From the archive
19 April 2012
The celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s sixty years on the throne coincided with the best of recent times for the British monarchy
Books & arts
11 April 2012
The language of class distinctions tells us a lot about Britain and Australia, writes Frank Bongiorno
22 February 2012
A high-stakes constitutional tussle over the future of the United Kingdom is under way. The political transformation of Scotland since the 1950s will help to shape the outcome,…
International
12 January 2012
A sympathetic film portrayal of Britain’s most divisive modern prime minister fits a broader mood of reappraisal of her years in power, says David Hayes
International
7 December 2011
London’s mayoral election might be overshadowed in 2012 by royal and Olympic pageants, but it’s more revealing of the city’s heartbeat
1 November 2011
An encampment around St Paul’s Cathedral in London casts a new light on this icon of British wartime defiance. But the epic days of the 1940s may have something to teach the…
18 September 2011
The tendency to press reality into a heritage mould traps England in political aspic, says David Hayes
Essays & reportage
15 September 2011
With the Leveson inquiry into the British press starting work in London, Rodney Tiffen looks at what the phone-hacking scandal has revealed so far about media, politics…
National affairs
21 August 2011
On the anniversary of the 2010 Australian election, Frank Bongiorno – just back from London – contrasts the challenges facing Britain and Australia
16 August 2011
Four days and nights of riotous disorder are a potent argument for social repair. But lack of agreement on fundamentals could soon prove fatal to the chances, says David Hayes
10 August 2011
Despite defeating his brother in a long and hard-fought leadership campaign, it’s still not clear what British Labour leader Ed Miliband stands for, writes Frank Bongiorno
26 July 2011
Frank Bongiorno looks at the growing influence of Labour peer Maurice Glasman on the British opposition party
21 July 2011
Is “merit” the new demarcation line in British society, asks Frank Bongiorno in London
Books & arts
23 April 2011
Jill Kitson reviews a new account of the wartime leadership of the diminutive Australian prime minister
19 April 2011
Why did some British academics and universities get so close to Colonel Gaddafi, asks Frank Bongiorno in London
Books & arts
6 April 2011
Despite the dominance of mainstream economics, important national differences prevail within the profession, writes Geoffrey Barker
28 March 2011
In London Frank Bongiorno looks at why Lionel Logue is portrayed as an Aussie larrikin in The King’s Speech
Books & arts
15 March 2011
How do you compose for a brass band? Andrew Ford went to Yorkshire to find out
National affairs
1 March 2011
Like its British counterpart, the Labor Party is grappling with wider, conflicting trends in political participation, writes Rob Manwaring
18 February 2011
In London, Ian Henderson finds that Britain’s migration test reveals more about its authors than they would ever have anticipated
2 February 2011
The next casualties of Britain’s phone-hacking controversy could come from the media, politics or the police. But whoever falls next, it probably won’t be good news…
14 December 2010
The protests in Britain highlight how much the Liberal Democrats have compromised to share power, writes Frank Bongiorno in London. And where does that leave the new…
International
11 August 2010
In Australia, Julia Gillard replaced Kevin Rudd almost overnight. In Britain, the leadership transition is taking quite a lot longer
23 June 2010
The new British government began slashing spending this week. Meanwhile, Labour is left with the problem of defining what it stands for, writes Frank Bongiorno
27 May 2010
Britain’s voters have forced a two-party system to begin to operate by a three-party logic. And it’s about to get even more interesting, writes David Hayes
10 May 2010
Britain will almost certainly face another election sooner rather than later, writes Frank Bongiorno in London
4 May 2010
Although it’s been dominated by three middle-aged white men in suits, the election has been thrilling in many ways, writes David Hayes
International
3 May 2010
Seasoned British election watcher James Jupp looks at the role of these emotionally charged issues in the current campaign
International
24 April 2010
Suddenly there are five potential post-election prime ministers in Britain
14 April 2010
Both the main parties are in trouble as the British election campaign gathers pace, writes Frank Bongiorno in London