November 15, 2020 · Issue No 10,236 · sundaytimes.co.uk £3 · onlyonly £2.50 to susubscribersbsc

MICHELLE’S WHITE HOUSE LONELINESS 256 GIFT OBAMA IDEAS! EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT FROM HIS NEW BOOK MAGAZINE STYLE MILITARY TWO-STEP Supermarkets enjoy Lobbyists given BBC £1.9bn tax windfall

Sam Chambers the business rates relief. “It’s now Retail Correspondent clear that supermarkets didn’t need this concession on business secret access to Supermarkets are under growing rates, yet they haven’t paid it back pressure to hand back almost and are, in effect, paying it out to £1.9bn after sparking outrage by shareholders,” said the Conser- rewarding shareholders with hun- vative MP Kevin Hollinrake. dreds of millions of pounds in pay- “Morally, if they wanted to pay outs at the same time as claiming a dividends, they should have Covid meetings huge government discount. offered to return the business rates The big four — Tesco, Sains- relief to the Treasury.” bury’s, Asda and Morrisons — and Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Lib- discounters Aldi and Lidl will col- eral Democrats, said the govern- W‘Chumocracy’ row at heart of government lectively save the huge sum thanks ment made a “huge mistake in the to the Treasury’s 12-month holiday design of the business rates holi- on business rates, according to the day”, adding: “It must have known coe-Watson’scoe-W appointment advisory firm Altus. that sectors without restrictions, INVESTIGATION waswa “incomprehensible”. The tax break was designed in such as food retail, would be THREE HeH said: “I think the haste in March to help high-street boosted when others in total lock- Gabriel Pogrund public interest requires stores with the corporate equiva- down would be hit. Whitehall Correspondent OF that appointments to lent of council tax. “These supermarkets really public office should go While many are struggling, need to look at themselves. Any One of Britain’s most influential THEM throught a public proc- supermarkets have been among extra cash should have been given lobbyists secretly served as an ess.”e the rare winners of the pandemic to their employees, many of whom adviser to a health minister for six IN THISIS The DHSC and Pascoe- as panic buying sent shoppers are low-paid, or to their millions of months — before sending sensitive WatsonWat declined to say flocking to their stores and the customers who have been strug- information on lockdown policy to whetherwhethe he signed a confidential- lockdown triggered a surge in gling during this pandemic.” paying clients. MARRIAGERIAGE ity agagreement.re A friend said his demand for their online services. The shadow business minster George Pascoe-Watson is chair- THE WEEK IT FELL APART role involved giving his thoughts This has allowed the three stock Lucy Powell said: “If the public is to man of Portland Communications, PAGES 6-7E X on the “media landscape”. market listed supermarket giants — have confidence in these meas- a lobbying firm that represents Another Portland consultant Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons ures, ministers must ensure tax- pharmaceutical companies, weap- and Tory peer, Lord O’Shaugh- — to declare dividends totalling payers’ money supports UK jobs.” ons manufacturers and banks. — which was unpaid — but he nessy, was paid by the government more than £1.3bn since the onset of In the latest lockdown in The Department of Health and remained until October 7. On Octo- for his work as an “external the pandemic. England, supermarkets have been Social Care (DHSC) appointed Pas- ber 15, he emailed clients revealing adviser” until August. O’Shaugh- Sainsbury’s delivered a blow to allowed to sell goods ranging from coe-Watson, 55, a former journal- he had been “privately advised” nessy, 44, took part in a phone call its workforce this month, saying it clothes to electricals, alongside ist, as an adviser during the pan- that restrictions in London with Bethell and Boston Consult- would close 420 of its Argos stores food. Most of their high-street demic’s first wave on April 9 launched that day would run to ing Group, a Portland client that and all of its in-store meat, fish and rivals have been forced to close. without announcing the move. spring 2021, adding: “Decision- has gone onto receive more than delicatessen counters, with the Tesco declared £950m of divi- He participated in daily strate- makers have told me personally.” £20m in government contracts. loss of 3,500 jobs. It also declared a dend payouts to shareholders this gic discussions chaired by Lord A fortnight later, Portland part- Portland has a number of £231m payout, almost exactly the year. It said last month that half- Bethell, a hereditary peer and ners wrote to clients informing former Tory advisers on its staff. It amount it has saved in tax relief. year sales rose 8.5% to £24.3bn, former lobbyist who serves as test them that Boris Johnson was con- is owned by Omnicom, a New York The supermarkets are under with operating profits up by 4.4% and trace minister, for six months. sidering a national lockdown — and media company with annual reve- growing pressure from across the to £1.2bn. In August the biggest Bethell, 53, was a surprise appoint- that he was likely to “announce nue of $15bn. Recent clients political spectrum to hand back Continued on page 2→ ment in March, having chaired next week that he is prepared to include Pfizer, Barclays and HSBC. Matt Hancock’s leadership cam- ‘sacrifice November to save The DHSC said: “We have drawn The television presenter and NEWMAN’S VIEW INDEX paign in 2019 and given a £5,000 December’”. The note came three on the expertise of a number of pri- former Royal Marine donation. Hancock, the health sec- days before details appeared in vate sector partners who provided JJ Chalmers and Amy Dowden Lottery News 2 retary, and Baroness Harding, the newspapers, prompting the PM to advice and expertise to assist in appearing on the BBC’s Weather News 35 head of test and trace, are under- order a leak inquiry. Whitehall vital work.” Pascoe-Watson said: “I Strictly Come Dancing last Letters News 30 stood to have joined calls includ- sources insist that Pascoe-Watson fully declared my role and respon- night. Prince Harry, left, a ing Pascoe-Watson and senior offi- had no advance warning of the sec- sibilities at Portland Communica- friend of Chalmers, recorded Sudoku News 34 cials about how to communicate ond lockdown, which was not dis- tions to the DHSC ... the informa- a message of support from his TV & Radio Culture 29 announcements and policy. cussed formally until after the tion shared with clients on October home in Los Angeles, but The disclosures will reignite the October 29 email had been sent. 15 and 29 was in no way connected royal sources said the duke’s row over “chumocracy”. Pascoe- Lord Feldman, a lobbyist and to the test and trace calls, in which decision was surprising given Watson is the latest person to have former chairman of the Conserva- I was no longer a participant.” the fallout over the BBC’s been given a role and access to tive Party, also advised Bethell O’Shaughnessy said his role had Panorama interview with his Whitehall without any public proc- between March and May. been approved by the DHSC and mother, Diana, Princess of ess or announcement. Sir Alistair Graham, former declared in his register of interests. Wales. Full story, page 5 Civil servants expressed con- chairman of the committee on y(7HA9F6*LNSTRN( |||+[!. cerns about Pascoe-Watson’s role standards in public life, said Pas- The chumocracy, pages 8-9 2 The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 NEWS Nine award nominations ... for the Press Gazette’s prestigious British Journalism awards PM fears revenge of sacked aides

Our political editor, Tim Shipman, is shortlisted in the politics the Jennifer Arcuri scandal and SAS war Kenza and his new press secretary, Allegra l Overhaul Tory campaign headquar- category, Tony Allen-Mills and Andrew Gregory are jointly crimes received two nominations in the Bryan was Boris Johnson is taking Stratton. A leading Brexiteer claimed that ters so it can support the new intake of contesting the science journalism prize, Decca Aitkenhead is in the investigation category and was also nominated action to woo back Johnson has lost his focus and could not MPs, many of whom think they were running for interviewer of the year and Katie Glass made the final recognised in the anti-corruption and in the new make, or stick to, any decisions. They ignored while Cummings was at No 10 line-up for the features writing accolade. foreign sections. The team consists of journalist of fractious MPs tempted to said that a campaign to expose his short- l Hold more meetings with backbench- The Insight Team received an impressive four nominations. Its Jonathan Calvert, George Arbuthnott the year join a possible campaign comings could be launched soon. ers and visit the Commons tea room work on the government’s mishandling of the coronavirus crisis, and David Collins category The source said: “The long-term ques- more often to undermine him tion is: will the party do what it always l Send out senior aides, such as Stratton, does? Will it think it might lose an elec- to talk to Conservative MPs and listen to tion and flip and go for someone else like their concerns Today’s Tim Shipman Political Editor highlights Rishi Sunak?” l Set up taskforces on issues such as lev- MAGAZINE Boris Johnson is to launch a charm offen- Friends of Cummings hit back last elling up and the Union to ensure that sive aimed at Tory MPs this week in an night, with one saying: “It’s the end of MPs can feed into policy in key areas. effort to shore up his position, amid days. It’s a story as old as time. The Mad The outreach effort is designed to 6am Jenny Kleeman and Luke Jones with Breakfast warnings he will face a campaign to Queen destroys the court.” show Johnson is serious about his “level- Film-maker and former adviser to Barack Obama, Arun ELECTRIC undermine him after Dominic Cummings In an attempt to get his premiership ling-up agenda”. One source said: “There Chaudhary (8.35am). Ed Caesar of The New Yorker on his CAR GUIDE left Downing Street abruptly. back on track, Johnson will set up a prime have not been cabinet committee meet- new book, The Moth and the Mountain (9.35am) The prime minister will use a “reset” of minister’s policy board, chaired by the ings on anything other than Covid and 10am-1pm G&T with Gloria de Piero and Tom Newton Everything you his premiership to offer fractious back- MP and former think tank boss Neil Brexit for months. That is going to Dunn benchers the chance to write govern- O’Brien. Its aim will be to develop legisla- change.” Johnson is also expected to Former chief medical officer Professor need to know Dame Sally Davies, right (11am) ment policy on “levelling up”, as fears tion that will appeal to the working-class launch a 10-point plan for the environ- about the plug-in grow about senior aides who are ques- leave voters that gave Johnson victory in ment next week, featuring a round table 4pm-7pm Ayesha Hazarika Mo Lee, author of revolution, from tioning his suitability for the job. the general election last year. with green groups — an initiative that Facing the Yorkshire Ripper (4.30pm) Conservative whips have been picking O’Brien worked with George Osborne Cummings and Cain blocked for months. best buys to tax up intelligence that some people who are when the former chancellor devised the He has not settled on a new chief of close to Cummings and Lee Cain, the Northern Powerhouse and is an expert in staff although Lord True and Lord prime minister’s former spin doctor, may the area. The policy board was last seen Bridges of Headley and Brexit negotiator HOME & TRAVEL CULTURE move against Johnson. when David Cameron was in No 10. Lord Frost are thought to be in the frame. Last week they lost a power struggle Under the PM’s plan to revive his repu- THE CHOCOLATE-BOX WARS RECREATING with Johnson’s fiancée, Carrie Symonds, tation among MPs he will also: Three in the marriage, pages 6-7 A buying frenzy, rising prices and new planning MAGGIE 300 YEARS OF HISTORY CUT DOWN FOR HS2 rules — a perfect Cotswold storm is brewing Gillian Anderson MAUREEN MCLEAN in The Crown is the latest attempt to pin down the elusive Iron Lady SPORT NEWS REVIEW RUGBY STALKED BY SPECIAL THE RIPPER Stephen Jones After the death and Stuart last week of Peter Barnes on Sutcliffe, one England’s woman tells of her campaign narrow escape

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The trunk of a lone oak evicted activists including rest not on seaborne and adjustments to the tree, which provided shade the eco-warrior known as conquest but with great route to mitigate the and shelter in the Chilterns Swampy, from the nearby infrastructure projects, led destruction. The first for more than 300 years, Jones’ Hill Wood, near by the high-speed line phase will directly affect lies stranded in a muddy Wendover, snaking north from London 32 ancient woods, and field, writes Nicholas Buckinghamshire. to Birmingham, and then clearing works began in Hellen. It was sacrificed to In the era before onwards to Manchester Warwickshire in April. ease the passage of ironclad warships, those and Leeds. Such is the depth of construction workers on who planted it, in the reign The Woodland Trust feeling that more than the HS2 railway line. of George I, may have warns that 108 ancient 38,000 people responded Locals remonstrated in envisaged a future in a ship woods are at risk from the to a public consultation on vain with workers wielding as part of the nation’s naval project, and is its environmental impact. chainsaws, who last month might. Our fortunes now campaigning for tunnels @NicholasHellen

I will be fishermen’s friend, vows PM

Tim Shipman Political Editor Both sides have agreed but the two sides have not MPs last night received November 23 is the new resolved so-called “level texts from officials in No 10 Boris Johnson has warned deadline for a trade deal, or playing field” concerns that read: “There will be no that he is not prepared to the sides will prepared to governing how closely the UK backsliding on Brexit.” become “another Ted Heath” trade on World Trade will have to adhere to EU Frost will travel to Brussels by selling out British Organisation terms. “If a deal rules. today ahead of talks resuming fishermen as Brexit talks happens, we think it will be Downing Street was last in earnest tomorrow. The enter their final eight days. early that week,” a source night fighting to reassure deadline next week will give Sources close to the said. “It could conceivably go Tory MPs that the departure the EU time to ratify any deal negotiations say the EU is another day or two, but I of Dominic Cummings, the and both sides time to insisting Britain retains less don’t see how it can go any architect of Vote Leave’s win prepare for a no deal if than a fifth of UK fish stocks longer than that.” in the 2016 referendum, necessary. for its vessels after the Johnson repeatedly told would not affect its approach. If Frost succeeds in transition phase ends, a aides last week that he was Brexiteer MPs have been securing a deal, he is figure labelled “derisory” by not prepared to settle for contacted by allies of Nigel supposed to focus on his role government officials. such a deal on fishing, citing Farage, warning that the UK as Johnson’s new national Britain is demanding that the example of the former could agree an extension to security adviser. But some in more than half the fish in Tory prime minister Edward the transition period now government believe that he British waters be reserved for Heath, whose name is still a that Cummings has departed. would be an ideal candidate UK-based fishing vessels. But byword for betrayal in fishing The claims were dismissed as to take over as the Downing the EU’s current offer would communities. “He has been “utter rubbish” by No 10, Street chief of staff. allow only the repatriation of going around all week saying which stressed Lord Frost, “What they need is between 10% and 20% of that he’s not prepared to be the chief Brexit negotiator, someone who does the stuff stocks. “The figure is in the the new Ted Heath,” another received assurances from that Boris doesn’t do, and teens, percentage wise,” said official said. Johnson on Wednesday that they need a diplomat — and a senior government source. Fishing quotas remain the his approach to Brexit would he is literally that,” said one “It’s ridiculous.” outstanding issue in dispute, remain unchanged. senior Tory.

by declaring a special which have collectively directors had fiduciary duties dividend of £250m after its surpassed £1bn so far. The to shareholders. Big four’s half-year profits more than biggest extra cost has come The kitchen supplier doubled to £236m, helped by from paying the salaries of Howdens is the only listed being allowed to stay open as tens of thousands of new retailer to have announced £1.9bn rivals deemed “non- workers, principally that it plans to return the essential” were forced to shut employed on online orders, business rates relief it in the spring. which have almost doubled received. Its chairman, tax As its largest shareholders, this year. Many of those staff Richard Pennycook, a former the Arora brothers, Simon, will stay on. finance director at Morrisons Bobby and Robin, will pocket “It’s pretty clear that and chief executive of the windfall £37m of the payout. supermarkets have profited Co-op, said it did not “sit Supermarkets said part of from this crisis and some of right” that the company their payouts related to last the costs have been incurred would be taking a handout year’s performance and to chase additional sales,” with one hand and paying a →Continued from page 1 many of their small said former Sainsbury’s chief dividend with the other. supermarket chain said it shareholders, such as executive Justin King, who The Treasury said the relief would create 16,000 new pensioners, depended on the now sits on the board of had “provided a lifeline to permanent jobs after dividend income. Marks & Spencer. businesses ... helping to “exceptional growth” in its They said the business However, he added that it protect jobs”. online business. rates relief had been largely was quite difficult for a public The discount retailer B&M eaten up by costs arising from company to return the Supermarkets sweep up, stoked more anger last week operating in the pandemic, business rates relief because Business, pages 4-5 The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 3 NEWS Quick reactions save Captain Slow from car’s ‘ghost in machine’ update

Hi-tech cars can be reprogrammed by manufacturers overnight, with unsettling effects, as owners such as James May have found

Nick Rufford to the kerb before.” May said he did not James May with and infotainment features. The explicit That doesn’t stop us from using broad- recall being told by Tesla about his new his £86,000, consent of the user is a precondition for band, gas, water, electricity, Gmail etc. When you get in your car in the morning, safety feature — Emergency Lane Depar- battery-powered updates, car companies insist. Just because it can be turned off doesn’t you might expect it to be the car that you ture Avoidance — in a software change the Tesla Mercedes said that more than 50 mean it’s a remotely likely possibility.” left the night before. California-based Tesla had launched after features of its new S-Class — due in UK Tesla has used over-the-air updates to Not any more. James May, the tele- he ordered the car last year. showrooms next year — will be updatable come to the aid of drivers. In 2017 it vision presenter, and Grant Shapps, the Tesla said the steering correction, over the air via a mobile data connection. unlocked extra battery capacity in cars in transport secretary, have found that their which can be switched off at the start of These include Drive Pilot, an automated Florida to help people flee Hurricane cars behaved differently after software each journey, was designed to guide a system that restricts the car’s maximum Irma. The updates gave cheaper Tesla changes, some of them delivered silently vehicle back into the driving lane if it speed to keep within limits. models the range of more expensive through the air. detected that it was veering off course or Critics have taken to online forums to models to help owners reach safety. For May, it was as if there was a ghost was too close to the edge of the road. question whether owners are really in Many owners eagerly await updates. in the machine when his car — a Tesla The company says drivers have to charge of modern cars when the vehicles When Elon Musk, Tesla’s chief executive, Model S — was tugged towards the middle acknowledge that they have read and can be reprogrammed from a distance by turned on Full Self-Driving for some own- of a narrow road as he hugged the verge understood instructions about the the manufacturer. ers last month, early-adopters posted vid- to avoid oncoming traffic. system when it is first downloaded to Sergio Matteo Savaresi, professor of eos of themselves as their cars changed It was a feature that May, 57, did not enable them to clear the information automatic control at the Politecnico di lanes and navigated around other vehi- know that his car had acquired until the from a console screen. Milano, said systems that allowed over- cles without them touching the controls. drama on a Wiltshire country lane. May admitted that he may have been the-air updates could in theory be used to UK law requires drivers to be in full “A message came up saying, ‘Correct- sent a notification and had ignored it. that it could move to 2032. A date of 2030 Describing many of the car’s features seize control of a car. “From a purely control, although Shapps’s department is ive steering applied for your safety’,” said “I can tell you unequivocally that I could be announced shortly, albeit with a as “amazing” and its technology as technical standpoint, the car can be dis- consulting on allowing drivers to surren- May. “I thought: it’s actually not for my wouldn’t have read it because we’re all deadline of 2035 for vans and a phased “extraordinary”, he nevertheless con- abled by the car-maker and can be der partial control to an Automated Lane safety, because there’s a bloody great long past reading that bollocks. It’s only exit for plug-in hybrids. fessed to not being sure what it might do remotely operated if a fast connection Keeping System (ALKS), which is fitted to tractor coming the other way.” there to satisfy lawyers,” he said. Shapps, who is overseeing the roll-out next: “It’s actually quite hard to know like 5G is available,” he said. many modern cars including models by May — known as Captain Slow in his He said he was otherwise a fan of his policy on automated cars, was also which features are coming [and] which Earlier this year Tesla reportedly dis- Audi, Volkswagen and Mercedes. When Top Gear days — said he wrestled the £86,150 battery-powered Tesla: “It’s caught unawares by over-the-air changes new things they’re adding,” he said. abled software on a Model S that enabled activated, the system adjusts the steering wheel and the encounter with the tractor polite, the day-to-day costs are low and it made by Tesla to the £44,000 Model 3 Most recently, the Spotify service in the car to steer automatically around to keep the vehicle in its lane. passed off without incident. “I had gone feels progressive, even magical. But I’m that he bought last year. When the heat- Shapps’s car went silent until he agreed objects and make decisions about lane Shapps said such features “redefine close to the edge of the road and the car not blind to its shortcomings.” ing in the rear seats went cold, he to pay for a £9.99 monthly subscription. changing. A dealer had bought the car at the way we think of a car” and made it obviously thought, ‘This bloke’s about to The car industry is set for a ban on the assumed there was a malfunction until he (This time the children won.) The fact auction and advertised it with the feature “part machine, part subscription ser- crash.’ If you push [the wheel] hard sale of new diesel and petrol-driven cars learnt that it had been turned off. that such modifications could be made included, but the new owner was asked vice”. He lightheartedly agreed Musk enough you can override it, but because from 2030, with the government poised “When I first got the car, I noticed it “over the air” from California took some by Tesla to pay $8,000 to reactivate it. could theoretically appear on the control it was new and I hadn’t experienced it to announce the death knell for the com- had heated rear seats, but after three getting used to, he admitted. Tesla fans defended the company, screen and demand money, threatening before, it took me by surprise. I thought: bustion engine to meet its target of a zero months they disappeared. Now, if I want Tesla is leading the charge for over-the- pointing out that General Motors can to take over the car “by ransomware”. the robots have taken over.” carbon economy by 2050. to pay for an upgrade, I can put them air (OTA) updates, but the rest of the auto already disable cars that are reported as “Fascinating,” said Shapps. He added: “I don’t know whether it The government has previously con- back. I have not done so — much to my industry is catching up, with many stolen using OnStar, an over-the-air was a recent update or I just hadn’t sulted on bringing forward the deadline kids’ disappointment — because Tesla companies offering to upgrade the way a security system. One wrote: “The pro- Electric car special, Magazine, triggered it because I hadn’t gone so close from 2040 to 2035, and Shapps signalled want £300,” said Shapps, 52. car drives or to sell additional “comfort” vider of any service can shut it down. pages 49-57

Cut-price celebs Zoom in for virtual Christmas parties Harry’s Strictly

Jason Allardyce and surprise trips up Emily Kent Smith Invictus friend The duty mixed with drunkenness of the office Christmas party is bad Roya Nikkhah show support for his fellow enough. Joining the fun thiss Royal Correspondent veterans. year by video call makes thee Last week, it emerged that prospect even worse. A personal message of Buckingham Palace refused But what if Jimmy Carr support from his friend his request for a wreath to be hosted the quiz, Patsy Palmerer Prince Harry could not laid at the Cenotaph on his was the DJ and Michel Rouxx prevent the Strictly Come behalf. The Sussexes visited cooked? Dancing contestant JJ the Los Angeles National After a tough year for Chalmers finishing bottom of Cemetery on Remembrance entertainment, celebrities areare the leaderboard last night. Sunday, where they left a flogging their services for Teasing his friend’s “tight wreath and flowers. festive events, and chargingg blue shorts”, shoes and Chalmers suffered severe as little as £200. Themes “socks pulled up”, a grinning injuries to his face and right include comedy nights, Duke of Sussex said: “You are elbow, and lost two of his quizzes, gin tasting and definitely having an impact fingers when an IED exploded cooking skills. on society now. It doesn’t get while he was on foot patrol in JLA, which in pre-Covid better than that.” Helmand in 2011. times specialised in supplyingng Chalmers, 33, a Royal Three years later, he speakers, has been testing Marine turned TV presenter, competed in the inaugural people on its list to find out who was injured in a bomb Invictus Games in London, who has a knack for virtual blast in Afghanistan in 2011, the Paralympic-style event for entertaining. faces elimination after failing wounded and sick veterans Events held online were to impress judges with his established by Prince Harry, going to be “fantastically lessss military-inspired jive to winning gold and bronze expensive”, said Jeremy Lee,e, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy with medals in cycling and track the agency’s director. partner Amy Dowden. events. He is now an “Companies don’t have to Harry’s contribution to the ambassador for the games. hire somewhere in Park Lanene BBC programme, recorded at A spokesman for Harry or a fancy hotel somewhere, his home in Los Angeles, said: “The duke has known JJ and they don’t have to pay for raised eyebrows at a time for a long time. They’ve been dinner.” when the corporation has in good touch since Strictly So far Jimmy Carr and been under fire for its started and he was keen to fellow comedian Al Murray, handling of the Panorama show his support for a friend the pub landlord, have been interview with his mother so they recorded something confirmed. Diana in 1995, and its together earlier this week.” If a quiz is too tame, response to questions about On the Panorama furore, the Russell Kane is offering a how its journalist Martin spokesman said: “The duke is stand-up comedy night, Bashir secured the interview. obviously aware of it.” tailored to guests’ interests. A senior royal source said: It comes as Harry and The event is not without the although guests will not be wine tasting with the writer Experiences. Last “Strictly Come Dancing is one Meghan have revamped their usual element of risk as able to taste the results. and broadcaster Oz Clarke for month a poll of 1,000 of the BBC’s flagship shows. public relations team. The members of the virtual front Personal trainer Joe Wicks is £4,800. Four bottles of fine people across the UK Given what has been going on couple have hired Christine row may be picked on. available through JLA for wine can be delivered to each found that 26% had a around the BBC Diana saga Schirmer, the former global JLA said prices would group fitness sessions. participant’s door for an virtual Christmas party and the resurfacing of head of communications at range from £2,500 for a Other companies have additional £85 per person. organised. sensationalist stories around social media site Pinterest, as lesser celebrity to £30,000 entered the market. Patsy A 10-minute video call with The research by the the royal family, Harry’s their communications head, for a household name. In Palmer, the EastEnders John Cleese, through a group telephone answering service timing is a little surprising. and Toya Holness, formerly a the basic option, the star A chat actress turned DJ, will “take called Cameo, costs £570. But Moneypenny, found that 54% “Of all the weeks for a director of communications calls in from home, over the decks for your online the actor John Barrowman of those in the 18-to-24 age member of the royal family to for New York’s department of whereas more expensive with John party” via Social Eyes, a will Zoom in for £190. bracket said they would be Clockwise record something on the education, as press secretary. events will be broadcast from virtual events company. Her The Hollywood star Emma attending one. from above: BBC, this wasn’t it.” @RoyaNikkhah a studio. Cleese fee of £1,200 an hour is Stone, the cricketer Ben Of those aged 45 to 54, Emma Stone, Harry, 36, who served 10 Michel Roux, the two-star donated to the children’s Stokes and the Olympic only 13% said they would John Cleese, years in the armed forces Former BBC boss backs Michelin chef, will run a is £570 charity Unicef. sprinter Sir Mo Farah are go, falling to 5% in the 55-64 Jimmy Carr including two tours of new inquiry into Diana Christmas roast session — Hire Space offers a night of available via Celebrity bracket. and Joe Wicks Afghanistan, has been keen to scandal, page 11

We’ll keep the red light burning here: Starmer once boarded above a brothel

Caroline Wheeler, Exactly what was going on Laverne had reason to be who was never invited on the downstairs is not clear, but Falling and Laughing by playing Germany and for the suspicious. Ed Miliband, one programme. Nor do Deputy Political Editor KEIR’S DESERT the song’s lyrics include the Orange Juice “Captures whole stadium to be of Starmer’s predecessors as Starmer’s musical choices A startling revelation about lines: “The chicks are out of ISLAND DISCS those early years at jumping up and down, Labour leader, was mocked betray obvious signs of Sir Keir Starmer’s life as a sight and I am grooving/ The university and beyond.” rocking to this.” for his inclusion of inauthenticity. Three are young lawyer in London crowd is in tonight beggin’ for middle-of -the-road classics linked to his father, mother emerges from the Labour more.” Out on the Floor by Dobie Oh Happy Day by the Edwin Bridge over Troubled Water that appeared designed to and wife and his other leader’s appearance today on Many a politician has Gray “Reminds me of my Hawkins Singers “Reminds by Artists for Grenfell “A appeal to the maximum choices are either safe or BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island risked ridicule by turning up early days in London in a me of all the challenges we reminder that for all the possible number of voters. obscure. The Dobie Gray Discs. He used to live above on the popular castaway really grotty flat above a went through [in Northern factional and party He picked Angels by Robbie track invited the awkward what appears to have been a programme with a poorly sauna and massage parlour Ireland]. “ positions, politics is about Williams and Neil Diamond’s question: is he a good brothel. considered list that seems to that kept interesting hours.” people and Grenfell brought Sweet Caroline, prompting dancer? Introducing one of his have been selected by spin Beethoven: Piano Concerto a shudder to everybody.” the programme’s then He said that to dance to eight musical choices, doctors. Beethoven: The Pastoral No 5 (second movement)* presenter, Kirsty Young, to northern soul music, you Starmer tells the presenter “I’m really hoping your Symphony No 6 (fifth “The music my wife walked Book An atlas so he can remark: “I’m sure there was need “flip-spins and Lauren Laverne that his choices today are entirely movement) “One of my in to at our wedding.” escape back to his family music in there that was very backdrops — a few years ago I fondness for the northern your own and that you dad’s favourite bits of dear to him, but I thought had a go but I wouldn’t be soul classic Out on the Floor haven’t held a focus group to music.” Three Lions by Baddiel, Luxury item A football probably he was also doing foolish enough to try again”. by Dobie Gray reminds him of get approval for these tracks Skinner, and the Lightning what any frontline politician That sounded like a the time he lived in a “grotty first,” Laverne tells Starmer Welcome to My World by Seeds “I was in the upper * The one he picked if he would do and slightly hedging promise: no flip-spins from a flat above a sauna and as the programme begins. Jim Reeves “My mum’s tier for the semi-final of could rescue only one of the his bets.” Starmer government. massage parlour that kept “Did you show any of your favourite song.” Euro 96 when we were eight tracks from the waves Starmer has already fared some interesting hours”. team your list today?” Starmer and wife Victoria better than Jeremy Corbyn, Editorial, page 28

The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 5 NEWS

ALAMY

I’m a bride-to-be ... let me in here! Couples flock to ruinedd cascastletle

Hannah Al-Othman year’s series of I’m a Celebrity the public since 1985, has really keen to try and do.” be crowned the winner on some of the larger arachnids ... Get Me Out of Here! . previously hosted only one Hosting events at the castle December 6. While the found in Australia such as A castle without a roof to The ITV reality show is wedding — and no legal would also help to plug a forecast includes rain, the 10 huntsman spiders, which can protect its inhabitants from usually filmed in the ceremonies. restoration funding black celebrities are less likely to get to about the size of your the Welsh weather might not Australian jungle but the “We’ve had lots of wedding hole that runs into the tens of come face-to-face with some hand”, according to Gavin be the obvious place to get pandemic means it has to stay inquiries. It’s something that millions of pounds. The trust of the giant creepy crawlies Owen, senior animal keeper married. in the UK this year. we will be looking at,” said plans to complete the work in that I’m a Celebrity has at Pili Palas Nature World in However, the derelict Hundreds of couples have Mark Baker, chairman of stages, but it could cost about become famous for. Llangefni, Anglesey. Gwrych castle, near Abergele already inquired about Gwrych Castle Preservation £25m to restore the entire Being showered with Margaret Warren, in north Wales, which has no holding their nuptials at the Trust. “It is a magical place 4,000-acre estate. crickets, mealworms and education manager at the electricity or water, is poised castle. Demand has been so for people to get married, it’s This weekend, celebrities cockroaches is still de rigueur Welsh Mountain Zoo, said it to find a new life as a wedding high that its owners are so special. — including the broadcaster for the campmates, though. was “unlikely” Welsh insects venue after being chosen as planning to apply for a “As a charity, we really Victoria Derbyshire, the as they try to win star tokens would be on the show: the location for this wedding licence. want to ... help people. Olympian Sir Mo Farah and to exchange for meals. “Fortunately in north Wales A cardboard cutout of The grade I listed Making their special day even the television presenter The giant house spider has we don’t have any reality TV hosts Ant and 19th-century country house, more special is something Vernon Kay — were locked a leg span of up to 3in, which invertebrates to be afraid of.” Dec appears in Abergele. which has been closed to that we’re away in the wreck, battling to is “minuscule compared to @Hannah AlOthman Top, Gwrych castle Natural history GCSE to tempt pupils outdoors

Children would study local ‘patches of wilderness’ for the proposed new exam

Sian Griffiths fauna and studying the hedgehogs in urban gardens, which can which connects young people with people on the effect of human life on the people respond to the environment as Education Editor impact of man on nature. be encouraged to nest if open areas are nature has to be explored for the sake of planet.” well as the science, will take us where we On Tyneside this could mean studying left a little overgrown and wild. their mental and physical health and, Schools are particularly keen to find need to be. I always say ‘childhood lasts a A GCSE in natural history could be a colony of breeding kittiwakes nesting at Packham has published a manifesto to once connected, for the health of nature ways of stopping pupils skipping school lifetime’ and their education is their pass- introduced to give teenagers the chance Tyne Bridge where birds have died in help the public save Britain’s wildlife. too,” Packham said. to attend climate change protests, such as port to life.” to ditch their smartphones and head into nets and on spikes. Youngsters in Shef- One in five mammals is at high risk of “What I like most about the GCSE idea those inspired by the Swedish teenager Thomas’s, a group of schools in Lon- the great outdoors to study and help field might study wild flowers such as the extinction, he said, and insects and farm- is that it’s available to everyone in school, Greta Thunberg, who has twice been don that includes Thomas’s Battersea, save some of Britain’s endangered wild- rare, marsh-loving ragged robin in Carr land birds are in decline. “Anything all backgrounds, all ethnicities. nominated for the Nobel peace prize. which is attended by Prince George and life and plants. House meadows. In Somerset pupils “Unfortunately, as things stand, the Campaigners want subjects such as Princess Charlotte, is already overhaul- It would be one of the first new GCSEs could study the winter roost of starlings. Teenagers could vast majority of young people who turn natural history to start being taught — in ing its timetable with the aim of teaching to be introduced to UK schools since The Avalon marshes host a murmuration study the ragged up in nature reserve car parks arrive in outdoor lessons — from the age of five in up to one in five lessons outdoors. computer science in 2014. every year, with huge numbers of birds robin, below, or SUVs or shiny 4x4s. They are white and primary schools as part of a push to Under the new curriculum, George Tim Smit, 66, creator of the Eden gathering from October. Chalkhill butterfly, middle class. Imagine all kinds of pupils, “green the curriculum” and ease mental will learn to kindle a fire outdoors by the Project in Cornwall, who was on the Schools in Eastbourne, East Sussex, top. Right, heads down, learning about wildlife ... health pressures on youngsters focused age of eight. By nine, he will be taught to advisory group for the new GCSE, said: are already engaged in a project to rewild Greta Thunberg my kind of lesson.” on screens in classrooms and use a knife to whittle wood. “If I was going to be put to death tomor- parts of the town to create conditions for Meanwhile, children are thought to be under pressure to pass aca- The children’s mother, the Duch- row and could change one thing it would the Chalkhill blue butterflies to flourish. at risk of “nature deficit disorder”, demic exams. ess of Cambridge, is an advocate of be that natural history was taught in Lord Lucas, a Tory peer who advised with one study finding that one in The former Play School the importance of outdoor play. schools from five to 19. Then people OCR on the exam and who grew up and nine had not visited a forest, park presenter Baroness Benja- Last year she helped to design a would not do the damage to the planet still lives in the coastal town, said: “In or beach for more than a year. Many min said: “Our children’s garden at the Chelsea flower show they do now.” Eastbourne, blue butterflies have been cannot name plants, or mammals such as wellbeing is what matters in west London to promote the The proposed exam, drawn up by the decimated. You do not get the feeling that voles or shrews. most. To be at one with benefits of being outside. OCR exam board, is supported by the the blue butterflies are rising up around The new exam, which would start in nature, to have a close under- Smit said: “I also feel that the Harmony project inspired by the Prince you as I used to get as a boy. 2023, is a challenge to ministers’ policy of standing of it, nourishes them. education system we have right of Wales. It is also backed by the Natural “We will have to spend two years creat- insisting that 16-year-olds take eight For them to grow up with a now is on a teetering plat- History Museum and the broadcasters ing the conditions so they can spread. We academic subjects at GCSE, with a focus love of the natural world form because so many Chris Packham and Baroness Benjamin. are hoping each school will do this in a on passing maths and English. guarantees that world’s teachers know ... this is The proposed syllabus landed on minis- patch. And then we will suddenly find in However, it is backed by youngsters future. justj ters’ desks last month. Eastbourne we have lots of butterflies.” and the public. Nine out of 10 of the 2,200 “So a natural history qualifications, not an The qualification could include a Teenagers in Derbyshire or the South people polled by OCR supported it. One GCSE, reaching back education. We have project to be carried out by pupils in a Downs might opt to study colonies of teenager said: “I think it is really impor- into the primary all felt that for a long local “patch of natural wilderness” as water voles, another endangered tant to learn about the world around us. curriculum, reaching time.” well as learning the names of flora and species. In cities, teenagers could study It’s even more important to be educating out to all the ways that @SianGriffiths6

Royal Marines on cloud nine to see their Let the plane go without us — man parachuted in as Queen’s equerry we only came for the booze

Roya Nikkhah believed to have supported White, who is in his general of the Royal Marines, period” agreed with the Julieanne Corr way flight from Dublin to which this appeared to be, Royal Correspondent White’s appointment. thirties, joined the Royal and recently completed a Queen aimed to leave the Gatwick, with no intention of could leave people open to White beat off stiff Marines in 2007 and is posting at Navy Command, door open for him to resume Drinkers in Ireland are flying. He posted: “When the prosecution. The Queen has appointed a competition: the Queen, 94, understood to have the Royal Navy’s some of his military links, buying cheap one-way flights pubs are closed and the only It confirmed that there it Royal Marines officer as her interviewed several extensive operational headquarters in Portsmouth. including his honorary role to gain access to the bars in place serving is the airport, was possible to leave the equerry, one of the most candidates. The equerry is experience with the elite A senior marines source with the Royal Marines, but airport departure lounges, you book a €9.99 flight (that “airside” section of terminal important positions in the her “eyes and ears”, always in commando force. He has said: “Tom’s a superstar, and that now seems unlikely. which have remained open you have no intention of 1, other than by boarding a royal household. close attendance to assist her served as the military this is a deeply significant Tensions between Harry while every other pub in the getting on) to go for beers plane. DAA pointed out that In a “deeply significant” with engagements and assistant to Major General appointment by Her Majesty. and the royal family were country is shut. with the lads, down there for the group would have had to move after Prince Harry welcome guests. Matt Holmes, commandant We were delighted when evident last week when it One group of tipplers from dancing.” book flights at a cost of €9.99 stepped back from his role as Harry was appointed captain emerged that Buckingham south Dublin boasted on The post included an each and buy a €9 meal. “The captain general of the general. Him walking away Palace refused his request for Facebook last week they had image of Dublin airport’s group would have had to marines, Major Tom White, was a huge disappointment. a wreath to be laid at the bought €9.99 flights out of Marqette bar, alongside a spend €75.96, plus the cost of who will start next month, The Royal Marines have felt Cenotaph on his behalf. Ireland purely to drink pints picture of four pints and a travel to and from Dublin will become the first they’ve been handed from Princess Anne, 70, is in line to at the airside bar for several boarding pass for a flight to airport, before they bought a commando to hold the pillar to post but this is a be the next Royal Marines hours. They then left the Gatwick. single alcoholic beverage.” position of equerry, the proud moment.” captain general. terminal building — on foot. Doran admitted he was Catherine Murphy, joint monarch’s right-hand man. Another source who has White takes over the They did not breach public responsible for the post and leader of the Social The appointment has been worked with White said: “He equerry role from Lieutenant health guidelines, according the events described were Democrats party, said pub welcomed by military sources is one of the best Royal Colonel Nana Kofi Twumasi- to police, who say that as long true. When contacted, he owners whose premises had as a symbolic pledge of Marines officers I’ve come Ankrah, 41. Known as “TA” to as people have a valid said: “I don’t want to answer been shut for weeks were support for the Royal Marines across. Intelligent, funny — colleagues and friends, he boarding pass and buy a €9 any questions — I just want likely to be aggrieved that after the “huge he’ll take on the role with made history in 2017 as the meal, they can buy alcohol at the story to be put to bed.” airport bars were still serving. disappointment” of the Duke aplomb.” first black equerry appointed airport bars even if they do Police are not investigating “It didn’t even occur to me of Sussex relinquishing his Harry, 36, gave up his to the royal household. not board a flight. the matter. they would be open,” she position in March. military posts after stepping A royal source said: “TA is In the Facebook post, DAA, which runs Dublin said. “It’s kind of a mockery The Duke of Edinburgh, back from royal duties in an exceptionally popular Davie Doran from airport, said it had no of the rules, it circumvents 99, who handed over the role March and moving to member of the household Rathfarnham, south Dublin, evidence the incident them. The rules aren’t there of captain general to Harry in California with the Duchess of who will be much missed.” claimed that he and some occurred but an intentional to punish people but for 2017 after 64 years in post, is Nana Kofi Twumasi-Ankrah, the Queen’s current equerry Sussex. A year-long “review @RoyaNikkhah friends each booked a one- breach of airport bylaws, public health reasons.” 6 NEWSPOLITICS There were three of them in this marriage

In two tumultuous days, the Vote Leave contingent that brought the PM to power was expunged from No 10. But the undignified power struggle goes way beyond the tensions between Carrie Symonds and Dominic Cummings, reveals Tim Shipman

he crunch moment of a week she was implacably opposed to Cain mak- government communications between Several that shook Boris Johnson’s pre- ing the step up. “Lee realised he would Cain, a former tabloid reporter, and Alle- months ago John- miership came on Wednesday not have the support of Carrie to do the gra Stratton, the former television son discussed the evening as he was having con- job,” a friend said. “It was not a secret in reporter Johnson had recruited to be his chief of staff role with versations with the two most the building that she had intervened.” new press secretary. Sajid Javid, the former important women in his life — Cain told Johnson: “It won’t be in your But the real story is that the events of chancellor. Javid made Tthe Queen and his fiancée. At best interests for me to do the job. The last week lay in three meals Johnson had clear he could not work with 6.30pm the prime minister was best thing you can do would be to accept at Chequers, his country retreat, plus an Cummings, who had engi- in his study with Lee Cain, his director of my resignation.” impromptu sausage-and-mash supper in neered his ousting from the Trea- communications, discussing a plan to Johnson’s partner had staged an inter- Downing Street. Call it four dinners and a sury in a reshuffle earlier this year. make him the Downing Street chief of vention that changed the face of govern- political funeral. More recently Johnson phoned Lord staff. News of the appointment had bro- ment and led one minister to waspishly Underlying it all was the conclusion Feldman, David Cameron’s party chair- ken the night before and had led to a compare Symonds to Elizabeth I in the prime minister had come to that his man, and asked him to do the job. Feld- backlash from ministers and MPs. Blackadder II. “This week we’ve seen government was not working with Cum- man was also unprepared to work with At that moment a call came through who’s queen,” he said. mings at its head. “This whole thing Cummings. from Buckingham Palace putting John- After another 48 hours of tumultuous started about a month or six weeks ago, Cain was already doing parts of the job. son through for his weekly audience with personal drama and vicious infighting, when Boris finally resolved that he had to When Johnson, and many other senior the Queen, now a remote event because both Dominic Cummings, Johnson’s chief get rid of Cummings,” a senior Tory said. figures fell ill with Covid in spring, it was of the coronavirus. adviser, and Cain were gone from No 10 More intriguing still, it was Cain, Cum- Cain who stepped up and “kept the show the “stop Allegra Cain left the room. When he returned, and his premiership was set on a different mings’s loyal lieutenant, who had helped on the road” effectively running No 10 candidate”. She pre- it became clear to him that Johnson had path. Johnson to conclude that something had while Dominic Raab, the foreign secre- ferred Angus Walker, a also had a conversation with his fiancée The fall of Cummings appeared to be to change, setting in train events that tary, acted as chairman of the cabinet. In former ITV colleague who is now Carrie Symonds. It was equally clear that fallout from a bitter power struggle over would sweep them both away. the past month, as Cummings focused on special adviser to Gavin Williamson, This is not just a story of internecine testing, Cain again assumed greater the education secretary. Stratton told warfare at the heart of government; it was responsibilities. A No 10 colleague said: Cain: “I can’t work with you.” She texted vivid dramatisation of the contradictions “Lee corrals the senior team — he makes Johnson that she would quit and he in the prime minister’s own political sure things are done on deadline. Advis- should appoint Price instead. identity and character, a battle for the ers go to Lee when they want decisions On November 4 — two Wednesdays ago soul of Johnson. taken. He knows what Boris thinks.” — Johnson asked Stratton back to Che- At its simplest, it was a division quers for lunch with him and Symonds: between the Vote Leave faction of Brexit- the third key meal. There he suggested eer buccaneers — led by Cummings and STRATTON MAKES HER PITCH that Cain would be chief of staff and the Cain — who guided Johnson to his victo- These talks about shaking up the opera- two women told him it was a bad move. ries in the 2016 EU referendum, the Tory tion coincided with the recruitment of Both felt his communications strategy leadership contest and last year’s elec- Stratton to front Downing Street press had proved ineffective. Both also had tion — and others, led by Symonds and conferences. The idea of taking media concerns about the macho culture over Stratton, who remember more fondly the briefings in front of camera was Cain’s which he and Cummings presided in consensual figure who twice won the idea, but he did not want Stratton — at Downing Street, which they felt had London mayoralty in a Labour city. that point Rishi Sunak’s spin doctor. made life uncomfortable for several In the end, Johnson decided he quite Yet at a dinner at Chequers in July at young women advisers. liked that version of himself too. As one which Johnson and Symonds hosted “Carrie just felt very clearly and firmly cabinet minister put it: “Boris has finally Sunak, Stratton and their partners, the that he was wrong for Boris and for the decided that he wants to be the prime prime minister had urged Stratton to do government and for the agenda and for minister rather than a kidnap victim.” his relationships with people,” a friend said. “She just felt he was at the heart of THE DOSSIER DINNER LEE CAIN all the stuff that hadn’t been working.” FORMER Cain got wind of the conversation and The drama began in the third week of COMMUNICATIONS wrote a letter of resignation. Johnson tex- October when Simon Case, the new cabi- DIRECTOR AT NO 10 ted him to say he would not accept it. On net secretary, approached Cain “on the Thursday, Johnson waved Cain’s let- behalf of the PM” about whether he ter at Stratton and made clear she would would be interested in becoming chief of have to report to Cain. On her kitchen staff. Seeing his opportunity, Cain wrote wall at home was a picture of Anthony a note for Johnson on what was wrong Scaramucci, who lasted as Donald with the No 10 operation — a memo sent Trump’s communications director for 11 on October 26. “It was unforgiving about days. It had long been the joke in her fam- the problems with the operation,” one of ily about whether she would make it to 12 those familiar with the document said. days. That now looked doubtful. “About individuals and structures.” Last Sunday, Johnson cooked sausages Cain’s conclusion, the source said, while Cain mashed potato and swede into was: “It was all about how there was no Boris cooked a lumpy accompaniment and the two ate central figure. It said there were prob- together in the Downing Street garden. lems in the private office, with policy sausages and Cain Over more than two hours they discussed development and CCHQ” — Conservative the shortcomings of the operation. “In campaign headquarters. Cain wanted a made lumpy mash the middle of this Covid crisis, it’s your “central figure pulling it all together”. duty to the country to stay,” Johnson said. This implied criticism of Martin Reyn- olds, Johnson’s principal private secre- tary; Munira Mirza, the head of policy; the job. “You used to be the most popular THE VOLCANO BLOWS and Tory chairwoman Amanda Milling. politician in Britain,” she told Johnson. The following day the mood in No 10 was But the lack of a central figure could only She outlined ideas to help him win back strange. One witness said Cain was “walk- refer to Cummings. public approval. “Boris wants to be loved ing around the building whistling”. Strat- Two days later, on October 28, Cain and he saw that Allegra had helped Rishi ton considered resigning. Johnson told had dinner at Chequers with the prime become popular,” said a ministerial aide. her it was her duty to serve. “It felt like a minister and Symonds. “They chatted “He wanted some of that.” volcano was going to blow,” said one wit- about what was wrong with the opera- Cain is understood to have been furi- ness. “You could see the smoke starting tion, warts and all,” an insider said. John- ous when he heard about the exchanges. to swirl. The birds were flying away.” son said he agreed with Cain’s assess- He was no longer in control of a process At 7pm that evening Johnson called in ments and would be keen for him to he had set in train. He sought to encour- Cain and said he did want him to be chief implement them. Johnson did not make age others to apply for the job. In the of staff. He had sounded out Case and an explicit offer of the chief of staff role, interviews Stratton and the BBC’s Ellie Lord Udny-Lister, his other senior but Cain appeared to be in pole position. Price were “by a distance” the best candi- adviser. They were keen on the idea. Case The situation had acquired urgency dates and went forward to a mock press wanted more political grip. Lister, 71, because Cummings had taken himself off conference and a “chemistry test” inter- agreed to remain in No 10 to help Cain to lead the government’s “moonshot” view with Johnson. bed into his new role. At this point John- programme for mass testing and had Those who were there say Price’s son had not consulted Cummings — even less bandwidth than usual for run- “folksy” approach was more effective something that belies the notion that the ning the No 10 operation. than Stratton’s strident one to the mock “dark lord” of Downing Street was Johnson was already unhappy at the press conference, but that Stratton’s behind a plot to install his closest ally. way No 10 was functioning, detecting a interview with Johnson was better. He Allies of Cain say he asked for 24 hours lack of grip over the debacle concerning chose Stratton. to think about it and stressed that he the downgrading of exam results in Sep- She took the job on the basis that she would need the backing of Symonds if he tember and funding free school meals, a would report to the prime minister. Cain was to do the job. His enemies say John- mess that put the government at odds insisted she work to him and his deputy son had not made a firm offer. Either way, with the footballer Marcus Rashford. “He Jack Doyle. They clashed over whether the following evening the story leaked to was very unhappy about that,” said a No Stratton would get a pay rise and an office The Times, along with the view that 10 official. “It hasn’t been working for a (she didn’t). Cain insisted that he appoint access to Johnson should be restricted to long time and that was something he rec- her deputy and said he wanted Price. Cummings, Cain, Case and Lister. ognised.” Stratton saw that as an attempt to install Cain’s enemies say his camp leaked the The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 7

WILL OLIVER; STEFAN ROUSSEAU Taxi for Dom! Williamson and Hancock could be next for chop

HOLLIE ADAMS Tim Shipman Political Editor

Boris Johnson has told his team to prepare for a cabinet reshuffle to freshen the government — with underperforming and publicity-hungry ministers first in line for the sack. Downing Street is gearing up for a “reset reshuffle” in January to draw a line under Covid-19 and Brexit and put in place a team with which he can win the next election. “Everyone is planning for a reshuffle next year,” one well- placed source said. “People who are quietly and competently getting on with the job, rather than seeking headlines, will be kept. He wants people who can deliver on his promises before the next election.” In an attempt to give Tory MPs an incentive not to rebel, the source also said that while Johnson would seek to promote young talent, “the Dominic with public sector workers, expected to get a promotion door is not shut on those who Cummings polls show. He is more likely include Kemi Badenoch, 40, a have been ministers before”. waiting in to be handed a central role to Treasury minister. A No 10 insider said Jeremy Whitehall on capitalise on “the benefits of Insiders say Cummings Hunt, the former health Friday after he Brexit”. was gunning for Priti Patel, secretary, had been linked left Downing Johnson is expected to 48, the home secretary, to be “in the building” to a possible Street remove the chief whip, Mark moved. Now he has gone return, but others question Spencer, who has had a torrid instead, Johnson is more his loyalty as the Covid-19 time trying to keep party likely to “stick with Prit”, a crisis unfolded. discipline during the Covid-19 source said. She is likely to be Ministers such as Matt crisis. put on notice that she will Hancock, the health He is seen as “a nice chap” survive if she can solve the secretary, and Gavin by MPs, but lacking the “small boats” crisis that has Williamson, the education authority to make backbench seen more than 2,000 secretary — who have both concerns heard in Downing migrants cross the English had difficult coronavirus Street. He is also blamed for Channel. campaigns — might be in line the public relations disaster Those who have quietly friends the meeting for a move. of the government’s policy on prevented Covid-19 disasters was “warm with lots Oliver Dowden, the culture free school meals, when it in their departments include of laughter” as the trio secretary, is one of those who was slow to respond to the Thérèse Coffey, 48, the work recounted their battles is regarded as quietly footballer Marcus Rashford’s and pensions secretary, and together. “When you split impressive and could expect campaign for the public to Robert Buckland, 52, the up with a girlfriend, it’s best to to be promoted. Some in fund meals in school justice secretary. move out quickly,” a friend said. Johnson’s team want to see holidays. Speculation about possible But Johnson had become angry him take over at health, “That was far too late departures is likely to focus at the media briefings against where his reputation as a safe reaching the prime minister’s on Robert Jenrick, 38, the Symonds. A senior No 10 source said: pair of hands who defused desk,” one aide said, adding housing secretary, who was “The prime minister was clear with them the powerful voice of “livid that it was because “the early accused of breaking Covid on Friday that the briefings had to stop luvvies” by organising a warning system was not travel rules. and it was clear that they had not bailout for the creative The PM operating properly”. Liz Truss, 45, the damaging stopped.” industries would help him Johnson will promote international trade secretary, leak of John- Some Tories are queasy about take on the medical royal is likely more young female MPs to and Ben Wallace, 50, the son’s premier- Symonds’s role in last week’s events. A colleges and the NHS. ministerial ranks. They defence secretary, both of ship when two news- former cabinet minister said: “We have a Speculation that Michael to ‘stick include Claire Coutinho, 35, a whom were in Cummings’s papers announced the constitutional conundrum that the Gove might be moved there former aide to Rishi Sunak, sights, are more likely to plans for a second national prime minister’s girlfriend is deciding was dismissed as unlikely by with and Laura Trott, also 35, a survive now. Truss is central lockdown even before Johnson senior non-ministerial appointments, aides this weekend. Gove was former aide to David to trade talks with the US and had definitively made up his mind. which I think is without precedent.” a controversial education Prit’ Cameron. Wallace is still working on the “Boris was apocalyptically incandes- Friends of Symonds are furious at the secretary and is unpopular Serving ministers who are defence review. cent,” said a Whitehall source. He was way she has been depicted. One said: forced into a hasty weekend announce- “Carrie was deliberately dragged into it ment of the plans and demanded a leak at a key moment to damage her and to inquiry. undermine the case she was making. In the bitter briefing wars last week They want her to look like Lady Macbeth. Cain and Cummings were both accused She is one of the very few people around of being the so-called “chatty rat”. Cain the prime minister who understands the news to bounce Johnson into the appoint- has been cleared of being the source of Conservative Party.” ment, his allies that it was done to stop “part” of the leak, but the investigation Cain’s allies are equally incensed by the plan in its tracks. Whatever the inten- continues. what they see as a cabal of “posh south- tion, the backlash was swift and brutal. Despite his growing distrust, Johnson ern women” who have ousted a working- Ministers and MPs reacted with fury. fought on Wednesday night to stop other class man from Ormskirk in Lancashire. They contacted Johnson and his chief Vote Leave aides quitting. Some sources “This bloke is a working-class outsider whip, Mark Spencer, to say Cummings say Cummings, having lost Cain, sought who went from dressing as a chicken to had to go and they would not tolerate his to persuade others to go — a technique he become the prime minister’s director of “Mini Me” being given a more prominent used when MPs tried to oust him from communications,” said a leading Tory role. Spencer said the move would “lose Vote Leave in 2016. Cummings denies strategist. “He got the job on merit with- the backbenchers”. this but Brexit team member Oliver out going to a fancy school or Oxford or At lunchtime on Wednesday, the BBC’s Lewis was close to quitting. being on the BBC. There’s something dis- Laura Kuenssberg tweeted that Symonds Lord Frost, the chief Brexit negotiator, tasteful about the glee with which they was “deeply unhappy about the plan”. have greeted his demise.” Stratton told Johnson she would have to But the bitter personal animus also quit. Mirza was also furious, having got ALLEGRA disguises a genuine disagreement about wind of Cain’s criticisms of her work. STRATTON the future of government policy. The NEW PRESS Vote Leave crew fear Stratton and SECRETARY Symonds will steer Johnson away from THE CAIN MUTINY the policies that won him the election. The row over the future of Cain exhumed One accused Stratton of wanting John- long-standing ministerial hatred of Cum- son to be “pink Stetson Boris” — a refer- mings and his culture of aggression. ence to when Johnson put on the head- Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, gear at a Pride parade. “Like it or not, he was furious when Cain peremptorily was elected by leave voters,” the former sacked Neil Tweedie, a special adviser to No 10 aide said. “These people need to transport secretary, allegedly for leaking respect his mandate. You’ve got to dance details of a meeting that Tweedie says he with them what ‘brung ya’ or we will lose was not even in — a situation that is still the next election.” the subject of HR negotiations. This line of attack enrages Symonds Allies of Symonds refer to the duo as She said she was the and Stratton, who both voted to leave. “the mad mullahs”. One senior cabinet Stratton has told friends she was the minister calls Cummings David Koresh, only Brexiteer on “only Brexiteer on television”. Her after the cult leader who caused the approach, outlined to her new col- tragic Waco siege in Texas in 1993. television leagues, is not to change Johnson’s Symonds and Stratton, in close contact, approach but to do better at working up both worked on Johnson. “Carrie was policy that will transform the lives of depressed,” another friend said. “She working-class voters and communicat- didn’t think this was who Boris is.” met Johnson at 10pm that night to seek ing it better to them. “Allegra has tried Other ministers and donors had com- and win assurances from Johnson that he for months to get them to talk about lev- plained for months that Cummings would not weaken his negotiating posi- elling up, but nothing was happening. would sit at the back of what were sup- tion. That did not stop people in Cum- She’s very realistic about what people posed to be one-on-one meetings with mings’s orbit briefing that Brexit was in want from their government. It’s not Johnson. One donor, irate at finding Cum- danger if he was allowed to go. about waffly Cameronism — it’s about mings “huffing and puffing” in one But by Thursday, Cummings had also being competent and delivering.” encounter with Johnson asked him: “Are resolved to leave by Christmas. His last Having ousted his key aides on Friday, you on drugs?” When Cummings said, throw of the dice — demanding that Cleo Johnson, typically, sought to minimise “No,” he added: “Surely you should be on Watson, his closest aide, be made chief the confrontation, telling officials: “I told some sort of medication.” of staff — was rejected by Johnson. them we should get the gang back One ally said: “Dom has basically spent On Friday, even that plan was untena- together” to fight the next election. most of the last year telling people to f*** ble. Brexiteers said Cummings has Johnson visited Cain in his office and off. People who should have been his become vocal in private about Johnson’s signed a pair of boxing gloves embla- allies were not there for him this week.” shortcomings in recent months, label- zoned with “Get Brexit done” before Insiders say Johnson’s relationship ling him “indecisive”. One characterised making a speech wishing him well. “He’s with Cummings had “effectively broken this view as: “Just make a f***ing decision the only one of my staff who always down”, beginning with the incident and stick to it.” He added: “People are answers the phone calls ... day or night,” when Cummings drove 260 miles to Co now openly questioning whether he is Johnson said, adding: “I sometimes wait Durham during the first lockdown. Multi- right for the job.” for days for Dom to return them.” ple sources say Cummings treated John- With a full-blown briefing war under One colleague said: “Dom’s favourite son with contempt, rejecting calls to way, it was also open season on Symonds gesture at the moment in conversations apologise in a televised statement. by allies of Cain and Cummings. One is to pull the pin from an imaginary hand “Dom’s attitude, even to Boris, was: ‘I claimed she calls Johnson’s private office grenade and then throw the grenade don’t answer to you.’” One recalls Cum- “more than 20 times a day demanding over his shoulder as he leaves the room. mings receiving a text message from that he leave meetings to call her back” — Everyone is braced.” Johnson and waving it around, making a claim dismissed as untrue by her allies In the end, Cummings and Cain blew clear he was going to ignore it. “Dom and impartial civil servants. themselves up. What remains to be seen didn’t bother returning calls for long On Friday lunchtime Johnson called in is whether their departure marks the periods of time,” another recalled. Cain and Cummings to tell them it would start of a bright new future for Johnson Mistrust was sewn further by the most be their last day in No 10. Both told or the beginning of the end. 8 NEWSPOLITICS Chumocracy first in line as Transparency rules have been cast aside by THE COVID CHUMOCRACY ministers in their coronavirus panic. The result? Privileged access for friendly lobbyists and £1.5bn of contracts to Tory-linked companies

have been brought in as advisers and GABRIEL POGRUND INSIDE TRACK THE LOBBYIST intermediaries between Whitehall and AND TOM CALVER outside companies. Some have sat in on meetings with ministers and contacts KATE BINGHAM who go on to secure lucrative contracts. Venture capitalist who was EMAIL 1 In March, for example, Lord Feldman appointed head of the vaccines of Elstree, former chairman of the Con- task force by Boris Johnson over Pascoe-Watson to clients: 12.30pm, 15 October servative Party, was quietly appointed as the phone. A Johnson family an unpaid adviser to Lord Bethell, a friend, she is married to hereditary peer and nightclub baron All, Jesse Norman, a Tory minister. turned health minister. I have been privately advised that tier 2 restrictions will be imposed on London Spent £670,000 on boutique As a former head of MI5, Lord Evans According to a government source, PR consultants of Weardale spent a career defending until at least the spring of next year. This will be subject to review every few Feldman’s role, which was never British democracy against immediate weeks. But the decision-makers have told me personally that spring is likely to announced publicly, was to assist threats. Last week he warned against a be the first opportunity to lift the restrictions 1 . The impact of this is clear. Bethell, 53, in his “work with industry” more insidious danger to public life. No meeting of people from different households INSIDE (a house, a bar, a during the pandemic. Evans was making a speech in his role That included sitting in on a phone call restaurant) and essential travel only. Offices and schools remain exempt as chairman of the committee on stan- on April 6 between Bethell and Meller dards in public life — the anti-corruption although the advice is to wfh rather than travel. Designs, which supplies high-street watchdog — on whether the country was shops with home and beauty products. It MATT HANCOCK Health secretary now in a “post-Nolan age”. 1 Publicly, ministers had refused to be drawn on when London’s tier 2 is owned by David Meller, who would That refers to Lord Nolan, first holder restrictions might be eased. The health secretary, Matt Hancock, said the have been a familiar face to Feldman. of the position, who was drafted in to situation would be “reviewed fortnightly” Meller, 60, is a Tory donor who has clean up Westminster 25 years ago when given more than £63,000. Most of that it emerged that MPs had been bribed in came during Feldman’s spell as chair- cash to ask questions in parliament. man, when he was responsible for fund- The verdict given by Evans at a virtual EMAIL 2 raising. Meller Designs later secured conference was damning. “Quite simply,” £163m in PPE contracts. he said, “the perception is taking root GPW Government transparency data sug- that too many in public life, including gests such coincidences are not unusual. some in our political leadership, are George Pascoe-Watson Three days later, on April 9, Owen BARONESS HARDING choosing to disregard the norms of ethics Chairman of Portland Paterson, a Conservative MP and former and propriety that have explicitly Portland to clients: 29 October secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Former telecoms boss who was governed public life for the last 25 years took part in a phone call with Bethell and appointed head of the Test and Trace task force. Given a peerage and that, when contraventions of ethical From a senior partner at Portland Randox, a Northern Irish diagnostics standards occur, nothing happens”. company. Randox pays Paterson by David Cameron, she is married Those warnings are given new urgency £100,000 a year as a consultant. to John Penrose, a Tory MP. National restrictions She received advice from this weekend as it is revealed that the It is also linked to Harding, who sits on GEORGE PASCOE-WATSON government has awarded £1.5bn of tax- We are told that as it stands, it is likely that the PM will announce next week the board of the Jockey Club, the horse George Pascoe-Watson payers’ money to companies linked to that he is prepared to “sacrifice November to save December” 1 racing body. Its biggest annual event, the Chairman of top lobbying firm the Conservative Party during the Grand National, is sponsored by the Portland Communications. coronavirus pandemic. None of the firms company. Paterson’s late wife, Rose, also Provided daily advice to officials 6 This would mean London and the South joining the rest of the country in tier 3 were prominent government suppliers sat on the Jockey Club board. and ministers after the start of before this year. restrictions It is unclear why Paterson, 64, was on the pandemic but his presence at In normal times, ministers must 6 There are discussions ongoing about whether this should be extended to a the call, but government sources say it meetings was never declared. advertise contracts for privately provi- new tier 4 which would be closer to national lockdown 2 (and could include was a “courtesy call” to discuss testing Former political editor of The Sun newspaper ded services so that any company has a closures of non-essential retail) and the MP was involved because of his chance of securing the work. A person’s role for Randox. The company has 6 If no action is taken, the whole country will be in tier 3 restrictions connections are not supposed to help. received £479m in government testing The government is also legally by Dec 11 anyway, which means Christmas will happen with no social contact contracts this year, acquiring more Lord Agnew, the Cabinet Office minis- required to publish details of awarded 6 So it seems inevitable there will be fresh restrictions on London and the South orders even after it had to recall half a ter, has expressed frustration with the contracts within 30 days, so the public in November million tests because of safety concerns. amount spent on consultants, writing in a knows how its money is being spent. 6 Should it be tier 3 — that means bars and pubs to close (unless they serve full Whole organisations have achieved leaked letter that Whitehall had become During the pandemic, neither has remarkable penetration within Whitehall “infantilised” by reliance on outside meals) and restrictions on travel. They could go further but the PM would not happened. Facing a sudden need to during the pandemic, often under the professionals. He even floated the idea of deliver millions of items of PPE, test kits countenance a French system of carrying papers cloak of secrecy. They include Portland creating an in-house consultancy of civil and vaccines, ministers used emergency 6 The PM hopes that if this strategy is implemented then he will be able to lift Communications, a political lobbying servants, called Crown Consultancy. procedures to award work directly. restrictions in December for the sake of the economy and for families to enjoy firm whose clients include HSBC, Pfizer Yet when it comes to those who have According to Tussell, a data provider Christmas and BAE Systems. It employs a number of received high-profile roles, or large con- on official spending, Whitehall depart- former Tory advisers. tracts, the government has been out- 6 He particularly wants hospitality and retail to benefit from the Christmas ments have taken an average of 72 days to In March its chairman, George Pascoe- wardly defensive. Last week, Johnson 3 publicise who has received money, period Watson, was parachuted into govern- himself wrote in support of Bingham. meaning public debate has often moved 6 They are then weighing up a week’s break from restrictions over Christmas — ment, again without any announcement, Hancock has rewarded Harding for her on before decisions can be scrutinised. during which people will have to take responsibility for their own behaviour and to advise Harding and Bethell on strategy work on NHS Test and Trace, which Sage It is a less straightforward situation they will be warned to be very careful about who and how they mix with others and communications. advisers say has had a “minimal impact” than the bribery or “cash-for-questions” It is understood that Pascoe-Watson, a on Covid-19 transmission, by appointing scandal investigated by Nolan. As the former political editor of The Sun, her as head of the National Institute for government mounted a war effort to This debate in ongoing for the next few days but as it stands, a decision is due by participated in their daily calls, prompt- Health Protection, the successor body to combat Covid-19, it has instead resem- the middle of next week. ing civil servants to raise concerns about Public Health England. bled more of a “chumocracy”. “appropriate channels”. A source said: When details of Feldman’s role This is a world in which ministers have “Nothing happened. They loved him.” emerged, the government thanked him. turned to friends with links to the Con- 1 On October 31 — Lobbyist Pascoe-Watson appears to have made Such conduct might help to explain servatives because of a mixture of trust, two days after the email George the most of his access, sending advance why Evans last week added: “It is not convenience and a panicked need to was sent — Johnson Pascoe-Watson information about policy to paying unusual or wrong for governments to deliver, rather than a desire to benefit announced a lockdown is a former clients. He also defended the government want to appoint people who share their themselves financially. lasting until December political editor against criticism on social media, while views, and political activity is not a bar, The end result, however, is arguably 2. He later said the of The Sun failing to disclose his role. but it cannot be a reason for appoint- similar: friends of the Conservatives have country would “open up For instance, when The Sunday Times ment. Merit must be at the heart of the played a central role in responding to the again in December” if revealed that Bingham had charged the system, not cronyism or patronage.” pandemic, securing high-profile posi- the measures worked. taxpayer £670,000 for boutique PR He added: “The government’s ability tions and contracts along the way. consultants last week, he responded on to lead the country through the corona- This pattern of conduct became visible Twitter: “Only in this country could we virus crisis will be strengthened, rather in May, with Britain in lockdown, when 2 The day the email shaft a true hero.” than undermined, by an adherence to Boris Johnson and the health secretary was sent, the He also said that Bingham and high standards.” Matt Hancock turned to trusted contacts communities secretary, Harding, whom he advises, should be Last night the DHSC said: “As part of an to run parts of the pandemic response. Robert Jenrick, said the cherished. “We should celebrate that two unprecedented response to this global Baroness Harding, a Conservative peer government was doing highly distinguished women are in There is a pandemic we rightly have drawn on the and the wife of John Penrose, a Tory MP, “everything in [its] critical roles in this country,” he said. expertise of a number of private sector was appointed to run NHS Test and power to avoid a blanket For months, Pascoe-Watson was perception partners who provided advice and Trace. The former TalkTalk executive, national lockdown”. Two joined by Lord O’Shaughnessy, a Tory expertise to assist in the vital work. 53, had spent a career in the private days later the stricter peer who served as David Cameron’s that too many “As a result of public and private sector sector before Hancock awarded her the measures were policy chief. Today it can be revealed that organisations working together at pace, position, announcing it in a tweet. announced. he was both a paid “external adviser” to in public life, we were able to strengthen our response In the same month Kate Bingham, a the Department of Health and Social Care to the pandemic.” family friend of Johnson’s whose hus- (DHSC) and a paid Portland adviser at the including Pascoe-Watson said: “I was honoured band, Jesse Norman, is a Tory MP and 3 On October 31 , same time. to be asked to serve the NHS Test and Treasury minister, was appointed to Johnson said that he The apparent conflict of interest went our political Trace service in my personal capacity as oversee the vaccines taskforce. She wanted to “give people further when, in May, O’Shaughnessy an unpaid adviser. I fully declared my accepted the position after decades in the chance of some took part in a call with Bethell and Boston leadership, role and responsibilities at Portland venture capital, having received a per- shopping and economic Consulting Group (BCG), a client of Communications to the DHSC.” sonal call from the prime minister. activity Portland’s. BCG has received £21m in are choosing O’Shaughnessy said he was proud to According to a speech that Bingham, in the weeks ... up to Covid-19 contracts, with some of its be involved, adding: “This role, which 55, gave to a group of US venture capital- Christmas and beyond”. advisers paid £7,000 a day. to disregard involved providing policy advice to DHSC ists, she responded to Johnson’s offer by Over the past month, a number of ministers and officials around testing saying: “I’m not a vaccine expert, why ministers appear to have acknowledged the norms innovation, was approved by the should I be the right person?” that some contracts have not given value permanent secretary and declared in my Then there is the layer of “chums” who for money. of ethics register of interests.”

‘Stop defining minorities as a single group’ MP claims expenses to fight sexual assault case

Caroline Wheeler and there are often larger The Conservative MP British population, the Caroline Wheeler and The details of the payment, Sunday Times, which had allegation. The employment Deputy Political Editor socioeconomic disparities Helen Grant praised the CSJ’s opposite is also the case.” Rosamund Urwin which was made in January, previously reported the case. tribunal has now been among minority groups than work, saying Britain “is one Andy Cook, chief were published by the Judge Oliver Segal rejected pushed back to next May. The government should stop between the BAME and white of, if not the most, successful executive of the CSJ, said: The Labour MP for Independent Parliamentary the request. The claimant in the case, referring to black and ethnic populations, it says. multiethnic democracies in “When understanding Hartlepool is using taxpayers’ Standards Authority. Hill, 57, who strongly who was briefly made minorities as one category of The CSJ recommends the the world. There are many relative socioeconomic money to fight a staff Earlier this year Hill failed denies the allegations, was homeless after losing her job, people and ditch the BAME government commit to things to celebrate about the outcomes between Britain’s member’s claim of unfair in his attempt to keep his suspended from the recently launched an online tag, a think tank argues. reporting ethnicity data at the progress of Britain’s ethnic ethnic groups, ‘BAME’ dismissal, sexual assault and name secret in the legal parliamentary Labour Party crowd-funding campaign to A report by the Centre for ethnic subgroup level where minority groups.” outcomes at the broad level harassment while the proceedings. in September last year but raise £25,000 to support her Social Justice (CSJ) claims the possible, rather than using She warned, however, that are often compared to white claimant is having to The MP, who is married, had the whip restored the case. BAME category has lost the BAME category. There are the BAME tag “has also outcomes. However, it is crowdfund for her case. asked the Central London following month. Hill said: “This is subject to “virtually all analytical value” 17 subgroups. masked important truths — time to acknowledge that Mike Hill has claimed back Employment Tribunal to He said that it had been employment tribunal in policy-making. Some This should apply in while some ethnic minority the ‘BAME’ category has £2,000 on parliamentary impose an anonymity order, reinstated after the complaint proceedings and as such it ethnic minorities outperform education, employment and groups do indeed see worse lost virtually all analytical expenses for the excess on his which was opposed by the was withdrawn. The claimant would not be appropriate to white Britons in some ways family policy. outcomes than the white value.” employment liability policy. complainant and by The has denied dropping the make further comment.” The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 9 ministers splash Covid cash Information is currency for lobbying firm with tentacles all over Westminster

for the inside track from the Street, for the Labour and the firms such as Portland, Jamie Nimmo top, helping them to plan for 2010 coalition governments. Netflix said it wanted to keep On its website, Portland what is to come and to gauge Portland’s international signing up customers and Communications claims: “We shifting moods in SW1. chairman, Steve Morris, had ensure “policymakers think get to the point with clarity, Portland was set up in 2001 the same role from 2005 to twice before curtailing us”. LORD FELDMAN insight and focus.” This was by Tim Allan, a former 2007, as well as being head of Documents for the PR brief Former chairman of the Conservative Party and rarely more in evidence than adviser to Tony Blair, who communications for the said: “We’ve made changes tennis partner of David Cameron. Was sounded when the lobbying firm’s reported to Blair’s spin Department for already to our global out by Johnson as a possible No 10 chief of chairman, George Pascoe- doctor, Alastair Campbell. Environment, Food and Rural narrative, preferring staff. Runs lobbying firm Tulchan but was DAVID MELLER Watson, handed staff advance Campbell is among the Affairs (Defra). Nick ‘innovator’ to ‘disrupter’ and details about a new senior advisers to Portland. Hargrave, a former special consciously moving away quietly given an advisory role to Lord Bethell, Meller has so far donated government lockdown policy. Others with government ties adviser to David Cameron from big numbers and which was never formally announced. Sat in on more than £60,000 to the The correspondence with include Lord O’Shaughnessy, and then Theresa May, runs language suggesting Goliath, a conversation with Tory donor David Meller, Conservatives. His firm, staff at Portland, a public a former Tory health Portland’s strategy and preferring to emphasise who secured official contracts to supply Meller Design, has to date relations firm stacked with minister, and Martin research division. consumer choice and control personal protective equipment. Feldman been awarded £163m of former political heavyweights Sheehan, a former head of The lobbying firm packed and the creative freedom we insists he took no part in such decisions PPE contracts who still have fingers on the strategic communications at with Blairites has turned ever bring.” Westminster pulse, highlights No 10 for Blair and then more blue the longer the Tory The documents added: its stock-in-trade: Gordon Brown. party has remained in power. “The battle now is to combat LORD BETHELL information. Allan handed over the And the revolving door the narrative ‘Netflix is taking With routes into the heart reins at the start of this year between government and over everything’.” Hereditary peer and health minister. of government, its roster of to Mark Flanagan, after the Portland does not spin in one Portland has also run into Gave money to Hancock’s failed leadership clients includes multinational American marketing giant direction. Several former controversy over the years. In campaign in 2019. A long-time lobbyist, he corporations such as Apple, Omnicom took full control Portland staff have gone on to 2012, it was accused of was a surprise appointment by Hancock the spirits giant Diageo and of the company he had built work at No 10. They include removing “wife beater” as testing minister in March. Friend of BORIS JOHNSON the taxi app Uber. into a business with a Rosie Bate-Williams, a special references from the Johnson’s fiancée Carrie Symonds. Prime minister It is normal for PR firms to £40m-a-year turnover. adviser to Boris Johnson. Wikipedia page of Stella Until recently used lobbyists help large companies manage Flanagan is another former George Eustice, the Artois beer for the brewer AB George Pascoe-Watson and Lord Feldman the messaging when financial head of strategic environment secretary, had a InBev. The company was as undeclared advisers results are released each communications in Downing stint at Portland in 2009 after trying to clean up the drink’s quarter. A poorly scripted set he was David Cameron’s image after earning a of results could cause a 1% press secretary. reputation as the beer of swing in the share price — That list is one reason binge-drinkers and louts. which, for a big company, corporate giants come The changes were spotted could equate to hundreds of knocking at the door of by Tom Watson, the former millions of pounds in value. Portland’s office in London’s deputy leader of the Labour However, Portland It’s the go-to Bankside, just behind Party, who also found links specialises in public affairs, Shakespeare’s Globe. between Portland and lobbying — often behind the outfit for It has become the go-to airbrushed pages about a scenes — for companies trying outfit for those seeking to state-owned bank in to influence debate or policy. those seeking influence policy, acquiring Kazakhstan, whose This might mean advertising controversial tech giants, big government is a Portland RANDOX campaigns or planting stories to influence pharmaceutical companies client. It also advises the in the media to help the and the fast food behemoth Qatar government, which has LORD O’SHAUGHNESSY OWEN PATERSON Founded by polo-playing cause. policy McDonald’s as clients. come under fire over migrant Cameron’s former policy director. Conservative MP for millionaire Dr Peter FitzGerald. But the gold dust that firms The company recently won workers. Paid adviser to Portland and the North Shropshire and a Sponsors the Grand National, such as Portland trade on is the brief to help nurture Details of the plans sent by Department of Health. He sat in on a call former cabinet minister. the biggest annual event put on their relationship with Netflix’s public image. The US Pascoe-Watson last month between Bethell and Boston Consulting Paid £100,000 a year as by the Jockey Club, on whose politicians and the other streaming giant fears that would also have been of Group (BCG), a Portland client. BCG a consultant for Randox. board Harding sits. Paterson’s denizens of the Westminster consumers and politicians interest to some of Portland’s went on to charge taxpayers £10m for Sat in on a call between late wife was also a member. establishment. will turn against it as it grows. other clients — among them, 40 consultants earning up to £7,300 Bethell and Randox Has secured £479m in Chief executives and In an indication of what the medical giants Pfizer and a day to work on Test and Trace earlier this year testing contracts chairmen fork out large fees clients expect from hiring Novartis.

The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 11 NEWS Bonnie it may be but it’s also bogus, says expert

ANDREW MILLIGAN Amid great fanfare, the painting — Thomson, a former director of the SNPG astronomical. If it is by Cosmo Alexander A portrait of the Young which measures just 12in x 10in — was who is an expert on Ramsay’s work. it might be worth less than £200,000.” Pretender bought by handed to the gallery in 2016 in a deal to Nicholson, an art consultant who The gallery should label the work simply write off £1.1m of estate duty arising curated the Drambuie Collection of as attributed to Ramsay, he added. Scotland for £1m is a from the death of the 11th Earl of Wemyss Jacobite art, inspected the painting at A letter summoning Ramsay to paint copy, according to a in 1937. Gosford House while researching his Charles in Edinburgh, purportedly The National Galleries of Scotland, 2002 book Bonnie Prince Charlie and the written by the prince’s valet John Stuart, curator of Jacobite art which runs the SNPG, suggested that the Making of a Myth: A Study in Portraiture. is in the royal archives. But there is no portrait had been painted in 1745 while He had “immediately recognised this documentary evidence that Ramsay did Charles Edward Stuart, commonly was not an original” but a derivation of a so and the painting is not signed. Jason Allardyce Scotland Editor known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, was work by Strange, he said: “The painting is James Charteris, the 13th Earl of holding court in Edinburgh at the height well executed, but not [a] Ramsay. It Wemyss, said the portrait had been It has been hailed as one of Scotland’s of the Jacobite rising to try to regain the totally lacks the effervescent effect of acquired in the 18th century by Francis most important paintings: a portrait of British throne. light that became Ramsay’s trademark.” Charteris, son of the 5th Earl: “We don’t one of the country’s famous military Shortly after his time in the city, the Nicholson, who is also former execu- have any documents about the purchase leaders, painted by one of its greatest prince’s forces invaded England and tive director of the Frick Pittsburgh and of the painting. It’s all speculation.” artists during an uprising that changed reached as far as Derby, less than 130 Telfair museums in the American state of Grosvenor — who once revealed that a the course of history. miles from a poorly defended London. Georgia, added: “In my opinion it is celebrated painting of the prince held by However, on the eve of the 300th anni- But when English Jacobite reinforce- basically a copy of Strange’s print. If the SNPG was actually a portrait of his versary of the birth of Bonnie Prince ments failed to materialise, they turned anything, I might attribute it to Cosmo brother Henry — stands by the claim that Charlie, an expert on Jacobite art has cast back and suffered a disastrous defeat at Alexander and suggest it may have been he made in the documentary. “It is one of doubt on the authenticity of an artwork Culloden, near Inverness, the last full- painted in 1747.” the most important artworks painted in depicting “the young pretender” which scale battle to take place on British soil. Alexander, a Scottish portrait painter the history of Scotland,” he said. was acquired for the nation for more than The portrait was hanging at Gosford who was a supporter of the Stuart cause, The National Galleries of Scotland £1m — using taxpayers’ money. House near Edinburgh, the Wemyss spent much of his life abroad after the said: “We welcome and support all seri- Robin Nicholson, who curated one of family seat, when it was highlighted in a failed uprising. ous research into the works in our collec- the most significant collections of BBC documentary by the art historian Nicholson also inspected the painting tions. In the case of our portrait of Prince Jacobite art in the country, believes that Bendor Grosvenor in 2014. at a National Museums of Scotland Charles Edward Stuart, acquired in 2016, the painting in the Scottish National Although the National Portrait Gallery exhibition. “The granularity Grosvenor we have undertaken extensive research Portrait Gallery (SNPG) attributed to archives in London recorded the painting mentions in the canvas is totally charac- into the painting’s history and origins Allan Ramsay is actually by an inferior as a copy of an engraving by Robert The portrait of Bonnie Allan Ramsay, as the teristic of Alexander in Stuart portraits he and, after reviewing all possible alterna- artist — and that it is worth less than one Strange, Grosvenor declared it a Ramsay. Prince Charlie may not Scottish National produced in Rome,” he said. tives, are fully confident in its attribution fifth of the sum that was paid. That view was supported by Duncan have been painted by Portrait Gallery claims “The purchase price for the SNPG was to Allan Ramsay and dating to 1745.”

Former BBC boss backs new inquiry into Diana scandal

Rosamund Urwin, Shanti graphic designer Matt Das and Nicholas Hellen Wiessler, whom Bashir asked to create the fake statements. The former director-general Days after the interview of the BBC has claimed he is was aired, Wiessler raised “pleased” allegations that concerns with BBC news Martin Bashir used dishonest bosses. But while he was methods to secure his barred from working for the Panorama interview with BBC after Hall’s probe, Bashir, Diana, Princess of Wales are 57, went unpunished. Hall set to be investigated. told the BBC’s governors that Lord Hall, 69, who left the Bashir was “an honest man”. corporation in August, Bashir won a Bafta and confirmed that he would Royal Television Society appear before an inquiry into (RTS) award for the interview, Bashir’s conduct, which will broadcast 25 years ago this also scrutinise what Hall Friday. Bafta and RTS will knew and when. await the inquiry’s findings Speaking for the first time before deciding if Bashir since memos from 1995 and should keep his awards. 1996 emerged suggesting that Two Panorama colleagues Hall was among those who raised concerns with editor hushed up the scandal, he Steve Hewlett, but he told said: “I want these things to them: “You will say nothing.” be looked at.” Hewlett died in 2017. A Sunday Times report on Davie is set to give a speech October 4 that Bashir had at an RTS Steve Hewlett shown Earl Spencer forged Scholarship event next bank statements to garner an month, but is “considering” introduction to his sister whether to go ahead. Diana eventually led Hall’s The BBC has not broadcast successor, Tim Davie, to a repeat of the interview and announce an inquiry into has no plans to do so. Bashir’s methods and Bashir, who was rehired as accusations that BBC bosses the BBC’s religious affairs covered them up. correspondent in 2016, has Hall, then the head of news told colleagues he will retire, and current affairs, led the but is expected to help the investigation in April 1996 inquiry. Bashir is signed off into how Bashir had obtained work after a heart operation. the interview. His critics describe this inquiry as a Diana bared her soul to “whitewash”, as Hall did not me first, Jennie Bond, speak to Spencer, nor to the News Review

‘Future lawyer’, 17, killed on way home

Dipesh Gadher and devastated about the passing Magda Ibrahim of Jamalie. “We all knew of his The family of an aspiring law ambition to study law, and student are “utterly coming to terms with the devastated” after he was tragedy that has unfolded murdered in a park on his still feels so surreal. We are way home from school. pleading with the public to Jamalie Maleek Deacon share any piece of Matthew, 17, was stabbed in information.” Harrow, northwest London, They released a near halls of residence owned photograph of Jamalie by Westminster University, dressed in a smart blazer after meeting a friend on with shirt and tie. Thursday. Detective Chief Inspector Officers responded to Jane Topping said: “I am reports of a stabbing at urging anyone who 3.50pm near an underpass witnessed the moments that leads from Northwick leading up to Jamalie’s Park to the Underground murder, or the stabbing station of the same name. itself, to come forward. Jamalie, who lived in Harrow, “A young man has lost died 40 minutes later, despite his life in the most tragic and efforts by police and needless of circumstances. paramedics. His, and his family’s, futures In an emotional appeal have been taken from them. released by Scotland Yard “I am certain that yesterday, Jamalie’s family someone has that piece of said: “The whole family is information that will help us deeply saddened and utterly to trace the person responsible.” More than 100 murders have taken place in London this year, including at least 19 involving children or teenagers. More than 60 are believed to have involved a knife. It is the sixth consecutive year in which deaths have reached three figures, with 148 murders in the capital in 2019. Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers anonymously online or on Jamalie is one of more than 0800 555 111. 100 murder victims in 2020 @DipeshGadher 12 The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 NEWS

DUKAS AREAS WITH BIGGEST AREAS WITH BIGGEST DECREASE IN CAR RISE IN CAR OWNERSHIP OVER OWNERSHIP OVER PAST 10 YEARS PAST 10 YEARS

1 Camden Road, -64% 1 Huntingdon Road, Camden, north London Cambridge +122% -62% 2 Tufnell Park West, Camden 2 York station +106% -62% 3 Edge Hill, Liverpool 3 Troutbeck Road, Redcar +96% -61% 4 Radford, Nottingham 4 Smedley, Manchester +85%

5 City centre west, York -60% 5 Boythorpe, Chesterfield +79%

6 North End, 6 Page Moss, Knowsley +77% Hammersmith and Fulham -59%

7 Leamington Spa South, 7 Jesmond, Newcastle Wark’shire +77% upon Tyne -58% +76% 8 City centre north, Leeds -55% 8 Hawthorn Avenue, Hull

9 Penny Lane, Liverpool +76% 9 Exchange Square, Manchester -55% 10 Blackley, Manchester +75% 10 Selly Oak South, Birmingham -55% Source: DVLA Affluent young leave cars behind The latest figures on vehicle ownership show a stark divide between cycle-loving wealthy areas and motoring-mad poor ones

Nicholas Hellen and Tom Calver road space, are becoming more frequent Now, however, in urban areas across has imposed a levy on workplace parking minister for the Cabinet Office, there are with a further £175m for new road and acrimonious. Scott Urban, director the country, cars are no longer an object since 2012 — and also Brighton and Hove, 99 cars for every 100 adults, up by 7% in schemes, but stipulated they must have Traffic jams and congestion charges may of Oxfordshire Liveable Streets, which to be possessed for many in their thirties. Oxford, Birmingham and Exeter. the past decade. The median age is 49 the support of all road-users. be to blame for the end of the affair, but campaigns to reduce car dependency, More than 2.3 million people live in areas Sharon Pavey, 47, who lives in Exeter and the average house price £655,000. Yet for the designer Stephen Bayley, the age of the private car is on the way out said: “These 16 million people are show- with no more than one car for every five with her husband and three children, dis- In Woolpit, Mid Suffolk, there is a car 69, this cannot disguise the fact that “the for a large slice of the country. ing the way forward for a society with adults aged 18 and over, up from 1.1 mil- posed of the family car after it was dam- for every adult, up 29% in the past dec- love affair with cars is over”. Car ownership over the past decade less pollution, noise and lower carbon lion at the start of the decade. Car owner- aged in two crashes a year ago. ade, in a population with a median age of He once wrote a book called Cars: Free- has fallen in areas that account for 31.5% emissions.” ship fell by at least 20% in the past decade She used the insurance money to buy 51 and property price of £310,000. dom, Style, Sex, Power, Motion, Colour, of the population of England, according By the start of the 1970s, half of all in areas home to 1.3 million people, an electric bike and trailer, and the family The poorest areas are experiencing a Everything and will shortly publish an to official registration figures from the households owned one or more cars. For where the average age was 32. now own eight bikes. “We decided to sell mini-boom in car ownership. Liverpool epitaph called The Age of Combustion. He DVLA, released under freedom of infor- much of the 50 years since then, buying a Now, by contrast, the comfortably off the car at the worst time of the year, accounted for nine of the 100 neighbour- said: “For [my generation] owning a car mation rules. first car was a rite of passage to adult- may choose either not to buy a car or at because we knew that if we managed dur- hoods where car ownership increased meant freedom, but for younger people it The emergence of this tribe of 16 mil- hood. After a starter car, which might be least to give one up. The average house ing the winter, we would not turn back,” most rapidly in the past decade, with means oppression. It means you’re lion people aged 18 and over is not, how- a banger or a modest runaround, there price in areas that had a reduction in car she said. three of them in Walton, birthplace of Sir potentially criminalised. It’s an expen- ever, the prelude to a smooth transition would be a slicker set of wheels, with a ownership over the past decade is The change in lifestyle that came with Paul McCartney, where car registrations sive inconvenience, rather than a liberat- to a greener future, in which we all will- replacement marking every life stage, £325,000, compared with £215,000 in the pandemic vindicated their decision: rose by more than 60%. ing tool.” ingly check in our egos and switch to car barring poverty, ill-health or old age. areas that gained cars. her husband Dan no longer needs to com- Last week, 14 Conservative back- The car will enjoy a last hurrah in rural clubs, public transport and bicycles. In the 1980s car ownership was a While the biggest falls in car use were mute 60 miles daily to his job as a web benchers urged Grant Shapps, the trans- areas, where there is inadequate public Another, larger tribe of committed badge of material success to such an in London, including liberal hotspots developer in Axminster and they have port secretary, to rethink the expendi- transport — “In Norfolk, you’ll see five motorists has acquired an extra 2.7 mil- extent that Margaret Thatcher was said to such as Camden and Hackney, the phe- switched to shopping online. ture of £250m during the pandemic on parked outside a humble house” — but “it lion vehicles, cramming 26.8 million onto have made the disparaging remark that a nomenon is national. Of the 100 neigh- The home counties are still the natural new cycling schemes, which they blamed ceased to be rational to own a car in the roads, pavements and driveways. man who finds himself taking the bus at bourhoods outside the capital with the habitat of the multiple car household. In for leaving “high streets desolated, small capital a generation ago”, Bayley said. “It Arguments between the two tribes the age of 25 (or possibly 30) should greatest fall in ownership, eight are in a district near Camberley in the Surrey businesses ruined and emergency servi- was a glorious adventure but it’s over.” over how we ought to travel, and over count himself a failure. Newcastle, four in Nottingham — which Heath constituency of Michael Gove, the ces impeded”. Shapps pressed ahead @NicholasHellen The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 13 NEWS VAT ends ... PUZZLESBYNATHAN but Kindle titles go up in price

reduced the prices of millions of ebooks The tax was removed in that were not on special offer within an attempt to boost sales, hours of the government’s announce- ment. “We welcomed the government’s but readers are now announcement as we believe it benefits paying more for many customers, authors and publishers,” it said. “In many cases, however, the pub- Amazon ebooks lisher sets the price, and in those cases we spoke to the publishers responsible to Sam Chambers and Tom Calver remind them that the government’s desired outcome in removing VAT was When the government abolished a “read- lower prices. ing tax” on ebooks earlier this year, Ama- “Ultimately, the decision on prices in zon hailed the move as an important step those cases is the publishers’ alone.” Nathan Tozer, far right, at work on a 2,000-piece puzzle, which took him nine hours and 17 minutes to complete. He has more than 30,000 followers towards making reading more accessible None of the publishers of the books to a greater number of people. could be reached for comment yesterday. There is little evidence, though, that its The pandemic has driven UK publish- customers are saving money. As part of ers’ sales of ebooks up by 17% in the first Jigsaw hotshot gives worldwide its economic response to the pandemic, half of the year to £144m, reversing six the Treasury fast-tracked plans to consecutive years of decline of ebooks. remove VAT charged at 20% on ebooks, On the other hand, lockdowns have following a piece of the action introducing the tax cut on May 1. driven a £55m decline in the sales of tradi- But the average price of the 100 best- tional books by UK publishers, according selling Amazon Kindle books on April 30 to the research firm Nielsen. has actually risen, from £2.30 to £3.06, or Amazon has been among the biggest Emily Kent Smith shares his love of the pastime He took up the hobby three been someone who is 33%. Of the 100 titles, 45 titles have beneficiaries of the pandemic. Global on social media, attracting SORTED, THE EXPERT WAY years ago after his parents outgoing, drinking or going to increased in price and 33 have stayed the lockdowns have driven shoppers to its Ask a youngster how they more than 300,000 gave him a puzzle based on a nightclubs. That’s just not same. Just 22 have dropped. website in droves and kept housebound have spent their time off over followers. From Thailand to Nathan Tozer’s top tips map of the London me. I didn’t really tell many The price of Blue Moon, last year’s consumers tied to their Alexa devices and the past three years, and the Brazil, fans on Instagram and Underground to take his people [about the puzzles]. instalment in the successful Jack Reacher video-streaming services. answer might be watching TikTok watch him do his l A good sort always goes far. Pick mind off exam stress. The first word when I told my series, has risen by £1 to £5.99, while In the three months to September, television, hanging out with puzzles, but not in real time — out the edge pieces and bright “My first reaction was a friends was surprise.” Never Greener, the debut novel from Amazon reported worldwide sales of friends and sleeping. But the films are speeded up. colours and/or prominent objects little bit sceptical,” Tozer said. One of his most Gavin & Stacey co-creator Ruth Jones, was $96.1bn (£72.8bn), a 37% increase, while Nathan Tozer, a maths He is so feted by jigsaw- “Puzzles certainly used to be challenging puzzles was a available for £1.99 back in April, but profits tripled to $6.3bn. The share price undergraduate, is not your lovers — or dissectologists — l Give yourself plenty of room associated with older people. picture of New York in which Kindle users must pay £4.99. has soared from a closing price of $1,902 average 20-year-old. that businesses ask him to I was 17 at the time. But I gave about 1,000 pieces were blue This Is Going to Hurt, Adam Kay’s on March 23 — the first day of the lock- Over the past three years post videos of himself l Assemble the border first. It is it a go and got hooked.” sky. It took 56 hours and 19 humorous recollections of life as a junior down in the UK — to $3,128 on Friday, a he has spent 851 hours, 50 completing their puzzles, always good to get a sense of the size He started filming himself minutes to complete, and doctor, is now £2.99, 50% higher than it jump of 64%. minutes and 39 seconds paying him up to £500 a time. and scale of the puzzle doing jigsaws on Instagram attracted more than 10 was in April. The Courage to Be Disliked, a Its growing dominance has spurred a completing 58 jigsaw puzzles Tozer says his popularity is about 14 months ago, and his million views on TikTok. Japanese self-help book, now costs £4.68, regulatory backlash, though. After a year- with a total of 89,929 pieces. “bonkers”, adding, “I don’t l Pay attention to the shape of the following began to build. But Tozer allocates three up from £4.31. long probe the European Commission In the process he has become know why it has gone so big. I pieces. There are six basic shapes of when lockdown started in hours, three times a week, to Amazon, which paid UK taxes of charged Amazon last week with breach- an online star. am doing a jigsaw because puzzle piece and only some types fit March, interest surged. his hobby. For Christmas, he £293m on sales of £13.7bn last year, laid ing competition laws by using data gath- Filmed at the dining-room I’m doing a jigsaw — but there together. Also, watch out for patterns Some of his friends only has asked his parents for a the blame for price increases at the door ered from sellers on its marketplace to table in his parents’ house in is clearly something about it and lines. found out about his passion 40,000-piece puzzle of of the publishers, saying that it had compete more effectively against them. Bristol, where he lives, Tozer that people like.” online. Tozer said: “I’ve never Mickey Mouse.

The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 15 NEWS

WATER BABY Fashion chains hit PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD by lockdown sell clothes on eBay

the trade as “dead stock” — goods that excess stock was heading after it pro- Retailers left with ‘dead need to be cleared from shelves and voked outrage in 2018 by burning £28m stock’ because their stockrooms to make way for newer prod- of unsold goods. Anti-waste campaigners ucts and changing seasonal demand. say that luxury clothing from other shops are closed are Retailers that had begun to fill their designers that has not sold this year may going online to avoid shelves with Christmas goods are facing have been burnt or sent to landfill. yet more stress, with minimal demand Next has announced it will “hiber- having to dump it for formal wear or party gear and little nate” some stock until 2021. Marks & prospect of night-clubbing or office par- Spencer has adopted a similar tactic and Louise Eccles and Sam Chambers ties this winter. held a huge half-price sale to clear its What retailers do with their dead stock warehouses, with some of the proceeds When eBay launched in America 25 years is often a secret. Luxury brands rarely going to NHS charities. ago, it quickly became known as the best want word to get out that they are dump- LK Bennett is considering closing five auction website to acquire a collection of ing goods cheap for fear that customers of its shops and joined eBay three months Beanie Babies stuffed toys or to snap up will shy away from paying full price. after the first lockdown closure of Bices- someone else’s unwanted Christmas Burberry has used surplus material in ter Village, in Oxfordshire, where dozens presents. its beige check to make £90 masks. The of luxury brands offer discounted sur- A UK version of the site did not arrive designer appeared keen to say where its plus goods. The outlets reopened in sum-

for four years, but today it is turning into LK BENNETT mer but closed again for the second lock- an online clearing house for British retail- down. It is reportedly the second most- ers who have had to close their shops dur- visited UK destination for Chinese ing the coronavirus lockdowns. tourists after Buckingham Palace. Alongside the website’s offerings of Orsola de Castro, founder of Fashion the dusty contents of Granny’s attic can Revolution, which campaigns for a more be found a striking array of new clothes sustainable and ethical industry, said: from some of Britain’s best-known “Excess stock is the elephant in the room brands. for the industry, the biggest, most hidden Since the first lockdown started in issue. What is certain is that last season’s March, eBay has begun to resemble a vir- stock was not sold. So . . . we have ware- tual high street with chains such as Wal- houses brimming with clothes.” lis, Dorothy Perkins, Jack Wills, Crew Murray LambLambell, manager of eBay UK, Clothing and Seasalt offering both full- ssaid:aid: “Market“Marketplacesp are an efficient price and discounted goods. According way fforor retaileretailers to shift excess or last- to eBay, four in every five items sold on its season stock,sto a problem that’s A baby is rescued after a typhoon hit Cagayan province in the northeast Philippines, causing widespread flooding site are new, including clothing from the becomebecome aalll too apparent as non-es- current season. sentialsential businessesbu were forced to LK Bennett, a fashion brand that has cclose.”l become a favourite with the Duchess of Richard Lim, chief Cambridge, has also launched an eBay eexecutive of research “store”. Among the items it has for sale fifirm Retail Economics, Masks give kiss of death to lipstick are its Floret court shoes, which Kate has ssaid:a “Many retailers lost worn in a nude patent leather. They have theirthe main way to reach Louise Eccles “significant correlation” means if you are wearing been reduced from £195 to £59. customerscusto when their shops Consumer Affairs Editor between face coverings heavy lipstick under your EBay said it provided a place for retail- sshut.hut. becoming mandatory in masks, you will end up with ers to shift excess stock that had built up “Lar“Largerge retailers, such as John Once described by the actress shops in juch of the UK in make-up smeared where you while shops were closed by lockdown, Lewis andand Next, have spent dec- Dame Joan Collins as “the summer and the decline in do not want it.” followed by reduced demand from cus- aadesdes investinginvest in their websites so best cosmetic that exists”, lipstick sales, down 49% But as lipstick declined this tomers. ththeyey coucouldld cope much better with lipstick has been a lockdown between August and October, year, eye make-up’s share of Although retail sales were up by 5.5% tthehe shift tot customers shopping loser. according to the NPD Group, the prestige market rose to in September compared with before the online. ButBu thousands of mid-size While Britons used to a market research firm. 25%. Millie Kendall, chief pandemic, clothing sales remain 12.7% retailers haven’th invested huge spend more than £100m a For those who have executive of the British below February levels, according to fig- sums of mmoneyo into their websites year on lipstick, sales have persisted in applying lipstick, Beauty Council, said: “As we ures from the Office for National Statis- aandnd they ddo not have the IT infra- collapsed during the the consequences can be are hiding behind masks in tics, published last month. structure anda servers to cope with pandemic as the facemask messy. Mira Parmar, a make- most public settings, the use The result has been mountains of tthehe onlineonline demand, so they are means there is little point up artist in London who has for lip products is limited. unsold summer wear, with a second lock- LK Bennett, a favourite of thehe Duchess usiusingng eBayeBay.”” putting it on. not worn lipstick since Therefore we are buying down compounding a problem known in of Cambridge, has an eBay store @Louise_Eccles Analysts said there is a March, said: “Common sense Lipstick sales are down 50% more eyeliner and mascara.” 16 The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 NEWS CORONAVIRUS Families rebel against punitive care home rules

Desperate relatives face sanctions for attempting to visit the elderly

Emily Kent Smith legal claims by those who might catch solved into tears, as anybody would. The the coronavirus. carer was lovely ... then she mentioned After 20 years as an A&E consultant, A rapid testing pilot programme has the manager’s name and that was it, that there is not much that fazes Angela been introduced in a number of care is when I lost it.” McIntyre. Yet in September, standing in homes which, if rolled out more widely, McIntyre was accused of swearing at a the car park of a care home, clasping gifts would make it easier for relatives to see staff member and making threats. “About for her 92-year-old mother, she exploded residents safely. Many care homes have three or four days later I got an email with rage and swore at a member of staff. been in lockdown since March, with from a policeman, telling me that I had It had been seven months since she was many residents still unable to touch fam- been reported to the police. I’m not even last allowed to see mother. ily members. sure what the crime was,” she said. The outburst resulted in McIntyre, 60, But a rebellion is under way. Some “The next thing I got a letter from the being contacted by police, and led to a people are breaking the rules and facing home, it was so horrible, demanding an breakdown of relations with the care sanctions; others have pulled loved ones apology, threatening to report me to the home in Worcestershire. “I had reached out of care. GMC [General Medical Council].” my limit,” she said. A retired nurse, Ylenia Angeli, 73, was McIntyre’s mother, who she has cho- She has lost two stone and wakes at arrested earlier this month after trying to sen not to name, has dementia with Lewy 5am every day since lockdown began remove her mother, 97, from a care bodies, a disorder that shares symptoms because of the stress of being separated home. Her desperation is not unique. of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, from her mother. When McIntyre snapped, she had and is bed-bound. McIntyre fears they In August, Colette Miles, 58, a second- been embroiled for weeks in a dispute will never see each other again. ary school teacher, stood outside her with the care home’s manager about “I am normally a stoic person, I sup- mother’s care home and listened as she visiting. In September, she drove into the pose, I don’t really suffer from stress, groaned in pain. The window was ajar car park to drop off chocolates and cakes, even through my career as an emergency and, without thinking, she pushed her passing the bag to a carer. “I just dis- consultant, which is very, very stressful. fingertips, which had just been doused in “I can’t say I have ever had depression For visits in the weeks that followed, “We wanted to provide a voice for know I am just going to blow it all to the sanitiser, through to touch her mother’s or anything like that but I don’t sleep any her mother was moved away from the those that can’t be heard. They are locked wind and go in and say: ‘We are here, do hand. She too faced sanctions: her more. I wake up at 5am. I have lost two window and strapped into her wheel- away, they can’t communicate and they what you’ve got to do.’ I don’t know how mother, Barbara Williamson, 80, was put stone in weight. I have talked about call- chair. She had survived Covid-19 during can’t speak out — but we can,” Mayhew much longer I can do it,” she said. into self-isolation and banned from leav- ing the Samaritans,” she says. the first lockdown. Many others died. said. “Thousands of families have been Others have become so desperate that ing her room for two weeks. Miles saw her self-control slip when “To see my mum mentally and physi- driven to breaking point by these inhu- they are taking relatives out of care. “No one could walk away from that,” she stood outside a care home near Leeds cally go downhill through a window, it’s mane rules.” Sharon Flewitt, 55, a nurse and university Miles said. “You could see she needed the My mum was in August, listening to her mother moan- like watching an animal in a zoo deterio- Frances Cardwell, from Lancaster, lecturer, is weeks away from moving her contact. I was saying: ‘Mum, it’s going to ing in pain. rate,” she said. cries every time she walks home from mother, Teresa Ramejkis, 88, into her be all right.’” shaking. She said, “My mum came to the window, she Their stories come as MPs last week visiting her sister, Deborah Green, 54, house. After months of being unable to The women are among a growing num- was shaking and trembling. There was a called for better visiting rights in care who has severe learning difficulties and touch her mother, who has Alzheimer’s ber of desperate relatives banned from ‘I’m in so much two inch gap ... I had sanitised my hand, homes. Helen Whately, the care minister, lives in an assisted living complex. and vascular dementia, Flewitt, from Liv- being close to loved ones because of my mum put her hand through the win- has been told that urgent weekly testing Cardwell is only allowed to see her erpool, applied to social services to take draconian rules on visiting care homes. pain’. I touched her dow ... She was crying, I was crying. She for relatives of those in care homes must outside, at a distance. “She puts her her out of care. Under government guidelines, it is up said: ‘I’m in so much pain.’ No one would be introduced. arms out for a hug and I’m saying: ‘I She is moving into a new house to to the homes themselves to set up Covid- hand ... and was walk away from that,” she said. Families are working together to fight can’t,’” she said. allow for the change and will pay for safe visits and outline their rules, leading She was reported to the manager, and for change. Rights for Residents was cre- If the rules do not change, she is willing carers. to a postcode lottery. reported to the her mother, who has vascular dementia ated by Diane Mayhew and Jenny Morri- to risk being reported to the authorities Flewitt is part of a WhatsApp group Many are also concerned about being and Parkinson’s disease, was put into son, after the couple faced the agony of simply to show affection to her sister, with other families linked to the sued because, unlike the NHS, they have manager self-isolation for two weeks. “I felt guilty being apart from Morrison’s 87-year-old who turns 55 on Christmas Eve. “If we home. “Out of the seven of us that no indemnity to protect them against they were punishing her,” Miles said. mother, who lives in a care home. can’t be near her at Christmas then I started, only two of us have surviving rel- The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 17 NEWS Faithful flock to defy ban on communal prayer

Nicholas Hellen Police have fined rail passengers for refusing to wear masks and party-goers for flouting rules on illegal gatherings, but no fixed penalty notices have been issued for singing a hymn or saying a prayer — yet. But that may change today when a church congregation becomes the first to declare that it will openly defy lockdown rules by gathering for communal worship. Regan King, 28, an Angela McIntyre, left, with her evangelical pastor at The mother, who has dementia. She has Angel Church, Clerkenwell, been prevented from seeing her since central London, is to lead his March. Esmé Dobson, above, took flock in song and prayer, husband Doug Jenks out of his care despite rules that restrict home weeks into the first lockdown. church attendance to Colette Miles with her mother, right, individuals or households whom she has been able to see only praying on their own. through a window Exceptions include funerals, with a limit of 30 people, commemorative events, with Social distancing at the Angel Church, Clerkenwell a limit of 15, and broadcasts. “Boris Johnson and his respectfully” and to assure masks. King insists that those cabinet cannot dictate how them that the church has who were not exempt did so. people need to be shown love conducted a risk assessment. Members of the or hope,” he said. “Multiple A Remembrance Sunday congregation have been people have thanked us for service held there last week warned that they must be remaining open — because we was attended by a prepared to pay a fine, treat them as human beings congregation of 35 but, unlike although advice from the in need of meaningful today’s service, that was not Christian Legal Centre has interaction.” declared in advance. given King grounds for He is aware of 10 other Hymns included Tell Out believing that they may be churches that are gathering My Soul and To God Be the able to mount a defence. for communal worship. Glory, and prayer, and Up to 15 people can be Justin Welby, the physical contact through classified as being part of a atives,” she said. “As soon as people never had for the five years he lived in a Archbishop of Canterbury, handshakes and comforting support group for people started dying in there I was absolutely care home. He has a quality of life he who upset members of the hands on shoulders. who fall into categories, such adamant: I don’t want the next time I get didn’t have before.” Son’s judicial review Church of England by Chairs were placed apart, as being victims of crime, to see my mum to be because she is lying John’s Campaign is a not-for-profit appearing to assent too and many, but not all, wore including domestic abuse; dead on a bed.” organisation pushing for family carers to acknowledgement that the readily to the full closure of recovering from addictions; Sian Griffiths Three weeks ago, her mother caught be allowed close contact with people hos- treatment of care homes was churches in March, has urged new parents; carers; those the coronavirus but pulled through. pitalised with dementia and is involved in Simon Fearn, 67, worries that unlawful. “To discharge ministers to reconsider the facing issues relating to their “You go to bed, you think about it. You a legal dispute with the government over he might lose his mother patients from hospitals block on communal worship. sexuality or gender identity; just don’t know what the next phone call current visiting guidance. Jean, 94, who lives in a care into care homes without On Friday a group of 122 and those who have suffered is going to bring. That goes across Julia Jones, its co-founder, said: “There home in Sidmouth, Devon, to adequate testing for the virus church leaders submitted a bereavement. the board for families everywhere,” is a rollercoaster of emotions that people Covid-19 this winter. is just wrong,” he said. legal challenge against the l Andreas Michli, 34, is Flewitt said. have gone through. There have been He has joined a judicial More than 20,000 people government’s policy. Door staff facing a £67,000 fine from Weeks into the first lockdown, Esmé moments of hope when we have thought review with two other have died in care homes from The risks of the police Haringey council after Dobson, 51, decided to take her husband the government is going to fix it. And families — both of whom have Covid-19 in England and breaking up today’s service at have been refusing to close his gym Doug Jenks, 71, who has Alzheimer’s, out then, if you have a moment of hope and it lost a parent in a care home Wales — 40% of total deaths — The Angel Church are being during the second national of care. gets dashed, it is almost worse than if you this year — against the many after outbreaks traced taken seriously. The door instructed lockdown. He was finally Before the pandemic, Dobson already had never had hope. government’s “litany of to former hospital patients. team has been instructed not forced to shut Zone Gym in had serious concerns. “I was thinking “People have felt great guilt, which is failures” in protecting care Fearn says his mother’s to let the police enter during not to let the Wood Green, north London, about taking him out but I didn’t have the not right at all, great anger and frustra- home residents. The case will care home is excellent but the service, in case they after police blocked guts to do it. Covid made me do it,” she tion and now I’m afraid people are begin- be heard on Thursday. fears the same thing may cause “disruption or distress” police enter customers from entering. said. “I have a peace of mind now that I ning to feel despair.” Fearn is pressing for an happen again. but are told to “speak @NicholasHellen 18 The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 NEWS

AMI VITALE, JIM RICHARDSON

ANIMAL PRINTS

An orphaned giraffe nuzzling a Prints for Nature to raise money for wildlife keeper at Sarara camp in work by the Conservation Kenya and gannets nesting on International charity. The prints have St Kilda in the Outer Hebrides are been donated by the photographers two of 70 pictures being sold by printsfornature.com Lesbian YouTube stars demand end to ‘gay tax’ on IVF treatment

pounds on artificial inseminations at a pressure now with Covid-19, often make In England nearly all the 135 clinical filled with “creepy sex pests and married A married couple known private clinic to “prove” infertility before the decision to allocate funding to commissioning groups require guys lying to their wives”. to their followers as qualifying for NHS help. By contrast, the treatments that are seen as more vital same-sex female couples and single “We got lucky in the end, found a man majority of heterosexual couples are than fertility.” women, before undergoing IVF, to pay we liked, and our daughter is now five,” Wegan are campaigning required only to have unprotected sex for Laura-Rose Thorogood, 34, founder of for six to 12 artificial insemination treat- said Benedicte. “But the whole process for equal access to two years. the LGBT Mummies Tribe campaign ments privately, costing £10,000 to was so awful and frightening.” The couple spent £8,000 on sperm, group and a mother of two children, £30,000 or more. Nancy Kelley, 47, chief executive of NHS fertility services tests and intrauterine insemination treat- whose fertility treatment cost £50,000, Whitney urged the government to Stonewall, said: “We like to think of our- ments, and called the financial burden a said: “We all know the NHS is strapped reconsider allowing cheaper home selves as a progressive nation ... but a Alice Hutton “gay tax” that hurts those on low for cash. We have suggested they means- insemination, and said high costs were whole new generation of women are still incomes. “All we want is to be mums,” test everyone to make it fair.” forcing people to look for “dangerous” being forced to sit in private clinics, cry- A lesbian couple with 50,000 subscribers said Megan, “but we’re being discrimi- Heterosexuals make up 90% of UK fer- private deals on social media, leaving ing, faced with a bill they can’t afford, in on YouTube have launched a campaign nated against for our sexuality ... and tility patients, but same-sex female cou- them at risk of disease, assault and future order to have a family. It’s just wrong.” demanding equal fertility treatment after pushed into the private sector.” ples are the fastest-growing demo- legal action over access rights. Marsha de Cordova, shadow women being told to pay up to £30,000 to a pri- Their change.org petition demands graphic, making up 6.4% of all treatment In 2014, Professor Gennadij Raivich, a and equalities secretary, urged Hancock vate clinic before the NHS will help them that the government review LGBT access cycles. Between 2008 and 2018 the num- neuroscientist at University College Lon- to restart the review and said: “Sexual have a baby. to fertility treatments, as the health sec- ber of IVF cycles offered to women in don, was convicted of assaulting a orientation should not be a barrier to Megan Bacon-Evans, 33, and her retary, Matt Hancock, pledged to do in same-sex relationships rose by 570%, woman after he advertised free sperm accessing IVF treatment.” US-born wife, Whitney, 32, have inspired July. from 320 to 2,151, according to the fertil- online, resulting in 58 children. Under A spokesman for NHS England said: LGBT people across the world since The Royal College of Obstetricians and ity watchdog, the Human Fertilisation UK law, a sperm donor may not father “These are legal decisions for local health they found fame as “Wegan” in 2009, fea- Gynaecologists and the British Preg- and Embryology Authority. Only 14% of children to more than 10 families. groups, who should ensure they are pro- turing in Britain’s Relationship Secrets, a nancy Advisory Service (BPAS) called the LGBT patients are funded, compared Women told the court they took up the viding equal access to NHS fertility servi- BBC documentary, and Say Yes to the financial barriers “horrifying” and with 39% of heterosexuals. 52-year-old’s offer after being denied ces, taking account of Nice guidance.” Dress, a reality-TV show about brides- “unacceptable” but said the NHS did not NHS England, Wales and Northern NHS treatment. A spokeswoman for Pride Angel, to-be. have unlimited funds. Megan Bacon-Evans, Ireland base their rules on guidelines Lawyer Benedicte Waaler, 40, and her which has 100,000 members worldwide, But when the Instagram influencers, Marta Jansa Perez, director of embry- left, and wife from the National Institute for Health and wife Nadia, 50, from London, opted for a said it had a report abuse system for “any- who live in Windsor, decided to start a ology at BPAS, said: “There is no magic Whitney say they are Care Excellence (Nice), which recom- “DIY baby” after spending £12,000, and thing untoward, and we act upon this family, they were shocked to learn they pot of money, and sadly many [NHS local being pushed into mends three rounds of IVF for women turned to Pride Angel, a website that they rapidly to remove members from the would have to spend thousands of health groups], who are under even more the private sector under 40. NHS Scotland is not covered. said is like “Tinder for free sperm”. It was website”. Building boss apologised for fire that engulfed flats

social work “as a result of not architects. The block was compensation, Pidgley, 72, being able to focus due to the demolished and LFB issued said: “Yes.” fire”, he said. His wife, enforcement notices to fix 23 He died in June from a Sophie, 33, tried to stop him. other blocks in the 650-home stroke. Christian Hansen of “I remember howling as I development the Hamptons. Bindmans, a lawyer for the watched him run up to the At a meeting with residents residents, said: “Berkeley has top of the building. I could in a community hall, which since instructed contractual see his head bobbing up was recorded, Pidgley said: “I dispute solicitors who are every flight of stairs,” she founded Berkeley and we’ve now denying liability and said. always prided ourselves on saying, ‘We are not paying Cavity barriers in the 16cm trying to do things right. And anything.’” gap inside the timber-frame we’ve let you down, we’ve let Most developers of high- Martina Lees exterior walls should have you down badly, each and rise flats wrapped in Senior Property Writer slowed the spread of fire. But every one of you. I’d like to flammable materials or built the barriers were “too small” say sorry ... It is our fault, with faulty fire stops have Tony Pidgley, the late founder or “missing completely” and we’ve missed it ... We did denied liability. The scandal, of one of Britain’s biggest the flames spread “almost miss that fire stop, and I’m exposed by the Grenfell housebuilders, told owners of unhindered”, according to sorry, and we will be taking Tower fire in 2017, has left up defective flats engulfed by fire reports by the LFB and responsibility.” to 1.5 million flats that his Berkeley Group had independent experts at When a resident asked unmortgageable, and affects “let [them] down badly”. Probyn Miers, a firm of whether that included thousands of recently built Pidgley was recorded houses. making the apology, a rare Sir Peter Bottomley, the admission from a developer longest-serving MP, said in the building safety scandal. housebuilders were “having a All 60 residents of a block of slow bicycle race” on flats in southwest London lost admitting fault. “They’re their homes in September seeing who can go the slowest 2019 after faulty fire barriers without falling off. Builders inside walls let flames spread. have to shape up and accept Berkeley has denied liability. those responsibilities.” Firefighters arrived at St James, the Berkeley Richmond House in subsidiary that built the Worcester Park within nine Hamptons, said: “The cause minutes, but could not save of the fire was never any of the 23 flats. identified but the building Andy Roe, commissioner ‘performed’ as it was of the London Fire Brigade supposed to, allowing (LFB), told a London Grenfell ablaze in 2017. Its cladding was flammable everyone to get out safely. assembly committee last Compensation has been month that the four-storey paid to Richmond House block had been damaged Grenfell group invokes residents and comprehensive beyond repair “in checks made on the rest of approximately 11 minutes the development. All once the fire had taken Raab over firm’s silence properties remain safe and hold . . . entirely due to remedial works have been problems with internal Grenfell survivors have company data being shared scheduled.” compartmentation and poor called on Dominic Raab, the in proceedings abroad, if Residents said St James had standards of construction”. foreign secretary, to they testify. The law, passed paid each household £3,000 After finding their balcony intervene after executives in 1968, has been used only plus a contribution towards on fire in the early hours, from the firm that made the once. legal fees. Personal injury Danielle and Darren tower’s flammable cladding Internal emails show one claims have yet to be paid. Mikkelsen fled barefoot with invoked an obscure French of the employees, Claude Metropolitan Thames sons Theo, then 12, and Jesse, law to refuse to take the Wehrle, had warned the Valley, the housing eight months. “We had no stand at the public inquiry cladding panels were association that part-sold, time to even put on shoes,” into the fire, write Dipesh “dangerous” eight years part-rented the shared said Danielle, 36, a teacher. Gadher and Hugo Daniel. before the 2017 fire. Richard ownership flats at Richmond She later recovered her Lawyers for the Arconic Millett QC, the inquiry House, has offered to buy wedding ring from the ashes. employees — three of whom lawyer, said the four back residents’ shares. Russell Tuahene, 35, ran are based in France and one witnesses “have extremely Two-bedroom flats in the back into the burning in Germany — say they could pertinent evidence to give”. block were worth about building to warn neighbours. be open to prosecution Members of the Grenfell £390,000 in 2019. He was commended by the under the French Blocking United campaign group will fire brigade but lost his job in Statute, which stops write to Raab this week. See Magazine pages 32-37 The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 19 NEWS

Soldier of Yard investigates mercenaries fortune who saw the over war crimes in Sri Lanka slaughter We flew a big lazy orbit on the area but saw nothing except an A British team set up by SAS veterans, the Keenie Meenies, has been linked to killings in the 1980s civil war old man on a pushbike about two kilometres away,

JDS LANKA; DOMINIC O’NEILL pedalling slowly towards the Emily Dugan roadblock. Namal called for Social Affairs Correspondent guns. Without thinking, I set the circuit-breakers and British mercenaries who helped the Sri selected the pod gun on the Lankan military in the 1980s during the weapons control panel. country’s civil war are being investigated Pulling the sight down from for war crimes by the Metropolitan the roof and locking it into police. place, Namal gently rolled the Keenie Meenie Services (KMS) was aircraft out of the orbit and established by SAS veterans in 1975 and set up a shallow attack dive made millions operating in countries towards the old man. where Britain had political interests. The “Where are you going? company’s name may come from a Swa- What have you seen?” I hili expression for a snake moving asked. through grass; another theory is that it is “I think he is maybe a bad Arabic slang for “undercover”. guy. If I shoot him and he Its men trained an elite paramilitary runs away, it will prove that unit of the Sri Lanka police called the he is,” Namal replied with a Special Task Force (STF), which became childlike innocence that was notorious for atrocities. KMS also taught totally confounding. With the country’s air force and provided heli- that, he sent a stream of .50 copter pilots who flew on missions where bullets stitching along the innocent people were gunned down. road. The old man fell from In 1983 militant Tamils began fighting his bike and lay very still. for independence from the British- [...] backed Sinhalese who ran Sri Lanka. The Namal fired up the engines next year, KMS mercenaries started train- while I checked out the ing the STF as a counter-insurgency systems. Quickly taking off, team. The STF was responsible for sum- [we] caught up with the bus mary executions, the mass murder of in no time at all. civilians and burning down homes. A CIA On the edge of Achchuveli file said the unit’s “superior combat per- KMS instructors in Sri Lanka. Below, Miller said: “Much of the evidence gunship he co-piloted include an old man Saladin Security said: “The allegation it careered off the road into formance”was down to KMS training. founder David Walker and wife Cissy against KMS that I used in my book is on a bike and passengers on a public bus, that David Walker or staff of KMS Ltd some bushes ... I had some One notorious event was a dawn raid based on cables British diplomats sent to including women and children. were complicit in war crimes in Sri Lanka sort of misguided idea that in January 1987 when 85 people are said Whitehall during the 1980s, which clearly Smith is thought to have spent his in the mid-1980s is categorically denied. the army would send out a to have been murdered by STF and army showed KMS was heavily involved in retirement in Spain and it is not known if Saladin ... and Mr Walker have patrol to take over on the forces helicoptered onto a prawn farm counterinsurgency operations in Sri he is still alive. responded to requests for information ground. More fool me. near Kokkadichcholai, a village on the Lanka in which civilians were being rou- David Walker, 78, a former SAS officer about such allegations received from the Men, women and children east coast of the island country. tinely killed. The Foreign Office sat on who founded and directed KMS, is the UN Human Rights Council. leapt from the bus and It had been reported that Tamil mili- that evidence for 30 years and only most senior surviving member of the “Saladin’s response has been pub- scrambled madly through the tants were hiding there but the forces declassified much of the paper trail fol- company. He runs Saladin, a security lished by the UNHCR. bushes for the safety of the found only farm workers. The bodies of lowing my persistent freedom of infor- company that until 2018 was registered to “It had no involvement in Sri Lanka at houses on the edge of the those killed, including teenagers, were mation requests. the same Kensington address as KMS. the time or subsequently.” village. The doorgunner just thrown into a well. “If the police probe does result in any Walker was a Conservative councillor The spokesman added: “The unit has kept on firing. It is believed to be the first time the prosecutions of senior KMS personnel, it in Surrey while he ran KMS. He is linked not yet asked for assistance from Saladin “Bloody hell, Namal, there Met’s war crimes team has launched an will be a landmark moment for the UK’s to addresses in Kensington but appears to or Mr Walker but they will be happy to are people in those houses. investigation into British mercenaries. private military industry. British merce- live in Kenya. Several other senior figures co-operate if asked. The training of the The bloody main street is full The unit has previously focused on for- naries are not used to this level of scru- in KMS are now beyond investigation. Its Special Task Force of the Sri Lankan of innocent people — you eign alleged war criminals living in the tiny about their actions in conflict zones chairman, Jim Johnson, died in 2008 and Police was designed to inculcate the mili- can’t keep on with this,” I was UK, such as Rwandans who took part in overseas, where their exploits are often Brian Baty, who ran its Sri Lankan opera- tary philosophy of ‘winning hearts and almost shouting by then. genocide in 1994 and a man suspected of treated as swashbuckling rather than sin- tions, died in February. minds’ and the paramount need to Namal ordered the abuses during the Liberian civil war. ister or possibly even illegal.” The UN wrote to Walker in June after respect human rights.” gunner to stop firing as A spokesman said: “We can confirm Diplomatic cables obtained by Miller complaints about KMS from the Tamil The Foreign Office said: “The UK takes he reluctantly called that the Met’s war crimes team, part of its suggest it suited the Thatcher govern- Information Centre. The UN pointed out very seriously the allegations raised in off the attack. Sulky Counter Terrorism Command, received a ment to have mercenaries bolster the Sri that KMS had trained 120 new STF fight- relation to the activities of Keenie Meenie little bastard. referral in March concerning war crimes Lankan government as it avoided the ers every 12 weeks, including in the use of Services in Sri Lanka in the 1980s and we alleged to have been committed by Brit- “political difficulties” that could result weapons, but no information was availa- are assisting the Metropolitan police in Extracted from The Reluctant ish mercenaries in Sri Lanka during the from direct help. KMS became involved ble on any steps taken by KMS to hold their investigation.” The government is Mercenary, by Tim Smith, 1980s. in the conflict after a special adviser to fighters to account for abuses. not a subject of the investigation. published by the Book Guild “The war crimes team began a scoping Margaret Thatcher suggested future UK exercise into the matter and has subse- support for Sri Lanka’s security forces quently launched an investigation.” ted war crimes. KMS was involved in “might be privatised”, Miller’s declassi- Few cases make it past the scoping covert activities across the planet, from fied files show. Britain was concerned stage. In 2016 the team assessed six cases Nicaragua to Sri Lanka. about communist sympathies among but none was investigated. The KMS “Our clients are appalled by the activi- some Tamil groups and feared the Soviet inquiry comes after police were sent a ties of these mercenaries and the tacit Union could gain influence. dossier last month by lawyers acting for approval given to them by the Foreign A former KMS pilot, Tim Smith, wrote the Tamil Information Centre in London. and Commonwealth Office.” a memoir about his time in Sri Lanka, say- Paul Heron, a solicitor at the Public Much of the evidence handed to the ing he was involved in killing Tamils “on a Interest Law Centre, which specialises in police is a result of investigations by Phil daily basis” while co-piloting helicopters. actions against public authorities, said: Miller, a reporter for the website Declassi- In his book, The Reluctant Mercenary, “This is the first investigation that we fied UK, whose book Keenie Meenie: The he describes helping to pilot the helicop- know of into British mercenaries operat- British Mercenaries Who Got Away With ter as civilians are gunned down. Targets ing overseas and alleged to have commit- War Crimes, was published in January. fired at by Sri Lankan forces from the Families call for review of SAS killings in Afghanistan

David Collins according to legal papers. the boys must have been mission in Afghanistan. Northern Correspondent The UK has a responsibility sitting against the wall when Emails uncovered as part of under international law to they were killed.” the court case reveal the The Royal Military Police conduct “prompt and The RMP received an email doubts of British (RMP) “failed” in its duties to effective” investigations into notifying it of the killings but commanders over the SAS investigate a team of crack alleged civilian killings. only began an investigation version of the mission. A SAS soldiers who killed a In 2012, an SAS unit from after the families complained British commander noted the group of young boys in Camp Bastion, accompanied through UK solicitors. possibility of “a deliberate Afghanistan, according to a by Afghan soldiers, entered a Three SAS soldiers were policy … to engage and kill new legal claim. village looking for Fazel referred to the Service fighting-aged males on target The claim, lodged last Mohammed, whom they Prosecuting Authority (SPA). even when they did not pose month at the High Court, believed to be a senior Soldier B was referred on four a threat”. This would alleges that military Taliban member. The British counts of murder; soldier A contravene the Geneva investigators failed to make soldiers were under the for misconduct in a public Conventions as well as basic inquiries after a British command of Soldier A, court office, after allegedly creating international law. special forces team killed four documents say. a false account of the mission; Tessa Gregory, a partner at boys in 2012 in Helmand On arrival at the family and soldier C was accused of Leigh Day, said: “Our clients province. compound, Soldier B went to perverting the course of are desperate to find out what Special forces troops a guest room with two Afghan justice. happened the night their claimed the boys, aged soldiers and opened fire. The Soldier C is understood to loved ones were killed and it between 12 and 18, were soldier killed at least three have been one of the most seems extraordinary that Taliban insurgents. Relatives out of the four boys at close high-ranking SAS officers at eight years on, after a full and Afghan officials say they range, including Ahmed the time. In March 2015 , the investigation by the Royal were civilians. Two of the Shah, 12. The families claim SPA decided not to prosecute. Military Police, they are no boys were brothers, the other through their solicitors, Leigh It said it had concluded there nearer to finding out the two were friends of the Day, that the boys were was “no realistic prospect of truth.” brothers and studying at the unarmed and drinking tea conviction” and it could not This month the House local school. when the soldier opened fire. disprove the British soldier’s of Commons passed The families’ solicitors are An eyewitness said: “I claim that he was acting in legislation that will see a seeking a judicial review that could see a stream of bullet self-defence. “presumption against they hope will order a new holes around the walls, The High Court is dealing prosecution” of service investigation into the SAS around 60cm up from the with a separate legal claim personnel accused of mission. They argue that a ground, which showed that relating to another SAS committing a crime overseas, seven-week delay in starting with the exception of sexual an inquiry meant the RMP offences, if more than five failed to gather evidence. years have passed since the “The RMP investigation did alleged offence took place. not recover any video footage Speaking about the bill, of the incident, nor did it Dan Jarvis, Mayor for obtain any evidence from the Sheffield City Region and a scene of the incident, nor did former paratrooper, said: it undertake any examination “The overwhelming majority of the bodies of the of members of our Armed deceased,” according to the Forces follow the rules. claim by the victims’ families. “But no one is above the Military investigators also law. One of the best ways to failed to interview key protect our troops is to witnesses, namely two ensure we apply the rule of Afghan soldiers who saw the law in every instance.” SAS soldier open fire, Bullet holes visible in the wall where the boys were shot @DavidCollinsST 20 NEWS CORONAVIRUS

here was near-universal this be so? Shouldn’t we still be messenger RNA — or mRNA — the WHAT ARE THE DRAWBACKS? agreement from scientists last celebrating a scientific marvel that artificial vaccine targets the mechanism week that the coronavirus clearly has the potential to stem the tide that creates the proteins the body relies Pfizer announced its breakthrough at a Is this ‘miracle’ vaccine breakthrough was of infection? on to stay healthy. The technology has press conference, not in a peer-reviewed “fundamentally very good The answers to those questions cover never been used in a successful vaccine. scientific paper published by a medical news” and “unequivocally dazzling innovation, challenging Pfizer’s product requires two doses to journal. We do not know how many Tencouraging”. One newspaper practicalities and continuing dangers be administered between three and four people who were vaccinated went on to vaccine a shot described the results from a that, for all the progress we have made weeks apart. Almost 39,000 of the test positive, how old they were or how trial conducted by Pfizer, the American in battling a lethal new disease, we still volunteers have received the second seriously they fell ill. Pfizer’s news was pharmaceutical giant, as a “vaccine do not fully understand. dose of either the real vaccine, or a cheering, but the small print has yet to miracle”. placebo that should have no protective be revealed. Key questions remain Pfizer’s results, announced on WHAT DOES THAT 90% effect. unanswered, not just about the in the arm — or Monday, far exceeded the most On Monday the company said 94 practicalities of impending distribution optimistic expectations of global health SUCCESS RATE MEAN? volunteers had tested positive — of billions of doses, but how much experts searching for a weapon that enough for a preliminary protection the vaccine will supply, how might halt the rampaging virus. Pfizer’s late-stage clinical trial evaluation. “What the 90% efficacy long it will remain effective, and what in the dark? Any vaccine showing a success rate of enrolled 43,538 volunteers from means is that the number of age groups might benefit most — or least. more than 60% or 70% in protecting several countries and different symptomatic cases of Covid-19 ... is For example, we do not know those inoculated might prove helpful in racial and ethnic groups. Its 90% lower in those that received the whether the vaccine protects against containing Covid-19 — or at the very least proposed vaccine is a synthetic vaccine compared with those that infection, or merely helps suppress reducing the severity of any symptoms. liquid designed to imitate the received the placebo,” said illness once infected. Either outcome Pfizer claimed the product it developed genetic code found in the Professor Azra Ghani of Imperial would clearly be helpful, but a vaccine with a German company, BioNTech, had coronavirus, thereby triggering College London. that reduced the severity of sickness TONY proven more than 90% effective. the body’s defences against In short, said William Gruber of without reducing the infection rate ALLEN-MILLS Yet there has been a perceptible infection without having to use Pfizer, “this really bodes well for us might condemn us to months, if not dimming of enthusiasm since then, with the virus itself. Known as being able to get a handle on the years, of more mask-wearing and social talk of “vaccine euphoria” fading and epidemic and get us out of this distancing. concern that no early release from The new vaccine will situation”. Nor can we tell at this point how pandemic misery is likely. Why should require two doses effective Pfizer’s product might prove

A NATION DIVIDED BY COVID AND WEALTH

Weekly infection Ex-health chief: rate per 100,000 0-200 200-300 300-400 400+

ENGLAND’S 20 MOST DEPRIVED AREAS obesity scourge 1 Blackpool 339 2 Knowsley 345

3 Liverpool 285

Kingston 727 led to 50,000 4 upon Hull

5 Middlesbrough 440

6 Manchester 433

Covid death toll 7 Birmingham 343

8 Burnley 411 action. A “war against fat” was Davies, who stepped down in October Dame Sally Davies claims announced, but with little effect. Last last year — to be succeeded by Chris 9 Blackburn 722 week new government proposals sug- Whitty — said Covid’s devastating effect the failure to address the with Darwen gested online ads containing food high in on the unhealthy had proved her correct. crisis of overeating and fat, sugar and salt could be banned. She told Times Radio’s G&T pro- 10 Hartlepool 456 cheap junk food has Davies today issues a call for the NHS to gramme: “You only have to look at our focus on prevention as much as being “an prime minister, who believes his weight 11 Nottingham 342 caused extra fatalities illness service”. was one of the reasons his episode of It includes a demand for food compa- Covid was quite serious. 455 Tom Newton Dunn Times Radio nies to “play or pay”, meaning they must “We know if we were slimmer as a 12 Sandwell Andrew Gregory Health Editor play their part in encouraging healthier nation, and smoked less, we would have eating or pay an annual levy to fund an less [Covid] morbidity and mortality.” 13 Bradford 591 Thousands of coronavirus deaths could expanded health service. She added: “We accept commercial have been avoided if ministers had tack- During her nine years as chief medical companies nannying people into eating led the obesity crisis, England’s former officer, Davies faced criticism for seeking or drinking or smoking unhealthily. But 14 Stoke-on-Trent 452 chief medical officer says today. “sin taxes” and laws to clamp down on we don’t accept that we as a nation work- Professor Dame Sally Davies blames unhealthy foods and smoking. Ministers ing together should nudge people and 15 Rochdale 607 the country’s high death toll on “a struc- acted on some of her appeals. put the same effort and money into nudg- tural environment” that enabled junk ing people for health. We need a struc- food makers to encourage consumption. tural system where it’s easy to be 16 Hyndburn 438 The UK has one of the highest rates of HOW NATIONS healthy.” obesity in the world and the second high- Portion sizes, she said, had grown 17 Hastings 49 est in Europe, with nearly one in three FIGHT THE FLAB “immensely”. For example, “companies adults obese. Obesity, defined as a body who say it’s just a big chocolate bar for mass index greater than 30, raises the sharing know very well they’re pushing 18 Salford 532 risk of dying of Covid-19 by 48%. Some countries have ideas the UK that for not sharing, and they’re using Last week Britain became the first could copy, a think tank says. A tax that for an excuse”. 19 Oldham 741 country in Europe to pass a grim mile- on sugar-loaded food and sweets Davies, who is master of Trinity Col- stone, reaching more than 50,000 deaths could help the waistlines of Britons lege, Cambridge, was damning about suc- 196 2.2x from the coronavirus on official figures. and save the NHS billions of pounds. cessive governments’ failure to prepare 20 Great Yarmouth Davies said: “There is a direct correla- The Institute for Public Policy the NHS properly for a pandemic. The death rate in the tion between obesity and a high mortal- Research (IPPR) believes we should “We have been found wanting. We most deprived parts of ity for Covid, and I’m highlighting that, as follow nations including Mexico and could and should have done better. We England during the first a nation, one of the reasons we have a Hungary and extend the sugar tax, should have maintained the health of our wave of the coronavirus problem with our weight ... is because of which is already applied to fizzy public better, but if [you] look at compari- WALES was 2.2 times higher our structural environment to which drinks, to unhealthy foods. sons, we also have fewer doctors per bed Most deprived than in the least advertising, portion size, and many other The IPPR recommends that a levy than other comparable countries, fewer Blaenau Gwent 352 deprived parts things come into play.” of 8% is applied to “non-essential” intensive care beds, fewer ventilators. In June, Boris Johnson admitted that foods exceeding a set “calorie Our NHS has delivered really well, but we Britons were Europe’s fattest people bar density”. It argues this would push left it without a resilience. We needed the Maltese. He recognised his own need food producers to reformulate their more resilience,” said Davies who has to lose weight after requiring intensive products to be healthier. wrritten a book on the problem, Who’s SCOTLAND care for Covid in April. It also calls for a healthy food Health Is It Anyway?, co-authored with Most deprived He said: “I have taken a very libertar- subsidy scheme, worth £21 a week, the epidemiologist Dr Jonathan Pearson- 145 ian stance on obesity but actually when for children on free school meals, Stuttard and published this week. Inverclyde you look at the numbers, when you look redeemable against essential foods. Covid had revealed stark health ine- at the pressure on the NHS, compare, I’m Other countries have taken more qualities. “If there’s one thing the British afraid, this wonderful country of ours to radical action. In Japan, the law public care about, it’s fairness.” other European countries, we are signifi- requires those aged 40 to 74 to have @AndrewGregory NORTHERN IRELAND cantly fatter than most others, apart from their waist measured each year. If the Maltese ... It is an issue.” women exceed 35.4in or men 33.5in, Listen to Professor Dame Sally Most deprived Health experts hoped the prime minis- they are sent to weight-loss classes. Davies’s interview on Times Radio’s Belfast 224 ter’s brush with death would lead to G&T programme today from 10am Sources: coronavirus.data.gov.uk, Office for National Statistics, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and National Records of Scotland Mini-hospitals to care for ‘half a million victims of long Covid’

Andrew Gregory same way that it rapidly recent study found. This rises centres, which will see therapists and other NHS staff contracting Covid-19. Five hours of meditation a day to persistent breathlessness. Health Editor reorganised to deal with to one in 10 people under the patients who have been in to conduct physical and months later, he said he was keep me going.” They also found that 34% still acute Covid-19 infections age of 50, the research by hospital, officially diagnosed psychological assessments of still suffering from the effects Scoble said he welcomed had a cough and 15% reported The NHS is to set up more earlier this year. King’s College London after a test or who reasonably those patients experiencing of the virus. He presumed it the launch of long Covid depression. than 40 mini-hospitals to “Long Covid is already revealed. Different features of believe they had Covid earlier enduring symptoms. would eventually blow over, clinics in the NHS, but the In addition, 38% of lung x- treat “long Covid” patients, having a very serious impact long Covid may emerge and in the year before testing was Nice is examining which but he is not back to normal. help had come too late for rays remained abnormal and amid concerns that up to on many people’s lives and overlap as the illness widely available. Some will be drugs and other therapies “I still can’t go for a walk,” he him: “I ended up going 9% were getting worse, 500,000 may be suffering could well go on to affect progresses. mini-hospitals set up inside improve long Covid patients’ said this weekend. private. I do think the NHS is according to the study done lasting effects. hundreds of thousands,” There are no precise large hospitals, while others physical and mental health “I can’t cook for myself — I starting to recognise the scale in collaboration with the The centres will offer care Stevens said. figures for how many people will be based at standalone and how best to provide long- can shower and dress myself and seriousness of the Royal Free London and to those displaying persistent The development follows in total are affected. However, NHS sites or launched as term recovery and but that’s about it.” problem, but I couldn’t wait.” University College London symptoms such as the recent official recognition MPs have been told that up to clinics at GP surgeries. rehabilitation services. Scoble still suffers from More than two-thirds of (UCL) Hospitals NHS Trust. breathlessness, chronic of long Covid by the National 500,000 people in Britain are Ten sites will open in the There is mounting concern crippling fatigue, migraines patients hospitalised because Dr Swapna Mandal, an fatigue, brain fog, anxiety Institute for Health and Care living with the long-term Midlands, seven in the that some of the worst and a persistent sore throat, of the coronavirus continue honorary clinical associate and stress. Experts believe a Excellence (NICE), the body effects. northeast of England, six in affected by long Covid are as well as abdominal and to suffer from debilitating professor at UCL division of significant proportion of that determines which More than 230,000 the east, six in the southwest, younger adults and musculoskeletal pain. Months symptoms more than seven medicine, said the data patients cannot shake off treatments and drugs NHS patients have used an NHS six in the southeast, five in particularly those who in of ill-health have taken their weeks after being discharged, proved that long Covid was a some of the serious negative patients are entitled to. online service launched in London and three in the normal times were fit and toll. “My body was strong according to a study in the real phenomenon. Colleague effects of the disease many About one in 20 people July called Your Covid northwest. Of the 43 sites, 13 active. going through the hard times, medical journal Thorax last Professor John Hurst said: months after falling ill. experience symptoms Recovery, which gives are already open. The rest are Dan Scoble, 23, a personal but now it’s weak,” he said. week. “Understanding long Covid is Sir Simon Stevens, chief including fatigue, patients general information due to start work by the end trainer from Oxford, used to “Psychologically, it’s Researchers found that 54 critical in helping people who executive of NHS England, breathlessness, muscle pain and advice on living with long of this month. breeze through 10-mile runs, bloody tough. The only thing days after discharge, 69% of have been through this life- said the health service and loss of taste and smell for Covid. Each of the specialist but said in June that he was I can control is the patients were still changing experience return needed to mobilise to help 12 weeks or more after NHS England has provided centres will bring together stunned to find himself bed- controllable — which is my experiencing fatigue and 53% to health.” long Covid patients in the contracting the virus, a £10m to fund the specialist new teams of doctors, nurses, bound months after mindset. I’ve been doing two were suffering from @AndrewGregory The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 21

against the most vulnerable group: the will largely be determined by age and as higher incidence of diabetes and aged between 20 and 50 and in good confidence among all communities,” COULD BREXIT CAUSE elderly. If it turns out that the vaccine vulnerability — assuming there are no heart disease among south Asians, the health. said Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the helps mainly younger people who do not surprises in the Pfizer small print, absence of a comprehensive action plan Wellcome Trust. PROBLEMS? get very sick anyway, its impact on expected to be published this month. has left many disappointed”. To win “But I am increasingly optimistic we There is also a uniquely British question hospitalisation and death rates may be At the front of the queue will be back confidence, Gadhia argued, the HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL will get there.” of whether the motorways of limited for much longer than was hoped. healthcare and care home workers, and government “should now prioritise the REFUSE IT? southeastern England are going to turn Most significantly — at least in terms of any patients deemed most urgently in Bame community for early vaccination, into a giant lorry park on January 1 when fading euphoria — is the uncomfortable need of protection. Next in line should alongside the elderly and other Several studies have shown many HOW WILL IT BE DISTRIBUTED? Brexit takes full effect. The jabs destined reality that however much the vaccine be the over-80s, with age the key factor vulnerable groups, as well as frontline Britons who do not count themselves in Much has been made of the need for for British arms are being manufactured promises for the longer term, it is likely in the groups that follow. One sensitive key workers. This would give true the minority of ideological “anti- ultra-cold transport and storage of a at a plant in Belgium, and are likely to to have little impact on the winter wave subject for the government will be the meaning to Black Lives Matter.” vaxxers” are still nervous about taking a liquid that must be kept at minus 70C for have to cross the Channel in lorries, of pestilence. “With the best will in the extent to which minority ethnic groups coronavirus vaccine that they fear may it not to be rendered unusable. which will then have to join the queue world, this vaccine — or any other should be prioritised, given that they are have been rushed into use and may not The UK government is understood to back to Belgium. vaccine currently in trials — isn’t going to disproportionately vulnerable to WHO HAS NOT GOT A HOPE OF be safe. have been bulk-buying giant freezers The vaccine may also arrive in large change things for the majority of us this infection. GETTING IT? Yet the overall effectiveness of the and cold storage was included in the frozen containers that must be poured winter,” said Professor Eleanor Riley of Lord Gadhia, a Tory peer and vaccine, and its ability to restrict the design of the Nightingale hospitals into individual glass vials that are Edinburgh University. government adviser on investment and There is little doubt who may be waiting spread of the virus, depends to a large built by the NHS to handle Covid capable of withstanding ultra-cold Anglo-Indian relations, last week noted longestgy for the vaccine: anyone who is degreegg on a high level of acceptance and patients. temperatures. that “the disproportionate impactpact ooff compliance.compliance. A similarly promising mRNA vaccine The government insists that none of WHO WILL GET IT FIRST? Covid on Bame [black, Asian andnd The vaccine must TheThe ggovernment’sovernment’s most importantim under development by the American these problems are insoluble, but the There is a good chance if all goes well minority ethnic] communities be kept at minus and potentiallpotentiallyy most difficudifficultl challenge pharmaceutical company Moderna challenge remains immense and the that the first round of doses might be has left many anxious, and 70C if it is not to be maymay be persuading the publicpubl that any requires minus-20C temperatures. By UK’s record on mass anything has not administered by Christmas. The even today over 20% of rendered unusable vaccinevaccine is bbothoth ssafeafe aandnd essessentiale — not contrast, the British vaccine currently been encouraging so far. government has ordered an initial batch intensive care beds are onlyonly to individual health, butbu to being developed by Oxford University At the very least, the NHS could be of 40 million single doses, enough for 20 occupied by ethnic everyoneeveryone else’selse’s.. and AstraZeneca requires only paralysed by the task of organising and million people. Of those, UK officials minorities. Although Public “We mustmust not underestimateunderestim the standard refrigeration, and may yet turn administering a double jab vaccine — claim, 10 million doses could be Health England has phenomenalphenomenal logistical challengeschalle that lie out to be a more practical option should and that is just the first round of five available this year, and the queue of the identified various ahead — nor the imimportanceportance of building its test results prove as promising as million people, with at least 30 million first five million people to receive them contributing factors, such publicpublic understanding, trust and Pfizer’s. more to go.

Coronavirus is a class issue — and the poorest are dying ENGLAND’S 20 MOST PROSPEROUS AREAS coronavirus in workplaces in the past diabetes is fuelling the pandemic. My ANDREW seven days. And many of those in front- reporting has reached the same conclu- 1 Hart 126 line jobs — drivers, cleaners or nurses — sion: those areas of the country with the GREGORY are unable to see their family when they highest levels of sickness and depriva- 2 Wokingham 133 aren’t working because of the risk they tion, and the lowest levels of employ- would pose to relatives. ment and life expectancy — the north- It is a different story for the middle east, northwest and Yorkshire — are 3 Chiltern 106 classes, many of whom are able to work hardest hit by Covid-19. ANALYSIS from spacious, comfortable homes. Those who suffer from chronic health 4 Rushcliffe 205 They’ve seen more of their loved ones — conditions are more susceptible to the ill- not less. Most have access to a garden or effects of Covid. Infected people with Ten months after the coronavirus some private outside space, which helps heart disease and diabetes are six times 5 Waverley 120 sneaked into Britain and unleashed hell, to maintain their mental health and more likely to need treatment in hospital. one truth remains largely unspoken but reduces their need to enter public space. Analysis of the areas with the most 6 South 223 Northamptonshire is abundantly clear: Covid is a class issue. It is a fact that many of the poorer, new cases in the second wave suggests 249 Scratch beneath the surface of the working-class areas hit worst by the virus that they tend to have higher rates of arguments over lockdowns and opening — and the districts suffering the highest type 2 diabetes. Rates of obesity are also 7 Mid Sussex 118 Average weekly cases up the economy, ignore the noise of the numbers of deaths — have populations comparatively higher in the northwest, per 100,000 rows over circuit breakers and herd that are relatively fatter and sicker. northeast and Yorkshire — the three 8 Elmbridge 113 immunity, and the health divide is plain Obesity raises the risk of dying from regions that remain the worst hit. to see. The government’s own corona- Covid-19 by 48%. Being obese may even Research indicates that those in the virus map illustrates it best. make vaccines against the virus less lower economic strata are not only more 9 Harborough 240 While large swathes of Britain appear effective, scientists say. Even with a mass likely to catch the disease — they are also to be breezing through the second wave, vaccination programme, some areas may more likely to die from it. 10 Surrey Heath 138 with only moderate levels of new cases, struggle for years to emerge from the Before Covid-19, there was a gap of the worst affected areas are predomi- pandemic. almost a decade between life expectancy 11 East 137 nantly working-class districts with high A little-noticed study in The Lancet last in the most and least deprived commu- Hertfordshire levels of deprivation. month suggested that the failure of nities. Coronavirus deaths have followed The extraordinary crossover is a tragic government to tackle preventable a similar pattern. 12 St Albans 128 but inescapable reality. diseases such as obesity and type 2 People living in the poorest areas of Scroll up and down, zoom in and out — the country are twice as likely to die from 13 Vale of White 136 everywhere you look the results are the the coronavirus as those in the richest Horse same. The areas with the worst health areas. Between March and May, people inequalities before the pandemic, the living in the poorest 10% of England died 14 Windsor and 166 Maidenhead boroughs, towns and cities more likely to at a rate of 128.3 per 100,000, compared be ravaged by poverty, are the areas that with 58.8 per 100,000 among those living remain the worst hit. Doncaster, where I in the wealthiest 10% of the country. The 15 Rutland 148 was born, Preston, where I grew up, and Doncaster, pattern was mirrored in Wales. Newcastle, where I trained as a journal- Five of the 10 council areas with the 16 South Oxfordshire 137 ist, are three of the hotspots fighting the where I was highest excess death rates during the first biggest Covid fires. wave of the pandemic were in the poorest 17 South 108 The regions they sit in are the three born, Preston, 30% of the country; only two were from Cambridgeshire being walloped hardest by Covid. Case the wealthiest 30%. rates per 100,000 remain highest in where I grew up, Even in more affluent parts of the 18 West Oxfordshire 157 Yorkshire, the northwest of England and country, it is the working classes who still the northeast, confirmed by Public and Newcastle, face the highest risk from the virus — and Health England’s latest Covid surveil- have the most to lose. 19 Epsom and Ewell 156 lance report, published on Thursday. where I trained, The pandemic has laid bare and Although I still have questions, worsened health inequalities that have 20 Fareham 153 10 months of covering the biggest health are three Covid existed and grown in Britain for decades. crisis in 10 decades has taught me much. People from the poorest communities What is clear is that individuals are, for hotspots have borne the brunt of the effects of the the most part, not to blame. Those who virus itself — and the measures that have continue to suffer more than others are been needed to fight it. WALES not complacent. People in the worst-hit Understanding the relationship Least deprived areas know how you get the virus. They between Covid and class is crucial if the Vale of Glamorgan 121 do not want it. But their circumstances government is to help the worst-hit areas mean they are more likely to be infected beat the coronavirus. It is also essential if and more likely to die from it. the government is to deliver on its Having to earn a living means many of commitment to levelling up the poorest those in the worst-affected areas have no parts of the country. SCOTLAND choice but to put themselves at risk. In London, where I live and work, Least deprived The residents of working-class com- debate raged last week about whether munities are far more likely to have to the first to be vaccinated should be care Shetland, Orkney and 6 travel to work in the morning, whether it home residents or young professionals Na h-Eileanan an Iar be to a factory, care home, garage or who could help turbocharge the econ- shop. More often than not, that means omy by returning to workplaces and using public transport because they are spending in shops and on leisure. NORTHERN IRELAND less likely to own a car. Going to work on a Given that someone’s risk of Covid bus or a train, and then spending the day infection and death is so affected by Least deprived sitting or standing next to colleagues, where they live and their social class, Lisburn and 210 raise their infection risk. Oldham, one of England’s poorest perhaps it is the poorest in society who Castlereagh There were 182 outbreaks of the areas, has a high weekly infection rate should be at the front of the queue.

house the world’s first drug and become resistant to Treatments such as find weaknesses in cancer programme dedicated to drugs designed to halt their chemotherapy, with its cruel that we can then take Cancer drugs tackling cancer evolution, progress — means cancer cells side effects, sometimes fail advantage of.” More parents opens in Sutton, south that initially respond well to because the deadliest cancer The new approach aims to London, on Tuesday. It will treatment can mutate to cells manage to adapt and force the most aggressive that stay one bring together 300 experts in evade it. Patients stop survive, prompting scientists cancer cells to adapt in a way shun MMR jab artificial intelligence, maths, responding to the treatment to take a different approach. that makes them resistant to biology and physics, as well and deteriorate, leading to A main focus of the new initial treatment but then step ahead may as doctors and other medics. the majority of cancer deaths. centre, next to the Royal susceptible to other drugs. encouraging advances in our Andrew Gregory Workman said the first Cancer therapies tend to Marsden Hospital, will be on The method, involving a goal to eradicate life- drugs developed at the £75m focus on eliminating specific “evolutionary herding”, combination of drugs, has Thousands of children are threatening infectious give patients centre, which spans 7,300 tumour cells, but this can which involves targeting been successful in laboratory vulnerable to life-threatening diseases via the NHS’s square metres, could be cause them to evolve. cancer cells with a series of tests. The hope is that illnesses because their childhood vaccination available to NHS patients treatments. Researchers will patients will live with cancer vaccinations are not up to programme. Vaccines only 40 years of life within a decade and current use artificial intelligence to for 30 or 40 years before date. work if people have them.” treatments may be altered predict how cancers will dying of something else. New figures suggest that According to data from GP Andrew Gregory chief executive of the sooner to help people live react when treated. The research centre will 30,000 fewer children have practices, 3.8% fewer Health Editor Institute for Cancer Research longer. Survival time from Professor Andrea also focus on creating the been given the measles, hexavalent vaccines and 2.8% (ICR). cancer has doubled in a Sottoriva, who trained as a world’s first family of drugs to mumps, rubella (MMR) jab or fewer MMR vaccines have Cancer will become a Speaking before this decade, and the average computer scientist and is target cancer’s ability to the hexavalent vaccine been given this year. To “manageable” chronic week’s opening of a new patient now lives 10 years director of an ICR centre that evolve and become resistant against diphtheria, tetanus achieve herd immunity for disease similar to diabetes research centre, Workman after diagnosis. studies cancer’s evolution, to treatment. and hepatitis B than last year. measles, 90% to 95% of the with the world’s first drugs said drug resistance was the He said the centre would said: “Cancer evolves in The ICR, a charity and Professor Martin Marshall, population must be aimed at stopping the biggest challenge in cancer. “help us find new ways to ... complex ways. Artificial research institute, is already chairman of the Royal College vaccinated. condition becoming resistant But he was “hugely excited” make cancer a manageable intelligence has the potential the world’s leading academic of GPs, said: “We can’t stress Separately, survey results to treatment, Britain’s top that the centre would focus disease in the long term, to give us a peek into the centre for the discovery of enough how important it is published in the journal cancer scientist has said. on ways to thwart cancer’s comparable to HIV or future, with the aim of cancer drugs. It has invested that parents ensure that Vaccine suggest that 89% of New medicines will help “Darwinian” ability to evolve diabetes”. predicting cancer’s next £75m in the centre, but is children are up to date with parents would be likely to patients live long lives with a resistance to therapy. Cancer evolution — where move and understand how it seeking philanthropic their vaccination schedules, accept a coronavirus vaccine far better quality, according The Centre for Cancer cancers adapt to their will respond to new donations to equip it. regardless of lockdown for their children, meaning to Professor Paul Workman, Drug Discovery, which will environments in our bodies Workman: new centre treatments. This can help us @AndrewGregory restrictions. We’ve made one in 10 would not. 22 The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 COMMENT Rod Liddle Blessed are the cheese-makers, for they reveal the idiocy of a second lockdown

gregious bilge on TV, two l Stuff the people of in our millions. What did they think gargantuan bars of Milky Way, a Turkmenistan might quite would happen? New series of The Crown grips nation crate of wine and some Kettle like include money (the We should not need the government PHOTOBUBBLE: NICK NEWMAN Chips. This is schlockdown: country is impoverished), to tell us when we can go to the pub or our second escape from reality democracy (it’s a out for a meal. Left to our own devices, this year and a chance to dictatorship) and freedom of those who are vulnerable will take care Eimmerse oneself in sickening speech (they don’t have any). of themselves and limit personal Fast-forward to comfort food, alcohol and They’re not getting any contact. The rest will not. The death rate dumb entertainment. of that. Instead their will stay the same and the economy will see if Andrew A strange time, in many ways. I don’t president, Gurbanguly recover, slowly. But instead, this goes to jail know what happens in your home but Berdimuhamedow (crazy Conservative government — like many here, after the lights have been turned name, crazy guy), has given across the world, in fairness — has off and we’re all asleep in bed, them a 19ft golden statue of a nationalised personal responsibility. malevolent elves with sewing machines dog. It is an indigenous This would be OK, I suppose, if the come out and alter my clothes so they alabai hound and has a kind various measures imposed upon us had don’t fit any more. Bastards. of appalled expression on its a logic to them. But they patently do not. We are preparing for Christmas and, face, as if it had just seen its Why are yellow-jacketed council deprived of the abject misery of dinner being eaten by a cat. monkeys stamping around in parks shopping like a human being, everything This replaces a giant removing every bit of hardware they can is done online. What does your dad revolving gold statue of get their mitts on? want, I ask my wife — and supply her former President Saparmurat There’s a bit of a row in my home with the answer: a bottle of Niyazov. Niyazov, you recall, town, Saltburn, about the weekly hydroxychloroquine, if Argos is still renamed the days of the farmers’ market, which has reopened. doing them. week and the months of the Howls of rage that this should be For that right-wingish uncle, a year after himself, which may officially sanctioned; think of all the selection of “strong leader” facemasks: have led to confusion. disease that might be spread by those Pinochet, Franco, General Zia, etc. For “What day is it? Niyazov or notorious carriers, artisan cheese- the kids, only an apology that we have Niyazov?” makers, and that chap from Leeds who truncated their lives and that they are “It’s definitely Niyazov. The sells pies. All this when 10 yards away, deprived of the chance to act like fourth of Niyazov.” and under cover, the supermarket has children are meant to act. By now there been open the entire time. will be children who cannot quite The restaurants about to go bust l University Watch (part 2,901). remember how they were meant to act, because they spent thousands of quid Congratulations to Dr Alyosxa Tudor A little booster New from Canada, a back in normal times. on Perspex screens and now can’t of the School of Oriental and African This lockdown is subtly different open. The plethora of signs on the Studies, who was just won Feminist for Big Pharma fun-sucking device from the first. The roads are full of cars, public footpaths around my home: Theory’s essay prize. for a start: nobody gives a monkey’s any you are about to cross a field! Respect Al is the senior lecturer who held The brilliance of two Turkish scientists, Canadian scientists, meanwhile, have more if the government or the rozzers social distancing! Distancing from an event titled “Gender X: Drs Ozlem Tureci and Ugur Sahin, has come up with a contraption that gets think your journey might be “non- what? Three crows and a recalcitrant Transnational and Decolonial helped deliver a vaccine for this awful you sober very quickly. It’s a complex essential”. The polls may insist that the No one gives bloody heron? Perspectives on and Beyond the virus. As others have pointed out, it is a device. When you’ve had a few, you majority of the country approves of The first lockdown seemed to me Gender Binary”. His contention is triumph for the cosmopolitanism of breathe into this large box and these latest measures but actual a monkey’s both necessary and communitarian, that “gender as a category comes both science and the German society in somehow the alcohol is rapidly observance of the restrictions seems to and was largely abided by. We had the into existence through racialisation which their families settled. But how removed from your body. be lacking a little. if the rozzers intimation of death in our nostrils and a and colonial expansion”. It is about a few garlands for Pfizer? I don’t know what the active This is because, first, they are sense of togetherness. Whatever the remarkable to think that before Cecil The lefties decry evil “Big Pharma” for ingredient is. Distilled sanctimony, at a often absurd and, second, the think your polls say, I think that has largely gone. It Rhodes we didn’t have men and charging too much for drugs. Yet Pfizer guess. Who the hell would want to be government has lost a little of its is not that we have “lockdown fatigue” women, isn’t it? refused US government funding for its sober in Canada? authority. It did so by telling us to go out journey and are bored. It is that we know more I hope that students who attended research into Covid, and without its Next week, Canuck boffins create a and fill our boots on July 4 — the end of about this illness, whom it affects and the event were also given a good hard — and rapid — work we would not machine that sucks all the pleasure out “our long national hibernation”, as might be how, and would prefer to decide for grounding in how to enunciate have this vaccine. Cosmopolitanism of life and leaves you a simpering idiot. Johnson put it — and subsidising us to ourselves how we cope with it. Privatise properly: “Would you like fries with works, sure. But so does capitalism. It’s already worked on the prime eat awful crap from fast food restaurants non-essential the people now. that?” When will the left acknowledge that? minister. The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 23 NEWSWORLD NEWS BIDEN’S TRIUMPH Maga crowd turns out for Trump but voters have Georgia on their mind

Control of Congress — and America — rests on two Senate run-offs in the state. Will the Sulker-in-Chief even be interested?

JULIO CORTEZ Josh Glancy Savannah will campaign for them in Georgia, as tens of millions of dollars and national Atop a rusty railway carriage in Savan- political figures — from Mike Pence, the nah, Georgia, the demographic destiny vice-president, to Barack Obama — pour of the Democratic Party was calling. Jon into the state for these unique run-offs. Ossoff, a handsome, 33-year-old Senate Loeffler is casting the race in existen- candidate was urging the party faithful to tial terms. At a “Save our majority” rally turn Georgia blue — again. in Marietta, 20 miles outside Atlanta, on Earnest and clean-cut in his shirt- Wednesday, she warned of the conse- sleeves, Ossoff sweated gently in the quences of defeat. “Make no mistake, we steamy southern twilight on Thursday are the firewall,” she said. “Not just for evening, exhorting his followers to chart the US Senate, but for the future of our a new path for America. country. This is a choice between social- “We have to send a message from ism and the American dream.” Georgia that the future has arrived,” he Yet in the moderate suburbs around said. Supporters shook their “Vote your cities such as Atlanta, many voters are Ossoff” signs in excited agreement. turned off by Trump’s denialist antics. Georgia, traditionally a Republican “Loeffler and Perdue are in a bit of a state, surprised the country by selecting bind,” said Fred Hicks, a political consult- Joe Biden as its presidential candidate, an ant based in Georgia. “They need the indication that its diversity and growing president’s base to win. But at the same liberalism could reshape American poli- time Georgia voters just rejected Trump tics by turning the south a Democratic and his brand of politics. blue. Ossoff hopes the state will vote “So they are putting themselves at risk Democratic again for two Senate run-off of losing those votes.” elections, which will decide who controls Hicks believes the Georgia races could Congress, on January 5. come down to a percentage point or less , The world’s eyes are on Donald Trump an assessment backed by early polling. as he refuses to concede defeat in the Ultimately it will probably be decided by presidential election. But Washington turnout: if Democrat supporters are com- has Georgia on its mind. placent, feeling that they have voted in a It is not an exaggeration to say that the Donald Trump, below, responding to president and do not need another trip to future of America hinges on the two local his supporters as his motorcade Democratic member of Georgia’s House “He does think the election was stolen who knows which administration it will the polls, then their party will struggle. elections here, which pit Ossoff and drives through Washington yesterday of Representatives who was attending and that there was massive voter fraud. I be. I guess time will tell. But I can tell In a rapidly evolving state, which has fellow Democrat Raphael Warnock, a Thursday’s event. “They will decide if Joe think he’s sober to the fact that it’s an you this administration will not go to a been electrified by a Democratic voter former preacher, against sitting Republi- Biden can govern. Nothing is more uphill battle, he’s not naive to that. But he lockdown.” registration drive and ravaged by pan- can senators David Perdue and Kelly important than that.” likes to fight to the bitter end. He doesn’t No one is sure what comes next. demic, anything is possible in the fight for Loeffler, neither of whom gained the This unusual Georgia race accompa- give up. Things often turn to his way “I don’t think he has a master plan the Senate seats. more than 50% of votes needed under nies the chaotic drama in the White eventually, so he thinks maybe there’s a here,” said Charlie Sykes, a conservative If Ossoff does win, he will be only three Georgia’s idiosyncratic electoral system House. Media networks called the silver lining in this.” radio host. “You see this with the stum- years older than Biden was when he first to retain their seats when voters went to presidential election for Biden more than Trump has launched a barrage of bling and bumbling but generally he real- entered the Senate, aged 30, in 1973. the polls on November 3. a week ago but Trump has refused to lawsuits, claiming electoral fraud, ballot- ises he needs to position himself not as a Born in Atlanta, Ossoff is a graduate of the Democrats are not favoured to win the accept that result. stuffing and other loosely alleged shenan- loser but as a victim. Being a loser is off- London School of Economics and runs an run-offs but if they can defy the odds and Republican senators, however, includ- igans. But for all his bluster, the president brand for him. But being the victim and a investigative television production com- take the two seats they will wrest control ing McConnell, are hesitant to dispute has made little headway in his attempt to leader of a grievance movement? That pany based in London that has made of the Senate from Republicans and give the volatile president, in no small part overturn the result: many of the lawsuits has political and commercial benefits.” documentaries for the BBC. the new president a fighting chance of because they want his help in the Georgia have been thrown out of court. Calls for the president to acknowledge Talking after the rally, Ossoff said he passing a transformational agenda. Senate run-offs. Or, put another way, At a press conference on Friday, which defeat have been growing, including was not surprised by Trump’s refusal to However, if the Republicans hold one they fear invoking his wrath and the Trump gave to promote progress on a from Republican figures such as the concede defeat. “But the longer he is or both of the two Senate seats, then their displeasure of his base before such a coronavirus vaccine, he all but acknowl- mega-donor Sheldon Adelson and the throwing his toys out of the pram and leader, Mitch McConnell, will retain con- crucial electoral battle. edged that he will not be president after Ohio governor, Mike DeWine. throwing a fit because he’s in denial that trol of the Senate and be able to nullify “He still thinks he can win this,” said inauguration day on January 20, Yet many others are supporting him. he lost, the more difficult it is to ensure an Biden’s agenda at will. Chris Ruddy, head of Newsmax Media “This administration will not be going This is why Loeffler and Perdue came out orderly transfer of power,” he said. “The “This is the most important Senate and friend of the president who is in to a lockdown,” he said. “Hopefully the, vocally in defence of Trump’s election Trump family still has Republicans in a race in my lifetime,” said Al Williams, a regular touch with him. the, er, whatever happens in the future, fraud narrative last week. They hope he political vice-grip.” Relaxation of drug laws turns Oregon into the Altered State

in America is a failure and has London-based Compass potential benefits. “If you DANNY led to the harassment and Pathways, which is running look at the neuroscience, it imprisonment of many trial of 216 patients in 10 shows that there’s this reset, FORTSON thousands people who are a countries — including Britain that it brings you out of the public health problem, not — for its use in treatment- ‘stuckness’, the loops and criminals. resistant depression. A 2016 patterns that are That Oregon has blazed New York University study of characteristic of a whole this particular trail should 29 cancer patients found that spectrum of mental health Portland come as little surprise. The one dose of psilocybin issues,” he said. Pacific Northwest state, a provided a lasting reduction Sheri was “a square”, she It did not take long for Sierra bucolic lake and mountain- in anxiety and depression. admitted. She studied at a Roth to realise Oregon was a filled expanse the size of George Goldsmith, Baptist seminary and had her different kind of place when Britain but with less than a Compass’s chief executive, first “trip” at age 54. She she moved here to try the tenth of the population, has lived in Oregon in the 1970s compared it to a near-death newly legalised cannabis long been a laboratory of and is not surprised that it is experience she had in her business in 2016. sorts for progressive, even in the vanguard of the magic teens, which she credits with “Moving here from Tampa fringe, ideas. mushroom revolution. fundamentally changing the [Florida], I was like, ‘Holy Reformers do not expect a “There’s a fundamental way she viewed and shit!,’” she said, before listing sudden surge in hard drug libertarian streak in the approached life. “When I’d sit the “good friends” she soon use in the right-on streets of state,” he said. “When I was and listen to someone who made in the famously liberal “Portlandia”. They are happy, there, there were lots of would be stuck on one thing state. “There was this guy however, to spread the word people still living in the hills for months, I would think to Cedar. There was Tiger Lily, that magic mushrooms are in school buses. You needed a myself, ‘I just wish you could Blossom, Star, Sequoia, River. good for you. passport if you came from die for three minutes’, And Lake Blackfeather — that A small but influential California because you are because you’d come back and name was amazing.” group of campaigners, clearly an evil migrant you’d look at life differently.” Roth has left behind executives and researchers corrupting the state.” They decided in 2015 to cannabis — she now raises have called it a watershed Tom and Sheri Eckert are give themselves five years, money for the American Civil moment in what they have the unlikely driving force with no political or Liberties Union — but she has taken to calling the behind bringing ’shrooms to fundraising expertise, to pass not lost her enthusiasm for “psychedelic renaissance”. the masses. The couple look a ballot measure to make that the movement to The goal: to undo finally the as if they walked out of experience available to the decriminalise drugs. Nixon-era criminalisation — suburban central casting and masses. Oregon was receptive On November 3, in a and stigmatisation — of a exude the gentle bearing you for another reason: it has the referendum alongside the fungus that a growing body of would expect from people in highest prevalence of mental presidential election, Roth evidence has shown can their line of work: treating illness of any American state. and 1.2 million other deliver potentially dramatic men convicted of domestic So what began as an Oregonians voted to legalise therapeutic results. violence. harebrained idea turned into psilocybin, the psychoactive The Food and Drug Tom, a therapist, had a 71-page framework to ingredient in “magic Administration in 2018 experimented with magic govern everything from mushrooms”. granted a “breakthrough mushrooms and was screening — people with Measure 109 met no therapy” designation to enthusiastic about its schizophrenia, for example, organised opposition and should not take psilocybin — passed easily, by a 56% -44% to production, dosage margin, turning Oregon into standards and training the first state to make the people to oversee and hallucinogenics available for administer treatment at a range of uses, from treating psilocybin service centres. severe depression and post- The passage of the law traumatic stress disorder to starts a two-year window to simply sating curiosity. allow the authorities to put Another measure, 110, the structures in place. which passed with a 55.8% Steve, a city worker, voted majority, decriminalised the yes. He said: “If it can help possession of small amounts somebody with their medical of heroin, cocaine and needs, I can’t say no, right? I methamphetamine. That is voted yes on the medical not the same as legalisation: it marijuana law, and then first remains unlawful but will thing you know, they’re now be punished like a traffic throwing parties with guys offence. smoking big ole torpedoes, so Campaigners for the I didn’t like that. That was reforms argued that the bullshit. I don’t like being lied decades-long “war on drugs” Drugs are decriminalised in Oregon and capital Portland to. But, we’ll see.” 24 NEWSBIDEN’S WORLD NEWS TRIUMPH

CYNTHIA JOHNSON

Anyone to the left would have lost this election

Joe Biden with wife Jill after announcing his first presidential run in 1987 and, below, after his election this month

here is a fascinating snippet in alive to see it, because he “wrote more of a room. He couldn’t shut up.” But, he Barack Obama’s new memoir, A beautifully about ... the candidate and concluded hopefully, Biden's “new Promised Land, that reveals he the man than anyone has or will”. humility” would be the antidote to was thinking of choosing Hillary Cramer had spotted on that first White Trump’s egomania. American Diary Clinton as his running mate in House run “the talent, the extravagant Others think Biden will be Biden, the 2008 but could not face the effort, the generosity of spirit that made same guy Obama had jokingly told: “I Tdrama of having her husband every Biden event a festival of inclusion” want your advice, Joe. I just want it in Bill, a former president, roam- and the “death-defying Evel Knievel” 10-minute, not 90-minute, increments.” Sarah Baxter ing around the White House without a leaps that he made to connect with his But the former president and his loyal job. So the choice fell to Joe Biden and, audience. But after Biden plagiarised a vice-president got on sufficiently well Obama writes, “I liked the fact that ... speech by the Labour leader at the time, for Biden to be rehiring members of when things got tough, I could trust him. I Neil Kinnock, his campaign collapsed Obama’s former team. With a nod to wouldn’t be disappointed.” and his wife, Jill — soon to be first lady — Biden's heritage, which is perhaps not Even so, when the time came to back a pondered the “death of a dream she quite as Irish as family lore suggests, successor in 2016, Obama turned again didn’t know she’d had”. some are calling the future administra- to Hillary Clinton, hoping she would be Decades passed before anybody took tion “Team O'Biden”. the first female president. Biden did not Biden seriously as a future leader. In In the driving seat are Biden's own disguise his hurt, but he was also pole- 2008 he failed to get beyond the Iowa closest confidants. His head of transition, axed by the death from cancer of his son caucuses. His third tilt at the presidency Ted Kaufman, 81, served as chief of staff Beau in 2015. began almost as badly. Yet David Axelrod, in the 1970s before succeeding Biden as Today he is on the brink of achieving Obama’s former strategist, detected a senator for Delaware when Biden his life’s ambition. No matter how much hint of staying power. Comparing him to became vice-president. No 10 will be glad Donald Trump rages about imaginary Mr Magoo, the bumbling, short-sighted, to hear that Kaufman is an Anglophile, Mr Magoo has cheating, Biden will be sworn in as but kindly cartoon figure, he said on CNN with a daughter and grandchildren in president at noon on January 20 after that “Biden ... is kind of Mr Magoo-ing Britain, who will not want rows over winning a record 78 million votes. his way through. You keep worrying that Brexit to ruin the special relationship. The scale of his victory — not the he’s going to hit a wall, but he’s moving Friends say he would be an ideal US squeaker it seemed on election night — forward.” ambassador to the Court of St James’s. has prompted a re-evaluation of his “The Axe” would be too polite today to The president-elect is from the post- underappreciated talents. compare America’s president-elect to Mr war generation that is used to consulting gone. This Biden “There is no question this was the last Magoo, but it remains the best descrip- Britain first, as revealed by last week’s shot for Joe Biden to become president,” tion I have read of Biden's 2020 cam- much vaunted early phone call with Boris said Leon Panetta, Obama’s former CIA paign. The veteran politician, who turns Johnson. Ivo Daalder, the former US chief and defence secretary, “but he was 78 on Friday, won at least five million ambassador to Nato under Obama, who the right man, in the right place, at the more votes than his boastful opponent. runs the Chicago Council on Global right time to make it happen. “He’s the only person who could have Affairs, told me: “Biden is going to say we “I really rate his chances of being a beaten Donald Trump,” a former Obama need to be allies, even if we disagree. Brit- has a real vision strong president. What I’ve seen is official said. “Anyone to the left would ain has made its choice democratically somebody with the temperament and have completely lost the election, and and he will deal with Britain as it is today. positioning to be comfortable in the job. there is no one further to the right.” He’s not a vindictive person.” He could seem a cartoonish figure on the campaign trail, but the This country has been dysfunctional for The question is which Biden will show Under Trump, America “abdicated” too long.” up as president — the garrulous, some- its global leadership, said Daalder: president-elect is clear-sighted about building a better America Political nerds are dusting off What It what comical figure or the experienced “Biden will have a very strong foreign Takes by Richard Ben Cramer, a classic politician, chastened by defeat, family policy team of seasoned people who will account of the 1988 presidential cam- tragedy and the responsibilities of office? travel the world with the message, ‘We’re paign when Biden bid for the Democratic Last week the New York Times colum- back. You can count on us.’ ” nomination. After Biden declared victory nist Frank Bruni tactlessly reminded That means rejoining the Paris climate last week, Cramer's daughter, Ruby, readers that the old, arrogant Biden accords, strengthening alliances in the tweeted that she wished her father were “used to have a way of sucking oxygen out Far East by expanding the G7 and cancel-

During the countdown to the Andrea Catsimatidis, Certainly, Donald Jr’s main of American society,” said the sharpest knife in the Grigoriadis, who writes for election, Donald Trump Jr chairwoman of the threat is Ivanka, the golden Coppins. “She and Jared have drawer”, he has said that the liberal bibles Vanity Fair The Baby or the posted a photograph of Manhattan Republican Party child who left her gilded life built their rolodexes with Ivanka would be “very, very and New York Magazine. himself standing beside a and the daughter of a in Manhattan to work as an heads of states around the hard to beat” if she ever “I know people who’ve huge “Don Jr 2024” sign at a billionaire grocery magnate, adviser to her father. Her world, Silicon Valley wanted to run for president. been to school with her and Blunt Knife? live cattle auction in Nevada. is friends with the 42-year-old husband, Jared Kushner, was executives and high-powered However, insiders suggest they want to say: ‘We would “This will make the lib Donald Jr and argues that he crowned “secretary of finance types, and they’re there is a limited appetite for never talk to her again.’ That’s heads explode,” wrote is a powerful political everything” — tackling peace going to look for ways to an Ivanka presidential bid. a cool thing to say in Donald Trump’s eldest, contender. deals in the Middle East, leverage those contacts.” Critics in the West Wing Manhattan. But in Florida, in Trump children brashest son on Instagram. “He has this unbelievable America’s opioid epidemic Others suggest that her dubbed her “Habi” — Home of the golf and country club set, “To whomever made that ability to connect with people and, later, leading social media photographs — All Bad Ideas. it’s a really different thanks for the compliment ... and he’s so passionate,” she (disastrously) a coronavirus pictures of herself with “Whether she was or not, situation,” said Grigoriadis, prepare for war but let’s get through 2020 said last week. “He’s not taskforce. military personnel, blue- she was always supposed to adding her belief that Ivanka with a big win first!!!!” afraid to stand up for the right How far the first daughter’s collar workers, women and be the ‘moderating influence’ would “love to be a Florida Now that the president has thing and doesn’t get bullied Washington aspirations truly people from ethnic minorities [on her father], which doesn’t senator”. been sacked from the White into backing down.” stretch is unclear. “Her — are evidence that Ivanka, or make you very popular with Those who have studied of succession House, there is speculation As he is an avid hunter, political ambitions probably “Baby” as her father has the average Republican Ivanka agree that she is about where his four adult there have been discussions amount to a desire for sometimes referred to her in voter,” said Coppins. hard-working and ambitious. children — Donald Jr, Ivanka, about launching his political continued status and VIP White House meetings, is “There are not a lot of Her widely panned 2017 Eric and Tiffany — will career in an outdoorsy state treatment in various sectors contemplating a 2024 run. people calling out for Ivanka self-help book, Women Who LAURA catapult themselves next. such as Montana. “You see someone who’s to run.” Work, furthered that image. With his supreme Catsimatidis, who spent very careful to surround If Kushner and Ivanka, “She’s like a moth to a PULLMAN self-confidence and gleeful election night at the White herself with the kind of both 39, leave their rented flame with power and, much baiting of metropolitan elites, House with the first family, imagery which could be the $5.5m Washington mansion, like her dad, she’s very Donald Jr, a divorced father of would happily see all of basis for a political campaign would they dare attempt to thin-skinned. She doesn’t like five, is widely viewed as the Trump’s grown-up offspring some time in the future,” said slip back into their old New criticism and doesn’t respond natural political successor. in politics: “They’re some of Andrea Bernstein, the author York lives of Met galas and well to it,” added Grigoriadis, “There’s no question that the nicest, most down-to- Not of American Oligarchs: The canapé fundraisers? who hosted the podcast New York Donald Jr wants to have a earth people I’ve ever met.” Kushners, the Trumps, and the They might struggle. Tabloid: The Making of Ivanka future in the Republican The three eldest siblings, many Marriage of Money and Power. “Javanka” would be heckled Trump. Party and sees himself as the from Trump’s first marriage “She’s in every way like her out of the swanky art galleries Two billboards recently heir apparent,” said McKay to the Czech model Ivana, people father except that she’s that used to welcome them erected in Times Square, Coppins, a political writer at were close growing up but an incredibly disciplined in her with air kisses, gossipers told depicting Kushner and Ivanka The Atlantic magazine. old-fashioned succession want messaging. I can certainly Artnet News, the art market displaying “indifference” to “He’s the one who’s battle is likely to exacerbate envisage a scenario where she website. the number of Americans inherited a lot of Trump’s rivalries. “We were sort of Ivanka runs as the Trump without In Manhattan, it is a dying of Covid-19, provided Maga [Make America great bred to be competitive,” the rough edges.” “feather in your cap” to have further proof that the couple again] base, who speaks Ivanka once said. “Dad to run While Trump, 74, has cut off your friendship with are radioactive in the Big Trump’s language.” encourages it.” described Donald Jr as “not Ivanka, according to Vanessa Apple. (They have threatened The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 25

WHO STOOD BY TRUMP? WHO BACKED BIDEN? While white, working and middle-class men remained Donald Trump’s Joe Biden was popular with traditional Trump supporters key voters, his share of their vote was eroded by Joe Biden. He and African-Americans. He also significantly increased increased support among Latinos support among white Catholics

WHITE WOMEN LATINOS BIDEN WOOS THE RUST BELT CATHOLICS While Biden was more popular with women overall, white Percentage of Blue-collar workers who earn less than $50,000 women were more likely to vote for Trump Latinos who 2016 29% 52% 6pt backed Trump 2020 32% Biden 55% 2pt Biden Trump 55% 3pt Cuban-Americans in Florida Trump 44% 3pt 47% 3pt 17% (2.5m) of Florida’s registered voters are Latino, a third Trump 44% 1pt Biden of whom are Cuban-Americans and wary of socialism Middle-income earners $50,000-$99,000 The largest shift was seen among white Catholics, with Trump’s Cuban Trump 56% Biden 57% 11pt previous lead falling significantly. Biden is a practising Catholic American vote Biden 41% White Catholics Trump 42% 8pt 2016 Rep 64% 31% TEXAS Dem Mexican-Americans White men along the Texas border 2020 THE RICH Biden 38% 7pt Rep 57% Trump Trump captured the border county Dem 42% increased of Zapata (94% Latino), which El Paso Clinton won by 33% in 2016 Trump 61% his support Zapata 1pt Hidalgo among the MEXICO wealthy AFRICAN-AMERICANS Voters who earn more than $100,000 Zapata Biden held an overwhelming majority with black voters Trump 54% 7pt Trump 52% 19.3pt on 2016 Biden 87% 1pt Biden 42% 5pt Biden 47.1%

Trump 12% 4pt 18.6pt SPLIT SUBURBS WHO TRUMP LOST Biden won Georgia, As polarisation between Democratic cities and Republican rural Trump also significantly GEORGIA Trump lost support among middle income earners which had been heartlands widens, the suburbs were a key battleground increased his support in Atlanta Augusta Republican for 28 7pt the two most populated Share of the suburban vote Voters who earn $50,000-$99,000 years, winning the Texan border counties state’s three largest Biden 50% 5pt cities: Atlanta, Augusta El Paso 64.8% Latino 6pt Columbus Trump failed to increase his vote 1pt and Columbus, which are all majority Trump 48% 2pt share among white men Hidalgo 90.9% Latino 12.9pt African-American Sources: AP VoteCast, Edison Research, PewResearch Centre ling Trump’s plans to leave the World foreign policy and national security issue Health Organisation. over the past four decades”. On the domestic front, Ron Klain, the Biden opposed the Gulf War in 1990, The boss is a whippersnapper to the new chief of staff, has been at Biden's side voted for the invasion of Iraq in 2003, since the 1980s, although he joked by warned against Obama’s “surge” of US email that he was “definitely dead” to his troops in Afghanistan in 2009 and argued man who may be UK ambassador old boss when he jumped ship in 2016 to that the special forces raid that killed Hillary Clinton’s campaign. If so, he has Osama bin Laden in 2011 was too risky. Sarah Baxter and is usually given to a wealthy refusal to concede defeat in would influence Biden, been forgiven. Compared with Trump, though, Gates Caroline Wheeler donor who can help with the the presidential election or whose foreign policy has “The critical part of that relationship is still preferred him as “somebody who upkeep of Winfield House, allow members of his been developed over trust and it is certainly present between will try to bring us together”. Joe Biden could pick an the ambassador’s sprawling administration to co-operate decades. Biden was reported them,” said Panetta, who served as Bill Left-wing Democrats supported Biden Anglophile ambassador to official residence in Regent’s with the administration-in- last year to have privately Clinton’s chief of staff in the 1990s. for the same reason, although cracks are Britain who is even older than Park, central London. waiting. described Boris Johnson as a Biden would be a welcome contrast to beginning to appear in his victory himself. Kaufman comes from a A diplomatic source “physical and emotional Trump, he added: “A good part of being coalition. The New York congresswoman Ted Kaufman, 81, who is different mould. The son of a confirmed that Kaufman’s clone of Donald Trump” but president is having the humility to know Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said last week- leading Biden’s presidential social worker and a teacher, appointment was a possibility does not bear a grudge, allies you don’t know about everything and end, “We aren’t in a freefall to hell any transition team, is among the he sought to implement once that task was complete: said. that you need good people around you.” more”, but warned against blaming the names being tipped as tough new rules on the “He’s got a lot of vigour and The appointment of a US On his appointment, Biden praised left and the Black Lives Matter movement Washington’s next envoy to financial services industry has close ties to London.” ambassador to the UK is not Klain's ability to reach across the political for the party’s weak performance in the the UK. He is 3½ years older during his two years as a Kaufman has close bonds likely to be at the top of aisle and his handling of the 2014 House and Senate races. than the president-elect, who senator after the 2008 with the president-elect, Biden’s in-tray in the new ebola crisis. Combating Covid-19 if the Biden's convincing win at the ballot turns 78 on Friday. banking crash. having supported his first year. Trump took five months Senate remains in Republican hands will box and long experience of politics will Kaufman is said to have a Kaufman is in charge of Senate campaign in 1972 and to pick the current envoy, be the new administration’s most enable him to dismiss this criticism as deep affection for Britain, efforts to ensure Biden can worked as his chief of staff. Woody Johnson. pressing task. “noises off”. He has been rejuvenated by where his daughter Meg and begin building a government He also served out Biden’s Another name being linked The stricken US economy will need an his success and gained a new sense of son-in-law Tom Hartley live, as soon as he enters the term in the Senate after Biden to the post of ambassador to immediate stimulus package to stave off mission. When he won the Democratic in Hammersmith, west White House in January — became Barack Obama’s London is Cindy McCain, the the threat to jobs and businesses. “The nomination for president, he quoted the London. He crosses the despite Donald Trump’s vice-president in 2009. widow of the 2008 economy is top of the list because Irish poet Seamus Heaney: “History says, Atlantic regularly to see his He is a moderate with a Republican presidential Covid-19 is out of control,” said Panetta. Don’t hope / On this side of the grave, But three grandchildren. strong belief that nominee John McCain, who “It’s the worst major crisis we have had to then, once in a lifetime / The longed- A long-term former Biden Democrats and Republicans endorsed Biden’s campaign. confront since the Second World War.” for tidal wave / Of justice can rise up / And adviser said: “He’s sharp as a should, in his words, “get She inherited a fortune from It helps that Biden is expected to get on hope and history rhyme.” tack. His daughter and along” to ensure good her father and is a noted well with Jerome Powell, the chairman of What Biden did not say is that he joked grandchildren live in London governance. philanthropist. the Federal Reserve, who worked at the with his kids on becoming Obama’s and I’m sure he’d love the Kaufman was due to And the Biden camp has US Treasury under George Bush Sr and running mate: “He’s hope. And I’m job.” present a Zoom seminar to discounted speculation the became a governor of the Fed under history.” Not any more. Meg, who has lived in the the Royal United Services role would be offered to Obama. Trump regarded Powell as an Biden is @SarahBaxterSTM UK for the past 30 years, said Institute (RUSI) in London in Obama. A source said: “Why irritant, but he has played a vital role in yesterday the family would September but had to pull out would he want it? The keeping the American economy afloat. going to “love it” if he were made due to Biden campaign Obamas have their own Robert Gates, another bipartisan MAGAZINE ambassador but thought it commitments. things going on.” figure, who served as defence secretary say that In an exclusive unlikely he would be offered Its director-general, Karin Besides, he may not have under both George W Bush and Obama, extract from the post. “Dad mostly loves von Hippel, said Kaufman forgiven the prime minister is now somewhat embarrassed by his we need his new book, London because his was a fan of the UK and that it for a newspaper column he harsh words about Biden. In his 2014 Barack Obama grandchildren are here,” would be “great” for him to wrote four years ago, in memoir, he described the former vice- to be reveals how she said. However, allies of take up the role of which he claimed the “part- president as a “man of integrity” who he handled Kaufman said he would be an ambassador. Kenyan president” had an was “impossible not to like” but had allies the pressures of excellent appointment. But she cautioned against “ancestral dislike of the “been wrong on nearly every major the White House The role of UK ambassador Old friend: Kaufman is 81 assuming his views on the UK British empire”.

CHRISTOPHER GREGORY Trump Organisation for the Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald forwards,” quipped one New past four years? Although the Jr’s larger-than-life girlfriend York socialite. oft-overlooked second son and a former Fox News For Ivanka’s old childhood has loyally defended his personality. chums in Manhattan, who father — saying “he doesn’t Guilfoyle, 51, is a riskier remember her as being have a bad bone in his body” bet: she allegedly left Fox indifferent to politics, a 2024 — and recently popped his News because of sexual political campaign would be a head above the parapet to harassment allegations baffling leap. wail about alleged voter against her and would walk Grigoriadis recalls fraud, the consensus is that around naked in front of her speaking to an old friend of he will continue to focus assistant, according to The Ivanka’s who frequently quietly on the family’s New Yorker magazine. travelled with her and Donald property empire. Then there is Tiffany, Trump in their limousine in It is his wife who is being Trump’s only child with his New York. “I asked: did they tipped as a potential dark second wife, Marla Maples. talk about politics?” said horse in the race for political After graduating from law Grigoriadis. office. Lara Trump, 38, has school, she appears to be “She laughed and said, hopped careers from angling for work. “Our ‘No, they talked about other professional baker to generation is unified in facing people’s money.’” television producer to senior the future in uncertain Only one name is missing adviser on Trump’s times,” she said in her speech from the Trump succession The Trumps in 2016, from left, Eric, Lara, Donald, Melania, Vanessa, Donald Jr, Ivanka, Jared Kushner and Tiffany. The children are Barron, Kai and Donald re-election campaign. at the Republican National stakes: Barron. The “Lara is very personable, Convention in August. president’s youngest son, 14, to sue the Lincoln Project, the Manhattan restaurant] the 21 were ruptured during Jared’s Kushners’ fortune soar his sister. Two years later, very articulate. She was an “As a recent graduate, I can is kept out of the limelight by anti-Trump Republicans Club. The only unpardonable four years in the White further. “The company has Jared Kushner spent a extraordinary star on Fox relate to so many of you who his mother, Melania. He was behind the posters.) sin in New York society is House,” she said, predicting been looking to exploit the record-breaking $1.8bn News almost on a nightly might be looking for a job.” said by his father to have Richard Farley, a lawyer poverty. Political passions that he might move into the current economic misery by buying 666 Fifth Avenue in basis on behalf of the Although Tiffany, 27, could shaken off the coronavirus who used to rub shoulders fade quickly in this town.” media world. (In 2006, aged investing in distressed midtown Manhattan, which president’s agenda,” said Jack always follow her father into “within, like, two seconds” with the “gruesome Although Kushner, heir to a 25, he bought The New York properties, particularly quickly sank the family Oliver, a Republican reality television, it is Ivanka when he caught it last month. twosome”, dismisses the idea billion-dollar property Observer and sold it to his hotels,” reported Mother business into debt. fundraiser. who is said to have been Looking whey-faced and that they would be social dynasty, kept his fingers in his family trust when he joined Jones magazine. “For Jared and Ivanka She is less flammable than inundated with offers to asleep on his feet during the pariahs. “When Richard family’s company while the White House.) Kushner has wiggled there’s nothing more some in the Trump line. “She appear on screen. She would inauguration celebrations in Nixon resigned, they said: working as a White House There is also Cadre, the through defeat and powerful than protecting and hasn’t flown too close to the not dream of accepting them, 2017, Barron is now easily as ‘He’s been disgraced, he’s adviser, he shunned contacts, property tech start-up that humiliation before. In 2005 building on the family name, sun in the way Donald Jr has,” say Washington-watchers — tall as the 6ft 2in Donald. But going to hole up in New Jersey according to Bernstein. Kushner launched with his his father, Charles Kushner, that’s what drives them to do said Coppins. “He’s going to but returning to hawking there are no signs, at least on and he’ll never show his face “The Kushner family spent brother and a friend in 2014, was jailed after hiring a everything,” said Grigoriadis. be such a target for scrutiny clothes, handbags and his rare appearances in again,’”, Farley said. decades building ties with in which he has a stake worth prostitute to honey-trap his What about Eric Trump, and investigations.” jewellery under her personal public, that he has inherited “In six months he had the political and civic leaders in between $25 and $50m. The brother-in-law and sending a 36, who has been a seat- The other Trump brand seems unlikely as well. the other Trump gene: the best table at [the chi-chi New York and a lot of those pandemic could see the videotape of the encounter to warmer for his father at the cheerleader-in-chief is “Sharks only swim obsessive need to dominate. 26 The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 WORLD NEWS ‘Iran’s deadly Pizza Hut delivery — a bomb meant to massacre foes in Paris’

PETER CONRADI THE ALLEGED MASTERMIND THE TARGETS REGIS DUVIGNAU; HANNAH MCKAY; REGIS DUVIGNAU

Paris

Four Iranians are on trial over a plot to target an anti-Tehran rally with a device allegedly handed over in a restaurant

They looked like any couple out shopping as they walked across the Place d’Armes in Luxembourg’s old city and into a branch of Pizza Hut. But the police were watching closely. It was the pivotal moment in a terrorist plot blamed on Iran that is about to be laid bare in court — to the fury of the regime in Tehran, which has threatened retaliation. Once inside Pizza Hut, Amir Saadouni, 40, and his wife, Nasimeh Naami, 36 — both of Iranian origin — sat down with an Iranian diplomat, who handed them a small package. Naami put it into her Diplomat Assadollah Assadi, left, is said to have orchestrated a plot to attack an opposition rally in Paris in June 2018, handbag and the couple returned to their above, led by Maryam Rajavi, below left. Among prominent figures attending were Theresa Villiers and Rudy Giuliani grey Mercedes, parked nearby. This was no casual encounter, as the plainclothes officers watching them knew. The diplomat, Assadollah Assadi, 48, is thought to be a member of Iran’s intelligence service, and the package allegedly contained a powerful bomb. Prosecutors say Assadi wanted the couple to plant it two days later at a mass rally near Paris attended by tens of thou- sands of opponents of Iran’s theocratic regime, as well as by prominent British and American politicians. The suspected Pizza Hut plot, which would have caused a mass loss of life if it had succeeded, was thwarted in an operation also involving Belgian, French and German police. Next week, after a two-year investiga- tion, the three suspects, together with a fourth man, are due to go on trial in Antwerp, where the couple lived, accused of terrorism offences. Belgian investigators are convinced their actions were approved at the highest level in Tehran, which would suburbs of Paris, were Rudy Giuliani, the has long been a thorn in the side of Iran’s political asylum because of his member- a ticket to see Roger Waters of Pink Floyd sure they had followed instructions make their conviction a serious embar- New York mayor turned lawyer for rulers. In 2002 it revealed the existence ship of the MEK. He was later joined there fame perform in Antwerp. regarding the device, which they referred rassment for the Iranians. Donald Trump, and Bill Richardson, a of nuclear testing facilities that led to by Naami, whom he met online. In March 2018, while meeting to as “the PlayStation”. They replied that “The plan for the attack was conceived former US ambassador to the UN. Tehran being declared in breach of a non- Assadi has refused to co-operate with Saadouni on a train between Vienna and everything was set. It was agreed they in the name of Iran and under its leader- Several prominent British critics of the proliferation treaty. The NRCI was itself investigators, citing his diplomatic sta- Salzburg Assadi spoke about the rally would meet again on July 1 — the day after ship. It was not a matter of Assadi’s Iranian regime also attended, among declared a terrorist organisation by tus, but his alleged fellow conspirators near Paris and “said he wanted to do the attack was due to have taken place. personal initiative,” wrote Jaak Raes, the them Theresa Villiers, the former America in 1997, but removed from the have been more forthcoming. Saadouni something with the device” there, Saado- Western intelligence services were head of the VSSE, Belgium’s state environment secretary. “If the defend- list in 2012. revealed he was first approached in 2012 uni told investigators. already on their trail, however, security service, in a letter to the federal ants are convicted in this case, this must The plot to target it appears to have by Assadi, who said he was looking for Assadi said he would first have to dis- apparently as a result of a tip-off from a prosecutor, one of many documents that be a wake-up call for the international been hatched after popular protests that information about the MEK. They met in cuss it with Tehran, because the device “partner service” — thought to have been reveal in extraordinary detail the plan- community to put more pressure on the erupted in December 2017 in more than Munich, where the diplomat — whom he had to be tested. Travel records show he Israel’s Mossad — that Saadouni and ning that went into the alleged plot. tyrannical Iranian regime to end its 100 Iranian cities and were blamed by Ali knew under the code name of Daniel — made several visits to Iran, apparently in Naami “might be involved in an act of Assadi, a third counsellor at Iran’s destabilising support for terrorist groups Khamenei, the country’s supreme made clear he was working for Iranian connection with the operation, returning violence or an attempt in France”. The embassy in Vienna, is also an officer of around the world,” she said. leader, on “enemies of the republic”. In a intelligence. from the last one on June 22. He is VSSE passed on this information to the its intelligence and security ministry — Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, has speech the following month, he claimed The two men held several more thought to have carried the bomb in his heads of Belgium’s federal police and serving in the internal security director- dismissed the alleged plot as a “false flag” the streets were under the control of the meetings, including in Salzburg, Vienna, luggage, which would not have been prosecution service on June 25 — three ate, considered a terrorist organisation operation by those trying to drive a People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran Milan, Venice and Luxembourg, at which searched because he was a diplomat. days before the Luxembourg meeting. by the EU — and was the mission’s “opera- wedge between Tehran and the West, at a (MEK), the main element in the NCRI, Assadi paid Saadouni varying amounts of Six days later in the Luxembourg Pizza The pair were arrested on the day of tional commander”, asserts Raes. time when Europe and America were at and threatened “retribution” money — sometimes €3,500 (£3,140), and Hut, Assadi allegedly handed over the the planned attack in the east of Brussels. The operation’s primary target odds over Trump’s decision in 2018 to Assadi, who had previously served in at other times €4,000, “depending on bomb, containing more than 1lb of TATP, Their luggage contained the explosive, appears to have been Maryam Rajavi, the pull out of Iran’s nuclear accord with the Iraq and was familiar with explosives, the type of information” he supplied. At or triacetone triperoxide, an explosive which was “wrapped in plastic and con- head of the National Council of Resist- West. Tehran has called the arrest of a was ordered to carry out the Paris opera- Assadi’s behest, Saadouni also travelled popular with terrorists because it is diffi- cealed in the lining of a toiletry bag” and ance of Iran (NCRI), a coalition of opposi- diplomat “fundamentally illegal” and tion shortly afterwards, investigators in 2013 to the Iranian city of Ahvaz. cult to detect. Although Saadouni and was primed to go off. A remote trigger tion groups, which was due to hold its reserved the right to a “proportionate believe. He then allegedly recruited Saad- Often Naami would come on the trips Naami have admitted receiving the pack- was found concealed among feminine annual rally on June 30, 2018. response” against the countries involved. ouni and Naami to plant the bomb. too. The couple appeared to have lived age, they deny they knew it was a bomb. hygiene items in another small bag within Among the important foreign guests at The NCRI, which has powerful backers Saadouni had been living in Belgium comfortably off the money. A pop music Mobile phone records show Assadi a brown handbag belonging to Naami. the rally in Villepinte, in the northeast abroad, especially on the American right, for almost a decade after being granted fan, Saadouni reportedly spent €400 on texted the couple later that day to make @Peter_Conradi Tehran denies victim of Beijing gets whip hand in WHO’s Covid hit was al-Qaeda’s No 2 inquiry — and hopes of answers vanish

EPA Louise Callaghan Istanbul Philip Sherwell have agreed that Chinese assistance. “That’s how the is hardly surprising that hand of Beijing in the several Anshel Pfeffer Jerusalem Asia Correspondent researchers will conduct the Chinese operate.” questions have been raised mentions in the terms of early stages of the This process was about the investigation. reference to investigating the Iran yesterday denied reports It is the great riddle of our investigation. “shrouded in secrecy”, he “There is nothing wrong “global origins” of the that al-Qaeda’s second-in- time: how, when and where It will be left to them to added, and the chances of the with building on the work of pandemic. command — suspected of did the coronavirus emerge? interview patients, frontline international team getting Chinese scientists,” said After identifying the being deeply involved in Even insiders at the World doctors and scientists, review any useful information was Huang. “But will the scientists market as the source of the attacks on American Health Organisation (WHO), hospital records and medical slim. “That’s very frustrating or the officials be in the outbreak, Beijing repeatedly embassies in the 1990s — had which is tasked with finding samples, investigate what and extremely dangerous. We driving seat? And to what insisted that there was no been gunned down by Israeli the answers, are alarmed to animals were sold at the need to know the origins as extent will the government be proof that the virus operatives in a wealthy discover that China will “call Huanan market and try to there will be future co-operative and originated in China. district of Tehran three the shots” in providing them. establish supply chains, coronaviruses. You can be accommodating?” Officials have cited reports months ago alongside Osama Eleven months after the according to the WHO’s own very good disease detectives, Gostin echoed his of infected sewage samples in Bin Laden’s daughter-in-law. first cases of a mystery mission statement. but you’d have to be wizards concerns. “China’s scientific Europe and called for The plot to kill Abdullah disease were linked to a The foreign experts will to go back nearly a year to establishment has become investigations there and even Ahmed Abdullah, also known Chinese wildlife market, an initially review and discuss assess how it jumped from one of the world’s best in a promoted unfounded claims as Abu Muhammed al-Masri, investigation is finally, if the findings of the Chinese animal to another animal to short period of time. They are that US soldiers competing in was carried out by Israel at The 1998 al-Qaeda bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi tentatively, under way. But researchers from afar, human.” strong and serious a sports championship the behest of America, critics have said that the conferring by video link and The quality and integrity of interlocutors for the WHO. brought the virus to Wuhan. according to an article in The northern Tehran, according thought to be next in line to effort, led by the WHO, is too email. the individual scientists were “But in December and “As the terms were New York Times, citing to the report, two men on a succeed Ayman al-Zawahri as little, too late, and that Terms of reference not in dispute, said Yanzhong January the Chinese negotiated between WHO multiple intelligence sources. motorcycle pulled up next to al-Qaeda’s leader. The FBI concessions to Beijing are negotiated between the WHO Huang, a Chinese public government muzzled its and Beijing, it is no surprise It said that the killing had al-Masri, who was driving a had offered $10m for undermining it. and Beijing have just been health expert at the Council scientists. They may be on a that they incorporate the since been covered up. white Renault. His daughter information leading to his The investigation is a released — slipped out of Foreign Relations in New longer lead now, but they are Chinese narrative about the Iranian officials still Miriam, the widow of Bin capture. collaboration between a without notice while the York. Interference by Beijing still on a lead. And if they outbreak,” said Huang. “It is vociferously denied yesterday Laden’s son Hamza, was in For at least the past five WHO team of foreign experts world’s attention was was what was causing stray too far, the authorities Chinese policy to say, ‘Just that al-Masri was killed, the car. The men fired five years, intelligence officials — approved by Beijing from a diverted by the American concern, he added. will yank them back. China because we experienced the comparing the report to a bullets, killing them both. claimed, al-Masri had been list submitted by UN member presidential election. These After the virus appeared, will give them independence first outbreak, that doesn’t “Hollywood script”. Yet the As news of the shooting living freely in Tehran. Iran states — and Chinese state that the focus of the Chinese researchers and only to the point where its mean we were the origin.’ details match closely with the spread, Iranian official media yesterday denied it had been scientists. international scientists will doctors raised the alert. The reputation is at risk. “This global stuff is all modus operandi of Israeli reports claimed the victims sheltering “terrorists”. However, there is still no be to “build on” and response of Communist Party “Beijing doesn’t want to speculative, but it gets strong intelligence services. were Habib Daoud, a Its foreign ministry added timeline for the international “augment” the “existing officials was to silence them lose face in the global battle focus in this document. These The assassination took Lebanese history professor that America and Israel were team to enter China and no information” supplied by the and order the destruction of for pride and prowess over terms of reference don’t give place on August 7, the 22nd and Hezbollah member, and trying to “tie Iran to such guarantee whom they may Chinese side. laboratory samples while how the pandemic has been me great optimism for the anniversary of the 1998 his daughter. groups by lying and leaking interview, what records they “China gets to call the insisting that there was no handled. Their narrative is prospects for the al-Qaeda bombings of the But The New York Times false information to the will be able to see and shots,” said Lawrence Gostin, contagion. that they have done better investigation.” American embassies in said Daoud did not exist, and media to avoid responsibility whether they will be allowed a professor of global health Chinese scientists then than liberal democracies. According to some Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, the target was al-Masri — a for the criminal activities of to visit Wuhan, the city in law at Georgetown University released the genetic They don’t want that observers, Beijing could delay which killed 224 people. dark-haired militant of 58 this group and other terrorist central China that was in Washington, whose sequencing of the virus, only tarnished by any or stall the inquiries in China At about 9pm in the who had long featured on the groups in the region”. ground zero to the epidemic. department provides the for Beijing to claim credit and investigations.” if it deems that the hunt for a upmarket Pasdaran district of FBI’s most-wanted list, and @LouiseElisabet Instead, the WHO and Beijing WHO with technical be praised by the WHO. So it Huang also saw the heavy source is not global. The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 27 COMMENTNEWS Camilla Long The Crown reminds us of a forgotten time when PMs put principles before popularity

DES WILLIE ou may by now have started cabinet would lie down in quivering Gillian Anderson the new series of The Crown excitement to await the “lash of her starring as the Harry says it and seen some of the scenes tongue”. She was thrillingly ‘stubborn, between the prevaricating, radioactive. humourless’ with flowers: fussy little Lilibet and the What would she have made of the Margaret funereal, comically deep- present crop of politicians? She’d have Thatcher in his new life is Ycurtseying Margaret Thatcher. found them “unimaginative, cautious The Crown The prime minister is and wet”, as the fictional version calls wilting badly portrayed as a complete weirdo for her her cabinet in The Crown. She wouldn’t stubborn refusal to bend to some of the have disapproved of Boris entirely, but It’s not a request the Queen’s vainer requests. she’d have scorned his lack of conviction florists of Los Angeles are “Could you not have supported me, and would have regarded his private life presented with every day: just once?” whinnies the monarch, after as simply inefficient. Why draw oxygen could someone please the humourless Thatcher fails to agree away from the deeds that needed to be create a wreath for the with her and the heads of the done by creating unnecessary Duke and Duchess of Commonwealth about South Africa. distractions at home? Barely a day goes Sussex so they can lay it “I was under the impression,” bellows by without some laughable intervention for Britain’s Remembrance Thatcher, who has been smeared as from an ex-lover: on Tuesday, Jennifer Sunday? “uncaring” and “confrontational” in Arcuri called him “repulsive” for What they eventually quotes in an article apparently provided congratulating Joe Biden. On came up with for the by palace staff, “that Her Majesty never Wednesday, the former Sun editor royals’ photocall a week expressed her political views in public.” Kelvin MacKenzie tweeted that “Boris is ago looked extraordinary, As for the despots and dictators the being led round Downing Street by the unlike any other Queen calls “femily” — well, they are knob” after the revelations that his Remembrance wreath in, beneath contempt. “Oh look, our time is fiancée Carrie Symonds was “unhappy” um, remembrance — a up,” says the prime minister briskly, with chief adviser and “career lush, green, sexy before battleaxing out of the palace. psychopath” Dominic Cummings and Christmassy trifle that Watching this full-on, red-hot head of communications Lee Cain. looked as if it had been handbagging, I felt the hairs stand up on We’re told that since the departure of whisked off Kim the back of my neck. Would any of our Cain and Cummings, the prime Kardashian’s pool house in senior politicians have the balls to speak minister’s vision for the country has Calabasas. to the Queen as Maggie did? When you improbably gone from “get Brexit done” “It’s a fashion wreath,” survey the sloppy mess at Downing to possibly “focusing on climate, girls & couldn’t accuse her of unduly wanting to shrieked a friend of mine, Street, the answer seems to be: not a women’s welfare”. It helps, obviously, to please anyone — not even the Queen. Feminist Mary a ‘badass’? after pictures of the chance. You have to have principles to become more touchy-feely now his new Unlike Johnson, she sacrificed her own couple at the Los Angeles know what to stand up for, and Boris best friend, Joe Biden, is heading for the popularity for the greater good — most Yes, in more ways than one National Cemetery were Johnson doesn’t even know whom to White House. people characterise her as being about released. I mean, kudos, in stand up for in his own press office. But the truth is he never truly the individual, but the ultimate act of All my school How should we remember think: WTF are they doing a way, but I couldn’t think I first became aware of Thatcher as a supported Brexit, never liked the people community is self-sacrifice, and she our feminists? It is a debate erecting a tiny, tits-out angry of anything less poppyish. primary school child during the 1987 involved in it — you can just imagine knew that. There isn’t much self- teachers that never ends. Statues are elf with Joey Essex abs in Also, it felt sad — the election. All my teachers loathed Symonds, or “Princess Nut Nuts” as the sacrifice with Boris; it’s everyone else inevitably too tall, too short, memory of one of our first time I’ve felt a shred of Thatcher, which only made me more Brexit crew call her, telling Boris that he who has to bend to his whims and his loathed too pretty, too plain or simply greatest thinkers? A clue lay sympathy for the silly fascinated: I was one of just four in the should adopt the new agenda because flawed domestic contrivances in the wearing the wrong thing. in the fact that the Woman’s couple. This is absolutely class who voted for her in our mock people will like it, because she knows name of his own popularity or, as Thatcher, In 2018 there was fury over Hour presenter Anita Rani not where Prince Harry election. I liked that she felt solid and Boris will do anything to please anyone. another, recently annulled, populist a tea-towel-holding statue of had fought for the piece. wanted to be when he left respected process — she would have But if there’s one thing voters despise would have put it, “ratings”. which only the suffragist Millicent Mary was a “badass” who the family this year, hidden found many of Boris’s recent tactics, more than thugs, it’s manipulative, Thatcher simply wouldn’t have Fawcett. Last week a naked “just never gave up”, she away in some billionaire’s such as sidelining civil servants and opaque, wibbly-wobbly people-pleasers allowed any of it. As I watched episode made me representation of the writer blethered. I’m amazed the golden bog, phoning breaking international law, despicable. who will sell them out on taxes, benefits seven, I said to my boyfriend: “I don’t Mary Wollstonecraft drew result wasn’t worse. around florists in a vain She didn’t care about being rude or and culture as soon as they become an think there’s a single thing she’s said I more derision. It’s as if in art, as in attempt to find the last displeasing people, but she did believe inconvenience. haven’t agreed with.” life, women can’t get it right. Full-metal shambles, paper poppy in Beverly in hard work and debate. In the end, her Thatcher had shortcomings, but you @CamillaLong fascinated Having said that, I did News Review, page 32 Hills. ATTICUS GABRIEL POGRUND

Funding Speaker’s robe is a tall order, order Keith Daz, er, Vaz, washes Most MPs breathed a sigh of relief when Lindsay Hoyle back up replaced John Bercow as Speaker. The 63-year-old Keith Vaz is back. The Lancastrian is everything Leicester East MP for 32 his predecessor was not: years did not stand at the where Bercow was squat last general election after he and verbose, Hoyle is tall was caught offering cocaine and plain-speaking. to male prostitutes under But there is a cost. Hoyle the alias of Jim, a washing has invoiced the taxpayer machine salesman. £1,740 for a black and His Corbynista successor, golden robe that fits, Claudia Webbe, has been according to data obtained charged with harassment, by Atticus. The Commons and last week made her first has charged £4,766 for appearance in court, where ceremonial clothes for the she denied making threats Speaker and his team this to an unknown woman. year, including gloves, Sources tell Atticus that breeches and customised David Cameron, with rearranged bookshelf, on Zoom “Jim” is poised to run again collars. All this is rather for the Labour safe seat and fitting for Mr Hoyle, who ran John Thomas, who served as a textile business before Dave swaps wildlife for his life chairman of the local becoming an MP. Labour Party during his He has also spent £435,119 Poor David Cameron can’t get away with anything. Earlier time as MP, has said that Vaz on his grace-and-favour this year, critics of the former prime minister delighted in was “very welcome” to parliamentary residence, sharing pictures of his autobiography in a bookshop stand again. upgrading the floors, giving reduced from £25 to £3. Then, earlier this month, Cameron It’s time to get Britain’s the furniture a polish and appeared at a planning inquiry into a proposed Holocaust favourite washing machine removing old asbestos. He memorial in Westminster, where he was spotted in the salesman back into SW1. even spent £110 removing Zoom “waiting room” rearranging his bookshelf. his predecessor’s “small Off came books on Second World War history and wild wall fixings”. birds. On came his autobiography — but not without one It all gives a new cadence eagle-eyed lawyer catching him in the act. Meyric Lewis What’s Serco to Hoyle’s pledge on taking joked during the hearing: “I was tempted to ask Mr up the role: “This House will Cameron about the copy of his biography I can see got to hide? change, but it will change prominently displayed on the shelves behind him.” for the better!” As lawyers’ sober expressions gave way to mirth, Just a few staff Cameron smelt an opportunity. “Still available at all good bookshops. And bad bookshops too, for a lower price than It’s a good time to be at what it was originally on for,” he clucked. Serco, which has won a £57m government contract to run our coronavirus Education runs in the family testing sites. Headed by Rupert Soames — Churchill’s Nick Gibb, the schools minister, is part of a government that grandson — Serco secured has pledged to support families at every turn. Just ask his the deal without it going to workplace: the Department for Education, which has paid open competition. £1.7m to Populus, a consultancy whose founder and chief But is it good value? Not executive is Gibb’s husband, Michael Simmonds. The according to Serco, which contract was for “market research services to support the sent a “security briefing” to Initial Teacher Training recruitment marketing campaign”. test sites advising what to do Which sounds curiously adjacent to Gibb’s own brief. if reporters arrive: “Staff According to the government’s website, the Bognor Regis that are unneeded are to be and Littlehampton MP is responsible for “the recruitment kept out of sight as much as and retention of teachers and school leaders”. On the possible — so we don’t give Populus website, Simmonds says he is “happiest with his an impression of wasted husband, anywhere”. That now includes Whitehall. money and resources.” 28 COMMENT Dominic Lawson Charles hates GM. Will ESTABLISHED 1822 he spurn this vaccine? Give it a reset, PM. What we need is orderly government Pfizer shows us genetic modification could protect humanity from Covid-19

any will have been bemused ideas down to earth, not drive them ill the heir to the throne take Mengele (he of the medical experiments on genes for beta-carotene into the DNA of rice by the Downing Street further skywards. Lord Udny-Lister can the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Jewish people in concentration camps). For the would mark an end to a form of suffering I wonder? If its revolutionary record, Bourla is Jewish, born in Thessaloniki; unknown in the developed West. So far only bust-up dominating the do that as acting chief of staff but he is only method (the injection into the more than 45,000 of that Greek city’s once- America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand headlines and which has led a temporary appointment. body of synthetically created thriving Jewish population were gassed at are taking (painstakingly slow) steps to license to the departure of two key The priorities are clear. Mr Johnson genetic instructions, telling Auschwitz-Birkenau. the production of golden rice. advisers, Dominic Cum- benefits from public goodwill in spite of, Wcells to make viral proteins that Some of this poison is based on the Yet when the EU feels the lives of its own mings and Lee Cain. Mr rather than because of, his handling of the prime the immune system) is considerable sums Pfizer will earn if its vaccine citizens to be in peril, it suddenly becomes a lot M licensed for use, then the royal family may well becomes the first to be licensed in America and less obstructive to scientific innovation of this Cummings — known, among coronavirus. There has never been a be asked to set an example. Europe. In fact, Bourla was critical of Donald sort. As it dawned on politicians that some of other things, for the No 10 garden press sense of grip from the top, or of anybody This is what the Queen did as a young Trump, when he felt the president was the most promising vaccines being developed conference in which he tried to justify in government able to assess the evidence mother in 1957, when there was public anxiety attempting to rush firms into making positive for Covid-19 were, like Pfizer’s, reliant on a breaking lockdown rules — is now also from scientists and achieve a balance about the possible side effects of the new polio announcements before they had completed all form of genetic modification — the Oxford/ known for showily carrying a box of his between timely restrictions and damage vaccine. Breaking with the normal shield of the necessary trials. He declared on October 1 AstraZeneca vaccine is based on taking a virus possessions out of the front door. to the economy. The government has privacy about her private life, the monarch let that his company was moving “at the speed of that infects chimpanzees and amending some The manner of his departure and that lurched too often and usually left things it be known that Prince Charles and Princess science” — rather than to meet any political of its genetic instructions — they quickly Anne had been given the vaccine. Her actions timetable convenient to the White House. decided they would no longer apply the rules of Mr Cain, a more obscure figure, said a too late. Nor is this helped by the appear- had a tremendous, and beneficial, effect. Politics, rather than science, can also that mean (for example) it takes about five lot about the way Boris Johnson has run ance of a government “chumocracy” in Of course, Charles has already had Covid-19, obstruct or even deny society the full benefits years to approve each variety of GM crop to be things since becoming prime minister which people are appointed not for their but as the antibodies developed as a result of of scientific breakthroughs. This is true of used in animal feed. So in July, the European 16 months ago. This was two bald men skills and experience, but because they naturally acquired infection are now reckoned genetic modification more widely, especially, Commission, supported by the European arguing not over a comb but over access to are chums, or chums of chums. to last only about five months, a person of his but not only, in Europe. It seems a long time parliament, suspended the rules. Or, as the age would still be quite high on the priority list ago now, but in his first day in office as prime parliament’s press release at the time put it: Mr Johnson’s ear. Conflicting reports sug- Low levels of public confidence in the when (or if ) the Pfizer vaccine is rolled out. minister, Boris Johnson pledged to use the UK’s “Some Covid-19 vaccines and treatment being gest he secured their departure either by government’s handling of the coronavirus Yet the Pfizer method — and its 90% efficacy departure from the EU to abandon the rules developed may be defined [as] genetically being tough and decisive or after cosy also reflect its poor communications, in stage 3 trials is way higher than most with which Brussels had crushed the modified organisms (GMOs) and are thus reminiscences about the referendum. which Ms Stratton’s appointment is scientists had expected in a first-generation biotechnology industry in this continent: “Let’s covered by the relevant EU GMO directives The bemusement is over how such a intended to fix. It remains to be seen if it Covid vaccine — is everything the prince has start now to liberate the UK’s extraordinary ... a derogation from these rules is needed to soap opera could have unfolded while the does. Mr Johnson’s style can be amusing, campaigned against, very publicly and for bioscience sector from anti-genetic- avoid significant delay in developing life-saving decades. These mRNA vaccines (another, from modification rules. Let’s develop blight- vaccines and treatments.” country is in the middle of the biggest but on matters of life and death it comes the Swiss firm Moderna, is imminent) use resistant crops that will feed the world.” Perhaps, if the Pfizer mRNA vaccine is rolled public health emergency for decades. Last across as bumbling. The Scottish Tory synthetically created nanoparticles, whose Whatever happened to that? out successfully, it might also check the week the UK passed the grisly milestone of leader, Douglas Ross, was honest enough possible use in medicine Charles linked in As things stand, and in part because of the uncritical acceptance of the story spun by 50,000 recorded Covid-19 deaths — the recently to admit that Nicola Sturgeon’s 2004, bizarrely, to the thalidomide scandal. influential scaremongering of groups such as Prince Charles and other prominent mystics true figure is higher — the first country in significantly better ratings for her hand- Yet millions of diabetic people across the Greenpeace, “golden” rice has been denied to that Covid-19 is a peculiarly modern world owe their lives (or at least a lengthy populations in developing countries, where phenomenon to which only a “return to Europe to do so. The crisis has profound ling of the pandemic reflect that the first extension of them) to a genetically synthesised this GM product had promised to save the lives nature” is the appropriate remedy. Zoonotic consequences for the economy, liveli- minister is a better communicator. product. It is one that is created by taking the of the 2,000 or so children who die daily as a viruses have been with us for millennia: there hoods and mental and physical health. That brings to mind another problem human gene for insulin synthesis and splicing it result of vitamin A deficiency (many more go is evidence that the Neolithic farmers of what Rows over advisers do not bode well for Mr Johnson: preserving the Union. As into the genetic code of the E coli bacterium. blind). In nations where millions of children became known as Europe were all but wiped for prime ministers. Margaret Thatcher the Old Etonian leader of a Vote Leave gov- The genetically modified bacteria are then subsist on a diet of a few bowls of rice a day, the out by a version of the plague caused by their was gone a year after the resignation of ernment, he was always going to struggle grown in vats, and the insulin harvested from breakthrough that allowed scientists to insert living rather too close to nature (or, rather, them. The traditional version, using insulin livestock). her adviser Sir Alan Walters in 1989, along north of the border. The pandemic has harvested from pigs and cattle, was not only And it is revolutionary treatments based on with the chancellor Nigel Lawson. added to the risk of a break-up of the UK. subject to shortages, but also less effective and what Charles once described as tampering with Theresa May got rid of Fiona Hill and That danger, and damage to the economy, more vulnerable to problems stemming from matters “which belong to God, and God alone” Nick Timothy after the 2017 election — but will increase further if the government infection or inadequate hygiene in production. that promise to preserve humanity from the to no avail. fails to secure an EU trade deal. There was great resistance to the use of curse of naturally acquired viruses. genetically modified insulin, though this is now I would go further: the ascent of humankind Right now, No 10’s internal battles look All of which means the promised reset conveniently forgotten. Similar resistance to is nothing other than our triumph over the like wanton self-indulgence and the of the government cannot only be about the Pfizer vaccine could cost countless The Pfizer method is purposeless hostility of nature. And the episode reflects badly on the prime who advises the prime minister. It is time thousands of lives and livelihoods. wonder of modern medicine — of which minister’s judgment. Mr Cain is out only to move on from the sterile debate This resistance can take unedifying forms, everything the prince vaccines are the most glorious example days after being offered the job of chief of between leavers and remainers, terms especially within the anti-vaxxer movement. — is the greatest tribute to our astonishing staff by Mr Johnson, an offer that was then that should be banned in Downing Street. For example, last week the admittedly fringe has campaigned resourcefulness as a species. To deny it is to Greek newspaper Makeleio likened the chief be anti-human. said to have been withdrawn after Mr Johnson should turn to some of the executive of Pfizer, Albert Bourla, to Dr Josef against, for decades [email protected] objections by the new face of government talent, experience and communication communications, Allegra Stratton, and skills on the Tory back benches, including the prime minister’s fiancée, Carrie former cabinet ministers such as Sajid Symonds. Mr Johnson had allowed Javid and Jeremy Hunt. The Brexiteer government to become a continuous dead wood needs to be cleared out. election campaign, reflecting one thing The prime minister has the advantage that Mr Cummings is known to be good at. of an 80-seat majority. If this crisis Mr Johnson, who is prone to blue-sky achieves anything, it will be as a wake-up India Knight thinking himself, whether it be bridges call before people give up on this admini- across the Channel or the Irish Sea, or stration and, as in America, vote for quiet airports in the Thames Estuary, has competence. The government needs to always needed somebody to bring his do very much better, not tear itself apart. Just this once I can get behind early Christmas Misogyny and violence won’t die with the Yorkshire Ripper The fairy lights are out. I’m even — whisper it — thinking about a fake tree The death on Friday of Peter Sutcliffe, the from the hoaxer “Wearside Jack” by say- so-called Yorkshire Ripper, will not be ing: “There may be a few more pawns he John Lewis television advert had its more deluded one, telling myself there is decoration — sitting around staring at your four first airing last night, which means it’s nothing inherently Christmassy about a string walls for months on end will do that to a mourned, although the deaths of his along the way before I beat you, but I will.” Christmas (really oddly, the ad invites of fairy lights or a paper garland in the shape of person. Decorating for Christmas is uplifting — 13 known murder victims — there were When a senior policeman describes us to find city pigeons endearing, triangular evergreen trees or prancing all that sparkle and warmth — and anything probably more — should be. His death has female murder victims as pawns, some- which is quite a giant ask). In a normal creatures with antlers, who exist all year that adds gaiety to our current situation is brought some painful reminders and an thing has gone terribly wrong. Police year it wouldn’t be Christmas at all, round. I wouldn’t put out my cherished surely to be welcomed with open arms. Add in element of closure to their relatives. methods have advanced thanks to DNA, Twhat with it only being November 15 — nativity scene yet, and I’m not quite ready for the fact that Christmas decor is practically Yet in burying Sutcliffe, have we also which in the 2000s led to the conviction the mere foothills. We’d be enjoying the ritual watching of Elf or the ritual first designed to keep you safely indoors, beached the festive TV adverts as they trickled out but playing of Cerys Matthews singing Little Donkey on the sofa, basking contentedly in the buried the incompetence and misogyny of the hoaxer, John Humble. The question we’d still be muttering “too early” when it (sob), but there is a certain amount of seasonal soporific glow of light bouncing off bauble, and that let his killing spree last so long? John is whether attitudes have as well. came to anything else, such as having a mince greenery finding its way into the house and it’s a no-brainer. Robins, chief constable of West Yorkshire Serial killers are, thankfully, rare. The pie or wearing a festive jumper, let alone there may be a bumper order of outdoor lights What else are you going to do with your police, has offered a “heartfelt apology” murder of women by men known to them putting up the tree. Those of us with December on the way. Why keep them in their box for festive season? It’s not as if there are big parties for mistakes in the investigation and for is not. Official figures show that an aver- birthdays are especially particular about not another month? If everyone needs extra jollity, to go to or crowded streets to shop down and the “language, tone and terminology” of age of two women a week are murdered starting Christmas prematurely — in my house which we do, and there’s a ready-made reason the charms of sitting outside in three layers of the tree isn’t allowed to arrive until the middle for it, which there is, then why not embrace it? weatherproof clothing will fade as soon as that the senior officers in charge of it. by partners or former partners. A third of of the month, to avoid any untoward merging I always love seeing people’s houses lit up horrible, sideways, sleety rain starts. As for the He was right to do so. As Julie Bindel — women will experience domestic abuse of celebrations. Besides, it’s still quite warm, at and this year that applies in triplicate, although poor students returning home at the beginning who fears she came close to being a victim during their lifetimes and a tiny minority least in southern England. it’s made poignant by the fact that we can’t visit of December: wouldn’t it be nice for them to — describes in News Review today, women of reported cases of abuse, fewer than one But this isn’t a normal year. It’s the year of anyone. There’s something so touching and walk into a house that feels like a celebration of can never forget how Sutcliffe’s victims in 10, are prosecuted. early Christmas. Christmas has already started optimistic about people knowing that no one everything that is cosy and familial? for many people (as has dressing for deep much is going to get a proper look inside, but The only thing stopping me fully embracing were regarded by the police. Assistant Women have a right to feel safe, not winter, despite recent unseasonal adorning their homes anyway, so they’re early Christmas is the tree, because of my Chief Constable George Oldfield, in only on the streets but also in their own temperatures of 18C in the southeast. Last cheerful to walk past and peer into. stupid, but entrenched, snobbishness about charge of the inquiry, responded to taunts homes. Far too many do not. week at a market I saw a woman in a huge Early Christmas isn’t just to do with wishing artificial ones. A real tree couldn’t possibly padded coat and a man in shorts, he looking wretched 2020 would hurry up and end but survive from now until January — you’d need rather more comfortable than her). also with trying to wring out some joy from it. two consecutive ones at the very least, perhaps On Instagram, various celebrities have Unless you are a monumental Grinch — and this even three, and that way madness lies. But posted pictures of their Christmas-ready is really not the year for that — Christmas is the even here I am on the turn, zooming in online houses, including Dame Joan Collins, who very definition of joy. Dressing up the house in on close-ups of quite convincing branches and shared a photo of herself raising a glass by a preparation is also a natural extension of pushing aside my dislike of the idea of Re-election song fully dressed tree. “What else should one do everyone’s newfound interest in interiors and (un)green plastic trees a little more each day. during lockdown in November?” she wrote, They last for ever, I keep telling myself, and persuasively. After the Fenwick department isn’t that good in a way? Would my children It is one of the most difficult decisions a Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West), by store in Newcastle unveiled its Christmas and future grandchildren not like to inherit a political leader will make. Sir Keir Starmer Benny Hill. Theresa May — sometimes crit- window online last Sunday, 675,000 people large fake tree, like a sort of massively had watched the clip by Monday afternoon. ecologically unfriendly (“It was a different and his aides must have spent long hours icised as cold and distant — showed her And so many people are posting pictures of time”) festive heirloom? struggling with this problem: what eight jollier side with Abba’s Dancing Queen. their Christmas trees on Twitter, using the I don’t even know why I’m still pretending to records should he pick when he appears The Labour leader’s list includes Three hashtag #earlyChristmas, that last week the myself that I’m not going to buy one — I’ve had on Desert Island Discs today? Lions, David Baddiel and Frank Skinner’s television presenter Kirstie Allsopp, who Anything that adds the relevant page bookmarked for weeks and There should be nothing too highbrow 1996 song about England’s football World reposts pictures of people’s trees every year look at it every day, the idea being a smallish and nothing too lowbrow. He must appear Cup record. There is surely here a hidden from December 1, the first day of Advent, said gaiety to our current fake one in one room and a large real one in she has been sent so many that she “might mid-December in another. to be a serious figure who inspires confi- message to the Labour Party — that some- crack”and bring forward the date. situation is surely to Two trees! How festive? I might even make dence, but also warm and human. David times you have to wait a very long time I am adopting a stealthier, more incremental two tiny vaccine vials for the fairies to hold. Cameron was ridiculed when he included before winning anything. approach to early Christmas, or perhaps a be welcomed @IndiaKnight The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 29 COMMENT Stephen Bleach The Vatican has failed to stop abuse. Now the law must

ood news for Catholics and for the parents of the 970,000 children in Britain who attend Catholic schools: the Pope has clamped down on child abuse. He has issued a document Gcondemning paedophile behaviour by clergy and setting out procedures to punish it. This would be reassuring, if not for one thing. The document — Crimen Sollicitationis, in its grand Latin name — was issued by Pope John XXIII in 1962. As you may have gathered, it didn’t work too well. Since then, priests have abused thousands of children and the church has made nearly as many promises to stop them. The latest came last week from Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the leader of Catholics in England and Wales, after a report from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) documented widespread paedophilia in the English church. It covered 1,753 victims and 931 abusers. A culture of cover-up was rife, and Nichols himself had put the reputation of the church above the welfare of abused children, said the report. Despite this, he has defied calls for him to resign and the reason is interesting. “I do what I’m told,” he said. “The Holy Father put me here and he tells me to stay here.” The Holy Father is, of course, Nichols’s boss, Pope Francis. Buy prints or signed copies of Morten Morland’s cartoons from our Print Gallery at timescartoons.co.uk Traditionalists aside, most people rather like Francis. He is humble, friendly, progressive up to a point — he makes nice noises about social justice and welcoming gay believers. Certainly, in the fallout from the IICSA report, it’s the cardinal’s head that the mob is baying Isabel Hardman for, not the Pope’s. Which is strange, because when it comes to abusers and the abused, it really isn’t clear whose side Francis is on. True, he talks a good game. In May’s ghost is hovering above No 10. December 2018 he pledged that the church would “spare no effort ... to bring to justice whosoever has committed such crimes”. Only 11 months later, however, Only a full reboot will exorcise it his personal ambassador to Great Britain, Archbishop Edward Adams, hid behind diplomatic immunity to avoid being called as a witness by the IICSA. The inquiry’s report concluded that “their lack of co-operation passes The PM’s hated aides have gone but have hurt his standing as party leader. This story feels eerily familiar understanding”.

oris Johnson has long enjoyed was instrumental in the successful 2016 become increasingly interested in due to school meals campaign. Attempting to success as the “Heineken Vote Leave campaign as well as in the influence of his fiancée, Carrie prevent holiday hunger will cost the politician”: one who can reach building Johnson’s 80-strong majority in Symonds. There had even been a series government a few hundred million, but parts of the electorate others 2019. But all feel it is time for a change. of cabinet presentations on the the longer these problems are allowed to cannot. Things have soured “The grown-ups are going to be environment over the past months, but fester, the more billions they will One monk more recently, though, to the allowed back in,” says one weary and ministers say Cain blocked the PM from eventually add to the already terrifying beat me at my Bextent that he has had enough relieved cabinet minister. “We can let giving a speech on the topic, because he public debt. trouble just reaching his own Boris be Boris, rather than all this odd feared it would seem irrelevant to If he is to stand much of a chance of party. Even those previously fiercely stuff going on where leaks are used to people in the middle of a pandemic. getting any reforms through, Johnson Benedictine loyal to him have been left in despair. bounce proposals through.” Rumours The other matters are not getting the also urgently needs to repair relations Now there is talk of using the dramatic had circulated of leaks about a second attention from the centre they deserve. with his parliamentary party. The Tories school. He did departure of two of his key aides, lockdown being used to make the policy Social care has been on the verge of have always had an insecure attachment Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain, as an appear a fait accompli. collapse for the entirety of the decade of to their leaders: they long for more much worse opportunity to refresh things. Tory MPs Many secretaries of state say they look Tory rule, but all administrations have attention and love, and lose their cool are keen for a reset too. Even those who forward to being trusted once again and shunted it backwards in the hope that quickly when those things are in short to others liked Cummings and Cain say they feel to receiving support rather than hostile someone else might deal with it. This supply. One senior Conservative MP relieved that things are going to change briefings from the centre. Another government is due to publish plans for says: “I have never known so many Does it, though? The Pope’s man because of the “toxic atmosphere” that exasperated minister points out the reform “soon”, but of course Covid has unhappy colleagues who are feeling would have been asked very awkward had enveloped Johnson. irony of a row about the government’s complicated everything. Care homes are completely neglected, ignored, questions — including some about the It sounds plausible, doesn’t it? Two communications being so poor when now also struggling to remain financially undervalued and disconnected from rapist monk Andrew Soper who, during notorious advisers quit, giving their boss Johnson has long been lauded as a great viable because fewer people are moving what is going on. Obviously Covid makes five years on the run from British justice, a chance to change course and repair communicator. “How did we get to the into them, creating an unsustainable that much harder, but it was pretty poor was allegedly able to draw funds from relations with his party. stage where we made Boris struggle with number of vacancies. Yet the before, because you had a No 10 his £350,000 stash in the Vatican bank. The only problem is that we have seen communicating?” he asks. government’s winter plan for adult machine that was being run by people I’ll confess a personal interest here. this kind of reset before, when Theresa But my conversations with cabinet social care, published in September, who had complete contempt for MPs.” Soper beat me and, on one nasty May dispensed with her own abrasive ministers and backbenchers alike over doesn’t mention this matter at all. Even the cohort of new backbenchers occasion, groped me at my Benedictine aides, Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy, who the past few days sound eerily familiar to The Sunday Times has extensively elected last year, who know they owe school. He did much worse to others. It were known as the “gruesome those that took place after Hill and covered the crisis over flammable their seats to the prime minister, are would have been nice to find out what twosome” by ministers they repeatedly Timothy left Downing Street. Relief the cladding on blocks of flats, yet ministers restless. They like the sound of the part the Vatican played in keeping him a sidelined and briefed against. prime minister will get a chance to reset; seem hopeful someone else might solve “levelling up” agenda and are keen for a free man for so long, but the Pope’s Conservative MPs were placated for a hope there will be a closer relationship that for them too. Despite the mantra more consensual style of politics, but commitment to justice didn’t extend to time, but then it became clear that, between Downing Street and the “We have protected the NHS from being they have warned Johnson, and plan to co-operating with a judicial inquiry. along with failing to make a success of Conservative back benches; but also, overwhelmed” they are glib about the warn him again, that they will get no The hypocrisy is shameless but not Brexit, May was not going to solve the among the more thoughtful MPs, deep financial struggles that already afflicted thanks from their constituents if their surprising. Francis has form here. In “burning injustices” she named when concern about whether this government the health service before the pandemic, areas leave lockdown only to go into 2018 he defended Juan Barros, a Chilean she stood on the steps of Downing Street will ever be able to work through that The Tories and the backlog of cases in specialties tier 3 restrictions — or even a new, bishop accused of covering up for a for the first time. Most of them were overloaded in-tray. Of course, there is including cancer. Obesity is a known risk tougher, tier 4 — and levelling up notorious abusive cleric. Barros later lingering in No 10’s in-tray when Johnson one obvious difference between Johnson lose their factor in severe cases of Covid, but so far remains a mere slogan. resigned and the cleric was defrocked. took over. They’re still there now. and May: he has the majority to address the government has merely published a Heineken dropped its catchy slogan Francis allegedly ignored allegations It would be easy for Johnson to go for these problems — she didn’t. cool without slightly toothless strategy and Johnson in 2018, choosing instead to focus on against the serial abuser Cardinal a shallow rebrand, adopting a new look There are problems that existed long himself has lost weight. Big deal. the product. In refreshing his Theodore McCarrick for years before for his No 10 operation like a drinks before the coronavirus, such as the the love and These issues might benefit, to an government, Johnson needs to take ordering a Vatican investigation. Its company changing advertising agency. housing crisis, the long-term extent, from a reset: the government has that approach to heart. findings, published last week, put the As with May’s change of personnel, it sustainability of the NHS, the need to attention of wasted too much energy on big fights blame for inaction on his predecessors, wouldn’t hurt. Few ministers doubt the reform social care, and climate change. over distracting issues, such as its Isabel Hardman is assistant editor of John Paul and Benedict. campaigning abilities of Cummings, who That last is something Johnson has their leader resistance to Marcus Rashford’s free The Spectator. Matthew Syed is away Now he has given his vote of confidence to Nichols, the man who has so clearly failed to protect children from his own paedophile clergy. (Nichols did, in fact, offer to resign — but not because NEWMAN’S he had presided over a moral cesspool of abuse and cover-up. It was because he WEEK had reached the customary age of 75. Nice to get your priorities straight.) Nichols says he will use the report’s recommendations to “inform” improvements in “safeguarding standards, policies and procedures”. That’s all right, then. “There is plenty more for us to achieve,” he said. No, there isn’t. The church had one simple thing to achieve: stop its clergy sexually molesting children. It failed. Priests clearly will not obey God’s law. Perhaps they will obey man’s. It’s time for the state to step in, with a mandatory reporting law that makes it a crime to fail “Boy, what a mess! Aren’t you glad “Carrie wants me to show who’s boss “I’m just off to Barnard Castle “Is this genuine or a forgery?” to report disclose child abuse. That, at you don’t live there?” — if that’s all right with you” to check my eyesight” least, shouldn’t take a miracle. 30 The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 COMMENT Robert Colvile Cummings came, saw and conquered. And the party he made isn’t going anywhere

t was Mao who described politics as the take-no-prisoners street fighter who Cummings led, in other words, provided But Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage are What united the three strands of “war without bloodshed” — but he took the leave campaign’s hyper- not just many of the personnel for both waiting to pounce if the Tories are Cummings’s game was a conviction that never worked for Boris Johnson. aggressive, with-us-or-against-us style Johnson’s Downing Street, but its tactics perceived as having betrayed their new delivering for the voters he identified, Even by the standards of modern into government (along with many of its and ideology. supporters, or if they retreat to a home and improving the condition of the politics the drama inside No 10 has personnel). There was the willingness, even the counties comfort zone. country as a whole, required a wholesale been extraordinary. It culminated in Both those legacies may, now eagerness, to defy convention; the scorn The bridges As an American football coach transformation of Whitehall — which Ithe eclipse of the hitherto dominant Cummings has left No 10, be picked for those opposed to the project; the famously said: “You dance with the one could only be accomplished by a Vote Leave faction — and a rush to apart. But the impact of Cummings the hostility to the Establishment; the leading back to who brung ya.” relentless campaign against enemies dance on Dominic Cummings’s political strategist will be far more enduring. deafening repetition of simple and The new cohort of MPs are also — as within and without. grave that made a mockery of social The most obvious thing to say is that powerful messages. David Cameron’s their elders will despairingly tell you — The government’s promised distancing. without Cummings Brexit would not Yet, as well as a clear message about more leave than Tory: Cummings’s departure from that strategy, and that But Cummings, and his impact, will have happened. The same is true, of who they were against, there was also a electoral coalition children rather than Cameron’s. agenda, for a more conventional and not be so easily wished away. It is not just course, of Johnson: the campaign clear identification with who they were For all the turmoil in No 10, the signs consensual approach will certainly be a that Johnson’s government was, to a needed both a director and a star. for — a promise to the powerless that have been not just are that those involved understand dramatic shift. remarkable and unprecedented extent, That vote on June 23, 2016, did they really could take back control; that that. Johnson himself has made clear at Yet, more broadly, the populist genie built around him. It is that he has something more than break apart Britain the potholes would be mended and the burnt but blown every public appearance that he is cannot be put back into the bottle. reshaped the Tory party in ways even its and Europe. It began the inexorable waiting lists cut. determined to keep faith with his Britain is not divided just because of own MPs often struggle to understand. transformation of the Conservative Party Amid a flurry of briefing and counter- to smithereens supporters — and has been one of those Brexit: that vote, and the battles that The simplistic charge against into the Leave Party — a process that briefing there has been a suggestion that pushing back hardest against Brexit followed, revealed and intensified Cummings and his allies has been that culminated in the prorogation of the promised “reset” of Downing Street compromise. divisions that had been festering for they were brilliant at campaigning and parliament under Johnson and the post Cummings and Lee Cain will flip a Those close to Allegra Stratton and years. But in its wake, everything in awful at governing — people, to quote an purging of the remaining remainers. switch back from Brexit Boris to Mayor Carrie Symonds, whose objections to politics — even a once-in-a-century 17th-century sage, “who shine in a This was about becoming the tribunes Boris, that the new direction will be Cain’s appointment as chief of staff pandemic — is interpreted through its faction, and make a figure by opposition, not just of Brexit but of Brexit voters. greenery and cycle paths rather than triggered the showdown, insist that they polarising lens. who would stand in a worse light, if they The message that Cummings devised for hand grenades and culture wars. are devoted to the cause of “levelling It is easy to overstate the power of had the preferments they struggle for”. the 2016 campaign, and reheated for the One Cummings ally warns of “a up”. Munira Mirza, the head of the advisers, even those as powerful as In fact there are three Dominic 2019 election, was precision-engineered counter-revolution by reactionary leading back to that era have been not policy unit, is also foursquare behind Cummings. Ultimately, this is Johnson’s Cummingses that matter. to address the resentments and elements who want to retreat to the just burnt, but blown to smithereens. this agenda. And alongside the government — and, like every The first is Cummings the thinker, the grievances of those who felt left behind comfort zone of Georgian rectories and The leave vote is now the Tories’ departures last week, there was the government, it takes its character from big-picture revolutionary who wrote by metropolitan prosperity. And that leafy suburbs”. electoral bedrock — which is why any appointment of Neil O’Brien, the the prime minister, in both its strengths vast, swirling blog posts about data involved some sharp departures from The problem with taking the Tories Brexit deal reached in the coming days is Huddersfield-born MP who drove and its flaws. science, project management and the Tory orthodoxy: the promise on the back to the days of Johnson’s mayoralty, certain to be a hard one. George Osborne’s Northern Powerhouse But, like the rest of us, it is living in the overwhelming inadequacy of Whitehall. infamous red bus wasn’t to cut taxes, but or trying to rebuild David Cameron’s That does not mean that the Tories agenda, as a Tory vice-chairman with a world that Cummings made. The second is Cummings the manager, fund the NHS. The Vote Leave team that electoral coalition, is that the bridges cannot reach out to voters in the middle. brief to work on precisely these issues. @RColvile

The Sunday Times, BIRTHDAYS POINTS LETTERS 1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF Email: letters@ TO THE EDITOR sunday-times.co.uk Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Sprites’ rights read that the dying of the president, 85 I was interested to read that light on autumn afternoons is

GETTY IMAGES Daniel Barenboim, pianist, 78 Truro’s mayor, Bert Biscoe, is making him feel a bit down I have found that most Jimmy Choo, designer, 72 taking offences against fairies (News Review, last week). He older people enjoy shopping Petula Clark, singer, 88 seriously (Rod Liddle, should emulate Thomas PM gaslights voters in high streets; they patronise Tibor Fischer, author, 61 Comment, last week). But Hardy’s darkling thrush, theatres; they love parks and Dom Joly, comedian, 53 does nobody know the law? which chose “in a full- gardens; they are the Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Abba Henry III made it an offence hearted evensong / Of joy over vaccine tsar backbone of local charities; singer, 75 in law to kill or injure fairies illimited ... to fling his soul / and they enjoy fun. Jonny Lee Miller, actor, 48 more than 700 years ago. Upon the growing gloom.” The most disheartening In a pandemic, action must Not only do they add The legislation is already in John Barwell aspect of the Kate Bingham be taken quickly. People will vitality to their towns, but if place. We just need a right- North Elmham, Norfolk saga (“Vaccine tsar runs up forgive ministers who made local planners deprive them minded Crown Prosecution £670,000 PR bill”, News, last decisions in good faith that of the safe, appropriate Service to enforce it. Sin of omission week) has been the reaction turned out to be wrong in housing they need, older Dominic Russell, Coventry Your report on abortion in of ministers. Rather than hindsight. But the billions people will be stuck in Poland (World News, last distance themselves from spent must be scrutinised, as hospitals as “bed-blockers”, Wellington’s booty week) shows what prehistoric her, Boris Johnson and part of a swift inquiry, so we or become “house-blockers” I agree with Jeremy Clarkson policies have survived in the Michael Gove went out of can hold those responsible to in homes too big, expensive that we underpay our senior political permafrost that their way to praise her. account. and unsafe for them, through politicians and the result is communism imposed. The It is a kind of gaslighting of John O’Connell, chief Esther Rantzen says over-65s dance their way through life no fault of their own. poor administration (News, Catholic Church in Poland is voters to point out that she executive, Taxpayers’ Alliance I wonder if the Elmbridge Anni-Frid Lyngstad is 75 Review, last week). When decades behind that in held an important public role: Elderly give more mischievous and prepared to councillors would refuse to the Duke of Wellington was Ireland in its attitudes to the point is, she used that role Toxic waste dance in the streets. invite Sir David ANNIVERSARIES prime minister between women’s reproductive rights. to share confidential data Your editorial “No 10 begins vitality to towns But ageism stalks Attenborough, Sir Michael 1828 and 1830, his salary was Mary Pimm and Nik Wood with commercial contacts, to look careless with money. Elmbridge in Surrey. You Palin or the Queen to an about £1.2m in today’s London E9 and she awarded lucrative Our money” (Comment, last In a previous working life, I report that the council there event because they would 1837 Isaac Pitman presents money. There was no income contracts to those connected week) touches only the tip of used to be televised walking has decided to ban a drain it of vitality? I hope they his shorthand system tax, so the equivalent is more Swing state with the government. the iceberg. Contracts are the streets of the UK asking retirement development get sued for their ageism, and 1983 Northern Cyprus than £2m — compared with Your photograph of Donald We used to expect better awarded without proper random questions of passers- because it would “drain” the they deserve to lose. declares independence. Boris Johnson’s £155,000. Trump standing in the rough from our public figures. We tendering, big jobs given to by. I always preferred to “vitality” from the town Dame Esther Rantzen Only Turkey recognises it Nigel Morris, Lichfield on his golf course in Virginia are certainly entitled to it. unqualified friends. We were speak to the over-65s because (News, last week). How Founder and president 1985 Anglo-Irish (News, last week) was either Jolyon Maugham QC told people had had enough they were unpredictable, wrong it is. The Silver Line agreement, which gives Benefits check an inspired piece of Director, Good Law Project of experts. Now, instead, we Dublin a say on affairs in Surely we pay the prime symbolism or a fortunate have opportunists appointed Northern Ireland, is signed minister quite enough. If dose of reality. Either way, it Spent out by the self-serving. Lawson’s rational if the virus runs unchecked. would inevitably suffer and Johnson does not like the will be long remembered — The government has used the This is a vicious cycle When hospital beds are full, probably die. When the salary and all the benefits, and not only by golfers. pandemic as an excuse for bereft of virtue. It is not just line on lockdown as they inevitably will be naysayers accept this, and tell Publish women’s then he should not have put Sir Michael Graydon giving my money to Bingham. wasted money we should without serious efforts to us on what basis such so much effort into getting London SW1 It has spent vast sums with no worry about; it is the loss of Dominic Lawson’s column stop the spread of Covid-19, rationing decisions would be prison inquiry the job. After all, he can accountability. By contrast, I the values of the nation. (Comment, last week) was full there will have to be rationing made, we can make a proper always claim universal credit have received two letters Bill Livingstone of common sense and of care. judgment as to whether their The BBC television drama — at £70 a week. Letters should arrive by noon from HM Revenue & Customs Standish, Greater Manchester realism. I despair at the wilful “Rationing” sounds views are tenable. series Roadkill has given Ferne Hudson, Basingstoke on Thursday and include the informing me that I will get ignorance of some politicians manageable, but in reality it Professor Chris Rudge prominence to a number of full address and a phone 25p a week extra when I Scare tactics and commentators about the would mean denying care to National clinical director for long-standing concerns about Birds of a feather number. We may edit letters, become 80 at the end of the Bingham described your possible impact on healthcare a group of patients who transplantation, 2008-11 women’s prisons in the UK. It is always a pleasure to read which must be exclusive to The year. I am wondering: what report that she disclosed Of particular concern is why a Stig Abell, but I was sorry to Sunday Times shall I spend it on? sensitive information about female inmate had to give Kate Darby, Kenley, London the UK’s vaccine programme Business gets private companies that have and I would not assume that I birth alone in her cell at as “irresponsible”. She has been running our railways could have done a better job. Bronzefield prison in Surrey CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS Called to account been quoted as describing the things wrong too and the government Julian Baseley in September 2019, the News of an effective vaccine Oxford University vaccine, outsourcing contracts? Chairman of Ewbank reasons for the tragic death of may have taken some heat off which uses a virus found in I wish I lived in Oliver Shah’s Or perhaps the banks, Congleton, Cheshire the baby and why it is taking infections (Dominic Lawson, Bingham, but the story chimpanzees, and the Pfizer- world, where the government branches of which have been so long to get answers to the Comment, last week). The represents a troubling aspect BioNTech vaccine, which is completely inept but either shut or open only half Ministers in good company issues raised. projection suggested cases of contracts awarded uses novel messenger RNA businesses would have been the normal time? Or the Shah calls to mind the Peter Last October a justice Our report “England’s ‘Little per day might rise to 49,000 throughout the pandemic. technology, as “the hairy, able to sort out the UK’s airlines, which have been principle: in a hierarchy, minister told the Commons Scotland’ wants say in any by mid-October; the actual There seems to have been scary ... ones”. Now that is pandemic crisis with ease unable to sort out refunds employees tend to rise to this case was the subject of 10 referendum” (News, August figure was close to 20,000. little to no oversight of how what I call irresponsible. Is it (“Business needs to find its after eight months? their level of incompetence. investigations. A year later 30) stated that more than half We are happy to make this much taxpayers’ money was any wonder that 30% of those voice before it is squashed by The government faced an This is the case for a number the results of these inquiries of Scottish voters backed clear. being spent and to whom it asked say they would refuse this bungling government”, impossible situation that no of government ministers. have still not been published. independence and that 55% was going — whether for PPE to be vaccinated? Business, last week). Can I one could easily manage. I am Mike Webster It has been said that if you hoped to secede from the Complaints concerning or, it seems, boutique public Gordon Lethbridge assume these are the same chairman of four companies Pulborough, West Sussex wish to judge a nation, you Union. The article should inaccuracies in all sections of relations advice. Sherborne, Dorset should look inside its prisons. have made clear that these The Sunday Times should be What is needed here is not figures were based on a single addressed to complaints@ Tackle workforce workforce crisis, including shifts for nurses, which affect just judgment but an honest Panelbase poll, and did not sunday-times.co.uk or Brexit TV ad is a people who are not ready are 40,000 unfilled nursing posts their wellbeing and are appraisal of what went wrong include the 7% of respondents Complaints, The Sunday those in government. shortages in NHS in England. associated with poorer care and how we ensure nothing who were undecided: with Times, 1 London Bridge Street, waste of readies Spending money on mass The government and NHS for patients. like this happens again. these included, 51% favoured London SE1 9GF. In addition, television advertising Your report “Nightingale need to urgently boost not The spending review is a Rev Andrew McLuskey; Sir independence while 42% the Independent Press Robert Colvile’s column when the target audience of hospitals grounded by staff just recruitment but chance for the government to David Hare (writer and opposed it. Standards Organisation resonates strongly with me one resides at No 10 is a shortages” (News, last week) retention. NHS staff report show it is serious about creator, Roadkill); Baroness (Ipso) will examine formal (Comment, last week). profligate waste of demonstrates yet again that high levels of stress and meeting its manifesto Jones of Moulsecoomb; Peter A projection of Covid-19 complaints about the editorial Having worked in advertising taxpayers’ money. staff numbers are the key burnout: cultural changes are commitments to address NHS and Solange Hughes; Paul infections shown by Sir content of UK newspapers and all my life, I find the “Get Neil Kennedy, former limiting factor for delivering needed to improve working workforce shortages. Jacobs; Richard Miller; Patrick Vallance on magazines. Please go to our ready for Brexit” television president, International healthcare. The NHS entered conditions. This should Richard Murray Councillor Jan Doerfel; September 21 was referring to website for full details of how campaign baffling. The Advertising Association the pandemic with a include a review of 12-hour Chief executive, the King’s Fund Councillor Tom Lagden reported cases, not overall to lodge a complaint.

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After the strong vote for ‘allowed’ to be a maths us in the victim cloak, and I he chooses,” said Susan Dent a retirement village because it famous under our Birthdays Last week we asked: Donald Trump among Latino teacher, as that fits its refuse to be covered by that.” Tasker. “He made a choice. would affect the town’s column. David Hudson had Should students be allowed home for Christmas? Americans, India Knight perception of British-Asians Prince Harry’s request for Choices have consequences,” “vitality”. Cue a debate about a decent punt with Richard railed against the assumption (or whatever we are labelled a Remembrance wreath to be said Rose Ellis. “My family ageism ... and this from John Curtis, 64: “I stood next to that immigrants must be left now), but having Conservative laid at the Cenotaph on his served with great distinction. Fleetwood: “Maybe residents him at a tug-of-war contest.” YES NO wing — and immigrant readers views is not in keeping.” behalf was refused: courtiers I contented myself by standing of Elmbridge just don’t get That was outdone, though, by 82% 18% queued up to agree. “As a Sri “Leftwingers think I am a said he could no longer at the war memorial in my old. I have suspected for Monsieur Hulot’s link to Sir Lanka-born British woman, I traitor when I say I have not represent the monarchy. town. Why is Harry Wales any some time Raab is a poorly Kazuo Ishiguro, 66: “My late From a poll of 3,912 Times and Sunday Times readers find it infuriating that the faced racism, that the British Readers agreed. “Which bit of different?” asked Gergiev. functioning cyborg.” mother-in-law used to meet ‘liberal left’ is so illiberal about are welcoming, that I have ‘giving up royal duties’ does To Elmbridge — local MP: Finally, to the merry little Ishiguro’s mother for coffee This week’s question: me voting Conservative,” said always voted Tory,” said Just he not understand? He can’t Dominic Raab — where the band who compete to post in Guildford.” Hard to beat. Do you believe our government is a “chumocracy”? Leanne Dedunu. “I’m In time. “They try to shroud just do the bits of the job that council refused permission for the most tenuous links to the Stephen Bleach Have your say at sundaytimes.co.uk/poll The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 31 NNEWSEWS REVIEW REVIEW

misogyny of West Yorkshire police offi- Women were those pawns in their Julie Bindel cers in their hunt for the Ripper. game. “The women I killed were filth,” the Jacqueline Hill, a 20-year-old student Ripper told police in 1981 when they in her final year at Leeds University, believes she finally arrested him. “Bastard prostitutes would be Sutcliffe’s final murder victim. who were littering the streets. I was just On the evening of November 17, 1980, she was followed cleaning up the place a bit.” He wasn’t the was on her way home at around 9pm, only one to feel this way. The attorney- about a mile from where I had seen the general, Sir Michael Havers, the prosecu- bearded man three days earlier. Sutcliffe home by Peter tor at the trial, said: “Some were prosti- had driven to Headingley looking for his tutes, but perhaps the saddest part of the next victim. He parked his car near a Sutcliffe, the case is that some were not.” shopping centre and bought some Ken- The Ripper said of Helen Rytka, his tucky Fried Chicken while he waited. eighth victim: “I had the urge to kill any Jacqueline walked past and Sutcliffe Yorkshire woman. The urge inside me to kill girls got out of his car. He followed her to a was now practically uncontrollable.” It narrow path, where he smashed her over Ripper, who died was misogyny, pure and simple. the back of her head with a hammer. Five years after the Ripper’s first Sutcliffe dragged her into some waste- murder, the only solution the police had land, pulled her clothes off and stabbed last week. The come up with to protect women was to her repeatedly with a screwdriver in the impose a curfew on us. Via the Yorkshire chest and an eye. “I thought she were incompetence Evening Post, women were urged to “stay staring at me,” he would later tell police indoors” and told: “Do not go out at night during the 26 hours that he spent making unless absolutely necessary, and only if his confession. of police and accompanied by a man you know.” After news of Jacqueline’s murder was In response, my feminist group released on November 18, police stations the misogyny of mocked up police notices and flyposted were inundated with information from them all over the city. “Attention all men people. Public fascination had turned to in West Yorkshire,” the notice read. revulsion. the era still “There is a serial killer on the loose in the The police received 8,000 letters, area. Out of consideration for the safety Julie Bindel as a teenager in Darlington mostly anonymous. Women named their anger her of women, please ensure you are indoors husbands and sons as suspects. by 8pm each evening, so that women can home in the Leeds suburb of Chapel- go about their business without the fear town, which was six doors away from owever, the event that should have you may provoke by simply walking that of Wilma McCann, his first victim. changed the face of the investiga- behind her.” For one glorious night the Jayne’s head had been caved in with what tion had taken place four years pre- streets were deserted. appeared to be a hammer and she had Hviously, in December 1977. By the 13 I would go out in the dead of night with been stabbed several times, as had his time Sutcliffe attacked Marilyn other women carrying cans of spray previous victims. Moore, 25, he had already murdered six paint which we used to create slogans In March 1978, a man had posted a women. Marilyn survived. She provided such as “No curfew on women, curfew on letter to police and a national newspaper a Photofit of her attacker, which bore a men!” on billboards. We organised claiming to be the Ripper. He later sent a strong resemblance to Sutcliffe, and she “Reclaim the night” marches to protest tape recording of his voice, and experts gave a good description of his car. If her against the atrocious level of rapes and said he was from the northeast, earning Photofit had been compared with those murders of women. him the nickname of Wearside Jack. of other survivors, there could well have The tapes were repeatedly played and been more emphasis given to tracing the ince 1975, when the first victim, the handwriting frequently displayed on bearded man. Sutcliffe’s name would Wilma McCann, was discovered, billboards from the time the police certainly have emerged, because he had MURDERED West Yorkshire police had been received them right up until the time the already been interviewed by police after Srepeatedly criticised for their in- real killer was caught. I would be shop- his car was seen frequently in red-light effective and lacklustre investiga- ping at the market in Leeds when sud- areas. If Sutcliffe had been reinterviewed tion. By the time the body of the Ripper’s denly we would hear over the radio: “I’m after December 1977, the officers would fifth victim, Jayne MacDonald, was dis- Jack. You are no closer to catching me surely have noted the likeness. covered in June 1977, officers still had no now than when I first started.” On Friday January 2, 1981, Sutcliffe real leads. Wearside Jack wasn’t the Ripper but a went further afield to hunt down his next The newspapers declared that this was hoaxer. It wasn’t until January 1981 that victim and drove to Sheffield. Olivia the Ripper’s “first mistake”. Jayne was 16, the world would discover that the Ripper Reivers, a 24-year-old single mother, was his youngest murder victim, and a bank was actually the Bradford-based lorry out on the streets that night, hoping to WOMEN cashier. The Ripper’s previous victims driver Peter Sutcliffe, an unremarkable make some money in the red-light area to were considered disposable because man, living in the suburbs with his wife feed her two infants. they had been (or were perceived to have and liked by colleagues and neighbours. A dark-haired man with a beard pulled been) involved in prostitution. However, police refused to accept the up beside her and Olivia jumped in the Jayne’s body was discovered near her truth about Wearside Jack until they car out of the cold. As the man was about caught Sutcliffe, during which time he to coerce her out of the car which would had killed five more women. have enabled him to hit her over the back Assistant Chief Constable George Old- of the head with his ball-peen hammer, field, the police officer in charge of the two patrolling officers checked his Ripper inquiry, took the taunts from the numberplates and discovered they were I WAS NEARLY hoaxer in his letters and tapes as a per- stolen. They would not normally have sonal challenge. The man on the tape was bothered to arrest kerb-crawlers, who questioning his abilities as a police officer had a virtual amnesty at the time, but had and openly goading him. recently been told to collar any who were Oldfield responded by holding a displaying “suspicious behaviour”. Olivia televised press conference, in which he escaped being Sutcliffe’s 14th victim. appeared to be drunk, speaking directly He was arrested and asked if he could to the hoaxer: “This is between me and “go for a quick slash” before being taken you. You may think you will win but you to the station. The next day, hearing that won’t. There may be a few more pawns Sutcliffe was still in custody, one of the ONE OF THEM before I beat you but I will.” arresting officers decided to go back to where he had been picked up to have a look around, because his behaviour had he Yorkshire winter of 1980 tight mop of black hair: just like the man been “strange”. was a harsh one. Women Theresa had described. He found the hammer and knife that could be seen rushing home I picked up my pace but still he Sutcliffe had dropped behind the water at the end of the day, wrapped followed close behind. Running into the tank where he had urinated. in warm coats and trying to pub, I asked an elderly man to walk me On the second day of questioning, get back before it turned dark. I became aware home. When we came out, the other man Sutcliffe said: “Well, it’s me, I’m the Some clutched bunches of had disappeared. The next day, friends Ripper. I’m glad it’s all over.” The next day keys as protection, many of a man rushing convinced me to report the incident to he appeared at Dewsbury magistrates’ Tavoided shortcuts down nar- the police. court. He was hurried into court with a row lanes or through parks up behind me. I At Millgarth police station I told the blanket over his head while a crowd of and almost everyone stuck to busy roads. desk officer that I wanted to report a more than 2,000 screamed, “Die!”, A serial killer was on the loose and had picked up my pace possible sighting of the Ripper. He all but “Evil!” and, “Hang the bastard!” already murdered 11 women by the time I laughed. I was asked if I had heard the That day I was in Leeds attending a moved to Leeds from Darlington in but he followed Ripper speak, which I had when he conference on sexual violence. We November 1979, aged 17. Four of the shouted “Hello, love” after I turned to see mourned for all the women he had women had been killed in Leeds and my close behind if he was still following. I told the officer attacked and murdered. On my way mum was worried sick. It turns out that that he had a Yorkshire accent, and he home I armed myself with a spray can she had good reason to be. told me: “No, love, our fella is from your and daubed “Sutcliffe — male not mad” A year later I had what I believe was an neck of the woods!” The officer was con- on the walls along the route. encounter with Peter Sutcliffe, the “York- vinced, as most were, that a “Wearside In May 1981, Peter Sutcliffe was con- shire Ripper”. He died of Covid-19 in Jack” was the killer, and I still had my victed of the murders of 13 women and hospital last week, aged 74. Geordie accent. The Sutcliffe reign the attempted murders of seven more. A 12th woman had been murdered by Eventually, I helped officers put Many, including police officers, believe this point, 47-year-old Marguerite Wells, together a Photofit description of the of terror is deeply he attacked and killed more women a civil servant from Leeds. Nine days man, which, it later transpired, was simi- whose bodies have not been found. before my sighting, he had attacked lar to many of the other descriptions embedded in the Last week, after Sutcliffe’s death was 16-year-old Theresa Sykes in Hudders- from victims who had survived. announced, West Yorkshire police field. She had popped out to her local In 1979 I had joined a feminist group psyche of all offered an apology “for the additional corner shop when Sutcliffe ran after her that had been set up in Leeds to distress and anxiety caused to all rela- and struck her on the head from behind. campaign against the rising levels of women who grew tives by the language, tone and terminol- Neighbours heard her screams, rushed male violence towards women and girls ogy used by senior officers at the time in over and Sutcliffe ran away. Theresa in the area. They were railing against the up under it relation to Peter Sutcliffe’s victims. Such reported to police that the man was language and attitudes may have about 5ft 6in tall with black hair, a beard reflected wider societal attitudes of the and a moustache. day, but it was as wrong then as it is now.” On the night in question, I had been The Sutcliffe reign of terror is deeply out with my girlfriend. As we walked back embedded in the psyche of all women to our hostel in Headingley, we had an who grew up under it. For some, like me, argument and she ran ahead up the hill. it meant we picked up that rock, saw the The street lighting was sparse and, apart misogyny that crawled out from under it from a pub halfway up, the area was and could never unsee it. deserted. We learnt a painful lesson. Some men I had read about the attack on Theresa hate women enough to kill us for their in salacious detail in the press and was own sexual pleasure, while others look scared when I suddenly became aware of on, justifying the murderer and blaming a man rushing up behind me. Looking the imperfect victims. Nearly 40 years backwards, I could see him illuminated after Sutcliffe’s arrest, I would love to be by light from a nearby pub. He had a able to say truthfully that everything is beard, was of medium height and had a different today.

The women murdered by Peter Sutcliffe were, top, Jean Jordan. Second row, left to right: Vera Millward and Helen Rytka. Third row: Yvonne Pearson and Emily Jackson. Fourth row: Josephine Whitaker, Irene Richardson and Marguerite Walls. Fifth row: Barbara Leach, Patricia Atkinson, Jayne McDonald, Wilma McCann and Jacqueline Hill 32 The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 NEWS REVIEW

RICHARD POHLE her apartment and tell the world every- thing she had told me. But, on every occa- sion we met, Diana would say it was all in Just between us and the strictest confidence: “Just between us and these four walls.” And I respected her wishes, at least until she died. From the start of her marriage, Diana felt she had had little support from the these four walls, Diana royal family. She told me that when she stayed at Clarence House before the wed- ding, she hadn’t even seen the Queen Mother, whose home it was. Diana had stayed in her room, with a tray of food. bared her soul to me first She told me she thought the Queen Mother was intimidating and nothing at

TIM ROOKE all like the cuddly grandmother people imagined. “I think she has a lot to answer Five months before her now notorious for,” she said. “In my view, any faults in Charles’s upbringing lie not with the Panorama interview, the princess confided Queen at all, but with the Queen Mother.” Martin Hemming and the Double Big Mac: it took him 11 bites But she had the highest regard for the all to Jennie Bond. The BBC’s royal Queen. “I love her and respect her hugely,” Diana told me. She said she got correspondent kept her secrets but on well with Prince Philip too. But she A burger this was clearly resentful about what she per- is now convinced Diana wanted ceived as the lack of help she had been given with her royal life. “I was thrust into monstrous is them shared with the world this public role of being Princess of Wales without being in any way ready. Charles would tell me to go over and start chat- s I drove up the private road “Were you waiting long? The princess is ting to the crowds. But how could I? All for life, not just to Kensington Palace, my all ready for you. Just make your way up.” my upbringing had been not to speak heart was beating fast. On a As I reached the top of the wide stair- unless I was spoken to.” beautiful June morning in case, passing a huge portrait of Diana, the She confirmed she had thrown herself for Christmas 1995 I was on my way to have door ahead burst open and she breezed down four or five stairs at Sandringham a chat with Diana, at that out smiling, with arm extended. when she was pregnant with William. It time probably the most “You made it! Well done,” she said as was, she said, a plea for help that had McDonald’s has supersized its Big Mac famous woman in the world. she shook my hand. “Do come in. What gone unheeded. Her husband’s attitude AI had told no one. It was five would you like to drink?” had been “that woman is hysterical ... for the festive period. Martin Hemming months before she recorded “I’ll have a coffee, thanks,” I replied, deal with it, someone”. her now notorious Panorama interview feeling unsure whether I should behave And, in a remark that struck me as pitted himself — and his health — with Martin Bashir. She was about to tell like a girlfriend who’d come round for a bizarrely perceptive, Diana said: “I was against the 694-calorie beast me almost everything she later divulged gossip or a journalist on the prowl for a not unbalanced. The trouble was, I was in that bombshell programme. scoop. I tried to strike a middle path. too sane for my environment.” ast week we received the Out of duty, I ploughed on, Diana had invited me in response to a We went into her drawing room and She said she was determined William news we have all been but this was hardly Man v letter I had written to her during a tour of she motioned towards two plush sofas. and Harry would be brought up in a way waiting for, the Food territory. In July, an Japan. At a reception in Tokyo, we’d had a She was wearing a chic pink suit and, I that no one else in the family had been. Lbreakthrough that could, American, Joey Chestnut, ate fairly routine five-minute chat that had think, high heels. She was immaculately She had taken them on buses and trains, hope against hope, save 75 hot dogs, plus buns, in 10 left me wanting more. Who was this made up and looked as if she had just had to McDonald’s and to visit the homeless. Christmas: McDonald’s is minutes. I finished off the woman who had dominated my life as the her hair done. She drank iced water. “I shower my boys with love and cud- soon to release its biggest Double Big Mac in 11 perfectly BBC’s royal correspondent? “Well, I read your letter, Jennie. And I dles,” she told me. “I never had any as a burger yet. passable bites. And so I sent her a note suggesting that decided you were right — we should talk child, so I love to give it to them.” Because what better way to The physical aftermath will we should get to know one another bet- more often. So here you are.” mark 2,020 years since the be familiar to any traveller ter. I was 11 years older than her — Diana I plunged straight in. “Do you think asked whether she regretted having birth of our Lord Jesus Christ through the Golden Arches: was then 33 — but we both had young chil- you and Prince Charles ever had enough married Charles. “No,” she said. “Not than — O holy creation! — a heaviness, a lightly pulsing dren and because of her role and my job, in common? I mean, what did you think at all. I have learnt so much through it Double Big Mac®. It’s what calorific head rush. My our lives were often intertwined. in that engagement interview when he Iall. And now I have so much to give. the three magi would have stomach periodically emitted To my surprise, she agreed. And so said he supposed you were both in love That’s all I want to do: help people turned up with if only there a “what have you done to there I was, with a free rein to ask any- ... ‘whatever “in love” means’.” through shared experience. After all, had been a drive-through on me?” gurgle. There was guilt, thing. I had prepared questions about her “Well, I wondered what an earth he I’ve been through almost everything in the Bethlehem ring road. The regret, existential ennui. marriage, her feelings about Camilla, her meant,” Diana said. “And I asked him the book, except being homeless or original prêt à manger. By late afternoon, my guts bulimia, her mental health and her rela- about it afterwards.” She didn’t tell me losing your job. So I feel I have the The Double Big Mac is part still felt heavy. I felt sluggish, tionship with the Queen. But I wanted to what his explanation had been. knowledge and experience to help.” of the answer to the question with light pressure behind my keep the atmosphere as informal as pos- She said she had known there was So, I asked, what has hurt you most in “What happens if you take eyes. Then again, that’s how sible, and so only afterwards did I write something wrong before the wedding the past 14 years? She threw her head the classic Big Mac recipe — I’ve felt at 4pm most days down everything she told me. day. And then she added the line that back and laughed. “Have you got all day?” bun, burger, more bun, since March. The front door was open. A jasmine came to define her Panorama interview: she asked. “There’s been so much hurt, I burger, bun; plus gherkins, I emailed the Hamburglar/ bush released a sweet scent as I brushed “I’m afraid there were always three peo- couldn’t even begin to tell you.“ onions, iceberg lettuce, that PR person to ask how they against it. Along the hallway, I could see a ple in this marriage, right from day one.” Five months later, though, Diana made weird yellow sauce and a slice could possibly justify bowl with a floating candle, adding to the She spoke without apparent bitterness it plain she had been hurting badly, when of processed cheese — and unleashing this meatathon aroma. I knocked. No one came. and said she now knew Charles’s feelings she gave Martin Bashir the interview of add two extra burgers?” during a public health crisis. “Hello! Anyone in?” I called, feeling for Camilla were always going to be the century. Was I annoyed? Of course. It Another part of the answer “We are committed to faintly ridiculous. stronger than any marriage he might was infuriating to watch her tell him is: “An extra 186 calories.” enabling informed choices, After a moment, Paul Burrell, Diana’s have made. She went so far as to say Cam- more or less everything she had told me. The Double Big Mac weighs in and provide clear nutrition butler, appeared. “So sorry,” he said. illa had been “loyal and discreet” and A year later, I was with Diana again. at 694 kilocalories — 35% of information at every point of deserved recognition because she had “So,” I said. “Why did you do it?” an adult’s recommended sale,” they replied. And to be been such a long-standing lover. “Well,” she replied, “when I saw you a daily intake. It also contains I asked her how she felt about Charles, few months before, I had no intention of 77% of your recommended LIGHT LUNCH? three years on from their formal separa- giving an interview. But suddenly it daily allowance of saturated tion and a year on from the TV documen- seemed right, particularly with a divorce fat, 85% of your protein and HIGH STREET tary in which he had admitted adultery. on the horizon. I thought that would 47% of your salt. At a time HEAVYWEIGHTS “Do you hate him? Do you feel like hitting mean a gagging clause. And I felt it was when obesity is a known risk She knew Charles’s him over the head?” then or never.” She told me she still factor in the middle of a “No,” said Diana. “I have never hated believed she was being bugged and that global respiratory pandemic feelings for Camilla him. I feel disappointed in him, which, I the Establishment was frightened of her. (ask the prime minister), it’s think, is worse than hatred. We could “But I am grown up now,” she said. “And I certainly a generous would be stronger have been the best team in the world.” only wish to be treated as such.“ Christmas gift. (Its carbs and And that was a refrain she used several A couple of months later we were in sugar are actually OK, at 17% than any marriage times during our hour-long chat— the first Angola, highlighting the scourge of land and 10% respectively.) PRET A MANGER of a few we had over the next year or so. mines left behind by war. It was The film-maker Morgan Christmas lunch She and Charles divorced just over a year grown-up stuff. She was using her inde- Spurlock became really quite baguette 707kcal later, in August 1996. pendent platform to make a difference unwell after spending a Diana seemed surprisingly strong, where it mattered. It was difficult, contro- month in 2003 eating nothing focused and determined to stand up for versial territory for a princess. Diana, I but items off the McDonald’s herself. She had rocked the monarchy by felt, was finding her feet at last. menu for his documentary putting out her version of events in But, later that year, I had to report a far Super Size Me. Then again, Andrew Morton’s 1992 book Diana: Her more shocking story about the woman I where was his fearless exposé True Story. She had largely controlled her had come to like and admire: her death in of the fresh-fruit industry? bulimia, and was establishing her own Paris, aged 36. I’m sure he wouldn’t have felt platform and co-operating with journal- top drawer after 30 days SUBWAY Diana with Charles and their sons in ists. I wondered then and now whether Jennie Bond was the BBC’s royal mainlining Granny Smiths. 12in pigs-in-blankets sub 1995 and, right, in Paris the same year she had in fact wanted me to walk out of correspondent from 1989 to 2003 All Maccy D’s wants is a fair 846kcal crack of the calorific whip, so it was decided that somebody needed to try its new been the target of protests. invention. After a quiet word Her breasts have been with the Hamburglar (and They fought, they fundraised, covered in gaffer tape, tiny Maccy D’s PR company), it cardigans have been knitted, was agreed that this soon-to- and signs have appeared be-sought-after Christmas reading “Where is my collector’s item could be they got a full-metal shambles BURGER KING book?”, “Where are my snuck out of the kitchen clothes?” and “Is this our ahead of time for me to try. Double Whopper 900kcal “It is such a huge amount legacy to the mother of My usual bowl of spinach and The well-meaning committee behind a feminist tribute of money, years of effort were feminism? Really?” grains (haha) would stay in wonder where it all went wrong, says Katherine Faulkner spent to raise it. I feel terribly But not everyone’s against the fridge this lunchtime. sorry for the committee. it. “I’ve been rushed off “I’m sorry, I’ve not been t looks like someone beyond censure, the solely on artistic grounds. Her “There is a common my feet,” laughed Lizzy able to quite close the box,” stuck a Barbie doll on campaigners appointed an design, they felt, captured misconception that if you Bassham, 35, who runs the lady in the London Bridge top of a kebab,” wrote arts committee to oversee the Wollstonecraft’s “radical and choose a celebrity artist you Lizzy’s, the cafe on branch told me ominously as ‘Ione critic. “A miniature commissioning of the provocative spirit”. But, as will get a better result, that Newington Green. “I’ve heard she handed over the goods in metal sex doll,” was memorial. They would come one source close to the they will somehow add lustre teenagers over there a humid brown paper bag: another’s verdict. “A silvery up with a shortlist of artists, decision told me: “People to the project. It’s a nonsense. discussing body image. they hadn’t yet received their mess,” added someone else. and a judging panel of locals would have gone mad if we This work is not about Mary “We’ve got everyone delivery of dedicated Double Most people are agreed: and experts would choose the had asked a man.” Wollstonecraft at all, it’s talking. It’s caused a real Big Mac boxes. The burger, WASABI Maggi Hambling’s nude final design. Both the shortlist The judges — including about Maggi Hambling.” A stir and that’s what she which launches on Chicken katsu curry 1,121kcal statue honouring Mary and the panel had to be at Melanie Unwin, the deputy crowdfunding campaign has was all about. I bet she Wednesday, costs £4.19, or Wollstonecraft unveiled on least 50% female. curator of the Parliamentary started for Jennings’s design. is looking down on all £5.69 with fries and a drink. fair, the words “double” and Newington Green, north A longlist of 35 artists was Art Collection, curator Renée Perhaps it was a question this and loving it.” Of course, the burger “big” are clues to the Double London, last week, is either a narrowed to four, but “for Mussai and the sculptor and of expectations. The wasn’t like the promo shots. Big Mac’s nutritional value. far from fitting tribute to the various reasons to do with medal maker Danuta Solowiej campaigners had talked Maggi Hambling It was more squidged and Then, almost as if they had mother of feminism or just artist availability and the — also decided the statue of “breaking the bronze and her Mary soggy-looking, but still an known what I was going to not very good. relatively small budget”, only need not actually be of Mary ceiling” — trying to remedy Wollstonecraft impressive 8.2cm high. I ask — a Christmas miracle! — On the day of the reveal, I two of those four actually at all. What was needed was a the fact that a survey in 2016 sculpture tucked in. It’s a big bite, that McDonald’s sent me a list of encountered two women on wanted the gig: Hambling, 75, “statement artwork that found that only 2.7% of the first one — this is not a first- its rivals’ December offerings the green who confessed — a woman, and Martin would inspire and excite”. At UK’s statues were of date menu option. It was like (see above). What it didn’t somewhat sheepishly — that Jennings, 63, not a woman. least one expressed the view historical, non-royal women. a Big Mac but drier and point out is that lower down they had been among those The campaigners insist that Jennings’s more “You don’t get to see an chewier. I “had” to have a sip its own menu hides the who had championed its that Hambling was chosen traditional figurative design artist’s impression of Nelson of large vanilla milkshake Double Quarter Pounder with design. I guessed from their was too “prosaic”. Mandela’s cock and balls in a (469kcal) between gulps. Cheese, which contains fewer faces that they were “The brief was extremely park,” as the writer Tracy You’ll be familiar with the burgers than the Double Big wondering whether they had clear and simple and the King pointed out. Big Mac’s pleasing balance of Mac but clocks in at 750kcal. made a terrible mistake. point here has been missed,” For their part, the grease, saucy slop, salt, the Which is dinner sorted. “The hostility has been said Jennings. “If you do a organisers say they have acid of onion and gherkin, A cynic might call the upsetting,” said Bee Rowlatt, piece of public art, it’s not for never taken any pay or the three pillows of bread festive Double Big Mac a chairwoman of the Mary on you, and it is not for the art expenses, and that most adding ballast. The beef, I clever psychological trick. the Green campaign — which This work is world. It is for your subject public art costs far more than now realise, is a small part in After a grim year, people can fundraised for 10 years and and the public.” £143,000. They have urged the symphony. The two thin appear to be the model of paid £143,000 for the work. not about Jennings said he strongly those who are unhappy to put extra layers in the Double dietary restraint as they stroll So where did it all go so supported efforts to favour their “energies” into the upset the hard-won yin and up to the counter and say: wrong? Mary, it’s women and other many other campaigns for yang of the Big Mac (it’s been “Ooh, I’ll be good. Just the In an effort to ensure their underrepresented groups for statues of great women. around since 1967). They took two burgers in my bun today, decision-making would be about Maggi public commissions. The sculpture has already away rather than added. please.” Happy Christmas. The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 33 NEWS REVIEW

JOEBIDEN.COM here is something eerie about Johnstown, Pennsylvania. You drive through forests into The a valley, across ancient steel bridges, past silent railway Explainer marshalling yards, into the heart of the city. The streets are wide. The red-brick build- Stig Abell Tings look like a film set for a 1930s movie: imposing, digni- fied. It is neatly laid out in blocks that would once have hosted haberdashery stores, gun shops, saloon bars. Optimism There is still the odd shop. A Holiday Inn. Traffic lights hanging from wires, flicking from red to green. And then you The promise of a vaccine — and a new realise what’s missing. People. There is hardly anyone on the streets. US president — has injected us with a Johnstown has an unemployment rate of centuries-old remedy for our ills: hope about 14%, an average income not much higher than America’s poverty line, a sig- nificant drug problem. If you can, you was asked this week to doubts for once. One of the take an eastbound Greyhound from the write about the positive bosses of Pfizer, Albert bleak midtown bus station and head out mood of the nation, which Bourla, rejected government of the valley for ever. Head for Philadel- Isome might say is like subsidies for his firm’s work. phia or, if you are ambitious, New York. asking Dominic Cummings He was confident he could You could be there by nightfall. In the to write a guide to getting on create a marketable drug past decade 12% of Johnstown’s popula- with your colleagues. without the bureaucracy of tion has left and not come back. Nevertheless, it was the week the state. We might take this They have joined the throng who went that 2020 turned the corner. opportunity, then, with our before them. The decline is multigenera- People talk about the optimist’s hat on, to reflect on tional now, part of the culture of the defeat of Donald Trump as the huge successes of place. It is more than 35 years since Bruce grounds for optimism — capitalism more generally. Springsteen sang in The River: “I got a job though the 71 million people There has never been a working construction, for the Johnstown who tried to re-elect him safer or healthier time to be Company, but lately there ain’t been Joe, second from right, with mother Catherine and siblings, from left, Valerie, Frank and James, was born in Scranton, a former mining town don’t share that view. Then alive. The worst poverty has much work on account of the economy.” there was the arrival of the decreased by about 80% in In 1984, when Springsteen played in Pfizer vaccine, which has the past 50 years. In the past Pittsburgh, 90 minutes from Johnstown, unexpectedly turned out to 200 years, literacy rates have he issued a warning to all Americans: be 90% effective. gone from 10% to 85%. We “There’s something really dangerous Joy abounded and the live in the most peaceful, happening to us out there. We’re slowly optimists among us began non-violent period in our getting split up into two different Ameri- The Rust Belt boy making plans for post- history. The murder rate in cas. Things are getting taken away from pandemic life, when things Mexico is lower today than it people that need them and given to peo- “return to normal”. We all was in medieval Oxford. ple that don’t need them. There’s a prom- seem determined to drink And optimism is what got ise getting broken.” and eat ourselves into us here. Until the 18th Nobody took much notice. Nothing oblivion, snogging strangers century, the prevailing much changed in the Reagan years, the scraped home but with a lascivious abandon not wisdom was that the best of Clinton years, the Bush years, the Obama seen since the days of post- our collective knowledge and years. The Rust Belt rusted. Booms and revolutionary France. greatness was in the past; it busts came and went, but in Johnstown Never mind that we do not could only be accessed by and places like it, once the manufactur- know if the vaccine will improved understanding of ing heart of the nation, the traffic lights prevent transmission of the what went before us (hence swung in the wind and boards were ham- coronavirus or merely the Renaissance). mered across shop windows. the battle is not over prevent serious symptoms. At some point, we And then came Donald J Trump. In Never mind that its success collectively realised instead 2016, in a thousand towns and cities like rests on the ability of our that the future should always Johnstown, people took a punt. Millions A son of Pennsylvania, Joe Biden recaptured the ailing US heartlands that government to roll out a mass outdo the past and our who had supported Barack Obama in immunisation scheme, a vast thinking should focus on 2008 and 2012 backed Trump rather than had fallen to Trump. He may not hold on to them for long, says Justin Webb logistical efficiency not seen what we could do better, not Hillary Clinton. And Pennsylvania, Michi- since the Second World War, what we could learn better. It gan, Wisconsin fell to Trump. ous cities, including Pittsburgh and Mil- squander it.” It worked just enough. ticket in 1980 and stuck with it for George at a time when — to put it was the moment we went When, at his inauguration, Trump waukee. And partly he managed to do But it leaves the politics of the Rust Belt HW Bush. Then Macomb went to Bill charitably — it has not from accepting the unfairness talked about “American carnage”, all of what his party hoped he could. The per- finely balanced and deeply unsettled. Clinton, and twice to Obama, before demonstrated expertise in of life to fighting with all our sweet-smelling America thought the centage of white working-class men vot- Many who live in these rotting towns have Trump in 2016. large-scale operations. might to overcome it. phrase coarse and jarring and unbecom- ing Democrat increased, according to the little faith in the ability of anyone to help And now? It stuck with Trump. This But I digress. There was Oscar Wilde once said “a ing. George W Bush, who was sitting Many in exit polls, from 23% in 2016 to 28% in them — certainly not the government. was not an Obama style blow-out. Biden also the discovery of two new dreamer is one who can only beside Clinton on the podium, remarked 2020. Among white working-class Studies of their attitudes have found a has done what he needed to do: no more. marsupial species in the find his way by moonlight, to her: “That was some weird shit.” these women the rise was from 34% to 36%. “rural consciousness”, which translates The fact is that the Democrats are — aftermath of Australia’s brutal and his punishment is that he But in Johnstown they knew what The academic Joan Williams admits into a feeling that the government must more than ever — the party of the bushfires. Nature is healing, sees the dawn before the rest Trump meant. Chris Arnade’s wonderful rotting Biden got it about right, putting together be mishandling their hard-earned dol- metropolitan elite. The Brookings Insti- as the modern cliché goes, of the world”. I might give book Dignity captures the mood of the what she calls “a race-class coalition”. lars, because their taxes keep going up tution research group says Biden’s win- and optimism is the order of that approach a try some day. time. Arnade is a photographer who towns “This election,” Williams says, “shows and the money does not flow back to ben- ning base in 477 counties across America the day. chronicles small-town Rust Belt poverty that Democrats can simultaneously efit them. So why would they want an encompasses 70% of the country’s eco- And perhaps we should Stig Abell is a presenter on in a way that gives those at the bottom of have appeal to voters of colour and to enough expansion of government? nomic activity. Trump’s losing base of indeed silence our nagging Times Radio the pile the dignity they so seldom feel. (though hardly all) working-class whites.” This, for a Democratic Party that wants 2,497 counties represents just 29%. Arnade watched the Trump speech in little Hardly all, but enough. That is the mes- to encourage a new respect for govern- The political issue is that the Demo- a bar, where one drinker told him: “Right sage of the Biden performance in the Rust ment, is a big stumbling block. It could crats’ reliance on the support of the whiz- Hope is the thing with now, guys like me who work for the mini- faith Belt. And the key to his low-key success? stop them making the kind of electoral zing, fizzing, gleaming bits of America mum wage are getting screwed.” Respect. Not the promise of a steel boom progress that will keep the Rust Belt Dem- pulls them towards the priorities of the feathers / That “As the bar fills up,” wrote Arnade, that — nobody would believe that after Trump ocratic in the mid-term elections of 2022. people in these areas. As the Brookings “others are unabashed in their views, cel- promised it and it never came. Not even Biden has shown the party that all is analysis puts it, that means they “tend to perches in the soul / ebratory, giddy to have Trump address- anyone the promise of jobs in new industries. not lost. But he has not done well enough prioritise housing affordability, an ing their concerns and talking their lan- No: according to Williams, the success to bury the doubts about whether a improved social safety net, transport, And sings the tune guage. That everyone [else] hates Trump can help was down to Biden’s ability to portray his future Trump-sympathetic Republican infrastructure and racial justice”. Their makes them more confident, further opponent as a fake. To out-Trump leader might win them back. jobs “also disproportionately rely on without the words / cementing the feeling that they are mem- themm Trump. In his stump speech, Biden had a Perhaps the most interesting story of national R&D investment, technology bers of an exclusive club ... A man yells telling line: “I’ve dealt with guys like the election is not Biden’s victory but leadership, and services exports”. And never stops at all ‘You get them, Donald. They been getting Donald Trump my whole life, who would that a Trump coalition has looked The problem for Biden is that “Rust us for ever!’ ” look down on us because we didn’t have a remarkably durable. Take the bellwether Belt respect” is not enough. He has to Emily Dickinson These were the people who were dead lot of money or your parents didn’t go to Rust Belt county of Macomb, near deliver something hugely difficult in a to Hillary Clinton. Sexists. Racists. Folks college. Guys who think they’re better Detroit, Michigan. It was made famous by nation that has left its heartland behind. NATIONAL GALLERY to be stuffed in the dustbin named than you. Guys who inherit everything pollsters identifying “Reagan Demo- It is not just poverty and jobs. It is about “deplorables”. They voted with their they’ve ever gotten in their life and crats” who moved to the Republican the American dream that turns out to do middle fingers and turned the Rust Belt psychological harm no one saw coming. into Trump country. As Arnade suggests in Dignity: “We Biden’s challenge at this election have said that education is the way out of was simple: win them back. “Middle- pain and the way to success, implying class Joe”, born in Scranton, Pennsyl- that those who don’t make it are dumb, or vania, the former mining town a four- lazy, or stupid. This has ensured that all hour drive from Johnstown. Joe from those at the bottom, black, white, gay, the valley. straight, men and women, are guaran- After all, that is why the party teed to feel excluded, rejected, and most picked him as its candidate. He was far of all, humiliated.” more likely than eccentric, professorial That is the Rust Belt challenge for any Bernie Sanders or austere, Clintonesque party, any president. Biden has won the Elizabeth Warren to win back that voting right to take it up. In Johnstown they will bloc. notice that a new president is promising Did it happen? On the face of it, yes. to govern for them, to improve their lives. Biden won back the Rust Belt states that But they won’t be holding their breath. Clinton lost. Partly he did this by attract- ing more support from university Justin Webb presents Today on Radio 4 Glass half full: a 19th-century imitation of a still life by the towns such as Ann Arbor and prosper- Bruce Springsteen sang about Johnstown, Pennsylvania, above and is a former BBC North America editor Paris-born artist Jean-Siméon Chardin (1699-1779)

don’t need much election day, Tuesday Maybe it was the way they battleground states 50 or 60 before the couple divorced in media strategy but on sleep,” says John King, November 3, lasted for 177 lit his election broadcast. times over the past 35 years. 2012. He missed seeing Jonah, election night we know how His election which is lucky. King is hours — just over a week. It Perhaps it was the fact the Those are places I’ve lived my his nine-year-old son with emotional it is for the ‘Ithe television host was the most watched week future of the free world was at life. You can’t understand Bash, during the election epic audience. So my job was to be turned cult sensation of the network’s 40-year stake. Either way, King was America by sitting in — texting and FaceTiming the skunk at the garden party, who, with his maths, “magic history. mesmerising during that Washington. And when I’m every day wasn’t enough. It’s [saying to the audience] night should wall” and seeming ability Did King envisage it lasting week. I felt as though I were on the wall I’m using my now time, he says, for some ‘Everybody calm down’.” never to need to go to bed, so long? “That it was going to holidaying in swing-state hands to trace my life.” baseball and Star Trek with Will Biden definitely be in transfixed British viewers of go to Saturday? No! We hotspots such as Clark He began at the Associated his boy. the White House on January CNN’s livestreamed American thought we were going to county, Nevada; Allegheny Press in 1985 after studying Given the attacks Donald 20? “Yes,” says King, flatly. have been election coverage. His first have election night, or nights, county, Pennsylvania; and journalism at Rhode Island Trump has launched on CNN, “Maths is maths.” election shift finished at 3am. but we didn’t know we were Maricopa county, Arizona. University, and joined CNN in was it hard not to get excited On previous election He got home to discover he going to have election week.” “Lucky you!” he says. 1997. He has been there ever as it became apparent the nights, King was able to use had become a viral hit. How much coffee was Has he visited those since, working from election was sliding gradually the technology at his just that. One “I had adrenaline, so was everybody drinking? “I don’t places? He nods. “Before Washington. He has three towards Joe Biden? “Look, disposal to check on his sipping wine and looking [at know how Wolf Blitzer does CNN, I was a print guy. I spent children from two marriages the president is the sports teams: the Boston Red social media],” says the it,” says King, referring to his years covering campaigns — most recently to fellow CNN president,” says King. “He’s Sox (baseball), Boston Celtics 59-year-old from 72-year-old co-presenter. “I and have been to presenter Dana Bash, 49, not the first to use an attack (basketball) and New England Massachusetts. “That’s when never see him drinking Patriots (American football). week later ... CNN I got the ‘Wow!’ My siblings coffee. He may well be an “I can’t do it on the wall,” he were doing what siblings do android. But I drink a lot of says. “That’s not a function it and abusing me, sending me coffee. Too much. I’ll sneak has.” Plus, this time: “We messages. It was an espresso every now and were way too busy.” CNN’s John King won a legion overwhelming.” then when I need a bit of Did he see the video of him of British fans for his coverage How much sleep did he rocket fuel.” that went viral, mocked up to get? “I could have been in The magic wall is to King show the presenter swiping of the Trump v Biden battle. bed for four hours that first what Emu was to Rod Hull. A away the logo of the sex Jonathan Dean night.” Instead he was tucked giant touchscreen, its official website Pornhub from the He tells about 1 up for 2 /2 hours. “My mind name is the “multitouch corner of the magic wall? spending almost 180 hours in was racing.” collaboration wall” and it was He rolls his eyes. “That,” I spoke to King over Zoom discovered by a former boss he sighs, “was the definition front of the ‘magic wall’ last week — it felt like the of King’s at a military of fake news.” 647th hour I had seen him hardware convention. Even on a screen this month. without it, King still moves his John King presents Inside The election broadcast, arms about. Gesticulation Politics on CNN, Monday to which started on seems to be just who he is. John King and his ‘magic wall’ touchscreen during the marathon US election broadcast Friday and on Sundays 34 The Sunday Times November 15, 2020

Comments about our puzzles can be sent to PUZZLES FEEDBACK [email protected] or Puzzles Editor, The Sunday Times, 1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE JUMBO CROSSWORD 240 NEWS QUIZ Across Down

123 45678910111 One of two cells which combine to form a zygote (6) 1 A boisterous laugh (6) 1 What statue was greeted 4 Having a pH lower than 7 (6) 2 The UK’s biggest selling single of 1971 (2,5,4) by naked fury? 12 8 100 pfennig in the DDR (7) 3 Part of this West Indies island is 11km from the coast of 2 Why was there general 13 A designer of haute couture (11) Venezuela (8) 13 14 panic on Salisbury Plain? 14 Form of Buddhism practised in Myanmar and Thailand (9) 5 A house in Italy or Spain (4) 15 Inflammation of glands, especially lymph nodes (8) 6 Author of over 100 suspense/horror novels, his 3 Joe Ruby, co-creator of a 16 The ____ recalls Bonnie Prince Charlie’s flight after the Battle breakthrough being Whispers in 1980 (4,6) popular cartoon series, 15 16 of Culloden (4,4,4) 7 The novels by ____ (pictured) were mostly set in her native has died at 87. What 18 DJ and TV presenter who wrote Pies and Prejudice: In South Tyneside (9,7) cartoon did Ruby do? 17 search of the North (6,7) 8 America’s “Beaver State” (6) 4 If Donald Trump is 19 Accessory worn between the elbow and shoulder (6) 9 The historic maritime entrance to the Tower of London (8,4) 18 19 20 Mr Rude and George Bush 23 Former county named after its main river (4) 10 A Shia religious leader (9) is Mr Cheerful, what is 24 Iconic video game character (pictured) created by Sega in 11 German for “sound”, used by some music theorists as a 21 22 Joe Biden? 1991 (5,3,8) name for a “chord of nature” (5) 23 24 26 US electrical retailer which traded as Tandy in the UK (10) 12 Arguments thrown back at an opponent (13) 5 What New Zealand 27 Blois is the prefecture of this French department, named 17 An American illusionist; a Charles Dickens novel (5,11) election faced allegations 25 after two rivers which cross it (4-2-4) 20 Fiercely determined (8) of voting fraud? 30 First female tennis player to become world No 1 while 21 Star Trek: Voyager character portrayed by Garrett Wang (5,3) 26 27 28 6 What was the Collins representing the Czech Republic, in 2017 (8,8) 22 Former England manager popularly known as El Tel (5,8) Dictionary word of 2020? 32 Welsh valleys (4) 25 Three-syllable phrase abbreviated in nine syllables (5,4,3) 29 (Clue: it wasn’t glee) 34 African country formerly called Nyasaland (6) 28 Penultimate track of the Freddie Mercury and Montserrat 30 31 32 35 The ____ peninsula is the southernmost part of Greece’s Caballé album Barcelona, with John Deacon on bass 7 Lee Cain resigned as a mainland (13) guitar (3,3,1,2,2) 10 Downing Street aide. 33 38 Narrator and central character of Kidnapped by Robert 29 Field glasses (10) As what did he dress Louis Stevenson (5,7) 31 “Great drama […] must have dimension and its ____ will take during the 2010 election? 34 35 39 A Eucharistic offering to God (8) care of itself” (Robertson Davies) (9) 41 33 8 From what public job did 36 37 A golfer will usually use this to escape from a bunker (4,5) ____ was originally called Byzantium (8) 42 The youngest winner (at age 29) of a best actor Oscar, for 36 An enemy aircraft, in Second World War RAF lingo (6) Greg Clarke resign? 38 39 his role in The Pianist (6,5) 37 Become enclosed in a an abnormal 9 Who are Major and 43 Beer, to an Australian (7) bodily sac (6) Champ, the first since 40 44 When listed, usually the first of 38 “Nothing sedates rationality Bo and Sunny? Santa Claus’s reindeer (6) like large ____ of effortless 41 42 45 Celestial body, from a Greek money” (Warren Buffett) (5) 10 A Walther PP semi- word meaning “wanderer” (6) 40 Village in Tolkien’s automatic pistol will be Middle-Earth, the only place sold at auction in California next month. 43 44 45 where hobbits and men lived side by side (4) Who most famously used it? Apologies for a misattribution in last week’s 23D clue. It was Robert Frost, not Robert Bridges, who wrote “miles to go before I sleep”.

SUDOKU WARM-UP VERY HARD — PRIZE 1405 KILLER SUDOKU HARD POLYGON

Each row, column and 3x3 box Each row, column must contain the digits 1 to 9. and 3x3 box must Winners will receive a Collins contain the digits English Dictionary & Thesaurus. 1 to 9. The digits within each group To enter, complete the Very Hard puzzle and call 0901 292 of cells joined by 5275 (UK only) (ROI 1516 303 500), leaving your answer (the numbers in the three shaded squares) and contact dotted lines must details. Or text SUNDAY2, followed by a space, then your add up to the From these letters, make answer (three numbers) and contact details — eg figure in the top- words of four or more letters, SUNDAY2 123 John Smith, etc — to 84901 (UK only). Calls cost £1.00 (ROI €1.50) plus your telephone company’s left-hand corner always including the central network access charge. Texts cost £1 plus your standard of each group. letter. Answers must be in the network charge. Winners will be picked at random from all Within each Concise Oxford Dictionary, correct answers received. Lines close at midnight on Saturday. If you call or text after this time you will not be dotted-line group, excluding capitalised words, entered but may be charged. When entering by phone or a digit cannot be plurals, conjugated verbs text, please provide your FULL name and address details, repeated. (past tense etc), adverbs as incomplete entries may be charged but not entered. STUCK? Call our clue line to get four clues for the Very ending in LY, comparatives Hard puzzle on 0901 293 6265 (ROI 1514 515 120). Calls and superlatives. cost £1 (ROI 76c) plus your telephone company’s network How you rate access charge. For full terms and conditions, visit thesundaytimes.co.uk/comprules. SP: Spoke, 0333 202 24 words, average; 33, good; 3390 (Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm) 40, very good; 48, excellent.

CONCISE CROSSWORD 1704 MEPHISTO 3142 CROSSWORD 4929 Don Manley Across Down Robert Price

1 2 3 456 12 345 67 89 1 Possibly “bogs”, reader! (10) 2 People of mixed heritage 1234 56 7 8 10 Politically committed nurse in an English county to 7 8 10 11 12 reaching maturity (6) the west (6) 11 Feast cut short after 3 It sounds like father will 9 10 13 14 setback around a camp (6) totter (6) 14 Something in the pipeline 4 Bore keen to be heard (4) 9 10 from divine being 5 Cleric joined by important 15 16 11 12 13 confronting wickedness (7) lady and little girl for a 17 18 19 20 15 Vehicle in snow taken the game (8) 11 12 wrong way — motorway to 6 Packaging article in glittery 14 15 21 be avoided (4) stuff (6) 16 Phantoms perform in a 7 Each road comes to Bury 16 17 22 23 24 25 26 story from the east (6) (up north!) (4) 13 14 15 17 Beer is carried by my ship 8 Man changing direction 18 or train (6) finally — the spoke is put 27 28 19 20 20 Nail in Jock’s table? (4) in here (6) 29 30 31 32 21 One wise person’s full of 9 Attacks in East Anglian 21 22 23 16 17 18 19 energy providing learned region on fateful day (10) 33 introductions (8) 12 One-time agricultural king 22 Attractive part of hospital not totally in charge (7) 24 25 20 21 34 35 with decoration (8) 13 They arranged property 27 Not in favour of using deals, settling scores with some imagination (4) passion involved (10) 22 36 26 27 28 Absolutely drunk, by the 18 Biological substance — a sound of it (6) collection of books has NAME ...... 29 Boat artist incorporating current information (7) NAME ...... hearts in monogram (6) 19 One issuing instruction at Across Down ADDRESS ADDRESS ...... 32 Report of horse in gutter (4) random? At random! (8) ...... 4 Beaker (3) 1 La-di-da (4) 33 Travelling box one sailor 23 Africans — any number ...... 7 Study of place names (8) 2 Magmatic (6) brought into settlement (7) with weapons around 8 Border (4) 3 Outline (8) EMAIL ...... 34 Cleansed from terrible island (6) Across Down 9 Run-down area (6) 4 Fable (4) sin — looking embarrassed 24 Pull up vehicle and 10 Ars Poetica author (6) 5 Attic (6) Post your solution to The Sunday Times Mephisto 3142, about it (6) embrace (6) 1 Catalogue providing 1 Laid back wounded with PO Box 29, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GZ, or email 11 Insectivorous plant (5,7) 6 Defeat easily (8) [email protected] 35 King at home has duck first 25 Local fellow admits stylish clothes (8) neckwear removed (6) 13 Kojak star (5,7) 11 Old-fashioned as appetiser (6) blunder that’s set up 5 Convictions held by some 2 Put out net as safety 16 Life-giving gas (6) (French) (5,3) The first correct solution picked at random after next 36 Like some surgeons, old-style plague (6) litter producers? (6) feature (6) Saturday wins Collins World Atlas: Complete Edition, 18 Put right (6) 12 Irritable (8) worth £30. Four runners-up will each receive £20. precise when handling 26 Soldiers heading for home 9 Groovy holy man admired 3 Bone-picker, namely one 20 Greek cheese (4) 14 Blockage (6) Open to 18+ UK & ROI residents only. damaged retina (10) on Irish monument (6) around India (8) seeking retribution (9) 21 Profligate (8) 15 Supple (6) 30 Prophet without hint of 10 Ale bottles are mostly 4 Good health from a The Chambers Dictionary 13th edition is the primary 22 Got together (3) 17 Tailed amphibian (4) reference. Readers may email comments or queries to any foot protection (4) porter (6) continental breakfast? (6,5) 19 Smear (4) [email protected] 31 African prince turning up 11 Hard top car’s taken off at 6 Top secret to make in shortened garment speed (5) public (5) usually worn by women (4) 12 Raise dress code for 7 One aboard swallows formal evening drinks (9) mixed beverages (8) 14 Waif starts to go out and 8 Worried and more than a TETONOR EASY pinch ecstasy (11) trifle upset (8) 18 Row of coins originally 13 Clubs on edge during accepted in change (11) delay in game (6,2,3) CODEWORD KENKEN 21 Squeeze Romeo means to 15 Guards dispatched to 330 27 132 34 secure (5,4) different lines (9) 23 Marauder after his head’s 16 Animals retaining some In the grid, each hacked off (5) means of defence (8) number represents 24 Animal smell masks 17 Light parts shine there a letter of the hygiene issue (6) already (8) 28 182 27 126 alphabet — all 26 25 Criminal purpose 19 Plant last to bloom over letters are used. concealed by volunteer (8) summer (6) Use the initial clues 26 Listen out for mum (6) 20 Jewels sparkle centrally in in the code table to 27 Times admits certain rings (6) work out the rest of evidence of censorship (8) 22 My heartless son inspires 160 23 180 26 the code. contempt (5) STUCK? To get four random extra letter clues, call 0901 293 6266 37 176 30 289 (ROI 1514 415128) or text STCLUE to 84901 (UK only). All the digits 1 to 6 must appear in every The first correct solution opened after next Saturday wins a chrome finish Cross Calls cost £1 (ROI row and column. In each thick-line Townsend Medalist fountain pen with 23-carat gold-plated nib, worth £175. Three others 75c) plus your “block”, the target number in the top win £125 Townsend Medalist ballpoint pens. All the pens have lifetime guarantees and telephone left-hand corner is calculated from the 23-carat gold-plated appointments, and embody classic elegance and finesse. Post solutions to The Sunday Times Crossword 4929, PO Box 29, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GZ, 8 9 10 13 14 14 15 17 22 22 company’s digits in all the cells in the block, using or email [email protected]. Open to 18+ UK & ROI residents only. network access the operation indicated by the symbol. Prize delivery is suspended until the warehouse used is back in full service. Each number in the main grid can be formed by adding or charge. Texts cost multiplying a pair of numbers in the strip below the grid. Each £1 plus your pair of numbers should be used twice: once as part of an standard network CLUE WRITING CONTEST 1839: CABBAGE WHITE addition and once as part of a multiplication. For example, a 10 charge. SP: Spoke, and 24 in the main grid may be solved by the sums, 4 + 6 and 4 0333 202 3390 You are invited to write an original cryptic clue for the Winner 1836: Janet West, Great Brickhill, Buckinghamshire Au gratin: With breadcrumb topping evenly browned I turn Aga off x 6, respectively. Enter each sum in the boxes below its answer. (Mon-Fri 9am- word above, in Sunday Times crossword style. Email Any blanks in the strip must be deduced, bearing in mind the 5.30pm). your entry to [email protected]. For a full report, visit thesundaytimes.co.uk/cluewriting numbers are listed in ascending order. The best entry selected after next Saturday wins £25. The Sunday Times November 15, 2020 35 NEWS REVIEW Jeremy Clarkson The 600mph Hyperloop will arrive four minutes after departure. What’s the point of HS2 again?

hen I’ve travelled on the factory. And — let’s face facts — it won’t years ago and was used until quite explain that there are one or two issues minutes. But this assumes you’d be from Charing Cross to Gatwick in four train from London to be finished, according to the latest recently to move paperwork round with the Hyperloop that will need doing 600mph all the time. You’d minutes. Your heart would come off, Liverpool, I’ve never once estimates, until 2040, by which time we Selfridges. It was then revisited as a addressing. Cornering, for a start. Oh, begin, and instantly you’d be doing 10 you’d have six aneurysms and your thought, as I arrived at shall all have been killed by some kind of transport proposition by the marijuana and it’s extremely expensive and miles a minute. Then, when you arrived, innards would instantly adopt the Lime Street: “Well, I wish climate catastrophe, or we’ll all have our enthusiast Elon Musk, who subsequently extremely dangerous. Because if you’d have to stop without slowing consistency of soup. Trolley service that hadn’t taken so long.” own personal hover-drones. I dunno. It passed the baton to beardie Branson. It something went wrong, passengers down first. would be difficult, that’s for sure, and WYou sit down at Euston, just seems a huge waste of how many does seem a brilliant idea. You have a would be trapped in a sealed tube, Now, I once landed on the USS Dwight you definitely wouldn’t want to be you read two chapters of billion? Forty? Sixty? Eighty? No one tube in which there is nothing at all, not hundreds of miles long, with no air. D Eisenhower aircraft carrier, and when standing up when it arrived at the your book and you’re there. knows. even any air. Well, not much. And There’s another issue too. At 600mph my jet hit the arrester wire, it felt as north terminal, because you’d definitely That’s the reason I’ve never really To hammer the point home, Sir because it’s a near vacuum, the pods in you could indeed cover the 40 miles though both my eyes were shooting out fall over. been a supporter of HS2. Why machete a Richard Branson announced last week which people sit as they whizz along are from central London to Gatwick in four of the front of my face. Later, when I was To get round these, let’s be honest, huge diagonal slash across Britain’s that preliminary tests of his new subjected to a thousand times less hurled off the deck by a steam catapult, sizeable issues, the linear electric motor abdomen just to save a few minutes on a Hyperloop transport tube had gone jolly aerodynamic drag than a train or a car at they went so far backwards into my head will have to be gentle, easing the pod up journey that’s lightning fast already? I well. The pictures would suggest he has sea level. that for a few moments I could actually to its top speed in such a way that the mean, it’s not as if people in Chelsea are a point, because on board were couples There isn’t much friction either, see my own frontal lobes. passengers’ hair isn’t ripped out. And going to say: “Come on, kids. Now of the sort you see in mortgage company because the pods float in the tube, held I’ve also been taken to a sustained 5G the truth is that it would get to only Liverpool’s only 94 minutes away, let’s ads, sitting back and relaxing in jeans away from the sides by giant magnets. in a centrifuge, where my heart became about 50mph before it would have to all go and live in Toxteth.” and casual tops as their capsule whizzed Propulsion comes from a linear electric the shape of a kidney bean, and I’ve start slowing down again. Right now, of course, it looks a genius them across Nevada at an experimental, motor, which shoots the pod up to its top Your innards experienced brief bursts of 9G in stunt On a longer journey this wouldn’t be a idea. In the same way as America built toe-in-the-water speed of 107mph. speed and then shuts down. This means planes. Once, I went in a jet fighter that problem, as there’d be time to get it up to vast amounts of infrastructure after the Eventually, it’s hoped it will reach there is no noise, and no emissions will turn to soup. climbed from 1,000ft to 18,000ft in top speed, time for some silent, clean, Great Depression, Britain will need big 620mph. Which, of course, is close to a either. Think of that. Silent, fast, clean 11 seconds. It then did a negative-G superfast running and then time to slow capital projects in the coming recession PR-friendly 1,000kph. transportation. And remember: it’s not a Trolley service manoeuvre that caused a lot of sick to down gracefully at the other end. It to keep people occupied. Or else they’ll At 600mph you could get from the pipe dream. There’s a working example, come out of my mouth, quickly followed would therefore work well going from hang around in town centres moaning centre of London to Gatwick in four up and running, right now. will be difficult, by another manoeuvre that caused it all Los Angeles to Vancouver, or across the and stabbing policemen. minutes. That got your attention, However, before you make a to go back inside again. desert from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. But a new railway line seems so old- didn’t it? Swampy placard and head off to that’s for sure But all of that will be nothing Or — let me toss this one out as an idea fashioned, so Dickensian. It’s like The principle behind the Hyperloop Buckinghamshire to demand the HS2 compared with what people would — under the middle of England from investing in a new tin mine. Or a biplane was first mooted more than a hundred project is stopped immediately, I should endure in Branson’s pod if it tried to get London to Liverpool.

at the nearest point, A, larger circular reservoir is bridges. The larger bridge is TEASER 3034 with OA then extended by constructed on the other 3969m long. WEATHER a bridge across the side of the track, again What is the length of the Graham Smithers reservoir’s diameter to a touching OY at Y, with the smaller bridge? AROUND THE WORLD THE UK Reservoir Development disembarking point, B. corresponding new road and Send your solution to: The Sunday A straight track from an Distances OY, OA and AB are bridge having all the same Times Teaser 3034, PO Box 29, Amsterdam 15C sh London 15C sh observation post, O, touches whole numbers of metres, properties as before. For Colchester, Essex CO2 8GZ or email a circular reservoir at a boat with the latter two distances both reservoirs, the roads [email protected]. Athens 19 f Los Angeles 26 s The first two correct solutions opened yard, Y, and a straight road being square numbers. are shorter than 500m, and Auckland 24 f Madrid 11 sh after next Saturday win £20. Open to Bangkok 33 s Mexico City 22 sh from O meets the reservoir Following development, a shorter than their associated 18+ UK & ROI residents only. Barcelona 22 f Miami 28 s Beijing 16 s Moscow 1 sh 14 10 Belgrade 10 c Nairobi 25 th rough CHESS David Howell BRIDGE Sally Brock Berlin 15 s New Delhi 28 sh Bogota 18 th New Orleans 27 sh Netflix series The Queen’s fashion to the game. 18…Bxh3 One of my favourite days out twice as likely that he started Boston 14 sh New York 15 sh Brussels Oslo Gambit continues to gain W______19 Rd1 W is the annual match between with a singleton honour than 16 sh 10 r 10 plaudits. Motivated by the the House of Commons and queen-jack doubleton. Well Budapest 8 c Panama 28 th 26 árDWDrDkD] Buenos Aires 27 f Paris 16 sh success of the show, I have àDpDWDp0W] House of Lords. First, it is such played (and bid)! rough been analysing some classic a privilege to be inside such a Should East have got the Cairo 24 f Prague 9 f ßWDpgWDW0] Calgary 2 f Rio de Janeiro 28 th games from the opening that Þ0WDpDWDW] beautiful building; second, defence right? Imagine gave the series its title. there is an excellent tea; and, holding that South hand but Cape Town 21 s Rome 20 f 9 ÝWDW)PDW1] Caracas San Francisco Last year Danish-American third, there is the bridge. Last with singletons in the short 25 th 16 s player Kassa Korley introduced Ü)WHBDWDb] year the award for the best- suits. Would you not have Casablanca 31 f Santiago 25 th a deep idea which sets a crafty ÛW)QDN$WD] played hand went to Lord asked for aces rather than bid Chicago 7 f Seoul 15 s trap if White automatically ÚDWDRDWIW] Stanley Kalms — fittingly, as he a slam directly? When an Dubai 29 s Seychelles 27 th Dublin Singapore 11 follows a popular plan. ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈ is the sponsor of the event. opponent jumps to a slam 10 sh 31 th White: Alexander Moiseenko 19…Re5! A stunning concept. without asking for aces he Geneva 15 f Stockholm 10 sh 10 Black: Kassa Korley The rook surrenders itself on EW vulnerable, Dealer South usually has a void. Gibraltar 23 f Sydney 26 s Xtracon Open, an empty square so that the Guatemala 24 th Tel Aviv 22 th Copenhagen 2019 d6-bishop may access a more ♠ K 5 4 3 Last week’s problem Helsinki 6 f Tenerife 26 f ♥ K 10 4 3 Hong Kong 21 sh Tokyo 19 f 15 Queen’s Gambit Declined influential diagonal. 20 dxe5 ♦ 6 4 3 26 ♠ K 8 2 Istanbul 16 sh Toronto 11 sh 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 Unlike the Bc5 Black’s bishops combine ♣ 7 3 rough ♥ K 9 Jersey 15 sh Trinidad 30 th King’s Gambit, White can with the queen to create ♠ J ♠ Q 8 6 13 N ♦ 8 5 3 Johannesburg 30 s Tunis 23 s regain the pawn if Black unstoppable threats. 21 Nd4 ♥ 5 ♥ Q J 9 8 7 6 ♣ K 7 5 3 2 ♦ 10 9 8 W E ♦ A La Paz 18 sh Venice 15 f 33 rough chooses to capture: 2…dxc4 3 Bxd4 22 Rd2 Qg3+ 23 Kh1 ♠ A J ♠ Q ♣ A Q J 10 S ♣ K 5 2 N Lagos 29 th Vienna 9 c e3 and it is unwise for Black to Bg4 24 Bf1 Bf3+ 25 Bg2 Qh3+ ♥ 8 7 4 ♥ A 10 6 5 3 2 9 8 6 4 W E cling to the c4-pawn: 3…b5 4 White resigns A pin decides ♠ A 10 9 7 2 ♦ A K 9 6 4 2 ♦ 10 7 Lima 21 s Warsaw 11 f TODAY’S WEATHER ♥ A 2 ♣ J 6 S ♣ Q 10 9 4 Lisbon 22 f Washington DC 17 sh a4 c6 5 axb5 cxb5? 6 Qf3 is a the game: 26 Kg1 Qxg2 is ♦ K Q J 7 5 2 Key c=cloud, dr=drizzle, ds=dust storm, f=fair, fg=fog, g=gales, h=hail, well-known trick. 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 checkmate. ♣ – ♠ 10 9 7 6 5 4 3 UK forecast ♥ Q J cxd5 exd5 5 Bg5 c6 6 e3 Bd6 m=mist, r=rain, sh=showers, sl=sleet, sn=snow, s=sun, th=thunder, w=windy Low pressure over the British Isles will bring a rather unsettled ♦ Q J day with the chance of heavy showers, merging to longer Black chooses a dynamic set- Spot the Move 1245: The bidding was: ♣ A 8 spells of rain at times, particularly across East Anglia during up. 7 Bd3 0-0 8 Qc2 h6 9 Bh4 WBlack______W to play. West North East South West North East South the morning. Initally mild in the south. Moderate to fresh Re8 10 Nge2 a5 Preparing a 1 ♦ 2 ♠* EUROPE áWirDW4WD] southwesterly winds, strong to gale force on the south coast sophisticated knight àDbDRDWDW] 3 ♣ Pass Pass 3 ♠ 3 ♦ 3 ♠ All Pass manoeuvre. 11 h3 11 0-0? walks Pass 4 ♠ Pass 6 ♦ * weak ßpDWDWDWD] All Pass into a “Greek gift” sacrifice: ÞDpDWDWDW] REGIONAL FORECASTS 11…Bxh2+! 12 Kxh2 Ng4+ 13 Kg3 West led his singleton heart You lead the ace and king of 9 London, SE England g5. 11…Na6 12 a3 Nc7 13 0-0 ÝWDWDPDPD] which declarer won and diamonds as partner plays the Heavy rain at first. Bright spells and showers later. Fresh to Ne6 14 f3 Ng5 The knight ÜDWDWGPDW] played a trump. East had to ten and seven. What now? strong southwesterly wind. Max 15C. Tonight, showers. Min 7C arrives on the kingside, where ÛPDPIQDWD] decide whether to try for a Partner has shown a 12 8 Midlands, E England it has a major role to play. 15 Ú1WDRDWDW] heart ruff or hope a club was doubleton diamond. Maybe Heavy rain and showers. Some brightness later. Moderate to e4? This is usually part of ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈ standing up. Eventually he partner has the ace-queen in 15 fresh southwesterly wind. Max 14C. Tonight, showers. Min 5C White’s agenda, but here it Da Silva-“jamsarsia”, played a club, ruffed by hearts or clubs. Less likely is 10 Channel Is, SW and Cent S England, S Wales runs into a brutal refutation. lichess.org 2020. Black is three declarer, who now drew that he has the queen of 14 Windy with heavy rain and showers. Fresh to gale force 15…Nfxe4! Black’s knights pawns down, so urgent action trumps and used the Principle spades. Because you have the 15 southwesterly wind. Max 13C. Tonight, drier by dawn. Min 3C suddenly spring into action. 16 must be taken. How can Black of Restricted Choice to pick ace of spades you can cater 181 14 11 15 N Wales, NW England, Isle of Man fxe4 Nxh3+ 17 gxh3 Qxh4 18 strike before the white king up the spades for no loser. If for both. Play a third (low) 21 Bright spells and heavy showers or rain. Fresh southwesterly Rf2 18 e5 Rxe5! wins, in similar finds safety? you have an eight- or nine- diamond now. If partner does 19 wind, strong over IoM. Max 11C. Tonight, showery rain. Min 3C card fit missing the queen and not have the queen of spades 20 Cent N and NE England Send your solution (first move only), to Sunday Times Spot the Move 1245, jack, and start by cashing one he will be able to signal to tell The Sunday Times, PO Box 29, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GZ, or email to Sunshine and scattered heavy showers. Moderate to fresh honour, if an opponent you what to switch to when you [email protected]. The first correct answer drawn after next ¬ Staying dry in southern and Low Countries. Very windy in southwesterly wind. Max 12C. Tonight, odd showers. Min 4C Saturday wins £20. Open to 18+ UK & ROI residents only. plays an honour it is nearly get in with the ace of spades. eastern Spain and Portugal, the north, especially on the Scotland but showery rain will spread coast, but sunnier later Bright spells, showers and longer spells of rain. Light to GENERAL KNOWLEDGE JUMBO CROSSWORD 239 across northwestern parts ¬ Rain in western Germany moderate southerly wind. Max 11C. Tonight, showers. Min 2C LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS Across: 1 King Edward, 7 Maastricht, 12 The Entertainer, 13 Escort, 14 Westphalia, 15 Tin whistle, ¬ Mostly dry with sunny later, otherwise dry with N Ireland, Republic of Ireland 16 18 20 21 24 26 27 Amontillado, JMW Turner, On safari, Hors de combat, Orchid, Opposes, Ill-use, spells across Italy, Greece, sunny spells and variable Rain, showers and sunshine. Moderate to fresh southwesterly SUDOKU WARM-UP CODEWORD 28 Huddersfield, 29 Infested, 31 Verbosity, 34 Only Connect, 36 Steam train, 37 Tweedsmuir, 39 Mobile, 40 Compulsive liar, 41 Mrs Gaskell, 42 Poetry slam the Mediterranean islands cloud in central Europe winds, strong at times. Max 11C. Tonight, drier. Min 5C Down: 2 Ichneumon, 3 Great Unwashed, 4 Dot the I’s and cross the T’s, 5 Avril, 6 Dean and Chapter, and the Balkans, but a few ¬ Cloudy in Ukraine, Poland 7 8 9 10 11 17 Minute, Acronym, The White Cliffs of Dover, Incisor, Harold Evans, Laid off, odd thundery showers are and the Baltic states with 19 President Trump, 22 Destiny, 23 Miles and miles, 25 Rouge et noir, 30 Enchilada, 32 Bracing, THE WEEK AHEAD 33 Tranche, 35 Animal, 38 Elsie possible, mainly on the coast showers or spots of rain ¬ A band of heavy rain will ¬ Generally cloudy with rain MEPHISTO 3141 Across: 1 5 10 11 13 15 16 17 spread across France and the or showers in Scandinavia Getter, Pearly, One and all, Chimer, Flare, User ID, Rennins, Vids, 31 37 45 18 Troutstone, 21 Two or three, 23 Sham, 24 Midrash, 26 Warsaw, 28 Eater, 29 Ex voto, 30 Screen off, 31 Psyche, 32 Gratis Down: 1 Go-carts, 2 Teian, 3 Tamanu, 4 Enew, 5 Palustrine, 6 Elf-shot, 7 Roarie, 8 13 11 8 Luridness, 9 Yeeds, 12 Ransomware, 14 Berghaans, 19 Toparch, 20 Behoofs, 21 Tartly, 22 Hryvna, 23 Sweep, 25 Afoot, 27 Oxer SUN, STREET LIGHTS & MOON 10 14 11 CROSSWORD 4928 13 14 11 KENKEN Sun Sun sets/ Lights Moon Moon SUDOKU 1404 Across: 1 5 9 10 11 13 14 Spheral, Himself, Firepower, Logia, Two-dimensional, Awry, Waitresses, rises lights on off rises sets 11 14 14 17 Intonation, 18 Goal, 20 Phenobarbitone, 23 Plain, 24 Denigrate, 25 Roedean, 26 Slavery Down: 1 Sofa, 2 Hereward the Wake, 3 Rapids, 4 Low-impact, 5 Heron, 6 Milliner, 7 Egg-and-spoon Aberdeen 07:51 15:54 07:53 07:55 16:15 23 31 33 race, 8 Flawlessly, 12 Maris Piper, 15 Trombones, 16 Announce, 19 Stigma, 21 Auden, 22 Sexy Belfast 07:55 16:21 07:56 07:59 16:44 Monday Tuesday Wednesday SPOT THE MOVE 1244 CONCISE CROSSWORD 1703 Birmingham 07:30 16:14 07:32 07:34 16:37 Early showers in Dry in the south. Early rain in the Bristol 07:29 16:20 07:30 07:33 16:44 Across: 1 Sedan, 4 Sackbut, 8 Unsentimental, the north and east Wet and windy east. Elsewhere, 1…0-0-0+! wins, as White must give up 9 10 11 15 16 Cardiff 07:31 16:23 07:33 07:36 16:46 his queen Whereupon, Pun, Propriety, Air, Festivity, clearing. Rain in in the northwest. windy with 17 Indisposition, 19 Acolyte, 20 Genus Cork 07:54 16:42 07:56 07:59 17:06 Down: 1 2 3 the west. Max 13C Mild. Max 15C showers. Max 14C Squawk, Distemper, Non-zero, Dublin 07:51 16:28 07:52 07:56 16:51 TEASER 3033 4 Slippery slope, 5 Clean, 6 Bit, 7 Talent, 10 Physician, 12 13 14 16 18 Glasgow 07:54 16:09 07:56 07:58 16:31 (a) 7 (b) 10 Exiting, Fajita, Cygnus, Fishy, Duo London 07:19 16:10 07:21 07:23 16:33 KILLER SUDOKU TETONOR 26 14 20 TODAY’S SOLUTIONS Manchester 07:35 16:11 07:37 07:39 16:34 7 2 3 33 216 33 62 NEWS QUIZ POLYGON Newcastle 07:39 16:02 07:41 07:43 16:24 Norwich 07:18 16:00 07:19 07:21 16:23 12 + 21 18 x 12 31 + 2 2 x 31 1 A naked statue “honouring” feminist pioneer acer, acre, artefact, cafe, cage, carafe, Plymouth 07:31 16:30 07:33 07:36 16:54 8 9 8 6 11 7 200 30 270 45 Mary Wollstonecraft 2 General Sir Mark Carleton- carat, care, caret, carse, cart, cartage, Smith, chief of the general staff, arrived for a visit 2x100 12 + 18 30 x 9 7 + 38 carte, case, cast, caste, caster, 11 9 6 in wrong Wiltshire field 3 Scooby-Doo 4 Mr Good, castrate, cater, cert, craft, crag, crate, NIGHT SKY Leonids meteors streak out of the Sickle of Leo 39 252 23 266 according to theory that US presidents match Mr crest, face, facer, facet, fact, farce, in our morning sky this week, particularly on 43 19 19 30 + 9 12 x 21 8 + 15 38 x 7 Men book sequence 5 Bird of the Year 6 Lockdown fracas, grace, race, react, recast, scag, Wednesday. The Sickle climbs from the E at 7 Daily Mirror chicken, to heckle Tories scar, scare, scarf, scat, scatter, scrag, 102 48 120 16 8 FA chairman 9 First dogs in the White House sect, serac, stagecraft, tacet, tact, midnight to the S before dawn. Mars, bright and Thursday Friday Saturday 2+100 4 x 12 8 x 15 4 + 12 since Barack Obama’s presidency 10 James Bond trace, tract reddish, is due S at 9.30pm but is outshone by Sunny spells and Chilly with coastal A band of rain will Winners Crossword 4926 B Beresford, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, JB McCory, Bishopbriggs, Lanarkshire, BP McLaughlin, Great Waltham, Essex, G Miller, East Kilbride, showers, mainly wintry showers. spread from the Lanarkshire Mephisto 3139 G Moss, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, P Berridge, Gosberton, Lincolnshire, J Crocker, Bridestowe, Devon, P Stevenson, Richmond, Greater Jupiter, low in the SW as the night begins. London, P Tanner, Hertford Teaser 3031 C McMahon, Little Chesterford, Essex, I Turner, Colchester, Essex Chess 1242 E Mackay, East Kilbride, Lanarkshire Sudoku 1402 Saturn is near Jupiter and both are above-right in the north and Sunny spells west. Some sunny J Dugan, Upper Bentley, Worcestershire of the young Moon on Thursday. Alan Pickup west. Max 11C inland. Max 9C spells. Max 12C