Allison Pearson

Isn’t it time Prince Harry grew up? On the cusp of middle age, the 41-year-old is as irritating and slappable as Kevin the Teenager – still stropping about in a baseball cap, refusing to join his family at an agreed time, then going mental when they lose patience, call his bluff and drive off without him.

Isn't it time Prince Harry grew up? On the cusp of middle age, the 41-year-old is as irritating and slappable as Kevin the Teenager – still stropping

There was a moment yesterday when we thought Nigel Farage might throw in the towel and resign. “I will leave the country,” was the first thought that came into my head when my editor texted to say the leader of Reform UK would be making a statement at 2pm about his political future. Although he is not a perfect vessel to contain all our hopes and fears – no human being could be – millions of us have concluded that if we don’t have a Reform government in 2029, or at the very least a strong, Right-wing, properly conservative alliance dedicated to putting the interests of the British people first, then the Britain that we love is finished.

Fifty years ago, Patrick Hutber, then former city editor of The Sunday Telegraph , wrote a weekly article under the headline: “Improvement means

I had just filed this piece on Ann Widdecombe when my editor told me it was believed she had been murdered. It was shattering news. At the age of 78, Ann had been a bit wobbly on her pins since December when she fell as she was trying to protect a mouse from her cat. Nonetheless, Ann’s death came as a complete shock to colleagues and friends because, only 24 hours earlier, she had been on fine form, giving characteristically robust media interviews (loyally backing Nigel Farage on his decision to trigger a by-election in Clacton), and showing no sign of ill health.

Tonight’s the night, as an excited nation tells itself: “Don’t get your hopes up!” But then we get our hopes up anyway because: a) We never learn; b) Harry Kane just won a header; and c) If we can emerge victorious from that shambles against Norway then anything is possible.

If our new PM really wanted to put more cash in our pockets, he’d cut the green levy on energy bills, not the VAT that saves just 86p a week

There was already a lot to be annoyed about watching the World Cup Final on Sunday night . The fact the appalling Argentinians conducted themselves

“Andy Burnham has very quickly run into the economic reality that we don't have any money”

I am a conservative sort of person. I was brought up to respect and value our institutions. If you’d asked me 20 years ago for a list of implausible things I might do in my life, suing the police for libel would not have been on it. In fact, it would have been unthinkable. I am a Telegraph columnist, for goodness sake!