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 personal touch: why you need a stylist

March 9, 2022

Change comes slowly to the citadels of menswear in Savile Row. There were intakes of breath when the venerable Huntsman and Sons (established in 1849) forged a commercial cinema tie-in with the Kingsman franchise. So the idea of visiting not just a traditional tailor but someone who would offer the services of a personal stylist [...]
A tough crackdown on oligarchs must carry us as far as our rule of law allows

March 7, 2022

It is an uncomfortable truth that the West sorely lacks experience of war. That may seem a peculiar statement, after the long and bloody interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan, but those were effectively operations of control and rebuilding. What we are seeing in Ukraine at the moment is quite different: one sovereign nation taking on [...]
Putin’s war in Ukraine must make us wonder about our military capabilities

February 28, 2022

Last week all changed, changed utterly; on the eastern fringes of Europe, a war is now happening. Not a border skirmish or some cyber jousting—the Russian army has invaded Ukraine and men and women are losing their lives in a struggle for territory and power. Taken by surprise by this resurrection of old methods of [...]
Why it’s time to bring back the house party

February 24, 2022

There’s no question that the pandemic, and the lock- down restrictions which were introduced to help control it, have profoundly affected the way we interact so- cially. From wearing masks to the dreaded “rule of six”, we suddenly found our lives governed by regula- tions in a way no-one has experi- enced since (yes, I’m [...]
Khan’s mayoralty is an audition for Labour leader – but it’s at our expense

February 21, 2022

Today was supposed to be an important day for the administration of London. The Crystal, the new home of City Hall in Newham, Royal Docks, was due to open and inaugurate a fresh chapter in our governance: a slimmed-down, more efficient headquarters for the mayor and the London Assembly in the east of the capital. [...]
A defence of the hat: A best friend for your head

February 17, 2022

We are still firmly in the icy grip of General Winter, who gave Napoleon such a beating in 1812. This is London, of course, so gone are the days of the Victorian picture postcard scene with thick, gleaming white snow. The rain is coming down and the mercury hasn’t risen yet. And, as we are [...]
Jo Whitfield’s leave from Co-op is an exercise in privilege as well as change

February 14, 2022

Last week, Jo Whitfield, the head of the Co-operative Society’s food arm, announced she would be taking four months of unpaid leave later in the year to help her sons through their A-level and GCSE examinations. On the one hand, the Co-op was lauded for its progressive and flexible approach to employment, and for allowing [...]
Rishi Sunak’s cost-of-living hand out is a classic example of short-term, overburdened Treasury brain

February 7, 2022

Last week, as the cake crumbs were cleared away and the fizz went out of the champagne, there was a serious announcement from the chancellor, Rishi Sunak. There had been an energy crisis looming, prices set to soar, and the government knew that this would feed into a damaging narrative that the cost of living [...]
Wanted: A new culture war chair of the watchdog Ofcom. Anyone? Anyone?

January 31, 2022

It’s been a busy time for news, as Russian forces mass on the border of neighbouring Ukraine and the British political establishment grapples with the mental image of being ambushed by a cake. So you may be forgiven for failing to notice that the government is once again advertising the position of chair of Ofcom, [...]
Remote work will free reluctant city dwellers and reinvigorate London

January 24, 2022

London has been the cradle of dreams and ambition for a long time. It is more than 600 years now since Dick Whittington left Gloucestershire to seek his fortune in the capital, rising to become lord mayor for the first time in 1397. Faint echoes of his journey remain with us all today: how many [...]

Smithfield Christmas Meat Auction: London’s oldest festive tradition returns

Joshua vs Paul: A defining moment in evolution of sport entertainment

Central London Alliance Launches Podcast to Debate London’s Opportunities and Obstacles for Growth

By: Eliot Wilson

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