Fraser Nelson, former editor of The Spectator, reflects on 15 years of editorial challenges. Dominic Sandbrook and Mary Beard discuss the importance of engaging children with complex history books, advocating for narratives that respect their intelligence. Christoffer van Tulleken debates the health impacts of ultra-processed foods, stressing societal implications in dietary choices. Meanwhile, Mary Beard critiques the portrayal of women in ancient Rome, prompting a reevaluation of historical narratives. Mark Jenkins shares amusing insights on hotel breakfast buffet etiquette.
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Managing a Supermajority
A large majority is preferable to a small one, or a minority government.
External factors, like the economy, still matter, so avoid complacency.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Onboarding New MPs
Train new MPs to avoid pitfalls and manage expectations.
Hold regular online sessions and workshops on messaging and public speaking.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
First Steps in Power
Capitalize on initial support to set a new tone and change culture.
Implement changes like improving workers' rights and establishing a national wealth fund.
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This book delves into the life and heroic deeds of Admiral Horatio Nelson, set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars. It describes the intense naval battles and the strategic importance of the seas during this period, highlighting Nelson's role as a key figure in British naval history.
Ultra-Processed People
Chris van Tulleken
In this book, Chris van Tulleken marshals the latest evidence to show how governments, scientists, and doctors have allowed transnational food companies to create a pandemic of diet-related disease. He undertakes a self-experiment, eating a diet of 80 percent ultra-processed food for a month, under the supervision of colleagues at University College London. The book explores the origins, science, and economics of ultra-processed foods, revealing their catastrophic impact on our bodies and the planet. Van Tulleken proposes real solutions for doctors, policymakers, and consumers, emphasizing the need for global action to address the issue.
This week is a special episode of the podcast where we are looking back on some of our favourite pieces from the magazine over the past year and revisiting some of the conversations we had around them.
First up: the Starmer supremacy
Let’s start with undoubtedly the biggest news of the year: Starmer’s supermajority and the first Labour government in 14 years. In April, we spoke to Katy Balls and Harriet Harman about just what a supermajority could mean for Keir Starmer. Listening back, it’s an incredibly interesting discussion to revisit. The aim of Katy’s piece was to communicate the internal problems that could arise from such a sweeping victory and, crucially, how Starmer might manage a historic cohort of backbenchers. One MP who knows about adjusting to life in government after a supermajority is Harriet Harman, former leader of the Labour party and a member of Tony Blair’s first cabinet. (01:51)
Reflections from the editor’s chair
The change in No. 10 Downing Street is, of course, not the only notable shake-up in Westminster this year. Fraser Nelson stepped down as editor of The Spectator in September after 15 years of wielding the editor’s pen, with 784 issues to his name. We sat down with him on his final day in the office to reflect on his time at 22 Old Queen Street. (08:31)
Do historians talk down to children?
In June, Mary Wakefield dedicated her column to this very question. She wrote about her experience trying to find engaging and challenging history books for her 8-year-old and compared the dumbed-down, one-dimensional version of history portrayed in modern children’s books with the classic Ladybird books of the 1960s. She joined the podcast to discuss this with Dominic Sandbrook, author of the Adventures in Time children’s book series and host of The Rest is History podcast. (17:18)
Are ultra-processed foods really so bad?
On The Edition podcast, we enjoy a fiery debate, and none was more heated than our discussion on ultra-processed foods. This debate, between columnist Matthew Parris and Christoffer van Tulleken, associate professor at UCL and author of the bestselling book Ultra-Processed People, took place in May. It was sparked by Matthew’s column on the myths surrounding ultra-processed foods—foods engineered to be hyper-palatable and typically containing preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners, artificial colours, flavours, and so on. Such additives are widely considered detrimental to our health. Matthew says we shouldn’t be worried, but we’ll let you decide. (29:10)
By whose values should we judge the past?
On the podcast, we showcase articles from across the magazine—from the front half to the life pages, to books and arts. One of the most intriguing books of the year was Joan Smith’s Unfortunately, she was a nymphomaniac: A New History of Rome’s Imperial Women. An eye-catching title that is ‘as thought-provoking as it is provocative’, as Daisy Dunn wrote in October. Many popular historians are singled out for their analysis of women in ancient Rome, including Professor Dame Mary Beard. In the interest of granting a right of reply, we invited Mary onto the podcast to discuss the merit of judging history by today’s standards. (49:40)
And finally: the politics of the breakfast buffet
We thought we would leave you with one of the most prescient discussions we had on the podcast this year: the politics of the hotel breakfast buffet. Is it ethical to pocket a sandwich at a hotel breakfast buffet? Laurie Graham explored that question in the magazine back in September. Specifically, she revealed the very British habit of swiping food from free breakfasts to save for lunch later in the day. Laurie joined us alongside Mark Jenkins, a former hotel manager in Torquay, whom listeners may remember from the Channel 4 documentary The Hotel. (01:04:04)
Best of the Spectator 
