BAILLIE GIFFORD EUROPEAN GROWTH TRUST

Hidden champions. Luxurybrands. Disruptors. Europe is moreexciting than you think.

Europe has alot to offer the long-term growth investor,ifyou know wheretolook. We seek out those great businesses with durable competitive advantages and strong management teams, typically owner-managers. And as an investment trust we can invest in any exceptional company we find, whether it’slisted or privately owned. So, if you’reseeking out growth in Europe, take the exciting route.

Please remember that changing stock market conditions and currency exchange rates will affect the value of the investment in the fund and any income from it. Investors may not get back the amount invested.

Find out morebyvisiting our website bgeuropeangrowth.com AKey Information Document is available. Call 0800 917 2112.

Actual Investors

Your call mayberecordedfor trainingormonitoringpurposes. Issuedand approvedbyBaillieGifford &CoLimited,whose registered address is at Calton Square,1GreensideRow,Edinburgh,EH1 3AN, . BaillieGifford &CoLimitedisthe authorised AlternativeInvestmentFund Manager andCompany Secretaryofthe Trust. Baillie Gifford&CoLimited is authorised and regulated by theFinancial ConductAuthority.The investment trusts managedbyBaillieGifford &CoLimited arelistedUKcompaniesand arenot authorised and regulated by theFinancial Conduct Authority. Bullying and Noël Coward’s THEPOP STAR misogyny at supernatural WHOTOOKON theBBC dabblings ADICTATOR

PEOPLE P10 LAST WORD P48 BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTICLES P19 THEWEEK 23 JANUARY2021 |ISSUE 1315 |£3.99 THE BESTOFTHE BRITISH AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA Bidentakes office Canhebring peace tothe US? Page2

03

9771362 343166 ALL YOUNEED TO KNOW ABOUT EVERYTHING THATMATTERS theweek.co.uk 2 NEWS The main stories…

What happened What the editorials said Variants and vaccines You’d think agovernment electedonapledge to“take back control” of Britain’s borders would show some urgency when Ministers announced toughnew restrictions there was actually aneed to do so,said The on travel into the UK this week, as concerns Independent. Not thisone. When newsofa mounted over new coronavirus strains. The highly infectious new Covid strain in “travel corridors” allowing people from certain southeast emerged last month, Brazil countries to enter Britain without the need to quicklybanned all UK flights. Yet when quarantine were closed from Monday, and all Brazil’s own new variant started wreaking travel from SouthAmerica has now been havoc in South America, Boris Johnson only banned. The travel ban – which came into force acted after fivedays of dither and delay.It on Friday and also applies to Portugaland has been a“shambles”, said the Daily Mail. Cape Verde–was aresponse to the emergence Britons have endured “policeharassment for of anew Covidvariant identified in Brazil. sittingonpark benches duringlockdown”. Scientists have raised concerns thatthe strain – Yet only this week didthe Government as wellasanother variant circulating in South introduce therequirement that arrivals into Africa – could threaten the efficacy of vaccines. the UK must show anegativeCovid test Afirst dose may not protect before being allowedentry. It’s onlydownto Although the UK recorded 1,820deaths on sheer luck that the “super-strength” Brazilian Wednesday – its highest daily total of thepandemic –case strainhasn’t yetbeen detected on British soil. numberswere beginning to fallaslockdown measures took effect and the vaccine roll-outcontinued. By Wednesday,the Actually, the PM’s reluctance to close our bordersisjustified, UK had inoculated4.2 million people; in England, over-70s said . While awarinessofanything that were due to begin receiving offers of vaccines this week. The could jeopardise the vaccine is understandable, the fact is that roll-out has also been rapid in Northern , but slightly Britain “relies on global links for its prosperity”. Johnson must less quick in and Scotland. now seek to reopen our borders at the earliestopportunity.

What happened What the editorials said Biden takes the helm Biden is taking charge at “the most tumultuous moment for America in living memory”,said . The US is battling Joe Biden was sworninasthe 46th president of the USon bitter political divisions, adeep economic downturn, and a Wednesday,inapared-down ceremony Covid crisis that has claimed more than marked by unprecedented security. Some 400,000 lives.Biden also faces the task of 25,000 members of the National Guardwere rallying “a fractured West to confrontan on hand to protect the US Capitol, which was increasinglyassertive Chinaand amenacing stormed byprotesters earlier this month. Russiaindefence of theinternational order”. Biden – at 78, the oldestoccupant of the Oval It’s quite a challenge, agreed The Wall Street Office – used his inaugurationspeech to call Journal.With luck,Biden will be remembered again for unity. “Without unity there is no as “the man who calmed the Trump-erafuries”. peace,” he said. Last week, he announced a But thatwill require him toreach outtothe 74 $1.9trn package ofeconomicstimulus and million Americans who voted forTrump and coronavirus relief. He also unveiled a slew of to resist the “divisive progressive domination executiveorders, which included rescinding sought by his party’s left”. Trump’s ban ontravellers from some Muslim-majority nations,rejoining the Paris Biden has got offtoabold start, said The New climate accord,and mandating mask-wearing Biden: going big YorkTimes. His $1.9trn fiscal relief package on federal property. shows hehas learned fromthe 2008financial crisis, when the federal government’s response was “too small In abreak with more than 150 years of tradition, Trump and ended too soon”. Democrats regretted that move,said the skipped theinauguration. Beforeleaving office, he granted FT, believingitundermined the recovery andhurtBarack 143 pardons and commutations. Among the beneficiaries Obama badly in the subsequent midterm elections.“Politically, were formeraide Steve Bannon andrapper Lil Wayne. then, as much as economically, Bidenhas reasontogobig.”

It wasn’tall bad The residents of atown in Anew battery for electric cars Wiltshire have been trying that takes only five minutes to Anew Google project called to brighten up lockdown charge has been produced on Blob Opera promises to allow life, by decorating their anormal production line at a people who cannot sing anote homes and front gardens factory in China. The lithium-ion to create their own operatic with images of spring. battery was designed by the masterpieces. The programme The Hope Springs Eternal Israeli firm StoreDot, to reduce (freely available online) features project in Malmesbury – the “range anxiety” felt by the recorded voices of four population 5,000 –was electric car drivers. To fully opera singers –abass, tenor, dreamt up by Jackie Peel, charge the batteries in five mezzo and soprano –who are amarketing consultant, minutes requires ahigher- represented as aseries of as she contemplated the powered charger than those coloured blobs. The user then removal of the town’s used at public points today. drags them around the screen Christmas lights trail, which However, the company reckons to alter the pitch, harmonies had raised spirits over the festive period. Plans for the project were that by 2025, its batteries will and vowel sounds. “It’s beyond discussed on Facebook, and locals of all ages, including Brownies be able to get 100 miles’ worth brilliant,” said Wasfi Kani, the and care-home residents, have been creating displays of paper of charge in five minutes using AM FROST/GUARDIAN/EYEVINE

CEO of Grange Park Opera. flowers, pompoms, painted butterflies and fairy gardens. available infrastructure. ©S

COVER CARTOON: HOWARD MCWILLIAM THE WEEK 23 January 2021 …and how they were covered NEWS 3

What the commentators said What next? You wait almost ayear for anew coronavirus variant to turn up, said Paul Nuki in The Sunday To iron outregional Telegraph, and then three come along at once–“each alittle faster, fitter andstronger” than disparities in the roll-out, the last. Andwhile the UK variantled to asurge incases and has thrown the NHS into crisis, vaccine doses are tobe it’s the strains from abroad that are really worrying scientists. In SouthAfrica, variant 501.V2 diverted toareasfalling has fuelled a“ferocious second wave”. And in Brazil, the P1 variant is causing “carnage” in the behind in inoculating the city ofManaus, which was thought to have reached herd immunity after ahuge Covid outbreak over-80s. HealthSecretary last year. The fear, saidAdam Kucharski in theFT, is that the variantscould allow the virus to Matt Hancockpromisedthat evade antibodies –thereby opening the door to reinfection or rendering vaccines less effective. people in that group who have yet to be vaccinated Still, it’s not all doom and gloom, said TomWhipple in The Times: the UK is now vaccinating would be contacted within 70 people every 30 seconds, with 200,000-300,000 jabs delivered daily. Only three countries in four weeks. Government the world have vaccinated ahigher proportion of their populations than Britain, which is the advisers urged people not to best performer in Europe “by some distance”. Sure, there are disparities between the pace of the “drop their guard” and not roll-out in differentparts of the country. But for now, it seems the vaccine story is “that British to increase social contact Covid-19 rarity:one wherethe Government appears to have underpromised and overdelivered”. after getting the jab, asfirst doses may confer less It has been an astonishing effort, said Gaby Hinsliff in The Guardian. Across Britain, medics protection than first thought. and volunteers alikehave worked tirelessly to inoculate the vulnerable, administering jabs at repurposed cathedrals, sports halls and conferencecentres. It hasbeen atestament toboth the The latest datafrom theONS brilliance and the ethos of the NHS. “Sharp elbows will not get you avaccine in Britain, and nor showed thatabout one in will a fat chequebook.” But calls forlockdown to be eased are premature, said Stephen Buranyi eight people in England had in the same newspaper.We’re still a long way off herd immunity, andthough many elderly coronavirusantibodies in people are now protected, 43% of admissions of intensive careadmissions since September have December – meaning much been people under 60. Iwant lockdown to end too, but we must be patient. Vaccines have hand- of the population remains at ed us “a scientific bailout of historic proportions. To squander that would be unconscionable.” risk of contracting the virus.

What the commentators said What next? Can Biden turn the page on Trumpism and bring America together again? Alas, there are good Biden has set a targetfor reasonstodoubt it, saidTom ReesinThe DailyTelegraph. Manyacademics believe thatthe 100 million Americans partisan rancour thathas so disfigured recent years is ultimatelyaproduct of wider economic to be vaccinated against patterns that have led the wealth of those at thetop to steadily increase while the incomesof Covid-19inhis first 100 those at thebottom and the middle have stagnated. The chances of Biden reversingthese long- days in office. Hisother established trends anytime soon are slim, they believe. With onlymarginal control of Congress, early plans include reuniting Biden is unlikely to pass anyradical reforms, saidAndrew Neil in the DailyMail. Butthe families separated by veteran politician is nothingifnot a“deal-maker”, andanything he can do to spur economic federal law enforcers at the growth will help. Let’s face it –hecan only be an improvement on Trump, said Max Boot in US-Mexico border, and The Washington Post. “Simply by not calling his critics traitors, inciting violence, sending cancellingthe permit for the demented tweets, spreading cockamamieconspiracy theories, or branding themediathe ‘enemy $8bn Keystone XL pipeline, of the people’, Biden will start to heal afractured and traumatised country.” which would move oil from the Canadian province of The past 30 years have shown that “inspirational words”about national unity fromincoming Alberta to Nebraska. US presidents count for verylittle, said John Harris on Politico. The“effective half-life” of these lofty rhetorical appealscan be measured in days or hours. What does make adifference are His legislative agenda “substantive deeds” –and here’s where Biden’s “stolid,persevering personality” might prove could be complicated in to be an advantage. He’s amediocre orator, butanexperienced legislative horse traderwho its early days by Trump’s enteredpoliticsatatimewhen it still revolved aroundmaterialobjectives rather than culture- impeachment trial, says war issues. Whateverhappens, there is alot riding on Biden’s presidency, said Janan Ganesh in The Times.Biden wants the FT. If he succeeds, it will deliver amuch-needed boost to “US (and by extension Western) the Senate to adopt rules credibility”, which hasbeendrainingaway of late. If, on theother hand,hefails, that will allowing it to holdthe trial furtherembolden theWest’srivals and pave theway in the US for adisastrous Trumpist in tandem with pursuing comeback. “There is an air of last chanceabout this presidency.” its usual business.

Editor-in-chief: Caroline Law Boris Johnson has taken much flak for his attitude to cake, but one Editor: Theo Tait THEWEEK thing this pandemic has highlighted for me is how resistant all of Deputy editor: HarryNicolle Executive editor: LaurenceEarle City editor: JaneLewis Assistanteditor: Robin de Peyer us are to the idea of not being able both to have it and eat it. Or, put Contributing editors: Simon Wilson, RobMcLuhan, Catherine Heaney,DigbyWarde-Aldam, TomYarwood, differently, how loath we are to admit the necessity of trade-offs. It’s evident in the constant lament – WilliamSkidelsky Editorial staff: Anoushka Petit, Tigger Ridgwell,Sorcha Bradley, Aine O’Connor Editorial even by sober-minded economic analysts –overour failuretocontain the virus as efficiently as other assistant: Asya Likhtman Picture editor: Xandie Nutting Art director: NathalieFowler Sub-editor: TomCobbe nations. “Western governments,” sighs Jeremy Warner in The Daily Telegraph, have been “unduly Production editor: AlannaO’Connell beholden to whingeing popular concerns such as not being able to go to the pub”. We should learn Editorialchairman and co-founder: Jeremy O’Grady ProductionManager: Maaya Mistry Production Executive: from China, he says, which has acted decisively and done far better. Which of course it true; but only Sophie Griffin Newstrade Director: DavidBarker DirectMarketing Director: Abi Spooner because autocracies specialise in stifling dissent. You can have asystemthatimposes conformity in Account Manager/Inserts: JackReader Classified: Henry Haselock Account Directors: Jonathan Claxton, Joe Teal, apandemic, or you can have asystem that keeps Jonathan Sumption out of jail. You can’t have both. Hattie White AdvertisingManager: Carly Activille GroupAdvertising Director: CarolineFenner One reason for such “trade-off denial”, as one might call it, is that we tend to measure well-being Founder: Jolyon Connell by quantifiable outcomes (fewer deaths, higher GNP) and so take things like principles out of the ChiefExecutive, The Week: Kerin O’Connor ChiefExecutive: JamesTye equation. Yet whether the issue is Brexit, selling arms to the Saudis, or trading with genocidal DennisPublishingfounder: FelixDennis regimes, in practice people often do view principles (of consent, autonomy, human rights) as worth more in value than the economic hit they may suffer in upholding them. They don’t ascribe value THE WEEK Ltd,asubsidiary of Dennis, 31-32 Alfred solely to things they consume. The last person to suggest that popular discontent could be assuaged Place, WC1E 7DP. Tel: 020-3890 3890 Editorial: 020-3890 3787 simply by letting people eat cake found out she was wrong... the hard way. Jeremy O’Grady Email: [email protected]

Subscriptions:0330-333 9494; [email protected]©DennisPublishing Limited 2021. Allrights reserved. The Week is aregistered trademark. Neither the whole of this publication nor any part of it may be reproduced, stored in aretrieval systemortransmittedinany form or by any means without the writtenpermission of the publishers 23 January 2021 THE WEEK 4 NEWS Politics

Controversy of the week Police records deleted IT experts areworking “flat The food parcels scandal out” to restore more than 400,000 records that were “The photo of two blackening bananas, atomato, two accidentally deleted from a potatoes, three apples,aloaf of bread, about200gofpasta, national police database last two carrots, slices of cheese, two mini-malt loaves,acan of week, according to the Home baked beansand three Frubes is oneofthe definingimages Secretary, Priti Patel. The of our times,”saidJack Monroe in The Guardian. Posted data wiped from the Police anonymously on Twitter lastweekbyastruggling mother, it National Computer includes pictured thecontents of afood parcel providedbythe catering offence records, arrest records, DNA records and companyChartwells in lieuofaweek’s schoollunches, for a fingerprint records. These are childforced to stay home. There was some confusion about believed to relate to people whether it wasmeant to represent £30worth of foodor£15, who were arrested and then but eitherway its contents were worthless than £6. This released without charge, but “stark illustration of life in poverty” duringthe coronavirus if they cannot be restored, it pandemic sparked an onlineoutcry.Many otherparents could compromise future investigations by making it shared pictures of similarly paltry“hampers”.The issuewas A defining image of our times? takenupbythe campaigning footballer MarcusRashford. As impossible for police to usually seems to happen when Rashford getsinvolved, the Government caved in immediately, said cross-check new evidence against evidence from earlier . Boris Johnson branded the boxes “disgraceful”;fromthis week,parents have been crime scenes. able to claim vouchersinstead,allowingthemtoshop themselves using the full weekly £15. No daily tests in schools The package wascertainly “pitiful”, said Emma Duncan in TheTimes.However, “its meannessis Aplantointroduce daily less the resultofour enthusiasmfor starving thepoor thanthe natural consequenceofgovernment coronavirus contact testing procurement. Whatever thestate buys,ittends to get ripped off.” ThePentagon once famously paid in English secondary schools $435 forahammerand $600 foratoilet seat. It’seasytosee why thescandal “has becomeso was paused this week. The toxic”, said RuthSunderlandinthe Daily Mail.“It looks like aDickensian narrativeoffat cat bosses £78m programme to use lining their ownpockets by taking food out of themouthsofpoorchildren.” But the reality is “more lateral flow tests in schools nuanced”. Chartwells certainlymessed up:ithas apologised, andwon’t charge forparcels delivered was designed to pick up asymptomatic cases, and that week.But it wasn’t profiteering. It has been whacked by thepandemic, andwas scrambling to ensure that only children produce theparcels on a“tiny budget”. The whole thingismorecock-up than conspiracy. with the virus had to self- isolate. It was due to be That’s ratherthe point, said theFT. LikeRashford’searlier campaigns, thescandal hasdrawn rolled out in January, until attention to amajor government failing duringthe pandemic: “anapparent ignorance of how the lockdown closed schools to poorest live andconstant need to play catch-up when thereality is pointed out”. Evenbefore Covid, most pupils. Some scientists the UK provided less support forthe unemployedthancomparablenations. After ayearout of work, had expressed concerns that Britons getanaverageof17% of their pre-unemploymentincome. InGermany, it’s 59%, in New lateral flow tests are not Zealand 34%. Thosewho receive universal credit forthe first time have to wait fiveweeks; many are accurate enough to be used in this way, but it seems the driven into debt and to foodbanks. Nowthe pandemic has “exposedmany more to the threadbare emergence of more nature of Britain’swelfare state, often forthe firsttime”. TheGovernment needs to get ahead of the transmissible variants also problem,tofixBritain’s inadequatesafety net–and“stop offeringopengoalstoMrRashford”. prompted the rethink.

Good weekfor: Spirit of the age EuanBlair,the oldest of Tonyand Cherie Blair’s children,with Poll watch A“smart” satchel invented reports that he is now richer than his parents (on paper at least). 26% of 16- to 25-year-olds by an 11-year-old Dutch- The 37-year-oldentrepreneur ownsa46%stake in Multiverse,an say they have felt unable to Japanese boy will make apprenticetraining firm which wasvalued last week at $200m. cope with life since the start sure schoolchildren never Sea shanties,which have become an unexpected online of the pandemic, afigure forget to bring in their gym sensation.The genre hasprovedsopopularonTikTokthata that rises to 40% among kit or homework again. The renditionofa19th century song called Wellerman hasentered the those not in work, education bag is fitted with atiny or training (Neets). 50% of computerconnected to UK singles charts. Strictly speaking, Wellerman,which describes 16- to 25-year-olds say their ascanner, which “reads” life on awhalingship, is afolk song;shanties werework songs, mental health has tags attached to achild’s used to accompany rhythmical labour onboard ships. deteriorated since the start belongings as they are All Creatures Greatand Small,the latest TV adaptation of of the pandemic. 56% of placed in it. If an item is James Herriot’s books,set in Yorkshire in the1930s, which them say they “always” or missing, the bag issues a receivedarapturouswelcome in theUS. The serieslaunched days “often” feel anxious, rising warning. Liam Vijfwinkel, after the Capitol riots.Ithas so much “heart” coursing through it, to 64% among Neet young from Kashiwa, near Tokyo, people. YouGov/The won acontest organised by said Salon, and will “leave you yearning for better times”. Prince’s Trust/The Guardian Japan’sPatent Office for his The Trump Babyblimp,which wasacquiredbythe Museum “Future Backpack”. of London. Thesix-metre-highballoon, which depictsPresident 43% of Britons say they’d Trump as afurious baby clutching amobile phone, was floated accept avaccination Fendi has pivoted to above Westminsterduring Trump’sfirst official visittoLondon appointment in the middle “therapeutic fashion” for its in 2018.Itwill gointo themuseum’s protestcollection. of the night, if a“24/7” new men’s line. At avirtual vaccination plan goes catwalk show last week, ahead. YouGov/The Times models wore an “outdoor Bad week for: pyjama” two-piece, TheKingdom, withthe potentially ominous news that the Tower 60% of Britons are confident dressing-gown style coats, of London’slong-standing “queen” raven is missing, presumed in the ability of the NHS to and boots with aremovable dead. The loss of Merlina leavesonly six“official” ravens at the cope with Covid-19, down soft lining that can be worn Tower,but there is one“spare”. Legendhas it that if there are from 72% in November. as slippers inside. fewer than six, the Towerwill fall, andsowill theKingdom. Ipsos Mori/The Guardian

THE WEEK 23 January 2021 The UK at aglance NEWS 5

Edinburgh London Roomatthe top: Richard Leonard, the NHS crisis: Asmall number ofseriouslyill Covid-19 patients leaderofScottish Labour since 2017, from London havebeen transferred to intensive care units resigned lastweek, sayingspeculation elsewhere in thecountry, becauseofashortage of beds in their about his positionhad becomea homeareas, it emerged thisweek.Speaking at theweekend, “distraction”. A key ally of Jeremy Sir SimonStevens, head of NHSEngland, saidhewould not Corbyn, the Yorkshire-born ex union “sugar-coat” the facts andwarned that with a Covid patient official moved the party to the left. It shed having been admitted every30seconds,onaverage, since six of its seven Scottish MPsunderhis Christmas, hospitals were under “extreme pressure”. During the leadership,and is now pollingat18%, first wave of the pandemic, the number ofpatientsinhospital in 35 points behind theSNP. A fast-tracked England with theviruspeaked at 18,974.On16January, there contest will be held to ensureasuccessor were 32,923, 11% more than aweek earlier. In theCovid is in post well ahead ofthe Holyrood hotspot of London,cases were falling this week, but hospital election on 6May. AnasSarwar (above),acentrist MSP who is admissions were still rising.There were 7,686 peopleinhospital the party’s constitution spokesman, is the current favourite. on 13 January, up from 7,034 aweek earlier.

Tarbert,Argyll andBute Fish protest: At least15Scottish seafood hauliers drovetheir trucks through Whitehall thisweek,indefiance of lockdown rules, to protest against Brexit-related red tape. Earlier, the ScottishFishermen’s Federationhad warned that, owing to the extrabureaucracy,itwas now impossible for exporters of fresh fish andshellfishtoreachEUmarketswithinthe necessary 24-hour time frame, leading to massive losses. “If wegoanother week, we are finished,”said Jamie McMillan, of Lochfyne Langoustines in Tarbert. Dominic Raab,the ForeignSecretary, insisted the delays were merely “teethingproblems”.This week, the Government unveiled a£23m compensation fund for fishing businesses who lostout “through nofaultoftheir own”.

Sheffield Smart-motorway deaths: The South Yorkshirecoroner has called for areview of the use of smart motorways, after finding that the lack of a hard shoulder had contributedtothe death of two men killed on theM1inJune 2019. Jason Mercer, 44, and Alexandru Murgeanu, 22, had got out oftheir cars to exchange insurance details following a minor collision. They were standing on the left-hand lane of the four-lane motorway when they werehit by a lorry travellingat56mph. Returning averdictofunlawful killing, the coroner, David Urpeth, said thelorry driver’s careless driving wasthe main cause of theaccident, butwarned that smart motorways presentan“ongoing risk of future deaths”. According to Highways England, the motorways have reduced casualties.

Newport Lostfortune: Aman who accidentally threwaway alaptop harddrive containing bitcoin worth £220m hasoffered his local council aquarterofthat fortune, if they help him digit out of the landfillsite where he believes it haslanguished since 2013.JamesHowells, 35, has been pleading with Newport City Councilfor help foryears, but so far, it hasrefusedtoplayball. “Thecost of diggingcould run into millions,” explainedaspokesperson –and there is no guaranteeoffinding the hardware. Howells’s anxiety to retrieve it hasgrown as the value of bitcoin hassoared (see page 22).

Carbis Bay, Cornwall Salisbury Beachsummit: Boris Johnson hasnamed Cornwall as the venue Holy orders: Around athousand Wiltshire residents over theage for thisyear’s G7 summit from 11 to 13 June, when leaders, of 80 wereinvitedtoreceive their firstCovid-19 jablastSaturday including the US president, JoeBiden, will gather to discuss the in Salisbury Cathedral.They queued in thecloisters, while works world’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.Prime ministers by Bach and Handel were performed on thecathedral’s19th andpresidents from the groupofseven leadingindustrialised century “Father” Willisorgan.The dean, the Very Revd Nicholas powers –the UK, the US, Germany, France,Italy, Canada and Papadopulos, said he wasdelighted that thecathedralwas being Japan–willdescendonthe five-star CarbisBay beachresortnear used as avaccinecentre.“We are proud to be playingour part,” St Ives for adiplomatic shindig thatwillcause huge disruption, he explained. Meanwhile, older residents of Lancashire were but is estimatedtobeworth £50m to the Cornisheconomy.Ifall invited to have theirjabsatBlackburn Cathedral. In Coventry, goes to plan,itwillbethe first in-person summit of worldleaders however, thevaccineprogramme came under fireafter elderly in almosttwo years, after lastyear’sUSG7was cancelled andthe residentsreceived lettersinvitingthem to get theirjabs at a G20inSaudi Arabia went online because of Covid-19. regional vaccine hubinManchester, 100 milesaway.

23 January 2021 THE WEEK

Europe at aglance NEWS 7

Amsterdam Berlin Oslo PM steps down: The Netherlands Party leader: Fake attack: In acase that has gripped governwment resigned en masse last week, Germany’s allofNorway, the partner of aformer following a damning parliamentaryreport main centre- justice minister hasbeen convicted of into ascandal over child welfare payments, right party, “threatening democracy” and sentenced to in which around 26,000 Dutch families theChristian 20 monthsinjail. Laila Anita Bertheussen, were wrongly accused offraudbythe tax Democratic 56, was convicted of vandalising her home authorities. About 11,000 ofthe cases had Union (CDU), with a swastika,settingfiretoher family’s been singled out for scrutiny on the basis haselected as car andfaking threatening letters. She’d of the claimant’s ethnic originordual its new leader done so in reactiontoan Oslo theatre pro- nationality. Ten thousandfamilies were ArminLaschet, duction inwhich her partner, Tor Mikkel forced to pay back tens of thousands of acentrist allyofAngela Merkel. Laschet Wara, amember of the right-wing Progress euros, leading in some cases to financial (above) –currentlythe premier ofNorth Party, hadbeenportrayed asfostering ruin andfamilybreakdown.Prime Rhine-Westphalia–narrowly defeated anti-immigrant racism. The show had also Minister Mark Rutte, aconservative who Friedrich Merz, a businessman on the displayed images of the couple’s house, hasled three successive coalitiongovern- traditionalistright of the party. He is now and Bertheussen’s motivewasapparently ments since 2010, acknowledged that in pole position tobecome theCDU’s to establishhow this had compromised her “the government was not up to standard candidate for chancellor at the general family’s security.When she was arrested in throughoutthiswhole affair”, and thata election in September,whenMerkel steps 2019, Wara resigned as justice minister. “terribleinjusticewas done to thousands down. Butthat role isn’t guaranteed, and of parents”. But hisresignation may not Laschet will face competition from Markus mean the endofhiscareer. He remains Söder, the popular leader of theCSU, as caretaker PM,heading a caretaker the CDU’s Bavariansister party, government, aheadofageneral election when the party selects its on 17March, which he isfavouritetowin. Kanzlerkandidat inMarch.

Paris Corruption probes: France’s former prime minister Édouard Balladur has gone on trial,accused of taking bribes from international arms deals to finance his unsuccessful presidentialcampaign in 1995. Balladur, 91, is one of several high-ranking French politicianstoface trial over theso-called Karachi affair, which dates from the early 1990s. His trialbegan in a weekwhennews broke of another former high-ranking politician in legal difficulty. Former president Nicolas Sarkozy isunderrenewed investigation for suspected “influence peddling”, in a probe relating to a s3m (£2.7m) contract with a Russian insurance company,Reso- Garantia. Separately, the investigative weekly LeCanard enchaînéalleged last week thatin2002, Sarkozy’s then-wife, Cécilia Attias, was paid s3,100amonth as a parliamentary assistant, butdidn’t actually doany work.

Paris Berlin Moscow Vaccine hope: France is one ofthe world’s Longer lockdowns: Germany has declared Navalny most vaccine-sceptic countries–the legacy an extension andtighteningofits national returns: of historicscandals in its pharmaceutical lockdown. (Denmarkand theNetherlands The Russian industry –but according to asurvey are expected to follow suit.) Although case opposition published by Le Figaro,opinion is starting numbers havebegun to fall, Chancellor leaderAlexei to swing towards accepting Covid-19 AngelaMerkeland leaders of Germany’s Navalnyflew vaccines, with amajority nowkeentoget 16 federalstates agreedtoextendituntil back to thejab. The poll showed56% were now 14 February, citing fears over the spread of Moscow on in favour: before Christmas only 42% had the new, more transmissible strainsofthe Sundayto been.Thiscompares with 80%inBritain virus first detected in South Africa andthe continue his campaign to unseatPresident and65% in Germany. It alsoshowed that UK. They alsoagreed newlawsmaking it Putin, andwas promptlyarrestedand 81% of peopleinFrance areunhappy at compulsory to wear medical-standard jailed. He had been in Germanyrecovering theslowpaceofthe vaccineroll-out. masks (notablyfiltering respirators, known from anear-fatalNovichok poisoninglast France is now under a6pm curfew (region- as FFP2 masks) in shopsand on public August, widelyreported to have been the specific curfews were extendednationwide transport. Meanwhile, the vice-president work of theFSB state security service.He on Saturday) but has stopped short of a of theEuropean Commission, Margaritis was arrestedatthe airport, andthe next thirdfull national lockdown. The Schinas, said theEU27 wouldagree on a day –atahighly unusualadhoc court country’s seven-day averagedeath toll is common vaccinationcertificatebythe end hearing held at apolicestation outside around 363, compared to 872inGermany of this month. Greece andSpainhavebeen Moscow –hewas jailed for 30 daysfor and1,185 in theUK. About 71,400people pressingfor the useofsuchcertificates as violating paroleconditions on aprevious have died in all, the third highest number de facto passports, to jump-start Europe’s conviction.Navalny’s lawyers were given in Europe after theUKand Italy. dormant tourismindustry. one minute’snotice of the hearing.

Catch up with daily news at theweek.co.uk 23 January 2021 THE WEEK 8 NEWS The world at aglance

WashingtonDC WashingtonDC Trump goes: “Wedid whatwe Death tollwarning: Joe Biden’s chief of staffRon Klainwarned came heretodo–and so much this week that theUSdeath tollfromCovid-19 is likelytoreach more,” said PresidentTrump half a million bythe end of February (it is currentlyjust above this week, in afarewell address. 400,000). “The virusisgoing to get worsebefore it gets better,” In the video, he condemned said Klain, who served as Barack Obama’s Ebola response political violence, and saidhe’d coordinator. “Peoplewho are contracting the virus today will “prayforthe success”ofthe new start to get sick next month, will add to the death tollinlate administration.However, he also February, even March, so it’s going to take awhile to turnthis promised that“themovement around.” The administration, he said,was “inheriting ahuge we started is only just beginning”. The president flew to Florida mess”intermsofvaccineproduction and distribution. “But we hours before Joe Biden’sinauguration. He is expected to spend have aplan to fix it.” Last week, Joe Biden unveiled a $1.9trn the next fewweeksatMar-a-Lago, his resort in Palm Beach, pandemic rescue plan, including boosted welfare payments and a preparing to fight various legal cases includinghis impeachment commitment to administer 100 million vaccines bythe 100thday trial in theSenate, on charges of“incitement of insurrection”. of his presidency (in late April). The plan will need to be passed Last week, new detailsemerged aboutthe violenceatthe by Congress before itcanbeenacted, however. Capitol that heisaccused of encouraging. Someofthe Trump supporters who stormed the building were carrying cable ties,raising speculation that they were planning to abductofficials; according to courtdocuments,far-right militias haddiscussedthe attack days in advance, andwerecommunicating inrealtimeasthey moved through the Capitol.Thisweek,the FBIvetted the National Guard forlinks with extremist groups, amid fears of an insider attack at Biden’s inauguration;12members were removed.

Los Angeles,California “Cannibal”scandal: The Hollywoodstar Armie Hammer pulled out of his latestfilmlast week,after disturbing messages he’d allegedly sent to a womanhewas datingwereleaked online. “I am 100%acannibal. Iwant to eatyou,” reads one unverified message.There wasalso a suggestionthat the actor,known for hisroles in Call Me by YourName and The SocialNetwork, had tied abelt around her neck during sex,without consent. Hammer, whoiscurrently going through a divorce, described theclaims as “bullshit”.However, two other women who’ve datedthestar have since allegedsimilar behaviour. Courtney Vucekovich said he was on drugs“all the time”, puther in “dangerous situations where Iwasnot OK”,and liked “the idea ofskininhis teeth”.

Mexico City Defence chiefabsolved: Mexicohas controversially exoneratedaformer defence ministerwhom US prosecutors have accused ofbeing a powerful drug lord. General Salvador Cienfuegos, who served as defenceminister from 2012- 2018 under the previous administration, wasarrested atLos Angeles airport in October on suspicion of collaborating with adrugscartel, shielding its members and using the military to attack its rivals. US officials returned him to MexicoinNovember, along with what they said wascopious evidence against him, in theexpectation that he’d face athorough criminal investigation in hishome country. However, last week Mexico’s left-wing populistpresident, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, claimedthat theevidence was “fabricated”.

Chiquimula, Guatemala SãoPaulo, Brazil Newcaravan: Around 8,000 people –most of them fleeing Vaccinesbegin: Regulatorsin poverty andviolence in Honduras –were attempting to reach Brazil–where anew strain of the Mexico on foot thisweek,with the ultimate aimofgettingtothe coronavirus was identifiedlast week United States.The “caravan”had set offfromthe Honduran city –havegiven emergencyapproval to two vaccines, China’s of SanPedro Sulalast Thursday,and began crossing into CoronaVac andthe Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. In trialsin Guatemala on Friday.But on Sunday, Guatemalan security forces Brazil,the CoronaVac vaccine, which is beingmanufactured in formed aphalanx across the highway, in an attempt to force the the country, wasfound to be 50.4% effective, only just above the procession back, leadingtoviolentclashes. Mexico, which has threshold required for approval. However, trialsinother sent extratroops to itssouthernborder to stop themigrantsfrom countries, including Turkey, have foundhigher ratesofeffective- crossing, welcomed theintervention.President Biden has ness.The coronaviruscontinues to be aheavily politicisedissue in promisedtoease theanti-immigrantmeasures put in place by his Brazil. The far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro,isavaccine sceptic. predecessor, but haswarnedmigrants not to head straighttothe Leading the vaccinationdrive is the governor of SãoPaulo, João border, as anychangeshemakes to policies will take time. Doria, who is predictedtorun for the presidency next year.

THE WEEK 23 January 2021 The world at aglance NEWS 9

Darfur,Sudan Kabul Askole, Ethnicviolence: At least100peoplewere Assassinations: Two femaleSupreme Pakistan killedlastweekend in inter-communal Court judgeswere shot dead on Sunday on Conquest: Ten fightinginthe Darfur region ofwestern theirwaytoworkinKabul,inthe latestin Nepali climbers Sudan. Apparentlytriggered by a fatal astring of assassinations targeting public have claimed stabbing in a campfor people displaced servants, politiciansand government moutaineering’s by the years-long conflict in Darfur, the officials, as wellasjournalists, doctors and last great prize: violence began withclashes between human rights activists. Though the Taliban the first winter members of the Masalit tribeand Arab denied responsibility forSunday’s atrocity, ascent ofK2, in nomads,but then rapidly spread,drawing it is widelypresumed thatthe group is the Himalayas. in local militias and security forces. The behind thekillings,and that its aim isto Theworld’s bitter conflict in the vastDarfur region intimidate the government and silence secondhighest broke out in 2003, when ethnic minority liberal voices ahead ofpower-sharing peak, K2 is rebelsrose up against theArab-dominated negotiations. Themurderedwomen, who 200m lower than Everest, but is regarded Khartoum government. Around 300,000 have not been named, were beingdriven as a far harder climb. Only sixprevious people died and 2.5 million were displaced. to work in acourtvehicle when they were attempts havebeen made to scaleitin Last year, mostofthe combatant groups ambushed by gunmen on amotorcycle in winter; allfailed. The team – mainly made agreed to apeace deal, but a joint UN/ the Taimaniarea of Kabul. The attack up of Sherpas, and led byNirmal “Nims” African Union peacekeepingforce began a came two days after the US announced it Purja MBE, a former Gurkha and UK phased withdrawal of its 8,000 troops this hadreduced troopnumbers in Afghanistan special forces member – had to trek through month, and violence is now increasing. to just 2,500, the lowest levelfor 20 years. snow for aweek justtoreach basecamp.

Tokyo Covid fears: Hospitals in parts ofJapan are at risk of being overwhelmedby the thirdwave of the coronavius, experts have warned. To date,Japan’s Covid outbreak has been less severe than in many countries, with 4,680 deaths recorded in total. Butrecently, some areas have been hit by a rapid surge in infections. “There aren’t enough doctorsor nurses,” said Toshio Nakagawa,ofthe Japan Medical Association. “If the numberofinfection cases keepsrising, the healthcare system couldbe wipedout.”

Cairo Kampala Baker arrested: House arrest: Afemale chefhas Bobi Wine was been arrestedin placed under Egyptfor allegedly house arrest last baking “indecent” week, after cupcakes, according challenging to local media. The unnamed baker had the results in suppliedthe cakes, which were topped Uganda’s Sana’a with penises andbreasts fashioned from presidential Famine warning: The outgoing Trump fondanticing, for aparty at acolonial-era election. The administration’s decision to designate the sportsclubinanupmarketneighbourhood formersinger rebel Houthi movement in Yemen as a of Cairo. She was arrestedafter attendees (pictured) camesecond in the poll –which “foreign terroristorganisation”risks at theparty –mainly wealthywomen – he said was marredbywidespread fraud tipping thecountry into asevere famine, posted pictures of thecakes on social andvoter intimidation. His home was the UN has warned. The Houthisare media.Reportedly,she wasinterrogated surrounded by soldiersand policeaday pittedagainstaSaudi-ledoffensive, and before being released on bail.On after theballot, andhis offices sealed off. thisdesignation is beingseen as an attempt Facebook, the government’s advisory body AnMPwho triedtovisit him was reported to complicate the Bidenadministration’s on Islamic law, Dar al-Ifta,warnedthat to have been beaten up by security forces. relations withIran, who back theHouthis. products featuring sexual representations President Museveni,who hasbeenin However, theUNhas warned that it will were “anassault on the value system and a power since1986, claimed 58%ofthe exacerbate an existinghumanitarian crisis crudeabuseofsociety”, and“forbidden in vote to Wine’s34%, giving him arecord by halting vital imports, as traders fear shariaand criminalised by law”. sixthterm(seepage 19). falling foulofUSsanctions.

23 January 2021 THE WEEK 10 NEWS People

Selina Scott ontheBBC on a farm in Yorkshire. When Selina Scott was 31 when the she looks back on her TV BBC poached her from ITV to career,itiswith asense of frontits newly launched muted disappointment. “You Breakfast Time in 1983. Her suddenlystopand youthink, co-hostwas Frank Bough, who whatwas all that reallyabout wasthen 50. A TVfixture, he then? That’s been apuzzling wasknown for his genial question.What was the point on-screen presence.But she in it all?” found him to be anything but avuncular: following his death Not for the faint-hearted last year, she revealed that it One morning in 2002,while wasthe partnership from hell. walking hisdaughter to Apparently threatened byher school, forensic psychiatrist presence,heundermined her Dr RichardTaylorran intoan on air,and rubbished her off it. ex-patient, who wavedtohim One of his tricks, she says, was cheerily. Years earlier, the man, to makeoff-colour remarks atalentedmusician,had beaten about thesize of his penis. his father to death during a When shedidn’t respond psychotic episode, then set fire positively, he’d imply she must to his body before stickinga be frigid.Did shecomplain? meatthermometer into his “No, Icouldn’t doanything stomach (“To see ifhewas about it,” she toldSimon done”). Taylor had assessed HattenstoneinThe Guardian. him in custody.Hewas “Frank wasprotected.” Andhe “incredibly disturbed and wasn’t the only one. The BBC’s violent”,hesays. Buthaving Oxbridge-educated managers undergone years oftreatment, “let men like FrankBough the man had been freedunder It was labelled “Wagatha Christie”. In 2019, Coleen Rooney, wife roam theBBC without any close supervision. “Who was of Wayne, publicly accused Rebekah Vardy (wife of Leicester City check”. Scott, who grew up in that, Daddy?” asked Taylor’s striker Jamie) of leaking stories about her to the press. It turned out Scarborough, the daughter of a five-year-old daughter,asthey that Rooney had set atrap on Instagram, blocking all her followers police officer and ajournalist, is walked on. “Oh, justsomeone except Vardy, then posting aseries of false stories about herself. no pushover; but there was, she Iused to work with,”hetold When they appeared in the media, she pointed the finger. Vardy says, an ugly misogynistic her. Now, says Audrey Ward denied the claims; aphone call failed to resolve things. Did they culture at the BBC that made in The Sunday Times, he has argue? “That would be like arguing with apigeon,”Vardy said at her deeply uncomfortable. “As written abook about his work the time. “You can tell it that you are right and it is wrong, butit’s soon as Iarrived, Iwastreated with someofBritain’smost still going to shit in your hair.” It was punchy stuff, said Julia like an interloper. Iwasn’tone dangerous criminals. It makes Llewellyn Smith in The Times –but Vardy has never come across of them, and [so] my TV life compelling reading, but youget as cosy, and she knows it. “I’ve developed areally strong resting became difficult.” To make asense that hiscareerweighs bitch face over the years,” she admits. “It’s adefensive thing–not matters worse, the tabloids heavily on him. “You need a showing any vulnerability, so no one can hurt me.” Her life, it is fair “trolled” her relentlessly. strong stomach,” he says of his to say, has not been an easy one. Sexually abused as achild,she “Itwas the GlendaSlagg era. job. “You have to be able to was kicked out of the family home at 15, and then had astring of EveryWednesday, Jean Rook deal with people swearing in failed relationships. When she first met Vardy, he was abit wild would sharpen her pen and go your face and not feel too; but when they had ababy, he settled down, and she found the to town.” She eventuallyquit threatened by it. You have to stability she craved. “I wanted acontrolled life where the children the BBC to work in the US. For be able to absorb it. It’s not for have set times for homework, set times they’re allowed on their the past 17 years, she has lived everyone, but it’s fascinating.” iPads, alifewhere thereare no surprises. I’ve had enough of them.”

Castaway of the week Viewpoint: Farewell This week’s edition of Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs featured The lockdown minestrone Samantha Power, author and former US ambassador to the UN Sheldon Adelson, “Backinpre-pandemic daysthere were Las Vegas tycoon and 1 DancingQueen by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and islands of experiencetodemarcate the political donor, died Stig Anderson, performed by Abba passing of time.Afestival.Abirthday 11 January, aged 87. 2 Morning Has Broken by Eleanor Farjeon and traditional, performed by CatStevens party. Awedding.Foodpoisoning. Gerry Cottle, celebrated Remember when we sawWhat’s His 3 ThousandsAre Sailing by Phil Chevron, performedby impresario, died The Pogues Name in that thing at that theatre, or 13January, aged 75. when we went to Thingummy’s house 4 Crazy by Seal and Guy Sigsworth, performedbySeal Siegfried Fischbacher, and the bookcase caught fire?Without 5 BootsofSpanish Leather by BobDylan, performed by magician who, along Mandolin Orange those markers, life becomes ablur. At with Roy, became aLas least back in thefirstlockdown, the Vegas institution, died 6 Why? (The King of LoveIsDead) by GeneTaylor,performed 13 January, aged 81. by Nina Simone whole world grindingtoahalt was 7* Tonight Will Be Fine by Leonard Cohen, performed by new. Now, the new normalisgetting Barbara Shelley, Teddy Thompson old. Life is just aforgettable minestrone actressand “Queen of 8 AMillion Years,writtenand performed by Alex Ebert of intangible half-things punctuated by Hammer Horror”, died forgettable Zooms andthe occasional 4January,aged88. stuttering blonde behind alectern. Sylvain Sylvain, New Book: The Irish TimesBookofFavouriteIrish Poems by Colm Tóibín Shall we alphabetise thebookshelves YorkDolls guitarist, died today? We didthatyesterday.” 13 January, aged 69. *Choiceifallowed only one record Luxury: aguitar AN KENNEDY/CHILLI MEDIA Matt RuddinThe Sunday Times ©D

THE WEEK 23 January 2021 Working together is more important than ever in the fight againstCOVID-19

At Facebook, we’reworking with nearly 100 governmentsand organisations globally, including theWorld Health Organization and European Centre for Disease Control, to distribute authoritativeCOVID-19 information on our platforms. Together,we’re building real-time resources to provide accurate information and fight the pandemic.

•InSpain,the World Bank is usingFacebook Disease Prevention Maps to forecast needs forCOVID-19 testing and hospital beds.

•French and Italian epidemiologists and health expertsare using Facebook technology to anticipate the viralspread of COVID-19 andidentify the mostat-risk communities.

•We’ve worked with governmentsacross Europe to build WhatsApp chatbots that answer questions about COVID-19 quicklyand accurately.

Learn moreabout howwe’re collaborating to keep communities safe and informed at about.fb.com/europe

Briefing NEWS 13 The “little girl” who makes the weather La Niña is one of the major drivers of the Earth’s climate system;since lastautumn, thisphenomenon has been under way in the Pacific

What exactly isLaNiña? experienced severe drought, and La Niña, meaning “the little girl”, is Mongolia sufferedaheatwave. An a large-scale coolingofocean surface estimated16% of the world’s coral reef temperatures in the central and eastern systems died fromheatstress, and after equatorialPacificOcean.It’s acomplex extreme rainfall in East Africa, there was weather patternthat means changes to asevere outbreak of Rift Valley fever. rainfall, winds and air pressureinthe DuringaLa Niña, by contrast, there is Pacific –usually more raininAustralia wetter weatherinNorth America, and easternAsia,and drought conditions Southeast Asia andAustralia; and drier in coastalPeru and Chile – as well as than usual conditions inwesternSouth other climatic effects over swathes ofthe America andEast Africa. Earth. This year’s La Niña event was confirmed bythe World Meteorological Why dothe impacts reach so far? OrganisationinOctober, and itis Because the Pacific Oceanissobig – expected to last until at least spring. It is covering 40% of the equator – itaffects the opposite of the better-known El Niño the entireworld. The El Niño/LaNiña – aband of warmerwater in the central oscillation disrupts theatmospheric andeastern Pacific. Together, these two circulation patterns that connectthe make upwhatisknownasthe El Niño- La Niña could cause drought in the Horn of Africa tropics with the middle latitudes, and Southern Oscillation (Enso)pattern. also affects the jet streams – fast-flowing currents inthe Earth’s atmosphereseveralmiles above the surface. Where do thenames El Niño and La Niña come from? Within any given decade, the warmest years are usually El Niño In 1891,the president ofthe Lima Geographical Society, DrLuis ones,and thecoldest are usually La Niñaones.ElNiñoyearsare Carranza, wrote an article about a warmcounter-current that had one factor thatcan increase the riskofcolder wintersinthe UK. been noticed by Peruvian anchovy fishermen. When the waters It also decreasesthe likelihood of tropical storms inthe North were warmer(andlackinginnutrients) the fishermen’s anchovy Atlantic,whileLaNiña can makethemworse. The UN Food and haul was greatlyreduced. As the phenomenon always seemed to AgricultureOrganisationiscurrently warning thatLaNiña could occur around Christmastime,the fishermen named it “ElNiño cause droughtfrom the Horn of AfricatoAfghanistan and Iran; de Navidad”, meaning “the ChristmasChild”. La Niña was later andflooding from southern AfricatoTongaandthe Phillipines. adopted as the name for the opposite event. How was this greatoscillationfirst discovered? How are these different from typical Pacific conditions? ABritishmathematiciancalled Gilbert Walker was working Normally, the trade winds that blow east to west acrossthe as the director general of observatories in India in 1904,and Pacific pushwater warmedbyequatorialsun along with them, studying the Indianmonsoon, when he noticedasee-sawing of so that it builds up onthe western side of the ocean around Asia atmospheric pressurebetweenthePacific Oceanand the Indian and Australia. At thesametime,onthe easternside of the ocean, Ocean. He analysed meteorological data and published thefirst along the coast ofSouth and Central America, the warm water account of this oscillation. In 1969, Jacob Bjerknes, one of the that hasbeen pushed west is replaced by cooler, nutrient-rich founders of modern meteorology,realised thatthe atmosphere water fromthe depths ofthe ocean, a process called “upwelling”. andocean were coupled in one huge loop, whichhecalledthe During an El Niño – for reasons that arenot fully understood – Walker Circulation. Thelower part of the loop flows easttowest tradewinds falter or evenstartmoving west to east. Temperatures acrossthe tropics near the ocean surface; theupper part flows in thecentral Pacific increase; ocean currents shut down or west to east at higher altitudes. Rising air inthe west andsinking reverse; and great masses ofwarmwatermovetowards the air in theeastconnect the flow in one big, continuous circulation. Americas. DuringaLaNiña,theeffect isreversed: easterly trade winds strengthen,and most ofthe How oftendoes a La Niña occur? tropical Pacific is colder than usual: The world’s air-conditioningsystem The cycle is not easy to predict as there’s anincrease in upwelling of The weather might change every day, but the world’s it is not entirely understood, but the cold water,which movesacross the system of atmospheric circulation remains fairly con- data shows that theseEnsoevents oceantowards Asia andAustralasia. stant. It is driven, in each hemisphere, by three main happenroughly every 3-7 years. circulation systems, known as cells. The largest extend Often, an El Niño is followed What effectsdothese have? north and south from the equator, and are named immediatelybyaLa Niña,asifthe Both La Niñaand El Niño events Hadley cells. At the equator, moist air is warmed by warm water is sloshing back and the Earth’s surface, decreases in density and rises high, change theoddsoffloods, droughts, creating an area of low pressure. Then it pushes either forthacrossthe Pacific.LaNiñas heatwavesand extreme coldina north or south towards the poles. As it moves, the air tendtolast sixmonths to two years. rangeoflocations. DuringanEl cools; as it reaches around the 30th parallel north or Niño,changingoceanconditions south, it descends, creating an area of high pressure, Does climate change affect this? disrupt weather patternsand marine by which it is driven back towards the low pressure It may intensify someEnso effects, fisheries along thewestcoastofthe at the equator. (This is why the trade winds blow such as drought, just as La Niña Americas. Dry regions of Peru,Chile, constantly towards the equator –though the Coriolis tends to decelerateglobalwarming, Mexico andthe southwest US are effect, caused by the movement of the Earth, means by lowering temperatures. But overall oftendeluged with rain andsnow, that these winds are also deflected westwards.) the relationship betweenthe twois while rainfall in Asiaand Australia At the poles are the polar cells. Here, the air sinks hardtodescribe or predict. One is greatly reduced.During the because of the cold then flows out towards the meteorologist,Tom Di Liberto, particularlyintense El Niñoevent in equator. In the mid-latitudes between the Hadley and compares Ensotoalight controlled the polar cells are the Ferrel cells –where warm the winter of 1997-1998,rain and subtropical air and cold polar air meet, mix and eddy. by various dimmer switches, and mudslidesinCalifornia andPeru left This occurs around the latitude of the UK, and gives climate change to “somebratty kid thousandshomeless, while on the us our unsettled weather. who goes into the room and fiddles otherside of thePacific,Indonesia with each switch differently”.

23 January 2021 THE WEEK

Best articles: Britain NEWS 15

Trucksdelayed at ports; freshfish waitingfor customs clearance: the headaches caused by Brexit are real enough, says Juliet Samuel. IT MUST BE TRUE… Brexit and the Butwealsohaveacompelling illustration of Brexit’s potential I read it in the tabloids benefits: ourdecision to stay out of the EU’s vaccination scheme. Hadthe UK accepted the EU’sinvitationtojoin, we’d have hadto AJapanese man has built a advantage of business renting himself out jettison independent dealsalready made with promising suppliers “to do nothing”. Anyone can being nimble and instead limit our initial engagement to suppliers chosen on rent out Shoji Morimoto, the basis of satisfying rival political agendas: the US-German 37, for ¥10,000 (£70) plus Juliet Samuel partnership, Pfizer/BioNTech; andthe UK-Frenchalternative expenses and meals –but, developed by Sanofi and GSK. Instead ourVaccineTaskforce, led he says, “I won’t do anything The Daily Telegraph by the well-connected Kate Bingham, speedilybuilt relationships except eat, drink and give a with the vaccine front runners and, well ahead of Brussels, secured simple response.” Morimoto early supplies of therightdrugs. It has become an article of faith has apost-graduate degree in that success in themodern world always depends on “scale and physics and used to work in publishing, but quit to “do uniformity”; that “large blocs arebeautiful”. Not so.Autonomy nothing”, and has since allows for“nimbleness and theabilitytotailorpolicy to oneset amassed 268,000 Twitter of interests, rather than28”. Yes, it hasits hidden costs, butso followers. “I’m not afriend or too doesthe EU’s unwieldydecision-makingprocess. acquaintance,” he says. “I’m free of the annoying things We’ve talkedalotaboutdeaths recently,says Ed Conway,but it’s that go with relationships, time we also gave some thought to births –and whythere areso but Ican ease people’s Where have few. Adecade or so ago,Britain had“oneofthe most favourable feelings of loneliness.” demographic fundamentals in Europe”. In 2012, thefertility rate all the British of Englandand Wales (the average numberofchildrenbornper woman)was 1.9–belowthe replacementlevel of 2.1and ashade babies gone? less thanFrance, but “comfortably higher” than the rate in Italy andGermany (both1.4). Combinedwith our liberal immigration Ed Conway policies,therewas littleprospectofour population shrinking. But since then thefertility rate hasplunged. It stood at 1.65 in 2019; The Times provisionalfigures suggestit’snow 1.6 –“the lowest figuresince comparable recordsbegan in 1938”.The immigration pictureis also very different: new research suggests over amillion overseas workers mighthaveleftBritainlastyear.It’satrendthatsignals ahugedemographic shift, and itsimpact –onour welfare system, on thecostoflabour, on inflation –willbeprofound.

Something strange has happenedtopublic discourse in recent years,says Janet Daley: under the shield of anonymity provided Ahistorical re-enactment If social media by social media, it dispenses with “all previous understandings society in Dorset had its of what constitutesacceptableconduct”. Yes, heated debate has Facebook page shut down has polluted always generated its share of insults, but the murderousbile over suspected far-right spewedonline issomething new.Under coverofpseudonymity, links. Members ofthe civic life... andoften openly, peoplegivevent to their ugliest, mostmalicious Wimborne Militia said they thoughts. Somesee no great harm in this: social media serves a were “miffed” afteran Janet Daley cathartic end, they say, allowing people to air outrageous views algorithmtargeted them rather than hide them. Yet until recently, we believedthe opposite: twice inamonth,mistaking The Sunday Telegraph “that it was theproper business of responsible governmentto them for a US right-wing teach people to restrain their mostmalignant, destructive militia. “We are a bunchof inclinations for thesakeofthe greater good”. Havewechanged eccentrics who like todress our mind onthis, secure in the“complacent, post-Cold War in fancy clothes,” said Chris belief” that the world isnolonger in ideological peril,and that Brown, 64, “not people Western democratic values will endure, comewhatmay? If so,we who want totopplethe fool ourselves. The“weaponising of inchoate grievance” is just as Government.” Butheadmits dangerouswhen fuelledbynihilismaswhenfuelledbyideology. thegroup does pose some threat. “We’ve done really People love to blame socialmedia for the poisoning of public dis- dangerous things like host a course. They’re wrong, saysJanan Ganesh. The real culprit is the spoon-whittlingcompetition, ...we only have debasementofTVnews. WatchTVnews bulletinsfromthe late so that’s obviously goingto 1980s,and what strikesyou is the“near-Pathé News quaintness undermine democracy.”The television to of the coverage”. They stickalmost entirelytothe facts. No vox banhas nowbeenrescinded. pop. No talking heads.The imagesare “there to inform andnot AUSlaw firm is offering a blame simper”. Compare that to today’s hyped-up, round-the-clock news free divorce this Valentine’s coverage, where every event is endlessly picked over in studio inter- Day. The Powers Law Firm in Janan Ganesh views,debates and post-mortems. Not that the aim is to “cretinise Crossville, Tennessee, said or incite”: the extraneousflimflam is theretosatisfy thedemands it would give one person free Financial Times of the 24-hournews cycleand keep viewersengaged. Inevitably, legal services to allow them though, it debasesthe currency of hard news.How canyou sell to “move on with their lives”. the notion of thesanctity of factstothe publicwhenfactsaccount “Divorces are really expen- “forsuchasmallshare of broadcast time”? No, the rancour we sive,” said paralegal Timothy see on socialmedia is just the after-effectofanearlier innovation. Sexton. “We don’t like seeing people suffer, so if there’s It was the expansion of TV news in the1990s that “established something we candotohelp the idea that what matters about an event is its contested meaning, someone, we wanttodoit.” not its core of facts. Mark Zuckerberg just monetised the contest.”

23 January 2021 THE WEEK 16 NEWS Best of the American columnists

Money talks: corporate America turns onTrump “Boy, did DonaldTrump blow it,” needed was for the Trump brand to saidMolly Roberts in The Washington become more toxic. The Republican Post.Hemay not have fulfilled his Party will feel the impact too, said ambitionofbecomingthe first US Christine RomansonCNN. “Pulling presidenttogrow richerinoffice, but donationsfrom GOP lawmakers no until recently it looked like he wouldat questionsendsabig message. Money least enjoy a lucrative post-presidency. talks inAmericanpolitics.” Not now, itdoesn’t.Since the deadly riots on CapitolHill, corporate It’s great that corporate America has America hasturned on Trump witha finally drawn a line, said KateCohen vengeance. DeutscheBank, his top in The Washington Post – evenifthe lender, is reportedly no longer willing move is rather late andself-serving. to do businesswith him; Shopifyhas These, after all, are “the same folks taken downonline stores affiliated whohelped get usinto thismess”. with his empire; PayPalhas stopped Atoxicbrand rejectedbyDeutsche Bank andthe PGA Indeed, saidEmily Stewart on Vox. processing certain group’spayments; Last week, Ken Langone, co-founder Twitter has banned him; and – a particular blow to Trump – of Home Depot andabig GOP donor, said he felt“betrayed” the PGA hasstripped his New Jerseygolf club ofaprestigious by Trump’s role in theCapitol riot, adding “I didn’tsign up for tournament. Ahost ofbig firms, meanwhile, have suspended that”. Yetthe realityis“he kind of did”. Trump’s flaws have political donations to all 147 RepublicanmembersofCongress been clear from the start. Big businessjust wentalong with him who voted against certifyingJoe Biden’selection victory. for selfish reasons. As CBS executive chairLes Moonves saidof Trump’s presidential bid backin2016: “It may not be good for This boardroom backlash will hurtthe Trump Organisation, America,but it’s damn good for CBS.” Now,having happily saidEric Lipton in TheNewYork Times.With more than pocketed his cuts to tax andregulations,business leaders have £300m in debt coming due in thenextfewyears that Trump abandonedTrump in apanic, and shownhow weak he is has personally guaranteed, andthe business already suffering without them.“It makesyouwonder what would have fromthe impact of the Covid pandemic,the last thing he happened had they not fuelledhis rise in the first place.”

Covid-19 has hit people acrossthe US, says Jack Healy, but few have sufferedasbadly as the American Indians andAlaska Natives. The virus haskilled them at nearly twicethe rateofwhite ANative people – a toll that reflects the group’shigh levels ofpovertyandthe factthat many ofits members American liveincrowded, multigenerational homes. Quite apart from the individual tragedies, the death of so many tribal elders is also destroying “bonds of languageand tradition”. Acrossthe US, tribal nations tragedy and volunteersare engaged inadesperate “mission ofcultural survival”, delivering mealsand sanitisertoremotecommunities, and seeking theurgent vaccination ofelders andfluent indigenous Jack Healy language speakers. These efforts come toolate for many. The virus has already claimed manyfluent Choctawspeakers fromthe Mississippi Band of ChoctawIndians,along with the formerchairman The New Times of theYocha Dehe Wintun Nation inCalifornia.Inthe NavajoNation, it has “devastated” the ranks of hataalii, traditional medicinemen and women. “It’s like we’rehavingacultural book-burning,” saidaspokesman for the Muscogee Nation in eastern Oklahoma. “We’relosing a historical record, encyclopedias. One day soon, therewon’t beanybody topass this knowledge down.”

If America is ever to return to any kind of political“normal”,says HenryGrabar, it’s going to have to addressoneofthe bigfactorsbehindthe recent dysfunction: guns. Over the past few years, large, The perils of organised groups of gun carriers have increasingly made theirpresence felt in public life –and it’s an “open-carry “changing the way governmentworks”. We sawitlastspring when menwith powerful weapons showedupat Michigan’sstatehouse to pressurelawmakerstorepeal aCovid-19 emergency law. democracy” The lawmakersduly obliged. And we saw it once moreduring therecent storming of CapitolHill. One of thereasons forthe police’s hesitantresponse was theirexpectation that the crowdwould Henry Grabar be armed. TwoRepublicancongressmenhavesaidthatmanyoftheircolleagueswho subsequently voted againstcertifying Joe Biden’s election victory only didsobecausetheywerescared or feared Slate puttingtheir families in danger.Somemembers of Congress have come to regard evensomeoftheir peers asapotential threat. Membersofthe Housewill now havetopassthrough metal detectors to reach the floor.Thus is theright to bear arms progressively curtailing the right to freeexpression. “Sooner, rather than later, we’re going to have to deal with the oxymoron of open-carrydemocracy.”

So the Trumppresidency ends as it began, says Jonathan Chait–with astory aboutlavatories. It Trump’s was reportedlast week that JaredKushner andIvanka Trump forbadetheir security detail from usingany of thesix bathroomsintheir house. Agents apparently resorted to local restaurants, search for the BarackObama’snearbyhome andaPortaloobeforethe SecretService rented anearby apartment for thepurpose. Thestory echoes one from Trump’s first days in power, when an adviser revealed perfect toilet that Melania had delayed moving into the White Housepartly because she “didn’twanttohave to use thesame shower and toilet as Michelle Obama”.Infact, loos havebeen aleitmotif of thewhole Jonathan Chait presidency.Trump hadan“oddaffinity” for showing offthe WhiteHousebathrooms to guests, and was fixated on thepoor waterpressureofmodern loos. “Peopleare flushing toilets tentimes, 15 New York Magazine times, as opposed to once,” he told reporters.Hereportedly fired RexTillerson whilethe diplomat was on thetoilet,and briefly hired as attorney general Matthew Whitaker, who worked for afirm that sold a“masculine toilet” for“well-endowed” men. When this strangefamily finallyleaves the scene,we’ll all“puzzle over what brought them here”.“Maybe they just wanted perfect toilets.”

THE WEEK 23 January 2021 This year,savemore than just money.

Our new Sustainable Equity Service helpsyou invest directly intocompanies thatmakeapositiveimpact on our world. [email protected] with thesubjecttitle‘save more’ to get started.

Capital at risk.

Best articles: International NEWS 19

Uganda’s election: Bobi Wine takes on the big man For a “sham election”, itwas bitterly age every year, yet just 75,000 jobs contested, said Isaac Mugabiin arecreated. Winetapped intotheir Deutsche Welle (Bonn). Evenso, discontent to create a mass movement Uganda’s journey to the pollsdidn’t of young, largely urban votersdrawn produce the change thecountryso to his promise of afresh start. Yet desperately needs. Veteran president Museveni remainspopular among Yoweri Museveni, 76, claimed a older generations, said Marlène Panara mandate for a sixth term in office last in Le Point(Paris). Theyremember his weekafter adisputed victory over the role in bringing peace to Uganda after rapper-turned-politician Bobi Wine helping to topplethe nightmarish (real name: Robert Kyagulanyi) – the dictatorships of Idi Amin and Milton electoral commission said Museveni Obote, as well as his effective leader- won 58% ofvotes to Wine’s 34%. The ship during the Aids epidemic. And his emergence of Wine, 38, as aserious economicreforms brought growth and threat to Museveni’s 35-year rule set Museveni: a“vice-like grip on power” increased prosperity to the country. up a titanicbattle which all toooften exploded into violenceduring aferocious electioncampaign. Museveni also for years enjoyed consistent support from abroad, Winewas shot at, beaten and repeatedly arrested; scoresofhis saidEoin McSweeney on CNN (New York).Hehas long been supporters were killed bysecurity forces. The ballot itself was feted by Western leaders as abeacon of stabilityinEastAfrica, preceded by an internet shutdown and aban on messaging apps. evenasconflict and terrorism wreaked havoc in neighbouring Wine’s polling agents were intimidated by the military and countries such as South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of police. Foreign election observers boycotted the poll. Congo. Yet the stability he hasoffered has come at a price, said Abdullahi Boru Halakhe on The Elephant (Nairobi).Museveni’s The race was achoice between Museveni’s “staid predictability” “vice-like grip on power” hasincreasingly depended on and the “tantalising promise” oftheupstart from the ghetto, suppressionofthe oppositionand atotal disregard forthe rule in a country where over 75%ofthe population is under 30, of law.Alas, as this disgraceful election goes to show, Museveni said The East African (Kampala).Young people arefed up with is beginning to seem “indistinguishable” from the despotic soaring unemployment, as some 700,000 people reach working leaders heoncehelped tooverthrow.

INDIA India’sSupreme Court hasdealt anew blow to the country’s long-suffering Muslim population,says Apoorvanand. Earlier this month,itrefused to stay so-called love jihad laws in three states which are governed by India’s rulingHindu nationalist BJP. Thelaws, which support the“baseless conspiracy Strike down theory”thatMuslim menare seeking to lure Hindu women into marriage andforcefully convert them to Islam,havealreadyhad adevastating impact.Scores of Muslimmen have been arrested the cruel “love under them;wedding ceremonies have been violentlybroken up;teenagers havebeenharassed. jihad” laws In some cases, thelaws have even been used to “criminaliseand harass” couples who hadmarried long before they were enacted. But whilelower courts have upheldindividuals’ rights to embark Al Jazeera on consenting relationships in private,the Supreme Courthas,unfortunately,declined to right this (Doha) wrong–at least fornow.That’svery unfortunate:theselawsare clearly ameans by which PM Narendra Modi’s BJPisseeking to persecute India’s195 million-strong Muslim population, undermine its secularconstitution and “denyagency to women”. They must be struck down.

FRANCE Europe’s far-right populists tried to exploit “the Trump effect”, seeking inspiration from his victories, says Stefan Brändle. But now they’re in trouble –none more so than France’s Marine Le Pen. After coming second to Emmanuel Macron in 2017’s presidential election, Le Pen abandoned the Le Pen’s “statesmanlike” manner she had been cultivating, and emulated Donald Trump’s style, “railing” against the elites and the Left. She even travelled to Trump Tower to pay homage. Recently, she populist insisted that Joe Biden had “absolutely” not won the presidency. But the riots in Washington this identity crisis month forced a“180-degree turn”: she now claims to be “extremely shocked” by the unrest, and has recognised Biden’s victory. Her problem is simple: “France is not America.” The far-right “agitators” Der Standard who make up the core of her National Rally (RN) party may delight in Trump’s campaign against the (Vienna) US constitutional order; but most of her voters value strong government and are appalled by recent events in America. “Riots and chaos are not to the taste of all RN voters, who are often the loudest in Paris calling for law and order.” Le Pen plans to take on Macron again in next year’s presidential race. But if she’s to have any chance of winning, she’ll have to decide what she represents.

SPAIN The colonisation of theSpanish language by Englishisfast becoming a“nightmare”, says Carlos Yárnoz. Journalists have got into the unfortunate habit of sprinklinganglicisms throughout articles: phrases andwords like“winner takesall”, “talent shows”, “bartender” and“yearbook” arenow The nightmare commonplace. Arecent count foundmorethan 2,000examplesinthisnewspaper in asingle month. Manyofthemare unfamiliar to mostSpaniards, who findthe habit infuriating: somereaders now of creeping shun articles by certain writers, becausetheysimplycannotunderstand them. It’s fair enoughtouse anglicised terms when no Spanish equivalent is available, for instance when writing about subjects anglicisation like science and technology. But why, for instance, do some newspapers insist on offering readersa El País “newsletter” instead of using the perfectlygoodSpanish term boletín?Even readerswho speak good (Madrid) English finditabsurd. Some critics put it down to “snobbery” or “laziness”;others think it points to an inferiority complexabout theSpanish language –the idea that breaking intoEnglish in every othersentence is somehow “cool”. But in aprofession which prides itself on its economy with words, the proliferation of pointless synonyms is tantamount to “abuse”. It’s hightime we putastoptoit.

23 January 2021 THE WEEK

Health &Science NEWS 21

New research on extraordinary animals Glimmers of Lassoing snakes much protein. To investigate hopeinthe Monkeys mightscramble up their diets, a teamofFinnish them, but you’d think electricity researcherslookedinto what pandemic poles would be impossible for foods would have been snakes to climb;yet on the availableinthe frozen wastes People whohavehad island ofGuam, engineers at this time,and calculated SARS-CoV-2 have at least investigating power lines often thatthe game available to the somedegree of immunity come acrossthe burnt remains hunter-gatherers wouldhave fromsubsequent infection of abrown tree snake. Now, provided much more protein fromthe virus,anewstudy scientistshavediscovered how thanthey could safely consume. has found. The authors of they getthere: inarecent With nothing else to do with the Public Health England experiment, researchersused the excess meat, they might research said thevirus a3ft-long metal pole to well havefed it to wolves, or gives “atleast as good” separate a cage of mice from orphaned wolf cubs, triggering adefence againstfuture abrown treesnake. The mice the domestication process. infections as avaccine. The shouldhavebeen safe, said “This is the first time that we study, involving 21,000 Tom Whipple inThe Times. haveanecological explanation healthcareworkers, But, motivated bythe tasty for dog domestication,”says around 6,600 of whom treat above it, the snake did Nigel, arare dwarf giraffe lead author Dr Maria Lahtinen. were infected in thespring, something never observed showedthathaving hadthe before: it tied itself into alasso, and slowly Giant shark, giant babies illness provided about85% shimmied upthe pole. “We just satthere Megalodon sharkswere very bigfish. The protection againstboth watchinginshock,” said Thomas Seibert, from species, which became extinctsome2.6million asymptomatic and Colorado State University. As, presumably, did years ago,grew to at least50ft–twice aslong symptomatic reinfection. the mice. The experiment hadbeen devised by asadouble-decker bus. And according to anew It also found that the few ateaminvestigating how toprotect the Pacific study,theyhad giant offspring too, says The people who didget island’s birds from the invasivesnake. Daily Telegraph. Using CT scanning,researchers reinfected typically suffered Conservationists had hoped that placing nesting examined the growth bands on thevertebrae of only mild symptoms. boxes on polesmighthelp; but it seems it isback an adult megalodon thatwas 30ft long. They However, people maystill to the drawingboard. found 46 bands, meaning that it haddied at 46; transmit thevirus,and it’s and by back calculating,theywere able to work notclearhow long Cavementamed wolves with scraps out that itwas 6ft 6in long when it wasborn. immunity lasts. Dogs may have become domesticatedbecause Their study also confirmed that, like modern day our cavemen ancestors hadmore meatthan they lamniform sharks, embryonic megalodons grew Further positive news came could eat–and fed their leftoverstowolves, inside theirmothers by feeding on unhatched from an international study who became their companions.It’snotclear eggsinthe womb, a practiceknownasoophagy. which found that drugs whendogs were first turned into pets, says the used to treat rheumatoid New Scientist, but genetic evidence suggests they Rare dwarf found in the wild arthritisreducethe risk split from wolves as littleas27,000 years ago; At 9ft 4in, Gimli the giraffe towers over the of death in severe cases and as the first knowndog grave is from 14,200 conservationists whodiscovered it in Uganda of Covid-19.Inthe study, years ago,they are likelytohave been firmly five years ago;but Gimli is not large.Infact, it involving 800intensive installed as pets bythen. This means that the has been identifiedasthe first known example of care patients,27.3% of process of domestication was happening at a a“dwarf” giraffe. Other members of its Nubian thosegiven tocilizumab time whenEurope was covered in ice–and species typically reach 16ft.But it is not alone: died, compared to 35.8% wolvesand humans, as top predators, would apaper in BMC Research Notes also reveals the of thosegiven standard normally havebeen competing for food. But existence ofadwarfgiraffe inNamibiacalled care. Asecond drug, whereas wolves cansurvive for long periods Nigel.Itisnot clear whatcaused their dwarfism, sarilumab, hadasimilar only on lean, protein-rich meat, humans need which is rare in wild animals, but it may bethe effect, also reducing the other foods, and become ill if they eat too result of interbreedingcaused byspecies decline. time spent in ICU. “Treat12patients and Identical twins are not so identical after all you save onelife,” said Prof AnthonyGordon, of Identical twins are not always genetically identical. ImperialCollege London, Researchers in Iceland have discovered genetic differences the UK’s chief investigator between twins that begin in the early stages of embryonic on the trial. Thedrugs are development –afinding which might muddy the results of both immunosuppressants, twin studies. For decades, scientists have used identical which reduce inflammation twins to settle questions of nature vs. nurture: the by blocking the effect of a assumption has been that, since they share the same genes, any physical or behavioural differences between them must protein, interleukin-6, that be down to external influences. But when the team at fuelsthe immuneresponse. DeCode Genetics in Reykjavík sequenced the genomes of It is Covid-19sending the 387 pairs of identical twins and that of their immediate immune system into family, in order to track genetic mutations, they found that overdrive,causinghyper- only 38 had perfectly identical DNA. The rest differed by 5.2 inflammation, thatkills genetic mutations, on average, though 39 sets of twins had many. Though the study more than 100 points of genetic mismatch. And in one of hasyet to be peer reviewed, the pairs of twins studied, amutation was present in all cells in one sibling’s body –indicatingthat tocilizumab is now being themutationhad occurred very early on in embryonic development –but not at all in the other’s. Though it’snot clear how significant these mutations are, study co-author Dr Kári Stefánsson warned used to treat Covid patients that it could no longer be safely assumed that differences between twins were down to nurture. in theNHS. MMA WELLS ©E

23 January2021 THE WEEK 22 NEWS Talking points

Pick of the week’s The virus: did it leak from alab? Gossip “Finally,”said Clare Foges to be properly explored. The in The Times.After oneyear, location of the outbreak in “two million dead,188 itselfisenough to raise At Margaret Tebbit’s funeral countries/regions infected, suspicion. The virusseems to last week, the Rev Jonathan Aitken recalled her husband $28trn in lost output and haveoriginatedinhorseshoe Norman being asked the incalculablesuffering”, a bats inYunnanprovince, more secret to their 64-year team from the World Health than1,000km from Wuhan. marriage. “Continence,” Organisation isonthe ground We know that DrShi Zhengli replied the former Tory in Wuhan to investigate the of the WIV is a world expert minister. Seeing astartled origins of the coronavirus.The on horseshoebat viruses. She expression, Tebbit –who international team wasdue to searched fortheminYunnan’s was an airline pilot for the arrive at the start ofJanuary, caves,tookthemtoWuhan, first 14 years of their but at thelast minute Beijing mass-producedthemanddid marriage –clarified: “separate continents”. denied them entry. Only when controversialexperiments, the WHOtook the rare step of building new “chimera” publicly criticising China did it viruses to understand how they relent. Anditisclear from the can become more virulentand endless delays thattheChinese Dr Shi of the Wuhan Institute transmissible. Communist Party “isas receptive to thisinvestigation aswemight Virologistsstilloverwhelmingly favour the expect”. Recent US statements have made it theory of“zoonotic spillover”,said Adam more defensive still. The outgoing secretary of Taylor inThe WashingtonPost: thatCovid-19 state, Mike Pompeo, has claimed that intelligence spread from bats toasecond animal andthen to suggests the virus escaped from a lab in thecity: humans. The virusdoesn’t appear to have been the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV)had, he geneticallymanipulated, and similar viruseshave said,been studyingabat coronavirus 96.2% spread exactlylike this in thepast. But the fact is similar to Covid-19, and workers fell ill with that we still don’t know how it madethe jump. Covid-likesymptoms in theautumn of 2019. Chinese officials now say theoutbreakdid not, in fact, start in the wet market in Wuhan; and The worry isthattheWHOteam doesn’t have even suggest that it originatedabroad.“In the Years before he played either theexpertiseortheinclinationtoconsider voidofinformation, speculation has grown.” If Mr Carson, the butler, in Downton Abbey, Jim Carter the lab-leak theory, saidAlina Chanand Matt the WHO team cannotmountadecentinquiry, was excited to get the Ridley in The Wall StreetJournal. One ofthe it will be a terrible missedopportunity – not to chance to play ablack-suited WHOinvestigators, the British scientist Peter blame China, but to learn vitallessons. There villain in the 1980s western Daszak,isonrecord describingitas“pure will be other such pandemics.Thisisnot Rustlers’ Rhapsody;he’d baloney”. That it may well be, but it stillneeds necessarily even “thebig one”. been honing his gunslinging skills since childhood. But the director wasn’t happy. “Cut!” he shouted. “Jim, Bitcoin: more than just abubble? the gun makes the noise.” “I went bright red”, Carter Oh my goodness, bitcoin hasbeen having a wild away fromgovernments, becausegovernments told the Tea with Twiggy ride,said Dominic Frisby onMoneyWeek.com. were no longertobe trusted with it.”Post-crash, podcast. “If you’ve played In October, the cryptocurrency was worth they’d printed moreand more of it, trashing Cowboys and Indians all $10,000; it then climbed and climbed –reaching your savings to bail out “the bloody banks”. your life” and never fired a adizzying newhigh of $42,000 this month, Bitcoin, which can’t be devalued by national real gun, “it’s hard to shoot before crashing back30% in a day.The papers treasuries, was designed to “disempowerthe without going ‘pew, pew’.” ran doomy headlines; but at $34,000, bitcoin suits”. Butithasn’t really worked outthatway. was still up morethan 15% this year, beating Cryptojunkies envisageditbeingusedtopay Donald Trump used his last “pretty much every asset class”.Bymarket for goods and services, said Robert Watts in the days in office to issue an executive order for a capitalisation (thevalue of all bitcoins in same paper, yet fewsuchtransactions take place. National Garden of circulation), it’s nowthe 14th most valuable Bitcoin is beingused as a“storeofvalue”, and American Heroes. The currency in the world,and even the naysaying increasinglymainstream investors are getting “beautiful” site, he said, FT –which warned itsreaders that bitcoin was on board–whichisalarming,asit“exists only will house statues of some abubblewhenitwas worth$132–istalking as aline of code,withnoreal asset backing”. of America’s most iconic about it being“integratedintothe financial figures –aschosen by system”. So is it abubble? Of course: “manias Let’s faceit–it’s just notausefulcurrency, Trump himself. The list of almost always accompany new tech”. But does said Tim Worstall on CapX. Consider theman 244 heroes features that meanyou should dismissit? No. Tulips in Wales, who lost bitcoin now worth £230m Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr, Christopher were abubble, buttulip farming is stillbig when he threw away his oldhard drive by Columbus, Davy Crockett, business;dotcomwas abubble, butwestill mistake; or thechap in the US, whocan’t Sitting Bull, Humphrey conduct ourlives online.Manydon’t understand remember the password to hisdigitalwallet,and Bogart, Kobe Bryant... and bitcoin,but they should try, because as a“state- hastwo chances left to gethis handson$220m. Alex Trebek,the host of TV less money system for the internet, immuneto Some 20% of bitcoinissaid to be “stranded”. gameshow Jeopardy! the whims of politicians”,itishere to stay. And it can’tbereplaced,because thecurrency is James Grossman of the fixed:once 21 million bitcoinhas been issued American Historical No onereally knowswhy bitcoin was created; (through its environmentally disastrous digital Association said Trump’s they don’tevenknow who created it,said Hugo “mining”system), that’s it. No oneknows what choices ranged from “odd to probably inappropriate to RifkindinThe Times.But it’s prettyclear that it will happen then, butsurelythe reason we provocative”. was in reaction to thefinancialcrash of 2008. switched fromgoldtomoney in thefirst place “Itwas an attempt to wrest control of money is that it’shandy to be able to print more of it.

THE WEEK 23 January 2021 Talking points NEWS 23 Brexit: empty shelves in Wit & “Itstartedwhen Sainsbury’s queues will remain. And replaced its Taste the so willtheextracosts for Wisdom Difference range in British exporters. The Brexit Northern Ireland with Spar supporterand former “We are what we pretend products moreusually found Labour MP Kate Hoey to be, and so we must be in petrol station forecourts,” has accused theTories of careful what we pretend said Amanda Ferguson in betrayingNorthern Ireland to be.” The Times. Then came the by effectively installing a Kurt Vonnegut, quoted empty shelvesinbranches trade borderdown theIrish in The Atlantic of Tesco andMarks& Sea,but what did shethink “The song of the prodigal Spencer, as hundreds more would happen? This is “why down the ages: spending product lines ran out.It’s Northern Irelandwisely more now in order to save stillearly days,but it’s fair voted remain”. money in the future.” to say that few residents of Lorries queuing at the Port of Larne Matthew Parris in Northern Ireland rightnow Don’t readtoo much into The Times would say that theyareenjoyingthe “best of thepictures of empty supermarket shelves, said both worlds” underBoris Johnson’s Brexit NewtonEmerson in The Sunday Times.People “IfTwitter were a city, deal,aspromised byministers. Under the with axes to grind have made these temporary it would be the sort of new Northern IrelandProtocol,the province, shortagesout to be far moreserious than they city wherethe authorities unlike therest of the UK, remains aligned with really are. Northern Irelandisnot about to run allowpeopletodefecate the EU’s singlemarket rules ongoods–and it out of food. Still,there’snodoubt that the in public orshoot up is experiencing serious disruption.Hauliers say Protocol throws “a huge amountof outside aschool.” they are overwhelmed bythe paperwork bureaucratic grit” intodistribution chains Ed West on UnHerd required to cross between Britain andNorthern that wereonce frictionless, said Peter Foster “It’s funny.All youhaveto Ireland. And thesituation could get much worse in the FT. For instance,theymake the process do is saysomething nobody when the “grace period” that currently exempts of “groupage” –pickingseveralloads of understandsand they’lldo retailers frommorearduous checks on food animal and plantproducts from different practically anythingyou suppliesexpires attheendof March. places in Great Britain and putting them on wantthem to.” one truck to Northern Ireland – “nextto J.D. Salinger, quotedin Ministersinsist theseare just“teething impossible”.The disruptions should easeas the Williston Herald problems”, said Polly Toynbee in TheGuardian, business ownersget more adept atfillingin but the reality isthatsuch disruption is “baked theforms, andthe UK andthe EU find “Freedom of opinionis into the nature of Brexit”. EU officials aren’t “workarounds”for structural problems.But afarce unless factual being “bloody-minded” byinsisting on border the situation needs to improvefast: ifyou mix information is guaranteed checks; it’s standard practicefor goods entering Brexit with Northern Irish politics, the result is andthe factsthemselves the singlemarket. So thedelays andlorry “dangerously volatile”. are notindispute.” Hannah Arendt,quotedin The New York Times Sex and the City: ablast from the 1990s “You do notget aman’s With its “Manolos, Fendi with Parker).But how willa most effective criticism until baguettes, Rampant Rabbit show created attheapex ofthe you provokehim.Severe vibrators, backlessdresses and frivolous, debt-laden 1990splay truth isexpressed with cosmopolitans”, Sex and the City in theglum2020s? In retrospect, some bitterness.” felt “joyous andliberating” when the show’s total lack ofdiversity Henry David Thoreau, it came out inthe late 1990s,said looks embarrassing, as does its quoted in Forbes AliceThomson in The Times. “gorgingconsumerism”(one “AllIaskisthe chance to Over 94 episodes andtwo criticcalled the second film prove that money can’t movies, the hitUSseries – based a“terrorist motivational tool”). makemehappy.” on Candace Bushnell’s1997 Eventhe sexwas “intensely Spike Milligan, quoted book –charted thelives and lusts commodified”,with men in TheIndependent of four successful New York “measured outbytheirbody women: Carrie (playedbySarah parts”. “Showmeahero,and I’ll Jessica Parker), Miranda (Cynthia writeyou atragedy.” F. ScottFitzgerald, quoted Nixon), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) Will they adapt to 2021? The “fun-suckers”are gathering andSamantha (Kim Cattrall). to take pot shotsatthe new in theStandard-Examiner Although itsplotlines oftenrevolved around series, said Janice Turner in TheTimes.“OMG! “women desperate to findapartner” and“toxic Womenare having orgasmsand mindless fun! Statisticofthe week menbehavingbadly”, it pioneeredarefreshingly Boot up theProblematic-o-tron!”But SATC was Only 25 doses of Covid- unapologetic attitude towards sex,shopping, never supposed to be a“feminist road map”, or vaccines had been work andrelationships that canstill be seen in to encompass “every femaleexperience”. It was administered across all showssuch as Fleabag and Killing Eve.Shallow a“hedonist fantasy reflecting theprelapsarian poorer countries by the start it mayhave been, butatthe time “it felt like 1990s”. Men’sescapist TV is neverparsed for of this week, compared with progress” to millions. Andnow it’s back. “wrong-think” in theway that women’s shows 39 million in wealthier ones. are.Ido hope the reboot will be allowed to be Guinea is the only low-income More than adecade afterits last outing, SATC funny aboutolder women’s lives. By thetime country to have administered hasjust been recommissioned for anew series, Carrieand herfriends have been duly punished any shots. Its president was said Zoe Williams in TheGuardian–with anew for beingwhite, rich andold,checkingtheir among the 25 people to have had the jab there. name, AndJust Like That...,and anew cast privilege “asoncethey checked their coats”, will (Samantha’s out,because Cattrall hasfallen out the newshowactuallymake anyone laugh? The Guardian

23 January 2021 THE WEEK 24 NEWS Sport

Cricket: England in good shape for ahectic year England have started apacked year of day cricket hasbecome more ofapriority –a international cricketwith a two-Test seriesagainst shift evident inthe side’s impressive recent form. Sri Lanka, said MikeAtherton in The Times. And England have now won their last fouraway Tests in thefirstTestatGalle, which ended on Monday, –the first time this has happened since themid- JoeRoot’s men ran out comfortable winners. 1950s – and Root is unbeaten in nine Tests. Aged With a doublecentury from Root (his fourth in just 30, he has 24 winstohis nameasskipper – Test cricket),and five-wickethaulsforspinners just two behind MichaelVaughan, England’s DomBessandJack Leach, this was a performance most victorious Test captain. that “augurs well for the year ahead”. Thematch waseffectively decidedonday one, when the Yet what may provethe defining testofRoot’s hostssuffered a “remarkablycallow” batting captaincy is likely to come in the months ahead, collapseand were skittled out for just 135, said said Paul Newman inthe DailyMail. From Sri Ali Martin in TheGuardian. Englandresponded Lanka,England travel straighttoIndia for a four- with ahefty 421, andthough Sri Lanka fought Test series. They then faceareturn series against back admirably in their second innings –posting Root: unbeaten in nine Tests India in the summer, before ending the yearwith 359 –thatstill left Englandneeding a mere 74 for the “holygrail of the Ashes”.And impressive as victory, which they duly knocked off with seven wickets to spare. England were inGalle, there remain ongoing worries – not least the poor form of openers Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley. But don’t Root in particularwill derive greatsatisfactionfrom thiswin, said forget,said Tim Wigmore in The DailyTelegraph,that England Nick Hoult in The DailyTelegraph. Not only did hespearhead it were missing several oftheir best players. Ben Stokes and Jofra with his majestic228–just the fifth time an Englishbatsman has Archer have been rested for theSri Lankan leg of thecurrenttour; scored a double hundredinAsia –but he also displayed his OlliePope is recovering from a shoulder injury;Chris Woakes increasing effectiveness as captain. Earlyoninhis tenure, white andMoeenAli havehad to self-isolate.With the expected return ball cricket remained England’s focus, and Root lacked the of all these players nextmonth, England will face some “knotty authority to “put his stamp on theTest side”.But since Chris selectiondilemmas” in India–amost welcome problem for them Silverwood succeeded Trevor Baylissashead coach in2019, five- to have. Tennis: the rift between the sport’s haves and have-nots Practice for the AustralianOpen gotgoing thisweek fullquarantine. “No one evertoldus,” tweeted in away nobody“could have ever imagined” a year Kazakh player Yulia Putintseva. If they had done so, ago,said Stuart Fraser inTheTimes. The 72 players she’d have “thoughttwice beforecoming here”. And (about20% of the field) who entered the country on that’s not the only source of division, saidSimon flights in whichatleast one passenger tested positive Briggs inThe Daily Telegraph. Adding to the sense for Covid-19 arehaving to spend a fortnight strictly of injustice is the fact that ahandful of elite players – quarantining in their hotel rooms. The rest, by includingNovak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Serena contrast, can practisefor fivehours aday “withina Williams – arepreparing for thetournament in biosecure environment at Melbourne Park”. Videos Adelaide, whererestrictions are“farmore relaxed” havebeen postedonsocialmedia ofthe cooped-up than in Melbourne. Andinsteadofbeing holedup players finding novel ways to train: British No. 2 in cramped hotel rooms,these big name players are Heather Watsoncompletes 5km jogs by“going back relaxing in lavishsuites.They’vealso been allowed and forth fromthe door to thewindow”. to bring large entourageswith them,whereasplayers Practice in the hotel room billeted inMelbourneweretoldthey couldonly Such clips may provide asurfacejollity to thesitu- come withtwo otherpeople. It’s true thatinreturn ation,but thisisactuallydeveloping into a“seriouscontroversy”, for their“special treatment”,theAdelaidecontingentwill have to said Fraser. Denied two weeksofpractice, quarantined players playinanexhibitionevent before going on toMelbourne, said willbeat a huge disadvantagewhen thetournamentbegins on MikeDickson in theDaily Mail.But that’shardly an onerous 8February – and at greater riskofinjury. Some claim they undertaking.The whole situationisprovingyet another “stark weren’t properlywarned about the risks of having to undergo reminder that tennis is asport of haves andhave-nots”.

Commentary box Sporting headlines

Dramaticcrash at sea unlikely favourites to win the Football Manchester United The Prada Cup –the Challenger Prada Cup, and to go on to face held Liverpool to a0-0 draw Selection Series for the 36th Emirates Team New Zealand in in the Premier League. America’s Cup taking place in the America’s Cup in March. Leicester beat Chelsea 2-0. New Zealand –took ascary Messi seesred Women’s football Phil turn last week, when one of the Neville has stepped down three challengers dramatically Lionel Messi received his first as head coach of the capsized, said Ed Gorman in ever red card in aBarcelona England Lionesses, after The Times. It happened when shirt as his team went down being named as the new the crew of American Magic’s Patriot in deep trouble 2-3 to Athletic Bilbao in the manager of Inter Miami. “Patriot” monohull attempted a final of the Super Cup, said tricky turn during its round robin race against James Dutton in the Daily Mail. The normally Snooker China’s Yan Luna Rossa of Italy. It caused the AC75 to take unflappable striker was sent off in the final Bingtao won the Masters off “like an airplane” before smashing back into minute of extra time, for appearing to take a title, defeating John Higgins the water of Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour. swing at Asier Villalibre’s head. He has been 10-8 in the final. Five of the 11-strong crew were flung overboard suspended for two matches by the Spanish FA. Cricket India beat Australia (all were quickly rescued); others left on board The Argentine had only been sent off on two by three wickets to claim had to cut themselves free with knives. The previous occasions during his career –both the fourth Test, and win the crash confirmed Britain’s Ineos Team UK as times while representing his country. series 2-1.

THE WEEK 23 January 2021 Adifferentperspective

Some furnitureismadefor thehereand now. Some is builttostand thetestoftime. At Neptune, we believe that thebestcan do both. Becausegooddesignnever growsold.

Book an appointmenttochattoone of ourfriendlydesigners –onus. neptune.com

LETTERS 27 Pick of the week’s correspondence

Afree rein on pesticides Exchange of the week especially when the only To The Guardian alternative, the UN’s genocide Martin Kettle asks when we Is it wise to impeach Trump? convention, offers aveto? might get Brexit benefits. They MPs haveachance to send a are here already: British sugar To The Times message of warning to tyrants beet farmers can now use DavidAaronovitchmakes acogent case for impeaching and hope to theUighurs. neonicotinoids,banned in Donald Trump,but Ithink he is wrong. The best waytodeal They should vote for the much of Europe,tokill bees. with thispuffball is to deprive him of the oxygen of publicity; amendment. That would This despiteMichaelGove this willdothe opposite. It will alsoturn him into a martyr be the moral response. vowing to the environmental figure. Trump escapingjustice may be one of those SamWatson, London audit committee in July 2018 unavoidableinjustices thatone simply hastolivewith to that our freedomfrom EU securethe future stability ofthe US. The 1998 Good Friday ...if it makes everything? regulations wouldmean we Agreement in Northern Irelandgranted amnesty to scores of To The Daily Telegraph would set stricter killers on both sides of the sectarian divide as a condition of It is hardly possibletoavoid environmental controls. the peace process.After nearly a quarterofacentury, Ithink Chinese-made goods. In my Phil Williamson, Norwich most people, apartfrom some of the families of the victims, local DIYshop, about 65% of would agreethatitwas a price worth paying. the items –and the power tools Vaccine logistics Tim Cullen, Pyecombe, West Sussex from American and German To The Independent brands – aremade there. Many Iwas amongthe first to have To The Times of uswould prefernot to assist a vaccinationatthe Stevenage Theimpeachment of Donald Trump is not “gloatingand the Chinese economy, but hub on Monday. My wife, revenge”. To let himoff the hook would amount to the successive governments have whose letter arrived a day later, appeasement, and hence implicit encouragement, ofthose failed to prevent the ruin of couldn’t book until the who threatened, and still threaten, violence. domestic manufacturers by following Monday. Including Such appeasement would work only in the short term, and the onslaught ofcheap the secondvaccine, that’sfour then onlywithin America. Abroad, those who had looked to Chinese products. polluting 64-mile car journeys. the US as the worldbeacon for democracyandconstitutional DermotElworthy, Tiverton, Other people’s journeys could rule would see the move as a cowardly failure to stand up for have been upto90 miles. those values, givingsuccourtoitsenemies. Onlyafterwards Ispent45minutes queuing shouldJoe Biden, standing above the impeachment process, An innocent history around two sides ofalarge begin to work for reconciliation. To The Daily Telegraph building. Although once AdrianCosker, Hitchin,Hertfordshire NickMackenzie, CEOof inside in thewarm, it was very GreeneKing, has said thepub efficient andquick. Wehavea decline has been that the warbler onthe tree outside the chain will work to “eradicate health centre within walking country’sinterests were served window, 5) have an attack of racism” by renaming four distancewhere wehaveour by punching above its weight. cramp,6)notice aspot on the pubs. The name, The Black annual flu jab.Wereadthat Andyet other countries achieve clean sheets, 7)have to answer Boy, a common one for pubs they can’tget enough vaccines similar orhigher qualities of the phone,8)havetoanswer in England, is not,however, because of the hubs. Perhaps life without thisneed to the door to a poppy-seller, racist. It’s saidtorefer to a this allmakes sense, but what “project”.Switzerland, 9) have a child comehome description of King Charles II, would be the comparative costs Norway, the Low Countries, early from school, and whoruledbetween 1660 and andratesofvaccinations Germany andJapan spring to 10) are interrupted by that old 1685, one of whose nicknames between the two systems? mind.Oneofthe long-term favourite,the window cleaner. was “theblack boy”. David Buckton,Linton, Brexit consequences might Hilary Potts, London Withhis dark complexion, Cambridgeshire be thatEngland and Wales black hair and dark eyes, he (Scotland and Northern Ireland Canwepunish China... resembledhis Italian maternal Labour needs Scotland are unlikely to remain longin To The Guardian grandmother, Marie de’ To The Times the UK)can become a normal “We have a moral duty to Medici. During his escape Matthew Parris rightly stateagain. respond”, was Dominic Raab’s after theBattle of Worcester observes thattheLabour front Let’s try punching below our conclusion last week, after in 1651, parliamentary wanted bench is colourless,but the weight andfocus on thewell- cataloguing theChinese posters referred to himas“a party’s real problem is beingofour own citizens. government’s repression of its tall, blackman”. Scotland. No Labour govern- JamesHickman,West Uighur Muslims. Considering Simon Alford, Sidcup, ment has been elected without Raynham, the Foreign Secretary’s most of Scotland’s 59 seats at charge sheet –“internment Westminster. Keir Starmer Making screen sex real camps,arbitrarydetention, knowsthis, but there is no To The Times political re-education, prospectofbig Labour gains in YourSaturday Review story forced labour, tortureand Scotland at present.Until Scots (“The truth aboutsex on forced sterilisation.All on decide to vote Labour as their screen”) served only to remind an industrialscale” –itis parents did, Tory governments me how tediously repetitive impossible not to agree. will dominate UK politics. thesescenes are, so much so Why,then, is he trying Dr Thomas Rist,Schoolof that they areusually thesignal todissuade Tory Language, Literature, Music for me to go and make a backbenchersfrom and Visual Culture, Aberdeen cuppa. Coulddirectors not supportingthe “genocide University addsome realism by having amendment” to the trade the couple engage as they bill whenitis debated this Punch below our weight 1) discussthe shopping list, week? Shouldhenot To The Economist 2) have apuppyjump on the welcome the chance for a “Dear Colleague, Just aquick note to say what an excellent goal that was” The fundamentalsupposition bed, 3) smelltoast burning UK courttoexaminethe since Britain began its relative downstairs,4)spotawillow natureofChina’sactions – ©MATT/THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

● Letters have been edited 23 January 2021 THE WEEK 28 Great Escapes &Marketplace

ANGLOFRENCH PROPERTIES Luxuryholiday villas, Chateaux, Manoirs and Country MUCH More than just aresort Houses in South West France, Provence and Côte d’Azur

The PointatPolzeath is afavouritedestination for relaxing short breaks andfamily holidays. Discover ourself-catering accommodation ranging from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom houses,golf course, leisurefacilities and sea-view bar and restaurant. All just ashort walk from the beautiful North Cornish coast. TAKING BOOKINGS NOW FOR 2021 To rent for one week or more. Sleep 6to22incomfort. All with pools and some with tennis courts. Cooks and/or babysitters can be arranged if required. Perfect for family and multi-generational holidays. Book now at thepointatpolzeath.co.uk email: [email protected] or call us on 01208 863000 Te lephone: +44 (0)1258 817110 www.anglofrenchproperties.com STAY •EAT &DRINK •GOLF •LEISURE •UNWIND

WE BUY!

ARE YOU AN ELIGIBLE GENTLEMAN WITH NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAYTODATE?

If you aresingle, sociable and solvent but don’thave the time to find the perfect partner,let us do some of the work for you.

We have 20 years of successfully matching couples, do get in touch if you’d like us to help you find your perfect partner. [email protected]

WATCHES BY PATEK PHILIPPE, ROLEX &OTHER TOP MAKERS BEN WRIGHT VINTAGEWATCHES Contact us on 07814 757742 or [email protected]

THE WEEK 23 January 2021 To advertise here please email classifi[email protected] or call HenryHaselock 020 3890 3900 ARTS 29 Review of reviews: Books

Book of the week Russell, andVivien “would quitesoon go to bed with their landlord” –who The Fall of aSparrow laterdescribed theircongress as having a“quality of loathsomeness about it”. by Ann Pasternak Slater Eliot’s Bloomsbury friends were no Faber 784pp £35 more complimentary ofthe Bury-born The Week bookshop £23.99 (incl. p&p) Vivien: for Katherine Mansfield, she was a“teashop creature”; Virginia Woolf recalled her “making me almost Everybody hasheard of T.S. Eliot’s vomit”. She developed abaroque range “problem” wife, who ended up in a of ailments,said Ian Thomson in the northLondon psychiatric hospital, said London Evening Standard, including Bryan AppleyardinThe SundayTimes. septicinfluenza, depressivemaniaand “But fewhavetried to understand her.” “colonic explosions”. Eliot eventually This issomething Ann Pasternak Slater “withdrew into icy silence”and,after rectifiesinThe Fall of a Sparrow, which abandoning Vivien in 1933, commun- charts Vivien Eliot’s life in greater detail icatedwithher entirely via lawyers. – and with more“sympatheticinsight” –thanany previous Although PasternakSlater promises to shun“conjecture”, she biography. Pasternak Slater acknowledges that Vivien could actually goes in forquiteabitofit, said KathrynHughes inThe be immensely difficult, and that her effectonherhusbandwas Guardian. Without much evidence, she explains Vivien’s various oppressive. Yet she also presentsher as a“talented and highly blightsbyclaiming she sufferedfrom Munchausen’s – acondition intelligent” woman who was important inshaping Eliot’s poetry: where patients feign illness in order to elicit loveand sympathy. both byher suggestionsofimprovements to specific lines (most She suggests that, later on, Viviendeveloped “split personality” – notably of The Waste Land), and by generatingthe “anguish and again,without real evidence, and with a definition“culled from confusion” that informed so much of his work.Drawing on a Wikipedia”. This book isn’t an uplifting read, said TristramFane wide range ofsources, including Vivien’s own unpublished stories Saunders in TheDailyTelegraph. Forits784 pages, you are“shut andpoems, this “monumental work” is “likely tobedefinitive”. up in grindingproximity” with two exceedingly unhappypeople Vivien married Eliotin1915, a year after hisarrival in England (pictured). Yet itisfinelywritten and a “remarkablefeatof from the US, said Rachel Cooke in The Observer.“Rightfrom the scholarship” –and, moreover, it achieves the impressivefeat start, things were difficult.” They rented a flatowned by Bertrand of making you feel “immense pity for bothofthem”.

Novel of the week Words Fail Us The Living Sea of Waking by Jonty Claypole Dreams Profile/Wellcome 224pp £14.99 by Richard Flanagan The Week bookshop £11.99 Chatto &Windus 282pp £16.99 The Week bookshop £13.99 Jonty Claypole,the BBC’s director of arts, grew up with astammer,said Ben Cooke in The Richard Flanagan’seighth novel, Times. In Words Fails Us,hepowerfullyargues which received rave reviews when itwas that all conditions whichinvolve “disfluency” – published in Australialastautumn, is a such as stammering, Tourette’sand aphasia– storyof“extinction,both personal and should be looked on more positively. Formuch environmental”, said AmandaCraiginThe Spectator.Itis set in thesummer of history,hepointsout,“speech disorderswere of 2019-20, when ragingbushfires were wiping out Tasmania’s“cornucopia thought of as “malfunctions”,sometimes treated of flora and fauna”.InaHobart hospital lies 86-year-old Francie, close to with grotesqueremedies –including, in the19th beingwipedout herself.With her are herthree grown-up children:successful century,“gory incisions” to the tongue. Though professionalsAnna andTerzo, and “stammering, chaotic”Tommy. Francie society hasbecomemoreenlightened, Claypole wants to die, but only Tommy respectsthis wish; Annaand Terzo persuade the believes there is alongway to go:whenyoung, doctorstoartificially prolong their mother’slife.With theseparallel ecological he himself felt ashamed of hisstammer.He andhuman storylines, Idon’t think Flanagan wantstosuggestthat PlanetEarth proposes amovementfor “communications should be taken offlife-support, said SamLeithinThe Daily Telegraph. Rather, diversity”, akin to the onefor neurodiversity this is astory “about disconnection–us fromeach other; us fromthe sacredness that in recentyears has“valorised” autism. of theworld around us”. Flanagan, who wonthe Booker Prize for his 2013 Claypole argues that stammerers are“often novel The Narrow Roadtothe Deep North,isa“fineenough writer” to make more creative andlinguistically ablethanthose the two themes cohere in this “fiercely well-observed” novel. without”,said Sam LeithinThe Guardian. What he doesn’t get away with arethe “rather pointless dashes of magic They constantly have to reallythink about realism”, said Allan Massie in The Scotsman. Partway through, “Annafinds what they’resaying, which tends to make them bits falling off her body: first afinger, then aknee”.Nobody elseseems to attuned to nuance.Claypole’s book sometimes notice.Thisisareflection, it seems, of humanity’s obliviousnesstocalamity, lacksfocus, butitmakes ahumane and thought- but the device“seems incredible andsilly”,and diminisheswhatisotherwise provoking case for “overcoming thedefault a“very good” novel. The Living Sea of Waking Dreams endsupbeing an prejudice in favour of verbal fluency”. “uneasy hybrid”: masterfulinparts, but crude andtiresomeinothers. To orderthese titles or anyother book in print, visit theweekbookshop.co.uk or speak to abookselleron020-31763835

EPRODUCED COURTESY OF THE T.S. ELIOT ESTATE; PHILIPPE MATSAS/OPALE/BRIDGEMAN IMAGES Opening times: MondaytoSaturday 9am-5.30pm and Sunday10am-4pm ©R

23 January 2021 THE WEEK 30 ARTS Podcasts... actors, famous siblings and conmen

Actorstalking about acting can be everyone to talk as honestly as they dull,but The Two Shot Podcast, can”. For all theguests’ admirable presented by CraigParkinson, emotional openness, this is not proves that it really doesn’t have like oneofthose anonymised to be, said HannahVerdierinThe psychotherapy podcasts that dig Guardian.Warm and down-to- deep into thedarker chaptersof earth,Parkinson (best knownfor life, said James Marriott in The hisbrilliantperformance as Dot Times.But asan“evocation of Cottan in Line of Duty) has a the forgottentexturesofordinary subtlegift for “getting people to life in childhood”, and a way of open up”, which he has honed “peering into the childhoods talking not just to actors, but to a andfamilylives of the famous”, huge range ofcreativetypes. His Relatively is“mostenjoyable”. guestsrange from well-known screen stars (e.g. Nicole Kidman), The best true-crime podcasts are to chefs,DJs, musicians and more. so compellingthatit’s “easytoburn Bunk Bed,inwhich playwright through a whole series” in one Patrick Marber and producer sitting,said Time Out. Here are PeterCurran lieinthe dark and Relatively’s host Catherine Carr with her sister three instant classics that fit that talk,isanother show that will take description. West Cork examines your mindoff things, and help you feel slightly betterabout the the 1996 murder of Sophie ToscanduPlantieroutside her holiday world, said Miranda Sawyer inTheObserver. It’s a bit likean home in southwest Ireland. Documentary-maker JenniferFord audio version ofBob Mortimerand Paul Whitehouse’s TV show andjournalistSam Bungey take a“humanelookatthe impact about fishing: “two middle-aged men chuntering on, teasing and this crime had on a community”, how it changed the area, and reminiscing, belying the idea that blokescan’ttalk to each other”. “how an incrediblenarrative developed around it”. Who the Hell is Hamish? is the “juicy” taleofAustralian “surfer dude, Iamalsothoroughly enjoying Relatively,a“sweet” new serialconman,catfisher and high-class low-life” Hamish interview series about siblings, saidSawyer. Theepisodes so far McLaren, and thewomenwho eventually took him down.It’s got have featuredMPJess Phillips and her brother Luke Trainor; drag complex scams, cold hard cash and “hot-blooded revenge”. Last, artist Divina de Campo and her sister Carys Cliffe; andthe actor- The Shrink Next Door –about aNewYork psychiatrist andhis musician Johnny Flynnand hissisterLillie. “I can’tget enoughof abusive relationship with aclient –isone of the most shocking hearinghowfamilies work”, andhostCatherineCarr “coaxes stories of manipulation you’ll ever hear. Albums of the week: three new releases Sleaford Mods: Maxwell Pearl Charles: Spare Ribs Quartet: Joseph Magic Mirror Rough Trade Haydn, String Kanine £10.99 Quartets Op. 74 £12.99 &FolkMusic from Scotland Linn £11.99

Are Sleaford Mods the most influential “Every winter day, I’ve decided, requires a Pearl Charles is asinger-songwriter from band in Britain? When the electro punk duo dose of Haydn,” said Geoff Brown in The California with an intriguing backstory, said first surfaced in 2007, said Neil McCormick Times. “He’s music’s vitamin C.” This Dan Cairns in The Sunday Times. At 18 she in The Daily Telegraph, their spoken word wonderful album, the Maxwell Quartet’s formed acountry duo with Christian Lee invective over punchy dance-style backing second offering devoted to the composer, Hutson, the artist responsible for last year’s –somewhere between “punk rap and slips “intoxicating arrangements” of wonderful album Beginners.Afew years grime rock” –sounded singular, Scottish reels, fiddle dances and pipe tunes later, she switched genres, and became the “awkward” even. Now, the “thrilling in between Haydn’s three Op. 74 string drummer in agarage-rock band. “Happily contemporary indie scene” is awash with quartets. But even without the folk for us, her decision to go it alone is bearing the same “declamatory” dynamic (albeit injections, the disc would be “remarkable luscious fruit.” Her new album, Magic with added guitars). And yet the “middle- for the joy and energy” of these Scottish Mirror,combines “razor-sharp lyrics, aged Mods” still stand out from the young musicians; they prove “ideal interpreters of confiding, crystalline vocals and nods to crowd, and they are at the top of their Haydn’s mischievous jokes, sudden mood classic country rock and soft pop, with “sweary, punky, bilious” game. This swings and lyrical ingenuity”. The “prize results that are ensnaring and bewitching”. “dazzling” new album is among their best. peach” is the Gminor quartet (known as Charles’s “retro” sonic palette is heavily “Having set out their stall as absurdist the Rider for its galloping finale). But the influenced by the “sun-drenched sounds of chroniclers of the British grotesque, Jason whole thing sparkles and cheers. 1960s and 1970s California”, said Roisin Williamson and Andrew Fearn had their There’sa“tangible compatibility” O’Connor in The Independent. On this work cut out in 2020,” said Will Hodgkinson between Haydn’s snappy Viennese “impressive, mature” collection, she in The Times. Spare Ribs has agreater classicism and the rustic verve of the incorporates “bright, cosmic synths”, emphasis on melody and “singalong Scottish dances, said Ken Walton in The buoyant instrumentation and classic rock tunes” than their previous albums, but the Scotsman. The performances here are motifs, along with “brilliant, subtle flexes basic ranty formula is the same: Spare Ribs paragons of “stylistic finesse, the of country slide guitar”. And while she toys is a“cutting, witty and maudlin portrait” of Maxwell’s precision complemented by with setbacks and self-doubt in her lyrics, pandemic Britain and lockdown paranoia; moments of aching tenderness”. “The the album has an overriding sense of and it’s “captivating”. quirky Scots stuff is the icing on the cake.” optimism and “heady abandon”. The Week’s own podcast, The Week Unwrapped,covers the biggest unreported stories of the week (available on Apple and Google)

THE WEEK 23 January 2021 Film and TV 31

Films to stream New releases

In thecold darkdaysof One Night in Miami January, some find solace Dir: ReginaKing (1hr 54mins)(15) in good food. But youcould ★★★★ also sink into a good film Oscar-winning actress ReginaKing’s directorial about food. Hereare five debut featuresboth “big ideasand barnstorm- of the best: ing turns”, saidKevin Maher in The Times. Based onthe 2013 play byKempPowers, the Babette’s Feast In Gabriel film imagines theconversation that mighthave Axel’s 1987 Oscar-winner – taken place duringareal-life meeting between Pope Francis’s favourite film fourblack American icons–Cassius Clay (Eli –acheffleesviolencein19th Goree), as he was then, Malcolm X (Kingsley century France, and is taken Ben-Adir), Sam Cooke (LeslieOdom Jr)and in by twopuritanical sisters NFLstar JimBrown (AldisHodge) – in Miami in Denmark.For years she on thenight of25February 1964, to celebrate works as their maid, Clay’s defeat of world champion boxer Sonny Kingsley Ben-Adir in One Night in Miami preparing the blandmeals Liston. The dialogue is wittyand fluid, but they demand –but then she gradually their conversation homes in on a How do you“nullify” Noël Coward’s sparkling wins the lottery, andsurprises single weighty topic – whatitmeans to be, comedy (seepage48)about amarriage “that’s the locals with afeast. in Clay’swords, “young,black, righteous, suddenly challengedbythe appearance of a unapologetic, famous”inwhite America. The ghostly ex-wife”?The “nitwits” behindthis EatDrink Man Woman result is a “timely and serious commentary on new film version have keptthe setting(England, Intergenerational conflict American racial politics”. 1937), andthe basic plot: awriter (Dan plays out around the family Stevens) invites abatty stagemedium, Madame dinnertable in AngLee’s This “high minded” film has afew “inert” Arcati (Judi Dench) to perform aséance– 1994 comedy drama about a moments, but Kingdirectswith “flair”, said which succeeds in bringinghis first wife,Elvira cantankerous old Taipei chef Peter BradshawinThe Guardian. The drama (Leslie Mann), back from the dead. But the whomakes elaborate meals plays out in Malcolm X’s hotel room, and it is screenwriters “have lookedatthe Coward play, for his three grown-up he whohas most at stake. Heisabout to split with allits rhetorical flourishes, bons mots and daughtersevery Sunday. from the NationofIslam to formhisown beautifully balanced epigrams, anddecided Theirshifting relationships organisation, and isanxious to claim Clayas they can do better. Bringonthe erection gags.” are delicatelyobserved, and aconvert(Clay duly became MuhammadAli Despitethe heavyweightcast, the acting is the food is exquisite. afew weeks later).Challenging the others to “grossly overdone”, too. There’s only one“star commit to the cause, he accuses Cooke in turn”here: Joldwynds, themodernist BigNight Set in the particularofpandering to the white mansion whichserves as the location. “They 1950s, thismoving 1996 establishment, said TomShone inThe Sunday probablyshouldhavegiven it acrack at the drama stars Stanley Tucci Times; Cooke counters that his crossover succ- screenplay.Itcouldn’t have been anyworse.” andTonyShalhoub as first- ess is “knockingdowndoors” forall African generationItalian immigrant Americans. All the actors “digdeep”, butitis “Ifyou’ve spentthe lastnine monthspiningfor brothers whose NewJersey the Britishstar Ben-Adir who shines brightest, some light relief in thetheatre, asparky screen restaurant isthreatened finding a “seam of tenderness” beneath adaptationofBlithe Spirit mightbejustwhat with bankruptcy, owing to Malcolm’s “fiery intellect andausterepolitical youneed,”said RobbieCollin in TheDaily Shalhoub’s insistence on commitment”. AvailableonAmazon Prime. Telegraph. “Good news!” You can rentDavid culinaryauthenticity. Lean’s1945version, starring RexHarrison and MargaretRutherford, from Amazon or BritBox. The Lunchbox This Blithe Spirit Coward’sadvice to Lean at thetime was: “Just charmingly wistful 2013 Dir: Edward Hall (1hr 36mins)(12A) photographit, dear boy.”And you don’tneed romanticcomedy begins ★ amediumtoguess what theplaywright’s spirit with a mix-up in Mumbai’s How is it possible, asked KevinMaher in The would make of this pointless, “ham-fisted” lunchbox delivery-and- Times.“How do youmess up BlitheSpirit?” remake. Available on Sky Cinema and Now TV. returnsystem.Amazed by the wonderful foodhe accidentallyreceives, a The Great:Channel4’s bawdyhistorical romp widowed office worker puts a note in thebox for itscook, a “An occasionally true story” –as course, didn’t last long. lonelyhousewife,initiatingan it tells us at the beginning – The Hoult is “tremendous”, said anonymouscorrespondence. Great is a“bawdy comedy shot Hugo Rifkind in The Times. He through with astreak of cruelty”, plays Peter as a“Bullingdon loosely inspired by the life of bonker”, like Blackadder’s Chef Actor, comedian and Catherine the Great, said Anita Prince George “but with malice”. big-budgetdirector Jon Singh in The Daily Telegraph. Fanning is good too, moving Favreau returned to his Written by Tony McNamara from “love-struck teenager” indie roots with this 2014 (who co-wrote The Favourite), to “frustrated book-smart geek” comedy in which he stars as the Channel 4series opens when to “a Gloria Gaynor song” in ahigh-end LA chef suffering Catherine (Elle Fanning) is 19 and one episode. In fact, all the cast burnout.Firedfrom hisjob, just married to Peter III, Emperor in this lightning-fast romp are he movestoMiami with his of Russia (Nicholas Hoult). A “pitch-perfect”, said Lucy “sweet little thing” at the start, Hoult: “tremendous” Mangan in The Guardian. Some young son, andfinds himself she finds an “inner steeliness” as scenes are gratuitously violent, working in afoodtruck, she gets to know her husband –an“overgrown but it’s both funny and atimelycommentary on andreconsidering the schoolboy” –and hiscourt, aplace of intrigue, “the dangers of letting acapricious, narcissistic purpose of hislife. sleaze and obscene indulgence. Peter, of bullying man-child rule anation”. HE FILMS TO STREAM ARE ON GOOGLE PLAY, APPLE TV (EXCEPT EAT DRINK MAN WOMAN) AND AMAZON. ©T

23 January 2021 THE WEEK 32 ARTS Art

Artist of the week: Albrecht Dürer

AlbrechtDürer,borninNuremberg Reformation. Travelexposed him in 1471, was unquestionably one to manynovel artistic and scientific of the greatestartists of the discoveries, andallowedhim to Renaissance. His art influenced absorbagreat deal ofwhat the everyonefrom Titian to Caspar burgeoning culture ofRenaissance David Friedrich, and remains a Europe had to offer. In 1505, for touchstoneofGerman cultural instance, he wrote a letter to a identity. An exceptional friendinNuremberg explaining draughtsman and painter with a that he wassetting off forBologna, thirst for knowledge, he combined “where someone is willing to teach new techniques foundin me the secrets of perspective”; he Renaissance Italian painting with would subsequently begin to more graphic stylesthen prevalent incorporate geometry into his work, in Germany, creatingamuch- allowing forunprecedenteddepth imitated blend ofnorthern and andrealism. He alsousedtravel to southern European art which promote himself, presenting his reflected his interests in philosophy, work to luminaries andrulers medicineand theology. He was also including the humanist thinker a pioneering printmaker, and was Erasmus and ChristianIIof one of the first artists to exploitthe Denmark, both ofwhomhe previously underexplored medium portrayed during his time in as a means of disseminating his the Netherlands. work to awide audiencethat encompassed not just the nobility Dürer was arguably “Europe’s first of the day, but its growing middle greattourist”, said LauraCumming classes too. When government in TheObserver. Henot only guidelines allow, anewexhibition travelled widely, but kept detailed at the National Gallery will seek visual records and diaries that to demonstratehowDürer, “an described the people hemet, the inveterate traveller”,drewmuch places he visited and the marvels of his inspirationfrom aseries of he encounteredinthem. His journeyshemadearound Europe, Self Portrait at the Age of Twenty-Eight (1500): avisionary journeysexposedhimtoall sorts said Apollo Magazine. “Coinciding of spectacular sights. In Aachen, with the 550th anniversary” of his birth, the show willexplain for example, he witnessed the coronation ofthe Holy Roman how Dürer’sforays outside his native Bavaria exposed him to new Emperor Charles V, then the most powerful man inEurope. He ideas and radicallyexpanded his artistichorizons–inthe process drew “walruses in Belgium and whalesinZeeland”. In Brussels, changingthe course ofWesterncultural history. Dürer saw the Aztec plunderseized by Cortés’s conquistadors in what he called“thenew landofgold”: agoldsun,asilver star, Dürer’s “wanderlust” tookhim onthree long journeys in his armour, clothing andweapons .Herecorded that he “rejoiced lifetime, said JonathanJonesinThe Guardian. He twice travelled in hisheart” as he“marvelled at thesubtle Ingenia [ingenuity] acrosstheAlps to Italy, where he based himself in Venice and of men inforeign lands”. Dürer wasa“restless visionary” visited many of its great cities; and in later life, up the Rhinetothe whose exposure toother cultures allowed him to see through LowCountries, then the centre ofthe continent’s wealth. He was the medieval superstition of his time, saidJonathan Jones. Had a cultural magpie, taking an interest in everything from Egyptian he neverset foot outside Nuremberg, our culture might look very hieroglyphstothe radical newreligious ideas behind the different today.

News from the art world

The great Brexit artrush Theart-lovingactress “Among the thousands of trucks backed up “One of Hollywood’s top leading ladies in in Dover last month trying to get across the public, in private Cate Blanchett is akeenart Channel, one was carrying apainting by collector with an eye for new works,” says Henri Matisse,” says Alberto Nardelli on David Brown in The Times. Now, the actress Bloomberg. The canvas was just one of a plans to open adedicated gallery to display large number of artworks that made the her collection at Highwell House, her journey from the UK to Europe in the weeks “supposedly haunted Victorian mansion” in before Britain left the EU single market on East Sussex. Blanchett, 51, studied fine art at 1January, as their owners sought to get their university and has aparticular penchant for assets to the continent before new tax and emerging contemporary artists from her customs procedures were introduced. Like all native Australia, though she is also said to other goods, works of art could move freely own works by the likes of Howard Hodgkin between Britain and the European Union and Paula Rego. Her new gallery will replace under the old rules. But as the New Year a“dilapidated oast house and cottage” on loomed, galleries and collectors were forced the grounds of the property, which she to decide whether to keep their holdings in bought with her playwright husband Andrew Britain or ship them to the EU; many chose Upton in 2016. Initial plans for agallery were the latter. The art market is secretive, making Blanchett: akeen collector thrown into doubt by the discovery of arare it almost impossible to calculate the value of species of bat roosting in the cottage; art assets that crossed from Britain to Europe late last year, but Wealden District Council has since granted planning permission we can be certain it amounts to “tens of millions of dollars”. as long as the owners provide a“bat mitigation strategy”. RIDGEMAN IMAGES ©B

THE WEEK 23 January 2021 The List 33

Best books… Sathnam Sanghera The Archers: what The journalist and author chooses his favourite books about the British happened last week empire. His latest, Empireland: How Imperialism Has Shaped Modern Britain, At the shop, Kirsty tells Jim is published this week by Viking, priced at £18.99 she blames herself for not recognising Philip’s lies. Bloody Foreigners byRobert colonialpower. Dalrymple andwhile I disagreewith some Brian berates Kirsty over how Winder, 2004 (Abacus, out does a great jobofexplaining of her conclusions, there is no quick she’s been to judge the of print). In peerless prose, it all,inmysingle favourite doubtthatshepenned the Aldridges. Harrison books Winder proffers a simple book on Indian history. singlebestnarrative of Brian for speeding and tells thesis thatBritainisanationof Britain’simperial adventures. Fallon he won’t be a soft touch anymore. Recounting immigrants. From our German The Trader, The Owner, The No other writerhas written so the shop incident, Kirsty tells royal familytobusinesses Slave by JamesWalvin,2007 accessibly and elegantly about Helen she’s determined to created by Jews andIndians, (Vintage £12.99).Coming in at a complicated historythat make amends for Philip. Still we are, as anation, in denial just over 250 pages, this is not extendedacross fivecenturies. upset at being evicted from about theimmigrantblood the longest book on the Hollowtree, Rex looks around flowing through our veins. If subject. Nor is it themost Railways&TheRaj by a council farm with Toby, therewas one bookIcould famous.But in telling the Christian Wolmar, 2017 who suggests they take it on wish ontothe national stories ofthree men, Walvin (Atlantic Books £10.99). together. Rex refuses and then curriculum, it would be this. deftly revealshowslavery, like Approaching the subject not posts a message online about Brookfield using slave labour. so many aspects of empire, has as animperial historian, but After staging a fake row to end The Anarchy by William been erased from the British as a specialist on transport, rumours about them, Tracy Dalrymple, 2019 (Bloomsbury consciousness and conscience. Wolmar dismantles the lie and Jazzer spend the night £10.99).The EastIndia at the heart of a thousand together. Next morning, she Company wasanunusual The Pax BritannicaTrilogy documentaries: that the British escapes through a window to organisation, to saythe least, by JanMorris, 1968,1973, bestowed railways onIndia in avoid being seen, but Jim has beginning asaconventional 1978 (Faber £12.99 each). By an act of benevolence.Every twigged the situation and asks trading corporationand her own admission, Morris TV commissioner in Britain Jazzer about it. Jazzer says it’s becoming an aggressive wasnostalgic about empire, should be made to read this. nothing serious, but Jim’s not convinced. With an auditor on Titles in print are available from The Week Bookshop on 020-3176 3835. For out-of-print books visit biblio.co.uk the way to Berrow, Neil calls Brian, worried about what might turn up. Brian reassures The Week’s guide to what’s worth watching him it’s all above board, Programmes and Neil has done nothing wrong. Kirsty tells Helen TheTrumpShow: Downfall Thefinal she’s trying to track down instalment of this grippingaccount of the Philip’s three workers among extraordinaryclosing monthsofthe Trump the rough sleepers around presidency, taking in theriots on Capitol Hill. Borchester. Philip shows up Sun 24 Jan,BBC2 21:00(60mins). on Alistair’s doorstep, saying the accusations are all fake AllThe Sins Finnishcrime drama from Walter news. After listening to Philip Presents: in the wake of adouble murder, a spin excuses, Alistair asks him to leave – but not before young investigatorissent back to his Jim returns and gives Philip conservative hometown, where astrictlocal a piece of his mind. Later, he religion holds sway.Sun 24 Jan, C4 23:00 tells Alistair that he’s needed (60mins; full series availableonAll4). John DeLorean with his wife and his famous car to speak out for decades. Secret Safari:Intothe Wild ActorAndrew Films Scott narrates this series followingthe rangers of TheWhite Crow (2018)Taut drama based Coming up online Ol Pejeta conservancyinKenya, home to 13,000 on thetruestoryofRudolf Nureyev’s 1961 With the US Supreme Court wild animals. In episode one, an injured rhino defection to the Westduring aKirovBallet never far from thenews hasjust given birth–but what will become of tour of Paris and London. Sat 23 Jan, BBC2 duringthispastyear, Helena her calf? Tue 26 Jan, C4 20:00(60mins). 21:30(120mins). Kennedy,Philippe Sands and US federal judgeNinaPillard CelebrityBestHome Cook Claudia Raging Bull (1980) Robert De Niro and consider the impact of oneof Winkleman andMary Berry presideover a directorMartin Scorsese areboth at theirbest in its icons in Ruth Bader kitchen where tencelebrities–including Gareth this searingbiographical drama about tortured Ginsburg –Her Lifeand Thomas, Rachel Johnsonand –battleit champion middleweightboxer JakeLaMotta. Legacy,part of Jewish Book out to be crowned best home cook. Tue 26 and Sat 23 Jan, ITV1 22:55(140mins). Week’s Gamechangers series; Wed27Jan, BBC1 21:00(60minseach). streamingat7pm,25January Lance (2020)Revealing documentary about the (jewishbookweek.com). The China andthe Pandemic:54Days controversial cyclist. It charts hisrise to global How To Academy has Bill Documentary investigating what Chinese sporting icon,his battle withtesticularcancer, Gates talking about his officialsand scientistsreally knew in thelead-up andhis spectacularfallfromgrace. Sun 24 Jan, forthcoming book. In How to theWuhan lockdown of January2020.Tue BBC2 22:00(95mins). To AvoidaClimateDisaster 26 Jan, BBC2 21:00(75mins). (AllenLane £20), Gates sets New to subscription services out his practical plan for DeLorean:Back from the Future Profile of Tandav Controversialnine-part drama about howthe world canreach the charismaticentrepreneurJohn DeLorean and aprivileged Indian political dynasty –“agrand zerogreenhouse gas emissions. hisdoomedattempt to build afuturistic luxury HindiversionofHouse of Cards” (FT)–and The talk is live-streaming sportscar in 1980s Belfast. It contains archive the darkintrigue andmachinations at the at 7pm, 17 February footage andinterviews with DeLorean’s family. heartofthe world’s largest democracy. On (howtoacademy.com). Wed27Jan, BBC2 21:00(100mins). AmazonPrime.

23 January 2021 THE WEEK 34 Best properties

Grade II properties under £1m

▲ Carmarthen: Felindre House, near Newcastle Emlyn. A historic Grade II houseset in stunning landscaped grounds and gardens, witha delightful large pond with an island. Built in the 1500s, the property also comes with numerous traditional stone outbuildings with conversionpotential, andthe adjoining land borders a stream. Main suite, 6further beds, 2baths, kitchen, conservatory, 2receps,study, parlour, gardens, Old Coach House and Stables, Old Dairy Rooms and Lodge. £695,000;Savills (02920-368915).

▲ : Hillview, Backwell, . Aprettydetachededge of village Grade II house, dating back to the16th century, in an elevated position commanding west-facing views across stunning countryside. Main bed,3further beds,2baths, kitchen, 3receps, study, landscapedgardens,garage,car port with ample parking. £865,000; Knight Frank (0117-3171997).

▲ Devon: The Round House, Slapton, Kingsbridge. Adistinctive Grade II character property, with acurved frontage and retained period features,in the heart of the village. Outside there is aprivate,walled courtyard garden and outhouse, with vehicular access to parking viawooden gates. Mainbed, 5 further beds, shower room, family bath, kitchen, 3receps, library, office, garage,garden. OIEO£550,000; Savills (01392- 455755).

THE WEEK 23 January 2021 on the market 35

▲ : Byways, LongCompton, Shipston- on-Stour.Aclassic Grade II Cotswold stone cottage with privatesouth-facing gardens. Main bed, 2furtherbeds, family bath, kitchen/breakfast room, recep, garage, gardens. £475,000; Knight Frank (01451-600617). Worcestershire: Myddle House, Boraston, ▲ Tenbury Wells. A beautiful Grade IIcountry home believed to date fromthe late 16th century, with a broad range of outbuildings andsituatedinapeaceful rural hamlet. Main suite, 2further suites, 1further bed, family bath, kitchen/recep, 3receps, 2-bed annex, large workshop, double garage,gardens,2.25acres. £895,000;Strutt &Parker (01584-873711).

▲ Cambridgeshire:

▲ West Sussex: The Coach House, Wick, Brookside, Toft, Littlehampton. A Cambridge.A handsome detached charming, timber- Grade II Strawberry framed andmostly Hill Gothic-style thatched detached former coach house Grade II cottage to CourtwickPark. datingfrom the 17th The property is century, with a19th conveniently located century addition. It within walking sits in an elevated distance of the River position towards the Arun with its granite edge of this sought- set promenadedown after village. Main to the beautiful beach. suite, 1further suite, Main bed with 2furtherbeds, dressing room, 2 family bath, kitchen/ further beds, family breakfastroom,3 bath, kitchen/breakfast receps, shower room, room, recep, garage, conservatory, garage, gardens. £675,000; gardens. £795,000; Jackson-Stops (01243- Savills (01223- 786316). 347178).

▲ Gloucestershire: Ryecourt,Chaceley. With origins dating back to the17th century, this lovely detached GradeII housesits on aplot extending to 6.26 acres within an attractive village. Theproperty offersdelightfulviews, andhas apaddock andbeautiful formal gardens. Thecourtyard leads to theorchard andvegetable garden. Main bed, 3further beds,family bath, shower room,kitchen, recep, study, garage, ▲ : Church House, Eaton, Congleton. Abeautifully restored gardens. £525,000; Grade II village house setwithin well-establishedand substantial grounds Hamptons extending to 0.44 acres. 5beds, family bath, 1further bath, kitchen, International (01242- 2receps,study, cellar, garden, parking area, terrace. £875,000; Savills 420352). (01625-417450).

23 January 2021 THE WEEK 36 Marketplace

THE WEEK 23 January 2021 To advertise here please email classifi[email protected] or call HenryHaselock 020 3890 3900

LEISURE 37 Food & Drink Food trends to look out for in 2021 “Thoses who dabble established thing,wewillsee afocus on in the dark art newideas in plant-basedcooking: in her ofculinary recentTVseries,Nigella Lawsonmade a prognosticationr curryfrom banana skins, promisingto haveneverfaced a turn theusuallydiscarded ingredient into landscapa eharder to read the “latest substitute for pulled pork”. thanthan inin 2 2021,”021 saidKim Meanwhile, the move towardshome Severson in TheNew YorkTimes. Tastes working is making mealtimesyet more in foodtook adramatic turn last year,as fluid. “With thekitchennexttothe desk, the pandemic restricteddining out and food is easy pickings –meaning many will turnedmillions into avid home bakers. wait until mid-morning to have breakfast, Such trends aren’t about to go away: while havinglunchinthe evening.” Some no onethinks 2021 will be ayear of are evenlimitingthemselves to one big “frivolous food”. Yetlater in theyear, meal aday –amealsometimes referred to as restrictionseaseand restaurants as “dunchfast”. reopen, some are predictingthatasense of expansiveness andinnovationwill Welcome back to the dinner party returntoour food scene. Virtualcookalongs became abig thing in Sherry, bananaskinsand giant meals 2020,said TheScottishHerald,and they New linesinpreserving Nostalgiaisalready afeature of thefood are “settoliveonbeyondpandemic life”. In themeantime, however, “our food scene, andset to continue,said Bridie Kitchen techwill getmoreeco (think tastes remain humble”, said Clare Finney Pearson-Jones in theDailyMail. Retro beeswaxwraps and compostable cling in The Independent. If sourdough bread desserts, forinstance,are seeing aboom film);and we’ll embraceever more was themega-trend of 2020, this yearit’s in popularity: Waitrose hasreported that exciting formsofoutdoor eating, such likely to be pickling andfermenting.A sales of trifle, sticky toffeepud andcherry as “wild cooking over firepits”. Butthis combinationofhaving moretime on our piehaveincreased60% over thepastyear. –surely –willalso be theyear when it hands, combinedwith awishtocapitalise Mutton is “having amoment”, as chefs becomespossible to have an old-style on seasonal gluts andreduce waste,are andhomecookslooktouse olderanimals, dinnerparty again,one with chairs creatinga“perfect storm” for experiments which arenot only tasty, butoften more crammed roundthe table with sauerkraut,kimchi andpreserves. sustainable. In drinks, sherryismaking a andpeople sittingshouldeer Dovetailing with this is anew interest in comeback, though less in its oldguise of to shoulder. Never again Eastern Europeancuisine, to which pre-lunch tipple than as an interesting shall we baulkatthe preserving has long been central.Expect pairing withfood: dry sherries work stress of hostingsuch an alight to be shoneonthe varied dishes particularly well with clams and oysters, event. “There will be red of countries such as Bulgaria andGeorgia, while sweet ones are excellent with blue wine stains,tonnes of “upendingthe preconceptions about cheese. It’s notall about returning to the washing up, anditwill cabbagesand potatoes”. past, though.Withveganism nowan feel so, so good.”

Two store cupboard recipes by Georgia Levy

Ilove the savouriness of the olive oil in this granola, but feel free This is anifty, easy recipethat only involves ahandfulof to play around –for instance, by replacing the olive oil with ingredientsand 20 minutes of your time. Make it as spicy or butter, or adding spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg. mild as you like by adjusting the hot sauce, or foregoing it. Fig, olive oil and maple syrup granola Hot sauce baked beans Makes 1kg Serves 41tbsp olive oil 100g small chunks of pancetta, smoked 125ml maple syrup 125ml olive oil lardons or bacon 1onion, chopped 2garlic cloves, chopped 400g 1tsp sea salt 350g jumbo or rolled oats 200g mixed nuts, tin of chopped tomatoes 2x400g tins of cannellini or borlotti beans, roughly chopped 100g pumpkin and/or sunflower seeds drained and rinsed 1-2tbsp redwinevinegar1tbsp brown sugar or 150g dried figs, chopped maple syrup dashes of Worcestershire Sauce hot sauce, to taste • Preheat the oven to when everything is • Place alarge frying simmer vigorously, 170°C and line alarge golden on top and pan over amedium then reduce slightly baking tray. the nuts are roasted. heat and warm the for 5minutes before • Combine the syrup, It might seem abit oil. Add the pancetta adding the rest of the oil and salt in alarge wet, but it will dry and cook for afew ingredients, as well bowl, then tip in as it cools. Sprinkle minutes until golden as ½atin of water everything except over the figs while and some of its fat andsalt and pepper. the figs and mix well. it’s still warm and has been released. Simmer for 10 mins Spread out evenly leave to cool • Add the onion to allow all the sauce on abaking tray and completely. and garlic and abig to thicken. Taste, add push down with the • Once cool, break pinch of salt and sugar, seasoning, back of your spoon. up with your hands cook for another 5 Worcestershire Sauce or hot sauce to taste. • Bake for 30-35 mins, stirring and transfer to an airtight mins, stirring often, until once and pushing down again container. It will last for at least everything is soft. • Serve with buttery toast and with your spoon. Remove 4weeks. • Add the tomatoes and apoached egg. Georgia Levy is afreelance recipe developer and food writer whose work has appeared in The Guardian and Tesco magazine.

23 January 2021 THE WEEK CO-FOUNDEDBY Looking afterNo.1 nowincludes everyoneelse.

Thenew ISA. Fair on fees. Bigonthe issuesthat count.

IntroducingThe BigExchange ISA. Builttohaveapositive impact on people and planet.Withhonest fees,expertly managedinvestments andnojargon, youcan startsaving from £25today.

Search TheBig Exchange ISA

Capitalatrisk. Thevalue of your fund cangodown as well as up.Tax treatmentdepends on an individual’s circumstances and maybesubject to change. Consumer LEISURE 39

New cars: what the critics say TheDaily Telegraph Auto Express Top Gear This “tiny electric buzz- Like itscompetitor, the The Ami’s 47-milerange, box” may look like atoy. Renault Twizy, theAmi is not to mentionits top And with just sevenmajor classified as aquadricycle, speed,which it takes ten controls inside andatop rather than acar, which seconds to reach, mean speed of 28mph, youhave means that in many it is really only goodfor to “nurturemomentum as countries,you won’t urban driving. But think if it were ababy sparrow need afulllicence to drive of it “less as acar,and with abad wing”. But it.Designed for short more as the world’smost with aprice tagofjust journeysaround cities, and complicatedumbrella”. Citroën Ami s6,000, it’s surely going expected to be popular Unsurprisingly, it offers from s6,000 to find amarket in France with car-sharing schemes, littleinthe way of andGermany,where it is the Ami is just 1.39metres dynamism, but working launching. Whether UK wide, and wholly “devoid off a5.5kWhlithium-ion drivers willhaveachance of extravagance”, but battery,itissimpletouse, to trythisdinkyvehicle there’s no denying that it and is overall apretty remains to be seen. looks “adorable”. “joyful” object.

The best… running shoes

New Balancen ▲ Fresh Foam More Asics Novablast This lightweight Trail v1 Perfecte for shoe is ideal for those looking to run off-road distances from 10km to afull runners,n this marathon. The foam is shoeh combines meant to create a lightweightg cushioning with adurable “trampoline outsole, and abreathable water-repellent effect” (£130; top (£140; newbalance.co.uk). asics.com). ▲ Brooks

Adrenaline GTS 20 Brooks shoes are designed for runners who want ▲ Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit 2 ▲ Veja Condor Mesh more support, not just for the feet, Nike’s latest running shoes are designed Both environmentally but also for the knees; they come in to minimise the risk of injury from friendly and super agood selection of widths, so you knocks, twists or sprains. That means stylish, this shoe took can get areally close fit (£84; enhanced ankle more than four years brooksrunning.com). padding, and to develop. It is secure cables vegan-friendly in the upper and made from layer (£140; recycled materials, nike.com). and comes in a wide range of colours (£130; veja-store.com). SOURCES: THE TIMES/T3/THE INDEPENDENT/ THE DAILY TELEGRAPH/ESQUIRE Tips of the week… how to And for those who Where to find… choose a mattress have everything… online learning resources

● Open spring mattresses are made from BrainPOP is a website full of engaging one long piece of wire coiled into springs. animated videos covering science, English, They’re good value, but not very supportive. maths, social studies, arts, music, health ● Pocket spring mattresses have individual and technology (brainpop.com). springs in pockets of fabric, so they provide Billing itself as the fun way to learn coding more support, and are better for two. –aswell as problem-solving and critical ● Memory foam mattresses respond to thinking while you’re at it – Tynker hasfree temperature and weight, relieving pressure resources for children between the ages of on joints, but not everyone likes the feel of five and 17 (tynker.com). them. Foam and spring hybrids can be a The Free School channel on YouTube has good compromise, though. short educational videos on everything ● Mattresses filled with latex foam are firm, from the US constitution to coral reefs but very breathable to keep you cool. They (youtube.com/c/FreeSchool). are also good for people with allergies. To help children express themselves ● Soft mattresses are best for those who artistically, Creative Bug,which offers a sleep on their side or change positions in Makers of infrared saunablankets – 30-day free trial, has craft lessons from the night, because the way they sleep “somewhere between an at-home sauna knitting to jewellery-making, drawing and already relieves pressure on the spine. andasleepingbag” –claim they can origami (creativebug.com). ● If you sleep on your back, consider a improve asluggish metabolism, relievesore For information about resources on a medium-firm one, for lower back support. muscles and even strengthenyour immune huge range of topics, consult ParentKind ● Firm mattresses are good for people who system. Justplugitinand wrap yourself up (parentkind.org.uk) and Oak National either sleep on their front, are over 15 stone, in it for up to 40 minutes. Academy (thenational.academy); the or suffer from back pain. £399;higherdose.com latter’s list is curated by teachers.

SOURCE:THE INDEPENDENT SOURCE: THE SUNDAY TIMES SOURCE: THE BBC

23 January 2021 THE WEEK 40 Obituaries

Influential record producer who was convicted of murder

As theinventor of theWall of assembling the musicians who became his own Phil Spector Sound, PhilSpector, who has in-house band, known as The Wrecking Crew. 1939-2021 died aged 81, was arguably Often, there would be three pianos, five guitars the most influential record andsomeone on the cowbell too.Themusic producer in the historyofrock ‘n’ roll, said The wouldbebuilt uplayer by layer, to produce an Times.When he was barely out of his teens, in onslaught of sound. Spector could spend days the early 1960s, he “swept aside the uncluttered on a three-minute love song forteenagers. Soon simplicity ofthe guitar, bass, drums, piano and he had had two Top Ten hits – Da Doo Ron solo voice formula that had defined pop music Ron and Then He KissedMe(bothfor The from Elvis Presley to Chuck Berry”, and Crystals). By the ageof21, he was a millionaire introduced lush orchestrations, featuring – the First Tycoon ofTeen,asTom Wolfe put multiple instruments, swathed inlayers ofecho: it, in an essay in1965. he called theresult “little symphonies for the kids”. With up to 21 musicians crammed into In 1966,Spector producedIke andTina astudio, the effect –ontracks including Be Turner’s RiverDeep, Mountain High. He My Baby, forTheRonettes, The Righteous regarded it as one of his finest records, but Brothers’ You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling, it failed in theUS, and after that, thehits and BenE.King’s Spanish Harlem (which he stopped. In 1969, however, The Beatlesinvited co-wrote) –was almost operatic. BrianWilson himtowork on Let It Be. Paul McCartney of The Beach Boysdescribed Spector as his hated whathedid,said The Guardian – but greatestinspiration, andspent months Spector: created the Wall of Sound George Harrison and Lennon were impressed obsessing over Be My Baby.ToJohn Lennon, enough to collaborate with himagain,onsolo whoworked with Spector on Imagine, he was the “greatest albums. By then, though, Spector’s behaviour was becoming record producer ever”.But asahumanbeing,hewas – or became increasinglyerratic. Long fascinated by guns, he fired one in the –loathsome, said Variety:narcissistic, controlling, violent and studiowhile recording with Lennon, and pressedone against ultimately murderous. “I have devils insideme,” he told The LeonardCohen’sneck during themakingofhiscriticallymauled DailyTelegraph’s Mick Brown, in an interview in2003. 1977 album Death of aLadies’ Man. Cohendescribed Spector as “theworst human beinginthe world”.In1990, Spector’ssecond Phil Spector grewupinthe Bronx, the younger of two children. wife, Ronnie Bennett of The Ronettes, revealed that he’d been an When hewas nine, his father, a steelworker, killed himself. The abusivehusband, who had kept her imprisoned inhis fortress-like family then moved to Los Angeles, where his motherworked asa home, even confiscating her shoes to prevent her escape. In the seamstress. Spector – skinny, asthmatic,with anadenoidal voice basement, there was agold-plated coffin where he’dwarned her and areceding chin – felt like an outsider. Music (classicalaswell that she’d end up, if sheever cheated on him. as jazz and pop) proved hissalvation, along with his naturalwit. In 1958,with two school friends, he formed a band, The Teddy In 2003, Spector met the actress LanaClarkson inaclub on Bears, andhad a No. 1with hissong To KnowHimIsto Love Sunset Strip; hedrove herback to hismansion, and anhourlater, Him. He was17. Soon after, hedecided hedidn’t want to be a hisdriver sawhim running out with agun. Clarkson’s bodywas singer; hewanted to pull the strings out of sight, as a producer. found inside. He claimeditwas an “accidental suicide”, but six years later, after two trialsinwhichhe’d appeared inaparade In 1960, he moved to New York, to work on Tin Pan Alley, and of fright wigs, he was convicted of Clarkson’smurder. It turned by 1961 hehadhisown record label. He began developing his out he’d pulled agun on atleastfour womenpreviously, after Wall ofSound technique at theGoldStar Studios in LA – and they had spurned his advances.Hediedinjail. The literary agent who “discovered” J.K. Rowling

Christopher Christopher Little,who has contactatBloomsbury Publishing to take alook died aged79, wasonce at oneofthe now tattered manuscripts, and he Little described by arival as “the liked it. Little then struck adeal which gave 1941-2021 luckiest agentever”, said The J.K. Rowling asmall advance, butdouble the Daily Telegraph. In 1995, asinglemother living standard royaltiesifthe book sold in volume. on benefits in Edinburgh hadpicked his agency out of the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook,and Unusually foraliteraryagent, Little’s sent himthree chaptersofher first book, background wasnot in publishing. The son of a becauseshe thought hisname sounded like a wartime Spitfire pilot, he grew up in Wakefield. character from achildren’s book. In fact, Little Aged16, teachers at hisgrammar school rarelyhandled children’s authors:hethought suggestedacareerinsalesmightsuit him,and he there wasnomoneyinit. Buthis office spent the next few decades in theFar East,selling manager, BryonyEvens,liked the look of the carbonpaper andworsted suits.Hefellintohis manuscript,and Littlewas persuaded to read it. work as an agent by chance, afterhenegotiated Seeingsomething “special”init, he offered to thesale of afriend’sthrillertoapublisher in the take its authoron, but he cautionedher notto Little: money didn’t change him US, and it became abestseller.His otherwriters get her hopes up: “Remember, Joanne, this is included DarrenShan. His relationship with all very well, but it’s not goingtomake you afortune.” Rowling came to an end in 2011, for reasons neither disclosed. By then, he’d made tens of millions from Harry Potter.Abon Atall, imposing figure, workingfrom cramped offices in Victoria, viveur, he enjoyed finewine and long lunches; butthe money London,Little had only beenrunning his agency forthree years, didn’tmuch change him.Heissurvived by the two sons by his operating on ashoestring.Hemade threecopies of HarryPotter first marriage, whichendedindivorce,and hissecond wife,Gilly. and thePhilosopher’s Stone,and sent them to all Britain’smajor “Hewas thefirst person in thepublishing industry whobelieved publishers,all of whom rejectedit. Eventually, he persuaded a in me,”Rowlingsaid last week. “He changedmylife.”

THE WEEK 23 January 2021 Charity 41

If Ipassaway Canine Cared For If Imovetoacarehome Canine Cared For nosis If Ireceive alife-chan in dia Canine Cared For Make sure your dog is cared for with aCanine Care Card from DogsTrust You’vealways donewhat you can to protect your four- legged friend, and that shouldn’t change when life soe With aCanine Care Card, you won’t have to worry about h t s nex for them, because Dogs Trust will look after and rehome them at one of our 20 rehoming centres across the UK. Apply onlinenow to getyour FREE Canine CareCardat: dogstrust.org.uk/ccc Email: [email protected] Call us directly: 02078370006 Please quote “334727”, or complete the coupon below: Please send me aDogs Trust Canine Care Card application form (Please fill out in blockcapitals)

Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/Other

Address

Postcode 334727 From time to time we would like to send you exciting updates about our work, products, services and how you can support us, including fundraising activities and research by post. If you’d rather not receive these mailings, please tick here In order to communicate withyou more effectively,better understand your preferencesand ability to support our work, we may analyse your data. We do share your informationwithin the DogsTrustGroup; currently Dogs TrustWorldwide, DogsTrust Ireland and Dogs TrustPromotions. To read our fullprivacy policy visit dogstrust.org.uk/privacy. ®

Adog is for life ogs Trust 2020 Please sendthis couponto: Freepost RTJE-SXGL-BEEJ,DogsTrust,Moulton House, dogstrust.org.uk 10 Pond Wood Close, Northampton, NN3 6DF (No stamp required) ©D N.B. Service only available for residentsofthe UK,Ireland, Channel Islands &Isle of Man Registeredcharitynumbers 227523 &SC037843

To advertise here please email classifi[email protected] THE WEEK 23 January 2021 or call HenryHaselock 020 3890 3900 ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Chinabusiness cultureand market entry

There are big opportunities in China, but you need to address the risks

hina presentsrealopportunities Simply settingupaWholly-Foreign-Owned- selldual-usetechnologies with potential forUKtechcompanies.After Enterprise (WFOE) –aChinese limited liability military or intelligenceapplications.China’s all, it’s acountry whereover company100%owned by theparentforeign Military CivilFusion policy encourages 100cities areeachhometoover company–can take up to sixmonths, andthe sharing of science andtechnologybetween amillion people,while easier alternative, aRepresentativeOffice, can’t thecivil andmilitary sectors,meaning that a C UK-China tradesurpassed engage in directprofit-making activities.There product developed with aChinese partner £70bninvalue in the2018/2019 financialyear. arevarious otherregulations andlicenses tech could potentiallyberepurposed. The Chinese governmentisactively driving companies need to be aware of,suchaslicenses Finally, thereare theculturalchallengesof future growth through technologyinvestments forhosting on Chinese servers, hardware howtocommunicate effectively with clients andinnovation andputting policies in place to manufacturingregulations,national product andpartners, howtomanagesocial media help.Yet moving into Chinaalsohas its standards andrules on cross-bordertech messaging,and howtodevelopsuccessful challenges.Not only do youhavetobuilda licensingagreements. China’sE-Commerce Law negotiating strategies. brandinamarketcoveringahugeand diverse hasits ownregulations around thesetup and Howcan UK companiesmeetthese territory,but thereare regulatory andcultural operation of onlinestores. challenges?One option is to work with local barriers that could impedeyourprogress. Though theChinese governmenthas partners whocan guide youthrough theissues addressedissues around IP protection,areas of andhelpyou developthe contactsessentialfor inconsistencyremain, particularly when your Chinabusinesstothrive. Similarly, workinginjoint ventures with Chinese effective duediligence can help UK companies E ective due companies.Firms operatinginChina must also to identifyany specific commercial,financial comply with thefull rangeofapplicable or politicalrisks connectedtoapotential diligencecan help Chinese laws,includingthe CybersecurityLaw, Chinese business partner. whichprotectsChina’s criticalnetwork Beyond that, it’s about preparation,and the UK companies infrastructureand governs thecollection, UK government, techUK (techuk.org)and the usageand transferofdata.The National China-BritainBusinessCouncil (cbbc.org)have to identify any IntelligenceLaw,whichrequires companiesto awide rangeofresourcesthatcan help you cooperatewithstateintelligence agencies also sidestepthe pitfalls andmakethe most of the specificcommercial, hasimplications fordata privacyand security. opportunities that arise. More information on theselawscan be found financial or political at theUKgovernment'sDigital andTechChina To read an expanded versionofthisarticle, (gov.uk/digitalandtechchina)guidance for visit china.theweek.co.uk risksconnected to businesses engaging with China. What’s more,businesses operatingin Broughttoyou by apotential Chinese Chinastill fall underUKlaws; they need to perform duediligence to ensure they don’t business partner breach theHuman Rights Actorinadvertently CITY 43 Companies in the news ...and how they were assessed

Bumble: queen bee? Bumble, the dating appwherewomen make the firstmove,ispreparing for a rendezvous on WallStreet. The company–startedin 2014 by breakaway Tinderco-founder Whitney Wolfe Herd–hasfiled to go public Seven days in the with avalue ashigh as $8bn,said Business Insider. That’squite ajump from the $3bn Square Mile reportedin2019 whenthe private equity Stock markets globally rallied ahead of giant Blackstonebought amajority stake. Joe Biden’s inauguration, amid hopes Bumble (whose parent Bumble Holdings that the new US president’s $1.9trn also ownstheEurope-centric dating app stimulus package would counter the Badoo) reports an average of 42 million worst effects of the Covid slump. The monthly users. But dig deeper, said Miles pound jumped to its highest level Kruppa and Hannah Murphy in the FT, and things get complicated. BumbleHoldings against the euro in eight months, to just actually “swungtoaloss” afterBlackstone’s reorganisation. Punters might also be under s1.13, after inflation data for December unexpectedly indicated that turned off by Wolfe Herd’s “financial arrangements with the company”–including a the UK’s economic slowdown may be $119mloan to another “entityshecontrolled”. It’sstillanattractiveproposition, said less severe than feared. Despite the Bloomberg. Wolfe Herd, 31, says her real aim is to build asafer datingapp for women: closure of non-essential shops, the ultimately, sheclaims, to “stop misogyny”. Moreover, Covid-19 has made afertile Consumer Prices Index jumped to 0.6%, market more fertilestill, said Elaine Moore in the FT. Bumble’s rival, Tinder-owner from 0.3% in November. China reported Match, is worth $40bn. “For now there are more than enough lonely hearts to go round.” a6.5% surge in output in the final quarter of 2020, and a2.3% increase in Boohoo: spilt milk the size of its economy over the full year. SalesatBoohoo jumped 40% inthe run-up to Christmas, as Manchester’s online fashion In asurprise move, the UK government giant creamed salesfromhigh street rivals.But it would be a mistake to assume all is appointed Kwasi Kwarteng as the new now “tickety-boo at Boohoo”, following reports lastyear of worker abuse in its supply Secretary of State for Business. His chain, saidNils Pratley in The Guardian.True, a threatened consumer boycott ofits predecessor, Alok Sharma, will lead November’s Cop26 climate change brands, includingKaren Millen andPretty Little Thing, never materialised. But according conference in . The Commons to Sir Brian Leveson, the former judgeoverseeing the clean-up, there isstill a“long way Public Accounts Committee blamed out- to go” – with “differing views” acrossBoohoo’snine brandsastowhat“the agendafor of-date tax systems for allowing many change” means.Inwhichcase, appointaproper enforcertoexplain it. Sincethe firm got freelancers and self-employed workers itself into thismessunder theleadership ofco-founderand chairman Mahmud Kamani, to fall through the cracks of Covid-19 “his credibility as an agent of change is not strong”. Outside shareholders may have been financial support schemes. distracted byBoohoo’s “fully recovered” share price,but an independent chair “should Shares in Ladbrokes owner Entain still be aminimumdemand”. Old habitsdiehard,said Alex Brummerinthe DailyMail. tumbled after US casino giant MGM Where were Boohoo bosseslast week as Leveson delivered his “ethics report”? At a Resorts abandoned atakeover attempt. “glitzy”suppliers’ event in a Dubai hotel – flouting strict rules about wearingmasks. Netflix shares jumped 12% after the streaming supremo passed 200 million Airlines: blocked corridors subscribers in its latest earnings update, and promised share buybacks. Morgan Bang goes another long-haulier and, with it, 1,100 jobs at Gatwick, said The Observer. Stanley posted a51% earnings jump in Norwegian’sdecision to withdraw from long-haul routes permanently is another blow to the final quarter of 2020, taking its hopesofareturn tocheap air travelpost-pandemic. The maincasualty ofthe move is the annual profits to $11bn –anew record. carrier’s low-costtransatlantic service to New York. The latest travelrestrictions haven’t Alibaba founder Jack Ma made his first helped the reeling industry, said Simon Englishinthe London Evening Standard.“Airline appearance by video since vanishing in sharestook another battering” on news that all UK“travel corridors”are nowclosed,in October –shares surged 5% in relief. an effort to keep outnew strains of the virus. Sincelockdownsbegan,“shareholders have seenthe valueoftheirequity cutbybillions”. The bigproblemnow is the “unpredict- ability” of futuredemand, said JackWinchesterofresearchgroup ThirdBridge. Fortunes rest “onwhether vaccineuptake will be quick enough to save the summer season.” If Wrong signal it’s anycomfort, pent-up holidaymakersare willing the process on, said BBCBusiness. WhatsApp’s latest privacy policy was EasyJet’s holiday armreports that summer bookings “are up 250% on last year”. a“spectacular own goal” for parent company Facebook, said Lex in the FT. Insurers: bang to rights “Spooked by what they assumed was Relief is at handfor small businesses forced to close duringthe pandemic, said Matthew asudden encroachment on privacy” – Vincent in the FT.Ina“landmark victory”, theSupreme Court hasruled that “business specifically concerns that personal data interruption” insurance policies shouldindeed providecover againstthe pandemicand from WhatsApp might be shared with lockdown measures –dismissing insurers’ appeals against aprevious High Court ruling. Facebook advertisers –“users have rushed to download rival apps”. Dubai- The originalcasewas brought by theFinancialConductAuthority on behalf of 370,000 based Telegram boasted that 25 million affectedpolicyholders,while the Association of BritishInsurers puts the total costof people joined in 72 hours. Meanwhile, business interruption claims duringthe first 2020 lockdown at £900m. UK insurers have the “privacy-focused app” Signal topped proved themselves “every bitthe nitpicking,cheeseparing, small-print kings of legend”, the rankings in Google and Apple app said AlistairOsborne in The Times.Thisfarrago has been straightout of theplaybook: stores. Perhaps the biggest (temporary) “Yes,you’re insured forfalling offthe roof but not for hittingthe ground.”The hero winner was an “unrelated US-listed of the hour is PR firm Media Zoo. Livid at its treatment by insurer Hiscox, it formed a company” called Signal Advance. group of fellow policyholders and started alegal case. That prodded theFCA intoaction. Shares in the medical tech outfit jumped “Dothe right thing, howeverhard,” is supposedly one of Hiscox’s core values. Quite. 400% as “confused investors“ piled in.

23 January 2021 THE WEEK 44 CITY Talking points

Issue of the week: headed for inflation? After a decade in which economies have fought deflation, the pendulum is swinging the other way. What are the risks? The Senatehearing confirmingJanet arguably“the world’s foremost advocate Yellen as USTreasurySecretary took of deficit spending”. There are three place thisweek,just ahead ofPresident reasons to suspectoverheating mightbe Biden’sinauguration. The focus,quite on thecards. First, there is some evidence naturally,was on “reviving the pandem- that thedownturn mayprove more ic-stricken economy”, saidThe New temporary than some fear–more a York Times.Yellen ispreparingtogo “hiatus than aprolonged slump”. A largeonthestimulus front.Inadvance secondfactor is the“arithmeticof remarks,the former Federal Reserve stimulus”. Even before President Trump chair observed that:“Right now,with injected a further $935bn ofdeficit interest rates at historiclows, the smart- spendinginDecember, the total fiscal est thing we can do is act big.” That stimulus in 2020 amounted to almost implies a moreinflationaryeconomy.No $3trn –about 14% of GDPand “much surprise, perhaps, that a“record 92%” more than the probable fall in output”. of global fund managers surveyed by Athirdreason to expect overheatingis Bank of America “expect global inflation that theFed isstill “tripping over itself to to rise” in 2021, said Stephen Little in Yellen: going large signal that monetary policywill remain Investment Week. Consumer demandis loose”. According to its chair, Jerome likely to increase once the vaccineroll-out “allows economiesto Powell, the time to raise interest rates is “no time soon”. getback on track” –fuelling an inflationary trajectory, even without amassivecashinjection in the world’s biggest economy. “It’s no wonderthat alot of people think we’re going to see an inflationarydénouement,” said John Stepek on MoneyWeek.com Inflation can beusefulfor governments accumulating monster –ifnot this year, then soon after.The one thingthat might alter deficits, becausethe real valueofthe debt falls.But theworry in the trajectory, on aglobal basis, is if theChinese recovery stalls. If some quarters, said The Economist, is that the incoming adminis- the pendulum does swingfirmly towardshigher inflation, the tration’s “enormous debt-funded stimulusplan” – worth $1.9trn, implications for investors are interesting, to say the least, said Scott or “9% of pre-crisis GDP” –“might overheat theeconomy”. One Hasleminthe Australian Financial Review. “Calling the turning prominent economist to warn of this is Harvard’sLarry Summers, point atwhich inflation riskisnolonger toleratedbymarkets will whose criticisms are“notable” becausehehashitherto been likelybethe biggestcall forinvestors over thenextfewyears.”

Making money: what the experts think Sporting rivals ments for the main ● Going green AUSfashion historian recently Most large pension market”, according to described the lockdown vogue for companies that have Ross Mitchinson of “athleisure” gear as the “great- committed to green broker Numis. No grandchild” of the trend for those targets have pledged longer. While theFTSE tweed hunting suits once worn by the to reach “net zero” 100 “toiled for much of English upper classes as “status signi- fiers”, said Oliver Shah in The Sunday carbon emission 2020”,Aimcelebrated its 25th birthday some Times. It has certainly fuelled the neutrality only by ongoing rivalry between Mike Ashley’s 2030 or 2050. If that 20.7% higher than it began the year, said Sports Direct, now part of his Frasers isn’tfast enough for Group, and Peter Cowgill’s JD Sports. you, checkout a new Tom Howard in The pension fund launched The race to net zero Times. Moreover,the Both of these “beefy buccaneers” seem by the UK-based run hascontinued into “unlikely sportswear tycoons”. Ashley fintech Cushon, which claims to be“the 2021: last week, the index “hit its highest describes himself as a“power drinker”; world’s first ‘net zero’ pension”, said level since the summer of 2007”. Cowgill has the “throaty laugh of aman who eats Benson &Hedges for break- Josephine Cumbo in theFT. Around fast”. So who’s on top? The winner £90bn ayeariscurrently paid intowork- ● Strength to strength? looks to be Cowgill. Since 2004, JD place pensions in theUK–mostofwhich Aim hasanabundance of “growth” health Sports shares have soared by 7,000%, goes into retirement funds that hold and tech companies, some of which deliv- making the group worth £8.2bn. investments in businesses such as oil and ered “stunning” returns. Novacyt, oneof “That’s £5.8bn more than Frasers.” gas, whichhave the advantage of paying the first to jumponthe Covid-testing While Sports Direct majored on “pile “regulardividends”. Cushon –founded bandwagon, leapt 6,500%inayear. “Yet ‘em high, sell ‘em cheap” for all sports by actuary BenPollard in 2017 –doesn’t it wasAim’s cohortofbigger stocks that goods, Cowgill’s strategy of creating “eliminate carbon-emitting investments” reallyunderpinnedits success.” Thefive “smart destinations” for quality brands –particularly trainers –has paid divi- completely, but achieves net zero by largest constituents are online retailers dends. Sports footwear is now the holding “climate-aware funds” and Asos andBoohoo,biotech Abcam,pharma “crack cocaine of athleisure”. Ashley “neutralising” any emitting investments by Hutchison ChinaMeditech, and the is playing “catch-up” with anew store purchasing “carbon offsets”.The company “green hydrogen maker” ITM Power. “elevation” programme. Yet the rivals claimsaclimate-friendly outlook is good Prospectsremain strong, not least because also face common threats. There are for performance:its existing net-zerofund institutional investorsare taking interest. new pretenders, such as Gymshark, to delivered 10.4%growth last year. “We’ve gotauniverse of stocks...that tackle. Worse, the “two silverbacks of aren’t just cheap, butstunningly cheap,” the sportswear market” –Nikeand Adidas –are “determined to capture ● Aim’s triumph said GervaisWilliams, of theMiton UK more of the profits from the athleisure London’s juniorindex,Aim, “used to be Small Companies Fund. If they don’tend boom”, by selling direct to consumers. abit of adumping ground for resource up in UKportfolios,“we will be knee-deep This saga has much further to run. companies that couldn’t meet the require- in takeoverswithin threemonths”.

THE WEEK 23 January 2021 Commentators CITY 45

All change again at the Department for Business, where Kwasi Kwarteng has just become the fourth incumbent “in less than two City profile Kwarteng’s years”.The “ardent Brexiteer” has achallengingbrief, says John Collingridge. Indeed,hemay have to swallow his “libertarian” Sir David Barclay “It doesn’t appeal to us to challenging instincts,both to tackle thefall-outfrom Covid and to support the boast to others of how clever Government’s levelling-up agenda.Barely aweek in, healready we have been or how succ- new brief faces abattleground. Reportsthatministers are planning to axe essful we are,” Sir David key EUregulations, such as the 48-hour workingweek,are Barclay (below, right) once John Collingridge agitating unions. Meanwhile, UKfirms need guidance on trading observed when turning with the EUpost-Brexitand “navigatingthe turbulence ofclimate down an interview request. It The Sunday Times activism”. We alsofaceafutureinwhich “vast swathes of the was a characteristic response workforce will needtoberetrained”. In her book, Diary of an from the elder of the famous- MP’s Wife,SashaSwire describes Kwarteng as “essentially an ly private Barclay brothers, who has died aged 86, said academic”–and some question whether his “underwhelming” The Daily Telegraph. With business experience willenable him todeliver abold industrial his twin, Sir Frederick, he strategy.Last week, he “pressed the flesh, virtually” with business built abusiness empire that bosses. At least he“appears to be starting with good intentions”. began with hotels and grew to include shipping, retailing One of Kwarteng’sfirst movesisabidtoban eightformer and proprietorship of the directorsofthe defunct construction company Carillion from UK Telegraph Media Group and Carillion’s boardrooms for up to 15 years. Bravo,says The Observer. The the London Ritz. “Identical firm’s sudden collapse, fromanapparent positionofstrength, in appearance, lifestyle and often even in dress”, the collapse was extraordinary. When liquidated in January 2018,its liabilities Barclays “operated as one”. stood at nearly £7bn.Yet its 2016 accountswere supposedly Although they “attracted still matters “so healthy that £79m could be paid in dividends,plus bonuses controversy –they rarely to executives”.Any list of those that failed mustinclude “the stumbled in the accumula- Editorial auditors,the pensions regulator andthe Crown Representative tion of asubstantial fortune”. supposedly looking out for taxpayers’ interests”.But corporate The Observer failures tend to startinthe boardroom. “One can feel asmidgeon of sympathy” forthe “backbench” non-exec directors included in the round-up. In theory,theyareless culpable than themain protagonists: CEO Richard Howson, finance director Richard Adam, and chairman Philip Green (not the retail tycoon). But these proceedings are “essential”. Carillion, whichemployed 43,000, “was the biggest corporate failure in a decade and left chaos in itswake”. Threeyears on,accountability still matters.

Eurostar’s situation is so “dire” that the company warns it could run out of cash this summer,says Lex. But thatdoesn’tmean the There is no UK Government shouldheedthe train operator’srequest for a bailout. Eurostar is majority-owned byFrance’sSNCF, which reason to bail itselfbelongstothe state. Given that UKtaxpayers are “already Born in Hammersmith, the pouring billions into domestic rail franchises to backstop losses sons of atravelling salesman out Eurostar racked up during the pandemic”, it would seem “eccentric”, to who died when they were say the least, to “bolster the equity” their French counterparts 13, the twins left school Lex hold in Eurostar. That hasn’t stopped interested parties pushing early. David, avoracious “emotive buttons”–pointingtorail’sgreen credentials and the reader, claimed to have been Financial Times “symbolism” of cutting physical links with France.But Eurostar educated at the “University doesn’t own or runthe ChannelTunnel (whichbelongs to Paris- of Life”. Certainly, the brothers got on fast, said The quotedGetlink) – it is merely an“operating company” and, as Guardian. Using cash made such, “eminently replaceable”. In their time, MargaretThatcher as “interior decorators”, they and France’s President Mitterand were “adamant the state should got into property and devel- steer clear of thetunnel”.There is “even less reason” nowtobail oped a“formulafor hotel out Eurostar. Britain’s response should be aresounding “non”. makeovers”. Depending heavily on borrowing, some- The Bank of England originally predicted aV-shaped recovery, times in “curious circum- says Jim Armitage. “Thatturned into the bathtub shape, then the stances”, they “escaped” an square-root shape” andnow,according to fundmanagers at early brush with bankruptcy. An unwelcome Sir David could “read the Ruffer, we arecontemplating aK-shaped situation. “The new economic tea-leaves like few bowlful of paradigm consists of dramaticwinners (thetop halfofthe letter people of his generation”, “K”)thrivingatthe expense of dramatic losers (the bottomhalf).” said The Daily Telegraph. But Special K Some “classic Ks”include the triumph of Zoom andPeloton at the recent sale of the Ritz to the expense of officesand gyms, or Deliveroo’splanned £8bn aQatariinvestor revealed Jim Armitage flotation when more than 800chain restaurants have closed. both financial problems and People arealsogettingthe “Special Ktreatment”. The rich have adeep rift between the twins, London Evening Standard profited from surgingasset prices,“while millions arenewly whoonce were famous for unemployed, on furlough,orclinging to jobs on reducedpay”. As living in isolated harmony in afortress-like mansion off Rufferconcludes:“The Kisnot OK.” It reckons politicians will the Channel island of Sark, tacklethe malaise via huge “Keynesian stateinvestments” –and said The Guardian. “They then “let prices risetoinflate away thedebt”. Henceits advice to are all at war,” reported an buy anti-inflationary assets like gold, index-linked bonds–and insider sadly in 2019. “The bitcoin.Shouldwefollow? Given that the latter “has been at both old boys aren’t talking.” the topand bottom of theK”within ayear, it’satough call.

23 January 2021 THE WEEK oom e Gloom

arts here. Letusguide hroughabrighter 2021

MoneyWeek. Adifferent take on money. FREE 2021 FINANCIAL RECOVERY Subscribe today REPORT Visit dennismags.co.uk/moneyweek Quote code P21SF01 Shares CITY 47

Who’s tipping what

The week’s best shares Directors’ dealings Bigblu Broadband NBrown Group Treatt Berkeley Group Investors Chronicle The Mail on Sunday The Mail on Sunday Bigblu’s subsidiary, The owner of plus-size fashion Treatt develops low-sugar 4,800 CEO’s wife Quickline,has won a £14.5m brands SimplyBeand Jacamo flavours and fragrances – sells 228,715 state-subsidised contract to has struggled recently. But derived from fruit, herbs bring superfast broadband CEO Lord Alliance and family andspices – for some of the 4,600 to ruralYorkshire. FinnCap havegained 52% control and world’s biggest food and drink expects22% sales growth are fundraising to strengthen groups.Profits are up 11% and 4,400 overall to deliver£4.8m profit. the online offer. Buy.64p. further growth isexpected. Buy. 110p. Buy. 750p. 4,200 Nanofilm Technologies Ferguson International WPP 4,000 The Times The Daily Telegraph The Times Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan The plumbing andheating Recently listedinSingapore, The marketing giant’s “life- products supplier hassold its Nanofilmmakes superior- threatening” period is over. CEO Rob Perrins’s wife has sold £10.85m worth of shares UK arm, Wolseley, to focus quality, patent-protected Global clients include Dell, in thehousebuilder,following on the US. Customersspan coatingsfor mobiles, tablets Unilever, GSKand Ford. ayear inwhich it delivered residential, supermarket, etc. Margins aregood and Marginshaveimproved, one of the highest returns hospital andschoolsectors; growth predictions strong. debt isdown and it’s winning in the sector. Returns areset

to continue with dividends NVESTORS CHRONICLE revenuesand profits are Customers includeApple and new business. Yields 4.7%. :I growingstrongly. Buy. £93.28. Microsoft. Buy.S$4.93. Buy. 798.25p. and buybacks. SOURCE

…and some to hold, avoid or sell Form guide

Blue Prism Group Foxtons Group The GymGroup Shares tipped 12 weeks ago Sharecast The Sunday Times The Mail on Sunday Best tip The Germanbank Berenberg The London-focused estate The low-cost gym group was Jet2 hasdowngraded the software agent had astrong2020, booming until the virus hit. The Times outfitafter areduction in thanks to agreater focus There arenow opportunities up 118.49% to £14.77 revenue guidance.There on renting in thecapital. to snap up cut-price sites are concerns aboutits But expect short-term in prime locations. Football Worst tip commercial strategy andthe pressure on sales, and star/TV fitness pundit Rio Walmart wider process-automation competitionfrom cheaper Ferdinand is joiningthe The Times up 4.36% to $143.39 market. Hold.£14.11. rivals. Avoid. 58.8p. board.Hold. 211p.

CMC Markets Renalytix AI Wood Group The SundayTelegraph The Mail on Sunday The Times Market view CMC hasmade“good money” Renalytix uses blood tests The engineering consultancy “Investors see aGoldilocks from spread-betting and and data to assess diabetes is reducing its reliance on scenario for stock markets contracts fordifference. But patients for kidney disease. NorthSea oil by expanding [not too hot, not too cold].” theseleveragedproducts Shares have tripled. Take its renewables, chemicals Silvia Dall’Angelo of (which make up 97%of someprofits, butretain andinfrastructure offerings. Federated Hermes on the market rally greeting revenues) are likely to be hit a“good chunk”: US Strongliquidity should President Biden. Quoted by regulators post-pandemic. approval will likelyleadto enable it to ride outshort- in the FT Takeprofits. Sell. 427.5p. soaring sales. Sell. 800p. term issues. Hold.350.75p. Market summary

Key numbers for investors Best and worst performing shares Following the Footsie

19 Jan 2021 Week before Change (%) WEEK’S CHANGE, FTSE 100 STOCKS FTSE 100 6712.95 6754.11 –0.61% RISES Price %change FTSE All-share UK 3793.91 3815.70 –0.57% Aveva Group 3770.00 +8.83 Dow Jones 30927.36 30989.57 –0.20% Smith &Nephew 1624.00 +5.94 7,000 NASDAQ 13112.70 13052.38 0.46% AstraZeneca 7722.00 +4.28 Nikkei 225 28633.46 28164.34 1.67% Next 7984.00 +4.09 Hang Seng 29642.28 28276.75 4.83% DCC 5784.00 +3.84 6,500 Gold 1833.05 1847.25 –0.77% FALLS Brent Crude Oil 55.82 56.54 –1.27% Takeaway Com (Lon) 7856.00 –13.38 DIVIDEND YIELD (FTSE 100) 2.91% 2.90% Entain 1245.00 –12.39 UK 10-year gilts yield 0.29 0.35 B&M European Val. 496.50 –8.80 6,000 US 10-year Treasuries 1.10 1.18 Kingfisher 262.40 –7.80 UK ECONOMIC DATA Flutter Entertainment 14400.00 –7.43 Latest CPI (yoy) 0.6% (Dec) 0.3% (Nov) BEST AND WORST UK STOCKS OVERALL Latest RPI (yoy) 1.2% (Dec) 0.9% (Nov) Xtract Resources 7.10 +173.08 5,500 Halifax house price (yoy) 6.0% (Dec) 7.6% (Nov) Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Petrofac 110.60 –36.01 £1 STERLING $1.126 E1.366 ¥141.803 Source: Datastream (not adjusted for dividends). Prices on 19 Jan (pm) 6-month movement in the FTSE 100index

23 January 2021 THE WEEK 48 The last word Noël Coward’s adventures in the supernatural

Noël Coward satirised spiritualism in Blithe Spirit –his classic comedy that has once again been adapted for the screen, to scathing reviews (see page 31). But as Jake Kerridge reports, the playwright owed his show business career to amedium

In his memoirs, Noël most mediums strove Coward recalled the to convey. Andatthat West Endopening night, time mediums were in July 1941,ofBlithe stilldominant cultural Spirit,hisinspired blend figures: many of those of ghost story and audience members would comedy of manners. have actuallyattended a “The audience... had to seance, orknown walk acrossplanks laid somebodywhohad. over rubble caused by a recentairraid to see The spiritualism craze, a light comedy about which hadrun rampant death. They enjoyed it, and then died away in Iamgladtosay,and the Victorian era, it ran from that sunny erupted again during summerevening and after the Great through the remainder War and the 1918 of the War andout the Spanish flu pandemic. other side.” ThehistorianJenny Hazelgrove hasnoted Would the play have that therewere145 been such an astonishing The latest adaptation stars Isla Fisher, Judi Dench and Dan Stevens societiesaffiliated to the hit–itheld the record Spiritualists’ National for the longest-running non-musicalplayinthe West End until Union in 1914, rising to 309 by 1919 and 520 by 1937. it was overtaken by The Mousetrap in 1957 – if death had not been uppermost in its audience’s minds? As they read their Anglican and Catholic clergy worriedly reported that their programmes, which included advice about what to do in the congregations were strugglingtoaccept that abenevolent, event ofanair raid – “those desiring to leave the theatre may omnipotentGod could have permitted death onsuch a scale, do so but the performance will continue” –their interest in the andwere seekingout more comfortingforms of spiritual relief. afterlife would have been far One of thejokes in BlitheSpirit from academic. concerns thefact thatthe “Sir Arthur Conan Doyle observed that the afterlifehas become detached Deathmay be inescapable,but American press were mainly interested in from orthodox religion – it isnot always topical; it has whether golf was played in the next world” Madame Arcati’s assertion that often, in our cultural history, “thedeclineoffaith in the Spirit been relegatedtoamatter of World hasbeen causing grave secondary interest. The makers ofanew filmofBlithe Spirit concern... There was a time, of course, when adropofholy –starring DanStevens, Isla Fisher andJudiDench –can count water could send even apoltergeist scamperingfor cover, but themselveslucky, then, that it isbeing releasedatatime when not any more.” we are collectively alittle less insulated fromdeath thanwewere a yearago,and a littlecloser to the mindsetofthe audience who Thosewho hadlostloved ones – includingthose soldiers’ lapped up theplayinwartime. relativeswho were unable to visit theirgraves abroad or even be sure of theirexact resting place–turned to mediumsfor BlitheSpirit centres on Charles Condomine, anovelistwho reassurance that the dead were happy, andtopass on messages invites amediumcalled Madame Arcati to his home. Although of love. One great fillip to thespiritualist causewas the 1916 he is convinced she is afraudand simply wants to recycle some publication of Raymond, or Life and Death,inwhichthe of hermumbo-jumbo in his latestbook,the seance she conducts physicistSir Oliver Lodgedescribed hisconversations with his ends with his late wife Elvira returning from the afterlifeasa son, who had been killedinthe Ypres Salient in 1915,through ghost. Charles finds himself an “astral bigamist”,juggling the the celebrated medium GladysLeonard. Raymond revealed that demands of Elvira andhis second wife,Ruth. cigars andwhisky wereavailable in theafterlife, explained that the spirits of mortals werenow working togetherfor the benefit In the original production, MargaretRutherfordgave astar- of humankind, andpromisedthat he would sitinavacantchair making turnasMadame Arcati –matronly,ratherscatty, and at the family Christmas dinner, insisting,“There must be no endowed with aschoolgirl vocabulary (“What do yousay we sadness.Idon’t want to be aghost at thefeast.” have another seance and really put our shoulders to the wheel? Make it arealrouser!”). Indeed,sosuccessfulwas shethat the Newspapers became fixated on the idea of thegames and imageofher in the1945 film version is, these days, stillthe first pastimeswithwhich the dead occupied themselves.Sir Arthur thingthatpops into one’s head when somebody mentions a Conan Doyle, whobecame aspiritualist after losing ason in the spiritualist medium. War, observed that the Americanpress were mainly interested in whether golfwas played in thenextworld. Hence, the revelation Butfor a1940s audience, thejokelay in thefactthatMadame in Blithe Spirit thatElvirahas beenplayingbackgammon with Arcati was so unlike theexotic,evenfaintly erotic, image that GenghisKhanisintended moreassatire thansurrealism.

THE WEEK 23 January 2021 The last word 49

Not only was spiritualism in which the ghost ofJohnCavan, flourishing as theSecond World killedinthe trenches, surveys the War loomed, but thecountry world adecade on and wonders if seemed to havebecome obsessed his sacrifice was worth it. with supernatural phenomena more generally. As Kate Summerscale Blithe Spirit, the culminationof points outinher recent book The thispreoccupationwith theother- HauntingofAlma Fielding, the worldly, strikes me as an agnostic press were stoking a poltergeist play, ratherthan a straightforward crazein1938: “Almost a thousand send-up ofthe notion oflifeafter people had written to the[Sunday] death. It is truethat, when Margaret Pictorial in February to describe Rutherford initially refused the role their encounters with wraiths and of Madame Arcati because ofher revenants, while other papers own belief in spiritualism, the reportedonaspirit vandalising producer Binkie Beaumont assured a house in Stornoway.” her thatthe play was mocking a Rutherford (left) on stage as Arcati, and Coward charlatan, rather than an authentic In BlitheSpirit,the ghostlyElvira medium–albeitinthiscaseone smashes vases out of truculence andsmears axlegrease on the who accidentally succeedsinsummoningareal ghost.But stairs.Again,Coward was identifying a topical issue–the Madame Arcati, for all her absurdity, issurely moreingenuous, apparent prevalence ofmalign spirits – and offering acomical andgenuinely spiritual, than Beaumont’s argumentsuggests. explanation, coloured byhis customary jaundiced view of marriage: that poltergeists might bedeceased spouses carrying One more biographical detail might provide aclue to the real on marital warfarebyother means. message of theplay. Coward was friendly in the 1920s with the writerRadclyffe Hall, famed forherscandalous lesbian novel Coward, who was born in 1899, can seemlikeavery modern TheWellofLoneliness (1928). During theFirst WorldWar, figureinhis scepticism aboutlifeafter death –when his mother while Hall was livingwith her loverMabel Batten, a fashionable died, he said it was the worst day of hislife becauseheknew liedersinger andaformer mistressofEdward VII, she fellfor they would never meet again – but he was of histime in being Mabel’scousin Una Troubridge. After Hallspentanightaway fascinated bythe supernatural, even if he didn’t quitebelieve in with Troubridge buying a bulldog in Maidenhead, sheand it. In the 1960s, heattended a seance during whichthe medium Mabel quarrelled on her returnand Mabel suffered a fatal informed himthat thelateGertrude Lawrencewas present, in stroke. Hall and Troubridgelater decided to consult Gladys the white Molyneux gownshe had worn in Private Lives; Leonard,and were gratifiedtobe told thatMabel forgave them. “Christ! It must be tatty by now,”hereplied. Butifhe was Hall and Troubridge continued a sardonicpresence at such “Ghostly happenings dogged Coward. to talk to Mabel through Mrs gatherings, apresence he was. When he was aBright Young Thing, he woke Leonard several timesaweek for manyyears. Mabel informed His mother, the daughter ofa up one night to find his bed rocking” themofthe pleasurethat she Navalcaptain, wasnot unusual tookinthe afterlife.“There are amongmiddle-class women of her generation inputting agood plenty of horses that love to be exercised and the ground is so deal of faith in professional mediums. Itwasthankstothe springy,” shereported on one occasion. Onanother, she told American celebrity medium Anna Eva Fay thathis show them that she hadjustmet Troubridge’s bulldog Billy, whohad business careertookoff:his mother asked her, during ashow recently been put down. at the Coliseum, whether the 12-year-old Noël should continue as a childactor or go back to conventional schooling.MsFay, In 1919,they published an account in theProceedings of the from beneath the sheetwith which she habitually covered herself Society forPsychical Research, detailing how theyhad hired while on stage, assured her ofhis bright future. private detectives tomake sure that Mrs Leonard had not been pumpingtheirservants forinformation. One passage speculates Ghostly happeningsdogged Coward throughouthis life. When on the etiquette of how a man’s late wife mighttalk about his he was aBrightYoung Thing attendingthe salons of Eva Astley current wife. The writer Terry Castle, inher book Noël Coward Cooper at Hambleton Hall, he woke upone nighttofindhis & RadclyffeHall: Kindred Spirits, guesses,reasonablyenough, bedrocking. He later hadahousekeeperwho wasaspiritualist that Coward read it or wastoldabout it by Hall –and thatit andwouldoften invite asimilarly inclined gentleman friend inspired Blithe Spirit. around to wander aboutthe house“with their eyes closed, arms outstretchedand sniffing deeply”. Butperhapswhatreally fired Coward’s comic imagination was Hall andTroubridge’s ferventbelief that Mabelwas happy to Later on,inthe 1930s, anumberofguestsattested to strange forgive them and become their friend frombeyondthe grave. noises andmisbehaviour of furnitureinone of theguest rooms The capacity forhuman self-delusion is the realtarget of at Goldenhurst Farm, Coward’shome in Kent. As theroom Coward’ssatireinBlithe Spirit:not just the fact thatsomany wasinanewwing he hadbuilt himself he waspuzzled, untilhe people convinced themselves that mediums were genuine,but consulted hisgrizzled gardener, whotoldhim that theextension that they seemed to thinkthatdeathwould make the nastynice, crossed apath that alocal ladhad used to traverse to meet the thedull interesting,and thebetrayedforgiving. lady love whose unfaithfulness drove himtosuicide.“But ’e doan mean no ’arm,” he added reassuringly. “I’m grievedtosee that your sojourn in the otherworldhasn’t improved you in the least,”Charles tells Elvira. If only more All thismay explainwhy Coward, forall hisscepticism, seances hadendedwith people mutteringsomething similar, the returned to the supernatural in hisworkrepeatedly. In an early scepticalCowardmight have been converted. short play called Weatherwise (1923),Lady Warple attends a seance andbecomes possessed by the spirit of adog;taken to a BlitheSpirit is available nowonSky Cinema andNow TV. psychologist, sheseizes him by the throat andkillshim.Thisisa squib, but ghostsalso appear in manyofCoward’smoreserious Aversion of thisarticle appeared in The Daily Telegraph. plays:notably the furioussatire Post-Mortem (writtenin1930) ©TelegraphMediaGroup Limited.

23 January 2021 THE WEEK 50 Marketplace

HAVE YOUGOT THE BESTSEATINTHE HOUSE?

Ourslookafter your wellbeing as well as your comfort BESPOKE CHAIRS FROM JUST E IN T D H .99 A £129

T E D D KI N G £25 OFF When youspend over £200 +FREEDELIVERY Simply use code WEEK21 at checkout Offer ends 8th February

WE CALL IT CHAIROLOGY -THE STUDYOFAHAPPY BACK WE ARE THE CHAIR EXPERTS Areyou one of the 20 million people who’vefound themselves working from l 15 FABRIC COLOURS TO CHOOSE FROM home sincelastyear? Notideal if you’re having to sitatacomputer all dayina l ARMREST, INFLATABLE LUMBAR AND chair notdesigned to be satonfor that length of time.Regular movement is vital for BASE OPTIONS l HANDCRAFTED TO your spine and pelvis. Thankfully,there’sSummit At Home. YOUR SPECIFICATIONS l MADE TO Each of ourchairscan be unlocked whilstyou’re seated enabling youtoconstantly ORDER IN 10 WORKING DAYS l ARRIVES move your position as youwork as well as ahostofother health and comfort FULLYASSEMBLED l FREE UK DELIVERY enhancing features. l 5YEAR GUARANTEE See our full rangeofchairsatsummitathome.co.uk Get £25 OFF when youspend over £200 plus FREE DELIVERY, simply use WEEK21 at checkout Contact us on [email protected] 777 844 to speak to one of our chair experts

THE WEEK 23 January 2021 To advertise here please email classifi[email protected] or call HenryHaselock 020 3890 3900 Crossword 51

THE WEEK CROSSWORD 1244 ThiT sweek’s winner will receive an An Ettinger travel pass case and two Connell Guides will be giventothe senderof EEttinger(ettinger.co.uk) travelpass the first correctsolution to the crossword and the clue of the week opened on Monday 1 ccase(assortedcolours), which retails February.Emailthe answersasascanofacompleted gridoralist, with thesubjectline ata £105,and two ConnellGuides TheWeekcrossword 1244, to [email protected]. Tim Moorey (timmoorey.com) (connellguides.com). 12 3 4 5675 8 ACROSS DOWN 1 One for changing hairstyle (4) 2 Pay on time for movie 4 Every hotelhas lets for sequence? (7) 1November (10) 3 Part of Millionaire’s live (2,3) 9 10 9 Pub next to Eastern 4 Rock songs on the radio (5) neighbourhood (6) 5 Composer database for the 10 Trunk shown by lady with audience (5) Roman outergarment (8) 6 County broadcast first items 11 12 13 14 11 General showinghow men may subject to inflation (3,4) be moved(6-3-5) 7 Look around over the top for 15 English novelist wasafraid of house (5) going outofbounds (5) 8 Worries about darn rough where 17 Money found in front of lake one hits a poor shot (2,7) 15 16 17 18 19 restaurant (9) 12 Finished first of store deliveries (5) 20 Waitsoutside for sandwiches (9) 13 Sword shaken by a Serb (5) 22 Royal male said to be loaded (5) 14 Broadcast on cutting support (5) 24 Ahorse and cart etc. going 15 Editors embarrassed cast (9) 20 21 22 23 around London’s West End? More 16 Single beer bottles available (5) likelythis(7,7) 18 Price increase by head of Adelphi 29 Struggling in boating lake,one’s set up for the gods (5) bound to do something (8) 19 Small tree French novelist 24 25 26 27 28 30 Tons of city headgear(6) climbs (5) 31 Like Concorde, so captivating 21 Bums are shown up in tattered posh individual (10) clothing (7) 32 Strongand healthy, run left rather 23 Post taken by a high-flier? (3,4) 29 30 than right (4) 25 French river one’s found in stories (5) 26 Starts to try air-tight container for upside-down flan (5) 27 Against Charlie associated with 31 32 escapade (5) 28 Light part of projector checked (5) Name Address Clue of the week: Needing breaks? Maybe Amazon jobonthe line Tel no (6,6 first letters E&D) The Guardian,Vlad Clue of the week answer:

Solution to Crossword 1242 ACROSS: 1 Lambda 5 Co-star 9 Canoes 10 Chaperon 12 Edit SubscribetoTheWeek today 13 Locus 15 Noel 16 Wine 17 Back-number 18 Chartreuse 20 Arty 21 Boss 22 Nisan 24 Iron 25 Oriental 27 Tooler 28 Beat it 29 Badger DOWN: 2 Apostle 3 Basil 4 Arc 6 Sternum 7 Aforementioned andget your first6issues free 8 Sandwich course 11 Absence 14 Cockups 17 Baronet 19 Respect 20 Adipose 23 Noted 26 Lob Clue of the week: Queen’s coach, moving her onwards (5-5, first letter H) Solution: HORSE-DRAWN (anagram of HER ONWARD) Broaden your worldview The winner of 1242 is MichaelClark from Hove with TheWeek magazine andenjoyabalanced, The Week is available from RNIB Newsagent for the benefit of blind and unbiased andrefreshing partially sighted readers. 0303-123 9999, rnib.org.uk/newsagent take on currentaffairs.

Sudoku 786 (very difficult) Join over300,000 13 4 readerswho rely on The Fill in all the squares so that Week to cutthrough the WORTH each row, column and each £23.94 8 61 of the 3x3 squares contains noise of themedia and all the digits from 1 to 9 seethe bigger picture. 7 6 8 Solution to Sudoku 785 Subscribetoday andyour first 6issuesare completely free. 24 5 6 9427831 374861295 52 39 821359467 Whysubscribe? 615293748 79 247685319 938714652 Money-backguarantee 4 2 6 182936574 If forany reason you’re not satisfied with your subscription,you 61 5 753142986 can cancelanytime andwe’ll refund on anyissuesnot received. 6 8 3 Greatsavings 8 59 As asubscriber you’ll benefit from greatsavings off theRRP andfromspecialoffers anddiscounts. Charity of the week Free delivery We are Friends of &London Homeless Asubscription includes free delivery so youcan (FOELH), ahomeless charity started in December receivethe magazine directlytoyourdoorevery week. 2016 with 30+ volunteers. We run two soup kitchens every week without fail: Charing Cross on Wednesday evenings, giving out 250+ hot dishes, sandwiches, cakes, drinks, toiletries, clothes and sleeping bags; and Friday Visit theweek.co.uk/offer Offer code evening in Grays, Essex, giving out up to 30 hot dinners, plus all of the above. P1315 FOELH receives no government funding, and we rely wholly on donations Or call 0330 333 9494 from our followers on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and our website. We have an Amazon Wish List on our website, from which people can choose Your subscription will start with your first 6issuesfree,then £35.99 every 13 issues (UK Print Only) what they donate to us. We treat everyone we meet with dignity and respect, and never judge as we don’t walk in their shoes. Please visit foelh.com for more information. For binders to hold 26 copies of The Week at £8.95 (modernbookbinders.com)

Registeredasanewspaperwiththe RoyalMail. Printed by Wyndeham Bicester.Distributed by Marketforce(UK) Ltd. Subscriptions: [email protected]. 23 January 2021 THE WEEK