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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On this day in 1637: The tulip bubble bursts

February 3, 2026

Tulip fever is still remembered as a parable about the evils of capitalism and mass hysteria, but what really happened? Asks Eliot Wilson It is one of those half-remembered, quarter-understood facts to illustrate the ineffable foolishness of human nature. In the first half of the 17th century, the zenith of the Dutch Golden Age, the [...]
Starmer’s Chinese takeaway leaves a nasty taste

February 2, 2026

The Prime Minister returns from China a rather diminished figure. His vaunted commitment to human rights and international law rings very false when he kowtows to the regime in Beijing, and even the likely modest economic impact of his visit cannot offset that, says Eliot Wilson We need to talk about Sir Keir Starmer. The [...]
On This Day : Space Shuttle Challenger is lost

January 28, 2026

On this day in 1986, millions watched on live TV as the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded moments after launch, Eliot Wilson remembers On this day 40 years ago, NASA was preparing to launch the 25th mission of its Space Shuttle programme, STS-51-L, using the Space Shuttle Challenger on its 10th flight. During a six-day mission, [...]
Farage’s revenge on the banks proves he is more Trump than Thatcher

January 26, 2026

Nigel Farage's promise to tax banks more shows his Trumpian revenge coming out to play, writes Eliot Wilson.
On this day 1571: The Royal Exchange is opened

January 23, 2026

The Royal Exchange was opened by Elizabeth I 455 years ago on this day. Eliot Wilson traces the origins of its success.
U-turn on ID cards reveals a deeper flaw in Starmer’s Labour

January 19, 2026

With his latest U-turn, Keir Starmer has taken a controversial policy which nonetheless had a substantial support base and made it deeply unpopular. It’s of a piece with his whole approach to government, says Eliot Wilson Last week the government announced – or perhaps admitted? – that the digital ID unveiled last year will not [...]
On this day: The fall of Carillion

January 15, 2026

On this day 2018 Carillion, the construction giant, ran out of road Tarmac. It is easy to forget that the word we unthinkingly use for the everyday road material began life as a trademark, a mixture of coal tar and macadam aggregate which in 1903 launched a company. By the 1990s, Tarmac Group was a [...]
Mark my words: Starmer is set to approve China’s ‘super embassy’

January 12, 2026

Keir Starmer is set to travel to China and has appealed for business leaders to accompany him. You don’t do that if you’re anticipating holding a foreign government to account, says Eliot Wilson At the end of this month, Sir Keir Starmer is due to travel to China for the first visit by a British [...]
On this day 1799: Britain’s first income tax

January 9, 2026

On this day, 9 January 1799, Britain introduced its first 'temporary' income tax. Workers have been vexed ever since, writes Eliot Wilson.
Starmer promised to ‘rewire the state’ so why is the civil service bigger?

January 6, 2026

Civil service headcount has reached a 20-year high, bigger than it was during Brexit or Covid. Yet more proof that this Prime Minister’s only belief is in bigger government, says Eliot Wilson When Sir Keir Starmer appointed a new cabinet secretary and head of the civil service at the end of 2024, he made a [...]

Formula 1’s reaction to season disruption a lesson for Fifa World Cup

Formula 1’s reaction to season disruption a lesson for Fifa World Cup

Polestar 3: Swedish electric SUV delivers premium performance

By: Eliot Wilson

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