News, culture and style

Wes Streeting

A future PM? ‘The closer I see that job, the more I wonder why anyone would want it’

The health secretary on leadership, the doctors’ strike and why UK taxes are too high

by Rachel Sylvester

Lily Allen

Aftermath of an album

The singer’s fifth album, West End Girl, about the implosion of her marriage, has set her free to enjoy life, and her own rediscovered fame

Children

The care home gold rush

The children’s commissioner for England is calling for radical investment to stop the profiteers who have turned the vital care of young people into an income stream

Andrew Rawnsley

It’ll be lonely this Christmas

Labour’s dire level of unpopularity is the result of self-inflicted wounds and systemic challenges

For today

David Walliams’ new book was promoted hours before he was ditched by publisher

Books

Claudia Williams

David Walliams’ new book was promoted hours before he was ditched by publisher

A week after Bondi, is there anywhere Jewish people can feel safe?

Bondi shooting

Jack Kessler

A week after Bondi, is there anywhere Jewish people can feel safe?

Qesser Zuhrah: the student who could soon become the UK’s youngest hunger striker to die

Palestine Action

John Simpson

Qesser Zuhrah: the student who could soon become the UK’s youngest hunger striker to die

England beaten again as Australia wrap up the Ashes

Cricket

Gideon Haigh

England beaten again as Australia wrap up the Ashes

Christmas

The ghosts of presents past

Observer journalists share their tales of memorable gifts, from those that warmed the heart to a few that missed the mark. (Though it's the thought that counts, right?)

The ultimate Christmas table – roast goose and mince pies

Six drinks for Christmas

Be the host with the most – how to win at party food

Christmas gifts for food lovers

Christmas appeal

‘As a refugee, I don’t know how I’d have survived without their help’

This year The Observer’s Christmas appeal is raising funds for the charity Counterpoints Arts, which supports and produces creative work by and about migrants such as filmmaker Hasan Kattan