Share
Best of the Spectator
The Edition: Porn Britannia, Xi’s absence & no more lonely hearts?
OnlyFans is giving the Treasury what it wants – but should we be concerned?
‘OnlyFans,’ writes Louise Perry, ‘is the most profitable content subscription service in the world.’ Yet ‘the vast majority of its content creators make very little from it’. So why are around 4 per cent of young British women selling their wares on the site? ‘Imitating Bonnie Blue and Lily Phillips – currently locked in a competition to have sex with the most men in a day – isn’t pleasant.’ OnlyFans gives women ‘the sexual attention and money of hundreds and even thousands of men’. The result is ‘a cascade of depravity’ that Perry wouldn’t wish on her worst enemy.
In business terms, however, OnlyFans is a ‘staggering success’, according to economics editor Michael Simmons. ‘Britain’s sex industry brings in far more to the economy than politicians are comfortable admitting’; OnlyFans might just be Britain’s most profitable tech start-up. ‘If we are going to wage a moral war on porn,’ Simmons argues, ‘we should at least be honest about what we’re sacrificing.’ Louise and Michael joined the podcast to discuss further (1:21).
Next: could Xi Jinping’s time be up?
Historian Francis Pike writes about the unusual absence of China’s President Xi. China-watchers have detected some subtle differences from the norm in Chinese media, from fewer official references to Xi to changes in routine politburo meetings. So, could Xi Jinping be forced to step down? And if so, who is on manoeuvres and why?
Francis joined the podcast alongside former diplomat Kerry Brown, professor of China Studies at King’s College London (22:31).
And finally: is the era of the lonely hearts ad coming to an end?
Tony Whitehead provides his notes on lonely hearts columns this week, writing about how, 330 years after they first appeared in print in Britain, they may soon disappear. Francesca Beauman – who literally wrote the book on the subject, Shapely Ankle Preferr’d – and Mark Mason join the podcast to provide their favourite examples, from the serious to the humorous (35:13).
Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.
Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
More episodes
View all episodes
Quite right!: Trump's plan in Iran explained
26:59|If you would like to hear this week's episode in full, search 'Quite right!' wherever you are listening now.This week: Michael and Maddie debate the escalating crisis in Iran and ask whether Donald Trump truly has a strategy – and whether Keir Starmer has one at all.They examine what Trump’s strikes are meant to achieve, whether regime change in Tehran is the real objective and why parts of the American right are uneasy about Israel’s influence over US foreign policy.Turning to Westminster, they assess Britain’s response. Has Starmer struck the right balance between caution and credibility – or has the crisis exposed the limits of Britain’s military strength and global influence?Finally, they review Rachel Reeves’s Spring Statement. With growth forecasts under scrutiny and public spending pressures mounting, is the Labour party sticking to a credible economic plan – or relying on economic crystal balls?Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
Coffee House Shots: Spring statement – everything you need to know
11:44|Rachel Reeves has today delivered her much anticipated spring statement, her opportunity to address the looming energy crisis, the uncertainty in the Middle East and the crashing Labour market … unfortunately, she did none of the above.The Treasury promised that the spring statement was going to be boring – and at least it delivered on that pledge. For twenty painful minutes, Reeves rattled off her familiar lines about ‘stability’ and Liz Truss. Is this another wasted opportunity for Labour and the Chancellor? What will it mean for her own ‘stability’?Oscar Edmondson speaks to James Heale and Michael Simmons.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
Americano: will Iran descend into civil war?
33:01|Freddy is joined by historian and former diplomat, Charlie Gammell. They discuss the situation in Iran, whether the US is heading for a decisive confrontation, and examine the regional consequences: proxy warfare, Gulf energy security, Pakistan’s delicate position, and migration pressures on Europe.
Spectator Out Loud: Angus Colwell, Paul Wood, Andrew Rule & Jonathan Meades
25:31|On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Angus Colwell ponders why young Brits seem to aspire to be more Australian; Paul Wood analyses the daring plan to reclaim the Chagos islands; Andrew Rule explains why to read is to love; and finally, Jonathan Meades declares that John Vanbrugh defies taxonomy as events kick off to mark the 300th anniversary of his death. Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons.
LIVE: The Spectator’s Alternative Covid Inquiry
52:49|As the official Covid Inquiry comes to an end, the Spectator has convened a panel of our own experts to ask the questions that the Inquiry didn’t – or wouldn’t – answer. The Spectator’s commissioning editor Lara Brown is joined by science writer and Conservative peer Matt Ridley, Oxford professor of theoretical epidemiology Sunetra Gupta, former Supreme Court judge Jonathan Sumption, journalist Christopher Snowdon and science writer Tom Whipple. This is a condensed version of the event. Subscribers can access the full event via Spectator TV and you can find more events from the Spectator here.
Americano: Trump strikes Iran
23:36|Donald Trump has urged Iranians to ‘take over’ their government after the United States and Israel struck targets across the country. A multitude of Iranian military and government targets were hit by missiles in what is turning out to be a joint operation far more comprehensive than the 12-day air campaign last June. Freddy Gray and Jacob Heilbrunn join to discuss why now, how this attack is fraught with risk for Trump's presidency, and how Trump's administration was hijacked by the neoconservatives.
Quite right!: Munira Mirza | part two
24:25|This is the second part of Michael Gove’s conversation with Munira Mirza. After reflecting in part one on multiculturalism and the fractures in modern Britain, this second instalment turns to the question of leadership, and the lessons both Boris and Starmer should learn.Munira reflects on Boris Johnson’s premiership, describing him as ‘a better man than many of his detractors would admit’ but acknowledging his foibles and lack of decisiveness at critical moments. Was he a good Prime Minister? They go on to debate whether the wiring of the British state – from the Human Rights Act to the Equality Act – has made effective government harder, and whether Reform are right to call for repeal of both of these pieces of legislation.Finally, Munira delivers a stark assessment of Britain’s political class, questioning whether the calibre of MPs is good enough, criticising the culture of risk-aversion in Westminster, and making the case for ‘radical candour’ in politics. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
The Edition: is Labour too close to the City – with Lionel Shriver & Robert Hardman
35:04|Britain’s banks have a hold over Rachel Reeves, declares Michael Simmons in the Spectator’s cover piece this week. Almost two decades on from the 2008 financial crash, the UK has failed to reform the system and – as ordinary people face a cost-of-living crisis – Labour is in hock to big business. Is the Chancellor too close to the City?For this week’s Edition, host Lara Prendergast is joined by economics editor Michael Simmons, columnist Lionel Shriver, and columnist from the Daily Mail Robert Hardman.As well as Labour’s relationship with the banking industry, they discuss: the hit BBC show Industry; how the Royals have frozen out (former Prince) Andrew – and whether removing him from the line of succession is ‘performative’ or not; Lionel’s new book on immigration A Better Life; why young Brits increasingly want to be more Australian; and finally, what’s so good about a moustache?Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Catch up with Industry S4 now on BBC iPlayer. Watch the season finale on Monday 2nd March on BBC One.
Book Club: Francis Spufford
30:05|Sam Leith's guest this week is Francis Spufford, whose fabulous new novel Nonesuch is a fantasy adventure set during the Blitz containing magical Nazis, nerdy TV techs and honest-to-goodness angels. He tells Sam about fantasy world-building and historical research, the pleasures and pitfalls of writing a female protagonist, why C S Lewis is as influential as Tolkien — and supersizing Dr Manhattan.You can read Philip Hensher's review of Nonesuch here.