Free thinkers wanted.
Discuss and debate today’s biggest talking points, directly with our journalists. | | Henry Samuel France Correspondent | As the Eurostar pulls out of Paris’s Gare du Nord towards London at 8.59am, Jordan Bardella, the National Rally leader tipped to be France’s next president, gazes out of the window and points to a drab suburb.
“That’s where I grew up,” the 30-year-old tells me, shaking his head, with a smile.
“Can we speak in English? I need to practice,” he says, opting for the UK-style cooked breakfast over the continental option.
The first time I interviewed him, he was just 23, and a doting Marine Le Pen wouldn’t leave the room, making sure the geography dropout she picked to run her European election campaign remained on message.
Seven years later, and with his mentor currently out of the presidential race due to an electoral ban pending an appeal, Bardella is limbering up to run for France’s top job in 2027. He is the runaway favourite, polls suggest, but the French electorate is notoriously exacting and he will need to prove he has the mettle and the intellectual prowess for such a powerful position.
During our interview, we cover a lot of ground. Bardella talks about Ukraine, the Anglo-French relationship, anti-Semitism, radical Islam, domestic politics and even Donald Trump, about whom he says: “I don’t need a big brother like Trump to consider the fate of my country.” The main talking point, though, is Channel migrant crossings.
This is only his third visit to London and it is his first time meeting Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader with whom he hopes to forge a sovereignist alliance should both clinch power in their respective countries.
They are due to convene for a private lunch where they will discuss plans to reshape Europe, tackle rampant immigration, and “stop the boats”. “I think he will be your next Prime Minister,” he predicts as the train pulls out of the tunnel.
Read the interview in full here ➤ | | James Brydon Deputy Puzzles Editor | GCHQ has revealed its 10th annual Christmas Challenge.
I have found the answers to each of the seven hidden codes and cryptic puzzles, but can you work them out? Don’t look too far for the answer: it’s hiding in plain sight in the clue. The word “streams” is helpful. Look for similar words meandering through the diagram – and find the extra letters concealed among them. The phrase spelt out by letters in rooms is (2,3,5), so the first two letters must make a real word. This should make clear where to start.
Hopefully, that has given you a useful head start. You can find the rest of the questions and GCHQ’s full Christmas code here. | | James Baxter-Derrington Labour is gambling the nation’s economy on an as-yet-unidentified miracle Continue reading ➤ Allison Pearson A comeback? What planet is vile Huw Edwards living on? Continue reading ➤ Alastair Sooke This year’s Turner Prize judges have made a maddening decision Continue reading ➤ | Enjoy our best experience. Join us today and you’ll also unlock our award-winning app. | | Daily share of positive flu tests in England (Source: UK Health Security Agency) | The earliest flu wave in more than 20 years is being driven by a new strain of H3N2 influenza. Known as ‘K strain’, it emerged with nine mutations in the summer and new analysis has shown it is a “mismatch” for this winter’s flu vaccine.
Continue reading ➤ | | (Left-right): Sheikh Tahnoon, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mansour | | Chummy with Donald Trump and plugged into the Silicon Valley and the Washington elite, Abu Dhabi’s rulers have made the United Arab Emirates a vital Western ally. As they build an African business empire, allegations over their role in fuelling Sudan’s devastating civil war are mounting. Will the West confront the royals, or stay silent? Continue reading ➤ | | | It is the inevitability that hurts the most. One moment you are laughing at your mother for being unable to use a TV remote control or name the bands on Top of the Pops, and the next your own children are rolling their eyes at your ham-fisted attempt to download a playlist on Spotify. Yes, you’ve become your mother. Here Angela Epstein documents the seven deadly signs… Continue reading ➤ | | | If you weren’t lucky enough to attend the Rolling Stones’ Steel Wheels tour of 1989-90, never mind: a new Imax film places you at the heart of the magic (and the mayhem). James Hall takes a deep dive into the band’s $260m ‘deal with the devil’ that changed rock ‘n’ roll for good. Continue reading ➤ | | | Office politics can turn Secret Santa into a minefield – get it wrong and you might receive your P45 in the post. From how to organise the exchange to choosing the perfect present, this is your fool-proof guide to nailing a gift that will earn you kudos. Continue reading ➤ | | | Litter wardens, such as the two pictured above in Richmond, have been accused of aggressive and dishonest conduct | | Shoppers falsely accused of throwing away cigarettes; a woman fined £150 for pouring coffee down a drain; people penalised for dropping cotton from a glove. Litter enforcement is out of control and one contractor, employed by more than 40 councils, is attracting the lion’s share of complaints. Colin Freeman reports. Continue reading ➤ | | | Petrol engines are becoming scarce as production is cut back to meet mandated targets for electric car sales. There are still plenty of great new models, though. Our expert Alex Robbins reveals the best in six categories, from small urban cars to saloons – and one to steer well clear of. Continue reading ➤ Below are two more helpful articles for you this morning: - Christmas and pigs in blankets go hand in hand for many households, but which brand has the tastiest offering? Xanthe Clay has sampled them on your behalf – this is her verdict.
- Planning your first ski holiday can be daunting, but picking a resort is a good place to start. Here’s everything you need to know to make the trip a huge success.
| .png) | Amanda James Deputy Food Editor | If you find yourself craving a sip of something sharp and sweet today, you’re not alone. 2025 has been the year of the new margarita, with the classic cocktail served up every which way from picante to pickle-spiked. The numbers speak for themselves: tequila sales are up 25 per cent this year, according to Waitrose.
Spicy margs remain irresistible to those of us who love a little heat, but the movement has broadened way beyond chilli. Fruity-spicy hybrids – ‘fricy’, if you must – are everywhere. We’ve sipped mango and curry leaf margs; zingy ginger and tamarind versions; even sriracha-laced creations. Grapefruit is also enjoying a moment in the glass – that’ll be down to a current national penchant for bitter tastes.
If a margarita is on your festive drinks menu, check out Victoria Moore’s guide to the perfect recipe (as well as some helpful shortcuts). And if the cocktail alone won’t satisfy you, try the Hairy Bikers’ margarita chicken fajitas – starring orange zest and jalapenos; they’re fricy and then some. | |
Armed robbers were caught on CCTV strolling through the streets of Sao Paulo with stolen artwork after a heist. Who was the artist? | Cotswolds in crisis Every weekday, Orlando Bird, our loyal Reader Correspondent, shares an off-piste topic that has brought out the best of your opinions and stories. Orlando writes...
Whenever I visit a pretty part of the Cotswolds, I’m struck by the same thought I often have when I’m in a beer garden on a sunny Saturday: “This is all very nice, but how dare so many other people have the same idea?”
Overtourism is a growing concern in the land of Laurie Lee, Jilly Cooper and Jeremy Clarkson, with its eminently Instagrammable limestone cottages and village names that seem almost calculated to bewitch Americans. How serious is it? The Telegraph’s Gavin Haines recently went to investigate – in the process encountering the good, the bad and the egregiously twee – and there’s been a strong response from readers.
Graham Asher pointed out, however, that “it’s not a new problem. I spent a lot of time in the 1960s at my grandparents’ house just outside Broadway, which even then was very touristy. I heard an American accent for the first time on the high street, and my grandmother complained that all the useful shops were turning into antique shops”.
That particular trend shows no sign of abating, according to Steven Ford. “Your article quotes a shopkeeper in Bourton-on-the-Water, where I live, who makes his living by selling to tourists. He claims that, without them, the village would have no money and everything would have to close. The reverse is true: all the useful amenities for those who actually live here – such as butchers, bakers, greengrocers and newsagents – have closed and been replaced by tourist tat. Recently there was an article in the Bourton Browser by one of our oldest inhabitants, who listed all the shops and businesses that have closed over the years.”
Caroline Nuyts offered a tip: “You simply have to step away from the popular villages. My student daughter and I had a weekend’s walking holiday in the Cotswolds three years ago. We visited Bourton-on-the-Water, but also several incredibly quiet villages. In fact, it was rather sad – the pub at Cold Aston was closed down.” Has tourism gone too far in the Cotswolds? Send your responses here, and the best responses will feature in a future edition of From the Editor PM, for which you can sign up to here.
Please confirm in your reply that you are happy to be featured and that we have your permission to use your name. | Plan your day with the telegraph | Set your alarm to catch up with our journalists on the Your Say page and listen to their analysis on our latest podcasts. Christmas is nearly here – and so are the culinary dilemmas. Struggling with mastering roast potatoes, pudding ideas, wine pairings or tricky diets? Telegraph experts Diana Henry, Victoria Moore and Xanthe Clay will answer all your festive food and drink questions in a live Q&A at 4pm.
Join our writers here ➤
Also coming up today:
• At 10am, discuss Britain’s open borders crime wave with Annabel Denham.
• James Baxter-Derrington will be responding to your views at 10am on his column: 2028 will be the year this sorry Government comes crashing down. | | Find as many words as you can in today’s Panagram, including the nine-letter solution. Visit Telegraph Puzzles to play a range of head-scratching games, including PlusWord, Sorted, and Quick, Mini or Cryptic Crosswords.
Yesterday’s Panagram was CONNECTOR. Come back tomorrow for the solution to today’s puzzle. | | Thank you for reading. Have a fulfilling day and I hope to see you tomorrow. Chris Evans, Editor
P.S. I’d love to hear what you think of this newsletter. You can email me your feedback here. | |
.png){kind=icon}
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire