Opinion

The pseudo free-speech lobby was never about freedom. It’s about allowing a small class of powerful individuals and ideas to dominate public discourse

But is the new prime minister brave or foolish - or both?

Animal welfare, Ireland and the US car industry meant the Brexiteers' Stateside ambitions were destined to be thwarted

It will take political bravery to overcome the current narrative of deterrence, but it is urgently necessary

Despite endless promises of post-EU jam tomorrow, Rishi Sunak’s government has been forced to eat humble pie over the last 12 months

For the bereaved citizens of Ukraine, the holiday season is the cruellest time of all

For Christian Palestinians there will be no twinkling lights or Christmas trees, as all churches agree this year there can be no celebration

Our diarist gives his personal rundown of who has been good – and who has been bad – over the last 12 months

In a way, the Ahmadi feel like a very suburban, very pacific, rather twee and English sort of Muslim sect

After holding off some formidable competition, Michelle Mone has claimed the coveted title of The New European’s Liar of the Year for 2023

Don't miss this festive season’s must-watch production...

The west must understand that when it comes to Putin, there are only binary outcomes

The returning sci-fi series – a British institution – reminds us that we still do many things brilliantly and with generosity of spirit

The belief that saying something instantly makes it a fact is a very dangerous tendency, but it seems to be a common affliction in politicians

There is some irony in the fact that the word “epicurean” is now used to describe people who relish the sensual pleasures of eating fine food and drinking fine wine

The populist leaders of Argentina and Venezuela fly under the radar in the northern hemisphere, but the threat they pose is very real

For our final letters pages of 2023, a selection of our favourite missives of the year. Thank you to all who wrote in

Shut out of the UK by exorbitant costs and complicated procedures, English-learners in Europe are heading elsewhere

A general election could be just weeks away. But Labour is yet to have crucial meetings about its agenda in power

Cardinal Angelo Becciu has been sent to prison for embezzlement and a full clean-up may follow

We only met once and since then he’s been trying to ruin my life. Sort of

The lying baroness’s web of deceit has been revealed after her disastrous Laura Kuenssberg interview

A brass-necked, self-pitying display from the baroness and her husband has left their defence in tatters

A US politician’s clumsy words about Hamas highlight a wider problem

Norway’s second city is becoming one of Europe’s hottest food tickets. Just don’t mention the lutefisk

From political memoirs to reflections on renaissance art, our writers recommend their favourite literary treats of the year

Taylor Swift’s crowning as TIME’s Person of the Year is a prime example that our culture must appeal to the lowest common denominator

The barrel-chested Brexiteer is back - but this week has shown he is now an irrelevance

The foreign secretary is deluded if he really believes that leaving the EU is “functioning well”

Serbia’s nationalist government seeks re-election. If it succeeds, Europe may be poised for renewed war in the Balkans

The former Arsenal midfielder made Serie A a refuge from the blood and thunder of English football.. even if he did snub Pavarotti.