingdom /content/vq6risr9p4fvl4lqb0v43u1holh7fmip Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:27:36 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2012/01/06/a-murder-that-changed-britain Britain still has a problem with race, but learned lessons from a racist murder /content/fdrkoouh6esoc2cp06k3gcrolpn20bum Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:23:21 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/12/28/royal-britain-v-olympics-britain The risks and rewards of hosting the 2012 London Olympics and a royal jubilee in austerity Britain /content/pa2klb1llqabj5nl4bagbpqk8a66r01q Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:51:59 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/12/15/how-britain-could-leave-the-eu British grumpiness towards the EU feels familiar, actually big new risks lurk /content/sckmq83cp6ch7inpg95iirh8hh3nfp1l Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:50:35 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/12/12/the-euro-not-the-titanic-but-chernobyl Britain's travails in euro-land may look like nothing if the single currency goes down /content/v4og4j0ni6trsnqgg40squlqc757fk49 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:28:48 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/12/11/could-david-cameron-have-done-anything-other-than-walk-away-from-a-new-eu-treaty Britain shouldn't have started from here /content/6nelr8n43qjv2j17d41lie1qdgp78i27 Sun, 11 Dec 2011 00:44:32 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/12/09/the-moment-behind-closed-doors-that-david-cameron-lost-his-eu-argument-last-night What Britain was asking for /content/ri1el8l5ojrdgeno28tl8sjuhvvuoan8 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:09:38 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/12/09/britain-not-leaving-but-falling-out-of-the-eu Nicolas Sarkozy and British Eurosceptics form an unholy alliance: both want Britain out of the single market /content/oc84ij7v2det2viii4rkd61lufa2h92i Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:29:22 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/12/08/god-in-austerity-britain If years of economic misery lie ahead, will the country turn to its national church as a source of strength? /content/q64coaa8hn2i8fe4df5dsjmvvat97kak Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:33:00 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/12/06/hearing-from-englands-summer-rioters The left scrambles to explain away the summer's riots /content/d65m4i4a06adtthndcak182p48uphfed Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:27:31 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/12/04/british-eurosceptics-demand-the-right-to-prescribe-euthanasia-for-the-euro-zone It's not their party, but they'll make others cry if they want to /content/s79ft79t14929i30407umlkt05dslftv Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:53:49 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/12/02/a-very-near-miss-for-britains-diplomats-in-iran Iran takes a step closer to global isolation /content/t2l5o7n4gsq3u3u3ufkuhssu121r04d0 Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:12:21 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/12/01/britain-and-france-the-impossible-indispensable-relationship Why Britain's relations with France are excellent and terrible at the same time /content/64vsev8q4ao7bmfms9om5c8rkre7ljju Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:42:22 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/11/25/david-cameron-toxic-tory The prime minister faces calls to ditch his central leadership strategy to date /content/ion1t7jrpb363koghpe36ufojr5gi5hh Fri, 25 Nov 2011 10:32:51 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/11/24/why-labour-may-not-be-the-winners-if-the-british-economy-falls-off-a-cliff The politics of economic catastrophe /content/79a2n41em320m3vif2arnoa4tncro4jn Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:35:10 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/11/21/should-mps-be-allowed-to-switch-parties-without-consulting-their-voters A sensible reform is proposed /content/99arp4736hesv2otfrn22p6bhrc3t4e1 Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:22:30 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/11/21/no-a-new-conservative-government-in-spain-will-not-help-britain-fight-deeper-eu-integration The strange optimism of Eurosceptic pessimists /content/d3bfe0eo3qhlue0n96d42lr479s01rdu Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:59:06 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/11/20/keeping-it-polite A polite reminder that this is a place of discussion, not abuse /content/schv5idq0qse3qss12bmrjs721ueid5c Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:44:05 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/11/18/david-cameron-and-angela-merkel-people-who-can-do-business-with-each-other Signs of pragmatism when British and German leaders meet in Berlin: will British Eurosceptics be so accommodating? /content/ec2sumnp1e1o740lohpoksib4fah2buu Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:40:01 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/11/18/recession-and-the-young-in-britain Without growth, some of Britain's most promising reforms are not going to work /content/idsic3iracejbucm90rg0htkb39iu5jb Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:48:20 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/11/18/rising-german-ambitions-for-treaty-change-pile-the-pressure-on-david-cameron Britain's Eurosceptics are wrong to bash Berlin - Berlin is acting like their greatest ally /content/u5se94gmoc2s0ukdl5b97l06anfcq5fg Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:54:51 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/11/16/the-british-obsession-with-apprenticeships A British enthusiasm for apprenticeships that does not extend as far as actually wanting them /content/sr69gtp0ot4aojg8984jddjegm1b2mda Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:52:47 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/11/14/david-cameron-we-eurosceptics-are-only-trying-to-help Britain's prime minister vows to refashion the EU, not to refashion Britain's relationship with the EU /content/ak3odq31ia9hqdsnncvkamc2qjeeftmu Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:01:37 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/11/10/britains-other-european-headache David Cameron's coalition takes on the European Court of Human Rights /content/75n3kfk7uvfbbpu9n5qun49388uacb74 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:22:51 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/11/10/why-britain-has-centrist-politics The importance of impartial boundary reviews /content/d66spsjjm0jft242k22fg4mc9u4ibsgn Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:55:10 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/11/04/a-proxy-row-about-the-imf-is-really-a-row-about-britain-and-europe Labour and the government play games, as the euro burns /content/ogkauh1l8ttcdl14v5i02m7hu2snl40q Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:09:05 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/11/03/britain-runs-out-of-euro-allies David Cameron cannot deliver on promises to turn the euro crisis into an opportunity for Britain /content/63mg2r5n530n28ig7mb7j3sn19co3ok4 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:44:26 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/11/01/the-curious-demise-of-the-zebra-crossing Is stopping a car for pedestrians about manners, or about power and equality? /content/6qodfs1pjpqfg9hsa9tj2elho558ritf Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:08:34 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/10/30/the-ultimate-eurosceptic-fantasy-putting-faith-in-the-commonwealth An acid test of unseriousness among Eurosceptics: Commonwealth-worship /content/uf8725419j5c03mgclspki0g3et1mo0j Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:17:05 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/10/27/what-happens-when-you-set-good-head-teachers-free A visit to an amazing London primary school /content/ti9quarmfpr04ro2pgn7q63kac63qd0a Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:37:14 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/10/27/trusting-the-people-when-mps-are-distrusted Britain slides, without much of a formal debate, away from representative democracy /content/unrd42mb9iemvrlblufcscpplvg82579 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:12:01 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/10/24/david-cameron-tells-eurosceptic-rebel-mps-we-disagree-only-over-means-not-ends The government fights off a Euro-rebellion with an extraordinary mixture of pragmatism and radicalism /content/dgf2er53uthitamq25feek6oqtlgdh36 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:23:54 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/10/20/when-the-conservative-right-is-wrong-headed Why Tory MPs want to send David Cameron into the fast-moving EU crisis with his hands tied /content/k69unr3mkv3dfc2u732ntn3mn7amr6po Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:28:25 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/10/18/the-house-of-commons-ponders-free-love-or-the-eu-equivalent Britain's Parliament agrees to debate a referendum on EU membership /content/cbotkjdj0nvliimfaqvgrq2i8euhpklb Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:05:17 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/10/17/why-not-mourn-enemy-donkeys-too An odd public memorial in London /content/hierg7p0i4voueng95bdu1thgocnieqq Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:36:29 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/10/14/outfoxed Liam Fox was acting like a Washington politician, but in Westminster /content/g7l30r04si0q2ctbb8pcj9nt5kf832rs Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:08:26 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/10/14/the-newest-conservative-member-of-the-european-parliament-and-his-fears-of-german-invasion The European Parliament gains another treasure /content/8045mm6ldjm1mf9q24tpnin241tjdr0i Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:27:31 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/10/13/is-britains-tabloid-press-getting-serious-about-improving-standards The most powerful editor in Fleet Street offers some remarkable concessions to keep self-regulation /content/fqbc6c5j9v7ehu66j012lsr55d9vc6eq Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:57:59 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/10/13/britain-ponders-copying-harsh-danish-policies-on-immigration Do British citizens have the right to marry a foreigner and bring them into the country? Or is it a privilege to be earned? /content/1f5f61t51v9lubtf0snionil67au8vtt Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:26:33 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/10/10/just-what-britains-cash-strapped-military-did-not-need-a-minister-mired-in-bizarre-allegations-about-a-dodgy-friend Liam Fox survives a first test in parliament, but is not safe /content/jn1otc57gtfd87td11cc6l6v751os98c Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:12:30 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/10/06/why-a-conservative-led-british-government-is-backing-euro-zone-integration Tory leaders are urging euro-area countries to pull together: that does not mean they believe this will save the euro /content/tsebp4ip4iapr99puj4ickfvag5i53ag Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:29:19 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/10/06/putting-politics-into-policing The Conservative Party recruits an Iraq war hero as their first candidate to be an elected police commissioner /content/h0fmbhpip851qfaj2fcu18o85lcbmstl Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:31:03 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/10/05/david-cameron-tells-the-british-they-are-not-angry-they-are-pessimistic The prime minister and Ed Miliband see many of the same problems: their analysis is very different /content/4orvhe7f52e2bppef0dbok356s5lvmv8 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:29:49 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/10/04/a-mystery-cat-saves-the-tory-party-from-being-the-nasty-party A day of foreigner bashing at the Conservative Party /content/1d5e62ftj48n9grmh0ruos3f3ovljjij Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:34:34 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/10/03/britains-ruling-party-gathers-under-the-watchful-eye-of-the-bond-markets A very pragmatic Conservative Party conference /content/sh1gajihoa3abv9js0vs2olia1t7bq40 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:27:49 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/30/is-brussels-really-about-to-force-britain-to-admit-benefit-tourists The European Commission and the British government face off over an explosive question of welfare and border management /content/b3636d1fv8d075cc4mr2mmaaed6e4ktn Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:37:45 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/29/a-big-scary-opponent-for-the-government The coalition's planning reforms wake a sleeping giant of British politics /content/ntgcje9hsjhmi08p0rie756e6rg40br4 Thu, 29 Sep 2011 17:11:22 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/29/ed-miliband-an-old-fashioned-german-social-democrat The Labour leader's big idea for Britain is rooted in voter anger that he cannot promise to assuage. That is dangerous ground /content/l07r8t8f4gbovahnnspta6abqjlak8tj Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:31:29 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/29/british-euroscepticism-enjoys-a-cheap-night-out By all means have a go at the guilty men, but get the right ones /content/19lfh16u5v6em0knbn3fabfpqi22aom1 Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:41:21 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/27/ed-miliband-blows-his-big-chance-to-explain-what-he-wants-for-britain Labour's leader knows what he wants to do to Britain: it's just that he dares not say it aloud /content/7k1lkm2q747fh322n57aqhgnai4bkk12 Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:30:08 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/26/labour-flatters-the-coalition-but-only-to-deceive The Labour campaign to fight the Big Tory Lie about Britain's deficit rests on a mid-sized Labour fib /content/6miqp7qcjqc5ellrl4fk87fiqgu7semt Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:56:24 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/22/the-cheery-gloom-of-the-liberal-democrats The paradoxical good cheer of Britain's third party, in the face of awful poll numbers /content/eqt2c1v81hde97ihqs8is7ajkuodtomb Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:18:58 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/21/nick-clegg-asks-voters-for-permission-to-be-heard A bid to reposition the Liberal Democrats as a party acting in the national interest, not for vested interests /content/ah8tpgh455io278leitd4e753hvhga5n Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:15:08 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/20/britains-plague-of-young-politicians The reassurance of a few grey hairs, in a time of crisis /content/hue0ndss2li73n7e2a4ht396m7anlf3v Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:33:10 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/19/the-real-reason-for-the-liberal-democrats-odd-cheeriness-ed-miliband-is-doing-worse Even economic meltdown is not enough to dismay Nick Clegg's happy warriors /content/pptovc0l1tcefrtn5g8sa77u6d0e0ikc Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:52:11 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/15/british-conservatives-plan-for-the-collapse-of-the-euro The "euro-crisis as golden opportunity" thesis goes mainstream at Westminster /content/imcg8g0lbgnif7htms5iqqc7bfp1773f Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:39:25 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/15/the-tories-who-think-retreat-the-best-form-of-defence An attack of Euro-protectionism offers a glimpse of the future, if Britain were to quit the EU /content/or9sqau55f50tjgcurmcku5s17sv9sli Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:31:21 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/15/the-depressing-tale-of-johann-hari A bad advertisment for British journalism /content/kgbimd66tjga8d53gh6ieprsil8kl573 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:52:13 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/12/david-cameron-flies-to-russia David Cameron ends a four year freeze in British relations with Vladimir Putin /content/bdhf6da2810oh9n3knt8uk564jm9bdfe Mon, 12 Sep 2011 22:15:37 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/08/grief-and-its-consequences The response of one English town to a death in Afghanistan /content/ebvssqli3l1ig3eooqg7e8r2h7fkpfg8 Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:43:39 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/08/remembering-and-misremembering-britains-martial-past Exploring Wootton Bassett Britain, and how if differs from Falklands Britain /content/jvl7l1fe1o12m1ibmdlqir115e0ns2d5 Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:35:25 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/06/britain-is-more-pro-american-even-more-american-than-the-headlines-about-libyan-torture-suggest Britain remains a European outlier in its willingness to use force /content/ovi1oif4ccu69voobeno3qtp3ehhd4ga Tue, 06 Sep 2011 22:30:45 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/02/a-new-take-on-the-british-empire A rising star of the Conservative right comes to an un-conservative view of imperial rule /content/370pkkb1qkans30f0453csmh2um76apo Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:44:46 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/09/01/why-rich-britons-are-not-volunteering-to-pay-more-tax A very British muddle about soaking the rich /content/c8ino38q8e1u3j8v7heoocbmgioflmt2 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:31:09 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/08/30/can-an-englishman-rent-his-castle Britain ponders a future of declining home-ownership /content/9sjrdabjehfat2jhe9q55jn2vpcivksq Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:45:37 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/08/26/the-right-realises-that-net-migration-targets-are-daft If you really hate the idea of foreign workers filling British jobs, fix British schools /content/a95a7p67mrnnunltsei1svm5e0e79ro3 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:02:44 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/08/25/mr-camerons-war Libya marks a successful test for a more modest, bilateral form of British foreign policy, at least so far. That does not mean the experiment can be replicated /content/ma64mcrgoktllnqvjgk9dqktnul50htc Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:25:42 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/08/23/once-its-over-in-libya-will-it-be-over Or will the hard part just be starting? /content/r0mi1bv6f4gm0ta11djtr61dok7j16ok Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:23:27 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/08/23/why-politicians-should-cut-short-holidays-in-a-crisis Politicians need their rest, but they will have lots of spare time after they lose their jobs /content/pne6e0nsm9g9tgqdjagb7n8besou8q2p Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:05:25 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/08/19/forget-class-war-the-real-fight-is-between-the-generations By all mean try to make taxes fairer, but don't forget being humane, too /content/7pqtgoj3q968e6opt73lombsis546amm Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:45:46 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/08/18/the-transportation-option Betting on English pragmatism, as a corrective to post-riot panic /content/ivb9l6pi1ggjomnkko9n0rosi7m3gpkj Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:52:41 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/08/18/a-brief-bashful-request-for-votes The following is a campaign message /content/ka6bpvb1brtdpimgge0p3n3on73i2qih Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:02:45 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/08/16/we-have-been-here-before Centuries of nostalgia for a peaceful, law-abiding Britain /content/d616kbi68mni900toj0vrekjk3sf3ll0 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:56:49 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/08/15/britains-august-riots Plausible and less plausible explanations /content/ia8cv9al4iu0m27pgalbvq8c2apvf9mo Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:11:44 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/07/25/my-plan-to-fix-the-press How to clean up British journalism /content/6r4uefh67182emrv8kbi3p8sd05aasu4 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:27:55 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/07/21/britain-changes-its-mind-about-a-two-speed-europe The slow lane may be unavoidable, don't believe those promising it amounts to a free ride /content/72jm6kgrdj9udps8cje7nfqacv4ekioe Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:59:24 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/07/19/rupert-and-james-murdoch-before-parliament The Murdochs play it humble yet grand /content/3lcctmdpm7i3ciae9snkrturcfdu8f9t Tue, 19 Jul 2011 21:44:19 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/07/19/lord-kinnock-accidentally-clarifies-the-future-of-press-regulation-and-of-media-ownership A former Labour leader makes a daft proposal /content/3kq9aco8i3m3jpnqufq0kcr583g1tlfa Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:45:18 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/07/19/austerity-britain-a-bonanza-for-bicycle-menders Is it all a cunning Keynesian plan? /content/r5j2q3jgeioh10tkhb8q9alvir8brom7 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:35:59 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/07/18/why-david-cameron-is-not-about-to-resign-as-prime-minister A neat attempt at symmetry is too neat /content/md7gvhkob4mq6k886lm7er560cudvvuk Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:28:45 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/07/14/time-to-cheer-up-britain-will-be-fine Trust has taken another nasty knock, it can be rebuilt /content/6ne4fg29b31iphf0kdsom6llu33ml48n Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:55:16 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/07/14/what-exactly-is-independent-press-regulation David Cameron signals an end to self-regulation /content/f5djrutm1v73jmbrreb11cp0mbqstuij Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:55:36 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/07/12/the-government-follows-labours-lead-in-attacking-rupert-murdoch As the Labour opposition finally learns the gentle art of opposing /content/8m5dkdvqpjpj659nnou1apj1jfgliqe2 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:28:17 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/07/11/now-it-is-an-earthquake After years of stalling and concealment, the revelations pour forth /content/3qib23ufqqmrqcsjade0rmiurci8pm5m Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:56:33 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/07/08/a-week-of-crises-at-home-and-abroad Strong, weak David Cameron /content/khgm561ah0gf1o365but42p0hnbgmijg Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:48:51 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/07/08/david-cameron-apologises-but-for-the-wrong-thing The prime minister's Andy Coulson problem /content/3f1m7n54g7rv9mk53ne4h2eiko5uihs5 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 11:43:59 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/07/07/the-tabloid-press-turns-on-itself And a British general is stunned to think that tabloid support for the troops might be self-interested /content/80u1q6tf1oa80i3o5emnu0usb94h54au Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:10:33 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/07/06/how-vulnerable-is-david-cameron Why the PM owes the Guardian a debt of gratitude /content/dhvcfiu17a01562er8so584vn87ecjfa Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:43:11 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/07/04/david-camerons-hunt-for-an-afghan-exit-strategy With Britain’s prime minister in Afghanistan /content/0ora93vn6tsjbm5934o2fhuocf8126qd Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:28:32 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/07/01/blaming-foreigners-for-being-employable A Tory minister peddles protectionism /content/aqppc3d8qma0npn8s16pfb9pqmiau0fb Fri, 01 Jul 2011 23:10:50 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/06/30/the-awful-lesson-of-the-1980s The public is not in a mood for industrial confrontation /content/nu9oh9t8ot6vk3og62k3u5s1u0q0sprj Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:37:06 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/06/24/wanted-a-schools-revolution Britain's crazy education apartheid /content/pthl6gd49ljbempdrctskcm0f2h4v5h0 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:59:28 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/06/23/nobody-likes-a-back-seat-driver Moderate Tory Eurosceptics in a muddle /content/0cvt8amjbkbodbim2ikp7acekpd72f42 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:50:17 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/06/21/david-cameron-says-u-turns-are-a-sign-of-strength-nobody-sniggers A prime minister still in his pomp /content/6om7dotn954th3oqvg703jgbab48vsva Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:07:50 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/06/20/beware-eurosceptics-bearing-gifts The British voices urging the Greeks to default and leave the euro /content/an1dvaa8f5j26uribl4c34c0s1u7vfb9 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 22:27:57 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/06/17/a-very-british-paradox Why the British are relaxed about takeovers, but dread being taken over /content/2jflinca8ovemhbqp8tqj9i21tiu2rll Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:47:06 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/06/17/can-chinatown-be-saved-by-authentic-food Bagehot offers Chinese restaurant tips /content/globlpgfm9dujafl0euvba2mh8m24b0m Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:49:52 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/06/16/is-ed-balls-an-ideologue-or-just-cynical Labour's shadow chancellor gives a sneaky speech /content/qp08hpiargvhp9ahjt73tudj8mescph6 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:19:44 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/06/10/curious-george Three former chancellors assess a very political successor /content/iueeamufqm8p1erdudq7ei883e5slel5 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:30:40 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/06/09/the-archbishop-of-canterbury-attacks-the-coalition The archbishop sees a fearful country. Actually, he is really talking about a left that is out of ideas. /content/o5qhrplp4lubl4vr343sda0n1i317hre Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:44:17 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/06/07/nhs-reforms-at-last-the-politicians-are-talking-about-money Escaping from the ring-fence trap /content/0k1lcrrgal3g88i20pirr9jb8hsrkr3t Tue, 07 Jun 2011 22:30:37 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/06/03/so-are-coalitions-good-for-reform They can be, but the NHS row is ominous /content/0de6hir519fja058u1ricegmg0444pkn Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:00:10 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/06/02/things-britain-gets-right-part-1 And which would not happen in many other countries /content/vtggr5duef85noq0utlluqkd16b9naji Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:43:45 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/06/02/england-ponders-its-isolation-in-world-football The English know they are seen as arrogant, but forget they are also seen as sleazy /content/eqgarr7b2rd52mputjgnkc2os6uvfqco Thu, 02 Jun 2011 11:33:04 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/05/31/what-is-the-best-hope-for-the-underclass-aspiration-or-grievance A fight on the left offers a back-handed endorsement for the Big Society /content/9c3gkmm006va42n3hpc9l8snruinc297 Tue, 31 May 2011 22:35:46 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/05/27/big-spending-deficit-hawks The Tories who yearn to pull up the drawbridge /content/43bt4t5micc16h0bfq2cs4kace52pju2 Fri, 27 May 2011 14:03:41 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/05/26/britains-feral-press-a-way-forward Looking for a way to protect investigative journalists, but rein in the celebrity keyhole-peepers /content/0kspc2jl1ms29ag2p2frvctc6o36s2n9 Thu, 26 May 2011 17:41:02 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/05/23/chris-huhne-and-gerald-nabarro-very-different-car-drivers A historical interlude /content/cq8lh60rdddsdedag7r17j0c3ljlouk3 Mon, 23 May 2011 22:28:50 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/05/20/from-dsk-to-fred-the-shred-a-study-in-contrasting-sanctimonies The public being interested, and the public interest: two different things /content/k4mfsb7iksgua98ocb4bd79ovq5t7fkh Fri, 20 May 2011 13:48:18 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/05/19/a-nation-of-shoppers Some of those bashing Britain's big supermarkets really have a beef with markets, full stop /content/e24p5l9cg8r3s76u8hp8rli2cb1io2jl Thu, 19 May 2011 20:54:36 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/05/17/the-social-animal-and-the-big-society David Cameron's favourite book /content/lv9icuk5i9ieu4pkkrkoluqpf0n56aiq Tue, 17 May 2011 22:37:37 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/05/16/the-liberal-democrats-horrible-month-continues Unproven allegations causing political headaches /content/q7ed6rs1dbuj2pah4hajhdua0ol1n442 Mon, 16 May 2011 17:54:05 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/05/12/the-perils-of-rationality-in-politics The strangely Socratic calm of Mr Clegg /content/rsmavd1uoh180gj90vda5ovqoaf66971 Thu, 12 May 2011 17:16:05 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/05/12/will-spending-cuts-be-yesterdays-news-by-the-next-general-election If they work, will their importance be much less than we currently expect? /content/aohg80i4o3kfgr2402kk3ntm4acb11qs Thu, 12 May 2011 15:06:04 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/05/10/journalists-the-uninsurable-risk Stigma backed by actuarial data /content/sijro66fblnn1h3f1bbpt91ct0d3kdh9 Tue, 10 May 2011 13:55:31 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/05/06/did-david-cameron-intend-to-win-a-landslide-in-the-av-debate He may live to regret crushing Nick Clegg so thoroughly /content/qnn7tl5m6rgm7jd4kpcn8jokim4n3m7l Fri, 06 May 2011 15:31:25 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/05/06/scotland-voting-to-escape-austerity-not-the-united-kingdom English, not Scottish nationalism is the force worth watching /content/e8b87pfmbnqh3lhhndf8its0qc391k33 Fri, 06 May 2011 09:42:55 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/05/05/why-britain-should-be-proud-of-opening-its-labour-market-to-eastern-europe A triumph for British pragmatism and openness /content/vujgp5rv6j0m4s9p1rbv2boi73fp2tb3 Thu, 05 May 2011 17:00:47 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/04/25/is-this-coalition-in-fighting-a-phoney-war The alterative vote debate /content/d2c2t8v94pkm0dhhurqsqj3p0clahso8 Mon, 25 Apr 2011 22:43:28 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/04/20/set-the-royal-family-free A case for compassionate republicanism /content/4p4bjigvcuqpdr2vjkihp6m045a51hiq Wed, 20 Apr 2011 16:35:09 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/04/14/how-a-yes-vote-to-av-could-lead-britain-to-proportional-representation AV feels like it would be an unstable system in Britain /content/t2vdo5ikak98cdljbkmd0a7ontf3vqqv Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:32:23 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/04/14/to-please-tories-make-a-mainstream-immigration-policy-sound-tougher-than-it-is Is that a good place for the Tory party to be? /content/5lnl50d8pvtqvhq52pupksfgft8m5m9a Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:19:16 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/04/12/a-very-odd-political-campaign On the ground with the AV activists /content/0dhaqgifvo1c2fbhfkj4p2356ookv4i6 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 20:35:30 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/04/11/cyclists-for-a-crackdown-on-cyclists The curious appeal of a new law singling out reckless bicycling /content/ndtci41rli55h8lmut977st4rlb5b1i4 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 21:46:33 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/04/07/can-david-cameron-be-radical-and-popular-at-the-same-time The perils of personalising policy /content/mnbqv7hs7bto18qork3n97o898uhgo5r Thu, 07 Apr 2011 21:39:03 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/04/01/why-av-might-not-matter-very-much David Cameron's former tutor at Oxford offers a shrewd critique /content/mnu5dlp5fcedbgj8vgthpj53sfprthmg Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:27:46 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/03/31/questions-for-ed-miliband Would Labour do it all again? /content/lk84l45io4iug8r1ncqnnuun58h24url Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:07:07 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/03/29/britain-is-not-about-to-be-billed-for-bailout-billions Fact-checking the Portuguese bailout debate /content/1gkc4v14r10qlamjjvutn4smflmsrqo8 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:45:20 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/03/26/ed-miliband-shunted-off-the-television-news-by-anarchists Labour's leader struggles to endorse only the moderate bits of the anti-cuts movement /content/q12pbos35pbdg3vtu5as2tgdqjc0mtua Sat, 26 Mar 2011 23:29:34 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/03/25/labours-flat-earthers-demand-the-cuts-go-away A national policy forum shows how far the party has to go /content/ij8f2djsem53ljcdelcom77h56c5qt6r Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:53:56 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/03/24/the-ghost-of-tony-blair Britain lost a good deal of innocence in Iraq, but did not entirely lose a taste for humanitarian war /content/2bmdbucptdikccajadva4q0c1l0d4mot Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:19:48 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/03/24/according-to-the-tuc-the-government-are-big-meanies Why trade union bosses think voters are like children /content/10ak94al6k3l160shta6mms6s3th3s33 Thu, 24 Mar 2011 16:38:10 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/03/24/george-osbornes-big-bet-is-on-globalisation A gamble, and a bargain with voters /content/a65ki0geg3q5e7u64km5emdsfjm66gp6 Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:39:07 +0000 https://www.economist.com/bagehots-notebook/2011/03/18/the-war-drums-boom-in-britain A perfect storm for interventionists /content/k89cgm1f745vot1qkmmp4krd4phtdm0o Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:52:26 +0000