Marie Le Conte
15 October 2026
Hungary’s lesson to the world: Populism isn’t permanent
Under Orbán, Hungary seemed lost to the far right. But a new PM has shown how to pull a nation back from authoritarianism – and it’s working
Read the full article14 October 2026
My sincere advice to you – go back in time
The best defence against the people trying to manipulate the past for their own ends is to read history. Lots of it. Trust me, you will not regret it
Read the full article08 October 2026
This is the way to save Britain’s high streets – and Burnham should listen
A think tank’s suggestion of adding 2% tax to online purchases would provide £1.5billion to revive traditional shops
Read the full article05 October 2026
British teens need to copy the French and get out on strike
Growing up in France I regularly barricaded my school. Spending time screaming about the state of the nation is healthier than you might think
Read the full article01 October 2026
Unserious and down in the polls: Zack Polanski doesn’t look up to the job
The Green leader did well during the final phase of the Starmer collapse when people wanted something new. But now he seems like yesterday’s news
Read the full article26 September 2026
I was born in France, I love France – but now it horrifies me
It seems clear that the hard right is heading for victory at next year’s elections. I’m trying not to think about it too much
Read the full article23 September 2026
The curse of modern smartphone etiquette
The British Museum has decided that smartphones will be banned from the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition. I see the point – but I also feel the pain
Read the full article23 September 2026
Twitter, Bluesky and the death of social media
Text-based social media used to be fun and stimulating, but now it’s just a dirge of scolds, pedants and mansplainers. If this goes on, it will die out
Read the full article17 September 2026
Please Zack Polanski, never ever speak French again
The leader of the Green Party has got perhaps the worst French accent I’ve ever heard. But the reaction to his two recent campaign videos is very telling
Read the full article16 September 2026
OK, you don’t like politicians – but do you have any idea how much abuse MPs get?
If people are too terrified to work in Westminster, then something is deeply wrong. Burnham needs to get onto the problem of the abuse of MPs
Read the full article09 September 2026
Thank god for James Cleverly. No, really…
The Tory choice to run for mayor of London is absolutely not getting my vote. No chance. But I still think he’s a good thing. Here’s why
Read the full article04 September 2026
Nigel Farage’s French stunt double turns up at Reform conference
Jordan Bardella joined Farage on stage in Birmingham for a handshake over a mock Anglo-French agreement. But really there was only one thing on their minds
Read the full article03 September 2026
Need housing? Reform want you to get married and have a baby
Richard Tice says his party wants to prioritise housing for married British couples under-35. Here’s the cruel reality behind this policy
Read the full article02 September 2026
Here’s the problem with that nice summer holiday you just had
You’ve come back exhausted, with loads of stuff to do, and facing the prospect of a grim autumn of politics. As for me – this year I did things a little differently
Read the full article26 August 2026
The moral panic over MPs’ freebies is now out of control
Elected politicians have to declare everything they receive, so we get to see whether they've been swayed by it. That’s balance enough
Read the full article19 August 2026
The TV documentary that gets ADHD all wrong
A show on Channel 4 says the condition has nothing to do with the brain, but is environmental. I have ADHD – I can tell you, that's dead wrong
Read the full article19 August 2026
Excuse me, but why are you swimming so damn slowly?
If you pick a lane at the lido then you need to move at the right speed – and if not, then what on earth are you thinking?
Read the full article13 August 2026
Liberté! Egalité! Royalties! French newspapers take on Google
French newspapers are mad as hell with Google for using their content in their AI search results – so now 300 of them are suing
Read the full article11 August 2026
Frida Kahlo and the culture war over women’s pain
We celebrate suffering in art - so why are we so keen to dismiss it in life?
Read the full article05 August 2026
Burnham’s How To Fail episode teaches us all a lesson
The new PM says his biggest lessons have been learned in defeat. He’s right, and we have become too quick to dismiss politicians the moment they stumble
Read the full article05 August 2026
Why everyone in parliament is always pissed: I know – I used to be one of them
Everywhere you turn, people are handing you a drink. In your 20s, it can be quite fun. But as the years drag on, the problems start
Read the full article30 July 2026
I’m sorry, but Zack Polanski has got a point about not apologising to Farage
The row over a T-shirt shows the Green leader is not ready for the political big time - but Reform’s hypocrisy is ludicrous
Read the full article29 July 2026
Who the hell thought Make Tax Digital was a good idea?
The self-employed now have to report to HMRC each quarter. It’s time-consuming, expensive and hopeless
Read the full article23 July 2026
What Andy Burnham can learn from, er… Marine Le Pen?
Yes, her party and policies might be morally repulsive, but Le Pen is a canny operator, especially when it comes to one part of the political game
Read the full article20 July 2026
The mystery of Andy Burnham’s missing bookshelves
We can’t really read the new prime minister if we don’t know what he reads
Read the full article17 July 2026
The trouble with Andy Burnham’s place-first politics
The new PM should be careful about talking up the importance of where you're from
Read the full article15 July 2026
Kemi Badenoch’s incredible shrinking Tory party
By throwing out everyone she disagrees with, Badenoch is making the Tories both narrow and insular – and people don’t vote for parties like that
Read the full article10 July 2026
My night watching the World Cup’s cruellest fixture
I thought supporting both teams would be a win-win. It stopped feeling like one shortly after kick-off
Read the full article08 July 2026
Le Pen may have made an even bigger blunder than Farage
France’s far right presidential candidate could end up campaigning while wearing an electronic tag
Read the full article06 July 2026
How I learned to hate the great British heatwave
I used to pray for days of 30-degree temperatures. But this year, something has shifted
Read the full article22 June 2026
I didn’t rate Starmer as PM – so why do I feel so sad?
The hope of May 2024 has been squandered, and Andy Burnham is unlikely to revive it
Read the full article19 June 2026
Burnham won, but he’s got all the same flaws as Starmer
Burnham is precisely the opposite of what Labour and Britain need from a new PM
Read the full article