menu_open Columnists
William Atkinson

William Atkinson

The Spectator

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

What Poilievre can (and can’t) teach the British Right

Over the last week, I have been stalking Pierre Poilievre. The leader of the Canadian Conservative Party has been in Westminster to renew the bonds of...

06.03.2026 5

The Spectator

William Atkinson

Why I fell in love with Welsh nationalism

Being a mildly Celtophobic Tory from Rickmansworth, I’m an unlikely Welsh nationalist. Aside from once sharing a Christmas dinner with Cerys...

03.03.2026 10

The Spectator

William Atkinson

Badenoch’s integration speech is too little, too late

If Kemi Badenoch makes a speech during a war with Iran, does anyone hear it? Following the Gorton and Denton by-election – but seemingly before...

02.03.2026 8

The Spectator

William Atkinson

‘It was making me think like a Latin American dictator’: why my moustache had to go

Iloved my moustache. Unfortunately, my fondness for it seemed inversely proportionate to its popularity among my peers. After much unsolicited...

26.02.2026 10

The Spectator

William Atkinson

What Labour should have learnt from Dominic Cummings

‘O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?’ Keir Starmer seems to have mirrored Juliet after deciding to move Chris Wormald on as cabinet...

18.02.2026 50

The Spectator

William Atkinson

Robert Jenrick was the last sign of life the Conservative party had

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 15: Former Conservative MP Robert Jenrick (L) shakes hands with Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage (R), as he announces his...

20.01.2026 10

City A.M.

William Atkinson

Iran's cheerleaders are on borrowed time

15.01.2026 20

The Spectator

William Atkinson

Band of brothers / In defence of the Freemasons

13.01.2026 10

The Spectator

William Atkinson

Why does anyone still take Rory Stewart seriously?

10.01.2026 30

The Spectator

William Atkinson

Band of brothers / In defence of the Freemasons

08.01.2026 10

The Spectator

William Atkinson

Tory revival / Has Badenoch bounced back?

20.12.2025 9

The Spectator

William Atkinson

Has Badenoch bounced back?

20.12.2025 30

The Spectator

William Atkinson

'I’ve been allergic to AI for a long time': an interview with Peter Thiel

16.12.2025 40

The Spectator

William Atkinson

'I’ve been allergic to AI for a long time': an interview with Peter Thiel

11.12.2025 20

The Spectator

William Atkinson

Notes on... / Why are we so suspicious of magpies?

02.12.2025 10

The Spectator

William Atkinson

Notes on... / Why are we so suspicious of magpies?

02.12.2025 4

The Spectator

William Atkinson

Package holiday / My teenage brush with a micropenis

20.11.2025 6

The Spectator

William Atkinson

My teenage brush with a micropenis

20.11.2025 10

The Spectator

William Atkinson

Is it too late for Kemi to turn the Tories around?

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 08: Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and her husband Hamish Badenoch acknowledge the audience after she...

10.10.2025 4

City A.M.

William Atkinson

The Tories must free themselves from the cult of Thatcher

04.10.2025 6

The Spectator

William Atkinson

Lady killers / The Tories must free themselves from the cult of Thatcher

02.10.2025 6

The Spectator

William Atkinson

The Tories must free themselves from the cult of Thatcher

02.10.2025 10

The Spectator

William Atkinson

Is Danny Kruger right about the death of the Conservative party?

Nigel Farage and Danny Kruger announced the defection at an event this morning. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) Danny Kruger’s defection to...

18.09.2025 10

City A.M.

William Atkinson

Heavy petting / The lunacy of emotional support animals

06.09.2025 10

The Spectator

William Atkinson

The school tie renaissance

04.09.2025 9

The Spectator

William Atkinson

Heavy petting / The lunacy of emotional support animals

04.09.2025 10

The Spectator

William Atkinson

The lunacy of emotional support animals

04.09.2025 7

The Spectator

William Atkinson

Kemi Badenoch shuffles deckchairs on the Tory Titanic

(Photo by Peter Nicholls/Getty Images) Kemi Badenoch’s shadow cabinet reshuffle saw plenty of promotions for yesterday’s men – but the party...

25.07.2025 6

City A.M.

William Atkinson