‘“Wir schaffen das” (We can do it), said Angela Merkel that fateful summer of 2015, speaking about the migration wave. Merkel was wrong, and Europe continues to pay the price for her mistake.’

‘Across Central Europe, especially during communism, Britain was seen as a beacon of freedom, democracy and human rights. Its descent seems both mystifying and unstoppable.’

‘Arrow Cross gunmen tore up the neutral diplomats’ Schutz-passes that gave Hungarian Jews protection, forced them to the banks of the Danube and shot them into the freezing waters. As a neutral diplomat, Wallenberg could have fled west. Instead, he remained to carry on his rescue work.’

As Britain slides further into Labour-led authoritarianism, free speech is rapidly fading away—unless protestors are shouting about Palestine.

Author Adam LeBor gives the Hungarian Conservative his list of must-read thrillers for this holiday season.

‘I do think we’ve got to make it clear that visas will not be issued to people with a history of antisemitism or a history of support for ideologies which are inconsistent with the liberal, pluralist, democratic way of life that we enjoy in this country.’

‘The legacy of Klára Andrássy is one of turning the Andrássy Palace into an open centre of anti-Nazi resistance.’

‘Under Labour Britain has marginalized itself into irrelevance. Not through accident or happenstance but as a deliberate policy choice.’

‘Karla’s Choice: A John le Carré Novel by Nick Harkaway (Viking, 2024) has not yet been turned into a screen drama. But it is surely only a matter of time—and when that does happen, Budapest will at last be able to play itself. A strong Hungarian storyline and realistic local detail add extra layers of enjoyment to this accomplished spy thriller.’

Nine months after a savage act of vandalism at Trinity College Cambridge, anger is growing at its lacklustre response.