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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‘Grown up’ Sue Gray is looking like a political ingenue

September 23, 2024

Sue Gray awarding herself a more generous salary than the Prime Minister’s betrays a high-handed and naive approach to politics, says Eliot Wilson When the BBC revealed last week that Sue Gray, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, earned more than her boss, the story developed in a number of different ways. Some felt that [...]
Port Talbot shows what ‘tough decisions’ really look like

September 16, 2024

The government’s £500m rescue package for the Port Talbot steelworks is an unsatisfactory trade-off between job losses and industry efficiency, says Eliot Wilson Was it a welcome reprieve or another sad measure of decline? Last week the business and trade secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, announced a revised deal with Tata Steel to provide a £500m subsidy [...]
Who’d be ambassador to President Trump?

September 9, 2024

Peter Mandelson and David Miliband are rumoured to be in the frame for British ambassador to Washington, but only if Kamala Harris wins. That’s a mistake. A Trump victory would demand a diplomatic heavyweight, says Eliot Wilson By the beginning of next year, Dame Karen Pierce will have served as British ambassador to the United [...]
The government needs a flight plan

September 3, 2024

Airport capacity is a vital national infrastructure issue critical to growth, but we have no idea where the government stands, says Eliot Wilson Michael O’Leary, the veteran CEO of Ryanair, is a reliable source of copy. Last week this paper reported his view that the next runway to be built to serve London would not [...]
Labour should not be taking inspiration from Kamala Harris

August 27, 2024

Labour has a long-standing love affair with the Democrats, but while the Vice President’s plans for price controls by any other name may be popular, but they are economically illiterate, says Eliot Wilson It is hard to believe that barely a month has passed since Joe Biden announced he would not seek re-election in November [...]
The state is bad at picking winners. GB Energy will prove that

August 19, 2024

GB Energy is likely to prove to be another example of how the state can't pick winners, writes Eliot Wilson.
The 6 best terraces in London to catch the rays this weekend

August 16, 2024

With the sun finally exposing itself to us mere mortals, it’s the weekend to explore London’s outdoor drinking and dining spots. Here are some of the very best outdoor terraces in London to spend a lazy afternoon, whether you’re eating, drinking or just chewing the fat with old friends. Century Club Shaftesbury Avenue’s Century Club [...]
Violence on the streets has a long tail in terms of stability

August 12, 2024

Starmer has built his vision on stability - but the riots could undermine all that, writes Eliot Wilson
Reeves’ ready source revenue: private wealth

August 5, 2024

Rachel Reeves first Budget will reveal how the government really sees the economy – and those promises of growth are looking increasingly elusive, says Eliot Wilson “I think we will have to increase taxes in the Budget,” Rachel Reeves told The News Agents podcast last week. This admission by the Chancellor followed her angry revelation [...]
Who will pay to phase out petrol cars?

July 29, 2024

Is the elimination of petrol cars the inevitable march of progress or an area ripe for government intervention? Labour must decide, says Eliot Wilson Last week the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) set out seven measures it wanted the government to implement in order to make “automotive sustainability” a competitive advantage for the [...]

Shabana Mahmood set to be named Chancellor by Burnham

Delicious Orie: The boxer who swapped sparring for spreadsheets

Jamie’s Italian is awful but don’t worry, there are some great new Mediterranean restaurants too

By: Eliot Wilson

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