The Bunker – News without the nonsense Hot Take Time Machine – February’s weirdest opinion columns with Miranda Sawyer and Jonn Elledge
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Feb 26, 2026 
John Elledge, New Statesman columnist known for sharp political and cultural takes, and Miranda Sawyer, broadcaster and cultural commentator, dissect February’s strangest opinion pieces. They spar over press reactions to Prince Andrew, argue about high society blind spots, debate defence of child work, laugh at sex-column realities and pick apart media outrage and classy petty grievances.
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Royal Arrest Coverage Split Between Schadenfreude And Victims
- Media coverage of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor split into schadenfreude and failure-to-focus-on-victims.
- John Elledge notes the parallel strands: public humiliation versus the separate silence around Epstein victims and their stories.
Sunday Times Argues Royal Indulgence Helped Create Andrew
- Camilla Long frames Andrew's behaviour as tied to upbringing and the Queen's indulgence rather than excusing him.
- Miranda Sawyer highlights Long's anger and how the piece centers victims before exploring family nurture and public consequence.
Contrarian Defence Draws Fire For Tone Over Substance
- Brendan O'Neill's Spectator column defends restraint and criticises public gloating but reads as automatic contrarianism.
- Panel critiques its tone as sermon-like and out of step with the weight of evidence about Andrew's conduct.