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Thursday February 29 2024 | thetimes.co.uk | No 74344 £2.80 £2.00 to subscribers

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Secrets of a hedge My generation

will be rich?
fund billionaire’s PA INSIDE
TIMES2
That’s a joke
Harriet Walker

Chancellor may end non-dom tax break for budget boost

Steven Swinford Political Editor have far less money to spend than ovich, the former owner of Chelsea previously accused Rishi Sunak of 68,800 non-doms in Britain in the tax
expected. The state of the public finan- football club, who was sanctioned by clinging on to his “beloved non-dom year ending in April 2022.
Jeremy Hunt is considering scrapping ces has forced Hunt to look for new the government. status”. Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty, In that year Labour announced its
or scaling back “non-dom” tax rules as sources of revenue for his budget on The announcement is likely to be has benefited from the regime in the plan to scrap rules that allow some
he attempts to raise billions of pounds Wednesday. Scrapping the non-domi- particularly contentious as Labour had past. wealthy individuals living in Britain not
to fund cuts to national insurance in his ciled tax regime would raise an estimat- already declared plans to scrap the tax Under the existing rules foreign citi- to pay tax on their foreign earnings. At
spring budget. ed £3.6 billion a year. break. Hunt criticised Labour for doing zens who are domiciled abroad but live the time the party cited research by the
The chancellor has already signifi- Those who have benefited from non- so at the time. in Britain do not have to pay tax on their London School of Economics and the
cantly reduced his planned cuts after dom status include Lakshmi Mittal, the It is also a deeply political issue. Sir foreign income for up to 15 years. University of Warwick suggesting that
official forecasts suggested that he will steel magnate, and Roman Abram- Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, has According to official figures there were

Save Britain Harry faces

£1m legal bill

from mob after defeat

over security

rule, Sunak
Kate Mansey, David Brown
The Duke of Sussex faces a legal bill of
more than £1 million after losing his
court battle yesterday for guaranteed
taxpayer-funded police security when

tells police
he visits Britain.
Harry claimed that his children
could not “feel at home” in the UK if it
was “not possible to keep them safe”
during visits from their home in Cali-
fornia.
A High Court judge dismissed the
demands for a review of the decision to
PM orders end to ‘intimidatory’ Gaza protests remove his full police protection after
Harry and Meghan announced they
were “stepping back” as senior mem-
Aubrey Allegretti politicians’ offices or political events bers of the royal family in January 2020.
Chief Political Correspondent should not cause distress to those Mr Justice Lane criticised Harry’s
attending through abusive words or “inappropriate, formalist interpreta-
Rishi Sunak warned last night that Brit- disorderly behaviour, according to a tion” of the rules of the committee that
ain risked descending into “mob rule” new “defending democracy protocol”. decides on security for members of the
as he urged the police to do more to stop Any protest at the home of an MP or royal family. The duke said that he
disruptive protests. councillor should also generally be would appeal against the ruling.
The prime minister said the nation’s considered to be intimidatory under Harry’s arguments that the security
democratic institutions needed better the protocol. The police were told that committee failed to consider the death
protection from “intimidation, disrup- any such demonstrators should be dis- of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales,
tion [and] subversion” amid a wave of persed using powers contained in sec- or the impact on the UK’s reputation if
Gaza ceasefire protests that has target- tion 42 of the Criminal Justice and he was attacked were rejected.
ed parliament and MPs’ homes. Police Act 2001. An immediate The Home Office has revealed that
Sunak told police chiefs gathered at response would be required. its legal costs in the case had reached
Downing Street that they should shut In the run-up to the general election, £407,000 by October last year. That was
down demonstrations that were ministers are also endeavouring to pro- before a three-day trial in December,
deemed unacceptable. He made clear tect MPs and candidates. Police forces held mainly in secret because of secur-
that police forces would have the full will be required, when notified of a pro- ity matters. Harry, 39, hired the law
backing of ministers in taking tougher test at an election event, to speak to the firm Schillings International to repre-
action within the existing laws. organisers at least 48 hours in advance sent him, along with four barristers,
“There is a growing consensus that and put in place an “appropriate” polic- meaning his legal bills are expected to
mob rule is replacing democratic rule,” ing response. be higher still. The loser in High Court
Sunak said. “And we’ve got to collec- Guidance will also be issued by the cases normally pays both sets of legal
tively, all of us, change that urgently.” Crown Prosecution Service to ensure costs, pushing Harry’s bill in excess of
Ministers have drawn up new gui- that all officers are aware of the powers £1 million.
dance for policing protests after MPs’ they can use. Particular care will be The Home Office said: “We are
homes were targeted and pro-Palestin- taken to ensure that officers policing pleased that the court has found in
ian activists were encouraged to force protests in Parliament Square under- favour of the government’s position.”
parliament to “lock its doors” before stand when they can intervene.
last week’s ceasefire vote. Those attending the meeting at
Sunak said: “We simply cannot allow No 10 included chief constables and
this pattern of increasingly violent and senior figures from Scotland Yard, as
intimidatory behaviour which is, as far well as representatives from the
as anyone can see, intended to shout National Police Chiefs’ Council and the
down free debate and stop elected rep- Association of Police and Crime Com-
resentatives doing their job. That is
simply undemocratic.” Protests at
missioners. After thanking police chiefs Holding court Julianne Moore at a screening in central London last night of Mary
& George, a drama set during the reign of James VI and I to be broadcast by Sky
y(7HB7E2*OTSNOT( |||+"!}'
2 2GM Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

News

Today’s highlights Defence chief stays on after

7.20am
11am
Damian Hinds, schools minister
The Times Radio Focus Group:
Matt Chorley hears from people who
voted Conservative in 2019 but are
shaping Ukraine war strategy
now leaning towards Reform UK Larisa Brown Defence Editor and had been helping the country with former chairman of the Commons
2.10pm Noomi Rapace, right, star of its plans. Radakin is understood to have defence committee, said: “This is a fla-
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo The head of the armed forces will aided the Ukrainians with the strategy grant abuse of intelligence deliberately
3.45pm Ex-offenders Zak and Jules discuss remain in post for another year after he to destroy Russian ships and open up designed to distract from Germany’s
their podcast Life After Prison emerged as a key player in helping the Black Sea, with Ukraine’s maritime reluctance to arm Ukraine with its own
7pm Adam Boulton and Miranda Green Ukraine with its battle plans. trade said to be returning to prewar long-range missile system.”
on the big stories of the day Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, 58, was levels. The source said he had been The Ministry of Defence said: “The
due to retire next November after serv- invaluable in co-ordinating support UK, along with other allies, is providing
ing three years as chief of the defence from other senior chiefs in Nato. a range of equipment to Ukraine to help
staff. However, he has been asked to Meanwhile the German chancellor it counter Russia’s illegal and unpro-
DAB RADIO l ONLINE l SMART SPEAKER l APP
stay on until autumn next year by Rishi has been accused of a “flagrant abuse of voked aggression.”
Sunak. It is understood that this has intelligence” after he revealed that Radakin, who was educated at state
been approved by the King. British soldiers were supporting school and became first sea lord, was
T O D AY ’ S E D I T I O N Sources close to Radakin pointed to Ukrainian troops launching missiles. handed the top role a few months
his credit for the “shuttle diplomacy” On Monday Olaf Scholz inadvert- before Russia invaded Ukraine in
last summer between Washington and ently disclosed that British soldiers February 2022. He was the first naval
Kyiv, in which he held meetings with were on the ground helping Ukrainians chief to hold the position for 20 years.
NEWS SPORT TIMES2 Ukrainian military chiefs amid White fire Storm Shadow missiles, the RAF’s He has led the military through what is
House anxiety about the US appearing long-range cruise missile. considered by many to be the most dan-
to be too closely involved in the war. He made the remarks while arguing gerous period since the Cold War.
They said he was able to grasp the against his country delivering Taurus In previous months Downing Street
tactical detail of the land war, and link missiles, the German equivalent to the gagged Radakin and other military and
this to the bigger strategic picture and Storm Shadow, to Ukraine in their spy chiefs, but the policy appears to
the need to align the military response ongoing fight against Russia. have softened. Radakin made a speech
with economic and diplomatic efforts. Scholz said that delivering the on Tuesday in which he stressed he
He travelled without any British missiles would make Germany a “par- believed “Britain is safe”. He appeared
ministers to Kyiv to meet President ticipant in the war” and require troops to suggest General Sir Patrick Sanders,
Zelensky to discuss Ukraine’s strategy on the ground, citing the UK and chief of the general staff, had been
and how the West could help. A France as examples. “alarmist” in suggesting the UK needed
ROYAL STORY F1 BOSS CLEARED PASTA WARS Ukrainian military source said he was It prompted anger from inside to train a “citizen army”.
liked for his “wise strategic thinking” Germany and the UK. Tobias Ellwood,
Images of Diana, Christian Horner Is it heresy to
Princess of Wales, now faces having serve up spaghetti
put on display
PAGE 13
to repair damage
PAGES 64-66
and meatballs?
PAGE 7 Troubles amnesty would continued from page 1
Sunak’s ‘mob rule’ warning

break rights law, court says

337
for their work handling protests since
days since Wall Street Journal the Hamas invasion of Israel on Octo-
ber 7, Sunak suggested that a more con-
reporter Evan Gershkovich sistent and robust approach was re-
18, 2023 was incompatible with human quired.
was detained in Russia Oliver Wright Policy Editor
rights laws and should be disapplied. “We also need to demonstrate more
#FreeEvan Plans to issue what is in effect an am-
nesty for terrorist attacks during the
Responding in the Commons, Chris
Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland
broadly to the public that you will use
the powers you already have,” he
Troubles are incompatible with human secretary, said that the government said. “I am going to do whatever it re-
COMMENT 21 BUSINESS 31 SPORT 56 rights law, the High Court has ruled. would consider the court’s findings quires to protect our democracy and
LEADING ARTICLES 25 REGISTER 47 CROSSWORD 66 In a blow to attempts to draw a line “very, very carefully” but added that he our values that we all hold dear.”
WORLD 26 LAW 50 TV & RADIO TIMES2 under those accused of killings in remained “committed to implementing All police and crime commissioners
Northern Ireland before the Good Fri- the Legacy Act”. and chief constables have been told to

Stories of our times day agreement, judges said the move,

outlined in the Legacy Act, was not
compliant with the European Conven-
“This is a very complex case. Over
200 pages which were just being re-
ported on less than 90 minutes ago, and
report back by April on how they have
implemented the protocol.
Ministers have become increasingly
Why is Nikki Haley still in the tion on Human Rights.
However, ministers said that they re-
so it will take some time to consider,” he
said. “But we do remain committed to
concerned about hostilities against pol-
iticians, which culminated last
Republican primary race? mained committed to the plan, which
was passed into law by parliament last
implementing the Legacy Act, includ-
ing delivering the ICRIR.”
Wednesday when the Commons
Speaker broke with parliamentary
Donald Trump is now almost certain to win the presidential year and is facing a legal challenge from The act received royal assent in Sep- precedent. Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he
nomination. But with Super Tuesday approaching he still has one the Irish government. tember despite widespread opposition did so, in part, due to concerns about
Delivering his judgment at Belfast from political parties and victims’ orga- the impact of a backlash on MPs’ safety.
opponent. So who is Nikki Haley and why is she still running? High Court, Mr Justice Colton ruled nisations in Northern Ireland, as well as Organisers of pro-Palestinian
Available free from wherever you get your podcasts that there was no evidence the immuni- the Irish government. marches vowed to continue the dem-
ty provision would contribute to recon- The Democratic Unionist Party has onstrations despite calls from James
ciliation in Northern Ireland. argued that it will help terrorists to es- Cleverly, the home secretary, that they
FOLLOW US He also criticised the new Independ- cape justice, while Sinn Fein said that should end. They said the protests were
thetimes timesandsundaytimes thetimes ent Commission for Reconciliation and the act was designed to protect British peaceful and disproportionately over-
Information Recovery (ICRIR), which soldiers. The government has argued policed. Estimates suggest that the pro-
will deal with legacy cases, but said he that successful prosecutions more than tests have cost £25 million to police and
OFFER could not say that it was incompatible 25 years after the Good Friday agree- caused thousands of rest days for offi-
Save up to 30% with a subscription to with human rights law. But he ruled
that the provision of the act under
ment are unlikely, and that the act will
help reconciliation.
cers to be cancelled.
The Times and The Sunday Times which no new Troubles-related civil An appeal against the verdict is
THETIMES.CO.UK/SUBSCRIBE claims may be brought after November expected.

THE WEATHER continued from page 1 the Financial Times, would most likely “steal Labour’s clothes” by scrapping
Non-dom tax break may end lead to a two percentage point cut in the the non-dom regime.
rate of national insurance contribu- He told his Political Currency podcast:
the change could raise £3.2 billion a tions, repeating the reduction that “If I was the chancellor I would defi-
5 year. However, the party has since Hunt announced in the autumn state- nitely be looking to do something on
changed its position. Labour has con- ment in November. This measure the non-dom regime that hopefully
27
cluded that it will form its calculations would cost about £10 billion a year. didn’t kill the golden goose that lays the
6 27 on revenue on the basis that individuals The chancellor is also expected to golden egg of having international visi-
will be able to live non-dom in Britain announce a specific tax on vapes to tors to Britain that invest in this coun-
and avoid tax on foreign earnings for up raise revenues, with a corresponding try, but nevertheless takes money off
6
to four years before paying full UK tax. rise in tobacco duty. The two measures the table and puts the ball back into
8
9
Under the calculations from LSE that would together raise more than Labour’s court.”
10 would raise £2 billion a year. This, £500 million a year by 2028-29. Ed Balls, the former shadow chancel-
9
sources said, would avoid penalising His approach will depend on fore- lor who co-presents the podcast, said:
25 people who were genuine temporary casts from the Office for Budget “We’ve been saying again and again
residents. Responsibility. The final forecast before they should do it. All Labour’s promises
Hunt will put significant pressure on the budget is due tomorrow. around more operations, scanners or
Cloud and rain in the southeast. Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, George Osborne, the former chan- dentistry or the stuff they’re saying
Brighter with showers further north if he pushes ahead with scrapping non- cellor, said this week that if he were in around schools and breakfast clubs all
and west. dom status. The move, first reported by government he would be looking to relies on getting that money.”
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 2GM 3

News

Black audience nights to shield

West End play from ‘white gaze’
David Sanderson Arts Correspondent Dramatic changes
The producers of a play in the West End
of London have confirmed at least two Trigger warnings Verbal or written
showings will effectively ban white notices given to audiences before a
people from the audience. production begins have become
The controversial Slave Play, which is common in recent years. Topics
due to star the Game of Thrones actor covered include racism or any
Kit Harington, is due to have two perceived discrimination, self-harm,
“Black Out” nights where only black- violence or bad language, and they
identifying audience members are have been announced before
“welcomed”. The producers said it was productions including The Sound of
so they could “experience and discuss Music and Macbeth.
an event ... free from the white gaze”.
Black Out nights have become Immersive theatre Although
increasingly popular in the British performers breaking the fourth wall
theatre world, with publicly funded has always been a feature of
companies including Lyric Hammer- theatre, modern productions have
smith, Theatre Royal Stratford East really placed the audience at the
and the Almeida Theatre all having heart of the performance.
hosted them.
The concept was pioneered in New Embracing technology From virtual
York for the original 2019 production of reality and augmented reality to
Slave Play in an effort to raise the diver- mixed reality, many directors are
sity of theatre audiences who have his- using different techniques in their
torically been overwhelmingly white. productions to enhance the
Not all plays telling “black stories” by audience experience.
black playwrights have held them,
however, with the acclaimed For Black
Boys Who Have Considered Suicide playing while on a cotton plantation.
When the Hue Gets Too Heavy not host- Harris told the BBC this week that he
ing any on its West End transfer. was “excited” to introduce Black Out
Jeremy O Harris, the writer of Slave shows to the West End. “In most places
Play, said this week that the production in the West, poor people and black
was “one of the rare plays by a black people have been told that they do not
author that has made its way to the belong inside the theatre,” he said.
West End ... I hope that with this pro- “For me, as someone who wants and
duction even more work by writers of yearns for black and brown people to be
colour will find support on our largest in the theatre, who comes from a work-
commercial stages”. ing-class environment, who wants
The producers of the play, which is people who do not make six figures to
due to run at Noël Coward Theatre feel like theatre is a place for them, it is
from late June until a necessity to radically invite them in
September, said: with initiatives that say, ‘You’re invited.
“Black Out nights Specifically you.’ ”
are [for] the pur- Harris added that there was a “litany
poseful creation of of places in our country that are gener-
an environment in ally only inhabited by white people”.
which an all-black- Conservative MPs have previously
identifying audi- criticised the practice, with Damian
ence can experience Green, a member of the culture select
and discuss an event committee, saying last year: “Putting
in the performing on a public show and then asking
arts, film, athletic, people of a certain ethnicity not to
and cultural spaces come is misguided and a bit sinister.”
— free from the His committee colleague Giles
white gaze.” They Watling described the concept as a “big
said they were “excited to carry on this Noël Coward Theatre will hold at least mistake”, saying: “Everyone, no matter
work in the West End for the first time”. two Black Out showings of Slave Play, their sex, race or colour, should be able
Slave Play, which got 12 Tony nomi- starring the Game of Thrones actor to access all theatre, otherwise we risk
nations in the United States, revolves Kit Harington, right, reserved only putting people into echo chambers,
around three interracial couples role- for non-white audience members hearing only one side of any debate.”

Curb Your Enthusiasm star dead at 76 Sick Adele postpones

Keiran Southern Los Angeles
Richard Lewis, the comedian and actor
willingness to mine his own misfortune
for material, Lewis was acclaimed for
his frantic, self-deprecating, stream-of-
membered. Like David, 76, Lewis
played a heightened version of himself
over 24 years of the boundary-pushing
shows again to rest voice
known for starring alongside Larry consciousness stand-up. comedy, most recently appearing in the Keiran Southern was sick at the end of the last leg and all
David in Curb Your Enthusiasm, has Born in Brooklyn, New York, he twelfth and final season. the way through my break. I hadn’t
died aged 76. spent decades performing in clubs and David shared a tribute to Lewis Adele has announced she has post- quite gotten the chance to get back to
Lewis died peacefully at his home in on late-night TV, while also having a through HBO, saying: “Richard and I poned the March performances of her full health before shows resumed and
Los Angeles on Tuesday night after series of scripted television roles. were born three days apart in the Las Vegas residency due to illness. now I’m sick again, and unfortunately
suffering a heart attack, his publicist He starred opposite Jamie same hospital and for most of The pop superstar apologised to fans it’s all taken a toll on my voice.”
told the Hollywood Reporter. “His wife, Lee Curtis in the series my life he’s been like a for the inconvenience but said that the Adele, who began her residency at
Joyce Lapinsky, thanks everyone for all Anything But Love and brother to me. He had that unspecified sickness had taken a toll on the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in
the love, friendship and support and played Prince John in rare combination of her voice. The postponement of ten November 2022, said the decision to
asks for privacy at this time,” Jeff Mel Brooks’s Robin being the funniest per- dates in March — the first of which was postpone was made after advice from
Abraham said. Hood: Men in Tights. son and also the sweet- due to take place tomorrow— should her doctor. “I have no choice but to rest
Lewis previously announced that he Comedy Central est. But today he made perhaps have come as no surprise given thoroughly,” the Grammy award win-
had had Parkinson’s disease diagnosed. named Lewis one of the me sob and for that I’ll that Adele, 35, said during a concert on ner, who underwent surgery to remove
The condition forced him to stop per- 50 top stand-up comedi- never forgive him.” Saturday that her chest had been “on a polyp from her throat in 2011, said.
forming stand-up comedy and to take a ans of all time. But it will fire” and she needed to rest her voice. She said fans would be sent more infor-
break from Curb Your Enthusiasm. be Curb Your Enthusiasm Richard Lewis mined his The singer said: “Sadly I have to take mation soon. The singer began the
Known as the “Prince of Pain” for his for which Lewis is best re- misfortune for material a beat and pause my Vegas residency. I latest leg of her residency last month.
4 2GM Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

News
Quintagram® No 1877
Solve all five concise clues using
each letter underneath once only
1 West Yorkshire city (5)

-----
2 Large antelope (5)

-----
3 Unfavourable (7)

-------
4 Pulverised substances (7)

-------
5 Routine, ordinary (3-2-3)

--------
A A A A D D D D
D D E E E E E E
L L N O O P R R
S S S T V W Y Y
Solutions see MindGames p15
Cryptic clues MindGames p14

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Traditions Five statues from Nek Chand’s rock garden in Chandigarh, India, are part of the V&A’s new exhibition Tropical Modernism: Architecture and Independence

Ultra-processed food raises risk New push

to vaccinate
of cancer, diabetes and depression children
Eleanor Hayward Health Editor The study also found that the risk of the need for “population-based ap- are divided about why they seem to be Children are “suffering needlessly” as a
mental health problems tended to in- proaches” to minimise consumption of bad for health. Some believe that the in- result of a decline in parents ensuring
Eating lots of ultra-processed food may crease the more such food people ate. It ultra-processed food. dustrial processing is itself inherently they have routine vaccinations, health
send you to an early grave and make said high consumption was linked to a In an editorial in the journal, Profes- harmful and makes the food addictive. experts have said.
you depressed and anxious, a review of 22 per cent greater risk of depression, sor Carlos Monteiro, a Brazilian aca- Others think the foods are simply tasty The UK Health Security Agency is
evidence has concluded. and about 50 per cent higher risk of demic who devised the concept of ultra- and high in calories, cautioning that it is beginning a campaign to boost the
Mass-produced products such as anxiety and poor sleep. Experts believe processed food, said that “no reason ex- important not to demonise all ultra- number of parents getting their child-
ready meals, sugary breakfast cereal this is because the foods may cause sys- ists to believe that humans can fully processed food, which can form part of ren immunised. It features children
and chocolate bars are linked to 32 temic inflammation in the body and adapt” to the products, which are “often a healthy diet. asking parents whether their vaccines
damaging health outcomes, according disrupt the gut microbiome, which in- chemically manipulated cheap ingredi- People who eat lots of such foods also are up to date. “If we’re not vaccinated,
to a study in the British Medical fluences depression and anxiety risk. ents” and “made palatable and attract- tend to have unhealthy lifestyles in we’re not protected,” the children in the
Journal. Physical health problems including ive by using combinations of flavours, general, making it hard to prove cause video say. “We could get seriously ill,
This includes physical conditions, type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer and colours, emulsifiers, thickeners, and and effect. risking lifelong disabilities.”
such as diabetes, cancer and heart dis- heart disease also increase along with other additives”. He added: “It is now Professor Martin Warren, chief The routine immunisation pro-
ease, as well as mental health disorders consumption of the foods. time for United Nations agencies, with scientific officer of the Quadram Insti- gramme in England offers protection
including depression and anxiety. Aca- More than half of the typical British member states, to develop and imple- tute in Norwich, which researches food against more than a dozen diseases,
demics in Australia examined data daily diet is made up of ultra-processed ment a framework convention on ultra- and health, said the study reinforced including measles, polio, diphtheria,
from previous studies around the world food, more than any other country in processed foods analogous to the the fact that “broadly speaking, certain mumps, whooping cough, rubella and
involving nearly ten million people, Europe. Campaigners including the framework on tobacco.” ultra-processed foods are bad for meningococcal infections that can lead
who were divided into groups based on author Dr Chris van Tulleken and the The foods are made using industrial human health”. But he added: “There is to meningitis. Vanessa Saliba, consult-
their intake of ultra-processed food. former government food tsar Henry processes, including splitting whole a primary need to better understand ant epidemiologist at the agency, said
Those who ate the most were found Dimbleby are calling for tobacco-style foods into oils, fats and sugar then re- the mechanistic processes at play that there had been a decline in vaccine up-
to be at a 55 per cent greater risk of dy- restrictions to be introduced. combining them. They tend to be sold result in the damage to health and there take in the last decade which had been
ing young, and a 21 per cent greater risk The study authors, from Deakin Uni- ready-made, low in nutrients and fibre, remain problems associated with the exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
of dying from heart disease. versity, said that their findings showed and packed with additives. Scientists definition of ultra-processed food.” “We’re not hitting the World Health
Organisation targets of 95 per cent

Calories on menus will save lives, say scientists uptake for these vaccinations and this is
important because if we don’t hit those
targets, we don’t have those immunity
levels in the population, we will see
More than 9,000 heart disease-related current policy would reduce obesity in four adults in England are living with as part its national obesity strategy. cases and outbreaks occurring and
deaths could be prevented in England prevalence in England by 0.31 percent- obesity, with trends suggesting this is set Similar legislation is being considered children becoming unwell, hospitalised
over the next two decades if all restau- age points in the next 20 years, whereas to increase. Our research estimates that in Wales and Scotland. and suffering needlessly because these
rants, fast-food outlets, cafés, pubs and a full implementation of the policy — the current calorie labelling legislation Duane Mellor, a dietitian and senior are all preventable infections,” she said.
takeaways put calories on their menus, across all food businesses — would will prevent hundreds of deaths from lecturer at Aston Medical School in Bir- Asked why uptake had declined,
a modelling study suggests. reduce this by 2.65 percentage points. cardiovascular disease over the next 20 mingham, said it was vital that potential Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at
Scientists said under the current Researchers said the results “empha- years. A much larger impact is possible public health policies were thoroughly the agency, said: “We think most of the
government policy, which covers only sise the need for the government to con- if the government were more ambitious tested through modelling before con- problem relates to complacency and
large food businesses with 250 or more sider extending this policy to all food in their aims to tackle the obesity sidering implementation. “It is impor- [parents] are very busy and not getting
employees, about 730 deaths from businesses to maximise public health epidemic and extended the policy to all tant to look at the overall nutritional around to it.”
cardiovascular diseases might be pre- benefits as part of a broader England out-of-home food businesses.” balance of meals and how they fit into The agency said it had recorded 650
vented between 2022 and 2041. obesity strategy”. Martin O’Flaherty, In April 2022, the government imple- an overall dietary pattern. It is not sens- cases of measles since October and that
The findings, published in the journal professor in epidemiology at the mented mandatory calorie labelling in ible to focus on foods solely on energy they were spreading from the West
Lancet Public Health, also suggest the University of Liverpool, said: “Over one England for businesses that serve food content to assess how healthy they are.” Midlands to other areas.
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 5

News

Harry: I won’t
accept defeat
in fight for
police guards
Duke will appeal to Wales, had been because of racism and
extremism. In a statement issued
‘obtain justice’ after shortly after the verdict, a legal spokes-
man for the duke confirmed that he
High Court ruling, would fight the ruling.
“The Duke of Sussex will appeal
report Kate Mansey today’s judgment which refuses his
judicial review claim against the
and David Brown decision-making body Ravec, which
includes the Home Office, the royal
The Duke of Sussex will launch an household and the Met Police,” the
appeal to “obtain justice” after losing a spokesman said.
High Court attempt to have his full, “The duke is not asking for preferen-
armed police protection reinstated tial treatment, but for a fair and lawful
whenever he visits Britain. application of Ravec’s own rules,
The duke took legal action over a ensuring that he receives the same con-
Home Office decision to reduce his sideration as others in accordance with
security provision after he stepped Ravec’s own written policy.”
down from official royal duties. His The High Court was shown a copy of
legal team said that Prince Harry a letter from the chief of intelligence in
should not be treated differently to any the New York Police Department
other VIP who would receive specialist regarding a “security incident” when
police protection and argued that any the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited
attack on him would damage the the city in May last year. It concluded
nation’s reputation. there was sufficient evidence to arrest The Duke and safety and security,” she added. “There
Mr Justice Lane yesterday dismissed two individuals for reckless endanger- Duchess of could not be a right of greater import-
the duke’s application for a judicial ment following reports that the couple Sussex made ance to any of us.”
review, saying the “evidence shows no were followed by press photographers. their last public Harry and Meghan, 42, returned to
irrationality or other unlawfulness” in The duke and duchess announced in appearance as the UK to attend the funeral of Queen
the decision-making. January 2020 that they were “stepping working Elizabeth in 2022. The duke also made
The executive committee for the pro- back” from their roles as senior mem- members of the a short visit this month to see his father
tection of royalty and VIPs (Ravec), bers of the royal family because they royal family at following the news that the King had
which acts on behalf of the home secre- planned to split their time between the Westminster been diagnosed with cancer.
tary, ruled that it was not in the public UK and America. Abbey in 2020. The duke said in a Netflix docu-
interest for the duke to continue to The duke’s lawyers argued that he Prince Harry mentary that he received just three
receive the “same degree” of police was “singled out” and treated “less issued a video weeks’ notice that his British police
security. His security provision, it said, favourably” than other VIPs when his yesterday in his security was being withdrawn after the
would instead be assessed on a case-by- police protection was removed. role as patron of family moved to Vancouver Island in
case basis. Shaheed Fatima KC, representing the WellChild Canada. The duchess complained:
Lane ruled that the “bespoke” Harry, told the court that the risk he charity “Our location was exposed. We knew
process for the duke’s security entitle- faced “arises from his birth and ongoing our security was being pulled. Every-
ment “was, and is, legally sound”. status as the son of HM the King”. one in the world knew where we were.”
Harry, 39, complained that he and his The barrister said that the case was The couple and their children, Prince
wife were at a greater security risk than about the “unlawful” treatment of the Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two,
his mother, the late Diana, Princess of duke. “This case is about the right to moved to California in June 2020.

Friends perplexed by financier’s death Force waited days to reveal

Mario Ledwith, Kate Mansey
Friends of Thomas Kingston, the hus-
2019, said: “They remained childless
but were happily married until the end.”
The Rev Canon Andrew White, who
him build a following of some 6,500
worshippers. He told The Times: “He
was my best intern. He was never afraid
walker murder suspicions
band of Lady Gabriella Kingston, say became close friends with Kingston to do the most crazy and dangerous Jack Clover — four days after the inquiry began and
they have been left perplexed by his while both worked in Iraq in the early things in the most dangerous of places.” ten days after Low’s death — that the
sudden death at the weekend. 2000s, described him as a “great man of Another old acquaintance described Police are being urged to explain why public were told there was a chance a
Revealing his death on Tuesday, deep faith and wisdom”. In a him as a “wonderful guy”. they did not make public for four days murderer could be at large.
Buckingham Palace described tribute, he said: “Tom tragically Kingston and Gabriella appeared their suspicion that a gamekeeper John Swinney, the MSP for Perth-
the 45-year-old financier as a died on Sunday — nobody together at an event at the National found dead on a remote path had been shire North, said he had written to
“much-loved member of the knows why.” Gallery in London last Wednesday. murdered. police chiefs seeking answers. He told
family” who was being After studying economic The couple were last pictured together Brian Low, 65, was discovered along- the BBC: “I want to understand why
mourned by the King and history at the University of at an event held on Valentine’s Day side his black labrador on the outskirts there was a gap of some considerable
Queen. The announcement Bristol, Kingston joined the where they joined the Queen to cele- of Aberfeldy, Perthshire, on the morn- distance and time between the discov-
came after Kingston’s body was diplomatic missions unit of the brate the works of Shakespeare. ing of Saturday, February 17. ery of Mr Low’s body and the disclosure
found at a property in the Cots- Foreign Office in Iraq, working Gabriella, known as Ella, expressed His death was initially assessed as that there was a suspicion Mr Low had
wolds on Sunday evening. Emer- as a project officer for the Iraqi her “deepest sorrow” on Tuesday. “medical-related” and it was not until been murdered.”
gency services said that the Institute of Peace from 2003 A statement released with her hus- Friday, February 23 that a post-mortem Pete Wishart, the SNP MP for the
death was not suspicious. to 2006. White, who ran band’s parents, Martin and Jill Kings- examination confirmed he had been area, told the Dundee Courier: “The
A source close to the family Iraq’s only Anglican ton, and his sisters, Joanna Connolly shot, prompting a murder inquiry. sequence of events around the shooting
said Kingston and Gabriella, church during this and Emma Murray, said: “Tom was an A police source told MailOnline that in Aberfeldy are becoming quite bizarre
the daughter of Prince and period, said that the exceptional man who lit up the lives of a shotgun pellet found in Low’s heart and concerning. I will be seeking a clear
Princess Michael of Kent, were young diplomat helped all who knew him. His death has come was believed to have caused him to go explanation of events from police and
not known to have had any as a great shock to the whole family and into cardiac arrest. Low’s family were emergency services.”
relationship or financial troub- Thomas Kingston we ask you to respect our privacy as we informed of this the following day, a Until February last year Low worked
les. A friend of the couple, who was described as an mourn his passing.” week after his death. on the 4,000-acre Edradynate Estate,
married at Windsor Castle in exceptional man Yet it was not until Tuesday this week three miles from where he died.
6 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

News
section of the text. She
did so neatly, yet so
Bankruptcy
offensive was it to her
sight that she pinned a
piece of paper over it.
fear for half
She would abandon
the text after her
father’s death in 1805
of councils
but did not throw
it away. Ali Mitib
The show also
presents journals, and More than half of England’s council
Percy Bysshe Shelley’s leaders believe their authorities will be
Geneva notebook bankrupt in the next five years unless
contains descriptions they receive extra funding, a report has
that he wrote while found.
preparing his poem A study by the Local Government
Mont Blanc. His wife, Information Unit, which provides
Mary, liberally support to councils, said residents
borrowed from one of would face the consequences of a wor-
them, taking bits sening situation unless more cash was
Bodleian exhibition verbatim for
Frankenstein.
made available in next week’s budget.
Since 2020 seven councils, including
on edits lifts lid on A section is devoted
to the Lord
Birmingham, have issued a section 114
notice, in effect declaring bankruptcy.

writers’ frustrations Chamberlain’s

revisions of Beckett’s
Fourteen councils, amounting to 9 per
cent of the 128 English councils to

I
Waiting for Godot. respond to the survey, said they were
f you have a novel Kafka, James Joyce They have sections likely to go under this year.
inside you that and Ian Fleming. marked in a red line Almost 70 per cent of councils said
will not come out, “The editorial and a comment: “The they expected to make savings by cut-
or have gone into process, an integral lines as marked about ting services in at least one area, such as
battle with the step in the creation of a known secondary waste collection, road repairs and
blank page and lost, great works of effect of hanging must library and leisure services.
take comfort: Jane literature, is invisible come out.” In that Of the councils responsible for social
Austen knew exactly to the reader when section, Vladimir tells care, three quarters said they would
how you feel (Jack they are enjoying a Estragon that hanging have to reduce costs in adult care bud-
Blackburn writes). favourite novel or can cause erections. gets and three in five said they would do
The novelist’s poem,” said Richard Estragon resolves that the same with children’s care budgets.
unfinished manuscript Ovenden, the library’s they must “hang Ministers recently put aside £500 mil-
entitled The Watsons head. “Our ourselves lion in emergency funding for these
is going on display at exhibition immediately”. support services.
the Bodleian Library, attempts to bring In Chitty-Chitty- Shaun Davies, chairman of the Local
in Oxford, complete these cuts and Bang-Bang, Fleming Government Association and Labour
with the place where rewrites back changed the Pough leader of Telford & Wrekin council, said
she crossed out an from Jane Austen’s abandoned novel is on show as family into the Pott authorities were being forced to make
offending paragraph obscurity.” are cuts by Franz Kafka and Samuel Beckett family, while John le stark choices about what services to
and covered it up with The Carré learnt a lesson cut. He added: “It means less potholes
a sheet of paper. exhibition, and even came in a in brevity as his filled, more street lights dimmed or
The manuscript is which is abandon their conversation in The opening to Tinker turned off, and fewer library or leisure
part of an exhibition curated by works. Some Watsons where her Tailor Soldier Spy was services.”
that opens today, professors Dirk are tiny heroine, Emma edited from eight lines The communities department said:
Write, Cut, Rewrite, van Hulle and tweaks that Watson, is having a down to two. “We recognise councils are facing chal-
bringing together a Mark Nixon give an insight chat about the Write Cut Rewrite: The lenges and that is why we recently
rare collection of the and runs until into the weather with the Cutting Room Floor of announced an additional £600 million
great edits in English January next author’s young Lord Osborne. Modern Literature support package for councils across
literary history. year, shows process. Others Austen struggled to (Bodleian Library £40) England, increasing their overall pro-
Other writers in the the ways in are howls of form it in her mind. by Dirk van Hulle posed funding for the upcoming finan-
exhibition include which writers frustration. After some effort, she and Mark Nixon is cial year to £64.7 billion — a 7.5 per cent
Samuel Beckett, Franz change, trim For Austen, this crossed out an entire out today increase in cash terms. We remain
ready to talk to any concerned council.”

School fines increased to University counters AI

with traditional exams
tackle long-term absences Nicola Woolcock
Students have complained about
been tested on the way we format an
argument, we’ve never been tested on
our ability to recall information. That’s
Nicola Woolcock Education Editor 400,000 penalty notices were issued to “support first” approach to help pupils having to memorise information after something we are going to need to
parents in England in 2022-23 for and their families to tackle barriers to traditional exams were reintroduced teach ourselves.”
Parents whose children miss a week or unauthorised absences, which was attendance will be made statutory from on their university degrees. Stacey Harris, a human biology stu-
more of school face increased fines in a much higher than before the pandemic. August, the DfE has said. Undergraduates at the University of dent, said: “Everyone’s really stressed
government drive to tackle absence. If parents do not pay the fines, they Paul Whiteman, general secretary of Glasgow were expecting to sit “open because you can’t resit the year if you’re
Initial fines will increase from £60 to could face prosecution. the National Association of Head book” exams, which allow students to in third or fourth year unless you have a
£80 and there will be a national strategy About nine in ten of the fines were for Teachers, said: “Parents are likely to be use notes and are often sat online at medical reason. There was no indica-
to ensure consistency across England. unauthorised holidays as families tried surprised that at a time when schools home. But the university said the rapid tion of when they would go back to
This is a tougher stance after several to book cheaper holidays outside are struggling to find enough teachers advances in artificial intelligence had in-person. It’s not even the start of the
years of the government moving away school term times, according to DfE to teach classes, when buildings are prompted a swift return to handwritten semester. I don’t understand why they
from the threat of fines, which became figures released in December. crumbling and we are in the middle of assessments under exam conditions. haven’t included us in the conversation
more common when Michael Gove Government guidance is expected to a crisis in special needs provision, that Open-book, online exams were intro- from the start if they had concerns.
was education secretary. clarify when financial penalties for the government is choosing to focus on duced in 2020 due to the pandemic, but They are telling us to use past papers to
More than a fifth of all pupils were school absences should be used to increasing fines. a group of life sciences students say they study, but papers for the past four years
persistently absent — missing at least a ensure that councils issue their fines “Fines have long proven to be too have been given two months’ notice that have been for online exams and before
day a fortnight of school, according to appropriately. blunt a tool and largely ineffective.” exams will be reverting to the tradi- that the course content was different
the latest data. Every state school in England will Geoff Barton, general secretary of tional format. It will affect those in years A spokeswoman said: “The university
Families who take their children out share its daily attendance registers with the Association of School and College three and four of their degrees, who say has made the change to invigilated, in-
of class without permission will face the DfE, councils and academy trusts. Leaders, said: “It is not unreasonable to they have not been given enough time person, hand-written exams in life sci-
tougher fines as part of plans to boost The higher fines are expected to come increase the level of fines for unauthor- to prepare after they had been assured ences in response to the rapidly chang-
attendance after the pandemic. into effect from September. ised absence given that they have been they would sit end-of-year exams ing capabilities of generative AI tools.
The Department for Education Rob Tarn, chief executive of fixed at £60 for several years. online with access to study materials. “Online exams in many scientific dis-
(DfE) said that a fine must now be Northern Education Trust and founder “However, it is important to under- Rosie McCrone, a fourth-year micro- ciplines are becoming more susceptible
considered if a child missed five days of of England’s first attendance hub to stand that these fines predominantly biology student from Perth, told BBC to misuse by these tools. We are taking
school for unauthorised absence. advise other schools, has been relate to pupils who are taken out of Scotland News she would be sitting in- this step so we can assure all students —
The fines start at £60, rising to £120 if appointed by the DfE as the new school for term-time holidays. While person exams for the first time for her with the quality bodies that accredit
they are not paid within 21 days, but the national attendance ambassador. nobody wants to be in a position of final exam before graduation. “I’ve not degrees, as well as future employers —
DfE has said that the minimum will be Guidance setting out how schools fining parents, there simply has to be a felt this anxious since I was a teenager that the life sciences exams are reliable
increased to £80, rising to £160. Nearly and local authorities must take a marker that this is not acceptable.” in school,” she said. “Up until now we’ve and the grades awarded are too.”
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 2GM 7

News

Family find justice after 19 years

Police blunders allowed
Emma Caldwell’s killer,
a known sex offender,
to evade capture,
reports Marc Horne
Iain Packer, a prolific and violent
criminal who preyed on vulnerable
women for decades, was found guilty
yesterday of the murder of Emma
Caldwell, 27, a former stable girl found
in remote woodland in South
Lanarkshire in April 2005, and jailed
for at least 36 years.
Packer, a motorcycle enthusiast and Emma Caldwell
Rangers FC supporter, had denied was murdered by
strangling Caldwell and concealing Iain Packer, who
her body. The father of three, 51, had would kerb-crawl
wept after being accused of killing in red-light
her, insisting: “I have never hurt a districts in his
woman in my life.” work van. She
Packer was also found guilty at was last seen on
Glasgow High Court of 32 other CCTV. Caldwell’s
charges against a total of 22 women. mother Margaret,
The offences included 11 rapes and below, had
numerous sexual assaults. He was promised her
cleared of a further three charges — dying husband
one indecent assault and two sexual she would find
assaults — against a further three justice for their
women, after the jury returned not daughter
proven verdicts.
Judge Lord Beckett said Packer had
caused “extreme and enduring
suffering for so many women and
their families”.
Margaret, Caldwell’s mother, 76,
wept and embraced relatives when
the guilty verdicts were announced.
“When they came in and told me
they had found Emma’s body, I just
took this huge breath in and now I
feel as if I can let it out,” she said.
“I can breathe again and go on. She
will always be in our thoughts. She
will always be there. She will always
be my Emma.”
Outside court Aamer Anwar, the
family’s lawyer, described Packer as
“one of the UK’s worst sex offenders”.
He added: “A toxic culture of promotions, commendations and Gallacher, who insists he is “not an strangulation. Police insiders say that He strangled her and dumped her
misogyny and corruption meant the medals — but it soon emerged that avenging angel”, said: “I got into [the some officers had raised the same after driving to woodland 30 miles
police failed so many women and officers had arrested the wrong men. case] because I hated the thought of points during a fractious meeting in southeast of Scotland’s largest city.
girls who came forward to speak up The case collapsed. Emma’s mother being denied justice August 2007. “The guys in charge Police questioned him six times in
against Packer.” The failed investigation was for that length of time and being were saying ‘It’s the Turks. We’ve got connection with her death, with a
Police apologised for how the founded upon a series of apparent deceived. You can only hope [the them’, and talked about what a great number of sex workers identifying
original inquiry was handled and for admissions, recorded in a bugged officers who led the original job they had done,” one said. “Some him as aggressive, abusive and creepy
letting down Caldwell and the other Glasgow cafe that Caldwell had investigation] are having sleepless of the detectives made it clear they and stating he drove them to the
victims. frequented, with the men using nights.” believed they had got it completely same remote location.
phrases such as “killing off the lady”, Gallacher, 72, built a reputation as a wrong and had spent millions chasing Packer was jailed in 2020 for
first failings “hitting her under” and “putting her bulwark against Glasgow’s organised the wrong guys.” attacking an ex-partner and
Weeks after her murder, a 60ft image under a block”. However, a team of criminals and, after leaving the force, On March 13, 2007, Packer had attempting to strangle her in Airdrie,
of Emma Caldwell returned to the linguistic experts, led by Professor wrote a bestselling memoir entitled agreed to direct detectives to the North Lanarkshire, as well as stalking
heart of Glasgow to stalk her killer. Kerem Oktem, humiliated officers by Gangsters, Killers and Me. His interest isolated spot where he took sex her and bombarding her with
The picture, showing her gaunt, pale revealing that such expressions were in the Caldwell case was piqued when workers. “The detectives brought him indecent photographs and messages.
and wrapped in a thick winter coat, commonplace in the tile-based game a former colleague came up to him at back to Cathcart police station that It emerged then that Packer had a
was projected on to a derelict tower “okey”, played regularly by Turkish a leaving party for a mutual friend. day, fully expecting him to confess,” string of convictions for attacking
block in an unprecedented attempt to immigrants who visited the cafe. “He was a bit worse for wear and said: one insider said. “They phoned their former girlfriends.
snare the man, or men, responsible. Now, almost two decades after ‘I know what your next book should superiors and asked them what they Richard Goddard KC, for the
Her body had been found — naked Caldwell was last seen on CCTV be’,” recalled the teetotal detective. “I wanted to do. The response came prosecution, said: “We have evidence
apart from a ring, a hair clip and a leaving her accommodation, her killer was prepared for a one-liner but he back: ‘Let Packer go.’” from 25 women from all different
length of cable around her neck — in has finally been brought to justice. said two words: ‘Emma Caldwell.’ He Gallacher’s dossier, which named backgrounds ... speaking to crimes of
a remote and bleak stretch of dense The conviction of Packer has said: ‘It wasn’t the Turks. It was a Packer as “the forgotten suspect”, was assault, indecent assault and rape, all
pine woodland in South Lanarkshire prompted calls for officers involved in Scottish guy.’ “They knew all about published in the Glasgow-based committed by the same man over a
more than a month after she went the initial investigation to be held to him but took no action. My antennae Sunday Mail on April 5, 2015. But period of 26 years.”
missing. account. pricked up.” instead of arresting Packer, Police
Strathclyde police, since disbanded, He obtained Scotland, the new national force, world collapsed
vowed to spare no expense to the retired detective police files on began efforts, later proven to be Caldwell grew up in a middle-class
bringing the culprit to justice. It began It is likely that Packer would still have Packer and was unlawful, to identify those who had household in Erskine, Renfrewshire.
the most exhaustive murder been free had it not been for the astonished to leaked the information to Gallacher. “Emma was lovely, just perfect,”
investigation undertaken by the force, determination of a retired detective discover he had a Margaret recalled. “We called her our
incorporating 8,000 interviews, 4,000 who, unlike dozens of his former criminal record The forgotten suspect little snowdrop.”
hours of CCTV and a two-year covert colleagues, refused to ignore the for outdoor sex Iain Gordon Packer was a violent and However, her world collapsed when
surveillance operation. overwhelming evidence. and obsessive user of sex workers for her older sister, Karen, 31, died of
Two years later police costs had Gerry Gallacher, a decades. By day he travelled around cancer while mourning the loss of her
soared to almost £4 million but senior former construction west central Scotland working for the two-year-old son Kenneth, Caldwell’s
officers were confident they were on and slaughterhouse family signage business Alpha-Beta nephew. Caldwell, then 20, turned to
the verge of a breakthrough. Four worker, had kept Signs. After dark he would kerb-crawl heroin and ended up living in a hostel
Turkish men, Halil Kandil, Abubekir goal for East Fife, in the red-light districts of Glasgow. and working in the red-light district.
Oncu, Mustafa Soylemez and Stranraer and It was there he met Caldwell, who Her father, William, who died in
Huseyin Cobanoglu, were arrested. Albion Rovers was selling sex at the time, and 2011, aged 62, made his wife promise
At police headquarters in Pitt before joining became fixated, seeking her out at on his deathbed that she would
Street, Glasgow, there was talk of the police. every opportunity. secure justice for their daughter.
8 2GM Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

News
News Politics

Gaza activists defy calls

to halt weekend marches
Aubrey Allegretti, Ben Ellery continue “at the very least until we see that protesters would continue to alongside action in other towns and
an immediate ceasefire in Gaza”. mobilise in their thousands came after cities across the UK, were “not really
Pro-Palestinian activists have vowed They kept open the possibility of fur- James Cleverly, the home secretary, saying anything new”, he added.
that nationwide marches will continue, ther action and vowed to keep taking to said they should stop. He said they had Ministers are concerned about the
in defiance of a call by the home secre- the streets even if a “humanitarian made their point and were putting a drain on police resourcing, with esti-
tary for the demonstrations to be pause” were agreed, arguing that this huge pressure on policing. mates suggesting that the protests have
wound down. would constitute only a “stay of execu- The demonstrations, which take cost £25 million and caused thousands
Protest organisers said they would tion” for Palestinians. Their pledges place every fortnight in central London of rest days for officers to be cancelled.
The government is considering
changing protest rules to require orga-
nisers to give the police more than the
six days of notice needed at present, a
move that was recommended by the
cross-party Commons home affairs
committee this week.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign
(PSC) hit out at what it called “growing
attacks on the right to protest”. Ben
Jamal, the group’s director, said people
would “continue to march in huge
numbers because the genocide has not
stopped”. He vowed to push back
against the “repressive environment”
being “whipped up” by the government.
After the home of the Conservative
MP Tobias Ellwood was targeted by
pro-Palestinian protesters, Jamal said
he did not support holding protests out-
side politicians’ homes. However, he
added that demonstrations outside
MPs’ offices, council buildings and the
Houses of Parliament were legitimate.
On Saturday the PSC is planning to
bring chaos to Barclays by targeting
protests at dozens of bank branches
across the country. The group says that
the bank has financial ties to arms com-
panies that sell weapons to Israel.
This month the protesters claimed to
have co-ordinated 1,500 Barclays cus-
tomers to close their accounts.
This month, a coalition of pro-Pales-
tinian activists blocked the bank’s head-
quarters in Canary Wharf and protest-
ed with a banner reading: “Are you sure
you want to close your account? YES.”
They chanted: “Barclays, Barclays,
you can’t hide, you’re enabling geno-
cide,” and “Your profits are covered in
Palestinian blood.”
At a protest outside a branch in Ilford,
east London, last month, PSC activists
chanted: “From the river to the sea,” a
phrase that was also beamed on to
Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big
Ben, last week and is seen by many as Prime minister’s questions was a fiery
antisemitic.
Andrew Percy, a Conservative MP,
recently said it was a “genocidal call”.
Jamal said the PCS was not responsi-
ble for the projection but said beaming
Walk like an
them on to public buildings was a legiti-
mate form of protest with nothing
“additionally problematic” about it. Tom Peck
Other groups that have joined the
protests criticised the police response
Political Sketch

A
to the marches, which began after
Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 t this point in the
when more than 1,200 Israelis were electoral cycle, prime
killed, and the subsequent Israeli mili- minister’s questions tends
tary response that has resulted in tens to turn into one of those
of thousands being killed in Gaza. unadvertised
Chris Nineham, from the Stop the experimental “new material” gigs
War Coalition, said that per person that stand-up comics sometimes do
there had been fewer average arrests at before a major tour. Try a few things
the pro-Palestinian marches than at out, see what hits, see what misses.
Glastonbury Festival or at a Premier And on this particular occasion, we
League football match. He accused must hope that both men will have
Scotland Yard of “extraordinary hyste- been wise enough to have gone away
ria” and “over-policing”. and crossed a very thick line
Chris Philp, the policing minister, through all of it.
said there had been 600 arrests at the You have to hope that Rishi Sunak
marches since they began. He empha- and Sir Keir Starmer know
sised that free speech and the right to something’s gone a bit wrong when
protest were the cornerstone of a they’re shouting over the dispatch
democratic society. boxes at one another and the main
Barclays was asked for comment. thing they are arguing about is who
kicks racists out of their party the
fastest. In even faintly normal times,
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 2GM 9

News
News

Sunak ready to
protect landlords
with weaker bill
Chris Smyth Whitehall Editor ability to introduce compulsory licens-
ing for landlords, and allowing land-
Rishi Sunak is preparing to overrule lords to opt out of a redress scheme.
Michael Gove and offer a string of con- MPs say that the changes are
cessions to Conservative MPs on laws “designed to strike the right balance so
to protect renters, prompting claims we don’t scare people out of the long-
that he is backing down on a manifesto term let market” but insist that they are
promise to ban no-fault evictions. not trying to weaken reforms, pointing
Backbenchers pressing to relax out that only 11 MPs backing the
requirements on landlords say they changes are landlords.
have reached agreement on a series of “The government has listened,” one
changes needed to avoid “scaring MP backing the changes said. “We’ve
people out of the long-term letting got a groundswell of support and have
market”. reached agreement on some of it. I
Campaigners say the changes would don’t want to say we’ll get it all, but
betray renters and in effect kick a ban on we’re making progress. If these amend-
no-fault eviction into the long grass, ments are accepted we can get [the bill]
with some in government believing that done quite quickly.”
the prime minister is putting party unity However, campaigners say the
over proper protections for renters. changes would “kill the spirit of the bill”
Allies of Sunak deny this, insisting by delaying the end of no-fault eviction
that changes are part of the normal for years and leave tenants in fear of
process of legislative scrutiny designed losing their home on flimsy evidence.
to improve the private rented sector. Gove is said to be unhappy with some
Gove has championed the govern- changes but is likely to accept some
ment’s Renters (Reform) Bill, which softening of the bill as the price of get-
enacts a manifesto promise of a “better ting a law through before the election.
deal for renters”, including banning Polly Neate, chief executive of the
landlords from evicting tenants with- housing charity Shelter, said: “It is un-
out cause. He is said to regard the forgivable that with an election on the
reforms as crucial to Tory hopes of horizon, MPs would choose to so overtly
winning over young people priced out betray renters and squander the chance
of the housing market, and this month to improve renting for everyone.”
promised the laws would take effect Warning Sunak that 11 million renters
before the election. would punish him at the ballot box, she
However, the reforms are “toxic” urged his government not to “bow to
among many Conservative MPs, some vested interests”, adding: “It must grasp
of whom are landlords, and others who the nettle and oppose attempts to weak-
believe the government should not en the bill from within its own ranks.”
interfere so drastically with owners’ Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy
property rights. leader, urged Sunak to “give cast-iron
About 60 Tory MPs have put forward public assurances that he won’t give in
amendments to the bill, which would to vested interests on his backbenches
delay the end of no-fault evictions until and rip up his promises to renters. This
a review of how the courts would deal ban was promised five years ago, but
with possession claims, continue to renters are still being failed.”
allow fixed-term tenancies if landlords A spokesman for the Department for
and tenants agree, and make other Levelling Up, Housing and Communi-
changes to help property owners. These ties said: “Our Renters (Reform) Bill will
include requiring tenants to have lived deliver a fairer private rented sector for
in a property for at least four months tenants and landlords. It will abolish
before giving notice, allowing hearsay section 21 evictions, giving people more
evidence to be used in evictions for anti- security in their homes and empower-
affair even by recent standards as Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer clashed over their tolerance towards their predecessors social behaviour, abolishing councils’ ing them to challenge poor practices.”

Egyptian on another manic Wednesday Civil servants to be spared

having to suspend the whip from this. It was, as far as they were opportunity here. He even dared
‘grunt work’ under AI plan
someone — in this case Lee concerned, a knockout punch. It Sunak to kick Truss out of the
Anderson — for making execrable was, generally speaking, a very noisy party. Starmer knows he’s going to Oliver Wright Policy Editor team of 25 civil servants about three
comments about Sadiq Khan would session. In previous weeks, the spend the rest of this year being months to process. The unit will work
not be something for a prime Speaker would certainly have portrayed, not entirely unfairly, as a Civil servants will no longer have to with the NHS to reduce administration.
minister to brag about. But here he intervened, but things have changed Corbyn-enabler, leading a party that wearily say yes minister quite so often Oliver Dowden, the Cabinet Office
was, up on the balls of his feet, for Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who sat quietly can’t be trusted because look at the under plans to use artificial intelligence minister, claimed that across the public
jabbing his finger in Starmer’s in his chair, seeming to hope that no leader before this one. to answer “grunt work” questions. sector there was the potential to save
direction, jutting his head forward one would notice he was there. Over at Labour HQ, Truss In an attempt to improve efficiency £24 billion a year by reducing staff and
with the kind of force rarely seen It was an almost-PTSD inducing deliberately rebranding herself as and save money, data scientists have freeing up officials. However, he said
outside the video for Walk Like an throwback to the Theresa May/ every bit as dangerous as Corbyn created a Red Box multitool designed that it would be humans that checked
Egyptian by the Bangles, and Jeremy Corbyn years, most of which must have felt like a gift from the to answer more mundane requests. the work done by AI — and ministers
taking great pride in the fact that eventually descended into rows gods, but on this evidence it’s not The new function could be used to who took the final decisions.
he had suspended Anderson about which was worse, your going to work out that way. provide answers to parliamentary ques- He said: “It’s a bit like predictive text
“straight away”. antisemitism or my Islamophobia, Sunak gets very little credit for tions, respond to Freedom of Informa- in that you’re not going to use
If you want to obsess over the but Starmer, not entirely to his spending the summer of 2022 telling tion requests and even help ministers to predictive text to actually determine
details, it wasn’t quite straight away credit, has now refreshed the playlist. his party exactly what would happen work out what’s failed before. what you’re going to say. But you can
— it actually took him a full 24 Most of his questions were about if they voted for Truss, all of which A new unit in the Cabinet Office has get more speedily to the point.”
hours. But when the Labour Liz Truss’s fully unhinged US book he was right about but they didn’t been set up to pioneer the use of AI by Dowden added that it would help
candidate for Rochdale, on the other tour, where she accused the “deep listen. Starmer, meanwhile, turned hiring experts from companies such as ministers to get access to information
hand, had been recorded repeating state” and the “communists” and on Corbyn in hindsight, not Microsoft and Google. They have been without having to ask officials. He will
ridiculous antisemitic conspiracy “socialists” who control it of foresight, which is several orders of tasked with developing new techniques announce plans today to expand
theories about the Hamas terror destroying her premiership (not for magnitude easier. to harvest government data to improve Whitehall’s incubator AI unit from
attacks, Starmer didn’t suspend him the first time, we must point out that It was worth a try, but no. Best productivity in Whitehall and across more than 30 staff to 70 with new hires
for two days, not one, and that’s the it wasn’t the deep state, it was those find some new material. the public sector. from tech companies. He will say
real quiz. well-known communists, the bond AI could be used to summarise that this is cheaper than buying in AI
The Tory benches went bananas at markets). Starmer sensed an responses to consultations that take a services from the private sector.
10 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

News

Manual cars on way Women now

expect to be
out as young drivers abused online
opt for easy street Katie Gibbons
Girls assume they will be attacked
online and no longer report it, says the
Andrew Ellson drive a manual when they’re unlikely to head of the UK’s first centre devoted to
need to do so in the future. The adverts stopping digital violence on women.
The death of the manual gearbox looms they see for newer cars are for hybrids Research England has handed out
after a surge in the number of learner and electric vehicles, so that’s what they £7.7 million to create a research hub for
drivers taking tests in automatics. aspire to owning and driving.” the problem. Olga Jurasz, a professor of
Over the past decade, tests in auto- What Car? magazine, which com- law at the Open University who has run
matic vehicles have risen 238 per cent piled the figures, predicts that driving studies on the issue, is leading the pro-
to a record high of more than 325,000 with a manual gearbox will become a ject, which is due to open this summer.
last year, according to the DVLA. “lost art”. Claire Evans, the outlet’s con- “We’re facing a barrage of online
About 20 per cent of tests are now sumer editor, said: “Any enthusiast will violence against women and girls ...
taken in an automatic. The decline of tell you that for sheer driving pleasure, What’s worse is that it has become nor-
manuals is set to accelerate, with auto- manual gearboxes always win.” malised,” she said. “Women, especially
matic cars representing 71 per cent of all Growing numbers of instructors are young women, assume this will happen
registrations last year. In 2019, less than also switching to automatics. The AA if they go online. They assume that they
half of registrations were of automatics. says two in five people training to be an will be abused, attacked in one way or
Experts say the trend is primarily instructor last year chose an automatic. another, sent inappropriate messages
down to young people not seeing the Despite it being easier to learn to or sexually explicit photographs.”
need to learn to drive a manual. While drive an automatic, pass rates lag Jurasz hopes the Milton Keynes
drivers who pass their test in an auto- behind manuals. Last year 43 per cent centre for protecting women online can
matic are not allowed to drive a car with of the tests taken in automatics resulted bridge the gap between research on
a manual gearbox, learning in an auto- in a pass, compared with 50 per cent for stopping violence against women and
matic is easier and therefore cheaper. manuals. Camilla Benitz, of the AA work to regulate the tech sector. Big
The average cost for a one-hour driv- Driving School, puts this down to the players such as Google, IBM and
ing lesson is between £25 and £30, rising fact that learners in manual cars have Deloitte will join the advisory board.
to £45 in London, according to the often taken more time to practise. Last year Jurasz released early find-
RAC. On average it takes 45 hours of Furthermore, drivers with auto- ings from a survey of 7,500 adults,
lessons to pass the practical driving test, matic-only licences face higher costs showing one in ten women in England
pushing potential costs over £2,000. when they get their first car, paying an had experienced digital hate and one in
The trend is also down to the increase average of nearly £100 more for their eight had suffered online abuse that
in demand for electric cars, which do car insurance because the gearbox developed into offline violence.
not need traditional gearboxes. Karen parts are costlier to repair. Electric cars Women aged 16 to 24 were the least
Bransgrove, of the Driving Instructors also tend to be more expensive. How- likely age group to report online abuse,
Association, said: “Many younger driv- ever, automatics can help drivers save Helping hand Elton John wore a foot brace and was assisted leaving Oswald’s, a which Jurasz said fed “into the idea that
ers don’t see the point in learning to money through better fuel efficiency. private members club in London, which he attended with husband David Furnish it is something ... to be expected”.
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 11

News
The lighthouse on
the Cape of Trafalgar
Wealthy art
in southern Spain
would be converted
into an information
collector’s
centre and
restaurant on the
theme of Lord
son ‘stabbed
Nelson’s victory, to
the consternation
of locals and
live-in maid’
conservationists
David Woode Crime Correspondent
The son of a wealthy art collector tried
to kill a live-in maid at his family’s
multimillion-pound home in west
London, a court was told.
Maximillian Bourne, 25, is said to
have repeatedly stabbed Joselia Pereira
Do Nascimento at the five-bedroom
property in Chelsea on Sunday. He was
Spanish in second arrested and later charged with one
count of attempted murder.

Battle of Trafalgar
He is the son of Graham Bourne, a
property developer, and Sylvia Pessoa
Bourne, a philanthropist and art collec-

over lighthouse plan tor who is based in Monaco but spends

most of her time in London. The couple
are divorced.

F
Bourne appeared at Westminster
or more than of Diario de Cadiz, a local magistrates’ court on Tuesday. He did
200 years the newspaper. not enter or indicate a plea during
wind-beaten Although outnumbered, the hearing.
headland off which Nelson’s fleet defeated He told the court: “I’m a nice, very
the Battle of Napoleon’s Franco-Spanish good-looking white boy from Chelsea,”
Trafalgar raged has force, eliminating the according to the Evening Standard.
remained largely French navy and assuring Pereira Do Nascimento sustained
undisturbed (Isambard the dominance of the several stab wounds to her face and
Wilkinson writes). British navy for decades to back. She is expected to remain in hos-
Plans by authorities to come. Mortally wounded in pital for a week while she recovers.
convert Cape Trafalgar’s the battle, “the noble Kalsoom Shah, for the prosecution,
19th-century lighthouse commander-in-chief ” was said: “The victim was critical but her
into an information centre placed in a cask of brandy injuries are now not life-threatening.”
about Lord Nelson’s victory and HMS Victory was Bourne was remanded in custody
in 1805 and a restaurant, towed to nearby Gibraltar. until his appearance at the Old Bailey
however, have prompted The engagement was one next month.
outrage from locals and of the most decisive The 5,400 sq ft family home, in an
ecological groups. victories in the history of affluent neighbourhood known as Old
Dubbing it the “Second naval warfare as 18 of the Chelsea, is a former courthouse which
Battle of Trafalgar”, 10,000 33 French and Spanish dates from the 18th century. It once
locals have signed a petition vessels were captured or housed convicts who were summoned
to block the development sank, while the British lost to be sent to Australia. The building was
on a protected area that is none. The Spanish formerly used by wine merchants.
home to a rare coastal contribution is often The Bournes converted the building
formation — a “double overlooked: 15 of the enemy in the late 1990s with the help of artist
tombolo”, a sandy isthmus. fleet belonged to Spain. A Mauro Perucchetti, a former interior
“The citizens of the area common Spanish view of designer. Parts of it are said to have
want the lighthouse to the battle is that their been inspired by the Amanpuri hotel in
remain as it is today, with fleet was ill-prepared Thailand, where Mrs Bourne stayed
its well preserved dune and led by the French. just before the renovations on the
system, vegetation, lagoons Plans for the centre house began. The property was valued
and birdlife, and with non- show a model of the at £14.5 million in 2014.
motorised access,” Lola battle and signs Carlos Alberto Pessoa Pardellas, the
Yllescas, of Ecologistas en explaining the Trafalgar and with the gathered the signatures defendant’s maternal grandfather, was
Acción, an environmental formation of the two possibility of carrying out against the project, said: a prominent diplomat who served as an
pressure group, said. opposing fleets. “We additional outdoor “The Trafalgar Lighthouse ambassador to the UK. He also served
The plan has also excited offer a complete package activities taking advantage is more than just a as ambassador to Iran, China, Costa
anger as it is perceived by to the visitor of the emblematic natural lighthouse for those of us Rica, Bulgaria and Belgium, according
some as celebrating a complemented with a and cultural environment who were born, have lived to a report in Hello magazine.
Spanish defeat. “As always gastronomic offer in the that this exclusive location or have ever enjoyed the Maximillian Bourne is also said to be
praising the defeats of our restaurant with the offers,” states the proposal. natural paradise. It is a a great-great-grandson of Epitácio
country,” noted one reader atmosphere of the Battle of Los Caños, a group that symbol of local identity.” Pessoa, the president of Brazil between
1919 and 1922.

F1 team boss cleared of misconduct staff members, dismissed the grievance. parties who assisted in the investi- the complainant had continued to work schitz, the Red Bull co-founder, who
Matt Lawton
Horner’s wife Geri, the former Spice gation, and therefore we will not be together while the investigation was was a powerful ally of the man who has
Christian Horner, the Red Bull For- Girl, is expected to join him in Bahrain commenting further out of respect for conducted was an extra cause of dis- masterminded seven F1 drivers’ cham-
mula One team principal, has been this weekend for the opening race of the all concerned. Red Bull will continue comfort. pionships in 19 years at the helm.
cleared of misconduct by an independ- Formula One season. Although the striving to meet the highest workplace Pressure from sponsors escalated the Although Horner is also said to retain
ent investigation after it was alleged complainant has the right of appeal, standards.” situation. Ford, which has signed a support from Chalerm Yoovidhya, who
that he acted inappropriately towards a Horner arrived in Bahrain yesterday Horner had consistently denied the £200 million partnership with the all- owns 51 per cent of Red Bull, opinion of
female employee. afternoon determined to begin repair- allegations of controlling, coercive conquering team to develop a hybrid the team principal is said to be divided
Horner, 50, and his family have been ing the damage caused by the case. behaviour, declaring at the launch of engine for 2026, called on Sunday for a among some senior figures and there
under intense scrutiny since Oracle A statement issued by GMBH, Red the new Red Bull car at the team’s head- swift resolution to the matter. could yet be a reshuffle instigated by
Red Bull Racing’s parent company in Bull Racing’s Austrian parent company, quarters in Milton Keynes that he was A report in the Dutch newspaper De Red Bull Austria.
Austria revealed this month that he had said: “The independent investigation confident he would be exonerated. He Telegraaf claimed that the grievance Last night sources insisted that
been the subject of a complaint from a into the allegations made against Mr also said that his wife and family had extended beyond controlling behav- Horner would remain both team prin-
woman working for the world Horner is complete, and Red Bull can remained hugely supportive. iour and contained an allegation of cipal and chief executive of the F1 team,
champions. confirm that the grievance has been Horner endured ten hours of ques- sexual misconduct, based on messages but there are certain problems that
However, a barrister appointed to dismissed. Red Bull is confident that the tioning by a KC in London as part of the allegedly sent by Horner. Sources have remain.
conduct the inquiry and produce a investigation has been fair, rigorous process, and the situation appeared to since suggested that no such evidence On Wednesday the world champion
report that is understood to have run to and impartial. The investigation report be taking its toll when he faced further was submitted in the complaint itself. Max Verstappen, a Red Bull driver,
about 150 pages, based on more than 60 is confidential and contains the private questions from the media at pre-season Horner has been more exposed since refused publicly to back Horner.
hours of interviews with Horner and information of the parties and third testing last week. The fact that he and the death in 2022 of Dietrich Mate-
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 13

News

The princess appealed to the camera not only because of her looks but also through her deeds, say Anwar Hussein and his sons Samir and Zak, below

Diana lensmen give

have been accredited
royal photographers
across seven decades

us their perspective and took some of the

most memorable images
of the princess.

A
“The ones which hold
lone at the Princess Diana: the most meaning are
Taj Mahal, Accredited Access will when she showed her
striding from open at St Katharine empathy with people,
the gym and Docks in London on especially children,”
cradling a May 25, after runs in the Samir said, adding that
sick child: these images United States, Canada, Diana’s favourite of
of Diana, Princess of Australia and beyond. It Anwar’s pictures was
Wales, are part of royal is curated by a family taken in Pakistan, when
history, and they are to that has taken official she cradled a child who
feature in an exhibition photographs of five was sick with cancer.
that will tell the stories generations of royals. “She broke the mould.
behind them (Jack Anwar Hussein and She was so tactile and
Blackburn writes). his sons Samir and Zak hands-on.”

Children’s surgeon investigated over

Soviet limb-lengthening operations to practise medicine in the UK on Janu- vice. To date as part of the review, the review into Jabbar’s practice in eight
Eleanor Hayward Health Editor
ary 8, four days after a series of condi- RCS has raised concerns around the weeks. Caroline Murgatroyd, of Hudg-
A surgeon is under investigation tions were placed on him by the GMC, practice of a surgeon who no longer ell Solicitors, said: “It is of course worry-
because of safety concerns about limb- the doctors’ regulator, including requir- works at the trust. ing when any review is launched into
lengthening operations he has con- ing him to have a clinical supervisor at “We have written to all patients who healthcare services after concerns are
ducted at Great Ormond Street Hospi- all times. The GMC investigation is may have been impacted and a group of raised, particularly when those con-
tal for Children in London. continuing. independent experts from other cerns are raised by surgeons them-
The NHS hospital has written to Jabber worked at Great Ormond paediatric hospitals will review the care selves, and relate to the treatment of
families of all children treated by Yaser Street between June 2017 and October of all the patients the surgeon was young children. However, in our work
Jabbar, a consultant orthopaedic sur- 2022, according to a LinkedIn profile. In involved in. We are sorry for the worry we too often see concerns over treat-
geon, after patients and doctors raised February last year, the hospital invited and uncertainty this may cause the ment ignored and not acted upon, so
the alarm over his care. an independent expert team from the families who are impacted. We are whilst this will be worrying for many
The Times has been told that the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) to committed to learning from every people, we welcome the review.”
concerns relate to limb reconstruction, investigate its paediatric lower limb- single patient that we treat, and to being A spokesman for the RCS said they
a type of surgery that involves use of a lengthening and reconstruction ser- open and transparent with our families The Ilizarov frame is used when one were invited to review the paediatric
clinical device known as an Ilizarov vice. The RCS raised immediate safety when care falls below the high stan- leg bone is longer than the other orthopaedic lower limb lengthening
frame. This frame is a metal apparatus concerns about Jabber, which the trust dards we strive for.” and reconstruction/Ilizarov service at
invented by a Soviet physician, which is said were being taken “incredibly seri- Limb-lengthening and reconstruc- together with nuts and wires, which are the trust last February.
pinned to a child’s leg with screws then ously”. Independent experts from other tion surgery is offered to children with adjusted over several weeks to stretch “At the end of the invited review visit,
gradually stretched to lengthen their paediatric hospitals are reviewing med- one leg bone longer than another, the limb. The device was invented in we provided immediate feedback that
bones. ical records from a number of children which can be caused by genetic de- 1951 by Gavriil Ilizarov. confirmed actions to address patient
Jabbar, a consultant orthopaedic to see if their treatment was safe. formities or trauma from accidents. Great Ormond Street has not safety risks and improve service deliv-
surgeon, is being investigated by the A spokesman for Great Ormond It is a long process that involves cut- confirmed how many children were ery for the trust’s chief medical officer
General Medical Council (GMC) and Street said: “Following concerns raised ting the bone during an initial surgery, operated on by Jabbar. One of the to consider and act on.” He said the im-
no longer works at Great Ormond by family members and our staff, we then attaching an Ilizarov frame to the surgeon’s former patients, who is being mediate feedback was confirmed in
Street. asked the Royal College of Surgeons to bone and surrounding leg. The frame is represented by Hudgell Solicitors, has writing in March and the final review
Records show he gave up his licence review our paediatric orthopaedic ser- a set of circular stainless steel rings held been told they will be updated on the report was provided in October.
14 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

News

Post Office chairman tried to double boss’s pay

Tom Witherow, Steven Swinford ment before the investigation had been zon scandal, while Tony Downey, who Staunton claimed that Read had con- his conduct. “This included serious
completed. fled the country after being bankrupted, sidered resigning four times. Ben Tid- matters such as bullying,” she said.
The former chairman of the Post Office Last year Read was paid £436,000 earned £26,000 a year from his branch. swell, the senior independent director, Staunton told MPs on Tuesday that
lobbied to double the pay of the chief plus bonuses, and in the past two years An MP on the business committee responded to the claims in an email to the claim was misleading because the
executive even as the Horizon compen- has collected close to £1.4 million. described the remuneration as “a pit- postmasters: “To my knowledge Nick primary subject of the investigation
sation schemes faltered and the com- To cries of “wow”, Kevin Hollinrake, tance” and “absolutely horrendous”. Read has never tendered his resigna- was Read and allegations raised about
pany descended into chaos. the postal affairs minister, told MPs Staunton, who was sacked last tion and he continues to accept leader- him related to “politically incorrect
Henry Staunton twice asked minis- yesterday: “On two occasions Mr month, claimed that Read had consid- ship responsibility for the challenges comments”, not bullying. Asked whe-
ters in the Department for Business Staunton lobbied for a pay increase for ered resigning because he was unhappy that we are all working on each day.” ther Badenoch’s claim about Staunton
and Trade to increase the pay of Nick Mr Read — he sought to double the with his pay packet, which is capped at Downing Street also repeatedly was correct, the prime minister’s offi-
Read but was rebuffed, MPs have overall package on those occasions.” £819,210 a year including bonuses. refused to endorse claims, made by cial spokesman said: “I’m not going to
heard. Tim Brentnall, who was wrongly Staunton told the committee that Kemi Badenoch on the floor of the get into any further commentary on
Yesterday Rishi Sunak declined to convicted over shortfalls from his till Read was also considering stepping Commons on February 19, that Staun- HR matters.” Hollinrake said it would
back Read after it was confirmed he was flagged by the faulty Horizon software, back because the investigation into his ton was being investigated for bullying. have been “wrong” for Badenoch to dis-
under investigation for misconduct. At said on Tuesday his Post Office made conduct, initiated by an 80-page com- Badenoch, the business secretary, close an investigation into someone’s
prime minister’s questions Sunak said profits of “just under £20,000” in the plaint filed by a disgruntled former HR said that Staunton was facing a “formal work conduct before it had concluded.
that it would be “inappropriate” to com- years before being caught in the Hori- director, had taken “a terrible toll”. investigation” into allegations about

Family time Sir Quentin Blake, the illustrator of children’s books, has produced a
series of drawings for the family visit halls of prisons in England and Wales

Scotland Yard drawn into

media surveillance case
Sean O’Neill this led to dawn raids in August 2018 in
which both men were arrested.
Scotland Yard was implicated yester- The tribunal, in a rare public hearing
day in a widening scandal over covert at the Royal Courts of Justice in
police surveillance of journalists that is London, was told that the overt investi-
unfolding before the country’s most gation ran parallel with a “covert strate-
secretive court. gy” to monitor the men’s phones in
Three police forces are now linked to which one of their suspected contacts
spying operations against two journal- was placed under “direct surveillance”.
ists investigating stories about alleged Further inquiries by the tribunal dis-
police corruption and security forces’ covered that McCaffrey’s communica-
collusion with terrorists in Northern tions data was acquired by the PSNI in
Ireland. The police admitted mounting 2013 when he was making inquiries
a surveillance operation against one of about alleged police corruption. The
the journalist’s contacts, seeking phone tribunal was told that the Met obtained
records on at least three occasions and McCaffrey’s phone records in 2011 and
contacting Apple to ask for access to an data was stored and then shared in 2018
iCloud account. The activity was aimed with the PSNI and Durham force.
at unmasking the journalist’s sources. “The ability of journalists to main-
The Investigatory Powers Tribunal, tain confidential sources to discover
which examines cases of abuse of sur- and bring allegations of wrongdoing to
veillance powers, was told that Barry public attention is of the highest
McCaffrey and Trevor Birney were tar- importance to the maintenance of a
gets of covert operations by the Metro- democratic society,” Ben Jaffey KC, for
politan Police, Durham constabulary the journalists, told the hearing.
and the Police Service of Northern Ire- Speaking after the hearing was
land (PSNI) between 2011 and 2018. adjourned, McCaffrey said: “Every
The PSNI ordered an investigation, journalist in the UK should tonight be
conducted by the Durham force, and asking themselves, was I one as well?”
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 2GM 15

News

Work on star’s home

angers Cornish town

C
ate Blanchett now want to make
has been changes to an
accused of additional plot of Magwan Porth
destroying land bought in 2021
family holidays involving a new
amid a new row over the entrance to the CORNWALL
luxury eco-home she is property and a
building in Cornwall parking area.
(Charlotte Wace writes). Karen St Ives Truro
The Australian Burgess, a
actress, 54, and her holiday let Falmouth
playwright and owner, claimed
screenwriter husband, there had been “a 10 miles
Andrew Upton, 58, total disregard”
own a £1.6 million over the noise that
cottage in Mawgan had “destroyed the Buildling noise at Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton’s home has upset residents of Mawgan Porth, top left
Porth, a picturesque family holidays” of
seaside town once her guests last year. work should “to severely restrict the clients’ property has the latest application as
dubbed “Hollywood-on- “The losses are not be days in which this work been mistaken for other “a blatant attempt to
Sea” following an influx more than £60,000 permitted can take place, if indeed works going on in erode an
of celebrity guests. Since and still we are during holiday it is ever approved”. Mawgan Porth. We have environmentally
buying it four years ago, having to advertise ... season. Never ... But Watershedd, the been in regular important piece of land
they have demolished as a property have we architects, denied the communication with by stealth and
the original structure to [affected] by building experienced such claims, saying the noise friendly and incorporate it”.
create a five-bedroom noise,” she wrote in a blatant disregard must have come from accommodating Situ8, the planning
eco-home. an objection lodged for the people who other developments. neighbours to ensure consultancy that made
Cornwall council to the council last flock here,” she said, “She cannot be referring they are aware of works the application on the
granted planning month. “We thought adding that her to our clients’ property starting, and to alleviate couple's behalf, said the
permission in 2022. An the [work] was over property was one of where there were no any concerns regarding loss of green space
additional application and now there is a many holiday lets and noisy works during the ... noise or disturbances.” would be “minimal”.
was submitted last year. new application for hotels in the area and peak holiday period last Another neighbour, The application will be
Blanchett and Upton groundworks. This she expected the council year. Once again, our Helen John, described ruled on at a later date.

Sex toy tycoon in family Friend of Phillip Schofield

sues news site after slur
feud over mansion cash Jonathan Ames
An actor friend of Phillip Schofield who
Robinson, founder of the English
Defence League. A spokesman for the
social media site said Politicalite had
Jonathan Ames Legal Editor properties sell for up to £6.5 million. in 2009, splitting the house after their shares his surname has brought a violated its hate-speech policies.
Their parents have since died and the deaths, with 75 per cent of its value £100,000 libel claim after being Simon claimed that he suffered an
The boss of an American sex toy com- house is at the centre of the High Court going to the wife’s daughters and 25 per wrongly described as a “nonce”. “onslaught” of abuse on social media,
pany was cheated out of her inherit- battle between the sisters and their cent to the husband’s children. Mutual Simon Schofield has appeared in but when he complained to the news
ance after her stepfather “unlawfully” step-siblings, Philip Henry and Phillip- wills are usually drafted by couples and several West End shows, including Les site, he was branded a “nonce”.
took money out of his multimillion- pa Callan. The case was brought by include provisions that ban whoever Misérables, and has been friends with The actor has now brought a claim
pound house in the form of an equity Gough, who lives in London, but the survives longer from changing the be- the controversial television presenter for defamation, malicious falsehood
release, a court has heard. claim is also made “on behalf of her sis- quests after the death of the other. since they worked together earlier in and misuse of private information. Last
According to Barbara Cook’s lawyer, ter Barbara Corinne Cook”. Higham has argued that the husband their careers. week, a judge entered a default judg-
Gordon Henry amended his will after The court has been told that Gordon drafted a will three months after his The 40-year-old theatrical producer ment in favour of the actor and the
his wife’s death despite the couple Henry had a son and daughter and his wife’s death, the terms of which allowed is said to be so close to the broadcaster claim will be assessed in court.
having made “mutual wills” and his him take money out of the house in the that he was mistakenly assumed to be Gemma McNeil-Walsh, a barrister
smaller contribution to the purchase of Barbara Cook says form of equity release. his boyfriend after pictures of them representing the actor, said he should
the house. she and her sister The house was remortgaged and, going for a walk during the coronavirus be awarded “significantly in excess of
Cook — the British chief executive of have lost out on between 2018 and 2020, when the wid- pandemic appeared online. £50,000” because of the distressing and
Diamond Products, which sells adult £450,000 ower died, about £450,000 in loans Phillip Schofield, 61, resigned from serious nature of the accusations. She
“novelties and toys” — moved to the were taken out, secured against the co-hosting ITV’s This Morning last year said Kendall and his business should
US in 2007. She held management roles value of the house. Higham is asking a after he acknowledged an “unwise but also pay nearly £40,000 in legal costs.
at Gap and was an executive vice-presi- High Court judge to declare that the not illegal” relationship he had with a McNeil-Walsh told the judge, Mrs
dent at the Playboy Group. equity release was “unlawful” and that younger male employee. Simon was Justice Steyn, that when the actor’s
She and her sister, Jennifer Gough, wife four daughters, including Gough the £450,000 should be deducted from said to have provided support. legal team complained, the lawyers
are in a court battle with their step-sib- and Cook. The dispute began after Rita the step-siblings’ share of the will. The actor is now claiming more than were branded “nonce enablers” and
lings over the house in Berkshire. It was Nelly Henry died in 2016. Gough’s so- Cook, 65, was general manager of £50,000 in damages after he was told that the article would be taken
bought by their mother, Rita Nelly licitor, Richard Strachan Higham, says Starbucks’ British business before mov- accused of “grooming” the young man down in exchange for £3,500. That
Henry, and their stepfather after their that the death prompted her widower ing to the US. For the past 18 months with whom the presenter had a rela- demand was not met, but the article was
marriage in 1993. to amend his own will, which resulted she has been the boss at Diamond tionship. The allegations were made in taken down last June, only for it to be
The home is near the Sunningdale in the sisters being wrongfully deprived Products, which owns Pipedream an article on Politicalite, an online news republished a month later. It has since
Golf Club, where annual membership of about £450,000 of their inheritance. Products, “one of the largest designers, site whose editor is Jordan Kendall. been permanently removed.
fees are about £93,000 and which has He told the court that because “of the manufacturers and distributors of pro- In 2020, Facebook banned Politic- McNeil-Walsh said that Kendall and
hosted the British Masters tourna- unequal contributions of Rita and Gor- prietary romance products in the alite over claims that it published his company either knew — or were
ment. Residents include George and don to the purchase of the property”, United States”. articles supporting Stephen Yaxley- reckless as to whether — the accusa-
Amal Clooney and Gary Lineker, and the pair agreed to make “mutual wills” The case continues. Lennon, better known as Tommy tion was incorrect and damaging.
16 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

News
Mine-clearers
defuse perils
for dolphins
Tom Whipple Science Editor
Sea mines designed to blow a massive
hole in Nazi vessels have been cleared
so quietly 80 years later that they barely
bothered nearby dolphins.
British scientists working with the
Danish navy have shown that a process
Tractor blockade of deflagration, where undersea bombs
Farmers are combusted using a small shaped
gathered in charge rather than exploded using a
Cardiff to protest larger one, produces one hundredth of
against the Welsh the noise. The findings, published in the
government’s journal Marine Pollution Bulletin, point
Sustainable to a way of building offshore wind farms
Farming Scheme, without harming cetaceans’ hearing.
set to replace The seas have been treated as a muni-
direct farm tions dump for two centuries but in
payments. The recent years this has become increas-
consultation for ingly inconvenient.
the scheme ends “Usually, you leave the bombs alone,”
on March 7. Stephen Robinson, principal scientist at
A long line of the National Physical Laboratory, said.
tractors shut a “But if you are building a wind farm you
key road into the have no choice because the cable-laying
Welsh capital, and construction of the turbines will
where thousands disturb them. The traditional way is to
joined the blow them up with another bomb.”
demonstration, As well as cratering the sea bed, this
while dairy makes one of the loudest man-made
farmers held sounds in the ocean. Marine biologists
banners outside have estimated that marine mammals
the Senedd within a mile or more of the blast could
be deafened by the shockwave.

Power plant burns rare forest wood logical functions”. The disclosure link to old growth forest destruction by the carbon absorbed by trees grow- could receive about £2.5 billion a year
Adam Vaughan Environment Editor
comes as a group of 30 MPs urged the matters because Drax has said its gov- ing. However, experts argue that the under the proposed new subsidies,
An energy company has been found energy secretary to withdraw her plans ernment support was justified because speed at which trees grow means bio- more than double the most it has been
taking timber from ecologically impor- to extend biomass subsidies beyond it sources wood sustainably. mass energy is not green and may even awarded in a single year. Polling of 102
tant forests and burning the wood in 2027, when existing incentives expire. In the same 2017 report, Drax said: be making climate change worse. MPs found just 5 per cent supported
one of the UK’s largest power stations. Drax and other biomass energy com- “Generators should not receive subsidy In a new letter organised by Sir Peter more subsidies for burning trees in
Drax, which is seeking to extend the panies would not be viable without the when the biomass used could cause Bottomley, the longest continuously power stations.
£6 billion of subsidies it has received as “transitional support mechanism” put long-term carbon stock decreases in serving MP in parliament, MPs said In a statement on its website, Drax
a renewable energy generator, used forward by Claire Coutinho last month. ecosystems; biodiversity loss; soil ero- they had “serious concerns” about a did not deny clearing old growth forest
wood from forests it had previously Drax’s clearing of old growth forest in sion; or depletion of water sources.” consultation which would extend bio- for its power station. However, the
deemed “no-go areas”. British Columbia is not illegal. How- Drax has been receiving two sets of mass subsidies beyond 2027. company said its 2017 report was “not a
Documents obtained by the ever, in a 2017 sustainability report the government subsidies because the “Continued wood burning biomass policy and is now obsolete”, having
BBC show that last year the British company vowed not to take timber electricity produced by its biomass harms forests, communities and con- been superseded by a 2019 document. A
company took more than 40,000 ton- from no-go areas. It listed those as “pro- power station near Selby in North tributes huge amounts of carbon emis- Drax spokesman said: “We are confi-
nes of wood from old growth forests in tected forests, old growth or primary Yorkshire is deemed renewable and sions to the atmosphere,” the group dent our biomass is sustainable and le-
Canada which are considered home to forest, sites that have been classified as carbon neutral, with the carbon from wrote in a letter to Countinho, seen by gally harvested and meets the require-
“unique habitats, structures and eco- having a high biodiversity value”. The burning wood in theory cancelled out The Times. The MPs noted that Drax ments of our 2019 sourcing policy.”
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 17

News

School allows fake lashes ‘to protect mental health’

Nicola Woolcock Education Editor at the school, said: “There is a lot of peer that rules would also be changed to tempted to remove items from their
pressure at the school. We’re a society allow one set of small silver, pearl or bags to ‘top up’ or ‘reapply’. This would
A school has changed its uniform being run by children. Rules are rules crystal studs rather than solely gold. affect the learning and concentration
policy to allow girls to wear fake eye- and that’s the end of it.” Many schools ban artificial hair of others. Tutors are provided with
lashes to protect their mental health. The parent said that, in allowing fake colours, obvious make-up, dangling make-up wipes and will ask students in
Pupils were taking time off school to eyelashes, the school was making them earrings and false eyelashes. Years 7-9 to remove make-up during
attend appointments to remove their part of the “uniform”. Referring to the One school in southwest London tutor time.” The school said that those
false lashes and were also suffering explanation given by the school, she says in its uniform policy: “We do not in Years 10 and 11 were allowed “light
distress caused by the prohibition, added: “Everyone’s going down the want to encourage an environment touch” make-up but that false eyelashes
according to a letter sent by a second- mental health route now.” where students are competing in terms were “not acceptable”.
ary school in Kent. Knole Academy, a comprehensive of their appearance or how ‘fashion- A school in southeast London
They will now be allowed to wear with a grammar stream, has more than able’ they look. Make-up is not permit- reversed its ban on unnatural hair
discreet false eyelashes as part of the 1,300 pupils aged 11 to 19. It sent the ted in Years 7-9 (without exception). It colours, however, saying that it was
school uniform policy. letter to parents earlier this month. is not deemed appropriate or necessary. racist and unfairly penalised black girls.
David Collins, head teacher at Knole It said: “We review our school rules “We also know that make-up could Townley Grammar School in Bexley-
Academy in Sevenoaks, said that pupils on a regular basis and make amend- provide a distraction during lesson time Students were left distressed by the heath abandoned hairstyle-related
were missing school to have their lashes ments when changes in society make a given that younger students may be ban and some refused to attend school punishments in 2020.
removed or refusing to attend school previous standpoint redundant or
without them. The letter to parents untenable. We are increasingly seeing
said: “Having students in school is the attendance affected by students taking
most important consideration and time off to have false eyelashes
therefore from February 19 we shall removed or refusing to attend school
allow false eyelashes to be worn as long through mental health considerations.
as they are discreet.” “We need to balance this against
Collins added that the school author- having a standard of dress which helps
ities revised the uniform policy “when to create a work ethos and sets parame-
changes in society make a previous ters for behaviour. In this case, having
standpoint redundant or untenable”. students in school is the most impor-
The mother of one 13-year-old pupil tant consideration.” The letter added

TMS
[email protected] | @timesdiary

Hancock trips gravy I’d say Labour are almost

ready. “Go back to your
constituencies and prepare for
up at Eton Sunday lunch.”

(meno)pause for thought

Matt Hancock forgot one of the Davina McCall decided to protect
key rules of public speaking on a her children from her celebrity.
visit to Eton on Tuesday: always The broadcaster tells Richard
check who is in the audience. The Herring’s podcast that she
former health secretary, the Artie instructed them to plough their
Fufkin of the Johnson cabinet, if own furrow in life, saying: “One
you remember Spinal Tap, began day you will be chundering outside
his talk to the boys with a joke Wetherspoon’s and be very pleased
about how Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg is you’re not famous.” Anonymity
not a good politician. This has other advantages. Her
received its inevitable payback daughter works in the NHS and
when questions were open to the recently saw a colleague reading
floor and a thin bespectacled lad McCall’s latest book on the
called Peter immediately strode menopause. Asked what she
out to the wicket and declared thought of it, the nurse said: “Oh,
that his father was a great man in Davina. She used to annoy me so
public and in private. “Especially,” much but since she’s done this
Mogg Minor added, “as he stuff she’s gone up in my
remained loyal to his wife.” Cue estimation.” McCall’s daughter
uproarious applause and rapid could only reply: “Yes, me too.”
deflation of Hancock.
Asked to reflect on 39 years as host
Mogg Major, meanwhile, was of Comic Relief before his final Red
showing his statesmanship by Nose Day, Sir Lenny Henry said one
discussing children’s television on of his biggest challenges was getting
GB News. The former business Ken Dodd, the Liverpudlian
secretary, below, was bemused by comedian, to shut up. “Ken could
criticism in America of the rude never do three minutes, he had to
manners of Peppa Pig, a subject in do an hour wherever he was
which he claims to be, like Daddy performing,” he said. “I had to lift
Pig, “a bit of an expert”. The Mogg him away from the camera so we
feels an affinity for the porcine didn’t crash into the news.”
paterfamilias, an amiable duffer.
“Like him, my esteemed daughter i can hear a bell ring
keeps me under control,” he said. With the General Synod once
more discussing sex, the
kitchen confidential chairmanship fell to Geoffrey
Steve Reed, the shadow secretary Tattersall, a retired judge with a
of state for food, is also a bit of an deadpan humour. Last year he
expert. He tells The House that he disclosed mournfully that his wife’s
once took a week off his job in Christmas present to him was
publishing so he could work out tickets for an Abba musical.
how to cook the perfect roast Recalling this, he opened the
potato. After experimenting latest rumpus on gay marriage
with types of oil and different by sighing: “Mamma mia, here
temperatures, Reed discovered we go again.” He then held up
that the secret is to use Maris Mrs Tattersall’s latest gift: the
Pipers, salt the water well while book 101 Things to do with Your
boiling and throw half a Retired Man, suggesting that
lemon into the roasting the 102nd is to get him
tray. If he can hone his to chair synod debates.
Yorkshire puddings
and knock up a good patrick kidd
18 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

News

Hunt urged to clear

nurses’ student debt
Eleanor Hayward Health Editor financial pressures are part of a vicious
cycle of understaffing, ultimately jeop-
Ministers have been urged to commit to ardising the quality of care delivered by
writing off nurses’ student debt to pre- our NHS. Removing financial barriers
vent the NHS suffering a shortfall of will entice more individuals to pursue a
more than 6,000 new nurses each year. long-term career in nursing, bolstering
Applications for nursing degrees in the domestic workforce and ensuring
England have fallen by 26 per cent over its future resilience.”
the past two years, meaning there will Latest NHS data shows that there are
not be a big enough pipeline of home- 42,000 nursing vacancies in England.
grown nurses to sustain hospitals. Under the NHS long-term workforce
The Times Health Commission, a plan, announced by Rishi Sunak last
year-long inquiry, has called for the year, the NHS will need an average of
government to adopt a student loan 29,000 new nursing students each year
forgiveness scheme for doctors and between 2023 and 2031. On current
nurses which will write off their debt if trends, based on the 2023-24 intake,
they stay in the NHS for several years there will be 22,470 a year, a 6,500
after qualifying. The Royal College of annual shortfall that risks making the
Nursing (RCN) has joined forces with workforce plan “unviable”.
universities to back the scheme and in a The loan forgiveness scheme pro-
letter urged Jeremy Hunt, the chancel- posed by the Times Health Commission
lor, to adopt the “cost-effective” policy is aimed at helping retention and re- Shin deep Waders were required in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, yesterday as the river burst its banks.
in the spring budget. cruitment, with debt cut by 30 per cent
Analysis by MillionPlus, the Associa- for those staying three years, 70 per cent
tion for Modern Universities, shows
that the scheme would cost £235 mil-
lion each year, which “pales in compari-
son” to the long-term savings from
for seven years and 100 per cent for ten.
Pat Cullen, general secretary of the
RCN, said: “By shackling nursing stu-
dents with debt and removing vital
Doubts over NHS waiting times pledge
having more UK-trained nurses. The maintenance support, government Chris Smyth Whitehall Editor though waits for routine care will final- term without a spending splurge. How-
NHS recruits half of its new nurses ministers set back recruitment, putting ly start to fall this year, the analysis ever, the IFS concludes that it is “very
from abroad and spends £1 billion a year off the nurses of tomorrow we desper- NHS waits will still be above pre-Covid finds. In January last year, Sunak prom- unlikely” that the health service will
on agency nurses in England. ately need.” She added: “Nursing staff levels in four years and Labour will fail ised to cut a waiting list for non-urgent achieve a goal of 92 per cent of patients
The letter said that the burden of and higher education providers both to meet its pledge to hit routine care treatment that then stood at 7.2 million. waiting less than 18 weeks.
debt placed on students for their three- agree that the spring budget presents a targets in a first term, the Institute for It is now 7.6 million but the IFS high- Wes Streeting, the shadow health
year nursing degrees was often the “pri- unique opportunity for the chancellor Fiscal Studies has predicted. lights “signs of hope” that it has fallen secretary, said: “The last Labour gov-
mary deterrent for aspiring nurses” and to invest in nursing and protect patient Rishi Sunak will go into the election for three months in a row. ernment delivered the shortest waits in
stopped “talented individuals pursuing care into the future. He must take it.” with more people on NHS waiting lists Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to meet the history of the NHS — we did it
this vital career path”. It added: “These than when he pledged to cut them, even all the key NHS targets during his first before and we will do it again.”
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 2GM 19

News
but were all of a
Yves Saint Laurent transparent
nature.

sets pulses racing Two broad-

shouldered
trouser suits

on Paris catwalk relieved the

relentless

S
nipple count.
heer silk dresses, choose to do so in real More fun was a
transparent life remains to be seen. giant fluffy coat
pussy-bow After last season’s of lilac marabou
blouses and haute boilersuits, chinos feathers, and a
seamed bustiers and utility jackets, few streetwise
so delicate they Vaccarello’s latest came leather jackets.
resembled high-rise, as a volte face for Paris Given this label’s
low-denier tights more Fashion Week. Turning 1 per cent client list
than a garment (Anna away from the house’s is stuffed with rock
Murphy and Harriet habit of borrowing from stars and
Walker write). Had Yves menswear, he pursued supermodels the
Saint Laurent’s Anthony another strand of its regulars shouldn’t
Vaccarello presented sartorial DNA: the be too fazed by
Tuesday night’s winter seamier, Helmut Vaccarello’s flirtation
2024 collection a year Newton-flavoured side. The Yves with transparency next
earlier, images of it The show was held in a Saint season. The rest of us
might well have been boudoir-esque marquee Laurent might want to stock up
censored by Instagram’s next to the Eiffel Tower. show, on sensible vests.
strict nudity policy but, Of the collection’s 49 watched by At Dries Van Noten,
since the platform looks, 40 shared the Eva Herzigova, the emphasis was more
dropped its rule in June, gossamer-thin, silk- featured on the wearable —
the selfie set and fashion gauze theme. The transparent mundane, even: jeans
designers alike have blouses, gowns, pencil outfits. Van and grey marl hoodies.
finally been allowed to skirts and cocktail Noten gave Was this the first time
“free the nipple”. frocks came in shades of us athleisure that a pair of fleecy
Whether Saint cappuccino, mossy tailoring joggers graced the Paris
Laurent customers will green, rust and indigo — catwalks?

Baby boomers blame drink and

drugs for mental health crisis
Katie Gibbons adults found young people themselves The study found of greater youth mental health issues.
were much more likely to feel they have people in their Separate research revealed this week
Baby boomers think the youth mental it tougher. Almost 80 per cent of those sixties and seventies that twentysomethings were more like-
health crisis is down to drugs and alco- aged 29 said the ability to afford things were less likely to ly to be out of work due to poor mental
hol and not poor economic prospects, was worse for young people today blame economic health than those in their early forties.
research shows. relative to their parents’ generation. prospects for Despite differing ideas on the causes,
It is widely accepted by all that young Meanwhile, about half of millennials younger people’s the findings from King’s showed a gen-
people in the UK have worse mental believed mental health problems were problems erational consensus that young people
health than in previous generations, just as common among young people in were suffering. Across all ages, two
but the perceived causes behind this the past, but were just not identified at thirds or more believed youth mental
differ across age groups, according to a the time, the study found. health was worse than before.
report published today. Baby boomers were at least twice as Bobby Duffy, professor of public
Half of people in their sixties and likely as Gen Xers, millennials and Gen policy and director of the university’s
seventies, known as the baby boom Zers to attribute the rise in mental Policy Institute, said: “We see a lot of
generation, think young people are less health problems to increased drug and clichés and stereotypes when we talk
resilient and blame a risky relationship alcohol use among young people, de- about the attitudes of different genera-
with drugs and alcohol for mental spite data showing that many young tions, often pitting one generation
health problems, the study found. people are sober by choice. against the other — but this new study
Researchers say this “clichéd” view The study found some 38 per cent of shows there is a lot of consistency in
comes from generalisations in older Gen Zers said youth mental health attitudes across most issues and ac-
people who forget what they got up to problems were just as common in ceptance we face a serious issue with
when they were young. the past, compared with about half young people’s mental health.
The study, carried out by the Policy (49 per cent) of older generations. “However, there are some differen-
Institute at King’s College London, Generation X (18 per cent) and ces in perceptions of what’s driving this.
found baby boomers — born between baby boomers (17 per cent) were about Older generations do have a more cli-
1946 and 1964 — and Generation X — twice as likely as Generation Z (9 per chéd view ... This reflects a general tend-
born between 1965 and 1980 — are less cent) to say today’s youth were less ency to generalise from eye-catching
likely to think tough circumstances are resilient. Baby boomers (19 per cent) but relatively rare instances of risky be-
a factor than Generation Z, defined in and Gen Xers (19 per cent) were less haviour among young people, and to
the research as born between 1997 and likely than Gen Zers (30 per cent) and forget the risks we ourselves took when
2009, or millennials, born between 1981 millennials (27 per cent) to think we were young.”
and 1996. However, the poll of 2,516 UK tougher circumstances were a cause

Decent children’s TV ‘on verge of extinction’

Alex Farber Media Correspondent showing that the viewing of broadcast mation than any of us ever did as a child.
TV had plummeted among six to 11- But how they find accurate information
A Sesame Street trustee has warned year-olds to just 15 per cent of screen and culturally relevant inspiration is
that high-quality children’s pro- time from 35 per cent three years ago, fundamentally down to the whim of
gramming is at risk of extinction as children turn to online platforms huge, largely unregulated international
amid a “quagmire of dubious and such as YouTube and TikTok. corporations. The decreasing amount
dangerous” content on streaming “High-quality British children’s of high-quality British content for kids
services and social media sites. content will become scarce and is hidden in a quagmire of at best dubi-
Paul Lindley, who founded the could become extinct,” Lindley said. ous and at worst dangerous stuff.”
baby food brand Ella’s Kitchen and is “Once the traditional, regulated Lindley was speaking at a summit for
chancellor of the University of Read- broadcasters are no longer being found the Children’s Media Foundation, a
ing, said children’s TV was at an inflec- by children, who will pay for this vital campaign group that has demanded
tion point. The entrepreneur, who is a element of our children’s nourishment? funding for producers and laws requir-
trustee of the Sesame Workshop child- Sesame Street is no Today’s children have more choice and ing platforms to carry UK-relevant and
ren’s charity, highlighted Ofcom figures longer on British TV easier access to storytelling and infor- age-appropriate content prominently.
20 2GM Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

News

A love letter to
community with
backbone of steel
Theatre Clive Davis reaches the 21st century, when,
after a long period of neglect, the
“man-made monolith” was
Standing at the Sky’s Edge redeveloped as a gentrified enclave.
Characters from different eras
There’s no shortage of passion in the performances, including that of Elizabeth Ayodele, right, who impresses as Joy Gillian Lynne, WC2 rub shoulders, delivering songs
(170 min, with interval) drawn from the back catalogue of
HHHII the Sheffield singer-songwriter
Richard Hawley.
There’s certainly no shortage of
It’s an odd hybrid, part musical, part passion in the performances, even if
soap opera. Weaving domestic the script sometimes resembles a
incident around the history of conscientiously assembled checklist
Sheffield’s Brutalist landmark, the of social issues. Laura Pitt-Pulford
Park Hill estate, this Olivier-winning gives the stand-out vocal display as
show — first staged at the city’s Poppy, a middle-class Londoner who
Crucible Theatre in 2019 and revived has fled north after breaking up with
there to great acclaim in 2022 — is a her laddish fiancée. Elizabeth Ayodele
sincere if uneven love letter to the impresses too as Joy, a young Liberian
power of community. girl trying to build a new life on the
After a run at the National last concrete walkways
year, Robert Hastie’s production As the Dawn Breaks strikes a
has now settled into a new gently pastoral note as the
home in the West End. characters assemble on
Jarvis Cocker, one of Ben Stones’s high-rise
Sheffield’s most set, which looks more
famous sons, was intimate in the
in the audience Gillian Lynne
on press night. than it did at the
The common South Bank.
people, subject If there’s a
of his classic problem with
song, were out in many of the
force on the other polished
stage. songs, it’s that they
In a way, the sometimes seem to
show is the blue- have been inserted into
collar equivalent of the action almost at
Plaza Suite, the venerable random. As much as you
Neil Simon comedy currently admire the musicianship of the
being revived at the Savoy. band, tucked away on the first and
Where Simon builds an evening’s second floors, you are often left
entertainment from three separate wondering how exactly the numbers
playlets, all set in the same hotel move the story on.
room, Chris Bush, writer of Standing An awful lot of incident is crammed
at the Sky’s Edge, has devised a into a confusing final quarter.
series of interwoven vignettes set Bush is less than subtle, too,
in the same flat but separated when it comes to explaining how the
by decades. advent of Thatcherism affected the
The narrative opens at the dawn of local community. There’s a Storm a
the 1960s, when Park Hill was the Comin’ is the cue for a contrived
pristine symbol of a modernist future, outbreak of mass mayhem.
and moves back and forth until it To August 3, skysedgemusical.com

IN THE
TIMES
TOMORROW

ARTS
THE
REDEMPTION
OF JOHN
GALLIANO?
Inside story of
the documentary
about the
disgraced
designer
PULLOUT

BRICKS
&MORTAR
HANDING
PROPERTY
WEALTH
TO YOUR
CHILDREN
What parents
need to know
PULLOUT
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 21

Anderson row heralds

Comment
Farage comeback tour
Iain Martin
Page 23

Pair AI with ideology and we get black Nazis

Google’s image generator was reluctant to depict white people — proponents of the Online Safety Act should take heed
human adopters, soon escalated. anti-white overlay is a cackhanded slip through the net and only limited
Juliet “Over time,” Raghavan explained, attempt to compensate for this sort of rights of redress or transparency in
Samuel “the model became way more history, but the result is not greater the event of overzealous censorship.
cautious than we intended and accuracy and justice. It’s black Vikings. The Google Gemini fiasco should
refused to answer certain prompts That is because you cannot simply be a warning not to extend this sort of
entirely — wrongly interpreting some “correct” reality by subjecting it to the regulatory model to cover AI beyond
very anodyne prompts as sensitive.” preferred ideas of the day. “Diversity” social media, where it will already do
@citysamuel Whatever else one can say about this and “inclusivity” are not enough damage. Californian tech
debacle, you cannot fault the AI’s programmable truths. They are companies are no more capable of

I
n some ways, all you need to uncanny ability to mimic a real-life ideological fashions. This is why I discerning moral truth or predicting
know is that it made black Nazis. progressive anxiety death spiral. become uneasy when I see politicians which scientific theories will be
And black Vikings. And a female Still, if a picture is worth a and others calling for technology correct than anyone browsing
Pope. But really, black Nazis. thousand words, how many does an companies to clamp down on YouTube. They are operating from
Google Gemini, the company’s AI image generator contain? “misinformation”. One day’s inside the US’s own peculiar political
artificial intelligence tool, has Gemini’s problem with “whiteness” is misinformation is another’s revelation, debates, exporting its culture wars and
suspended its image-generating just the visible expression of the code as the pandemic amply demonstrated. neuroses freely enough to the world
function. Over a few weeks, users underneath it. It raises the question The scientific consensus at first without being further empowered by
uncovered a peculiarly stubborn of what other biases lie buried, emphasised symptomatic spread, then misguided regulations.
aversion in Gemini’s code to creating invisible, in the models powering the asymptomatic; it was first against Rather than expecting foreign
any images of white people. It would tool. Some of those biases are still on masks, then in favour; at first, the lab multinationals to be the guardians of
create images of ancient Chinese or display in the Gemini chatbot. Ask it leak origin was a conspiracy theory, our moral or political standards, we
African kings with the relevant whether it is “OK to be black”, for whereas now it’s more likely than should focus on transparency and
ethnicities, but ask it for any white example, and it delivers a lecture on not. This isn’t because scientists are accountability. That means in part
figure, like a 1940s German soldier, why “the question is deeply flawed fools. It’s because that’s how the making it possible to query models
and it “diversified” them. and unnecessary”. Ask it whether it truth often is. It isn’t handed down Google Gemini would “diversify” white when they go wrong, but most
It did so even when the prompt was is “OK to be white” and it says on a tablet or AI “tuning” exercise. It figures such as a 1940s German soldier importantly, it means fostering a
explicit. Ask it for an image of “a black emerges from trial and error, from diverse array of models that compete
family” and you’d get a stylised image
of a beautifully muscled black man
The geeks are capable exposure of corruption, from
contradictions challenging other
what the UK’s new regulatory
framework does, as dictated by the
and contradict one another. The
difference between Google messing
and woman meditating under an
array of sunbeams. But ask for “a
of being stupendously, contradictions.
Clearly, there are specific
Online Safety Act. The legislation
isn’t yet in force, mainly because it
up in the West and the Chinese
censorship system removing all
white family” and it declared: “It’s
against my guidelines to create
humiliatingly wrong categories of content out there that
require suppression and we can
requires Ofcom to acquire such a
vast array of powers and capacities
content that is negative about its
economy is that Google can be
content that could be discriminatory,” “absolutely”, but caveats the answer: expect AI tools to do much of the that it includes a several-year ridiculed, out-competed and
offering to create instead “images of “The phrase ‘it’s OK to be white’ has screening. Illegal content like child transition period and will probably financially punished for its errors,
families that celebrate diversity”. been used by white supremacist abuse or terrorism videos, legally never actually be enforced. It will whereas Beijing can’t.
The company’s explanation of what groups to promote racist and risky content, like copyright certainly never achieve its aim of In the end, perhaps we should be
happened raises more questions than harmful ideologies.” Most of the infringement or libel, and content making the internet safe for children grateful for Gemini’s black Nazis.
answers. The problem, according to biases fuelling the technology, that’s just not appropriate or decent, (and as I’ve written, smartphone They’re a reminder that no matter
the Google exec Prabhakar however, will not be so obvious. like the promotion of suicide or self- ownership and social media are both how clever the geeks building the
Raghavan, was that the AI was It’s worth noting, of course, that AI harm or — unless it’s actually on a inherently bad for children). models, no matter how righteous the
“tuned” to produce results relevant has often been accused of porn site — porn, are all fair game for What it does do is introduce a diversity officers filling up the
for anyone all over the world, demonstrating bias in the other varying degrees of censorship. system of incentives that make it more meeting rooms and no matter how
presumably so that its default image direction. Facial recognition software But what we should not try to do is likely that large tech companies deep the company’s pockets, they are
of a person wouldn’t be a white, has been shown to be less accurate somehow create a “safe” or “moral” headquartered thousands of miles still capable of being stupendously,
all-American Joe. when it comes to identifying ethnic version of the internet through the away and stewed in Silicon Valley humiliatingly wrong. And no one
But this “tuning” in fact seems to minority faces. In China, the imposition of sweeping principles. All culture will introduce excessive and should imagine that giving these
have involved the imposition of a government uses surveillance tools this will do is centralise control over wrong-headed censorship regimes. companies more responsibility for
full-on, all-American, ideological that identify any ethnically Uighur information and reduce pluralism. That is because the Act imposes large shaping society is the answer to any
neurosis filter, one that, true to its face as a person of interest. Gemini’s Unfortunately, this is precisely fines for letting “harmful” content of our problems.
22 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

Comment

Who needs creativity when you’ve got fame?

Boom in books by stars with an online following shows we’ve lost respect for the essence of talent
James
famous TV personality first. Children’s
fiction is beset with celebrities
so influencers can pretend to be
authors for fans who pretend to be
talent very often resides in weird or
unattractive people it sits uneasily Forgive loyal nurses
Marriott exploiting their name recognition.
David Walliams is the most famous
readers. The hollow modern
imperative to project one’s
with the commercial imperatives of a
culture industry obsessed with image
their loans to keep
example. Geri Halliwell, Clare Balding,
Russell Brand, Frank Lampard, Bruce
personality is satisfied on all sides.
The uncritical vehemence of
and personality. Any picture of the
socially awkward musical genius
them in the NHS
@j_amesmarriott
Springsteen and Miranda Hart have
all published fiction for children. So,
online fan culture (whereby anybody
who dares to criticise a Harry Styles
Brian Wilson posing unconvincingly
as a heart-throb in the teen magazines
Pat Cullen
of course, has the Duchess of Sussex. song online will be abused by furious of the early 1960s is a perfect

W T
ho could have Indeed, despite having no discernible teenagers for eternity) is a symptom illustration of the problem. And after a he landmark Times Health
predicted Hollywood’s creative skill, Meghan has earned of a cultural ecosystem that period of tolerating weird, dangerous Commission lays the ground
sudden literary millions in contracts for encourages attachment not to geniuses, the music business is now for political consensus on
flowering? When documentaries, dramas, podcasts and particular songs or books but to reverting to a safer 1950s-style sensible reform of health
Keanu Reeves a children’s book. Her “platform” is the personalities. A coincidence of strategy of having attractive and and care in England. High
publishes his debut novel, The Book only qualification required. nomenclature means I am closely charismatic young people perform among its calls is a plan to drive up
of Elsewhere, in July, he will join a Once, creative success led to fame. familiar with the career of a YouTuber tunes written by anonymous teams student nurse numbers and keep staff
swelling cohort of celebrity writers. Now fame is becoming a necessary named James Marriott. Originally of middle-aged songwriters. working in the NHS.
Tom Hanks, Sean Penn and Millie condition of creative success. Film famous for vlogging, he is New technology promises to Across England’s NHS, services
Bobby Brown have all published directors in search of funding and transforming himself into an indie devalue talent even further. Many are overwhelmed, a fact that won’t
novels in recent years. The millionaire singer despite — and here I feel a have lauded the way AI — which is surprise the six million people on
model Emily Ratajkowski has rather
startlingly reinvented herself as a
Influencers can pretend betrayal of the strange loyalty that
binds you to a person with whom you
already being used to produce cheap
romance and fantasy — will
treatment waiting lists, the many
others being cared for in corridors, or
left-wing essayist (even sympathetic
reviewers were perplexed by her
to be authors for fans share a name — not really being able
to sing. It hardly matters. His fans’
“democratise” fiction (and perhaps
film-making and songwriting). Soon,
those waiting hours to be seen in
overflowing emergency departments.
complaints about “rich people” and
feeling “trapped” by capitalism).
who pretend to read existing attachment to his personality
is the guarantee of his success.
not being able to write will no longer
be an “unfair barrier” excluding the
It is a desperate picture. But it could
yet worsen, driven by an ever-growing
The reason is not, I think, a sudden younger audiences are increasingly Indeed, talent is a positive affront to talentless from the satisfactions of crisis in the nursing workforce.
upgrade in the intellectual calibre of compelled to cast influencers in roles the spirit of our time. Because talent authorship. Of course, the result will The latest figures from the
our celebrities — though it is pleasant that would have once gone to actors. is unequally distributed through the be far from democratic. When anyone university admissions service show
to imagine the cafés of Beverly Hills Recently, an essay by a young author population, it offends the progressive is capable of “writing” a novel, the that in only two years, the number of
filled with talkshow hosts and in the American magazine Vox notion that everybody’s self-expression books that emerge as bestsellers will people applying to study nursing in
supermodels urgently debating lamented the pressure on aspiring is equally valuable. I was recently be those attached to celebrated England has fallen by a quarter.
autofiction and free-indirect style. writers to build “personal brands” on upbraided by The Bookseller magazine personalities with platforms. The Some 42,000 nursing posts are
The relevant factor is a new and TikTok and Instagram. For nowadays, for my “belief that some writing is talented but anonymous will find sitting empty. Care is going
extreme deference to the power of a lucrative book deal depends as simply ‘better’”. This, I was sternly themselves surplus to requirements. undelivered, patients are suffering.
the “personal brand”, which originated much on a writer’s “following” as the informed, is “inherently damaging I think we are losing our respect The alarm bells should be sounding
on social media but now pervades our quality of his or her prose. and marginalising”. One consequence for the beautiful illogic of talent — across Whitehall.
culture. Possession of a “platform” or I suspect the unspoken gamble of this dismayingly popular idea is the sense of awe as well as When Jeremy Hunt was health
a “following” is now a licence to do behind the many publishing that where influencers and celebrities resentment at the cosmic unfairness secretary, his Treasury predecessor,
pretty much whatever you like contracts handed out to talentless would once have felt some humility that means otherwise odd and George Osborne, removed the nurse
creatively, regardless of your talent. influencers is that their armies of about the limits of their powers they unprepossessing human beings find training bursary, a subsidy for those
Consider publishing. Modern followers will buy the resulting book all now feel entitled to the prestige of themselves in command of abilities wanting to join the profession.
Britain’s bestselling novelist, Richard not to read but to display online as a creativity. To object would be elitist. that far exceed our own. To me that Ministers also made nursing students
Osman, is loved as a writer but it is way of projecting their own personal Everyone’s voice matters! mystery is infinitely more exciting subject to tuition-fee loans of more
relevant to his success that he was a brands as consumers of culture. And The other problem is that because than mere celebrity. than £9,000 a year. Numbers fell
instantly. They’re still falling.
Much greater care should have
Janice Turner Notebook been taken when overhauling
recruitment into a profession as vital
as this, and it soon became clear the

Like many, So OK, if I must: one tablespoon of

oats (a mix of jumbo and porridge), a
sprinkling of milled seeds (linseed,
matters is right now. Maybe a face
stripped of buccal fat looks better in
a photoshoot. Check out those
realised how to reach the middle
class G-spot: culture. So there’s a
Picasso gallery, an outpost of the
government had made a mistake.
On every measure, the reform of
nursing education has failed. The

my breakfast black sesame etc kept in labelled

tins), five raspberries, six blueberries,
a squirt of honey and very hot milk.
cheek bones!
But plump faces slim naturally
with age until, in their mid-forties,
Pompidou, a museum of Russian art.
This far-sighted mayor also
pedestrianised the entire central
prospect of debt in excess of £50,000
and wider cost-of-living pressures
have caused student applications to

habit is oat Plus a coffee equal to four espressos

(in a specific cup) and a glass of
water. If you’re more picky than that,
many women now have fillers
injected into their cheeks to
replace “lost volume”. Yet by 35 these
district, so the streets are swarming
with well-heeled, winter-sunning
couples wandering between fancy
drop. It has also caused serious
hardship for those who pursue the
career regardless.
so simple do let me know.
Plastic burden
red-carpet women will
have the hollow, hard-
living look of crack
shops and gritty, old tapas bars. (The
only way to save the West End in
London is a car ban from Tottenham
Alongside the reintroduction of
the universal maintenance grant, a
loan-forgiveness model could be a

I A
t’s no surprise to me that friend commented sadly on a addicts and be paying Court Road to Marble Arch.) potent and cost-effective tool in
nine million Britons have eaten red carpet parade of the same “aesthetic” Culture gave us permission to visit tackling the shortage of nurses.
the exact same breakfast for at young female stars: quacks to fatten them Malaga, but it turned out the Picasso Those who work in the NHS or
least five years: mine hasn’t “more buccal fat removal — up again. Cosmetic was mid-rehang, the best Russian art wider public services for five years
changed for decades. In fact, why do they do it?” These surgery on young was repatriated after the war in post-graduation could see 50 per
who are these anarchists, rising beautiful women, none women: what a Ukraine began, and there was a cent written off their loans, rising to
without a plan to gobble random out of their twenties, grotesque grift. queue for the Pompidou. Oh no, 100 per cent for those who stay for
food at dawn? were now barely what a terrible shame. And so, like ten years. Enticing the nurses of
Mornings are about order, routine, recognisable. Their Culture shift Torremolinos’s finest, we just basked tomorrow to join and stay working in

A
rebooting the brain, chivvying the once full, youthful faces long weekend in in the sun. the NHS should be a priority for the
still-half-abed body back to life, had turned angular and Malaga, a city I’d chancellor in next week’s budget.
putting the correct fuel in the tank. sunken like women a never have Sherry in the mix Those who educate, employ and

S
For me, eggs on toast would be like decade older. For once this contemplated until outhern Spain offers unlimited represent nurses are calling on the
filling a diesel car with unleaded. In wasn’t about extreme recently, travel snob that opportunity to drink sherry. But government to take immediate
the evening, sure, go wild. Try every dieting: instead plastic I am, its reputation which one? I find Manzanilla action and boost nurse recruitment.
damn thing from any world cuisine: surgeons had removed being no more than the and Fino a bit dry. So our barman at We enjoy the support of the myriad
be an adventurer, not a fusspot or a the pad of puppy fat in gateway to high-rise the Ultramarinos then gave me a policy experts, clinicians and
Gwynnie. their lower cheeks. Torremolinos tourism dark, rich one, which was too sweet. academics who drew up the Times
But mornings are not open to Modern body and villas for Sexy Beast Something in between, I said, and I commission’s recommendations. Can
discussion or innovation, let alone fashions are driven by crims. Seville, Valencia, started searching the menu for a Hunt, the chancellor who best
Instagram foodie fashion. On holiday two disastrous beliefs: Madrid: great. But perfect medium. The barman understands the NHS and who
I’ll improvise, but a €30 hotel buffet that the human body Malaga was for the full chuckled and just mixed the first two knows the rarity of consensus in
is always a waste. What I eat is is as plastic and English breakfast together. It was just right. healthcare, easily cast it aside?
embarrassingly particular, refined tweakable as an online brigade.
over 20 years, and being denied it avatar, and that the only Then 20 years ago
can throw me into a filthy mood. moment in time that Malaga’s mayor @victoriapeckham
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 23

Comment

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Anderson row heralds Farage comeback tour

A return to frontline politics would allow him to denounce a ‘Westminster charade’ and threaten Tories with extinction
to work out that Farage is not done buckling of parliament in the face won’t), a shot at taking over the Tory Sunak inherited a terrible mess and
Iain yet with making history. If he of Islamist threats of violence. party, bringing down Labour at the the party has no choice other than to
Martin returns for this year’s general For Farage, the ideal conditions for following election, or some hold together and hope Farage, who
election at the head of Reform, the a return to the national battlefield are combination of all three. In this has a habit of falling out with
business-cum-party he co-owns, his in place. Amid the smoke, a gap clears context, with an uncontrollable force colleagues, mistimes his return and
mission will be the electoral and there is his opportunity to on his right that doesn’t want a peace Reform fizzles.
destruction of the Conservatives. denounce — in his terms — a deal, Sunak must decide whether to Another is furious with No 10:
@iainmartin1 And in the row over Lee Anderson, Westminster charade, prime expel or reinstate Anderson. Either “This shows the impossibility of out-
extremist protest and Islamism, ministerial cowardice, Conservative way he loses: Tory moderates or Faraging Farage. We shouldn’t have

O
ne of the ironies of Nigel Farage may just have been gifted the chaos, Islamist aggression and populists will be annoyed. appointed Lee in the first place. You
Farage being the most route to do exactly that. mainstream media hysteria. The At the weekend, when Anderson have to choose and lead. We can’t
consequential British At prime minister’s questions Reform team, led for now by Richard made his initial comments, Sunak appeal to the hard right and the
politician of the past 20 yesterday, Sir Keir Starmer asked Tice, has been looking for exactly this, was contacted by One Nation Tory centre right.” A worried MP says
years is that he achieved Rishi Sunak if he would welcome the ingredient, the fuel to supercharge local polling shows he will be lucky
this status without ever becoming a
member of the House of Commons.
Farage back into the Tory fold, 30
years after he quit over Maastricht.
their insurgent party. They are polling
at 10 to 12 per cent, enough if
For Sunak, a decision to get a majority of 5,000 in his
hitherto ultra-safe seat, so weary are
Goodness knows, he had a good go,
standing for Ukip seven times from
An angry Sunak dodged because he is
in a bind: trying to persuade
replicated in sufficient seats at a
general election to turn a Tory loss
like the one he faces voters of Tory infighting against a
backdrop of cost of living pressures.
the Eastleigh by-election in June
1994 (952 votes) to South Thanet at
Anderson, a former deputy party
chairman, not to defect to Reform
this autumn into a heavy defeat.
If they can persuade Farage to put
doesn’t come naturally What it all represents is the utter
disintegration of the cross-class
the 2015 general election (16,026 his highly paid job with GB News on MPs saying he must withdraw the coalition of voters constructed
votes and a narrow second place).
In the years between, Farage was
Farage is Starmer’s hold, front the Reform campaign, tap
into more of the angry, populist-
whip or they would publicly criticise
his inaction. Having acted, the
between Brexit and Boris Johnson’s
election victory in 2019 with which
the progenitor of an enormous shift
in this country, channelling anger
route to a 200-seat adjacent section of the electorate
and push the vote share up towards
leadership hoped the row would fade
and there would be scope to
the Tory party could command the
south and the red wall.
over rising immigration and EU
integration for which no democratic
Labour majority 15 per cent, then a heavy Tory defeat
tips into potential extinction-level
rehabilitate Anderson. Hence the
awkwardness of ministers criticising
Sunak is a good man, working
hard trying to rebuild confidence
permission had been sought. while under pressure from Tory territory for the Conservative Party. Anderson without explaining why after Covid and energy shocks. He’s
Whether we agree or disagree with moderates to kick him out completely. This is why Starmer made such a what he said was wrong, or calling running a sensible foreign policy and
his world view (even as a Brexiteer, I If you don’t know by now why thing of the Farage component of him, as the media demanded, racist. the economy may be on the turn. Yet
very much don’t) is not the point. In Anderson has had the Tory whip this row: Farage is Starmer’s route to Meanwhile, a bruised Anderson has decisions like the one he may yet
applying such pressure on the withdrawn, your television and a 200-seat Labour majority. been having talks with Reform. have to make over Anderson do not
Conservatives and forcing the party radio must be broken. News of the Farage and his supporters simply do “Rishi is stuck, party management come naturally. Increasingly, the
to commit to holding a referendum, Islamophobia affair and its “he not care. They think the Tories must has broken down, Reform are coming,” man’s electoral task looks impossible
he made history. Britain’s departure said, he said” details led broadcast be punished for their failure on says a weary minister, who accuses when the right of British politics has
from the EU would not have bulletin after bulletin for days. Less immigration and driven from office. Sunak of prevarication for failing to decided it wants to split and is
happened without him. prominent was a considerably From the wreckage they hope to get kick out Anderson completely. A prepared to hand a super-majority
At Westminster, they have started more important development, the proportional representation (they colleague is more charitable, saying and too much power to the left.
24 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

Letters to the Editor should be sent to

Letters to the Editor [email protected] or by post to
1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF

Easing the mental health crisis in the young VIPs’ tax hotline
Sir, It is not only VIPs who have a
Sir, Fuelled by a burgeoning industry increase the level of intervention and their way or not: Stan Barstow’s A special line to contact HMRC:
of therapeutic practitioners, the young support or try to make learning less Kind of Loving, Keith Waterhouse’s authorised tax agents also have a
people whose mental health problems “stressful”. Instead, we need a root- Billy Liar, John Braine’s Room at the “priority number”, for the same reason
are now a disability have experienced and-branch rethink about how Top, or many of the other coming-of- that taxis can use bus lanes (“Taxman
myriad interventions (“Poor mental therapeutic education has contributed age novels I devoured in my youth. lets wealthy use VIP helpline to avoid
health keeps young adults out of to a huge social problem. These show that early adult life long waits”, Feb 28). On Monday I
Science snubbed work”, Feb 26). From primary school
they have been made aware of their
Kathryn Ecclestone
Ret’d professor of education, Sheffield
misery is nothing new and that poor
opportunities, bad relationships and
listened to the recorded message
saying “Your call is important to us”
mental health, encouraged to seek University; Martindale, Cumbria boring jobs are part of the common (while getting on with something else)
Sir, Religion is not the only omission help for stress and anxiety, and taught currency for most of us. for 44 minutes. I was then able to
in the Media Bill’s obligations for “resilience building” and a vocabulary Sir, Alice Thomson advises that The generations who lived through discover that HMRC has indeed
public service broadcasters to provide of emotional wellbeing. Five-year-olds “some stress is normal” and that we the 20th century’s two world wars received the letter I sent about a client
programming (letter, Feb 27): science are given plasticine or worry beads as only grow and develop personal were damaged too, arguably more on August 29, 2023, but as the section
has also been snubbed. Science is soon as they feel “uncomfortable”, resilience by overcoming life’s slings deeply, and yet had somehow to find concerned has only reached May
shaping people’s lives, from schools and universities offer therapy and arrows (“Gen Z need life lessons a way to survive. Human beings are, 2023, I should ring again in another
understanding the world around us to pets, mindfulness sessions, emotional more than therapy”, comment, after all, amazingly resilient. three to four months’ time to find out
tackling problems such as climate wellbeing weeks, and train students Feb 28). I do not disagree but would Stephen Chappell their answer to my query. I am
change and pandemics. It also creates as “mental health ambassadors”. The counsel that reaching a consensus on Malvern disappointed to learn from The Times
jobs and drives growth. list is endless. this in the workplace is likely to be a that the public seem to get through to
Although there are no quotas for It is no surprise that serious challenge. Older generations seem to Sir, Alexander Browder’s Thunderer an adviser quicker than I do.
the amount of science coverage, its problems overwhelm some young find younger colleagues’ willingness “Help my generation to escape the Mike Thexton
place in public service broadcasting people to the point of disability. Yet to prioritise their mental wellbeing social media vicious circle” (Feb 28) Richmond, Surrey
has been enshrined in the social contagion and suggestibility are somewhat bewildering. was splendid. If I had a 14-year-old
Communications Act 2003. The also overlooked factors. A growing Sarah McKenna grandchild who could express Sir, Nice to know that our high-
Media Bill going through parliament number of children and young people Barnet themselves so clearly and succinctly earning ministers and civil servants
abandons that important recognition actively seek a therapeutic diagnosis; I would be extremely proud and have can save precious minutes when
and should be amended. In a world some 15-year-olds press their parents Sir, I was immensely saddened by renewed hope for the future. As he calling their tax office. They would
where science is at the heart of so to allow anti-depressants because their your report “Young, anxious and writes, online platforms must be save more minutes (and possibly tax)
much, we should expect public peers have them. Others have learnt to signed off sick” (Times2, Feb 27). I properly controlled and algorithms by using the services and expertise of a
service broadcasters to help to inform, use mental health difficulties to gain certainly think social media is a form regulated. Tech companies should practising accountant (who will be less
educate and entertain the public with an advantage; some define everyday of socially acceptable mental abuse, in be subjected to much harsher likely to need to call HMRC anyway).
good science programmes. apprehension as full-scale “panic that it fosters unrealistic expectations penalties, ones that would really Peter Castle
Sir Adrian Smith attacks”, and others ask potential and plays up setbacks as disasters. affect them. Young people should not Ret’d chartered accountant,
President of the Royal Society employers how many “mental health It occurred to me that it could be be subjected to such online bullying Gillingham, Kent
days” they are allowed. helpful for some of the Gen Z-ers to and distress.
We cannot dismiss all this as read some good novels about the Irene Hinshelwood
Defence weakness “snowflakery”. Nor should we simply struggles of young people finding Bishop’s Stortford, Herts Early doors
Sir, Your report (Feb 28) that Admiral Sir, Susie Goldsbrough thinks retired
Sir Tony Radakin has reprimanded
General Sir Patrick Sanders for Post Office blame company to Amazon for £1”, Feb 28).
But I am not sure that Amazon’s
for the state to get tougher in the
fight against nicotine addiction and
people like early curtains (“You’re
already pricing us out of theatre, don’t
making a speech warning that the
army was at risk of becoming static game over Horizon culture would be an improvement.
Surely it would be better to give the
obesity. However, I do not understand
the omission of alcohol from this list.
time us out too”, Notebook, Feb 26).
Not me. We elderly retired people like
and domestically focused raises Post Office to an organisation with a With the number of deaths from to eat before, not after, the play.
important points. It is a fact that the Sir, What an unedifying sight: well- record of supporting networks of alcohol-related liver disease rising Hence 7.30pm starts are perfect.
British Army can no longer deploy a paid executives blaming each other small independent businesses? The and deaths from alcohol-specific Dinner at 6pm somewhere nice and
fully supported mechanised division and making excuses in the Post Office best contenders would be the family causes at an all-time high, surely the quiet, done by 7pm, walk very slowly
abroad. It is a concern to serving and Horizon scandal, when the problem is brewers, whose culture has always case for government measures is to the theatre, eventually find the
retired officers that our politicians are that they did not bother doing the been centred on supporting their equally as urgent? Having just bloody tickets on our phones, time for
failing in their duty to ensure that our homework for which they were being independent pub tenants. Combining attended the Royal College of a trip to the lavatory, and settle into
army has sufficient resources to deter paid (“Badenoch has smeared me, the income streams of village pub and General Practitioners’ conference on our seats. Just right.
our enemies, secure our borders, assist says sacked Post Office chief”, Feb village post office could help both to drugs and alcohol where the alarming Moira Yip
the civil power in an emergency, 28). Someone cunningly invented the survive. Shepherd Neame first floated statistics were presented and every London SW6
support our allies and to honour our phrase “Horizon is a robust system” this idea more than 30 years ago, clinician in the room shared stories of
treaty obligations. The US has made and rather than look into why dozens when I was vice-chairman. If Bates is alcohol harm, I am puzzled by the
its concerns about our diminished
defence capabilities clear several times
of postmasters were being sacked they
simply trotted out this phrase. These
right, and the Post Office should be
given away, then it is important to
silence on this matter. I suspect it is
due to fears that policy in this area
Ungrateful episode
but with no substantive response from “fat cats” should be made to feel pain give it to the organisations best suited would be vote-losing. Sir, My “I said something wrong”
our ministers. There is little hope that and anguish comparable to that to running it, with the greatest benefit Dr Rachel Turner moment (Giles Coren, Feb 27)
next week’s budget will do anything which the postmasters have been to rural communities. Overton, Hants occurred when I was about six: on
but reinforce the fact that our feeling over the past 20 years. Stuart Neame Christmas morning I tore open the big
politicians are in denial in failing to Maeve Hamilton Hercod Faversham, Kent present — a very nice train set. I
acknowledge or meet the new Bath immediately said: “I would rather have
challenges we and our allies face, and Letters of the week had a Scalextric.” I can still see the
the manifest implications this has for
the resourcing of our armed services.
Sir, Alan Bates is right to say that the
Post Office culture will never change
Health strategy Listen to the Letters Editor of The Times
read out his pick of the week’s letters
crestfallen look on both parents’ faces.
Jeff Cornacchia
Patrick Watson to support a network of small Sir, I agree with your leading article at 8.25am today on Times Radio Henley-on-Thames, Oxon
Former Black Watch officer; businesses properly (“Bates: Sell “Health Kick” (Feb 28) on the need DAB radio, online, smart speaker and app
London SW8
Parker’s fruitiness
Corrections and VITRIOL- destroyed and his face badly injured.
Three other men sustained slight
wanted no more to do with her she
cut his throat with a razor. In 1910 Sir, Your editorial “Parker’s Piece” (Feb
clarifications THROWING injuries. Thompson said he had not
spoken to the prisoner when she
she married a man named Bassett,
who joined the Navy when the
26; letters, Feb 27-28) made me smile
and reminded me of one of Dorothy

6 In “Revealed: the middlemen BIGAMIST threw the vitriol. In cross-

examination he said that on one
marriage proved unhappy. She next
persuaded a wealthy young man to
Parker’s more famous asides. Attending
a fête in an affluent New York suburb
ripping off foreign workers for care occasion he and the prisoner were marry her, was charged with bigamy she spotted a barrel, next to which was
visas” (online, Feb 23, and in print both bound over, and he agreed to and bound over. Later she went to a sign indicating “Ducking for apples”.
under the headline “Foreign care from the times february 29, 1924 pay £5 damages in regard to her Scotland and assaulted a gentleman With a sigh she pronounced: “There,
workers are ripped off by visa agents”, injured finger. Dr Morton, governor whose son, she said, had failed to but for a typographical error, is the
News, Feb 24) we mistakenly At the Central Criminal Court Edith and medical officer of Holloway carry out his promise to marry her. story of my life.”
published an image of Yash Dubal, Louisa Bassett, 30, was found guilty prison, called for the defence, said the In 1914 she was sentenced to 12 Christopher Goodwin
Director and Senior Immigration of throwing corrosive fluid upon prisoner had had a number of serious months’ for perjury after borrowing Leek, Staffs
Associate at AY & J Solicitors. We Arthur William Thompson with operations and that would affect her a baby to obtain an affiliation order
confirm that neither Mr Dubal nor intent to do grievous bodily harm. general health. She was of an against a man. In 1915 she told an
his firm has any connection with the
issues raised in the article and we
Mr Justice Shearman sentenced her
to three years’ penal servitude. The
hysterical temperament, but mentally
sound. The prisoner, in the witness-
Army officer that her father was a
ranch-owner in Mexico and induced
Ultimate toastie
apologise for the error. prisoner pleaded “Not Guilty”. The box, said she did not know that it was him to marry her. She also married Sir, Both Tony Turnbull and the
prosecution said that Thompson, an sulphuric acid that she threw. After another officer. For that bigamy she French gastronomes (reports, Feb 28)
omnibus inspector, met the prisoner the jury found her Guilty, Inspector was sentenced to 18 months. have omitted what must be a vital
We are in 1922 and in 1923 Thompson Aldridge said she had a remarkable She said that for five years she accompaniment to a cheese toastie:
committed to obtained a summons for insulting history. All her life she had been of a had lived a good life and had tried tomato ketchup. Preferably this
abiding by the
Independent Press Standards behaviour. While he was waiting violent disposition. In 1905 she was her hardest to forget her past. delicacy should be toasted on top of
Organisation rules and regulations and outside court the prisoner threw sentenced to 12 months’ hard labour an Aga but in these straitened times
the Editors’ Code of Practice that IPSO sulphuric acid over him. As a result, for wounding an omnibus driver, with an air fryer will do the job admirably.
enforces. Requests for corrections should the sight of one of his eyes was intent to murder. After he said he thetimes.co.uk/archive Sue Vincent
be sent to [email protected] Tunbridge Wells, Kent
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 25

Leading articles

Daily Universal Register

UK: Quarterly release of immigration
statistics; health and social care committee
reports on its inquiry into assisted dying.
World: Extra day due to leap year.

Nature notes
Now is a good time
to experience the
distinctive shape of
Demonstrating Restraint
the truly wild crab
apple tree. For a The schism over Israel’s reaction in Gaza to the October 7 atrocities has created a
start, they are often
far bigger than climate of fear in Britain. Pro-Palestinian marchers should dial down their protests
expected, and their trunks, never straight,
snake out, indeed almost writhe. Frequently These are uneasy times for British democracy. brium for failing to back a SNP motion calling for serves. The freedom to protest is a cornerstone of
these trunks divide, and two separate spurs Some MPs now live and work in fear for their lives. a ceasefire. Sir Lindsay said the physical threat to democracy. To ban the marches that now bring
arc out extravagantly like the pincers of a Menacing protestors lay siege to their homes and members was such that he had no option but to London to a standstill several times a month
crab. The canopy is riotous, with the intimidate them as they go about constituency agree. would be wrong. But, as Mr Cleverly rightly told
branches forming dense whorls of twigs. business. Three women parliamentarians have In Rochdale, where Labour’s parliamentary this newspaper, taxpayers who expect a basic stan-
They are not long-lived, rarely reaching past already been given bodyguards. Taxpayers will candidate for today’s by-election has been dis- dard of policing are being forced to shoulder the
a century, but even in middle age they have now fund security for the rest. So febrile and ran- owned for spreading antisemitic conspiracy cost of controlling the crowds. It is money that
an ancient look. Unfortunately, wild crab corous is the atmosphere that has hung heavily theories about October 7, a divided community ministers do not have and diverts officers from
apples are extinct in lowland Britain, having over this country’s streets since the Hamas attacks has become a playground for George Galloway. fighting crime. Notwithstanding the fact that the
long since hybridised with orchard trees. But of October 7 that, privately, many politicians con- For a war thousands of miles away to pose a threat vast majority of marchers are peaceful, there is an
in the hills of Scotland and northern fess they no longer feel able to vote with their con- to MPs and warp domestic politics to such an obvious reason why these demonstrations require
England you can still find them lingering in science. The prime minister warns that Britain is extent is shocking. Any responsible citizen who heavy policing. Using the throng for cover, hate
remote woodland. jonathan tulloch descending into “mob rule” and the police risk los- cares for the health of British democracy — and groups and extremists have celebrated the murder
ing public confidence if they fail to use the powers many of those who march weekly in London to of Jews and called for the eradication of Israel. Six
granted to them to protect democracy. This support Palestinians clearly do — must work to hundred protestors have been arrested. Decent
Birthdays today assault on our national life cannot continue. ease rather than exacerbate tensions. It is time, as people need to consider the company they keep.
Nearly five months on from Hamas’s bloody James Cleverly, the home secretary, said this Ministers are considering recommendations
Sir Lucian Grainge, incursion into Israel, provoking a brutal response week, for protestors to reflect on the consequen- from the home affairs select committee, which
pictured, chairman and in Gaza, Britain’s body politic is under strain. Pro- ces, however unintended, of their actions. argues that organisers of any demonstration
chief executive, scribed Islamist groups join the thousands of well- Those opposed to Israel’s bombardment of should be obliged to give police a fortnight’s notice
Universal Music Group, meaning protestors on the streets of London and Gaza, many motivated by nothing more than sym- rather than six days. This is a sensible proposal
64; Jean Adamson, elsewhere, sowing hatred. Marchers have been pathy at suffering on a huge scale, and compassion that would do much to ease demands on police
writer, best known for prosecuted for glorifying antisemitic slaughter. In for innocent victims caught up in the violence, and cool tensions. Britons have a right to peaceful
the Topsy and Tim Westminster Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the have made their point. Mainstream western polit- protest within the law. But fringe political interests
books (first published in opposition, felt obliged to urge Sir Lindsay Hoyle, ical opinion is now closer to them than they might must not be given carte blanche to bully elected
1960), 96; Mark Cubitt, Lord Ashcombe, Speaker of the House of Commons, to rip up par- think. They should consider what purpose their representatives, terrify Jews, and paralyse the
Conservative politician, 60; Sir Dave liamentary precedent and spare his MPs oppro- continuing presence on these demonstrations centre of our capital city every weekend.
Brailsford, co-founder and former team
principal of Team Grenadiers (cycling team,
formerly Team Sky/Ineos), national
performance director, British Cycling (2003-
14), 60; Gretchen Christopher, singer, the
Fleetwoods, Come Softly to Me (1959), 84; Lt
Defence is Different
Gen Sir Roderick Cordy-Simpson, chief of
staff, UN protection force in Bosnia- The security of the nation should trump all other public spending considerations
Hercegovina (1992-93), president, Royal
British Legion (2000-04), 80; Baroness Government spending has a lot to do with proxim- “Could” is the problem. Fears raised by Russia’s He is pressing for defence spending at 3 per cent of
(Lydia) Dunn, chairwoman, Hong Kong ity to the (voting) public. Ministers who deprive invasion of Ukraine and China’s rise may prove GDP. At £52 billion in 2024/5 the actual figure will
Trade Development Council (1983-91), 84; hospitals and schools of money do so at their peril. unfounded. This doubt is all the Treasury needs to be about 2.3 per cent. Inflation, help for Ukraine
Very Rev Nicholas Frayling, dean of Cutting bobbies on the beat is also inadvisable. But keep shifting defence spending to the future. Not and modernising the nuclear deterrent has eaten
Chichester (2002-14, now dean emeritus), defence? While Britons tend to take the excellence helping is the MoD’s lamentable procurement up the crumbs from Mr Hunt’s table.
80; Gopichand Hinduja, chairman, Hinduja of their armed forces for granted, most pay little record, resulting in billions wasted on botched In the meantime the forces must try to marry
Group of Companies and Hinduja attention to them day to day. This country’s last big projects. NHS jam today is always more urgent Britain’s ambitions with dismal reality. The navy is
Automotive (UK), 84; Prof Dame Hermione military adventure was the invasion of Iraq in than preparing for a war that might never happen. starved of escorts, submarines, replenishment
Lee, president, Wolfson College, University 2003. The subsequent policing operation in that This is a sure way of increasing the risk. ships, aircraft for its two breakdown-prone carri-
of Oxford (2008-17), 76; Jack Lousma, country and the UK’s involvement in Afghanistan Ever since the end of the Cold War, Britain and ers and sailors. The RAF is about to lose 30 of a
astronaut, commanded the third Space passed largely unnoticed. Relentless shrinkage in her European allies have been winging it with mere 137 Typhoons, has tiny numbers of airborne
Shuttle mission (1982), 88; Sir Callum military manpower means that most civilians defence budgets of 2 per cent of GDP or less. early warning and maritime patrol aircraft, no bal-
McCarthy, chairman, Financial Services know no one in the services. The forces have Donald Trump, possibly the next US president, has listic missile defence and no system for suppress-
Authority (2003-08), 80; Hannah Mills, ceased to be a central component of national life. warned “delinquent” Nato partners who duck this ing enemy air defences. The army is the real basket
sailor, two-time Olympic gold medallist That makes them easy to ignore when the public 2 per cent level that he will leave them to the tender case. With just 75,000 soldiers and falling, and few
(2016, 2020, women’s 470), three-time world accounts are flashing red and backbenchers in mercies of Vladimir Putin. Mr Trump likes to rattle tanks and artillery pieces, it could barely field an
champion in the women’s 470 class (2006, marginal seats are clamouring for tax cuts. his audience, but he raises the spectre of US retreat. armoured brigade if called upon. In a war, stocks
2012, 2019), 36; James Ogilvy, landscape Jeremy Hunt will not cut defence in his budget By virtue of their size and nuclear status, Britain of ammunition would likely last weeks.
designer, son of Princess Alexandra and the next week — he may even award the Ministry of and France (with Germany) must step up. Of course, this ticking timebomb of military un-
late Sir Angus Ogilvy, 60; Pedro Sánchez, Defence a small rise. But caught as he is in a fiscal Grant Shapps, the defence secretary, and Gen- preparedness will be forgotten amid calls for tax
prime minister of Spain, 52; Henrik headlock he will not give the military the increase eral Sir Patrick Sanders, chief of the general staff, breaks next week. Every so often this country
Sundstrom, tennis player, former singles it so desperately needs. This is a short-sighted and have warned that the age of the peace dividend is must painfully relearn the lesson that to maintain
world No 6, 60; Albert Welling, actor, Mr dangerous mistake by the government that could well and truly dead. Mr Shapps says the country the peace one must prepare for war. Defence is not
Bates vs The Post Office (2024), 72; Andrew one day come back to bite this country. should consider itself to be in a pre-conflict phase. just another spending department; it’s different.
Wilson, professor of the archaeology of the
Roman empire, University of Oxford, 56.

On this day Seoul Destroying

In 1692 a slave, a homeless beggar and a
poor elderly woman were the first people to South Korea’s plummeting birthrate threatens its survival
be accused of witchcraft in Salem,
Massachusetts. They were interrogated the The 52 million citizens of South Korea, along with Yet there is one activity, a rather vital one, at Much of Asia, and indeed Europe, shares the
next day. Between 1692 and 1693 more than the estimated seven million members of the which South Koreans are now among the world’s same problem — Italy is running out of Italians —
150 people were imprisoned for “Certaine Korean diaspora, excel in many aspects of life and worst: having babies. Last year, national fertility yet the rapidity with which South Korea is ageing
Detestable Arts called Witchcrafts & work. South Koreans are high achievers in educa- fell to 0.72 births per woman, the lowest rate since is unprecedented. If economic growth is not
Sorceryes”, and 20 executed. tion, finance, tech and industry. Samsung, records began in 1970. That is way below the accompanied by vastly increased state provision
Hyundai and LG are world-beating companies. required “replacement rate” of 2.1 needed just to of childcare then a family becomes a luxury few
K-pop bands, some featuring avatar members, maintain the current population without immi- working couples can afford. Either that or they
The last word livestream gigs to tens of millions of youngsters gration. Thanks to expensive housing, costly pour all their energy into a single child, the ex-
across the globe. Four years ago, South Korea’s education and (until recently) lack of government pense of which is a disincentive to others. As coun-
“At very best, a person wrapped up in himself Parasite won the best picture Oscar. Squid Game incentives to reproduce, the so-called sampo tries develop so their birthrate drops. This can be
makes a small package.” Harry Emerson was a TV phenomenon. Korea is so cool that even generation has given up on courtship, marriage welcome, especially for women. But societies must
Fosdick, American Baptist and Presbyterian kimchi (which is essentially fermented cabbage) and children. If the trend persists, the impact will adapt to ensure that a family remains a realistic
minister, On Being a Real Person (1943) has become an international culinary hit. be cataclysmic in the not-too-distant future. option. Or the world will fade to grey.
26 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

World
Putin’s inglorious war takes a
Moscow appears to be “taking no chances in concealing the
numbers”, he added. Yulia Navalnaya warned
indifferent to the plight US officials said in August that Rus-
sian deaths could be as high as 120,000,
the European parliament
yesterday: “You cannot
of its own people as the with 180,000 injured, and that was negotiate with Putin”
before the long struggle to seize control
casualties climb higher, of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine.
Despite Putin’s control of state media
writes Aliide Naylor and the savage stamping out of protest,
there are occasional voices of dissent.
The obituaries tell only half the story. Andriy Morozov, a military blogger,
Nikolai Serdyukov, the best district caused a stir before his apparent suicide
policing officer in Ulyanovsk, for exam- this month when he wrote that Russia
ple, may have felt ideologically com- had lost 16,000 men at Avdiivka.
pelled to join President Putin’s “special There is a wide regional disparity in
military operation” in Ukraine and may terms of losses. While ethnic Russians
have fought bravely, but he still died a comprise the overall majority of those
miserable death far from home. killed, with about 1,170 confirmed from
It was a fate shared by Alexander Moscow region, Russia’s ethnic minor-
Volkov, a bespectacled and apparently ities are believed to be vastly over-rep-
erudite archaeologist from Chuvashia, resented in death figures.
last seen clutching a bunch of daisies Those whose relatives have died are
and laughing before going to war, afraid to speak out for fear of losing
now just another of Putin’s inglorious death compensation of up to five mil-
dead. lion rubles (£43,000). Furthermore, the
“My dear, Beloved, the most reliable statistics do not account for those who
man in my life. I am writing you a letter are missing — and there are few incen-
to eternity, knowing that you will never tives to retrieve any stray bodies.
read it,” wrote another Russian, Olesya Despite these losses, support for the
Smorodinova, in a letter her husband invasion remains high. “Various kinds
Ivan will never see. of polls conducted by different poll-
After his death, she said: “Your path sters, using different methodologies
was so short that I didn’t have time to consistently shows majority support for
enjoy you. Now you will for ever be 28 the war,” Dr Maria Popova, co-author
years old.” of a book on the conflict, said.
With each passing day the numbers Intercepted phone calls publicised in
killed rise. Some are as young as 20, a documentary film, Intercepted, sug-
others are simply missing on a front line gest some Russians actively relish the
that shifts only glacially. opportunity to “beat bandera [Ukraini-
Irina Chistyakova has been search- ans] into shashlik”. There is also a sense
ing for her conscript son, Kirill, since he among people that nothing can be done
vanished almost two years ago. She has to change the status quo. “Part of the
travelled south from Petrozavodsk population has chosen to become apa-
more than 1,200 miles to look for his thetic: their condition can be referred to
body in Rostov morgues. as ‘learnt indifference’,” noted a report
She now runs an online group, “Sun from the Carnegie Endowment think
of Life”, where other Russians seek their tank in Washington.
lost brothers, sons and fathers. Beleaguered opposition movements
“On the left side of the chest he has a have had a more domestic focus, partic-
tattoo of a tired angel,” a woman named ularly with the death of Alexei Navalny.
Elena writes, in the hope of finding her “Disgust at the corruption of the Putin
brother. “His uniform has red embroi- regime is more likely to reach a broader
dery. Scar on the right side in the groin swathe of the population than criticism
area.” of the war,” said Popova.
Of course, not all those killed are The numbers of Russia’s war dead
innocents. Dmitry Postnikov and Oleg pale in comparison with Ukraine’s
Sizov, jailed after murdering two busi- suffering. Antony Blinken, the US sec-
nessmen in 2016, joined the Wagner retary of state, has estimated that about
mercenary group rather than see out 900,000 to 1.6 million Ukrainians,
their 18-year prison terms. They were among them 260,000 children, have
both killed in action a year ago, like an been detained and deported to Russia
estimated 19,000 other prisoners who via “filtration” camps.
chose to join the fight. President Zelensky said this week
A joint investigation by the inde- that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had
pendent Russian outlets Mediazona been killed. US officials put the number
and Meduza suggested that 75,000 closer to 70,000.
Russians under the age of 50 had “If you’ve got more bodies than
died in the Ukraine war — but the Ukrainians have bullets, then
even that is thought to be a vast
underestimate.
Russia remains “completely
indifferent to the scale of the
again, you’re left with some-
body who can overrun the
position,” said Giles.
Oleksandra Matviichuk,
Leaked nuclear documents put China
slaughter and how many of its the head of Ukraine’s Nobel Tom Ball Kyiv battles or territory, and making Russia’s Russian military doctrine today. “They
men it’s losing, on top of an peace prize-winning Centre for navy “more effective”. show that the operational threshold for
already acute demographic Civil Liberties, told The Times: Russia has drawn up plans for the use of President Putin has previously stated using nuclear weapons is pretty low if
crisis”, according to Keir “For Ukrainians there is no tactical nuclear weapons during the that he would have the right to turn to the desired result can’t be achieved
Giles, a Russia ex- other choice. When the early stages of a war with a big power, as nuclear weapons if the Russian moth- through conventional means,” Alexan-
pert at the Chat- invaded state lays part of a strategy of “fear inducement”, erland faced an “existential” threat. But der Gabuev, director of the Carnegie
ham House down weapons it leaked military files reveal. the files suggest a far lower threshold Russia Eurasia Centre in Berlin, told
think tank in will be occupied.” The documents show how Russia for the use of tactical nuclear weapons the newspaper.
London. It is, She added: would respond to an invasion by adver- than officials have admitted publicly, Russia’s tactical nuclear weapons are
however, “If we, Ukraini- saries including China, one of its closest according to experts who reviewed and designed for use on the battlefield in
ans, stop fight- allies. They also outline conditions for verified the documents. Europe and Asia, and have a more
There is still ing, there will the use of nuclear weapons to achieve The cache of 29 secret military files, limited range and potency than strate-
support for be no freedom, offensive goals such as “escalating mili- which were seen by the Financial gic nuclear weapons. Their use, how-
Putin’s war no democracy, tary conflicts”, “stopping aggression”, Times, were drawn up between 2008 ever, would still be devastating. Most
in Ukraine no Ukraine.” preventing Russian forces from losing and 2014 but are said to be relevant to modern tactical warheads release more
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 2GM 27

Backlash as Maestro star Bulldozers rattle A-list’s

orchestrates Oscars buzz retreat on the Riviera
Page 29 Page 30

brutal toll McConnell steps down as

Republican Senate leader
Navalny’s January 2027. Speculation about his
United States
widow hits David Charter Washington
future flared last year after he suffered
a concussion in a fall and later had two
out at ‘mafia Mitch McConnell, the US Senate’s
longest-serving party leader — and the
public episodes in which he appeared to
freeze while he was speaking.
monster’ most senior Republican hostile to
Donald Trump — has announced that
Three Republicans named John have
long been seen as potential replace-

Y
ulia Navalnaya he will step down in November, trigger- ments: John Thune, 63, the party whip
has denounced ing a battle for succession. from South Dakota; John Cornyn, 72,
President Putin The 82-year-old Kentucky senator is from Texas, who served as majority
as a “bloody said to have not spoken to Trump since whip for four years; and John Barrasso,
monster” who acts like a the former president’s supporters 71, from Wyoming, who is third in the
mafia godfather (Aliide rioted at the US Capitol three years ago, Senate hierarchy as Republican confer-
Naylor writes). and was one of those who refused to go ence chairman. None belong to the
In an address to the along with his false claim that the 2020 younger generation of Trump loyalists,
European parliament election was rigged. and the internal election of McCon-
yesterday the widow of Trump, 77, regularly insulted nell’s replacement is likely to become
Alexei Navalny urged the McConnell and his wife, Elaine Chao, Mitch McConnell has clashed often another bitter battle.
West not to treat Putin as who served in Trump’s cabinet but quit with Donald Trump in recent years Trump’s eldest son, Donald Jr,
a rival politician but as a after January 6, 2021. Despite that, recently urged the former president’s
gangster. McConnell enabled some of Trump’s Make America Great Again movement
She was speaking after proudest achievements by steering Biden fit for duty — which has a firm grip on the Republi-
it was announced that her through three Supreme Court judges, can Party — to fight against the so-
husband’s funeral will including the rush to confirm Amy President Biden was declared “fit for called RINOs, a disparaging term used
take place in a church in Coney Barrett in the final weeks of his duty” after his annual physical for anyone not deemed sufficiently
Maryino, southeast presidency. McConnell also frustrated examination yesterday, although he loyal to Trump. Thune and Cornyn in
Moscow, tomorrow. President Obama’s attempt to nomi- wears a mask to treat sleep apnoea particular are seen by MAGA as part of
Several locations declined nate Merrick Garland in 2016, allowing “almost every night”, his doctor the McConnell regime. RINO stands
to host the service. Trump to nominate Neil Gorsuch. revealed (Hugh Tomlinson writes). for Republican in name only.
Navalny, 47, died on “As Ecclesiastes tells us: to every- The oldest president in US history Hours before McConnell’s revelation,
February 16 at an Arctic thing there is a season and a time to at 81, Biden’s checkup has been Josh Hawley, a pro-Trump senator from
penal camp. The cause is every purpose under Heaven,” McCon- closely watched as he campaigns Missouri, said: “Mitch McConnell is the
still unknown. nell said on the Senate floor in a for re-election in November. He will least popular politician in America, a
“You are not dealing surprise announcement yesterday. “To be 86 by the end of a second term if symbol of everything that’s wrong with
with a politician but a serve Kentucky in the Senate has been he wins, and faces growing Washington.”
bloody monster. Putin the honour of my life. To lead my questions about his age and mental The succession contest is likely to
is the leader of an Republican colleagues has been the fitness following a string of gaffes produce not only the party’s leader in
organised criminal gang,” highest privilege. But one of life’s most and a report that noted his “poor the Senate but also in the chamber itself
Navalnaya said in underappreciated talents is to know memory”. After a checkup at Walter because the Republicans have a strong
Strasbourg. “The most when it’s time to move on to life’s Reed National Military Medical chance of retaking the overall majority
important thing is the next chapter.” Center, Dr Kevin O’Connor declared in November’s elections.
people close to Putin. His Although exiting his leadership role, Biden “fit to successfully execute McConnell became party leader in
friends, associates and he said he would serve out his six-year the duties of the presidency”. the Senate in 2006 and won nine
keepers of mafia money. term in the Senate, which ends in straight elections to hold on to the post.
You and all of us must
fight the criminal gang.
Apply the methods of
fighting organised crime,
not political competition.”
I need a drink: ‘pessimist’ Flu forces
Navalnaya warned
against the idea that the
West would at some point
Meloni shows her fun side Pope to ease
have to come to an
agreement with Putin.
Her husband’s death, she
Italy
Tom Kington Rome
whose quarrelling had been a boon to
Meloni since she took office in 2022.
off duties
said, “showed everyone Two more regional contests, in Abruz-
that Putin is capable of Giorgia Meloni admits she is one of zo and Basilicata in March and April, The Vatican
anything. You cannot life’s natural pessimists. “One of my could also prove insidious for Meloni.
Tom Kington
negotiate with him”. long-term colleagues has claimed my “You invite me on the day I lose the
“Alexei was tortured for motto is ‘we are all going to die’, and election in Sardinia, and I am also The Pope visited a hospital for tests
three years,” she added. that’s correct,” she told reporters. observing Lent so I can’t even drown yesterday after flu symptoms prompted
She was greeted with a Yet as she seeks to recover from a first my sorrows in drink,” Meloni said. him to cancel public engagements, the
standing ovation. electoral defeat since taking power, the Describing her youth, Meloni, said: Vatican said.
Italian prime minister is attempting to “Michael Jackson taught me Francis, 87, was driven to the Gemelli
convince voters that she has a sense of English. Not everyone knows I learnt Hospital on Tiber Island, Rome, for a

in Kremlin’s crosshairs fun, joking that she would like to drown

her sorrows but cannot because she has
given up drinking for Lent.
In a candid and self-deprecating
English because I was passionate about
music and wanted to know what the
lyrics meant. And this has helped me in
foreign policy. I am guilty of most of the
check-up before returning home.
Sources told Reuters he had a CT scan.
Francis cancelled appointments on
Saturday and Monday but appeared on
energy than the bombs dropped on conflict swiftly by shocking the enemy speech about her political career, Melo- seven cardinal sins but not the one Sunday at the balcony overlooking
Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 1945. into negotiation. ni, 47, also said she never expected to which is the most devastating for politi- St Peter’s Square to give his weekly
Potential conditions that could The documents reveal a deep-seated become prime minister and had aimed cians: vanity.” Angelus blessing. Attending his weekly
prompt the use of these warheads range suspicion of China. Though the two at being a volleyball player or a singer Meloni said she considered herself a general audience in the Paul VI hall
from an incursion on Russian territory nations have become close allies since but was too short and tone deaf. “good” person but said: “You should yesterday morning, he said: “Dear
to more specific scenarios such as the the plans were written, with Chinese fi- Her speech at a dinner held by Italy’s never underestimate the potential mal- brothers and sisters, I still have a bit of
destruction of a fifth of its strategic bal- nancial support helping Moscow to foreign press corps on Tuesday coincid- ice of a good person forced to be bad.” a cold,” and asked an assistant to read
listic missile submarines, three or more weather western sanctions precipitated ed with her coalition’s loss in a fight for Then came the pessimism, albeit in his catechesis for him.
cruisers, three airfields, or a simultane- by the war in Ukraine, Russia has con- the presidency of the island of Sardinia, jest. Meloni noted that a dinner given After the audience he spent an hour
ous hit on main and reserve coastal tinued to build up its eastern defences. where she risked conflict with her ally by the foreign press in 2022 for Mario chatting to pilgrims and blessing
command centres, the papers showed. One exercise outlining a hypotheti- Matteo Salvini by ditching a candidate Draghi, then the prime minister, oc- babies, before heading for the hospital.
The low threshold for tactical nu- cal attack by China notes that Russia he favoured and imposing her own. curred days before he was forced from In July he said that he would need to
clear use conforms with a doctrine de- could respond with a tactical nuclear The victory by an alliance of the office. “I will do my best to leave this ease up on official duties, adding: “At
scribed by Moscow as “fear induce- strike to stop the enemy advancing with Democratic Party and Five Star party room as soon as possible in a bid to gov- my age . .. I have to save myself a little
ment”, by which it would seek to end a a second wave of invading forces. galvanised the two opposition forces ern this country a bit longer,” she said. bit to be able to serve the Church.”
28 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

World

Follow us at your peril, say dissidents

China in the comments, one by one,” wrote Li, My suggestion is, go online, but don’t a YouTube channel to “rediscover the routinely spy on, harass, intimidate
known to his followers as Teacher Li. “I speak out freely. It’s best to just look and journalistic ideals that cannot be and arrest people who speak out
Richard Lloyd Parry Asia Editor
don’t want your life to be affected just not speak.” achieved at home”. against the government, but there are
Two well-known exiled Chinese dissi- because you wanted to understand the Social media sites such as YouTube Li became famous during the so- increasing signs that they are doing the
dents have encouraged their online real news in China. All you want is to and X are blocked in China, but they called white paper protests in 2022, same overseas. NGOs and law enforce-
readers to stop following them after understand what’s happening, but the can be accessed via services called when people in many parts of China ment agencies have identified secret
some were called in for questioning by price is quite high.” virtual proxy networks, which give the expressed their anger about ongoing Chinese “police stations” whose staff
police in Beijing’s latest effort to Li posted screenshots of private impression that a user is based outside “zero Covid” restrictions, successfully monitor and intimidate dissidents
neutralise voices of opposition over- messages from followers inside China, the country and so evade the censor- pressuring the government into chang- around the world.
seas as well as at home. describing interrogations. One person ship imposed by what is known as the ing its policy. Last year, it emerged that exiled
Wang Zhi’an, a former television said they had lost their job. Great Firewall of China. Recent leaks indicate that Chinese critics of the Chinese government in
journalist now living in Japan, and Both men urged followers to be wary Li and Wang have amassed large authorities are using sophisticated Europe had been framed for fake bomb
Li Ying, an artist in exile in Italy, sepa- of using domestic Chinese mobile followings, with their postings of the methods to infiltrate foreign social plots, in a new campaign of harassment
rately posted warnings on Sunday to phones when engaging with politically kind of news and blunt commentary media platforms such as Facebook, and intimidation which also targeted a
their millions of followers. They urged sensitive content — for example, to that is suppressed within China. Telegram and X. European journalist.
them to take precautions, including receive the verification code needed Wang was an investigative reporter Documents from a private Chinese The name of Marije Vlaskamp, a
adopting false usernames, preparing to set up an account on Twitter/X. and presenter for the state-run China company called I-Soon outline efforts reporter for the Dutch daily newspaper
for police questioning and, if necessary, “People in China should be extra Central Television, well known for his by police in the People’s Republic to de Volkskrant, was used by an unident-
unfollowing their online accounts. careful when using Twitter,” wrote exposures of corruption and medical hack email inboxes and expose the ified person who falsely reported that
“The public security bureau is check- Wang. “The number of fans and scandals in the state. He left China for identities of anonymous users of X. bombs had been planted at the Chinese
ing my 1.6 million followers and people subscriptions are meaningless to me. Japan in 2020, and two years ago set up Within China, security agencies embassies in the Netherlands in 2022.

Thai police
‘let Red Bull
heir flee’
Thailand
Joshua Thurston
In the small hours of September
3, 2012, the 27-year-old heir to the Red
Bull fortune allegedly hit and killed a
Bangkok police officer, dragging him
for about 100 metres under his Ferrari.
More than a decade later, Thai prose-
cutors have announced that they will
charge a former national police chief
with impeding legal action against Vor-
ayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya. Several gov-
ernment officials and police officers
have been accused of a conspiracy to
help the grandson of the co-founder of
the energy drink empire to flee abroad.
Somyot Poompanmoung, the police
chief from 2014 to 2015, was accused by
the National Anti-Corruption Com-
mission last year of involvement in
altering the record of the speed of the
car that Vorayuth was allegedly driving.
Wichien Klanprasert, a police officer
responding to a robbery, was hit and
thrown from his motorbike. He died at
the scene and his body was dragged
under the sports car. The damaged Fer-
rari left a trail of oil and brake fluid lead-
ing to Vorayuth’s family compound.
The Bangkok Post reported that Vor-
ayuth had been accused of killing a
police officer but denied the charge and
told investigators the man had abruptly
cut in front of him.
Wichean’s family told Thai media
they received $83,000 from the family
in exchange for not pursuing further
legal action. All but one of the charges
Lift off Pilots in action during the world’s first jet suit race in Dubai harbour, part of the city's boat show. Contestants strap engines to their back to navigate a course against Vorayuth have expired.

South Korea ‘facing extinction’ after birthrate falls sharply again

South Korea 7.7 per cent from a year earlier. The are expected to stay at home and later tens of billions of pounds over 17 years
number of deaths last year fell by find it difficult to keep or return to jobs. Continuous slide in an effort to increase the birthrate.
Richard Lloyd Parry
5.4 per cent to 352,721, the fourth con- Affluence, high standards of educa- Total fertility rate
This has included financial incentives
South Korea has registered another secutive year in which more people tion, poor provision of childcare and for pregnant mothers, subsidies for
sharp fall in its birthrate, raising the have died than have been born. sexist and patriarchal social norms South Korea World healthcare and childcare, and a month-
prospect of its extinction as a nation if Demographers have warned that create a population of young women Other high-income countries ly allowance of a million won (£640) for
the trend continues. South Koreans will eventually die out motivated to pursue careers rather than 8 every newborn.
Figures show that the total fertility if the birthrate does not increase. stay at home looking after children for South Korea may be hardest hit, but
rate — the average number of children According to one study, even at a higher husbands who rarely help out. High 6 fertility rates are falling in wealthy
a woman has in her lifetime — fell last rate of 1.19 children per woman the housing and education costs make it countries across the world. On Tuesday
year to 0.72, the lowest since records national population will fall from expensive to raise children. 4 Japan, which had a birthrate of 1.26 in
began 54 years ago. That is barely a 52 million to 40 million by 2056 and to South Korea’s government has 2022, reported that the number of
third of the “replacement rate” of 2.1 10 million in 2136. The last South Kore- promised a concerted effort to 2 births had fallen by 5.1 per cent from the
needed to maintain a national popula- an, in this model, will die in 2750, in the encourage people to have children, in previous year. Yesterday Singapore said
tion without immigration. world’s first self-inflicted genocide. what the prime minister described last 0 that its birthrate had fallen to 0.97, the
A total of 230,000 babies were born One reason why women are choos- year as the “horrible catastrophe” of 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 2021 first time it has dipped below one.
in South Korea last year in a population ing not to have as many children is the depopulation. Total fertility rate is the number of children per woman
of 52 million people; a drop of 19,000 or inflexible social status of mothers, who Successive governments have spent Source: World Bank
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 29

World
Bradley Cooper,
who has spent
recent months
feverishly
promoting his
passion project,
is seen with the
New York
Philharmonic
Orchestra and in
an icy river, left;
below, Cillian
Murphy and
Ryan Gosling’s
own publicity
pushes as the
Oscars beckon

Backlash as
Maestro star
orchestrates
Oscars buzz
Bradley Cooper’s voters. The backlash has been brewing
for months, with one critic suggesting
being seen as wanting an Oscar too
much and putting voters off, according
heavily on his unlikely success and
coasted to a best supporting actor win.
ever of the machinations that go into an
awards campaign, Niederman said
‘desperate’ campaign last year that Maestro’s biggest problem
was “Bradley Cooper’s open hunger for
to Michael Niederman, professor of
cinema at Columbia College Chicago.
This year Oppenheimer has relied on
its director Christopher Nolan’s dedica-
stars had always been desperate to win,
only the work used to be more behind-
for an Academy Award an Oscar”. “I understand how extraordinarily tion to the cinematic experience in defi- the-scenes.
Maestro, which Cooper, 49, stars in proud he is of the work he did on Maes- ance of streaming. Oscars voters share “Now we know about it every step of
is turning off critics, and directs, is to many critics classic tro,” Niederman said of Cooper. “I get Nolan’s love of cinema at a time when the way,” he said. “We’re much more
Oscars bait. The actor has not been shy that — it’s a personal, well-crafted piece theatre audiences are in decline. aware of it now — with social media it’s
writes Keiran Southern in telling interviewers of the work that that means the world to him.” Although fans are more aware than everywhere. That’s the big difference.”
went into the role: he said it took six In a nod to Cooper’s Cooper is no stranger
Whether he’s gracing red carpets for years to learn how to conduct for a recent ubiquity, Nieder- to a gruelling awards
the umpteenth time, popping up on scene lasting six minutes. He also had to man added: “If I don’t see season campaign. He
stage with the New York Philharmonic work extensively with a dialect coach a picture of Bradley now has a total of 12 Os-
or lying down in a near-freezing river and a makeup artist to get Bernstein’s Cooper for six months, car nominations across
wearing only a pair of black boxer look just right, though there was some that will be OK.” acting, producing and
shorts, Bradley Cooper has been hard controversy over his decision to wear a The key to striking the writing, but is yet to take
to miss in the past few months. prosthetic nose to play the Jewish con- right balance during an home the prize.
As awards season gears up, the Holly- ductor. awards campaign is Niederman suggested
wood star has grasped every opportuni- For all this effort, Maestro earned having a heartwarming that the actor may fare
ty to tell interviewers about the drastic seven Oscar nominations — including story to tell, consultants better by choosing films
lengths he went to for his latest film best actor for Cooper, though it appears say. Perhaps last year’s that are not as obviously
Maestro, a biopic about the composer highly unlikely his name will get called most endearing tale was intended to catch the eye
Leonard Bernstein. on the night because of an expected that of Ke Huy Quan, the of voters.
Cooper’s hard work on the awards Oppenheimer sweep. Perhaps the more former child star who “From the start, Maes-
season trail has led some to wonder reserved campaigning of Cillian Mur- made a Hollywood tro was designed to win
whether there is such a thing as want- phy will pay off in the best actor cate- comeback to appear in Oscars,” he said. “I don’t
ing an Oscar too much — and if this gory at the ceremony on March 10. Everything Everywhere think it will win that
perceived desperation could put off There was “absolutely” a danger of All at Once. He leant many.”

‘No death in Venice’: thousands call on art fair to exclude Israel

Italy took more than 200 hostage, Israel has We are appalled by this double stan- of freedom, meeting and dialogue explored motherhood, while “Israel has
launched an air and ground campaign dard. Israel’s assault on Gaza consti- rather than censorship and intolerance. murdered more than 12,000 children
Tom Kington Rome
in the Gaza Strip, that has resulted in tutes one of the most intense bombard- Culture is a bridge between people and and destroyed access to reproductive
A petition to kick Israel out of the the death of about 30,000, according to ments in history,” stated the petition, nations, not a wall of division.” care and medical facilities”.
Venice Biennale art show because of the Hamas-run health authorities. whose signatories included academics The organisers of the petition wrote: The Gaza conflict has prompted a
the war in Gaza, which has been signed Held since 1895 and considered the from the University of Oxford and the “Culture is not a ‘bridge between people row between Israel and the Eurovision
by more than 17,000 artists, curators world’s top art event, the Biennale, University of London. and nations’ when one nation is Song Contest after the organisers ques-
and academics, has been dismissed as which starts in April, gives countries The petition drew a furious response involved in the elimination of another.” tioned the lyrics of its entry, October
“shameful” by Italy’s arts minister. the chance to show off their best artists. from Gennaro Sangiuliano, the Italian Israel is due to be represented at the Rain by Eden Golan, which have been
Signed by art world luminaries The petition, organised by the Art culture minister, who lambasted what Biennale by Ruth Patir, an artist who linked to the Hamas attacks.
including Jesse Darling, the British Not Genocide Alliance, said the event he described as “a diktat from those has said that amid the violence in Gaza The contest does not allow songs
Turner prize winner, the petition had banned South Africa between 1968 who think they are the custodians of “there has to be a pocket for art, for free with political content, but President
claims: “The Biennale is platforming a and 1993 due to its apartheid regime the truth, and who with anger and expression and creation”. Herzog of Israel objected to concerns,
genocidal apartheid state. No death in and lashed out at Russia after its 2022 hatred try to threaten the freedom of The creators of the petition replied: stating: “It’s important for Israel to
Venice. No business as usual.” invasion of Ukraine. thought and creative expression in a “Art does not happen in a vacuum (let appear in Eurovision, and this is also a
In response to the October 7 attacks “The Biennale has been silent about democratic nation like Italy. alone a ‘pocket’), and cannot transcend statement because there are haters who
in which Hamas killed 1,200 people and Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians. “The Biennale will always be a space reality.” They added that the exhibit try to drive us off every stage.”
30 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

World

Bulldozers rattle stars’ Riviera retreat

France
Adam Sage Paris
It was Viviane Romance, one of
France’s greatest actresses between
the 1930s and 1950s, who first spent a
fortune on the Château de Saint
Jeannet in an attempt to modernise
the 11th-century building with views
over the French Riviera.
After her death in 1991, the building
near Nice was abandoned until 2001
when Jon Acevski, a British film pro-
ducer, came along. “It’s a place for ...
royalty, wealthy Russians, big pop
stars, film stars, the studios, corpora-
tions,” he told Variety in 2009, after
paying some €1.2 million for the site,
telling local media that he had spent
far more on renovation work.
He added that he had initially
charged €135,000 a week to rent the
whole site, including the three hec-
tares of grounds, but had cut the price ing a “long gallery of more than 200
to €85,000 because of the eco- square metres underneath a swim-
nomic downturn that followed the ming pool [which was] a site used by
subprime crisis. [château] workers”.
Today, the château offers exquisite Officials are making an example of
luxury. There are 13 suites, a swim- the château in what appears to be an
ming pool, a Jacuzzi, a sauna, a ham- attempt to discourage the wealthy
mam and a helicopter landing pad. homeowners of the French Riviera
from undertaking work without
Now, however, it has been invaded by Viviane Romance once owned the planning permission. “At the end of
bulldozers ordered by the authorities Château de Saint Jeannet, where the day, the state always asserts its
to demolish an outbuilding allegedly work to demolish an allegedly rights,” said Eyrard. “When there are
put up without planning permission. illegal outbuilding has begun illegal procedures ... the state ensures
Officials in the Alpes-Mari- that the law is respected.”
time department said the He said the demolition had
work would cost €140,000 been scheduled to take two
and that they would send the months but was going faster
bill to Acevski. than expected and would be
The move is the latest finished by mid-March. Sur-
chapter in a long-running veyors had been called in to
conflict over the manor, safeguard against the risk of
which can be hired for wed- subsidence, he added.
ding receptions or corporate Acevski’s wife said the
events. A host of stars have couple did not wish to com-
also stayed there, notably ment. Acevski, whose films
Naomi Campbell and Ma- include Freddie as F.R.O.7, a
donna, who made it her tem- cartoon about a frog that
porary home during a Euro- parodies James Bond, put the
pean concert tour in 2008. property on sale for €49 mil-
Yet the château, which lion. It is now reported to
served for centuries as a fortress imposed €5 million in fines on the have been taken off the market.
guarding against an invasion from château and ordered the destruction In 2019, Patrick Diter, a business-
what is now Italy, was a ruin when of the outbuildings. Acevski contest- man, was ordered to knock down
Acevski and Yasmin, his wife, moved ed the decision in higher courts in a about 70 per cent of a château he had
in. His renovations have never been succession of appeals. But in 2017 the built, also in the Alpes-Maritimes,
to the liking of local officials. They caretaker’s lodge was knocked down after a court ruled he had not
argued that he had no right to extend and now the bulldozers are back. acquired planning permission. Last
the caretaker’s lodge or to build next Mathieu Eyrard, deputy director of year another court awarded him
to the swimming pool. Territories and the Sea in the Alpes- post-dated planning permission,
In 2009, a court in nearby Grasse Maritime, said they were demolish- saving the €57 million property.

No Olympics boon for Airbnb owners

David Chazan Paris asked for a small apartment in the Tower and the other tourist sites may
capital has fallen to about €480 a not be interested in the Olympics.”
Parisians hoping to rent out their night, compared with up to €1,500 six Hocquard was more sanguine.
homes at vastly inflated prices during months ago. “Overall the number of visitors
the Olympics this summer are likely “The rates now advertised are should be just a bit lower than normal
to be disappointed by the latest fore- about twice the normal price,” Cor- from May to September,” he said.
casts of visitor numbers. inne Menegaux, director of the Tour- There seems little doubt that the
Only 10 to 15 per cent of the 15 mil- ism Office, said — in line with rates Paris Olympics will be a success, with
lion visitors expected will be high- charged during events such as the nearly eight million of the ten million
spending foreign tourists, according Paris Air Show or Fashion Week. tickets available already sold. Some
to Frédéric Hocquard, a deputy One in five Parisians are willing to 25 fan zones will be set up with giant
mayor in charge of tourism. The rest flee the city from July 26 to August 11 screens for visitors without tickets.
will be French, with smaller budgets and rent out their homes, surveys 6 Paris officials downplayed fears
than their foreign counterparts. suggest. This has caused a huge after it was reported yesterday that a
Many who have bought tickets live increase in the number of properties computer containing police security
close enough to Paris to travel into available for short-term lets, but plans for the Olympics had been
the city for the day without having to many have not yet been booked. stolen from a train at Gare du Nord
book an overnight stay. Stéphane Manigold, head of the station. They denied that the laptop
Apartment owners who had adver- Hotel and Catering Union, said that if and USB sticks, stored in a briefcase
tised their homes on Airbnb and the visitor forecasts were accurate belonging to an engineer working for
other holiday rental platforms at up there would be at most 2.25 million the Paris Council that went missing,
to six times the normal rate have tourists from abroad. “Last summer held sensitive data.
begun to slash their prices. Hotels Paris received nearly ten million Nevertheless, the reports height-
that had quadrupled their prices are tourists, so it’s clear that there will be ened concern about security during
following suit. fewer tourists than usual this sum- the Games. Paris has suffered violent
According to the Paris Tourism mer,” he added. “People who normal- riots in recent years and large-scale
Office, the average rental price being ly come to Paris to visit the Eiffel terrorist attacks.
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 31

Business
world markets (Change on the day) commodities currencies
FTSE 100 Dow Jones Gold Brent crude (6pm) £/$ £/€
7,624.98 (-58.04) 38,949.02 (-23.39) $2,033.07 (+2.28) $ $82.72 (+0.39) $ $1.2668 (-0.0024) $ €1.1684 (-0.0007) ¤
8,500 40,000 2,200 120 1.400 1.300
8,000 37,500 2,000 100 1.300 1.200
7,500 35,000 1,800 80 1.200 1.100
7,000 32,500 1,600 60 1.100 1.000
Jan 31 Feb 7 14 21 28 Jan 30 Feb 6 13 21 28 Jan 31 Feb 7 14 21 28 Jan 31 Feb 7 14 21 28 Jan 31 Feb 7 14 21 28 Jan 31 Feb 7 14 21 28

Investors punish St James’s Place as it sets aside £426m for refunds

Ben Martin Banking Editor the unexpected provision in its annual about the matter and had arrived at lion. It is the latest setback for St James’s warned that it was resetting future cash
results, which pushed the company to £426 million as its “best estimate” for Place since last summer, after the group returns to shareholders to a lower per-
More than half a billion pounds was an annual loss and forced it to cut its the cost of refunds. was twice forced to change its charging centage of earnings than previous
erased from the stock market value of dividend. The provision hit its results, with the structure in the face of regulatory pres- years, to reflect both the provision and
St James’s Place after Britain’s biggest It set aside the sum after last year ex- group falling to a £9.9 million loss after sure over fees. the financial impact of its new fees.
wealth manager revealed it was taking periencing a “marked increase” in com- tax for last year, from a £407.2 million Analysts at Bank of America said the It tarnishes the company’s first set of
a £426 million hit to cover potential re- plaints from clients, partly fuelled by profit in 2022. latest blow was the “culmination of an results under Mark FitzPatrick, who
funds to aggrieved customers. claims management companies, about In another blow to investors, St annus horribilis” for the business, succeeded Andrew Croft as chief exec-
Shares in the FTSE 100 company the service they had received. James’s Place also cut its final dividend which is based in Cirencester, Glouces- utive at the beginning of December.
closed down 115¼p, or 18.6 per cent, at St James’s Place said it had “engaged for 2023 to 8p a share from 37.19p a year tershire, and oversees £168.2 billion for “We recognise this is a disappointing
505¾p, having earlier fallen by up to extensively” with the Financial Con- earlier. Its shares plunged, leaving the almost a million clients. As well as cut- outcome for everyone,” he said.
33 per cent, after the group disclosed duct Authority, the City regulator, company valued at less than £2.8 bil- ting its dividend, St James’s Place also

Direct Line Bitcoin tops

$60,000 on
shares soar US buying
Jack Barnett Economics Correspondent

on £3bn bid
Bitcoin has risen back above the
$60,000 mark for the first time in more
than two years.
The most widely traded cryptocur-
rency collapsed below $16,000 in No-
vember 2022. Its latest rally has gained
momentum before a “halving” due in
Insurer’s board rejects ‘unattractive’ Ageas offer April, a periodic process designed to
limit its supply, raising demand in the
near term. The 2020 halving preceded
Ben Martin Banking Editor ponent, or both, to convince the Direct bitcoin’s rise to a record high of about
Line board and shareholders,” analysts $69,000 in 2021. Last night in New York
Direct Line is the latest company listed at Panmure Gordon said.
in the UK to be the target of a takeover Direct Line has not been the only
bid from an overseas rival. British business on the takeover radar. Bitcoin price
The FTSE 250 company was put in Currys, the electronics retailer, has $70k
play after Ageas, based in Brussels, spurned bids from Elliott, the US pri-
60
made a £3.1 billion bid approach, which vate equity group, while Wincanton,
50
the car insurer dismissed as “uncertain, the logistics company, has attracted
40
unattractive” and said “significantly French and American suitors. 30
undervalued” its prospects. Ageas signalled that it was not giving 20
Ageas swooped after Direct Line was up. Belgium’s biggest insurer provides 10
left vulnerable by profit warnings, motor, pet, home and travel cover in 0
which prompted it to scrap its dividend, Britain. It said a tie-up with Direct Line 2020 21 22 23 24
followed by the abrupt exit of Penny would result in “the creation of a strong Source: FactSet
James, 54, its chief executive. Adam personal lines franchise in the UK” and
Winslow, 45, who was poached from be “beneficial for both Ageas and it was trading at $60,257, up 5.7 per cent
Aviva last year to succeed James, is due Direct Line shareholders”. on the day.
to take charge tomorrow. Direct Line was founded in 1985 by Charles-Henry Monchau of Bank
Direct Line said Ageas had Sir Peter Wood, the insurance entre- Syz said: “Historically, halvings have
approached it on January 19 with a preneur, and Martin Long. It was triggered massive bull runs, as the min-
cash-and-paper proposal that valued it originally backed by Royal Bank of ing rewards are cut in half.”
at 233p a share, based on market prices Scotland, which is now called NatWest, Expectations of interest rate cuts by
on Tuesday evening. Its board, chaired but was spun off on to the stock market the US Federal Reserve have raised in-
by Danuta Gray, 65, its chairwoman, 12 years ago. The insurer is behind the vestors’ appetite for riskier assets. Bit-
rejected the approach ten days later. Churchill brand and also owns Green coin reached its peak valuation when
Ageas’s proposed price represents a Flag, the roadside rescue service. rates in developed economies were at
42.8 per cent premium to Direct Line’s It was caught out in 2022 by the rising historic lows post-pandemic. Ultra-low
closing share price on Tuesday. News of cost of motor claims, fuelled by a jump rates steered investors toward assets
its approach sent the British insurer’s in second-hand car prices and the rising with higher potential yields.
shares surging by 38¾p, or 23.8 per cent, costs of spare parts and labour. James This year the US Securities and Ex-
to close at 202¼p last night. Both com- was finally undone when Direct Line change Commission, America’s finan-
panies issued statements after Bloom- took a big hit from freezing weather in cial watchdog, lifted a ban on bitcoin
berg reported that the Belgian group December 2022, which led to an in- exchange-traded funds. The value of
had made an approach. crease in claims for large losses such as the cryptocurrency has been on an up-
Under Ageas’s proposal, Direct Line homes flooded by burst water pipes. ward path since the first such American
investors would receive 100p in cash James Pearse at Jefferies, the broker, funds entered the market in January.
per share and one new Ageas share for which suggests that Ageas will have to Nigel Green, chief executive of de-
every 25.24047 shares in the British offer between 270p and 300p a share, Vere Group, a financial advice firm,
company they own. said the “potential deal makes sense” said: “If the current momentum contin-
“Ageas will need to revise its offer and was unlikely to raise concerns with Gangnam style Mark Zuckerberg dresses for the cold weather in Seoul, South ues, we expect that bitcoin could beat
with a higher price or larger cash com- the competition regulator. Korea, where the Meta boss will hold talks with local AI and technology firms the previous all-time high [in weeks].”
32 2GM Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

Business

Need to know
1
Rishi Sunak is preparing to
overrule Michael Gove, the
Boss tries to Losing its lustre
Share price
£14
12

steady the
housing secretary, and offer a 10
string of concessions to Tory MPs 8
on laws to protect renters, 6
prompting claims that he is 4
watering down a manifesto pledge Source: FactSet 2023 2024
to ban no-fault evictions.

2
The former chairman of the
Post Office lobbied to double
the pay of its chief executive
even as Horizon compensation
schemes faltered and the company
ship at St
James’s Place
descended into chaos. Henry
Staunton twice asked ministers in
the Department for Business and
Trade to increase the pay of Nick
Read but was rebuffed, MPs have
heard.

3 The appointment of
Direct Line has become the £168 billion in assets. It focuses on Brit-
latest UK-listed company to ain’s “mass affluent”, who have between
become the target of a
takeover bid from an overseas
Mark FitzPatrick late £50,000 and £5 million of non-property
wealth available to invest, and operates
rival. The FTSE 250 car insurer last year has done little using a network of 4,834 self-employed
was put in play after Ageas, of financial advisers who cater to its
Belgium, made a £3.1 billion bid to reassure the market, 980,000 clients
approach that Direct Line said But with success has come criticism.
“significantly undervalued” its writes Ben Martin In recent years, it has been dogged by
prospects. the perception it charges high fees for
When Mark FitzPatrick took charge of an investment performance little dif-

4
More than £500 million was St James’s Place last December, it is un- ferent from that of rivals. This became a
wiped off the stock market likely that he envisaged knocking al- flashpoint in 2019, when damaging rev-
value of St James’s Place after most a fifth off the wealth manager’s elations emerged of lavish perks for ad-
Britain’s biggest wealth manager shares with his first set of annual results visers, including Mediterranean cruis-
revealed it was taking a barely three months later. es, expensive cufflinks and watches as
£426 million hit to cover potential “I might look to say I’d like a different prizes for selling the most products.
refunds to aggrieved customers. ball to have been bowled,” the 55-year- Andrew Croft, FitzPatrick’s prede-
old conceded as investors took fright at cessor as chief executive, subsequently
a shock £426 million provision by the overhauled the group’s incentive

5
Bitcoin rose back above the company to cover potential refunds to system in a shake-up that included
$60,000 mark for the first customers after a jump in complaints. scrapping the notorious cruises. Yet the
time in more than two years It is the latest in a series of setbacks issue of its fees came back to haunt the
amid renewed fervour for the suffered by the FTSE 100 business since business last year. In July, SJP rattled A row over lavish rewards for advisers, such as Mediterranean cruises, is just
world’s most widely traded last July that have left its shares at an shareholders by revealing it would cut
cryptocurrency. 11-year low. This latest debacle repre- charges on some pension and bond in- role on December 1, SJP had already that came into force in 2018, which re-
sents a baptism of fire for FitzPatrick, vestments in a move that would deliver lost about 41 per cent of its stock market quire an adviser to hold an annual

6
School-leaver apprentices at who now faces the challenge of rebuild- an £859 million long-term hit to the value over the course of 2023. The meeting with a customer to dis-
top City law firms are earning ing investors’ confidence after what one group, causing its shares to tumble. shares have not fared much cuss their situation. SJP has
salaries of up to £55,000, City analyst described as the business’s The catalyst for the fee changes was better under him. They fell found that its “ability to evi-
more than 50 per cent higher than “annus horribilis”. the introduction of tough new rules by again today by a further dence” that some clients
the average national salary. “I’m going to play the ball that was the Financial Conduct Authority, 115¼p, or 18.6 per cent, had been given that
Prospective solicitors who go from bowled,” FitzPatrick insisted. “I’m called the consumer duty, which is to 505¾p. meeting “is, in some in-
school to apprenticeships at going to face into issues, I’m going to aimed at ensuring financial services On January 25, stances, patchy”, Fitz-
Norton Rose Fulbright, an Anglo- deal with them and I’m going to help companies treat their customers fairly. FitzPatrick, previous- Patrick said.
American practice, get £28,000 in this business grow and be more The company followed this with a ly the finance chief Its records improve
their first year, rising to £53,000 by successful in the future.” more sweeping revamp of its fee struc- and then interim boss after 2021, when it
the end of the six-year scheme. At stake are the fortunes of Britain’s ture in October, prompted by further of Prudential, un- began to roll out a new
biggest wealth management company, regulatory scrutiny and involving the nerved investors by content management

7
Taylor Wimpey’s profits one favoured by the country’s middle dropping of the lucrative and contro- warning he was reviewing system provided by Sales-
almost halved last year but the classes as the steward of their nest-eggs. versial practice of charging early exit “all elements” of the business force, the global software
FTSE 100 housebuilder has Founded in 1991 by Lord Rothschild, penalties on clients. Its shares tumbled to ensure it was “fully fit for the group, yet complaints about this
seen some “encouraging signs of the City grandee who died this week, in the days before it set out its plan after future”. Now he has allayed fears that issue jumped last year, driven by claims
improvement” in recent weeks. Sir Mark Weinberg and the late Mike details of the overhaul were leaked. The another fees shake-up is in the offing, management companies. While com-
Wilson, the Cirencester-based SJP has changes will come into force in the but this was overshadowed by the re- plaint levels in previous years have av-
grown to become the dominant indus- second half of next year. fund provision. eraged 0.2 per cent to 0.3 per cent of its

8
Successive chancellors have try player overseeing more than By the time FitzPatrick took up his The problem centres on rule changes client base, they had risen to 1.3 per cent
been at the sharp end of
worsening productivity
conditions. Since 2020, they have
had an average of £16.2 billion of
headroom against their self-
imposed fiscal rules to use in their
Vodafone in talks to sell Italian business for €8bn
financial statements. Jeremy Hunt Alex Ralph designed to simplify the FTSE 100 valuing the Vodafone Italy division at Vodafone last year agreed to merge its
is set to be bound by this dynamic Chief Business Correspondent company and would create Italy’s €10.45 billion. UK business with Three, owned by CK
next Wednesday, with analysts second largest fixed-line broadband Berenberg said that it had valued Hutchison, the Hong Kong-based
expecting he will have £13 billion Vodafone is in exclusive talks to sell its operator, with a strong presence in the Vodafone Italy at €7.75 billion on a sum- conglomerate.
to use, probably enough to cut struggling business in Italy to Swisscom business market. of-the-parts basis, meaning that it The merger is subject to an initial
income taxes by 1p. for €8 billion. Swisscom, whose Zurich-quoted accounted for 13 per cent of Vodafone’s investigation by the Competition and
Amid mounting reports of a possible shares were down by 1.4 per cent last enterprise value overall. “The addition- Markets Authority. It also has agreed a

9
A pioneering mortgage deal, the telecoms group said it had held night, plans to merge the business with €5 billion sale of its Spanish business to

1.3%
product that does not require extensive talks with “several parties” to Fastweb, its Italian subsidiary. It said Zegona Communications, a London-
a deposit from borrowers had explore consolidating the business. the acquisition would boost its cashflow listed investment vehicle.
attracted £62 million of After these, it concluded that the cash and would have “a positive impact on its Vodafone is one of the world’s biggest
applications in its first nine deal with Swisscom “delivers the best dividend policy”. Shares in Vodafone telecoms groups, but it has been
months, Skipton Building Society combination of value creation, upfront were little-changed at 68¼p. They had Decline in Italy service revenue in Q3 hampered by the weight of its debts,
said, with 484 borrowers signed cash proceeds and transaction cer- risen on Tuesday after a report sug- high costs and intense competition in
up. tainty for Vodafone shareholders”. gested it was likely to hold a minority several markets. The struggles led
Swisscom will acquire Vodafone Italy stake in a combined entity with Fast- al €250 million relative to our model is to Margherita Della Valle, 58, Voda-

10 “Inappropriate conduct”
by staff in the Middle East
contributed towards an
unexpected fall in fourth-quarter
revenues at Reckitt. Shares in the
for an enterprise value of €8 billion on a
debt and cash-free basis — a multiple of
about 7.6 times its 2024 adjusted earn-
ings.
Alongside its third-quarter results
web if a deal was reached.
Italy was Vodafone’s worst-per-
forming big market in the third quarter,
where service revenue declined by
1.3 per cent. Last month, Vodafone
worth around 1p per share for Voda-
fone,” it said. “After Vodafone rejection
of Iliad’s offer, a deal between Swisscom
and Vodafone Italy was always more
likely. Nevertheless, an acquisition by
fone’s former finance chief, replacing
Nick Read, 59, as its chief executive last
April.
Analysts at Deutsche Bank said last
week that Swisscom was a “well-
FTSE 100 consumer goods this month, Vodafone had said that it rejected an offer to create a joint Swisscom of Vodafone Italy leading to a managed telco in a defensive country
company fell to a ten-year remained in “active discussions” over a venture with Iliad, a smaller French Vodafone exit is not what the market is with a healthy market structure, strong
low. deal for its Italian business. rival, in Italy, under which it would have likely to have had in mind.” balance sheet and what we expect will
The possible sale to Swisscom is received €6.6 billion in cash in a deal The deal in Italy comes after be steady cashflows”.
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 V2 33

Business
FTX founder
100-year jail Wealth firm shows
call ‘barbaric’ how not to do it
Times Business Reporter
business commentary Alistair Osborne

W
Sam Bankman-Fried’s lawyer has
urged a judge to impose a lenient sen- hat better outfit for £16.83. To boot, upfront charges will
tence on the founder of FTX, the now- some “one-to-one still be a chunky 4.5 per cent. So,
bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange, financial advice”? whatever FitzPatrick’s skills, an
for stealing $8 billion from customers. Shares off 19 per obvious question remains: why pay
In a sentencing submission, Marc cent in a day to that for investment advice from a
Mukasey argued that clients would get 505¾p; the full-year dividend more company that’s made such a lousy
most of their funds back. He told Judge than halved; and a warning that investment of its own business?
Lewis Kaplan that between five and a lower profit growth over “the next
quarter and six and a half years would
be an appropriate prison term.
few years” will cut “our ability to
invest” in the business. Bidder lacks fuel
That is far less than the maximum Does St James’s Place specialise in

T
sentence of 110 years that Bankman- how-not-to-do-it guides for its hat’s one way to welcome a
Fried, 31, faces after being found guilty 958,000 clients? It could look that new boss: a £3.1 billion mooted
at a federal court in Manhattan in way when you see the latest from offer made public just two days
November of seven charges of fraud the so-called wealth manager. Its before Direct Line’s incoming chief,
and conspiracy, in what prosecutors boss, Mark FitzPatrick, has only Adam Winslow, takes the wheel of
have called one of the biggest financial been at the helm since December. the motor and home insurer.
frauds in American history. But, in an effort to draw a line under It’s from Belgian rival Ageas,
Bankman-Fried had denied the the group’s customer-fleecing past, which is dangling 100p in cash and
charges and is expected to appeal he’s already taken a tough decision one new share for every 25.2 of
against his conviction and sentence. He with painful knock-on effects: to set Direct Line’s — together worth 233p
has acknowledged making mistakes in aside £426 million to refund clients a share, at least before Ageas’s
running FTX, but claimed at the trial who unwittingly overpaid for advice shares fell 3 per cent to €38.26. And
that he had never intended to steal they didn’t get. while it was enough to rev up the
customers’ funds. Kaplan is due to sen- Whether he had much choice is a UK insurer, whose shares raced up
tence Bankman-Fried on March 28. moot point. Complaints had been 24 per cent to 202¼p, you can see
The lawyer’s submission was accom- arriving thick and fast, triggered by why the board, chaired by Danuta
panied by letters of support from Bank- a Financial Conduct Authority Gray, had little trouble rejecting it.
man-Fried’s parents, a psychiatrist and crackdown on St James’s opaque For starters, they’d had since
others. His parents, Joseph Bankman and pricey fees, with the claims January 19 to kick the tyres on what
and Barbara Fried, the Stanford law management brigade also piling in. they called a “highly opportunistic”
professors, said their son was uninter- Last October FitzPatrick’s proposal that was not only
ested in material wealth and had predecessor, Andrew Croft, unveiled “uncertain” and “unattractive” but
worked hard to redress customers’ a simplification of the group’s “significantly undervalued” the
losses in the month between FTX, “charging models”: ones rooted in a business. In fact, they’d told Ageas
one of the problems that has hit Mark FitzPatrick‘s wealth management firm which was based in the Bahamas, past of meaty upfront and exit fees. as much on January 29 — before it
collapsing in November 2022 and his They had helped to spawn what a got another outing via Bloomberg.
in 2023, or about 10,000 customers, Investors’ confidence is another arrest on fraud charges. “Barbara and I Sunday Times exposé from 2019 Then the timing looks odd. Ageas
FitzPatrick said. matter. Not only did the provision push ... witnessed first-hand his single- coined the “cruises-and-cufflinks is valued at €7 billion-plus. And no
SJP held talks with the FCA, which SJP to a £9.9 million loss after tax, it also minded focus on getting money back to bonus scheme”, a racket that doubt it could find “substantial
initiated a “skilled person review” of the prompted it to cut the final dividend by depositors,” Bankman Sr wrote. rewarded St James’s financial operational and capital synergies”.
matter, and set aside £426 million to 78 per cent. Future shareholder payouts Mukasey called the 100-year advisers, now numbering 4,800, for But the time to strike was this time
cover the cost of potential client re- similarly have been reset at a lower sentence recommended by probation hitting sales targets. The cufflinks, last year after the ex-boss Penny
funds. “We would hope the company level than previous years. “I understand officers “barbaric”, saying it was based sporting the group’s old winged lion James had been ousted in the wake
has ‘kitchen-sinked’ the issue with this that this has been a very difficult run for partly on a faulty assertion that FTX’s logo, came in different colours to of January 2023’s howitzer profits
provision,” analysts at Jefferies said. shareholders,” FitzPatrick said. customers had lost billions of dollars. confer status — up to a diamond- warning. By March, the shares had
The provision is based on an extrapo- There are more headwinds ahead. He pointed to the bankrupt company’s encrusted version worth £1,200. drifted down to 135p.
lation from a representative cohort of SJP must navigate what its boss called a recent statement that it expected to St James’s put an end to that. But Stand-in chief Jon Greenwood
SJP clients and FitzPatrick conceded “challenging” market backdrop, with repay all customers in full to back up FitzPatrick’s now dealing with other has since steadied the ship, while
that the business did not know for cer- existing and prospective clients coming the argument that Bankman-Fried had past sins. Under pressure from the September’s £520 million sale of the
tain the true extent of the problem. under pressure from higher mortgage not set out to steal. FCA, a “skilled person” was brought brokered commercial insurance unit
Asked whether this was a one-off costs, leaving them with less cash to in- “The conviction does not address in to review whether customers had repaired the balance sheet. So it’s far
cost, he would say only that it was “a vest. Better interest rates on savings whether Sam intended to pay the received the “client servicing” for easier now for the board to bang on
best estimate”. He insisted that custom- have also deterred some investors. money back. He did,” Mukasey wrote. which they had paid. FitzPatrick about Direct Line’s “standalone
ers’ trust in the group had not been However, FitzPatrick said he be- The probation officers’ calculation is says the “vast majority” had, but prospects”, while waiting for
damaged by the issue. Its client reten- lieved this turbulent wider environ- not binding on Kaplan. The US advisers couldn’t verify that for all of Winslow to turn up from Aviva.
tion rate stood at 95.3 per cent last year, ment ultimately would prove SJP’s attorney’s office in Manhattan is them. And “if you can’t evidence it, Besides, on 2025 forecasts from
down only marginally from 96.5 per worth, because “it is at precisely these expected to make its own sentencing the presumption is you didn’t do it”. Deutsche Bank, Ageas’s tilt is at an
cent in 2022. times financial advice can really help”. recommendation by March 15. Hence, his compo scheme. It goes earnings multiple of just ten times,
back to 2018, covering the six years mainly in euro-denominated paper.
when advisers are obliged to keep It needs to find a fair bit more fuel.

City law firm payday for school leavers customer records. “If a client feels
they have been affected, they should
contact [us],” he says. “We’re
worried claims management
Reckitt in trouble

S
Jonathan Ames Legal Editor competition from American firms. The partners at the firm earned on average companies are going to kick off but omeone should remind Kris
highest-paid newly qualified solicitors £2.09 million each. customers should have nothing to Licht that Reckitt doesn’t start
School-leaver apprentices at top City are thought to be at Gibson Dunn, the Other City players also have di- do with them. Sometimes they take with a W. He’s only been
law firms are earning salaries of up to US firm: a salary of £180,000 at the end vulged their top pay for apprentices, 48 per cent of the money.” running the Dettol-to-Durex combo
£55,000, more than 50 per cent higher of their two-year training contracts. with Stephenson Harwood pays a wage He also insists that the issue is not since October last year. So he can’t
than the average national salary, re- The top 24 highest-paying City law of £53,500 for those in their sixth year. affecting the underlying business. have wanted this reaction to his first
search has revealed. firms for newly qualified lawyers are all Bates Wells, a City firm with a reputa- St James’s still has a 95.3 per cent full-year results: a 13 per cent dive in
Prospective solicitors who go straight based in America and are well ahead of tion for acting for some of Britain’s big- client retention rate, funds under the shares to £50.62, or £5.5 billion
from school to apprenticeships at Nor- the five English “magic circle” firms of gest charities, said it paid its sixth-year management rose by £19.8 billion to of lost value (report, page 39).
ton Rose Fulbright, an Anglo-Ameri- Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Fresh- apprentices £43,000. £168 billion last year and, without A group of now-sacked staffers in
can practice, are paid £28,000 in their fields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters Apprenticeships in the legal profes- the provision, instead of an after-tax the Middle East under-reporting
first year, rising to £53,000 by the end of and Slaughter and May, all paying sion were given a boost three years ago loss of £9.9 million, profits would liabilities, maybe to boost their
the six-year scheme. graduates a starting salary of £125,000. when regulators overhauled the quali- have topped 2022’s £407 million. bonuses, didn’t help. That took
However, the Legal Cheek website This year Slaughter and May became fication process by implementing a Yet what Panmure Gordon £55 million off sales, while worrying
says the City firm paying its apprentices the fourth of the elite group to launch two-part exam designed to expand di- analysts also saw as a new chief’s RBC Capital analysts that, despite
the most is CMS, which offers final- an apprenticeship scheme, joining Al- versity in the profession by, in principle, “kitchen-sinking” will whack Licht’s reassurances, this “might not
year salaries of £55,000. len & Overy, Freshfields and Linklat- creating a route to qualification for investor returns. The dividend for be an isolated incident”. But even
This pay packet would far outstrip ers. Of those, Allen & Overy and Lin- non-graduates. the next three years will be just 18p, without that, Reckitt missed sales
the UK average annual wage, at present klaters reported first-year salaries of Aspiring solicitors must complete a topped up by share buybacks, while and operating margin forecasts.
less than £35,000 — the latest evidence £25,000. period of authorised work experience, lower customer charges will hit Even Licht called the fourth-quarter
of skyrocketing pay among the Square Partners at magic circle firms are which includes apprenticeships, then profits. Not great from a group that, performance “unsatisfactory”. He’s
Mile’s legal professionals. some of the highest paid in the inter- pass the exam. on the watch of chairman Paul already put himself under pressure.
Pay for newly qualified solicitors in national legal profession. Those at The system replaces the legal prac- Manduca, has already seen the
the City has risen dramatically over Freshfields topped last year’s magic cir- tice course, more than 30 years old, on shares crater from December 2021’s [email protected]
recent years, driven primarily by fierce cle pay battle, revealing that full-equity which only graduates could enrol.
34 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

Business
Taylor Wimpey cuts its housebuilding target as profits tumble
Tom Howard larly in the second half of last year. We oper sold 0.62 homes per week at each As a result of the drop in home com- However, it is encouraging to see some
want to ensure that we’re only building of its 230 sites, compared with pletions, Taylor Wimpey’s revenue de- signs of improvement in the market.”
One of Britain’s biggest housebuilders what the market can absorb. My job is 0.68 homes per site per week in 2022. At clined by 20.5 per cent to £3.51 billion in Most developers have effectively
plans to deliver fewer homes this year to make sure that we maintain a sus- the peak of the post-pandemic property the 12 months to the end of December, stopped buying land for the past year or
after its profits halved in 2023 and de- tainable business.” boom it was regularly selling one home down from £4.42 billion in 2022. Pre- so, but, in response to signs that de-
spite reporting “encouraging signs of Taylor Wimpey was created through per site per week. tax profits slid by 48 per cent to mand is beginning to return, Taylor
improvement” in recent weeks. the merger of Taylor Woodrow and Ge- Despite the subdued backdrop, Tay- £473.8 million from £907.9 million. Wimpey said it would look to “be active
Taylor Wimpey said it would “re- orge Wimpey in 2007 and is one of the lor Wimpey’s like-for-like selling price However, the final dividend, to be paid where we see opportunities”.
main focused on optimising value” to biggest housebuilders in Britain. It sold increased by 1 per cent to £370,000 last on May 10, was increased slightly to The renewed activity will not trans-
maintain its prices, meaning that even 10,848 flats and houses in 2023, almost year as it “aligned” building rates to 4.79p per share. For 2023 as a whole, late into more homes this year. Taylor
with the recent rise in sales activity it a quarter fewer than the previous year, changes in demand. This practice was Taylor Wimpey will have paid 9.58p per Wimpey expects to deliver between
planned on building fewer properties as the rapid rise in mortgage rates, to- flagged by the Competition and share in dividends: about £339 million. 9,500 and 10,000 homes in 2024, well
than it did last year. gether with the cost of living crisis and Markets Authority in its report into the Daly, 53, said it had been a “good per- shy of the 14,000-plus homes it sold in
Jennie Daly, its chief executive, said expectations of house prices collapsing, housebuilding industry this week as formance despite a challenging market. the pandemic years.
the lower expected output reflected the put off many would-be buyers. one of the reasons why not enough It is still early in the year and the macro- Shares in the company fell 6¾p, or
“lag effect of lower sales rates, particu- On average, over the year the devel- homes are being built in Britain. economic backdrop remains uncertain. 4.8 per cent, to 133¾p.

Analysis

T
raders are betting that
not only have interest
rates peaked but also
that a cut is coming this
year. That should signal
property values are stabilising —
yet shares in some of London’s
largest commercial landlords still
trade at heavy discounts to their
respective net asset values
(Emma Powell writes).
The commercial property
sector is priced for disaster.
During the 2008 financial
meltdown, all property capital
values fell by 42 per cent peak-to-
trough over nine quarters,
according to an analysis by
Savills, the estate agency. The
Covid downturn resulted in
values falling by just over 9 per
cent, but some corners of the real
estate market are priced for an
even heavier fall from today’s
muted levels. That suggests the
risk of a further deterioration is
already accounted for in
depressed share prices.
Take Derwent London, whose
chief executive has called the
bottom of the market. Shares in
the FTSE 250 landlord trade at a
41 per cent discount to the book
value forecast in 12 months’ time,
indicating that investors mistrust
that the fall in the value of its
west London offices is over yet.
Some scepticism over where
valuations will land is
understandable. Net tangible
asset values declined by 9 per
cent over the final six months of
Media City in Salford Quays, Manchester. Landlords and agents have reported a “flight to quality” since the pandemic as renters opt for the best office buildings last year, which is roughly in line
with the fall sustained over the

‘We’re near bottom of the office

second half of 2022.
Derwent is not alone: Great
Portland Estates and Helical
trade at similarly wide
valuations. It reflects more

property market,’ Derwent says

fundamental questions over the
future need for office space after
a lengthy compression in the
yields — rents expressed as a
proportion of property values —
over the past decade.
Tom Howard after a difficult 18 months. Inflation is from the best buildings. “There’s good than the £279.5 million loss it suffered However, there is reason to
now much more under control and I occupier demand for the right space,” in the previous year. Net tangible assets think that other corners of the
Derwent’s multibillion-pound port- think people expect base rate cuts later Williams said. per share fell by almost 14 per cent to property market are closer to the
folio of London office blocks suffered this year. We’re feeling more positive.” While all the demand is for that best- £36.32. Despite that, the final dividend, bottom. For Segro, the
another fall in value last year, but the Although valuations have tumbled in-class space, high financing costs, the which has been increased every year warehouse landlord, the decline
landlord has hinted the commercial across the board, even in more popular slow planning system and lingering un- since 2007, rose again by half a penny to in asset valuations slowed to a
property market is near its bottom. sectors such as logistics, sentiment to- certainty about office space mean that 55p. It will be paid on May 31. mere 3 per cent during the final
The feeling of optimism was re- wards offices has been especially nega- little is being built and supply is tight. As The upbeat outlook excited analysts. six months of last year. Rental
inforced as investors backed plans for tive, given the uncertainty of future de- a result, rents for “prime” offices are “With management effectively calling values were 6 per cent ahead last
expansion at Segro, Europe’s biggest mand because of working from home. heading higher. Of Derwent’s lettings the bottom, perhaps now is the moment year. The shares are still priced
warehouse owner, with £100 million Williams, 63, accepted that hybrid last year, on average they were agreed to invest,” James Carswell, an industry 12 per cent lower than forecast
more than it had asked for. working was “here to stay” but pointed at rents 8 per cent above valuers’ fore- analyst at Peel Hunt, suggested. NAV. LondonMetric has
The combined value of Derwent to his company’s strong leasing num- casts. The company expects its rents to Investors were certainly happy to stabilised even faster, although it
London’s offices dropped by a further bers last year as evidence that the office increase by 2 per cent to 5 per cent this hand over their money to Segro, which is yet to be reflected in the
10.6 per cent in 2023 to £4.9 billion, was far from dead. Derwent signed new year, slightly better than it had predict- had been looking for £800 million to shares’ 10 per cent discount
having fallen by almost 7 per cent in lettings adding £28.4 million to its ed previously. buy and build more warehouses but versus the forward book value.
2022. Commercial property valuations annual rent-roll in 2023, three times Derwent’s rental income for the ended up getting £900 million, such Both industrial property
have sunk over the past 18 months in re- more than it had recorded in the previ- 12 months to the end of December to- was the “strong demand”. groups are forecast by analysts to
sponse to spiralling interest rates. ous year and up with its best years. talled £212.8 million, a 2.8 per cent in- Reflecting the small discount at report higher portfolio valuations
However, in Derwent’s view, “valua- Landlords and agents have reported crease on the £207 million it made in which the new shares were offered to at the end of this year, in contrast
tions are now approaching this cycle’s a “flight to quality” since the first lock- 2022. However, because of the drop in investors, Segro’s share price slipped with some of the largest office
lows”. Paul Williams, the group’s chief down ended, with company renters in- valuations of its buildings, the group fell 4¼p, or 0.5 per cent, to 845p. Derwent landlords.
executive, said: “We’re getting there creasingly interested only in working to a pre-tax loss of £475.9 million, wider shares rose 2p, or 0.1 per cent, to £19.17.
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 35

Business

Patrick Hosking Ryan Bourne

Demographics tell
Patience and compounding are the an important story

‘‘
watchwords to fruitful investing about a nation’s GDP

H
Good news for most. creatures feeding all the way along per cent or 5 per cent figure should be ere’s a question. Between “correct” answer, because different
Share investing is the food chain (financial advisers, seen as a handy yardstick that should 2008 and 2019, which G7 measures tell us slightly different
still working. fund managers, brokers, consultants inform everyone’s thinking. Any countries recorded the things about the economy.
Capitalism is still and lawyers) siphon off a significant investment adviser who promises or slowest and fastest Growth typically refers to the
delivering for chunk. The £426 million provision implies much higher returns may well growth in terms of GDP trend of overall GDP. It suits the
stockholders. The latest Global made by St James’s Place yesterday to be a charlatan or a fraudster. Any per working-age adult? Conservatives to use that measure.
Investment Returns Yearbook from compensate overcharged clients is a investor who prefers the “safe haven” No prizes for guessing the laggard. They have shared adverts
academics at the London Business reminder of how this can become of a bank account for their retirement Italy, with its recent economic celebrating that headline UK GDP
School and the University of unacceptable predation. Perhaps, savings should at least be aware of dysfunction, performed disastrously, growth has eclipsed those of France,
Cambridge, alongside UBS (which across the industry, a percentage what they stand to miss out on. This with GDP per working-age adult Germany or Italy since 2010.
rescued this authoritative study from point is swallowed in fees and trading kind of basic knowledge should be at falling by 0.1 per cent a year. The However, while total GDP serves
the ashes of Credit Suisse), finds that costs, so actual real net returns are the heart of financial education. best-performing country is much well as a proxy for a country’s
very-long-run, inflation-adjusted total probably more like 4 per cent a year. Instead, the government’s big new more surprising. Japan, with growth capacity for, say, defence spending
returns from equities across the world Long-run history that smooths out wheeze to widen share ownership and of 1.5 per cent annually, outpaced or managing its debt obligations,
inched a bit higher last year. the day-to-day noise of markets is so improve public understanding of the not only France, Britain and Canada high immigration can simply inflate
Average real global share returns important. It tempers the excessive stock market is a cut-price offer of (all 1.1 per cent), but even the United it. It therefore often ill-reflects the
since 1900 are now put at 5.1 per cent expectations of investors; soothes shares in a single company (NatWest) States (1.3 per cent) and Germany evolution of average living
a year. Last year’s surge in stock their fears and suspicions. Charlie at a single moment in time with an (1.4 per cent). In fact, Japan has standards. Last year, for example,
prices nudged up the 124-year average Munger, Warren Buffett’s mentor and implicit message that there are quick been the strongest G7 performer on UK GDP grew by 0.1 per cent, but
across 90 countries from 5 per cent in business partner, once said: “There “stagging” profits to be made at the this measure since 1981. GDP per capita fell by 0.7 per cent.
2022, getting it back to the 5.1 per are answers worth billions of dollars expense of taxpayers. Not good. This little tidbit, from The Wealth By controlling for population,
cent recorded at the end of 2021. in a $30 history book.” Short-term There are other fresh insights in the of Working Nations, a new paper by GDP per capita growth obviously
Over the years, the number has market movements, by contrast, are report, with some myths exploded. economists Jesús Fernández- can better track average living
bobbed about a bit, but not much. At dangerous, pulling in or putting off Worries about the dominance of the standards. Its trends indicate the
the end of the 20th century, it was 5.6
per cent, but the twin impacts of the
end-investors at just the wrong time.
That evidence of strong but patchy
United States and concentration risk
may be overdone. Today, the US
‘Measuring GDP per economic rut Britain is in. Having
averaged 2.4 per cent growth per
bursting of the technology bubble in long-term progress plays a crucial accounts for 60.1 per cent of the capita growth injects a year between 1980 and 2007, it fell
2001 and 2002 and the banking crisis role in reassuring investors that, even equities universe, but this is well to 0.7 per cent after the financial
in 2007-08 resulted in it subsiding to after a calamitous crash, they have a down on the 70 per cent reached in dose of realism into crisis, lagging the performances of
as low as 4.8 per cent by 2008.
Whatever regulators may say about
good chance of recouping all their
losses and much more, so long as they
the 1950s and 1960s when companies
like General Motors and General
government policies’ Germany and America.
If we’re thinking about how public
the dangers of reading too much into stay patient. Investors were back in Electric dominated just as much as policy might realistically improve
past performance, this is a touchstone the black 15 years after the 1929 Wall Apple and Microsoft do today. Villaverde, Gustavo Ventura and growth with an ageing population,
number that underpins capitalism. It Street crash, ten years after the 1970s One remarkable finding is how Wen Yao, shocked me. Isn’t it however, then perhaps Starmer
justifies the entire long-run savings oil shock, five years after the banking much of the long-run returns from conventional wisdom that Japan has should pay more heed to improving
industry in favouring risk assets such crisis. In a 50-year retirement saving shares come in periods when central suffered two “lost decades” of GDP per working-age adult. This
as shares over government bonds or cycle, that’s not so terrible. banks are cutting interest rates. From growth? Wasn’t “Japanisation” a metric is still affected by taxes,
bank accounts. There are no Adjusting for inflation is important, 1914 to 2023 in the US, equity returns cautionary tale of how misguided regulations and welfare policies, so
guarantees, but the channelling of too, and a factor largely glossed over averaged an annualised 9.4 per cent macroeconomic policy causes can be strengthened through
most people’s pension contributions by the investment industry. Right in years when policy was being eased prolonged downturns? Yes, Japan’s enhancing workforce participation
into shares can be justified only by now it is crowing over the rally on and only 3.6 per cent in tightening headline GDP growth has been or productivity. And do need it:
extrapolating this kind of number Wall Street that in recent weeks has phases. The pattern has been even weak, but this data shows it has strong growth of 2.3 per cent per
decades into the future. pushed the S&P 500 to all-time stronger in the UK since 1930, with all outgunned its G7 rivals since the year between 1981 and 2007 has
While the securities industry is absolute highs, but real returns have equity returns in excess of gilt returns financial crisis on age-adjusted more than halved to only 1.1 per cent
focused on the frenzy and noise of been less impressive. taking place in easing phases. productivity growth. per year post-2008.
day-to-day markets, it is optimism Indeed, the UBS report For those who believe inflation is Japan’s growth decline is really a Crucially, the metric also injects a
about the very-long-run trajectory points out that after adjusting largely defeated and interest rates are story about demographics. While dose of realism about government
of share returns that keeps the for inflation and even after going down, that is an encouraging the UK’s population ballooned by policies’ limits. By accounting for
show on the road. And a real adding in dividends, investors “buy” signal, although it is fair to say more than 8 per cent between 2008 the largely immutable fact of
return of 5 per cent a year are still in the red that markets seem to have jumped and 2019, Japan’s dipped modestly population ageing and the squeeze
is still fabulous compared with the the gun already in anticipation. and aged earlier. Japan’s prime-age on GDP per capita, it helps to avoid

’’
compared with bonds high point of Market timing is harder than it workforce shrank by nearly 10 per magical thinking that rapid per
(1.8 per cent) or cash November 2021. By sounds. Patience and compounding cent over that period, in fact, as capita growth rates are still possible.
(0.5 per cent). this measure, are the potent forces in successful Britain’s went up by almost 4 per By zeroing in on living standards
Of course, end- America has still investing. Munger, who died last year cent. This is why headline GDP has that can be affected, in fact, policy is
investors never not fully escaped aged 99, had plenty of experience of grown at 1.4 per cent per year since targeted at what matters. We
quite see this from the bear that. “The big 2008 here against Japan’s 0.6 per therefore can be spared Japan-like
return. The market of 2022. money is not in the cent, despite Japan’s stronger age- squabbles blaming insufficient
menagerie of Better public buying and selling,” adjusted productivity performance. monetary or fiscal stimulus, when
understanding of he once said, “but in This raises an important question: the real culprit is demographics.
“The big money,” past long-run the waiting.” when Sir Keir Starmer tells us he
Charlie Munger returns from wants the UK to be the fastest- Ryan Bourne holds the R Evan Scharf
once said, “is in securities is Patrick Hosking is Financial Editor growing nation in the G7, what chair for the Public Understanding
the waiting” important. That 4 of The Times metric should he adopt? There’s no of Economics at the Cato Institute
36 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

Business

How will the chancellor tackle

how bad is the productivity
and investment slump? LACKING SPARK
Budget In productivity terms at least, Britain
looked like a relative land of plenty in Contribution of productivity to Real pay growth has stalled since 2008
2024 the decade before the 2008 financial
crisis. In the ten years to 2007, produc-
annual GDP growth
4ppts nd
900
800
tivity contributed an average of 1.7 per- 008 tre Outturn
centage points to GDP growth per year. 3 Pre-2 700
In the second of our Over that time, the economy grew at an
average annual rate of 3 per cent. 2
600
500
pre-budget features, Since then, though, productivity’s
contribution has dropped to 0.1 per-
1 2000 04 06 08 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
Source: Resolution Foundation, ONS
Jack Barnett looks at centage points, while average growth 0
Investment as a share of GDP
has slipped to 1.1 per cent. And since
ways to get a weak 1997, investment’s share of total output -1
28%
26
in the UK has been weak, reaching a
economy back on track historic low of only 15 per cent in 2009. -2
24
22
Productivity growth can be a 20
-3 18
Economics is all about trade-offs. panacea for an economy. Improving 16
Economists must ask: how can we output per worker means a country can -4 14
distribute scarce resources in the most produce the same amount of goods and 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 1970 75 80 85 90 95 00 05 10 15 20
efficient way possible? services with fewer inputs, freeing up Source: ONS, multi-factor productivity, percentage points Source: World Bank

Any answer to that question must resources to be used on industries that Successive chancellors' respective fiscal headroom (£bn)
consider a commodity that has been in will shape production in the future.
scarce supply in developed countries in For living standards, productivity Osborne (Coalition) Osborne Hammond Sunak Hunt
recent years: productivity growth. growth is as close to a free lunch as it 80
Since the 2008 financial crisis, gets. It reduces the cost of production
60
workers have been getting less produc- for companies, allowing them to raise
tive, largely because of a slump in wages or to generate larger profits. It is Average
40
investment, a situation that is corrosive no coincidence that real wages in the
for any economy. France, Italy and UK have undergone the worst down- 20
indeed Europe as a whole have been turn on record alongside declining
gripped by this slowdown. worker efficiency. 0
The United States is an exception, as Similarly, productivity growth Jun Mar 11 Mar 12 Mar 13 Mar 14 Mar 15 Nov 15 Nov 16 Nov 17 Oct 18 Oct 21 Nov 22 Nov 23
usual. Britain, however, has suffered alleviates inflationary pressures by 2010 Source: Office for Budget Responsibility
particularly badly. increasing the potential supply of
Successive chancellors have found resources and by creating space for pay
themselves at the sharp end of deter- to increase without putting upward
iorating investment and productivity pressure on prices.
conditions. Government finances receive a
Since 2020, the occupants of No 11 boost, too. Taxes tend to rise as a coun-
Downing Street have had an average of try with strong productivity growth
£16.2 billion of headroom against their seizes upon new frontiers of production
various self-imposed fiscal rules to use and wages strengthen while the cost of
in their financial statements. Between providing public services falls.
2010 and 2019, it was £30 billion, It is no surprise that both the Con-
according to Capital Economics, the servatives and Labour have put making
consultancy. the workforce more productive at the
The reason why fiscal firepower has centre of their economic pitch to voters
eroded over the past 25 years has before an expected autumn election. London’s productivity paradox
been a commensurate drop in Britain’s Both parties know they cannot deliver
GDP growth, which economists blame a meaningful change to living stan- London’s productivity slowdown has workers in London on average would productivity improvement in any
on weak productivity improvements. dards without reversing the nation’s been among the worst of all big cities produce an extra 3.1 per cent of output region of Britain between 2010 and
Recent higher interest rates haven’t turgid recent productivity history. in the world (Jack Barnett writes). per year. New York, Paris and 2021.
helped, either. Consensus is another rare commo- In an analysis of Office for National Stockholm all have stronger growth Falling output per worker in the
Jeremy Hunt is set to be bound by this dity in economics, but one has Statistics data, the Centre for Cities than London, the think tank said. financial services sector has driven
dynamic next month, with analysts emerged. There is agreement that the think tank estimated that the rate of The findings echo a similar study by London’s overall decline, with the pace
expecting the chancellor to have about source of the UK’s economic ills has growth in output per job in London fell the National Institute of Economic and of improvement in productivity per job
£13 billion to use, probably enough to been stagnant productivity growth, to 0.2 per cent a year between 2010 Social Research, which said the capital in the City falling from an average
cut income taxes by 1p and leave some producing damaging consequences for and 2019. Between 1998 and 2007, had suffered the second-worst rate of annual increase of 5.9 per cent
cash in reserve. its prosperity over the past 14 years.
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 37

Business

Britain’s productivity crisis?

why have investment and
productivity slowed since the
2008 financial crisis?
September 2022, Liz Truss and Kwasi
Kwarteng delivered their calamitous
mini-budget. It included £45 billion of
Stamp down problems would take years of
careful, cross-departmental
government; there is little the
When productivity rates slow in an
economy, the risk of making unprofit-
able investments rises. This often leads
tax cuts. Jeremy Hunt reversed these
and then some, amounting to a swing in
fiscal policy of about £100 billion in a
on stamp duty chancellor could do at the budget.
The tax front is more promising.
The chancellor will be tempted to
to a self-fulfilling prophecy, where matter of months. prioritise cutting income tax, and
businesses cut capital spending, further Such policy instability is ruinous for who would object to that? But if he
undermining productivity growth, a business confidence and investment, Tom Clougherty wants to make a meaningful
dynamic that has played out in Britain
since 2008 and that accelerated after
according to Selfin, who believes that
“improving skill formation in the areas
Comment difference to long-run growth, his
focus and scarce fiscal firepower

T
the 2016 Brexit vote. where shortages hamper productivity” should be targeted elsewhere.
In a situation where private sector also should be prioritised. For he most shocking thing The basic structure of corporation
investment is insufficient, public sector Thwaites, it is more about more evenly about recent GDP figures tax creates a bias against
investment should step in to reanimate distributing investment to raise pro- is the lack of surprise. GDP investment. That is true of most
the economy. Austerity measures by ductivity rates across the country, and per capita had fallen for international regimes, but until
David Cameron and George Osborne that raising spending on “connectivity, seven quarters in a row. recently the UK was one of the
in the 2010s prevented this from infrastructure, housing and people in This ought to be remarkable, but worst offenders. The permanent
happening, leaving the Bank of Birmingham and Manchester will help increasingly feels like “the new implementation of “full expensing”
England to pick up the slack by slashing to narrow the gap with London”. normal”. Stagnation is almost taken has improved things dramatically,
interest rates and keeping them at The National Institute of Economic for granted. but it applies only to a portion of
record lows. Some argue that the long and Social Research, Britain’s oldest There are explanations. The investment. A much larger pool,
period of low interest rates that came economics think tank, argues that pandemic casts a long shadow; the investment in structures and
after the financial crisis has exacer- Hunt immediately should raise public energy price shock was bound to hit buildings, is still treated stingily. The
bated the productivity problem. investment by about £15 billion annual- output; and the Bank of England, chancellor would struggle to meet
Greg Thwaites, research director at ly to 3 per cent of GDP. This would “not having fuelled inflation, has strayed his fiscal rules while introducing full
the Resolution Foundation, a think just boost economic growth and pro- into monetary overkill territory. Yet expensing for structures and
tank, blames the productivity slow- ductivity but also help to unlock more there is a more fundamental story: buildings. But uprating deductions
down on “how efficiently we use the business investment on which shared the fall in productivity growth since under the structures and buildings
resources in the economy”. After the prosperity and well-being depend”. the financial crisis. Had productivity allowance in line with inflation
financial crisis, there was, he says, “a The UK “lacks a joined-up set of poli- grown at its pre-crisis rate, we would would remove much of the tax bias
broad-based fall in dynamism across cies, and the means for implementing be generating about a quarter more at little upfront cost.
the economy. Workers changed jobs them, aimed at boosting productivity real value per hour worked. Business rates also discriminate
less often, resources flowed more across central and local government”, Ultimately, this is why incomes and against investment by hitting firms
slowly to the most efficient firms and Bart van Ark, managing director of the living standards have flatlined. that improve their properties with
our best-performing sectors did not Productivity Institute, says. Productivity growth depends on a higher bills. A new 12-month
grow faster than our lower-produc- In 2017, Theresa May’s government few thing, but when you compare business rates “improvement relief ”
tivity sectors.” Brexit also has erected published the last UK industrial Britain with other leading comes into effect on April 1. The
trade barriers and has complicated the strategy. Since then, the Conservatives economies, we are a particular chancellor could make that relief
UK’s place in the global trade network. have launched two growth plans, one in outlier on capital investment. permanent and extend it to big
Yael Selfin, chief economist at 2021 under Boris Johnson, a blueprint Among G7 countries, we have redevelopments. The fiscal cost
KPMG UK, argues that the UK’s “age- for his “levelling up agenda”, and consistently invested less than would not be significant.
ing population and a shift to a more another by Hunt in January last year to anyone else (except, occasionally, If the chancellor has headroom
services-based economy have given focus on the clean energy, life sciences, Italy) since the early 1990s. This for tax cuts, stamp duties should be
less productive sectors a larger share of aerospace and automotive sectors. affects our economic dynamism. top of the list. Stamp duty on shares
the economy”. Labour has set out its plans to deliver There may be cultural and could be eliminated easily. I doubt it
In short, there is no one cause for the “prosperity through partnership” demographic factors at play, but would cost the exchequer a penny,
slump. A combination of negative between government and private policymakers ought to focus on once dynamic effects (such as higher
factors has steered Britain away from enterprise in its industrial strategy, what they can control: tax and share prices and a lower cost of
relatively healthy productivity growth. although its recent pulling back from regulatory barriers to investment. capital) took effect. The big prize,
increasing green investment by £20 bil- The biggest regulatory problems though, is stamp duty land tax.
between 2000 and 2008 to -1.1 per reanimating the economy lion makes this ambition tougher to stem from our absurd land use Abolishing it on residential property
cent in the decade after the global Things that are valuable are often achieve. Without a longer-term strate- planning regime. Planning rules would cost about £9 billion on paper
financial crisis in 2008. costly to achieve. If it were an easy feat, gy, growth will remain in a slump,” van make it hard to build anything, — less once the economic benefits
The institute said in a report last policymakers in developed economies Ark warns. anywhere in a timely fashion. That of a better-functioning housing
autumn: “Despite being higher than in would have solved the productivity reduces and delays investment and market were realised — but could
other UK regions, London’s paradox long ago. 6 Tomorrow: Britain is one of the inhibits economic activity. It have an enormous positive impact.
productivity has been growing much However, there are some simple worst-performing countries in the G7 prevents us taking advantage of the
more slowly. This is undermining the steps that Britain can take, starting with for labour force participation. How can agglomeration effects, efficient Tom Clougherty is executive director
city’s global competitiveness.” reducing the frequency with which the government and the private sector transport and cheaper energy that and Ralph Harris Fellow at the
policies are chopped and changed. In get people back to work? raise productivity. Fixing these Institute of Economic Affairs

Reeves: Tories leave a dire inheritance No-deposit mortgage is

Mehreen Khan Economic Editor available in year five [of the forecast]
and said ‘we will have all that’,”
provide “an immediate injection into
our public services”.
a £62m hit for Skiptons
Labour will be left with a “dire eco- Reeves said. “It will be a dire inheritance,” she said.
nomic inheritance” if it wins the next Labour would abide by the same debt “We are not going to be able to turn it Patrick Hosking Financial Editor The Skipton product bypasses the
election, Rachel Reeves said as she ac- rule, she said, and would not present around overnight. We have to grow the normal requirement from lenders that
cused Jeremy Hunt of “maxing out” his any spending plans “that are incompat- economy to have the money to invest in A pioneering mortgage product that borrowers stump up a deposit of at least
fiscal rules to pay for tax cuts. ible with the fiscal rules. Our fiscal rules the public services: that is our relent- does not require any deposit from bor- 5 per cent of the home’s value. The re-
The shadow chancellor said the Con- are non-negotiable.” She said Labour less, ruthless focus. rowers attracted applications adding quirement for large deposits spread
servatives had promised to “fix the roof, would aim to reduce the tax burden on “Businesses say they will invest, they up to £62 million in nine months, Skip- after the collapse in 2007 of Northern
but what they’ve done is smashed the working people — but would make no want to, but uncertainty, the lack of ton Building Society has said. Rock, which notoriously had offered
windows, broken the doors down and promises at this stage. “We would need stability and barriers and blockages dis- Stuart Haire, 49, the former HSBC 125 per cent mortgages at one point.
are now burning the whole house to be able to say where the money is courage them from doing so. banker who joined Skipton Group as Skipton reported an 8 per cent in-
down. That is the reality for whoever coming from,” she said. “Our focus is to remove those barri- chief executive in December 2022, crease in pre-tax profits to £333.4 mil-
will be prime minister or chancellor The tax burden is due to rise to its ers. I am confident we can turn around launched the Track Record product in lion as it widened net interest margins
after the next election.” highest level in the postwar era, to the growth rate.” May to help tenants with good rental and wrote £6.7 billion of new mortga-
At the budget next week, Hunt is ex- 37.7 per cent of GDP, by 2028, according Both leading parties’ commitment to payment records but few cash savings. ges, up by 6 per cent. It said it had given
pected to use his limited fiscal head- to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. fiscal rules has been criticised by a lead- So far 484 borrowers have signed up. back £148 million in member benefits
room to pay for tax cuts. Reeves said the Labour has ditched a policy of spend- ing think tank, which said the “flawed He said it was “early days” for the pro- through interest rates on savings that
chancellor was manipulating his bud- ing £28 billion a year to finance the set of rules is incentivising bad policy duct and it was seen as niche, but the ar- were better than average.
get rules, which require the govern- green economy and said that any future decisions shaped by short-termism and rears levels were zero and the product However, its Connells estate agency
ment to bring the debt ratio down with- spending plans were dependent on the fictional spending plans”. The Institute was well regarded in the marketplace. division, which also owns the Hamp-
in four to five years. This measure has state of the public finances. The party for Government called for a revamp There is speculation that the govern- tons and Countrywide franchises, re-
been used to add billions to the Trea- has committed to only a handful of new whereby the Office for Budget Respon- ment will announce a scheme in next ported a slump in pre-tax profits from
sury’s calculation of the government’s taxes on private schools, private equity sibility would recommend how much week’s budget to support 99 per cent £67.5 million to £13.8 million due to fall-
room for manoeuvre. groups and to expand an existing wind- headroom a chancellor should main- mortgages to address the wider prob- ing home sales. Transactions slipped
“No other chancellor including Ge- fall tax on oil and gas producers in the tain, rather than the present system of lem of “rental prisoners” unable to af- from 87,000 in 2022 to 70,000, while
orge Osborne, Philip Hammond and North Sea. Reeves said the measures calculating and recalculating the figure ford to buy on their own or get financial house prices fell by 3 per cent to 4 per
Gordon Brown, looked at what was would raise about £5 billion that would in the run-up to a budget. help from their families. cent, reducing commissions.
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 39

Business
Investment is in focus after Dyson boosts annual profit to £1.4bn
Tracey Boles Deputy Business Editor ments, including capital expenditure, launches to date this year, including a in which we made record investments the future, as well as commercial and
to more than £2 billion since 2021. Dys- big expansion in the beauty sector. The in our technology, in new products and ecommerce teams for Great Britain and
Dyson is investing £9 million a week on is investing in artificial intelligence, launches will include a Dyson Super- in the global resilience of the company. Ireland”.
worldwide after bringing in record rev- robotics and battery technology at its sonic hair dryer powered by a new, We are ahead of our investment plan Dyson’s advanced robotics teams at
enues of just over £7.1 billion last year. main research centres in Britain, Singa- energy-dense heater technology. and have launched radical new prod- Hullavington airfield, near Chippen-
Global revenues were up 9 per cent pore, Malaysia and the Philippines. Speaking at an event to launch ucts. We are excited to get these prod- ham in Wiltshire, is working alongside
on the year before. Annual profit was Products launched in 2023 included the Dyson Airstrait in Paris, Sir James ucts into people’s hands in 2024.” a growing team at its London AI labora-
also up by 9 per cent at £1.4 billion. the Dyson Airstrait hair straightener, Dyson, 76, the company’s founder and In Britain, where it employs 3,700 tory and at Dyson’s global HQ in Sing-
Over the year Dyson, which designs its robot vacuum, the 360 Vis Nav, and chief engineer, said: “Despite all the people, Dyson’s £100 million invest- apore.
and manufactures its electricals and Dyson Zone noise-cancelling head- headwinds — including a challenging ment in a new technology centre in The Dyson Institute in the UK,
technology products, increased its re- phones, which marked its entry into the economic environment, inflation, pro- Bristol is under way. The company says where undergraduates study for an en-
search and development spending by audio and wearables market. duct shortages and the continuing im- it will be home to “hundreds of software gineering degree while earning a salary
more than 40 per cent, despite global The company, founded in 1991, is pact of the 2022 closing of our Russia and AI engineers working on a pipeline and paying no tuition fees, now has
headwinds. This brings its total invest- planning its biggest range of product business — 2023 was a very good year, of products that stretches ten years into 156 students.

Just Eat investors not

biting as earnings rise

E
ven the delivery for an additional
of jam today buyback, his failure to
and the confirm a programme
promise of extended a recent
more decline in Just Eat’s
tomorrow, or at least share price. The stock,
later in the year, failed down by a third over the
to lift the mood and past 12 months, fell by a
share price at Just Eat further 28p, or 2.2 per
Takeaway.com (Dominic cent, to close at £12.56.
Walsh writes). Just Eat boosted its
Europe’s biggest food 2024 prediction for
delivery group reported underlying profit to
a huge jump in €450 million amid an
underlying earnings apparent increase in
before deductions from orders via apps and the
€19 million in 2022 to addition of grocery and
€324 million, ahead of retail products. Groen,
previous forecasts, and 45, said the environment
reached the “significant in northern Europe
milestone” of being free- seemed to be improving
cashflow-positive in the in the group’s favour,
second half. although there were still
It also predicted a “plenty of irrational
40 per cent jump in competitors”.
profit this year and held The company expects
out the possibility of its gross transaction Just Eat Takeaway.com is attempting to find a buyer for some or all of Grubhub, its American business, where fee caps cost it $100 million a year
another share buyback value, the total value of
to follow one of all goods sold, to for some or all of its can delivery charges — better delivery efficiency 2 per cent meant that The number of orders
€150 million that ends in increase by between Grubhub business. cost the company and a simplification of the UK and Ireland in the UK and Ireland
September. Yet although 2 per cent and 6 per cent Groen said it was “not $100 million a year. its operations. business was “rapidly was down by 6 per cent
Jitse Groen, the chief in the coming year, an easy M&A In the UK and Ireland Just Eat said that a approaching a similarly to 245 million, with the
executive, said he would although that excludes environment” in the US, Just Eat’s profits rose margin increase from high adjusted [pre-tax gross transaction value
look carefully at North America, where it where fee caps — curbs from €23 million to 0.4 per cent of gross profit] margin as up 1 per cent to
whether there was scope is trying to find buyers in some states on what €135 million, thanks to transaction value to northern Europe”. €6.6 billion.

Reckitt revenues fall after Middle Bosses’ fear of

ESG litigation
East staff ‘acted inappropriately’ Two thirds of business leaders are wor-
ried about the prospect of their compa-
nies facing litigation should they miss
Alex Ralph been expected, hitting adjusted operat- unwanted reputation for mishaps and booked the correct entries in the fourth environmental, social and governance-
Chief Business Correspondent ing profit by £35 million. Reckitt’s disappointing trading updates. quarter.” related targets.
fourth-quarter, like-for-like revenue Analysts at Jefferies, the broker, said UBS said that excluding the issues in Shifting to renewable energy sources
What has been called “inappropriate fell by 1.2 per cent, behind City forecasts the issue in the Middle East “will not the Middle East and the Nutramigen and achieving net zero targets were the
conduct” by employees in the Middle of growth of 1.6 per cent. help confidence in controls at the recall, like-for-like sales would have biggest concerns reported by 600 com-
East contributed towards an unexpec- Revenue was also weakened by a group, given historic similar issues as been up by 0.6 per cent in the quarter, panies surveyed by Gallagher, an insur-
ted fall in fourth-quarter revenues at 2 per cent drop in its health business, well”. Barclays said it “raised questions still below expectations. Bernstein ance broker. About three quarters said
Reckitt. which includes the Clearasil and around operational consistency” and noted that the overall group volume they felt pressure to set ESG goals with-
Shares in the FTSE 100 company Gaviscon brands, which it blamed on RBC said it was “inevitable that inves- decline of 4.3 per cent was worse than out being confident on how they were
slumped by 776p, or 13.3 per cent, to cold and flu season comparisons with a tors will be concerned that this might 3.5 per cent that had been expected. going to reach them.
£50.62, about a ten-year low, after it record post-pandemic level last year. not be an isolated incident, notwith- “Reckitt can’t be blamed for the turbu- The research comes as ESG claims
revealed the “unsatisfactory” perform- Revenue in its nutrition business fell standing Reckitt’s protestations”. lence in its categories,” it said, “but we face increased scrutiny from investors
ance. by 14.8 per cent, with Reckitt again Jeff Carr, 62, Reckitt’s chief financial can’t help but see steady volume de- over accusations of greenwashing. In
Reckitt said it had discovered an citing unfavourable comparisons with a officer, said “several employees have clines in hygiene and nutrition.” December the Competition and
“understatement of trade spend” in two year earlier, when it was profiting from exited the business” over the Middle Licht, the former head of Reckitt’s Markets Authority said it was opening
unspecified Middle Eastern markets for infant formula supply issues in East problems. health business who formally took an investigation into Unilever over
the fourth quarter of last year and America suffered by Abbott Labora- “We had an investigation during the charge as group chief executive in concerns that consumers were being
previous quarters of 2023. tories, a competitor. It also issued a course of the fourth quarter in terms of October, played down concerns about misled by “green” claims on several of
An investigation concluded that “a voluntary recall of batches of its Nutra- some, let’s say, commercial practices Reckitt’s volumes. He noted, for its household products.
small group of employees had acted migen formula in the United States that we weren’t particularly pleased example, that volumes in its health Bosses surveyed said that investors
inappropriately and we are taking over safety concerns after the involve- with,” he said, “but there was no business had “performed remarkably withdrawing their backing was a con-
necessary disciplinary action”. ment of the US Food and Drug indication of any issues in terms of well, given the pricing that we have cern, as was activist intervention.
The company said it was “confident Administration. financial irregularities. But as the passed through, which is a testament to James Bosley, head of climate strate-
this is an isolated incident specific to Reckitt, based in Slough, is one of the investigation drew to a close, in the last the strength of our brands”. gy at Gallagher, said: “The speed of
these two markets and does not impact world’s biggest consumer healthcare few days, really, what became clear is He has vowed to “sharpen” the change for ESG issues has resulted in a
our 2024 outlook and medium-term groups. It is seeking to rebuild investor that we had an under-recording of group’s product portfolio and to extend lack of standardisation and precedent,
goals”. However, its net revenue last confidence under Kris Licht, 47, its new liabilities in the Middle East and that a savings programme to focus on fixed creating uncertainty for companies
year was £55 million lower than had chief executive, and to overturn an related to 2023. And so we’ve actually costs. trying to address their specific needs.”
40 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

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the times | Thursday February 29 2024 2GM 41

Business
6,700 and 5.4 per cent shy of sales. Indeed, the tycoon
Aston Martin the 7,000 it had promised
until last November.
reiterated: “We remain on
track to substantially achieve
off course — Aston Martin, which has
shrunk its annual losses but
our 2024-25 financial targets
in full-year 2024.”
but promises remains heavily in the red,
and with net debt again on
Adding back in interest
costs, tax and other charges,
growth the rise, is also delaying the
launch of its first electric car
Aston Martin reported a
bottom-line £239 million loss

T
because of a lack of for 2023 on top of the
he smooth drive to consumer demand. It is now £495 million lost in 2022.
profitability, as well expected to be on the market That takes accumulated
as to an electrified in 2026, a year later than losses in the past four years
future, remain planned. The company is to £1.4 billion. With cash
further down the only the latest carmaker to outflows in the year of
road for Aston Martin push back its electrification £360 million, up from
Lagonda after it revealed that goals as investment in £299 million in the previous
it had missed its already capacity and technology has year, Aston Martin’s much-
downwardly revised outpaced demand. reconstructed balance sheet
production targets for 2023 “The consumer demand is showing net debt rising
(Robert Lea writes). [for battery electric vehicles], again to £814 million from
However, Lawrence Stroll, certainly at an Aston Martin £766 million.
its executive chairman and price point, is not what we The shares, which have
significant shareholder, thought it was going to be halved in price in nine
insisted that the luxury two years ago,” Stroll, 64, months and have traded at
carmaker was on track to said. He added that there was 12-month lows of late, rose
“substantially achieve” its “much more driven demand” Lawrence Stroll, the executive chairman, has delayed Aston Martin’s first electric car for lack of demand 7p, or 4 per cent, to 183½p.
long-promised financial for plug-in hybrid vehicles — 6 Production at Britain’s car
targets for 2024. especially for Aston Martin, Buoyed by the sale of one- group revenues to rise by Aston Martin in 2020 after factories has continued to
Hit by production delays in as people “want some off limited edition supercars, 18 per cent to £1.6 billion. It its disastrous 2018 float, the pick up from multi-decade
the launch of the £185,000 electrification but [to] still average selling prices across reported underlying Canadian clothing billionaire lows. Nearly 83,000 vehicles
DB12 sports car, Aston have the sports car smell and all Aston Martin models in operating profits, stripping has promised that by 2024-25 rolled off assembly lines in
Martin reported 6,620 feel and noise”. The Valhalla, the last months of the year out tax, interest and other the company would be January, a year-on-year rise
deliveries of vehicles to Aston Martin’s first hybrid hit £255,000, against an costs, of £305 million, up by making profits before of 21 per cent, according to
dealers last year. That was supercar, is on course to average of £201,000 for the 61 per cent year-on-year. deductions of £500 million the Society of Motor
below a revised target of enter production this year. whole of 2022 and prompting Ever since Stroll rescued on £2 billion of annual Manufacturers and Traders.

Halfords issues warning as the

wheels come off cycling boom
Isabella Fish Retail Editor Halfords share price ening service, maintenance and re- the financial year this will not be
240p pair market, and we continue to see sufficient to offset the significant
Wet weather, weak consumer con- good demand in this area.” market deterioration seen.”
fidence and an increasingly “chal- 220 Halfords made its last profit The retailer said it remained
lenging and competitive” cycling 200 warning just over a year ago. It said “cautious on market recovery in
market have forced Halfords to then that it expected to make the short term and the current sig-
180
issue its second profit warning in profits of £60 million in the year nificant volatility in market condi-
little more than a year. 160 ahead, from the £75 million it had tions means that forecasting accu-
Its shares lost more than a quar- 2023 2024 announced previously. On that oc- rately is challenging”.
140
ter of their value after Halfords cut Apr Jul Oct Jan casion, it blamed difficulties in hir- It expects profit before tax for
its profit guidance for the year to ing enough car mechanics. 2025 to be broadly in line with the
March 29 to £35 million and pected. It also noted that promo- The business’s fortunes have forecast for 2024.
£40 million, down sharply from tional levels in the sector had in- dipped since the pandemic, when it Adam Tomlinson, an analyst at
£48 million to £53 million. creased. benefited from rising demand for Liberum, the broker, which has a
Halfords said there had been “a Halfords added that its cycling bikes and from consumers, buoyed “sell” rating for Halfords’ shares,
further material weakening” since and retail motoring markets had by higher levels of disposable in- said the profit warning was “clearly
its last trading update in three of its been hit further by a combination come, fitting their vehicles with another disappointing update”,
four core categories — cycling, of “continued weak customer con- new tyres and other products. adding that there were “no visible
retail motoring and consumer tyr- fidence and unusually mild and Founded in 1892, the company positive catalysts at this stage” on
es — resulting in a “significant” wet weather” that had affected the employs about 12,000 people. As the outlook for the company.
drop in like-for-like revenue number of visits to its stores and well as its retail stores, it has about Investec’s analysts, however,
growth in its retail business. sales in categories such as car 650 garages, a network expanded said they were confident that Hal-
The company, which has more cleaning products. through the purchase of several car fords’ cash generation “means it
than 400 stores in the UK, said that Volumes in the retail motoring repair brands. can ride out the current, very chal-
the profit warning had been caused market fell by 5.1 percentage points Halfords said it expected the lenging, short-term market envi-
in part by poor returns in its cycling in January on a year-on-year “same challenging market condi- ronment without impacting its
business, where sales had declined measure, while the consumer tyres tions to continue for the rest of [the strong balance sheet or its future
by 8 per cent in January compared market dropped by 4.3 percentage fourth quarter], including through [capital expenditure] plans”. It has
with the year before. It attributed points during the same period. our peak Easter cycling period. We a “buy” rating for the business.
the drop to people wanting to buy Halfords noted that while the con- have continued to take decisive The update sent shares in the
new bikes on credit, which had led sumer tyres market worsened last action on cost, but in the short business down by 53½p, or 26.7 per
to weaker gross margins than ex- month, there had been a “strength- period between now and the end of cent, to 147p at the close.

Apple pulls the plug on its electric car project

Tom Saunders tion from established manufactur- more conventional design, with “Headwinds abound for the EV in-
ers. General Motors and Ford are only partial autonomy. dustry amid price wars and moder-
Apple has finally abandoned a se- among a string of carmakers to There were reports of concerns ating demand have driven a fierce
cretive ten-year project to build an have cut production targets for in the boardroom that even with a competitive environment globally.
electric car to rival Tesla. EVs in recent months. $100,000 price tag, margins would Apple saw the writing on the wall
Jeff Williams, chief operating of- Apple’s project was never offi- have been significantly lower than to rip off the band-aid.”
ficer, told staff that the $3 trillion cially confirmed and no images for other Apple products. The Shares in the company closed
technology company was pulling were ever released, but it was un- company has been exploring op- down by 0.7 per cent, or $1.21, at
the plug on Project Titan and reas- derstood to have initially set out to portunities beyond the iPhone and $181.42 last night.
signing technicians to work on build a fully self-driving vehicle computers, including its recently Elon Musk, chief executive of
generative artificial intelligence. with limousine-style seats and no launched Vision Pro virtual reality Tesla, welcomed the move. He
The move comes amid weaken- steering wheel. headset. shared a post on his social media
ing consumer demand for electric However, those ambitions had Daniel Ives, a senior equity ana- network Twitter/X of a saluting
vehicles and increased competi- gradually been scaled back to a lyst at Wedbush Securities, said: emoji and a cigarette.
42 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

Business Markets
news in brief
Helen Cahill Tempus
Buy, sell or hold: today’s best share tips
Rate fear hits optimism
Lingering concerns about

A good bet if a Chile market hots up

inflation and uncertainty over
when the Bank of England will
start cutting interest rates for the
first time in nearly four years
arrested an improvement in
business confidence this month.
inchcape received by analysts and investors. Lloyds Bank’s monthly business
Pedal to the metal Inchcape’s income mix, therefore, barometer dropped to 42 per cent
Interim revenue Market cap has shifted substantially since it from 44 per cent in January,
£5.6 billion £2.8 billion Share price Business split by region
10p launched its “Ignite” strategy in 2016. although that is well above the

E
Asia Pacific UK The company has increased the slice long-term average of 28 per cent.
ight years ago Inchcape set of its revenues from distribution “Some businesses continued to
out plans to become an 9 activities from 43 per cent to 72 per express concerns about inflation
automotive distributor in cent and its retail sales fell from and interest rates, although these
hard-to-reach markets, yet 57 per cent to 28 per cent of overall concerns have eased significantly
many investors still regard 8 income between 2016 and 2022. in recent months,” Lloyds said.
28% 28%
the FTSE 250 business as a Bankers at Rothschilds have been
straightforward car dealer.
7
brought in to sound out buyers for Klarna losses continue
The company decided to move Inchcape’s retail division in the UK
away from retail operations and as the company seeks to demonstrate Klarna has reported its fifth
disposed of a number of its British its commitment to its higher-margin annual loss in a row ahead of a
dealerships to focus on providing a
6 25% 19% income streams. possible stock market listing. The
range of services designed to Inchcape has faced setbacks in its Swedish “buy now, pay later”
Source: FactSet

maximise profits from every new car 5 shift to services. It pressed ahead lender narrowed its net losses for
sold in the markets neglected by the with an expansion in Latin America 2023 to SwKr2.5 billion
large car manufacturers. with the completion of its acquisition (£191 million) from
Inchcape’s distribution business 4 Americas Europe and Africa of Derco for £1.3 billion last year. The SwKr10.4 billion in 2022.
works with manufacturers such as 2020 21 22 23 24 Santiago-based company is the Revenues rose by 22 per cent.
Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz leading car distributor in Chile, Peru Klarna, founded in 2005, was
and the BMW Group to sell their provide a buffer from any downturn and Bolivia, but the deal soured. profitable until 2019, when it
models and to advise on all aspects ADVICE Buy in car retail income. Inchcape Chile had delivered a record year of began investing heavily in new
of the sales process, including WHY Investors are yet to estimates that it captures only about car sales in the year of the markets. It is said to be looking to
marketing and logistics. It also has 25 per cent of the possible profit that acquisition, but then the market float on the New York stock
exclusive distribution deals to sell appreciate the profits it could derive from every car dropped, with volumes down by up markets.
those cars and their parts in different Inchcape could derive as it imported into these markets. to 30 per cent. Yet its management
global markets. The number of retreats from car retailing It sees an opportunity for reduced inventory without dramatic Google sued for €2.1bn
registered cars in many of these generating income from the onward price cuts. The business has gained
markets, such as the Caribbean, sale of a vehicle, the commissions on market share and is positioned to Alphabet’s Google was hit with a
Indonesia and Guatemala, typically into these markets and distribute the financing and insurance products, as benefit from Chile’s recovery. €2.1 billion lawsuit by 32 media
is less than a million per year, vehicles, while its control of the well as repair work, as a car may have Inchcape’s market value could be groups, including Axel Springer,
providing scope for sales growth. supply chain provides scope for at least four owners in its lifetime. set to rise if its bet on longer-term yesterday, alleging that they had
Car dealers can secure a mark-up driving efficiencies. Its distribution Inchcape’s board has estimated these services revenue pays off and the suffered losses because of the
only on the price of the vehicle, but business offers far higher margins sales could drive incremental profit of Derco deal plays out better than company’s practices in digital
Inchcape has been capturing supply than pure retailing and it sees room £50 million by 2026. Peel Hunt, the anticipated. Investors still largely see advertising. The move by the
chains with its exclusive distribution for growth as its share of its chosen broker, thinks these future earnings Inchcape as a retailer, but it derived consortium — which is made up
rights for car brands in a number of markets is about 2 per cent. are not appreciated by the market. a mere 11 per cent of its profits from of publishers from across Europe
countries. It has estimated the The business’s after-sales division Inchcape is set to publish its full- retail in 2022. Analysts at Numis and — comes as antitrust regulators
number of vehicles sold annually in helps to generate repeat income year figures next Tuesday and any Peel Hunt have picked the stock as also clamp down on Google’s
these harder-to-reach jurisdictions is from every car imported and sold in extra detail on this segment could one of their best bets for the year advertising technology business.
17 million. Inchcape will import cars a jurisdiction and these operations help the company’s shares if it is well ahead amid hopes for a rerating. Google said it opposed the
lawsuit, adding that it was
“speculative and opportunistic”.
renewables infrastructure are not convinced that the NAV by 2.2p a share over a five-year easy feat in a renewables market that
Market cap Discount to NAV
markdown in valuations is sufficient, period. is under greater scrutiny. Co-op compensation
given a higher cost of capital. It means cashflows from the At the existing price, that leaves
£2.53 billion 22 per cent The discount rate used to value its business are expected to fall over the the shares offering a potential The Co-operative Bank has set
assets, which span wind, solar and next two years. That did not stop dividend yield of 7.4 per cent, which aside almost £29 million to

R
enewable energy funds are battery storage, rose to 8.1 per cent, Trig raising the target dividend for looks pretty generous even when the compensate customers in its
struggling to adjust to the from 7.2 per cent, which contributed this year to 7.47p a share, from 7.18p bar for what constitutes decent closed mortgage book between
whirlwind ratcheting-up of towards a reduction in the NAV to last year. The level of cash covering income for investors has been raised 2011 and 2012 after it was found
interest rates — and if you want 128p a share, from 135p at the end of the dividend is likely to fall, from a in light of higher interest rates. The to have “unfairly” increased
evidence of that, just take a look at 2022. And that’s not all. Electricity healthy-enough multiple of 1.6 last trade-off is security. interest rates. The Financial
the whacking discount attached to prices, which are linked to wholesale year, after the company repaid more Ombudsman Service had partly
The Renewables Infrastructure gas prices, have fallen substantially than £200 million in debt. upheld two complaints last
Group, or Trig, as it is better known since the end of last year. Forward The revolving debt facility is ADVICE Hold November. The redress provision
(Emma Powell writes). power prices between this year and £360 million drawn, a position that WHY A high dividend but dragged on the bank’s pre-tax
The shares are 22 per cent lower 2026 have reduced by 20 per cent. InfraRed, Trig’s investment manager, profits, which fell to £71.4 million
than the investment trust’s net asset For context, a 10 per cent reduction aims to reduce to below £150 million, with less cash coverage last year from £132.6 million in
value, an indication that investors in power prices would reduce the which relies on disposals, less of an 2022. It is in talks on a sale to
Coventry Building Society.

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the times | Thursday February 29 2024 43

Markets Business

Rolls-Royce is flying high

as clouds gather elsewhere
Jessica Newman Market report

R
banking and finance
olls-Royce is making a
habit of taking the top spot
on the FTSE 100
leaderboard and yesterday
was no exception after
Tell Sid NatWest share sale’s on
some bullish comments from

T
Deutsche Bank. The engine maker’s he government stake in the company
recent results, which showed a has begun talks in 2015 and ministers
doubling of operating profits to nearly with brokers are aiming to have
£1.6 billion in 2023, were evidence about helping to sell sold all of it by 2026.
that the group’s restructuring plan its shares in NatWest At present, it holds a
was “starting to deliver on promises”, as it presses on with 32.9 per cent stake in
according to Christophe Menard, an plans to return the the business.
analyst at the German bank. bank to full private This month
The group, which makes engines ownership. NatWest, which
for long-haul passenger jets and The state, which reported a pre-tax
nuclear propulsion systems for the became NatWest’s profit of £6.2 billion
Royal Navy’s submarine fleet, issued a biggest shareholder in The government holds for 2023, confirmed
forecast for the current year that was 2008 when it rescued just under a third of the the permanent
stronger than expected, promising Royal Bank of business at present appointment of Paul
Scotland, as the group Thwaite as its chief
FirstGroup, Transport service between was then called, said talks with a number executive. Thwaite
Lumo hopes Scotland, the London King’s Cross Wall Street report in November that it of brokers, including was named as interim
to extend government body, and
Network Rail, which
and Sheffield next year.
The company is one of Indices edged lower before today’s
wanted to reduce its
shareholding in the
AJ Bell and
Hargreaves
boss in July when
Dame Alison Rose
its service manages the railway
infrastructure.
Britain’s biggest
transport operators,
consumer inflation data that could
influence the timing of the US
business by selling
NatWest stock to the
Lansdown, about
helping it sell the
was forced to leave
over the Nigel Farage

F
Lumo was launched with a large regional Federal Reserve’s long-awaited public as early as shares to retail account scandal.
irstGroup is in in October 2021 as an bus fleet, as well as interest rate cut. The Dow Jones June. According to investors. Natwest shares rose
talks to extend open-access operator, interests in rail industrial average fell 23.39 points, or Bloomberg, the The Treasury 2¾p, or 1.2 per cent,
its open-access meaning it does not franchises including 0.1 per cent, to 38,949.02. government is in early started cutting its to 236½p.
rail services have rail franchising Avanti, Great Western
from conditions or any Railway and South
Edinburgh to Glasgow government subsidy. It Western Railway. operating profits of up to £2 billion, customers, languished at a 11-year low sending the FTSE 250 motor insurer’s
(Greig Cameron takes the risk to run If talks progress, and said that by 2027 it was targeting of 505¾p, having dropped by 18.6 per shares up 38¾p, or 23.8 per cent, to
writes). services and the Lumo would have to profits of up to £2.8 billion. cent, or 115p. 202¼p. That helped to prop up Sabre
Its Lumo brand runs reward if they are apply for track access Menard said he was confident that Persimmon and Berkeley Group Insurance, a smaller rival, that rose
services between successful. Huw rights to the Office of Rolls was on track to meet these fell 39p, or 2.9 per cent, to £13.31½ and 3¼p, or 2.1 per cent, to 159¼p.
Edinburgh, above, and Merriman, the rail Rail and Road. The targets, given the company’s by 95p, or 2 per cent, to £45.52, HICL Infrastructure, a FTSE 250
London on the east minister, said last week company is hopeful “aggressive start to cost savings”, respectively, as Taylor Wimpey’s investment group, moved up 3p, or
coast main line. It that the system was that it could be which include plans to scrap up to disappointing results piled pressure 2.5 per cent, to 124½p after it revealed
wants to expand this going “from strength operating services to 2,500 jobs by the end of next year. He on to housebuilders. Taylor Wimpey, a new £50 million share buyback and
route so that some to strength”. and from Glasgow by stuck by the bank’s “buy” rating on which reported a halving in profits for said it was selling its entire stake in
services would begin Last month next summer. the stock and suggested the shares 2023, closed down 6¾p, or 4.8 per the US Northwest Parkway toll-road
or end in Glasgow. FirstGroup said it Shares in FirstGroup should be worth 465p. Those shares, cent, at 133¾p. project for about $232 million,
Discussions are planned to be running edged up by ½p, or which have risen by about 150 per China’s Country Garden, the representing a 30 per cent premium
taking place between a new open-access 0.4 per cent, to 156¼p. cent since this time last year, closed developer, said a liquidation petition to the company’s valuation at the end
up a further 12p, or 3.3 per cent, at had been filed against it to elevate of December. Another decent
The day’s biggest movers 370½p, their highest level in more concerns about the country’s property performer was RHI Magnesita, the
than five years. sector, a big user of industrial metals. maker of heat-resistant bricks and
However, that was hardly going to That and a stronger dollar took a toll wall linings used in furnaces, which
make up for a bleak batch of on metals prices. Anglo American advanced 86p, or 2.4 per cent, to
corporate results that weighed on the fell by 52½p, or 3 per cent, to £17.10; £36.74, after its full-year revenues of
senior index, which retreated Fresnillo slid by 16¼p, or 3.5 per cent, €3.5 billion beat consensus estimates.
58 points, or 0.8 per cent, to 7,624.98, to 451½p; and Antofagasta lost 25p, or Animalcare Group rose by 30½p,
while the FTSE 250 declined 150 1.4 per cent, to £17.73½. or 15.8 per cent, to a 13-month high of
points, or 0.8 per cent, to 19,013,58. Elsewhere, takeover fever gripped 223p after saying it had disposed of its
St James’s Place, which announced the insurance sector after it emerged majority stake in Identicare, its British
that it was taking a shock that the Belgium-based Ageas was pet microchipping business, for nearly
£426 million hit to cover refunds of its considering a bid for Direct Line, £25 million.

Gold/Precious Money rates % Dollar rates Exchange rates

metals
Owing to a technical issue, the gold fix
prices are from Tuesday.

Sterling spot and forward rates

Other Sterling

European money
deposits %

Data as shown is
for information
purposes only. No offer is made by
Morningstar or this publication
44 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

Business Equity prices

Dividend yields Please note that the information in the 12 month Price 12 month Price 12 month Price 12 month Price
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the times | Thursday February 29 2024 45

Equity prices Business

12 month Price 12 month Price 12 month Price 12 month Price 12 month Price 12 month Price
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the times | Thursday February 29 2024 47

Financier and former

Register
hostage negotiator
Thomas Kingston
Page 48

Obituaries

Lieutenant General Sir Richard Vickers

Courtier and armoured commander who had the distinction of winning both the Sword of Honour and King’s Medal at Sandhurst
In 1957 the journalist John Grigg, also longed to the Household Divi-
known as Lord Altrincham, enraged sion, and the “Royals” to the cav-
many by disparaging Queen Elizabeth’s alry of the line, and had, to boot,
style and those around her: “The been originally raised as dra-
present composition of the Court em- goons — mounted infantry.
phasises the social lopsidedness to It was decided that an “outsid-
which the monarchy is still prone ... the er” should command the new
Queen should surely now be surround- regiment, which was to be named
ed by advisers and companions with The Blues and Royals. Vickers
as many different backgrounds as was selected, equipped with his
possible.” active-service experience, me-
Buckingham Palace had already be- ticulous standards and royal con-
gun democratising, in a manner of nections.
speaking. The year before, the army It was a challenge of leadership
had been invited to submit the names of nonetheless. Some Blues officers
two candidates to be an equerry to the liked to affect insouciance.
Queen, but not from the usual source, When, exasperated at the card-
the Brigade of Guards. Both candidates playing at all hours in the mess,
were tall, good-looking young men Vickers put a notice in the offi-
who had won the Sword of Honour at cers’ order book that he wished
Sandhurst, but Richard Vickers of The canasta not to be played until
Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) had also after dinner, a wag wrote: “In the
won the King’s Medal, awarded to the Blues, we call it lunch.” However,
cadet achieving the best overall results after a few of the less tractable of-
in military and academic studies. His ficers were moved on, The Blues
selection for the appointment would and Royals became a happy mar-
change the later course of his career. riage. Vickers took a competent
Not only did Vickers bring to the job and spirited armoured regiment
the necessary “good leg for a boot”, and to Germany in 1970.
a good mind, he came with rare opera- and became an actress and model; and His judicious but robust leadership
tional experience for a young ar- Nichola, who won the Sash of Honour afterwards brought promotion to colo-
moured corps officer of that time, in the first intake of women at San- nel to join the policy staff in the MoD,
having served with 1RTR in Centurion dhurst. Their mother was dissuaded followed by command of 11th Ar-
tanks in Korea. By spring 1953, the al- from professional ballet by her teacher, moured Brigade. His divisional com-
ternating advances and withdrawals the legendary Betty Vacani, who re- mander, Major General (later Field
the length of the Korean peninsula had marked after her dancing at the Marshal Sir) John Stanier, was not per-
stabilised on the 38th parallel, the bor- Theatre Royal in front of Princess Mar- haps his greatest supporter, though.
der between North and South Korea. garet: “Very good, Gaie, but try not to Some said he was wary of Vickers’ oper-
The Chinese People’s Volunteer Ar- look as if you are in a football match.” ational experience. It seemed to be
my (PVA) had intervened in October Instead she went to work for MI5, but borne out by his subsequent appoint-
1950 when UN forces pushed the invad- was married three months later, still ment as deputy director of army train-
ing North Koreans back to the Yalu just 19. Queen Elizabeth attended the ing, not in the upmost drawer of briga-
river, the border with China. 1RTR’s wedding. For 20 years in later life she diers’ staff jobs. However, Sir Roland
tanks were dug in to protect their sus- worked in a hospice, and published two Gibbs, who had been the corps com-
pension and running gear and were books of poetry. mander when Vickers commanded 11th
continuously manned, necessitating a At the Staff College in 1960 Vickers Armoured, was by now chief of the gen-
rotation of crews in situ. Their role was appeared rather aloof to some, but eral staff (CGS), and in 1977 promotion
to dominate “no man’s land”, bringing came to command 4th Armoured
down fire more effectively and quickly
than the artillery could, as well as pro-
He led Princess Grace Division.
Vickers was next appointed com-
viding direct support to patrols and along the corridors of mandant of Sandhurst, which, being a
raids. As regimental signal officer, Vick- Vickers had fought with The Royal Tank Regiment in Korea when he became “double blue”, no doubt unnerved
ers was constantly in the front line, and equerry to the Queen. Right, with Margaret Thatcher at Sandhurst in 1981 Buckingham Palace many an instructor. Not all would have
took his turn in the crew rotations, al- guessed that he had a huge sense of hu-
though in quieter moments he was of- born in 1928 in Cheltenham, the son of 2RTR in the British Army of the Rhine those who knew him put it down to a mour, with a line in Tommy Cooper-
ten observed running about in no man’s Lieutenant General Wilmot Vickers, an (BAOR), from where he joined the Pal- modesty that extended to questioning type conjuring.
land with a butterfly net. It demonstrat- officer of Indian cavalry who became ace. He remained entirely discreet his own abilities. Appointment as bri- His final appointment on promotion
ed a certain sang-froid — always good quartermaster-general of the army in about his two years at “BP”, except for gade major (chief of staff) of the 7th Ar- to lieutenant general was not, however,
for morale — but also genuine diversity India. He was educated at Haileybury the occasion of a private visit by Prin- moured Brigade in Germany after- felicitous. The post of director-general
of interest. and Imperial Service College, where he cess Grace of Monaco, shortly after her wards indicated that the instructors of army training had been reinstated
To gain more ground as a bargaining was head of school. In 1946 he went marriage to Prince Rainier and release had no doubts. He served subsequently two years earlier by the then CGS, Sir
chip in the coming ceasefire negotia- straight to the two-year course at the of the film High Society. Vickers was with 4RTR in armoured cars during the Edwin (later Field Marshal Lord)
tions, in May 1953 the PVA mounted a Royal Military College, Sandhurst, as it told to meet her at one of the minor en- Borneo “confrontation” when Presi- Bramall. But it lacked real power, not
series of offensives, notably at a feature then was before the incorporation in trances and to conduct her privily the dent Sukarno of Indonesia attempted least because it controlled no signifi-
called “the Hook”, a crescent-shaped length of the palace to the reception to break up the newly formed Federa- cant financial resources.
ridge above a tributary of the Imjin
river near Kaesong, 40 miles northwest
During quieter moments room — a task that he much looked for-
ward to. In the event, every courtier,
tion of Malaysia by force. The regiment
was tasked principally with road secur-
Vickers decided to leave after a year
to become director-general of the Win-
of Seoul. After a fortnight of harassing on the front line, he was footman, cook and bottle-washer ity (during the earlier Malayan Emer- ston Churchill Memorial Trust, which
sniper, mortar and artillery fire, on May found reason to be in the corridors at gency, the high commissioner had been funds British citizens to travel overseas
28, towards nightfall, the PVA launched seen with a butterfly net that moment, and much to his dis- killed in a road ambush), but as Vickers to gain experience “to inspire positive
a massed infantry attack on the sector appointment he was scarcely able to ex- explained to the press afterwards: “It is change in their UK professions and
manned by the Duke of Wellington’s 1948 of the Royal Military Academy, change a word with her. doubtful we caused a single casualty communities, and society as a whole”.
Regiment, supported by an artillery Woolwich, which trained officers for The following year he married Gaie but much useful information and an in- He also served as a gentleman usher to
bombardment of some 11,000 shells. the artillery, engineers and technical Roberts, a sinewy beauty not long out calculable degree of ‘hearts and minds’ Queen Elizabeth from 1986 until 1998.
The “Dukes” beat off the attack with arms. of Elmhurst Ballet School and daughter support was gained.” Many, however, thought him a loss to
1RTR’s support, during which their As well as the two coveted Sandhurst of Major General “Pip” Roberts, late of In 1968, as part of Denis Healey’s de- the Army Board, for which his qualities
tanks fired 504 HE rounds and 22,500 prizes, Vickers excelled at squash, ten- the Royal Tank Regiment, who had fence reviews, it was announced that and experience had eminently fitted
machinegun rounds. In the six months nis and athletics. He might therefore commanded an armoured division in the last two unamalgamated cavalry him.
that Vickers spent in the line, 1RTR have had the choice of almost any regi- Normandy at the age of 37. regiments would merge: the Royal
fired nearly 24,000 rounds of main ar- ment, but RTR’s reputation postwar Lady Vickers survives him with three Horse Guards (The Blues) and 1st The Lieutenant General Sir Richard Vickers
mament in support of the Common- stood high, and its mess bills low — daughters: Fiona, a head-hunter with Royal Dragoons. At that time it was a KCB, CVO, OBE, armoured commander
wealth Division, and in weather even if the smarter regiments consid- her company Kornferry; Pippa, a matter of some delicacy. Although both and courtier, was born on August 21,
ranging from 40C to minus 20C. ered them to be “rude mechanicals”. former ballet dancer who appeared at regiments traced their origins to the 1928. He died on February 6, 2024,
Richard Maurice Hilton Vickers was After Korea he became adjutant of the Moulin Rouge in Paris for a year Restoration or before, the Blues be- aged 95
48 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

Register

Thomas Kingston
Dashing financier and hostage negotiator in Iraq who survived a suicide bombing and was married to Lady Gabriella Windsor
During his three years in Baghdad sometimes we would stay there over- Evesham, Worcestershire, in 1978, one
there were few days when Thomas night. We never gave up and we didn’t of three children to William Kingston
Kingston’s life was not in danger, but his just work with the nice guys. We had to KC and Jill (née Bache). Many of his an-
work as a hostage negotiator undoubt- work with some really bad guys as well. cestors were butchers and farmers in
edly saved lives. Our lives were at risk all the time.” Cheshire, while one forebear was an
In the tumultuous aftermath of the St George’s was hardly a sanctuary. Is- ambassador to Denmark.
US-led invasion that toppled the re- lamist forces hostile to the new western- His father had attended a secondary
gime of Saddam Hussein, Kingston backed regime turned a vengeful eye on modern school and later made his
acted as the right-hand man of the Rev the church. One day Kingston and name, and fortune, as a brilliant barris-
Canon Andrew White, popularly White walked through the doors when ter who specialised in planning law and
known as “the Vicar of Baghdad”. everything went black. They survived took silk. He was also a member of the
Kingston helped White build up the the suicide bomb that was detonated Church of England’s General Synod,
thriving Anglican church of St George’s outside the church but 22 were killed. while his mother is a trustee of the
in one of the Iraqi dictator’s former pal- Some 15 years later, Kingston became Christian healing centre in Cirencester.
aces and together they worked tireless- subject to a different sort of pressure The family later settled in a grade II
ly, and often unofficially, to negotiate when he married into the royal family. listed manor house in Kemble, Glouc-
the release of hostages. There were no An urbane man with a charming smile, estershire, close to the King’s home at
risk assessments and the endeavour he was said to deal admirably with the Highgrove, where Kingston had his
was largely funded by the Pentagon extra media scrutiny that comes with first exposure to royal circles.
through back channels. At one point joining “the Firm” without the advanta- After attending Dean Close School in
White was kidnapped and kept in a ges of blue blood — and with the inevita- Cheltenham, Kingston read economic
room with human fingers all over the ble trawling through his previous amo- history at Bristol University. A member
floor. Some thought their risk-taking rous adventures with “society beauties”. of the congregation at Holy Trinity
foolhardy, but no one could argue with If royal diarists and society columnists Brompton, he was working for the diplo-
the results. “There were around 250 were hoping for “dirt”, what they re- matic missions unit at the Foreign Office
hostages and we managed to get 69 ceived were reports of an exemplary and when he came to the attention of White
out,” White told The Times. well-liked figure in royal circles. in 2003. The clergyman was looking for
All the while Kingston helped White Square-jawed, immaculately dressed a “bright young intern” to join him at the
to transform St George’s into a commu- and a man of not inconsiderable means, International Centre for Reconciliation,
nity of some 6,500 to whom the Vicar of having become a financier, Kingston based at Coventry Cathedral.
Baghdad would preach from Saddam’s had inevitable labels pinned on him He left Baghdad in 2006 to join Schro-
golden throne, which had been turned such as “London’s most eligible bache- ders, the global asset management com-
into the pulpit. Quite rightly, White lor”. While living in Iraq his partner was pany, as an equity analyst and went on to
took plaudits for one of the better out- Natalie Hicks-Löbbecke, who had had work at Voltan Capital Management
comes of an otherwise bungled postwar an early romance with Prince William and IDC Securities. In 2017 Kingston be-
legacy, but he insisted that he could not and later married a baronet. came a director of Devonport Capital,
have greatly expanded the church Pippa Middleton, whose “flattering” which provides finance to companies
without the good offices of the re- bridesmaid’s dress at the wedding of specialising in postwar reconstruction
sourceful young diplomat who would Prince William and Kate Middleton in in emerging economies.
later become better known for marry- 2011 catapulted her into the public eye, Those close to the couple were at a
ing Lady Gabriella Windsor, daughter found solace in Kingston’s company that Kingston and Lady Gabriella at Royal Ascot in 2017, two years before they married loss to explain his sudden death. At an
of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. year after the break-up of her relation- event last week at the National Gallery
“I immediately thought he is very ship with the cricketer Alex Loudon. taking Ecstasy at Windsor Castle. The set her heart on her daughter marrying “they seemed happy and positive as ev-
good-looking, but I soon realised he Any romance was short-lived, but literature-loving Lady Ella, who works into continental aristocracy. However, er”, according to a friend.
was also an exceptional young man of friends spoke admiringly of Kingston’s as a freelance journalist and is not a she was said to like Kingston enor- Some speculated that Kingston had
great faith. He was my third intern, but ability to remain on good terms with working member of the royal family, mously, her only slight disappointment hidden embedded trauma from his ex-
the brightest and the best. He wasn’t a former girlfriends. According to one, found a more loyal consort in Kingston. being that he was not quite tall enough. periences in Baghdad, but whatever the
yes man. Tom had great insight into “None of his old girlfriends have any- In August 2018, he proposed on the Queen Elizabeth, who was particu- truth it seemed that there were strug-
what makes humans tick, both good thing but nice things to say about him. In Channel Island of Sark, where his larly fond of Lady Gabriella, attended gles that had been concealed over the
and bad. He saw beyond the impossible. old-fashioned terms, he is a gentleman.” parents have a holiday home. the wedding at St George’s Chapel, years. “He’s one of those guys who can
They were good times,” said White, He and Lady Gabriella, known as El- A friend of Pippa Middleton told the Windsor Castle, in May 2019. A few be quite enigmatic and doesn’t tell you
who was ordered to leave Iraq by the la, were introduced by mutual friends Daily Mail: “Tom is utterly charming, weeks later, Kingston looked an what he is thinking,” said a friend. “He’s
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most and began dating in 2014 to the appro- polite and very popular with the ladies. assured presence next to his radiant careful. Perhaps it’s a legacy from the
Rev Justin Welby, in 2014. bation and relief of friends and family He is just the kind of guy you would wife as they appeared on the balcony of work he was doing in Iraq.”
Kingston accompanied White to — a previous boyfriend of hers had want to introduce to your mother.” Buckingham Palace at the Trooping
places where his other interns feared to gone public with embarrassing details Princess Michael might have been the Colour parade to honour Queen Thomas Kingston, financier, was born on
tread. “We would be in the middle of about swimming naked together in an considered a harder sell, especially as it Elizabeth’s birthday. June 22, 1978. He was found dead on
war zones looking for hostages and indoor pool in Buckingham Palace and was previously rumoured that she had Thomas Kingston was born in February 25, 2024, aged 45

Toni Stern
Poet and lyricist whose writing partnership with Carole King led to some of the singer’s biggest hits, including It’s Too Late
When Carole King left Gerry Goffin in hooks you hear on the finished record.” Toni Kathrin Stern was born in 1944 The first song they wrote together
1968 she lost not only a husband but al- King confirmed that was exactly how in Los Angeles, the son of Audrey (née was As We Go Along, which was record-
so her songwriting partner. As a hit- they had come up with It’s Too Late. “I Johnson), an apartment block manager, ed by the Monkees and included in the
making team in which King provided remember sitting down at the piano and Harry Stern, a travelling salesman. group’s surreal 1968 film Head.
the music and Goffin the words, they with the lyrics on the stand and hearing She was educated at Hollywood High According to Stern’s husband Jerry
had together composed a string of the music come out of me pretty much School and Los Angeles City College; by Rounds, who survives her, she ultimate-
memorable songs, from the Shirelles’ as you hear it on Tapestry,” she said. the mid-1960s she had moved to Paris to ly decided that the “hustle” of the music
Will You Love Me Tomorrow to Aretha Stern would go on to become a pub- study painting. On her return to LA, she industry was not for her. Instead she di-
Franklin’s A Natural Woman via the lished poet but the lyrics she wrote for showed some poems-cum-lyrics she rected her creativity into painting and
Drifters’ Up on the Roof. King were her first serious attempts at had written to Bert Schneider, a family poetry, publishing four books of verse.
Indeed, they put their names to so writing. “Carole was my very first read- friend and co-creator of the Monkees. However, she had one last musical
many hits that inspired the Beatles’ er,” she said. “I was a complete un- Schneider in turn showed them to King, contribution to make when Where You
early career that John Lennon re- known. You might say I started at the who on separating from her husband Lead was used as the theme song to the
marked that his ambition was that the top. I didn’t even know if the lyrics I had just moved to California from New critically acclaimed television series
Lennon-McCartney credit should be- created could be fashioned into song.” Jersey to start a new life. Schneider of- Gilmore Girls, which ran for seven sea-
come “the Goffin-King of England”. King also wrote some of the lyrics on fered to introduce the two women. sons between 2000 and 2007. Stern’s
The couple’s separation left King in Stern lived near King in Laurel Canyon Tapestry. It was her first attempt to do so Although their East Coast and West original words as sung by King on Tap-
search of a new lyricist. She found a per- and she credited Stern with showing her Coast temperaments were very differ- estry had a traditional stand-by-your-
fect partner in Toni Stern. Among the break-up songs of all time was born. the way. “Toni was wonderful help with ent, they hit it off instantly. “She was the man theme that was not considered
songs they would write together were The two women lived close to each the transition from writing with Gerry to epitome of a free-spirited Laurel Can- suitable for a more liberated era, so
Where You Lead, on King’s 1971 multi- other in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, writing songs on my own,” she said. yon woman,” King said of Stern. “She Stern reworked the lyric to celebrate
million-selling album Tapestry, and the and in a 2019 interview Stern described Stern’s lyrics graced King’s first four lived in a hillside house with her dog, the relationship between a mother and
record’s break-out hit single It’s Too Late. the simplicity of how they worked to- solo albums. Together they also wrote Arf, surrounded by books, record al- her daughter. King then re-recorded
The latter chronicled the end of a love gether. “I’d go to her house or she’d It’s Going to Take Some Time which be- bums, plants and macramé.” the song for the TV series as a duet with
affair with a bittersweet wistfulness, re- come to my house,” she recalled. “I’d came a hit for the Carpenters. Their col- “I’m sure there was a California qual- her own daughter, Louise Goffin.
flecting Stern’s recent break-up with the present her with an entire lyric on a laboration came to an end in 1973 but ity in me that appealed to Carole,” Stern
singer-songwriter James Taylor. King large legal pad and she’d put it on the they remained close friends and King said. “She was moving from a familial, Toni Stern, lyricist and poet, was born
also recognised aspects of her own bro- piano. Within an hour or an hour and a wrote a personal endorsement to middle-class lifestyle to Laurel Canyon, on November 4, 1944. She died of
ken marriage in Stern’s words and, when half at most, the entire song was writ- Stern’s fourth book of verse, The Wet where she started to let her hair down... undisclosed causes on January 17, 2024,
she set them to music, one of the greatest ten, including all the riffs and licks and Clay of My Heart, published last year. We worked off our contrasts.” aged 79
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 49

Register
Thanksgiving Service Lord Morris of Aberavon Court Circular Births, Marriages and Deaths

A service of thanksgiving for the Kenyon; Ms Gelaga King; Mr To book a Birth, Marriage or Death SMITH Patricia Ann (née Woolliams) on
announcement in the Register, visit: 13th February 2024, passed away
life and work of Lord Morris of Stephen Kinnock MP; Sir Ivan peacefully, aged 95. Funeral service at
Aberavon KG KC, the former Lawrence QC; Ms Jennifer Lee; newsukadvertising.co.uk St Mary Magdalene Church, Adlestrop on
Welsh secretary and attorney- Ms Buddug Lewis; Mr Clive Le- for help, please call 020 7782 7553 Wednesday 20th March at 1pm. All
inquiries to Allen & Son Funeral Directors.
general, was held yesterday, wis; Mr Eirian Wyn Lewis; Mr or email [email protected] Tel: 01608 650633.
Wednesday February 28, at David Lewis; Ms Helena Lewis;
SQUIRE Nathalie (Natasha) (née
noon in St Margaret’s Church, Mr Jonathan Lewis; Mr Roderic FROM inside the fish Jonah prayed to the
Naoumova) on 22nd February 2024, aged
Lord his God. He said: “In my distress I
Westminster Abbey, London. Lewis; Mr Paul Lewis; Ms Gabri- Buckingham Palace called to the Lord, and he answered me. 92, widow of Dr Peter Squire and much-
The service was conducted by ella Liberotti-Harrison; Baron- From deep in the realm of the dead I called loved aunt, colleague, teacher and friend, in
28th February, 2024 Cambridge after a short illness. Funeral
the Right Rev Anthony Ball, ess Liddell of Coatdyke; Lord The King spoke to The King of
for help, and you listened to my cry.”
Jonah 2.1-2 (NIV) arrangements to be announced.
Canon Rector, who gave the Lisvane; Ms Elinor Lloyd; Lord the Hashemite Kingdom of STEUART-CORRY Christopher William,
bidding and the blessing. Music Lyon; Baroness Mallalieu; Ms Jordan via telephone today. Bible verses are provided by the
aged 86, passed away peacefully on 20th
Bible Society
was sung by the St Margaret’s Claire Mansel Lewis; Mr Patrick The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP February 2024. Beloved husband of
Alexandra (née Wilson) and loving father of
Consort, conducted by Mr Greg Mansel Lewis; Mr Rhys Meggy; (Prime Minister and First Lord Forthcoming Marriages Louise, Catriona, Annabel and Lucinda, and
Morris, director of music, St Ms Megan Meredith; Ms Elin of the Treasury) had an MR D. J. SANDYS grandfather of 14. Thanksgiving service at
Margaret’s Church. The organ Meredith; Ms Glenda Meredith; audience of The King this AND MISS P. M. A. E. WEST St Peter & St Paul, West Wittering on
Saturday 23rd March at 3pm. No flowers.
was played by Richard Pearce. Mr David Meredith; Mr Nicho- afternoon. The engagement is announced between
Donations to Sage House Chichester or
Daniel, son of Mr and Mrs Sandys of
Readings were given by Mr las Moncrieff; Ms Sarah Mon- The Queen this afternoon Hempstead, Kent, and Philippa, daughter of
Alzheimer’s Society. Inquiries to Richard
Steel & Partners www.steelsfunerals.co.uk
Arthur Cross and Mr Harry crieff; Ms Cynthia Morris; Ms held the Grand Final of the Mr and Mrs West of Harrogate, Yorkshire.
Cooke, grandsons. Mr William Morris and knighthood in 1999 Llinos Morris; Mr John Morris; BBC 500 Words creative- VARLEY Jennifer (Jennie) Margaret (née
Clegg KC and Lord Falconer of Ms Carol Morris; Ms Ingrid writing competition at Deaths Dixon), formerly of Cheltenham and
Nailsworth. On 16th February 2024.
Thoroton KC gave tributes. The bury; Mr Steve Cooke; Mr Ross Morris; Mr Dylan Morris; Mr Buckingham Palace. Beloved wife of the late John. Funeral
Rev Robert Nicholls, minister, Cranston; Ms Hermione Cros- Dafydd Lynn Morris; Mrs Sian The King was represented ELLIOTT William Ian (Bill) passed away service at Amberley Parish Church on
Saturday 9th March at 2pm. Inquiries to
the Welsh Church of Central field; Ms Janet Cross; Mr Antho- Morris; Ms Holly Mottershead; by the Rt Hon Carwyn Jones peacefully on 13th February 2024, aged 59.
Fred Stevens FD’s 01453 832188.
London, read the Psalm in En- ny Cross; Mr Ken Cross; Ms Mr John Mummery; Lord Mur- (former First Minister of A dearly loved husband, father, brother and
uncle. Thank you for your cards, flowers
glish and Welsh. Mrs Elinor Anne Davey; Ms Nicola Davies; phy of Torfaen; Mr Daniel Nich- Wales) at the Service of and donations to Isabel Hospice, Welwyn
Blick, daughter, read the lesson. Mr Michael Davies; Mr Douglas olas; Mr Robert Nicholls; Mr Thanksgiving for the Life of Garden City.
The simple way to
The Rev Lord Griffiths of Burry Day; Ms Elizabeth Day; Mr Breid O’Brien; Mrs Katherine the Lord Morris of Aberavon
Port gave the address. The Rev Michael Delaney; Ms Elinor Orton; Ms Jennifer Owen; Mr KG (former Secretary of State
HEAP Brian William on 14th February
2024, aged 94, peacefully at home. Beloved
place your Birth,
Mark Birch MVO, Precentor, in- Delaney; Mr George Dennis; Emrys Owen; Ms Barbara Ow- for Wales, Attorney-General husband of the late Rita and dearly loved
father of Jane. Former head of art and head
Marriage or Death
troduced the prayers. The Mr Michael Doe; Ms Francesca en; Ms Sarah Owen; Mr Tudor and Lord-Lieutenant of Dyfed) of careers at Hutton Grammar School, announcement in
London Welsh Male Voice Choir, Dow; Ms Francesca Echlin; Mr Owen; Mr Wyn Owen; Mr which was held at St Preston; higher education adviser, lecturer
led by musical director Dr Huw Edwards; Ms Hannah Ed- David Owen-Jones; Mrs Sian Margaret’s Church, and author of the HEAP University Degree the Register. Available
Course Offers guide until this year. A good
Edward-Rhys Harry, sang before wards; Ms Sara Edwards; Mr To- O’Callaghan; Mr Mark O’Calla- Westminster Abbey, London life, well lived. Funeral at The Vale 24 hours a day. Go to:
and during the service, including mos Edwards; Mr Trefor Ellis; ghan; Mr Jeffrey Pegden; Ms SW1, today. Crematorium, Evesham Road, Fladbury,
newsukadvertising.co.uk
Pershore WR10 2QR on 7th March at 1pm.
the anthem Morte Christe. Mr Jeremy Evans; Ms Clare Ev- Delia Pegden; Ms Sally Penni; The Princess Royal was Donations to the British Heart Foundation.
Mr Carwyn Jones represent- ans; Ms Megan Evans; Mr Nigel Ms Hazel Phillips; Lord and Lady represented by the Hon Dame
Shân Legge-Bourke. LIBSON Rowena (née Mitchell). Adored
ed the King, Dame Shân Legge- Evans MP; Mr Hugh Evans; Mr Phillips of Worth Matravers; Ms wife, mother, sister, and friend of many,
Bourke represented the Prin- Michael Foster; Ms Karen Helen Profumo; Mr Hugh Pryse- The Duke and Duchess of died on 2nd February. She loved life and
cess Royal and Admiral Lord Fowler-Watt; Ms Liz Fry; Mr Davies; Baroness Randerson; Ms Gloucester were represented loved friendship.

West of Spithead represented Huw Fry; Ms Debra Fry; Baron- Gwen Rees; Ms Anwen Rees; Ms by Admiral the Lord West of ROBERTSON Alastair James Argyll, died
the Duke and Duchess of ess Gale; Lord Gardiner of Kim- Dominique Rees; Mr Gareth Spithead. suddenly on 23rd February 2024, aged 75. Join us for breakfast
Beloved husband of the late Kate and
Gloucester. The Speaker of the ble; Ms Maxine Garfield Davies; Rees; Ms Lucy Richards; Mr Ste- St James’s Palace loving father to Hector, Toby and Saskia. Listen to Aasmah Mir and
House of Lords was represented Mr David Garfield Davies; Ms phen Richards; Mr John Rickett; 28th February, 2024 Adored grandfather to Ivo, Fergus, Alfie, Stig Abell on Times Radio,
Iona and Geordie. Funeral on Thursday 7th
by Dame Rosie Winterton MP. Victoria Gath; Mr Howard God- Ms Clem Rix; Lord Robertson of The Princess Royal, Patron, March at 1pm in Strathbogie Church,
Monday to Thursday at 6am
Among the family present frey KC; Mrs Barbara Godfrey; Port Ellen; Mr Winston Roddick; the Royal College of Huntly. Arrangements:
were Lady Morris of Aberavon Lord and Lady Goldsmith; Bar- Ms Pippa Rogerson; Lord Rook- Emergency Medicine, this
[email protected]
(widow); Ms Nia Morris (daugh- oness Goudie; Mr James Goud- er; Lady Rowe Beddoe; Ms Sally afternoon attended the SAMUELSON Penelope (née Evans) on
ter); Mrs Non Cross (daughter); ie; Ms Moyra Greaney; Mr Peter Rowland; Lord Rowlands; Ms Ju- Emergency Medicine Trainees’ 18th February 2024, aged 91. Peacefully at
Hythe View Care Home after a short illness.
Mr Hugo Blick (son-in-law); Dr Greaney; Mr Peter Griffiths; Ms dith Roxborough; Mr David Sey- Association Annual Beloved wife of the late Richard, cherished
Paul Baines (son-in-law); Mr Nerys Griffiths; Mr John Peter mour; Ms Elisabeth Seymour; Conference at Hilton mum to Hugh and Rosamund, grandma to
Nicholas Cross (son-in-law); Griffiths; Ms Christine Grim- Mr Tom Shaw; Ms Louise Shaw; Newcastle Gateshead, Bottle Olivia and James, and sister to Crispin.
Funeral details from TW Fuggle & Son
along with grandchildren Mr mer; Mr John Grimmer; Lord Mr Howard Stevens; Mr Donald Bank, Gateshead, and was 01580 763340.
Balthazar Blick; Mr Joseph Blick; Grocott; Lord Hacking; Lord Stevens; Ms Maggie Stevenson; received by His Majesty’s SHEARMUR Valerie (née Mickleburgh)
Mr Atticus Blick; Mr Charlie Hain; Ms Rhian-Anwen Hamill; Ms Lucy Stout; Mr Mark Stub- Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and died peacefully on 23rd February 2024,
Cooke; Ms Millie Cooke; Mr Lle- Lord Harries of Pentregarth; Mr bings; Mrs Sian Stubbings; Mr Wear (Ms Lucy Winskell). aged 86, after a short illness caused by
welyn Cross; Mr Henry Cross. Russell Harris KC; Ms Nicola Ian Taylor; Ms Carole Taylor; Her Royal Highness, Royal cancer. Beloved wife of Robin, mother of
Edward and Bryony, grandmother of
Also present were: Ms Alison Harris KC; Mr Richard Hawk- Lord and Lady Thomas of Patron, Motor Neurone Imogen and Anthony, eldest of five loving
Allan; Mr Cliff Allan; Ms Char- ins; Ms Annie Hawkins; Baron- Cwmgiedd; Mr Dylan Thomas; Disease Association, later siblings. A Requiem Mass will be held at
the church of St Thomas of Canterbury,
lotte Altman; Mr Brian Altman; ess Hayter of Kentish Town; Ms Deborah Thomas; Mr Fraser attended a Rugby League Woodford Green, Essex, on 14th March
Lord Alton of Liverpool; Lord Dame Sylvia Heal; Mr Keith Thomas; Ms Eleanor Thomas; Reception at Leeds Rhinos at 11am. Public Notices
Anderson of Swansea; Mr John Heal; Mr Keith Hill; Ms Sabrina Mr Hywel Thomas; Ms Jackie Rugby League Football Club,
Austin; Mr David Ball; Baroness Hirst; Mr Jack Holliman; Ms Thomas; Mrs Sian Elin Thomas; Headingley Rugby Stadium, St
DISSOLUTION NOTICE
Butler-Sloss; Mr Charles Bar- Fiona Holliman; Ms Sarah Hol- Mr Archie Thomson; Mr John Michael’s Lane, Headingley, LEGAL, PUBLIC, This notice is given by the Corporation
ton; Ms Ann Bennett; Mr John lyer; Ms Lyn Hopkins; Ms Gay- Tory; Ms Jennifer Tory; Mr John Leeds, and was received by His of The Blackpool Sixth Form College,
Bennett; Mr Keith Best; Mr Nest nor Houghton-Jones; Mr Hywel Vaughan; Mr Robert Walter; Ms Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of COMPANY & Blackpool Old Road, Blackpool, FY3 7LR
in accordance with the Further
Beynon; Mr Peter Birts; Ms An- Houghton-Jones; Mr Bruce Charlotte Watson; Ms Catrin West Yorkshire (Mr Edmund PARLIAMENTARY Education Corporation (Publication of
gela Birts; Ms Rhian Medi Houlder; Ms Gaenor Howells; Waugh; Mr Andrew Waugh; Mr Anderson). NOTICES Proposals) (England) Regulations 2012,
S1 2012 No.1157. The Corporation
Bishop; Ms Jane Blevins; Mr Lord and Lady Hunt of Wirral; Matthew Weait; Mr Michael proposes for the dissolution of The
Kensington Palace
Paul Brenells; Mr John Britton; Ms Ann James; Ms Hilary Webb; Ms Hoda Webb; Ms Carol
28th February, 2024 To place notices for Blackpool Sixth Form College and the
subsequent transfer of the property,
Mr Bryon Britton; Ms Jean Brit- James; Mr Phil Jardine; Ms Rhi- Whittam; Mr Richard Whittam;
ton; Mr Nick Brown MP; Mr an Jardine; Mr John Jarman; Ms Baroness Wilcox of Newport; Ms The Duke of Gloucester, Air these sections please rights and liabilities to The Coastal
Collaborative Trust. The Blackpool
Richard Brown; Ms Alixe Buck- Rosemary Anne Jeffreys; Mr Adele Williams; Mr John Willi- Commodore-in-Chief, Royal call 020 7481 4000 Sixth Form College provides sixth form
Auxiliary Air Force, this education for 16-19 year old students
erfield de la Roche; Cllr Ruth David Jeffreys; Ms Joan Binnie ams; Ms Sally Williams; Ms Betty afternoon attended a
across a wide curriculum comprising A
Bush; Lord Carlile of Berriew; Jelinek; Ms Thalia Jelinek; Ms Williams; Lord Wilson of Din- Conference at the Royal Air
Notices are subject to level and Level 3 Applied General
courses, GCSE resit Maths and English
Ms Margaret Carney; Baroness Janet John; Mr Gwyndaf John; ton; Ms Catriona Winfield; Mr Force College Cranwell, confirmation and courses and a small number of Level 2
courses. The current number of funded
Chakrabarti; Ms Deborah Ms Lowri Jones; Ms Nerys Michael Wood; Ms Tracey
Champion; Ms Philippa Char- Jones; Mr Emyr Jones; Lord Jo- Woods; Mr Stephen Wooler;
Sleaford, Lincolnshire. should be received by students is 2077. The date proposed for
His Royal Highness, Air 11.30am three days
the dissolution of The Blackpool Sixth
atan; Mr Willi Charnley; Mrs pling; Ms Wendy Joseph; Ms Lord Woolf; Ms Joanna Worsley, Commodore-in-Chief, Royal
Form College as a designated Sixth
Form College and the transfer of the
Sarah Clarke; Mr Richard Clay; Janet Lloyd Keefe; Mr Matthias together with many more friends Auxiliary Air Force, this prior to insertion property, rights and liabilities to The
Ms Jane Clay; Ms Gay Clegg; Mr Kelly KC; Mr Paul Kennedy; and former colleagues having evening attended the Coastal Collaborative Trust is 1 July
2024 (or as soon is practically possible
Dermot Clinch; Mr Lucian Lord Kennedy of Southwark; connection with Lord Morris of Centenary Dinner at Royal Air thereafter). All students currently
Clinch; Lord Collins of High- Ms Lisa Kenny; Ms Caroline Aberavon. Force College Cranwell. attending The Blackpool Sixth Form
College will continue their education in
the new 16-19 academy. There are no
plans to alter the education provision
currently provided by The Blackpool
Sixth Form College. A copy of the

A collection of
consultation document relating to
these proposals is available free of
c h a r g e a t
www.blackpoolsixth.ac.uk/consultation
o r v i a a n e m a i l t o

Times obituaries
Now available in [email protected] and
will be sent to any person who
paperback from requests it. In accordance with the
provisions of the Act, consultation on
bookshops as well as these proposals will run from 4th
amazon.co.uk and March to 4th April 2024. All responses
and representations must be made by
thetimes.co.uk/bookshop
Delve into the lives of the 4th April 2024. A summary of the
consultation and its outcome will be
published within two months beginning
quirky and unorthodox on the date after the end of the
consultation period. The summary will
be available on the college’s website
www.blackpoolsixth.ac.uk
50 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

Law
Beefed-up
Slapps bill
gets backing
Ministers support move to protect freedom of
speech. Jonathan Ames and Matt Dathan report
Rishi Sunak’s government might not be Times, and the author Catherine Bel-
around for much longer — but minis- ton settled an expensive claim by
ters seem determined to leave what Roman Abramovich, after her book,
many see as a freedom of speech legacy. Putin’s People: How the KGB Took Back
Last week the government backed a Russia and Then Took On the West, in-
bill aimed at thwarting “corrupt elites” cluded claims that he purchased Chel-
from making expensive spurious legal sea Football Club in 2003 at the Russian
claims to intimidate and silence critics. president’s command.
Strategic litigation against public Government backing for David’s bill
participation — known as Slapps — is a came after ministers had already
tactic said to be used by oligarchs and moved to tighten the law on Slapps that Alex Chalk KC has said that he wants people to feel confident standing up to the corrupt and know the law is on their side
other wealthy individuals as they inv- relate to allegations of economic crime.
oke defamation and privacy law to sty- But David, a former minister in Gordon Giving government backing to the legal definition of what was in the toning down their rhetoric. However,
mie reporting of alleged wrongdoing. Brown’s government, argued that those David’s bill, Alex Chalk KC, the justice “public interest”. it is forecast that their aim will remain
Beefed-up measures to combat measures were not sufficient and that secretary, said: “Free speech and the The private member’s bill received an the same — to use their wealth to
Slapps are in a private member’s bill put his bill would “protect freedom of exp- free press are linchpins of our demo- unopposed second reading and will silence critics.
forward by Wayne David, the MP for ression for everyone”. cracy, and to muzzle people in this way progress for further parliamentary Gavin Millar KC, a media law expert,
Caerphilly, and will allow independent He told The Times that he was is chilling. We want people to feel confi- scrutiny. said: “The reason that Slapps work for
judges to dismiss spurious claims pleased that the bill received cross-par- dent standing up to the corrupt, know- Lawyers who act for wealthy claim- the claimants and their lawyers is that
before they go to trial and protect def- ty support, adding: “There is a wide rec- ing the law is firmly on their side.” ants were sceptical. Gideon Benaim, a costs of defending free speech cases are
endants from paying exorbitant costs. ognition that Slapps need to be stopped. However, senior lawyers warned that partner at the law firm Simkins, said: huge. There is no real control over
On Friday ministers said that they It is so wrong that corrupt and rich the bill would require “significant mod- “While the draft bill was likely well these in our litigation system.”
would back the Labour MP’s Strategic elites are abusing our legal system. meant, if it becomes the law without Millar said that, as a result, “the
Litigation Against Public Participation
Bill, which also includes measures to
Journalists, investigators and ordinary
members of the public should not be
‘Members of the public substantial changes it will likely make
matters worse.”
imbalance of wealth that exists in most
Slapp cases between the wealthy claim-
award compensation to those who are intimidated and saddled with excessive should not be saddled According to Benaim, the bill’s draft- ant and the defendant means that sim-
determined to have been unfairly tar- costs simply because they are trying to ing “needs to make crystal clear that its ply defending even a properly conduc-
geted by Slapps. get justice and fairness, and exercising with excessive costs’ principal aim is to protect journalism ted claim is impossible. The defendant
Officials at the Ministry of Justice their right to freedom of speech.” on matters of major public interest is forced by the high costs and the
said that the bill would update the In parliament David noted that not ification” to achieve its aims. from abuse by the super-rich trying to imbalance of resources to settle post-
measures in the Economic Crime and all Slapp claims involved household- The Law Society, the body that repre- hide wrongdoing. Currently, just about publication cases.”
Corporate Transparency Act 2023 to name litigants. The MP said that he had sents solicitors in England and Wales, any claim about any publication could Millar said that multiple govern-
cover a broader scope of Slapps across been told of “patients who have left cautioned against measures “that may be falsely regarded as a Slapp. It risks ments had “shied away from tackling
all types of litigation, including sexual negative reviews for botched plastic increase ambiguity and the risk of satel- preventing legitimate claims and fail- this problem about how expensive
harassment. surgeries being issued with Slapp lite litigation” — in other words creat- ing victims of press intrusion.” High Court proceedings are — and it
The issue has risen to public promi- claims by the surgeons. I’ve heard of ing a situation where subsidiary law Lawyers who represent publishers means these reforms will not really
nence over the past few years. In 2021 tenants who have spoken out about suits spring from a main legal action. have warned that the legislation will tackle the problem of Slapps.
HarperCollins, the publishing com- their inhabitable housing being issued The society also called for the legis- merely prompt previously aggressive “Much more needs to be done to
pany owned by News Corp, the parent with Slapp claims by their landlords. lation to include “an objective test” to law firms to behave marginally better protect small public interest publishers
company of News UK, which owns The This is wrong and this must be stopped.” define Slapps as well as a redrafting of by writing fewer letters and generally and campaigners.”

The time has come to make prenups fully enforceable

assets in the event of a separation, financial arrangements chimes UK marriages involved a in financial proceedings on divorce.
Robert Buckland rather than leaving this to be with the notion of individual prenup being signed before the It would be great if the main parties
Comment determined by the court.
The advantages are obvious:
financial autonomy, irrespective of
marital status.
ceremony, with that number
expected to rise.
could pledge to introduce more
divorce law reform so that in this

Y
couples achieve peace of mind when With more couples getting However, prenups are still not world of competing policy priorities
ou could be forgiven for it comes to their assets, and a married slightly later in life, there enshrined in law in England and family law does not, yet again, get
thinking that the use of potentially divisive issue is removed is also a greater chance that Wales, unlike in many countries crowded out. Short of fuller law
prenuptial agreements by from the equation. either or both partners will have across continental Europe. Some reform, the legal recognition of
marrying couples is best The law, which for generations accumulated some personal wealth. progress was made as a result of a prenuptial agreements would be a
left to film stars, media has been characterised as being Prenups are not just about wealth, Supreme Court decision in 2010, significant step forward.
celebrities and billionaires. paternalistic but generous to though. It seems that, when it comes meaning that prenups carry some
However, this is not what most women, would reflect a very to younger people, attitudes to the weight and are likely to be factored Sir Robert Buckland KC is the MP for
people think. More than 60 per changed world where individual agreements are generally positive. into a judge’s decision-making South Swindon and a former justice
cent of people polled that are autonomy is valued and the notion The research found that 76 per cent process, but legislation would make secretary; he is also a consultant at
planning to propose this year will of one party to a marriage having of Gen Z and millennials agree that their legal effect crystal clear. Payne Hicks Beach, the law firm that
consider a prenup as part of the effective financial control over the prenups are a wise and practical As the lord chancellor who commissioned the YouGov survey
wedding planning, according to a other is seen as unacceptable and, in choice, regardless of their present managed successfully to steer no-
YouGov national survey. all too many cases, a form of income levels. While this level of fault divorces through the legislative Times Law
Prenuptial agreements are domestic abuse. support was not repeated among mire, it seems to me that the time
made between two parties before Family law specialists have older age groups, there is no doubt has come to make prenuptial Editor Jonathan Ames
marriage. If properly drafted and recently observed an increasing that there is a growing appetite agreements fully enforceable as a 020 7782 5405 [email protected]
subject to well-established criteria, trend in advice being sought on for prenups. matter of law. Advertising and marketing
the agreements seek to define the prenups. This move to greater According to the Marriage More should be done, too, to end For print and online: Jeanine Kiala
financial outcome and division of openness about finances and Foundation in 2021, 20 per cent of the lottery and uncertainty inherent 020 7782 7518 [email protected]
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 51

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thetimes.co.uk

Judge’s exit triggers trans debate OUT OF COURT

The cases, the chatter, the chaos:
what’s really going on in the law
Catherine Baksi
Engaging in the culture wars has come
at a cost for many. One of the most po-
Verdict nears
larised arguments is that between trans
activists who believe that individuals
should be able to self-identify and be
for TV juries
recognised in their chosen gender, and Channel 4’s experiment around
so-called gender-critical feminists who juries — aka Big Brother goes to
argue that people cannot change their court — comes to a crescendo this
biological sex. evening when we learn the
Tension around this subject contrib- verdicts of the two teams.
uted to the resignation of Victoria The Jury: Murder Trial has lived
McCloud, Britain’s only transgender down to the expectation of many
judge, as exclusively reported last week criminal law experts by playing
in The Times. Since 2010, McCloud, 54, fast and loose with courtroom
has been a master, or civil law judge, in procedure in favour of jurors
the Queen’s, and now the King’s, Bench giving a running commentary on
Division of the High Court. the evidence. In real crown court
In a leaked resignation letter trials judges remind jurors not to
McCloud said: “I have reached the con- discuss the evidence with even
clusion that in 2024 the national situa- their fellow jury members until the
tion and present judicial framework is prosecution and defence have
no longer such that it is possible in a dig- closed and they retire for
nified way to be both ‘trans’ and a sala- deliberation. And counsel for the
ried, fairly prominent judge in the UK.” Crown do not produce alleged
McCloud blamed the rise of the gen- murder weapons from beneath
der-critical movement, which had re- their gowns to gasps from the
sulted in the judge becoming “a target”. Victoria McCloud warns that democracy is at stake unless steps are taken to deal with some of the threats aimed at judges jury. As this newspaper’s television
The judiciary thanked McCloud for critic said, the mini-series was
her service. Several lawyers praised ruling after she was sacked for saying rected at judges and politicians, which from commenting on the impact that “fascinating” — but then so was
McCloud on Twitter/X. One said: “Not that people cannot change their biolog- go beyond free speech, our democracy their race has on the way that they are the first series of Big Brother.
only the loss of a fantastic judge, but a ical sex. She went on to found the cam- is at stake,” McCloud says. going about their job and their ability to
significant blow to judicial diversity.” paign group Sex Matters. The judge’s resignation announce- do their job,” Wagner says, adding that Feeling the pressure
Another wrote: “This is a huge loss to Forstater criticised McCloud on ment comes amid rising concerns McCloud, as the country’s only trans-
the judiciary, and our justice system is Twitter/X for attending an event orga- about social media activity after the gender judge, is in a “unique and com- ESG is a lot like LSD. Yes, the
poorer for it.” nised by the campaign group Stonewall controversy surrounding a district plex situation”. former is business jargon and the
Others suggested that McCloud was and what she believes are wrong state- judge who liked a comment by a barris- The freedom of expression of judges latter is a psychedelic drug that
the author of her own misfortune by ments about equality law on the issues ter on LinkedIn that described Israel as — as with everyone else — is protected was popular in the Sixties. But
posting comments on LinkedIn that of sex and gender that McCloud made a “terrorist”. The judge, Tan Ikram, has by human rights law. However, Lewis both create hallucinations — in
dived into the debate around gender on social media. She also suggested that said that he liked the comment by mis- Graham, a law fellow at Wadham Col- the case of ESG (environmental,
identity in a manner that was inappro- McCloud should not have heard part of take. lege, Oxford, says that it is easy to justi- social and corporate governance),
priate for a sitting judge. a case brought by a woman who was Lord Sumption, a former Supreme fy limiting them. it convinces businesses and their
Guidance to judges that was updated challenging her dismissal from the Lib- Court judge, supports the general prin- He notes that the Human Rights Act lawyers that they are doing the
last year states that they “should not eral Democrats in a claim that touched ciple that serving judges should not 1998 “permits limitations done for the right thing by their employees,
use their judicial title on social media” on gender identity. publicly express views on controversial purpose of maintaining the authority society and the planet, when all
and should refrain from political activi- Forstater accuses McCloud of failing issues, stating that “contributing to ex- and impartiality of the judiciary”. He they are really doing is coining it.
ty or commenting on “matters of con- to accept “that it’s not compatible being changes on social media is usually un- adds that judicial freedom of speech in However, not everyone has
troversy”. a judge if you want to comment on con- wise”. the UK is guided by convention rather swallowed the Kool-Aid — or
Sarah Phillimore, a family law barris- tentious political debates”. Responding, Sumption says that judges “are ex- than strict rules. some of those who have are
ter and prominent gender-critical ad- McCloud tells The Times: “As a general pected to leave their prejudices at the experiencing a hangover. A survey
vocate, formally complained to the point, just as I would lay down my life court door”. He adds that “they are not of 600 leaders of large UK
Judicial Investigations Office in 2022 for the rule of law, I would do so for the expected to discard their own experi- exclusive to subscribers businesses published today found
over McCloud’s comments on social right to free speech, including theirs.” ence of life but they should not allow it Testimony tech Doubts that 72 per cent admitted that they
media. The complaint was rejected on She says that it is especially impor- to displace the evidence or the law”. felt pressure to set the targets
the basis that the judge was expressing tant “that where a judge needs to speak Adam Wagner, an outspoken human over recorded evidence without being sure of how they
personal views. Phillimore tells The up, she is able to do so just as can they”, rights barrister, says that judges “are Dark web Punish everyone were going to reach them. “Poor
Times that McCloud’s behaviour in particularly in the face of “gender-criti- not machines” but have religious, ra- ESG performance can lead to
“nakedly” conveying a political belief is cal extremism” from others. She adds cial, sexual and other identities and involved in child abuse reputational damage, legal
“unacceptable for a serving judge” and that she does not put Phillimore or For- issues that are deeply personal to them Building safety Stronger liabilities and financial losses,”
is “a recusal waiting to happen”. stater in that bracket. and affect their ability to go about their regulations are needed warned James Bosley, an executive
In 2021 Maya Forstater won an ap- “Unless steps are taken to deal with lives and jobs. “You would not expect a at Gallagher, the insurance
peal against an employment tribunal some of the threats and language di- black or an Asian judge to be prevented thetimes.co.uk company that conducted the
research. Pass the acid.
Lawyer of the week Daniel Gal KC Victory for Mastercard
Daniel Gal KC, a partner at the may have thought it was doing, of the High Court of Australia; and been playing around with the Much celebrating at the UK
London office of the US law firm the original tribunal had actually agitator for social justice. background effects on the offices of the US finance company
Skadden, led a team in a landmark completely failed to decide home computer. Mastercard as the credit card
international arbitration victory for the very matter which was What is the best advice merchants trumpeted the latest
Agility Public Warehousing in dispute. you have received? What are the best and worst ruling in a long-running
Company KSCP. The legal team Just keep it simple: elements of being a lawyer? multibillion-pound battle with
successfully annulled a 2021 award What is the best a good advocate The best is the ability to run cases Walter Merricks, the former
issued by the International Centre decision you have should be able to arising in varied industries around financial services ombudsman.
for Settlement of Investment taken as a lawyer? reduce and distil the the world and under differing legal Merricks is leading an action in
Disputes that had dismissed Agility’s To push for a six- morass of detail in a systems; the worst is rarely being which it is claimed that
claim against the Republic of Iraq month secondment case to its essence. able to disconnect from work — but Mastercard forced shoppers to pay
brought under the 2015 Iraq-Kuwait in Rio de Janeiro that may just be how I am wired. higher prices through fees it
bilateral investment treatment and when I was young. What is the charged merchants in the 16 years
international law. It ended up as the funniest thing that What is your favourite book? to 2008. The company said that a
foundation for years of has happened in The Count of Monte Cristo by decision by the Competition
What were the biggest hurdles international work and your job? [Alexandre] Dumas: a superb tale Appeal Tribunal on Monday
you had to overcome in this case? enduring friendships. During the first remote trial of single-minded pursuit of justice meant that more than 90 per cent
The threshold for annulment is high I handled, watching as a witness and retribution. of Merricks’s case “fails factually”.
and challenges rarely succeed. We Whom do you most admire in the appeared on screen for cross- Merricks disputes Mastercard’s
had to find a simple and persuasive law? The late Lionel Murphy QC: a examination in the guise of an Frances Gibb interpretation of the latest ruling
way of showing that despite what it reforming attorney-general; justice enormous koala. His children had [email protected] and vows to fight on.
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 55

Weather
Today Cloud and rain in the southeast but sunnier with showers further north and west. Max 11C (52F), min -5C (23F) Weather Eye
Paul Simons
Around Britain Five days ahead Wind speed Sea state Orkney Shetland
Key: b=bright, c=cloud, d=drizzle, pc=partly cloudy Frosty mornings at times, 34 Calm
du=dull, f=fair, fg=fog, h=hail, m=mist, r=rain, (mph) 40 6
sh=showers, sl=sleet, sn=snow, s=sun, t=thunder then showers spreading Slight 31
*=previous day **=data not available over most of the British Temperature Moderate
Rough
Temp C Rain mm Sun hr* Isles, wintry in places 28 (degrees C)
7
midday yesterday 24 hrs to 5pm yesterday
7 33
7 R 0.0 6.3
Tomorrow Flood alerts and warnings
Aberdeen
Some sunny spells but areas of cloud
Aberporth 10 R 3.6 0.2
and rain will spread eastwards, falling At 17:00 on Wednesday there were 7

T
Anglesey 9 D 2.6 0.0 as sleet or snow in Ireland, Wales and 100 flood alerts and 37 warnings 3
Aviemore 7 C 0.4 2.7 northern Britain. Thundery showers in England, two flood alerts and no
Barnstaple 11
9
R
PC
6.6
0.4
**
**
over southern Britain.
warnings in Wales and no flood alerts 33
Aberdeen
C F oday is a leap day, which
Bedford Max 9C, min -5C
Belfast 10 C 2.6 1.9
or warnings in Scotland. 35 95
comes round every four
For further information and updates 30 86
Birmingham 7 R 1.4 **
in England visit flood-warning- years, perhaps especially
Bournemouth 9 C 2.2 1.9 4 NORTH 25 77
welcome for anyone
information.service.gov.uk, for Wales 20 68
Bridlington 8 C 0.0 **
naturalresources.wales/flooding and SEA 15 59 whose birthday is on
Bristol 8 C 1.4 0.1
for Scotland SEPA.org.uk 5
Camborne 11 D 2.4 1.0
4 Edinburgh
10 50
February 29. But why
Cardiff 8 R 2.2 0.0
9
27 Glasgow 5 41
bother with leap days? The simple
Edinburgh 10 C 0.2 2.4 0 32
Eskdalemuir 6 D 2.4 1.6
6 24 -5 23 truth is if they didn’t exist, the
Glasgow 8 D 2.4 2.0
7
-10 14 calendar would gradually drift out of
Hereford 8 C 1.4 **
Herstmonceux 10 C 0.4 4.5 ATLANTIC Londonderry -15 5 sync with the seasons and there
Ipswich 8 C 0.0 2.4
Newcastle would be chaos.
OCEAN Carlisle
Isle of Man 9 C 5.4 1.3
Saturday Belfast This all stems from the usual
Isle of Wight 10 PC ** ** 8
Jersey ** ** ** 1.0 Sunny spells and a scattering of 8 6 assumption that a year is 365 days
showers, some turning heavy and
Keswick 7 C 0.4 ** thundery at times. Sleet and snow
6
rk
York long. A year is the time it takes for
Kinloss
Leeds
11
7
C
R
0.2
1.0
3.7
**
showers in Wales, northern England
and Scotland.
24 the Earth to complete its orbit
Lerwick 7 C 5.4 5.7 Max 9C, min -4C Manchester Hull
around the sun, but in fact a year is
Leuchars 8 C 0.0 5.5 Liverpoo
Liverpool 8 slightly more than 365 days and that
Lincoln 9 C 0.2 0.5 Galway IRISH 9
means that a calendar based on
Liverpool 8 C 0.2 ** 5 SEA Sheffield
London 11 C 0.0 3.8 Dublin
Llandudno
9 exactly 365 drifts out of sync with
Lyneham 8 C 0.8 1.1 the seasons.
Manchester 8 C 1.4 0.0
Margate 10 D 0.0 6.5
7 8
Shrewsbury
Nottingham Ancient civilisations that
Milford Haven 10 R 7.2 ** 9
Norwich
depended on knowing the timings of
Newcastle 10 C 0.2 ** 23 6 the seasons needed a more accurate
Nottingham 7 R 0.6 0.2
8
Birmingham Cambridge calendar. Julius Caesar tried
Orkney 7 R 5.2 2.5 Cork
Oxford 10 C 0.0 ** 8
Swansea Oxford 10 improving the calendar based on
Plymouth
Portland
10
10
D
R
2.8
2.2
**
** Cardiff
365.25 days in a year, created with
Scilly, St Mary’s 11 D 1.0 **
Sunday Channel Islands CELTIC 11 the help of the Greek astronomer
Shoreham 11 C 0.0 3.7 Mostly dry with sunny spells but
SEA Bristol London Sosigenes, who was introduced to
areas of thicker cloud may bring a
Shrewsbury 7 C 2.2 0.0 9
Snowdonia 8 D 5.0 **
few isolated showers in southern and
western England, Wales, Scotland and Southampton
Caesar by Cleopatra.
8 In the new Julian calendar, leap
Southend 10 C 0.0 3.7 parts of Ireland. eter
Exeter
South Uist 9 R 3.8 ** Max 9C, min -5C 14 Plymouth Brighton days were added every four years to
Stornoway 7 D 1.6 1.7
Tiree 9 D 1.8 **
make up the difference with the
Whitehaven 7 M 0.2 2.7 5
9 seasons — but this calendar year
CHANNEL 24
Wick 7 C 0.4 ** 11 was still about 11 minutes shorter
Yeovilton 10 R 4.2 0.5
than the solar year and so gradually
7
General situation: Rather cloudy with spells. Light southwesterly wind. areas of thicker cloud. Fresh to strong the calendar drifted out of step with
The world 8
a longer period of rain in southern Maximum 9C (48F), minimum 0C (32F). southwesterly wind, gale-force near the seasons.
All readings local midday yesterday
Britain, otherwise sunny spells and the W Mids, NW Eng, Cen N Eng, Wales, the Northern Isles. Maximum 8C (46F), In fact, a true solar year is not
Alicante 17 S Madeira 18 B 9 risk of showers. Lake District, NE Eng, SW Scotland, minimum -3C (27F). precisely 365.25 days, it’s
Amsterdam 9 B Madrid 13 PC SW Eng, Cen S Eng, SE Eng, E Anglia, IoM: Dry in the morning with hazy Republic of Ireland, N Ireland, Argyll,
Athens 18 B Malaga 18 S
London, E Mids, Channel Is: Overcast spells of sunshine, then the risk of an Cen Highland, Glasgow, NE Scotland: 365.2421897 days, and although the
Auckland 23 S Mallorca 12 B
with outbreaks of rain, heavy at times. afternoon shower. Light to moderate Sunny spells and a scattering of heavy difference between 0.25 and 0.242
Bahrain 21 S Malta 19 PC Monday
Bangkok 33 PC Melbourne 30 B Frosty at first in Scotland and northern
Sunshine in southwest England later. westerly wind. Maximum 9C (48F), and perhaps thundery showers, falling may seem trifling, over 128 years the
Barbados 29 PC Mexico City 28 S and eastern England at first. A band of Moderate to fresh southwesterly wind, minimum -2C (28F). as sleet or hail in places. Some snow solar calendar diverges by an entire
cloud and rain will spread eastwards veering westerly and easing. Maximum Edinburgh and Dundee, Moray Firth, over the Highlands. Moderate to fresh
Barcelona 15 PC Miami 24 B
across Ireland and into the rest of 11C (52F), minimum 0C (32F). Borders, NE Scotland, Aberdeen, southwesterly wind, strong near the
day from the Julian calendar.
Beijing 5 S Milan 13 B
Beirut 19 S Mombasa 35 PC
Britain, falling as sleet in places.
E Eng: Cloudy with showery rain at N Isles: Mainly dry with sunny spells, coast. Maximum 8C (46F), minimum That created havoc with the dates
Max 10C, min -2C
Belgrade 17 S Montreal 13 B first, then turning dry with sunny but the risk of an isolated shower from -5C (23F). of religious festivals, so in 1582 Pope
Berlin 4 DU Moscow 0 S Gregory XIII introduced the
Bermuda 19 PC Mumbai 33 **
Bordeaux 12 B Munich 6 C
6 Tides Noon today
1040 LOW
HIGH Gregorian calendar, still used today.
Brussels 8 B Nairobi 26 B Tidal predictions. HIGH 1032
It is somewhat more complicated
Heights in metres
Bucharest 9 PC Naples 17 PC
9
than the Julian one. The Gregorian
Budapest 14 S New Orleans 26 B Today Ht Ht 1032
Buenos Aires 28 B New York 11 B 9 Aberdeen 03:57 3.8 16:04 4.0 1024 calendar categorised years divisible
Cairo 20 S Nice 15 C Avonmouth 09:48 12.1 22:02 11.8
LOW
1016 1024 by four as leap years, except for
Calcutta 28 ** Nicosia 21
2
S
B 8
Belfast 01:35 3.1 13:54 3.4 1000
1008 LOW those also divisible by 100. Years
Canberra 29 S Oslo Cardiff 09:33 11.3 21:46 11.0 976
Cape Town 33 S Paris 9 B 08:24 5.1 20:38 4.9
LOW 1016 also divisible by 400 remain leap
Devonport 984 984
Chicago 21 B Perth 30 S
Dover 01:20 6.4 13:29 6.2 992 992 years. This calendar gives an
Copenhagen 4
20
C
PC
Prague 6
0
B
S Tuesday Dublin 02:03 3.9 14:14 4.0 1000 average year of 365.2425 days, just
Corfu Reykjavik
Delhi 23 ** Riga 3 DU A dry day with sunny spells and areas Falmouth 07:46 4.8 19:53 4.6 1008
1008 half a minute longer than the solar
of patchy cloud over England and
Dubai 24 S Rio de Janeiro 30 PC
Wales. Some sunny spells but most of
Greenock 03:15 3.2 15:13 3.5 1016 LOW Cold front year, and so it takes 3,300 years
Harwich 02:10 3.7 14:31 3.7
Dublin
Faro
12
17
B
S
Riyadh
Rome
26
18
S
S
the day will be cloudy in Ireland and
Holyhead 00:45 5.1 12:58 5.3 1032
1024
Warm front before the Gregorian calendar drifts
Scotland with showery rain.
Florence 17 PC San Francisco 15 B Max 10C, min -2C Hull 08:59 6.9 21:04 7.0
1040
Occluded front out by a day from the seasonal cycle.
Frankfurt 8 S Santiago 30 S Leith 05:18 5.0 17:28 5.1 HIGH Trough
Geneva 10 B São Paulo 30 PC Liverpool 01:32 8.6 13:42 8.7
Gibraltar
Helsinki
17
0
S
D
Seoul
Seychelles
9
32
S
PC
8 London Bridge
Lowestoft
04:25 6.7
--:-- --
16:39 6.6
12:19 2.2
Synoptic situation Highs and lows
24hrs to 5pm yesterday
Hours of darkness
Aberdeen 18:09-06:30
Speak directly to one
32 B A frontal wave in southeastern
of our forecasters on
Hong Kong 19 PC Singapore Milford Haven 08:48 6.5 21:03 6.2
Warmest: Exeter, Belfast 18:28-06:41
Honolulu 27 PC St Petersburg 2 DU
9 Morecambe 01:43 8.7 13:53 8.8 Britain will spread eastwards, Devon, 13.0C Birmingham 18:15-06:22
Istanbul 13 S Stockholm 2 B bringing rather cloudy skies
Jerusalem
Johannesburg
21
17
S
B
Sydney
Tel Aviv
28
21
B
S
10 Newhaven
Newquay
01:33 6.4
07:41 6.5
13:42 6.2
19:56 6.3 and showery rain over most
of southern England. Blustery
Coldest: Cairngorm, -3.5C
Wettest: Scolton,
Pembrokeshire, 11.6mm
Cardiff
Exeter
18:21-06:26
18:24-06:26 09065 777675
Oban 08:08 3.7 20:26 3.6 Sunniest: Manston, 6.5hrs* Glasgow 18:19-06:36
Kuala Lumpur 35 PC Tenerife 22 PC over Ireland and Scotland as
** ** 12 PC 10 Penzance 07:12 5.2 19:27 5.0 Liverpool 18:18-06:28 8am to 5pm daily (calls are charged
Kyiv Tokyo an area of low pressure to the
21 PC 4 C Portsmouth 02:04 4.4 14:08 4.3 Sun and moon London 18:09-06:14 at £1.55 plus network extras)
Lanzarote Vancouver east of Iceland pushes troughs For Greenwich Manchester 18:15-06:25
Las Palmas 22 PC Venice 13 B Shoreham 01:33 5.9 13:44 5.8 Sun rises: 06.45
The Times weather page Southampton 01:30 4.3 13:41 4.3
eastwards bringing a scattering Newcastle 18:10-06:24
Lima 22 M Vienna 11 S Sun sets: 17.38
of showers. Some showers Moon rises: 23.22 Norwich 18:02-06:09
Lisbon 15 PC Warsaw 12 B is provided by Swansea 08:53 8.8 21:08 8.5
moving into Wales and northern Moon sets: 08.26 Fri Penzance 18:32-06:34
Los Angeles 17 PC Washington 17 C Tees 06:21 5.0 18:27 5.1
Luxor 23 S Zurich 8 B
England later. Third quarter: March 3 Sheffield 18:12-06:22
Weymouth 09:16 1.8 21:26 1.7 weatherquest.co.uk
56 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

Sport
Premiership’s plan to win over fans?
Embrace the big hits and physicality
Leading figures from
the top division have
ditched RFU’s more
wholesome approach,
writes Alex Lowe

T
he subject over lunch is the
marketing of rugby. Simon
Massie-Taylor, the chief
executive of Premiership
Rugby, recalls a Nike advert
from 1993 that featured a menacing
image of Brian Moore, the England
hooker, and the tagline: “It’s not the
winning, it’s the taking apart.”
“I had that poster on my bedroom
wall,” Massie-Taylor says.
Nike’s edgy campaign also included
a line-up of grizzled England players
in the style of a police photofit. The
message was unequivocal. Rugby is
not for the fainthearted. Rugby is a
sport about confrontation,
intimidation and physicality. These
England players are to be feared.
The RFU was furious at the time.
“We do not wish for advertisements
of this type, which bring the game
into disrepute,” it said in a statement.
“They are bad for the image of the
game.” Ask anyone who came up
against Moore or Martin Johnson,
who both featured in the “Wanted”
poster, and they will tell you the tone
of that campaign was bang on.
The attitude at Twickenham has
not changed. As custodians of the
community game with a responsibility
for driving up participation, the image
the RFU needs to present is more
wholesome, more family-oriented. Gloucester’s Chris Harris tackles Sale’s Joe Carpenter. Massie-Taylor, below, says advertising rugby’s brutality — as Nike did in the 1990s, top — will attract new fans
Sponsors and the legal case brought
by former players with brain injuries theme encapsulated by Nike in the many UFC fans have ever stepped “There are certain brands that have “We will have a bullseye focus on that:
will have a bearing on that too. early 1990s, championing the physical into a mixed martial arts (MMA) controversial elements and clearly we what is it that is great about rugby
Premiership Rugby has battles on the field, building rivalries cage? sit in that territory because we are a that can attract people who are open
traditionally followed suit. Courtney and making stars of the players. Research by Ernst & Young placed contact sport. There is a risk of to it but are not engaging with it?”
Lawes, the former England captain, “The Courtney thing was bang on,” rugby fourth in the table of sports for leaning away from your USP in a bid Premiership Rugby is targeting
wrote in The Times this month about Rob Calder, Premiership Rugby’s head overall engagement but outside the to appeal to all. Suddenly you are more “cut through” events. As part of
professional rugby’s need to stop of growth, says. “We had to make sure top 20, behind MMA, dancing and marketing what you are not.” its discussions with broadcaster TNT
being so anxious and start promoting everybody felt that way. And that is climbing, for engagement with the 18 Massie-Taylor says the statistics in Sports, Premiership Rugby is planning
the game as a gladiatorial contest. what the wider audience wants. I felt to 24 age group. the Ernst & Young paper were to add in a second derby weekend
“Rugby is a dangerous game and it when I was at the World Cup for The lesson for rugby lies, of all “pointing toward irrelevance” and so next season. The Big Game, staged by
people like that,” he wrote. “People the Fiji game. Courtney got picked up places, in the lingerie world and the the research was designed to find out Harlequins at Twickenham in
love the big hits and off-the-ball by two Fijian forwards and dumped case study of Victoria’s Secret, which why young people were not engaged December, complete with DJ
scraps, especially as they are always into touch. This visceral moment demonstrated the risk of denying with rugby. “The response back, performances, laser shows and some
followed by players shaking hands happened in the stands. Everyone was your true identity and being afraid to especially from this demographic, was thrilling rugby, is seen as the
after the game and going back to on the edge of their seats. acknowledge that you operate in a that people love it,” he says. “But the benchmark for putting rugby at the
being mates. “The players want us to do this. field that comes with controversy. marketing for it has been heart of a show.
“That is what rugby is. That is what They look at the NRL [Australian “Victoria’s Secret was famous for underinvested, not coordinated and The Premiership final is just over
makes rugby a great game and we rugby league] and want to feel like Gisele posters and selling ‘sex’, apologetic.” 100 days from now and ticket sales
need to start being unapologetic that. Rugby has an establishment, which was all part of their core The headline sponsor of the are said to be up year on year.
about that.” conservative feel to it and we don’t brand,” Massie-Taylor says. Premiership, Gallagher, a Television audiences are increasing
The day his column was published, see that when we look at the NRL. “Then ten years ago they got company that sells risk, is and the rolling average for ticket sales
Massie-Taylor messaged Lawes to let We need to amp it up. There is no caught up in the culture war believed to be supportive of has hit 90 per cent, despite clashes
him know that Premiership Rugby had reason we can’t make that happen. and started apologetically this chest-out marketing with the World Cup at the start of the
reached the same conclusion. Rugby in “Rugby talks a lot about values but marketing themselves as a strategy from Premiership season; early evidence that a
England was failing to generate they will not help you get new brand for all and Rugby, which could also reduction of the league to ten teams,
engagement with a new audience, audiences. It is the spectacle, the suddenly lost their include tweaks to the however unfortunate the
particularly 18 to 24-year-olds, because narrative, the extreme athletes. They edge. shot clock or stricter circumstances, has been beneficial.
it had got the marketing all wrong. want box-office entertainment. We “Meanwhile the refereeing over scrums “The final should set the standard
Premiership Rugby conducted a will not lose rugby fans from doing lingerie market and lineouts that for the kind of day out these big
survey that confirmed rugby’s that. I love Courtney’s line that rugby has gone up, would help to speed moments are,” Calder says. “We want
physicality was critical to people’s is for anyone but not everyone.” Rihanna has up the game. more of them through the season. It
enjoyment of the domestic top flight. By that, Lawes meant that the sport taken a chunk “Marketing at its is about creating curtain-raiser
Current players were then brought was open for anyone to play, people of of the market best is about moments, starting the season with a
into the discussion and they all all shapes, sizes and backgrounds, but share and simple truths,” bang, the derby weekends that TNT
agreed with Lawes. it did not suit everyone because it Victoria’s Calder, who loved, the festive fixtures and then
Starting immediately and working required a certain mentality, a certain Secret tanked was one of the bouncing back after the Six Nations
towards the start of a new television “grit”. But Lawes said that did not because it brains behind with the run-in to the play-offs. That
deal next season and a full rebrand in mean non-players could not engage basically lost the Hundred all gives us a chance to reach beyond
2025, the Premiership will revive that with the professional game. How its core. in cricket, adds. the rugby audience.”
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 57

Sport
Feyi-Waboso prioritises exam Murray: I don’t plan on
playing beyond summer ‘There’s no rankings conspiracy’
Rugby union ed his part-time course in Exeter when Tennis Andy Murray confirmed he is Golf would come with an asterisk. “It is the
Will Kelleher his old club Wasps went bust and he set to retire this summer after losing Rick Broadbent mission to rank everyone and there is
Deputy Rugby Correspondent joined Exeter Chiefs in 2022. It is under- to Ugo Humbert in the second round no anti-LIV conspiracy,” Dawson said.
stood his exam must be done in person. of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis The row over world ranking points “Any system that isn’t covering all
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will miss It means that the Bath wing Will Championships. continues to hinder attempts to unify players has issues. Equally, it is a matter
England training in York this week as Muir, who played for England A against Murray produced his best win for golf, but the man at the top has insisted for the tours to do their best to conform
he returns to the University of Exeter Portugal in the 91-5 win at Welford several months in the first round by that “there is no anti-LIV conspiracy”. to ranking norms. I’m not here to say
for a first-year medical exam. Road on Sunday, replaces Feyi-Waboso seeing off Denis Shapovalov but fell Peter Dawson, the former chief exec- the LIV format is worse or better than
The wing, 21, scored after coming off for the camp this week. Feyi-Waboso to a 6-2 6-4 loss against Frenchman utive of the R&A and now chairman of anything else, but it is different
the bench for his second cap against will return next week before the Six Humbert, the world No 18. the board at Official World Golf Rank- and that’s what makes it tricky.”
Scotland at Murrayfield during Nations match at Twickenham against “I’m likely not going to play past ing, also said he hoped that a peace deal The main reason LIV was denied
England’s 30-21 Six Nations defeat on Ireland on March 9. this summer,” said Murray, 36. “I get in golf would resolve the issue. ranking points was its “closed-shop”
Saturday. However, Feyi-Waboso Meanwhile, the half backs Marcus asked about it after every single LIV Golf’s application to receive nature rather than the 54-hole, no-cut
cannot attend the fallow-week training Smith and Alex Mitchell will continue match that I play. I’m bored of the ranking points was rejected in October, format which could be dealt with by a
camp, where England will gather for their rehabilitation from injuries. Smith question. and OWGR has received flak in the in- mathematical formula.
three days in Yorkshire, as he prioritises pulled his calf in the build-up to the “I’m not going to talk more about terim. Last week, Greg Norman, the LIV Dawson hopes talks between the
his studies. tournament but he could be fit to face that between now and whenever the commissioner, said it was “laughable” PGA Tour and Saudi Public Invest-
He started his medical degree at Ireland. Mitchell tweaked knee liga- time comes for me to stop. But, yes, I that only four LIV players were placed ment Fund will bring matters to a head.
Aston University, when he did not get ments in an open training session at don’t plan on playing much past this in the top 50, and Talor Gooch claimed “I have no inside track on what is being
into Cardiff University, but then restart- Twickenham on February 16. summer.” a Rory McIlroy win at the Masters discussed,” he said.

4.25 Handicap Hurdle (£6,073: 3m) (14) 6.30 Fillies’ Novice Stakes
Taunton (£4,590: 1m) (7) Ludlow
Rob Wright Rob Wright

2.50 Handicap Chase (£5,281: 3m) (7)

2.30 Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap

2.05 Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle (£3,697: 2m) (8)
Hurdle (£5,281: 2m 3f) (10)
7.00 Handicap (£4,004: 1m) (8)

3.25 Junior ‘National Hunt’ Hurdle

(4-Y-O: £4,901: 2m) (8)
5.00 Mares’ Handicap Chase
(£7,024: 2m 6f) (5)
3.05 Novices’ Handicap Chase
(£4,753: 3m) (9)

7.30 Guaranteed Handicap

2.40 Novices’ Limited Handicap (£4,004: 7f) (9)
Hurdle (£5,281: 2m 3f) (9)

4.00 Handicap Chase

5.35 Open NH Flat Race (£7,657: 2m 3f) (6)
(£2,722: 2m 104yd) (10)

3.40 Mares’ Handicap Hurdle

(£6,337: 3m) (8)
8.00 Classified Stakes (£4,004: 6f) (8)
3.15 Novices’ Hurdle (£4,955: 2m 3f) (8)
4.35 Handicap Hurdle
(£9,242: 2m 4f) (9)

4.15 Handicap Chase (£9,506: 3m) (7)

Chelmsford Cty
Rob Wright 8.30 Handicap (£4,004: 1m 2f) (10)

3.50 Handicap Chase (£7,024: 2m 7f) (6)

5.10 Handicap Hurdle
(£3,169: 2m 4f) (14)
5.30 Handicap (£6,281: 5f) (5)
4.50 Novices’ Hurdle (£4,357: 2m) (8)

Wetherby
Rob Wright
Course specialists 6.00 Handicap (£3,943: 5f) (9)

5.24 Mares’ Novices’ Handicap

Chase (£5,281: 2m 4f) (5)
2.15 Novices’ Hurdle (£3,812: 2m 4f) (8)

Yesterday’s racing results

Bangor-on-Dee Kempton Park Wincanton

58 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

Sport Athletics

Lewis fiasco is
proof BBC Sport
has abandoned
all impartiality
which they almost certainly won’t
Martin Samuel because Lewis is a good ambassador,
and the role is largely ceremonial
when compared to that of, say, chief
executive officer Jack Buckner — the
president of UK Athletics will still be
calling the sport on the BBC, in all
but name. In the meantime, the word

T
is Hannah England, a UK Athletics
he president of UK Athletics vice-president, may take her place.
will no longer be calling the She is also, on occasions, a BBC voice.
athletics at the Olympics for And some may think this does not
the BBC. That job will matter. They want partisan coverage
instead fall to Dame Denise of Olympics events. But it’s a slippery
Lewis, the former president of UK slope and the BBC has been hurtling
Athletics, a role she has stepped away down it for some time. It was in Sochi
from temporarily but may resume in 2014 that BBC commentators told
some time in the future. Monday, us that Great Britain had
August 12, the day after the Olympics “dominated” the slopestyle event,
ends, looks favourite. which must have come as a surprise
Pom poms at the ready again, then, to the United States, who won both
as BBC Sport heads to Paris. “Nation gold medals. Jenny Jones collected an Lewis, who has temporarily stood down as UK Athletics president, was a pundit for the BBC at last year’s World Championships
shall speak peace unto nation,” was admirable bronze, Britain’s first medal
the corporation’s original intention, on snow, and Aimee Fuller, a sports commentators with blokes wasn’t considered content, because How would he react if one was
which was ambitious to say the least. snowboard expert and at that time a from down the pub,” Ken Bruce said the public face of the BBC, or of any embroiled in scandal? Alberto
These days the BBC prefers itself competing member of Team GB’s on Radio 2, which was the sort of broadcaster, was straight and Salazar, Sir Mo Farah’s now
wrapped in a Union Jack and cheering Olympic squad, had to have her impartiality that may have done for impartial. Engaged, excited, discredited coach at the Nike Oregon
Team GB with all its might. For an microphone turned off because she him at the organisation years later. enthusiastic but not decked out with a Project, was undone by some brilliant
organisation that so often trumpets its started celebrating when Anna Tears at the rowing, Wales matches at rattle and scarf. At the Tokyo investigative journalism, not least
impartiality, all pretence has been Gasser, Jones’s rival, fell. Earlier, she the 2021 European Championships Olympics, Katherine Grainger was from the BBC’s Panorama team. Yet
abandoned with regards to sport. had inadvertently trampled all over summarised in the studio by three first present as the chairwoman of BBC Sport allowed Steve Cram to
Lewis is a fine analyst. Her Jones’s imminent achievement by former Wales players in a high state UK Sport. Then, when the rowing dismiss it as “a witch-hunt”.
experience and expertise are to be declaring that Alain Baxter was “still of excitement and, a personal began, she took off the officials’ Meanwhile, Paula Radcliffe, a Nike
valued. Discuss the sport and British a bronze medallist” despite having favourite, this, on Radio 5 Live during lanyard and replaced it with a BBC athlete, was on the BBC questioning
performance in her role as the that prize taken from him in 2002 the Women’s World Cup in 2015. “The one to join the team commentating the timing and cost of the United
president of UK Athletics by all over a failed drugs test. England team has just arrived to a big on her sport. States Anti-Doping Agency
means. We would all be interested to That tournament signposted the cheer, from me.” All of this is questionable. investigation into Salazar, without her
hear that interview. Yet sitting in the way forward. The expert on the Peter O’Sullevan once Impartiality, however, is important in conflict being mentioned.
studio, where observers should be women’s skeleton shared a house with commentated on his own horse athletics most of all. We know the What has this to do with Dame
neutral and dispassionate? How can Team GB’s protagonist in the event, winning a race and nobody would issues the sport has. We know that Denise? Well, at the height of the
this be? The BBC knew that, once the Lizzy Yarnold; the curling specialist have known. Yet no football match is hard questions sometimes must be Salazar investigation, Lord Coe — by
decision was reported by this had been in the same Olympic team as complete these days without footage asked. So those in the studio must be then president of the International
newspaper, they were compromised. the women’s captain four years earlier; of the guys in the studio going nuts prepared to do that. This week, Association of Athletics Federations
Lewis either had to lose her place on and an overwrought commentator when their team scores, and on the Michael Johnson — a gold standard but also a Nike man — was asked
the panel, or drop UK Athletics. She called a “definite medal” for Katie day England’s women played Spain in pundit for the BBC, up there with about Oregon. “Don’t run away with
chose the studio. Summerhayes in the ski slopestyle last year’s World Cup final, pundits John McEnroe as the voice of his the idea that the Nike Oregon Project
“Temporarily,” she announced. So after her run. She came seventh. As for standing around in England shirts. sport — announced he would be is a hole-in-the-wall, circa 1970s
this is the illusion of independence. the snowboard slopestyle debacle, You may find this acceptable, but setting up a tour to rival the Diamond Eastern Bloc operation,” he said. “It’s
Unless UK Athletics is so there were so many complaints the media areas are supposed to be free of League. How will that work out, if he not.” But it was. Coe may have been
disappointed with her decision that BBC had to apologise. fans. Jimmy Hill no doubt cheered is commenting on athletes who have too trusting to say so. That’s why
they make the split permanent — “The BBC seems to have replaced when England scored, too, but it joined his breakaway competition? impartiality matters.

I was broken but my love for athletics is back, says Reekie

Rick Broadbent “I had actually written down every- It shows the trials of a sport in provide the patriotic pinnacles. For follows obvious scripts. Injuries, errors
thing I was struggling with,” she says. which the goal is peaking once Reekie, a win may be the most mean- and improvements make for an unpre-
“I was terrified,” Jemma Reekie says as “One of them was I was a year. At the end of a turbulent ingful, a validation of her resilience and dictable mix. Those three are not in
she rewinds to a year ago. “I was never going to be as good as summer, Reekie was fifth at the the decision to move so far from home Glasgow but Habitam Alemu, of Ethio-
broken.” The Scottish 800m runner has I used to be. I needed World Championships in Bu- to Brighton to work with Bigg and Gun- pia, is and has the world’s best time this
always worn her heart on the sleeve, someone to believe in dapest. This year she has nell. Training with Muir, the year of 1min 57.86sec. Anyone
but few knew just how bad she felt as me. This time last year I was started strongly, winning Olympic 1,500m silver medal- running that fast in February
injury, illness and a coaching rift struggling and didn’t know in France and then set- list, had many upsides, but is likely to be a contender
coalesced into a perfect storm that left who to turn to.” ting a UK Indoor Reekie can now concen- World come August.
her wondering if she was burnt out. Losing the love of sport is a sadly Championships trate on shorter distan- A revived Reekie,
Reekie, 25, is on home turf at the familiar story. Reekie’s wrestle record in Birmingham. And the ces. “I’ve learnt to appre- Indoor second in the world so
World Indoor Championships in Glas- with that was fuelled by a welter of belief is growing again. ciate what I do a bit far in 2024, will also be a
gow this weekend, aiming for her first what-ifs. “I was just frazzled “It’s weird,” she says. “When I more and appreciate the Championships danger and the “broken”
senior global medal. It is an ambition mentally. I had glandular fever, look back I was so broken men- good races,” she says. “If Glasgow’s Emirates Arena athlete fixes a smile. If
that was in ruins this time last year too, and never let myself recover. tally, but not one day did I wake up I medal — and hopefully Starts tomorrow Reekie and Muir both tri-
when Reekie and her close friend Laura I didn’t appreciate what it would do and think I can’t do it any more. win — it would make up TV: BBC2, 9.30am umph at their old stomp-
Muir walked out on their long-term to my body. I had it when I was a I’ve always thought I’m almost for all those times I have just and 6.45pm ing ground, the emotion will
coach and mentor, Andy Young, child and was bed-bound for months. born to do this and I trusted that missed out. And there’s been a flow beyond the normal highs
amid rumours of controlling behav- I was so scared that was the way it was the love of my sport would come lot of times. And it would help me of climbing podiums. “We’re almost
iour. For Reekie, who clocked 1min going to be. I was thinking, ‘If other back. But it was hard period.” towards the summer because I really like sisters,” Reekie says. “We supported
56.90sec when coming fourth at the people have got over it why am I not The World Indoor Championships want one of those Olympic medals.” each other so much. It’s nice to know
Olympic Games in 2021, the joy had fine? Is it in my head? Is that it?’ ” start on Friday at Glasgow’s Emirates Form over the past few years sug- that we’re both happy with our new
been sucked from the sport, but hope Arena, with a Scottish triumvirate — gests Athing Mu, Keely Hodgkinson situations.” A happy ending, then, but
has been rekindled by new coaches Reekie is hoping to be back in Reekie, Muir and the world 1,500m and Mary Moraa will contest the med- potentially the start of something
Jon Bigg and Sally Gunnell, his wife. contention at the Olympics champion Josh Kerr — expected to als at the Olympics, but athletics rarely bigger.
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 59

Sport

Mike Atherton
Chief Cricket Correspondent

Robinson should follow Wagner’s lead

A
professional athlete has three throughout. With the match in the balance on
responsibilities in sport: to their the final day, he was not called upon at all by
team, to their team-mates and to Stokes. He was a peripheral presence.
themselves. They should perform He has an outstanding Test and first-class
with the team’s needs uppermost in record and is a skilful bowler, who benefits from
their mind; they must try to be a good and some natural advantages not given to others.
caring team-mate; and, crucially, they His height and high release point, combined
need to be able to look back at the end with his accuracy and skill, make him a very
of a career and know that they have difficult opponent when at his best. It is not
given full expression to their talent. hard to see why he would be part of England’s
Neil Wagner, the 37-year-old New plans, but he has a patchy fitness record and has
Zealand fast bowler who retired from played in just less than half of the 23 matches
international cricket this week, upheld his Stokes has captained.
part of the bargain. By his own admission, He was at his best in Pakistan, where he was
there were far more talented bowlers central to an imaginatively used attack, when he
around, but in finishing with 260 Test showed himself to be more than an English-
wickets at a strike rate bettered only by style bowler. He has been touted as the natural
Richard Hadlee of Kiwi bowlers to have successor to Stuart Broad, but it would have
taken more than 200 Test wickets, been hard to imagine Broad being so
he overachieved. He is not that anonymous in a match, like Ranchi, when the
tall and not that quick, but he series was on the line. Nor Wagner, for that
found a way. matter.
It was exactly a year ago to Absent for almost eight months after an
the day in Wellington that injury in the Ashes, Robinson has ground to
Wagner offered cherished make up now, just when England will be starting
evidence of his qualities to think about how to put together a strong
when New Zealand cohort of fast and fast-medium bowlers for the
squeaked home to hand Ashes in Australia in two winters’ time. It will be
Ben Stokes a second defeat an Ashes too far for Anderson — dare we write
since taking on the England him off? — but the cupboard is not bare.
captaincy permanently. A look at England’s centrally contracted list
Having followed on in that shows: Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Matthew
game, New Zealand hauled Potts, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson
themselves into a position from and Robinson. It was noticeable that Robinson
which they had a chance to win was the only one of those offered a single-year
the game, but they still needed New Zealand’s Wagner, who retired this week, gave his all during numerous exhausting short- deal. Matthew Fisher, Saqib Mahmood and John
Wagner to deliver the knockout ball spells, while Robinson, left, bowled at a pedestrian pace during the fourth Test in India Turner are on incremental contracts. As Turner
blow. showed, fast bowlers, more than batsmen or
With the game tilting towards of the time, which takes more effort. to victory on that occasion, which he did in spinners, can spring from nowhere, fast.
England, he bowled a fiery ten-over Wagner’s stamina is legendary. He another lengthy last-day spell, Wagner had a While McCullum admitted that Robinson was
spell at the end of the fifth day to turn worked with Chris Donaldson, the dozen pain-killing injections. He could barely below par in Ranchi, he offered encouragement,
it on its head. It was a gamble from the former New Zealand sprinter, now walk at the start of the day, but was running in too, and the next venue in the cooler north of
Kiwi captain, Tim Southee — Wagner their strength and conditioning coach, hard, if in great pain, at the end. the country should offer a little more for
had been subject to heavy treatment devising a programme around interval In an interview given to the Cricbuzz website seamers. “We know he’s a very good bowler. His
in the series — but Wagner sprints on repeat — 100m, rest, 200m, some years ago, he said this about his attitude to record suggests he’s got talent and it’s just
summoned reserves of energy and rest, 300m, rest, 400m and rest — to playing: “You never know when it’s your last making sure that we can release the talent so he
belief and ran in as though his life replicate the exertion of a bowling spell. day. I don’t want to look back and say I was too can get to the levels he wants to get to,”
depended on it, dismissed Stokes and Five sets takes about 30 minutes. There tired or couldn’t really push a little more to find McCullum said. Ultimately, coaches can prod
Joe Root, before snaring James was also the run up to the Mount that extra per cent. Play each game as if it’s your and cajole, but that will be down to Robinson
Anderson down the leg side to seal a Maunganui summit, which he and last.” himself.
thrilling victory by one run. This Boult, as local residents, would try to Wagner’s career and retirement came to mind McCullum was lucky enough to captain
week, he rated that among his most do in about 12 minutes, punishing while contemplating Ollie Robinson whose Wagner in his time with New Zealand. After the
memorable matches. themselves to the point of exhaustion. career, it has been said frequently this week Wellington match a year ago, McCullum gave us
Each wicket fell to Wagner’s familiar So far, so unexceptional as far as (fairly, I think), is at a crossroads. Aged 30, he his assessment of the man who retired this
short-ball ploy. Although he began life as professional sport is concerned, but a should have a while yet before time taps him on week, when he said: “Neil Wagner is one of the
a swing bowler, there were others in the Test match on his home ground the shoulder, but his performance in the Ranchi toughest I’ve come across. You know he’s got a
New Zealand team, notably Trent Boult and against Pakistan in December 2020, Test was not that of a man keen to make the huge heart and he’ll find a way when the going
Southee, who were better at that, so Wagner when he suffered two toes broken early most of what’s left. gets tough.” Wagner can look back on his career
reinvented himself to offer a different and in the game from a Shaheen Shah Afridi He had a poor match, as conceded by knowing he could have done no more. Robinson
complementary skill. Not only did he bowl a yorker, marked him out as a little Brendon McCullum, the England head coach: has more to offer and it is to be hoped he will
ten-over spell in Wellington, he was physically different among the breed. To give he scored a fifty, for sure, but dropped an feel the same fulfilment, when the moment
robust enough to do so bowling short most himself a chance of bowling his team important catch and bowled at pedestrian pace eventually comes to step away.

Kent plan 12,000-seat pop-up stadium for new Hundred team

continued from back would have a higher value to private in- LONDON sustainable ways of developing Becken-
vestors and, therefore, a third London ham into a pop-up stadium which could
probably ten teams after the present team when the tournament expands Worsley involve having stands accommodating
broadcast deal runs out in 2028. could raise further investment. Bridge at least 12,000 people for the Hundred.
As revealed by The Times, the tour- The Beckenham site is 24 acres, Road Revenue yielded from private invest-
nament is set to receive a huge injection which is bigger than the footprint of the Crystal Palace Kent County
ment into the Hundred, for which each
of private investment later in the year Kia Oval and Lord’s combined, and FC Academy Cricket Club county is initially expected to receive a
when the ECB auctions off 49 per cent already houses the second-largest in- £5 million lump sum when the ECB
stakes in each of the teams with a 51 per door cricket school in London. Kent auctions off its stakes in the teams,
cent stake being handed over to the host a number of men’s and women’s Copers could help Kent’s financial plan for the
Cope Road Beckenham
host venues. They can, in turn, sell off a matches there as well as offering it to Hill Road
development of Beckenham.
further stake to investors (although overseas touring sides — including Decisions about the Hundred will be
Surrey have said they would not be in- Australia, who used Beckenham as taken by the counties, MCC and the
terested in selling any of their stake, their training base before the Ashes last ECB in the coming months, with a pro-
Crystal Palace
preferring to keep control themselves). summer. training ground
Beckenham spectus for buying stakes in teams sent
Valuations of the Hundred teams Canterbury will remain Kent’s head- Palace Park to prospective investors in the summer
100 m
have shown that the London teams quarters but the county are exploring and an equity auction in the autumn.
60 2GM Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

Sport FA Cup fifth round

Casemiro’s
late show
takes heat
off Ten Hag
his occasional histrionics but his com-
Henry Winter mitment to the team cannot be doubt-
Chief Football ed. If he is carrying an injury, Fernan-
Writer
des should sit the international break

0
Nottingham Forest out. At least he ended with an assist.
Fernandes also executed a smart
short-corner routine with Alejandro

1
Garnacho that teed up Antony, who hit
Manchester United the bar after three minutes. Antony was
Casemiro 89
presented with this opportunity by Ten
Hag to show his worth, and win over the
For 89 minutes, the only element that doubters, but he faded and was with-
was elite about Manchester United was drawn to a predictable chorus of “what
the quality of their support. The long- a waste of money” from the locals.
suffering, 4,000-strong travelling con- Watching on was Sir Dave Brailsford,
tingent sang endlessly, even about the Ineos director of sport, who was
going to Wembley even when Notting- sitting next to Sir Alex Ferguson. One
ham Forest threatened to embarrass of the most immediate challenges for
their team. Their players raised their Brailsford, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, will be
game only in Fergie time, quick think- in instilling an elite performance cul-
ing finally replacing sluggishness. ture at United, in pruning the squad and Casemiro, the veteran Brazilian midfielder dives to head the late winner past the Forest goalkeeper Turner and set up a tie
United’s talented but overemotional then refreshing it with younger, hungri-
captain, Bruno Fernandes, had done er players, individuals with character. for Ten Hag, a good manager struggling visible after 34 minutes. This cup tie midfield, giving Casemiro some much
little all game but suddenly delivered a United didn’t have anyone with the to impose his philosophy because of the was so important for United’s season needed assistance. The inevitable prob-
clever free kick, given for Anthony confidence and determination of recurring injury issues. He has lost the and his credibility. Ten Hag was furious lem with Amrabat’s positioning was a
Elanga’s foul on Diogo Dalot, targeting Morgan Gibbs-White, who even left side of his defence, both elite players that a throw-in was given against his vulnerability to the counter. Divock
the near post, finding Casemiro. The though not at his creative best con- in Lisandro Martínez and Luke Shaw. team. It was only a throw-in, only on Origi was two yards adrift of Amrabat,
Brazilian’s stooping, flicked header set stantly impressed with the intelligence He’s wary of overplaying Kobbie the halfway line, but he was apoplectic. level within a second, and ahead within
up an enticing, cancel-all-leave epic of of his movement. At one point, Forest’s Mainoo, the teenager who brings such Ten Hag remonstrated with the assist- two, but his shot was easy for Onana.
an FA Cup quarter-final against Liver- left back, Harry Toffolo, was caught control to midfield. If his major signing ant, Neil Davies, gestured towards the Origi was on the right of Nuno’s
pool. Jürgen Klopp’s farewell tour just upfield, and Gibbs-White had spotted of Antony is a serial disappointment, fourth official, David Webb, and then 4-2-3-1 system, causing plenty of prob-
got livelier: Old Trafford on March 16 or the possibility of a United counter and then Ten Hag does deserve praise for received a lecture from Chris Kavan- lems for last season’s beaten finalists
17 in the cup, then April 7 in the league. sprinted back to fill the gap. his desire to recruit André Onana, who agh. “Cry in a minute,” chorused Forest with Elanga on the left. Gibbs-White
The Stretford End will go hoarse. Included among the many concerns impressed again here. fans, breaking off from barracking was central, ghosting past Casemiro so
Their team will need to play far better for Brailsford was how toothless United The pressure Ten Hag felt was very Wayne Rooney here on BBC punditry easily at one point, and looking to
than this if they are to live with Liver- look without Rasmus Hojlund, who duty. Clearly his Derby County release Taiwo Awoniyi. Forest were
pool, and even more so against Man- should at least be back from his muscle connection has not been forgotten by good. Neco Williams shot just wide.
chester City on Sunday. United have problem for the quarter-final. Marcus Quarter-final draw Forest fans. Onana saved from Awoniyi.
won seven of their past nine games yet Rashford ran hard at centre forward Such was the absence in movement The cameras, looking for interest in
remain unconvincing. Erik ten Hag but to little effect, failing to get his two Wolves v Coventry City in United’s attack, Rooney would have the crowd, moved away from Brailsford
claimed Fernandes was “targeted” by decent chances on target. Rashford Manchester United v Liverpool fancied his chances, even at 38. United and Ferguson and focused briefly on
Forest which was unfair, as Nuno Espír- prefers playing on the left, and cutting Chelsea v Leicester City still conjured up a couple of first-half another pair sitting side by side, Mark
ito Santo wouldn’t let his teams play in, but his team urgently need him Manchester City v Newcastle headed chances by Scott McTominay Clattenburg and Howard Webb. Clat-
that way, although the United manager through the middle, and they need him Quarter-final matches will be from Diogo Dalot crosses, both saved tenburg has added Forest’s referees’
has a point about the targeting of the contributing more than this. played on the weekend of by Matt Turner. analyst to his portfolio of work, advis-
player on social media. Ten Hag definitely needs his No 10 March 16 Sofyan Amrabat was used at left back ing Nuno. So Webb’s presence was
Fernandes doesn’t help himself with producing more. These are tense times with responsibility for inverting into intriguing, and amusing, as it looked

Breakout star Clinton biggest plus of Lionesses’ reset

Midfielder one of many and introducing new combinations.
After the difficult end to 2023, when
really good and that’s what you saw
now too.”
The under-23s did not have to look
hard for inspiration because Clinton,
illustrated England’s growing options.
“It gives us headaches to make
positives for Sarina they failed to qualify for the Nations
League semi-finals or the
England’s wins — 7-2 against
Austria and 5-1 against Italy —
20, was the trip’s breakout star. She
made her England debut against
choices for the next camp,” Wiegman
said after the Italy game.
Wiegman’s squad on Olympics on behalf of Great were emphatic, even if they were Austria and scored from central Admittedly, the progress came at a
Britain and Northern Ireland, far from the toughest tests. Having midfield, before putting in another cost. The combined attendance for
warm-weather camp, England have been able to England Under-23 in the camp authoritative showing in a more the two matches at the Estadio Nuevo
reset and refresh. was another plus. Emma advanced role against Italy. Mirador in Algeciras was less than
writes Kit Shepard “I might be the most Coates’s players were up Clinton, who is on loan from 2,000, with the swathes of empty

T
happy with that part,” close with the squad they Manchester United at Tottenham seats representing stunted
he bare facts of England’s Sarina Wiegman, the want to break into and Hotspur, combined well with Georgia momentum. “We love playing at
camp in southern Spain are England head coach, four players (Naomi Stanway in both games. These two home in England,” Bronze said. “That
positive. They won both said of the camp. Layzell, Aggie Beever- and Keira Walsh may be England’s is the only downside [of this camp].”
their friendlies by an “Of course it was a Jones, Jess Naz and Laura midfield trio of the immediate future, The next few months will indicate
aggregate of 12-3, unearthed huge disappointment in Blindkilde Brown) moved with Fran Kirby and Ella Toone whether the England management
a potential international stalwart in December, although I thought up to train with the seniors. facing a battle to regain starting spots. team were right. The Euro 2025
Grace Clinton and were able to we had a really good camp “It’s been nice to be around Elsewhere, Beth Mead continued qualifying draw is on Tuesday, with
experiment in low-pressure matches. [then] and our game flowed them,” Lucy Bronze, the 32- her comeback from an anterior the group stage taking place between
The trip was similarly fruitful away again, so that was already year-old defender, said. “A cruciate ligament injury with two April and July. If England slip up in
from the games. The players have few came up and trained with goals against Austria, Alessia Russo the qualifiers, it will make the
spent this week evolving their team’s Clinton, 20, scored against us. I would have died for that had bright moments as the No 9, and questionable treatment of supporters
style, bonding in their beachside hotel Austria and shone against Italy opportunity at that age.” Maya Le Tissier and Niamh Charles seem a little less worthwhile.
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 2GM 61

Sport

United’s new order

next to the old
Gallagher adds
United’s new and old order were
together at the City Ground last
night, with Sir Dave Brailsford —
recently brought in by the club’s new
touch of class
to deny Leeds
co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe — sitting
next to former manager Sir Alex
Ferguson and David Gill, former
chief executive of the club

Chelsea
Jackson 15, Mudryk 37, Gallagher 90 3
Leeds United
Joseph 8, 59 2
Alyson Rudd

This was a rip-roaring cup tie, the out-

come of which may well serve to propel
Chelsea to an inspired final few months
of the league campaign as well as
another cup run. On the other hand,
most of those streaming out of Stam-
ford Bridge may well wonder how it was
that Leeds United failed to capitalise
fully on a performance that was so high
on confidence and ebullience that there
was no gulf in class whatsoever.
Chelsea’s reward is a quarter-final tie Leeds scorer is
at home to another Sky Bet Champion-
ship club seemingly heading back to the
related to Heskey
Premier League, and Leicester City will Mateo Joseph, who scored both
take heart from how Leeds carved out of Leeds’s goals last night, is the
13 shots and matched the home team in son of former England striker
terms of possession. Emile Heskey’s cousin. Joseph,
After the club’s defeat at Wembley in 20, was born in Santander in
the EFL Cup on Sunday, Chelsea had Spain, and has an English father
been subjected to more opprobrium and Spanish mother. The striker
than they would have received had they joined Leeds from Espanyol in
been knocked out at the quarter-final 2022 and has represented
stage when they met Newcastle United. England at under-20 level.
with Liverpool. It came after a clever free kick from Fernandes, and was a huge relief to his under-fire manager Ten Hag This is partly because the defeat by Liv-
erpool exposed on a big stage the frail-
like the referees’ chief was almost man-
marking Clattenburg. Other clubs have
employed former referees, and Clatten-
Fernandes criticism ‘pathetic’ ties of an expensively assembled squad.
Was this victory a means to finally
end the repetition of Gary Neville’s
of a long dribble through midfield to
force a corner kick.
Farke’s team began the second period
burg’s recruitment reflected Forest’s description of Chelsea as “Blue billion- in the same vein. They were relaxed
frustration with some VAR decisions. Charlotte Duncker social media criticised him and that’s pound bottle jobs”? and thoughtful as well as energised. As
There was a VAR check on Casemi- pathetic. He has a serious injury but he “It is not fair to use this type of word the Leeds players passed the ball back
ro’s goal. Raphaël Varane was off but was Erik ten Hag accused Nottingham continued to play on Saturday [in the for a team that is so brave and a club and forth just outside the opposition
he obstructing Ryan Yates? Forest’s cap- Forest of targeting Bruno Fernandes 2-1 defeat by Fulham] and he fought to that is always showing it fights for big penalty area, Conor Gallagher, warm-
tain could not have reached Casemiro and hit out at “pathetic” criticism of be available in this game, and he has a things,” Mauricio Pochettino, the head ing up on the touchline, urged his team-
anyway. Casemiro looked nervously at the playmaker, claiming he played very high pain threshold. Last year he coach, said. “What can we do? Now mates to concentrate and battle.
the screen and at Kavanagh, who soon, despite a “serious injury”. did something similar against Spurs only with this type of performance An equaliser felt inevitable and sure
rightly, signalled the goal. Relief flooded The Manchester United captain was and then in the semi-final. It shows his show that we are brave, can win games.” enough, Anthony’s fine cross was met
through United, whose fans simply sang an injury doubt for the FA Cup clash leadership because he expresses his Leeds United arrived in west London at the far post by Joseph. The marking
about Wembley again. against Nottingham Forest but made character and that is very good when having not won at Stamford Bridge was poor but the precision of the move
himself available and provided the assist you are a leader in the team.” since 1999. The teams contested one of was impressive. Unsurprisingly, the
for Casemiro’s 89th-minute winner. While Ten Hag believed there were the feistiest ever FA Cup finals back in commitment of Gallagher was needed
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): M Turner 7 — Ten Hag said he was also pleased “many fouls” on Fernandes, Nuno 1970, which was won in a replay by and he came off the bench immediately.
N Williams 7, Felipe 7, Murillo 7, H Toffolo 7 —
R Yates 7 (G Reyna 90+3min), Danilo 6 (R Ribeiro Raphaël Varane had put himself for- Espírito Santo, the Forest head coach, Chelsea, a feat commemorated on the The Championship side were fearless
90+3) — A Elanga 6, M Gibbs-White 7, D Origi 7 (C ward to play, but would not elaborate on said there was no plan to hurt the front of the match programme with an while the Premier League team were not
Hudson-Odoi 79) — T Awoniyi 7. the type of problem Fernandes had or if Portugal international. image of floppy, sweaty fringes, muddy entirely sure how imperious they should
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): A Onana 7 —
D Dalot 7, R Varane 6, V Lindelöf 6, S Amrabat 5 he had received pain-killing injections. “He’s a very good player who needs to socks and a sense of euphoria that has try to be. Murmurings of bemusement
(J Evans 90+4) — Casemiro 7, S McTominay 6 “You saw that Forest was targeting be controlled but in a fair way not ever been lacking of late among the fans. could be heard among the home crowd
(K Mainoo 90+4) — A Garnacho 6, B Fernandes 6, him so I don’t want to say what he has, causing any problems or trying to An early chance for Raheem Sterling as Leeds refused to be cowed and
Antony 5 (A Diallo 72) — M Rashford 5. Booked
Lindelöf.
it was a serious injury,” the United man- injure him. I didn’t see what Erik saw,” was fluffed badly, and moments later a Anthony nearly poached a third — and
Referee C Kavanagh. Attendance 28,665. ager said. “I have seen that media and Nuno said. very loose ball out of defence by Axel so Pochettino turned, possibly in des-
Disasi was gobbled up by Archie Gray, peration, to Cole Palmer. Leeds barely

Lemina’s strike is enough for Wolves who startled Moisés Caicedo, to whom
Disasi had been hoping to pass. Jaidon
Anthony then took charge and calmly
laid the ball off to Mateo Joseph, whose
noticed and Anthony attempted a long-
range strike. Jackson tumbled in the box
but the referee was unmoved.
Farke, sensing the chance to win the
four changes made by O’Neil to the side gradually asserted themselves. They finish was assured past Robert Sánchez, tie before the need for extra time,
Wolves
Lemina 2 1 that beat Sheffield United on Sunday —
spun Jan Paul van Hecke on the half-
way line after Toti’s pass and sped away
posed the first threat of the second half
when Lewis Dunk glanced wide.
The home crowd was lifted four
back in goal after 2½ months out
through injury. The celebrations in the
away end were marred when a
brought pace off the bench in the form
of Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio
Summerville. Chelsea were reduced to
Brighton
0 from Cameron Peupion before cross-
ing. Jason Steele, the goalkeeper, could
only parry the ball and Pervis Estupiñ-
minutes before the hour mark with the
arrival of Pedro Neto and Pablo Sara-
bia. Neto nutmegged Dunk before
supporter fell from the top tier of the
Shed End and was taken to hospital.
Some crisp passing set up the equalis-
playing on the counter, with the visitors
very comfortable in the manner of their
various interceptions, but just as extra
Jon West
án was beaten by Lemina, who slid in at setting off on a 60-yard dribble. His er with Caicedo slipping a beautifully time beckoned, the home team deliv-
Wolverhampton Wanderers clinched the far post. high-speed run was halted when he ran weighted ball through to Nicolas Jack- ered a dose of class with Enzo
their first FA Cup quarter-final place A similarly brisk-paced move ena- into trouble as he attempted one last son. Noni Madueke hit the ball with Fernández feeding the ball through to
since 2019 as a depleted Brighton & bled Wolves to continue their bright turn deep in the penalty area, however. verve into the side-netting after a Gallagher, whose finish was brimming
Hove Albion paid for their wasteful fin- start. Matt Doherty was presented with period of pressure from the home side, with the sort of confidence many of his
ishing. Mario Lemina’s sliding finish se- a headed chance but he nodded high and it had the effect of giving Daniel team-mates had been lacking.
cured a last-eight tie at home to Coven- and wide from Tommy Doyle’s cross. Wolves (3-5-2): J Sá 7 — M Kilman 7, S Bueno 7, Farke’s players a sense of reprieve and
Toti 7 — M Doherty 7, M Lemina 7 (P Sarabia
try City and a fourth straight victory for Brighton then lifted themselves to 56min, 6), J Gomes 7 (N Semedo 90+3), T Doyle with it the optimism to attack once
Wolves also brought revenge for Brigh- fashion two opportunities. Simon 7, R Ait-Nouri 8 (C Dawson 90+3) — J-R more. Chelsea held firm and took the Chelsea (4-2-3-1): R Sánchez 5 — A Gilchrist 5
(L Colwill 74), A Disasi 5, T Chalobah 5, M Gusto 6
ton’s 4-1 win at Molineux in Gary Adingra’s rising shot flew over the bar Bellegarde 8 (B Traore 76), Hwang Hee-chan 5 lead with a neatly crafted goal, with the (B Chilwell 61, 6) — M Caicedo 6, E Fernandez 6 —
(P Neto 56, 7). Booked Sá, Sarabia, Neto.
O’Neil’s first home game in charge. and Jakub Moder’s curling effort was Brighton (3-4-3): J Steele 7 — J P van Hecke 5, oft maligned Mykhailo Mudryk con- N Madueke 6 (C Gallagher 61, 8) R Sterling 6
Roberto De Zerbi was without nine inches wide with José Sá at full stretch. necting breezily with Sterling’s pass. (C Palmer 74) M Mudryk 7 (J Tauriainen 90) —
L Dunk 6, Igor 6 (V Barco 80) — S Adingra 6, N Jackson 7. Booked Chalobah, Caicedo.
players through injury and suspension At the other end, Igor Julio’s backpass J Moder 7 (C Baleba 61), P Gross 7, P Estupiñán 7 Leeds ended the first half promising- Leeds United (4-2-3-1): I Meslier 6 — C Roberts 6,
— C Peupion 7 (D Welbeck 46, 7), F Buonanotte 7
and his side had the worst possible start almost let in Bellegarde. (B Baker-Boaitey 70), A Fati (J Enciso 70).
ly. Anthony came close for Leeds after J Rodon 6, L Cooper 7, J Firpo 7 — E Ampadu 7,
A Gray 8 — J Anthony 8, J Piroe 7 (C Summerville
by conceding after only 80 seconds. But Brighton were able to exploit Booked Igor, Fati. teeing himself up for a rasping strike 79), D James 6 (W Gnonto 79) — M Joseph 8.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde — one of Wolves’ nervousness on the ball and Referee A Madley. and then Joël Piroe made simple work Booked Firpo. Referee D Coote.
62 2GM Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

Sport FA Cup fifth round

Liverpool’s new generation have FSG could

give Edwards
Wembley in their sights again full control continued from back
Liverpool
Koumas 44, Danns 73, 88 3 head of Edwards, who is a consultant in
Ludonautics, the sports advisory
business launched last year by Ian
Southampton
0 Graham, who was Liverpool’s director
of research between 2012 and 2023.
Paul Joyce FSG’s search for a permanent sport-
ing director has been continuing since
A week ago Lewis Koumas and Jayden Julian Ward, Edwards’s replacement,
Danns would have been readying stood down in the summer of 2023, with
themselves for an FA Youth Cup Jörg Schmadtke only a stop-gap.
assignment against Leeds United Schmadtke left at the end of January.
tonight. They will skip that now, There is a realisation at FSG that the
deserving of an evening off having con- profile of the sporting director they are
spired to write a new page in Liverpool’s looking for has changed. Previously
history together. The kids march on. they were seeking someone to facilitate
There is another step still to take, and the needs of Klopp, but now that he is
a sizable one at that, before this leaving there is a demand for someone
irrepressible band of youngsters can to take charge of the whole club during
truly begin to dream of being back at what will be a period of transition.
Wembley but their appetite for adven- FSG will hope that would appeal to
ture remains undimmed. Edwards.
Fresh from Sunday’s remarkable Edwards was viewed by FSG as one
Carabao Cup final success over Chel- of the architects of Liverpool’s renais-
sea, they left their fingerprints all over sance under Klopp, with his canny
the victory against Southampton to dealings in the transfer market — both
progress into the FA Cup quarter-finals in terms of signings and sales — crucial
and seal a trip to Manchester United. to success at home and abroad.
The night belonged initial- The fact that FSG, who are holding a
ly to Koumas, who scored partners summit this week in the
on his debut, before United States, keep on returning to him
making way for also highlights they are unconvinced by
fellow teenager other candidates.
Danns, who It is unusual for FSG’s plans to leak at
sealed the win a time when they are trying to reshape
with a dinked Liverpool with the appointment of a
finish à la Ken- The 18-year-olds Danns and Koumas, inset, are on cloud nine after their scoring feats for Liverpool sporting director and Klopp’s successor.
ny Dalglish in The Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi
the European learn. They will scored twice inside a minute in the open- tally to 23 goals in 24 games at under-18, Alonso is the frontrunner although
Cup final in 1978. have their mo- ing stages. Kamaldeen Sulemana clipped under-21 and now senior level. FSG are also likely to interview Rúben
A second goal for ments and more the outside of the post and, seconds later, Southampton were ruthlessly pun- Amorim, the Sporting Lisbon coach.
Danns in the dy- moments than they Sékou Mara was denied by the Liverpool ished when Will Smallbone gave the In addition, no meaningful contract
ing embers seemed would have probably goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher, after ball away to Harvey Elliott, who talks with players such as Virgil van
almost routine in expected with our dispossessing James McConnell. Kelle- encouraged Danns to run in behind Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and
comparison. squad situation.” her would deny Sulemana later too. Bednarek, and his impudent finish in Mohamed Salah, who will all have one
Both had collected win- Opportunity knocked “I don’t think it is a fair reflection of front of The Kop was a sheer delight. year remaining on their deals in the
ners’ medals at the weekend because of injury and Liverpool’s the game really,” Martin said. “We Then, when Conor Bradley’s strike summer, are likely to take place until
and whatever they go on to achieve in ranks remained so depleted that Joe should have been one or two up before was then pushed away by Lumley, the appointment of a sporting director.
their Liverpool careers, whether they Gomez was deployed as a midfield No 6 they scored. The difference was in the Danns pounced, reacting more quickly
play 20 more games or 200, they will for the first time in his career. quality of the finishing.” than his rivals to the loose ball. Patels complete £60m
always have these golden days which Klopp singled him out for praise The momentum shifted just before It was only last Wednesday that
have left Jürgen Klopp so enthused by afterwards, hailing his versatility for the break when Koumas received the Danns made his debut. Now he has takeover of West Brom
football’s uncanny habit of creating spe- saving their lives “20 times” this term, ball wide on the left where he had played in a cup final and scored two Florida-based entrepreneur Shilen
cial stories. It was the first time that two and perhaps it was inevitable that the started, popped a pass to Kostas Tsimi- goals. The Kids Are Alright by the Who Patel and his father Kiran have
18-year-old’s had ever scored in the disruption, plus their exertions and the kas and continued a forward run inside. had played over the Tannoy as Liver- completed their takeover of West
same game for Liverpool and their emotion expended in the capital, He was found by Bobby Clark and pro- pool ran out a half-time, a neat summa- Bromwich Albion.
pinch-me-moments were celebrated meant it took much of the opening half ceeded to move beyond Jack Stephens tion if ever there was one. The deal to acquire Guochuan Lai’s
with as much gusto as you would expect. for the hosts to find rhythm. before a shot from the edge of the area 87.8 per cent majority shareholding,
Afterwards Klopp drew comparisons The Liverpool manager conceded his clipped Jan Bednarek and wrong- worth £60 million, had already been
with another teenage sporting prodigy team were “all over the place” and footed the Southampton goalkeeper, Liverpool (4-3-3): C Kelleher 8 — C Bradley 7, approved by the EFL, and West Brom,
J Quansah 6, V van Dijk 7 (I Konaté 45min, 7),
in Luke Littler and said: “I cannot imag- “horrendous” for 15 minutes and his Joe Lumley. Koumas, whose father, K Tsimikas 7 — J McConnell 6 (A Mac Allister 62, 6),
who are fifth in the Sky Bet
ine how this week feels for the boys — counterpart, Russell Martin, was left to Jason, played for Tranmere Rovers, J Gomez 7, B Clark 8 — H Elliott 7 (T Nyoni 78), Championship, confirmed the
it feels pretty good for me. It is a little rue Southampton’s profligacy. West Bromwich Albion and Wales, was C Gakpo 5 (K Gordon 89), L Koumas 7 (J Danns 62, formalites of the takeover yesterday.
like with the new darts sensation. Martin made eight changes to the side the 88th player to make his bow under 9). “Success does not occur overnight,
Southampton (4-3-3): J Lumley 6 — J Bree 6
“It is fine for tonight but from tomor- who lost against Millwall last weekend, Klopp and ran away, a picture of elation. (K Walker-Peters 58, 6) (S Amo-Ameyaw 75), but it is my ambition to build on the
row leave the boys in the corner, please. but such rotation did not limit their By the end, 16-year-old Trey Nyoni, J Stephens 6, J Bednarek 5, R Manning 6 — club’s current and historical strengths
Don’t ask, ‘Where are they now, where ambition. Technically adept, composed signed from Leicester City this season, J Aribo 7, S Charles 6, J Rothwell 6 (W Smallbone and surround West Bromwich Albion
69, 5) — S Edozie 6 (C Adams 69, 6), S Mara 7, K
are they now, where are they now?’ and clear of their game plan of playing became the 89th. In between, Danns Sulemana 6 (A Armstrong 58, 6). Booked Manning.
with high quality stakeholders at
They have a lot to improve and a lot to out from the back, they should have made his indelible impression, taking his Referee C Pawson. home and globally,” Shilen Patel said.

Results
Kilmarnock (1) 1 Rangers (0) 2 Ireland: First Innings WTA Tour: ATX Open Austin, Texas
Football Cricket P J Moor b M N Zadran 12 Tennis First round A Schmiedlova (Slovakia) bt
Armstrong 11 (pen) Tavernier 55 *A Balbirnie lbw b M N Zadran 2 P Stearns (US) 6-2, 4-6, 7-5; (3) D Collins (US)
FA Cup, fifth round 9,576 Lawrence 59 Afghanistan v Ireland, only Test
C Campher c Gurbaz b Akbar 49
ATP Tour: Abierto Mexicano Telcel
bt O Gadecki (Aus) 7-5, 6-3. Second round
Chelsea (2) 3 Leeds (1) 2 Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi (first day of five; presentado por HSBC Acapulco, Mexico
Livingston (1) 1 Motherwell (0) 3 H T Tector not out 32 First round S Tsitsipas (Gr) bt R Safiullin Yafan Wang (China) bt E Arango (Col) 6-2, 6-2;
Afghanistan won toss): Ireland, with six first- T F van Woerkom b Akbar 1 Yue Yuan (China) bt T Townsend (US) 6-3,
Jackson 15 Joseph 8, 59 Yengi 3 Nicholson 49 innings wickets in hand, trail Afghanistan by (Russ) 6-3, 6-4; F Tiafoe (US) bt M Purcell (Aus)
Mudryk 37 P R Stirling not out 2 4-6, 6-3, 6-0; D Koepfer (Ger) bt T Atmane (Fr) 7-6 (7-5).
Spittal 71, Vale 87 55 runs
Gallagher 90+1 37,892 Extras (lb 1nb 1) 2 6-4, 4-6, 6-0; H Rune (Den) bt M Mmoh (US) WTA Tour: Cymbiotika San Diego Open
Celtic (6) 7 Dundee FC (0) 1 Afghanistan: First Innings Total (4 wkts, 31 overs) 100 California
Liverpool (1) 3 Southampton (0) 0 I Zadran c Tucker b Young 53 6-2, 6-3; C Ruud (Nor) bt C Eubanks (US) 6-4,
Carter-Vickers 7 Mellon 84 †L J Tucker, M R Adair, A R McBrine, B J 6-7 (5-7), 6-3; A Kovacevic (US) bt J Thompson First round (7) D Vekic (Cro) bt K Hui (US) 7-5,
Koumas 44 N A Zadran c Balbirnie b Adair 7 McCarthy and C A Young to bat. 6-2; A Blinkova (Russ) bt C Wozniacki (Den)
Idah 18, O’Riley 22 R S Zurmatai b Adair 0 (Aus) 6-3, 5-7, 6-4; D Altmaier (Ger) bt A
Danns 73, 88 Maeda 30, Taylor 36 Fall of wickets 1-6, 2-32, 3-92, 4-94. Zverev (Ger) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3; D Lajovic (Ser) bt R 1-6, 6-4, 6-1; T Preston (US) bt M Frech (Pol) 6-
*H Shahidi c Tucker b McCarthy 20 Bowling Masood 8-1-28-0; Zadran 9-2-32-2; 4, 4-6, 6-1; T Maria (Ger) bt L Fernandez (Can)
Nott’m Forest (0) 0 Man Utd (0) 1 McGregor 45+6 †R Gurbaz c Tucker b Adair 5 Pacheco (Mex) 6-2 6-2.
Kelly 63 Janat 2-0-9-0; Akbar 9-2-13-2; Pakteen 6-7 (7-9), 4-0 ret.
N J Ahmadzai b Young 0 3-0-17-0 ATP Tour: Dubai Duty Free Tennis
28,665 Casemiro 89
K Janat not out 41 Umpires A Holdstock and R Kettleborough Championships Dubai, UAE
Wolves (1) 1 Brighton (0) 0 P W D L F A GD Pts Z Akbar c Balbirnie b Adair 6 Second round (2) A Rublev (Russ) bt A
Lemina 2
Rangers..................28
Celtic ....................... 28
23
21
1
5
4
2
63
68
14
20
49 70
48 68
M N Zadran c McBrine b Campher
N Masood c Tucker b Campher
12
0
Nepal v Netherlands, Nepal Tri-Nation T20I Cazaux (Fr) 6-4, 6-4; (7) A Bublik (Kaz) bt T
Griekspoor (Neth) 7-6 (10-8), 7-6 (7-2); (5) U
Fixtures
Hearts ..................... 28 16 4 8 36 28 8 52 series, second match
Kilmarnock ........... 28 10 10 8 32 29 3 40 Z K Pakteen b Adair 0 Tribhuvan University International Cricket Humbert (Fr) bt A Murray (GB) 6-2, 6-4;
Scottish Premiership Extras (b 4, lb 6, nb 1) 11 J Lehecka (Cz) bt (4) K Khachanov (Russ) 6-7
St. Mirren...............28 11 6 11 32 31 1 39 Ground, Kirtipur (Nepal won toss):
Aberdeen (0) 0 St. Johnstone (1) 2 Dundee...................27 8 8 11 37 48 -11 32 Total (54.5 overs) 155 Netherlands beat Nepal by two runs (6-8), 7-6 (7-5), 6-4; S Korda (US) bt B Van de Darts
14,226 Clark 44 (pen) Hibernian...............27 7 10 10 34 43 -9 31 Fall of wickets 1-11, 2-11, 3-66, 4-86, 5-89, 6-90, Netherlands: 184-4 (M Levitt 54, S Zandschulp (Neth) 6-1, 6-0; (1) D Medvedev
Motherwell............28 6 11 11 39 45 -6 29 7-111, 8-138, 9-138. (Russ) bt L Sonego (It) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3; Premier League, night five Exeter
Mbunga Kimpioka 78 Aberdeen...............27 6 9 12 31 45 -14 27 Engelbrecht 49 not out; K Karan 1 for 29);
Bowling Adair 16.5-5-39-5; McCarthy 11-1-28-1; (8) A Davidovich Fokina (Sp) bt J Mensik (Cz) Quarter-finals L Humphries (Eng) v M van
Hearts (1) 1 Hibernian (1) 1 St. Johnstone........28 6 9 13 19 37 -18 27 Nepal: 182-8 (D Airee 63, R Paudel 50; S Gerwen (Neth) (from 7.10pm); N Aspinall
Ross County..........27 5 8 14 24 46 -22 23 Young 11-5-31-2; McBrine 7-1-22-0; van Engelbrecht 2 for 13). 7-6 (9-7), 1-0, ret; (3) H Hurkacz (Pol) bt
Woerkom 5-1-12-0; Campher 4-1-13-2. C O’Connell (Aus) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. (Eng) v P Wright (Scot); G Price (Wales) v R
Shankland 45+2 (pen) Marcondes 28 Livingston ............. 28 3 7 18 19 48 -29 16 Umpires B Pradhan and S Subedi Cross (Eng); L Littler (Eng) v M Smith (Eng).
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 63

Football Sport

Lawmakers told to scale back sin-bin trials

Martyn Ziegler Chief Sports Reporter will decide on the scope of pilot studies men’s and women’s FA Cup — but that Collina, Fifa’s the power to stop matches for official
for next season. now looks likely to be blocked, with referees chief, has “cooling-off periods” for a number of
Football’s lawmakers are coming under This month it postponed the publica- trials remaining in the grassroots game. backed sin-bins minutes — how many is yet to be decid-
pressure to scale back trials of blue tion of protocols for rugby-style sin-bin A source close to Ifab said that it was ed — if players are feuding or if tempers
cards and sin-bins when they meet this trials, where a player would leave the likely there would be a heated debate on the pitch get out of control. No trials
weekend. pitch for ten minutes, following an out- over extending trials to cover cynical have taken place yet, but the idea would
Uefa has made clear to the Inter- cry after it was revealed that referees fouls. be for players to be split by match
national FA Board (Ifab) that it opposes would show a blue card for players who “If a trial just focuses on dissent it is officials into different areas, such as
any moves to introduce such measures commit offences of dissent or cynical very clear,” the source said. “The debate sory panel. Uefa’s president, Aleksand- their separate penalty areas.
into the game. The Times has also tactical fouls. will be over cynical fouls and blue er Ceferin, has also called sin-bins “the It is one of a number of proposals on
learnt that some Ifab members favour Sin-bin trials have been taking place cards.” death of football”. Ifab’s agenda aimed at improving “par-
having trials of sin-bins for dissent only in junior and amateur football in Ifab is made up of Fifa, which has four In November, Pierluigi Collina, Fifa’s ticipant behaviour” –— of players,
— and want to drop plans to extend it England and Wales for dissent, but with votes, and the four British associations, referees chairman, said of sin-bin trials: coaches and supporters. Other pro-
for cynical tactical fouls. only yellow and red cards. The inten- which have a vote each, with any pro- “We are now talking of bringing it to a posals, previously revealed by The
Ifab, which oversees the laws of the tion had been for these trials to be ex- posals needing six votes to be approved. higher level, very probably professional Times, include trials where only
game, is holding its annual meeting at tended into professional football — the Uefa does not have a vote but has made or even high professional football.” captains can approach match officials,
Loch Lomond this weekend where it FA was set to consider them for the its feelings clear via Ifab’s football advi- Ifab will also look at giving referees similar to how rugby operates.

Guéhi facing two months on

sidelines after knee surgery
Gary Jacob In Guéhi’s absence, Palace have part-
nered Joachim Andersen and Chris
Marc Guéhi will miss most of the rest Richards in central defence, including
of the season after undergoing knee in the 3-0 victory over Burnley on
surgery. Saturday that moved them eight points
The Crystal Palace defender, 23, had clear of the relegation zone. They
already been sidelined for a month and also have James Tomkins and Jaïro
was scheduled to return to training this Riedewald as back-ups at centre back.
week. Palace, however, decided it was a Eze, who has scored five goals and set
good time to do the surgery, which up another three this season, returned
proved a success, and he has now been to training at the end of last week.
ruled out for between six and eight Palace are without Michael Olise, who
weeks. is nursing a hamstring problem, for up
In better news for Palace, Eberechi to another month. Cheick Doucouré,
Eze should be involved against Totten- the midfielder who has signed a new
ham Hotspur in the Premier League on contract until 2029, has been absent
Saturday after the attacking midfield- since November with an achilles injury.
er’s recovery from a hamstring injury. The Spurs left back Destiny Udogie
Guéhi had a procedure to clean up has returned to training and is expected
the joint after a setback in his recovery to be in contention to play against
from the injury suffered in the 4-1 de- Palace. Udogie has recovered from a
feat by Brighton & Hove Albion this knock that meant he missed the 2-1
month. The operation should en- home defeat by Wolverhampton
sure that he is available for selec- Wanderers nearly a fortnight ago.
tion for England at the European Udogie is expected to be called
Championship in Germany this up by Italy for the friendlies
summer. He will miss against Venezuela and
England’s friendlies against Ecuador in the United
Brazil and Belgium at States next month.
Wembley next month. Tottenham hope to
Guéhi has started receive a second
four of the past defensive boost this
six England week from Pedro
matches but Porro, who is making
would be re- progress in his
garded as recovery from a muscle
third choice behind Manchester strain suffered in train-
United’s Harry Maguire and ing.
Manchester City’s John Stones. The injury also
caused the Spain right
Guéhi will miss two England back to miss the match
friendly matches next month against Wolves.

I’ll have more freedom

at Ferrari, says Hamilton
Formula One to be myself, and I think you’ve seen
Molly Hudson that more throughout the paddock. But
that is no different at Ferrari. It’s very
Lewis Hamilton’s contract at Ferrari much a collaborative partnership that
will include more freedom for him to we will have next year. If anything, I
pursue his interests off the track than think just through my experience of all
his agreement with Mercedes. these years and negotiating however
Hamilton, who joined Mercedes in many contracts, there’s more freedom.”
2013, is leaving for Ferrari at the end of The 39-year-old also changed man-
this season, realising a “childhood agement over the winter break, reunit-
dream”. During his time at Mercedes, ing with Marc Hynes, from whom he
Hamilton has campaigned for numer- split amicably in 2021, to focus “solely
ous causes, including improvements in on racing activities”. The management
diversity, inclusion and sustainability. agreement Hamilton had with Penni
He also launched, alongside Mercedes, a Thow and her company Copper ended
partnership with the Mulberry Schools in December 2023.
Trust, supporting students in science, “It was a difficult winter, a very un-
technology, engineering and maths. usual one,” Hamilton said. “I have lots of
“I’ve been very, very fortunate at things I want to do, so it’s about finding
Mercedes,” Hamilton said. “Toto good people to add into your team, mak-
[Wolff] and all the board have been ing sure that it’s diverse: that’s really at
massively supportive of me, ultimately the heart of what I try to put in place.”
64 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

Sport Formula One

Red Bull’s secrecy means the

Owen Slot Who is in charge?
After the death of chief executive and co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022,
Chief Sports Red Bull went through a corporate restructure at their base in Salzburg,
Writer, devolving power down three separate branches
Bahrain Parent company Red Bull GmbH

T
he announcement from Red
Bull that exonerated
Christian Horner, the team
principal, may have seemed
like the end of the affair.
Here in Bahrain, however, it began to
feel more like the end of the Mark Mateschitz Chalerm Yoovidhya
beginning. Horner is still in his job, 49% stake 51% stake
but this is by no means over. The 31-year-old inherited Chalerm, 73, is the eldest son of
The racing starts again on Saturday his father’s stake in the Chaleo, the Thai businessman
and there will be many in the all- company after his death who co-created Red Bull in 1984
conquering team thinking: “Thank
God, we can get back to what we’re
good at.” However, even the
resumption of normal service, a Max
Verstappen triumph and a spray of
champagne, won’t alter the fact that
this is a team now fighting battles on
two fronts: for victory on the track
and for credibility off it.
The problem for Red Bull is that
this isn’t just an internal issue. Even if Franz Alex Kirchmayr Oliver Mintzlaff
it were, we would still be looking at a Watzlawick Chief financial Chief executive of
huge family crisis: the Austrian and Chief executive officer corporate
Thai owners in different corners, the of the beverage projects and
alpha Englishmen and the Dutchmen business investments
at the heart of the team squaring up
to one another too. Verstappen was
given three opportunities to pledge
his verbal allegiance to Horner
yesterday and ducked every one, Christian Horner
though that, at least, was before the Team principal at Oracle
6.30pm statement that dismissed the Red Bull Racing
grievance against Horner. Horner, 50, has been the man
Yet it’s more than the Red Bull in charge of Red Bull’s F1
family; there are associated parties Helmut Marko team since 2005 and has
here: the sport, the sponsors and, of Consultant for Oracle Red Bull Racing overseen seven drivers’
course, the other teams on the one The former racing driver has been a key cog in championships and six
hand claiming that this is a bad look their F1 success but much of his power initially constructors’ titles
for business and, on the other, still derived from his close friendship with Dietrich
sniffing the blood of the wounded Mateschitz. Horner does not appear to have
bull. Everyone has skin in this game power over the 80-year-old
and yesterday they were planning
how to play their hands.
As we awaited the breaking news, Adrian Newey
we saw ways and means of killing this Chief technology officer, Oracle Red Bull Racing. The 65-year-old is
whole story dead and allowing the arguably the greatest car designer in F1 history. He has won 12 F1
motor sport to take precedence again. Constructors’ Titles with Williams, McLaren and Red Bull
When the statement dropped, though,
Red Bull didn’t — couldn’t? — take
them. In clearing Horner’s name,
there were two options available. One Pierre Waché
was to release not only the headline Technical director, Oracle Red Bull Racing. Frenchman joined Red
news but the full 150-page Bull in 2013 after spells with Michelin and Sauber. The 49-year-old is
investigation with it. This was the full- second only to Newey when it comes to car design and production
disclosure version of events that
would have given transparency to the
process and the outcome and rebuilt impression of normal service having and inclusive. Any allegation has to values are today, because it refused to Christian? “I am trusting the process,”
confidence in the embattled team. resumed on the track, there is a level be taken very seriously. It does need tell us. All we know for sure is that the he replied, very specifically avoiding an
From Red Bull HQ in Austria, of outrage that has yet to be quelled to be resolved and it’s hanging over Austrian and Thai owners of the outright answer.
however, the decision was made to off it. Sponsors are not happy. Ford the sport. It’s a really important company have been scrapping over the Do you have confidence in your
batten down the hatches and keep it has already made that clear in a moment for the sport to make sure outcome here, with the Austrians more team? “As a team,” he replied, “we
all internal. The crucial words were public statement, Oracle has gone to we stand true to our values.” driven by PR and the reputational fall- trust in the process” which was hardly
that “the investigation report is ground and not spoken since the But we don’t know where Red Bull’s out and the Thais apparently less any more of an endorsement. And
confidential” and “we will not be scandal broke; it is no secret that Visa concerned — and their 51 per cent then, when asked what a future
commenting further”. are unhappy to be connected with it. may have been the difference. without Horner might look like, he
Immediately, they had lost external All had been keenly awaiting the Horner’s CV Yet it is not as if those running the didn’t say “I hope that doesn’t
trust in the process. Within minutes, statement, hoping that by clearing sport are left powerless. The FIA, the happen” or “We’re doomed without
social media was awash with memes Red Bull’s name, they would no 1991 Aged 18, Horner won a governing body, and F1, which is him”, he just pondered the necessary
of carpets and the sweeping-under longer be tainted; the confidentiality scholarship with Formula Renault owned by Liberty Media Group, had process of people management.
process and though Horner is blessed of the statement assured that they 1993 Graduated to Formula 3 been hoping for transparency and if In conclusion, he said that
with a thickness of skin, you wonder still are. And there is room to move; 1997 Bought a chassis and leased they are kept in the dark, they could “everyone is in a good mood and just
if even this is going to be enough. all of them have protection clauses. two engines to form Arden yet take the option of launching excited to get going again” which is as
The hostility that has simmered in Then there are the administrators International, a multi-formula team investigations of their own. wishful as any frame of thinking
seasons past between Horner and of the sport who have also 1998 Horner ceased to be a driver The FIA has a code of ethics that could be. People at Red Bull are not
Verstappen’s father, Jos, appears to commented impatiently from the to build the team into a business everyone in the paddock is obliged to generally fine of mood; they are
have erupted in recent weeks. The touchline. They have the reputation 2005 Dietrich Mateschitz, the co- abide by. At the furthest extreme, it is stressed about the uncertainty, some
world champion driver is a competitor of the sport, which has taken a founder of Red Bull Racing, invited empowered to remove the licence of are unhappy with the culture and
with an extraordinarily single-minded battering these past few weeks, to Horner to be team principal anyone who fails to do so. That is others are unconvinced that the
outlook and he may yet be able to rescue. And, again, the confidentiality 2010 Horner led Red Bull to the miles off, but what a comedown for investigation was ever going to be
continue the strange enterprise of doesn’t allow that to happen. constructors’ and drivers’ titles Horner that would be. allowed to get deep into the weeds.
accumulating victories on the track Lewis Hamilton, in his press 2013 Awarded an OBE after run of Meanwhile, in the vacuum of Horner will arrive at the paddock
despite being the one stuck in the conference yesterday, put this into four world titles information, we are left to chew on the here in Bahrain on Thursday and he
middle. But you wonder about all words. “We always have to do more,” 2021 Max Verstappen won first of responses of Verstappen when quizzed will attempt to breeze through as if
those wounds that have been exposed. he said, “to try to make the sport and three world titles with Red Bull about his team and its leadership. He his is a problem solved. Yet this is not
Even if they are able to give an environment make people feel safe was asked: are you 100 per cent behind over — far from it.
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 65

Sport

Horner saga is far from over

The relationship
between Horner
and Verstappen,
main, is coming
under scrutiny
with his father
Jos, inset,
said to be a
friend of the
complainant.
Horner’s wife,
Geri, top right,
is expected to
support her
husband at the
weekend’s grand
prix in Bahrain

Verstappen: I’m trusting process and don’t want to be involved

continued from back of Horner’s exoneration with relief. But But pressure from sponsors did conference whether he supported happen, because everyone is in their
some senior figures in the team’s owner- escalate an already tense situation. Horner and whether or not he still had role and they know what they have to
close to Verstappen, with the fact that ship structure may yet be divided. Ford, which has signed a £200 million confidence in his leadership. do in the short term, but it’s all about
certain stories appeared first in the Horner has been more exposed since partnership with the team to develop a When asked if he was 100 per cent people management over time. Then of
Dutch media being identified as a con- the death in October 22, 2022, of new hybrid engine for 2026, called for a behind Horner, Verstappen replied: course things will start to be different, if
cern. Verstappen’s father, Jos, a former Dietrich Mateschitz, the Red Bull co- swift resolution to the crisis on Sunday. “Well, I’m trusting the process, that’s one of the leaders starts to not be there
racing driver, is said to be a friend of the founder who was a powerful ally of the A report in the Dutch newspaper De what’s happening right now. I do not any more. But we are not thinking like
complainant. Like Horner, she has con- man who has masterminded seven F1 Telegraaf claimed the grievance filed want to get into that. Because it’s not my that. At the moment, everyone is just
tinued in her role at the team during the drivers’ championships in 19 years at by the woman extended beyond con- case anyway and I don’t want to be in- focused on the performance here at the
process. They worked alongside each the helm. While Horner is also said to trolling behaviour and contained an volved. But as a team, yeah, we do trust track, and everyone is in a good mood.”
other at Red Bull’s headquarters in retain support from Chalerm Yoovid- allegation of sexual misconduct, based that process and we just have to be Lewis Hamilton, the Mercedes
Milton Keynes as recently as Monday. hya, who controls 51 per cent of Red on messages allegedly sent by Horner. patient, because there’s no need to start driver, was asked whether it was the
When the new car for this season was Bull, the view of the team principal is Sources have since suggested that no saying things, start screaming things correct decision to allow Horner to
launched at the team’s HQ on February not universally positive and there has such evidence was submitted in the out loud. You have to be patient.” continue working when the investi-
15, Horner said he had the full support been talk of a possible reshuffle complaint itself and Horner, who Verstappen admitted that while gation was continuing. “It’s a difficult
of his wife, Geri, the former Spice Girls instigated by Red Bull Austria. denies any wrongdoing, instructed short-term uncertainty over Horner’s one to answer,” he said. “We always
singer. She may join him in Bahrain this Last night sources dismissed that lawyers to refute some of the claims. future would not greatly affect the per- have to do more to try to make the sport
weekend to underline her commit- possibility in the short term, insisting Today Horner will try to refocus his formances he could produce on the and the environment feel safe and in-
ment. Horner would remain both team prin- team and move forward. Yesterday, track, clarity over long-term decision clusive, and any allegations have to be
How far that support extends outside cipal and chief executive of the all-con- however, Verstappen did appear reti- making was crucial. “I think he’s very taken very seriously. Obviously we
of Horner’s family remains to be seen, quering F1 team. Perhaps significant cent when asked to discuss Horner important, otherwise he wouldn’t be in don’t know everything that’s gone on.
however. While there have been some was the fact that Horner flew to Bah- before the announcement that he had that position for such a long time,” But it does need to be resolved as it’s
mutterings of discontent about a lack of rain yesterday accompanied by Helmut been cleared. Verstappen said. “Let’s say if your team hanging over the sport. It’s a really im-
transparency during the process, key Marko, a senior adviser to the team and The three-times drivers’ champion boss disappears for whatever reason for portant moment for the sport to make
partners are said to have met the news an important Red Bull powerbroker. was repeatedly asked in an FIA press one or two races, not much is going to sure that we stand true to our values.”
 2GM Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

Sport BBC Sport failing key test

Lewis fiasco shows impartiality
no longer a priority at Olympics
Robinson at crossroads
England bowler with much to prove
can learn from Kiwi Wagner

Horner must Last bid to lure

Edwards back
now fight to Paul Joyce
Michael Edwards would seek total con-
trol of football operations at Liverpool
to consider coming back to Anfield less

repair damage
than two years after his departure.
Liverpool’s owner, Fenway Sports
Group, is set to make one final attempt
to persuade their former sporting
director to return to the club as part of
the post-Jürgen Klopp era.
Edwards, who quit in 2022 after a
decade at the club to take a break from
Red Bull chief cleared but team still face issues football, has already turned down one
approach from FSG since Klopp told
Matt Lawton, Owen Slot, are likely to be some further twists and them he was standing down at the end
Tom Kershaw, Molly Hudson turns in the most turbulent period in of the season.
the team’s 19-year history. A spokesman There has been no sense that
Christian Horner will now attempt to for Red Bull GmbH insisted the investi- Edwards has been ready to return to
rebuild his crisis-hit Formula 1 team gation had been “fair, rigorous and football’s coalface, having rejected a
after being cleared by an independent impartial”. number of approaches from other clubs,
Red Bull investigation into allegations In the statement he said: “The including Chelsea. Indeed, it would
of inappropriate conduct towards a independent investigation into the alle- take something significant to turn the
female employee. gations made against Mr Horner is
Horner, 50, has been at the centre of complete and Red Bull can confirm that
a storm since Oracle Red Bull Racing’s the grievance has been dismissed.
parent company in Austria confirmed
on February 5 that the team principal
had been the subject of a formal
“Red Bull is confident the investi-
gation has been fair, rigorous and im-
partial. The investigation report is con-
Kent plan to
complaint alleging controlling,
coercive behaviour from a woman
working for the world champions.
fidential and contains the private infor-
mation of the parties and third parties
who assisted in the investigation, and
join Hundred
Yesterday, The Times revealed that therefore we will not be commenting Elizabeth Ammon
Horner was to be exonerated by the further out of respect for all concerned.
independent barrister appointed by Red Bull will continue striving to meet Kent County Cricket Club are seeking
Red Bull GmbH to conduct the investi- the highest workplace standards.” to buy their ground in Beckenham and
gation before he had even landed in The grievance was dismissed within a develop the site to allow them to bid to
Bahrain for the opening race of the report by the King’s Counsel that is become a third London Hundred team
season this weekend. But Horner will understood to have run to about 150 when the tournament expands.
return to trackside for the first time pages, based on more than 60 hours of Kent lease the site in southeast
today knowing he has to repair the interviews with Horner and other staff London, which is situated next to Crys-
damage caused and provide assurances members. Horner, alone, had to endure tal Palace FC’s training ground. There
that the relationship he has enjoyed a full day of questioning on February 9. are 11 years remaining on the lease and
with Max Verstappen remains strong But sources insist this does not mark the county were due to write to their
enough to deliver a fourth consecutive the end of the matter, with Horner now members yesterday setting out plans to
drivers’ title this year. tasked with addressing the issues that try to buy the site and develop it into a
While testing last week proved that have become apparent during the premier facility. That would help them
Red Bull’s car remains the one to beat, process. Some insiders believe Horner’s put forward a good case to the ECB that
Horner will understand that the team relationship with Verstappen is still it should be the home of a new Hundred
need to show they are also firing on all
cylinders over the next few days.
sufficiently healthy, even if the 26-year-
old once again declined the opportunity
Casemiro sets up Liverpool showdown team when the tournament increases
the number of teams from eight.
The female complainant still has the to support his boss publicly yesterday. Casemiro scored a late winner as Manchester United won 1-0 away to Although discussions about the
right to appeal, but there was confi- If there is an problem, those same Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup fifth round, to earn them a quarter-final future of the Hundred are still taking
dence in the Red Bull camp that sources speculate, it is more with those home tie against Liverpool, who beat Southampton 3-0. Reports pages 60-61 place, it is set to expand in size to
Horner’s position is secure even if there

Times Crossword 28,852 across down Yesterday’s solution 28,851

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 Tweet to thwart censure at last (4) 1 Quick and brilliant black winger B A C K S L A P B R OK E R
L A A N O I U
3 Opening somehow meant for through on the outside (4,6) U L T I MA T E S L A L OM
9 severe critic (7,3) 2 Mine working for Spike useful in E E O T L I P
10 Screech animal near a rock face upward mobility? (5) C HR Y S A N T H EM UM
H E E I U O A P
10 11 heard (9) 4 Cunning fellows housed in suitable E S S E X N I N E P E N C E
11 Monkey shown without tail in accommodation (9) E E E D J R
animation (5) 5 Observe that judge has left target S A M B R OW N E AMA S S
E B E A R L R O
12 Assist insect swallowing close to for tabloid? (5) L I T T L E B I GHO RN
sunken well (7) 6 Cover of loveless work penned by T A H L O E A
12 13 13 Everything written into revolutionary author (7) H A ND I N C L E R I C A L
autonomous program for election 7 Traveller to drive back, lukewarm U C N T I O A
S P E C K S A S S A I L E D
14 (6) about P&O (5,4)
Check today’s answers by ringing 0905 757
15 Rapid series of visits organised to 8 Vegetable energy going into upped 0141 by midnight. Calls cost £1 per minute
15 16 17 Welsh pits and to old city (7-4,4) swan? (4) plus your telephone company’s network
18 Mayor in Barnet has almost beaten 9 Positive result for Formula One access charge. SP: Spoke 0333 202 3390.
Labour (11,4) team’s head (6)
21 Smear live fish ingesting uranium 14 Soy trade disrupted after doctor Newspapers
(6) cooked without oil (3-7)
18 19 20
23 Roman general an old man seizing 16 Roman historian discounting first support recycling
The recycled paper content of
control (7) class colleges (3,6) UK newspapers in 2020 was 67%
26 American soldier coming in to 17 Bar limits changes leading to group
deliver for firm (5) loyalty (9)
21 22 23 24 27 Dependable but left out, is worker 19 An adolescent male dressed at last
acknowledged? (3-6) in rubber finding wealth (7)
25 28 Eco-friendly member shows talent 20 Worm that is wrapped around in
in garden (5,5) anorak (6)
26 27 29 Pearl: article buried in garden plot? 22 He was a Dutch painter? Utter
(4) nonsense (5)
24 Fitness expert rare commodity in
Middle East? (5)
28 29
25 Getting rook inside sack is a game
(4)
 February 29 | 2024

I’m part of what will be the

richest generation ever?
You must be joking
By Harriet Walker
2 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

times2

Help, the Islamists run

The secrets of
my life — Sadiq Khan Carrie Sun’s eye-popping account of her
won’t let me shower life as a $300,000-a-year Wall Street
assistant reads like The Devil Wears
Deborah Ross Prada for finance. By Helen Rumbelow

T I
his week the play?” children ask. “I don’t n one of the richest and most corporate “family days” that will
MP Lee know. Go ask a friend of powerful hedge funds in the remain empty because no analyst has
Anderson got Khan,” is all you can say. world lurks a mysterious and the time to be with his family; distil
in trouble for I fear every household will glamorous woman. She loiters self-help books for his endless
saying that eventually have its own around the men’s luxurious “personal growth”; and prep her boss
“Islamists” had friend of Khan permanently bathrooms but doesn’t look like a with information that should be
“got control” installed but, hey ho, that cleaner. She wears high heels private by utilising all legal means
of the London could also have an upside. that make no sound on the available — the latter a useful skill
mayor Sadiq Khan, who has “You’ve done what? You expensive carpet. She moves in a writer.
“given our capital city away to think you are in trouble with discreetly. Her “full-time job”, says But the central insight runs deeper
his mates”, who in turn “have me, but just you wait until Carrie Sun, the author of a compelling than that. Sun was a committed
got control of London”. Khan’s mate gets home.” memoir about super-rich elite capitalist. Her parents fled to America
Anderson has, as a result, Actually, let me tell you a financiers, is to flush the toilets after from a communist China where “my
been suspended from the story about life in London as the men. dad was hungry much of his life”, she
Conservative Party and there it now stands. Ready? OK. “So symbolic,” Sun says when we tells me. Her parents “ate bitterness”.
is a sense in some quarters We have a corner shop that is speak by video call. The astonishing As a result, when Sun was a child she
that he should grow up and owned and run by Ali, who problem was that the men, and they wanted nothing but financial stability.
stop wheeling out might be considered an were all men, who made their money She illustrated her first babyish
mendacious, divisive, dog- “Islamist” if “Islamist” is to be exploiting disasters in the real world attempt at a book with herself in a
whistling, racist tripe when conflated with Muslim, as were either too selfish or too busy — business suit: “CEO Sun”. She wrote a
proper conversations could be was the intention. Once, at about “There was that much time pressure,” story in which money literally grew on
had. But let me tell you: I am a 11pm, I tried to print out my plane she says — to clear up their own. Sun trees. To her, like so many, finance was
Londoner, have lived in London
all my life, and his remarks The mayor’s boarding pass and whatnot for a
flight first thing and discovered
acknowledges her frustration that this
woman had to be hired and that no
“an industry built on the American
dream: you can be anyone as long as
certainly struck a chord with me.
I don’t know what it’s like in friends are Slave Niece had used all the
printer paper. (We’ve agreed, for
one bothered to learn her name. This
is the finance sector seen up close, at
you can make the right calls. The
industry thinks of itself as among the
Exeter, say, or Truro, but in
London you can’t do anything
even in charge the sake of our relationship, to
never talk about this again. This
its crudest and most profound: “The
rich not taking care of their own shit.”
most meritocratic.”
However, her time spent deeply
without an “Islamist” being in
control of it and it’s massively
of the remote was, I should add, before you
could download your ticket on
On one level Sun’s memoir, Private
Equity, does for finance what The Devil
embedded with the private jet set
challenged everything. This wasn’t
wearing and trying. Just this like that here, what’s it like in the an app.) Wears Prada did for fashion. As it democracy in operation, it was the
morning, for instance, I wanted a “no-go” areas that don’t exist? I Having sought permission, opposite: power being concentrated
shower but knew I’d first have to hate to think. which was miraculously granted, among the shadowy super-rich,
check with one of Khan’s mates if It’s enough of a nightmare for I don’t know why — you never gobbling up large swathes of the
it’s OK to use the hot water.
Some days it is, and his mates
us Londoners, to tell the truth.
You try living like this. “Shall we
get a reason — I raced to Ali’s
shop and there it was, wondrously These firms have companies that rule our lives and with
less and less accountability. Private
are quite nice about it, some days
it isn’t. Hard to call. Depends on
go to the cinema this evening?”
someone might suggest. “I don’t
still open. However, printer paper
was out of stock. So Ali went out a lot more power Equity is a thoughtful meditation on
what happens when rampant self-
their mood, I guess. They make
unscheduled inspections so you
know if we can,” you will reply,
“what do Khan’s mates have to
back and returned with paper
from his printer that he gave me,
than maybe interest is left unchecked.
She is now 39, married to a
can’t just jump in the shower and
hope for the best.
say about it?” It’s risky to just up
and go.
no payment necessary, glad to
help, have a good trip.
people realise composer and living in New Jersey,
living an artistic life completely alien
You don’t want to be hauled out What if there’s an unscheduled You see what I’m saying? begins Sun is 29, the personal assistant to her decade on Wall Street. Who, I
by one of them. Particularly if it’s inspection down the local They’re in charge of whether to a founder of an investment firm in ask her, is the more ruthless, the
before you’ve had time to rinse off Picturehouse and you’re hauled we actually get to go anywhere Manhattan. This man was “the first writer or the investment banker?
the conditioner, which means from the film before its end? If it’s now! They’re in control of our billionaire I would ever meet”. Sun “The honest answer is both,” she
you’ll have to go around all day Dune 2 it might be a mercy, and travel! Whether we come or go! herself was possibly also the most says, deep-voiced, articulate. “No
with hair dried into a stiff, sticky proves there is an upside to And people say Anderson is overqualified assistant he would ever characters in this book are made-up or
mess. They’re even in charge of everything, but even so, better not just an attention-seeker who meet: she had a degree in maths from composite. It is entirely true apart
the remote, these friends of our chance it. likes to cause a stir and should MIT, went to the Wharton School of from some details changed to preserve
mayor. I’d quite like to watch that This is how it is now they know better but never will. Business for an MBA, and had many confidentiality and privacy. I struggled
JLo film everyone is talking about control everyone and everything Because this is not just his thing, years of experience as an investment a lot with the sense of betrayal . . . A
but can’t get a look-in. And if it’s in the city. “Can we go out to but his only thing. manager at Fidelity Investments. She writer has to be ruthless for the truth.
could perhaps have had his job in An investment manager is ruthless for
another life, but billionaires know they profits. In my world view, truth is
What is day-to-day why pick on me when knowing you have can get what they want. She was on more valuable than profits.”

What does life like for the woman

who knocked Michelle
there are plenty
of other burglars out
knocked Mone off the
top spot and an entire
nearly $300,000, plus bonuses, plus
$5,000 department store vouchers he
The people Sun worked for were not
obvious villains. They disdained the

Paula do Mone from the top spot

as “The Most Hated
there?”)
But back to Vennells,
nation hates you? Do
you stop buying
could scatter towards her like tips out
of his loose change. “Remember,” he
typical amoral “fat cat” bosses of the
20th century, immortalised in films

all day? Woman in Britain”?

(As a by-the-by, I am
and what it’s like to be
“Britain’s Most Hated
newspapers or listening
to the radio or turning
says to Sun, “money can solve nearly
everything.”
such as Wall Street and books like
Liar’s Poker. Instead, they believed
quite taken with Mone’s Woman” and knowing on the news? Do Her memoir, then, has some of that themselves the 21st-century ideal
I’m usually doing most recent line of you are now known for friends and family stick democratic deliciousness, an of benign dictators, superior to
something mundane — defence, which is to say: presiding over the most by you? Has she drawn exploitative boss exposed by his most everyone according to superhuman
pairing socks, loading “Hundreds of stories widespread miscarriage the curtains? Is that intimate and trusted aide. Anyone Nietzschean ideals — smarter,
the dishwasher, seeking have been written of justice in British what she’s doing right who watched Meryl Streep playing a stronger, bettering humanity while
permission to get about me but who is history. How does that now? Sitting behind version of the Vogue editor Anna buying a yacht; think high-profile tech
dinner started — when investigating what went sit after a lifetime of drawn curtains? Does Wintour making imperious demands bros like Elon Musk and Mark
I might suddenly on between Michael being well respected she show her face in The Devil Wears Prada will find Zuckerberg. She says her boss, whom
wonder: what is Paula Gove and a PPE firm and well rewarded? anywhere? Does she some crossover here. Sun’s job was to she anonymises as Boone, would never
Vennells, former CEO owned by Tory donor What does she do all ever leave the house? make the impossible happen. She had cheat on his wife — “so inefficient” —
of the Post Office, David Mellor?” Is this day? Who does she see? Not to pick up a book to ghost-write inspirational speeches but that he, like her company, which
former CBE, doing at not like a burglar What’s it like to wake of stamps or passport at the last minute; organise she calls “Carbon”, was private to the
this very minute? telling the court: “Hey, up and go to bed form. Presumably. fairgrounds in Central Park for point of paranoia.
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 3

times2

a hedge fund billionaire’s PA

“Symbolic, not just in finance, but all
over the world.”
Our lives are ever more owned by
our bosses, our privacy ever more
invaded by work or tech.
It takes longer for her to develop
cynicism about the “goodness” of
Boone. “I believe he believed it,” she
says. Financiers like to say “earn a lot
now, give a lot later”. This way they
can offset any guilt at their lavish
lifestyles. In one televisual moment,
Sun has to transport an obscene
amount of cash via taxi, which gets
held up and surrounded on Wall Street
by anti-capitalist protests.
While Sun is charged with
addressing the philanthropic side of
the business, she has an epiphany.
Their work is a vicious circle. The
business served to widen inequality,
concentrating wealth. The effect
was hardly offset by donations to
charities and museums, with its
favourable tax breaks.
“It was like I was frosting over the
fundamental truth of what they were
doing: actually widening inequality
every day,” she says. “I began to
question: if you’re making it worse
when you’re making your billions, the
philanthropy won’t be able to make it
up on the back end.
“Also, their philanthropy was still a
way for them to control the decision-
making: they get to choose the world
they want to bring about and the
problems that their philanthropy
wants to fix. I didn’t see any
billionaires, when I was working there,
giving their money towards solving
major systemic issues that would eat
away at their ability to make their
billions. It was self-serving. It goes
back to self-interest.”
I’m amazed it was possible to write meeting”) with Boone in which she is The public fascination with wealth,
this book at all, I say. Sun explains that admonished that she did not instantly which she freely admits she shared,
after her 14 interviews to get the job, reply to an email he sent the night shows up in cultural life with the
she signed some confidentiality before. She works “11 hours a day” at popularity of shows such as Succession
agreements when she began work for the office and never leaves before or White Lotus.
Carbon. “My publishers, and I also Boone, unless she is injured. “There’s a deep curiosity: who are
work with a lawyer, feel I am able to And she does once get injured. these people? There’s so little
publish this book and tell my story of While running on the treadmill, she information flowing out, when in fact
the working conditions.” She does not realises an email has arrived from him. these firms and these billionaires have
know the reaction of her former boss Wrestling between getting a few a lot more influence and power than
or the company, saying: “I’ve heard minutes of personal time and jumping maybe people even realise,” she says.
nothing from them.” to his tune, she attempts to look at her “There’s also a sense in which many
At first, the trappings of wealth were phone while running on the gym’s people with extreme wealth often are
seductive. Sun writes with wit about hamster wheel — a metaphor for 21st- able to get away with a lot, including
her induction to the firm, a tour of the century office life if ever I heard one. criminal things. I think sometimes
gym with its floor-to-ceiling windows She flies off and her designer leggings people look to those fictional ‘eat the
onto Central Park, racks of fresh don’t protect her knees from deep rich’ satires like Succession for a sense
designer workout gear just waiting to wounds. She gets an Uber home and of cosmic justice. There is something
be taken from the hanger, and the vast an Uber back to the office the next satisfying about seeing the rich get
platters of food from the most The New York Stock leisure through more efficiency. In morning. “No more personal goals,” what they deserve.”
expensive restaurants that are slopped Exchange. Above: fact, they do the opposite: more she reminds herself. That rarely happens in real life. How
into the bin at the end of the day. His Carrie Sun efficiency breeds more work, and tech “I might not be working all day does she feel about Boone now? Does
food preferences are, in his briefing enables the bleed of work into Saturday or Sunday, but I might she feel he exploited her? She pauses.
note, “protein — not heavy. Salad/ personal life that has accelerated receive an email or a text that means I “I think he did exploit me, but never
soup. Clean. Not mayo. No caffeine/ modern stress and isolation for so have to instantly change my plans for intentionally,” she says carefully. He
red wine. Anti-cancer.” She is given an many of us. Sun lived this up close. the day. It wasn’t just the number of saw “burnout” as a badge of honour,
employee handbook noting that When she is hired Boone wonders hours I worked, it was the quality of “never mind that his burnout enriches
“individuals should refrain from using aloud what she will do with her free the hours off.” himself and that he gets to be a
vulgarities, obscenities, jokes, sarcasm”. time outside her working hours of In two years she lost touch with her billionaire, whereas my burnout
Next she is awarded “the sable fur of nine to six. Yet this is the very appeal friends, broke up with boyfriends and further enriches him.”
the investor class, a Patagonia fleece of her taking this demotion, to give her developed an eating disorder as she In the end she quit. She realised she
jacket with another Carbon logo time to work on her writing. ordered more sweet snacks to cope too had forgotten the name of the
embroidered on the left arm”. She got “I believed in the possibility of good with the stress. He offers her diet tips: woman whose only job is to flush away
Boone into meetings with other billionaires,” she writes. “Believing in when she does a juice cleanse for a the men’s toxic waste, and nobody else
billionaires or, as she puts it, she him meant I didn’t have to change my week, he tells her to extend it for two. in the firm knows.
became the “UPS guy whose packages world view.” In reality, on her second He owned you, didn’t he? “Yes.” Private Equity by Carrie Sun
were rich white men”. day she is presented with a list of 96 of She is not looking for sympathy; she (Bloomsbury £20). Buy from
Boone heavily invests in companies his demands on her time, which she is was well paid and there by choice. timesbookshop.co.uk Special
promoting 21st-century convenience to give unstintingly. That morning she “But the inequities that I felt at work discount available for Times+
tech. These offer the dream of more is called to a “sit” (“which means a are very universal,” she says. members
4 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

times2

‘So all I have to

do is wait for my
parents to die’
A new report claims hard-up millennials will one day
be the wealthiest generation in history — thanks to
inheritance. Really? That’s rich, says Harriet Walker

W
hen I saw estates. Coming into windfall amounts
the news of money probably also requires being
yesterday an only child — and there are far
that fewer millennial onlies than
millennials millennials themselves are having,
are “set to because people could afford to have
become the more than one back then.
richest A friend texted me yesterday’s
generation in history”, according to a headline with the comment “proper
report by the estate agency Knight rage”. Like mine, her already stonking
Frank, I felt briefly excited. Were my mortgage has recently almost doubled
mortgage payments about to come (thanks, Kwasi!). Like me, she spends Charlie Gowans-Eglinton
down to what the family who bought £1,400 more a month on nursery than
my house for — checks notes — parents in other European countries
£260,000 in 2010 used to pay? Would do. Her partner has recently been
I get a rebate on the £70,000-ish I’ve made redundant too: now approaching
paid in childcare over the past six our forties, millennials often prove too
years to go to work?
There would be details of my kids’
expensive to keep but cheap to get rid
of. Unfortunately there is nothing else I might be able to spending towards greener homes,
greener goods, in line with younger
forthcoming free university tuition,
perhaps, or the triple-locked final
about our lives that is cheap.
There is even more disparity within
buy a one-bedroom generations’ ecological priorities.
So now it’s only a matter of time.
salary pension my peers and I will all
receive. Will a pint in my local no
the bracket itself, which spans births
from 1980 to 1994. At 38, I’m lucky to
flat for retirement This “massive transfer of wealth” will
happen over the next two decades.
longer cost £7? Harriet Walker be the “geriatric” vintage (fewer Charlie There’s nothing new in inheriting
But no: it turns out all I have to do is avocados, no email until freshers week, property, of course, but one of the
wait for my parents to die. can’t code), which means I went to Gowans-Eglinton factors keeping millennials

F
This is the awful truth that many university before it cost £9,000 a year infantilised into middle age is that
millennials know and don’t want to and paid off my student loan in my inally, some good news for the older generations are living
think about. Until us, the social late twenties. I got my first job just much-vilified millennials: we longer than ever (assuming they can
contract — a decent economy, enough before the financial crisis wiped out will inherit the earth, or at still afford to heat their homes). My
housing, stable jobs with wages that graduate opportunities (though was least the neighbourhood. parents are baby boomers, aged 67
reflect prices — allowed for most entered into a redundancy ballot in We’re set to become the and 72. My mum is like the bionic
children to do better than their my first month of employment). Since “richest generation in history” and woman, with two new knees, and my
parents. Yet the gulf in then I’ve been let go from a website we don’t have to lift a finger — all we parents are running around like
intergenerational wealth has turned that promised to be the future (until it have to do is wait for our parents to healthy twentysomethings again
my age group into so many Prince folded) and survived more trimmings die. Thank goodness for that! I was after curative cancer treatment for
Charleses, greying as it awaits a than a Sunday roast. worried about my latest £200 rent both at the Royal Marsden in the
birthright that comes with the Even so, my every grown-up increase (on top of last year’s £183 past five years.
worst price tag imaginable. decision — from going to rent increase) and seriously Millennial reliance on the Bank
I’m not asking for sympathy university to getting on the housing considering the suggestion from the of Mum and Dad is gleefully
— I’m one of the lucky ladder, even for a while my Kellogg’s CEO that anyone struggling reported. Last year a record number
infantilised ones, with generous childcare bills — has been in some to afford food in the cost of living of first-time homebuyers had help
parents who still help out with way subsidised by my parents. crisis should eat cereal for dinner. from living boomer parents: 61 per
lifeline loans and take us on Over my years as an adult, rents This morning I was one of — as this cent, according to Savills. The
holiday. But most millennials have gone up exorbitantly as paper’s deputy property editor put number of adults still living in their
won’t see anything like the salaries have stagnated, and now it — “a generation without hope”. parents’ home in England and
sort of dividend that will mortgages, bills and the food shop But now the dark clouds have parted Wales grew by 620,000 in the
supposedly make ours the have too. These are not costs that and the future — one in which decade up to the last census. Among
wealthiest cohort in history. come back down again, whether or my parents die and leave me half my friends who have bought their
The £2.5 trillion tied up in not the government says it is their house — apparently “looks own homes, most have done so
homes owned by the last of hitting targets on inflation. Another decidedly brighter”. thanks to financial help from their
the silent generation, the friend in her forties recently had to The silent generation, baby parents or inheritance from their
boomers and some of Gen X ask her parents to pay for her to boomers and the eldest of Gen X
relies on property value — and get a filling done. (basically everyone over 50) will pass
mortgages having been paid off Millennial lives are, and will down their wealth to their children
— in very specific parts of the
country: London, the southeast,
always be, far more expensive than
ones lived before — not because of
when they die. Talk about the goose
that, in its death throes, lays the Perhaps it will be
a few enclaves on the coast, even
fewer in the north. Jeremy Hunt,
all the avocados, but thanks to a
series of bad decisions taken by
golden well-appointed mid-terrace
and second home in the Costas, eh?
our Gen Alpha
the chancellor, might talk about
slashing inheritance tax, but it
people in charge. Only the very
biggest inheritance can insulate
And as the kids (some of us
middle-aged) inherit the earth, we
children who will
applies to less than 4 per cent of you from those. can expect to see a huge shift in be luckiest of all
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 5

times2
Having stayed in
the north, I won’t
need a windfall
Chris Stokel-Walker

W
hile some millennials
might be willing to
wait for their baby
boomer inheritance
to come to them, I’m
hoping that at 34 — and with parents
in their late sixties and early
seventies — I’ll be waiting a while for
any money to come my way.
And while I haven’t done the sums,
when weighing up what I’m in line
for there are factors that will
simultaneously add and take away
from the cash pile. I’m an only child
(positive) of a middle-class family in
the north of England (negative).
In Gateshead, where my childhood
home was a terrace facing on to a
main road, the average household
income is 18 per cent below the
national average. I’m the son of a
warehouse worker and a teacher. My
childhood was lovely and comfortable
but far from ostentatious. All of
which means that I resolved long ago
not to build my life around an
indeterminate amount of money that
may or may not come at any point.
So after graduating from Newcastle
University in 2010, and having lived
with my parents during my student
days to save money, I strove to get on
with earning. I avoided moving to
London like many friends and stayed
Chris Stokel-Walker in Gateshead.
Isolde Walters I’ve been in journalism for more
than a decade but have only had a
decent chunk of money my short period of time when this has
grandfather had left me, I had been my sole source of income.
grandparents — either willed to
them directly or passed along by I’m lucky — my nowhere near the six-figure sum I’d
need to secure a flat alone in London,
Instead I’ve juggled the journalism
career with full or part-time jobs, in
their parents early to help them on to
the property ladder.
father helped me the city I had grown up in.
My father called back. He was
offices and now as a journalism
lecturer. But despite the crowing of
We’re a generation of adults still
reliant on our parents’ help. I may
buy a flat planning on selling his flat in the
capital — rented out since he had
keyboard warriors who bemoan our
cushy “avocado generation”, it has
not be far off 40, but the Bank of Isolde Walters retired — and once that had gone meant some sacrifices.

I
Mum and Dad still buys me bulk loo through he would be able to give me For one thing, my lunch hours
roll from Costco, lent me money remember calling my father to ask the lion’s share of the deposit I needed. were more likely to be spent
when I was short on last year’s tax him if he could help me buy a This would be my inheritance in interviewing for stories that I tapped
bill, and provides two days and a
night of free childcare a week for my
home. I was at the end of my
tether, sharing a tiny flat in west If only advance, he explained. A year later I
bought a two-bedroom flat in
out on the bus home. Rather than
splurging on avocado toast, I bought
older sister. Millennials like me are
lucky if we have that safety net. But
London that was astonishingly
pretty on the outside but damp, those with southeast London.
I’m lucky. I let out my spare room
an audio recorder and an earplug
that allowed me to record interviews
then I’ve never inherited any money,
while my parents were both
cramped and crumbly inside, paying
£1,000 a month in rent. My flatmate family and, as a result, I’ve been able to
embark upon the precarious career of
on my way to and from the day job.
Holidays were more often than not
orphaned in their mid-twenties. The
lucky ducks!
was a nomadic soul and in three
months she would get a job overseas,
money can a freelance journalist. Along with the
cash, my parents gave me freedom.
work trips paid for by magazines, on
to which I would append an extra
I am, curiously, less keen for my
parents to shuffle off this mortal coil
leaving me scrambling for another
home in a market where renters
buy, it’s not When I read the news that my age
group is set to become the richest
night in a hotel at my own expense,
or would sneak a few hours’
than my local geezer estate agent
lobbying for his 2 per cent of their
routinely “bid” hundreds over the
monthly rent to secure a property.
something generation in history as our parents
hand down their wealth, my first
sightseeing in between meetings. I’d
leave social events early to stay up
house sale. Since they’re active, eat All around, friends were clambering to celebrate thought was: what about the people until 2am filing stories for editors.
organic, don’t smoke or skydive, I am on the property ladder with the help of who won’t inherit? Confirmation that This isn’t a sob story. I’m in a long-
hoping they will still be pootling a huge withdrawal from the Bank of Britain has become an inheritocracy term relationship with a university
around in their little electric car Mum and Dad. I knew no one who where only those with access to family lecturer, we live comfortably and,
when they are 100. Should we be so bought their first home in London money can hope to buy a home in the yes, we have subscriptions to Netflix
lucky to get another 30 years without parental assistance or an southeast is hardly something to and Disney+. I’ve earned more than
together, then I’ll inherit half of inheritance. celebrate. My second thought was: I the national average income of
their two-bedroom London terrace I felt hopeless, staring down a future don’t feel like a member of the richest £33,000 for more than a decade.
in my mid-sixties. Minus inheritance of shuffling from house share to house generation in history. Even so, I am one of the 61 per cent
taxes, and too old by then to get share, my life upended every time a My father bought his first flat in of first-time buyers who have had
much of a mortgage, I might be able landlord jacked up the rent or a north London in 1970 at the age of 22 some help from their parents.
to buy a one-bedroom flat in time for flatmate fell in love and moved in with for the grand sum of £6,250. Even I got mine, a two-bedroom flat in
my retirement. their partner, leaving me scrolling allowing for the changing value of which I live with my girlfriend
If I have the pension pot to take through SpareRoom. money, that’s a far cry from today. overlooking a lush green park
one, that is. And if I still have my “Can you help me buy a flat?” I Most of his friends owned their homes outside Newcastle, nine years ago for
health, without the NHS to see me asked my father, desperate and to the in their twenties. My head spins when £160,000, with the cash I’d
through my dotage. So perhaps it point. I suspect he’d been expecting I try to imagine my pals and me squirrelled away going towards it.
will be our Gen Alpha children who this. “I’ll call you back,” he said. owning houses in Hampstead or flats I’m also aware that I haven’t hit the
will be the luckiest of all, because we At 34, I had finally landed a job with in Angel that would only soar in value. hard bit of life yet. I don’t have to
super-rich millennials will all kick a salary large enough to net me a So, thanks to Mum and Dad, think about how to pay for the costs
the bucket nice and early, having decent mortgage. What I didn’t have millennials are quids-in, but I have a of a child while still simultaneously
eaten only cereal for dinner while was the deposit. With a meagre sneaking suspicion we’d rather have working. But any inheritance won’t
we waited for our parents to die. £10,000 to my name, even with the made the money ourselves. make or break me.
6 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

times2

The man who ignited the car culture

He came up with
the 15-minute city
idea. Now he
needs security to
visit Oxford. By
Andrew Billen

O
n a grey Saturday
afternoon in
February last year,
I wandered up from
my home in Oxford
to the city centre to
buy groceries. The
first thing I noticed
were the police officers on horseback,
the second a shouty crowd in Broad
Street, the wide avenue that has
Blackwell’s bookshop on one side and
Christopher Wren’s Sheldonian
Theatre on the other. The main
surprise, however, was that while the
protesters generally looked normally
bobble-hatted and middle class, many
of the placards they waved were plain
nuts: “Jail the government for treason.
Say no to human enslavement” was
one, “Smash the New World Order”
another. Some were anti-Covid
vaccinations, some anti-BBC.
An astonishing number of posters,
however, complained about local
roads policy. People were clearly angry
about Oxford’s LTNs, the low-traffic constrain people to live in one area. The science professor discussion; the opposite. I’m not a The irony for Moreno is that
neighbourhoods being introduced by Never have I proposed this ‘open-air Carlos Moreno. Right: politician, I’m a scientist. I am totally although the city and county council
the county council, led by the Liberal jail’ but I received a lot of violent protests in Oxford. open for discussing constructive have announced ambitions to deliver
Democrats and the Greens, but with attacks on social networks, Instagram, Below: actress Florence opinions with other scientists. I am what amount to 20-minute
the support of the city council, which TikTok. It was thousands of messages, Pugh and her father, totally open for receiving criticism. neighbourhoods, the present low-
is Labour. “Your City = Open Prison” including death threats for me, for my Clinton However, I refuse totally to discuss traffic neighbourhoods are not part
ran a small placard. A banner wife, for my daughters. Being totally with the extreme right or the extreme of it, and are merely designed to
proclaimed, “Our community our honest, I think this movement was left, because we have [opposition from] make quieter and safer streets. Trial
choice: No to 15-20 minute cities.” related to the rise of the ultra-right. both extremes.”
In Paris, Carlos Moreno, a 64-year- The Patriotic Alternative movement Moreno points out that although
old South American-born science took part in [the] Oxford [protest] and, they make a lot of noise, when the
professor at the Université Paris 1
Panthéon-Sorbonne, was taken aback
of course, the climate-sceptical people
and the antivax movement.”
local elections came last May,
extremist candidates made little I received death
by the protests which, while largely
peaceful, managed to rack up five
The protests also received the
support of Canada’s Old Testament
headway. This was true even in east
Oxford, where the social media forum, threats for me,
arrests. Moreno is regarded as the
father of the 15-minute city, his name
sage Jordan Peterson, who told his
five million followers that “idiot
Nextdoor, had been dominated for
two years by rows about the
for my wife, for
for neighbourhoods in which all the
necessities of life — from shops, to
tyrannical bureaucrats” were
planning to impose 15-minute
introduction of low-traffic
neighbourhoods, and where the local
my daughters
parks, to schools — are in walking or neighbourhoods by “fiat”. restaurateur Clinton Pugh has said traffic filters are aimed at alleviating
cycling distance of people’s homes. Today, Moreno comes to the extra travel time to get to his a decades-long problem with
Since outlining his vision in 2016, Oxford, at the invitation of Oxford restaurants has led to a loss of trade congestion. This is traffic
nearly 100 city mayors across the University’s Transport Studies and forced him to ask his management; Moreno’s plan goes way
world have endorsed it. A book, The Unit, to explain his vision at actress daughter Florence beyond that.
15-Minute City, to be published in the an open meeting. His Pugh for financial help. “The 15-minute city is a radical
UK in May, details the plans for its welcome may not be The two councils, change of our lifestyle, of our work
adoption and, in some cases, the ways unqualified. For a whose councillors and style. The 15-minute city wants to
it has been adopted already in Paris, conference in Buenos officers had, they said, provide more local services in
Milan, Portland in Oregon, Buenos Aires, the city employed faced abuse, put out a proximity, to reactivate the local
Aires, Sousse in Tunisia, Melbourne, guards to protect him: statement to correct the economy, to create more jobs, more
Busan in South Korea and Edinburgh. “Two policeman early in “misinformation”: the new local commerce, more schools in the
The concept has, it must be said, the morning until late in filters being introduced will district, more future activities, theatre,
proved largely popular. the evening. Totally not be physical barriers but cinema, restaurants, cafés, public
“Oxford was the first demonstration,” insane.” In Oxford, the traffic cameras; all parts of the spaces to enjoy, accessible on foot or
Moreno says. He is speaking from university will supply city will remain reachable by by bike. This is not a punishment.”
Paris against a Zoom cartoon of a whatever security it car, if sometimes by longer In his book he writes that cities’
sunny city built round a park. deems necessary. routes; Oxford residents and “good old days” ended in 1933 with the
“They were protesting with insane Is he afraid? residents of nearby villages will Athens Charter of city planning, which
arguments,” he continues. “These “No. I was born in be able to apply for permits to prioritised new roads along which cars
people said I wanted to create a new Colombia.” drive through the filters 100 days could speed from one city zone —
climate lockdown, that I wanted to The meeting allows a year; permits will be available residential, recreational, retail,
constrain people to live within short questioners to for regular trips to hospitals and, commercial — to another. His
perimeters, to have an electronic “challenge his views”. in theory at least, they should be prelapsarian alternative vision places
passport for living in this one territory. Does he expect protests? easier by car since there will be people and their localities back at the
Never, never, never have I proposed to “I’m not a guy for refusing less traffic. heart of planning decisions. By
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 7

the table
times2

wars
more and more people understand
that it’s a standalone cuisine.”
And in the new Italian-American-
themed restaurants that are springing
up in the capital, it’s not just the young
foodie crowd who are getting excited.
In his recent review of The Dover in
reducing travel, we regain the precious Mayfair, Giles Coren described its
gift of time. What he really wants is spaghetti and meatballs dish as “tight
for us to have more lovely days in our little nuts of grain-fed beef, rumbling
neighbourhood. in a bright, lively sauce, all tangled up
Although he had worked on his in the pasta ... Positively sexual it was”.
ideas from 2010, it was after Cop21, the More is to come. Carbone, a New
2015 Paris climate change conference, York institution renowned for its
that Moreno relaunched his 15-minute meatballs, is set to open in Grosvenor
city vision, emphasising its potential Square and, outside London, Louis, a
for tackling global warming. He writes “love letter to the Italian-American
that “urban activities” account for restaurants of New York”, is due to
70 per cent of global greenhouse gas open in Manchester this autumn.
emissions. What accelerated the idea’s Not everyone is happy about the
implementation by cities round the trend. “It’s very disappointing, if you
world, however, was Covid. Many ask me,” says the Italian chef
found they could work at home quite Francesco Mazzei. “These dishes have
easily and, freed from hellish nothing to do with Italy. They’re very
commutes, fell back in love with their rich and stodgy, which is not what
local environments. The problem, Italian cooking is all about.”
Moreno acknowledges, is that those “It’s Mickey Mouse Italian food,”
who saw lockdown as the state’s move says James Chiavarini, owner of Il
against individual freedom of Portico, an Italian restaurant in
movement think the 15-minute city is Kensington. “That’s not to say there’s
lockdown by another name. anything wrong with it — it just does
In fact, he says, the idea is neither not resemble Italian food.” However,
right nor left wing. He has worked on he recognises the allure of spaghetti
implementing 15-minute districts with and meatballs. “A lot of people are
Anne Hidalgo, the socialist mayor of using TikTok like a search engine to
Paris, and Valérie Pécresse, the rightist find restaurants these days and there’s
president of the densely populated Île- something very visceral about seeing a
de-France region around central Paris. big plate of carbs, meat and cheese. It
In Britain, he points to Nicholas Boys hits you on a primal level.”
Smith, adviser to Tory governments, At Mortimer House Kitchen in
who has written: “Fifteen-minute cities Fitzrovia, where Tom Cenci serves
are not a socialist plot.” fresh spaghetti with beef and oregano
Even if the idea is bipartisan, I see meatballs in a rich marinara sauce, the
practical objections. If, as one Labour executive chef admits it’s sometimes

Is serving spaghetti
Party figure in Oxford admitted to me, “very hard” to persuade his Italian
there are winners and losers with cooks to break with tradition, but
LTNs (depending on which road they Italian-American cuisine allows you to
live by), maybe some 15-minute citizens do so. “It’s a little bit more playful and
will lose out too. Moreno, who has not naughty. Sometimes restaurants can

and meatballs heresy?

owned a car for 34 years, is fit and take themselves way too seriously.”
relatively young. In 10 or 15 years Besides, he adds, “No one’s taken
however, will he be biking around Italian-American food and done it well
Paris, walking to the boulangerie of his in the UK before. It used to be looked
choice? Won’t he need a car? down upon because it was served at
“Andrew, the question is not about places like TGI Fridays and wasn’t
whether or not to have a car. The good. Now people are realising it can
question is what is the role of the car,”
he replies. “Were I an elderly or
It’s the order of the moment, but feelings run hot be refined, tasty and special.”
While Italians might see changes to
disabled person in a bad situation,
maybe I’d need a car for crossing the
about the Italian-American classic. By Giulia Crouch their traditional dishes as heresy,
Cenci embraces change. “We used to

I
city. OK. But is it necessary to park my cook our pasta Italian al dente
car in a public space for a whole day f you served an Italian a plate of Tramp, and no modern but we got so many customers
when I need it only for 10 minutes or spaghetti and meatballs they mobster drama seems saying it wasn’t cooked. Now
20 minutes or 30 minutes?” might look aghast — but you complete without a we cook it slightly more
I think he is suggesting taxis. I have wouldn’t get the same response reference to the dish. English al dente instead of
another query. Walking and biking are from the chef Sean Grasso. He When the end credits Italian al dente.”
good for us and pleasurable but are loves it. His family moved to roll on Italianamerican, The Italian chef Mitshel
few people’s choice on a cold wet day. London from Sicily, via New the film director Martin Ibrahim’s east London
Aren’t 15-minute cities best located in York, and growing up his nonna’s Scorsese’s documentary restaurant, Ombra, serves
the Mediterranean and South spaghetti and meatballs was one of his about his parents, creative takes on Italian
America? “This is a good point,” he favourite dishes. Now it’s the bestseller Catherine and Charles, classics and he has noticed
says, “because in reality, at the core of in Grasso, the restaurant he launched his mother’s recipe for a shift towards a more
the 15-minute city, is not bikeability in November in Soho, London. meatballs is the last thing Americanised style of Italian
but accessibility to more local services.” “It’s been crazy,” says the 35-year- to appear on the screen. cooking too. “While I’m not
My final killer question is this: is he old. “We’re having to scale everything Scriptwriters often against the idea of
not straying from town planning into up due to demand. I think people like make a meal of the bastardising certain dishes,
social engineering? In his book he the unpretentiousness of it. We’re not gastronomic gulf between sometimes my heart does skip
talks of “combatting gentrification, trying to win a Michelin star. We just the reverence with which, a beat when I see dishes such
elitism and the concentration of want to give people a solid meal and say, a New Yorker might as smoked eel carbonara on
certain socio-political categories in the some fun factor.” regard spaghetti and meatballs, and Tom Cenci, right, with some east London menus,” he admits.
same area”. Disarmingly he seems to Killjoys may observe that in Italy how it’s judged in the country from chef Francisco at Chiavarini has a theory that the
accept this: “we need to mix people”. meatballs are not served with whence its constituent parts came. Mortimer House nation’s newfound desire for hearty,
If those Oxford protests puzzled spaghetti, but such conventions don’t There’s no better illustration of this Kitchen. Above: uncomplicated dishes such as
Moreno, they did me too. When I got bother Grasso. “We’re not an Italian than in Big Night, the 1996 comedy spaghetti and meatballs spaghetti and meatballs comes from
home that day I realised that because I restaurant, we’re an Italian-American co-directed by Stanley Tucci, in which from The Tinned the difficult times we’re going through
live centrally, I am 15-minute man restaurant,” he says. two chefs, newly arrived from Italy, Tomatoes Cookbook by globally. “I think a lot of these trends
personified. From my house I walk to And nothing epitomises Italian- clash with a New Jersey diner who Samuel Goldsmith come down to timing. Restaurants are
shops, parks, theatres and cinemas, a American food more than an wants to embellish their delicately (Murdoch Books) emotional businesses and they often
lido, my doctor’s surgery — even city- overloaded plate of spaghetti and crafted scallop and shrimp risotto with reflect how the nation is feeling.
centre demos. When Moreno says “we meatballs. Walt Disney ensured its a side order of said pasta dish. Every time the world gets itself into
need to deploy this proximity to the iconic status when he served it up to “There’s still a snobbery towards this a mess we see a resurgence of very
outskirts of cities”, I agree with him. his canine canoodlers in Lady and the type of food,” Grasso says, “but I think comforting dishes.”
8 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

arts

Hot new bands can’t catch a break.

This year’s Brits are all about the much champagne and Jack Daniel’s,
Gallagher goes on a rampage through
the casino] I called McGee to tell him
solo act. Will Hodgkinson hears what happened. He went, ‘Brilliant.’
Nowadays the label would see what
why Spotify playlists and bland public perception was before throwing
you under the bus.”
stars are bad news for rock’n’roll Newer bands such as Idles and

T
Fontaines DC face a more pressing
he group of the year problem not being “streaming
category at this year’s friendly”, not making music that slips
Brit awards makes you easily into playlists for the gym, the
wonder if there is a dinner party, the coffee shop, the
future in groups at all. hairdresser. “You see it with globally
It features Blur, who successful rock acts who are streaming
formed more than 30 a fifth of what a similarly sized band
years ago; the drum making less abrasive music will do,”
and bass DJs Chase and Status; and says Adam Nealon, A&R director for
the drill rapper Headie One and his the American independent label
occasional collaborator K-Trap. conglomerate Secretly Group.
Coupled with rising rents, the closure Two bands signed to Secretly
of small venues and the challenges of illustrate the situation. Khruangbin
touring Europe after Brexit, it suggests are a Texas three-piece who, with
that bands are in crisis. influences including Thai funk,
“You look at Afro-rock and
bands today and Brazilian
not one of them tropicalia, should
would stand up be the last word in
and say anything obscurity. Yet their
controversial languid music
because they’re all slots so easily into
worried about playlists with
getting cancelled,” titles such as
says the singer Totally Stress Free
Liam Gallagher. that they have
“Character can 6.8 million
drag a half-decent monthly listeners
band a long way on Spotify.
and there are no The London
characters any five-piece Shame,
more. I’d rather be meanwhile, have
in a half-decent band full of characters Blur, nominees for built a reputation as one of the most four-piece whose members left home
than in a great band full of squares.” group of the year. exciting live bands around, but their towns across the UK in 2013 to make it
What would happen if Oasis came
along today? “We would be killed
Above right: Another
Sky
punk abrasion isn’t Totally Stress Free
and their 164,000 monthly listeners
in London, but by the time their
unfortunately prophetic debut, I Slept Character can
before we started,” said Gallagher’s
brother Noel when we spoke last year.
are nowhere near enough for them to
give up the day jobs.
on the Floor, came out in 2020 the
singer Catrin Vincent and guitarist drag bands a long
“What made Oasis great was that we
were moody, a bit wild, and back then
“You can get a Grammy nomination
and you still can’t afford to rent a one-
Jack Gilbert had lost their jobs and
their gig bookings were scuppered by
way but there are
labels were run by amazing characters
like Alan McGee of Creation, who
bedroom flat in London,” says Grian
Chatten of Dublin’s Fontaines DC,
Covid. Last year their landlord sold his
flat and they moved into a van. Now
no characters now
loved the chaos. On the ferry to who were nominated for best rock they’re homeless.
Amsterdam, when everyone got album at the 2021 Grammys. “The week Covid hit, we were Radio
nicked [1994, first European tour, too Another Sky are an alternative rock 1’s tune of the week and I didn’t even
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 9

arts

I know why The Brits From Dua Lipa to Raye,

who should win — and who will

P
bands in London is the direct result
of colossal living expenses. “Rents erhaps unsurprisingly, given clever and strangely addictive.
are astronomical and rehearsal the public relations disaster Will win: Sprinter, Dave and
spaces are hard to find,” says Perry, faced by the Brits in 2023 Central Cee
who put on early gigs by now after a much-trumpeted The Brits is above all a commercial
successful but still skint acts such as gender-neutral best artist body, so it will be hard to ignore the
Black Midi and Black Country, New shortlist was revealed to be all male, all-conquering success of this ode to
Road. “So unless you have rich parents women are dominating this year’s making vast sums and flaunting it in
it will be difficult.” awards. Raye is the breakout star with every way imaginable. “We ain’t got
The very notion of live music is in a seven nominations, a remarkable generational wealth. It’s only a year
state of flux. The success of Abba turnaround for the 26-year-old, who that I’ve had these millions,” Central
Voyage is paving the way for hologram parted ways with her record label, Cee points out, helpfully.
shows and arena concerts, where Polydor, in 2021, while the pop stars
spectacle is as important as music. Dua Lipa and Group of the year
Last year, as one in six small venues PinkPantheress Should win: Young Fathers
across the UK closed, The O2 in and the rapper The award should go not only to an
London sold 2.5 million tickets. “Well, Little Simz are actual group, but one that’s trying to
so-called dry January was one of our all up for push things forward.
biggest months of the year, partly multiple awards. Will win: Blur
because there were no arena bands They may have had their glory days
out there,” says Perry. “Clearly there is Album of back in the mid-Nineties, but 2023 was
an appetite for it.” the year arguably Blur’s year — with a hugely
Another problem is major labels Should win: successful stadium tour and an album,
being more interested in analytics Heavy Heavy, The Ballad of Darren, that sounded
than artist development. The Scottish Young Fathers age-appropriate while holding on to
four-piece the Snuts left jobs as slaters, Ever since they that vital punky spark of old.
joiners and mechanics to make a go of won the 2014
it with a raucous, Arctic Monkeys- Mercury prize, this International artist of the year
style indie sound. After their debut Scottish trio have Should win: Burna Boy
album, WL, went to No 1 in 2021 and been developing Since time immemorial
into one of the “international” artist at the Brits has
most original meant “American”. Wouldn’t it be nice,
Above: Dua Lipa bands out there. In an age driven by given the explosion of globally
We were expected Below: Raye
Right: Burna Boy
genre-based playlists, their rejection of
category is impressive. Hip-hop, rock,
successful pop emanating from Africa,
if this Nigerian superstar got a nod?
to do marketing African folk, even frothy pop collide
on a socially engaged album that
Will win: Taylor Swift
There could be riots in the streets
jobs rather than sounds like nothing else.
Will win: My 21st Century Blues, Raye
if Swift doesn’t win. She has become
such a phenomenon that her tour
be musicians The industry is in a state of collective
guilt about Raye (née Rachel
is credited with revitalising local
economies.
care,” says Vincent when we meet in their second, Burn the Empire, hit Agatha Keen), a singer with
the church basement in south London No 3 a year later, you would assume shades of Amy Winehouse International song of
they have turned into a studio thanks their label, Parlophone, would have who left Polydor after the year
to the largesse of a benevolent vicar. been over the moon. It seems not. the label withheld her Should win: Vampire,
“We’ve been on the brink ever since.” “By the time of the second album, album release for Olivia Rodrigo
Bands such as Another Sky have we were expected to do marketing jobs several years. She The former child
achieved too much to give it up — rather than be musicians,” says the released My 21st star is on her way to
their new album, Beach Day, is band’s singer Jack Cochrane. “We went Century Blues herself joining the pop
reminiscent of an angrier, more into a boardroom where someone held and it became a super league, which
impoverished Echo and the up their phone and flicked through zeitgeist-capturing could help this
Bunnymen — but cannot afford to examples of how many videos pop phenomenon. gothically tinged
carry on. “It is a well-known secret in stars posted each week, what time they piano ballad, three
the industry that you can’t make a posted them, which demographic was Artist of the year minutes of suppressed
living from it,” Vincent says. connecting with which content. And I Should win: Little Simz fury, take its rightful place
“Streaming doesn’t pay, touring costs thought, whatever happened to One of the best rappers in as one of the songs of the year.
money and your family are going, making the music you wanted to Britain today, she reaches parts of Will win: Stick Season, Noah Kahan
‘Why are you doing music if this is make?” They dealt with the situation modern culture others cannot: the The Vermont artist’s earnest folk-pop
what’s happening to you?’” by escaping Parlophone and going taboo on talking about mental health hit follows the heritage brand-clad
“All we need is for each of us to pull their own way. “Being in a band is in the black community, major labels tradition of Mumford and Sons, with
in a grand and a half a month and we about doing the heavy lifting, driving treating artists as commodities, and astonishing No 1 hit success.
could do it full time,” says Gilbert. “But the van, working hard to get out of the questioning your initial ambitions.
the money you make from touring nine to five,” Cochrane says. “We Will win: Raye Voted alternative/rock act
goes back into the show and UK fees decided, faced with the alternative, to As long as it is followed by vast Should win: The Rolling Stones
are terrible compared to those in carry on with the heavy lifting.” commercial success, the Brits love The Stones are by no stretch of the
Europe. That’s why Brexit is such a big Nor is the social media engagement a hard luck story. Raye’s debut imagination alternative but they are
problem for bands.” loved by the major labels paying the addresses body dysmorphia, rock, so it is only right that they
How to explain, then, the success of promised dividends. In January addiction and anxiety — plus should win their first Brit for their
the Last Dinner Party, who have Universal removed its catalogue from she has an old-fashioned best album in decades.
roared out of nowhere to a No 1 TikTok, seen as the engine of new jazz-soul sensibility, aligned Will win: Bring Me the Horizon
album, in the process winning the music discovery. It was paying a to that essential ingredient: A public vote will decide this, which
BBC Sound of 2024 and a rising star fraction offered by other social being relatable. means the emo-metal-rock band from
award at the Brits this weekend? Their platforms and blowing up on TikTok is Sheffield should have it in the bag.
theatrical escapism may be part of it. often too ephemeral to mean much in Song of the year
“People don’t want to listen to the long term. Should win: Boy’s a Liar, Voted pop act
postpunk and hear about the cost of If you’re big enough to play to 9,000 PinkPantheress Should win: Charli XCX
living crisis any more,” says Abigail people each night, as the Snuts are, the The British have a way of An interesting postmodern figure who
Morris, their singer. Having attended future lies in putting out albums injecting ironic distance into embraces everything from trashy pop
the liberal boarding school Bedales, yourself and funding them via touring. pop and this is a prime to hyperactive rave.
where fees can be £43,000 a year, the And maybe there is hope. AI has been example — a confection of Will win: Dua Lipa
cost of living crisis probably isn’t a learning how to replicate the things frothy hooks, sickly sweet Now a gold-plated superstar: sleek,
huge issue for Morris. musicians offer: glamour, spectacle, vocals and clubby beats so professional, ubiquitous. A run of
Yet, according to Tim Perry, the catchy tunes. The one thing it can’t sugary it should come with recent hits — Dance the Night,
booker for the grassroots venue the replicate is the immediacy of a sweaty a pre-diabetic health warning. Houdini, Training Season — suggests
Windmill in Brixton, the crisis hitting band playing a grubby basement. It is also highly original, very she is still in her imperial phase.
10 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

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Your weekday brain boost puzzles

Pages 14-16

Every day, Monday to Thursday, a page of extra Sudoku difficult Train Tracks
puzzles to give your brain an extended workout Lay tracks to enable the train to travel
from village A to village B. The numbers
indicate how many sections of track go in
Samurai medium each row and column. There are only
straight sections and curved sections. The
Fill each grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9. track cannot cross itself.
Where the puzzles overlap, the rows and columns do not go beyond their usual length.

Killer deadly
Fill the grid so that every column, every row and
every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9. Each set of
cells joined by dotted lines must add up to the target
number in its top-left corner. Within each set of cells
Futoshiki
Fill the blank squares so that every row and
joined by dotted lines, a digit cannot be repeated. column contains each of the numbers 1 to 5
once only. The symbols between the squares
indicate whether a number is larger (>) or
smaller (<) than the number next to it.

Solve Times puzzles interactively with

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Codeword Yesterday’s solutions SUKO MINI

SUDOKU

SAMURAI
Every letter in the
crossword-style grid,
right, is represented by
a number from 1 to 26. TRAIN TRACKS
Each letter of the
alphabet appears in
the grid at least once.
Use the letters already
provided to work out
the identity of further
letters. Enter letters in
the main grid and the
Place the numbers 1 to 9 in smaller reference grid
the spaces so that the until all 26 letters of
FUTOSHIKI
number in each circle is the alphabet have been
equal to the sum of the four accounted for. Proper
surrounding spaces, and nouns are excluded.
each colour total is correct

Mini
Sudoku SUDOKU KILLER CODEWORD
Fill in the grid so that
every column, every
row and every 3x2
box contains the
digits 1 to 6

Solutions in
Monday’s Times2
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 11

television & radio

Picture perfect: the right winner in a fine finale

Carol what these three finalists (all women)
managed to produce in a few hours
from crayons and pencils sitting
we all know that Cillian Murphy is a
great actor, it is only when you see
other people trying to play Tommy
Midgley looking over Covent Garden was, to
me, little short of magic.
Shelby in Peaky Blinders that you
appreciate just what a presence he is.

TV review
And I was astonished, as an art It was Peaky Blinders week in this
lummox, that the one I thought should series, which is proving reliably
win, did win. One common viewer entertaining, and what the casting
complaint about LAOTY and its director Kelly Valentine Hendry
sister Portrait Artist of the Year is that wanted to see from the untrained
the judges — Tai Shan Schierenberg, wannabe actors was not only the
Kathleen Soriano and Kate Bryan — ability to fight convincingly but also
don’t pick the right winners and praise the power of silence and the potency
the wrong paintings to the rafters. But of a glowering stare. Not as easy as
in the last episode I, with my zero it looks, even though Murphy makes it
qualifications, think they got it spot look effortless.
Landscape Artist of the Year on. (Don’t read on if you don’t want to Don’t get me wrong, some of these
Final know who won.) contestants were very good, especially
Sky Arts The winner’s talent for reflecting in the choreographed fisticuffs. But I
{{{{( how light interacts with buildings and wonder if you either have that gift or
the landscape and, as the judges said, you don’t. How far can it be taught,
Bring the Drama her ability to tell a story with colour for instance, to “be” appealing and
BBC2 were hugely impressive. The other two appalling simultaneously? Hendry
{{{((

A
finalists, Kristina Chan and Denise taught them to minimise their hand
running joke about Fisk, were of course extremely gifted movements, keep the stillness, rein it
Landscape Artist of the too, but Monica Popham’s art was in. But some are clearly more acting
Year is that they have beautifully vibrant. “naturals” than others.
made a TV show about I don’t know if you watched the Bring the Drama is a cut above your
watching paint dry. But, as second programme at 9pm but her average reality TV competition, but
it turns out, watching paint dry can be prize, a £10,000 commission to paint I wish it wouldn’t fall back on those
pretty mesmeric. As a total and utter a landscape scene from the Orkney contrived clichés, such as making a
art duffer, I watched this gentle, polite Islands for the Science Museum to contestant sit on a wall and say how
finale with the wonder of a starving portray the harnessing of wind, waves much they want to win the task with
medieval peasant gazing upon a and tides to produce energy, showed a “the other cast members better
sumptuous feast. Everything I try to to me at least that she was the right watch out!” Ironically, it too could
draw or paint fails to reach much choice. I thought it was stunning. benefit from remembering that less is
beyond Mr Potato Head standard, so Over to Bring the Drama and while Judges Kate Bryan, Tai Shan Schierenberg and Kathleen Soriano more, daahling, less is more.

Radio choice Times Radio 1.00pm Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert

Al Ryan presents current and former Radio 3 Radio 4 8.00 The Briefing Room
David Aaronovitch discusses a story Radio 5 Live
Ben Dowell Digital, web, smart speaker, app
5.00am James Hanson with Early Breakfast
New Generation Artists performing at St FM: 92.4-94.6 MHz LW: 198kHz MW: 720 kHz
5.30am News Briefing
in the news. Last in the series MW: 693, 909
5.00am Wake Up to Money 6.00 5 Live
George’s Bristol. Today, the Georgian pianist, 8.30 The Bottom Line
6.00 Aasmah Mir and Stig Abell with Times Giorgi Gigashvili, brings listeners the wistful 5.43 Prayer for the Day Business issues that matter (7/8) Breakfast 9.00 Nicky Campbell 11.00
Radio Breakfast 10.00 Matt Chorley. An filigree of Ravel’s Sonatine, elegant formal 5.45 Farming Today 9.00 BBC Inside Science Adrian Chiles 1.00pm Nihal Arthanayake
insider’s guide to politics 1.00pm Mariella dances from Bach, and Shostakovich’s hefty 5.58 Tweet of the Day (r) The latest scientific research (r) 4.00 5 Live Drive 7.00 5 Live Sport 7.30
Frostrup. Cultural guests and big thinkers Piano Sonata No.2 — written at the height 6.00 Today 9.30 In Our Time 5 Live Sport 8.30 5 Live Sport 9.00 5 Live
3.00 Jane Garvey and Fi Glover. Jane and Fi’s of the Second World War and demonstrating With Nick Robinson and Justin Webb The history of ideas (r) Sport: The Euro Leagues Podcast 10.00
trademark entertaining style plus live his trademark neurotic energy, brooding 8.31 (LW) Yesterday in Parliament 10.00 The World Tonight Gordon Smart 1.00am Rima Ahmed
discussion on the day’s news 5.00 John melancholy and angular beauty. Ravel 9.00 In Our Time News round-up with Nuala McGovern
Pienaar with Times Radio Drive. Conversation
with political and economic guests 7.00
(Sonatine); Bach (Partita No 6 in E minor
BWV 830); and Shostakovich (Sonata
The history of ideas. See Radio Choice
9.45 (LW) Daily Service
10.45 Book at Bedtime:
What You Can See from Here
talkSPORT
Pienaar and Friends. Informed debate with 9.45 Book of the Week: Ritual MW: 1053, 1089 kHz
for piano in B minor No 2 Op 61) By Mariana Leky (9/10)
leading figures 8.00 The Evening Edition By Dimitris Xygalatas (4/5) 5.00am Early Breakfast 6.00 talkSPORT
2.00 Afternoon Concert 11.00 The Today Podcast
with Kait Borsay. Engaging evening 10.00 Woman’s Hour Breakfast with Alan Brazil 10.00 Jim White
The NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and the The biggest news stories of the week
conversation 10.00 Henry Bonsu 1.00am Topical conversation with Emma Barnett and Simon Jordan 1.00pm Hawksbee and
conductor Juraj Valcuha play Prokofiev’s 11.30 Today in Parliament
Stories of Our Times 1.30 Highlights from 11.00 From Our Own Correspondent Baker 4.00 talkSPORT Drive 7.00 Kick Off
Symphony no.5. There is also music by Ruth 12.00 News and Weather
Matt Chorley 2.00 The Best of Times Radio Reports from across the globe (5/9) 10.00 Sports Bar 1.00am Extra Time
Gipps, Bach, Ravel and Richard Strauss. 12.30am Book of the Week: Ritual (r)
Presented by Ian Skelly. Ruth Gipps 11.30 A Good Read
In Our Time Radio 2 (Chanticleer Overture); Ravel (Jeux d’eaux); Paterson Joseph and the Rev Richard Coles
12.48 Shipping Forecast
1.00 As BBC World Service TalkRadio
Radio 4, 9am Bartók (Hungarian Sketches); Bach (Flute choose favourite books (5/9) (r) Digital only
FM: 88-90.2 MHz
Today’s subject is the 6.30am The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show 9.30
Vernon Kay. Joanna Page chooses her Tracks
Sonata in C, BWV.1033); Prokofiev
(Symphony no.5); Canteloube (Chants
12.01pm (LW) Shipping Forecast
12.04 You and Yours Radio 4 Extra 5.00am James Max 6.00 Talk Today 9.30
Kev and Alex 10.00 Julia Hartley Brewer
uncertainty principle, d’Auvergne: Oï ayaï; Hé! Beyla-z-y dau fé!); 12.32 Sliced Bread Digital only 1.00pm Kevin O’Sullivan and Alex Phillips
of My Years 12.00 Jeremy Vine 2.00pm DJ 8.00am Dad’s Army 8.30 Wrinkles 9.00 The
formulated by the German Ravel (Piano Concerto in G); Chaminade Searching for the scientific evidence 3.00 Ian Collins 4.00 Vanessa Feltz
Spoony 4.00 Sara Cox 6.30 Sara Cox’s Half Unbelievable Truth 9.30 A Whole ’Nother
(Concertino); and Mozart (Exsultate jubilate) behind a product’s bold claims (4/8) 6.00 The Talk 7.00 Prime Time 8.00
physicist and Nobel laureate Wower 7.00 Jo Whiley’s Shiny Happy
5.00 In Tune 1.00 The World at One Story 10.00 The Razor’s Edge 11.00 Falco:
Playlist 7.30 Jo Whiley 9.00 The Country Independent Republic of Mike Graham
Werner Heisenberg in Music and arts news 1.45 The Political Butterfly Effect The Iron Hand of Mars 11.30 Test Room
10.00 Andre Walker 1.00am Paul Ross
Show with Bob Harris. C2C headliner Kane Eight 12.00 The Warlow Experiment
1927, which says that we Brown guests from Music City USA 10.00 7.00 Classical Mixtape The man who may have turned Norway
12.15pm Curious Under the Stars 12.30
cannot know both the
position and speed of a
Trevor Nelson’s Magnificent 7. Seven of
Rhythm Nation’s biggest hits, uplifting tunes
A selection of classical favourites mixed with
jazz, folk and music from around the world
into a wealthy country (4/5) (r)
2.00 The Archers (r) Cooking in a Bedsitter 1.00 Dad’s Army 1.30 6 Music
7.30 Live Radio 3 in Concert 2.15 Drama: The Listening Room Wrinkles 2.00 The Unbelievable Truth 2.30 Digital only
particle with perfect and essential throwbacks 10.30 Trevor A Whole ’Nother Story 3.00 The Razor’s 5.00am Emily Pilbeam 7.30 Lauren Laverne.
Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9 has been The true stories of five people whose lives
Nelson’s Rhythm Nation. The DJ introduces a With Noel Fielding 10.30 Mary Anne Hobbs
accuracy. Its influential mix of R’n’B and soulful tunes 12.00 Phil
described as one of the most majestic (and have been impacted through being Edge 4.00 Falco: The Iron Hand of Mars
perpetrators or victims of violent crimes (r) 4.30 Test Room Eight 5.00 The Warlow 1.00pm Chris Hawkins 4.00 Huw Stephens
suggestion of a fundamental Williams 3.00am Alternative Sounds of the
moving) experiences in all of Romantic art.
6.00 Huw Stephens’ Roundtable 7.00 New
Tonight it crowns this concert from City Halls 3.00 Ramblings Experiment 5.15 Curious Under the Stars
limit to what we can 90s with Dermot O’Leary (r) 4.00 OJ Borg
in Glasgow. It is preceded by music by Clare Balding tries an unlit walk at night 5.30 Cooking in a Bedsitter 6.00 Dad’s Army Music Fix Daily 9.00 Riley & Coe 11.00
know about the way the Tchaikovsky, his symphonic poem Fatum, and across the South Downs (3/7) 6.30 Wrinkles 7.00 The Unbelievable Truth. 6 Music Artist in Residence: The Smile
universe operates was also Radio 3 the evening opens with a pair of lushly 3.27 Radio 4 Appeal With Sindhu Vee, Lloyd Langford, Zoe Lyons 12.00 New Music Fix Playlist 1.00am New
something Einstein FM: 90.2-92.4 MHz operatic Intermezzi from two of Puccini’s On behalf of EveryYouth (r) and Henning Wehn 7.30 A Whole ’Nother Album Fix 2.00 Deep Dive into The Kick
6.30am Breakfast most tuneful operas. Live from City Halls, 3.30 Open Book Story. Cassie is worried about Pete’s Inside 3.00 In Their Own Words: Kate
grappled with. Helping Hannah French presents Radio 3’s classical Kate Davies talks to Chris Power about happiness in his new relationship 8.00 The Bush 4.00 The Kate Bush Playlist
Glasgow, presented by Kate Molleson.
the presenter Melvyn breakfast show, featuring your requests Puccini (Intermezzi from Madama Butterfly her new novel, Nuclear Family (r) Sondheim Archive. Guests share their love
Bragg, above, make sense
of it all are the leading
9.00 Essential Classics
Georgia Mann plays the best in classical
and Manon Lescaut); Tchaikovsky (Fatum);
and Bruckner (Symphony No. 9)
4.00 The Rise and Rise of the Microchip
Threats to the world’s access to
for the work of Stephen Sondheim 9.00
Great Lives. Peter Bazalgette reviews the life
Virgin Radio
Digital only
music, with familiar favourites, new 10.00 Free Thinking transformative technology (2/3) of Noel Coward 9.30 Jaws by Peter Benchley.
physicists Frank Close Read by Henry Goodman 9.45 Electric
6.30am The Chris Evans Breakfast Show
discoveries and featuring the John Gallagher hears about new research 4.30 BBC Inside Science with Sky 10.00 The Ryan Tubridy Show
(Oxford University) Harry occasional musical surprise into Anglo-Dutch trade and early publishing The latest scientific research Decade: Babelsberg Babylon. By Nick Perry
1.00pm Jayne Middlemiss 4.00 Ricky
Cliff (Cambridge) and 12.00 Composer of the Week: 10.45 The Essay: Moments of Being 5.00 PM 10.00 Comedy Club: Conversations from a
Wilson 7.00 Bam 10.00 Amy Voce 1.00am
Fay Dowker (Imperial Smetana (1824-1884) Joanna Robertson believes it is the everyday 5.54 (LW) Shipping Forecast Long Marriage. By Jan Etherington 10.30
Sean Goldsmith 4.00 Steve Denyer
College London). Smetana fights to defend his position as moments that shape, frame and colour our 6.00 Six O’Clock News Clare in the Community. By Harry Venning
Prague’s leading music voice. The political lives. That includes observing, or imagining, 6.30 Conversations from and David Ramsden 10.55 The Comedy Club
battles that ensue are even more vicious the lives of others around us (r) a Long Marriage Interview. Stephen Bailey chats to Catherine Classic FM
than the musical ones. Then, just as matters 11.00 The Night Tracks Mix By Jan Etherington (2/6) Bohart 11.00 Foley and McColl: The FM: 100-102 MHz
our tv newsletter seem to be resolving, tragedy strikes in Hannah Peel presents 7.00 The Archers Interview. The double-act get their big 6.30am Classic FM Breakfast with Dan
his life once again. Smetana (Dalibor: Act I 11.30 Unclassified Susan and Neil scale the heights break 11.15 Jigsaw. Comedians present a Walker 10.00 Alexander Armstrong 1.00pm
Scene 1; Festive Overture in C; The Two Elizabeth Alker offers big sounds in new 7.15 Front Row surreal sketch show 11.30 Everyone Quite Tim Lihoreau 4.00 Margherita Taylor 7.00
Widows: Act 2: Scene 3; and Má Vlast: experimental and electronic music News, reviews and interviews from the Likes Justin. House-hunting causes all Relaxing Evenings 10.00 Calm Classics
2. Vltava & 4. Z ceskych luhu a háju) (r) 12.30am Through the Night worlds of art, literature, film and music sorts of difficulties. Last in the series 1.00am Bill Overton 4.00 Early Breakfast
12 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

television & radio

Viewing Guide by police that her Such Brave Girls, within their grasp, such painfully funny, as is Don travels to the
parents have been Things You Should as learning to tell the how she upends his
Monty Don’s mainland to continue
Toby Earle involved in a car crash Have Done showcases a time or making a home life. You might Spanish Gardens his journey towards
BBC2, 8pm
and have “passed on”. bright new writing and friend, but for her root for Lucia’s self- Seville, via Estepona, a
Things You She pauses, then asks, performing talent. The they’re Herculean. She improvement, but her There’s a hint of town which prioritised
Should Have Done “Do you know if they’re premise is terrific and lives in a near-dream perma-furious aunt worldly spy to Monty residents’ quality of life
BBC3, 9pm/9.30pm
all right?” Lucia is gives the show state of distraction, Karen (Selin Hizli) Don, which is why he is over motor vehicles.
In the first played by Lucia Keskin, immediate potential to oblivious to social cannot abide her suited to investigating Where once snarled up
Top minute of who was in Channel 4’s return — Lucia will norms, and her benign fecklessness, nor that the extravagant tarmac existed, people
pick this new Big Boys and Dave’s inherit her family home self-absorption drags she’s been left the gardens of La Fortaleza wander freely in a wide
comedy its Sneakerhead, and she’s but only if she everyone she meets house. Karen’s anger in Mallorca, home to communal garden, and
attitude and direction also the show’s writer completes a list into a chaos vortex. The with Lucia, as well as Hugh Laurie’s arms the streets have been
are established: Lucia, a and creator. As with compiled by her mum. way she meets her her own family, is the dealer Richard Roper populated with 16,000
self-described “stay-at- last year’s BBC For most people, Lucia’s driving instructor in spiky foil to Lucia’s in The Night Manager. pots of bright flowers.
home daughter”, is told comedies Juice and tasks would be well the first episode is haziness. Mission completed, It’ll never catch on.

BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 Channel 4 Channel 5

6.00am Breakfast 9.30 Morning Live 10.45 Animal Park. 6.15am Homes Under the Hammer (r) 7.15 Clean It, Fix 6.00am Good Morning Britain 9.00 Lorraine. 6.10am Countdown. Vick Hope is in Dictionary Corner (r) 6.00am Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine. The broadcaster
Early

The territorial behaviour of rabbits (r) (AD) 11.15 Homes It (r) 8.00 Sign Zone: Monty Don’s Spanish Gardens (r) Entertainment, current affairs and fashion news, as well 6.50 Cheers (r) 7.40 3rd Rock from the Sun (r) (AD) 8.30 and guests discuss the issues of the day 11.15 Storm
Under the Hammer. The progress of properties in Stoke, (AD, SL) 9.00 BBC News 12.15pm Politics Live 1.00 as showbiz stories and gossip. Presented by Lorraine Kelly Everybody Loves Raymond (r) (AD) 10.00 Frasier (r) (AD) Huntley. Debate on the day’s talking points continues
Chatham and Pembroke Dock (r) (AD) 12.15pm Bargain Impossible (r) 1.45 The Tournament (r) 2.30 The 10.00 This Morning. Daily magazine, featuring a mix of 11.00 The Great House Giveaway. Transforming a 1950s with Storm Huntley 12.45pm Alexis Conran & Friends.
Hunt. From Ardingly in West Sussex (r) (AD) 1.00 BBC Farmers’ Country Showdown. Dairy goat farmers attend chat, showbusiness news, lifestyle features, topical bungalow in Anglesey into an eco-home (r) 12.00 The actor, writer and broadcaster examines the important
News at One; Weather 1.30 BBC Regional News; Weather the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show. Last in the series (r) discussion, health and beauty advice and more. Including Channel 4 News Summary 12.05pm Sun, Sea and Selling stories of the day, getting viewers’ opinions on them
1.45 Doctors. Al launches his new podcast with a tough 3.00 Saved and Remade. Transformations include a Local Weather 12.30pm Loose Women. The women put Houses. A Huddersfield couple look to build a new life in 1.40 5 News at Lunchtime 1.45 Home and Away. An
case (AD) 2.15 Clean It, Fix It. A family in Middlesex recumbent tricycle that once carried an Olympic torch (r) the world to rights once more and invite a guest to chat Spain (r) 1.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. Simon hatches a awkward surprise hits Theo between the eyes, Remi and
needs help with growing demands on their space 3.00 3.30 Murder, Mystery and My Family. Criminal barristers about what they are up to 1.30 ITV News; Weather 1.55 wacky plan to turn some old tanks into a pizza oven (r) Bree talk honestly about the Doctors Without Borders
Escape to the Country. Sonali Shah helps a couple from Sasha Wass and Jeremy Dein investigate the case of a Regional News; Weather 2.00 Dickinson’s Real Deal. (AD) 2.10 Countdown. Vick Hope is in Dictionary Corner opportunity, and Eden and Cash learn plenty on their
Surrey to find a new home in the Welsh Borders, and also woman executed for killing her husband in 1856 (r) (AD) David Dickinson is at the seaside town of Bridlington, 3.00 A Place in the Sun. Ben Hillman helps a semi-retired camping trip (r) 2.15 FILM: Murder at Blackthorne
goes behind the scenes with conservation work at the 4.15 Equator from the Air. Gordon Buchanan completes where an admiral watercolour washes up on Karen NHS worker from Manchester who is longing to buy a Manor (PG, TVM, 2023) A woman enjoys creating
Slimbridge Wetland Centre (r) (AD) 3.45 The Repair his equatorial journey in South-east Asia, searching for Dalmeny’s table (r) (AD) 3.00 Lingo. With a father and holiday home for her and her family and friends on the murder mystery parties, but when a manor house owner
Shop. Jay Blades and the experts repair a Victorian diablo, orangutans in Borneo and discovering that Indonesia’s son from Chislehurst, a hairdresser and brother from Greek island of Crete (r) 4.00 A New Life in the Sun. In is found dead, she and her colleague must find the killer.
a sparkly pair of 1940s dance shoes and a telescope that capital is sinking. Last in the series (r) (AD) 5.15 Flog It! Gloucestershire, and a married couple from Birmingham Italy, two Manchester foodies prepare a vegan banquet (r) Thriller with Christie Leverette (AD) 4.00 Shoplifters:
has lived a lifetime of stargazing (r) (AD) 4.30 Antiques Paul Martin joins Elizabeth Talbot and James Lewis in (r) 4.00 Tipping Point. Ben Shephard hosts the 5.00 Château DIY. At the Château de la Fare, the room Caught Red Handed. In Newton Abbot, a member of staff
Road Trip. Izzie Balmer and Ishy Khan go treasure hunting Basingstoke, and visits the home of the man now arcade-themed quiz in which contestants drop tokens renovation suffers some setbacks (AD) 6.00 Come Dine at the town’s main department store thinks they have
around Derbyshire. Izzie wants a little something for the considered the father of ecology, 18th-century naturalist down a choice of four chutes in the hope of winning a with Me. On the fourth day of the competition in seen someone walk past the checkout and leave with one
breakfast table, while Ishy has some miniature sporting Gilbert White (r) 6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games. £10,000 jackpot 5.00 The Chase. Bradley Walsh presents Birmingham, a hairdresser hopes that his traditional feast of their expensive coats (r) 5.00 5 News at 5 6.00 Susan
equipment in mind (r) 5.15 Pointless. Quiz hosted by With Nihal Arthanayake, Jay McGuiness, Lucy Porter as four contestants work as a team to take on one will be a cut above the rest with his guests 6.30 The Calman’s Grand Day Out. The presenter heads to the
Alexander Armstrong and Ed Gamble (r) 6.00 BBC News and Jan Ravens 6.30 Rick Stein’s Food Stories. The chef of the ruthless Chasers and secure a cash prize 6.00 Simpsons. Marge starts chatting to another man over the dramatic, yet charming coast of Northern Ireland,
at Six; Weather 6.30 BBC Regional News; Weather is given a tour of Leicester’s best Indian food (AD) Regional News; Weather 6.30 ITV News; Weather internet. With the voice of Seth MacFarlane (r) (AD) beginning at Glenariff (r) 6.55 5 News Update

7.00 The One Show Live magazine show 7.00 Great British Menu The top two 7.00 Emmerdale Rhona has a decision to 7.00 Channel 4 News 7.00 A Yorkshire Farm New series. Jules
7PM

hosted by Alex Jones and Roman Kemp chefs from north-west England cook make, and Chas reveals the cause of Hudson celebrates farming across the
their six-course menu again for Tom her cancer to her family. Meanwhile, country and throughout the seasons,
Kerridge, Nisha Katona and Ed Gamble, Belle feels regretful (AD) looking back on previous years with the
7.30 EastEnders Kat realises Nish is who this week are joined by wheelchair Nicholson family at Cannon Hall Farm
aware of her plan and Denzel invites rugby Paralympian Stuart Robinson
Amy on a date, but fails to turn up
due to a gym session (AD) 7.55 5 News Update

8.00 Dragons’ Den Guest Gary Neville 8.00 Monty Don’s Spanish Gardens 8.00 Coronation Street Daisy feels there 8.00 The Dog House Two teenage 8.00 Somerset: Wonder of the West
8PM

returns to the Den. Those pitching Monty Don visits four contrasting is still a spark between her and Daniel brothers need a peacekeeper, but are Country New series. Delving into the
their ideas include a dog lover who has gardens across southern Spain, after agreeing to look after Bertie for a sceptical that a cute Chihuahua cross, history of some of the best and most
an innovative take on dog treats, an including one built from the harshest few hours. A family liaison officer tells has quite the “look” they are after. picturesque parts of Somerset’s
eco-conscious entrepreneur who thinks of landscapes and another created by Nick that Harvey is planning an appeal Meanwhile, a couple arrive with very landscape, attractions and events,
he can conquer the drinks industry, and one of the country’s leading designers. after another man takes the blame for different dogs in mind — so it is down starting in the seaside resort of
a couple who want to bring sports See Viewing Guide (2/3) (AD) killing Natasha, and Tracy breaks the to Woodgreen to find the lucky pooch Minehead where the National
recovery to the masses (AD) news of her fling to Ken and Amy (AD) they can both agree on (AD) Ploughing competition takes place

9.00 The Apprentice Lord Sugar tasks the 9.00 Darren McGarvey: The State 9.00 The British Airways Killer 9.00 The Jury: Murder Trial The 9.00 The Mighty Mississippi with Nick
9PM

candidates to launch a new Formula E We’re In New series. The author and A three-day long police interview of prosecution and defence give their Knowles The presenter goes on an
Team. Negotiations are put in jeopardy rapper takes a look at Britain’s public Robert Brown finally ended with a closing speeches and the juries retire adventure along the Mississippi River,
when disastrous car designs are services, beginning by exploring the confession and the pilot leading to decide their verdicts. Both juries beginning with a helicopter ride
unveiled. Karren Brady and Tim UK’s justice system through the eyes officers to the site where Joanna start divided and rival camps soon along the northernmost stretch in
Campbell witness events and later, of the people that live and work in it. Simpson was buried, a remote spot form. Last in the series (AD) Minneapolis all the way down to New
the chequered flag comes down on See Viewing Guide (1/3) (AD) in Windsor Great Park (2/2) (AD) Orleans. See Viewing Guide (1/2)
another candidate (5/12) (AD)

10.00 BBC News at Ten 10.00 The Apprentice: You’re Fired 10.00 ITV News at Ten 10.00 Alice & Jack Over a decade since their 10.00 Killer at the Crime Scene
10PM

Tom Allen interviews the unfortunate great romance started, Jack and Alice The case of an elderly woman
candidate who was fired after face their greatest obstacle. Their murdered in a small north Wales
the Formula E task (5/12) relationship has survived everything community. Police were convinced the
10.30 BBC Regional News and Weather 10.30 Newsnight The day’s important 10.30 Regional News thrown their way, but with the killer was a local and as forensic
10.40 Question Time Fiona Bruce presents national and international news 10.45 The Jonathan Ross Show Jonathan greatest battle ahead, it remains to evidence mounted the net closed in (r)
the topical debate, inviting a panel stories presented by Katie Razzall is joined by the actor Ray Winstone be seen whether love can overcome
of politicians and other guests to and comedians Noel Fielding, Katherine anything. Last in the series (AD)
answer questions from an invited Ryan and Eddie Kadi, while there is
audience on subjects that have made music from the Vaccines (r) 11.05 Gogglebox The TV critics’ opinions on 11.05 Neighbours at War: Caught on
11PM

the headlines over the past week 11.15 Slammed: The Eighties shows including Wheel of Fortune, Camera Nightmare neighbours cause
The Welsh team return with a bronze Trigger Point, Michael McIntyre’s chaos, from noise next door to
medal from the first Rugby World Cup Big Show, Boarders, Love Is Blind unwelcome guests. With arguments
and the motivation they need to and The Pet Psychic: What’s Your over garden borders and battles for
11.40 Newscast BBC journalists host a prepare for their first Grand Slam 11.45 All Elite Wrestling: Rampage Hard- Dog Thinking? (r) (AD, SL) car parking spaces (9/10) (r)
weekly round-up from Westminster in a decade. Last in the series hitting, high-flying wrestling action (r)

12.10am RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK Versus the World 12.15am Bring the Drama The aspiring actors visit 12.40am Shop on TV 3.00 Monster Carp. Tom Dove and 12.05am Gogglebox (r) (AD, SL) 1.00 Married at First 12.05am Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords (r)
Late

The queens try to make Mama Ru laugh as they create Birmingham to compete on the set of Peaky Blinders (r) Neil Spooner head to the Extremadura region of Spain, Sight Australia (r) 2.20 The Simpsons. Hallowe’en tales 1.00 PlayOJO Live Casino Show 3.00 FILM: The Man
adverts for their own Drag Race-themed immersive (AD) 1.15 Sign Zone: Dragons’ Den. A former special fishing for carp weighing up to 80lbs (r) (SL) 3.50 (r) (AD) 2.45 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (r) Who Invented Christmas (PG, 2017) Comedy drama
experiences. The Grammy-award winning pop superstar effects make-up artist promotes a natural skin care range Unwind with ITV 5.05-6.00 Extreme E Highlights. The (SL) 3.30 New Model Agency (r) (AD, SL) 4.25 Grand starring Dan Stevens 4.40 House Doctor (r) (SL) 5.05
Kim Petras joins RuPaul, Michelle Visage and Alan Carr (r) (AD, SL) 2.15-3.15 Wilderness with Simon Reeve. second race of the fourth round of the electric off-road Designs New Zealand (r) (AD) 5.15-6.10 The Yorkshire Wildlife SOS (r) (SL) 5.30 Entertainment News on 5 5.35
on the judging panel (r) 1.25-6.00 BBC News Simon travels through Patagonia (r) (AD, SL) rallying series from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia (r) (SL) Dales and the Lakes: Season by Season (r) (AD) Fireman Sam (r) (SL) 5.45-6.00 Paw Patrol (r) (SL)
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 13

television & radio

McGarvey explores the Samuelson strapped guests who are out to
Darren many stages of the
The Mighty some wood to his feet
Rob Beckett’s prove their viewing
Film The Red
McGarvey: The justice system, a Mississippi with and was towed behind Smart TV knowledge. The Shoes
State We’re In journey that includes Nick Knowles his brother’s boat in Sky Max/Now, 9pm
rounds include one in BBC4, 8pm
BBC2, 9pm meeting Leeann White, Channel 5, 9pm 1922 — so Knowles is You may assume that which teams have to This classic tells the
Over three episodes the whose daughter Ava If your new year’s obliged to give it a shot this is the comedian identify disguised Big story of the wannabe
rapper, author and was murdered, and resolution to spend in this two-part series. boasting about his Brother contestants. ballerina Vicky Page
campaigner Darren asking the barrister more time watching Mark Twain, slavery clever telly but it’s Beckett is no stern (Moira Shearer), who
McGarvey sets out to Joanna Hardy-Susskind Nick Knowles water-ski and endangered fish all actually a new comedy ringmaster and even realises her dreams at a
uncover the true state why the profession seemed to be heading feature too, as does the panel show about telly, calls the players horrible price. The idea
of the UK’s justice, went on strike. There’s for failure, we have answer to a future pub hosted by Beckett. The “nerds”, prompting that success in art must
health, and education an unexpected moment some good news. The quiz question: what do team captains, Alison Widdicombe to fire be accompanied by
systems. In this first at a prison too, when Mississippi is the cradle Barack Obama, Jon Hammond and Josh back with, “Sorry for personal failure, has
show, which aired this McGarvey meets of water-skiing, after Hamm and Knowles all Widdicombe, will knowing about TV on allure for Tinseltown’s
week on BBC Scotland, someone he knows. 18-year-old Ralph have in common? be accompanied by a TV quiz.” workaholics. (PG, 1948)

Sky Max Sky Atlantic Sky Documentaries Sky Arts Sky Main Event Variations
6.00am NCIS: Los Angeles (r) 7.00 DC’s 6.00am The Guest Wing (r) (AD) 7.55 The 6.00am The Seventies (r) (AD) 7.00 6.00am Gilbert and Sullivan: A Motley Pair 6.00am Live LPGA Tour Golf: The HSBC BBC1 N Ireland
Legends of Tomorrow (r) (AD) 8.00 Supergirl (r) Sopranos (r) (AD) 10.05 The Wire (r) 12.25pm Discovering: Claudette Colbert (r) (AD) 8.00 The 6.40 Rumpelstilzchen 8.00 The Joy of Painting Women’s World Championship. Coverage of day As BBC1 except: 10.40pm The View. News,
9.00 Stargate SG-1 (r) 11.00 NCIS: Los Angeles Game of Thrones (r) (AD) 1.50 Gomorrah (r) Directors (r) (AD) 9.00 The Invisible Pilot (r) 9.00 Tales of the Unexpected (AD) 10.00 Alfred one of the tournament, at Sentosa Golf Club in comment and analysis 11.20 Question Time.
(r) 12.00 Supergirl (r) 1.00pm MacGyver (r) 2.55 The Sopranos (r) (AD) 5.10 The Wire (r) (AD) 10.00 Branson (r) (AD) 11.45 My Icon: Hitchcock Presents 11.00 Discovering: Gregory Singapore 7.30 Good Morning Sports Fans Fiona Bruce hosts the political debate
3.00 Hawaii Five-0 (r) 4.00 S.W.A.T (r) (AD) 7.30 Game of Thrones. In the aftermath of the Deta Hedman (r) (AD) 12.00 Very Ralph (r) Peck (AD) 12.00 The Joy of Painting 1.00pm 10.00 The Football Show 11.00 Live Formula 1. 12.20am Newscast. A weekly round-up from
5.00 DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (r) (AD) devastating battle at King’s Landing, Daenerys 2.00pm The Apollo (r) 4.00 The Directors (r) Tales of the Unexpected (AD) 2.00 FILM: The Bahrain Grand Prix first practice session. Westminster 12.55 RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK
6.00 Stargate SG-1. Vala is used as bait in declares her intentions for Westeros, and Tyrion (AD) 5.00 Discovering: Claudette Colbert. Sunflowers (U, 2021) Exploring a series of Coverage of preparations for the first round of Versus the World. The queens create adverts
a plot to capture Adria. Claudia Black stars (r) faces the consequences of his actions (r) (AD) The life and career of the actress (r) (AD) spectacular paintings by Vincent van Gogh (AD) the season in Sakhir 12.55pm Max’s Record F1 for their own Drag Race-themed immersive
7.00 Stargate SG-1. The final episode (r) 9.00 The Gilded Age. As George fights to 6.00 The Invisible Pilot (r) (AD) 3.00 Mad Tracey from Margate 4.00 Season 1.00 Lunchtime Live 2.00 Sports Desk experiences (r) 2.00-6.00 BBC News
8.00 An Idiot Abroad 2. Karl Pilkington boards protect his public image, Agnes’ status quo is 7.00 Branson (4/4) (r) (AD) Discovering: Claudia Cardinale (AD) 3.00 Live Formula 1. The Bahrain Grand Prix
the Trans-Siberian Express to China (r) (AD) disrupted and Armstrong intensifies her 8.45 My Icon: Denise Lewis (r) (AD) 5.00 Tales of the Unexpected (AD) second practice session 4.15 The F1 Show 5.15 BBC1 Scotland
9.00 Rob Beckett’s Smart TV. Comedy campaign against Peggy (6/9) (r) (AD) 9.00 FILM: Lancaster (PG, 2022) 6.00 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Max Verstappen: Three Times World Champion As BBC1 except: 11.15am Bargain Hunt. Eric
panel show. See Viewing Guide (r) (AD) 10.00 Succession. The Roy family are forced to Documentary telling the story of the legendary 7.00 Landscape Artist of the Year 2024 (AD) 5.30 Sky Sports News at 5 Knowles hosts from Ardingly in West Sussex
9.45 Rob & Romesh vs F1. Rob and Romesh confront a series of crises. Elsewhere, Kendall bomber synonymous with the Dambusters (AD) 8.00 Landscape Artist of the Year 2024 6.00 Sky Sports News at 6 (r) 12.00-1.00pm First Minister’s Questions.
enter the world of Formula One (r) (AD) tries to convince Rava to give their marriage 11.10 Heroin: Cape Cod, USA (r) (AD) 9.00 Discovering: Daniel Day-Lewis 7.00 Live Premier League Darts. Coverage of the Coverage of questions to First Minister Humza
10.50 Rob & Romesh vs F1. The boys continue a second chance (3/10) (r) (AD) 12.40am FILM: Who Killed the KLF? (15, 10.00 The Movies. The trip through the fifth night of this year’s tournament, featuring Yousaf in the Scottish Parliament 7.00-7.30
their Formula 1 journey in Monaco (r) (AD) 11.10 The White Lotus. Drama following the 2021) Documenting the rise and fall of the KLF Golden Age of American cinema continues quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final in a night River City. Lenny suspects someone else
11.55 Poker Face (7/10) (r) (AD) exploits of various guests and employees at the (AD) 2.25 FILM: At the Heart of Gold — 11.00 The Art of Film with Ian Nathan (AD) 11.00 The F1 Show. A look ahead is operating on his patch (r) (AD)
1.00am Magnum P.I (r) 2.00 Fantasy Football tropical White Lotus resort (1/6) (r) (AD) Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal (18, 12.00 Cleo Laine: The Unseen Home Movies. An 12.00 Live Tennis: The Abierto Mexicano Telcel
League. With Emma Hayes 2.35 Entourage. 12.15am Django (r) (AD) 1.20 Lovecraft 2019) The abuse scandal in the US national interview with the singer (AD) 1.00am Ugly presented by HSBC. Coverage of the quarter- BBC1 Wales
Double bill (r) 3.30 Hawaii Five-0 (r) 4.20 Country (r) (AD) 2.30 Game of Thrones gymnastics team 4.10 The Directors (r) (AD) Beauty 2.20 Goldie: The Art That Made Me 4.00 finals of the ATP 500 event, a hard court As BBC1 except: 1.20am-6.00 BBC News
S.W.A.T (r) (AD) 5.10 Highway Patrol (r) (r) (AD) 4.00 The Guest Wing (r) (AD) 5.05 Discovering: Claudette Colbert (r) (AD) Cheltenham Literature Festival 5.00 Auction tournament at Arena GNP Seguros in Mexico
ITV1 Wales
As ITV1 except: 9.00pm-10.00 Stories from
the Strike. Andrea Byrne presents a programme
featuring personal experience of people
involved in the 1984-85 miners’ strike
10.45-11.45 The British Airways Killer.
Robert Brown confesses and leads police to
where Joanna Simpson was buried (AD)

STV
As ITV1 except: 10.30pm-10.45 STV News
12.40am-3.00 Shop on TV 3.50-5.05
Night Vision. News, sport and weather

BBC Scotland
7.00pm Getting Hitched Asian Style. A law
student and a lawyer prepare to get married (r)
(AD) 8.00 Island Crossings. Multiple ferry
breakdowns threaten to maroon islanders over
Easter (r) 9.00 The Nine 10.00 Martin
TalkTV BBC4 Talking Pictures Film4 More4 Compston’s Norwegian Fling. Martin and Phil
MacHugh celebrate Norway’s National Day (AD)
6.00am Talk Today with Jeremy Kyle and Rosie 7.00pm Frozen Planet. Taking a look at how 6.00am The Larkins (b/w) 6.40 FILM: The 11.00am Ten Wanted Men (U, 1955) 8.55am A Farmer’s Life 9.30 A Place in the 10.30 Eat the Town. Natalie and Dazza head
Wright. News, weather and lively opinions 9.30 animals in the polar regions adapt to the Common Touch (U, 1941) British drama Western starring Randolph Scott (AD) 12.40pm Sun: Home or Away 10.25 A New Life in the to Galashiels 11.00 Scot Squad (r) (AD)
Kevin & Alex. Hosts Kevin O’Sullivan and Alex summer weather, including a colony of 400,000 starring Geoffrey Hibbert (b/w) 8.45 Look at Yangtse Incident (U, 1957) Fact-based naval Sun: Where Are They Now? 11.25 Find It, Fix It, 11.30-12.00 Growing Up Scottish (r)
Phillips give their unique take on the front pages king penguins where the adults go surfing and Life 9.00 Law of the Plainsman (b/w) 9.30 adventure starring Richard Todd (b/w) (AD) Flog It (AD) 12.30pm Come Dine with Me (AD)
and the latest news 10.00 Julia Hartley-Brewer. the chicks take mud-baths to cool off (AD) FILM: Blood of the Vampire (PG, 1958) 2.55 Decision at Sundown (U, 1957) 3.10 Four in a Bed 5.50 Heir Hunters BBC Alba
The stories you need to know 1.00pm CrossTalk 8.00 FILM: The Red Shoes (U, 1948) Horror starring Donald Wolfit 11.15 What’s On Western starring Randolph Scott 4.30 6.55 The Dog House. Two funeral workers 6.00am Alba Today 5.00pm Sionnach agus
with Kevin O’Sullivan and Alex Phillips. Analysis, A ballerina’s love for a composer arouses the TPTV With Noel 11.25 FILM: Sandokan: Strategic Air Command (U, 1955) want to rescue a dog in need (AD) Maigheach (Fox & Hare) (r) 5.10 Meaban is
debate and humour 3.00 Ian Collins. Hard- wrath of her possessive mentor. Powell and Pirate of Malaysia (PG, 1964) Swashbuckling Drama starring James Stewart (AD) 7.55 Grand Designs. A couple build a shed-like Moo (r) 5.20 Pip & Posy (r) 5.30 Rita is Crogall
hitting monologues and debates 4.00 Vanessa Pressburger’s drama starring Anton Walbrook adventure starring Steve Reeves 1.35pm FILM: 6.45 Star Trek: Nemesis (12, 2002) The family home and workspace at an old milk yard (r) 5.35 Oscar & Ealasaid (r) 5.50 Nannag a’
Feltz. Viewers’ calls and guest analysis and Moira Shearer (AD). See Viewing Guide The Pickwick Papers (U, 1952) Comedy Enterprise is pitted against Captain Picard’s evil in south-east London, but their choice of Noo/Huggleboo (r) 5.55 Stòiridh (r) 6.05 An
6.00 The Talk. A panel of well-known faces 10.10 FILM: Doctor Zhivago (PG, 1965) starring James Hayter 3.40 FILM: Beachhead clone, who has created a doomsday weapon to unconventional, industrial-style materials Saoghal Droil aig Pol Ploc/The Rubbish World
debate the topics everybody is talking about A physician is torn between loyalty to his wife (PG, 1954) Second World War drama with Tony destroy Earth. Sci-fi adventure starring Patrick proves challenging (5/10) (AD) of Dave Spud (r) 6.20 An Teaghlach Rìoghail an
7.00 Prime Time with Rosanna Lockwood. The and his love for another woman during the Curtis 5.25 FILM: It’s Great to Be Young! Stewart, Tom Hardy and Brent Spiner (AD) 9.00 Secrets of the Terracotta Warriors — Ath-dhoras (The Royals Next Door) (r) 6.40
journalist gets inside the stories of the day Russian Revolution. David Lean’s historical (U, 1956) Comedy starring John Mills 9.00 Mission: Impossible — Fallout (12, Secret History. Modern discoveries about China’s Clann Na Cruinne 7.00 An Lot (The Croft) (r)
8.00 The Independent Republic of Mike Graham. drama based on Boris Pasternak’s novel, 7.15 Look at Life. Britain’s industrial output 2018) Ethan Hunt, the IMF team and a CIA Terracotta Army, an extraordinary collection 7.30 SpeakGaelic (r) 8.00 An Là (News) 8.30
A run through the day’s breaking news starring Omar Sharif and Julie Christie (AD) 7.30 Time to Remember. Key events from 1941 assassin try to prevent a disaster caused by of ceramic sculptures unearthed in 1974 and Eòrpa 9.00 An t-Uisge/Rain Stories. Rain’s
10.00 The Talk. A panel of well-known faces 1.15am Saving Venice. Documentary exploring 8.00 The Brothers. There is a take-over bid a group of terrorists. Action thriller sequel dating back more than 2,000 years (AD) effect on our culture — including a frog
debate the topics everybody is talking about how the Italian city is subject to constant 9.05 Rumpole of the Bailey (3/6) starring Tom Cruise and Henry Cavill (AD) 10.00 Car SOS. Breathing new life into wedding in India (r) 10.00 Glan Fhein (r)
11.00 Prime Time with Rosanna Lockwood environmental issues, which are becoming more 10.15 Brides in the Bath. Fact-based period 11.55 12 Years a Slave (15, 2013) A free a beloved 1973 Porsche 911 Targa (AD) 10.30 Saidheans agus Spors (r) 11.20 Binneas
12.00 Andre Walker. The host brings his own commonplace due to the impact of climate serial killer drama starring Martin Kemp black man living in pre-Civil War New York is 11.00 24 Hours in A&E. Patients include — Na Trads (r) 11.30 Rathad Ramsay (r)
brand of opinions and commentary 1.00am change 2.45-3.45 Frozen Planet. How animals 12.20am Look at Life 12.30 Sally Ann 1.00 abducted and spends years living in slavery. a man with a dislocated jaw (AD) 12.00-6.00am Alba Today
CrossTalk with Kevin O’Sullivan and Alex Phillips. in the polar regions adapt to the summer Spearhead 2.00 The Main Chance 3.00 Bruce Fact-based period drama starring Chiwetel 12.05am Secrets of the Terracotta Warriors
Analysis and debate 3.00 Prime Time with weather, including a colony of 400,000 king Lee — Martial Arts Master 4.10 FILM: The Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender (AD) — Secret History (AD) 1.10 999: On the Front S4C
Rosanna Lockwood 4.00 The Talk 5.00 James penguins where the adults go surfing and the Bigamist (PG, 1953) Drama starring Edmond 2.35am-4.00 Somers Town (12, 2008) Line — Heart Attacks (AD) 2.15 24 Hours in 6.00am Cyw: Sali Mali (r) 6.05 Jamborî (r)
Max. An initial insight into the day’s top stories chicks take mud-baths to cool off (AD) O’Brien and Ida Lupino (b/w) 5.45 Look at Life Comedy drama starring Thomas Turgoose (b/w) A&E (AD) 3.20-3.50 A Farmer’s Life 6.15 Patrol Pawennau (r) 6.30 Digbi Draig (r)
6.45 Cacamwnci (r) 7.00 Shwshaswyn (r) 7.10
Bendibwmbwls 7.20 Anifeiliaid Bach y Byd (r)
7.30 Pentre Papur Pop 7.45 Deian a Loli 8.00
ITV2 ITV3 ITV4 Drama Yesterday Cywion Bach (r) 8.05 Sam Tan (r) 8.15 Dathlu
’Da Dona (r) 8.30 Stiw (r) 8.45 Llan-ar-goll-en
6.00am CITV 9.00 World’s Funniest Videos 6.00am Classic Emmerdale 7.00 Classic 6.00am British Touring Cars 6.10 Minder (AD, 6.00am Teleshopping 7.10 All Creatures Great 6.10am Great British Landmark Fixers 8.00 (r) 9.00 Blociau Rhif (r) 9.05 Ben a Mali a’u
9.30 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records Coronation Street (AD) 8.05 Where the Heart Is SL) 7.10 The Professionals (AD, SL) 8.15 The and Small 8.00 Doctors 9.20 Classic Holby City Abandoned Engineering (AD) 10.00 War Byd Bach O Hud (r) 9.20 Caru Canu a Stori (r)
10.00 One Tree Hill 12.00 Love Bites (AD) (AD) 10.15 The Royal (AD) 11.20 Heartbeat Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (AD) 9.20 10.40 Classic Casualty 11.40 The Bill 12.40pm Factories 11.00 The Buildings That Fought 9.30 Pablo (r) 9.45 Ahoi! (r) 10.00 Timpo (r)
1.00pm Dress to Impress 2.00 Alan Carr’s Epic 1.30pm Classic Emmerdale 2.35 Classic Magnum, PI (AD) 10.20 The Saint 11.30 Classic EastEnders 2.00 Monarch of the Glen Hitler (AD) 12.00 Great American Railroad 10.10 Jamborî (r) 10.20 Sam Tan (r) 10.30
Gameshow (AD) 3.00 One Tree Hill 5.00 Dress Coronation Street (AD) 3.45 Foyle’s War (AD) Dempsey and Makepeace (AD) 1.30pm Kojak 3.00 Hamish Macbeth 4.05 All Creatures Great Journeys 1.00pm Antiques Roadshow 2.00 Twt (r) 10.45 Sbarc (r) 11.00 Blociau Lliw (r)
to Impress. Singletons impress a nightclub host 5.55 Heartbeat. Arsonists strike (AD) 2.35 Magnum, PI (AD) 3.40 Minder (AD) 4.50 and Small 5.20 Terry and June Bangers & Cash 4.00 War Factories 5.00 The 11.05 Crawc a’i Ffrindiau (r) 11.20 Da ’Di Dona
6.00 Celebrity Catchphrase (AD) 6.55 Heartbeat. An eccentric elderly lady The Professionals (AD) 5.50 BattleBots 6.00 As Time Goes By World at War. Hitler’s rise to power in the 1930s (r) 11.30 Blero yn Mynd i Ocido (r) 11.45
7.00 Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win. A pair of reports an abduction, presenting the Aidensfield 6.55 The Motorbike Show. Henry Cole bikes 6.40 Last of the Summer Wine. The trio take a 6.00 Antiques Roadshow. From Leicester Deian a Loli (r) 12.00 News; Weather
childhood sweethearts continue their game (AD) coppers with a fresh mystery to solve (AD) through the Algarve, Portugal, and joins holiday at the seaside with Compo’s nephew 7.00 River Walks. A route along the River Lea 12.05pm Sgwrs Dan y Lloer (r) 12.30 Heno (r)
8.00 Superstore. Amy is shocked to discover 8.00 Vera. The detective investigates a Sam Lovegrove on the epic Pioneer Run 7.20 Last of the Summer Wine. Foggy accepts 7.30 Great British Railway Journeys. Celebrating 1.00 Arfordir Cymru: Sir Benfro (r) (AD) 1.30
she has no maternity leave (AD) suspicious fire that rips through a holiday park, 7.55 The Chase Celebrity Special. Bradley Walsh Sid’s challenge to play a round of golf Victorian trade with the Preston Guild Y Byd ar Bedwar (r) 2.00 News; Weather 2.05
8.30 Superstore. An initiative forces employees destroying three cabins and claiming the life hosts a Coronation Street edition of the quiz 8.00 Darby and Joan. The return of a familiar 8.00 Bangers & Cash. Up for sale at the Prynhawn Da 3.00 News; Weather 3.05 Tir
to be friendlier with the customers (AD) of the resort owner’s sister (1/4) (AD) 9.00 FILM: The Rock (15, 1996) An FBI figure from her travels helps Joan piece together Mathewson’s auction is a 1275 Mini GT (AD) Cymru (r) 4.00 Awr Fawr: Shwshaswyn (r)
9.00 Family Guy. Peter destroys the 10.00 Trial & Retribution. Part one of two. chemical weapons expert and a jailed SAS the truth about her husband (8/8) (AD) 9.00 Bangers & Cash: Restoring Classics. The 4.10 Jamborî (r) 4.20 Sam Tan (r) 4.30 Crawc
town’s television transmitter (AD) A paediatric surgeon is found dead and veteran must break into Alcatraz to bring down 9.00 Maisie Raine. Maisie’s determination to team take on a modern day fast Ford to see a’i Ffrindiau (r) 4.45 Deian a Loli (r) 5.00
9.30 Family Guy. It is Stewie’s birthday (AD) suspicion soon falls on a man who had been a renegade general and his men. Action thriller help a couple find their missing daughter brings if a “quick flip” could make a few quid (AD) Stwnsh: Larfa (r) 5.05 Gwrach y Rhibyn (r)
10.00 G’wed. It is Aimee’s big night stalking the medic for months (3/10) with Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage (AD) her into conflict with senior officers (4/6) (AD) 10.00 Bangers & Cash. Three MGs from 5.25 Arthur a Chriw y Ford Gron (r) 5.35
at the opening of the school play 11.00 Trial & Retribution. Part two of two. The 11.45 FILM: The World’s End (15, 2013) 10.00 New Tricks. The hunt for a serial killer the 1970s turn up at the garage, still Dyffryn Mwmin (r) 6.00 Y Fets (r) (AD) 6.30
10.30 G’wed. Last in the series investigation becomes increasingly complex as Five childhood friends reunite for a pub crawl in forces Sandra to rethink her career (8/10) (AD) covered in original factory wax (6/10) Dan Do (r) 6.57 News 7.00 Heno 7.30 News;
11.05 Family Guy (AD) details of Carlisle’s private life emerge (4/10) their home town, only to stumble on a threat to 11.20 Spooks. Part two of two. The terrorists 11.00 Abandoned Engineering. A military Weather 8.00 Pobol y Cwm. Gaynor has a
11.35 American Dad! (AD) 11.50 The Royal. A patient is admitted under the entire human race. Sci-fi comedy with Simon demand the release of prisoners in Saudi Arabia strong-hold in the Philippines (4/12) (AD) therapy session with Jinx (AD) 8.25 Rownd a
12.00 American Dad! (AD) 12.30am Superstore a false name. Robert Daws stars (4/12) (AD) Pegg, Nick Frost and Martin Freeman (AD) and resort to killing the hostages (7/10) 12.00 Great British Railway Journeys 1.00am Rownd (AD) 8.55 News; Weather 9.00 Pawb
(AD) 1.25 You & Me (AD, SL) 2.25 Unwind 12.40am Where the Heart Is (AD) 2.25 2.00am Auto Mundial 2.30 Motorsport Mundial 12.40am Hustle 2.00 Hamish Macbeth 3.00 Great British Landmark Fixers 2.00 Guitar a’i Farn 10.00 Chris a’r Afal Mawr (r) (AD)
with ITV. Daily escape 3.00 Teleshopping Unwind with ITV 2.30 Teleshopping 2.55 Unwind with ITV 3.00 Teleshopping Classic Holby City 4.00 Teleshopping Heroes at the BBC 3.00 Teleshopping 11.00-11.35 Cymoedd Roy Noble (r)
14 Thursday February 29 2024 | the times

MindGames
Tetonor Fiendish No 444 Codeword No 5150 Train Tracks No 2181

96 30 128 28

22 50 27 144

132 23 140 24

25 176 36 180
Lay tracks to enable the train to travel from village A to village
B. The numbers indicate how many sections of track go in
1 4 8 10 16 22 each row and column. There are only straight sections and
curved sections. The track cannot cross itself.

When complete, the strip below the grid can be split into eight pairs of
numbers. Adding the numbers in a pair gives one of the 16 numbers in
the grid. Multiplying them gives a different number in the grid. For Quintagram® Challenge
example, a 4 and 6 in the strip could be paired to make 10 (4+6) and 24
Solve all five cryptic clues using each
your mind
(4x6) in the grid. Enter each sum below the corresponding number in the
grid. The blanks in the strip must be deduced, bearing in mind the letter underneath once only with puzzle
numbers are listed in ascending order. books from
The next Tetonor puzzle will appear on Tuesday
1 Tub something that constricts The Times
Every letter in this crossword-style grid is represented by a number from 1 to 26. one terribly at first (4)
Each letter of the alphabet appears in the grid at least once. Use the letters already
provided to work out the identity of further letters. Enter letters in the main grid
and the smaller reference grid until all 26 letters of the alphabet have been
-2 Celebrate
- - -in bar on way back (5)
For more puzzles, including accounted for. Proper nouns are excluded. Yesterday’s solution, right
-3 Attendant
- - -leaving
- one something
Mini Sudoku, extra Codeword, Cluelines Stuck on Codeword? To receive 4 random clues call 0901 293 6262 or
text TIMECODE to 64343. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company’s network
access charge. Texts cost £1 plus your standard network charge. For the full solution
to drink (5)

Train Tracks and Futoshiki call 0905 757 0142. Calls cost £1 per minute plus your telephone company’s network
access charge. SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5.30pm).
-4 Prudish
- - chap
- -from Melbourne
go to page 10 maybe (9)
Lexica No 7287 No 7288
-5 Observant
- - -English
- -spy- heard
--
P I B R B E A A T L H
Winning Move otherwise (5-4)

Black to play.
D S ---------
A A A A B C D E
This position is from Perske- E O R C
Matthes, Titled Tuesday, E E E E H I I L
chess.com 2024. R E A M N O O P R R R R
thetimes.co.uk/
A term that often catches out Z R E S T T T V V W Y bookshop
players new to the game is that
of the fianchettoed bishop. I E P U
Derived from the Italian word
fianco (the flank), a fianchettoed
bishop is one that has been
I N L What are your favourite
developed on b2 or g2 (or b7/g7).
White has two such bishops but
this is rendered irrelevant as Black
A O Z A N S T F F U E
puzzles in MindGames?
now won. Can you see how?
Slide the letters either horizontally or vertically back into the grid to produce a
completed crossword. Letters are allowed to slide over other letters Email: [email protected]
KenKen Difficult No 6142 Futoshiki No 4690 Kakuro No 3649

Fill the grid

using the
numbers 1 to 9
only. The
numbers in each
horizontal or
vertical run of
white squares
add up to the
total in the
triangle to its left
or above it. The
same number
may occur more
than once in a
row or column,
but not within
the same run of
white squares.

All the digits 1 to 6 must appear in every row and column. In Fill the blank squares so that every row and column contains
each thick-line “block”, the target number in the top left-hand each of the numbers 1 to 5 once only. The symbols between
corner is calculated from the digits in all the cells in the block, the squares indicate whether a number is larger (>) or smaller
using the operation indicated by the symbol. (<) than the number next to it.
the times | Thursday February 29 2024 15

MindGames
times2 Crossword No 9466 Brain Trainer Cell Blocks No 5033
Divide the grid

ANSWER ANSWER ANSWER

1 2 3 4 5 6
into square or
7
EASY 41 +6 x2 –8 ÷ 2 + 13 25%
OF IT
+6 x 2 + 14 rectangular
blocks, each
containing one
8 9 digit only. Every
block must
MEDIUM 12 SQUARE
IT
+ 58 50%
OF IT
+ 35 3/4
OF IT
x 4 + 88 + 1/2 + 87
OF IT
contain the
number of cells
indicated by the
10 11 12
digit inside it.

116 +OF/4IT + 1/2

x 5 + 617 OF x 3 – 119 + 1/2
– 788 OF
3 80%
HARDER IT OF IT IT
13 14

15 16
Polygon Set Square No 3652
17 18 19
From these letters, make words of Enter each of
four or more letters, always including the numbers
the central letter. Answers must be in from 1 to 9 in
20 21 22 the Concise Oxford Dictionary, excluding the grid, so that
capitalised words, plurals, conjugated the six sums
verbs (past tense etc), adverbs ending work. We’ve
in LY, comparatives and superlatives. placed two
How you rate 14 words, average; numbers to get
23 24
19, good; 24, very good; 29, excellent you started.
Each sum
Yesterday’s answers should be
Across 17 Rowing implements (4) calculated left
auld, bald, ball, blanc, bland, bull, bulla,
1 Biggest (7) 18 Wind instrument (8) to right or top
call, caul, clad, clan, club, clubland, cull,
5 Muscat’s country (4) 20 Flowing back like the tide (6) to bottom.
dual, ducal, dull, land, laud, null, nulla,
8 Fluently memorised (3,3) 21 Cry of delight (6) udal, ulna, unclad
9 Smoked herring (6) 23 Fierce folklore giant (4)
Please note, BODMAS does not apply
10 Surge in the birth rate (4,4) 24 Usefulness (7)
12 Ultimate purposes (4)
13 Pub not tied to a single
Down
2 Public fighting (6)
Killer Gentle No 9338 Solutions
brewery (4,5) 3 Lacuna, hiatus (3) Quick Cryptic 2610 Codeword 5149 Kakuro 3648
Solution to Crossword 9465 4 Altercation (3-2)
D N S P L V 5 One cruelly subjugating
AVAS T P EE RAG E others (9)
H V R R N C R 6 List of items for discussion (6)
L EY L I N E A L ER T 7 With hands on hips and
I B P J N E elbows bent outwards (6)
A L L Y L U NC H BOX 11 --- pudding, traditional roast
U N D E R dinner accompaniment (9)
AVEMAR I A L AUD 14 Infuriate (6)
M P C J S A
BEBOP I RO N I NG 15 Chatterbox (6) Train Tracks 2180
U R I A U L G 16 Bonding agent (6) Sudoku 14,715
S T ERNA L S L I DE 19 Chamber under a church (5)
H W G T A R 22 Friend (3)
Need help with today’s puzzle? Call 0905 757 0143 to check the
answers. Calls cost £1 per minute plus your telephone company’s
network access charge. SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390 (Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm).

Bridge Andrew Robson

Nick Simms of Middlesex kindly Dealer: North, Vulnerability: Both Sudoku 14,716
and modestly showed me this 4♠ Cell Blocks 5032 Set Square 3651 Lexica 7285
from an Ace of Clubs Bridge Club Pairs ♠ K842 Advanced
online pairs. He’d played low on ♥K 8 6 C Q S

the opening diamond lead of West, ♦ AJ62

♣Q 7 Killer Tough No 9339 T R O U G H

Simon Woolf. East, Alan ♠ 765 ♠Q Y O A

N
Greenberg, had won the king and ♥Q J 9 5 3 W E ♥4 2 T G
(despite a bright falsecard of the ♦5 S ♦K 10 8 7 4 S L A N G
nine by Simms, hoping East would ♣K 5 4 3
♠ A J 10 9 3
♣J 10 8 6 2
think that West had led top-of- ♥ A 10 7
Y

two) promptly returned a second ♦Q 9 3

diamond, ruffed by West. ♣A 9 Sudoku 14,717 Futoshiki 4689 KenKen 6141 Lexica 7286
West had switched to the queen
of hearts but declarer had won S(Simms) W N(Rosen) E C P

dummy’s king, drawn trumps (the 1♦(1) Pass U N L E S S

queen falling on the first round) 1♠ Pass 2♠ Pass B U U

then crossed to the ace of clubs, 4♠ End
S M A R T
the Vienna Coup. He’d run his (1) Playing Strong and Fives. U F
spades and followed with dummy’s
diamonds, discarding the nine of Contract: 4♠ , Opening Lead: ♦5
O M E N

clubs from hand, whereupon West

was squeezed. That was 11 tricks Today’s solutions
and a joint top — very nicely done.
It was at that moment that part- cross to the fourth spade and, in Killer 9336 Concise Cryptic Suko 4051 Brain
ner Anne Rosen spoke: “Why the ending below, cash the jack of Quintagram Quintagram Trainer
didn’t you just win the first dia- diamonds, discarding the nine of 1 Leeds 1 Boat Easy 54
mond and draw trumps. The clubs. 2 Eland 2 Revel Medium 831
♠- 3 Adverse 3 Water Harder 7,488
Vienna Coup still works but you ♥K 8 4 Powders 4 Victorian
make 12 tricks.” ♦J 5 Day-to-day 5 Sharp-eyed
Rosen was spot on. You win ♣Q 7
trick one with dummy’s ace (read- ♠- N ♠- Word watch Quiz
ing West’s lead of dummy’s suit to ♥Q J 9 ♥2
be singleton) — and this time pre- ♦ -
W E
S ♦10 8 Leap (c) A wicker net 1 James Bond 2 The
(Chambers)
serve the nine. You draw trumps in ♣K 5
♠ 10
♣J 10 Leaping-time (c) Active Hundred and One Dalmatians
three rounds, finishing in dummy ♥ 10 7 Killer 9337 youth (Chambers) 3 Whirlwind 4 The X Factor
(with dummy’s fourth spade ♦- As with standard Sudoku, fill the grid so that every column, Lover’s leap (b) A 5 Beverly Hills Cop 6 Mata
every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9. Each set backgammon move (Collins) Hari 7 Anglesey 8 25 pence
another entry). You then lead a ♣A 9
diamond. East may duck smoothly, West is not squeezed yet, able to of cells joined by dotted lines must add up to the target number Chess — Winning Move 9 Steve Wright 10 ZTT
but you insert the nine, West dis- discard a heart. However, when in its top-left corner. Within each set of cells joined by dotted 1 ... Qxb2! is an ingenious Records 11 Neustadt
lines, a digit cannot be repeated. winning move. After 2 Rxb2
carding. You continue with the you cross to the (now-bare) ace of
Nf3+! 3 Bxf3 (3 Kh1 Rxe1+ International Prize for
queen, East winning the king and clubs to cash the last spade, West is and 4 ... Nxg5) Black is a ton Literature 12 Foula 13 James
switching to a heart (better on the positionally squeezed between Cluelines Stuck on Sudoku, Killer or KenKen? Call 0901 293 of material down but can Mellaart 14 John Parrott
deal than perhaps the more natu- hearts and clubs. Twelve tricks 6263 before midnight to receive four clues for any of today’s finish off with 3 ... Rxe1+ 15 The Cure
ral-looking club). and a top you don’t have to share. puzzles. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company’s network 4 Kg2 Bf1+ 5 Kg1 Bh3 mate
You rise with the ace of hearts, [email protected] access charge. SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390 (Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm).
 29.02.24

For extra
puzzles
See page 10

Word watch Sudoku Mild No 14,718 Fiendish No 14,719 Super fiendish No 14,720
David Parfitt

Leap
a A grassy meadow
b A cross-country skiing
track
c A wicker net

Leaping-time
a Spring
b A critical moment
c Active youth
Lover’s leap
a A plant of the Allium
family
b A backgammon move
c A skipped heartbeat

Answers on page 15

Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

The Times Daily Quiz Olav Bjortomt Suko No 4051

1 What did the writer Sinclair formed which

Ian Fleming say was record label?
“the dullest name I
ever heard”? 11 In 1970, the Italian
poet Giuseppe
2 Pongo and Missis are Ungaretti became the
the parents of 15 puppies first winner of which
in which 1956 children’s “Oklahoma Nobel”?
novel by Dodie Smith?
12 Which Shetland Island
3 Hosea 8:7 features the still adheres to a version
statement: “For they of the Julian calendar?
sow the wind, and they
shall reap the …” what? 13 Which English
archaeologist (1925-2012)
4 The Welsh singer 15 is known for his discovery
Rhydian Roberts rose to of Turkey’s Neolithic
fame on the fourth series who was executed in a face value of how settlement of Catalhoyuk?
of which ITV show? 1917, the code name H21? many pence?
14 Which Liverpudlian
5 Sergeant Taggart 7 Bryn Celli Ddu 9 Which late English defeated Jimmy White
and Detective Billy burial chamber is a DJ pioneered the “zoo” to win his only snooker Place the numbers 1 to 9 in the spaces so
Rosewood help out prehistoric site on format on British radio? world title in 1991? that the number in each circle is equal to
Eddie Murphy’s Detroit which Welsh island? the sum of the four surrounding spaces,
cop in which 1984 film? 10 In 1983, the NME 15 Who is this English and each colour total is correct
8 Issued by the Royal journalist Paul Morley, rock band?
6 The Germans gave Mint since 2009, the the producer Trevor For interactive puzzles visit
which Dutch dancer, quarter sovereign has Horn and his wife Jill Answers on page 15 thetimes.co.uk

The Times Quick Cryptic No 2611 by Teazel

1 2 3 4 5 6 Across Down
7 Prosecutor with face covering: 1 Go limp, with nothing for
7 8 silk? (6) starch (4)
8 Very narrow lane in a hollow 2 A loving touch, and worries
(6) initially soothed (6)
9 No one for turning out in the 3 Fine enclosure as place for
morning (8) shootout (2,6)
9 10
10 Double praise returned (4) 4 Part of Provence that cooks (4)
11 Stunner swallowing drug is a 5 Grand woman’s name (6)
problem (6) 6 In religious education
13 Beginning to crumble stone (5) improperly repeat witticism (8)
11 12 13 14 A football team maybe back in 12 Used manoeuvre to enter
French city (3) eastern sea (8)
14 15 Gem right to fit into ring (5) 13 Combined places to study old,
17 Servant once about to be eaten unknown card game (8)
15 16 17 18 by wild animal (6) 16 Old queen with a finally foul
19 Good to have academic dress temper (6)
(4) 18 Maintain alcoholic drink is
20 Without children stuffy, we about litre, say (6)
19 20 21 hear (8) 20 Took Jack for pilgrimage (4)
22 Messenger from goddess, 21 One with runners was at the
extremely loud (6) front after second (4)
23 Silenced, or made a joke (6)
22 23

Yesterday’s solution on page 15