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Mary Wakefield rss

Mary Wakefield is deputy editor of The Spectator.

Protestors clash with riot police between Taksim and Besiktas in Istanbul. Photo: GURCAN OZTURK/AFP/Getty Images

The tragedy of Taksim square

12 June 2013 17:38

First he set the police on his own people, now ‘democratic’ Prime Minister Erdogan is refusing even to meet them. The peace talks he promised are being held not with… Continue reading

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Mexico-105878013

Mexico must legalise drugs

14 January 2013 17:56

For the last six months or so, officials on both sides of the US/Mexico border have had their fingers crossed that the appalling violence perpetrated by Mexico’s warring drug gangs… Continue reading

19 Comments
This man needs your help. Image: Getty

Can you help Andrew Mitchell?

10 January 2013 16:22

Andrew Mitchell, formerly of DFID, urgently needs Coffee Housers’ help. It seems he won’t believe DFID wastes money, unless he sees actual, concrete examples. Last week, in the magazine, we… Continue reading

17 Comments
Mass Baptism on the Streets of Harlem

Entertaining Dr Murdock – Shiva Naipaul Prize, 2000

28 August 2012 16:29

The Spectator/ Shiva Naipaul Memorial Prize for the year 2000 was won by Mary Wakefield. The judges included Antony Beevor; Patrick Marhnam; Boris Johnson, then editor of the magazine; and Mark… Continue reading

1 Comment

Should most orphanages be shut down?

13 October 2011 15:00

The Spectator’s deputy editor, Mary Wakefield, recently visited Rwanda to investigate the work a charity called Hope and Homes for Children. Her article on the subject appeared in last week’s… Continue reading

3 Comments

In this week’s Spectator

4 August 2011 19:16

The Spectator this week contains a brilliant piece on the crisis in Somalia by our Kenyan columnist Aidan Hartley. The Daily Telegraph today reports that voters are extremely sceptical about… Continue reading

17 Comments

A (slightly belated) Birthday message for Prince Philip

11 June 2011 21:16

The Spectator is very proud to be the purveyor of a long-distance birthday message to Prince Philip, who turned 90 yesterday, from some of his most devoted admirers: the tribe… Continue reading

13 Comments

Obama’s catch 22

23 June 2010 18:23

As we wait for Obama to announce the fate of General Stanley McChrystal, it’s worth casting your mind back to John C. Hulsman’s article in this magazine last week. Hulsman… Continue reading

3 Comments

The decision to let abortion clinics advertise on TV is wrong on every level

26 March 2009 19:06

The news that abortion clinics are to be allowed, for the first time, to advertise on TV and radio strikes me as utterly grim: a bad idea and a deeply… Continue reading

28 Comments

Cameron needs to avoid being a one-idea pony

22 January 2009 19:01

Cameron’s little talk to Demos today (to launch their Progressive Conservatism Project) was full of pleasant abstract stuff about de-centralisation as a means to fairness. But what was most interesting… Continue reading

20 Comments

The Debbie Purdy question

29 October 2008 17:37

Should Debbie Purdy’s husband be allowed to kill her? I’m keen to know what you think, because – for me – both instinct and reason say: no. Absolutely not. Debbie,… Continue reading

40 Comments

Miliband needs coaching

31 July 2008 15:39

When David Miliband’s team get together this afternoon to talk through his performance on the Jeremy Vine show, I hope they realise they’ve got to do something about his voice.… Continue reading

12 Comments

Good news for women killers

29 July 2008 19:56

The one fact that screams out of the proposed murder law shake-up, is that it’s great news for girls. Reform is overdue — there hasn’t been any change in the… Continue reading

30 Comments

Why cyclists need to get a jump on life

23 May 2008 20:30

This morning as I cycled through Covent Garden, Melanie Phillips nearly killed me. Here’s how: I often jump red lights in London on my bike. I quite see how irritating… Continue reading

21 Comments

 What will Boris and Ken do without each other?

2 May 2008 1:00

Ken or Boris: it’s still anyone’s guess. But whoever wins, (and I do hope Pete and Fraser are right to be optimistic) the question remains: what will they do without each… Continue reading

2 Comments

Play the Dave game

14 March 2008 13:02

So Dave has let cameras into his house, to show that ‘the anxieties of parenting are universal’. And what cosy fun the clip is too, and how lovely Sam looks… Continue reading

25 Comments

Backing vocals for Darling

12 March 2008 14:51

Who else reckons that Mr Darling’s plodding budget could have used a lively soundtrack? Well, here’s my recommendation: Goody Two Shoes by Adam and the Ants. The lyrics pretty much… Continue reading

4 Comments

What’s your view on the Fourth Plinth?  

10 January 2008 7:20

Come on Londoners – it’s judgement day! Now that the new designs for the Fourth Plinth are on display, I think it’s time for us all to have our shout… Continue reading

39 Comments

The suffering sub-primes

17 August 2007 15:46

Now that the Fed has introduced a temporary reduction in interest rates, and my selfish fear has subsided, I’ve become obsessed with the debt-ridden or bankrupt souls that we now… Continue reading

1 Comment

When giving makes you feel good

19 July 2007 21:10

Dr Salvatore LaSpada (what a lovely name) had a plaintive piece in yesterday’s Daily Telegraph about how little we Brits give to charity. America gives away 1.7 per cent of… Continue reading

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