By: Eliot Wilson

Eliot Wilson is a writer, commentator and contributing editor at Defence On The Brink. He was formerly a clerk in the House of Commons and writes regularly on politics, defence and international security, and Parliament and the constitution, including for The Spectator, The Hill, The i Paper and CapX

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The defence industry can’t wait for the government to find its courage

Opinion

The government slips from one deadline to another and insists all is well. But the damage is already being done, to our industrial base, our capabilities and our reputation, says Eliot Wilson Sir Keir Starmer’s government cannot be blamed for all the shortcomings in Britain’s defence posture and capabilities, the roots of which can be [...]
On This Day in 1980: America severs diplomatic relations with Iran

Opinion

The United States severed diplomatic relations with Iran on April 7, 1980, after the Ayatollah Khomeini refused to order the release of the American hostages who had been held at the US Embassy since the previous November, writes Eliot Wilson If you remember good relations between the United States and Iran, you are at least facing [...]
Keir Starmer believes undoing Brexit will solve Britain’s problems – he’s wrong

Opinion

The only way Starmer can get everything he wants from a relationship “reset” with Brussels is by rejoining the EU, says Eliot Wilson This Wednesday is the anniversary of Britain and France signing the Entente cordiale in 1904. It was actually three separate agreements, ostensibly dealing with colonial boundaries and fishing rights, but in practice [...]

On this day: The death of JP Morgan

March 31, 2026

Today in 1913, John Pierpoint Morgan died in Rome having saved the United States from financial catastrophe not once but twice, writes Eliot Wilson Today in 1913, in Rome’s Grand Plaza Hotel, a 75-year-old American died in his sleep. He was a big man, 6’2” and heavyset, with sharp, unsettling eyes and a purple, swollen [...]
It’s time for Farage to choose between a big and small state

March 30, 2026

Reform UK can’t duck the tough choices any longer, says Eliot Wilson Some had hailed it as a symbol of a new era of politics: when Reform UK issued its manifesto for the 2024 general election, with its impressive strike rate of eight photographs of Nigel Farage in a slender 28 pages, it included a [...]
A hundred not out… yet: Why Veeraswamy is in trouble

March 25, 2026

Veeraswamy, the Michelin-starred Indian restaurant on Regent Street, celebrated its centenary on 18 March. But it has found itself in the headlines for other reasons recently: glowingly reviewed by City AM’s own Adam Bloodworth two years ago, it is now in dispute with its landlord, the Crown Estate. Campaigners have even called for the King [...]
On This Day : the birth of ‘Mr Five Per Cent’ Calouste Gulbenkian

March 23, 2026

Today in 1869, the man who would go on to shape global oil markets was born in Turkey, writes Eliot Wilson Conflict in the Persian Gulf continues to seethe, threatening a global energy crisis. The Middle East is so synonymous with oil that it is easy to think the world was always this way, that [...]
What is the long-term plan for the Strait of Hormuz?

March 23, 2026

The disruption of the critical Strait of Hormuz by Iran has created a major global energy crisis that requires a high-risk military solution – but the West currently lacks both the determination and a coherent long-term plan. says Eliot Wilson Today is a red-letter day for Middle East navigational hazard enthusiasts: five years ago, at [...]
Claudia Winkleman’s new chat show is here… So what happened to the great British talk show?

March 19, 2026

When Claudia Winkleman announced last October that she would be leaving her hosting duties on Strictly Come Dancing at the end of the series, it was no surprise that the BBC was keen to hold on to her. Strictly… might not be the ratings behemoth of 10 years ago but it still pulls in more [...]
On This Day in 1831: America’s first recorded bank heist

March 19, 2026

It stands as an archetypal heist: a pair of canny, hardened criminals; a simple but daring plan; a dogged law enforcement official and the tantalising mystery of the missing $63,000. The first bank robbery in America recorded in any detail had set the standard for a whole genre, says Eliot Wilson Have you ever wondered [...]

Supermarkets ‘taking mickey’ on pricing, says olive oil boss

Big Bash future in limbo as Cricket Australia’s plan to copy England stalls

A Doll’s House at the Almeida: Thrilling, steamy and ambitious

By: Eliot Wilson

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