£1 PROUDLY OWNED BY OUR READERS Morning Star Friday December 22 2017 For peace & socialism Incorporating the Daily Worker

Big game fetish of HOUSING’S Trump and sons BRICK WALL FROSTY: P13

SOLOMON HUGHES looks at why fi rms just aren’t building for us: P8

Reinvented White Fang JUDGE DEALS has a good amount of bite HEAVY BLOW THEATRE: 11 TO TORY PIP Disability benefi t ‘discriminates against mentally ill’ by Will Stone but in his written ruling Mr Mostyn ment drew an “unprincipled dis- Shadow work and pensions sec- said: “When a formulaic system for tinction between different catego- retary Debbie Abrahams said a assessing needs and thus entitle- ries of disabled person.” Labour government would scrap ASSESSMENTS for the Tories’ per- ments is introduced there will be Outside the hearing there was a the PIP assessments. sonal independence payment (PIP) some hard, arguably unfair, lively demonstration in support of Disability charity Scope called the disability benefi t are “blatantly dis- results.” RF organised by a number of cam- judgement “immensely signifi cant criminatory” to those with mental He added that the assessment paign groups. for thousands of disabled people.” illnesses, a High Court judge said criteria are “blatantly discrimina- A spokeswoman for the Women Under the government’s benefi t yesterday in what Labour called a tory against those with mental with Visible and Invisible Disabil- reforms, PIP replaced disability “damning indictment” of govern- health impairments” and cannot be ities group said: “The government living allowance (DLA) and intro- ment welfare reforms. “objectively justifi ed.” is discriminating against people duced regular assessments for Top judge Nicholas Mostyn sided The woman, referred to in court with serious mental health condi- claimants in a drive to cut costs with an unnamed woman with men- as RF, has been advised by legal tions who are unable to plan or and kick people off the benefi t. Jack Marks tal health problems, who chal- charity the Public Law Project. undertake a journey because of The ruling is the latest in a series lenged the fairness of the assess- “RF is bringing the case on pub- overwhelming psychological dis- of setbacks for the government, dies aged 98 ments. lic interest grounds as it will affect tress. which rewrote the law earlier this She claimed that people suffer- lots of benefi ts claimants,” a “You can’t score enough points year to deny a higher rate of PIP OBITUARY: P10 ing “overwhelming psychological spokesman said. to get full mobility benefi t unless payment, linked to mobility, to distress” are being treated less The Equality and Human Rights you also have physical mobility 164,000 people. favourably than those with other Commission also backed the wom- problems.” The new benefi t system has been disabilities when their ability to an’s claim. Labour called the ruling a mired in controversy, with severely Paramedics absent for make journeys is assessed. Barrister Caoilfhionn Gallagher “damning indictment” of the disabled people denied payments Work and Pensions Secretary QC, who led the commission’s legal Tories’ discriminatory approach to following a tick-box assessment. 1m medical emergencies David Gauke disputed her claims, team, told the judge that the assess- welfare. Turn to page 2  NEWS: P2 Morning Star 2 NEWS HOME Friday December 22 2017

AMBULANCES Trained paramedics missing from almost 1m medical emergencies by Conrad Landin “It is vital that our ambu- Industrial Reporter lance services are given the additional resources they des- PARLIAMENT EMERGENCY services failed perately need.” to send paramedics to almost South East Coast Ambu- Probe into a million ambulance calls in lance Service (Secamb) had the last year, the Morning Star the highest number of non- can reveal. paramedic responses out of claims Vaz The shocking revelation the nine trusts, with 190,813 comes as A&E units brace incidents last year. paid for sex themselves for a fl urry of North West Ambulance Serv- patients tonight, expected to ice (NWAS) revealed 155,902 suspended be one of the busiest of the calls were answered by emer- year due to revellers being gency care assistants or par- AN INVESTIGATION into injured at Christmas parties. tially qualifi ed paramedics, of allegations that Labour New fi gures show there which 650 were graded as the MP Keith Vaz paid for the were at least 1,000 confi rmed most time-critical incidents. services of sex workers cases of ambulance trusts The fewest were recorded has been suspended by the being forced to ask the police in north-east England, while Commons sleaze watchdog to take patients to hospital Pic: H Michael Miley the East of England trust did “for medical reasons.” because of shortages. not respond to the FOI request. The suspension was General union GMB, which were responded to without try that hundreds of thousands of life and death. GMB mem- A Secamb spokesman said: revealed yesterday on the obtained the fi gures through fully qualifi ed paramedics. of patients, some of them bers are performing miracles “These fi gures should be seen website of Parliamentary Freedom of Information The fi gures from the nine involved in life-threatening every day but the system is in the context of the more than Commissioner for Stand- requests, said there was likely trusts which responded totted incidents, are not being failing because funding just 700,000 emergency responses ards Kathryn Hudson, but to have been fi ve times as up to 939,893 incidents in the attended by a trained para- hasn’t kept pace with demand.” we carry out each year where her offi ce did not give many such cases in reality. year 2016-17. medic. Mr Roache said the revela- ambulance crews of varying more details. The union asked all 10 of GMB general secretary Tim “Proper support for our tion must be “a wake-up call” clinical grade work alongside The probe is intended to England’s ambulance trusts Roache said: “It will send overstretched ambulance for Health Secretary Jeremy each other to treat patients.” determine whether Mr Vaz how many ambulance calls shockwaves through the coun- services is literally a matter Hunt. [email protected] (pictured) was guilty of a confl ict of interest, since he headed the home affairs committee’s review of vice FRONT PAGE laws at the time of the male escort allegations. JUDGE DEALS HEAVY BLOW TO In September last year, the Leicester East MP publicly apologised to his TORIES’ PIP DISABILITY PLAN wife and children and quit as chairman of the home FROM P1: Nearly two-thirds “The debilitating impact of affairs committee after the of assessors’ decisions are mental ill-health needs to be Sunday Mirror reported overturned in favour of claim- taken as seriously as physical that he had paid two escorts. ants at appeal. problems if we going to over- Mr Vaz allegedly had a The government said it come a discriminaton culture.” conversation about cocaine would appeal against the deci- The charity’s own research with one of the escorts in sion and claimed there are has shown that a third of work- which the MP said he did more people with mental ill- ers with a mental health disa- not want to use the drug ness on the higher rates of PIP bility who disclose their illness but indicated that he would than there were under DLA. have experienced direct dis- pay for it for the other man Mental Health Foundation crimination in the workplace. to use at a later date. charity director Mark Row- Mr Rowland added: “We also In December 2016, land said: “This judgement is know that the key reason why Scotland Yard dropped an a reminder that there contin- people don’t disclose mental investigation into the ues to be widespread discrim- health problems is fear of har- allegations. ination against people with assment. This must change.” mental health problems. [email protected] RETAIL WE’RE HIRING Failing Toys R Us saved from DEPUTY FEATURES EDITOR collapse, but 800 jobs lost We are seeking a deputy features editor The successful applicant will need… to join the production team at our busy by Our News Desk next year and the rest prom- ance ahead of the ballot, with ■ A fl air for the English language and ised in 2019 and 2020. administrators waiting in the east London newsroom. for snappy, punchy presentation But at least 26 loss-making wings had the CVA been Regular Sunday working is required as ■ Attention to detail CREDITORS and the state- stores will shut as part of the rejected. backed Pension Protection restructure, meaning up to 800 The PPF had earlier refused part of a fi ve-day 35-hour week in order ■ The ability to operate well as part to cover the paper’s six publication days. Fund (PPF) voted yesterday to jobs are set to be lost. Redun- to back the plans unless the of a small team and off er new keep Toys R Us afl oat — but dancy consultations will start fi rm put more cash into its pen- This post is subject to a probationary ideas the fi rm is still set to throw in the new year. sion scheme. The PPF had period. Holidays start at 28 days a year ■ Good knowledge of Adobe 800 workers on the dole. Toys R Us UK managing initially wanted £9m put into rising to 30 days, plus bank holidays. Creative Suite or similar software The beleaguered retailer’s director Steve Knights said: the scheme straight away, proposal for a company volun- “All of our stores across the UK which Toys R Us bosses If you have the skills and you’re ready ■ Tight copy-editing skills ■ tary arrangement (CVA) won will remain open for business refused to do. to take on a new challenge at a national An interest in labour movement the approval of 98 per cent of as normal until spring 2018. The agreement with the newspaper which isn’t afraid to tell it like and progressive issues creditors. “Customers can continue to regulator anticipates that the it is, email [email protected] for It also got the support of the shop online and there will be pension fund’s defi cit will be an application pack. Women and minority ethnic candidates PPF after Toys R Us bosses no changes to our returns closed within 10 years, with are particularly encouraged to apply agreed to put £9.8 million into policies or gift cards across help from the fi rm’s US parent its pension scheme, which is this period.” company, which went into CLOSING DATE: underfunded by at least £30m. The fate of all 3,200 Toys R administration in September. Thursday January 18 Nearly £4m will be paid in Us jobs was hanging in the bal- [email protected] Morning Star Friday December 22 2017 HOME NEWS 3

RETAIL Usdaw: shoppers mustn’t lose their rags with workers by Conrad Landin equate to 265 assaults a Industrial Reporter day. But many workers said CHRISTMAS shoppers they had not reported should keep a civil tongue assaults and four in five in their head while stocking said the law needed to be up for turkey dinners, changed to better protect shopworkers’ union Usdaw shopworkers from abuse said yesterday. and physical attacks. New figures show that 62 Usdaw general secretary per cent of the union’s John Hannett said: “Inci- members have been dents of violence, threats verbally abused in the past and abuse against shop- 12 months. This is up by a workers are already quarter on last year’s worryingly high. figure. “Members tell us that Usdaw says offensive incidents of abuse always outbursts become worse increase over the festive over the festive season, period, particularly when with some customers there are sales events and unfairly blaming staff for there are issues to be dealt the effect of supermarkets with like unwanted presents and high-street shops being being returned.” busier. He said the union The interim results of the understood that busier union’s 2017 survey, based shops and stressful on 1,455 responses, also conditions could lead showed that 40 per cent of customers to “boil over,” workers had been threat- but this was no excuse for ened — a 38 per cent bad behaviour. increase on 2016. “My message to shoppers Three per cent said they is clear,” he said. “Enjoy LEBANON: Uber drivers staged a protest They held up their identity cards worked at the British embassy in Beirut, had been assaulted — your shopping experience, outside the comapany’s office in Beirut, and placards reading: “In support of was found next to a road in the east of which, if replicated across but please keep your cool Lebanon, yesterday against the Interior our means of living. Uber,” in the Lebanese capital on Saturday. all the workplaces where and respect shopworkers.” Minister’s warnings to cease using Uber response to reports that some Syrian’s The man who allegedly confessed to Usdaw has members, would [email protected] after a British embassy worker was were working for the taxi firm. killing her worked for Uber despite murdered by one of its staff. The body of Rebecca Dykes, who having a criminal record.

RAILWAYS NHS 33 children waiting ‘in fear’ Million more trains for new hearts this Xmas THIRTY THREE children are “We desperately need more stuck on the heart transplant people to agree to donation to waiting list following a rise of help with the number of people almost a quarter since last year, waiting for hearts and organs according to NHS Blood & Trans- of every kind.” without any guard plant figures published today. The Department of Health There are now 298 people recently launched a consulta- waiting for a heart, up from tion into an “opt-out” system Union warns that privateers plan to make driver-only the norm 240 last year. of organ donation for England NHS Blood & Transplant rather than the current opt-in by Conrad Landin driver to leave without a sec- director Sally Johnson said: system. Industrial Reporter ond person, then all the evi- “Hundreds of people are spend- dence points to this method of ing Christmas waiting for a call A MILLION more trains will operation becoming the norm that might never come. Follow us run without guards under pri- and not the exception. “Their families will be on Twitter vateers’ plans to extend “Even if we presume that 50 spending the festive period liv- @M_Star_Online driver-only operation, rail per cent of services will still ing with fear and uncertainty. union RMT said yesterday. have a guard in the future, Bosses have found them- that’s still over a million more selves at loggerheads with trains a year without a guard.” workers over plans to put all The Rail Delivery Group, technical duties — such as which represents industry opening and closing train management, said some of the GLASGOW doors — in the hands of driv- operators had committed to MORNING STAR SALE ers. Unions say driver-only keeping guards or were even operation threatens jobs, recruiting more. Join Tommy and safety and accessibility. nA separate strike on Virgin Keith for the RMT members on Mer- Trains West Coast planned for penultimate Star stall seyrail, Greater Anglia, South all insist that most trains will out guards in future. This is today and four days in January of the year tomorrow Western Railway and Island continue to operate with calculated on the basis of was called off last night after from 12.30pm to 4pm Line (on the Isle of Wight) are onboard staff. Southern and South Western reps reached a deal with at Buchanan Street/ due to strike in protest at the But RMT says the mandate also eventually removing staff bosses. Mr Cash hailed the Gordon Street. practice over the Christmas in Northern’s franchise for half from half of affected trains. result as a “breakthrough.” period. The union is also in of trains to be able to run with- RMT general secretary Further Christmas strikes are Help sell the paper dispute with Southern and out a guard is a “cuts template” Mick Cash said: “Once the pri- still on the cards on Cross- and have a chat. Northern over similar matters. for the future. The union has vate rail companies are country and London’s Dock- Tea, coffee and Southern, South Western predicted that “well over a mil- allowed to change the method lands Light Railway. soup available Railway and Greater Anglia lion” more trains will run with- of operation that forces the [email protected] Morning Star 4 NEWS HOME Friday December 22 2017

IMMIGRATION Activists challenge Tories’ refugee cap Legal action will aim to allow more than 480 kids to enter by Lamiat Sabin described as “defective,” so intends to hold them to account police cell with no access to Parliamentary Reporter that consideration could be for this shameful failure.” doctors and forced to sleep on given to allow more stranded The government has refused an inch-thick mattress on the REFUGEE rights activists will children into the country. to budge on its position to let in ground. Police said the boy had challenge the government’s But judges in London ruled just 480 children despite the self-harmed and was at “immi- cap on the number of child against the charity last month, fact that there are 13,867 lone nent risk” of suicide. refugees allowed to enter Brit- saying they were “not per- refugee children in Italy, 3,300 The Dubs Amendment was ain under the Dubs scheme, suaded” its case was made out. in Greece and 11,186 in France. made to the 2016 Immigration they revealed yesterday. Help Refugees has now Even with the cap so low, Act and, from May last year, Help Refugees, an organisa- launched a bid to challenge that only one child has so far been required the home secretary tion working on the frontline of decision at the Court of Appeal. relocated under the Dubs to make arrangements to relo- the refugee crisis in Europe, Its founder and chief execu- Amendment. cate “a specifi ed number” of took legal action over the Home tive Josie Naughton said: “As The Home Offi ce accepted vulnerable refugee children Offi ce’s calculation that only many families gather round earlier this month, that the Syr- currently in Europe. 480 children should be accepted Christmas trees, open gifts ian boy was vulnerable and eli- Leigh Day human rights under an amendment moved by and share dinners with rela- gible for transfer 16 months ago. solicitor Rosa Curling previ- Labour peer Lord Dubs. tives during this festive sea- He was rescued from ously said Help Refugees liti- It sought orders to force son, countless child refugees Greece and taken to a fl at in gation has already led to an Home Secretary Amber Rudd are battling freezing condi- Hammersmith after the coun- extra 130 places from the to abandon the cap and reopen tions, isolated and alone. cil stepped in and offered him original 350 specifi ed by the the consultation process, “The government has failed a home. Until last month the Home Offi ce. which Help Refugees these children. This appeal boy had been detained in a [email protected] NICE TO SEA-L YA: The Farne Islands experienced more births than an episode of COURTS Call the Midwife this year, with the second-highest ever number of seal pups recorded by rangers. Aide to Tory The group of National Trust rangers, who live on the islands off the Northumberland coast between April MP found and December, recorded 2,010 pups. They used drones to map locations not guilty where newborn pups lived without the of rape need to disturb them. TORY aide Samuel Armstrong credited “crucial evidence” disclosed just days before his trial for being cleared yesterday of raping a woman in his boss’s offi ce. Mr Armstrong, 24, was accused of attacking the woman when she fell asleep SHODDY WORK: Brexit after a night drinking in the Secretary David Davis Houses of Parliament. The complainant, who also worked in Parliament, PARLIAMENT said she was raped twice by the chief of staff to South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay, who insisted Peers urge Davis to publish the sex was consensual. Mr Armstrong was arrested after the woman was captured on CCTV Brexit impact analyses in full running through the corridors of Westminster by Lamiat Sabin and its chairman Lord Jay of piece of homework done during in tears in the early hours Ewelme said Mr Davis should breakfast, while watching telly, of October 14 last year. publish the reports in full, copying and pasting from Wiki- A jury found him not PEERS told Brexit Secretary including the sector views, pedia. Shameful and negligent.” guilty at Southwark Crown David Davis yesterday to pub- because he felt there was noth- TUC general secretary Court of two counts of lish his department’s sectoral ing in them that is “negotia- Frances O’Grady said that the rape, one of sexual assault impact analyses “in full” as tion-sensitive.” full reports must be published. and one of assault by MPs criticised his shoddy The Brexit Department said She added: “We need to see penetration. work. it was carrying out a “compre- full impact assessments. They He said outside court: Only 39 of 58 reports — hensive programme of ana- should set out what the impacts “Were it not for the fact promised by Mr Davis to have lytical work” and said the will be in each employment that crucial evidence was been done in “excruciating reports were not “exhaustive” sector for all the main Brexit disclosed to my defence detail” — were published by or “the fi nal say.” options, including membership team just eight working the Commons Brexit commit- Mr Davis handed over the of the single market.” days before trial, there tee this week. documents after the Commons Meanwhile Labour MP could well have been yet But the committee left out passed a Labour motion call- David Lammy claimed Mr another miscarriage of the “sector views” that detail ing on him to publish 58 sec- Davis had “clearly misled” the justice in this case.” the comments of companies toral studies. Commons and then had civil Neither he nor his and trade bodies. Labour MP Jo Stevens said servants quickly piece the lawyers elaborated on that The Lords EU committee the reports were “the equiva- promised documents together. evidence. has reviewed all 850 pages, lent of a teenager’s last-minute [email protected] MONEY SHOT: Damian Green earlier this month Morning Star Friday December 22 2017 HOME NEWS 5

LOCAL GOVERNMENT Library closures ‘disaster’ caused by myopic cuts by Lamiat Sabin Parliamentary Reporter SCORES of libraries were closed by councils last year in a “man-made disaster” brought on by “shortsighted cuts,” MPs heard yesterday. Shadow libraries minister Kevin Brennan told the Com- mons during questions for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport that councils were forced to close more than 100 libraries in 2016. He said: “Libraries are genuine engines of social mobility. Why is the govern- ment content with that situa- tion? The minister seems to be Glen replied to Mr Brennan by The former president of the content with that. saying: “The reality is that Chartered Institute of Library “Does he agree with the edi- different library services and Information Professionals tor of Public Libraries News tackle the provision that they Dawn Finch said that volun- who said recently the example deliver for their local commu- teers are put under great of other countries show that nities in different ways. strain, highlighting the case the decline of the library in “I think that in many com- of a woman who worked 40 this country is not a natural munities we’re seeing more hours a week for free and had thing? volunteers enthusiastically to dig into her life savings to “This is a man-made disas- engaging with library provi- survive. ter brought on by shortsighted sion to deliver better services Since austerity measures but long-term cuts.” all the time.” were imposed in 2012, 449 Public Libraries News has However the growing libraries have closed in Eng- also reported that another 100 number of volunteers main- land, Wales and Scotland, with libraries have been under taining community services library budgets slashed by £66 threat from January 2017. and fall in full-time staff has million in 2016 alone. Libraries minister John come under criticism. [email protected]

DON’T FORGET! NOT LONG TO PLACE GOVERNMENT ORDERS FOR OUR Sacked Green set NEW YEAR ADS! for £17k payout May’s ex-deputy to get three months’ salary by Lamiat Sabin he would be given this amount The inquiry was launched Parliamentary Reporter as a severance payment. after Conservative activist Mr Green left his post con- Kate Maltby complained that Place your DAMIAN GREEN is in line to tinuing to deny “unfounded he had made inappropriate receive nearly £17,000 after and deeply hurtful” claims advances towards her. new year being sacked for making “mis- that he had downloaded or His sacking follows the res- leading” statements in denying viewed the material that was ignations last month of Michael that police had found pornog- discovered during a police raid Fallon as defence secretary, greetings in raphy on his Commons com- in 2008. amid sexual harassment allega- our special 2018 puter. But a Cabinet Office inves- tions, and international devel- He was asked to resign as tigation found that two state- opment secretary Priti Patel the First Secretary of State by ments Mr Green made on over undisclosed meetings with edition Prime Minister Theresa May November 4 and 11, suggesting government officials in Israel. ADVERTISE on Wednesday night. that he was not aware that A source close to Brexit Sec- published Under the Ministerial and indecent material had been retary David Davis confirmed other Pensions and Salaries discovered, were “inaccurate that he would not step down in on January 2 Act 1991, a minister under the and misleading” and breached protest at Mr Green’s sacking, IN THE STAR age of 65 who resigns, is the ministerial code. despite previously threatening (deadline sacked or moved in a reshuffle Ms May had no choice but to do so. Full Page: £1,600 and is not appointed to a new to sack her lifelong friend and Meanwhile, the two former post within three weeks should de facto deputy, said Health police officers who leaked Friday Half Page: £800 receive three months salary. Secretary Jeremy Hunt. details of Mr Green’s compu- 1/4 Page: £400 Direct line: The 61-year-old was entitled Her independent adviser on ter have been referred to data December 22) 1/8 Page: £200 ((020) 8510-0815 to a ministerial salary of ministers’ interests Sir Alex protection watchdog Informa- £69,844, but under a voluntary Allan told her on Wednesday tion Commissioner’s Office 1/15 Page: £100 :ads@ pay cap received £67,505. that he agreed with the finding (ICO), Metropolitan Police Box ads: £50 peoples-press.com A quarter of that figure is of a report she received on chief Cressida Dick said. £16,876.25 and the Cabinet Monday that the ministerial [email protected] Office confirmed yesterday that code had been broken. Star Comment: p8 Morning Star 6 NEWS WORLD Friday December 22 2017

SPAIN Big turnout for vital vote in Catalonia by Our Foreign Desk Despite Spain’s attempts to stop the referendum, including attacks by riot police against CATALANS fl ocked to the polls voters, millions of Catalans yesterday in a pivotal election cast their votes with 92 per that will determine the next cent in favour of independence. chapter of the region’s contro- Spanish Prime Minister versial independence movement. Mariano Rajoy sacked the More than a third of Catalan government for Catalonia’s 5.5 million voters calling the vote and declaring had already cast their ballot in independence. the fi rst four hours of polling He then called yesterday’s with an anticipated 80 per cent election to return Catalonia to turnout. “normality” in the hope that a El Pais polls pointed to the unionist government would be pro-independence Republican voted in. Left of Catalonia (ERC) Catalonia is home to 16 per coming top, just ahead of cent of the Spanish population Ciudadanos who prefer unity and it produces 25.6 per cent with Spain. of the country’s exports. It is Exiled former president responsible for 19 per cent of Carles Puigdemont’s JxCat Spain’s GDP and receives 20.7 Party was expected to come per cent of its foreign invest- third with no overall pro-inde- ment. pendence majority in the The results were expected regional parliament. late last night but will be The election was carried out offi cially declared on January 5. under heavy security after Catalonia will remain under October’s independence direct rule from Madrid until referendum, which was declared a new government is formed. unconstitutional by Madrid. [email protected]

PERU SOUTH AFRICA New ANC leader Ramaphosa Kuczynski claims congress congratulated by president

SOUTH African President Mr Ramaphosa was elected Jacob Zuma has congratulated as leader of the ANC on Mon- corruption charge is a coup Cyril Ramaphosa after his day in a narrow victory over election as the new president Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the by Our Foreign Desk of the ruling African National South African president’s Congress (ANC). former wife. RALLY TO THE FLAG: Mr Zuma was speaking at He is widely expected to Supporters of President Pedro PERU’s President Pedro Pablo Pablo Kuczynski shout slogans the 54th ANC National Confer- become the country’s next Kuczynski appeared before outside the congress in Lima ence in Johannesburg when he president with Mr Zuma congress on impeachment welcomed Mr Ramaphosa as embroiled in corruption alle- charges yesterday over allega- the leader of “this giant move- gations and facing calls from tions linking him to illegal ment of our people, the Afri- across the political spectrum payments from a Brazilian can National Congress.” to step down. construction company. He said that with Mr Ram- Mr Ramaphosa paid tribute On the eve of the hearing, aphosa lies the aspirations to Mr Zuma in his closing Mr Kuczynski made a tele- of the South African people speech but warned: “We must vised address accusing his and wished the new leader- also act fearlessly against political opponents of trying ship “all the best in taking alleged corruption and abuse to mount a coup. our country forward.” of offi ce within our ranks.” He said: “Along with my two vice-presidents, I will maintain, with complete conviction, my commitment to the country and EUROPEAN UNION I will defend my moral capacity to continue to serve all Peruvi- ans until the end of my term. Lifting Russian sanctions “We are facing a coup dis- uncover a complex web of ille- Westfi eld Capital, which is The scandal has rocked the guised as supposedly legiti- gal transactions, with politi- owned by Mr Kuczynski. How- Peruvian political establish- would send ‘wrong signal’ mate legal interpretations.” cians taking bribes in return for ever, he sought to defend himself ment, with former political It appeared unlikely that he awarding building contracts. by saying that, while he owned leaders also under investiga- THE European Union “would send the wrong signal” would survive the congres- The Brazilian construction the company, he was not its man- tion for corruption. extended economic sanctions to Russian authorities. sional vote, since 93 legislators company is alleged to have ager when it received the money. Former president Alejandro against Russia yesterday for The measures were intro- favour his impeachment and fi nancially supported election Critics have branded the Toledo is fi ghting extradition a further six months. duced after tensions erupted in just 87 votes are required for campaigns to the tune of mil- impeachment charges an from the United States to his An EU statement read: “The Ukraine with Crimea voting to it to go ahead. lions of dollars. attempted “power grab” by the homeland over allegations that council prolonged economic rejoin Russia in a referendum. If the charges are levelled as A third of Brazil’s current right-wing Popular Force he received bribes from the sanctions targeting specifi c The EU accused Moscow of expected, Mr Kuczynski would government ministers are fac- Party. Its leader Keiko Fuji- construction company, while sectors of the Russian econ- interfering in Ukrainian inter- be the fi rst sitting president to ing investigations over illegal mori lost the 2016 presidential fellow former president Ollanta omy until 31 July 2018.” nal affairs, but Russia insisted be removed from offi ce over the payments. election to Mr Kuczynski by a Humala is in pre-trial detention The sanctions had been due the vote was held in accord- Odebrecht scandal, which has The Peruvian president ini- small majority. on money laundering charges. to expire in January. ance with international law. hit a number of Latin American tially denied receiving cash Mr Fujimori is also under The results of the congres- European Council president The restrictions limit Rus- countries including Brazil, from Odebrecht but has since investigation on suspicion of sional vote had not been Donald Tusk praised the sia’s access to EU fi nancial Argentina and Colombia. admitted working for the com- receiving illegal payments announced when the Star went lengthening of sanctions while markets and target the coun- The affair has seen anti- pany as an adviser. from Odebrecht to fund his to press. German Chancellor Angela try’s fi nancial, energy and corruption investigators Odebrecht made payments to election campaign. [email protected] Merkel said lifting restrictions defence industries. Morning Star Friday December 22 2017 WORLD NEWS 7 tURKEY IRAQ Thousands call for fresh High-profile dissidents in elections in Kurdistan exile ‘put on death list’ ANTI-GOVERNMENT protests continued for a fourth day yesterday in ‘Sensational assassinations’ planned by operatives connected to Turkish state Iraqi Kurdistan with grow- ing demands for fresh by Steve Sweeney journalists and critics of the nationalist security officials cafe in 1994, is suspected to have site Arti Gercek, said he had elections. Turkish government, although are suspected of involvement. been ordered by Turkey’s been told by colleagues to be Thousands demonstrated he said there was no evidence There is a long history of National Intelligence Organisa- on his guard as “three new in the Rania district of TURKISH assassination that the individuals were allegations of Turkish security tion, according to papers submit- assassins have been dispatched Sulimanayeh, calling for the squads are planning the mur- receiving instructions from services and individuals act- ted to court last year. from Turkey to Germany and resignation of the Kurdistan der of high-profile journalists state forces. ing on their behalf targeting Tensions have flared may be in our midst.” regional government, which and dissidents living in exile, “Rather, in grey and turbu- political exiles and govern- between President Recep Authorities in Switzerland has failed to pay public- according to an opposition MP. lent times such as those we are ment critics. Tayyip Erdogan and countries and Austria are also investi- sector workers for months. Garo Paylan of the People’s experiencing today, rogue net- In 2013, senior Kurdistan he accuses of harbouring gating whether Turkey is spy- They are demanding Democratic Party claimed to works inside the state take mat- Workers Party member Sakine exiles, including Germany. ing on Kurdish and Turkish transparency and fair have received information ters into their own hands, as we Cansiz was one of three Kurd- Mr Paylan warned that dissidents in their respective elections in the semi- from unnamed Western offi- saw with the murder of Hrant ish women shot dead at a Paris Turkish president’s “incendi- countries. autonomous region after cials about a “list of targets” Dink,” he told al-Monitor. community centre in an attack ary rhetoric” creates a climate Mr Paylan said he had told the Gorran Movement and drawn up by individuals con- Mr Dink was a prominent allegedly carried out by Turk- which vigilantes could inter- senior government officials Kurdistan Islamic Society nected to the Turkish state. Armenian-Turkish journalist ish security services. pret as a “green light” to carry about the alleged hit list and withdrew from the He told news site al-Monitor and editor killed outside his And the murder of Kurdish out assassinations. they had thanked him for the government. that they planned “sensational newspaper’s Istanbul offices trade unionist Mehmet Kaygisiz, Exiled journalist Celal information. Clashes have seen assassinations” of prominent in 2007, a crime in which ultra- who was killed in a north London Baslangic, who runs news web- [email protected] peshmerga forces loyal to the regional government attack protesters. Six people were shot in Rania NEW YORK earlier this week. Opposition party Tevgera Azadi’s co-chair- UN votes to reject man Mihemed Abdullah said it supported the Trump’s decision people’s demands. “The government wants on recognition to fortify its own rule. So they shoot at protesters, they are violent. Instead of for Jerusalem developing a solution, they respond to the people’s THE United Nations general assembly voted demands with bullets. overwhelmingly yesterday to reject US pres- “The people are angry ident Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusa- and have very little to lose lem as Israel’s capital. … the fury of the people The 193-member body reaffirmed its sup- won’t subside until this port for the long-standing international con- government is gone.” sensus that the status of the city can only be resolved as the final issue in the Israeli-Pal- estinian peace process. MEXICO In a stinging rebuke to Mr Trump, the resolution, backed by Turkey and Yemen, declared his controversial decision “null and 6 bodies void.” During the debate, Israel’s UN ambassador dangling Danny Danon claimed that UN members who backed the resolution were being manipulated. “You are like puppets pulled by your Pal- in lower estinian masters,” he sneered. Israeli deputy minister Michael Oren called California for his country to cut its ties to the UN and expel the world body from its Jerusalem SIX men were found offices. hanging from three “We must evict the UN from the scenic different bridges in a Governor’s House, where its bloated staff does popular tourist region in nothing, and give this historic site to a school, Mexico late on Wednesday a hospital or — best yet — a new US embassy,” night, authorities have he said. confirmed. Police said two bodies were taken down from each, above busy motor- ARgENtINA ways in Baja California Sur state. Governor Carlos Mendoza Davis said investigations Thousands keep up battle against ‘reforms’ were under way. “I condemn these acts by Our Foreign Desk damaging legislation passed men and 65 for women, were trying to destabilise the coun- mined to defend the rights of and any expression of by the National Congress on passed despite mass protests. try’s democracy. the Argentinian people. violence. Today more than Tuesday. Under the law, the way pen- He claims the reforms are Speaking in a televised ever Baja California Sur DEMONSTRATIONS contin- Violent clashes with Argen- sions are calculated will no necessary to fight inflation address Mr Maduro said: must be united to over- ued in Argentina yesterday tinian security services have longer be determined by wage which he described as “the “What they are doing in Argen- come this regrettable over reforms that could wipe left 160 injured with 60 growth but by inflation, a move worst evil” faced by the coun- tina should not be done, to take situation,” he said. out pensions and lead to lower arrested, but yesterday’s dem- which the opposition claims try. retirement from the elderly, The bodies were found wages and job losses for mil- onstrations seemed to pass will affect 17 million people. However Venezuelan Presi- then increase the age to 65 in the Los Cabos resort lions. more peacefully. Argentinian President Mau- dent Nicolas Maduro con- years for women, and 70 years area along routes leading Thousands took to the The reforms, which will see ricio Macri condemned the demned the attacks by Argen- for men is a mockery akin to to international airports in streets banging pots and pans pension payments reduced for violence at a press conference tinian security forces against putting a hand in their pocket La Paz, San Jose del Cabo in cities across the country in individuals and the state pen- earlier this week when he protesters saying that their to take away their retirement.” and Cabo San Lucas. a third day of protests against sion age increased to 70 for blamed outside infiltrators for actions made him more deter- [email protected] Morning Star 8 FEATURES Friday December 22 2017 Star HOUSING Comment How Taylor Wimpe Question marks over Green’s exit WHEN is a ministerial sacking or required resignation from the housing c not all it seems? When it concerns Theresa May and her deputy Damian Green, apparently. In what way had Green’s position over lying to Par- liament changed between last week and Wednesday evening’s announcement that the Prime Minister had accepted the resignation that she had told him to ten- der? His exit stage right bears the hallmarks of a care- fully choreographed manoeuvre designed to spare both principals as much embarrassment as possible. Highly paid media political and parliamentary cor- respondents had, despite shared backgrounds of class, family, education and politics, apparently not heard a whisper. Not for the Tory Party a co-ordinated on-air resigna- tion such as that cobbled together in January 2016 by BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg and shadow foreign minister Stephen Doughty to cause problems for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Green’s resignation was sought, agreed, written, delivered and accepted without a whisper, just hours after Parliament closed down for its Christmas and new year break. HIH He was pictured smiling and waving to the cameras as though it was just another day at the office, follow- ing this up yesterday by issuing Christmas greetings and hopes of seeing all his friends in 2018 when he might have been expected to go to ground to assess his behaviour and how he might make amends. There might be a clue in May’s resignation-accept- ance letter where she highlighted the conduct of former Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Bob Quick, who raided Green’s parliamentary office in 2008 and SHORT SUPPLY: A new recently revealed the nature and extent of pornogra- housing development phy discovered on his personal computer and accessed by him. This followed a complaint by Tory activist and jour- nalist Kate Maltby accusing Green of inappropriate E have a “broken sexual advances, which he denied, merely conceding: housing market,” as The company doesn’t want to “I clearly made her feel uncomfortable and for this I even Theresa May apologise.” admitted in her Con- May’s insistence yesterday that the accusations servative conference build too many more houses, against Quick and fellow retired officer Neil Lewis, speech. Chancellor referred to the Information Commissioner’s Office over WPhilip Hammond is especially worried possible breaches of data protection laws, have “to be about “frustration among the young, because then prices will drop, properly investigated, to be taken seriously and to be who fear that the combination of stu- properly looked at” indicates a prime ministerial ur- dent debt and sky-high rents and house gency previously unseen in this matter. prices will condemn them never to writes SOLOMON HUGHES access the opportunities of property HIH ownership their parents enjoyed.” mond’s estimate, Britain needs around million or so renters. Worse, it helps But it goes way beyond that. Our 300,000 new houses a year — nearly “ Chief the housebuilders more than the Is this the central plank in the Tories’ programme housing crisis is so broken that nearly twice the number we currently build. house-buyers. to put the Green scandal to bed? 100 people burnt to death in the middle But Taylor Wimpey saw its profits executive Help to Buy increases demand — by Ever since Quick and Lewis spoke out, the disgraced of our capital city. increase without building many more subsidising house-buyers — instead first secretary of state’s friends and allies put to one This winter, some homeless people houses. According to its annual report, Peter Redfern of increasing supply. So the cost of side the allegations directed towards him, demanding will freeze to death on our city streets. profits went up but mostly “the new houses has been going up more action against the retired police officers. It’s a market failure of the worst increase was driven by improved sell- has a £3.6m than the number of new houses. It’s a Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union kind. In fact the housing market has ing prices in the UK, up 10.9 per cent annual pay subsidy that boosts housebuilders’ David Davis went to the extent of threatening to resign always failed to house our people. to £255,000” per house. Increasing profits without much increasing the if Green, who served under Davis in opposition, was Unfortunately, the existing political house prices increase their profits packet” number of houses. sacked. system hasn’t corrected this because more than building extra houses. Again, Taylor Wimpey’s annual According to May’s letter to Green, Metropolitan some people — including politically Taylor Wimpey, like the other big report tells the story: it says that “dur- Police Commissioner Cressida Dick is also on board. connected insiders — make a lot of housebuilders, is accused of “land ing 2016 approximately 39 per cent of Why has Green accepted his fate so readily and so money from a system that fails the banking” — of getting planning per- total sales used the Help to Buy cheerfully? Why has his champion Davis refused to country. mission, but sitting on the plots. The scheme.” So nearly half its business make good on his threat to stand down? Look closely, and this isn’t even a company doesn’t want to build too is government-subsidised. Could there have been an undertaking or at least a free market failure. It’s a failure of a many more houses, because then house All that money flowing around has nod and wink to a blind bat that there will be a con- heavily subsidised industry that looks prices will drop. helped those at the top. Chief executive certed campaign against Quick and Lewis and, follow- like crony capitalism. There is only Some ministers, like Sajid Javid, Peter Redfern has a £3.6m annual pay ing a successful conclusion, that Green, basking in the one solution — for the state to inter- criticise land banking by building packet. His two fellow executives, glow of being victim rather than predator, would be vene to build houses for everyday firms. But the Tory government has finance director Ryan Mangold and welcomed back into the government? people. Instead the state is currently still thrown money at the housebuild- legal director James Jordan get £1.7m intervening to keep up corporate prof- ers, despite the market failure. each. Does this, rather than simple careerist expediency, its and high executive salaries. Since 2013 the Tories have put bil- Some people are doing well out of explain Davis’s failure to follow up his resignation pledge? Take well-known housebuilder Tay- lions into Help to Buy, an extra-low- a dysfunctional housing market. In short, are the public being taken for mugs by a lor Wimpey. It made £589 million profit cost loan to people buying new houses. In November 2016 Taylor Wimpey Tory seasonal pantomime that will culminate in May’s this year from its £3.6 billion turnover. It is only aimed at those who are hired a new board member. It made deputy returning to senior office having been cleansed That’s big money, but it only built close to being able to buy their own Angela Knight a non-executive direc- miraculously of all slights to his character? around 14,000 houses. Even by Ham- houses — so it ignores most of the nine tor. For this part-time job, Knight gets Morning Star Friday December 22 2017 FEATURES 9 ey profits crisis

GENDER DEBATE Social acceptance of trans people springs from our relationship with society – and that works both ways DEBBIE HAYTON calls for more careful consideration of different points of view if

around £50,000 a year. She is a former building firms. It lies with the govern- trans people are to overthrow their oppression Tory Treasury minister. ment building low-rent houses — coun- If a former member of the govern- cil houses. UARDIAN columnist women and equalities select commit- rights may well be affected if society ing party was employed by a company Throughout the 1970s, councils built Owen Jones predicted tee recommended that individuals changes the definitions of men and relying on government subsidy in a around 150,000 houses a year. In the last week that history should be able to self-identify their women. developing world country, this would ’50s and ’60s they built millions more. will damn anti-trans zeal- gender and that the protected charac- Trans people and women face be called “crony capitalism.” In Brit- The private housebuilding firms have ots as it has judged those teristic should be changed from gen- oppression from the same groups that ain, it’s not even commented on. never filled the gap left by the end of who resisted gay rights. der reassignment to gender identity. seek to impose their vision of tradi- Knight has strong, ongoing Tory council housebuilding. Both the current GI’m a trans woman, so for me this This all sounds very technical and tional family values on society. connections. She actually has a cur- Tory and previous Labour government is personal. Transphobic keyboard it is. The scope of the GRA is also lim- The trans community is small and rent job in the Treasury: she is the refused to build council houses, but it warriors have called for me to be ited. It allows a trans person to change vulnerable. We need to maintain the chair of the government’s Office of is the only real solution to the crisis. sacked from my job as a teacher and the sex on their birth certificate. widespread trust and confidence of Tax Simplification — a Tory-created Renting is a major part of housing, a supposedly respectable Christian Meanwhile, passports, driving women to defend ourselves from the board with a remit of “reducing tax though you would barely know it from charity misgenders me deliberately licences, financial and medical records anti-trans zealots. History may well compliance burdens on both busi- the national press. on its website. can be changed under more informal judge those people, though, sadly, they nesses and individual taxpayers.” Government figures show 8.4m Five years ago, Richard Littlejohn, procedures than were in place long couldn’t seem to care less. Knight also serves on the board of households rent — 37 per cent of all another columnist in another newspa- before the GRA existed. We therefore ignore women’s concerns Arbuthnot Latham, a “private bank” households. About 4m are in “social per, wrote about another trans teacher But those technical changes crystal- at our peril. Women who were once for high net worth individuals — rich housing” (council house or housing and declared: “He’s [sic] not only in lise wider concerns. Self-identification enthusiastic allies of trans people are people in old money — that is control- association tenancies). the wrong body … he’s [sic] in the moves the basis of trans rights from now more suspicious. The group with led by top Tory donor Henry Angest. For the first time in years, private wrong job.” how we live our lives to how we iden- most to lose are trans women like me. Knight specialises in representing renters outnumber those in social That teacher, Lucy Meadows, took tify and facts and evidence give way Social acceptance springs from our unpopular industries that rely on gov- housing. To get back to a decent her own life three months later. to feelings and opinions. relationship with society, and that ernment subsidy and support. She was number of houses, and to get people Deplorably, those right-wing reac- We do not build other laws on such works both ways. The law can com- previously the boss of Energy UK, out of crap private rented accommoda- tionaries have never flinched from ethereal foundations. At the end of a mand others to tolerate me, but it can representing rip-off energy firms. tion, we need councils to build hun- their positions. Jones compared the long day in school, I sometimes feel never guarantee their acceptance. Before that she was boss of the British dreds of thousands of homes a year. moral panic to the Section 28 argu- like I am 70, but alas I can’t self-iden- Pieces of paper may give me the Bankers Association, representing This will end the shortage. ments a generation ago. tify myself into drawing my pension right to enter female spaces, but it can rip-off banks. Of course we must learn the mis- In some respects, he is right. The just yet. never prevent women from leaving en Having seen her joking and laugh- takes of past years. New social hous- same groups that campaigned against If anyone could self-identify as a masse at the same time. ing with Tory ministers at Conserva- ing has to be good: there is no reason equal marriage now bash trans people. woman, how can we define the word The Gender Recognition Act does tive Conference, I can say her links council houses can’t be three-bed Their homophobia merges with their “woman” without resorting to circular need to be slimmed down and stream- to the top members of the government semis, or modern low-rises, or have transphobia and I stand with him reasoning? And without clear defini- lined, but we need to consult widely are friendly and strong. mixed populations of young families against them. tions, how can society maintain the and more carefully before we proceed. I’d like to say Taylor Wimpey hiring starting out and key workers as well However, we need to keep our focus. integrity of sex-based protections? Women’s voices were overlooked by the politically connected was a purely as those in most need. While social conservatives act with Not surprisingly, women have been the women and equalities committee. Tory thing, but it isn’t. Knight replaced Nobody will make a £3.6m pay impunity, the spotlight has fallen on speaking out. We need to listen to them The government must not make the Margaret Ford on the Taylor Wimpey packet from those houses, so we can’t women’s groups who fear that pro- and not instantly denounce them as same mistake. Board. Ford is a well-connected rely on the rich to make this happen. posed changes to the Gender Recogni- transphobes. Labour peer. tion Act (GRA) may compromise their Section 28 analogies break down n Debbie Hayton is a member of the The answer to the housing crisis n Follow Solomon Hughes on Twitter own rights. here. Gay rights do not have an impact TUC LGBT+ Committee. She is writing does not lie with the private house- @SolHughesWriter. Last year, the House of Commons on heterosexual rights, but women’s here in a personal capacity. Morning Star 10 FEATURES Friday December 22 2017

OBITUARY Remembering indefatigable veteran communist Jack Marks PETER LAZENBY visits Jack’s old comrades to hear stories about decades of dedicated shared struggles in the north of England

ACK MARKS, a veteran of the “For many years in the late 1960s Joan Bellamy said that Marks had Communist Party and the and ‘70s Jack organised the annual other facets to his character. peace movement, has died, Leeds Morning Star bazaar. Fund- “He was passionate about classical aged 98. raising coffee mornings were held music. Beethoven was his hero. He Marks worked in Leeds throughout the year and the big event, was a very good photographer, a where he was a chiropodist. held in late November, for which he splendid gardener, chair of his local JHe joined the Communist Party of used to hire the Leeds Corn Exchange allotment committee until quite Great Britain (CPGB) in the late for the day. Jackie’s wife, Min, ran recently, regular poetry reader. He 1930s and, during WWII, served in the cafe. was a good baker and baked his own India in the army medical corps. “Over the years he raised thou- bread,” she said. While there he made contact and sands of pounds for the Daily Worker Marks was also a contemporary friends with members of the Com- and the Morning Star. There used to of other veteran Leeds communists, munist Party of India (CPI), organis- be keen rivalry between Star fund- the late Bernard Scott and Hymie ing fundraising events for the CPI raisers in Leeds and Sheffi eld. Besser. during his time there. “He also used to organise orches- Another Leeds activist, Jenny He worked tirelessly for the CPGB tral concerts in Leeds Town Hall to Turner, said: “I remember Jack’s through the years of the cold war, the raise funds for the paper. classes on Marxism for the Young foundation of the Campaign for “Jack was a founder member of the Communist League very well. He and Nuclear Disarmament in which he was Communist Party of Britain, when the his lovely wife Min, made us so wel- active at local and national level, the Communist Campaign Group re-estab- come and comfortable in their home.” transformation of the Daily Worker lished the Communist Party in 1988. Jack Marks died peacefully at St into the Morning Star and was an “He and Min continued their fun- James hospital in Leeds on Tuesday active fundraiser during the miners’ draising efforts for the paper. They December 5. strike against pit closures of 1984-5. held ‘Coffee and Bagel’ social events He is survived by Min, daughters Following the break-up of the and the bazaar moved to Chapel Ruth and Estelle, son Anthony and CPGB, he became a founder member Allerton. his large extended family. of its successor, the Communist Party “Through running the bazaars, His funeral takes place at Rawdon of Britain. He was hugely respected Jack acquired a knowledge of vintage Crematorium, Leeds, LS19 6JP, in the party and the movement in the and retro bric-a-brac. He was a keen Wednesday, December 27, north of England, nationally and gardener and raised plants for sale 1pm. Bright clothing is requested by internationally. at the bazaar.” the family. A LIFE WELL LIVED: One of his comrades and contem- Jack Marks and poraries in Leeds was Joan Bellamy, (below right) at the a teacher who became the CPGB walk over Ilkley Moor Leeds area organiser, Yorkshire dis- in support of trict organiser and later worked in Yorkshire Campaign the party’s international department. for Nuclear Bellamy told the Morning Star: Disarmament “Jack was a superb organiser of polit- ical events. He organised a huge march against racism in Leeds in 1981. “I have memories of him organis- ing the very big Morning Star bazaars in the Corn Exchange in Leeds. He continued that into his old age. “When the party broke up, under JACK MARKS his leadership we continued to raise (Leeds) money for the paper, which he regu- larly sold and delivered. He was Remembering Jack with pride chairman of Yorkshire CND and was on its national committee.” and gratitude Another veteran and contemporary is Syd Bloom, a pharmacist and party His political education classes have member in Leeds, who said: “I knew helped guide me for 50 years. Jack for more than 80 years. He was in the CP in Leeds and I joined after Jenny him. I would have been 18 or 19. “Jack was involved in selling the Daily Worker and the Morning Star. He was branch secretary for that. He ran the Morning Star bazaar with his Communist Party wife Min. of Britain “During the miners’ strike we both collected stuff. And don’t forget that West Yorkshire Branch during the miners’ strike I think he was 65.” Salutes the passing of Another Leeds activist who knew Jack well was Anne Lee, a long-time peace campaigner and Morning Star Jackie Marks fundraiser whose work continues. “Jack Marks organised the annual Yorkshire CND sponsored walk A life of service to the Communist Party across Ilkley Moor for about 30 and the people of Leeds years,” she said. Morning Star Friday December 22 2017 CULTURE 11

THEATRE REVIEW Inventive response to the call of the wild Pic: Jethro Compton White Fang savagery of the human condition — involuntarily pulling up the collars of Park Theatre, London are just as relevant in Lyzbet’s story, their coats. HHHII if not more so. There are minor gripes, however. And, for those who might regret the Unaccountably, both Lyzbet and Curly disappearance of White Fang as a speak in a deep southern drawl that is HIS is not so much a reinter- central character, there’s consolation at odds with their roots in the frozen pretation of Jack London’s in the fact that his services are at least northlands of the Northwest territories. book as a reinvention. In the retained as Lyzbet’s hunting compan- And the myriad scene changes, T original, we follow the adven- ion, ally and soulmate albeit in puppet some 20 in all, sometimes make it tures of a wolf with one foot form, facilitated by the actors in War- tricky to keep up with what’s going in the human world and another in the horse fashion. on and the corner stage arrangement wild, but here Jethro Compton’s two- Mariska Ariya is excellent as the in this tiny theatre gives almost every act play has become a consideration fiery young Lyzbet, while Bebe Sand- seat a restricted view. That renders of the similarly conflicted life of Lyz- ers puts in an admirable shift as Curly, it difficult to follow the action in the bet Scott, a native American of the a non-native admirer who urges Lyzbet lower regions, where the White Fang Yukon trying to keep alive the old to fight for her ancestral lands and, in puppeteers do much of their work. ways of her murdered parents while particular, to reject the idea of being Nonetheless, this is a play of sub- seeking an accommodation with the sent to a residential school for Indians. stance. Compton, a Cornishman with European outlook of her adoptive A well-constructed plot is pitched a fascination for the wild west, has grandfather. against the atmospheric backdrop of not only captured the feel of London’s EXCELLENT: Not everyone will appreciate the a snowy set, haunting original music novel but justified his decision to take Mariska Ariya departure from London’s much-loved by Jonny Sims, fine acapella singing it in a new direction. book, but the key point is that it from the six-strong cast and a sound- Runs until January 13, box office: works. The main themes of the novel scape of whistling wind and wolf parktheatre.co.uk — the struggle for identity and the howls that has audience members PETER MASON

H 2017 ROUND-UP FILM ciate fully director Christopher the film and your hearts. comedy drama about a grumpy old fought and beat the developers to MARIA DUARTE Nolan’s cinematic vision. The Party man, desperate to join the love of his stay on his land on Hampstead Heath, A Monster Calls With a stellar cast, this is a lean, life, whose annoyingly upbeat and this should have been a thrilling A remarkably moving and visually sharp-witted and biting modern sat- nosey neighbours keep interrupting drama. Instead, this shamefully spectacular coming-of-age tale with ire with a shining performance by his attempts to commit suicide. bourgeois and twee Hollywood rom Top 10 a monster twist about a young boy Patricia Clarkson which doesn’t out- My Life as a Courgette com stars Diane Keaton in full-blown whose mother is terminally ill. stay its 71-minute long welcome. With its exquisite stop-motion ani- Keaton mode. Dunkirk The Florida Project Lady Macbeth mation and haunting, soulful charac- Stratton An extraordinary and stunning This magical yet bitter-sweet Think Jane Austin with a macabre ters, this Oscar-nominated animated Sadly, even the wonderful Dominic immersive drama which puts you at drama about childhood innocence and Machiavellian twist, driven by feature about a young boy who’s sent Cooper can’t save the shambles of the centre of the evacuation of the highlights the plight of an unrepre- a mesmerising and powerhouse per- to an orphanage where he is forced this poorly scripted, poorly plotted hundreds of thousands of allied sented part of the US population who formance by Florence Pughp. to deal with his feelings of loss and spy thriller, with shockingly bad troops from the beaches at Dunkirk. are housed just a stone’s throw from A Man Called Ove abandonment packs a heartfelt punch. action scenes done on the cheap. It needs to be seen in IMAX to appre- Disneyland. Its very young cast steal A wonderfully witty bitter-sweet La La Land Fist Fight Damien Chazelle injects new life Offensive, rude and just plain not into the bygone musical genre with funny. Unless you are a masochist, this Oscar-winning all-dancing and best to give this high school comedy singing visual extravaganza which a wide berth. pays homage to the musicals of the Mother! 1940s and ‘50s while critiquing Hol- The contender for the most preten- lywood. tious film of the year. A cross Paddington 2 between a home-invasion horror film The lovable and innocent bear with and Rosemary’s Baby this is an ide- a penchant for marmalade sand- ological mess. It will leave you con- wiches, who looks for the good in fused and bemused and wondering everyone, returns in a sequel as “WTF, mother!” enchanting and magical as the orig- Chips inal film. Hugh Grant makes an out- If you still harbour fond memories standing and formidable villain. of this sweet and cheesy 1970s cop Thor: Ragnarok series, then avoid this film adaptation Thrilling, hilariously funny and at all costs. It’s crude, vulgar and just wonderfully entertaining as it full of sexual gags which aren’t in pokes fun at the Marvel cinematic the least bit funny. universe while setting a new high for Assassin’s Creed the complex franchise. Another example of why video games do not make compelling cin- ema, this unfathomable fantasy 10 to avoid adventure makes little sense and even its star Michael Fassbender has Elle admitted in interviews that he has This disturbing comedy drama, no idea what it’s about or what it centred around the brutal rape of a means. high-powered business woman, is Kingsman: The Secret Service played out repeatedly and peddles A piss-poor sequel to an inventive the male fantasy that women enjoy and hugely fun first film. being raped. There’s no justification The Snowman for this appalling premise or watch- It doesn’t bode well when the snow- ing the great Isabelle Huppert being covered landscape is the most rivet- savagely beaten and sexually ing feature in this painfully slow assaulted time and time again. Just Scandi-noir thriller. AUSTEN MEETS because it’s a Paul Verhoeven film The Mummy MACHIAVELLI: doesn’t make it right. Oh mummy, what a derivative Lady Macbeth Hampstead mess is this Tom Cruise-led adapta- Loosely based on the true David v tion which can’t decide whether it’s Goliath story of a homeless man who playing it for laughs or for chills. Morning Star 12 FEATURES Friday December 22 2017

Contact [email protected] to join future activity 9 days for the Star in your area FIGHTING left WITH Don’tIntermediate call me slick IVAN Sudoku Tell us FUND BEAVIS what you’d like to see YOU’VE RAISED: WE NEED: more of in your £13,255 £4,745 paper and IT’S steady as she goes today pump, £25 given by a lovely let of Christmas Day, where the email my fellow sailors on HMS Morn- supporter who wished they Star shall temporarily weigh editorial@ ing Star, as we prime the guns could give more is always of anchor and take a quick respite of the fi ghting fund to the tune help and very much appreci- from our usual course of tor- peoples- of £225. ated. tured analogies. Amid the torrid trade winds £20 was given in memory of Our haul of fresh puns will press.com of Christmas, most of our am- David Roberts of Merthyr Tydfi l be put on ice, we shall take on munition came in the form of from a friend in Milford Haven. more stores of agreeable al- £130 from regular standing We round off our list with £15 literation and make ready to go orders and a solid £30 online given with a message of “all the full sail into the undoubtedly donor complimenting our best for this fantastic paper and choppy watters of 2018 where new website’s improved all who write for it, raise cash we expect to do battle with the functionality. for it and read it” — a senti- Tory Kraken once again as a With our fi nancial bilges ment I can heartily endorse. ship of the socialist line. regularly needing a good We are at last a mere three I am donning my festive pi- sleeps away from the calm in- rate hat for the occasion. Give by post… phone… or online Payable to PPFF to: From 10am-5pm on At morningstar Fighting Fund, 52 Beachy (020) 8510-0815 online.co.uk/page/ Solution tomorrow… Rd, London E3 2NS support-us TODAY’S WEATHER TV & RADIO

★ INVERNESS Wait a minute, is it Christmas? Cloudy 9°C max, feels like 6°C Wind 11mph SSW I’d never have known from TV

by Ann Douglas ★ ABERDEEN I’LL BE honest, it’s a bit of a Cloudy sparse showing tonight if 6°C max, feels like 4°C you’re looking for anything ★ GLASGOW Wind 4mph SW more quirky than Christmas Mist fi lms and sparkly entertain- 9°C max, feels like 7°C ments (not that there’s Wind 4mph SW ★ anything wrong with either). EDINBURGH Inside the Factory (7pm Cloudy BBC2) is in this same ★ LIVERPOOL 9°C max, feels like 6°C direction, but makes for an Wind 9mph WSW odd beast with Greg Wallace Overcast 10°C max, feels like 9°C grinning madly at mildly Wind 2mph SW bemused workers about how much fun it is to work on a ★ NEWCASTLE line making festive fancies. Cloudy There are some genuinely ★ SHEFFIELD 9°C max, feels like 7°C intriguing moments, such as Cloudy Wind 4mph WSW working out exactly what 11°C max counts as “hand made” in the Wind 2mph W minds of the owners of gigantic mass production ★ NORWICH setups. Mainly though it’s a ★ BIRMINGHAM Overcast free advert for the fi rm. Cloudy 10°C max, feels like 9°C Film4 meanwhile is doing a 11°C max, feels like 10°C Wind 4mph WNW comedy double bill with Men in Black (7.05pm) and Men in Black II (9pm), Wind 2mph W both of which are fun mainly because of the fantastic chemistry between Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. MiB II defi nitely suff ers from “successful franchise” syndrome as it tries too hard to recreate the magic of the original. ★ LONDON (8.30pm C5) is the latest in a ★ CARDIFF Celebrity 5 Go in Search of Santa Claus Cloudy seeming trend of sending c-list slebs on holiday and fi lming the Epic Bantz Cloudy 11°C max, feels like 10°C which result. It’s kind of like a high budget Last of the Summer Wine with a 12°C max, feels like 11°C Wind 4mph WNW lingering sense of desperation and fewer laughs. It’s weirdly engaging Wind 2mph W though in a sort of “there but for the grace of God go I” way. 20% chance of rain Al Murray’s Make Christmas Great ★ PLYMOUTH ★ SOUTHAMPTON NEXT FEW DAYS… Again (9pm ITV). Public school educated, aristocrat-ancestored Murray’s pub landlord Cloudy Cloudy The cloud and mild weather will character has been running for over 23 years. 12°C max 11°C max continue in England and Wales What A sort of Sun newspaper pastiche of southern Wind 4mph NNW Wind 2mph SW over Christmas, with some English working-class reaction, he’s spent two 49% chance of rain breeze. High winds and heavy to miss decades telling liberals he’s being ironic while rain in Scotland. Snow possible in making vast sums off being a posh man the far north. mockingly exploiting unpleasant class tropes and anti-PC jingoist sentiment. Ugh. Morning Star Friday December 22 2017 FEATURES 13

WILDLIFE

S PRESIDENT Donald Trump has long proved that there is nothing he won’t do for his family members. A major gov- ernment job? No prob- All I want for Christmas lem,U son-in-law. A place in the White House and a contract to make US army uniforms? Certainly, my dar- ling daughter. Even relocating the capital of Israel as a Hanukkah stocking filler is a threatened species for the Jewish side of the family? Consider it done says Donald. Two family members, Donald’s Given the Trump children’s fixation with big-game oldest son Donald Junior and another son Eric are both enthusiastic big hunting, PETER FROST speculates on what Donald game hunters scouring the globe for beautiful, rare and threatened ani- mals and killing them. Trump might be giving his family for Christmas Dad Donald is trying hard to Pic: Lord Mountbatten/Creative Commons change the law so that they and other US hunters can bring the bloody corpses of dead animals that they call sporting trophies back to the US. Trump has given the order for his administration to loosen restrictions around the import of elephant tro- phies from Zimbabwe and Zambia. Donald Junior and Eric were both happy to post and publish pictures of themselves during the 2016 presiden- tial election campaign posing with bodies of animals they had killed on an African safari, including an ele- phant, buffalo and leopard. The images of Trump’s sons smil- ing and holding a dead leopard caused actors Mia Farrow and Hugh Grant to ask: “What went so wrong with Trump sons that they could kill this beautiful creature?” Trump senior’s response was: “Elephants are overpopulated in the area my sons hunted and so need to be culled to prevent them from fur- ther destroying their habitat.” Actually, conservationists say elephant numbers are in sharp decline because of human encroach- ment and poaching and that trophy hunts fuel the illicit market for wild WHICH WOULD animal products. Leopard are also YOU RATHER threatened in many places. HAVE? The African buffalo in In 2014, the Obama administra- the wild and as tion’s US Fish and Wildlife Service stuffed trophy (FWS) banned the import of elephant (inset) trophies from Zimbabwe on the basis that the country had failed to show

it was taking elephant management Pic: Albert Batlle/Creative Commons seriously. After reversing that ban this week, furore after he shot and killed Cecil, been held in frozen, climate-control- of polar bear trophies into the country. the FWS announced: “Legal, well- a famous black-maned lion lured from led conditions in Canada, waiting Now US hunters who paid as much regulated sport hunting as part of a a protected reserve in Zimbabwe. for a change of law from the US as £37,500 to hunt the animals in the sound management programme can The agency said Zimbabwe had a government to allow them into the first place are now paying hundreds benefit the conservation of certain new management plan that includes country. more per year to keep their prizes in species by providing incentives to a hunting quota of 500 elephants, with While the United States outlawed cold storage while they wait for a local communities to conserve the money from wealthy western hunters polar bear hunting in the Marine change in the law or trying to smug- species and by putting much-needed distributed to rural communities. Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the gle their blood-soaked holiday sou- revenue back into conservation.” dead bodies of other threatened spe- There has been a fierce battle practice remains legal in Canada, venirs back to the US. Not surprisingly that dramatic cies shot by so called US sportsmen between some conservationists and attracting dozens of US big-game Conservationists fear that allowing U-turn was applauded by Safari Club all over the world. hunting groups over whether funds hunters every year. any of these trophies to return to the International, a hunting rights group, Lions are next in line as new guide- from shooting trips actually improve For decades, hunters could then US could increase demand for ele- and the National Rifle Association lines, published quietly, showed lions the fortunes of endangered species import their trophies back home. phant, lion, polar bear and other who are usually kept busy defending shot in the two African countries will or local communities, but it is clear Trophies include heads, pelts, claws, threatened species trophies and lead the US citizens right to shoot fellow also be eligible to be bought back to that the trajectory of almost all large and even the polar bear penis. to more poaching or illegal trade of countrymen and women. the US. animals in Africa is one of rapid All that ended in May 2008, when animal parts. Hunting interests having scored a This will open the door for people decline. the US declared polar bears a threat- It could also stimulate demand for major victory are pressing for more like Walter Palmer, the Minnesota It isn’t just Africa. Since 2008, ened species under the endangered other exotic and endangered animal relaxation in regulations to import dentist who sparked an international dozens of polar bear corpses have species act and prohibited the import parts from around the globe.

Test your The Quizmaster with William Sitwell CONTACT US general GENERAL William Rust House knowledge The Chiltern family are n Yesterday’s answers ENQUIRIES: 52 Beachy Road, London E3 2NS 1 the main characters in with our daily 1.What musical instrument does the British [email protected] which work by Oscar jazzman Digby Fairweather play? The cornet (020) 8510-0815 (Mon-Fri 10am-5pm) quiz – and Wilde? see if you can 2. Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights is a painting in CAMPAIGNS: Calvin Tucker beat The Which Austrian city has how many parts? Three (it is a triptych) [email protected] 2 an airport called Blue Quizmaster... Danube? 3. The world’s steepest funicular railway, between CIRCULATION: Bernadette Keaveney Schwyz and Stoos in Switzerland, has just opened. [email protected] In ancient Greece and What shape are the carriages? 3 Rome, what was kept in Cylindrical (right) — to support the passengers. ADVERTISING: Moshfiqur Noor an alabastrum? The ride, though, only takes four minutes [email protected] Morning Star 14 LETTERS Friday December 22 2017

ANCIENT FUN: People BELIEFS celebrate the shortest day of the year at Legal notes Stonehenge in Wiltshire You can be Your weekly tribunal report spiritual and EU Equivalence a socialist P v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis I’VE been delighted to see the Star give some THE Supreme Court has held in P v Commissioner of Police prominence recently to of the Metropolis that police offi cers must have the right more spiritual themes and to bring claims of treatment contrary to EU law to a tri- “matters of the heart,” as bunal in order to comply with the principles of effective- Marilyn Warbis calls them ness and equivalence. Likewise, national rules in relation in her recent letter (M Star December 16). to judicial immunity have to be consistent with EU law. There’s no better example than jazz guitarist Basic facts John McLaughlin, so After being assaulted in 2010 while serving as a police brilliantly featured in offi cer, P suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Chris Searle’s jazz column In 2011, she was involved in an incident which led to her (M Star December 12). arrest, but which she said was related to her PTSD. After John shows us all that it’s an investigation, however, she was asked to appear before perfectly coherent to hold a the Police Misconduct Panel at which she accepted that strong spiritual worldview she had been guilty of misconduct. She relied on her good and at the same time to adhere to left-progressive record as a police offi cer and her PTSD in mitigation, but politics. The wonderful was dismissed without notice in November 2012. work that John and his wife She claimed that the decision to dismiss her constituted Ina have been doing in discrimination arising from disability and disability-related bringing music therapy harassment as a result of the failure to make reasonable and healing to traumatised adjustments for her PTSD. Palestinian children is a great case in point. Decision of lower courts It might even be that Following a pre-hearing review, the employment tribunal WINTER SOLSTICE Marx got it wrong (for once) in relation to an exclusively struck out P’s claim on the basis that, as the misconduct materialist cosmology. panel was a judicial body, her claim was barred by judicial There are many of us on the immunity. left who hold a spiritual Applying the decision of the Court of Appeal in Heath Jesus’s beliefs and worldview, and it’s vital that v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, in which it we can all be embraced and held that the common law rule of judicial immunity could work together in unity, in not be displaced by the provisions of the Equal Treatment the ongoing global struggle Directive, the Employment Appeal Tribunal dismissed Yule were hijacked for peace, truth and social her appeal, as did the Court of Appeal. justice. RICHARD HOUSE Decision of the Supreme Court I WAS taken with the letter most a revolutionary socialist. Marx, Engels and Lenin. Stroud from Haydn Greenway (M You only have read a couple of Surprisingly they, almost Overturning the decisions of the lower courts, the Star December 19) relating to the verses in Matthew Chapter every time, left without a Supreme Court held that EU law, which takes precedence Yesterday’s this time of year. Yesterday 5, “blessed are the poor” and word of goodbye. Sudoku solution over domestic law, confers a directly effective right to in the northern hemisphere “blessed are the Two thousand years ago we be treated in accordance with the principle of equal we experienced of the meek,” to understand had a JC who was a leader of treatment in relation to employment and working condi- Pagan New Year when where he was coming men with a message for the tions, including dismissals. As such, British law has to the sun moves back to from. poor and repressed that a ensure that it complies with the general principles of the north. I have from time better world could be effectiveness and equivalence. Likewise, national rules It was not the early to time argued on achieved. Today we have in relation to judicial immunity have to be consistent Christians who the doorstep with another JC with a host of hijacked Yule but Jehova’s Wit- comrades with the same with EU law. those who nesses that message. On December 21 As discrimination claims can be brought before employ- hijacked the Jesus was a I raised a glass for my ment tribunals in domestic law, it follows under the prin- movement that fol- socialist and new year and look for- ciple of equivalence that police offi cers must have the lowed Jesus, who should be ward to a socialist Britain. right to bring claims of treatment contrary to the directive for my reckoning seen as as a BILL BEUDEN to a tribunal, and not just the Police Appeals Tribunal. was fi rst and fore- forerunner of Poole Allowing police offi cers to bring tribunal claims also ful- fi ls the principle of effectiveness, as tribunals have the power to award a range of remedies, including compensa- GRAHAM STEVENSON explores the Star’s online archives tion, compared to the more limited remedies available before the Police Appeal Tribunal. 80 YEARS AGO TODAY... It was clear from section 42(1) of the Equality Act that police constables have the right to bring tribunal proceed- ings in relation to discrimination by chief offi cers and Spook speaks to the Worker about spying for Japanese naval intelligence responsible offi cers. Read literally, however, the Act did not cover the exercise of disciplinary functions before a THE Daily Worker of December information,” to sneakily “leak” to Greene, later a BBC director general, misconduct panel as it was not an act done by either the ■ 22 1937 splashed with the story the press. and novelist Graham Greene. chief offi cer or the responsible authority within the mean- of secret agent Huberte Green, who A huge bundle of letters from Seemingly, Herbert’s fi nances ing of section 42(1). admitted to the paper that he the naval attache at the were in a precarious state As this meant that the Act did not fully implement the recently been on the payroll of the Japanese embassy in You can and, his Japanese scheme Japanese secret service in London. London, Captain Arata read editions of running threadbare, he directive, section 42(1) must be interpreted to include the The story was shocking for a Oka, was copied for the the Daily Worker had courted the functions of misconduct panels in relation to police con- number of reasons, especially Worker. The point of (1930-45) and admiralty, looking for stables. This did not mean the court was amending the because Greene was the nephew of a all this was to Star (200 0-today)Morning intelligence work. , online at legislation but was simply interpreting it to conform with high offi cial of the British admiralty promote Greene’s mstar.link/DWMSarchive It is now clear that EU law. who had wider connections with “the forthcoming book, British codebreakers most infl uential circles of British Secret Agents in Ten days’ access costs had been intercepting upper-class society.” Spain. The author and just messages from the £5.99 and a Greene told the worker that his former spy, who had year is Japanese embassy and connections among the elite enabled once been “actively £72 were already aware of him to position “Japanese propa- hostile to the left,” claimed Greene. ganda into the ‘incorruptible’ British his opinions had been Graham Greene, a success- press.” A retired Japanese naval changed by Spain. ful professional spy, later used his commander had kept Greene He came from a a family of spies elder brother’s foibles as a model for supplied with “useful imaginary and was brother to Hugh Carleton several characters in his novels. Morning Star Friday December 22 2017 SPORT 15

MEN’S FOOTBALL: SCOTLAND St Johnston are ‘overachieving’ by Our Sports Desk for us still to be under what we spent last year and still sitting in a healthy position, TOMMY WRIGHT said we are achieving again.” yesterday that it would be The St Johnstone boss his greatest achievement knows it has been a since joining St Johnstone frustrating period for the if they were to finish in the club having won their last top six this season. three away games on the Saints have finished bounce, but without a fourth three seasons in a victory at McDiarmid row in the Premier- Park since Septem- ship, but currently ber. occupy sixth He said before after a 3-1 win their clash with ATHLETICS : COMMONWEALTH GAMES over Rangers Hearts: last weekend. “Frustration is It has been a word we have an inconsistent used a lot this 2022 Games hosts Birmingham aim to campaign for season because, the Perth club, apart from the but the improved start we had, we avoid mistakes London made after 2012 strength of the league have not been on a means a place in the top six consistent run of games by Our Sports Desk The Alexander Stadium will elephant. What it will be is the Martin also eased fears that would be better than in undefeated which we have be upgraded to a 40,000-seat upgrading of the stadium, it’s Birmingham, already undergo- previous years, according always done. arena before seeing the capac- going up to 40,000 and then ing a £750m regeneration, will to the manager (pictured). “The frustrating thing is BIRMINGHAM will avoid any ity halved after the Games as bringing it back to 20,000 and be a building site for the next “We are massively out of the eight defeats, “white elephants” after the organisers look to learn from that will save them money in four years. overachieving each year,” we’ve lost twice to Aber- city was confirmed as the host the mistakes that have over- the long run,” she said. “Not from the plans we’ve Wright said. “If we can get deen, once to Celtic, once to for the 2022 Commonwealth shadowed the London Stadium, “It’s a win-win. We’ve been seen. The biggest building area top six this season it would Rangers and once to Hearts Games, Commonwealth where West Ham now play. working with our venues peo- will be the village because it probably eclipse the rest and you could argue they Games Federation president A review this month ple, we never went and told will be brand new and, once the because the natural order are teams that should be Louise Martin said yesterday. revealed that £300 million of them: ‘You will do this.’ They Games have finished, they will seems to be coming back in, beating us but we always Birmingham was officially public money, £133m over had to make their own deci- be using it for social housing with Hearts, Hibs, Rangers, feel we can take points off announced as the 2022 Com- budget, has been spent con- sions, guided by our team and and selling, exactly as we did Aberdeen and Celtic in the the bigger clubs. monwealth Games host yester- verting it into a multi-purpose it’s worked. in Glasgow,” she said. top five and us on the coat “It has been frustrating, day and Martin is confident the venue but, while on a smaller “To do it in nine months is “I’ve got no problems. The tails, but with Kilmarnock but, in what is a tougher city will not suffer similar scale, Martin does not antici- unheard of. It’s nobody’s right alterations they have to do will and Motherwell on our coat league, we have still done issues that have beset the Lon- pate any issues in Birming- to host the Games. You have be on site. It won’t make a dif- tails. okay, but I am still looking don Stadium following the ham. to earn the right and Birming- ference to the running of the “It’s a tougher league and for improvements.” 2012 Olympics. “There will be no white ham has earned it.” city.”

MEN’S FOOTBALL: LEAGUE CUP Blues leave it late to defeat Cherries Chelsea manager pleased fringe players took their chance 2 Chelsea a lot [of squad] rotation,” said 1 Bournemouth a pleased Conte, whose side by Amar Azam had taken an early lead through Willian. at Stamford Bridge “I had good responses from my players and I hope to con- ANTONIO CONTE’S Chelsea tinue in this way. Many players survived a late scare on had their chances to play from Wednesday night to line up a the start and I think I had good League Cup semi-final show- responses.” down with rivals Arsenal. A mature performance from A goal moments before 17-year-old Ethan Ampadu at injury-time from striker the heart of defence was one Alvaro Morata saw off a spir- that stood out. ited Bournemouth side who Bournemouth, however, had scored what they thought played well and the equalising was a last-minute equalising goal from Gosling was well- goal from Dan Gosling. deserved. Conte, who has written off “It feels heartbreaking to be his side’s chances of retaining honest,” said manager Eddie HERO: Alvaro Morata celebrates scoring the winner their league title, was pleased Howe, who saw his side fall with the performance of a behind less than a minute after from their perspective, but resurgent under Sam team that featured a number pulling level. “I thought the second half we penned them Allardyce. of fringe players. players gave everything to get in with waves of attacks and Bournemouth, a point off “To reach the semi-final in back into the game. scored a great goal.” the relegation places, travel to one of the two cups in England “We didn’t get a great start Chelsea travel to Goodison league leaders Manchester PLEASED: Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is great for us, especially with and they scored a good goal Park to take on an Everton side City this weekend. 16 Morning Star Friday December 22 2017 Sport MEN’S CRICKET: ASHES MEN’S FOOTBALL Manchester clubs avoid punishment MANCHESTER UNITED MALAN RELISHING and Manchester City were told yesterday that they will not be punished following a review into a melee involving players and coaches from both Premier League teams after the derby. The Football Associa- BOXING DAY TEST tion said it “will be taking Batsman pumped up following Bayliss’s inspirational speech no formal action” after receiving evidence from by Our Sports Desk both clubs and independ- FOCUSED: Dawid Malan ent eyewitness accounts. City’s celebrations are ENGLAND will go into the alleged to have sparked a Boxing Day Test with a rous- row involving several ing motivational pep talk ring- players and staff from ing in their ears from coach both teams in the corridor Trevor Bayliss, Dawid Malan outside the dressing said yesterday. rooms. During that Malan, the leading run altercation, it is under- scorer for England in this stood that milk and water failed campaign to date, is were thrown at Jose already visualising how Eng- Mourinho. land can prove to a packed City won the game 2-1. house in Melbourne that they are better than they have so far shown. The Ashes are already lost Sport on TV after the innings defeat in CRICKET: India v Sri Lanka, Twenty20 Perth which made it 3-0 to international — Sky Sports Cricket Australia with two matches 1.20pm; New Zealand v West Indies, left, but Bayliss wasted no one-day international — Sky Sports Cricket 9.55pm. time reminding England there FOOTBALL: Premier League, Arse- is much still to play for. nal v Liverpool — Sky Sports Main Malan is 10 runs an innings Event. clear at the top of England’s RUGBY UNION: Premiership, Worcester Warriors v London Irish — averages, with 302 at 50.33, but BT Sport 1 7pm; Championship, Bris- he believes he and the rest of tol v Cornish Pirates — Sky Sports Joe Root’s team can all do bet- Action 7.30pm. ter. “I am so excited,” he said, looking forward to the Boxing Tonight’s Day showpiece. “Trevor said: ‘Look, we’ve fellow centurion Jonny “It’s extremely disappoint- all out. I genuinely thought Malan traces the problem to football got 90,000 people to play in Bairstow. ing to come on your first Ashes we’d be able to bat the day,” he movement available in English front of. We need to stand up “Especially at this level, you and be 3-0 down with two to said. “But we somehow found conditions with the more pro- Premier League and show what good cricketers make one mistake and it has a go. ways to lose wickets again. nounced seam of the Dukes ball. Arsenal Liverpool we are.’ roller-coaster effect,” said “But I still have a hell of a “It’s disappointing how we “You get away with it a lot “That hit home … that we’re Malan, reflecting on a subse- lot to play for. feel like we’re in a good posi- with the Dukes in England. Championship going to have to perform.” quent collapse of six wickets “There are four more oppor- tion and then you lose one or There’s a lot of guys that can Norwich City Brentford Malan’s first-innings cen- for 35 runs. tunities for us to put our hand two wickets and suddenly run in and bowl 78-80mph and League One tury in Perth hinted at much “If I’m in that similar posi- up, show we are good cricket- we’re all out.” make the ball talk all day,” he Fleetwood Gillingham, 7pm better than England were ulti- tion [at the MCG], I’ll try to be ers, can compete out here and England’s failings have said. League Two mately able to produce and he more ruthless.” can win games.” come with ball as well as bat, “If you don’t move the ball, Coventry Wycombe blames himself for getting out He is determined to make Malan also passed 50 in with many highlighting the you don’t really have a career when set, even though he made the most of the remaining England’s second innings at lack of out-and-out pace in in England. That’s unfortu- All kickoffs 7.45pm unless noted 140 in a record-stand alongside chances on his maiden tour. the WACA but in a total of 218 their attack. nate.” Farringdon’s doubles MEN’S FOOTBALL: CHAMPIONSHIP RED AVENGER Dundalk 5:30 (nap) Barnsley boss ‘excited’ by consortium takeover RAZIN’ HELL Southwell 1:35 by Our Sports Desk 80 per cent of the club, with new owners, said: “I am really with the Ligue 1 club qualify- way down to the cleaning lady. Patrick Cryne, who revealed excited about it. There’s two ing for the Champions League “It can add a lot of impetus Houseman’s in September that he is suffer- ways of looking at it and I don’t during the group’s first year to what you are trying to do. choice PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM ing from terminal cancer, and always think they should be in control. It is a really important thing said yesterday that it is an his family retaining the other separate — business and foot- Conway spoke of the desire not to go silly and splash the SIGN OF THE KODIAC exciting time to be in charge 20 per cent. ball and you have to make busi- to replicate that success at cash and I agree with that 100 Wolverhampton 7:15 of Barnsley following the Beane became famous after ness decisions based on the Barnsley and Heckingbottom per cent.” takeover by a consortium that he used statistical analysis to football and football decisions is realistic about what is pos- includes baseball pioneer Billy identify undervalued talent based on business. sible at Oakwell. Published by the People’s Press MSTAR 2017-12-22 FRI 1.0 Beane. during his time as baseball’s “A big part of Patrick’s “We are never going to be Printing Society Ltd, William Rust Beane has invested in a Oakland Athletics general decision-making has been the biggest club in this league House, 52 Beachy Road, Bow, 5 1 London E3 2NS. Telephone: (020) group led by Chinese business- manager, turning their for- about what is best for the club. with the biggest fan base. 8510-0815. Fax: (020) 8986-5694. man Chien Lee and US busi- tunes around and providing I believe Patrick has done the “But we can be the best at a Email: enquiries@peoples-press. nessman Paul Conway, whose the inspiration for 2011 film right thing and made a good lot of things and that align- com. Registered with Companies House as Morning Star (in- takeover of the South York- Moneyball which starred Brad choice.” ment through the club is abso- corporating the Daily Worker) No shire club was completed on Pitt in the lead role. The consortium also owns lutely vital in terms of per- N5559. Printed by trade union Tuesday. Heckingbottom, whose posi- French club Nice and has formance staff, fans and the labour at Trinity Mirror. The consortium now owns tion has been made safe by the turned their fortunes around, players and the board all the Friday December 22 2017 9 770307 175251