
Why can’t the Bank of England predict inflation?
In the short-term, inflation has won the battle. Better forecasting would have helped the Bank tame it.

The EU has got itself into a terrible mess on Northern Ireland and should compromise
Brexiteers made numerous mistakes on Northern Ireland. But in seeking to trap the Brits via the Protocol, Brussels put its fingers in the mangle of Northern Ireland politics. The EU finds itself in a terrible mess. It should compromise, though presumably it won’t.

French Letter: Partygate in sun-kissed Locarn
In this week’s letter, Walter attends a (perfectly legal) drinks party.

Sanctions are about as disciplinarian as the naughty step
Sanctions are, at best, a scatter-gun approach when trade is worldwide, and supply chains are global.

Wagatha Christie – the world’s best pitch fight
The Wagatha Christie libel trial has ensured Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy will go down in pop-culture history.

Manon Lescaut review – Puccini up close and personal
Opéra de Monte-Carlo successfully translates Puccini’s Manon Lescaut into the present day, only to be let down by Act III.

Greg Norman and the dirty age of sportswashing
Golfer Greg Norman has illustrated how few in sport today care where the money comes from — what matters is that it buys success.

Stop and Look – The Month of May by the Limbourg brothers
Paul, Jean and Herman de Limbourg’s Très Riches Heures portrayed the life of Duke Jean’s court.

Benjamin Appl – Favourite Things
The professional singer and world renowned baritone, Benjamin Appl, shares his five favourite things.

What to Watch This Week
The Reaction guide on what to watch this week across all streaming platforms.

Books Digest – On Agoraphobia, Commando and Fix the System
The Reaction round-up of what you should, and shouldn’t, be reading this week.

The best English festivals to book this Summer
From art to food and music to books, here are the best festivals to get your cultural fix this Summer.

The Great Escape – hiking through the rugged highlands
A group of twenty-somethings venture to the northern shore of Loch Nevis in the Scottish highlands for an arduous hiking trip.

Britain has a key role to play in the defence of Europe and the free world
Post-Brexit Britain may be more autonomous but we are still defined by our alliances and commitment to the defence of Europe.

Reaction Podcast: NI Protocol in trouble, Putin’s battle for the Donbas and WFH
Iain Martin, Maggie Pagano and Alastair Benn discuss trade wars, progress in the Donbas, and the pros and cons of WFH.

Northern Ireland Protocol: how did we get here, and what happens next?
With Liz Truss promising to scrap the Protocol, and Stormont at a standstill because of it, the fudge to get Brexit over the line is unravelling.

Eurovision 2022: could Britain pip Ukraine?
Contestants in the carnival of camp have to pledge not to be political. Fat chance.

Tokyo Vice reminds me of my experience with the yakuza in Japan
The series brought me back to my experience with organised crime, which was both frightening and fun.