The late socialist historian E P Thompson was fascinated by the reactionary views expressed in the Times letters columns and on its Editorial page and wrote about it in the collection, Sir, Writing By Candlelight.
Thompson died 30 years ago and while there are now some enlightened letters writers the paper’s leaders remain firmly on the centre right.
One enduring fascination is the right to protest. The Times agrees that there is a right to protest. It never agrees that its a good time to exercise it. In the case of the Palestinian demonstration in London on 11th November it thinks there should be a pause because its not the right moment (it never will be).
However since the police have agreed it can go ahead and the Times is definitely in favour of the police, then, grrr, it will have to.
Those who deconstruct the text will note that Suella Braverman is heavily criticised. Again this is a familiar theme. The paper’s owner Rupert Murdoch backs Kemi Badenoch as the next Tory leader
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