The Times, founded in 1785 as the Daily Universal Register, is the oldest national daily newspaper in the UK and holds an important place as the “paper of record” on public life, from politics and world affairs to business and sport.
In his first edition, John Walter I explained that “like a well-covered table, it should contain something suited to every palate” including politics, foreign affairs, matters of trade, legal trials, advertisements and “amusements”. In its tone and political neutrality, Walter reserved the right of the newspaper “to censure or applaud either [political party]” and to cover contending issues with respectful “fair argument”. More than 200 years later, these founding principles hold true today. The Times has supported both New Labour and the Conservatives in recent times and supported Remain in the 2016 EU referendum.
In an age when world leaders routinely dismiss unwelcome reports as “fake news”, readers need a source they can trust for honest journalism that informs, entertains and analyses without bias. In The Times they can find agenda-setting investigations and exclusives, unrivalled coverage of politics and business at home and abroad, and a range of columnists from across the political spectrum showcased on our digital platforms and in print. Leading news reporting and analysis are complemented by an incisive Comment section, featuring columnists from across the political spectrum and the best satirical cartoonists. Other prominent fixtures include obituaries, business, sport, culture and puzzles (The Times introduced Sudoku to the nation in 2004).
