Andy Shaw | The Spectator columnists & writers

Many of us have been watching in awe at the profound impact that Meghan and Harry’s Oprah interview has had on the fight against endemic injustice. There has been an outpouring of empathy for the Duchess's suffering at the hands of the British. Not only has she had to live through the public spectacle of a royal wedding, she has had to endure the indignity of public scrutiny every time she wishes to travel by private jet. This is not how a victim should be treated. The Duchess is riding on a wave of American support and has challenged one of the oldest institutions on earth. She shows us that the world can be turned upside down when the power of suffering is successfully harnessed. Such was the emotive power of her interview that a presidential bid is now being mooted for Markle.

A handy guide to Ursula von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen’s threat to impose a ‘vaccine border’ in Ireland may have taken the world by surprise but was her erratic behaviour really so unprecedented? Having found herself at the helm of an organisation that has worked tirelessly to remove borders and preserve the free movement of people, she decided it was time for a change. Internationalism and pan-national solidarity only take you so far. Her actions in Ireland revealed a darker side. Could it be that, having railed against populism in Italy and Spain, she has become secretly susceptible to its charms? Watching MAGA supporters storm the Capitol, it occurred to her that here was a moment for the EU to shine. Yes, it was time for Ursula to play the Donald at his own game.

A handy guide to Hotel Quarantine

On the one year anniversary of the arrival of the Covid virus in the UK, the government has introduced strict quarantine measures to stop the virus arriving again. The shock discovery that the virus mutates in other countries, as well as our own, has prompted the government to incarcerate travellers as they step off their plane. Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing has added the responsibility of ‘housing people in hotel rooms against their will’ to his portfolio. This week, he said: 'There will be a time when we will look back and say, with hindsight, that there are things the government could have done differently. But that time is not now'. With the foresight of hindsight, a senior government Minister has shown perfect near-sightedness about our situation.

Word of the week: Sceptic

Definition: A person who questions the beliefs of others Lord Sumption, is a sceptic. The former Supreme Court judge has questioned the government’s lockdown policies and raised uncomfortable questions: ‘are we punishing too many for the greater good?’; ‘is the life of my grandchildren worth more than my own, because they have much more of it ahead?’ These are moral questions about the value that we place on each life, as well as the price that we are prepared to pay to prevent death. There are no easy answers. But now is not the time for debate. The enlightenment spawned an array of critical thinkers, sceptics and dissenters. By testing theories, challenging hypotheses and questioning orthodoxies, societies became dynamic fulcrums of innovation and progress.

A handy guide to The National Trust

In an attempt to modernise, the National Trust has arranged for its staff and volunteers to be “reverse-mentored” by school children about the links between National Trust properties and slavery and colonialism. Pupils have been drafted in to uncover the “uncomfortable truths” of Britain’s shameful past and give lessons to the adults who preserve its buildings, gardens and countryside. At first glance, it seems odd that young people are being used to re-educate the knowledgeable guardians of our great country houses. What could an expert in 17th century portraits learn from a 12 year old? What could the “child advisory board” teach to the keepers of Cliveden House? However, the simplicity of a child’s question can reveal a hidden truth.

That's Life

With Leo Kearse

29 min listen

That's Life

With Leo Kearse

29 min listen

Leo Kearse is a Scottish comedian and writer. On the podcast, he talks to Ben and Andy about the irony of alt-right protestors making Nazi salutes in central London; the difficulty in pinning down the changing definition of a 'racist'; and why Patrick Hutchinson, the BLM protestor who carried a man out of a protest getting violent, was his man of the month.Presented by Andy Shaw and Benedict Spence.

That's Life

With drag queen Vanity von Glow

25 min listen

That's Life

With drag queen Vanity von Glow

25 min listen

Vanity von Glow is one of the UK's most in demand drag queens. She's a singer, pianist, and comic, and also hosts a new political talk show The Vanity Project. On the episode, she talks to Andy and Ben about flirting in a pandemic, why the word 'unprecedented' is unprecedentedly insufferable, and why Lana del Rey is her person of the month.That's Life is a sideways look at the events, people, words and ideas that shape the news agenda. Presented by Spectator Life’s satirist Andy Shaw and political commentator Benedict Spence.

That's Life

With Toby Young

29 min listen

That's Life

With Toby Young

29 min listen

Toby Young is the Spectator's No Sacred Cows columnist and founder of the Free Speech Union. On the podcast, he talks to Andy and Benedict about getting coronavirus, the worst WHO gaffes, and the hardy 70-somethings down his street.

That's Life

With Andrew Doyle

17 min listen

That's Life

With Andrew Doyle

17 min listen

On the latest episode, Andy and Benedict talk to comedian and author Andrew Doyle, the brains behind the Twitter persona 'Titania McGrath'. Andrew explains just why he's so suited to self-isolation, the politicisation of coronavirus, and which quarantined celebrities he feels most sorry for.

The Edition

Here comes Bloomberg

39 min listen

The Edition

Here comes Bloomberg

39 min listen

This week, has Mike Bloomberg blown his presidential hopes with a disastrous TV debate (00:50)? Plus, has the BBC really gone downhill (12:05)? And last, Toby Young reveals all about his first stand up comedy gig (26:30).

That's Life

With Julia Hartley-Brewer

31 min listen

That's Life

With Julia Hartley-Brewer

31 min listen

Julia Hartley-Brewer is a journalist and TalkRadio host. On the podcast, she talks to Benedict and Andy about Philip Schofield, British things, and why the Democrats just can't get rid of Trump.

7 easy steps to becoming a male feminist

Most men have been appalled at the abusive behaviour unveiled by the #MeToo movement. We have reflected on past indiscretions, salacious conduct and incidents of raw maleness and we feel shame. We wish to show contrition and demonstrate our commitment to feminism but we just don’t know how. We feel excluded by third-wave feminism and we are in awe at the oncoming fourth wave. Something had to be done. So I went undercover and ‘identified’ as a feminist woman to produce her/his guide to help you/him/her become a true feminist, a ‘FeMan’ in fact. Just follow these simple steps. 1. How to look at a woman Feminists have discovered that sometimes men are sexually attracted to women. Men become aware of the physical attributes and characteristics of a particular woman and they are enticed.

10 easy steps to becoming a New Progressive

How did we arrive in this new golden era? We have advanced, become more open-minded, more accepting and more considerate. On the whole, people are treated as equals, regardless of gender, race or sexuality. We cherish our freedom. We like to be treated, and treat others, as individuals. However, you must understand the world from the perspective of a New Progressive. Start by recognising that older people, like yourself, are motivated by selfishness and prejudice. You fail to notice injustice and ignore new ‘oppressions’ which are discovered daily. The old ways are crumbling. You must learn a new language, expected behaviours and ways of thinking. From now on, consider everyone you know and identify them as ‘privileged’ or ‘vulnerable’.

A handy guide to Left-wing people for the under 10s

Left-wing people in the olden days Left-wing people used to like working-class people. Lots of left-wing people used to be working-class people. These people were known as socialists and joined trade unions. Sometimes working-class people used to frighten left-wing people, but they pretended that they weren't frightened and were nice to them. Left-wing people supported working-class people, gave them money, sat in rooms with them and wore badges to show that they cared more than right-wing people, who wore ties instead of badges and didn't care. Nowadays Nowadays, working-class people are bored with socialism because it hasn't made them rich and happy. Nowadays left-wing people are middle-class people. Working class people are a big disappointment to left-wing people.

A handy guide to Marklism

A handy guide to Marklism

A handy guide to Ursula von der Leyen

A handy guide to Ursula von der Leyen

A handy guide to Hotel Quarantine

A handy guide to Hotel Quarantine

Word of the week: Sceptic

Word of the week: Sceptic

A handy guide to The National Trust

A handy guide to The National Trust

With Leo Kearse

With Leo Kearse

With drag queen Vanity von Glow

With drag queen Vanity von Glow

With Toby Young

With Toby Young

With Andrew Doyle

With Andrew Doyle

Here comes Bloomberg

Here comes Bloomberg

With Julia Hartley-Brewer

With Julia Hartley-Brewer

7 easy steps to becoming a male feminist

7 easy steps to becoming a male feminist

10 easy steps to becoming a New Progressive

10 easy steps to becoming a New Progressive

A handy guide to Left-wing people for the under 10s

A handy guide to Left-wing people for the under 10s