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: Adam Smith publishes The Wealth of Nations

March 9, 2026

Today in 1776, 250 years ago, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations was published, discovering rather than inventing the principle that free trade and efficient division of labour create general prosperity making the world richer, writes Eliot Wilson Adam Smith was 52 and had spent most of the preceding [...]
Starmer is in denial over defence spending

March 3, 2026

Keir Starmer’s dither and delay on defence spending is leaving Britain vulnerable in uncertain times, says Eliot Wilson Trades unions have no monopoly on wisdom. They are advocates for the interests of their members, and they have been wrong just as often as government or big business over the years. But on this occasion, Sharon [...]
On this day: the nationalisation of the Bank of England

March 1, 2026

The Bank of England Act 1946 came into effect 80 years ago today, formalising a compact and a degree of cooperation between the Bank and the Treasury which had been developing for years, writes Eliot Wilson The Bank of England is the second-oldest central bank in the world. Only the Sveriges Riksbank in Stockholm, which [...]
On this day: The collapse of Barings Bank

February 26, 2026

On 26 February 1995, 31 years ago today, Baring Bank, one of the City’s most venerable institutions, was declared insolvent after a massive fraud by one of its employees, Nick Leeson, recalls Eliot Wilson In the 1990s, following the wake of Big Bang and the influx of brash but wealthy, “Greed is good, greed is [...]
What really makes a London members’ club work?

February 25, 2026

Creating a successful private members’ club is hard. If it weren’t, everyone would do it, and the Hospital Club and the House of St Barnabas would still be in operation. Yet new contenders keep emerging, each proclaiming its unique offering which will be the key to its survival and prosperity. Later this year a new [...]
The Monarchy will survive Andrew’s arrest

February 23, 2026

If Andrew is found guilty of misconduct, or if he is proven somehow to be a sexual predator of the worst kind, the law will take its course, as the King has indicated. Embarrassing? Undoubtedly. But not terminal, says Eliot Wilson It was an historic event. At 8am last Thursday, his 66th birthday, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor [...]
On this day: Thomas J Watson, father of IBM, was born

February 17, 2026

On 17 February 1874, the man who would go on to found the largest industrial research organisation on the planet was born in the tiny town of Campbell, writes Eliot Wilson The town of Campbell, New York, in the Appalachian Mountains had a population of less than 2,000 in 1874. Thomas John Watson, born this [...]
Nigel Farage’s war on working from home is vibes-based politics

February 16, 2026

Nigel Farage's attack on working from home is designed to increase headlines, not productivity, writes Eliot Wilson.
On this day in 1996: the IRA bombs the Docklands

February 9, 2026

30 years ago today, two men were killed in a massive explosion at Canary Wharf – and the IRA proved that you can bomb your way to the negotiating table, writes Eliot Wilson At around 5.00 pm, 30 years ago today, a blue Ford Iveco Cargo truck was parked 80 yards from South Quay DLR [...]
Peter Mandelson: The anatomy of a fall

February 9, 2026

Mandelson’s fall is now another stick with which to beat a vulnerable and useless Prime Minister, writes Eliot Wilson.

Fifa won’t fix itself – scrap it now and set up a World FA, led by Uefa and South America

Fifa won’t fix itself – scrap it now and set up a World FA, led by Uefa and South America

Is the Maybach GLS the most excessive SUV?

By: Eliot Wilson

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