Operation Rubific, the portrait of failure
A rotten episode over Afghan refugees implicates much of the British state
There are two kinds of British scandal. The old kind resemble the plays of Henrik Ibsen: studies of character failings and personal humiliation brought about by greed, desire and dishonesty. Think of the disgrace of John Profumo, Jeffrey Archer and Jonathan Aitken. The new owe more to Joseph Heller: portraits of institutional failure, in which the craven, the cynical and the helpless are trapped in crises they cannot control.
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Patrick Lane, our senior digital editor, on the finance minister’s speech at Mansion House
Britain has a rare opportunity to lure American talent
Pricey visas might scupper its chances
British bats are a conservation success story
They have few friends, but powerful lawyers
David Lipsey, former Bagehot columnist, died on July 1st
Also a political adviser and Labour peer, he led the fullest of lives
British labour is a bargain
Thank Brexit and stagnant wages
British stocks and bonds look like a bargain
Liz Truss is, still, partly to thank. Labour hasn’t helped either