By: Alys Denby

Alys Denby is opinion and features editor of City AM. She writes the weekly Free Thinking newsletter and presents the video series of the same name. She regularly appears in broadcast media including BBC, Channel 5 Sky News, Times Radio, LBC and GB News. She has previously worked for a think tank and as a parliamentary researcher

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In defence of Ruth Davidson, Andy Street and the Tory ‘wets’

January 27, 2026

The right has no path to victory without also winning back voters who defected from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats in 2024. Recent Tory defections to Reform have made that job easier for Kemi Badenoch, says Alys Denby Wet Wet Wet is the name of the musical outfit behind “Love is All Around”, which [...]
It’s time for Starmer to choose: is he a lawyer or a leader?

January 8, 2026

The international, rules-and-rights-based order is crumbling in the face of Trump’s brute force. This leaves career human rights lawyer Keir Starmer in an interesting position… A Venezuelan friend once showed me a small purse made out of folded and woven 100,000 Bolivar notes. These would be sold to tourists for a few dollars as their [...]
The Debate: Are Londoners safer drivers?

December 10, 2025

A new survey has found that Londoners cause more accidents on country roads than their rural counterparts. But are sophisticated urbanites really more reckless drivers? YES: Rural roads are a deathtrap Picture this: It’s five o’clock on a December afternoon, completely pitch black, and a giant Rangerover comes hurtling round the corner, right wheel just [...]
Reeves isn’t ‘underestimated’, she’s doing a bad job and should resign

December 1, 2025

Rachel Reeves has no mandate for taking money from taxpayers to hand to benefits claimants and her self-pitying defences are an insult to the people who are paying for her weakness, writes Alys Denby Rachel Reeves’ position has been untenable from the start. Her promises, during the election, that she would “end austerity” (increase public [...]
The Debate: should Britain abolish the monarchy?

November 5, 2025

The disgrace of the former Prince Andrew has led some to question whether it’s time Britain abolished the monarchy altogether. Two experts make their cases in this week’s Debate. No: Constitutional monarchy is a shield against instability and tyranny The list of countries which retain a ceremonial constitutional monarchy contains many of the world’s most [...]
Margaret Thatcher would never have made a pact with Farage

October 13, 2025

On the 100th birthday of Margaret Thatcher, Alys Denby reflects on what lessons she’s learned from the Iron Lady, and why her legacy remains relevant today… My mother tells me that when I was about three, I asked her if a woman could be a doctor. She replied: “darling, a woman is Prime Minister!”. It [...]
Kemi gets the stamp of approval, but for how long?

October 8, 2025

Kemi Badenoch’s speech at Conservative Party Conference was a vital moment to reset her leadership and reclaim her party’s mantle as the party of business. She rose to it, says Alys Denby One of the chief joys of Conservative Party Conference is being denounced as “Tory scum” by a protester standing outside in the rain. [...]
The Debate: This house has confidence in the president-elect of the Oxford Union

September 16, 2025

Following the horrifying death of Charlie Kirk, the president-elect of the Oxford Union, George Abaraonye, posted comments online appearing to celebrate his murder. Since then, many have called for him to be removed from the post. The whole affair has raised questions about the necessity and limits of free speech in a democracy – and [...]
Mandelson scandal is sickening, but it’s the economy that’s fatal for Starmer

September 11, 2025

Despicable Peter Mandelson is deeply damaging for Keir Starmer, but it’s the economy that will collapse his government, says Alys Denby Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘birthday book’ is a sickening document. It doesn’t just contain damning messages from Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, but a cartoon depicting the financier grooming children to give him lewd massages, images [...]
Forget Seville, Cordoba is the real jewel of Southern Spain

September 8, 2025

The first thing you notice about Cordoba in spring is the smell. When the orange trees that line the streets and the jasmines that climb the walls blossom, the whole city fills with their sultry fragrance. The historic centre of Cordoba is a Unesco world heritage site that bears memories of its Roman, Moorish and [...]

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I’m 50 – but I feel young dining at Simpson’s in the Strand

By: Alys Denby

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