Thursday January 19 2023 | thetimes.co.uk | No 73997
00 to subscribers
Working from home
The battle to get you back
Legal protection for parents discussing gender with children
Henry Zeffman Associate Political Editor
Parents will be given specific legal
protection to discuss gender identity
matters with their children under plans
being considered by Kemi Badenoch,
the equalities minister, for a long-
delayed ban on conversion therapy.
The government announced this
week that it would legislate to ban
Levelling-up
cash favours
southeast
over red wall
MPs accuse Sunak of failing communities
Geraldine Scott Political Reporter
Chris Smyth Whitehall Editor
Steven Swinford Political Editor
The southeast will be handed more
regeneration money today than the
northeast, Yorkshire and the West
Midlands, with red wall MPs accusing
the government of “making a mockery”
of levelling up.
Rishi Sunak’s North Yorkshire con-
stituency of Richmond is among
wealthy areas to be given millions in
funding designed to boost living stan-
dards. Sir Keir Starmer’s north London
constituency also benefits.
The £2 billion-plus fund is shared
between 111 communities across the
UK as part of the second round of
levelling-up funding. In England 52
Tory constituencies benefit, more than
twice as many as those represented by
Labour MPs.
However, Tory MPs in seats in the
north and Midlands who missed out
have accused Sunak of favouring the
south. One Tory MP in the northwest
said it made a “mockery of levelling up”
and added: “A government that
U-turned on a minister for the north is
delivering for the south once again.”
Another Tory MP said: “People are
apoplectic. There are some really
wealthy areas on the list. It looks awful.
It’s gone down terribly among red wall
MPs.” A third said: “It feels we’ve given
up on the red wall. It seems bizarre that
Richmondshire is getting levelling up
funding.”
Of the 80 successful bids in England,
conversion therapy relating to gender
identity as well as sexuality. It came
almost a year after Boris Johnson’s
government said there was too much
“complexity” for transgender people to
be covered by the ban.
In an attempt to reassure critics who
say the legislation could inadvertently
criminalise conversations with children
about gender identity, the government
only half are in the 100 most deprived
areas of the country. Affluent areas
such as Rutland, North Somerset and
Malvern Hills, Worcestershire, have
been handed cash.
Henri Murison, director of the
Northern Powerhouse Partnership
lobbying group, said the amount for the
north was “a long way off the radical
economic transformation we were
promised, and will not make a material
difference to closing the north-south
divide in productivity overall”.
Sunak described the money as
“transformational”. He will visit the
northwest today to announce the
successful bids, saying: “Through great-
er investment in local areas we can
grow the economy, create good jobs
and spread opportunity everywhere.”
Catterick Garrison, a military town
in the prime minister’s constituency —
the 251st most deprived council area in
England — receives £19 million to up-
grade its high street. Part of the London
borough of Camden represented by
Starmer gets £7 million to tackle health
inequalities.
The first round of levelling-up fund-
ing was also criticised for giving more to
the south under methodology that does
not rank areas on deprivation levels.
Ministers assess the quality of
individual bids, looking at measures of
unemployment, productivity, skills and
transport to allocate money, while
aiming for a “good regional spread”.
Lisa Nandy, the shadow levelling-up
secretary, described it as a “Hunger
Continued on page 2
£2.50 £2.
is looking at ways to ensure it does not
constrain parents or clinicians.
“We need people to feel confident
that the law is clear,” a source familiar
with the plans said. “In the absence of
clarity, people might say the bill
captures things it is not intended to
capture.” Another government source
said: “If we don’t do it right, then there
could be unintended consequences.”
Crash tragedy Olena Zelenska, Ukraine’s first lady, seemed close to tears in Davos at news of a helicopter crash next to a
nursery near Kyiv. The interior minister and a child were among 14 people killed, including all nine on board. Pages 28-29
King’s wind farm to generate £1bn for Britain
Valentine Low
The King has agreed that profits from a
new Crown Estate offshore wind farm
deal will go back into the UK economy,
giving it a boost of up to £1 billion.
He turned down the chance to
bolster palace finances so that the
money is “directed for wider public
good” by the government.
Three of the six projects are off the
north Wales, Cumbria and Lancashire
coasts, and three are in the North Sea
off the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
coasts. The Crown Estate expects to
make about £1 billion a year gross for
the first three years of the leases.
The King’s decision, which highlights
INSIDE
TIMES2
The draft bill, being spearheaded by
Badenoch, is not likely to be published
for months, despite the government
saying it wants pre-legislative scrutiny
to be completed by the end of the
parliamentary session in the autumn.
The ban was first promised by Theresa
May in 2018.
Initially the government will
respond to a public consultation, which
his desire to fend off any accusations of
the royals enjoying bumper funding
during a cost of living crisis, comes as
the Crown Estate confirmed the wind
farm lease awards that were provision-
ally handed out two years ago.
The estate, which has already
benefited from the growth in wind
technology through its ownership of
the seabed surrounding the UK, said
the six projects could begin to generate
green electricity by the end of the
decade and provide renewable power
for more than seven million homes.
The royal family in theory benefits
from the wind deal because the sover-
eign grant — money given by the
government so the royals can carry out
(based on 7 Day Print Pack)
Am I a threat
to your health?
Confessions of
a cake pusher
Henry Bird
was launched by Liz Truss in 2021 when
she was equalities minister and closed
last February. After that Badenoch will
publish a draft bill. The government
then intends to form a joint committee
of MPs and peers from across the par-
ties to scrutinise the draft legislation
before it is introduced to parliament.
Ministers will also now refer to the
Continued on page 4
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
official duties — is pegged to the size of
Crown Estate profits, which last year
rose 16 per cent to £312.7 million. These
are expected to leap as a result of the
leases. Normally the sovereign grant is
15 per cent of the estate’s profits, but at
the moment it is 25 per cent to pay for
work on Buckingham Palace.
The King’s move to forgo any rise in
the sovereign grant was signalled in a
letter from Sir Michael Stevens, who as
keeper of the privy purse is in charge of
palace finances. Stevens, a royal trustee
of the sovereign grant, was writing to
his two fellow trustees, the prime minis-
ter and the chancellor, to formally let
them know of the King’s decision.
Kate puts on a brave face, page 5
2 Thursday January 19 2023 | the times

News

Today’s highlights Questions for Zahawi over

7.20am Michael Gove, communities and levelling-up
secretary
10.20am The MP Christian Wakeford who defected
from the Conservatives to Labour a year ago
tax bill and offshore trust had benefited from Balshore. Dan concerning YouGov, it is hard to see
2.10pm The Hollywood star Paul Dano, right, on Billy Kenber
Senior Investigations Reporter Neidle, a tax lawyer who has examined how those statements were true.”
his new film, The Fablemans Zahawi’s dealings, said his previous ex- Zahawi’s affairs were raised at prime
3.35pm The American comedian Alex Edelman on George Greenwood
planation appeared to be inconsistent minister’s questions yesterday. The
his stand-up show, Just For Us Nadhim Zahawi has been accused with settling the tax bill. Labour MP Alex Sobel asked Rishi
9.30pm The broadcaster and author Pandora Sykes of misleading journalists about his When YouGov was founded in 2000, Sunak if he was “aware of an investi-
on how to juggle the demands of busy lives business dealings months before Balshore was allocated 42.5 per cent of gation [by HMRC] when he appointed
settling a multimillion-pound tax bill. the business, Zahawi’s entitlement, him to his cabinet”. The prime minister
The Tory party chairman and former with the Tory MP then taking no said Zahawi “has already addressed this
chancellor told The Times in July that shares. The shares were sold for up to matter in full”.
DAB RADIO l ONLINE l SMART SPEAKER l APP shares in YouGov, the polling company £27 million in 2018 by Balshore, a Zahawi faces fresh questions relating
he founded, were assigned to an off- transaction that would have incurred a to a loan used to buy an estate in
shore company set up by his father who capital gains tax of about £3.7 million if Warwickshire for £875,000 in 2011. The
was involved in the business. Zahawi had owned the shares. mortgage from Berkford Investments
T O D AY ’ S E D I T I O N He denied having an interest in Balshore also received dividends Limited, also based in Gibraltar, was
Balshore Investments, a Gibraltar from YouGov while owning the shares made with an 8 per cent interest rate,
company owned by an offshore trust, or and on one occasion agreed a deduction far above the amount available from
Church rejects Banker seeks Inflation falls being a beneficiary at any point, despite to these payments to at least partially UK banks at the time, the website
YouGov describing it as “a family trust repay a £99,000 loan Zahawi owed the SourceMaterial discovered.
gay weddings childcare cash to 10.5 per cent of Nadhim Zahawi”. business. He has said the loan repay- Representatives for Zahawi have
The Church of In the latest bitter row The consumer prices It has emerged, however, that Zahawi ment was a gift from his father. denied that he obtained any tax advan-
England will not allow involving rich Russians index, the headline had settled a bill — said to be a seven- Neidle, a former head of tax at Clif- tage from the offshore mortgage.
gay weddings to take in “Londongrad”, a measure of inflation, figure sum — with HM Revenue and ford Chance, said: “Zahawi previously Anneliese Dodds, the Labour Party
place in church after a banker whose wife was fell to 10.5 per cent last Customs (HMRC), believed to relate to said there was nothing unusual that chairwoman, said Zahawi “needs to
six-year process of jailed for attempting to month due to lower the YouGov shares held by Balshore. went on with YouGov and no tax had come clean about his tax affairs”.
consultation and bribe police to have petrol prices. There Zahawi has repeatedly declined to deny been avoided. If it’s true that his father A representative for Zahawi told the
months of deliberation. him arrested is seeking was also a slight drop the report in The Sun on Sunday. was really involved in the business and BBC: “Neither he nor his direct family
It will, however, permit to force her to pay in the cost of clothing If the settlement did relate to the it was true that the money never came are beneficiaries of Balshore Invest-
priests to give God’s childcare contributions — but food inflation is YouGov shares, tax would have been back to Zahawi, then no tax would have ments or any trust associated with it.”
blessing to married even though he is so at its highest in more due only if Zahawi had accepted that been due. If he made a multimillion- His lawyers have previously said he is
same-sex couples for rich he does not need than 45 years, at the shares were owed to him or that he pound settlement payment to HMRC not a beneficiary of Berkford.
the first time. Page 4 the money. Page 5 16.8 per cent. Page 8

continued from page 1

COMMENT Levelling-up anger
Probation is a Cinderella service, left to sweep up Games-style contest where communi-
Money Projects that secured cash

the bits of society we don’t want to think about ties are pitted against one another and
Whitehall ministers pick winners and
map risks Barnsley, South
Yorkshire £10 million
university campus
focused on AI and
DAVID AARONOVITCH, PAGE 23 losers”.
A government spokesman said: “All ire of red for an outdoor activity
park, revamping the
engineering.
Barking and
projects were subject to a rigorous
Aristocrat with Catalans defy Microsoft cuts assessment process under robust, fair
and transparent rules, with no involve-
wall Tories youth centre and a
new music facility.
Great Yarmouth,
Dagenham, east
London £10.6 million
for a project to deliver
convicted rapist government add to tech woe ment of local MPs.” He insisted 45 per Behind the story Norfolk £20 million to 316 homes, protect
The boyfriend of an Catalan separatists say Microsoft is axing cent of awards across both rounds had restore the town’s jobs and cut crime.

I
aristocrat who a protest at a Spanish- 10,000 jobs — 5 per gone to opposition parties. Analysis by f Rishi Sunak’s North Quay and Southampton,
disappeared with him French summit to be cent of its workforce Bradshaw Advisory found that across mission is to improve pedestrian Hampshire £20 million
and their newborn held in Barcelona — as technology firms the UK Labour-controlled councils did move the and cycle links. to upgrade an
baby is a convicted today is a show of make sweeping cuts. better than Tory-held ones. Conservative Sutton-in-Ashfield, athletics centre.
rapist. Officers have strength after the Amazon is laying off The Times revealed this week that Party past the Nottinghamshire Cornwall Nearly
been searching for Spanish government 18,000 jobs, Meta has some Tory MPs had been urged to use Boris Johnson era, £3.1 million to help £50 million for train
Constance Marten, 35, said their plans for cut its workforce by alternative words to “levelling up” then today’s turn an underground routes between towns.
and Mark Gordon, 48, independence were 11,000 and Twitter has when campaigning. Those in marginal announcement of the reservoir into a Bangor, Wales
since they went dead. A Catalan leader shed thousands of staff seats were told to say “stepping up” or second round of science centre and £9.8 million for new
missing at the start of said the comment was since Elon Musk’s “gauging up” instead, amid fears people levelling-up projects is planetarium. waterfront gardens
the month. Page 21 “provocative”. Page 30 takeover. Page 33 did not know what levelling up meant. a reminder that the Derby, Derbyshire and regeneration.
Under the allocations announced prime minister is still £20 million for a new Dundee, Scotland
today the southeast has been given bound to many of the “learning theatre”. £14 million to help turn
COMMENT 23 MARKETS 45-47 SPORT 57 funding of £210 million for ten projects. dispositions of his Blackpool, Lancashire a multi-storey car park
THUNDERER 24 REGISTER 49 CROSSWORD 68 This includes £45 million for Dover to predecessor-but-one. £40 million for a new into a sustainable
LEADING ARTICLES 27 LAW 52 TV & RADIO TIMES2 improve traffic flow between the UK It was in Johnson’s carbon-neutral transport hub.
and EU, £20 million for Farnborough to victorious 2019
FOLLOW US tackle obesity and £19.9 million to election campaign
thetimes timesandsundaytimes thetimes reopen Canterbury Castle. that he first put disappointed that the ultimately made by
By comparison Yorkshire and the levelling up at the southeast is to get ministers. It therefore
OFFER Humber was given £120 million for six core of his domestic more money for means that those MPs
schemes, including improving trans- agenda, vowing to regeneration than angered by the
Save over 50% with a subscription to port links in West Yorkshire and an “revive our towns and Yorkshire, the decisions are not
overhaul of Cleethorpes seafront. cities” by “levelling up northeast or West shouting only about
The Times and The Sunday Times The West Midlands has been given every part of the UK”. Midlands. faceless Whitehall
THETIMES.CO.UK/SUBSCRIBE £155 million for eight projects, includ- This, the manifesto Not all wealthy bureaucracy but also
ing building homes and regenerating said, required areas are without about something
brownfield sites. government to “get pockets of deprivation much more personal:
THE WEATHER © TIMES MEDIA LIMITED, 2023. The northeast had the lowest total of away from the idea” yet it will aggravate their own
Published in print and all other derivative £108 million — £18 million of that was that “all growth must Tory MPs to see government’s
formats by Times Media Ltd, 1 London Bridge
St, London, SE1 9GF, telephone 020 7782
awarded to a bid by the Tees Valley inevitably start in Sunak’s constituency priorities.
5000. Printed by: Newsprinters Combined Authority, led by the Tory London”. of Richmond and Their fear is that
4 (Broxbourne) Ltd, Great Cambridge Rd, mayor Ben Houchen, for transport Many MPs — not Sir Keir Starmer’s amid a substantial
Waltham Cross, EN8 8DY; Newsprinters networks to connect deprived areas. least those in the north London polling deficit, Sunak
(Knowsley) Ltd, Kitling Rd, Prescot, London will get £151 million for pro- north and Midlands constituency of and his team are in
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jects including doubling the frequency who in 2019 won seats Holborn & St Pancras effect conceding areas
Holytown, Motherwell, ML1 1NP; Associated of trains to Belmont, near Sutton, and not held by Tories for benefit. of the red wall in an
Printing (Carn) Ltd, Morton 2 Esky Drive, Carn £43 million for step-free access to generations, if ever — Although the attempt at managed
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Industial Estate, Portadown, BT63 5YY; KP Leyton and Colindale Underground thought that this government published retrenchment.
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Trading Estate, St Saviour, Jersey, JE2 7QR.
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For permission to copy articles or headlines
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5 for internal information purposes contact west £186 million. government funding 1,500 words of the political risk for
6 Newspaper Licensing Agency at PO Box 101, Overall the north received more and, more criteria against which Sunak is that the
Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1WX, tel 01892 funding than the south. One northeast fundamentally, the bids for funding would anger of these MPs
525274,email copy@nla.co.uk. For all other MP said: “This is the first time the north economy away from be assessed, decisions will embolden them
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Sleet and snow showers in northern Licensing Department, 1 London Bridge St,
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elsewhere. Full forecast, page 56 e-mail enquiries@newslicensing.co.uk nity are getting it.”
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
Alas, poor actors in ‘woke’ Globe shows
Thespians are on the
front line of culture
wars, the artistic
director of the theatre
tells David Sanderson
A barrage of online abuse after a non-
binary Joan of Arc and the staging of
“Wokeo and Juliet” has raised fears
from the artistic director of Shake-
speare’s Globe that she may be putting
its performers “in harm’s way”.
The theatre’s recent productions
have been cast into the heart of the so-
called culture wars, prompting Miche-
lle Terry to lament a “bilious” response
on social media. “I have to sit with them
before they go on stage and put them-
selves on the front line and go: ‘Is this
the safest thing for you to do?’ and that
is really worrying,” Terry said of her
performers. “That is my concern. Is this
a really safe place for nuanced debate?”
The theatre in London was criticised
online and in the tabloid press after its
2021 production of Romeo and Juliet,
which was accused of being “woke”
because it included content warnings
and a suicide helpline number. Last
year it staged the premiere of I, Joan,
which portrayed the 15th-century saint
as non-binary.
Terry said neither director had set
out to be provocative, and “knew the
story they wanted to tell”.
“What I couldn’t have predicted is
that horrible pocket of the playground
on Twitter and social media that is only
there to perpetuate anonymised hate,”
she said.
“Can I advise a 23-year-old artist to
stay away from social media? Of course
I can. Will they? Of course they won’t.
So they then read horrific tweets like
‘Thank God you are fat because fat
burns quicker’.”
Terry said the organisation — which
was also subjected to “woke” headlines
over last year’s production of Henry V
— “still seems to be at the heart of some
culture wars” despite “more often than
not just doing the play”. She said: “If
there is a really strong opinion about a
piece, fantastic. That is what we are for
and then let’s have a dialogue.
“Find a way for theatre to be part of
the conversation — that is our job. Do
I want that to be the bilious Twitter
corner of the playground that only
perpetuates hate? No, I do not.”
She added: “It is just when it feels so
one-sided and people feel totally dis-
empowered and yet still have to go out
there and represent a piece of work. It is
becoming harmful.”
Terry was speaking at the launch of
this year’s season, which centres on
four plays from Shakespeare’s First
Olympic cyclist Kenny announces pregnancy after heartbreak
John Westerby
Dame Laura Kenny, Britain’s most
successful female Olympic athlete, has
announced that she is pregnant with
her second child, a year after she suf-
fered an ectopic pregnancy.
Kenny, 30, whose son Albie is five,
posted on social media yesterday about
her anxiety and fears after becoming
pregnant again, having suffered a mis-
carriage in November 2021 before the
ectopic pregnancy less than two
months later.
She had contemplated giving up
cycling after her ectopic pregnancy last
year but spoke recently of her desire to
compete at the Paris Olympics next
I, Joan, which portrays the French saint as non-binary, was criticised, as was the suicide prevention advice displayed during Romeo and Juliet. Below: Michelle Terry
Folio, the landmark 400-year-old pub-
lication without which there would be
no record of 18 of Shakespeare’s plays.
The Tempest, The Comedy of Errors,
As You Like It and Macbeth from the
folio will be staged along with A Mid-
summer Night’s Dream, starring Terry
as Puck.
Terry, who is the fourth artistic
director of the Globe following Mark
Rylance, Dominic Dromgoole and
Emma Rice, said very few drama
students emerging from training
centres now had “the craft of speaking”
year, when two more gold
medals would draw her level
with the tally of her husband
Jason Kenny.
He retired from track
cycling as Britain’s most
successful Olympian
after the Tokyo Olym-
pics in 2021. He is now a
coach for the Great
Britain team.
His wife wrote on
Instagram: “Telling the
world means I have to
accept we are having
another baby and this
fills me with all kinds
of emotions. I’m
Shakespeare’s language. She said there
was an economic necessity for drama
schools to ensure students could “come
out and get work, and there is not a lot
of Shakespeare work out there”.
“I have spent my whole life studying
these plays but most people are coming
in not having been exposed to them, not
having had a chance to say them out
loud,” she said. “There is a concern
around that.
“But it is a big ecosystem conversa-
tion. Why would you spend three years
doing Shakespeare when most of your
scared every single day that I might
have to go through the pain of losing
another baby.
“It makes you feel ungrateful for
something you’ve so desperately
wanted for the last year.
“But I also know there are going to
be so many people, like I was, see-
ing my post and wishing I would
go away with my happy ending.
“I also know when I was
lying in the hospital bed I was
searching for people’s happy end-
i
ings because it was the only thing
giving me any comfort at the time. That
Dame Laura Kenny, 30, has suffered a
miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy
students are not going to be spending
their lives doing that?”
Terry said that at the moment, the
Globe could not afford to be a training
ground because it was still recovering
from the pandemic.
Financial uncertainty afflicting the
theatre sector — such as the continu-
ing absence of international
tourists and the change in
habits, with tickets far less
likely to be bought in
advance — mean that
the Globe is halving the
number of its renowned
£5 Groundling tickets.
Terry said there
would now only be
300 £5 tickets for
each performance
and that there had
been “endless dis-
cussions” about
abolishing the ini-
tiative entirely.
She said, how-
ever, that retain-
ing them had been
her “red line”.
“We still have people
who think that Shake-
speare is not for them,”
she said. “We have to
make it economically
accessible.”
maybe, just maybe, I would get my
happy ending.”
Kenny has won five gold medals at
three Olympic Games, bursting into
the spotlight as a 20-year-old at the
London Games in 2012, when she won
her first two gold medals in the velo-
drome for the host nation.
She won two more golds at Rio de
Janeiro in 2016 and, after returning to
competition following the birth of
Albie, another gold and silver medal in
the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
For the time being, she will have
other priorities. “A year ago today, I was
sat in A&E knowing I was really poorly
but not knowing what was wrong with
me,” she said yesterday. “When I got the
3
News
HELEN MURRAY; DAVE BENETT/GETTY IMAGES
Much ado about nothing?
6 The Globe caused a stir last year
when it staged I, Joan, in which Joan
of Arc was portrayed as non-binary.
“Shakespeare did not write
historically accurate plays. He took
figures of the past to ask questions
about the world around him. Our
writers of today are doing no
different,” Michelle Terry said in
defence of the production.
6 Former artistic director Emma
Rice’s time at the Southbank
theatre ended in acrimony in
2018 after two seasons when
she resigned and accused
the Globe’s board of stifling
her creativity. The tussle
over the use of lights and
music was cast as a war
between tradition and
innovation.
6 The 2021 staging of
Romeo and Juliet by the
director Ola Ince came with a
content warning due to
Shakespeare’s “depictions of
suicide, moments of violence,
and references to drug use”. A
gun sound effect was described
by one reviewer as “naff”.
news I was having an ectopic preg-
nancy my world felt like it crumbled.
We had already lost our second baby in
November and I remember lying there
searching for some sort of answers. I
still feel this heartbreak today and I
don’t think it will ever go away.”
The Paris Games begin in late July
next year. Kenny was back in competi-
tive action in the velodrome six months
after giving birth to Albie, having
returned to training four months
earlier. The heptathlete Dame Jessica
Ennis-Hill became world champion
again in 2015, 15 months after giving
birth to her first child, Reggie. She went
on to win a silver medal at the Rio
Olympics the following year.
4 2GM Thursday January 19 2023 | the times

News
TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER JAMES GLOSSOP

Bishops refuse to
allow marriages
in churches for
same-sex couples
Kaya Burgess
Religious Affairs Correspondent
The Church of England will not allow
gay weddings to take place in church,
prompting campaigners to claim that
homosexual Christians remain “second
rate” within the faith.
After a six-year process of consulta-
tion and months of deliberation,
bishops have said they will not change
the church’s fundamental teaching
“that holy matrimony is between one
man and one woman for life”.
The church will, however, permit
priests to give God’s blessing to married
same-sex couples for the first time,
allowing gay couples to come for a
service of blessing or prayers of thanks-
giving after having a civil wedding.
It said that offering blessings to cou-
ples who are already married would
provide the “fullest possible pastoral
provision without changing the
church’s doctrine”. The General Synod
will debate the proposals at its meeting
early next month.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the
Most Rev Justin Welby, accepted that
the move will “go too far for some and
not nearly far enough for others”, but
said he hoped it would be seen as a
change for the “common good”. In
practice, liberal priests have found ways
to get round the ban on blessing same-
sex relationships, such as blessing the
wedding rings instead of the couple.
The blessings would be voluntary,
meaning that no priest who objects
would be forced to conduct them.
The Archbishop of York, the Most
Rev Stephen Cottrell, yesterday refused
to say, however, whether the church
would change its teaching that gay sex
is sinful. If it does not, it would mean
that the church still expects gay couples
to remain celibate for life.
Bishops said they will issue an apo-
logy this week for the “rejection, exclu-
sion and hostility” gay and transgender
Christians have faced in church. The
church will also review whether gay
priests, who are permitted to enter into
civil partnerships but not marry, may
wed their partners in civil ceremonies.
The Bishop of Oxford, the Right Rev
Steven Croft, a backer of change, told
BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I’m
sorry that some things are not being
taken forward, particularly marriage in
church for same-sex couples.”
Christian Concern, a pressure group
that opposes the recognition of same-
sex relationships in church, said: “This
is capitulation by the Church of
England. The bishops have lost the
courage and conviction to state clearly
the beauty of God’s vision for marriage
between one man and one woman.
“The Church of England is making
way for the celebration of same-sex
marriage in all but name.”
Welby said: “This response reflects
the diversity of views in the Church of
England on questions of sexuality, rela-
tionships and marriage — I rejoice in
that diversity and I welcome this way of
reflecting it in the life of our church.
“Most of all I hope it can offer a way
for the Church of England, publicly and
unequivocally, to say to all Christians
and especially LGBTQI+ people that
you are welcome and a valued and pre-
cious part of the body of Christ.” Looking a picture Jenna Hodgson-Silke will give a yoga workshop at Harewood House near Leeds at the end of the month

Freedom for History of controversy

gender talks What is conversion therapy?

Continued from page 1
behaviour they wish to ban as conver-
sion “practices” rather than therapy.
Conversion therapy is the pseudo-
scientific practice of trying to change
an individual’s sexual orientation or
gender identity. This usually means
trying to prevent or suppress someone
from being gay or transgender.
Ministers are understood to be pay-
ing close attention to the Equality and
Human Rights Commission’s response
to the consultation last year. It urged
the government not to infringe on
articles of the European Convention on
Human Rights that protect the rights to
a private and family life, freedom of
thought and freedom of expression.
It has also emerged that teachers will
be warned about the risks of allowing
children who question their gender to
“socially transition”. New guidance is to
be published in the coming months by
the Department for Education and it is
likely to reflect the interim findings of
the Cass review, according to The Daily
Telegraph. The review says that allow-
ing children to change their names and
pronouns is “not a neutral act” and that
it could have a significant impact on
their “psychological functioning”.
The practice of attempting to
change an individual’s sexual
orientation or gender identity
(James Beal and Henry
Zeffman write). This usually
means trying to prevent or
suppress someone from being
gay or transgender.
History of conversion therapy
In 1899 the German
psychiatrist Albert von
Schrenck-Notzing told a
hypnosis conference he had
turned a gay man straight. In
the 1920s the Austrian
endocrinologist Eugen
Steinach conducted testicle
transplantations, where gay
men were castrated and given
”heterosexual testicles” from
other men.
The psychiatric profession
explored the notion that
homosexuality was a mental
disorder that could be “cured”,
with the use of aversion
therapy, electroconvulsive
therapy and lobotomies.
During aversion therapy,
patients were given chemicals
to make them vomit when
they looked at photos of their
lovers or electric shocks when
they looked at gay
pornography. It was thought
that if they were disgusted by
homosexuality, they would no
longer experience same-sex
desire.
In 1952 the American
Psychiatric Association (APA)
listed homosexuality in its
influential Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM). But with the
formation of the gay rights
movement in the 1960s,
psychiatrists started to
distance themselves from
conversion therapy. The APA
removed homosexuality from
the DSM in 1973.
In the 1990s and 2000s, US
religious groups such as Love
in Action, Hope for Wholeness
and Brothers on a Road Less
Traveled aimed to end same-
sex attraction. McKrae Game,
Hope for Wholeness’s founder,
came out as gay in 2019 and
the organisation disbanded
the following year.
Its history in the UK
In the 1960s the British
psychologist Dr Ian Oswald
used a combination of
aversion therapy and
medication to try to “cure”
patients of homosexuality. He
injected them with drugs that
would cause vomiting, sleep
deprivation and discomfort.
They were subjected to audio
recordings of men having sex.
In 2017, 25 organisations
signed a “memorandum of
understanding” calling the
therapy “unethical, potentially
harmful and not supported by
evidence”. It was signed by
the British Psychological
Society, NHS England, the
Royal College of General
Practitioners and the Royal
College of Psychiatrists
among others.
Now it is mostly thought to
be used in religious settings.
Jayne Ozanne, a former
government equality adviser,
said she had been aware of
therapy involving “exorcisms,
physical violence and food
deprivation”.
But the Evangelical Alliance,
which represents 3,500
churches, said a ban on
conversion therapy could
jeopardise religious freedoms,
such as supportive prayer.
Conversion therapy is already
fully or partially banned in
countries including Canada,
Malta, Germany and Mexico.
About 20 US states have
outlawed it.
UK government’s pledge to
ban conversion therapy
Theresa May told a Pride
reception at Downing Street in
2018 that the “disgusting
practice of conversion
therapy” had “no place in
modern Britain”. In October
2021 the government
launched a consultation on
proposed measures, including
introducing a criminal offence
for conversion therapy. The
therapies covered included
those with “the intention of
changing a person’s sexual
orientation or changing them
to or from being transgender”.
However, last April Johnson
abruptly ditched the entire
plan. After heated exchanges,
Downing Street rapidly
reversed and announced that
legislation would be brought
forward within months, but
would not include people with
gender dysphoria after all. The
omission was criticised by the
Conservative MP Alicia
Kearns, who questioned why
“quacks and charlatans”
should be “allowed to
continue to cause lifelong
harm” to transgender people.
A new pledge
It was Kearns who managed
to force the issue this month.
She tabled an amendment to
the Online Safety Bill which
would have in effect banned
“content which advertises or
promotes the practice of
so-called conversion practices
of LGBTQ+ individuals”.
The risk of tensions over
the broader conversion
therapy question spilling out
in public prompted the
government to offer Kearns a
compromise. It meant they
would make clear their plans
to bring forward a ban on
conversion therapy.
Kearns’s intervention made
the schedule more rapid, but
ministers are understood to
have been discussing for
some time ways of finally
delivering the legislation.
the times | Thursday January 19 2023 5

News
JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP

Princess
The Princess of Wales
joins in the fun of making

puts on a
masks with young
children at Foxcubs

brave face
Nursery in Luton, where
she told of the pressures

at nursery
on parents in lockdown

important having that

I
f recent weeks have
taken their toll, the
Princess of Wales
hid it well. She
donned a mask and
played in the sand with
children at a nursery in
Luton yesterday
(Valentine Low writes).
Kate made the visit
to highlight the
importance of nurseries
and their staff in the
development of children.
But at one point she
found herself in the
unusual position of
being upstaged by one
of the youngsters.
Ezaan, three, was
playing in the sandpit
dressed as a
construction worker,
with a hard hat and a
toy hand drill.
As the princess got in
the sandpit Ezaan
moved between the
photographers and the
princess with his arms
outstretched. The
photographers were not
amused but the princess
burst out laughing.
At one of the nursery
tables she sat down with
a group of three and
four-year-olds who were
making masks. She
helped a boy finish his,
telling him as he held it
up to his face that he
had done a good job.
Kate later sat down to
talk with Neil Leitch,
chief executive officer of
the Early Years Alliance,
and staff at the nursery
in Bedfordshire. She
praised the children.
“They’re great kiddies,”
she said. “I had a nice
little chat with them.”
She quizzed the staff
about their experiences
and spoke about the
importance of nurseries.
“We really saw that
highlighted during the
pandemic,” she said.
“Families realised and
communities realised,
[when] these spaces
were closed down for
the majority of the time,
I think everyone realised
how vital they were.”
Kate also said
lockdown had led to
increased pressure on
parents. She told of “a
sense of responsibility
looking after these kids
in their most formative
years but also you’re
having to support
families during quite
challenging
circumstances”.
She added: “It is so
holistic support for a
child where there isn’t
this boundary between
educational life . . . and
home life. That there is
more of a holistic
network surrounding
our children.”
Continuing the royal
day of education, the
Queen returned to
Aberdeen University to
mark her ten years as
chancellor. As she
toured the university’s
new science teaching
hub, Professor Graeme
Paton, the head of the
school of biological
sciences, told her: “It is
the most modern in the
world — until someone
else does something
better.”
At Dumfries House in
East Ayrshire, the King
attended a reception for
Muslim faith and
community leaders to
mark the completion of
the Mosaic leadership
programme. He initiated
the programme when he
was the Prince of Wales
at the request of young
faith leaders to provide
training on community
leadership after the
Finsbury Park terror
attack of June 2017.

‘Londongrad’ banker sues Russian cyberattacks could

target UK’s infrastructure
ex-wife for child support
Jonathan Ames Legal Editor
A Russian banker whose wife was jailed
for attempting to bribe police to have
him arrested is seeking to force her to
pay childcare contributions.
In the latest bitter row involving rich
Russian expats living in so-called
“Londongrad”, Alexander Timokhin, a
St Petersburg banker, has asked the
High Court to order his ex-wife, Anna
Timokhina, to make financial provision
for their two children, even though he is
so rich that he “does not need” the
money.
The children — one of whom is now
an adult — currently live with their
father in London, and the court has
been told that their mother has had no
contact with them for four years, since
her imprisonment. Mrs Justice Roberts,
a family division judge, said that
Timokhin was seeking ing contri
contri-
butions from his former
wife “on principle”.
Timokhin, the co- o-
owner of Zauberr
Bank, which is
based in St Peters-
burg, said that his
claim was based
on “his entitle-
ment as a parent
to look to the child-
ren’s absent parent
for an appropriate te
contribution towards rds
the cost of raising their
children”.
George Grylls Defence Correspondent
President Putin is tasking his army of
included piggy-backing on Ukrainian
telecoms networks to corrupt CCTV
cameras and citizens’ mobiles and
hackers with targeting British critical changing the ticker tape during a live TV
Both children have lived with their she was reported to have been dissatis- infrastructure, deploying tactics tested in broadcast given by President Zelensky.
father in London since 2018, and they fied with that sum. Ukraine, defence sources have warned. In addition to phishing attacks, Rus-
are now aged 18 and 11. Timokhina recorded her luxurious Kyiv has been hit by waves of Russian sian agents are suspected of infiltrating
In her ruling this week, the judge lifestyle in an Instagram account and cyberattacks since the annexation of ministries in Kyiv and smuggling out
noted that the mother currently lives in was renowned for owning a raspberry- Crimea in 2014, with targets including USB sticks with sensitive information.
Russia and that the breakdown of the coloured Bentley Continental GT and railways and the national power grid. In recent years, the National Cyber
couple’s marriage and the consequent black Rolls-Royce Phantom. In the lead-up to last year’s invasion, Security Centre, an arm of GCHQ, has
arrangements for their children had High Court documents show that cyberattacks took down Ukrainian become more explicit in blaming
triggered “complex litigation” in the after the marriage broke down, in April government and banking services in an Russia for individual attacks. A Russian
Russian courts. 2018, she travelled to Russia where she apparent attempt to enable Russian hacking collective called APT29 was
It said that the 18-year-old daughter was arrested after attempting to “bribe troops to cross the border. identified as being behind cyberattacks
was currently studying in the US and a police officer to instigate criminal There are fears that British infra- in 2020 targeting drug companies and
returns to her London home during the charges against the father in order to structure could be targeted with similar research groups involved in the devel-
holidays. The couple’s son was cur- further her own claim on the children”. tactics, The Times understands. opment of the coronavirus vaccine.
rently boarding at a private school in She was remanded in custody by the Ukrainian officials visited London The following year, the British and
the UK. Russian criminal court. After pleading this week to share information about American governments publicly
At the centre of the ongoing dispute, guilty, she was sentenced to four years Russian tactics and advise the British blamed the SVR, the Russian foreign
said Mrs Justice Roberts, is the “scale of in prison outside St Petersburg. government on cybersecurity. intelligence agency, for the SolarWinds
the wealth held by the . . . mother”. In addition to his involvement with Viktor Zhora, one of Ukraine’s top attacks, during which hackers stole
Timokhina, 47, continues to own a Zauber Bank — which specialises in cyber officials, said the Kremlin had national security information from US
property in central London, which her lending to small and medium-sized deployed hackers as part of a campaign government agencies.
former husband claimed was worth £6 businesses — her former husband targeting Ukraine’s infrastructure. Paul Chichester, director of opera-
altho
million, although Mrs Justice owns other assets in St Petersburg, “Russia has targeted different parts tions at the NCSC, said the partnership
sa that she could
Roberts said including a print works and a restau- of the Ukrainian economy — transpor- with Kyiv would improve cyberdefence
place ““little reliance on rant. Last April, Timokhin issued pro- tation, critical infrastructure, media, for both the UK and Ukraine.
fi
the figures” suggested ceedings in the English court under the financial institutions — to bring as “Ukraine has defended itself reso-
T
by Timokhin. Children Act 1989. much impact as they can,” he said. lutely in cyberspace in the face of Rus-
T
Timokhina was At the time, another judge imposed a “Russia has highly professional mili- sian aggression and the UK has been
sa
said to have temporary stay on his claim until tary hackers who have served in the proud to support that defence,” he said.
re
received about $15 litigation in Russia had concluded. intelligence services for a long time. “This visit is an important moment in
m
million (£12.1 mil- Timokhin’s appeal of that decision has The UK should be aware of these our relationship and an excellent
li
lion) in a divorce been rejected by Mrs Justice Roberts. potential evolving threats from Russia.” opportunity to learn from each other.”
se
settlement from The banker, meanwhile, has accept- Last year James Cleverly, the foreign Tom Tugendhat, the security minis-
Ti
Timokhin, 52, in ed that he is sufficiently wealthy “to secretary, revealed that tech experts ter, said: “Their fight against Russian
201 after 15 years of
2017 provide their children with the privi- had been working remotely on behalf barbarism goes beyond the battlefield
mar
marriage. However, leged lifestyle they enjoy and will of the British government to foil Rus- and the terror being inflicted on civilian
continue to enjoy”. sian cyberattacks since February as populations.”
A nna Ti
Anna Timokhina asked Lawyers for both parties did not part of a £6.35 million support package. Ukrainian officials killed in
police to jjail her husband respond to requests for comment. Tactics employed by Russia hackers helicopter crash, page 28
6 2GM Thursday January 19 2023 | the times

News
News Politics

Paramedics and nurses in joint Social Care said it was misleading to

Kat Lay Health Editor
Chris Smyth Whitehall Editor
Nurses and paramedics will walk out
on February 6, marking an escalation
in the industrial dispute between NHS
workers and the government.
Mass disruption is expected on what
is likely to be the biggest day of strike
action in NHS history. The strike
announcement came amid fresh
warnings that patients were dying
because of delays to emergency care,
while thousands of people have their
routine care postponed.
Rachel Harrison, the GMB national
secretary, announced the new strikes
for February 6 and 20 as well as March
6 and 20. She said “angry” members
had “no choice but industrial action”.
She added: “The only way to solve
this dispute is a proper pay offer. But it
seems the cold, dead hands of No 10 and
11 Downing Street are stopping this
from happening.”
GMB members include paramedics,
emergency care assistants and call
handlers. February 6 coincides with a
planned walkout by the Royal College
of Nursing (RCN) at 73 trusts across
England and sites in Wales. The RCN is
also striking today for a second
consecutive day at 55 trusts in England.
Rishi Sunak said he wanted a
“constructive dialogue” with unions
but added that conversations needed to
be “based on what’s reasonable”.
Matthew Taylor, chief executive of
the NHS Confederation, said: “We’re
increasingly concerned about the
cumulative impact of strike days and
record demand. The longer this vicious
cycle continues the longer it will take
for the NHS to tackle the elective
backlog.”
Saffron Cordery, interim chief
executive at NHS Providers, said that
without renewed negotiations between
government and unions “there is no
light at the end of the tunnel”.
Pat Cullen, general secretary of the
RCN, said strikes could go on for
months if there was no movement from
ministers. She told the prime minister:
“If you want to continue to have strikes,
then the voice of nursing will continue
to speak up on behalf of their patients
and that’s exactly what you will get.”
Steve Barclay, the health secretary,
has suggested that he is pressing the
Treasury for a higher pay offer to NHS
staff but has insisted a compromise
offer from nurses is “not affordable”.
Two months of pain
Today Royal College of Nursing
January 23 Ambulance strikes by
Unison, Unite, and GMB (only in the
West Midlands)
January 24 Ambulance strike by
GMB (only in the northwest)
January 26 Chartered Society of
Physiotherapy strike
February 6 Royal College of
Nursing, ambulance strike by GMB
February 7 Royal College of Nursing
February 9 Chartered Society of
Physiotherapy strike
February 20 Ambulance strike by
GMB
March 6 Ambulance strike by GMB
March 20 Ambulance strike by GMB
Barclay appeared to reject a plea from
the RCN to meet halfway their de-
mands for a 19 per cent increase. On a
visit to a hospital in north London, he
said: “Ten per cent is not affordable. It
would be an extra £3.6 billion a year and
obviously that would take money away
from patient services, essential services
that we need to invest in given the back-
logs from the pandemic.”
He has previously signalled that he is
open to backdating a 2023-24 deal to
the start of this month and is under-
stood to be making the case to Jeremy
Hunt, the chancellor, that nurses and
other NHS staff need to be offered
more. No firm proposal has been sub-
mitted to the Treasury, however, which
insists that raising public sector wages
further risks worsening inflation.
Most health unions have said they
will not submit evidence to the pay
review bodies. The British Medical
Association, which is balloting junior
doctors on potential strikes, issued a
report claiming to show “a litany of
instances of meddling and interference
by the government into the doctors’
and dentists’ pay review body”.
The report, also backed by the British
Dental Association, claimed that the
government had “interfered with every
step of the pay review process for over a
decade”, mainly through letters setting
the body’s remit that lay out govern-
ment “affordability targets”.
The Department of Health and
suggest the government interfered
with the operation or independence of
pay review bodies.
Meanwhile, doctors have warned
that heart attack patients are dying
because they are “currently unable to
get to hospitals for emergency
treatment”. The British Cardiovascular
Intervention Society says in a letter
published in The Times today and sent
to the health secretary and NHS
England: “With ambulances stuck in
long queues outside overcrowded hos-
pitals, heart attack sufferers who dial
999 are experiencing poor outcomes
because of unacceptably long delays in
receiving help.”
Labour highlighted NHS figures
showing 37,000 patients with condi-
tions such as heart attacks and strokes
waited more than three and a half
hours for an ambulance last month.
At prime minister’s questions Sir Keir
Starmer, the Labour leader, raised the
case of a 26-year-old cancer patient
from Plymouth who died waiting for an
ambulance this month. He called on
Sunak “to apologise for “the lethal
chaos he is presiding over”.
Sunak said the NHS was dealing with
unprecedented challenges and argued
that the situation was even worse in
Wales, run by Labour.
A survey for the legal company Been
Let Down? found seven in ten patients
waiting for surgery had had their pro-
cedure cancelled or rescheduled at
least once and more than a quarter
were considering going private.
In a further sign of pressures, a poll
for Pulse, the primary care magazine,
found 74 per cent of family doctors said
they or their staff had experienced
verbal abuse on a weekly basis, including
almost 40 per cent who said it occurred
daily. They also reported death threats.
6 The US billionaire co-founder of a
data analytics company vying for
an NHS contract worth nearly
£500 million has said Britain’s affection
for the public health service is akin to
Stockholm syndrome. Peter Thiel, 55,
who was speaking at the Oxford Union
on Monday, also said “the NHS makes
people sick”.
Thiel, who was a major donor to
Donald Trump’s US presidential cam-
paign in 2016, said the NHS needed
market mechanisms to fix its problems
and that this included privatising parts
of it and loosening regulations.
Heart attack delays, letters, page 26 Royal College of Nursing members waved signs in front of Florence Nightingale

Teachers at Sunak’s school to strike Quentin Letts

Patrick Maguire Red Box Editor
Nicola Woolcock Education Editor
Teachers at Rishi Sunak’s £46,000-a-
year alma mater are set to strike over
pay and pensions as the wave of
industrial action sweeping British
schools reaches the independent sector.
Staff at Winchester College, the
school where the prime minister was
once head boy, are expected to walk out
next month after voting overwhelm-
ingly in favour of industrial action.
National Education Union members
at Winchester held an indicative ballot
over five days in November and
action over February and March in a
separate national dispute over pay. The
union is also recognised by the school
to conduct pay negotiations on behalf
of all teachers.
The prospect of a strike at Winchester,
whose alumni also include the former
chancellor Geoffrey Howe, the late
Labour leader Hugh Gaitskell and the
novelist Anthony Trollope, is a sign that
not even England’s independent schools
are immune to the economic pressures
felt in the state sector.
Staff at 23 schools in the Girls’ Day
School Trust (GDST) walked out last
year in a dispute over pensions. The
pension scheme after a 43 per cent
rise in employers’ contributions in
2019 — another trigger for industrial
action.
The dispute comes before the arrival
Sir Keir’s touching tale
of Elizabeth Stone, Winchester’s new
headmistress. The school admitted
girls as day pupils for the first time at the
with a true-life twist
beginning of this academic year, has
expanded its programme of bursaries and heckling. Of course it was
for disadvantaged pupils, and now Political Sketch political. For these conjurors, these
shares more of its teaching materials splurgers who thieve from our
with state schools. wallets and pummel our liberties,
Boarders at Winchester are charged everything is political. Politics
£45,936 a year, with day pupils paying infests their every hour. Wardrobes,
£33,990, among the most expensive accents, diets, friendships, pets,

December after a below-inflation pay
offer, The Times understands. They are
also in a dispute over pensions.
Eighty-nine per cent of staff balloted
voted in favour of strike action on a
turnout of 83 per cent. A formal ballot
has begun and is expected to return a
mandate for industrial action, which
would take place in next month.
A majority of teachers at Winchester
are members of the NEU, which earlier
this week declared seven days of strike
looming strike at Winchester, however,
would represent the first walkout over
disagreements involving pay at a major
independent school in the current wave
of strike action.
The Times understands that it could
yet be followed by industrial action at
Radley College in Oxfordshire, where
staff are also organising.
Like several other independent
schools, Winchester is also considering
withdrawing from the teachers’
fees in the country.
The prime minister, now arguably
Britain’s most famous Old Wykeha-
mist, is understood to have donated
more than £100,000 to the school,
along with his wife. The money is
believed to have funded scholarships
and financial support for pupils “who
would not have otherwise had the
opportunity to go to Winchester”.
Winchester College did not respond
to a request for comment.
‘S
top the political games!”
honked Sir Keir Starmer,
standing sideways as if in
a fencing match. He
touched his chest to
convey what a virtuous Herbert he
was. “This is not about politics,”
replied Rishi Sunak, all teeth and
hair oil. It was PMQs. The two
were bellowing across the table of
the Commons, their MPs roaring
shopping habits, holiday
destinations . . . everything, for them,
is selected through the prism of
electoral politics. How will this or
that play? How can I make myself
look better than my opponent?
Welcome to Westminster, a-wriggle
with calculations.
Starmer, eager for a PMQs win,
produced a Casualty-style narrative
about a heart-attack victim dying on
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
walkout to pile on the pressure
near a hospital in Derby named in her honour. The union’s two-day strike continues today, with another due next month
the floor because the ambulance (he
pronounced it “umbulunce”) did not
arrive fast enough. He projected a
timeline. “By now our heart-attack
victim is in a bad way, sweating,
dizzy, chest tightening.” Later the
poor soul would still be “lying there,
waiting, listening to the clock tick”.
Artful. There was almost an echo of
Auden to that clock.
”How does he think they feel,
knowing that an umbulunce could
be still hours away?” demanded
Starmer. How did Sunak think a
person suffering cardiac arrest felt?
Good grief. Some Tory MPs scoffed
at the dramatic tale because
Starmer dotted it with mentions of,
as chance would have it, marginal
seats: Peterborough, Northampton,
Plymouth. The Conservative MP for
Peterborough yelped and had to be
told by the Speaker to behave
himself. Then Starmer produced his
rabbit. He explained that his tale
was real. A woman in Plymouth had
died aged 26. “As a dad, I cannot
even fathom that pain,” said the
Labour leader. This was the moment
he touched himself.
2GM
The reveal — and, indeed, the
whole use of that death in Plymouth
— was designed to make the Tories
look like cruel bastards. Did it
work? Probably, although it may
depend on how sceptical you are
about our politicians. Sunak, who
has a better poker face than his
predecessors, pushed back quite
fluently by arguing that Starmer
should support his minimum service
levels bill. “The Sacking Nurses
Bill!” screamed a Labour voice. They
flourish these positions against one
another like Dracula’s victims
waving bulbs of garlic.
To Starmer’s right sat Rachel
Reeves, shadow chancellor, barking
abuse at the Tories. She, too, had to
be told to shut up by the Speaker.
Next to Sunak was the deputy prime
minister Dominic Raab, temple
veins throbbing like the amplifiers at
an Ibiza disco. Starmer asked Sunak
to “apologise for the lethal chaos
under his watch”. Sunak noted that
Starmer once believed in the free
movement of people but was now
more one for “the free movement of
principles”. Up went whooshes from
JACOB KING/PA
all sides. They pretend to be miles
apart policy-wise but there is little
to choose between them save
hubcap design and tinted/clear
glass. It’s like deciding between a
Morris or Austin 1100 in British
Leyland days. Neither seems likely
to save 26-year-old heart attack
victims.
Careerists like to be in the
chamber early for PMQs but
Johnny Mercer, veterans minister
and MP for one of the Plymouth
seats, had other fish to fry. There
was only a minute of official time
left when he came beetling in
behind the Speaker’s chair at
12.29pm. Mercer, 41, was in a state
of sartorial disrepair: no tie, shirt-
tails out, hair ruffled, his Nehru-
collared gilet askew. What on
earth had the onetime Dove
shower-gel model been doing?
He stuck his red ministerial
folder between his teeth while
tucking in his shirt. At 12.31 his
mobile rang and he dashed back
out of the chamber. One way or
another, Johnny was a man in
demand.
Scrapping all EU laws
this year ‘is unrealistic
and undemocratic’
Chris Smyth
Tory MPs accused the government
last night of bypassing parliament with
an “undemocratic” and “unrealistic”
attempt to remove all EU law from the
statute books by the end of the year.
But a threatened rebellion fizzled
out, with just four Conservative MPs
voting for an amendment which would
have forced ministers to provide a list of
all laws being scrapped under powers
that passed the Commons last night.
The government has committed
itself to revoking, changing or keeping
more than 4,000 EU laws by the end of
the year as part of its pledge to restore
sovereignty.
Nusrat Ghani, the business minister,
called the retained EU law bill “the
culmination of government’s work to
untangle ourselves from decades of EU
membership”, saying it would end the
“special status” of EU law.
She stressed the importance of
hitting the deadline at the end of the
year, saying the bill would “enable out-
dated and often undemocratic retained
EU law to be amended, repealed and
replaced more quickly and easily than
before”.
David Davis, a former Brexit secre-
tary, said that while he agreed with the
aims of the bill it was wrong to hand
ministers power to change the law
without parliamentary votes.
“I wanted to take back control to give
it to Westminster, not to Whitehall, but
that is what we’ve got,” Davis said.
He said the bill was “not democratic”
because it allowed ministers to abolish
legislation at will in areas such as
aviation safety, protecting pensioners
and insider trading.
“These are substantive issues that
need to come to us [MPs],” he said.
“We are being asked here to sign a
blank cheque, we might also say a pig in
a poke, because we do not even know
how many pieces of legislation are
More Tory MPs will defect
warns the last one who did
Patrick Maguire, Chris Smyth
Conservative backbenchers are openly
contemplating futures outside the
party and more could defect to Labour
and Reform UK before the next general
election, the last MP to cross the floor
has said.
Christian Wakeford, who defected to
Labour from the Tories at prime minis-
ter’s questions a year ago today, said his
former colleagues were “looking at
finding alternative jobs already” and
suggested he would not be the last to
change parties before the next election.
Speaking to The Times, Wakeford,
the MP for Bury South, said: “There are
many people who are disillusioned with
being in the governing party. Whether
it is a case of levelling-up funding,
whether it’s a case of the party shifting,
of broken promises or threats — it’s not
a very good place. I know former
colleagues who are looking at finding
alternative jobs already, those who are
7
News
News
going through on the back of this, let
alone what they are. And that of course
is not democratic,” he added.
Ministers have published a list of
2,400 EU rules covered by the bill but
said they expect it to rise above 4,000 as
more are identified.
Davis said emergency Covid laws
showed the “inefficient and possibly
incompetent” results of allowing minis-
ters to make law without scrutiny.
Sir Bob Neill, Conservative chairman
of the justice committee, said the bill
would introduce so-called Henry VIII
powers, removing “all scrutiny”.
“That is not taking back control, that
is actually doing the reverse of what the
government seeks to do,” he added.
Peter Aldous, MP for Waveney, told
the Commons: “My principal worry is
that the requirement to revoke all EU
legislation by the end of this year is
unrealistic and such a sudden sunset
clause sets down a framework for bad
and hasty law-making.”
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former busi-
ness secretary who introduced the bill,
insisted it was a “technical tidying up
operation”. He said the bill was being
“enormously over-interpreted”, “mainly
by people who never wanted to leave
the EU anyway”.
He added the bill was “correcting our
statute book so that we no longer have
laws that refer to European regulations
that may themselves have been
repealed or amended” and insisted that
Britain could make its own environ-
mental and workers’ protection laws.
Bill Cash, a veteran Eurosceptic,
insisted Britain must remove the
“massive ball and chain” of EU rules,
saying: “These thousands of laws lack
inherent democratic legitimacy and
must therefore be removed or replaced
from our statute book.”
Justin Madders, a shadow business
minister, called the bill “a leap into the
dark, a kamikaze approach to govern-
ment, a power grab”.
openly saying they aren’t enjoying
things, they’re not happy with the
direction of the government. There are
a lot of unhappy people at the moment.
I can’t see that changing.”
Asked whether more Conservative
MPs would follow him in crossing
the floor, Wakeford, who is now a point
of contact for potential defectors in
his new role as an opposition whip,
said: “Whether it’s to Labour or
Reform, those on the right of the Tories
aren’t happy as well. I think we may
well do, I don’t think it’s the end of the
story.”
Appealing to his former colleagues,
he added: “It’s been incredibly warm . . .
my phone is open. I’m happy to chat to
anyone to explain what the journey has
been like.”
Wakeford won his seat with a majority
of 402 in 2019, before quitting his party
after 19 years — a decision he said had
cost him several friendships, including
with his best man.
8 2GM Thursday January 19 2023 | the times

News
News Politics

Inflation dip does

little to ease UK’s
cost of living woe
Arthi Nachiappan Behind the story
Economics Correspondent

T
Inflation continued to fall at the end of he latest fall because at that point Rishi Sunak’s pledge
last year but remained close to a 40-year in inflation is — prior to the war in to halve inflation by
high, giving little respite to households ostensibly Ukraine, prior to the the end of the year
facing a squeeze on living standards. good news energy crisis — prices remains some way off.
The consumer prices index, the (Steven were far lower. Inflation is not
headline measure of inflation, fell to Swinford writes). “Between a year expected to start
10.5 per cent last month, down from Inflation is now ago and today, prices falling significantly
10.7 per cent in November, figures from 10.5 per cent, down went up loads,” Jack until April, and even
the Office for National Statistics show. from 11.1 per cent in Leslie, a senior when it does drop
Inflation is thought to have peaked October, and looks on economist at the interest rates are still
at 11.1 per cent in October, when house- course to fall Resolution likely to rise.
holds received part of their winter significantly. The Foundation, said. “All While high levels of
energy bills. worst appears to be that really matters is inflation exacerbate
The ONS said the fall in inflation was over. what the price was a the cost of living
the result of lower petrol prices. There Households, year ago.” crisis, they also give
was also a slight drop in the cost of however, are unlikely The second factor is the government a
clothing. However, this was offset by to see any benefit for that falling oil prices level of political
months to come. The and easing supply capital in its
fall in inflation from chain disruption take negotiations with the
Consumer prices index 10.7 per cent to 10.5 per time to filter through unions.
cent is marginal, to the wider economy. Robert Jenrick, the
12% despite a huge drop in The latest inflation immigration minister,
10 wholesale energy figures reflect a fall in put it bluntly when he
8 prices. diesel and petrol said yesterday that
Economists point to prices, but this is increasing wage offers
6
Bank of England two factors that mean more than offset by would be “the very
target 4 Britain is still living the huge rise in the worst thing we could
2 with double-digit cost of food. do” when inflation
0 inflation. The first is Food prices rose by was so high.
2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 that consumer price 16.8 per cent year on That argument will
Source: ONS inflation is measured year, the biggest rise become increasingly
year on year, meaning since 1977. difficult to make as
increases for coach and air fares, hotel that yesterday’s “It can take months inflation begins to fall.
accommodation and food costs. figures — for for it to get through Given that industrial
Inflation in petrol and diesel has December 2022 — the supply chain,” action appears here to
fallen for a sixth consecutive month, are compared with Leslie said. stay, the pressure on
reflecting the decline in the wholesale those in December So while there is the prime minister
price of oil as investors withdrew 2021. This matters cause for optimism, will only grow.
money amid concerns over an impend- In a video posted online by the Treasury yesterday, Jeremy Hunt used coffee
ing economic downturn and the impact
of coronavirus in China. “High inflation is a nightmare for providing an average of £3,500 of slow the pace of its interest rate rises as down demand within the economy and
Food inflation, which has risen for 17 family budgets, destroys business support for every household over this rising borrowing costs add to the with it, in theory, prices.
months in a row, is at its highest in more investment and leads to strike action, year and next.” pressure on household budgets. Economists are divided on whether
than 45 years, at 16.8 per cent. The big- so, however tough, we need to stick to Inflation is still well above the Bank The Bank has made nine back-to- rate-setters will continue to push up
gest jump was in the price of milk, our plan to bring it down. of England’s 2 per cent target as a result back rate rises since December 2021, the cost of borrowing at their present
cheese and eggs, which are affected by “While any fall in inflation is wel- of a surge in energy prices after sanc- bringing rates to their present level of rate, given that economic growth was
the soaring price of energy, animal feed come, we have a plan to go further and tions were imposed on Russia follow- 3.5 per cent. better than expected in November,
and fertiliser. Delayed harvests and halve inflation this year, reduce debt ing its invasion of Ukraine. Raising interest rates aims to make suggesting demand is holding up.
export controls in India also pushed up and grow the economy, but it is vital It led to double-digit rises in food borrowing more expensive and offer a However, there are signs of slack
the price of sugar and sugar-based that we take the difficult decisions prices and household bills over the past higher return on savings to encourage emerging in the labour market, which
products such as confectionery. needed and see the plan through. To year. The latest figures raise questions people to save money rather than reduces the likelihood of big wage rises.
Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, said: help families in the meantime, we are about whether the central bank will spend it. This is supposed to bring Investors in the financial markets

Mobile bills to rise by 14% for millions Sunak tells Khan to think
George Nixon Money Reporter
Millions face price rises of more than
14 per cent in their broadband and
mobile phone bills this year that they
can do nothing about.
Companies including BT, EE, Plus-
net, TalkTalk, Three and Vodafone
increase customers’ monthly payments
every year by the consumer prices
index measure of inflation released in
January, plus up to 3.9 percentage
points.
January’s CPI reading, released yes-
terday by the Office for National Statis-
tics, found inflation was 10.5 per cent in
the year to December. Although lower
than the previous two months, with
CPI having peaked at 11.1 per cent in the
year to October, it is still close to a
40-year high.
TalkTalk will increase bills by Janu-
ary’s CPI plus 3.7 percentage points,
while the rest will increase bills by CPI
plus 3.9 percentage points. These will
be added to bills from the end of March.
O2 customers will find out how much
their bills will go up next month,
because it uses February’s retail prices
index, which is typically higher. The
latest RPI reading was 13.4 per cent.
These inflation-linked price rises are
written into a customer’s contract when
they sign up, so there is nothing they
can do. Contracts typically run for two
to three years, so customers face multi-
ple increases before they can switch.
Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, says
it does not have the power to stop com-
panies including these rises in their
contracts, only that they must be
clearly explained. If they are not, the
customer can switch within 30 days of a
price increase without a penalty.
However, last month it launched an
investigation, after it said it was con-
cerned that people who took out broad-
band and mobile phone contracts
between March 2021 and June 2022
“may not have been provided with
sufficiently clear information about
in-contract price rises”.
Telecoms companies have said their
own costs, such as energy and the
wholesale cost of using the UK’s copper
line networks, are also linked to infla-
tion, and have gone up. BT — which
owns EE and Plusnet — TalkTalk,
Three and Vodafone all said they would
not cap the increase in bills.
A spokesman for Ofcom said:
“Everyone must be told upfront about
any future price rises before they sign
up, and we’re investigating whether
phone and broadband firms are stick-
ing to this.”
Henry Zeffman Associate Political Editor
Ben Clatworthy
Transport Correspondent
Sadiq Khan should “properly reconsider”
his plan to expand London’s ultra-low
emission zone, or Ulez, Rishi Sunak has
said.
The prime minister called on the
mayor of London to abandon the pro-
posal to extend the pollution charge to
all London boroughs.
Speaking at prime minister’s ques-
tions, Sunak said: “It is disappointing
that the mayor, backed by the leader of
the opposition, is choosing not to listen
to the public, expanding the zone
against the overwhelming views of resi-
dents and business. I urge the mayor to
properly reconsider and respond to
these serious concerns.”
He was responding to David Sim-
monds, the Conservative MP for
Ruislip, Northwood & Pinner, who said
the daily charge of £12.50 would dis-
advantage “a great many car-depend-
ent older and disabled” people in his
constituency.
Craig Mackinlay, the Conservative
MP for South Thanet, said the plan was
also “a tax against Kent residents, a tax
against all of the home counties”,
adding: “This is true taxation without
representation.”
Sunak replied: “The Labour mayor is
imposing this tax on a public which
does not want it. He is right to highlight
that.”
It came as Khan announced that he
would make permanent the ending of
free morning peak travel for pensioners
in an attempt to boost Transport for
London’s revenue. Publishing the draft
budget for the city’s transport network,
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
cups to explain inflation. One included a drawing of the Covid virus, while another symbolised the war in Ukraine
expect interest rates to peak at just
above 4.4 per cent this summer.
The Bank of England expects infla-
tion to fall back to its 2 per cent target by
mid-2024, and the Office for Budget
Responsibility, the official forecaster,
predicts a return to target next year
before dropping into negative territory,
or “deflation”, the following year.
The fall in inflation could be pivotal
for the Bank of England’s policy on the
cost of borrowing, according to Yael
again on expanded low emissions zone
Khan revealed that he would not
reinstate free travel before 9am for
those who hold a 60+ freedom
pass.
Curbs on free travel were intro-
duced in the summer of 2020 to
save money during the pan-
demic. Not reinstating free
morning travel will save
TfL about £40 million a
year. The disabled person’s
freedom pass will be un-
affected.
TfL also announced
that fares will rise by an
average of 5.9 per cent
from March 5, the big-
gest increase in nearly
a decade. Zone 1 Tube
Sadiq Khan froze
fares for four years
2GM
Selfin, chief economist at KPMG UK.
“We expect inflation to continue falling
throughout this year, reaching the
Bank of England’s 2 per cent target by
mid-2024,” she said.
“Falling inflation will also come as a
relief to Bank of England’s policy-
makers, who may see this as an opportu-
nity to slow the pace of further rate rises.
With the effects of past rate rises still
passing through the UK economy, we
could see the base interest rate peak at
fares will jump by 12 per cent to £2.80
per trip, which City Hall said would
help to protect outer London fares
from big increases.
Khan froze transport fares for
four years when he was elected
in 2016, a move some argue
has contributed to TfL’s
financial problems. He
said: “My hands have been
tied since the pandemic
by the strict conditions
set by the government in
the recent emergency
funding agreement for
TfL, which means fares
have to be increased in
London by the same
amount as national
rail fares: 5.9 per cent.”
London’s Ulez was intro-
duced in 2019 as a way to
4 per cent in the first quarter of the
year.”
Ruth Gregory, senior UK economist
at Capital Economics, said the core in-
flation rate was still 6.3 per cent, sugges-
ting it was “too early for the Bank to
declare victory against inflation”. She
expects it to raise rates to a peak of
4.5 per cent in the coming months.
No room for complacency in fighting
inflation, leading article, page 27
Pound surges as inflation falls, page 33
reduce air pollution by discouraging
drivers of older, more polluting vehicles
from entering the city centre. Petrol
cars registered before 2005 and diesel
cars registered before 2015 generally do
not meet the emissions standards, and
their drivers must pay £12.50 a day to
drive in the zone.
The Ulez was expanded in 2021 to
cover the area inside London’s North
and South Circular roads, and is set to
expand again in August to apply to the
whole of Greater London.
This is predicted to take 100,000
vehicles a day off the road and reduce
air pollution-related deaths in the city.
From the end of the month drivers on
some low-income and disability bene-
fits can apply to a scrappage scheme.
However, critics say the expansion
penalises low-income drivers strug-
gling during the cost of living crisis.
Carney lauds British
economy as global
outlook gets brighter
Mehreen Khan Davos
Mark Carney has praised the UK econ-
omy amid cautious signs of optimism
over the global outlook.
Speaking at the World Economic
Forum in Davos, the former governor
of the Bank of England said Britain’s
institutional strengths allowed the eco-
nomy to withstand a series of shocks
after the financial crisis. It came as UK
inflation appeared to have peaked and
falling energy costs led to better out-
looks for the global economy.
The IMF signalled at Davos that it
would upgrade its economic forecasts
as the outlook showed signs of bright-
ening. Instead of predicting a “tougher”
2023, Gita Gopinath, deputy managing
director of the IMF, said she now
expected an improvement in the
second half of the year and into next
year.
Business leaders have also expressed
optimism about the global economy as
China drops Covid controls, the US em-
barks on a green investment boom and
western Europe adjusts to the impact of
Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Market prices for natural gas have
fallen to pre-Ukraine war levels since
December, on the back of warm wea-
ther and strong wind-power generation
in countries such as the UK.
Energy costs have been the main
driver of inflation across the global eco-
nomy, feeding cost of living crises and
forcing governments into emergency
subsidies for electricity bills.
Consumer price inflation in the UK
may have peaked in October at 11.1 per
cent. The Bank of England expects it to
fall to 5 per cent at the end of the year,
a forecast that could be upgraded after
the unexpected drop in energy prices.
Despite the recent optimism, econo-
mists and policymakers have warned
that more stubborn inflation in areas
such as food, rents and services will
need to decline significantly for central
Dyson lashes out at PM
and pushes for tax cuts
George Sandeman, Chris Smyth
Sir James Dyson has criticised Rishi
Sunak’s economic policies for keeping
Britain in a state of Covid inertia and
urged him to cut taxes to stimulate
growth.
The inventor and entrepreneur said
that it appeared as though “growth has
become a dirty word” in Downing
Street and urged the prime minister to
“incentivise private innovation” in the
spring budget due in March. “Hard
work and sacrifice should be a vote
winner, not an electoral liability,” he
wrote in The Daily Telegraph. “But
growth has become a dirty word and an
idea too risky to contemplate.”
He added: “Now the pandemic has
passed, private sector enterprise and
innovation must be freed to generate
the growth and create the wealth which
are essential to get the country back on
its feet.”
Dyson, 75, a Brexit supporter, said
that the private sector was being handi-
capped and bemoaned the increase in
corporation tax and the current level of
national insurance. He said govern-
ment had yet to properly direct workers
back to the office and this had “badly
damaged the country’s work ethic”.
9
News
News
banks to stop raising interest rates in
the coming months.
The Bank of England under Carney’s
successor, Andrew Bailey, is forecasting
a recession for the UK this year.
Carney has previously made a series
of gloomy assessments, saying Brexit
contributed to a cost of living crisis and
that Liz Truss’s ill-fated government
chose to “double down on inequality” in
the tax-cutting mini-budget. But in
Davos yesterday he said: “The UK’s
structural response on financial ser-
vices was leading, and with respect to
sustainability, the UK has been among
the leaders with the European Union.”
The forum has been dominated by a
trade dispute between Washington and
Brussels over the Biden administra-
tion’s package of $369 billion in subsi-
dies for electric vehicles, battery pro-
duction and raw materials. European
leaders have said the tax breaks will
lure companies from the continent to
the US to benefit from government
incentives and cheaper energy.
Carney said he welcomed the US
Inflation Reduction Act and the EU’s
plan to respond by relaxing its state aid
rules and speed the process of approval
for renewable projects.
He did not comment on whether the
UK should also pump money into
green tech, but said there was “much to
commend” about its net-zero policies.
Carney highlighted areas such as the
production of clean hydrogen, carbon
capture and electric vehicle charging as
“mission critical for climate change and
industrial competitiveness”.
However, the government has come
under fire from the Tory MP Chris
Skidmore, whose net-zero review, pub-
lished a few days ago, said the UK was
at risk of falling behind in its pledge to
hit net-zero emissions by 2050 and re-
duce greenhouse gas emissions by
55 per cent at the end of the decade.
Davos decision-makers risk burnout,
Thunderer, page 24
His criticism comes as senior Tory
MPs urged Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor,
to cut taxes or risk losing the next
general election with the Conservatives
lagging behind Labour in the polls.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a former
party leader, told the Daily Mail: “We
have got to get growth going. This
government will sink without trace if
we don’t get growth going by the middle
of this year — we won’t have a hope of
winning the election.”
Sir John Redwood, a former Tory
minister, said: “We cannot address the
issue of growth without some tax cuts.
They must be affordable, of course —
but the best way to bring borrowing
down and boost revenues is to grow the
economy.”
On Tuesday night the Conservative
Growth Group, which includes several
supporters of the former prime minister
Liz Truss, met for the first time to
discuss how best to make the case for
lower taxes. Sunak has offered to meet
the group, whose existence was re-
vealed in The Times on Saturday. Truss
did attend the group’s inaugural drinks
reception but it is understood that she
does not intend to take a leading role.
Sunak must show fighting spirit,
Iain Martin, page 25
10
News
DANNY LAWSON/PA
Flight prices rise
44% in summer
holiday scramble
Ben Clatworthy
Transport Correspondent
The price of flights jumped by 44 per
cent in the past year as airlines capital-
ised on pent-up demand for holidays.
The old ways John Ogilby’s road atlas Britannia from 1675 will be shown at the Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery in Leeds The Office for National Statistics
said that the leap in prices, also caused
by a reduction in the number of flights
operating and the soaring cost of jet
fuel, was the biggest since records
began in 1989. It came as Which?, the
consumer watchdog, found that the
price of package holidays has jumped
by 19 per cent year on year as operators
face growing costs.
Of the six holiday destinations —
Spain, Greece, Portugal, Italy, Turkey
and Cyprus — compared by Which?,
Greece had the steepest price rises. A
week’s holiday in the country cost on
average 30 per cent more than last year,
with an average price tag of £867 per
person this summer.
Prices have risen by a fifth or more in
Italy, Spain and Turkey. The smallest
rises in price were in Portugal, with the
cost of a week’s holiday rising by seven
per cent on average, to £705 per person.
Despite a significant rise in average
price, Spain has the cheapest getaways,
with a week’s package holiday costing
£693 per person. Which? used data
from the comparison site Travelsuper-
market.com and tracked summer 2023
holiday prices between November 1
and January 3, before comparing them
to 2022 prices in the same destinations.
Rory Boland, the editor of Which?
Travel, said: “Travellers are likely to
experience significantly higher
prices than they’re used to for a trip
away this year, with huge demand
for holidays combining with infla-
tionary pressure to create a perfect
storm of spiralling costs.
“Flights in particular have seen
some of the steepest price rises so
far, with our research finding
flights to popular destinations
including Greece and Italy up 71
per cent compared to last year.”
A week’s holiday in Greece costs
30 per cent more than last year
Facebook and Instagram
ordered to ‘free the nipple’
Mark Sellman
Technology Correspondent
Meta has been told by its watchdog to
overhaul the confusing, unworkable
and discriminatory rules on nudity in a
move that could “free the nipple” on
Instagram and Facebook.
The oversight board for the com-
pany, which owns the social media plat-
forms, made the ruling following a ban
on images of two bare-chested people.
Meta’s policy on adult nudity cur-
rently bans photographs of female
breasts and nipples unless they appear
in protests, childbirth, breastfeeding
and medical contexts, including top
surgery and breast cancer awareness.
The rules have long been opposed by
feminists and celebrities including
Rihanna, Miley Cyrus and Naomi
Campbell, who have waged a “free the
nipple” campaign as they say that the
policy discriminates against women.
Thursday January 19 2023 | the times
On Tuesday, Michael O’Leary, the
chief executive of Ryanair, said the era
of £9.99 seats will not return “for the
next year or two” because of high oil
prices. He said that there would be
“high single-digit” percentage increas-
es in fares for a second year, the fastest
pace he could remember.
He said that although analysts had
expected high inflation and economic
sluggishness to dampen consumer
demand, it has so far not dented book-
ings. “There’s lots of spending going on
out there. We’ve gone through two
weeks of record bookings after Christ-
mas. People are worried prices might
rise in summer, which I think they will,
and want to get in there early.”
Skyscanner, the world’s biggest flight
comparison platform, said that book-
ings for UK departures are up 50 per
cent this year compared with the same
period in 2019. “We’re seeing demand
for holidays is extremely high going
into 2023, and bookings in the first and
second week in January exceeded the
volume during the corresponding week
in 2019,” said Laura Lindsay, Skyscan-
ner’s trends expert. “This large wave of
interest shows that travellers are eager
to make plans, as well as continuing to
make up for lost time.”
Which? also found that the cost of a
night’s stay in a three or four-star hotel
in the six destinations had risen by an
average of 23 per cent this year, from
£140 in Easter 2022 to £170 on average
this year. In addition, data from Kayak,
the hotel comparison site, revealed that
UK hotel rates have risen by almost a
fifth this Easter, from £100 to £119.
Other protests have included a “lactiv-
ist” nurse-in and naked demonstrators
at Facebook offices.
The ruling centred on a US-based
transgender and non-binary couple
who posted images on Instagram of
themselves bare-chested but with their
nipples covered. They were discussing
transgender healthcare and were rais-
ing money for surgery.
Meta removed the images, which
were posted in 2021 and 2022, because
they contained breasts and a fund-
raising link. The board ordered their
reinstatement but also called for Meta
to rewrite the rules to ensure all users
were treated in a manner consistent
with human rights standards.
Meta said in a statement: “We wel-
come the board’s decision in this case.
We had reinstated this content prior to
the decision, recognising that it should
not have been taken down. We are con-
stantly evaluating our policies.”
the times | Thursday January 19 2023 11

News
PENNY BIRD

sailing, or even seas.

Stepping onto the shore
yesterday with the 11th
fastest time this year —
and having raised over
£25,000 — that was no
longer the case. Now, at
least in the hours after
arrival, they are happy
to lose their sea legs.
“The only thing that
will ever get me on a
rowing machine again is
if I decide to row
another ocean,” says

Brothers row Atlantic

Louis, who is returning
to his job in a software
consultancy. “And I can
for £5 bet with father safely say I will never
row another ocean.”
One worry of their

T
he Ambrose
brothers faced
plenty of lows
(Tom Whipple
writes). There
were the endless days of
northerly winds, when
waves crashed over the
boat and nowhere was
dry. There were the salt-
encrusted sores that
appeared on bottoms
and never quite healed.
And there was the
moment when one of
them had to confess,
mid-ocean, that he
hadn’t downloaded
the audiobooks.
But there was also a
definite high: the point
when, after rowing the
Atlantic in 36 days, their
father met them on the
shores of Antigua with a
£5 note — having lost a
20-year-old bet.
In 2003, Hugo
Ambrose rowed the
Atlantic, leaving three
young boys at home.
Now, in a first for ocean
rowing, his sons Louis,
27, Felix, 26, and Finn,
23, have beaten his time.
The experience was,
they said, just as
glorious as Hugo had
described. There was the
wildlife: a pod of whales,
fish, and a solitary
circling shark.
There were also the
skies. “Waking up in the
morning, having a coffee
and watching the
sunrise — it was such
a privilege,” Felix said.
It was also, though, as
tough as their father had
told them. “I think we
made pretty poor
choices on food
selection,” confessed
Finn, who told The
Times he was looking
forward to his first
non-rehydrated meal.
Alone in the vastness
of the ocean they
endured not only days of
dodgy bolognese but
days of strong winds.
“The waves would break
The “Ambrose Buoys” — Louis, 27, Felix, 26, and Finn, 23 — collected a fiver after beating their father’s time by 23 days
on you and it was pretty
terrifying. You’d get
soaked, and you
wouldn’t ever get dry,”
said Felix. That was also
when the bottom sores
began. “Just sitting
down is uncomfortable.”
It is difficult to
pinpoint the moment
that the Ambrose
brothers decided they
would row the Atlantic,
as part of the Talisker
Whisky Atlantic
Challenge.
It could have been
when, in 2003, they flew
out to see their father on
dry land for the first
time in 59 days. It could
have been afterwards,
when they listened
to his stories of endless
skies and spectacular
sunsets — and bet
him £5 they could do
it all quicker.
Or it could have been
during lockdown, when
they returned to their
family’s New Forest
home. What is certain is
that when the self-
described “Ambrose
Buoys” began training in
earnest, to row in aid of
the conservation charity
Tusk, they had no
experience of rowing or
father had been that,
like many teams, they
would arrive on the
other side of the
Atlantic, put feet on dry
land and never speak to
each other again.
That didn’t happen.
Somehow, after
36 days in a boat smaller
than their living room,
and even after
Felix failed to download
those audiobooks, they
stayed friends. That
might be as much to do
with the subject matter
he had chosen: JRR
Tolkein and George RR
Martin. “I think he was
the only one who was
going to listen to them,”
said Louis.
What will they do
with the fiver? Louis
now regrets they didn’t
set the stakes a little
higher. “There’s been
quite a reduction over
20 years in purchasing
power. Maybe we will
get half a pint?”

Every officer’s record will be Athlete stop

vetted to root out rogue police
Fiona Hamilton
Crime and Security Editor
Matt Dathan Home Affairs Editor
Police vetting has not been allocated
enough resources, a senior officer
warned yesterday as the home secre-
tary ordered forces to carry out fresh
checks on every member of staff after
Forces don’t follow the rules
spot unacceptable behaviour before
Andy Marsh people enter the service, continue
Comment our vigilance throughout careers and
act ruthlessly. The College of
Policing has improved training for
body had not always been followed.
Andy Cooke, the chief inspector of con-
stabulary, said confidence and trust in
policing had sunk to its lowest level in
almost four decades. He called on
forces to ensure recruitment processes
weeded out misogynists.
“Undoubtedly, there are significant
issues with policing culture,” Cooke
report ‘was
weakened’
Fiona Hamilton
An investigator who worked for the
police watchdog has said she quit after
her findings on the controversial stop
and search of two black athletes were
“watered down”.
The Team GB athlete Bianca Williams
and her partner, the Portuguese
sprinter Ricardo dos Santos, were

the David Carrick rape scandal.
Suella Braverman said checking all
officers against the national policing
databases would root out anyone who
has “slipped through the net”.
She added that vetting obligations
would be made “stronger and clearer”
after the case of Carrick, who was al-
lowed to join the Metropolitan Police in
2001 even though he was a suspect in a
domestic incident the previous year.
Carrick, 48, a firearms officer, carried
out sex attacks for nearly 20 years,
including 48 rapes of a dozen women.
He pleaded guilty to a string of charges
at Southwark crown court this week.
No action was taken to stop him despite
repeated complaints to the Met and
other police forces about his behaviour.
Andy Marsh, the head of the College
of Policing, said vetting had often been
a “Cinderella department” because
chief constables focused resources on
other areas.
He warned that the systems and pro-
cesses put in place by his standards
T
he attacks on women by a
serving police officer,
David Carrick, have left
the public dismayed and
tens of thousands of
outstanding officers feeling
betrayed. Opportunities to join the
dots on Carrick’s horrendous
behaviour were missed.
Vetting didn’t happen, allegations
were dismissed and incidents were
treated in isolation. I commend the
victims in this case for their bravery
in coming forward and apologise
that more wasn’t done. Women
should be able to trust that if they
report an officer or staff member for
wrongdoing they will be listened to
and action will be taken.
In my 35-year career I have sacked
many officers for behaviour that pales
by the side of what we have seen this
week. The system worked then
because the teams with responsibility
for misconduct and vetting were able
to identify problems early. We must
recruits, strengthened the guidance
on misconduct hearings and beefed
up legal standards for vetting, which
we are refreshing again this year. I
have consistently called for changes
to make it easier to remove bad
officers, and welcome the home
secretary’s recently announced work
on this issue.
Forces haven’t invested enough in
implementing our procedures for
rooting out corrupt and dangerous
officers. Our rules say all officers
should be checked at least every ten
years, yet Carrick went 16 without
scrutiny. The Met commissioner, Sir
Mark Rowley, has shown that when
taken seriously, forces are able to
boost this vital work, albeit at a cost.
We need a system that guarantees
that officers who betray our values
are shown the door. Otherwise
policing will continue to test the
public’s patience.
Andy Marsh is chief executive of the
College of Policing
said. “But misogyny is a societal issue,
not just a policing issue.
“I’m not making that an excuse, I’m
just making the point that policing ob-
viously needs to be held to higher stan-
dards than others because [of] the pow-
ers that police officers have. But polic-
ing is recruiting quickly from the
community. It needs to make sure it’s
recruiting the right people.”
Braverman said: “Carrick’s sickening
crimes are a stain on the police and he
should never have been allowed to
remain as an officer for so long.
“We are taking immediate steps to
ensure predatory individuals are not
only rooted out of the force, but that
vetting and standards are strengthened
to ensure they cannot join the police in
the first place.”
The London mayor’s office is to ask
Braverman to approve an application
to strip Carrick of his pension. Officers
can lose up to 65 per cent if their crimes
lead to a serious loss in public confi-
dence and are connected to their job.
pulled from their car in front of their
baby son and detained in July 2020.
They accused the Metropolitan Police
of racial profiling.
Trisha Napier, who worked for the
Independent Office for Police Conduct
and investigated the actions of the
officers involved, told BBC’s Newsnight
that her report was “watered down” and
senior managers overturned her
decisions. She has since quit, saying:
“The integrity of the organisation, in
my view, was completely diminished
and I could just no longer . . . work for
them any more.”
The police conduct office said
that it “absolutely refutes” claims of
interference.
Five officers have been charged with
gross misconduct and face the sack for
potential breaches of professional
standards. Williams and Dos Santos
were stopped as they drove through
Maida Vale, west London, handcuffed
for 45 minutes and searched. Nothing
was found.
12
News
Electric car MoTs
will test for safety
Ben Clatworthy
Transport Correspondent
The MoT is set for an overhaul to make
inspections of batteries mandatory as
electric cars surge in popularity despite
concerns over fire risks.
The Department for Transport (DfT)
has launched a consultation over
reforms of the MoT, which are
designed to cut costs for motorists. The
tests check a number of parts such as
lights, seatbelts, tyres and brakes to
ensure they meet legal standards.
Officials are grappling with the need
to update the tests given the rapid rise
in hybrid and electric vehicles on the
roads. The department says that in
2021-22 there were more than 550,000
MoT tests on hybrid vehicles and
70,000 tests on electric vehicles.
It says there are “issues around these
technologies that need further atten-
tion”, including checking batteries that
power electric vehicles. The consulta-
tion says: “For example, a damaged bat-
tery could have safety implications if it
fails in use. With ongoing technology
advancements, data may increasingly
be available to assess the health of the
battery in an electric vehicle.”
Data collected last year under Free-
dom of Information showed that the
London Fire Brigade had responded to
507 electric car fires in the past five
years, with 43 reported by fire services
in Merseyside.
There are particular concerns about
damaged batteries, especially after car
crashes. Roadside rescue companies
have previously said the risk of dam-
aged batteries causing car fires mean
they keep crashed cars five spaces away
from other vehicles when storing them.
Emissions from hybrid vehicles are
also not currently tested as part of the
MoT, which the DfT describes as a “sig-
nificant issue which affects the ability
to identify whether these newer vehi-
cles are polluting or contributing to
existing or new air-quality issues”.
Officials are planning an overhaul of
the tests, including delaying the first
test for new light vehicles from year
three to four after registration.
The idea of reducing the frequency of
tests for cars over three years from one
year to two was first raised by Grant
Shapps, then transport secretary, at a
cabinet meeting addressing the cost of
living crisis. Shapps argued that
modern vehicles were more advanced
than cars of a bygone age. The DfT said
“major developments in vehicle tech-
nology” had improved road safety since
MoTs were introduced in 1960.
Motoring groups rejected the pro-
posals, arguing that MoTs were vital to
road safety. Edmund King, the presi-
dent of the AA, said: “The MoT plays a
vital role in ensuring that vehicles on
our roads are safe and well-maintained,
and while not a formal recommend-
ation, we totally oppose any change
from an annual MoT.” The DfT consul-
tation runs until March 1.
2GM Thursday January 19 2023 | the times
PETER WILLIAMS WALES NEWS SERVICE
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Campus antisemitism
Students and academics at British
universities are suffering from a
rise in antisemitic attacks, a
report from the Community
Security Trust (CST) shows. Since
2020 the charity has received 150
reports of antisemitic incidents,
including death threats and
physical assaults. In a single
month, May 2021, 55 incidents
took place. Mark Gardner, the
CST’s chief executive, said:
“Students’ unions and university
Heaps of fun Llangynidr Mountain in Brecon Beacons National Park, south Wales, authorities need to better support
is known as one of the five best places for sledging in the UK. Weather, page 56 their Jewish students.”
the times | Thursday January 19 2023 13

Parents ‘killed daughter by letting her grow morbidly obese’
Tom Ball Northern Correspondent
Two parents killed their 16-year-old
daughter by allowing her to become
morbidly obese during the Covid lock-
down, a court was told.
Kaylea Titford, who weighed
22st 13lb (145.6kg), lived in conditions
“unfit for any animal” and did not leave
her bed for months, Mold crown court
was told yesterday.
When she died in October 2020 at
her home in Newtown, Powys, she was
found lying in filth and soiled clothing.
The family allegedly ordered five
Kaylea Titford, 16,
weighed 22st 13lb
when she was
found dead
takeaways a week. Kaylea’s mother,
Sarah Lloyd-Jones, 39, admits man-
slaughter by gross negligence but her
father, Alun Titford, 45, denies all
charges.
Caroline Rees KC, for the prosecu-
tion, said Kaylea had spina bifida, a
back condition, and hydrocephalus, a
build-up of fluid in the brain, and used
a wheelchair from a young age.
Kaylea was living in “squalor and
degradation”, she said, and when para-
medics found her she was lying on filthy
“puppy pads”, with maggots and flies on
her body and milk bottles filled with
urine around her bed. Rees said: “Kay-
lea Titford was living in conditions unfit
for any animal, let alone a vulnerable
16-year-old girl who depended entirely
on others for her care.”
Kaylea was grossly obese, with dirty
and matted hair, an unwashed body
and ulcerated skin, it was claimed. She
had a BMI of 70. The average BMI
measurement for a girl of 16 is 20.
Kaylea attended Newtown High
School, where she was described as
“funny and chatty” by staff, but became
confined to her home after the pan-
demic began in March 2020, Rees said.
On October 10, 2020 Alun Titford’s
mother called 999 and Kaylea’s body
was found, the prosecution said.
Police officers allegedly noted an
“unbearable” rotting smell and mag-
gots crawling on the bed.
Rees said: “The prosecution say that
News
the scene — as witnessed by those that
attended — together with the state in
which Kaylea’s body was found demon-
strate clearly that this vulnerable girl,
who relied heavily on others for her
welfare needs, was seriously neglected
by not just one but both of her parents.”
In a police interview, Titford alle-
gedly said he was “not a very good dad”
and that his wife looked after Kaylea.
Asked when he last asked Kaylea how
she was, he said: “I didn’t ask her. Like I
say, I’m not the best of people.”
The trial, which is expected to last up
to four weeks, will continue today.

dispute reached court

last week when Judge
Nigel Gerald was told
that a settlement had
been reached.
Smart had agreed to
the sale of Nazeing to
discharge his debts.
Smart, who appeared
in court without a
lawyer, told the judge he
had been badly affected
by the death in
September last year of
his mother, who had
suffered from dementia.
He said he had
struggled to deal with
Millionaire circus heir the legal battle after
becoming effectively
ended up living in car homeless. He said: “I do
not have regular
internet access, a proper

B
illy Smart, the
legendary
showman,
amassed a
fortune with
his travelling circus
(Jonathan Ames writes).
Unfortunately his
grandson, Billy Jay
Smart, 49, has not
inherited his family’s
skill with money.
The Eton-educated
former entrepreneur,
who once owned
properties estimated to
be worth £20 million,
has been evicted from
his estate and forced to
sleep in his car. Smart’s
portfolio included a
house in Belgravia,
central London, a villa
in Palm Beach, Florida,
and Nazeing Park, a 12-
bedroom Georgian
manor house set in 68
acres in Surrey.
He was reported to
have incurred debts of
about £9 million after
court battles with his
sister and a mortgage
lender.
Smart told Central
London county court
that he had no “proper
place to sleep”.
He was evicted last
year from Nazeing,
outside Waltham Abbey.
His grandfather
founded a travelling
circus after the Second
World War that was
hugely successful.
After his death his
son, Billy Smart Jr, took
control with his
brothers, touring until
1971. The Smart brothers
also owned Guernsey
Zoo, selling it in 1972,
and opened Windsor
Safari Park in 1969,
before selling it in 1977.
Smart’s father became
a property developer in
Spain, before his death,
aged 70, in 2005. Smart
followed his father into
the business of high
value property.
He fell into debt,
however, after taking
out a £4.2 million loan in
2014 with Castle Trust
Capital that was secured
against Nazeing.
It was reported that he
once lived at the
property with his sister
Baccara La Roux Smart,
44, an artist, and their
place to sleep or access
to all files relevant to the
case, as I did not have
enough room in the
small car in which I left
Na
Nazeing Park house and
tem
temporarily lived.”
H added in his
He
wi
witness statement: “I
le my mother down
let
a could not really
and
mother, Hannelore. fu
function at all as a
Smart was sued by the h
human being,
mortgage lenders. in
including not bathing
He was also involved for several weeks.”
in a parallel dispute with J
Judge Gerald told
his sister, however. She Sm
Smart the settlement he
claimed a 50 per cent had reached over his
stake in Nazeing on the debts would “enable
deb
basis that she had Nazeing Park in Surrey is closure”. The judge said:
clo
invested half the funds to be sold in a settlement “It’s a way of moving
for its purchase. reached by Billy Jay Smart, forward and making the
Five years after the top left. His sister Baccara, best of things. This is the
claim was launched the above, claimed 50 per cent end of it.”

Death crash lorry driver was on phone

Kieran Gair
A lorry driver who killed three
motorists including a bride-to-be while
he was using his mobile phone is facing
jail after he admitted causing death by
dangerous driving.
Michal Kopaniarz, 40, crashed into
Alex Britton, a mother of two, and two
people who had pulled over to help her
after her car broke down during the
morning rush on August 25, 2021.
Britton, 28, Tina Ince, 58, and Tom
Watson, 30, died at the scene of the
collision on the A303 near Andover in
Hampshire.
Kopaniarz entered guilty pleas at
Winchester crown court yesterday to
three charges of causing death by
dangerous driving.
The lorry driver from Donnington,
Shropshire, also admitted perverting
the course of justice after he destroyed
the Samsung mobile phone that he was
using at the time of the smash. Britton
had been left stranded on the dual
carriageway, which did not have a hard
shoulder.
Watson, a recovery driver who was
on his way to another incident, and
Ince, both from Southampton, stopped
to help to push her car off the road.
Kopaniarz’s lorry crashed into them as
they were attempting to move the car.
Hampshire police said that the colli-
sion also involved a Vauxhall Astra, a
Mercedes food delivery van and a DAF
recovery truck.
Simon Jones, for the prosecution,
told the court: “This defendant knew in
August 2021 that it was his dangerous
driving that caused the death of
three people and he knew that his
destruction of his phone was done with
a specific purpose.”
Samantha Bell said in mitigation:
“Mr Kopaniarz is taking full responsi-
bility for what happened that day.”
Britton had two daughters who
were younger than three at the time
serious case”. She continued: “Having
now pleaded guilty to such serious
matters as these, I note there have been
concerns in relation to his mental
health, quite understandably given the
nature of the offences he has pleaded
guilty to.”
Kopaniarz is to be sentenced at the
crown court on February 24 and he was
Tom Watson and banned from driving. The judge said he
Tina Ince, above, was remanded in custody owing to
were helping Alex the seriousness of the case and the
Britton to push her concerns over his mental health.
broken-down car Britton’s family, speaking after the
off the A303 in crash, said that she was a “wonderful
Hampshire when mother” who had been due to marry in
all were hit and February last year.
killed by a lorry “Our heartfelt sympathies go to the
families of the two kind drivers who
tried to help her [and] who also lost
of her death. She was engaged to be their lives,” they said. “Alex was beauti-
married. ful inside and out. She was fun, caring,
Judge Angela Morris said that a joy to be with and a wonderful mother.
Kopaniarz “knew he would be pleading We are all devastated.”
guilty” in what is a “very sensitive and The family of Ince, described her as
“a kind and generous person with a
heart of gold”.
They said: “She lived as she died:
helping people. Words do not begin to
describe how much she will be missed
by those who knew her.”
The family of Watson, who was
married, said: “He was everything to his
loving parents, wife and the rest of his
family.
“He loved his friends, many of whom
are like part of the family. He also loved
his job as a recovery driver. His best
friend also worked in the industry and
you couldn’t stop them talking about it
when they were together.”
His employer, RD Avery, based in
Salisbury, has called for better protec-
tion for recovery drivers.
Ray Avery, the company founder, has
backed the national Slow Down and
Move Over campaign, which seeks
changes to the Highway Code to pro-
tect recovery drivers and for them to be
allowed to use red warning lights.
14
News
News Health Commission
Cabin in a hospital car park is
Away from the chaos of
A&E, an operations hub
is making light work of
life-altering procedures,
Kat Lay reports
“I’ve had patients in tears. I’ve had
patients shout at me,” says Shamim
Umarji, with a frustrated air. Surround-
ed by nodding colleagues, Umarji, an
orthopaedic surgeon for 20 years, goes
on: “I’ve cancelled patients almost
every week at St George’s because of
the emergency workload we have.”
While the crisis in A&E has left
people around the country languishing
for hours on trolleys, it has also meant
the cancellation of many routine oper-
ations, non-urgent procedures that are
still vital for quality of life.
The pressures on emergency ser-
vices are a “constant worry”, Umarji
says, with operations postponed often
with only hours’ notice, because some-
one else needs the bed. “If we’ve got
people coming in with broken wrists,
broken bones, they have to be priori-
tised. And that means, sadly, somebody
else might not get their operation.”
Sometimes — although, she stresses,
rarely — that includes cancelling cancer
surgery, “a horrible thing to do”. Umarji
pauses, then says: “We don’t stop and
think and chat about this stuff. Event-
ually, when you do, it does make you feel
quite emotional about how, you know,
we do fail patients from time to time.”
As clinical director for surgery at St
George’s University Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust, Umarji oversees de-
partments that carry out more than
V2 Thursday January 19 2023 | the times
3,000 operations every month. The
trust’s main site, St George’s Hospital in
Tooting, south London, is the major
trauma centre for southwest London
and Surrey. However, at the quieter
Queen Mary’s Hospital in Roehamp-
ton, about six miles away, the trust has
transformed a corner of the car park in-
to a so-called surgical superhub.
The Times was given access to the
Portakabin-style building containing
four operating theatres in which about
600 patients a month have been treat-
ed. The Times Health Commission,
which was launched this week, will con-
sider how such innovations could im-
prove healthcare in England.
It is clearly helping the trust. Waiting
lists are shorter than the national aver-
age and its leaders say it is on track to
meet NHS England’s target to eliminate
waits of more than 18 months by March.
Performing day surgery away from
emergency cases also means the beds
cannot be hijacked for other purposes.
tackling waiting lists
Pauline Moran, 71, an office adminis-
trator, was due to have a ganglion cyst
removed from her thumb late last
month at St George’s, but the procedure
was cancelled at short notice.
Today she has been waiting outside
since well before 7am, paranoid about
being late for this second chance. Nei-
ther the cold nor the drizzling rain de-
terred her.
“It would appal me to be late for an
appointment,” she says. Her wait has
been relatively short. She was referred
to surgeons only in November. As he
operates, Drew Fleming jokes with her
that she got through the system so
quickly only “because we like you”.
Fiona Feighney is overseeing the
hub. Supervising teams cleaning and
preparing theatres between patients,
the nurse says it is “amazing” to offer
treatment to those who have been wait-
ing a long time. “Every day is usually
different specialties,” she says. “We do
everything from urology, haematology,
plastics, gynaecology, general surgery,
we have done some orthopaedics, vas-
cular surgery, ophthalmology — a little
bit of everything. The only thing we
don’t do at the moment is ENT [ear
nose and throat].”
Reception staff call patients who are
due in the next day to check they can
still make the appointment. “The
majority are ‘yes’,” Feighney says. Drew Fleming, left, a consultant plastic
“Sometimes you get ‘no’ because they
have an emergency family situation, aract surgery is being performed by a
sometimes they’ll have become unwell surgeon from Moorfields Eye Hospital.
since they were booked [in].” Umarji fields “constant emails, con-
Alan Ross, 75, is the beneficiary of stant calls and messages from my col-
one such cancellation. He needed sur- leagues who can’t deliver the care they
gery on the tendons of his hand and was want to deliver”.
called at 5pm the day before to see whe- She adds: “I’ve never seen the NHS
ther he wanted the slot. As Moran goes struggle as much as it is at the moment.
under the knife at about a quarter to The impact of flu, and Covid and the
ten, Ross has already had his surgery backlog and sicker patients than we’ve
and is sitting in the recovery room. ever had before. It is a national picture
“Very good service,” he says. and St George’s is no different.”
Next door, one of Fleming’s col- She was redeployed to help in in-
leagues is performing gynaecological tensive care in 2020 and 2021 and
surgery, while a third surgeon carries says the halt to routine surgery early
out cataract procedures in another. in the pandemic “felt like the right
Kelly Spencer, 32, a florist, is waiting to thing” at the time, particularly in the
go under general anaesthetic for a pro- absence of a vaccine. The picture has
cedure to correct a scar from when she since changed, Umarji says, adding:
gave birth two years ago. “It’s really vital that we never stop our
She was first referred to a surgeon elective routine surgeries again,
who left the trust last year, but does not because we’ve learnt from the pan-
feel she has had a long wait, first seeing demic that that was the wrong thing
her new surgeon two days ago. to do. We’re paying the price of that.”
“I was really surprised I would get She says the patients coming to her
seen in a few days,” she says. “It feels clinic are typically sicker than before
very different here to a normal, main the pandemic, with some cancers inop-
hospital. A lot quicker, less people in the erable because treatment was delayed
waiting room, just really smooth.” or patients took longer to come forward.
“We’re seeing patients who are pre-
help for other hospitals sented with more advanced cases of ar-
The hub provides capacity for teams thritis, for example, worsening hand
from elsewhere in London. Today’s cat- conditions and they lose sensation or
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
slashing wait times for surgery
surgeon, removes a ganglion cyst from the thumb of Pauline Moran. The office administrator, 71, remained conscious and was able to interact with the surgical team
Inside the surgical hub
Operating
theatre
Staffroom
Changing
Staff room
entrance
the ability to use their hands properly.
And those conditions were sort of put
on the back burner in the immediate
aftermath of a pandemic so it’s really
important we catch up with this.”
With more than seven million
patients waiting for planned care, up
from 4.4 million pre-pandemic, her
view is shared by senior officials in the
NHS and government.
The surgical hub was constructed in
under four months and started treating
patients in June 2021. There are 91 sur-
gical hubs in England, and the govern-
ment has promised more than 140 will
V2
Consultation
rooms
Waiting
area
Recovery
Patient
entrance
be open by 2024-25. The Royal College
of Surgeons of England is campaigning
for a hub in every area of the country.
struggling services
The vast majority of hospitals have
struggled to get back to the number of
operations they were carrying out pre-
pandemic, partly because of flu, Covid
and staff shortages. It is also believed to
be because patients are often sicker. But
Umarji says activity in St George’s clin-
ics is higher than it was before Covid.
The hub undertakes “high volume,
low complexity” cases but she wants to
go further. “We’ve got to try and chal-
lenge ourselves to do more complex,
complicated patients here,” she says.
In the operating theatre, Moran is
fully awake as Fleming works on her
hand with Michael Gallagher, a regis-
trar. They sit either side of her out-
stretched arm for the 20-minute pro-
cedure, encouraging her, as they finish,
to look over and see how her tendons
flex when she moves her thumb.
Umarji says the hub model also offers
huge benefits for junior surgeons
whose training was interrupted by the
pandemic. She jokes: “Obviously we
should invest in our future generation.
They’re the ones who will be doing our
hip replacements. Our juniors need to
see lots of routine surgery that happens
predictably. Here, that can happen.”
Fleming agrees. “The principle of
separating acute care and elective care
is the way forward and should be the
model,” he says, sitting in his scrubs in
the staffroom. “Every one of the
patients I am treating today, if we were
relying on St George’s facilities, could
be delayed longer.”
Fleming would, for logistical reasons,
prefer the hub to be closer to St Ge-
orge’s and to work with a regular surgi-
cal team. Umarji, who zips the six miles
between the sites on a bicycle, believes
TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER JACK HILL
the location is a boon. A day surgical fa-
cility at St George’s, which can admit
patients who need overnight stays, is
being encroached on by other depart-
ments. “Bed pressures spill into our day
surgical unit because it’s on site, which
doesn’t happen here,” she says.
Amid record vacancies in the NHS,
Umarji credits the site with improving
staff retention. “We’ve got staff here
who want to actively work here,” she
says. “They might not be happy to work
at the sharp end. They don’t want to
work in A&E necessarily.” One surgeon
with a young family is able to operate 9
to 5, three days each week.
Ross, the first case of the day, was
back out the door before 10am. It is a
swift resolution to thickening tissue
that has meant the functioning of his
thumb and wrist has worsened over the
past year. He had tried physiotherapy
and steroid injections before being put
on the list for surgery. It is, he says, “one
of those uncomfortable things that
eventually becomes pain”.
Ross says he was struck by the calm
and collected atmosphere at the hub.
“The people were friendly, they knew
what they were doing. I honestly can’t
complain. I felt quite happy about get-
ting it done and the support, and I’m
quite pleased to tell someone.”
15
News
News
NHS leaves
the disabled
feeling ‘they
don’t count’
Rachel Sylvester
When the Paralympian and television
presenter Tanni Grey-Thompson
found she was pregnant in 2001, she
went to see her doctor. “The first thing
I was offered was a termination,” she
says, “because people like me shouldn’t
be allowed to have children.” She
changed hospitals and gave birth to
Carys, but she says that for disabled
people, “the relationship with the NHS
can be quite mixed”.
Grey-Thompson, 53, a member of
The Times Health Commission, does
not hold it against the health service.
“It’s probably a reflection of society,”
she says. However, she worries that dis-
abled people are often forgotten or dis-
criminated against in the health and
care system. “At the start of the pan-
demic, compulsory DNR [do not resus-
citate] orders were put on tens of thou-
sands of disabled people who had no
underlying health conditions, basically
saying if you get Covid you were told
you wouldn’t get treated,” she says.
Grey-Thompson
says Covid hit the
disabled hardest
Disabled people were left “feeling
like they have no value”, she says.
“That’s a worry. Someone like Stephen
Hawking [the physicist who had motor
neurone disease and died in 2018], with
his impairment, he would have been
put on a ‘do not resuscitate’ list.”
The evidence backs her up. Accord-
ing to the Office for National Statistics,
disabled people were more likely to die
because of Covid-19. Between January
and November 2020, people with disa-
bilities accounted for almost 60 per
cent of coronavirus deaths in the UK.
Disabled people were more likely to
have medical treatment disrupted dur-
ing the pandemic, with 40 per cent
reporting that their access to health-
care had been negatively affected.
Grey-Thompson, a crossbench peer,
says that in the debate over social care,
“disabled people generally get for-
gotten”. She adds: “While we talk a lot
about older people, we don’t [include]
the support needs of disabled people.”
According to the King’s Fund, almost
half of the adult social care budget goes
on working-age adults. “For me it’s
about how we keep people out of the
NHS,” Grey-Thompson says. “We don’t
have the money to keep doing it the way
we’re doing it.”
Grey-Thompson, who was born with
spina bifida, won 16 medals during her
Paralympic career, including 11 golds, as
well as 13 World Championship medals.
Her international career began in
1988 in Seoul. Her last Paralympic
Games were in Athens in 2004. Since
retiring in 2007, she has had a successful
career in TV. It infuriates her that “the
sick and disabled are lumped together”
in discussions about welfare or health.
“I’ve had three [big] operations and
between the three, I wasn’t in hospital
for longer than eight weeks,” she says.
“I’m disabled but I’m never sick.”
16
News
EXTINCTION REBELLION UK/REUTERS
Britain out front
in removing CO2
from atmosphere
Adam Vaughan Environment Editor
Britain leads the world in efforts to
extract carbon from the air as countries
seek technology to slow climate
change, experts have said.
Machines that suck carbon dioxide
Extinction Rebellion protesters focused on coal during another environmental protest at government offices in London (CO2) from the air, and power stations
that capture emissions from burning
trees could become the biggest growth
industry for the UK. Scientists said
Britain was a global frontrunner in CO2
removal technologies, and was well
placed because removed CO2 could be
stored in old North Sea oilfields.
The energy company Drax hopes to
build a “bioenergy with carbon capture
and storage” (Beccs) plant near Selby,
burning trees, grass and other biomass
to generate electricity, then capturing
the CO2 and piping it under the North
Sea.
“There’s potentially a big growth
industry story for the UK, because the
world is probably going to need lots of
this [CO2 removals]. The UK is thinking
on the front foot about it,” said Steve
Smith at Oxford University, whose
international team publishes a study
today that finds humanity is removing
about two billion tonnes of CO2 a year
from the atmosphere. However, he said
that 99.9 per cent of that was from tree-
planting and managing soils, with new
technologies accounting for only 0.1 per
cent.
He said Britain also had the skilled
workers, regulatory environment and
infrastructure to do “really well” at
deploying CO2 removal technologies.
The UN’s climate science panel said
last year that the world would need to
increase the use of such technologies to
meet climate change goals. The latest
study found that meeting even the Paris
agreement’s goal of holding global
temperature rises below 2C would
require today’s CO2 removal technolo-
gies to increase 1,300-fold by 2050.
Jan Minx, at the Mercator Research
Institute in Berlin, one of the study’s
authors, said: “We need to aggressively
develop and scale up CO2 removal.”
Separately, an investigation into one
Post-Brexit environment
pledges fail on all targets
Adam Vaughan
The government has been criticised by
its post-Brexit green watchdog for
falling short on its pledge to leave
England’s environment in a better state
by expanding forests, restoring habitats
and protecting endangered species.
In a report, the Office for Environ-
mental Protection said it had “very lit-
tle good news” on ministers’ progress
on reversing the fortunes of the natural
environment.
England was found to be off-track for
every one of 23 environmental targets
identified, from clean water and air to
thriving plants and wildlife.
Progress was significantly off-course
for a goal of increasing the number of
rivers and lakes meeting good ecologi-
cal standards. “Progress has fallen far
short, that’s clear. Many extremely
worrying environmental trends remain
unchecked, including a chronic decline
in species abundance,” Dame Glenys
Stacey, chairwoman of the OEP, said.
She said that she was especially con-
Thursday January 19 2023 | the times
How to capture carbon
Direct air capture and storage
Machines that use fans to suck in air
and chemicals to capture and store
CO2 have become the poster child of
removal technologies. Greta
Thunberg has visited facilities built
by the Swiss company Climeworks,
which opened Orca in Iceland, the
world’s biggest direct air capture
plant, in 2021.
Bioenergy with carbon capture and
storage
Beccs is the latest technology for
removing CO2, thanks to a plant in
Illinois where plants capture CO2 as
they grow, so capturing and storing
the CO2 released when burning
them. In theory this lowers
atmospheric CO2 levels.
Biochar
Burn wood or other biomass at a
high temperature without oxygen
and you create biochar, a carbon-
rich, charcoal-like material that can
then be buried. Proponents argue it
can also increase crop yields.
of the leading carbon offset standards
found that 94 per cent of its offsets were
unlikely to have delivered carbon
reductions.
The analysis into Verra by The
Guardian, the German weekly Die Zeit
and the non-profit SourceMaterial
concluded that many credits approved
by the organisation and bought by
companies including Disney, Gucci
and Shell were in effect worthless.
Verra disputed the conclusions and the
methodology underpinning them.
Today’s report suggests that Drax’s
favoured removal technology is the
least popular with the public. An ana-
lysis of tweets by the researchers show
that public sentiment towards 11
approaches has become more positive
over the past decade, with the sole
exception of Beccs. Ministers want to
remove five million tonnes of CO2 from
new technologies by 2030.
cerned at falling numbers of wildlife,
including skylarks and common toads
(“not that common,” she said), and the
fact that only 38 per cent of protected
areas, such as Sites of Special Scientific
Interest, were in a favourable condition.
The government is expected to pub-
lish an enhanced plan by the end of this
month on how it hopes to meet its land-
mark 25-year environment plan, which
Theresa May set out five years ago.
The OEP was created to fill the role
that the Court of Justice of the Euro-
pean Union played in upholding envi-
ronmental law after the UK left the EU.
Today’s report paints a grim picture
of the state of nature in England. Eight
of 32 trends were found to be deterio-
rating, including “a deeply concerning
decline in biodiversity”.
Defra said that it would consider the
OEP’s report carefully. It said: “Our
environmental improvement plan will
soon set out the comprehensive action
this government will take to reverse the
decline in nature, achieve our net-zero
goals and deliver cleaner air and water.”
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
£10,000 of magic mushrooms in Tudor castle bathroom
Jonathan Ames Legal Editor
After a day of hunting, Henry VIII
could retire to Lullingstone Castle for a
flagon of sweetened ale. For a more
recent occupant, a court has heard,
there was a more modern vice.
Simon Giles has avoided a prison
sentence after police found up to
£10,000 of magic mushrooms in his
bathroom in the south wing of the
castle in which he lived in the village of
Eynsford, Kent.
The 44-year-old entrepreneur told
officers he was not aware that the
psychedelic substance was categorised
as a class A drug. He said taking daily
doses had a “transformational” effect
on his mental health.
Giles began producing the drug after
buying spores of what it is scientifically
referred to as psilocybin and studying
how-to guides he found online.
Maidstone crown court heard he
was “surprised” by how quickly the fun-
gus grew, and that it ultimately got “out
of control”.
Despite the discovery of what was
described as an “industrial” quantity of
TMS
diary@thetimes.co.uk | @timesdiary
PM’s hotbed
of resistance
Some 2,400 years after
Aristophanes wrote about how
politicians can be influenced by
their wives in bed, Sir Bill Cash
invoked the spirit of Lysistrata in a
Commons debate about online
safety. The Tory veteran recalled
the resistance there had been by
some Labour MPs to the Protection
of Children Bill in 1977. It was finally
passed after James Callaghan
personally intervened to give it
more time. Cash later asked the
prime minister why he did it. “It’s
very simple,” Callaghan said. “I was
in bed with my wife and she said
she wouldn’t speak to me for six
months unless it passed.” Whether
“speak to” was a euphemism or not,
Audrey’s frostiness worked. “There
is a message there for all prime
ministers,” Cash said. And even
more of one for their wives.
Sir Peter Bazalgette feels that the
emphasis in artificial intelligence
remains on the first word. After
yesterday’s item about Alexa, the
television executive emailed to say
that he had asked his gizmo to play
some Chopin and received the
unhelpful reply: “I’m sorry, I can’t
find a shopping channel.”
hammond’s home help
Richard Hammond is braced for
snark at home after reports that
The Grand Tour, his car show, won’t
have another series. When the
BBC dropped Top Gear in 2015,
Hammond told his children there
would be some belt-tightening.
His eldest daughter took this
to heart and when Hammond
and James May, his
co-presenter, took the family
to lunch at KFC, she
loudly declared: “I’ll pay
because you haven’t got
a job between you.”
The laughter from
diners only
encouraged her, says
17
News
the drug, the prosecution accepted that experiment and bought spores and father of three with a fourth child on Judge Julian Smith described him as
the mushrooms were grown for Giles’s guides from the internet, and under- the way, was supported in court “foolish”, adding: “I’m giving you this
personal use and not for supply to stood there were different strains”. by his heavily pregnant chance. I don’t suspect you will ever be
others. Officers found the psychedelic “He was surprised how quickly they partner. back here again.”
substance in ten clear plastic containers began to grow and when he cut them to After pleading guilty to pro- A forfeiture and destruction order
during a search at the grade-II listed harvest them, they kept growing back ducing a class A drug and pos- was made in respect of the magic
property in 2021. and essentially it got out of control,” sessing a prohibited weapon mushrooms and related items.
A series of fractions and acronyms on Todd said. “He dried them out and vac- he was given an eight-month In 2021, Giles faced court
the boxes included the letters “GT”, uum-packed them. He said he tried to jail term, suspended for 18 proceedings to evict him from
understood to refer to a variety of magic put a stop to it, putting them in the bath- months. He was also ordered the stately home as part of a
mushroom known as “golden teacher”. room and hoping they would die off.” to complete 120 hours of legal battle with HSBC. He
Bridget Todd, prosecuting, said other She told the court that a drugs expert unpaid work. Addressing has now moved out.
drug-production paraphernalia was had determined that the amount seized the defendant in the dock, The 15th-century cas-
discovered, including LED lights and a from the castle would generate enough tle is where Henry VIII
fan, heater and thermometer. A dehy- to cover 14-and-a-half years of so- Giles was supported would visit Queen
drator and sterilising fluid were in the called “microdosing”, but there was “no in court by his Anne, as well as hunt
kitchen. “A mushroom grower’s aim is evidence of onward supply”. Giles, a pregnant partner and joust.
to create as sterile an environment as
possible to increase maximum yield,”
Todd explained. Police also found a
stungun disguised as a mobile phone in
a safe, the court heard.
The prosecution said that after he
was arrested, Giles told officers that he
had suffered from poor mental health
and depression and that the magic
mushrooms had a “transformational
effect on his wellbeing”.
She added that Giles had decided “to
Hammond, below. The next day at
Morrisons, he was about to pay
when she asked: “Daddy, when does
your credit card stop working?”
hanks for nothing
Tom Hanks has made dozens of
films but one doesn’t get enough
attention for his liking. “No one
references Road to Perdition,” he
complains to the ReelBlend
podcast. That’s probably because
they were hoping for a Bing
Crosby reboot rather than a dark
crime drama. It’s not Sam
Mendes’s direction, though, or it
being Paul Newman’s final film
that makes Hanks think it
deserves more recognition but his
own achievement in it. “You have
two of the biggest presences in the
history of our industry in Jude
Law and Daniel Craig,” he says,
“and I killed both of them.” Surely
that was really the writers?
A last few examples of job-loss
jargon, or “enjoying the benefits of
outplacement” as Geoff Buck put it.
Sonia Copland was once told by a
Chinese official the country has no
unemployment, merely “people
waiting for work”, while Steve
Baguley recalled an HR department
making a CTPO or “career transition
programme offer”. Staff preferred to
think of it as “cash to piss off”.
ghost walk
After 65 years in Mayfair’s
Hanover Square, Condé Nast is to
move out of Vogue House. The
publisher’s decision comes ten
years almost to the day since one
of the stars of fashion journalism
died leaving the building. Alan, a
miniature dachshund who worked
for Tatler, was being taken for his
lunchtime walkies by an intern
when he made a dash for the
exit and got his head stuck in
the revolving door. Despite the
efforts of two fire engines
and ten men, Alan didn’t
make it. Disappointingly
there’s still no blue
plaque.
patrick kidd
18
News
Battling a pesky
cough? Blame
social distancing
Kat Lay Health Editor
People with lasting coughs may be
struggling with reduced resistance to
infection after two years of social dis-
tancing and picking up one bug after
another, a senior GP has said.
Rates of lower and upper respiratory
tract infections were well above the
winter average, Professor Kamila Haw-
thorne, chairwoman of the Royal Col-
lege of GPs, said, citing figures from the
college’s research and surveillance
centre.
She said doctors had also noticed
that respiratory infections seemed to
be lasting longer than usual. “We are
not entirely sure why,” Hawthorne said.
“Most of the public have been socially
isolated during the last two winters and
this appears to have reduced their resis-
tance to infections — this seems to
make it more likely they will pick up
infections than in previous years. So in
some cases it may be a matter of picking
up one infection after another. They are
all different and getting over one type
of infection does not give immunity
against another one.
“We’d encourage patients to do what
they can to keep themselves well this
winter, including practising good public
hygiene such as regular handwashing,
or using hand gels if that isn’t possible,
and throwing used tissues away.”
Health chiefs have encouraged those
eligible to have flu and coronavirus vac-
cinations.
Hawthorne said most people with
coughs or the common cold would re-
cover without medical intervention.
She recommended taking paracetamol
for a temperature, sore throat or ear-
ache, keeping warm, getting plenty of
rest and drinking lots of fluids.
“We’d encourage patients to under-
stand that giving antibiotics for viral
infections will not help, as they only
help with bacterial infections,” she said.
“Most upper respiratory tract infec-
tions are due to viruses.
“Pharmacists will also be able to pro-
Menuhin school faces abuse
claims from 14 former pupils
Emma Yeomans
The music school attended by Nigel
Kennedy and Nicola Benedetti has
been hit by further allegations of abuse
by 14 former pupils.
Kennedy first revealed that female
pupils had been sexually abused by
teachers at the £45,000-a-year Yehudi
Menuhin School in Stoke D’Abernon,
Surrey, in a BBC interview in 2003. A
Channel 4 documentary later revealed
allegations of abuse against Marcel
Gazelle, its first director of music, who
died in 1969.
The school was investigated by the
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual
Abuse, along with three other music
schools. In 2019 it received a warning
notice from the Department for Educa-
tion, which found safeguarding failings,
but was informed later that year that it
had met national regulatory standards
after making improvements.
Founded in 1964 by the renowned
violinist Yehudi Menuhin, the school
has about 85 pupils — half of them from
Thursday January 19 2023 | the times
vide advice on appropriate over-the-
counter medicines that may help with
symptoms, but do not ‘cure’ the infec-
tion.”
She said people should, however,
seek a medical opinion “if a cough is
particularly persistent, or bringing up
discoloured phlegm, has severely wor-
sened with shortness of breath, or if a
patient is experiencing chest pain or
losing weight for no reason”.
Hawthorne said she also feared the
cost of living crisis was affecting
people’s health. She said GPs and their
teams were experiencing a huge in-
crease in demand for appointments,
including patients whose physical and
mental health was suffering as a result
of rising inflation, particularly of
energy and food.
“It goes without saying that if
patients are struggling to eat healthily
or heat their homes or are living in
damp conditions then this will have an
impact on their health — and the added
stress of struggling financially will
undoubtedly take its toll on people’s
mental health,” she said.
Dr Andrew Whittamore, clinical
leader at the Asthma and Lung UK
charity, who is also a GP, said some doc-
tors had seen more patients with
coughs this winter, which may be
related to weather changes and the
nature of specific viruses.
He added: “We haven’t seen so much
Covid, but it is still there. And we’ve also
had infections such as strep A, with lots
of people coming to us who were
coughing but also had sore throats —
mainly children, but a lot of adults as
well.
“Covid affects people in lots of differ-
ent ways. Some can get scarring of their
lungs and fibrosis, which can cause a
long-term cough. This is why we say
anybody who’s still coughing four
weeks after having Covid should really
get a chest x-ray and get checked out.”
He added that such tests were needed
to rule out other illnesses such as lung
cancer or long Covid.
outside the UK — and 50 full-time and
visiting staff members.
The 14 former pupils have alleged
that they were abused at the school
between 1964 and 2007. Their claims
relate to 15 members of staff.
Malcolm Johnson, of Lime Solicitors,
which is representing the former pupils,
said it had invited the school to deal
with the allegations “as soon as poss-
ible”. He added: “It’s time for the Yehudi
Menuhin School to face up to its past.
Only by doing so can it safeguard pupils
in the present and the future.
“This is a school to which parents en-
trusted their children, in the belief that
their musical ability would be nurtured
and advanced. Sadly, the abuse that
these children suffered has blighted
their lives and their musical careers.”
A spokeswoman for the school said it
took “any allegation of this nature
extremely seriously”, adding: “These
claims are being dealt with as a matter
of urgency. Since they are the subject of
legal proceedings, however, we are un-
able to comment on them in any detail.”
the times | Thursday January 19 2023 19

News

Lineker prankster Pug-ugly

was on a yellow card Peggy vies
for prize
A
serial video on Twitter that
prankster appeared to show him
whose walking around the deserved to feel safe
stunt stadium and the BBC’s and trespassing during Jack Malvern
disrupted studio before the a sporting fixture was
the BBC’s football game. not “a silly matter”. Balding, stubbly and with a tongue that
coverage was He has a long “It is so wide of the droops inches out of the side of her
previously warned by history of pranking mark of acceptable mouth, Peggy has a face only her
a judge he would be and served a 20-week behaviour that it will owners could love.
on a “sticky wicket” if prison sentence in be met with severe The pugese, a cross between a pug
he offended again. 2016 at HMP sanction by the and a Chinese crested dog, would strug-
Daniel Jarvis, 34, Wandsworth after courts,” said gle to win any beauty contest but is in
claimed responsibility causing a stampede Benjamin. “If you fail contention for a very different prize.
for the prank on from the National to comply with any of Holly Middleton, 36, from Leven in
Tuesday in which Portrait Gallery when these requirements East Yorkshire, hopes that her pet will
pornographic sounds he and two others you will be in breach claim the prize for Britain’s ugliest dog
became audible to pretended to steal of this order, which
viewers as Gary paintings. He also has means that you will be Peggy was named
Lineker previewed a convictions for brought back to court after her owner’s
fixture between criminal damage and and you will be on a great-grandmother
Wolverhampton fare evasion. sticky wicket because
Wanderers and Jarvis was given a you will be liable to
Liverpool. suspended sentence serve the sentence of
A mobile phone had for aggravated trespass imprisonment,
been taped to the set after he ran on to the whether in whole or in
of the studio at the pitch during a Test part.” in a competition run by Parrot Print, a
Wolves’ Molineux match at The Oval. In Jarvis, who has photography company.
Stadium, which Jarvis October 2021, a month 177,000 YouTube “She’s like Marmite, you either love
activated by ringing after his arrest for subscribers, said he her or you don’t,” Middleton told the
from another phone. disrupting the England realised “how serious” BBC. She adopted Peggy when she was
The self-described versus India match, he Jarvis, who boasted about his prank on Twitter, also his actions were. a puppy. She said: “I just love anything
comedian was last invaded the pitch at invaded an England v India cricket match in 2021 The BBC said: “We that is a bit unloved and unusual so
year barred from Tottenham Hotspur apologise to any when I saw her on the adoption website,
attending sporting Stadium. suspended eight-week attend within two viewers offended I knew I wanted to take care of her.”
venues for two years He received a jail term, district judge years any venue in during the live She struggled to find a name until her
by a judge who told previous football ban Daniel Benjamin England and Wales in coverage of the grandmother made a suggestion. “My
him he could be jailed in 2014 after running warned Jarvis that he which a sporting football this evening. grandma said she reminded her a bit of
if he did not comply. on to the field. would be on a “sticky fixture is being held. We are investigating her mum, so we went for that,” she said.
Jarvis shared a Handing him a wicket” were he to He said that players how this happened.” The winner, who will receive a make-
over, will be announced next month.
20 2GM Thursday January 19 2023 | the times

News

The vegan premium: supermarkets Time’s up for

use-by date
charge 11% more for meat-free items on yoghurts
Andrew Ellson chicken” at £4.75 a serving, or £11.88 per Laurence Sleator
Meat or veg? kilo. The Cantonese sweet and sour
Consumer Affairs Correspondent
chicken with rice from the same shop Britain’s third-largest supermarket has
Vegan Non-vegan equivalent Price
Going vegan may be good for your was £4.25, or £10.63 per kilo. The scrapped use-by dates on 28 of its own-
Servings Cost per Weight Cost difference
waistline, but it won’t help those look- Product Price per pack serving (g) per kg per kg
researchers said buying a vegan product brand yoghurts as it aims to reduce food
ing to tighten their belts. three times a week would cost £517.92 waste.
Analysis of vegan products across Tesco Wicked Kitchen over the course of a year for a family of After consulting technical managers
Britain’s supermarkets has found that peng panang tofu curry £2.75 1 £2.75 400 £6.88 £2.88 four. Feeding the same number of people and microbiologists, Asda has conclud-
pack sizes are on average 15 per cent Tesco chicken tikka with a comparable meat version would ed it is safe to change the label on yog-
smaller than their meat-based equiva- masala pilau rice £1.60 1 £1.60 400 £4 (+72%) cost £402.48 — a saving of £115.44. hurts from “use by” to “best before”.
lents, and 11 per cent more expensive on Morrisons Plant Revolution Tesco said that the analysis was not The change was made after research
a price-per-kilo basis. This means feed- Thai style fishcakes £3.00 2 £1.50 260 £11.54 £5.24 fair because at least some of compari- from the climate action charity Wrap
ing a family of four with three plant- Morrisons two cod sons were between its premium vegan found that half the yoghurt wasted in
based products a week would cost fishcakes £1.70 2 £0.85 270 £6.30 (+83%) range, the Wicked Kitchen brand, and UK households was not even opened. It
£115.44 more over a year. Morrisons Plant Revolution its non-premium meat alternatives. also found that 70 per cent of the pots
The findings come after a record meatless sausages £3.00 6 £0.50 300 £10 £5.59 Supermarkets say vegan foods often that had been thrown away were
620,000 people pledged to adopt a Morrisons butcher’s have higher production costs because because the yoghurt had “not been
plant-based diet this month as part of style pork sausages £2.00 8 £0.25 454 £4.41 (+127%) of the complex processes used to make used in time”.
the annual “Veganuary” challenge. Sainsbury’s Plant Pioneers them. They are, however, becoming The Food Standards Agency says the
Researchers looked at the cost, Cumberland shroomdogs £2.50 6 £0.42 300 £8.33 £4.52 more affordable. The same research difference between use-by and best-
weight and portion size of 120 Sainsbury’ss butcher’s
Sainsbury butcher s choice
c conducted two years ago found that before dates is important. “Use by”
own-brand vegan prod- Cumberland saus
sausages £2.60 12 £0.22 681 £3.82 (+118%) they were 26 per cent more expensive. relates to food safety and the agency
ucts at Tesco, Sains-ains- While estimates vary, research by the urges people never to eat food after the
bury’s, Asda, Morri- ri- vegan products were sioned by the specialist insurer Food Standards Agency suggests that date shown. A “best-before” date refers
sons, Marks & actu
actually 99p more Insure4Sport, found Tesco’s Wicked about a million people are vegan in to food that is safe to eat but may not be
Spencer and Aldi. exp
expensive per kilo- Kitchen range provided the worst value Britain, up from 150,000 in 2014. at its freshest. If a food has a best-before
It then compared gr
gram on average. for money, costing 41 per cent more on Supporters of vegan diets — which date rather than a use-by date “the sniff
these products T
The average vegan average. Wicked Kitchen’s meat-free exclude all meat, fish and dairy prod- test can be used”, the agency advises.
with their meat- p
product weighed crumbed ham-style slices, for example, ucts — say they are healthier and better The Co-op made a similar change
based equiva- 3305g compared cost £2.50 for four servings while for the environment. Nutritionists have last year. Asda’s move comes after it
lents. It found w
with 349g for the Tesco’s crumbed ham is £2 for six. raised concerns about veganism lead- said in August it would remove best-
that vegan prod- m
meat versions. M&S’s Plant Kitchen no-pork ing to poor bone health and other con- before dates on fruit and vegetables.
ucts were 9p T
The supermarket sausage rolls were £1.60 per serving, ditions. The Vegan Society says “well- Paul Gillow, vice-president of fresh
cheaper per packet, t, rese
research, commis- compared with 53p each for large pork planned” diets contain all the nutrients and frozen foods at Asda, said: “We are
hey
but in most cases they sausage rolls. The single most expen- we need. hopeful this change will make a big
were smaller with fewer These
T hese porkless
p products sive vegan product on the list was Batch-cooking recipes for chefs on a difference to the environment and save
servings. This meant ant that cost £1.07 more per roll M&S’s Plant Kitchen “sweet ’n’ sour no budget, Times2 customers money.”
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
Daughter begged father not to kill himself after suffocating wife
Ali Mitib
Footage from a video call in which a
daughter begged her father not to kill
himself moments after he smothered
his terminally ill wife was played in
court yesterday.
David Hunter, 75, admitted to killing
his wife Janice, 74, last December at the
couple’s home in the village of Tremith-
ousa, near Paphos in Cyprus, where
many of the island’s 60,000 British
expatriates live.
At the time of her death, she had
Another round Peter Sedgley’s Red, Blue & Green Target on display at the London Art Fair, which runs until Sunday at the Business Design Centre in Islington
Missing aristocrat’s boyfriend is rapist
David Brown
The boyfriend of an aristocrat who
disappeared with him and their
newborn baby is a convicted rapist.
Officers have been searching for
Constance Marten, 35, and Mark
Gordon, 48, since they went missing at
the start of the month.
Yesterday it emerged that Gordon
had been convicted in the United States
aged 14 for the rape and kidnap of a
young woman during a burglary in
Florida. He was sentenced to 40 years
in jail and served 20 years before being
deported to Britain in 2010.
Scotland Yard said that Gordon and
Marten, whose family has links to the
royals, had a “slush fund” of cash for
taxis and accommodation. The search
for the couple and their baby began
when their abandoned car was found
on the M61 near Bolton on January 5.
Marten is believed to have given birth
in the car a day or two before it was
discovered on fire on the motorway.
The couple and baby took a taxi to
Liverpool and two days later another
cab to near the port in Harwich, Essex.
They then took a taxi 70 miles to East
incurable leukaemia. After a legal
battle, prosecutors threw out the plea
deal over concerns that it might “send
the wrong message” and announced
their intention to try Hunter for murder,
which could carry a life sentence.
In the video recording played to the
Paphos assize court yesterday, his
daughter, Lesley Hunter, is seen telling
her father, a former miner from North-
umberland, “you can’t leave me”, the
Daily Mail reported.
Speaking from her Norwich home,
she said: “Daddy remember how you
Ham Tube station, in east London, and
have not been seen since. All the taxis
were paid for with cash.
The couple had been staying in
Airbnbs in Wales and across the north
of England, including in Bolton, Man-
chester, Leeds and Sheffield. Most of
their belongings were destroyed in the
car fire.
Detective Superintendent Lewis
Basford urged the couple to “do the
right thing for your baby and get in
touch with us so that we know that you
are all doing OK”. He added: “They
could now be anywhere in the UK,
which is why it is vital that members of
the public continue to contact us with
any suspected sightings.”
Detectives have not ruled out the
possibility they have gone abroad. The
couple, who are skilled at avoiding
detection, are paying for accommoda-
tion in cash and police are appealing for
hoteliers and B&B owners to be alert.
Marten concealed her pregnancy
and birth from doctors and police are
concerned for the baby’s welfare. After
abandoning their car, bought only six
days earlier, the three were spotted in
Lancashire. Marten was then seen a
walked me down the aisle and you said
I was beautiful. I’m your girl. I’m your
girl. You can’t leave me. Daddy, please,
please daddy, I beg you.”
Hunter is seen slumped in the chair
and barely conscious as his daughter,
50, tells him to concentrate on her.
After suffocating his wife, Hunter
called his brother William to confess
before telling him he was going to over-
dose and take his own life.
William Hunter alerted the police
who sent officers to Lesley Hunter’s
home and advised her to video call her
Constance Marten and Mark Gordon
may have taken their newborn abroad
number of times in Colchester, Essex.
Marten, who is known by the nickname
Toots, grew up at Crichel House, the
family seat in Dorset where the 1996
film Emma starring Gwyneth Paltrow
was filmed. She attended St Mary’s, a
Roman Catholic boarding school for
girls, in Shaftesbury, Dorset, before
studying Arabic and Middle Eastern
studies at Leeds University.
As a student she appeared on Tatler’s
“Babe of the Month” directory of well-
heeled “It girls”. Asked what her best
party had been, she answered: “Vis-
count Cranborne’s party in Dorset —
the theme was the Feast of Bacchus.”
Marten volunteered at a football
project with street children in Nepal
father for evidence on December 18,
2021. It is unclear from the footage
whether Hunter had already attempted
to overdose or was just in shock.
The footage was played by defence
lawyers as part of their argument that
statements given to the police by Hun-
ter are inadmissible as he had not been
psychologically assessed or offered a
lawyer. The court heard Hunter was “in
a state of shock”, did not “understand
what was going on” and should have not
been made to sign police statements.
Hunter wept as the prosecution
TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD POHLE
and was in Tahrir Square in Cairo dur-
ing the 2011 Egyptian uprising. After
university she worked as a researcher
with the English arm of the Arabic tele-
vision network Al Jazeera before train-
ing as a journalist.
Marten then enrolled in an acting
course at East 15 drama school in
Loughton, Essex, where her course fees
were paid by a trust fund, according to
fellow students. She dropped out in
2016, about the time she started living
with Gordon in Ilford, east London.
Marten’s great-grandfather was Cap-
tain Napier Sturt, the third and final
Lord Alington. Her grandfather, Toby
Marten, was an equerry to George VI,
and his wife Mary Anna, was god-
daughter to the late Queen Mother and
a friend of Princess Margaret.
Marten’s father, Napier Marten,
63, a former page to Queen Elizabeth,
was heir to the family’s £115 million
fortune. In 1996 he shaved his head and
joined a group of indigenous people
in Australia.
The family fortune passed prema-
turely to Marten’s brother, Maximilian,
34. The £100 million estate including
the mansion, 50 cottages, 5,000 acres of
21
News
made him look at an image of his dead
wife. The pensioner repeatedly told the
prosecutors that he could not remem-
ber telling officers he had killed her to
stop her suffering and that he was “see-
ing double” after the incident.
Speaking outside court, Hunter said:
“I never would have killed her in a mil-
lion years. She didn’t ask me, she begged
me. The last five weeks she was begging
me. She didn’t resist. Because of the
cancer she couldn’t even lift her hands.”
The trial was adjourned until Janu-
ary 26.
Letby called
her neonatal
unit ‘unsafe’
Tom Ball, Nigel Bunyan
Lucy Letby complained that the neona-
tal unit she worked on was “completely
unsafe” days after she allegedly tried to
murder a baby by overfeeding her.
In a WhatsApp message sent after
the collapse of Baby G, the nurse, 33,
complained about how busy the neo-
natal unit was at the time.
“It’s completely unsafe,” she wrote,
before attaching a frowning emoji.
The jury at Manchester crown court
were told about three occasions where
Letby is alleged to have tried to kill
Baby G. Two of these are said to have
been on the same day.
The prosecution alleges that Letby
overfed the infant with milk through a
nasogastric tube or injected air into her
body through a similar tube.
The girl survived but suffered irre-
versible brain damage which has left
her a quadriplegic with cerebral palsy.
Letby, who is originally from Here-
ford, denies murdering seven babies at
the Countess of Chester Hospital neo-
natal unit and attempting to murder a
further ten.
The jury was shown a series of mes-
sages exchanged by Letby with friends,
nursing colleagues and a doctor on the
unit. Some are mundane, others refer to
the emergencies involving the babies.
The trial continues.
parkland and a cricket club was later
sold. Constance’s mother, Virginie de
Selliers, 63, is a psychotherapist.
Marten become estranged from her
family as a result of the relationship
with Gordon, although she continued
to have access to money from a multi-
million-pound trust fund at C Hoare &
Co, the UK’s oldest private bank.
Gordon was born in Birmingham
and moved to Florida as a boy with his
mother Sylvia and half-siblings. He
returned to England in February 2010
and was placed on the sex offenders
register. By 2016 he had set up home
with Marten. The couple moved
between terraced homes and rundown
flats where neighbours described them
as “reclusive”.
Marten did not attend her brother’s
wedding to the society jewellery de-
signer Ruth Aymer in 2021, which was
featured on the website of Vogue.
Marten and Gordon were evicted
from their home in Ilford in August
2020, and went to live in Eltham, south-
east London. Neighbours said they
thought Gordon did not work while
Marten had odd jobs. The couple were
evicted again in September last year.
22
News
Farmer in BBC documentary killed by cow
Kieran Gair
A fatal accident inquiry has been launched
into the death of a farmer who once fea-
tured in a BBC documentary.
Derek Roan, 71, died in hospital after an
incident involving one of his own cows at
his family farm in southern Scotland in
June last year.
Roan had featured alongside his family
on the BBC2 documentary series This
Farming Life, about the struggles of farm-
ers in Scotland.
The inquiry is set to examine the cir-
cumstances around Roan’s death. The
emergency services were called to Barn-
barroch Farm on June 19 and took the
injured farmer, a grandfather of six, to
Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.
He died in hospital later that day.
Roan’s family said: “We are totally dev-
astated and still in shock at what has hap-
pened and it will take some time for us to
come to terms with not having him
around.
“All Derek’s hard work was for his two
passions in life — his family and his farms.
Derek was well known within the farming
community and many other circles. He
will be sadly missed by all.”
Roan was chairman of Colvend and
Derek Roan’s family has been farming in
Dumfries and Galloway since 1891
Southwick community council. Simon
Pain, the vice-chairman, said at the time of
the incident that Roan had died from a
“stock-related injury”, adding that the
farmer was “well-liked and well-respected
in our community”.
Martin Kennedy, the National Farmers’
Union Scotland president, said that the
group had lost a “real stalwart”. He said
that Roan “was a member who, for many
years, went above and beyond to repre-
sent farming at a local, regional, and
national level.
“He was an excellent past chair of both
Stewartry branch and Dumfries and
Galloway region, and always ensured
that all those round the table took part in
any discussion and had their say.
“He was also a skilled debater who could
eloquently share his views and insights,
whether locally or at national events like
our AGM.”
Colin Ferguson, the NFU regional
chairman, said that Roan’s loss had “sent
shockwaves through the region”.
He added: “He has been at the helm of a
farming business that is steeped in dairy-
ing but has also embraced change and
diversification, developing into an award-
winning family business, Roan’s Dairy,
that is recognised across the country.
“However, Derek always found time for
NFU Scotland, supporting and represent-
ing fellow farmers and their views over
Gunman called his mother vile
Will Humphries Southwest Correspondent
A gunman who killed his mother and four
strangers in Plymouth called her a “vile
creature” in a chat room and carried out
disturbing online activity in the months
before the killings, an inquest was told.
Jake Davison, 22, killed his mother Max-
ine, 51, after a row at their home in the Key-
ham area of Plymouth on August 12, 2021.
He then left the house and shot dead Lee
I N T H E T I M E S T O M O R ROW
ARTS
RORY BREMNER
My outrageous
new role
PULLOUT
SPORT
STUART BARNES
What South Africans
can teach the English
about tackling
MAIN PAPER
BUSINESS
HARRY WALLOP
Why service levels
have not recovered
from Covid
MAIN PAPER
BRICKS&MORTAR
ESCAPE TO
THE CASTLE
Meet the English
couple saving
a Scottish estate
PULLOUT
Thursday January 19 2023 | the times
many years, making his sad loss all the
more tragic for the region. He will be sadly
missed, and we send our best thoughts to
the Roan family.”
The Roan family run two farms, in the
Stewartry at Barnbarroch and Boreland of
Colvend, and also operate a milk delivery
service across Dumfries and Galloway.
Les Brown, the procurator fiscal for the
Dumfries and Galloway district, issued
notice of a fatal accident inquiry, with a
first hearing to be held at Dumfries Sheriff
Court in March. The Health and Safety
Executive launched an investigation
following the incident.
Police Scotland said they had been
informed of the death, which is not being
treated as suspicious.
The Roan family farm’s website states
they have been milking pedigree Holsteins
in Dumfries and Galloway since 1891, and
that Derek and his wife were “very much
involved” in the running of the family
farms. “We started processing our own
milk in 2015 and since then demand for our
free range milk has spread across Dum-
fries and Galloway,” it states.
“We launched our Fresher than the
Udders milk at Colvend produce market,
and then went on to selling direct to shops,
cafes, restaurants, hotels and bed and
breakfasts, and then in January 2016 we
started delivering to doorsteps across
Dumfries and Galloway.”
Martyn, 43, and his three-year-old daugh-
ter Sophie, Stephen Washington, 59, and
Kate Shepherd, 66, near by, a video played
yesterday at the inquest in Exeter showed.
He then turned the legally owned
pump-action shotgun on himself.
Dominic Adamson, for the victims’ fam-
ilies, said Davison engaged in online dis-
cussions about “incels”, young men who
blame women for their sexual failings, kill-
ing themselves. The inquest continues.
COMMENT
EMMA DUNCAN
The case for
economic optimism
MAIN PAPER
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
I prefer pizza to a platter
of tortured genius
James Marriott
Page 24
Cinderella service that isn’t keeping us safe
The probation system commands headlines only when its appalling failings are laid bare — it’s high time that changed
David
Aaronovitch
@daaronovitch
I
n the grim Department of How
Could This Have Happened?, the
story of “Bastard Dave” of the
Met is not remotely the worst.
This week came the release of a
review that, though completed a year
ago, could not be published until the
culmination just before Christmas of
a murder trial.
On December 21, Damien Bendall
was given a whole-life sentence for
the murders in September 2021 of his
pregnant girlfriend Terri Harris, her
son John Paul Bennett, 13, her
daughter Lacey Bennett, 11, and
Lacey’s sleepover friend Connie
Gent, also 11. All were killed with a
claw hammer and Lacey had been
raped while she was dying. I have
been trying all week not to imagine
what the police officers who
discovered the bodies had to witness.
The review was carried out by HM
Inspectorate of Probation because of
the clear indications that Bendall’s
presence in Harris’s house should
never have been allowed to happen.
He had a record for robbery and
assault committed in 2015 when the
victim was rendered unconscious,
and subsequent convictions for
actual bodily harm, and had served
time in prison for these offences. In
2021 he was convicted of arson and
given a 17-month sentence,
suspended for two years. The curfew
address he gave was Harris’s home,
just south of Sheffield.
The review was clear in its findings.
Had Bendall’s “risk of serious harm
to the public and children been
correctly assessed as high, and had
his risk of serious harm to partners
been correctly assessed as medium,
the court may not have curfewed
him to an address with Ms Harris
and her children”. As Justin Russell,
the chief inspector, put it: “The
probation service’s assessment and
management of Bendall at every
stage, from initial court report to his
supervision in the community, was of
an unacceptable standard and fell far
below what was required.”
The probation service in England
and Wales currently supervises more
than 220,000 people. It exists to
“protect the public and support
people moving towards crime-free
lives”. In terms of public attention it’s
a Cinderella service, left to sweep up
the bits of society we don’t want to
think about. Unlike schools,
hospitals, the police force even, most
of us have little to do with it.
Until things go catastrophically
wrong. When a terrorist like Usman
Too much work, too
few people, difficulty
recruiting, poor morale
Khan or a serial rapist like Joseph
McCann is mistakenly released to
inadequate supervision then kills or
rapes again, a slew of stories appears
about the service, apologies are
made, ministers tut and remind
everyone of £X million extra spent,
and we turn away. Yet last year the
BBC used public information to
calculate that from 2014 to 2020,
nearly 550 murders or acts of
manslaughter had been carried out
by offenders out on licence.
The inspector’s office estimated
that spending for each person on
probation had fallen by 40 per cent
in real terms between 2004 and 2019.
In the middle of that period, Chris
Grayling, then justice secretary,
decided the problem was not funding
but inefficiency and rolled out a plan
called “Transforming Rehabilitation”
(Lord protect us from mediocre
ministers with grand-sounding
schemes). This divided the probation
service between a publicly run
service for those who had committed
serious crimes and a privatised one
tasked with reducing reoffending.
“The Blob” warned him it would be a
disaster, with professional judgment
likely to be affected by commercial
incentives. And the Blob was right. In
early 2019, one of the main private
providers went into administration.
Two years later the service was
reunified. A bit more money was
found — £150 million a year.
By then the service was bedevilled
with problems that are beginning to
feel horribly familiar. You might call
it the public services death spiral: too
much work, too few people,
experienced professionals leaving,
difficulty in recruiting, a perceived
decline in service performance
leading to poor morale, and down it
slowly goes.
And like so many other troubled
services, the probation service is
affected by problems of under-
funding elsewhere. Russell recently
pointed at two areas — drugs
treatment and housing for ex-
prisoners — where the lack of
availability of facilities directly
affected what probation officers
could accomplish.
Sure enough, dig down into the
review of the Bendall case and what
you find is that in June 2021 his
assessment report prior to being
sentenced for arson was “very poor”,
had failed to take into account his
propensity for violence and had been
carried out by a “relatively
inexperienced” officer. Subsequent to
Comment
DERBYSHIRE CONSTABULARY/PA
Lacey Bennett was 11 years old when
she was murdered by Damien Bendall
the sentencing and his release,
Bendall’s case was taken over by an
officer in the East Midlands who had
been working in the system for six
months. Had the original assessment
not been so perfunctory, said the
review, a more seasoned officer
might have been allocated.
In November the inspectorate
reported that large swathes of the
probation service in London were
“shockingly bad”. Across the capital
there were 500 vacant positions, a
high number of staff off sick and, as a
consequence, a likelihood of
increased incidence of reoffending.
In May Russell reported that he was
seeing “the warning signs of a
probation service in survival mode”,
adding: “Chronic staff shortages,
high workloads and the ongoing
impacts of the pandemic are severely
hampering their ability to effectively
23
divert people on probation away from
crime and, vitally, to properly protect
the public from further risk of harm.”
Of course, the immediate culprits
having been sacked or disciplined,
the usual ministerial bromides about
how much extra money in bald
millions have been spent are trotted
out, usually tagged with an abstract
aspiration to do better.
Today, faced with ruinous waiting
times in A&E, trolleys in corridors,
This collapse eventually
affects all but the
most sheltered of us
ambulances so delayed that lives are
at risk and school buildings that are
crumbling, we treat such assurances
with cynicism. But at least these
problems have our attention. Not so
the accretion of small, slow-burn
disasters: the dearth of community
nurses and domiciliary care workers,
the closure of drug treatment
centres, the impossible delays for
psychiatric appointments — the
incremental collapse of an
infrastructure of support for the most
vulnerable and the least popular. A
collapse that eventually affects all
but the most sheltered of us.
Sorry, does this sound despairing?
It needn’t. There is nothing
inevitable about this decline. It can
be slowly reversed. All you need is a
government and a people committed
to paying for it and a service agile
enough to respond.
red box
For the best analysis
and commentary on
the political landscape
thetimes.co.uk/redbox
24
Comment
I prefer pizza to a platter of tortured genius
We recoil from elitism in art but worship the foul-mouthed philosopher-kings of the kitchen
James
Marriott
@j_amesmarriott
A T
good test of where a
society has allocated
prestige is who it permits
to play the tyrant —
whose sins it indulges and
forgives. This is the flaw in Todd
Field’s beguilingly pretentious new
film Tár. Cate Blanchett plays the
internationally famous conductor
Lydia Tár, a pampered monster-
genius who inhabits a cavernously
chic brutalist apartment and flies to
concerts on a private jet. She
persecutes her assistants and abuses
her pupils. Promising careers crumble
to dust in her elegant fingers.
The film is a fantasy of the
ultimate intersection of power and
cultural status. But it is a fantasy. In
real life, Tár’s reign of terror could
never have lasted so long. Not shown
in the film are greying audiences and
half-empty concert halls. Classical
music is in decline. Conductors
nowadays are pussycats.
The “art monster” survives but
dwells in a new environment. He is
lurking in the kitchen. Noma in
Copenhagen, renowned as the
world’s “best” restaurant, announced
this week it was closing, unable to
turn a profit. Looming ominously
behind that explanation were
allegations of bullying, overworked
staff and a business model founded
on unpaid labour. Whispers of abuse
Janice Turner Notebook
Tube trip
gives me new
respect for
suffragettes
I
had a tube the width of my ring
finger poked down my throat
into my stomach this week. The
little camera attached found
nothing wrong — phew — but it
was a nasty procedure in which
you’re both gagged and gagging, with
a ghastly Alien moment when you
can feel the probe rummaging
around your innards and worry it
might burst right out.
Forgive me if you’re a gastroscopy
veteran. But I’m a pathetic newbie
when it comes to medical invasions.
So, lying there retching, my mind
turned to force-fed suffragettes and
how I’d never truly realised how
brave they were.
While I was offered (but declined)
sedation, given a numbing throat
spray, was soothed by kind nurses
and treated by a hyper-efficient
doctor who was in and out in
seven minutes, the hunger-strikers
were strapped down by burly
warders, with milk and eggs sloshed
have been leaking out of Denmark’s
restaurants for a while: top chefs
scalding their subordinates with hot
coffee and wrathfully deep-fat-frying
the iPhones of underperforming
colleagues. This, not the orchestra
pit, is Tár territory.
That such behaviour persists in the
cuddly, mental health-vigilant 21st
century is a testament to the
atmosphere of mystique and prestige
that has gathered around posh food.
Celebrity chefs are now artists.
Marco Pierre White’s
groundbreaking book White Heat
showed its author moodily slouching
about with his long curls dishevelled
and a cigarette dangling from his
surly, pouting lips, as if he was not in
I shiver to recall how
Giles Coren made me
eat the brain of a cow
a kitchen but an existentialist salon
on the Left Bank of Paris, circa 1948.
In his memoir Kitchen Confidential,
Anthony Bourdain offered chapters
on “food and sex” and “food and
pain”.
The idea has penetrated the
mainstream. Food is art and chefs
are mad geniuses. Hence Gordon
Ramsay can bawl away at hapless
provincial restaurateurs in a manner
that would get him blacklisted in any
other industry. Georg Solti once
upbraided the quivering strings of
the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
with similar vigour. He wouldn’t get
away with it today. Classical music,
by common consent, isn’t worth the
rage. Food, somehow, is.
into them via a funnel. How long
must it have taken? How thick was
their rubber tube?
Many had their teeth broken (mine
were protected by a plastic guard) or
they aspirated fluid. It must have felt
like waterboarding. No wonder the
suffragettes struck a special hunger-
strike medal with a “fed by force”
bar, their highest award for courage.
Even after my softie modern
simulacrum, I felt I deserved
a sticker.
Tail wagging
A
t Sunday lunch, a
couple behind us sat
with their large
retriever on an
extendable lead. This
allowed him to reach
the next table so when
food was set down, he gave
it a good sniff. The owners
reacted as if a dog sticking
his nose in someone’s
poached eggs was cute.
A little later, two
women arrived with a
smaller dog which sat
under the table barking
as adorably as a
car alarm.
A placid labrador
lolling by a fire in a
country pub is fine but this
was a packed urban
restaurant. The owners
Since the late 20th century,
sociologists have been tracking the
pseudo-egalitarian drift of the upper
middle classes — their embrace of
pop culture, their abandonment of
formal dress, their cringeworthy
eagerness to seem more proletarian
than thou (47 per cent of Britons
with professional and managerial
jobs identify as working-class). But
that analysis neglects the fact that
while elite taste has been getting
more democratic and more
“relatable”, food culture has been
getting more absurd and more
pretentious.
Noma, which boasts of its “devout
creativity” and “pursuit of
knowledge”, can sound more like a
humanities department than a
restaurant. It is restrained compared
with the worst of its high-end peers.
Muse in Mayfair once offered guests
a “gastronomic autobiography” in
place of a menu and served a dish
called “the love affair continues”.
I have not visited such culinary
Olympuses but I have had
(reluctant) brushes with the world of
fusion, tasting menus and pointless
savoury mousses. I shiver to recall
how, on a surreal winter night a year
ago, Giles Coren made me eat the
brain of a cow at an oak-panelled
“urban wine club”.
I’m routinely amazed by the way
plain-spoken, sturdily meritocratic
friends — types who wouldn’t be
caught dead at the opera or wearing
shoes other than trainers — can
launch into vaporous ecstasies over a
flan or debate the differences in
flavour between various wines (in
vain, I insist there is reasonable
evidence to show that even trained
offered no apologies and staff, trying
not to trip over leads, understood
they must tolerate this new breed of
customer.
The tragic death of a dog walker,
savaged by her pack of charges,
revealed an astonishing fact: the
British dog population has increased
from 9 million to 13 million since
2019. Many were bought
by first-time owners with
no idea how to train
them, what behaviour is
appropriate or even
where dogs belong.
Rather, they’re
emotional support
animals or furry ego-
extensions to whom
no one is permitted to
say no.
Cross dresser
I
t may be problematic
to adore Cate
Blanchett’s character
in Tár, given she’s a
sexual predator.
(Although, like Marin
Alsop, who partly
inspired her, I wonder
how many real lesbians
ever behaved this
way.) But I was
transfixed by a woman
exerting power
as unapologetically
as a man.
experts can struggle to distinguish
between red and white).
A strange cultural inversion. Even
as basic arts programming disappears
from our screens and TV producers
grow allergic to “elitism”, the public
hungers for instruction in aspects of
cookery that would have sounded
comically esoteric a few decades ago.
Blow torches, olive oil ice creams,
savoury foams, nitrous oxide . . .
Perhaps my antipathy contains an
element of personal resentment —
the irritation of a man accused (quite
reasonably) of pretension throughout
adolescence now forced to sit
uncomplainingly by as grown adults
groan and sigh over the
“complexities” of a chocolate pudding
as if it’s a grand opera not a cake.
I like nice food. I respect the hard
work and talent of chefs. I am
capable of acknowledging that if posh
restaurants are wasted on me (Pizza
Express, please) they bring pleasure
to others. It is the enveloping
pretension I find intolerable.
Our fine-dining fetish seems so
blatantly connected to status and
money. Opera companies are
tormented with accusations of
elitism and preposterous expense —
and they provide great, moving art.
All a top restaurant does is
elaborately satiate the basic human
impulse of hunger. Plus, more
complex etiquette and stupider sums
of cash are involved. Yet absurd food
is treated as popular art.
This, I know, is a losing battle but
I’ll say it anyway: chefs are not
philosophers, a salad isn’t an art form
and a steak, however beautifully
cooked, is not profound. Come back
Lydia Tár, all is forgiven!
Lydia Tár is called “maestro” by
obeisant older men, breezes into
private jets, drives a superb car,
maintains a shag-pad separate from
her family home and describes
herself as “father” to her child since
she’s the non-birth parent who
comes and goes at whim.
Best of all, she has a tailor to
ensure her shirts have the precise
collar she likes and her jackets fit.
Many women dream of a uniform,
cut to flatter, which you can throw
on in moments and escape the time-
sucking vagaries of fashion.
Lonely hearts
I
keep hearing of twentysomethings
whose whole careers since
graduation have been spent
working from home, with just a day
or two “in person” at most.
Ambitious young professionals
have always worked long hours
under great stress. But this was
balanced by an esprit de corps: fag
breaks, gossip, shared late-night
pizzas over a deal, an office flirtation.
Now they bear the strain alone. It
cannot be healthy: the young are
meant to tear up the world, not be
locked in their rooms. A friend said
sadly of her son whose “colleagues”
are across the world: “I can’t even
explain to him what he’s missing.”
@victoriapeckham
Thursday January 19 2023 | the times
Decision-makers at
Davos face a crisis
in the boardroom
Jan Gerber
he theme of the World
Economic Forum’s annual
meeting in Davos is “co-
operation in a fragmented
world”. But CEOs and
company executives cannot be
expected to tackle global challenges
without first addressing their own.
At my clinic Paracelsus Recovery,
based in London and Zurich and
specialising in mental health and
addiction treatment for executives, we
are seeing a mental health crisis in the
boardroom. Referrals for CEOs have
skyrocketed: in 2020, we identified an
alarming 500 per cent increase over
the previous seven years. Since then,
the situation has only got worse. Last
year we saw referral rates for CEOs
double again on what they were two
years earlier.
It is increasingly clear the traits
that allow people to become business
leaders also predispose them to some
mental health conditions. In our
experience, burnout, ADHD,
depression, anxiety disorders and
alcohol and substance abuse are
predominant. Those on the
narcissism spectrum are likely to
climb the corporate ladder more
quickly than their peers.
Bipolar disorder, meanwhile, is so
commonplace among our clients that
we call it “the CEO disease”. The
periods of mania that characterise
the condition can produce moments
of creative genius but also irrational
decision-making and dangerous risk-
taking behaviour. The corresponding
periods of depression, meanwhile,
are clearly debilitating for anyone
trying to run a company.
In our assessment, 50 per cent of
those at Davos will be dealing with
some sort of clinically relevant
mental health or addiction problem.
Yet the issue is nowhere to be found
on the summit’s agenda.
First, we need to start challenging
the narrative surrounding mental
health. Personality traits that drive
innovation among top earners,
including perfectionism and
unwavering professional commitment,
can also lead to health being treated as
an afterthought. That needs to change.
Second, I encourage business
leaders to reflect on difficulties they
faced over the past few years and
use their experience to inform
decision-making.
Third, tackling the mental health
crisis in the boardroom will require
investment, focus, innovation and
time. All companies must strive to
implement policies and practices
that deal with mental health in a
compassionate and understanding
manner. As a starting point, the
mental health of executives should
be included in corporate risk-
management frameworks.
The benefits to our collective
health and society will be profound.
Jan Gerber is CEO and founder of
Paracelsus Recovery mental health and
addiction clinic
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
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Softly-softly Sunak must show fighting spirit
Calm government is welcome but Instagram-friendly PM needs a more combative approach to winning arguments
Iain
Martin
@iainmartin1
T
owards the end of James
Graham’s latest play, the
characters discuss who
won. Best of Enemies
centres on the televised
clashes in 1968 between Gore Vidal
and William F Buckley Jr.
With America riven by the Vietnam
war, fights for civil rights and the
sexual revolution, Vidal the novelist
and Buckley, creator of the modern
conservative movement, went head to
head on the struggling ABC news
station during the Republican and
Democrat conventions. Audiences
were simultaneously scandalised and
enthralled. This was a new format,
the combative discussion on TV. Until
then, current affairs was restricted to
stately anchors and reporting
supposedly free of any slant. After
Vidal and Buckley, who hated each
other, punchy opinions and analysis
delivered with a side serving of ad
hominem became fashionable.
Who won? On a surface level, it
was suave Vidal. He provoked
Buckley so effectively that, live on
air, the socially conservative
commentator disgraced himself. But
Buckley, the promoter of Ronald
Reagan, was the real victor. There
was a “silent majority” interested in
economic aspiration, law and order
and security. The Republican
Richard Nixon won the 1968
election. Four of the following five
presidential contests were won by
Republicans until Bill Clinton turned
his party’s prospects around in 1992.
Watching in the Noël Coward
Theatre, it made me think about
Rishi Sunak, a leader battling to
communicate with the public and
trying to reinvent his party amid a
fast-changing media environment.
Best of Enemies is a play about
ideas and winning political
arguments. While reasonability and
Margaret Thatcher
wouldn’t have stood for
the line of questioning
fluency are useful, they are not
enough on their own. Leaders have to
be able to punch back, especially now
a single question and limp answer
can go viral across social media.
It is not as though Sunak is weak.
During the leadership contest
against Liz Truss he fought hard in
summer debates — too hard for
some tastes. He ended up being
vindicated by the autumn economic
farce. Since the turn of the year, it’s
gone a bit low-energy, falling back on
being nice on Instagram (other than
in PMQs, which almost no one
watches). Twice now, the prime
minister has been smashed up on TV
by interviewers wielding “gotcha”
questions that should not have been
difficult to answer.
On a visit to Scotland he was
confronted by Colin Mackay, the
political editor of STV. Mackay asked
if Sunak would respect the result of a
de facto referendum. (The SNP
leader Nicola Sturgeon has
suggested that if more than 50 per
cent of Scots vote for her party at the
next election, it will constitute a
mandate to negotiate independence.)
It is a potentially illegal idea. Yet
Sunak tried several times to dodge.
The encounter went wild online.
One video posted by a podcast
producer has been viewed 6.2 million
times. Numerous versions have been
posted on TikTok and other outlets.
Many millions of Britons have seen
all or some of the 50-second video of
Sunak struggling. To put those
numbers in context, the audience for
the BBC’s News at Ten was less than
four million viewers late last year.
Margaret Thatcher would not have
stood for it. Faced with that question
from the man from Scottish
television, she would, to employ
Glaswegian vernacular, have taken a
“Hold ma jaicket, let me at him”
approach. Why was this interviewer
parroting nationalist lines? A de
facto referendum? There is no such
thing. It is constitutional nonsense, a
confection invented by a desperate
Sturgeon who thinks only of breaking
up Britain. “Even as we conduct this
interview, Mr Mackay, the first
minister is abandoning her policy
under pressure from her own party.
Why? Because it will not fly with
voters. She’s on the run. Now, ask me
another, about how the nationalists
Politics is part combat
and the Tories are in
the toughest of fights
have betrayed the Scottish islanders
by botching the delivery of new
ferries and let down pupils by
messing up the education system.”
David Cameron, too, relished a
fight, even when north of the border.
There would be a flash of irritation
and then a punch back. Michael
Gove has pioneered an ultra-calm,
non-provocative style of avoiding too
many fights in Scotland. Even so,
there are ways to respond robustly
within those parameters.
At the start of the year, Sunak also
got into difficulties when asked by the
BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg whether he
had used private healthcare. Of
course he has. Millions of us have,
25
Comment
even if we use it alongside the NHS.
The Thatcher answer — going private
reduces pressure — is correct. Sunak
wouldn’t answer and it went viral.
The prime minister hates it
whenever his family is mentioned,
which is fair enough on one level,
though it will come up in a difficult
general election. The media ask
because many voters are interested
in tax arrangements and personal
choices. So answer. Perhaps this is
territory fenced off from advisers
who know the sensitivity. Sunak
seems to want no equivalent of
Alastair Campbell, who could tell
Tony Blair bluntly he was at risk of
making himself look daft.
After the carnival of chaos under
Boris Johnson and Truss, the
decision to avoid rows wherever
possible is understandable. And don’t
get me wrong, the restoration of a
degree of orderly government — the
PM reading his papers, asking
sensible questions and not disgracing
the country — is positive. But
politics is part combat and after the
mess they made in the past couple of
years, the Tories are in the toughest
of fights. To win, their leader will
need in public to show more spirit,
like he did when he did for Johnson.
Today Sunak will take part in a
PM Connect event in Morecambe,
Lancashire, where he will take
questions from voters and
journalists. Time to pep it up.
26
Letters to the Editor
Spin-out successes
Sir, Nathan Benaich’s portrayal of UK
universities’ role in getting spin-out
companies off the ground (business,
Jan 16; letter, Jan 17) under-represents
the help they provide. In return for an
average share of 33 per cent of equity
that reduces as new investors buy in
(not more than 50 per cent as Benaich
implies), universities help with patents,
licences, business plans and attracting
investment. In cases where less
support is provided the average is as
low as 10 per cent. This is a marked
difference from the support given in
the US and is crucial outside London
and the southeast, where finding early-
stage investment capital is much
harder. It also explains why only one in
ten university spin-outs fail compared
with the wider start-up environment,
where under half succeed. These spin-
outs are a British success story, with
businesses spun out of the 24 Russell
Group universities alone bringing in
33,000 jobs and £4.9 billion of
investment to towns and cities across
the country in 2020-21. While
misleading comparisons with Silicon
Valley ought to be avoided, I agree
with Benaich that building on this
success is key to growth across the UK.
Dr Tim Bradshaw
Chief executive of the Russell Group
Heart attack delays
Sir, We write to highlight our
concerns about the unnecessary
deaths of heart-attack patients who
are unable to get to hospital for
emergency treatment. In recent
months, with ambulances stuck in
long queues outside overcrowded
hospitals, heart-attack sufferers who
dial 999 have experienced poor
outcomes because of unacceptably
long delays in receiving help.
When a blocked coronary artery
(causing an “ST elevation” heart
attack) is fixed using a procedure
called primary angioplasty most
patients recover well, returning
quickly to a normal life. This highly
effective emergency procedure is
provided throughout the UK, every
hour of every day. If patients cannot
get to hospital within the first hour of
calling, a higher proportion suffer
avoidable cardiac arrest or death.
Professor David Hildick-Smith,
Professor Nick Curzen, Dr Helen
Routledge, Dr Clare Appleby
Council of the British Cardiovascular
Intervention Society
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Requests for corrections or
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feedback@thetimes.co.uk or by post to
Feedback, The Times, 1 London Bridge
Street, London SE1 9GF
Banning office cakes to tackle obesity crisis
Sir, I agree with Susan Jebb (“Don’t let
them eat cake”, Jan 18) but her hope
that Britons will respond is wishful
thinking. Legislation requiring office
treats to be healthier would be a more
meaningful option. Everyone thought
that the 2018 “sugar tax”, penalising
producers who laced their sodas with
excess sugar, would fail but it didn’t.
The producers stripped their products
of sugar, Britons welcomed the
healthier sodas and have purchased
them like never before. The levy’s
success should certainly be extended
to food.
Lord Rose of Monewden is equally
correct in suggesting that bosses be
made to care for their employees’
health with legislation perhaps similar
to the “metabo law” in Japan. This
penalises bosses if their staff’s annual
waist measurement check falls
outside a healthy range.
As health secretary, Jeremy Hunt
promised “draconian” measures to
stem obesity. As chancellor, knowing
that the real annual cost to the
Exchequer of obesity and its
co-morbidities is £58 billion, draconian
measures are what he should require
Rishi Sunak to introduce.
Tam Fry
Chairman, National Obesity Forum
Health commission
Sir, Professor David Strain (letter, Jan
17) is correct that the academic
teaching workforce must be found
before there is any increase in student
numbers but he has not highlighted
that the vast majority of clinical
teaching is done by NHS-employed
doctors. When planning teaching
clinics we had to reduce the number of
patients by at least 33 per cent to
maintain the standard of both teaching
and care. Squaring this circle is almost
impossible without some sort of radical
rethink of how and what students are
taught, so as to free up enough doctors
to do this teaching. The General
Medical Council decides much of this
and should be leading the way.
Robert Slack
Former undergraduate dean, Royal
United Hospital, Bath
Sir, The Times Health Commission
needs to consider that the NHS in
England is legally committed to reach
carbon net-zero by 2045. The NHS
and social care system is responsible
for about 5 per cent of the UK’s
carbon emissions. Nobody knows
exactly what a net-zero health service
BRITISH BOYS
FOR
AUSTRALIA
from the times january 19, 1923
“We regard the migration of boys as
the soundest of all migration
propositions, from the point of view
of the boys themselves, of this
country, and of Australia.” This was
the opinion expressed by Sir Joseph
Cook, High Commissioner for
Australia, yesterday, in commenting
on the arrangement made by the
Ministry of Labour, through the
Overseas Settlement Committee,
with the Australian Government.
He added: “The Australian boy-
migration schemes now operating
will no doubt be expanded as soon
as opportunity offers. It has, of
Sir, The belief that healthier diets will
provide a major solution to obesity is
understandable but naive. It will take
decades for this to have any impact
and banning “junk food” advertising
before 9pm is a good soundbite but
will have minimal effect. Quite simply,
the major causes of obesity are eating
too much and increasing sedentary
lifestyles. Both of these are within an
individual’s power to address without
government intervention.
Jeremy Preston
Croughton, Northants
Sir, Professor Susan Jebb should not
be making “apples and pears”
comparisons to justify her wish to ban
the taking of cakes into the office by
comparing it to the days before the
modern smoking bans.
If a person smoked in the office we
now know that everyone else there
was affected by potentially harmful
passive smoking. They had no choice.
However, if someone takes cake into
the office, their colleagues each have
a choice of whether they eat it or not
and, whatever they choose, there is
no potentially harmful effect on
anyone else. She also compares cakes
in the office to a smoky pub. Again,
no comparison as there is a choice as
will look like, but we do know that it
will be very different from what we
have now. The necessity for radical
reform is written into law.
Dr Richard Smith
Chairman, UK Health Alliance on
Climate Change
EU retained law
Sir, The government does not know
what it is doing with the Retained EU
Law Bill (“Sunak tries to head off
rebels with pledge on EU law repeal”,
Jan 18). It may identify the many
Europe-based regulations that affect
the daily lives of all working people,
such as holiday pay, whether they are
sacked by a business transfer or
whether women should get equal pay.
However, the bill also abolishes three
principles of European law — the
direct effect, supremacy and general
principles — used in hundreds of
decisions in cases that give certainty,
meaning and teeth to rights at work.
No one has reviewed these.
If this bill is passed then on
January 1 next year, workers and
businesses will wake up to a wholly
uncertain legal system that will require
years of litigation before certainty is
course, always been regarded as of the
first importance that arrangements in
Australia for the immediate care and
occupation of the boys should be
complete before any large increase of
the numbers sent from this country.
The boys are offered what for the vast
majority of them is their best chance
of a prosperous future, the congested
employment avenues of this country
are relieved of numbers of oncoming
workers, and Australia launches in life
adaptable young citizens of the
Empire. The New South Wales
Dreadnought scheme takes boys from
15 to 18 years of age and provides
them with three months’ preliminary
training before their employment.
The South Australian and
Queensland schemes provide
apprenticeship of boys to farmers for
a period of one to three years. In all
cases their employment in agriculture
at the conclusion of their training is
certain. Two thousand boys have
already gone out, and arrangements
Letters to the Editor should be sent to
letters@thetimes.co.uk or by post to
1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF
to whether someone enters the pub
but they probably have no choice
about being in the office.
Nigel Ward
Reading
Sir, Office cake culture is just one
example of how unhealthy options are
consistently put in the spotlight in the
places we live, shop and work. The
government must put the spotlight on
healthier options instead, and improve
upon the 689 obesity policies to date
that haven’t worked. These policies
should have recognised that unhealthy
foods are cheaper to make and easier
to sell, with no real incentive for the
food industry to innovate and deliver
healthier alternatives.
The government’s legislation on
foods high in fat, salt or sugar was
truly groundbreaking, encouraging
industry to factor in the nation’s
health. In anticipation of the change,
we witnessed reformulated foods and
new, healthier brands challenging
household names. There is a real
opportunity to make sure healthy
food is available and affordable for all.
Rebecca Sunter, programme director,
Impact on Urban Health; Louis
Bedwell, managing director and
co-founder, Mission Ventures
regained. My association does not
enter into politics, but calls on the
government to review the effect of all
the case law the bill abolishes so
ministers can understand the impact
on workers and businesses and choose
whether to ameliorate that.
Paul McFarlane
Employment Lawyers Association
Church autonomy
Sir, Melanie McDonagh’s Thunderer
(Jan 17) is right to claim that
parliamentary attempts to pressure
the Church of England to change its
doctrine on same-sex marriage are an
argument for disestablishment. Given
the CofE’s established status, external
meddling is inevitable.
Disestablishment would mean that
the CofE would no longer enjoy
privileged links to the British state; but
also that parliament could not involve
itself in internal church affairs. Both
sides would gain autonomy. It is right
in principle and a religiously impartial
state would better reflect the reality of
modern Britain. Separation of church
and state would be best for both.
Stephen Evans
CEO, National Secular Society
have been concluded for the
dispatch of at least 500 per month.”
Practical interest in migration to
Australia has been shown by Sir
Archibald Weigall, a former
Governor of South Australia. He has
established what is practically an
emigration bureau at Petwood, his
Lincolnshire estate. In a letter to the
local press he said: “As a farmer, I
am not anxious to denude the
county of the best type of young
agricultural worker, but even with
the terrible losses of the war we
have a million more mouths to feed
than we had eight years ago. It will
soon be impossible for this country
to maintain 35 million people. The
marriage of the open, productive
lands of the circumference to the
surplus population at the centre is
inevitable if the Empire is to be
preserved in prosperity.”
thetimes.co.uk/archive
Thursday January 19 2023 | the times
Landscape lament
Sir, Your editorial (Jan 17; letter, Jan 18)
on Ronald Blythe suggests that only
10 per cent of England is “truly urban”.
I disagree. Far too much of our
countryside is scarred by the hideous
structures that farmers are allowed to
erect, the derelict sprawl of abandoned
factories and dreary industrial estates,
and the gimcrack ecologically unsound
hovels that our volume builders spew
over our landscape. Even here in rural
Herefordshire developer blight is
spreading. I do not object to building
decent houses designed to suit their
environment and to be ecologically
responsible and energy efficient. The
problem is that few of our modern
buildings meet these basic standards,
and profit seems to be the only motive.
How different from our forebears,
whom Blythe anatomised so skilfully.
Stephen Chappell
Upper Wyche, Herefordshire
Sir, One sympathises with wearied
townies dreaming of a granite cottage
in Yorkshire (“Country Pursuit”, Jan
17). The only granite to be found
among the limestone and sandstone
hills of that county are rare scattered
boulders transported there as glacial
erratics from Shap Fell in the Lake
District during the Ice Age.
Michael F Ridd
Former chief geologist for BP UK
Harbinger of spring
Sir, The Times long ago stopped
publishing letters foretelling the arrival
of spring as measured by cuckoos.
Perhaps a modern proxy would be the
proliferation of roadworks, as local
councils realise that a budget surplus
needs to be used up. Gazing at the
tailbacks outside my window owing to
simultaneous and unexpected work on
all the main roads in the area, I would
rather welcome a cuckoo.
Stephen Knight
Barnet
Art’s material girl
Sir, That Madonna bought Diane et
Endymion, Jérôme-Martin Langlois’s
masterpiece, in good faith (“Madonna
has missing masterpiece, say French”,
Jan 18) reminded me of when she
approached me requesting that
Salisbury Museum sell her its original
18th-century oil painting, A Panoramic
View of Ashcombe, which I had
purchased at Cecil Beaton’s house sale
after his death. Beaton once described
it as his “favourite possession” and
Madonna, having bought Ashcombe
House with Guy Ritchie, had taken a
fancy to it. We compromised: a copy
was made for the house.
Peter Saunders
Former curator, Salisbury Museum
Bed and bored
Sir, I was always led to believe that a
4ft-wide bed (letters, Jan 16 & 17) was
called a “bachelor’s double”.
Michael Buckley
Petersfield, Hants
Hidden talents
Sir, Further to the letter (Jan 18) on
Gina Lollobrigida being of help to
drummers facing seven beats in the
bar, when I was playing in a concert
band the oboe player was struggling
with a septuplet, so one of the
musicians suggested: “Just think of
Gina Lollobrigida.” Someone else
piped up: “Does she play the oboe?”
Margaret Reed
Cuckfield, W Sussex
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
Daily Universal Register
Switzerland: Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour
leader, Grant Shapps, the business secretary,
and President Yoon of South Korea speak at
the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Nature notes
A scent of wood
smoke rose from the
birch logs on the
pub fire. We
humans have a long
relationship with
that scent. As the
various ice ages came and went, birches
were the pioneer trees, first to return when
the glaciers departed. We didn’t burn their
wood just to keep us warm, though. Birch
tar, a sticky adhesive produced by burning
the bark, was used as a Neolithic chewing
gum 5,700 years ago. Even before that,
during the Mesolithic period, wrapped birch
bark was being used as torches. The oldest
human use of birch comes, amazingly, from
Neanderthals — 200,000 years ago they
were using birch tar to attach handles to
stone tools. jonathan tulloch
Birthdays today
Trevor Kavanagh,
pictured, political editor
(1983-2006), now
columnist, The Sun, 80;
Julian Barnes, author,
The Sense of an Ending
(2011, Man Booker
prizewinner), 77; Murray
Beauclerk, Duke of St Albans, 84; Rob
Behrens, parliamentary and health service
ombudsman, 71; John Bercow, Speaker of
the Commons (2009-19), 60; Euan Blair,
co-founder of education and recruitment
start-up Multiverse, 39; Anthony Browne,
Conservative MP for South Cambridgeshire
since 2019, 56; Jenson Button, British
Formula One world champion (2009), 43;
Damien Chazelle, film-maker, La La Land
(2017), 38; Larry Clark, film director, Kids
(1995), 80; Michael Crawford, actor, Some
Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em (1973-78), and singer, 81;
Anuja Dhir, judge, commissioner, Judicial
Appointments Commission, 55; Stefan
Edberg, Swedish tennis player and former
world No 1 (1990), 57; Tommy Fleetwood,
golfer, six-time winner on the European
Tour, 32; Tim Foster, rower, Olympic gold
medallist (2000), 53; Josephine Gauld,
diplomat, deputy UK high commissioner to
Kenya and permanent representative to the
UN Environment Programme and UN
Habitat, 50; Lady (Kate) Gavron,
chairwoman, Carcanet Press, 68; Tippi
Hedren, actress, The Birds (1963), 93; Wayne
Hemingway, fashion designer and
co-founder (1982), Red or Dead, 62; Dame
Patricia Hodgson, chairwoman, Ofcom
(2014-17), 76; Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin,
bishop of Dover, Speaker’s chaplain (2010-
19), and chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II
(2008-19), 62; Richard Lester, film director,
The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night (1964), 91;
Dolly Parton, country music singer and
actress, 77; Sir Simon Rattle OM, music
director, London Symphony Orchestra, 68;
Cindy Sherman, photographer and film
director, 69; Sir John Stanley, Conservative
MP (1974-2015), Northern Ireland minister
(1987-88), 81; Scott Taunton, president of
broadcasting, News UK, 52; Dennis Taylor,
snooker player, world champion (1985), 74.
On this day
In 1915, in the first air raid on Britain, two
German Zeppelins crossed the Norfolk coast
to bomb Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn.
The last word
“Accident ruled every corner of the universe
except the chambers of the human heart.”
David Guterson, American novelist and
journalist, Snow Falling on Cedars (1994)
Despite tentative signs of a global recovery, Britain remains uniquely vulnerable
to global economic shocks. There is no room for complacency in fighting inflation
Assembled again at Davos, the power brokers of
the world economy observe the first green shoots
emerging after the bleakest of winters for global
markets. The International Monetary Fund no
longer predicts a “tougher” 2023, with a third of
the world beset by negative growth, but “improve-
ment” by the second half of the year. Olaf Scholz,
the German chancellor, is now confident that his
country will avoid a recession; the governor of
France’s central bank predicts the same for
Europe as a whole. In Britain, meanwhile, infla-
tion has fallen for the second consecutive month
and appears to have peaked. These encouraging
developments are testament to a resilience that
has been severely tested over the past 12 months.
Yet to treat them as cause for celebration would
not only be premature, but self-defeating. Instead
they should spur the Treasury and Bank of
England to redouble their commitment to policy
decisions that drive inflation down. Britain,
despite these modest improvements in the global
outlook, remains particularly exposed to further
inflationary shocks. The onus now is on Rishi
Sunak, Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, and Andrew
Bailey, the Bank governor, to ensure that these
shocks are not exacerbated by accident or design.
Their real work is only just beginning.
President Macron should persevere in raising France’s state pension age
Lucile Randon, who assumed the name of Sister
André when she became a nun, died this week at
the age of 118. As the world’s oldest person, she was
a testament, albeit an extreme one, to the growing
longevity of the French. On average its natives live
eight years longer than they did in 1980, and about
two years longer than the British. Yet whereas
Britain’s official retirement age is 66, soon to rise
to 67, the French can start collecting their state
pension at 62. In that context, President Macron’s
attempt to raise the retirement age to 64 is decid-
edly modest.
Yet Mr Macron’s proposed change to the law is
expected to bring France to a standstill today.
Black Thursday, as the planned 24-hour nation-
wide strike is being called, will lead to trains and
flights being cancelled and be accompanied by
stoppages in schools, hospitals and oil refineries as
unions join forces to fight the measure. They are
hoping for a mass turnout of protestors after polls
suggested that 70 per cent of the country is
opposed to working longer. Mr Macron’s oppo-
nents on the left and right hope to ride this wave
of discontent and inflict a humiliating defeat on
Sleepovers are losing their appeal for many American parents
The humble sleepover, for decades an innocent
rite of childhood passage, not to mention a blessed
relief to the non-hosting parents, appears to be the
latest victim of cultural polarisation in America.
The full-blown sleepover is losing ground as the
compromise home-at-midnight “late-over” gains
popularity, with some mums and dads concerned
about allowing their kids to stay at friends’ houses.
These concerns aren’t so much about what isn’t
known about those in loco parentis, but what is.
Given the ubiquity of social media, a great deal
of information about your child’s prospective
stewards is available to peruse in the window
No Alternative
In this unenviable mission they are hardly
alone. Policymakers the world over are having to
contend with a series of economic problems: rising
interest rates following the end of the long years of
quantitative easing that came after the financial
crash and continued throughout the Covid pan-
demic; and tight labour markets, with vacancies
high and willing workers scarce, that are putting
upward pressure on wages and prices. And while
wholesale gas prices have fallen, the energy shock
caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues
to reverberate across Europe.
Nonetheless, British policymakers face a much
trickier task than those elsewhere. “None of these
challenges is unique to the UK,” Huw Pill, the
Bank’s chief economist, noted in a speech in New
York this month, “but the UK is distinctive in fac-
ing all three of these challenges at the same time.”
If Mr Sunak’s pledge to cut inflation by half by the
end of this year is to be fulfilled, and if the Bank is
to make substantial progress towards its own 2 per
cent inflation target, then now is the time for an
abundance of caution. The alternative, as Mr Pill
rightly warns, is that inflation is again allowed to
run out of control.
Achieving these targets may be much easier said
than done. A healthier global economy, leading to
Old Problem
the centrist president, who has made pension re-
form the centrepiece of his second, and final, term.
To most British eyes, such opposition is inexpli-
cable. Common sense dictates that as lifespan
lengthens the state retirement age must creep up
to balance the public finances. Indeed, France’s
supposedly self-financing pension system is
creaking, with the government having to bail it out
to maintain payments. What’s more, the rise in the
retirement age would take place not straight away
but incrementally, with three months of extra
working life added annually until 2030. The new
law also contains exemptions for those with physi-
cally demanding jobs.
Nonetheless, for many the retirement threshold
is considered sacrosanct, an inviolable expression
of the state’s responsibility to the individual. The
issue is a running sore that has bedevilled past
efforts at reform. Jacques Chirac tried and failed in
1995, while Nicolas Sarkozy only succeeded in
raising the age from 60 to 62. One former prime
minister, reflecting on the intractability of the
issue, quipped: “The English have Ireland and the
Americans have guns. We have pensions.”
Lights Out
between receiving and accepting an invitation.
What if, for example, an Instagram or Twitter feed
reveals an evangelical anti-vaxer? A creationist?
Or, for that matter, a proselytising Darwinian
atheist? A new partner who seems a bit iffy?
What if you learn your offspring will be spending
the night under the same roof as a gun enthusiast?
In 2020, 4,357 children died from gunshot wounds
in the US. Last year, firearms became the number
one killer of young Americans, responsible for 20
per cent of all deaths of those aged 19 and under.
Never mind a sleepover, British parents wouldn’t
want their child within a mile of the weapons found
27
Leading articles
stronger demand from abroad, could cause a
further tightening of Britain’s labour market and
more pressure on businesses to raise wages. This
unhelpful scenario would increase the risk of the
wage-price spiral that ministers rightly fear could
prolong the inflationary crisis for years to come.
Consider this week’s news of 7.2 per cent average
pay growth in the private sector between Septem-
ber and November, the fastest rate of increase in
more than two decades. That is anything but a
signal to policymakers to relax.
Pressure for inflation-busting pay deals will
persist in Britain even as the headline rate of infla-
tion falls and the long-term prognosis for its G7
rivals improves. After all, cost of living pressures
will continue even after last year’s energy price
rises fall out of the inflation calculations. Should
ministers misjudge their response now, the conse-
quences for British business and workers could
quickly become unconscionable: chronic inflation
followed by higher interest rates and with it fur-
ther pain for the mortgage payers and firms seek-
ing to refinance in this most inhospitable of
markets. They have already paid a steep price for
one self-inflicted crisis last year. Now the path to
a recovery has emerged, there is all the more rea-
son for ministers to avoid another.
Macron’s own first attempt to revamp the
system foundered following strikes and the onset
of the pandemic, which weakened his resolve.
Marine Le Pen, the right-wing populist leader,
wants to maintain retirement at 62 for most
people, while Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the
leftist bloc in the legislature, even favours a reduc-
tion to 60. But despite his Renaissance party losing
control of the legislature in June, Mr Macron be-
lieves it is a fight worth having. The French
national debt is 113 per cent of GDP and taxes
equate to 45 per cent of GDP, one of the highest
burdens in the developed world. Given this, main-
taining Europe’s youngest retirement age is unten-
able, already costing France 14.7 per cent of GDP.
In grasping this nettle, Mr Macron is displaying
considerable political courage. If Renaissance’s
allies in the legislature desert it, Macron could
force through reform by decree, which would
enshrine him as even more of a hate figure among
the many who regard him as a technocrat friend of
the metropolitan elite. Still, in administering this
unpopular medicine he can be sure that he is doing
the right thing for his country.
in 45 per cent of US homes. Increasingly, non-gun
owning Americans feel the same way.
Less starkly, a quick electronic trawl might sug-
gest a household with lax attitudes towards screen
time, internet access, bedtime or junk food. In
such cases a judgment must be made. Perhaps a
blind eye can be turned: children need to experi-
ence different cultures and homes, different
rhythms and mores. Then again, children also
need stability, predictability — and sleep. This side
of the Atlantic, we submit, there’s still a lot to be
said for “not very often and never on a school
night” as a time-honoured compromise.
28 2GM Thursday January 19 2023 | the times

World
Minister among dead as helicopter
Ukraine have played a leading role in defending
Profile Kyiv from Russian forces last year.
Marc Bennetts, Joshua Thurston
The Kremlin has not commented on

Fourteen people, including Ukraine’s
interior minister and a child, were killed
yesterday when a helicopter crashed
next to a nursery near Kyiv.
A fierce fire erupted when the air-
craft carrying Denys Monastyrskiy, as
well as his deputy, Yevhen Enin, came
down in the town of Brovary, about 12
miles from Kyiv, Ukrainian police said.
All nine on board died, along with five
people on the ground. Another 25 were
injured, 15 of them children.
Monastyrskiy, 42, is the most senior
Ukrainian official to have died since the
start of the Russian invasion 11 months
ago. His death was described by Denys
Shmyhal, the prime minister, as a great
loss to the country.
Local residents described scenes of
chaos as parents rushed to save their
children from the inferno in the
moments after the crash.
Video from the scene showed a large
blaze on a housing estate and the
charred wreckage of the helicopter.
The sound of screaming could be heard
from burning buildings, while a man lay
face down on the ground near a child-
ren’s playground. The helicopter’s rotor
blades were embedded in the entrance
of an apartment building.
Glib, a 17-year-old resident, told the
Reuters news agency: “We saw
wounded people, we saw children.
There was a lot of fog here, everything
was strewn all around. We could hear
screams, we ran towards them. We took
the children and passed them over the
fence, away from the nursery as it was
on fire, especially the second floor.”
President Zelensky described the
incident as a “terrible tragedy”,
adding: “The pain is unspeak-
able.” He said that he had
ordered an investigation.
Andriy Kostin, Ukraine’s
prosecutor-general, said
that nothing had been
ruled out, including
sabotage. The
investigation is being
carried out by the
SBU, the state
security service.
The helicopter
was heading for “a
hot spot where mili-
tary hostilities are
taking place”, Kyrylo
Tymoshenko, deputy
head of the Ukrainian
presidential office, said.
Those on board the
French-made Super
Puma helicopter
D
enys Monastyrskiy
was in charge of the
police force and
national guard, and
the emergency
services. He also oversaw
investigations into atrocities
carried out by Russian troops,
warning that the war would set
off a “humanitarian catastrophe”
(Marc Bennetts writes).
Orysia Lutsevych, a Ukraine
analyst at the Chatham House
think tank in London, described
his death as “a grave loss for
Ukraine”.
Within a month of the invasion
Monastyrskiy, 42, could be found
on both the political and military
front lines, giving regular
updates about missile strikes
across the country and issuing
grave warnings about the legacy
of unexploded ordnance.
Born in Khmelnytsky, western
Ukraine, he studied law, joining
Hillmont Partners, an Anglo-
Ukrainian legal firm that
represented Kvartal 95, President
Zelensky’s TV production
company, and later obtaining his
PhD. He was remembered by one
colleague as “a very bright,
smiley, friendly, patriotic person”.
He is the most senior
Ukrainian official to die since the
start of the war.
included six ministry officials and three
crew. “[It] was circling and burning,” a
local woman said in a video posted on
Twitter. She said the pilot appeared
to have steered the stricken aircraft
away from a larger block of flats.
All civilian aircraft have been
grounded in Ukraine since the start
of the war. Volodymyr Yermolenko,
a Ukrainian journalist who lives
in Brovary, said Russian strikes
on energy infrastructure
meant that there had been a
power cut and nearby
buildings were unlit.
Monastyrskiy, a father-of
two, was appointed by
Zelensky in July 2021,
seven months before
the start of the war.
He was in charge of
the Ukrainian
police, the national
guard and other
emergency ser-
vices, and is said to
the incident, days after more than 40
people, including several children, were
killed when a Russian cruise missile hit
a block of flats in Dnipro, central
Ukraine.
Yesterday, while President Putin was
in St Petersburg paying respects to the
400,000 civilian victims of the Nazi
siege of the city, police in Moscow
arrested four people who had brought
flowers to a makeshift memorial for
those killed in Dnipro. Flowers and
children’s toys were removed.
Putin told factory workers in St
Petersburg that he had “no doubt”
Russia would be victorious in the war,
which he claimed was aimed at
protecting Russian speakers living in
the Donbas region, eastern Ukraine.
Thousands of people died in the
Donbas between 2014 and 2015 in
fighting that erupted after Russia
deployed troops to support a nascent
separatist movement, but there had
been no large-scale battles until Putin
ordered tanks into Ukraine last year.
The Russian-backed Donetsk People’s
Republic, the largest separatist-held
territory, has claimed that only seven
civilians were killed in the region in
2021.
Putin’s comments coincided with re-
marks from Sergey Lavrov, the Russian
foreign minister, comparing Nato to
Nazi Germany. He accused western
countries of seeking “the final solution
of the ‘Russian question’, just as Hitler
wanted to finally solve the Jewish
question”. Lavrov prompted outrage
last year when he claimed that Hitler
had “Jewish blood”.
Olena Zelenska, the Ukrainian
president’s wife, appeared close to tears
when she was told of the helicopter
crash before attending a World
Economic Forum session in Davos,
Switzerland. “Another very sad day Investigators
today, new losses,” she said. joined soldiers
Brovary, with a population of about and rescuers at
100,000, was targeted by Russian the crash scene.
troops at the start of the invasion but The cause was
has not been involved in fighting since not immediately
they were forced to retreat. known. Olena
Admiral Rob Bauer, the Dutch Nato Zelenska, left,
military committee chief, said: “Even was told of the
though the cause of the accident incident in Davos,
remains unclear, it’s yet another stark where she is at
reminder of the senseless destruction the World
and the immense grief that this war Economic Forum.
poses.” Her husband said
Bridget Brink, the US ambassador to that Denys
Ukraine, wrote on Twitter: “Shocked Monastyrskiy,
and saddened by the terrible news from far left, had
Brovary.” died in a
Denys Monastyrskiy obituary, page 50 terrible tragedy

Judges on collision course with Netanyahu as cabinet ally banned

Israel
Anshel Pfeffer Jerusalem
The Supreme Court of Israel has ruled
that a coalition partner cannot serve in
Binyamin Netanyahu’s cabinet, further
deepening a rift with the judiciary.
Netanyahu’s government was
thrown into disarray barely three
weeks after its inauguration as the
court ruled that Aryeh Deri, leader of
Shas, the second-largest party in the
coalition, was unsuitable to serve in
cabinet. Deri, 63, a long-time ally of
Netanyahu, was appointed on December
29 as deputy prime minister, as well as
health and home affairs minister.
In a 10-1 decision, the court ruled that
his appointment was “unreasonable”
because of a conviction a year ago for
tax fraud, in which Deri agreed to a plea
bargain in return for a suspended prison
sentence. Some of the judges also based
their ruling on the grounds that Deri
had agreed to leave political life.
Since then, Deri has led his Shas
party to help Netanyahu’s coalition to
win the election on November 1. It was
his second political comeback. He was
convicted in 1999 of fraud and taking
bribes, for which he spent two years in
prison.
During the election, Deri dismissed
the notion that his conviction would
stop him from serving in cabinet. The
ruling will either force him to resign or
Netanyahu will have to dismiss him.
Deri’s party released a statement last
night accusing the court of “throwing in
the bin the voices and votes of 400,000
Shas voters”.
Netanyahu, who relies on the Shas
members of the Knesset, rushed to
Deri’s home after the ruling but must
now make do without him in his
cabinet. Deri can remain a member of
parliament and leader of his party. The
prime minister’s main worry is whether
Shas will stay loyal. Netanyahu has re-
frained from commenting on the ruling
but his Likud party said: “We will use all
legal means and work without delay to
fix the injustice caused to Aryeh Deri.”
The ruling comes at a fraught
moment. The Netanyahu government
has published plans for a sweeping
judicial reform that would drastically
reduce the power of the Supreme Court
to hold the government to account.
Esther Hayut, the court’s president
who presided over the disqualification,
said last week that the government’s
plans were “a mortal wound to the inde-
pendence of the judiciary”.
An estimated 90,000 Israelis protested
on Saturday night against the reforms.
Netanyahu, who is on trial on charges
of bribery and fraud, must decide
whether to ditch his old ally or intensify
his conflict with the judges.
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
crashes close to nursery in Kyiv
Nervous American parents put prospect of sleepovers to bed
United States
Keiran Southern Los Angeles
For many people, sleepovers conjure
happy memories of spending the night
at a friend’s house away from the watch-
ful eyes of their parents. However, what
was once an innocent rite of passage is
now seen as fraught with danger
American parents have raised con-
cerns over how long their children
might spend looking at TikTok,
whether there’s a gun in the house or if
there is any risk of abuse. Using the
2GM
hashtag #NoSleepovers, social media
users have been debating the pros and
cons of staying over.
Those in favour argue that they help
a child’s social development but Tara
Huck, an influencer and mother of two,
posted a video on TikTok in which she
said her children were not allowed
sleepovers. It has been viewed more
than 1.7 million times.
Huck, 35, from northern Virginia,
said for her it was a question of safety:
“You can never be too sure what goes
on in other people’s homes,” she told
Saudis host a football
tournament for women
Page 30
SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
The Times. “That’s not to say that you
may not trust those people with your
kids playing over or spending time at
their house but I do believe that there
are a lot of different circumstances that
can arise that you may not have control
over. Kids are most vulnerable when
they are asleep.
“I’m perfectly fine with my kids
having playdates and I’m perfectly fine
with my kids enjoying the company of
other children. But when it comes to
sleeping or showering at somebody
else’s house, they could just do that at
We can’t beat Putin
with our rubbish kit,
warns tank sergeant
Richard Spencer Bakhmut
The breakdown in Bakhmut was not
staged, but the 24th Mechanised Bri-
gade could hardly have put on a better
show of its men’s demands for better kit.
A battered-looking Soviet-era T-62
stood parked against the wall of a block
of flats behind the front lines in Bakh-
mut, the Ukraine war’s most heavily
contested town. Behind was its back-up,
a BMP-2 armoured fighting vehicle,
also of Soviet vintage. The only prob-
lem was that the BMP wouldn’t start.
“We are so tired of working with stuff
like this,” its driver, Sergeant “Spider”
Bogdan, said. “Would we like to have a
Challenger instead? It would be a gift
from the heavens.”
He got in, and another BMP drove up
behind his vehicle’s rear and bumped it
forward until it burped into life, shoot-
ing out dark smoke. It was not a smooth
start to Spider’s day. He turned to his
commanding officer. “Why is it always
us, in the front line, with this rubbish?”
“The trouble with our equipment,” he
told The Times, “is that everything
looks OK from the outside. But when
you go into battle it just stops.”
Bogdan, 34, has spent a year facing
off against Russian tanks in the fields
and forests of eastern Ukraine, and in
between patching things up. The T-62,
which did not look “OK”, but torn and
bruised from months of brutal service,
is a model that saw action in Afghan-
istan 40 years ago.
The British government has said it
will send 14 Challenger 2 tanks, a much
heavier and better-armoured vehicle
than anything in Russian or Ukrainian
hands, to help Kyiv’s war effort.
That decision has been warmly wel-
comed by Ukrainian forces, but no one
expects a single tank squadron to turn
the war. What the Ukrainians want is
the hundreds of tanks, possibly the
German Leopard 2 and the American
Abrams, which are available to be sent
quickly from western Europe and the
United States.
The Leopard 2 is regarded by some as
the best tank in operation, and more
importantly there are 2,000 of them in
their own home. I don’t think that
there’s ever a reason to have your child-
ren sleep at somebody else’s house.”
Huck said there had been a huge
response to her video, and the majority
of parents agreed with her.
She disagrees with those parents who
argued that her children were missing
out on an important experience.
“The world is an unsafe place to begin
with, things can happen at any point, no
matter where they are, no matter what
they’re doing. The world is a crazy
place. But if I can minimise any chance
29
Liar and ‘9/11 truther’ on
congressional committees
Page 32
the hands of 13 friendly European
nations, offering an opportunity to
invigorate Ukrainian forces. But there
are tight rules in place for weapons
re-exports, which need the agreement
of the original supplier.
Ukraine and its allies such as Poland,
which wants to send some of its stock of
Leopards, and the UK, are demanding
that Olaf Scholz, the German chancel-
lor, say “yes”. He has accepted this is the
first item on the agenda when he and
his new defence minister, Boris Pis-
torius, host a key meeting of the Nato-
led Ukraine Defence Contact Group at
the Ramstein air base in Germany
tomorrow, after a Nato meeting today.
But so far he has been nervous of giving
way, fearing it will escalate the conflict.
The soldiers of the 17th Tank Brigade
are equipped with the Soviet-era T-64
and T-72 tanks — including an upgrad-
ed T-72 captured last year. These are
the workhorses of both sides’ armies.
The more modern tanks would make
a difference, according to Lieutenant
Oleksander Romanchuk, 31, a com-
mander of a tank company and a ten-
year veteran. “Everything is built from
the perspective and ease of the crew,”
he said. “There’s more armour, better
scopes, better ammunition.”
In its assault on Bakhmut and neigh-
bouring Soledar, Russia has used mass-
wave tactics, pouring recruits over the
top, oblivious to the cost in lives. With a
huge reserve of armour, and 300,000
conscripts called up in the autumn, it
has the luxury of using the same tactics
again.
Ukrainian strategists and their west-
ern advisers believe Kyiv in turn needs
more, better-quality heavy weaponry
to resist a mass onslaught in the spring.
Scholz has implied that he will agree to
sending Leopards — perhaps even
some of Germany’s own, as well as
those of his customers — if the US also
sends its Abrams.
The decision is likely to reverberate
on the battlefields of Bakhmut. “Let’s
face it, we’re tired,” Romanchuk said.
“We just want more ammunition, more
equipment, more anything, so we can
get on with things, and go home.”
of something happening to them, then
that is my job as their mom.”
For some cultures in the US, sleep-
overs have never been acceptable. In
many Hispanic families it is an alien
concept. There is a popular TikTok
trend featuring Latino girls running
towards the camera before explaining
that their mother has said “no” to a
sleepover — “because you have broth-
ers and a father and uno nunca sabe”,
meaning “You never know”.
There’s a lot to be said for compromise,
leading article, page 27
30
World
Matters of life and death Singers rehearse Mozart’s Requiem, which was completed after his death by his pupil, at the Opéra National de Bordeaux. They will be
reusing old sets and costumes in the first “zero purchase” production by a national opera company. The performances run from tomorrow until January 28
Divided Catalan separatists aim
for show of strength at summit
Spain
Isambard Wilkinson Barcelona
Catalan separatists say a protest at a
Spanish-French summit to be held in
Barcelona today is a show of strength
after the government declared that
their plans for independence were dead.
The government of Pedro Sánchez,
the prime minister, said that the
separatists’ plan to break away from
Spain, referred to as the procés, was
“over”. A Catalan leader said that the
comment was “provocative”.
The meeting of Sánchez and President
Macron in Barcelona, the Catalan
capital, has been widely interpreted as a
declaration that the region has returned
to normality after the turbulence of the
2017 independence attempt.
Catalan separatists disagree. Dolors
Feliu, president of the separatist group
Assemblea Nacional Catalana, said:
“This summit attempts to prove that
the Catalan pro-independence move-
ment no longer exists. We will take to
the streets to prove the exact contrary,
that Catalonia’s struggle for independ-
ence exists and is still strong.”
Oriol Junqueras, president of the
ruling Catalan Republican Left (ERC)
Former Barclays boss ‘well aware’ of Epstein’s trafficking
United States
Callum Jones New York
The former Barclays boss Jes Staley has
been accused of having “personally
observed” sexual abuse by the paedo-
phile Jeffrey Epstein.
A woman suing JPMorgan Chase for
facilitating Epstein’s crimes made a
series of new allegations about Staley,
who worked at the American bank
before leading Barclays, in an amended
complaint. Staley, 66, had been “well
party who was jailed for his role in the
2017 secession attempt and later
pardoned, told The Times: “The
government believes provocative state-
ments will win them political benefits
but what they generate is the opposite:
the reaction of a people in defence of
negotiation, of democracy and of self-
determination.”
Analysts said the size of the protest
would indicate the movement’s
strength as it struggled with internal
divisions, dwindling public support and
a business exodus.
Oriol Bartomeus, a political scientist
at the Autonomous University of Bar-
celona, said the procés was “dead but
not buried”. He added: “Since 2018 the
demonstrations have only this goal: to
gather and show strength.
“That’s all. There’s not a horizon to
pursue, as it was before 2017. The procés
is not buried because the parties . . . fear
being called traitors to the movement.”
A survey by the Catalan govern-
ment’s Centre for Opinion Studies
found in October 2017 that 48.7 per cent
of Catalans supported independence
against 43.6 per cent who did not.
A survey by the same centre in
November found that 50 per cent of
aware” Epstein was trafficking victims,
according to the complaint. The banker
“personally spent time with young girls
whom he met through Epstein on
several occasions,” it claimed; visited
his “victim stash house apartments” on
the Upper East Side of Manhattan; and
“observed Epstein sexually grab young
women in front of him”.
A lawyer for Staley did not respond to
a request for comment last night. Staley
has previously denied knowledge of
Epstein’s abuse, and involvement in sex
Catalans opposed independence, with
40 per cent in favour. A poll published
this week by the Autonomous University
of Barcelona found only 4.2 per cent of
respondents believed that the procés
would end in independence, a historical
low. The figure reached its best percent-
age in 2015 at 17.1 per cent.
Junqueras dismissed the polls, point-
ing out that separatist parties won more
than half the votes at regional elections
in 2021. He also raised the reforms
passed by the government in December
to abolish the offence of sedition and
lower the penalty for misuse of public
funds under which Junqueras and other
separatists were jailed.
The reforms, made in exchange for
ERC support to pass Sánchez’s budget,
were condemned by the right wing and
criticised by the judiciary for weaken-
ing the state.
The reforms and their effect on cases
against Catalan leaders are widely
debated. They may permit Carles Puig-
demont, the former regional head, to
return to Spain from his self-exile in
Belgium without being jailed. They
may also affect the sentences of those
pardoned, such as Junqueras who is
banned from holding public office until
trafficking. Lawyers for the woman be-
hind the proposed class action, known
as Jane Doe 1, allege that Staley “per-
sonally observed Jane Doe 1 as a sexual
trafficking and abuse victim at times in-
cluding through his departure from
JPMorgan in 2013”.
They accused JPMorgan, where Sta-
ley served as a top executive, of turning
a blind eye to Epstein’s activity: “As a re-
sult of Staley’s direct and actual know-
ledge of Epstein’s sex trafficking ven-
ture, JPMorgan had direct and actual
2GM
PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
2031. He alarmed the government after
the reforms were passed by reviving the
issue of another referendum.
Junqueras is to join the protesters
while Pere Aragonès, a fellow ERC
member and the Catalonia president,
will attend the summit.
The apparent contradiction under-
scores the dilemma facing the party.
The ERC has renounced unilateral
action towards independence but rival
separatist parties accuse it of reneging
on the cause. Puigdemont’s hardline
separatist centre-right Junts party quit
the regional coalition government in
October, ostensibly over its failure to
advance the independence agenda.
Ignacio Garriga, head of the ultra-
nationalist populist Vox party, which
became the region’s fourth political
force and the right-wing opposition
leader at regional elections in 2021,
voiced fears over national unity that
many Spaniards share.
“The separatist movement continues
to be a danger for national unity,” he
said. “They have not renounced their
aim to break away. They have just
changed their strategy and sadly they
now have a privileged ally in the central
government.”
knowledge of Epstein’s sex trafficking
venture.” JPMorgan declined to com-
ment. The bank recently sought to dis-
miss the lawsuit. “Jane Doe 1 is a survi-
vor of Epstein’s sexual abuse, and she is
entitled to justice” but filed meritless
claims against the “wrong party”, it said.
Staley left JPMorgan in 2013. In 2015
he was named chief executive of Bar-
clays. He stepped down as chief execu-
tive of Barclays in late 2021 after an in-
vestigation by British regulators into
his ties with Epstein.
Thursday January 19 2023 | the times
Saudis host
football
tournament
for women
Saudi Arabia
Abbie Cheeseman Beirut
Saudi Arabia is hosting its first inter-
national women’s football tournament
as the kingdom attempts to rid itself of
its reputation as an authoritarian
nation where women have few rights.
The nine-day tournament, which
comes shortly after Qatar hosted the
World Cup, has brought the national
women’s teams of Pakistan, Mauritius
and Comoros to Saudi Arabia.
The matches, all played in al-Khobar
in the east of the country, are being
officiated by Anoud al-Asmari, the first
Saudi woman to be accredited as an
international referee by Fifa last week.
From Formula One to football, and
with an eye on eventually hosting the
Olympics, Saudi Arabia is pouring
money into becoming a global hub for
big sporting events. The crown prince,
Mohammed bin Salman, known as
MBS, wants to restore the kingdom’s
reputation with the campaign. Human
rights groups said the nation was
“sportswashing” its repressive record.
Saudi Arabia’s finest female players
hope to win the tournament final today
“Saudi Arabia continues to severely
discriminate against women despite
efforts by MBS to use mega sporting
events and limited women’s rights
reforms to demonstrate a progressive
image,” Joey Shea, a researcher investi-
gating rights abuses in Saudi Arabia for
Human Rights Watch, said.
The Saudi women’s team won their
first two matches against Mauritius and
Comoros and face Pakistan in the final
day of the tournament today. “It is an
event that can play a big role in inspiring
millions of young girls across the coun-
try and the Asian continent to become
involved in the beautiful game,” Lamia
Bahaian, supervisor of the women’s
football department at the Saudi Arabi-
an Football Federation, said.
While football has long been consid-
ered Saudi Arabia’s national sport, the
fervour in the country reached fever
pitch over the past few months. The
shock defeat of Argentina in the World
Cup group stage sent people across the
Arab world into a state of euphoria.
Their success was followed by the news
that Cristiano Ronaldo had signed a
deal to join the Saudi club Al-Nassr for
an estimated £173 million a year.
Human rights groups urged Ronaldo
to call out abuses. “Saudi women still
[need] a male guardian’s approval to
marry, be released from prison or
obtain sexual and reproductive health-
care,” Shea said. “Minimal reforms only
came about after [years] of activism and
scores of [activists] remain under sus-
pended prison sentences.”
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
Ich bin ein Berliner — and not that rude, thank you very much
Germany
Oliver Moody Berlin
In the opinion of the 19th-century
German novelist Theodor Fontane, the
mark of a true Berliner was the tenden-
cy to barge into a stranger on the street
and then growl at them: “You’d better
look where you’re going.”
The city’s reputation for what natives
tend to consider charming directness
but which to outsiders often seems like
Sequel time Susan Sarandon and Richard Gere have been reunited on screen in the rom-com Maybe I Do, 41 years after they attended the 1982 Academy Awards, where
Sarandon was nominated as best actress for Atlantic City. They last starred together in the 2012 thriller Arbitrage, which earned Gere his fourth Golden Globe nomination
Meloni court choice ‘linked to mafia’
Italy
Philip Willan Rome
Giorgia Meloni’s celebrations at the
arrest of Italy’s most wanted mobster
have been marred by the discovery that
one of her candidates for the governing
body of the judiciary is being investi-
gated over suspected links to the Calab-
rian mafia.
Italy’s prime minister flew to Sicily to
hail the capture on Monday of the Cosa
Nostra boss Matteo Messina Denaro,
60, as a historic victory for the state and
honest Italians. Meloni, 46, was filmed
pausing in reflection before a monu-
ment honouring anti-mafia magis-
trates murdered by the mob in the
1990s.
Her message was undermined, how-
ever, when news emerged that one of
her candidates for the Superior Council
of the Magistrature (CSM) was under
investigation by anti-mafia magistrates
in Reggio Calabria for suspected links
to the ’NDrangheta.
Giuseppe Valentino, a lawyer and
former deputy justice minister, with-
drew his candidacy but his replacement
failed to win enough votes, leaving a
2GM
blistering rudeness has survived to the
present day. Visitors often complain of
hard stares and a refusal to help the
elderly or harassed parents on public
transport, poor awareness of personal
space or gruff to non-existent customer
service.
Yet this aura of coarseness is largely
undeserved, according to a study that
suggests Berlin is not even among the
top five rudest cities in Germany.
The poll placed it seventh, behind
vacancy on the council’s board. Valen-
tino, 77, a former senator for Alleanza
Nazionale, a forerunner of Meloni’s
Brothers of Italy party, was one of ten
candidates for the “lay” members of the
council. Drawn from the ranks of law
professors and lawyers, they are elected
by parliament to govern the judiciary,
in conjunction with 20 magistrates.
The newspaper La Verità said investi-
gators had listened in on Valentino
speaking on the phone to Giorgio De
Stefano, a member of a leading
’NDrangheta family, and Paolo Romeo,
a former MP who was sentenced to 25
years imprisonment for membership of
the Calabrian mafia.
The paper said Valentino had in-
voked his right not to answer questions
in a mafia trial because he was under in-
vestigation in a connected case.
He described the accusations against
him as “shameful and false”, adding that
“no shovel-load of mud can hurt my
credibility, my honour and my hon-
esty”.
Francesco Forgione, a former presi-
dent of the parliamentary anti-mafia
commission who is now mayor of the
island of Favignana, off Sicily where
31
World
Essen, Dresden, Frankfurt, Cologne, Berlin scored quite highly for “failing to obnoxious noises in public. It had an
Dortmund and Munich. pay heed to strangers”, rudeness to overall score of 6.5.
Censuswide, a British market waiters and “watching videos in public” It is not clear why Essen was felt to be
research company, interviewed 1,525 but was otherwise in the middle of the so rude when neighbouring Bochum
people in the 20 largest German cities pack, with a total score of 5.9 out of ten, was rated as the politest city with 5.2
for Preply, a language-learning app. where ten was the worst behaviour. points, and Duisburg, next door to the
Each participant was asked to rank By contrast Essen, a city of about west, came in at a mildly inoffensive 5.7.
from one to ten how often they encoun- 590,000 people in the heart of the This may have something to do with
tered 12 “rude” behaviours, including rugged industrial Ruhr region, led in the small sample size — an average of
fiddling with a smartphone in public, most categories, with particularly bad barely 75 people in each city — or that
“cagey” body language, queue-jumping ratings for tipping, invading other the differences between the cities were
and treating service staff with disdain. people’s personal space and making not particularly big.
GREGORY PACE/SHUTTERSTOCK
Mystery over
Lollobrigida’s
missing riches
Philip Willan
Tensions are mounting over Gina
Lollobrigida’s estate after she died on
Monday at the age of 95.
The film star’s often chaotic personal
life has left several claimants to her
property and suggestions that much of
her wealth may have been dissipated,
despite her being placed under a court-
appointed guardian in October 2021.
Assets that should form part of her
estate include a villa on the Appian
Way, an apartment in Rome, a shop in
Gina Lollobrigida’s
wealth was placed
in guardianship
Pietrasanta on the Tuscan coast, a flat
in Montecarlo, a collection of jewels,
antique furniture and paintings.
Among those observing proceedings
is her ex-husband, Francisco Javier
Rigau y Rafols, a Spanish businessman
who married her by proxy in 2010. She
said the marriage took place without
her knowledge and accused him of try-
ing to take over her fortune. A Spanish
court cleared him of fraud in 2017.
Rigau told Italian television: “I won’t
inherit anything but there should be an
investigation into Gina’s assets because
her patrimony has disappeared.”
Messina Denaro once held sway, said it
Secret bunker found after mobster’s arrest was unclear whether the unwise choice
of someone under investigation had
Police have discovered convicted of scores of watched investigators been made by Meloni or members of
a secret bunker that murders, has secret enter the house. her party.
they suspect was used archives once owned by Messina Denaro, who The prime minister was said to be
by the mafia boss the late boss Toto Riina used the identity of a furious over the incident.
Matteo Messina Denaro that may reveal the Campobello di Mazara Forgione said:“If I were prime minis-
(Tom Kington writes). names of politicians man, Andrea Bonafede, ter I wouldn’t have proposed this candi-
After the capture of who connived with the when receiving medical date. The CSM is not a bowling club. It
Italy’s most wanted Cosa Nostra. Senior care, was tracked to a has the power to intervene on the
mob boss following investigators believe clinic in Palermo where appointment of magistrates and to
30 years on the run, the Messina Denaro, like he was receiving oversee their work. It’s a mistake to
police found a flat in Riina, will never confess treatment for cancer propose names that don’t guarantee the
Campobello di Mazara details of his career but after the police utmost transparency, though in our
used by him, but none hope that written overheard a relative system people are innocent until con-
of the documents they material detailing their discussing his health. victed at a second level of appeal.”
hope will shed light on activities exists. He had an operation Messina Denaro’s ability to stay on
Cosa Nostra’s bombing Italian media reports for colon cancer in the run for 30 years has been attributed
campaign in the 1990s. said investigators Mazara del Vallo in to contacts in politics, the freemasons
Yesterday officers initially discovered a Sicily in 2020, before and the secret services. His wealth
raided a second flat in collection of jewels and being treated at a partly derives from ties to businessmen
the town, where they necklaces in the bunker. hospital in Trapani and in the tourism, supermarket and wind
found a bunker-like “I am shocked to then receiving energy sectors.
room accessed through think that house was chemotherapy in Among his political contacts, accord-
a cupboard. used by someone like Palermo when cancer ing to the Palermo appeal court, was
Mafia turncoats have Messina Denaro,” said a reappeared in his liver, Antonio D’Ali, a founder member of
said Messina Denaro, neighbour, Francesca Fabio Bottino, a police Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party,
60, who has been Lupo, 38, as she official, told The Times. which is Meloni’s ally in the coalition
government.
,
32
World
Accused husband ‘searched
web for body disposal tips’
David Charter Washington
A husband accused of murdering his
wife allegedly made a series of suspi-
cious internet searches around the
time of her death including “ten ways
to dispose of a dead body if you really
need to”.
Brian Walshe, 47, watched impas-
sively as Quincy district court was
told that his wife, Ana, 39, has been
missing since New Year’s Day, when
he said she left for work in a taxi.
Assistant district attorney Lynn
Beland said there was no record of a
taxi going to their house in the afflu-
ent coastal community of Cohasset,
about 15 miles southeast of Boston,
but there was video of Walshe taking
rubbish bags to refuse containers in
two different locations on January 3.
She said that in the early hours of
New Year’s Day Walshe began mak-
ing internet searches on a device
belonging to his son. The couple have
three young children who are now in
state care. The searches started at
4.55 am with “how long before a body
starts to smell?” Beland said he also
searched for “how to stop a body from
decomposing”. By 6.25 am the search
had broadened to: “How long for
someone to be missing to inherit?”
During the morning Google was
asked: “Can you throw away body
parts?” Inquiries about body disposal
and cleaning up blood continued
during the afternoon.
Beland said that the following day,
Walshe was recorded on a security
camera visiting a hardware shop
where he bought a large quantity of
cleaning supplies and a hatchet.
The investigation began after the
woman’s employer, a property com-
pany in Washington, reported her
missing.
During a search of a rubbish proc-
essing plant north of Boston not far
from Walshe’s mother’s home on Jan-
uary 8, investigators found bags con-
taining a hatchet, a hacksaw, towels
and a protective suit, cleaning agents,
a Prada purse, boots similar to the
ones Ana was last seen wearing, and
a Covid vaccination card with her
name, Beland said.
Walshe was charged with murder
and disinterring a body without
authority. He entered a plea of not
guilty and was held without bail. He
will appear in court next month.
High tones The mineral colours of Rainbow Mountain, in the Peruvian Andes, were revealed only when its snow melted in 2015
Liar and ‘9/11 truther’
on Congress committees
United States
Hugh Tomlinson Washington
Democrats responded with outrage
yesterday after Republicans appoint-
ed disgraced congressman George
Santos and former 9/11 “truther”
Marjorie Taylor Greene to powerful
House committees.
Despite facing calls to resign from
his own party after a catalogue of rev-
elations that he lied about his life
story to get elected last year, and
mounting scrutiny of his ties to an
alleged Ponzi scheme, Santos was
appointed to the House small busi-
ness committee on Tuesday night.
The appointment gives the 34-year-
old New York congressman sway
over a multibillion-dollar budget,
despite multiple investigations into
his own finances, including an out-
standing allegation of fraud in Brazil.
Greene, one of the most right wing
Republicans, who has previously cast
doubt on the 9/11 attacks, endorsed
the QAnon conspiracy theory and
backed the January 6 riot at the US
Capitol by supporters of Donald
Trump in 2021, was appointed to the
homeland security committee. The
decision will give her access to classi-
fied intelligence material.
Greene was stripped of her com-
mittee memberships after the Janu-
ary 6 attack, when she supported
online comments encouraging
violence against Democratic offi-
cials. She has since backtracked,
albeit only partially. Last year,
however, Greene appeared at a white
nationalist conference at which
participants praised Adolf Hitler and
chanted in support of Vladimir Putin
just days after the Russian invasion of
Ukraine.
Ritchie Torres, a Democrat con-
gressman from New York and former
vice chair of the homeland security
committee, said he was horrified at
Greene’s appointment. “A QAnon
conspiracy theorist and Jan 6 insur-
Thursday January 19 2023 | the times
Trump to unveil
campaign team
David Charter
Donald Trump will make his
first campaign appearance 74
days after launching his attempt
to win a second term when he
speaks at an event in South
Carolina.
Trump, 76, will unveil his
campaign team on January 28
alongside Lindsey Graham, a
senator from the state that
features early in the primary
voting schedule, as well as
Henry McMaster, the state
governor.
South Carolina is also home to
two potential rivals for the
Republican nomination: the
former governor and UN
ambassador Nikki Haley, and
Senator Tim Scott.
rectionist doesn’t belong on a com-
mittee that exists to fight
extremism,” Torres tweeted.
Greene was also appoint-
ed to the House oversight
committee, which is
poised to launch
investigations into
President Biden, his
family and other
government offi-
cials. A devoted
Trump loyalist, the
committee ap-
pointments cement
her position as one
of the most influen-
tial politicians in the
GOP and underscores
Trump with Marjorie
Taylor Greene
GUILLAUME ASTRUC/NATURAGENCY/SOLENT NEWS
the power that the extremist wing of
the Republican Party now wields.
The small business committee, of
which Santos is now a member, will
oversee the Paycheck Protection
Programme (PPP), which issued
$800 billion in loans to bail out small
businesses during the pandemic.
Prosecutors are now investigating
the theft of up to $80 billion from the
fund.
“Can a fraud like George Santos be
trusted to root out rampant fraud in
the PPP?” Torres asked.
Republican House Speaker Kevin
McCarthy has resisted calls for
Santos to resign, insisting this week
that “the voters elected him to serve”.
Santos has admitted lying about
attending university and working for
two Wall Street Banks, and falsely
claimed that his mother died in the
9/11 attacks, that his grandparents
fled the Holocaust and was forced to
confess that he was not Jewish, as he
had previously claimed. This week it
emerged that Santos also went by the
name of Anthony Devolder and is
accused of conning a disabled mili-
tary veteran out of thousands of dol-
lars donated to save the man’s dying
service dog.
Further allegations are still under
investigation. McCarthy has con-
ceded that he “always had a few ques-
tions” about Santos’s
fabricated resumé,
and Democrats have
called for an investi-
gation into whether
Republican
leaders knew of
the lies he told
during the elect-
ion. The White
House this week
urged Republicans
to “come clean”
over McCarthy’s
“secret, backroom
deals” to win the
speaker’s gavel.
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
world markets (Change on the day)
FTSE 100
7,830.70 (-20.33)
8,000
7,500
7,000
6,500
Dec 19 27 Jan 4 11 18
Pound strengthens as inflation fears fall and US figures disappoint
Arthi Nachiappan
Economics Correspondent
The pound surged close to a seven-
month high against the dollar yester-
day after a fall in inflation in Britain and
weak economic data for the United
States prompted speculation that cen-
tral banks are near the end of their spate
of interest rate rises.
The pound rose for a second consec-
utive day, touching $1.243 at its highest
Microsoft
layoffs add
to tech woe
10,000 jobs will go at a cost of $1.2 billion
Katie Prescott, Callum Jones
Microsoft is axing 10,000 jobs, about
5 per cent of its global workforce, as
companies throughout the technology
sector continue to make sweeping cuts.
The giant American software group
yesterday became the latest to say it
would shed staff this year. It will take a
$1.2 billion hit in the second quarter as it
grapples with severance costs and
consolidates some office leases.
About 26,000 technology workers
have lost their jobs this month, accord-
ing to Layoffs.fyi, a technology sector
employment tracker, after more than
154,000 were let go last year as compa-
nies prepare for a recession.
Amazon is cutting more than 18,000
jobs and yesterday it contacted some
affected workers in the United States,
Canada and Costa Rica. Meta Plat-
forms, the owner of Facebook and
Instagram, has reduced its workforce
by more than 11,000. Twitter has laid off
thousands of staff since Elon Musk’s
$44 billion takeover.
Like its peers, Microsoft had been
hiring aggressively, recruiting about
75,000 staff since 2019 as demand for
technology rocketed during Covid-19
lockdowns. As the economic environ-
ment turned, however, companies have
scrambled to make savings.
Satya Nadella, chief executive,
pledged to “treat our people with
dignity and respect” and to “act trans-
parently” in an email to staff, emphasis-
ing that laid-off employees would
receive benefits including healthcare
for six months and 60 days’ notice.
The company would have to make
commodities
Dow Jones Gold
33,296.96 (-613.89) $1,903.26 (-4.22)
35,000
32,500
30,000
27,500
Dec 19 27 Jan 3 10 18 Dec 21 28
before settling at $1.236, which repre-
sents a 0.6 per cent daily gain. Sterling
has lost nearly 10 per cent of its value
against the dollar over the past year.
The currency recovered at the end of
last year, having fallen to a record low of
$1.03 in September after the Liz Truss
government’s mini-budget, including
about £45 billion of unfunded tax cuts,
prompted a sell-off of UK assets.
The pound, which has struggled to
keep up as investors bought into the US
hard choices and would “invest in
strategic areas for our future . . . while
divesting in other areas”, he said, with-
out saying which.
Based in Redmond, Washington,
Microsoft has a market value of about
$1.8 trillion and a global workforce of
220,000 employees, including 6,000 in
Britain. It owns businesses including its
Azure cloud computing unit; LinkedIn,
the social network; and Xbox, the gam-
ing group. It is seeking approval for the
$69 billion takeover of Activision
Blizzard, the video games developer.
Microsoft was “seeing organisations
in every industry and geography exer-
cise caution”, Nadella wrote, “as some
parts of the world are in a recession and
other parts are anticipating one”.
Twitter, in particular, is scrambling
to cut costs. The Information reported
that employees there had been told that
daily revenue was down about 35 per
cent after more than 500 top advertis-
ers paused spending. Twitter, which has
disbanded its press office, did not
respond to a request for comment.
Appearing at the World Economic
Forum in Davos, Nadella called for
“more data, less dogma” about remote
working and warned that the pandemic
had changed the workplace for ever. “I
don’t think we can say that we will just
go back to 2019,” he said. “Nor can we
say we are going to live as if it is 2020.”
Nadella, 55, highlighted an increas-
ing divide between employers and em-
ployees. A survey by Microsoft of 20,000
people last year found that while 87 per
cent of employees felt they worked as,
or more, efficiently from home, 80 per
cent of managers disagreed.
Brent crude (6pm)
$ $85.64 (+0.40)
2,000
1,800
1,600
1,400
Jan 4 11 18 Dec 21 28 Jan 4
Federal Reserve’s series of aggressive
rate rises, has benefited from dis-
appointing figures for American retail
sales, industrial production and pro-
ducer prices over the past week.
Inflation fell for a second consecutive
month in December to 10.5 per cent, in
line with economists’ forecasts and
below the Bank of England’s prediction
of 10.9 per cent. It is thought to have
peaked at 11.1 per cent in October.
Financial markets have priced in
High-viz announcement Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast yesterday, which
has won a multibillion-pound defence contract that will create about 900 jobs at the famous Northern Ireland site Page 43
Dragon takes flight with £100m fund
Katie Prescott
Technology Business Editor
Steven Bartlett, a star of Dragons’ Den
and host of the popular Diary of a CEO
podcast, has launched a £100 million
fund to back European entrepreneurs.
He has brought together a group of
successful founders, each of whom has
put an average £1 million into the Flight
Story Fund, with a view to lending their
experience and expertise to those who
win investment.
The fund has a broad remit to write
cheques over the next two years of
between £1 million and £10 million to
fast-growth companies that “have the
potential to become Europe’s next
unicorn”, Bartlett said. Unicorn is the
term used for a privately held, often
Business
currencies
£/$
$ $1.2359 (+0.0093)
120
100
80
60
11 18 Dec 21 28 Jan 4 11 18
another rate rise of 0.5 percentage
points, from the present level of 3.5 per
cent, at the Bank’s next meeting on
February 2. However, investors expect
the central bank to start dropping
interest rates by the autumn after
reaching a high of just under 4.5 per
cent in August.
John Hardy, head of FX strategy at
Saxo Bank, said: “[The euro-to-pound
rate] has dropped sharply and may be
set to explore the full extent of the
technology-based start-up valued at
more than $1 billion.
He would not be drawn on the names
of the backers, only that they include
Alan Barratt, from Grenade, the
nutrition business recently sold to
Mondelez, and Christian Angermayer,
a biotechnology investor.
Bartlett, 30, said: “A modern founder
isn’t looking to take money from suits.
They want to work with entrepreneurs
that have walked the path they’re
intending to walk. I probably could
have raised a fund in 5 per cent of the
time, but staying true to this thesis to
bring on board Europe’s best founders
to back us, it has been much harder —
but it’s much more fun.”
His own business background
started when he built Social Chain, a
33
£/€
$ €1.1422 (+0.0061) ¤
1.300 1.300
1.200 1.200
1.100 1.100
1.000 1.000
Dec 21 28 Jan 4 11 18
range down toward 0.8550 if data re-
mains resilient.”
Separately, despite the strength-
ening of the British currency, most
small and medium-sized exporters did
not report a rise in demand for their
goods. A survey of about 2,300 busi-
nesses by the British Chambers of
Commerce found that 47 per cent
noted no change in export sales in the
final quarter of last year, while 27 per
cent recorded a fall.
BRIAN LAWLESS/PA
social media marketing company, after
dropping out of university aged 21. In
2019 it merged with Lumaland, a
German online retailer, and was listed
on the Xetra electronic exchange in
Dusseldorf with a valuation of
€186 million.
Along with his Dragons’ Den invest-
ments, he has backed Huel and founded
Flight Story, a marketing consultancy,
and Third Web, an internet business.
Bartlett came up with the idea for the
new fund after being inundated with
pitches for investment following his
appearances as the youngest investor
on the BBC Two programme and host-
ing Diary of a CEO, where he interviews
high-profile figures about their person-
al and business lives and has passed the
million-subscriber mark on YouTube.
34 2GM Thursday January 19 2023 | the times

Business

Need to know
1
Microsoft is axing 10,000 jobs,
or about 5 per cent of its global
Activists set In activists’ sights
Google owner Alphabet is just one
of the companies to have come
under pressure last year

for new wave

workforce. The American
software company has become the
latest to shed staff this year and
will take a $1.2 billion hit in the
second quarter as it grapples with
severance costs. Page 33

2
The pound surged close to a
seven-month high against the
dollar after a fall in Britain’s
inflation and weak economic data
for America prompted speculation
of attacks on
companies
that central banks are near the
end of their spate of interest rate
rises. The pound touched $1.243
before settling at $1.236. Page 33

3
Steven Bartlett, a star of
Dragons’ Den and host of the
Diary of a CEO podcast, has
launched a £100 million fund to
back European entrepreneurs. He
has brought together a group, each
of whom has put an average
£1 million into the Flight Story
Fund, with a view to lending their
experience and expertise to those
who win investment. Page 33
Ben Martin Banking Editor
British boardrooms have been warned
to brace for a further wave of investor
activism after a record number of new
campaigns at European companies
propelled global activity by corporate
raiders to its highest level since 2018.
A report released yesterday by
Lazard, the boutique investment bank,
behind closed doors but they often go
public with their demands as a way of
putting pressure on the management
teams of the businesses that they have
targeted.
While activism typically is pursued
by specialist hedge funds, other types of
investment firms, including main-
stream fund management houses, are
adopting similar strategies to boost

4
British boardrooms have been
warned to brace for a further
wave of investor activism. A
report by Lazard, the investment
bank, showed 235 new initiatives
started by activist shareholders
around the world last year, a
36 per cent increase on 2021.
showed there were 235 new initiatives
started by activist shareholders around
the world last year, a 36 per cent
increase on 2021 and a resurgence after
three years of falling interventions.
Europe, including Britain, is proving
to be an increasingly attractive hunting
ground for corporate raiders, with 60
new campaigns launched in 2022, the
returns, Lazard has found.
Thomas said: “Activism is not just for
activists any more. It’s a tactic that all
kinds of shareholders are using.”
Another emerging trend that Lazard
has identified in Europe is “swarming”,
which is when more than one share-
holder starts agitating for change at a
company. It said that last year

5
A lawyer for Tesla investors
told a court that Elon Musk,
its chief executive, had “lied”
when he tweeted in 2018 that
funding was “secured” to take the
company private. Musk’s remarks
had caused “regular people” to
lose millions, a jury in San
Francisco was told.
most ever for the region in a single year.
The UK remained the European
market of choice for activists and
accounted for 38 per cent of targets
during the year.
Activists have pounced despite a
backdrop of uncertainty in Europe and
Britain after Russia invaded Ukraine
and sent energy prices soaring.
“Within all that disruption there was
swarming activity had increased in
frequency, had involved larger groups
of shareholders and had targeted larger
companies.
This happened at Unilever in
January last year, when the FTSE 100
consumer goods conglomerate came in
for criticism from Terry Smith, 69, the
British stockpicker behind the Fund-
smith investment firm. Within a month

6
House prices fell in
November, according to
official data. The average
house price in the UK fell by
0.3 per cent to £295,000, data
published by the Land Registry
has shown, down from £296,000
in October. Page 36
still this record,” Rich Thomas, mana-
ging director and head of European
shareholder advisory at Lazard, said.
“The market has already kicked off the
new year with quite a few new
campaigns.” He said there was nothing
to suggest that the pace of activism
would slow this year.
Activist shareholders are among the
it had emerged that Nelson Peltz, the
veteran American activist who runs
Trian Fund Management, had built a
stake in Unilever and by May the 80-
year-old billionaire had been appointed
to the board of the Dove and Ben & Jer-
ry’s manufacturer.
One of the most aggressive and board Value, another American hedge Disney, the entertainment group that
prolific raiders is Elliott Management, fund, which started seven. has also attracted the attention of Peltz.

7
Burberry, the British luxury
brand, said its retail revenue
had increased to £756 million,
up 5 per cent from £723 million a
year ago. Comparable store sales
in the 13 weeks to December 31
rose by 1 per cent, but this was
below market expectations of
2 per cent. Page 38
most feared players in stock markets.
They focus on companies that they
believe are undervalued and try to gen-
erate investment returns by building
stakes and then agitating for a change
of strategy or a sale.
Their campaigns typically begin
the American hedge fund that was
founded in 1977 by Paul Singer, 78, a
former lawyer who has made a fortune
from the firm. Lazard’s research
showed that Elliott was the world’s
leading activist in 2022, having started
13 campaigns. It was followed by Star-
The United States, which is where
investor activism has its origins,
remained the single biggest market for
corporate raiders in 2022, with a 41 per
cent increase in activity to 135 new
offensives, Lazard said. Notable
American targets have included Walt
It emerged last year that his Trian
vehicle had started building a stake in
Disney and a war of words has erupted
between the two sides in recent days as
Peltz has campaigned to push his way
on to the media group’s board.
However, the technology sector

8
A change in shopping habits
as people react to the sharply
rising cost of living has driven
Cazoo gears up for fresh focus on profitability
an “improved” performance in
Britain for Currys, prompting the Callum Jones 19.6 per cent at 24 cents in New York would make no difference to the com-
electricals retailer to retain its Share price last night. pany’s day-to-day operations.
US Business Correspondent
annual profit guidance. Page 39 $14 Chesterman, 53, compared the “It takes time and capital to trans-
The founder of Cazoo is preparing to present climate among investors to the form large industries. The upside of
12

9
The sale of Maker&Son, a
furniture brand co-founded by
Felix Conran, grandson of Sir
Terence Conran, was presented as
relinquish his role as chief executive of aftermath of the dotcom bubble two doing so is very significant, but it’s not a
the online used car retailer as it restruc- 10 decades ago. “People have limited straight line upwards in terms of
tures and lays off more staff in an effort 8 patience,” he said. “One has to be growth,” Chesterman said. “You saw
to shore up the business. 6 sensible and adjust accordingly.” that 20 years ago with Amazon.”
Source: Refinitiv

another family success story, as
well as a coup for Inc & Co, the
Manchester group that acquired it.
Instead, the deal has unravelled in
spectacular fashion. Page 40
Alex Chesterman will become exec-
utive chairman this spring as the firm
he founded undergoes a turnaround
following a share price slump.
Seventeen months after going public
in New York via a $7 billion blank-
Cazoo, set up in 2018, buys second-
4 hand cars, reconditions them and
2 delivers them to buyers’ homes. It is
2021 2022 0 based in London and is led by
Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Jan Chesterman, who previously launched
Zoopla, the digital property market-
Cazoo generated revenue of £1.25 bil-
lion in 2022, about double that of the
previous year, according to preliminary
results. It finished December with cash
of £250 million.
Announcing its revised plan for 2023,

10 Britain lacks a clear

strategy to deliver energy
security and must be
prepared to commit “substantial”
amounts of taxpayer cash to
developing new nuclear plants, the
government’s official nuclear
adviser has warned. Simon Bowen
said ministers needed to set out “a
plan which tells us which
technologies we need”. Page 41
cheque merger in what was the largest
British stock market debut on Wall
Street, the business has endured a
97 per cent collapse in its share price
and has withdrawn from mainland
Europe.
“The economic climate and the
financial market climate has created for
a number of businesses like ours —
high-growth — a requirement to focus
on profitability sooner than would be
typically required for businesses that
are transforming industries,” Chester-
man said. He added that Cazoo did not
want to be “at the mercy of the capital
markets” over the next 18 months.
The business plans to focus on selling
higher-margin vehicles this year as it
moves to cut costs, preserve cash and
break out of the red. After selling about
65,000 vehicles in Britain last year, it
hopes to sell between 40,000 and
50,000 in 2023.
Shares in the business closed down
place, and co-founded LoveFilm, the
postal DVD service.
Having previously sold cars for
between about £6,000 and £60,000,
Chesterman now expects the lower end
of this range to rise to about £10,000. He
will continue to work full-time at Cazoo
and will focus on its “strategic
direction” from April. Paul Whitehead,
52, the chief operating officer, will be-
come chief executive. A source familiar
with the transition emphasised that it
Cazoo said it would close its vehicle
preparation and customer centres and
would make “further headcount
reductions”, trailing more details when
it releases its full-year results.
It has already shelved ambitions to
dominate Europe, pulling out of
Germany, Spain, France and Italy, after
deciding to focus on Britain. Chester-
man initially said that Cazoo’s 2021
listing had been driven by its desire “to
move into mainland Europe”.
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
drew the most attention in America
from activists in 2022, with companies
including Alphabet, the owner of
Google, and Salesforce, the software
company, coming under the micro-
scope. Starboard Value has built a stake
in Salesforce, while the London-based
TCI, another activist firm, is pushing for
change at Alphabet. TCI is led by Sir
Retailer’s value Tesla investors lost millions
loses its shine after Musk ‘lies’, court told
Tracey Boles
Shein is in talks to raise up to $3 billion
in a move that would lead to the
Chinese fast-fashion group accepting a
vastly reduced valuation of $64 billion.
The latest value is more than a third
lower than its $100 billion peak after
investors started to re-evaluate techno-
logy start-ups.
According to the Financial Times,
the internet retailer is seeking to close a
new fundraising round from existing
investors, including Mubadala, the Abu
Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, Sequoia
China, the venture capital group, and
General Atlantic, a private equity firm.
The three investors were involved in
Shein’s last fundraising round in April,
which valued the group at just above
$100 billion. That made it the world’s
third most valuable private company at
the time, behind ByteDance, the parent
company of TikTok, and Elon Musk’s
SpaceX group.
2GM
Annual global activity Déjà vu at Disney
Campaigns launched
249
235
250 Executives at Walt Disney didn’t
have time to breathe a sigh of relief
after reaching a truce with Dan Loeb
209 200 last autumn, because as one
184 corporate raider headed off into the
173 sunset, another emerged on the
150 horizon (Callum Jones writes).
Nelson Peltz first quietly informed
the House of Mouse of his wish to
100 join its board last July. His Trian
Fund Management has built a stake
of about 0.5 per cent in Disney,
50 worth about $900 million.
Last week, when Disney formally
rejected his bid to join the Magic
0
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Kingdom, he launched a very public
fight to overrule its decision.
Commencing one of Wall Street’s
Top activists 2022 biggest proxy battles in years, Peltz
Campaigns launched declared that the entertainment
Elliot group was in the midst of a crisis of
13 its own making after allowing costs
Starboard Value to swell and spending too much on
Ancora Advisors
7 acquisitions — and last night it
emerged that Geoff Morrell had
6 received $8.4 million in 2022 for just
Land & Buildings four months as chief corporate
6 affairs executive before leaving,
Amber Capital according to the Wall Street Journal.
5 Disney has pushed back, claiming
Icahn Associates
Peltz, 80, has “no track record” with
large media or tech companies and
5 “no solutions to offer” it. But it
Impactive Capital comes at a sensitive time for the
5 group, which in November sacked
Stride Asset Bob Chapek, its boss, and reinstated
5 Bob Iger, his predecessor.
Third Point Peltz has at least one powerful
5 ally inside the business: Isaac
Engine Capital Perlmutter, chairman of Marvel
4 Entertainment has been advocating
for him to join the board since last
Top 5 European countries summer. He, and Trian, failed to win
for activists over the group during a
Percentage of campaigns
presentation last week.
Not everyone is convinced.
UK Richard Greenfield, of Lightshed
38% Partners, said his firm “cannot think
France of something less important right
18% now” than Trian’s call for Disney to
Germany restore its dividend. “Peltz’s view of
8% the world is backward-looking, with
Italy
no understanding of how rapidly the
7%
landscape is changing, especially in
light of the lasting impact of the
Netherlands pandemic on the balance sheet.”
5% Source: Lazard
Chris Hohn, 56, a billionaire money operated more effectively with signifi-
manager and philanthropist who has cantly fewer employees,” it said.
garnered a reputation as a fearsome Other high-profile campaigns that
activist. drew attention in the City of London
In November TCI urged the techno- last year included Palliser Capital’s
logy powerhouse to take “aggressive continuing attempt to stop the London-
action” to cut costs. “Our conversations listed Capricorn Energy’s £3 billion
with former executives of Alphabet takeover by NewMed, an Israeli gas
suggest that the business could be producer.
Times Business Reporter countered shareholder opposition.
“You will come to learn very soon that
Tesla boss Elon Musk “lied” when he this was not fraud, not even close,” Alex
said that funding was “secured” to take Spiro said during opening statements.
the company private, a lawyer for Tesla While the tweets contained “techni-
investors said yesterday, as an attorney cal inaccuracies,” Musk was concerned
for Musk argued that the billionaire that some investors knew about his go-
merely used the “wrong words” when private plan and wanted to get the in-
he tweeted about his plans in 2018. formation out to the “everyday share-
Tesla investor Glen Littleton is seek- holder” that he “wanted to protect,”
ing damages on behalf of shareholders Spiro said. “In a rush, he used the wrong
who traded the company’s stock in the words,” he said.
days after Musk posted his plan to take A jury of nine will decide whether the
the company private on Twitter in tweets artificially inflated Tesla’s share
August 2018. price and if so, by how much.
Musk’s alleged lies caused “regular Littleton, a self-employed investor,
people” to lose millions, Nicholas Por- told the court he began investing in
ritt, lead attorney for the investors, told Tesla in 2015, and that he viewed
a jury in San Francisco. “Millions of dol- Musk’s “funding secured” statement as
lars were lost when his lies were ex- “absolute.”
posed,” he added. District Judge Edward Chen, who is
Musk’s lawyer disputed this charac- overseeing the trial, has ruled that
terisation, saying that the billionaire Musk’s statements about the status of
was “serious” about taking the com- the deal were false and Musk made
pany private in 2018, but ultimately en- them recklessly.
Nuclear option puts
Treasury on alert
business commentary Alistair Osborne
M
aybe Great British
Nuclear will prove as
successful as Great
British Railways:
another government
invention still stuck in the sidings
while the strike-bound network
grinds to a halt.
But at least Simon Bowen is after
an improvement on that. Who he?
The industry adviser picked by
ministers to make their nuclear
nirvana a reality. He’s setting up
GBN, the “flagship body” to corral
the construction of up to 24 gigawatts
of new capacity by 2050: a shopping
list, he says, that will involve at least
three more mega-nukes on top of
Hinkley Point C, plus a litter of
small modular reactors. As he told
MPs on the science committee, the
new body will be the “glue within
the industry to drive the nuclear
programme” (report, page 41).
Always assuming it gets set up, of
course — because you can already
sense Bowen’s frustration with the
government. In a post-Ukraine war
push for energy security, it was Boris
Johnson who declared that Britain
should “go nuclear and go large”, not
that he spelt out the eye-popping
costs to the taxpayer. But Bowen’s
report into how the new body
should work, complete with 25
recommendations, has since been
passed from Liz Truss to Rishi
Sunak and deemed top secret.
To boot, from the latest PM he
sees no “overarching strategy” on
what’s needed for energy security:
the “quantum of nuclear” or other
technologies. That’s crucial because
“the investment required in nuclear
is substantial”, he says, with the
same stuff underpinning successful
international projects: “A substantial
amount of government leadership
and fiscal support, not just in terms
of financing but who bears the risk.”
Can anyone detect that sort of
leadership in the UK? As Graham
Stuart, the energy minister, also told
MPs, the government is “thrashing
out and agreeing the details” of
GBN in light of the “challenging
fiscal environment”. And, rightly, the
Treasury is aghast at the figures.
Vast cost overruns and delays are
the stuff of big nukes — Hinkley,
say, up from £18 billion to £26 billion
and now a decade late. Next up is
Sizewell C, where the government
made a ridiculous hoo-ha in
November about injecting a pitiful
£700 million, alongside France’s EDF.
That’s just to bring the £30 billion
project to final investment decision.
After that, who knows where the
money’s coming from?
Even allowing for a new regulated
asset base funding model that lands
consumers with construction cost
overruns, private investors are yet to
bite, not helped by the government
hitting green energy investors with a
windfall tax. And even if Sizewell
could be two thirds funded in the
debt markets, that still leaves a
£10 billion equity cheque. EDF wants
no more than a fifth of that, while
any regulator would want a
contingency fund of at least
£5 billion. Who pays for that? No
private financier can see how
Sizewell gets built without the
government injecting £5 billion-plus
equity and insulating investors from
most construction risk. Build three
35
Business
big nukes and you treble that
problem before taking on small
modular reactors — an untried
technology to which Rolls-Royce’s
new boss, Tufan Erginbilgic, seems
disinclined to bring blue-sky finance.
Add it up and Bowen is right to
think Britain’s nuclear plans will
require “substantial” taxpayer
support. It’s high time the
government spelt out how much
financial fuel it’s willing to burn.
Just Eat digested
B
urgers, bolognese, biryani. Just
Eat Takeaway works with
680,000 restaurants in 20
countries concocting all kinds of
chow (report, page 39). So you’d
think boss Jitse Groen could have
come up with something tastier for
investors than the dog’s breakfast he
served up in 2021 and 2022.
After a Covid blowout pushed the
shares to nearly £100, they imploded
soufflé-style to little more than a
tenth of that — not helped by the
indigestion that followed his, luckily,
all-share $7.3 billion purchase of
American rival Grubhub, which he’s
now trying to sell. By May last year,
JET had got itself so many revolting
shareholders that chairman Adriaan
Nühn fell on his fork before the
annual meeting vote to oust him.
So when Groen pitched up in
August with €134 million of half-
year ebitda losses and declared that
the group’s “path to profitability”
was “accelerating”, scepticism was
the order of the day. Not so much
now. A second-half rebound has left
JET with positive full-year ebitda of
€16 million, far better than forecast
€105 million losses. As for this year,
he’s shooting for €225 million.
How exactly he’s done it is a bit
unclear. The total value of orders
placed on the platform, or gross
transaction value, was flat last year
at €28.2 billion; orders fell 9 per cent
to €985 million; and fourth-quarter
figures missed forecasts. But Groen
pointed to cost-cuts, lower delivery
costs, higher revenue per order and
a return to growth in key markets
since August. Whatever, the shares
rose 4 per cent to £22.15½. Who
knows if he can keep this up? But at
least investors aren’t feeling so sick.
Cazoo in a jam
B
it late for Cazoo founder Alex
Chesterman “to focus on the
strategic direction of the
company”. Wouldn’t that have been
better before he steered the shares
down 97 per cent since August 2021’s
US Spac listing to about 25 cents,
now valuing the online car dealer at
about $190 million, or less than the
cash on its balance sheet?
Yes, Chesterman, who’s making
what looks a bit of a cosmetic switch
from chief executive to executive
chairman, has been unlucky with his
timing, a market correction he
likens to the dotcom crash that’s
forced him to cut sales targets and
costs. But he listed with a daft
$7 billion valuation, or more than all
UK quoted car dealers combined.
Far too stretch limo to live up to.
alistair.osborne@thetimes.co.uk
36 Thursday January 19 2023 | the times

Business
Layoffs loom at Vistry as new home sales halve towards year-end
Tom Howard
Vistry has become the latest house-
builder to warn that it may need to
make job cuts, despite racking up
record profits last year.
Greg Fitzgerald, the developer’s chief
executive, said he was giving “serious
consideration” to headcount reduc-
tions given the tail-off in trading in the
final few months of 2022 and the uncer-
tain outlook. He said he had seen “some
green shoots” over the past couple of
weeks but did not expect the housing
market to return to the highs of the
pandemic, during which demand,
prices and transactions all rose sharply.
For large parts of last year, Vistry was
selling upwards of 0.8 homes a week at
each of its 140 or sites. However, that
figure almost halved to 0.46 homes per
week in the final quarter of 2022 as
surging mortgage rates, the gloomy
economic outlook and predictions of a
sharp fall in prices deterred would-be
buyers.
Vistry was still able to deliver a record
adjusted pre-tax profit of £418 million
in 2022, a 21 per cent increase on the
£234.5 million in the previous year. It
built 6,774 houses last year.
Taylor Wimpey warned last week
that it was mulling a round of job cuts
and Fitzgerald, 58, and his team are
considering similar action as well. “We
are reviewing our staffing levels and we
will continue to review them depending
on how quickly and how strongly the
market moves,” he said.
He remained optimistic that the
market would return to its pre-
pandemic levels more rapidly than
some fear and so any job losses are un-
likely to be in “big numbers”. Vistry has
already started to cut back on its land
spending and is being “very selective”
with any sites it is offered, while bosses
have also looked to slow build rates.
“We are absolutely mindful of the
future, which we are optimistic about,”
Earl Sibley, 50, Vistry’s chief operating
officer, said.
Vistry’s shares rose 9p, or 1.2 per cent,
to 756p yesterday.
Tempus, page 42

PAUL MAGUIRE/ALAMY

The brick company did

better than expected in an
industry with high energy
bills and with developers
slowing their build rates

“underpinned a solid
[profit] margin
performance”.
Joe Hudson, chief
executive, said that,
given the “more
cautious demand
environment”, 2023 was
likely to be “more

Ibstock builds profits

challenging” than last
year. Several analysts
dialled down their
by passing on costs forecasts for the
coming year, during
which they predict that

P
rice increases
throughout the
year helped
Britain’s biggest
brick business
to assemble higher
profits than it had
anticipated in 2022
(Tom Howard writes).
Ibstock, which sells
the bricks it makes to
developers and builders’
merchants, said
yesterday that it
expected revenues last
year to have risen by
25 per cent to
£510 million, up from
£409 million in 2021.
Like many businesses,
especially those with big
energy bills, Ibstock
noted “significant” input
cost inflation, which it
had passed on to its
customers.
Bosses at the
FTSE 250 group expect
adjusted underlying
profits for 2022 to be
“modestly ahead” of
expectations, with the
previous consensus in
the City being for an
annual profit of about
£130 million. Most
analysts bumped up
their estimates to about
£135 million on the
back of yesterday’s
update.
“The group clearly did
a good job passing on
cost increases in 2022,”
Aynsley Lammin, a
building and
construction analyst at
Investec, said.
Shares in Ibstock
closed 1½p, or 0.9 per
cent, higher at 167p last
night, valuing the
business at just over
£650 million.
The latest profit
upgrade came despite a
drop in sales volumes
towards the end of the
year as developers
slowed their build rates
amid the fallout from
the mini-budget, while
many homeowners
delayed non-essential
profits will fall to about
£117 million.
However, this year
production should begin
of Britain’s first net zero
carbon brick, which
Hudson, 53, is
“particularly excited
about”.
The bricks will be
made at Ibstock’s
revamped Atlas factory
near Walsall in the West
Midlands. Bosses expect
the new machinery to
sharply reduce carbon
emissions from what
work because of the historically has been an
uncertain economic environmentally
outlook. unfriendly process, with
Ibstock said that Ibstock seeking to offset
“disciplined cost any emissions that are
management” had produced.

Energy efficiency ‘slows Harbour Energy plans job

pace of house price falls’
Tom Howard
House prices fell in November, but
estate agents and surveyors believe
that energy-efficient homes are hold-
ing their values better than the rest.
The average house price in the UK
fell by 0.3 per cent in the month to
£295,000, according to the Land
Registry, down from the record high of
£296,000 in October.
It was the first time in 13 months that
prices had fallen, with the housing
market having been upended by the
mini-budget, after which mortgage
rates spiralled higher and the economic
outlook darkened.
The official Land Registry data
confirms what mortgage lenders,
including Nationwide and Halifax, had
reported previously. Their more timely
measures of house price inflation
suggest that prices have continued to
fall over the past two months.
Prices fell most sharply in those
regions where they had risen the most
over the course of the coronavirus
pandemic. For example, average prices
in northeast England fell by 2.6 per cent
between October and November. At
£163,000, the northeast continued to be
the location of the lowest average
house price in England.
London remains by some way the
most expensive place to buy a house,
with the average home worth £542,000
in November. That is only 6.3 per cent
more than the average value a year
before, the lowest rate of annual infla-
tion of any region. By contrast, average
prices in the northwest were 13.5 per
cent higher in November 2022 than in
the same month of 2021, although that
was down from 16.1 per cent in October.
The annual rate of house price
inflation in the UK was 10.3 per cent in
November, down from 12.4 per cent in
the previous month.
Estate agents and surveyors expect
prices to continue to drop back as
would-be buyers reassess what they
can afford, given the rise in mortgage
rates.
In the latest survey from the Royal
Institution of Chartered Surveyors,
covering December, a net 42 per cent of
respondents reported a decline in
house prices. Further falls are predicted
over the coming three months,
especially with demand waning. A net
39 per cent of agents noted a fall in new
buyer inquiries last month, while a
similar percentage agreed fewer sales
in December.
Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist
at the institution, said the survey results
“highlight the emerging challenges in
the housing market as new buyers grap-
ple with more costly finance terms and
uncertainty over the economy”.
Homes with higher energy efficiency
ratings appear to be faring better than
the wider market, however. While
house prices are generally in retreat,
close to two thirds of the agents and
surveyors polled reported that homes
with high energy efficiency are holding
their value.
Sellers are trying to take advantage of
the renewed focus on energy use amid
the cost of living crisis. Four in every ten
institution members reported that sell-
ers of more eco-friendly houses were
trying to attach a price premium.
cuts in wake of windfall tax
Emily Gosden Energy Editor
Britain’s biggest oil and gas producer is
planning to cut jobs as it scales back
investment in response to the North
Sea windfall tax.
Harbour Energy told staff in
Aberdeen yesterday that they could be
at risk of redundancy. It is cutting plans
for exploration in light of the energy
profits levy imposed in May after oil
and gas prices soared in the wake of
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The levy increased the effective tax
rate in the North Sea from 40 per cent
to 65 per cent initially and was in-
creased again to 75 per cent from the
start of this year as the government
sought to bring in extra income to fund
help for consumers.
Harbour Energy, which employs
about 1,500 people in Britain, has been
one of the biggest critics of the levy and
has said that shareholders are pushing
for it to invest its money overseas. In
December it said it was “reviewing
investment levels and company-wide
capital allocation” and would not bid
for additional licences in the North Sea.
Yesterday it said: “Following changes
to the energy profits levy, we have had
to reassess our future activity levels in
the UK. We will continue to support
investment on the many attractive
opportunities within our portfolio, but
we are scaling back investment in other
areas such as new exploration licens-
ing. As such, we have initiated a review
of our UK organisation to align with
lower future activity.”
Harbour produced the equivalent of
194,000
Barrels of North Sea oil produced a day by
Harbour in the first nine months of 2022
194,000 barrels of oil a day in the North
Sea in the first nine months of 2022,
accounting for 94 per cent of its total
production. It is easily the biggest
producer in British waters.
Mike Tholen, at Offshore Energies
UK, which represents British oil and
gas producers, said that the windfall
tax, as well as calls by some politicians
for even tougher tax measures, “have
made the UK a much riskier place to
invest and so makes it far more likely
that investors will look overseas”.
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
Simon Nixon
Ministers need to be honest about
‘‘
the true cost of reaching net zero
No one should have
been surprised at
the demise of
Britishvolt. The
electric vehicle
start-up venture, founded two years
ago by a Middle East-based bond
trader with no background in the
automotive industry and which
lacked technology or customers,
always looked like a punt on Boris
Johnson’s willingness to lavish it with
subsidies. But its collapse has exposed
what the former prime minister’s
boosterism was intended to conceal:
the precariousness of the British car
industry as it prepares for new post-
Brexit rules that could lead to tariffs
on exports to the European Union
from 2026 and a ban on sales of new
petrol and diesel cars from 2030.
Without a supply of domestically
produced batteries, the industry could
wither.
The plight of the car industry is a
cautionary tale for whole swathes of
the economy as the world embarks on
the transition to clean energy. The
Net Zero Review, a 368-page
government-commissioned report
delivered last week by Chris
Skidmore, a Conservative MP,
correctly characterises this transition
as a global race that Britain cannot
afford to lose.
It is not merely that both America,
with its Inflation Reduction Act, and
the EU, with its Fit for 55 green deal,
are pursuing extraordinarily
ambitious green energy plans that
could crush Britain’s hopes of global
leadership in the potentially vast new
markets of the future. The transition
could impose significant costs in
many other sectors. The introduction
of carbon border taxes, such as that
planned by the EU, could lead to
British businesses facing much higher
prices for imported
commodities such ass steel
and fertiliser.
But if Skidmore is
right to emphasise
the urgency of the
transition to net
zero, he is not
above a bit of
boosterism of his
own. Perhaps the
most eye-catching
number in his
Britain cannot affordd
he
to be left behind in the
move to clean energy gy
report is the claim that reaching net
zero will add 2 per cent to GDP by
2050. Indeed, one of Skidmore’s aims
is to convince sceptics, of whom there
are many among his Conservative
colleagues, that net zero should not
be considered a cost so much as an
opportunity. Yet this attempt to
downplay the costs is unhelpful,
because it leads the report effectively
to conclude that Britain’s ambitious
net zero targets, including a goal of
completely decarbonising the energy
system by 2035, are achievable
without doing much more than what
the government is doing already, only
a bit faster and with more
determination. It is also unrealistic
because the cost of delivering net zero
is almost certain to be far higher than
official estimates of roughly 1 per cent
of GDP per year, as forecast by the
government’s own Climate Change
Committee. Indeed, Sir Dieter Helm,
professor of economic policy at
Oxford University and an expert on
the economics of energy, reckons the
true cost is more likely to be in the
region of 3 per cent to 4 per cent of
GDP every year.
The truth is that a more realistic
view of the costs of net zero would
lead to a very different debate about
how to get there. It would start by
asking: does Britain have the right
regulatory and industrial structures in
place to deliver such vast
infrastructure requirements in such a
short timescale? And who is actually
going to pay?
The answer to the first question is
surely no. After all, if there is one
thing that has become clear over the
past year, it is that Britain’s regulatory
and industrial structures have proved
woefully inadequate to deliver even
the basic provision of present
infrastructure needs, let alone take on
something as challenging as
the transit
transition to new
technol
technologies. Indeed,
Britai
Britain’s
infra
infrastructure has
bec
become a source
of national
sh
shame. Potholed
ro
roads, collapsing
ra services,
rail
p
polluted rivers
an
and beaches,
po
poor mobile and
b roa
broadband
cover
coverage, including
slow rarates of fibre
rollout, ar
are testimony to
decades of underinvestment. The
reasons for this failure can be traced
to the two basic principles that
underpinned the privatisation of
Britain’s utilities 30 years ago: that all
costs should be borne by customers
with no recourse to taxpayers; and
that present customers should not be
expected to pay for infrastructure
while it is under construction. The
consequences have been a reluctance
by regulators, under political pressure
not to raise customer charges, to
sanction investment and a preference
by companies to pocket profits rather
than build new infrastructure.
The idea that this same regulatory
framework can now deliver the
transition to net zero, along with all
Britain’s other infrastructure needs, is
fanciful. It is not merely that to
decarbonise the energy network by
2030, Britain needs to install
50 gigawatts of wind power and
30GW of solar, or that it needs to
build capabilities in new technologies
such as carbon capture and storage
and hydrogen, or to transfer the
national housing stock to heat pumps
or to build a national electric car
charging network by 2030. The
country also needs an electricity grid
that is capable of connecting all this
infrastructure and for this grid to be
installed before new clean energy
projects are started to give investors
the confidence to provide the money.
This is not going to be delivered via
electricity regulator Ofgem’s five-year
price reviews.
There is no path to delivering net
zero by 2050 that does not require
sizeable government support, whether
in the form of guarantees or grants to
de-risk investments. That much
should be clear already from the
remarkable success of the contracts-
for-difference regime that has turned
Britain into a world leader in offshore
wind power.
None of this means that net zero by
2050 should be abandoned. Far from
it. Skidmore is right that the
transition is already under way and
the greater risk is that the British
’’
economy gets left behind. But an
honest government would confront
these issues, set out a clear and
credible plan to deliver on its targets,
level with the public that there will be
substantial costs and
explain how as a
society these will be
shared. There is no
time to lose.
Comment Business
Ryan Bourne
Taking a pop at Davos’s
‘great and good’ doesn’t
make you a nationalist
T
he key insight of Friedrich
Hayek, the Nobel prize-
winning economist, was
that useful information is
decentralised. Localities,
regions and countries are shaped by
their own institutions and cultures.
Individuals, families and companies
understand their needs better than
some distant technocrat.
Such humility is in short supply at
Davos, where Klaus Schwab opened
by asking attendees what global
elites needed to “master the future”
of overlapping crises. The founder of
the World Economic Forum
answered himself, dreaming of a
“platform where all stakeholders of
global society are engaged”.
By “stakeholders”, I doubt Schwab
meant Joe Public. No, the “we” that
Davos man usually refers to are the
politicians, chief executives and
international functionaries attending
‘These elites have no
special insight as to
future global challenges’
the retreat in the Swiss Alps. It’s this
exclusivity, alongside loose talk of
global mastery, that makes the
conference a lightning rod for
conspiracy theories.
The World Economic Forum is not
a secret cabal creating a new world
order, nor a paedophile ring trying
to enslave us, as some whackos
claim. Davos is really a corporatist
talking shop with no formal policy
power. Hubristic business chiefs,
politicians and bureaucrats sit
around spitballing “global solutions”
to various challenges. Their unifying
idea is that by working together,
business and government elites can
adjust the world’s path towards
progressive goals.
Left-wing critics of the economic
forum confuse it with a free-market
organisation. Most attendees
certainly favour international trade
and see corporations as a force for
good, but it does not push
“neoliberalism”, as many claim.
Schwab himself has attacked “free-
market fundamentalism” as having
“eroded worker rights and economic
security, triggered a deregulatory
race to the bottom and [produced]
ruinous tax competition”.
Attacks on the World Economic
Forum by “national conservatives”
37
are similarly muddled. They oppose
elites who advocate giving up
national sovereignty for global
governance. Yet, substantively, they
too want corporatist economics,
albeit at the national level. In the
United States, national conservatives
are readily embracing trade
protectionism and industrial
strategies.
Sadly, in our simplistic, polarised
narratives, to be anti-Davos is to risk
being associated with either
trumped-up conspiracies or
Trumpist economics. But there’s also
a liberal case against the forum. Its
corporatist ideology is a recipe for
top-down regulation and
government favouritism. Even if the
conference itself has little effect on
policy, Schwab’s idea that global
stakeholder partnerships of business
and government elites are a
governing ideal should be rubbished.
These elites have no special insight
as to future global challenges. In
2007, the forum’s chief concern was
bird flu, just before a banking and
financial crisis took hold. Its 2021
risk assessment largely ignored
inflation but listed “digital
inequality” as a worry. It’s arrogant
to believe those attending can steer
eight billion people in a £90 trillion
global economy to better outcomes.
Indeed, one virtue of a market
economy is that it delivers many
bottom-up solutions to problems,
tailored to individual and local
circumstances. In contrast, any one-
size-fits-all “solution” thrashed out
by distant stakeholders risks making
many worse off while entrenching
new systemic risks across the globe.
Certain problems, such as climate
change, require international
co-operation. Even then, the Davos
instinct that big global companies,
environmentalists and politicians
can hash it out in a “global
co-operation village” is a recipe for
the worst type of crony capitalism.
How many of the hundreds of
millions of small businesses that
would be affected by the proposed
green “industrial transformation”
globally had their voice heard this
week? Very few. Employees of the
rest might catch a glimpse of the
attendees’ aircraft as they fly home.
Ryan Bourne is R Evan Scharf chair for
the Public Understanding of Economics
at the Cato Institute and author of the
book Economics in One Virus
38
Business
Business
briefing
Rarely has the outlook
for the global economy
looked so uncertain as
we enter the new year.
War, political and trade
tensions, yo-yoing energy
prices, the battle to bring
down inflation . . . with the
situation changing by the
hour, keeping up to date is
essential. Get the latest
news and market reaction
by 8am, and analysis at
12.30pm, direct by email
from the Business Editor,
Richard Fletcher, and
Business News Editor
Martin Strydom.
Sign up at
home.thetimes.co.uk/myNews
Strong Europe
lets Burberry
square China’s
Covid losses
Isabella Fish Retail Editor
Covid-19 lockdowns and disruptions in
China have taken some of the shine off
a strong recovery in Europe in third-
quarter earnings from Burberry.
The British luxury brand said yester-
day that its retail revenue had
increased to £756 million, up 5 per cent
from £723 million a year ago. Com-
parable store sales in the 13 weeks to
December 31 rose by 1 per cent, but this
was below market expectations of a
2 per cent advance, according to con-
sensus forecasts supplied by the com-
pany. Burberry, founded in 1856, has
just over 400 stores worldwide.
Excluding mainland China, compa-
rable store sales grew by 11 per cent. In
mainland China they were down by
23 per cent as customers were kept at
home by Covid controls, while in
Europe, the Middle East, India and
Africa they grew by 19 per cent. The rest
of Asia fell by 7 per cent and the
Americas were down by 1 per cent.
Demand for the global brand’s Lola
handbag range was high, as well as for
new styles, such as the vintage check
bouclé, with the Frances bag and giant
check also performing well. Dresses
and knitwear that featured in the
brand’s seasonal campaigns helped to
push percentage growth in women’s
ready-to-wear sales into the mid-teens.
The FTSE 100 retailer said its near
and medium-term targets remained
unchanged and that it was focused on
reaching high-single-digit revenue
growth. It also expected a boost from
favourable exchange rates of about
£160 million on revenue and about
£70 million on adjusted operating profit
this year. Shares in Burberry closed up
74p, or 3.3 per cent, at £23.17.
Jonathan Akeroyd, chief executive,
said: “Overall, we are pleased with our
performance, as double-digit revenue
growth outside mainland China offset
the impact of Covid-related disruption
there. Europe, in particular, continued
to perform well, driven by strong trad-
ing over the festive period.” Akeroyd,
WH Smith thankful for travel boost
Isabella Fish
The post-Covid rebound in travel
has driven a parallel recovery at
WH Smith’s shops in airports and
railway stations, but the challenges
faced by the British high street have
been reflected in its traditional town
centre stores.
The retailer, which sells everything
from sandwiches to stationery, said
that its total revenue was up by 41 per
cent in the 20 weeks to January com-
pared with the same period a year
ago, and was 20 per cent higher than
pre-pandemic levels.
WH Smith was hit hard during the
coronavirus lockdowns, as it has
outlets clustered in airports and rail-
way stations. The retailer announced
1,500 job cuts in 2020 as travel restric-
tions hampered the business.
V2 Thursday January 19 2023 | the times
Sales in Aspinal’s stores
increased by 40 per cent
and by 15 per cent online
in December; Catherine,
Princess of Wales, below,
is among the luxury
brand’s customers
Share price
£24
22
20
18
16
14
2022 2023
12
Apr Jul Oct Jan
Source: Refinitiv
55, joined the business in April last year
from Versace and set out ambitious
plans to almost double the brand’s
revenue to £5 billion in the long term.
In October he appointed Daniel Lee,
36, the former creative director of Bot-
tega Veneta, the Italian luxury fashion
house, to replace Riccardo Tisci as chief
designer and to boost sales in the acces-
sories category.
Akeroyd strengthened his executive
team this week with the appointments
of Giorgio Belloli and Delphine Sonder
to the newly created roles of chief
digital, customer and innovation officer
Aspinal
and chief merchandising officer, res-
pectively. Belloli joins after more than
nine years at Farfetch, where he most
bags a
recently served as chief commercial
and sustainability officer. Sonder was
general merchandising director at
strong
Saint Laurent for nearly five years.
Piral Dadhania, an analyst at Royal
Bank of Canada, said: “Financial tar-
recovery
gets are in line with our expectations
and we have more belief in its £4 billion
revenue target, with less confidence in
earnings before interest and tax mar-
gins significantly above 20 per cent.”
6 Richemont, the owner of Cartier and
T
he handbags
Chloé, missed market forecasts in its and accessories
last quarter as Covid-19 disruptions in produced by
China hit sales there. The Swiss luxury Aspinal of London
conglomerate, which sells jewellery, proved a hit over
watches and leather goods, said total the all-important Christmas
sales were up by 5 per cent to £5.4 billion trading period (Isabella Fish
in the three months to December 31.
However, in its latest trading start to the financial year, with our
period, total sales at its sites in UK global travel retail business growing
airports, railway stations and hospi- strongly across all regions”.
tals jumped by 70 per cent year-on- He expressed confidence about
year, notably as a result of “improv- “another year of significant growth
ing” air passenger numbers. ahead” as travel passenger numbers
As a result, the retailer said it would continue to grow globally, combined
continue to broaden its “one-stop- with the strengths of the group’s
shop” offering for all travel essentials expansion in markets such as North
— for example, also offering health America.
and beauty products — with 15 store Sales in the United States were up
openings planned in Britain. 31 per cent on the previous year and
WH Smith, which traces its roots to by 20 per cent compared with 2019.
1792, has about 550 travel shops in the Over the next three years, the retailer
UK and about 250 overseas. It runs plans to open 60 outlets in North
about 550 high street book and America, including 37 in this finan-
stationery shops and employs 14,000 cial year. Sales across the rest of the
people. WH Smith said its high street world experienced the largest
sales were down 2 per cent, in line growth, up 198 per cent on the pre-
with expectations. pandemic period.
Despite this, Carl Cowling, 49, the Shares in WH Smith fell by 47p, or
chief executive, called it “a strong 2.9 per cent, to £15.70 yesterday.
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
writes). The luxury British
brand, whose leather goods
are popular with the Queen
and the Princess of Wales,
reported a 15 per cent rise in
sales in December, boosted
via both online and in-store
channels.
Online sales for December
increased by 15 per cent on
last year, while store sales
grew by 40 per cent. In its
two main London stores,
Aspinal’s Regent Street outlet
recorded a 30 per cent uplift
in sales, with a 90 per cent
rise at the Royal Exchange
branch. Sales from the
Chinese market were down
by 5 per cent.
Aspinal, whose product
Just Eat delivers increase in profits
Dominic Walsh
Takeaway orders may have fallen
sharply amid the cost of living crisis, but
investors took a shine to Just Eat Take-
away yesterday after the food delivery
group comfortably beat earnings fore-
casts.
In an update, the group reported
underlying full-year earnings of
€16 million, against expectations of a
€105 million loss, and forecast earnings
of €225 million in the present year,
more than double consensus pre-
dictions. Those figures were warmly
welcomed in the City and prompted
a 4.1 per cent rise in Just Eat Take-
away’s share price, which added 86½p
to £22.15½.
However, the Amsterdam-based
company missed its 2022 guidance for
gross transaction value — the total
V2
portfolio is evenly split
betwen its men’s and
women’s collections, has
shown a strong recovery
since the pandemic.
This month it filed its
accounts for the year to
March 22, 2022, with
sales for the 12 months
up 29 per cent to
£29.8 million and
underlying profits more
than doubling to
£4.1 million.
The brand closed
ten stores during the
pandemic as part of
a company voluntary
arrangement.
Iain Burton, 70, the
company’s chairman,
value of orders made on its apps. It had
forecast growth in the low single digits
but instead ended the year with GTV at
the same level as the previous 12
months at €28.2 billion, a 5 per cent
decline in constant currency terms.
In the fourth quarter, orders fell by
12 per cent to 239.8 million throughout
the group, with the UK and Ireland
down 10 per cent to 65.4 million. Full-
year orders fell 9 per cent to 984.5 mil-
lion. The numbers were hit by the slow-
down in the online food sector after a
boom in demand in 2020 and 2021.
Jitse Groen, the chief executive, said
the group had bounced back into profit
on an underlying basis earlier than
expected after cost-cutting and it antic-
ipated further positive momentum.
The contrast between the two halves
of last year was stark, with an under-
lying loss in the first half of €134 million
ASPINAL OF LONDON
said Aspinal’s post-Covid
strategy was “to focus on
our roots as an online
business supported by only
the most prestigious and
select retail partners and
our unique flagship
stores”.
Burton, who founded the
luxury goods business in
2001, added: “I’m
extremely pleased this
strategy is proving
successful and I’m
proud to see our retail
stores’ phenomenal
performance over
Christmas. Brand growth
is the focus for 2023, with
international markets a
particular focal point.”
followed by underlying earnings of
€150 million in the second half as the
group improved revenue per order,
delivery costs and overheads. “A focus
on profitability will continue to be our
priority,” Groen said.
Groen, 44, founded Takeaway in
2000. The group in its present form was
created three years ago via a merger
with the London-listed Just Eat.
Eighteen months ago it acquired Grub-
hub, the American group, for about
€7.4 billion. Under pressure from activ-
ist investors, it put Grubhub up for sale
after only a year, but in August it said it
had written down the value of Grubhub
by €3 billion, suggesting that a sale
could prove a challenge.
“Realistically it’s a very difficult pro-
cess because there’s not a lot of M&A in
the sector and not a lot of people with
money any more,” Groen said.
Currys hots up
with air fryers
on shopping lists
Isabella Fish
A change in shopping habits as people
react to the sharply rising cost of living
has driven an “improved” performance
in Britain for Currys, offsetting weaker
sales in its business in the Nordic
countries and prompting the electricals
retailer to retain its annual profit
guidance yesterday.
Revenue in its UK and Ireland
business in the ten weeks to January 7
dropped by 5 per cent year-on-year, but
profits were stronger than expected,
reflecting gross margin increases and
continued cost savings.
That was welcomed by investors,
who have seen Currys’ share price fall
by nearly 40 per cent over the past year.
Yesterday the stock rose by 11.3 per cent,
or 6¾p, to 66¾p.
The change in trading trends from
pandemic-driven lockdowns was clear.
Although consumer electronics and
computing revenues were weaker, cus-
tomers were buying microwave ovens,
tumble dryers and mobile phones, with
in-store sales outperforming online.
Air fryer sales increased by 500 per cent
as people looked to save money during
the cost of living crisis. Currys also
reported a record adoption of credit
offers, up 4.3 percentage points, with
1.9 million active credit customers.
However, there was a 7 per cent
decline in revenues in its international
business and below-forecast profits
amid a Nordics “market-driven sales
slowdown” and continued pressure on
gross margins. International sales
declined in all categories, except small
appliances.
The group now known as Currys was
created through the £3.7 billion merger
of Dixons Retail and Carphone Ware-
house in 2014. It has about 830 shops in
eight countries and 35,000 employees.
The retailer has forecast full-year
adjusted pre-tax profits of between
Netflix’s blue-sky thinking
with $385,000 air steward
Helen Cahill
For at least one job in America’s
all-powerful technology industry, it
seems the sky’s the limit — with pay
that’s not far behind. Netflix is looking
to hire a flight attendant to work on one
of its private jets for an annual salary of
up to $385,000.
The media company said it was seek-
ing to hire candidates with “independ-
ence and a lot of self-motivation” for its
aviation division. The successful
applicant will work on one of Netflix’s
super-midsized private jets based in
San Jose, California, near the com-
pany’s Los Gatos headquarters.
In a job advertisement on its website,
Netflix said: “It is our goal to provide the
most outstanding aviation experience
available, by using the best people and
the best equipment, and providing the
highest level of customer service
possible.
“The aviation team helps Netflix
reach the world more efficiently and ef-
fectively so the company can continue
to create joy around the world.”
The flight attendant will be required
39
Business
£100 million and £125 million, “assum-
ing no further unexpected macro
deterioration”. It expects capital ex-
penditure of about £120 million.
Alex Baldock, 52, the chief executive,
said: “We’ve delivered a strong peak
performance in the UK and Ireland,
growing profits again through resilient
500%
Year-on-year rise in air fryer sales
Currys
sales, increasing gross margins (not
least through record services adoption)
and strong cost discipline. Our trans-
formation is visibly succeeding.
“Internationally, it remains tough
and we continue to face intense, but
temporary, market pressures. We’ve
reduced stock levels and stepped up
measures to increase margins and
reduce costs.”
Zoe Mills, an analyst at GlobalData,
said the British electricals market was
“forecast to decline further in 2023”.
She said Currys “must focus on its USP
— its stores — given the predominantly
online threat that it faces from the likes
of Amazon, AO and Very” and “should
emphasise its own-brand ranges in
categories such as small kitchen appli-
ances to remain competitive on price.
“Additionally, it must utilise in-store
staff to entice consumers to trade up
where possible, highlighting credit op-
tions as a tool to do this.”
Julie Palmer, a partner at Begbies
Traynor, the corporate restructuring
firm, said the update was a “reminder
that people are looking to preserve
household budgets while improving
their home in different ways, whether
in the short term, by taking up credit
from the company, or repairing prod-
ucts to squeeze more life out of them”.
to inspect the cabin, galley and cockpit
of the aircraft and to conduct briefings
of the required safety and emergency
protocols. They will be asked to work on
both domestic flights in the United
States and international flights, and
will be required to work on weekends
and national holidays.
The company said it would consider
a “wide range” of factors before
awarding a pay rate to the successful
candidate, adding that the salary would
fall within a range of $60,000 to
$385,000.
The advertisement comes amid
widespread job cuts in the technology
sector. Netflix shed more than 400 jobs
last year as it grappled with a slowdown
in growth.
Twitter pushed forward substantial
cuts among its 7,500-strong workforce
after Elon Musk, the Tesla billionaire,
bought the company for $44 billion.
Amazon, Meta and Microsoft have also
announced significant layoffs in recent
weeks as the industry suffers a rebound
from the significant growth it achieved
when consumers spent more time on-
line during the pandemic.
40
Business
Conran brand takeover mired in red ink
James Hurley
The sale of Maker&Son, a luxury
furniture brand co-founded by Felix
Conran, grandson of Sir Terence
Conran, the designer and Habitat
founder, was presented as another
multimillion-pound success story for
the entrepreneurial family, as well as a
coup for Inc & Co, the Manchester-
based group that acquired it.
Instead, the deal completed last
August has unravelled in spectacular
fashion. A contested insolvency and
related legal battle has left customers
confused as to who is in charge. Some
have claimed that orders for its “hand-
made” sofas and beds are unfulfilled,
staff have expressed concerns about the
status of pension contributions and
suppliers are fretting over debts.
Inc & Co, which has been ordered by
the High Court to return certain assets
to insolvency practitioners, has “tempo-
rarily removed” Maker&Son phone
lines amid a flood of customer calls.
Jack Mason, Inc’s chief executive,
recently alleged on social media that his
team were unfairly being called “liars,
fraudsters and shameful” in the wake of
job losses. Inc has blamed the strife on
Barclays and Maker&Son’s former
directors, among others.
Maker&Son was co-founded by Felix
Conran and his father Alex Willcock, a
designer who used to run Conran shops,
in 2018. It claimed its ethically produced
sofas were the “most comfortable in the
world” and charged fittingly premium
prices, with a large corner sofa costing
more than £14,000. Despite rapid
growth, expansion in Australia and the
United States and a reported £55 mil-
lion valuation, the business was loss-
making and a failure to secure funding
last year left it on the brink.
One month after Inc’s “rescue” deal,
the new owners purportedly moved key
assets to a “phoenix” company called
Maker&Son Ops. Critically, this came
after DHL had secured a winding-up
petition against the original
Maker&Son business, meaning the
company was insolvent when Inc & Co
tried to move assets away, a potential
breach of insolvency rules.
After the original Maker&Son entity
collapsed in October, administrators
from FRP said they were “concerned by
the nature [and] timing” of the supposed
deal to move assets, filings show. They
also claimed that after their
appointment, an unidentified party had
Felix Conran, grandson of renowned businessman Sir Terence Conran, right, co-founded Maker&Son
“erroneously and without authorisa-
tion” recorded secured debt that
Maker&Son owed to Barclays as having
been satisfied at Companies House; that
charges in favour of the British Virgin
Islands-based entity that controls Inc &
Co were registered without permission;
and claimed that Mason and his team
were providing “extremely limited” co-
operation.
In November the High Court placed
the old company into liquidation, which
gives insolvency practitioners more
power, as a court order invalidated Inc &
Co’s movement of assets. In a judgment
handed down in the same month, Judge
David Worster concluded that Mason
had applied on a “false basis” to allow
the original Maker&Son to continue to
trade after the winding-up petition was
served, since key assets had been
moved.
Mason, 33, apologised to the court for
“errors” but said he had not sought to
deliberately mislead. However, the
judge said the way Mason had put his
case was “not an error” and added: “The
fact that the assets and business of the
company were transferred away from it
to companies in the control, of or con-
MAKER & SON
nected to, Mason, att a
time when the company mpany
was insolvent . . . givess rise to
concern.”
Inc claims it was unaware off theth
winding up petition when it bought
Maker&Son. It says that Barclays
appointed administrators within an
hour of acquiring the company’s debt
from an investment firm called
Magenta. It accused the bank of
behaving in a “hostile and uncom-
mercial manner” and disputes whether
Barclays had the authority to appoint
administrators. Inc also has told cus-
Thursday January 19 2023 | the times
The birthday boy
Jack Mason describes himself as an
“entrepreneur at heart” (James
Hurley writes). Companies House
records certainly suggest the Inc &
Co boss is a busy man: he has nearly
90 director appointments, at least
four different dates of birth and two
nationalities against his name.
Inc says it “acquires distressed
companies, usually through an
insolvency process”, and
Maker&Son is not the first time
one has proved controversial.
Mason and others connected to
Inc have been accused of failing
to co-operate with insolvency
practitioners on several occasions.
Inc staff include Mylo Kaye,
Mason’s friend and former business
partner, who was banned from
serving as a company director for
three years in 2020 for causing
Redfishmedia to trade to “the
detriment of HMRC”.
After the collapse of Skylab, a
sports analytics business, Marco
Piacquadio, insolvency practitioner
at FTS Recovery, alleged that Mason
appeared to file a backdated notice
of his resignation as a director,
risking the false appearance that he
was distanced from its demise.
p
An Inc spokesman said the
notice ba
backdating and
incorre
incorrect dates of birth
and nnationalities
aga
against Mason’s
na
name were errors
by Companies
H
House and said
th the registry
that
w
would be
co
contacted.
tomer it is working
tomers
through emails. “Although
through
it is not required
it re by law, all
customer orders are being fulfilled
andd we hhave assured the debts of all
suppliers,” it said.
Conran, 28, said he was “unable to
comment due to contractual obliga-
tions”. Willcock, 58, said the Inc & Co
deal had been the only alternative to
liquidation and “it had resulted in many
customer orders being fulfilled that
otherwise may not have been”.
Barclays was approached for
comment.
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
Row over nuclear
funding holds up
energy strategy
Emily Gosden Energy Editor
Britain lacks a clear strategy to deliver
energy security and must be prepared
to commit “substantial” amounts of
taxpayer cash to developing new
nuclear plants, the government’s offi-
cial nuclear adviser has warned.
Simon Bowen, who was appointed to
advise on the creation of Great British
Nuclear, a proposed government body
to drive the development of new
nuclear projects, said ministers needed
to set out “a plan which tells us which
technologies we need and when and
where”.
The establishment of Great British
Nuclear has been delayed amid wran-
gling between the business department
and the Treasury over the budget for
supporting new projects, MPs on the
Commons’ science and technology
select committee heard yesterday.
Graham Stuart, the energy minister,
said the government was still “thrash-
ing out and agreeing the details” in light
of the “challenging fiscal environment”.
All bar one of Britain’s existing
nuclear plants will close by 2030, creat-
ing a potential gap in low-carbon power
generation. Only one new plant is
under construction, at Hinkley Point C
in Somerset, although the government
intends to proceed with a sister station
at Sizewell C in Suffolk.
Boris Johnson’s government set out
an energy security strategy last April
with an ambition for Britain to have up
Demand for Liontrust
oil to hit an slows pace of
all-time high withdrawals
Emily Gosden
Global oil demand will hit a record high
this year, driven by the lifting of Covid
restrictions in China and threatening a
supply shortage, the International
Energy Agency has predicted.
The world is expected to consume an
average of 101.7 million barrels of oil per
day in 2023, up from 99.9 million bar-
rels per day last year, with almost half
the growth coming from China. The
agency has increased its forecasts since
its last monthly report and now sees
demand surging over the course of the
year, from an average of 99.6 million
barrels per day this quarter to 103.5 mil-
lion barrels in the fourth quarter.
The agency said that China and
Russia were two “wild cards” that
dominated the outlook for the year,
with China poised to shape demand
and the impact of sanctions on Russia
expected to dent global supply growth.
“The pre-eminent driver of 2023
GDP and oil demand growth will be the
timing and pace of China’s post-lock-
down recovery, a variable surrounded
by even more uncertainty than usual
following December’s sudden policy
U-turn,” the Paris-based agency said.
Saudi Aramco, the world’s biggest oil
company, said yesterday that it was
“very optimistic” that demand would
increase as China’s economy picked up.
The agency said that oil supply from
the Opec+ alliance was expected to
decline owing to lower output from
Russia as sanctions take effect.
41
Business
ROD EDWARDS/ALAMY
to 24 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by
2050, generating up to a quarter of
Britain’s energy needs. It announced
that a new body “will be set up imme-
diately to bring forward new projects,
backed by substantial funding”, and
Bowen was appointed the following
month to advise on its creation. He sub- All but one of Britain’s present generation of nuclear power stations are scheduled to have closed by 2030
mitted proposals to the government in
September but it is yet to be established.
Bowen told MPs he believed the
Sunak administration was supportive
of nuclear, but said: “The piece that is
missing for me at the moment is the
kind of overarching strategy, which is
where prime minister Johnson started,
which is: we need energy security in the
UK. Yes, we accept that. OK, so if you
need energy security, what’s the quan-
tum of nuclear that you need to secure
that? That’s the piece that I think needs
to be reinjected into the conversation.”
He said he had advised ministers that
they would “have to invest a substantial
amount of money to get the nuclear
programme up and running”, but that
discussions over how much funding to
commit were continuing, given the
“substantial pressures” facing the
Treasury.
Stuart said the government stood by
its ambition of up to 24GW of nuclear.
He said it would make an announce-
ment on Great British Nuclear “early
this year”, adding: “Until we have re-
solved a finalised agreement with [the]
Treasury, I’m unable to give you a date
commitment today.”
Patrick Hosking Financial Editor
There has been a slowdown in the pace
of clients pulling their money from
Liontrust Asset Management, with a
net £632 million withdrawn in the final
quarter of 2022.
The net outflow was down on the net
£1.6 billion taken out in the previous
quarter, but brings the money removed
in the first nine months of its financial
year to £2.8 billion. There were total
assets under management of £32.6 bil-
lion by the end of December, up by 3 per
cent thanks to a bounce in equity
markets at the tail end of the year.
The firm has produced a poor spell of
investment performance for many of its
clients as its sustainable-badged funds
underperformed. Environmental funds
have struggled in the past year, weighed
down by their emphasis on technology
stocks and missing out on strong
returns from fossil-fuel companies.
John Ions, chief executive, said the
flows performance was a reflection of
difficult economic conditions and the
need of some clients to reduce debt.
Majedie, a rival fund management firm
bought for £120 million in April 2022,
was now “fully integrated”, he added.
The London-based Liontrust was
founded in 1995 and was listed in 1999.
It bought Alliance Trust Investment
Management in 2016 and Neptune
Investment Management in 2019.
The shares, which peaked at more
than £24 in September 2021, fell 6p, or
0.5 per cent, to £12.10.
42 2GM Thursday January 19 2023 | the times

Business Markets
Emma Powell Tempus news in brief
Buy, sell or hold: today’s best share tips
Bankers’ bonuses blow
The European boss of JP Morgan

All eyes look east for travel updates

has said that its bankers’ bonuses
will fall after a worse
performance throughout the
investment bank last year. Viswas
Raghavan, chief executive of
Europe, Middle East and Africa,
same time period. Demonstrating speaking to Bloomberg TV at the
burberry Chequered history progress against the ambitious World Economic Forum in
Market cap Q3 sales growth targets set out by Akeroyd in Davos, said: “All banks pay for
£8.45 billion 1 per cent Total return Underlying annual sales growth
November is crucial to help to close performance, so if the
Burberry LVMH Kering Burberry, by quarter by region
the gap. Top of that list is hitting performance isn’t there, then the
Hermes International Prada Americas Asia Pacific

F
ashion tastes might flip £5 billion in revenue. But the goal is a compensation isn’t going to be
quickly, but the fortunes 300% EMEIA Group lofty one — analysts forecast there.” He admitted that last year
of Burberry have not. The 45% Burberry to exceed £3 billion for the “wasn’t great” for the bank and
collapse in Chinese sales 250 Q4 59% first time this year. that its investment banking
caused by the pandemic and 10% How does Akeroyd hope to reach division had been “anaemic”.
Source: Refinitiv

a style drift away from the fashion
house’s British roots have hamstrung
earnings growth. But there is reason
for investors to be hopeful.
A 1 per cent rise in underlying
sales during the final 13 weeks of last
year was weaker than analysts had
expected, a narrow miss caused by a
23 per cent fall in sales within
mainland China. Before the
pandemic, China accounted for
about 40 per cent of sales; that has
shrunk to roughly 25 per cent. The
lifting of Covid restrictions has
spurred early signs of improved
shopper visits to stores on the
mainland, as well as in Hong Kong
and Macau.
The return of Chinese travel
outside Asia would be another easy
fillip to sales over the next financial
year. Before the pandemic, roughly
half of purchases by Chinese
customers were made while they
travelled overseas. More visits to
stores in Macau and Hong Kong
have not yet extended to Europe or
the Americas. Only 2 per cent of
sales to Chinese customers were
made while they were outside the
country.
Sales in the Americas have
vistry
Dividend yield Full-year profit
8.4 per cent growth 21%
2021 2022
ADVICE Buy
WHY The reopening of China
could spur a recovery in sales
— and the shares
improved, down 1 per cent in
Burberry’s third quarter against a
4 per cent contraction during the
first quarter. Sales in the Europe,
Middle East and Africa regions were
also ahead by almost a fifth on the
same time in 2021.
The shares have gained almost
40 per cent since Jonathan Akeroyd,
chief executive, took over from
Marco Gobbetti in April last year,
costs. Forward sales for the
standalone Vistry part of that
segment ended last year about a
quarter higher in value. But that
wasn’t quite enough to offset the
200
-4%
150 Q1 -16%
1%
100
-3%
11%
50 Q2
25%
11%
0 -1%
Q3 -7%
-50 19%
2023 1%
but investors are still reticent about
placing a higher valuation to the
FTSE 100 group’s turnaround
prospects. A forward price-earnings
ratio of 18 is still below the shares’
long-term average and the brand’s
valuation also trails the earnings
multiples attached to luxury rivals
such as LVMH, the home of Dior
and Louis Vuitton, and Prada, the
Italian fashion house.
There are a few good reasons for
the British group’s discount. Burberry
is without the premium status of
titans such as LVMH, Prada and
Hermès. Sales at LVMH have grown
at a compound annual rate of 5 per
cent over the past five years. For
Burberry? They are flat over the
registered providers aren’t immune
from the economic pressures facing
ordinary buyers. Private rental
developers, which account for 15 per
cent of Vistry’s sales, have been
37% that goal? By bringing the focus of
the brand back to more recognisably Topps boss survives
British designs. He has replaced
47%
Riccardo Tisci, the creative chief, The chairman of Topps Tiles has
with Daniel Lee, the British designer. survived a bid by an activist
Within that, the aim is to lift sales of investor to remove him as a
more profitable handbags, belts and director. MS Galleon had
scarves to more than half of sales requisitioned a vote at the annual
and to boost the operating margin to meeting to remove Darren
20 per cent this year and even higher Shapland as non-executive
over the next five years. chairman after he refused to buy
Overseas buyers have been less more tiles from Cersanit, the
keen to flock to London stores than investor’s company. The resolution
those in Paris or Milan, a was rejected after shareholders
consequence of the scrapping of the were told that bulk-buying
VAT export scheme, which exempted Cersanit’s tiles would affect
foreign visitors from paying tax on product quality. Shares in Topps
purchases, reckons Julie Brown, the Tiles rose 1¼p, 2.5 per cent, to 49p.
outgoing finance chief. They want to
buy the brands local to the country BHP beats forecasts
they visit, she says, so doing away
with the tax relief has diminished the BHP Group last night posted
“home advantage” of its UK stores. higher quarterly iron ore
The surge in infections that has shipments that beat expectations
accompanied the reopening of the and said China was set to be a
Chinese economy represents the stabilising force for commodities
biggest threat to a recovery in sales. demand this year. The world’s
The lunar new year is also ten days largest listed miner said iron ore
earlier than last year, which means production from Western
some sales might have been pulled Australia was 74.3 million tonnes
forward. But at the present price, the for the three months to the end
odds look weighted in its favour. of December, up 1 per cent a year
earlier. The London-listed miner
reaffirmed its 2023 forecast for
being that planning permission can iron ore output from the region at
progress without tying up so much between 278-290 million tonnes.
capital. There is the chance that a
net cash balance of £155 million Britishvolt site in play
could rise further over the next 12

V
istry is about to face the first
real test of whether the
resilience long vaunted by the
housebuilder will transpire. The
message is that a greater exposure
towards social and private rental
housing through its partnership
division insulates the group against
the worst of the downturn in
demand from owner-occupiers.
True, the partnership part of the
business has suffered less in the wake
of the mini-budget chaos and the
sharp rise in mortgage borrowing
decline in demand in the private seeking more favourable terms to months as expansion plans retrench. Tata Motors, the Jaguar Land
housing market, which meant overall compensate for higher funding costs The question is whether demand Rover owner, is said to be among
forward sales edged down slightly. and the broader slide in house prices. from owner-occupiers slides so far companies that have expressed
If you include the Countryside Analysts at Peel Hunt cut their that partnerships can’t make up the an interest in buying Britishvolt’s
business — an all-partnership pre-tax profit forecasts for this year slack. But the latter is a helpful Northumberland factory site
operation, acquired in November — and next by 16 per cent and 14 per differentiator from the sector. after the battery group collapsed,
houses built on mixed-tenure sites cent, respectively, to £475 million and according to the Financial Times.
accounted for almost 80 per cent of £540 million, still ahead of the The electric car battery start-up
forward sales at the end of last year. £418 million of last year. ADVICE Hold went into administration on
A target to pre-sell at least 50 per Vistry has slowed the pace of WHY Partnerships might Tuesday after a fundraising effort
cent of homes on each partnership buying land, but it has not come out was blocked by its creditors. Its
site is on track, but those inherited of the market altogether. Instead, it is help to mitigate some of the largest asset is a site in Blyth,
from Countryside are further behind. seeking to secure new plots on a pain of a housing downturn which was to house a £3.8 billion
Housing associations and other “buy now, pay later” basis, the idea battery “gigafactory” to support
Britain’s electric car industry.

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RPIX 290.10 Jun (Jan 1987 = 100) re-distributed; is not warranted to be accurate, complete or timely; and does not constitute Dec 497.30-493.60
Feb 954.25-953.75 May 872.00-870.75 Mar 552.80-551.90 Mar 491.30-488.10
Paris Morningstar Long Commodity 677.16 (+5.72) investment advice. Tradeweb is not responsible for any loss or damage that might result Mar 930.00-929.50 Jun 854.25-853.75 May 535.70-535.50 May 483.00-479.40
CAC-40 7083.39 (+0.00) Morningstar Long/Short Commod 4703.45 (+27.75) from the use of this information. Apr 897.00-896.25 Volume: 637989 Aug 517.10-514.10 Volume: 67393
the times | Thursday January 19 2023 43

Markets Business
TEAM17

Disruption in China puts

skids on TI Fluid Systems
Jessica Newman Market report

T
I Fluid Systems has a bit of a
habit of delivering bad news MANUFACTURING
to investors. Nothing
changed yesterday, when the
engineer served up yet
another disappointing update that
Shipyard jobs boost in Belfast
caused its shares to fall to their lowest

H
level in more than three months. arland & emerged that large
Its update illustrated just how Wolff has parts of the work for
vulnerable it is to volatile market confirmed three FSS — or fleet
conditions in China, with the that 900 of solid support —
company revealing an unexpected the 1,200 jobs to be vessels would go to
negative impact on sales in the created from a new Navantia, the Spanish
country in the final quarter because £1.6 billion military state-owned
of Covid policy changes that forced shipbuilding contract shipbuilder that is
production shutdowns. will be at its historic Harland & Wolff ’s
Analysts at Jefferies reckon the Belfast yard (Robert joint venture partner.
disruption in China accounted for Lea writes). Most Three weeks ago,
about €45 million of lost sales in the of the rest are likely Harland & Wolff’s on the last trading day
three-month period. On that basis, to be at Appledore in cranes are known as of the year, Harland &
the company is forecasting earnings north Devon, the Samson and Goliath Wolff put out a profit
shipyard it rescued warning, saying it
platforms. It meant Worms, which has sold from closure by Defence awarded a would miss its 2022
New games that earnings for the 12 more than 75 million Wall Street report Babcock. contract to the estimates by a mile.
take Team17 months to the end of
December would be
copies.
Bestwick, 52, said: A slowdown in consumer spending
The government
announced in
company formerly
known as InfraStrata
Its shares plunged to
15p after that warning.
to next level “significantly ahead of
market expectations”.
“There will always be
more work to do as a
activity and news that Microsoft is
joining the round of heavy
November that naval
shipbuilding would
to assemble three new
vessels to serve the
They rallied strongly
yesterday, rising by
The City had growth business, but technology sector job cuts weighed return to Harland & Royal Navy’s aircraft 4¼p, or nearly a third,

T
he video games forecast pre-tax profits last year’s performance on sentiment, with the Dow Jones Wolff for the first carriers and wider to 20¾p, valuing the
publisher best to rise to £38.7 million is a testament to the industrial average falling 613.89 time in two decades. fleet. It sparked some company at about
known for on revenues of nearly significant investment points, 1.8 per cent, to 33,296.96. The Ministry of controversy after it £38 million.
Worms and £131 million. However, that has been made
Overcooked has said the update prompted over the last two years
that the release of new analysts to increase in people, diversifying before interest and tax of about cent, to £19.19. British American settled at their highest level in more
games will push its their predcitions, with portfolios and €180 million, below consensus Tobacco slid 59½p, or 1.9 per cent, to than four months after rising 38p, or
profits and revenues Shore Capital raising successful M&A, all of estimates of between €195 million and £30.70½; Reckitt Benckiser lost 148p, 7.7 per cent, to 530p after it said it had
above City forecasts its revenue estimates which put the group in €200 million. or 2.5 per cent, to £58.34; and GSK enjoyed “significant revenue growth”
(Jessica Newman from £126 million to a very robust position As Jefferies put it bluntly: dipped 27¾p, or 1.9 per cent, to £14.10. last year, putting the television and
writes). £137 million. for the future.” “Unfortunately, there is not a lot to Miners provided the biggest leg-up sound systems supplier on track to
Team17 Group said Team17 was founded Shares in Team17 like in this update and we believe the as metal prices responded to stronger “comfortably” beat profit
trading had been in Wakefield, West rose sharply after they share price reaction will be harsh.” demand from China. Glencore gained expectations. Investors were less keen
strong in the second Yorkshire, in 1990 by were listed at 165p in They were not wrong as TI Fluid 23¾p, or 4.3 per cent, to 576½p a on Omega Diagnostics after the
half of the year, with Debbie Bestwick, its 2018, peaking at 890p Systems finished the session 18¾p, or share; Antofagasta, which said it had company flagged that it would not be
the release of several chief executive, with during the lockdowns. 13.9 per cent, lower at 116¾p. achieved annual copper production in able to fulfil present and forecast
first and third-party five colleagues. Five They closed last night In the wider market, investors’ line with revised forecasts, added 58p, orders before the year’s end because
games and the launch years later the up 35p, or 8.5 per cent, initial optimism about the small dip in or 3.3 per cent, to £17.99½; and Anglo of “insufficient manufacturing
of older titles on new company released at 447½p. inflation last month was overtaken by American ticked higher by 83½p, or capacity”. The shares fell just over ½p,
fears that the Bank of England may 2.3 per cent, to £36.72½. or 13.7 per cent, to 3¼p.
The day’s biggest movers not reduce the pace of interest rate
rises, as they had hoped. The
Ocado and Experian recovered
some ground after Tuesday’s poor
Elsewhere, H&T Group fell 24p, or
4.9 per cent, to 469p after it said that
Company Change FTSE 100 fell 20.33 points, or 0.3 per updates, with Ocado closing up 28¾p, Peter McNamara would step down as
Harland & Wolff Multibillion-pound shipbuilding contract finalised 27.3% cent, to 7,830.70. The more UK- or 3.9 per cent, at 761¾p and Experian chairman of the pawnbroker after 14
Currys Maintains profit guidance 11.3% focused FTSE 250 edged lower 57.14 rising 88p, or 3 per cent, to £30.49. years in the role. It was an even worse
Team17 Annual earnings to beat City expectations 8.5% points, or 0.3 per cent, to 19,890.90. Topping the mid-cap index was session for IOG after the North Sea
Midwich Group Upbeat profit outlook 7.7% A strong pound weighed on the Currys, jumping 6¾p, or 11.3 per cent, oil and gas company said the gas flow
Glencore Higher commodities prices 4.3% prospects of the FTSE 100, whose to 66¾p, after the electronics retailer rate achieved at a well on the
Reckitt Benckiser Pound rally hurts dollar-earners -2.5%
Diageo Hurt by stronger pound -2.6%
internationally focused constituents maintained its profit forecasts in a Southwark field was lower than
H&T Chairman to step down -4.9% make most of their money overseas. positive update for the peak trading expected. It caused the value of its
TI Fluid Systems China volatility affects quarterly sales -13.9% These included Coca-Cola HBC, the Christmas period. shares to more than halve, falling 9p,
IOG Disappointing well update -54.6% bottler, which fell by 44½p, or 2.3 per On Aim, Midwich Group shares or 54 per cent, to 7¾p.

Gold/Precious Money rates % Dollar rates Exchange rates

London Grain Futures metals (US dollars per ounce) Base Rates Clearing Banks 3.50 ECB Refi 2.00 US Fed Fd 4.25-4.50 Australia
Canada
1.4359-1.4361
1.3471-1.3472
Bid Change

LIFFE Wheat (close £/t) Because of a technical issue, the gold fix Halifax Mortgage Rate 5.74 Denmark 6.8918-6.8923 Australia $ 1.768 +0.01
prices are from Tuesday. Euro 0.9264-0.9264 Canada $ 1.661 +0.02
Jan 227.05 Mar 230.00 May 230.50 Treasury Bills (Dis) Buy: 1 mth 3.6613; 3 mth 4.0018. Sell: 1 mth 4.4077; 3 mth 3.660 Hong Kong 7.8213-7.8228 Denmark Kr 8.511 +0.05
Jul unq Nov 224.00 Volume: 840 Bullion: Open $1909.05
Japan 128.79-128.79 Euro ¤ 1.144 +0.01
Close $1903.15-1903.37 High $1925.46 Malaysia 4.3250-4.3280 Hong Kong $ 9.692 +0.09
London Metal Exchange 1 mth 2 mth 3 mth 6 mth 12 mth
Low $1896.56 Norway 9.9173-9.9227 Hungary 449.821 -1.84
(Official) AM $1904.95 PM $1913.80 Interbank Rates 3.6794 0.0000 4.0228 4.4302 0.0000 Singapore 1.3202-1.3203 Indonesia 18696.482 +74.73
Krugerrand $1820.00-2918.00 (£1474.58- Sweden 10.336-10.339 Israel Shk 4.184
Cash 3mth Dec 22 Eurodollar Deps 4.48-4.73 4.56-4.81 4.63-4.88 4.92-5.17 5.26-5.51 Switzerland 0.9162-0.9163
2364.19) Japan Yen 159.101 +1.73
Copper Gde A ($/tonne)
9435.0-9436.0 9425.0-9430.0 9300.0-9310.0
Platinum $1092.00 (£884.75)
Silver $23.47 (£19.02)
Sterling spot and forward rates Other Sterling New Zealand $
Norway Kr
1.915
12.197
+0.01
+0.09
Palladium $1721.11 (£1394.46) Poland 5.385 +0.05
Mkt Rates for Range Close 1 month 3 month Argentina peso 225.55-225.59
Lead ($/tonne) Russia 85.381 +0.68
Australia dollar 1.7723-1.7725
2217.0-2218.0 2208.0-2209.0 2223.0-2228.0 European money Copenhagen 8.4487-8.5163 8.5060-8.5072 145ds 405ds Bahrain dinar 0.4618-0.4687
S Africa Rd
Sweden Kr
21.018
12.707
+0.02
-0.06
Zinc Spec Hi Gde ($/tonne)
3413.0-3415.0 3395.0-3397.0 3152.0-3157.0
deposits % Euro
Montreal
1.1448-1.1360
1.6415-1.6630
1.1434-1.1434
1.6626-1.6628
13pr
4pr
35pr
17pr
Brazil real
Euro
6.3611-6.3648
1.1433-1.1435
Switzerland Fr
Turkey Lira
1.131
23.288 +0.21
Hong Kong dollar 9.6514-9.6536
Currency New York 1.2255-1.2432 1.2342-1.2343 9pr 23pr USA $ 1.239 +0.01
Alum Hi Gde ($/tonne) India rupee 100.53-100.53
1mth 3mth 6mth 12mth Rates supplied by Morningstar
2635.0-2636.0 2660.0-2662.0 2780.0-2785.0 Oslo 12.065-12.245 12.241-12.244 92ds 271ds Indonesia rupiah 18636-18693
Dollar Kuwait dinar KD 0.3758-0.3781
Nickel ($/tonne) 0.13 0.20 0.29 0.55 Stockholm 12.695-12.807 12.757-12.760 244ds 635ds Malaysia ringgit 5.3437-5.3474
27500.0-27510.0 27750.0-27800.0 29325.0-29375.0 Sterling Tokyo 157.50-161.49 158.95-158.96 56ds 166ds New Zealand dollar 1.9159-1.9163 Data as shown is
3.68 4.02 4.43 0.81 Singapore dollar 1.6294-1.6297 for information
Tin ($/tonne) 15mth
Zurich 1.1265-1.1352 1.1308-1.1309 31ds 89ds
Euro S Africa rand 21.106-21.117 purposes only. No offer is made by
28600.0-28650.0 28600.0-28625.0 27860.0-27910.0 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.50 Premium = pr Discount = ds U A E dirham 4.5409-4.5434 Morningstar or this publication
the times | Thursday January 19 2023 45

Business
The Times unit trust information service
Yld Yld Yld Yld Yld Yld
Sell Buy +/- % Sell Buy +/- % Sell Buy +/- % Sell Buy +/- % Sell Buy +/- % Sell Buy +/- %

ALLIANZ GLOBAL INVESTORS Special Sits ‡@ 4618.00 … -4.00 1.26 Enhanced Natural Resources A Acc ‡@134.24 … -1.25 … UK Higher Inc A Acc ‡@ 1132.00 … +7.00 … MORGAN STANLEY INVESTMENT MGMT LTD SVS BROWN SHIPLEY FUNDS
Inv Serv: 020 7065 1400 Helpline: 0800 317 573 Wealthbuilder 69.75 72.18 +0.53 0.44 Global Bond A Acc ‡@ 139.30 … +4.03 0.82 UK Higher Inc A Inc ‡ 531.30 … +2.00 … Enquires: 0800 0961 962 Enquiries:0141 222 1151
Gilt Yield A ‡@ 206.01 … +0.27 … Global Bond A Inc ‡@ 109.33 … +3.00 0.82 UK Sm Cos A Acc ‡@ 563.30 … +7.00 0.34 The Morgan Stanley Funds (UK) Balanced A Acc ‡@ 134.16 … -0.19 0.97
Strategic Bond Fund ‡@ 157.34 … +0.13 2.68 Global Bond I Gross Inc ‡@1167.00 … +29.78 1.25 UK Str Eq Inc A Acc ‡@ 197.90 … +3.50 … Class A Shares Balanced A Inc ‡@ 119.88 … -0.17 0.97
UK Corp Bond C ‡@ 104.79 … -0.78 … HALIFAX INVESTMENT FUND MGRS LTD Global Dynamic A Acc ‡@ 193.61 … +1.95 0.47 UK Str Eq Inc A Inc ‡@ 100.50 … +1.77 … Equity Cautious A Acc ‡@ 111.85 … +0.03 1.44
UK Eqty C ‡@ 6317.26 … -14.91 3.28 01296 386 386 Global Energy A Acc ‡@ 170.97 … -1.14 … US A Acc ‡@ 1036.00 … +25.00 … Dev Opp Fund F Acc ‡@ 812.63 … -7.04 … Cautious A Inc ‡@ 96.92 … +0.03 1.45
UK Eqty Inc A ‡@ 339.53 … -0.87 4.59 Authorised Inv Funds Global Equity A Acc ‡@ 234.28 … -1.76 0.43 US Sm Cos A Acc ‡@ 976.20 … +14.00 … Dev Opp Fund I Acc ‡@ 808.62 … -7.00 … Dynamic A Acc ‡@ 328.10 … -1.03 …
UK Gwth A ‡@ 8362.91 … -10.21 2.31 Share Class `C Global Franchise A Acc ‡@308.96 … -2.18 … Glob Bal Inc F F Acc ‡@ 945.41 … +1.51 5.57 Dynamic A Inc ‡@ 296.38 … -0.93 …
UK Index A Inc ‡@ 1423.81 … -5.83 3.01 Global Free Enterprise A Acc ‡@1197.56 … -6.48 … Glob Bal Inc F F Inc ‡@ 874.08 … +1.40 5.77 Growth A Acc ‡@ 337.26 … -0.88 0.69
Corporate Bond ‡@ 32.92 … +0.22 3.09
UK Mid Cap A ‡@ 4654.61 … -11.35 0.07 Global Gold A Acc ‡@ 202.03 … -5.03 0.50 Glob Bal Inc F I Acc ‡@ 944.21 … +1.51 5.59 Income A Acc ‡@ 246.70 … -0.17 1.41
Ethical ‡@ 109.50 … -0.90 0.01
Global Special Situations A Acc ‡@326.05 … -2.59 … Glob Bal Inc F I Inc ‡@ 872.77 … +1.39 5.80 Sterling Bond Acc ‡@ 242.37 … -0.28 …
European ‡@ 111.10 … +0.10 1.90
Global Special Situations A Inc ‡@252.20 … -2.01 … JUPITER UT MGRS LTD Glob Bal Sust F F Acc ‡@ 952.02 … -0.31 1.24 Sterling Bond Inc ‡@ 97.00 … -0.11 …
Far Eastern ‡ 117.50 … -0.80 1.80
Fund of Inv Tst ‡@ 136.20 … -0.50 0.43 Managed Growth A Acc ‡@302.69 … -0.13 … 020 7581 3020 Glob Bal Sust F F Inc ‡@ 936.19 … -0.29 1.25
ARTEMIS FUND MGRS LTD Glob Bal Sust F I Acc ‡@ 950.80 … -0.30 1.17
Intl Gwth ‡ 122.70 … -0.80 1.14 Monthly High Income A Acc ‡@243.45 … +0.43 3.54 Absolute Return ‡@ 32.76 … +0.08 0.11 THREADNEEDLE INVESTMENTS
0800 092 2051 Glob Bal Sust F I Inc ‡@ 936.05 … -0.30 1.18
Japanese ‡ 68.24 … +0.43 1.40 Monthly High Income A Inc ‡@63.17 … +0.01 5.01 Distribution and Growth ‡@97.72 … -0.17 2.10 Client Serv: 0800 0683000
Authorised Inv Funds Glob Br Eq Inc Fund F Inc ‡@1295.29 … -7.19 4.26
North Amer ‡ 142.70 … -1.70 0.29 Multi-Asset Protector A Acc ‡@167.56 … +0.11 … Emg Euro Opps ‡@ 145.34 … -31.23 … Intermediary Serv: 0800 0684000
Capital R Acc ‡@ 2234.97 … +5.33 3.01 Smaller Cos ‡@ 109.30 … -1.30 1.15 Glob Br Eq Inc Fund I Acc ‡@1791.03 … -9.94 4.22
Strategic Bond A Acc ‡@ 244.54 … +0.19 1.96 Euro Special Sits ‡@ 452.02 … +0.45 … Institutional Shares (Class 2) (500000 GBP)
Euro Opps R Acc ‡@ 91.26 … -0.48 1.29 Special Sits ‡@ 49.61 … -0.14 1.50 Glob Br Eq Inc Fund I Inc ‡@1386.61 … -7.70 4.34
Strategic Bond A Inc ‡@ 119.47 … +0.09 3.32 European ‡@ 2893.27 … +8.23 … Threadneedle UK Eq Opps Ins Inc ‡@125.97 … -0.01 1.57
Euro Opps R Inc ‡@ 85.36 … -0.46 1.30 UK Equity Inc ‡@ 92.86 … +0.25 4.05 Glob Br Fund I Acc (PH) ‡@13442.76 … -80.46 …
Target Return A Acc ‡@ 102.03 … +0.44 0.82 Financial Opps ‡@ 721.19 … -5.44 0.20
European Growth R Acc ‡@395.87 … +0.47 2.05 UK FTSE 100 IT ‡@ 71.59 … +0.21 2.71 Glob Br Fund I Acc (PH) ‡@1549.97 … +3.84 1.05
Target Return A Inc ‡@ 87.63 … +0.01 0.87 Income Trust ‡@ 517.92 … -1.59 4.15
Global Energy R Acc ‡@ 44.46 … … 1.13 UK FTSE All-S IT ‡@ 80.78 … +0.14 2.57 Glob Br Fund I Inc (PH) ‡@3680.09 … -22.03 0.96 Retail Shares (Class 1)
UK Alpha A Acc ‡@ 2662.72 … -4.45 2.11 Merlin Bal (Acc) ‡@ 234.26 … +0.89 2.11
Global Growth R Acc ‡@ 342.73 … -2.75 … UK Growth ‡@ 84.21 … +0.29 3.23 Glob Br Fund I Inc (PH) ‡@1479.36 … +3.70 1.05
Merlin Gwth (Acc) ‡ 542.31 … -1.41 … Threadneedle HY Bd Rtl Inc ‡@36.71 … +0.08 4.22
Global Income R Acc ‡@ 160.42 … -0.32 4.17 UK Blue Chip A Acc ‡@ 770.11 … +3.15 … Glob Ins Fund F Acc ‡@ 502.23 … +9.08 …
Merlin Inc (Acc) ‡@ 344.99 … -0.78 2.64 Threadneedle Mthly Etr Inc Rtl Inc ‡@80.09 … +0.12 3.40
Global Income R Inc ‡@ 102.09 … -0.21 4.32 UK Smaller Companies A Acc ‡@4790.98 … -30.77 … Glob Ins Fund F Inc ‡@ 502.23 … +9.08 …
Merlin Wwide (Inc) ‡ 381.98 … -1.12 … Threadneedle SterlingCorpBd Ins Inc ‡@54.47 … +0.37 2.36
Global Select R Acc ‡@ 152.89 … -1.37 … UK Smaller Companies A Inc ‡@4297.22 … -27.59 … Glob Ins Fund I Acc ‡@ 500.08 … +9.03 …
HSBC GLOBAL ASSET MGMT (UK) LTD UK Growth ‡@ 254.88 … +0.34 0.70 Threadneedle SterlingCorpBd Rtl Inc ‡@54.38 … +0.37 2.00
High Income R Inc ‡@ 63.86 … +0.15 6.02 UK Special Situations A Acc ‡@1364.47 … -6.23 1.74 Glob Ins Fund I Inc ‡@ 500.08 … +9.04 …
Enq: 0845 745 6123 Dlg: 0845 745 6126 Mon-Fri 8-6 UK Special Sits (Inc) ‡@ 211.45 … -0.75 2.05 Threadneedle Stg Bd Ret Inc ‡@45.86 … +0.44 1.37
Income R Acc ‡@ 520.14 … +0.91 3.98 UK Special Situations A Inc ‡@489.12 … -2.23 1.78 Glob Sust Fund F Acc (PH) ‡@1145.37 … +4.28 1.00
HSBC Index Tracker Investment Funds (OEIC) Glob Sust Fund F Inc ‡@ 1227.63 … -5.36 0.92 Threadneedle Strat Bd Ret ‡@41.62 … +0.14 3.23
Income R Inc ‡@ 228.03 … +0.40 4.11
Glob Sust Fund I Acc ‡@ 1245.15 … -5.44 0.72 Threadneedle UK Eq Inc Rtl Inc ‡@97.96 … -0.30 3.60
Monthly Dist R Inc ‡@ 66.00 … +0.03 4.97 Amer Ind Acc ‡@ 899.74 … -3.67 1.04
Glob Sust Fund I Acc (PH) ‡@1144.57 … +4.27 0.79 Threadneedle UK Growth & Inc Rtl Inc ‡@92.82 … -0.13 2.71
Strategic Assets R Acc ‡ 89.72 … -0.21 … Amer Ind Inc ‡@ 727.57 … -2.90 1.04
Glob Sustain Fund F Acc ‡@1251.59 … -5.46 0.91 Threadneedle UK Insti Rtl ‡@184.71 … +1.07 1.84
Strategic Bond R M Acc ‡@97.37 … +0.46 3.00 Euro Ind Acc ‡@ 1193.25 … -4.89 2.34
LEGAL & GENERAL (UT MGRS) LTD Stg Corp Bond F F Acc ‡@ 120.92 … +0.86 3.16 Threadneedle UK Mthly Inc Rtl Inc ‡@69.84 … -0.11 4.10
Strategic Bond R M Inc ‡@ 51.10 … +0.25 3.06 Euro Ind Inc ‡@ 762.38 … -3.13 2.42
Enquiries: 0870 050 0955 Dealing: 0870 050 0956 Stg Corp Bond F F Inc ‡@ 95.76 … +0.69 3.21 Threadneedle UK Rtl Inc ‡@136.21 … -0.18 1.50
Strategic Bond R Q Acc ‡@ 97.19 … +0.46 3.31 FTSE 100 Ind Acc ‡@ 282.55 … -0.88 3.17
For ISIS Asset Mgmt see F&C Fd Mgmt Ltd (OEICS) Stg Corp Bond F I Acc ‡@2572.07 … +18.46 3.45 Threadneedle UK Smaller Coms Rtl Inc ‡@352.80 … +1.86 …
Strategic Bond R Q Inc ‡@ 51.20 … +0.24 3.37 FTSE 100 Ind Inc ‡@ 128.38 … -0.39 3.24 Equity Acc @ 2616.00 2639.00 -8.00 2.12
UK Growth R Acc ‡@ 715.31 … -0.42 1.21 FTSE 250 Ind Acc ‡@ 298.74 … +1.68 2.33 Equity Dist @ 893.80 902.00 -2.70 2.15 Stg Corp Bond F I Inc ‡@1342.43 … +9.64 3.53
JANUS HENDERSON INVESTORS
UK Smaller Cos R Acc ‡@1937.29 … -4.24 0.87 FTSE 250 Ind Inc ‡@ 184.23 … +1.04 2.32 Euro Ind Acc ‡@ 527.10 … +0.20 0.02 Sust Fixed Inc Opps F F Acc ‡@930.58 … +2.00 2.22 For Resolution see Ignis
UK Special Sits R Acc ‡@ 704.18 … -1.15 1.09 FTSE All-S Acc ‡@ 720.53 … -1.24 3.20 Investors Serv: 0800 832 832 Dlng: 0845 946 4646 Euro Ind Inc ‡@ 345.30 … +0.10 0.02 Sust Fixed Inc Opps F F Inc ‡@892.79 … +1.92 2.25 TU FUND MANAGERS LIMITED
FTSE All-S Inc ‡@ 364.27 … -0.63 3.28 Fixed Int Acc ‡@ 132.60 … +1.00 0.96 Sust Fixed Inc Opps F I Acc ‡@926.67 … +1.99 2.01
All Stks Credit A Inc ‡@ 115.70 … +0.70 1.79 British 925.50 925.50 +0.80 …
Jap Ind Acc ‡@ 139.64 … -0.10 1.98 Fixed Int Dist ‡@ 62.28 … +0.46 0.97 Sust Fixed Inc Opps F I Inc ‡@892.66 … +1.92 2.04
Asian Div Inc U Trst Inc ‡@83.29 … -0.41 5.83 European 210.70 219.40 +1.00 …
Jap Ind Inc ‡@ 108.83 … -0.08 2.31 Glob Gwth Acc @ 243.90 243.90 -1.30 1.15 US Adv F F Acc ‡@ 1361.20 … +25.50 …
AXA FRAMLINGTON UNIT MGMT LTD Pac Ind Acc ‡@ 517.40 … -4.48 2.64 Cautious Man Fd A Acc ‡@288.60 … +0.10 2.91 US Adv F F Acc (PH) ‡@ 769.75 … +21.07 …
Glob Health Acc ‡@ 110.60 … -0.90 0.66
Dling: 0845 602 1952 Priv Clients: 0845 777 5511 Pac Ind Inc ‡@ 325.62 … -2.82 2.71 Cautious Man Fd A Inc ‡@143.20 … … 2.96 Glob Tech Acc ‡@ 81.28 … -0.41 … US Adv F I Acc ‡@ 1448.61 … +27.13 … * Yield expressed as CAR (Compound Annual Return);
China Opp Fund A Acc ‡@1334.00 … -14.00 0.25 Gwth Tst Acc @ 106.00 106.50 -1.00 … US Adv F I Acc (PH) ‡@ 806.68 … +22.08 … † Ex dividend; ‡Middle price; . . . No significant data. #
Equity Inc ‡@ 572.40 … -2.70 4.43
Gilt Acc @ 201.30 211.80 +0.10 1.08 Emg Mkts Opps Fd A Acc ‡@204.90 … -1.50 0.75 High Inc Acc ‡@ 124.60 … … 2.60 Periodic charge deducted from capital; @ Exit charge
Erpn Grth Fund A Acc ‡@ 301.50 … -0.10 1.23 SANTANDER UNIT TST MGRS
Gilt Inc @ 74.35 78.24 -0.39 1.09 HSBC Investment Funds (OEIC) - Retail Share Class Japan Ind Acc ‡@ 68.65 … +0.39 0.02
Erpn Sel Opps Fd A Acc ‡@2257.00 … +1.00 1.24 08457 413002
Health Acc ‡@ 2990.00 … -29.00 … Pacific Ind Acc ‡@ 206.10 … -1.20 3.06
Jap Smlr Co Ac @
Managed Inc ‡@
62.56
138.30
66.09
…
-0.19
…
0.30
4.20
Balanced Acc ‡@
Balanced Inc ‡@
245.08
151.95
…
…
-0.42
-0.14
0.60
…
Fix Int Mnthly Inc Fd Acc ‡@29.12
Global Equity Fund Acc ‡@4356.00
…
…
+0.05
-41.00
5.13
…
UK 100 Ind Acc @
UK Active Opps Acc @
180.90
249.90
180.90
252.90
+0.90
-0.10
3.19
…
Bal Pfolio Inc ‡@
Bal Port Gwth Acc ‡@
110.50
232.70 …
… +0.40
-0.60
…
1.22 British funds
Corp Bd Acc ‡@ 266.85 … -0.31 4.87 Equity Inc Inc ‡@ 208.80 … -0.40 5.40
Monthly Inc Inc ‡@ 244.80 … -0.30 4.52 12 month Price Int Yld Grs rd
Corp Bd Inc ‡@ 103.53 … -0.13 3.28 N&P UK Gwth Inc ‡@ 182.80 … +0.10 3.09
UK Growth Inc ‡@ 225.70 … -0.20 0.66 High Low Stock (£) +/– % yld
Gilt & Fd Int Acc ‡@ 497.78 … +1.62 1.19 Stkmkt 100 Tkr @ 267.60 267.60 +0.50 3.21
UK Select Opps Inc ‡@ 1951.00 … -4.00 1.08
Gilt & Fd Int Inc ‡@ 74.17 … +0.24 1.58 UK Growth Acc ‡@ 464.30 … -1.50 3.15
UK Sml Cos Inc ‡@ 268.60 … -1.90 0.04
Income Acc ‡@ 726.79 … -0.56 4.28 UK Growth Inc ‡@ 248.00 … -0.80 3.23 Index-linked
Income Inc ‡@ 298.19 … -0.23 4.43
389.95 359.04 Tr IL 2K% 24 * 373.23 + .92 1.45 0.33
Monthly Inc Acc ‡@ 313.41 … +0.77 3.21 SCOTTISH MUTUAL INV MNGRS LTD 111.32 100.13 Tr IL 0V% 24 100.20 + .07 … –0.04
Monthly Inc Inc ‡@ 130.81 … -0.11 4.04 0141 248 6100 118.20 96.90 Tr IL 0V% 26 100.14 + .29 … 0.08
AXA FUND MANAGERS LTD
UK Grth & Inc Ret B Acc ‡@148.49 … -0.01 4.15 132.58 99.85 Tr IL 1N% 27 105.84 + .36 1.29 0.04
Admin & Enq 0117 989 0808 European Inc 1777.00 1873.48 +4.40 0.78 127.38 93.33 Tr IL 0V% 28 100.60 + .38 … 0.02
UK Grth & Inc Ret B Inc ‡@65.54 … -0.01 4.29
AXA Trusts Far Eastern Inc 584.69 617.09 -0.73 … 129.06 92.36 Tr IL 0V% 29 100.27 + .39 … 0.08
UK Gth & Inc Acc ‡@ 148.49 … -0.01 4.15 137.95 90.61 Tr IL 0V% 31 101.29 + .33 … –0.02
Gen Acc ‡@ 2101.00 … +6.00 … Intl Growth Inc 380.56 400.59 +0.02 …
UK Gth & Inc Inc ‡@ 65.54 … -0.01 4.29 401.24 301.39 Tr IL 4V% 30 * 339.45 +1.51 1.90 0.12
Gen Inc ‡@ 1079.00 … -2.00 … Japanese Inc 41.85 41.85 +0.43 0.56 156.89 99.08 Tr IL 1N% 32 111.99 + .40 1.12 0.03
Mutual European 2762.93 2908.99 -21.63 1.11 154.42 92.56 Tr IL 0O% 34 106.71 + .27 … 0.14
Mutual Far Eastern 1004.19 1059.83 -5.98 0.89 318.19 206.76 Tr IL 2% 35 * 245.68 + .52 0.99 0.24
HSBC Specialist Investment Funds (OEIC) Mutual North Am 1983.00 2092.88 +6.23 0.24 153.22 82.01 Tr IL 0V% 36 98.87 + .09 … 0.21
176.62 94.08 Tr IL 1V% 37 112.70 + .06 1.05 0.25
UK/Global Investment Companies American Index Retail Acc ‡@899.74 … -3.67 1.04 Mutual UK Eq 1449.29 1529.59 +2.15 2.69 158.32 78.25 Tr IL 0V% 39 97.23 – .09 … 0.30
American Index Retail Inc ‡@727.57 … -2.90 1.04 Nth American Inc 1227.65 1295.67 -7.28 … 173.44 84.60 Tr IL 0X% 40 105.50 – .14 … 0.30
Euro Acc A ‡@ 234.70 … … 1.18
Asian Gth Acc ‡@ 147.77 … -0.07 … UK Equity Inc 568.31 599.80 +0.81 1.62 167.01 75.20 Tr IL 0V% 41 96.90 – .19 … 0.30
Extra Inc Inc B ‡@ 86.74 … +0.24 1.16 184.25 82.66 Tr IL 0X% 42 106.26 – .25 0.59 0.30
Global Gwth Acc R ‡@ 288.10 … +4.10 0.52 Asian Gth Inc ‡@ 130.99 … -0.06 …
SCOTTISH WIDOWS UNIT TRUST MGRS 173.05 72.26 Tr IL 0V% 44 95.25 – .43 … 0.36
Japan Acc A ‡@ 162.30 … +2.20 … Chinese Eq Acc ‡@ 513.81 … +0.27 0.40 179.66 70.25 Tr IL 0V% 46 94.33 – .57 … 0.38
Chinese Eq Inc ‡@ 434.76 … +0.22 0.34 0845 300 2244 208.97 80.78 Tr IL 0O% 47 108.60 – .68 0.70 0.39
Pac Gwth Acc A ‡@ 479.80 … -17.60 …
Euro Gth Acc ‡@ 973.97 … +4.05 0.41 Authorised Inv Funds (OEICs) 189.18 66.79 Tr IL 0V% 48 93.77 – .70 … 0.38
Euro Gth Inc ‡@ 817.05 … +3.39 0.44 OEIC A Class 210.53 72.64 Tr IL 0K% 50 103.27 – .84 … 0.37
Managed Investment Funds 207.58 65.69 Tr IL 0N% 52 97.74 – .88 … 0.33
274.69 88.77 Tr IL 1N% 55 130.21 –1.29 1.06 0.29
CIS UNIT MANAGERS LTD Bal Port A Acc ‡@ 237.60 … +0.80 … 220.87 60.50 Tr IL 0V% 56 95.43 –1.30 … 0.27
08457 46 46 46 Caut Port A Acc ‡@ 207.10 … +0.30 … 227.63 60.14 Tr IL 0V% 58 95.39 –1.49 … 0.26
IGNIS ASSET MGMT 262.41 64.93 Tr IL 0W% 62 106.11 –1.85 … 0.21
Dlg: 0141 222 8282 Caut Port A Inc ‡@ 152.00 … +0.30 … 270.40 55.87 Tr IL 0V% 65 98.65 –2.04 … 0.16
European Gwth ‡@ 210.00 … +0.20 1.21
Opps Port A Acc ‡@ 280.20 … +1.30 … 292.56 54.65 Tr IL 0V% 68 99.30 –2.23 … 0.14
Sus Leaders ‡@ 789.20 … -0.10 1.23 American Gth Inc @ 322.55 340.42 -3.34 … Prog Port A Acc ‡@ 266.60 … +1.10 … 339.09 55.40 Tr IL 0V% 73 106.10 –2.59 … …
UK Growth ‡@ 640.50 … +1.90 2.05 Balanced Growth @ 262.17 276.69 -0.93 1.52
UK Income ‡@ 214.10 … +0.40 4.85 Balanced Growth Acc @ 393.13 414.92 -1.40 1.49 Overseas Growth Investment Funds
Corporate Bond ‡@ 99.69 … -0.89 …
Eur Sel Gth A Acc ‡@ 3454.00 … -35.00 2.20 Longs (Over 15 years)
European Growth @ 403.88 426.26 -3.57 2.18 139.10 94.91 Tr 4N% 36 107.25 + .37 3.96 3.55
European Growth Acc @ 475.71 502.07 -4.21 2.24 106.55 67.54 Tr 1O% 37 78.77 + .32 … 3.63
CLOSE FUND MANAGEMENT LTD Tracker and Specialist Investment Funds
Glob Gwth @ 331.53 349.90 -3.09 … 153.15 98.36 Tr 4O% 38 113.13 + .42 4.20 3.65
0870 606 6402 Higher Yield @ 83.98 88.64 -0.29 4.43 UK Trkr A Acc ‡@ 392.20 … -0.50 3.16 97.19 58.05 Tr 1V% 39 69.33 + .33 … 3.67
UK Trkr A Inc ‡@ 196.70 … -0.20 3.24 147.00 92.08 Tr 4N% 39 106.94 + .41 3.97 3.69
Beacon Inv ‡ 84.88 … +0.35 0.01 Higher Yield Acc @ 275.04 290.28 -0.92 4.32 149.42 91.30 Tr 4N% 40 106.98 + .41 … 3.71
Japan @ 49.06 51.78 -0.03 0.94 98.79 54.72 Tr 1N% 41 67.07 + .34 … 3.70
Managed @ 130.89 138.15 -0.06 0.66 UK and Income Investment Funds 136.92 76.78 Tr 3N% 44 92.79 + .28 … 3.75
Managed Trust @ 71.96 76.96 +0.17 … Corp Bond A Acc ‡@ 286.90 … +1.30 2.20 158.50 93.79 Tr 4K% 42 111.00 + .49 4.05 3.71
Dealing: 020 7426 6232 Mngd Pfolio Inc @ 95.54 100.84 -0.11 … 143.41 79.61 Tr 3K% 45 96.28 + .29 … 3.75
Corp Bond A Inc ‡@ 106.60 … +0.50 2.23 162.45 89.35 Tr 4N% 46 107.74 + .33 3.94 3.76
Winchester ‡ 3631.90 … +63.22 0.89 Pacific Grth @ 498.71 526.34 -2.81 1.34 Envir Invtr A Acc ‡@ 394.90 … -4.80 1.34 91.09 43.93 Tr 0Y% 46 56.23 + .22 … 3.72
Smaller Comp @ 756.24 798.14 +1.64 … Hi Inc Bond A Ac ‡@ 233.40 … +0.20 5.23 104.55 51.06 Tr 1K% 47 64.57 + .22 … 3.71
Smaller Cos @ 628.94 663.79 +1.36 0.21 Hi Inc Bond A Inc ‡@ 69.72 … +0.06 5.38 110.94 53.78 Tr 1O% 49 67.75 + .25 … 3.69
Hi Res A Acc ‡@ 387.30 … … 3.86 169.83 89.75 Tr 4N% 49 108.77 + .34 3.91 3.73
85.16 35.82 Tr 0X% 50 47.85 + .22 … 3.62
EDENTREE INV MGMT LTD Hi Res A Inc ‡@ 120.90 … … 3.96 198.15 63.35 Tr 0V% 51 93.43 – .85 … 0.37
0800 358 3010 INSIGHT INVESTMENT FDS MANAGEMENT LTD Safety Plus A Acc ‡@ 40.49 … … … 99.56 44.40 Tr 1N% 51 57.62 + .25 … 3.65
Strat Inc A Acc ‡@ 190.40 … +1.60 3.16 163.13 82.51 Tr 3O% 52 101.25 + .33 … 3.68
Resp & Sust Sterling Bond ‡86.89 … +0.50 1.93 Client Servs: 0207 163 4000 Global Equity Income A Inc ‡@66.74 … -0.48 3.25 UK Index Acc ‡@ 353.50 … +0.30 1.30 107.50 46.78 Tr 1K% 53 60.64 + .02 … 3.65
Insight Investment Multi-Manager Funds Global Tech A Acc ‡@ 2738.00 … -8.00 … UK Index Dist ‡@ 170.30 … +0.20 1.33 Strat Inc A Inc ‡@ 83.99 … +0.69 3.22
Resp & Sust Eurp Eq ‡ 325.30 … -1.90 0.77 110.77 48.25 Tr 1X% 54 62.55 + .14 … 3.62
Instl UK Idx Opps A Acc ‡@116.98 … +0.08 2.94 US Ind Acc ‡@ 786.70 … -5.10 0.39 UK Gwth A Acc ‡@ 200.20 … -0.30 3.25 184.45 90.79 Tr 4N% 55 111.75 + .16 3.80 3.63
Resp & Sust Glbl Eq ‡ 317.90 … -2.50 0.05 Well Bldr Bal Acc ‡@ 96.05 … -0.32 …
M-Asset Abs Ret A Acc ‡@163.60 … -0.40 0.52 Worldwide Acc ‡@ 340.20 … -0.20 0.08 UK Sel Gwth A Acc ‡@ 2329.00 … -1.00 2.40 116.73 49.39 Tr 1O% 57 64.64 + .08 … 3.53
Resp & Sust Mgd Income ‡122.30 … -0.70 2.74 Well Bldr Gwth Acc ‡@ 93.79 … -0.36 … 188.51 87.32 Tr 4% 60 109.50 + .04 … 3.54
Resp & Sust UK Eq ‡ 221.50 … -1.60 0.79 M-Man Active Fd A Acc ‡@257.70 … -1.00 …
OEIC B Class 81.04 26.21 Tr 0K% 61 38.72 – .04 … 3.32
Resp & Sust UK Equity Opps ‡280.00 … -1.50 0.55 M-Man Inc Grth A Inc ‡@ 148.30 … -0.20 2.63 149.44 60.88 Tr 2K% 65 78.99 – .08 … 3.45
M-Man Inc Grth Fd A Acc ‡@189.40 … -0.20 2.59 M & G SECURITIES Tracker and Specialist Investment Funds 188.88 79.01 Tr 3K% 68 100.84 – .08 … 3.46
INVESCO FUND MGRS LTD Sterling Bond U Trst Acc ‡@207.00 … +1.30 1.48 Enq: 0800 390 390 Dealing Line: 0800 328 3196 UK Trkr B Acc ‡@ 433.00 … -0.50 3.25 124.55 42.99 Tr 1X% 71 59.35 – .06 … 3.31
Dling: 0800 085 8571 Inv Serv: 0800 085 8677 Sterling Bond U Trst Inc ‡@56.55 … +0.37 1.49 Authorised Inv Funds UK Trkr B Inc ‡@ 195.60 … -0.20 3.34
F & C FUND MANAGEMENT LTD (OEICS) Brkr Serv: 0800 028 2121 Strategic Bond A Inc ‡@ 105.60 … +0.30 3.43 Charifund Inc ‡ 1522.41 … -1.19 5.65
Enqs: 0870 601 6183 Dealing: 0870 601 6083 INVESCO Funds UK Abs Ret Fd A Acc ‡@ 166.40 … -0.10 … UK and Income Investment Funds Mediums (5-15 years)
Share Class 1 - Retail UK Str Inc N/Trl ‡@ 323.57 … -0.12 7.05 UK Alpha Fund A Acc ‡@ 142.20 … -1.00 1.17 Corp Bond B Acc ‡@ 370.70 … +0.90 … 100.03 97.34 Tr 0O% 23 98.59 + .02 … 3.57
UK Irsh Sm Co Fd A Acc ‡@742.50 … -1.70 … Sterling Class A Investment Funds 1 102.35 98.04 Tr 2N% 23 99.15 + .02 … 3.61
Corporate Bd ‡@ 49.99 … -0.31 1.57 Corp Bond B Inc ‡@ 136.30 … +0.30 … 98.66 94.34 Tr 0V% 24 96.54 + .01 … 3.57
UK Property A Acc @ 264.95 278.15 +0.01 2.63 Euro Smlr Cos Acc ‡ 525.29 … -3.39 … UK Gwth B Acc ‡@ 205.60 … -0.30 1.79 100.37 94.79 Tr 1% 24 97.02 + .01 … 3.45
Emerging Mkts ‡@ 116.50 … -0.50 …
UK Property A Inc @ 105.80 111.07 … 2.68 Euro Smlr Cos Inc ‡ 462.50 … -3.00 0.69 UK Sel Gwth B Acc ‡@ 2481.00 … … 1.09 104.84 96.82 Tr 2O% 24 98.87 + .02 … 3.47
Euro Gwth & Inc 1 ‡@ 1207.00 … +4.00 … INVESCO PERPETUAL Funds US Growth Fund A Acc ‡@1636.00 … -15.00 … 112.57 100.77 Tr 5% 25 103.34 + .03 4.84 3.36
Extra Inc Bond ‡@ 44.00 … +0.12 1.85 99.48 90.15 Tr 0X% 25 94.02 + .04 … 3.25
Childrens Acc ‡@ 463.33 … -0.03 … OEIC C Class
FTSE All-Shr Track ‡@ 437.50 … +0.50 3.05 104.11 93.15 Tr 2% 25 96.82 + .04 … 3.27
Corp Bond Acc ‡@ 200.40 … +1.19 2.87 Sterling Class A Investment Funds 2 UK and Income Investment Funds 97.43 86.33 Tr 0V% 26 91.20 + .05 … 3.20
Global Gwth SC1 ‡@ 310.70 … -1.70 …
High Income Inc ‡@ 324.95 … +0.24 3.23 Extra Income Inc ‡ 711.45 … -0.23 5.13 103.07 89.28 Tr 1K% 26 94.14 + .05 … 3.28
High Inc Trst @ 11.06 11.65 -0.01 5.73 UK Gth C Inc ‡@ 133.20 … -0.30 3.83
Income & Grth Inc ‡@ 413.02 … +0.83 1.69 102.29 85.65 Tr 1N% 27 91.68 + .13 … 3.25
Max Inc Bond ‡@ 43.54 … +0.05 3.12 Gilt & Fxd Int Inc ‡ 78.39 … +0.84 1.99 UK Sel Gwth C Acc ‡@ 2598.00 … … 1.29 119.07 98.23 Tr 4N% 27 104.32 + .12 4.07 3.28
Income Inc ‡@ 1286.61 … +0.53 3.48 JP MORGAN ASSET MGMT Gl Hi Yd Bd Inc ‡ 40.07 … +0.06 5.75
Multi Man Caut ‡@ 70.41 … … 3.18 95.68 79.15 Tr 0V% 28 85.52 + .14 … 3.27
Money Acc ‡@ 91.98 … +0.03 0.87 OEIC Index Linked Bd Inc ‡ 117.89 … +2.46 … STANDARD LIFE INVESTMENTS 104.87 84.72 Tr 1X% 28 91.65 + .17 … 3.23
Multi Man Distr ‡@ 60.44 … … 3.37
Monthly Inc Plus Inc ‡@ 93.20 … +0.23 5.02 Index Trckr Inc ‡ 77.83 … +0.10 3.83 0845 279 3003 133.44 107.13 Tr 6% 28 114.00 + .19 5.26 3.36
North Amer ‡@ 806.60 … -8.10 … Asia A Acc ‡@ 259.00 … +2.20 …
UK Aggressive Inc ‡@ 154.28 … -0.24 3.15 96.81 77.61 Tr 0K% 29 84.68 + .18 … 3.32
Pacific Gwth ‡@ 511.90 … -1.90 0.04 Emerging Mkts ‡@ 261.50 … +3.00 … Short Dated Corp Bd Inc ‡ 24.96 … +0.05 2.12 Investment Funds (OEIC) - Retail Shares 99.26 78.21 Tr 0Y% 29 85.76 + .19 … 3.24
UK Growth Acc ‡@ 903.07 … -0.51 … UK Select A Inc ‡ 2871.94 … -7.83 2.35
Strategic Bd ‡@ 198.20 … +0.20 1.79 Eur Dyn (ex-UK) A Acc ‡@270.30 … +4.70 … AAA Inc CAT Acc ‡@ 89.21 … +0.34 1.38 94.54 72.39 Tr 0W% 30 80.39 + .21 … 3.26
UK Sml Cos Eqty Acc ‡@ 1382.92 … -5.64 0.34 131.19 101.89 Tr 4O% 30 110.47 + .25 4.30 3.23
UK Equity ‡@ 3459.00 … -12.00 1.27 Euro Smllr Cos ‡@ 864.00 … +17.40 … AAA Inc CAT Inc ‡@ 50.18 … +0.19 1.39
UK Sml Cos Gwth ‡@ 82.54 … +0.04 … 92.23 69.25 Tr 0N% 31 77.45 + .25 … 3.30
UK Gwth & Inc Acc 1 ‡@ 658.50 … … … Europe A Acc ‡@ 1734.00 … +35.00 … AAA Income Acc ‡@ 97.11 … +0.38 1.81
Sterling Class A Investment Funds 3 98.41 73.06 Tr 1% 32 81.81 + .27 … 3.35
UK Gwth & Inc Dist ‡@ 234.70 … … … Gbl Hi Yld Bd A Acc ‡@ 117.30 … +1.10 5.30 Amer Eq Gth Acc ‡@ 206.10 … -3.20 … 130.22 98.13 Tr 4N% 32 107.66 + .33 3.95 3.29
UK Smaller Cos ‡@ 1054.00 … -7.00 0.19 Gbl Hi Yld Bd A Inc ‡@ 30.89 … +0.29 5.45 Corp Bd A Inc ‡ 34.15 … +0.27 3.30 Corp Bond Acc ‡@ 157.20 … +1.10 3.21 96.83 68.57 Tr 0Y% 33 77.59 + .27 … 3.43
INVESTEC FUND MGRS Gl ex-UK Bd A Acc ‡@ 257.40 … -0.70 … Dividend Inc ‡ 54.84 … -0.11 5.68 Corp Bond Inc ‡@ 52.65 … +0.37 3.26 138.42 98.89 Tr 4K% 34 110.03 + .43 4.09 3.45
Broker Support and Dealing: 020 7597 1900 Recovery A Inc ‡ 110.15 … +0.18 3.07 91.98 61.24 Tr 0X% 35 70.78 + .31 … 3.53
Gl ex-UK Bd A Inc ‡@ 196.80 … -0.50 … Euro Eq Gth Acc ‡@ 254.10 … … 0.28
OEIC Series i,ii,iii, & iv Glb Fins A Acc ‡@ 1077.00 … +1.00 1.03 Sml Cos Inc ‡ 353.85 … -2.15 2.06 Glb Advtg CAT Acc ‡@ 150.30 … -0.20 0.99
FIDELITY INTERNATIONAL American A Acc ‡@ 637.69 … -6.69 … Global A Acc ‡@ 2049.00 … +11.00 … Glob Advtg Acc ‡@ 198.50 … -0.20 0.96
Private Clnts 0800 414161 Broker Dlgs 0800 414181 Shorts (under 5 years)
Asia ex Japan A Acc ‡@ 798.76 … -0.88 … Japan A Acc ‡@ 516.80 … +6.20 … Glob Eq Uncstrd Acc ‡@ 158.30 … -1.30 …
Sterling Class A Investment Funds 4 99.89 98.87 Tr 0V% 23 99.89 + .01 … 3.44
Amer Spec Sits ‡@ 2347.00 … -11.00 … Capital Accumulator A Acc ‡@231.48 … -3.81 … Multi-Man Tst A Acc ‡@ 1268.00 … +16.00 … Higher Inc Acc ‡@ 143.30 … +0.30 4.54 98.20 90.04 Tr 0N% 25 93.62 + .02 … 3.53
American ‡@ 4920.00 … -21.00 … Cautious Managed A Acc ‡@384.74 … +0.51 1.97 Multi-Man Tst A Inc ‡@ 1127.00 … +15.00 … Episode Allocation A Inc ‡@138.53 … +0.45 2.69 Higher Inc Inc ‡@ 44.68 … +0.10 4.67 97.82 84.28 Tr 0W% 26 89.70 + .04 … 3.32
Euro Opps ‡@ 584.40 … -3.30 … Cautious Managed A Inc ‡@242.23 … +0.32 2.00 Nat Resources ‡@ 951.20 … +17.30 … Japan Eq Gth Acc ‡@ 127.40 … … …
* maturities having an eight-month indexation lag.
European ‡@ 3462.00 … -10.00 0.32 Diversified Growth A Acc ‡@133.66 … +0.03 0.61 New Europe A ‡@ 155.70 … +12.00 2.11 Managed Acc ‡@ 362.20 … -3.40 0.54
Extra Income ‡@ 22.80 … -0.02 5.25 Diversified Growth A Inc ‡@141.54 … +0.04 … Portfolio ‡@ 295.60 … +0.40 … MARKS & SPENCER UNIT TRUST LTD Select Inc Acc ‡@ 91.51 … … 2.21
Glob Spec Sits ‡@ 5494.00 … -22.00 … Diversified Income A Acc ‡@322.30 … +0.31 2.59 Stg Corp Bd A Acc ‡@ 85.59 … -0.13 1.14 0808 005 5555 Select Inc Inc ‡@ 51.26 … -0.26 2.21 This is a paid for information service. For
Global Focus ‡@ 2874.00 … -12.00 … Diversified Income A Inc ‡@68.97 … +0.07 4.05 Stg Corp Bd A Inc ‡@ 48.30 … -0.08 1.14 High Income 88.48 88.48 +0.11 4.44 UK Eq Gth Acc ‡@ 375.30 … -0.50 1.91 further details on a particular fund, readers
International ‡@ 149.50 … +0.20 0.08 Emerging Mkts Blended Debt A Acc ‡@115.26 … +0.21 4.39 UK Act 350 A Acc ‡@ 199.00 … -2.20 … High Income Acc 245.00 245.00 +0.30 4.32 UK Eq Hi Alpha ‡@ 231.70 … -0.30 3.38 should contact their fund manager.
Japan ‡@ 540.40 … +1.10 0.51 Emerging Mkts Blended Debt A Acc Gross ‡@125.82 … +0.20 … UK Dynamic Acc ‡@ 206.70 … +4.30 … UK 100 Comp Acc @ 466.00 466.00 -0.60 3.09 UK Eq Hi Inc Acc ‡@ 280.90 … +0.10 4.26
Moneybldr Bal ‡@ 44.73 … -0.09 3.74 Emerging Mkts Blended Debt A Inc ‡@67.10 … +0.11 6.28 UK Dynamic Inc ‡@ 148.20 … +3.10 … UK 100 Cos @ 230.90 230.90 -0.30 3.17 UK Eq Hi Inc Inc ‡@ 77.29 … +0.03 4.41
Data as shown is
Moneybldr Glob 327.60 327.60 -0.10 0.21 Emerging Mkts Equity A Acc ‡@154.31 … -0.57 0.95 UK Equity A Acc ‡@ 401.90 … +0.60 3.45 UK Select Pflo @ 345.10 345.10 -0.10 1.75 UK Ethical Acc ‡@ 204.40 … -0.30 1.44
Moneybldr Gwth ‡@ 76.12 … -0.95 2.97 Emrg Mkts Local Curr Debt A Acc ‡@184.83 … -0.56 4.48 UK Equity A Inc ‡@ 46.44 … +0.07 3.49 UK Selection Port Acc @ 714.20 714.20 -0.10 … UK Opps Acc ‡@ 236.50 … -0.60 0.65 for information
Moneybldr Inc ‡@ 29.56 … -0.05 4.49 Emrg Mkts Local Curr Debt A Inc ‡@72.92 … -0.22 4.72 UK Eqy & Bd Inc Acc ‡@ 167.10 … -0.20 3.41 Worldwide Mgd Acc @ 948.70 948.70 -2.80 1.04 UK Opps Inc ‡@ 213.60 … -0.50 0.65 purposes only. No offer is made by Morningstar
Moneybldr UK Ind ‡@ 131.71 … -0.36 2.93 Emrg Mkts Local Curr Debt Gross I Acc ‡@220.49 … -0.05 … UK Eqy & Bd Inc Inc ‡@ 90.29 … -0.48 3.50 Wwide Mgd @ 554.90 554.90 -1.70 1.05 UK Smlr Cos Acc ‡@ 804.00 … -1.60 … or this publication
46 Thursday January 19 2023 | the times

Business Equity prices

Dividend yields Please note dividend yields are 12 month Price 12 month Price 12 month Price 12 month Price
supplied by Morningstar. The yield is the sum of a High Low Company (p) +/- Yld% P/E High Low Company (p) +/- Yld% P/E High Low Company (p) +/- Yld% P/E High Low Company (p) +/- Yld% P/E

company’s trailing 12-month dividend payments 8582 6370 Lond Stk Ex Gp 7570 + 110 1.0 77.4 345 227 Boot (Henry) 235 + 1 2.3 12.5 98 37W SigmaRocv 58 – 2W … … 399 160K Crestchic Plcv 399 … … …
divided by the last month’s ending share price 227N 159Y M&G 204Y – 1X 8.9 64.0 556W 324O Br Land 437 – 4K 3.4 59.8 136O 66K Sirius Real Estate‡ 82X – 1 3.9 6.4 1760 1020W Dewhurstv 1160 – 50 1.1 13.3
12 month high and low Please note the 12 month high 274Y 178O Man 237 + V 3.5 9.5 160 125K Caledonian Tstv 135 – 10 … 26.9 172K 156K Smart (J)‡ 172K + 5 1.8 4.7 371 232Y Dialight 266 + 6 … …
and low figures for shares supplied by Morningstar are 29 7K Manx Finv 21 – K 0.8 10.6 179N 95K Cap & Count Prop 111X – 2 0.4 32.8
50 26 Steppe Cementv 43 – 1 8.8 9.9 1706 901Y Electrolux 'B' 1224W – 1K 5.3 9.2
based on intra-day figures, not closing prices. 3W 1O Marechale Capv 1O … … 0.8 65 43O Cap & Regnl 55V + 1V … -0.4
160Y 85 Taylor Wimpey 117K + K 7.0 7.7 170 85K Feedbackv 96 … … …
178K 129 Town Centre 159 + 6K 2.2 6.2 1175 426 Gooch Hsegov 562 – 2 0.8 41.6
14701 11874W Marsh McLn 13721X – 158Y 1.4 28.5 2550 2100 Cardiff Prop 2420 … 0.7 26.3
12 month Price 12 month Price 1623K 738 Travis Perkins 1023 + 5 1.1 9.9 3915 2400 Goodwin 3915 – 15 2.6 21.6
820 530 Mattioli Woodsv 640 … 3.2 … 37 10O Carecapitalv 10O – K … -1.2
High Low Company (p) +/- Yld% P/E High Low Company (p) +/- Yld% P/E
248K 125X Tritax Big Box Reit 151O – 2X 4.2 2.7
2780 1876K Halma‡ 2157 – 23 0.8 31.2
21O 11 Metal Tigerv 17N … … 6.6 170 106 Clarke T 126 … 3.4 9.0
110K 58X Tritax Eurobox 65 + Y … …
Automobiles & parts 1V
180Y
W Drumzv
74O EFG-Hermes Hldg 88O
Y …
…
… -7.5
… 5.7
126V 69 Metro Bank 125V – 2O … -0.8 353 191X Countryside Prop 229O + 14 … 16.7
401K 184K Tyman 261 + 2K 3.0 10.3
1582

125
893 Hill & Smith

73K Holders Techv

1266

75
+ 10

…
2.3 29.7

1.0 4.5
1916O 1478X Nat Aust Bk 1791W … 2.6 17.7 20K 6V Craven Housev 6O … … -0.1
344 122K EPE Special Oppsv 156 … … 8.7 1207 791K UNITE GRP 991 – 4 1.9 11.5
526N 89K Aston Martin Lag 168Y + 1Y … -1.0 3N O Image Scanv 1O … … 10.7
986O 722O FBD 957 … … 4.2 298O 207X NWG 298O … 3.5 11.7 3952 2756K CRH 3652K – 34K 2.3 15.1
1117K 519K Vistry Group 756 + 9 5.2 6.6
72K 67K Fiskev 67K … … 12.0 1699 1071 IMI 1443 + 5 1.5 19.7
Banking & finance 83K 59 Frenkel Toppingv 73K – 1K 1.8 42.7
340

599
170W Numisv‡

375W Onesavings Bank

215

508K +
+ 1

4
5.5

3.8
4.3

6.7
3528

4
1876 Derwent London

3 Dolphin Capitalv
2594

3Y
– 26

…
2.9 11.5

… -2.7
176V 102K Warehouse REIT 105O – 2W 5.8 2.5
… … Inspirit Energyv … … … …
761 458K Georgia Capital 758 + 17 … 2.0 887 343W Workspace Grp‡ 493O – 5W 3.5 -7.3
8740 6090 Judges Scientificv 7950 – 50 0.7 40.1
252O 133 abrdn 207K – V 7.0 4.5 1005 710 Gresham Housev 750 … 0.8 30.1 691 483 PayPoint 504 + 1 6.3 15.8 36K 22 First Propv 22V + V 2.0 … 755 645 Wynnstay Propsv 650 … 3.2 4.7
3266 1729 Admiral 2131 – 14 7.1 10.8 506 276 H&T Groupv 469 – 24 1.8 15.0 81 67K LPAv 76K … … …
73K 33K ADVFNv 37K … 4.0 6.5 14 N PCF Groupv Y + N … -0.4 52K 36K Fletcher Kingv 43K … … …

Consumer goods
52 33 Hansard Global 41 … 10.8 14.1 798O 733 Meggitt 798O + V … …
390 246V AJ Bell 370V + 5O 1.9 34.7 701W 506O Phoenix Gp 627V – 3V 7.6 -7.2 46X 27N Foxtons Group 38 – W 0.4 …
27445 20443N Aon Corpn 25453 – 123 0.5 62.1 1366 740O Hargreaves L 929O + 8V 4.1 16.5
170K 95K Melrose 149X – K 1.0 …
42V 21K Appreciate Groupv 41K … 2.4 18.0 194Y 143W Helios Underv 162K … 1.8 … 366 136N Provident 203O – W … 3.8 189Y 145 Galliford Try 167 + 1K 2.8 37.1
1030 645 Arbuthnot Bkgv 900 – 2K 1.7 19.9 6O 3 Agriterrav 3 – N … -0.3 351 217 Morgan Advanced 319K – 3 2.1 13.4
590X 442V HSBC 590X – K 2.7 12.9
1337 797K Prudential 1311K – 8K 0.9 21.3 617 252K Genuit Group 325K – 7 2.7 19.7
20 11 Argo Groupv 12K … … 5.7 847K 648 IG Group 790K + 3 5.4 8.0 560 227K Mpacv 250 – 17K … 6.5
35 25K Aireav 33 – K … 12.2
294O 180Y Ashmore Gp 267W + 1W 6.3 9.1 2Y Y Quantum Blockchainv 2N + N … … 774 335 Gleeson (MJ) 423 + 5 3.5 6.6
1254 500 Impaxv 759 + 2 1.3 25.0
1627V 1197K Aus New Z 1402V – 6O 5.7 10.9 952 704 Anglo-Eastern 776 – 10 … 7.1 745 222 MS Intlv 615 – 5 0.5 87.8
602Y 373O Aviva 441 – O 4.8 58.0 1975K 953V Intermed Cap 1303 – 33 4.3 7.4 179K 82 Quilter 98O + O 5.3 70.5 1204 630K Grafton Gp Uts 915X + 6Y 3.8 10.6
355 187K Animalcarev 187K – 2K 2.1 … 2665 1720 Oxford Inst 2285 … 0.7 31.2
290Y 193W Banco Santander 273X – K 2.3 6.5 142V 64W IPF 76O … 2.8 4.3
175W 57K Randall & Quilterv 74 … 5.2 … 312O 205W Grainger‡ 259V – 4 2.1 16.1
2745 986 Bank of Georgia 2635 + 35 … 8.1 173O 136 Intl Public Pntshp 154V – 3V 4.8 19.8 2131 1237 AB Foods 1831 – 22K 0.3 30.2 2737N 1078X Philips El nv 1334 – 1 5.3 23.7
217 135X Barclays 182 + 1V 1.6 4.4 2210 1518 Rathbone Grp 2120 + 25 3.4 16.4 741 409V Gr Portland 566 – 8 2.2 -7.0
542O 351K Investec 522 + 9K 2.4 13.1 127K 79 Bakkavor Group 109 + 5 6.0 11.3 36K 12O PipeHawkv 14N … … 30.3
W … Blue Star Capitalv V … … 3.2
320 253 Investment Co 280 … 0.3 10.0 1W K RiverFort Global Oppsv X … 2.7 2.1 39Y 17V Hammerson 26W … 1.5 -2.8
359 277 BP Marsh&Ptnrsv 324 … 0.7 8.9 588 432 Barr (AG) 535 – 7 … 19.0 101K 23V Pressure Techv 39K … … -3.2
24O 7Y Braveheart Invv 8K – N … 0.2 114V 52O IP Group 63X – 1V 1.5 2.3
1880 1370 Rockwood Strategic 1880 + 5 1.4 2.7 191 101 Harworth Gp 117 + 1 1.5 4.0
517 266 Brewin Dolphin 515 + 1 2.8 28.1 300 94 Jarvis Securitiesv 165 + 2K 8.1 11.8 4Y 1O Bidstack Groupv 1Y … … -1.5 5000 3342 Renishaw 3872 … 1.7 22.0
406K 173Y Bridgepoint 234O – 7W … 14.6 246 83O Jupiter Fund Mgmt 147W + N 11.6 5.4 2810 1905 S & U 2130 + 50 4.2 10.0 630 450 Heath (Samuel)v 450 … 1.5 9.3
119 24K Brand Architektsv 27 + K … -1.1 31W 20 Renoldv 24X … … 8.8
82 40 Cenkos Secsv 45K … 7.6 9.2
95W 55Y Just Group 82K – 1K … … 2N 1N Sancus Lending Grpv 1W … … -0.6 442 296K Helical PLC 352 – 6K 2.8 8.5
325 256K Chesnara 289K + K 7.6 16.0 3628 2975 Brit Amer Tob‡ 3070K – 59K 7.0 10.3 127X 66V Rolls-Royce 108N – N … 73.6
664 346K Lancashire Hdgs 640 – K 1.8 …
68 15K City of Lon Gpv 15K … … -1.0 60O 40O Schroder REIT 48W … 5.2 5.1 1065 905 Highcroft Invs 935 … 5.5 4.0 940 707K Britvic‡ 773 – 16 3.1 17.5
302X 204 Legal & Gen 259 + 1K 6.8 7.9 2W 1V Ross Gp 1N … … -3.0
530 343K City Lon Inv Gp 453 + 1 7.2 10.6
1408 894 Close Bros 1083 – 8 5.5 8.0 52598 502X Liberty Group 502X – 2X … … 694 358O Schroders 472X + 4 24.5 2.1 208V 148N Ibstock 167 + 1K 2.4 21.6 2317 1482 Burberry Grp‡ 2317 + 74 1.8 19.9 350 229K Rotork 331K + 2 2.6 36.0
317 211K CMC Markets 235K + 1K 13.0 7.2 1922 704 Liontrust 1210 – 6 3.8 15.1 1653K 920 St James Place 1252K + 1K 4.8 23.8 314 181 James Halsteadv 182 – 4K 4.1 19.3 243 143Y C&C Grp 164Y – Y … -9.8 198 137K SDI Groupv 158 – 5 … 26.0
865O 501X Commerzbk 865O + 24N … 44.3
55N 38 Livermore Invsv 45K … 7.7 2.9
1285X 675 Deutsche Bk 1048K + 5 … 12.2 705V 450W Stand Chart 701K … 1.2 15.7 940 591 Keller 754 + 3 4.7 8.7 9K 2V Capital Metalsv 2X … … -0.7
152 111 Senior 140V – 1O … 24.4
312N 172N Direct Line Ins 172N – 1W 12.9 7.1 55V 39 Lloyds Bkg Gp 49W … 5.2 6.8
15 7N Starvestv 7K … … -1.2 8803 3989Y Kingspan Group 5174K + 17W 0.6 20.3 160 92 Carr's Grp# 121K – 3 4.1 15.0
59K 57 Downing ONE VCT 57 … 4.3 7.7 36 28O LMS Capital 29K … 3.0 12.8 74W 48 Severfield‡ 63 – 1V 4.6 11.2
640 363 Character Grpv‡ 412K – 12K 2.1 7.3
16N 8N Six Hundredv 9K + N … 55.5

Investment companies 1697K 1070 Churchill Chinav

2687 1460K Coca Cola HBC

1315

1919 –
… …

44K 2.8 15.3

…
1820 1139Y SKF B 1449Y + 19N 3.9 10.7

270 175 Slingsby (HC)v 270 … … 4.4

12 month Price Yld Dis(-) 12 month Price Yld Dis(-) 880 595 Colefaxv 650 … … 11.5
High Low Company (p) +/- % or Pm High Low Company (p) +/- % or Pm 1706 1364 Smiths 1706 + 25 2.2 27.1
3820 2586 Cranswick‡ 3218 – 36 2.1 17.0
1435 946O Solid Statev 1270 – 25 1.2 30.6
1452 1042 3I Group 1431 – 14 3.4 -0.6 486W 370Y Impax Env Mkts 427K – K 0.7 -3.9 311 164 Devro 308 … 2.9 16.7
590 360 Somero Enterv 425 – 7K 3.7 9.4
368K 281K 3i Infrastructure 339 – 2 3.3 6.4 365 280 Invesco Asia Tr 360 – 9 4.0 -8.2 4020K 3343 Diageo 3667K – 99 1.9 28.2
104K 83V Abrdn Div I&G 89 + O 4.9 -23.8 187V 141 Invesco BondInc 170 + 1 7.0 1.1 3600 2458 Spectris 3244 – 61 2.1 10.6
1472 1066 Aberforth Smlr 1340 – 4 2.5 -12.6 168N 111 IPST Bal 136 + 5K … -13.0 1O W Distilv W … … 11.8
13900 9130 Spirax-Sarco 11735 + 15 1.0 36.9
1026 867O Alliance 994 – 2 2.4 -4.1 250V 200 IPST Gbl Eq 242 … 2.8 -9.3 1085 784 Evans (M.P.)v 850 … 3.2 7.2
506 352 Asia Dragon Tr 445 – 1 1.3 -11.0 102 93 IPST Managed 95 + K 0.9 -11.6 57K 35K Surface Trsfmsv 35K – 1 … …
248 183K Athelney Trust 205 … 4.5 -13.3 197 141 IPST UK Eq 172K – 1K 3.7 -8.8 98 66K Finsbury Foodv 90K … 2.6 10.7
589 373K IP UKSmallerCos 438 + 2 1.7 -14.7 3K 1K Tanfieldv 3N … … -9.0
209 169 AVI Global Trust 198O + W 1.6 -8.6 9345 5690 Games Workshop 9345 + 100 2.7 25.7
355 206N Baillie Gifford Ch Gr 298K – 3K 1.5 -6.9 800 650 JPM American 679 – 5 1.0 -3.9 485 345 Thorpe FWv 412K … 1.4 28.7
443 294K JPM Asia 385K – 1K 4.2 -8.0 1169 863 Glanbia 1017O … 2.2 25.1
126V 73K Baillie Gifford Eu Gr 95K + K 0.3 -13.8
464 246K JPM Chinese 392 – 5 5.5 -2.9 3O X TP Groupv 2V … … -3.3
879 657 Baillie Gifford Jpn Tr 775 – 6 1.1 -6.0 141 60O Greencore 73K + K … 14.7
185 131N Baillie Gifford SN 154 + V … -8.3 758 610N JPM Claverhs 698 – 10 4.7 -3.9 95K 48K Transense Techv 91K – 1 … 67.2
105 99 JPM Elect Mg C 103 … 0.2 -0.4 459 231 Headlam 326 … 2.3 14.0
209 139W Baillie Gifford UK Gr 174K – W 2.1 -12.6
1115N 886N JPM Elect Mg G 937K … 2.0 -6.0 3500 2824 Ultra Electrncs 3500 + 6 1.6 37.4
118 90Y Bankers 102W – K 2.1 -8.9 1250 500 Hilton Food 606 – 14 3.7 12.6
5232 3610 BH Macro 4450 – 25 … 5.5 111 88 JPM Elect Mg I 100 … 4.6 -5.3
54 24K Hornbyv 28K … … … 491 284K Vesuvius 414K + 11O 4.9 11.0
1048 722N Biotech Growth 930 – 14 … -9.3 125 91 JPM Em Mkts 116V – 1V 1.1 -5.5
492 339 JPM Euro disc 415 – 1 1.4 -15.5 2185 1486 Imperial Brands 2027 – 32 6.8 6.7 1530 1040 Videndum 1100 – 4 1.4 20.1
151 95 BlckRck Com Inc 143K – 2K 3.2 1.2
140 114 BlckRck Fro Inv 134 … 3.9 -7.1 148 108 JPM GEMI 135K – 1 3.8 -8.2
1O 1N J Lewis Hfordv 1W … … 8.5 323K 225 Volexv 259 + 2 1.3 14.1
612 396 BlckRck Grt Euro 505 – 5 1.3 -5.4 474 386 JPM GG&I 447 – 2 3.9 0.2
898 691N JPM Indian 828 – 6 … -16.2 10379N 7416V Kerry Gp 7900X + 105O 0.9 21.8 1897 1328K Weir 1819K – 17 0.6 30.7
206 164 BlckRck Inc & Gwth 193 … 3.6 -10.4
457 330 BlckRck Latin Am 374 – 4 5.3 -11.2 402 301 JPM Jap Sml Co 327K – K 4.4 -8.3
57 15K McBride 26V + 1W … -4.6 5250 1464 XP Power‡ 2445 + 45 3.7 13.0
215 183N BlckRck Sustain American Inc198 – 5 3.8 -4.8 558 408K JPM Japan# 467 + 2 1.2 -7.0
1878Y 1162 BlckRck Smlr 1400 … 2.4 -13.4 1235 735 JPM Mid Cap 937 – 1 3.0 -12.0 310 200 Mulberry Groupv 245 … … 10.1 182K 111N Zytronicv 135 … … 45.0
108 85N JPM Multi-Ass Grw & Inc95 … 4.5 -2.5
852 477Y BlckRck Throgmorton 633 + 1 1.7 -2.2 1480 1055 Nicholsv 1060 – 30 1.7 …
704N 55V JPMorgan Emerg E, ME & Africa Sec Plc96K … 58.3 106.8
804Y
18N
524 BlckRck Wld Min
6 Blue Plan Int Fn#
744
8K
+
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4 6.5 -0.5
… -16.6
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255X
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174 Keystone IT
289
213 +
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2.2
…
-10.4
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327 165 Norcros 211 + 1 3.8 6.6 Health
333 256 BMO Cap&Inc 310 – 3 3.9 -0.6 388Y 302K Origin Entsv‡ 380V … 2.4 12.0
829 649 Law Debenture 807 – 3 4.1 1.9
124V 68K BMO Comm Prop 89 – O 3.3 -35.7
143N 99 Lowland 122 – 3 4.8 -9.0 68 50 Pittardsv 52 … 0.9 24.5 1475 1049 Abcamv 1226 + 123 … …
164O 122 BMO Glbl Smaller 150W – W 1.5 -10.8
214 156O Majedie 194 … 4.7 -22.1
520 375K BMO Priv Eq Ord 455 + 9 3.3 -36.7 710 300 Portmeirionv 365 … 3.5 15.5 316 234K AdvancedMedicalv 250 + 3K 0.6 39.3
366 272V M Currie Port 317 … 1.4 -2.1
101 66W BMO Real Estate 68W – V 3.3 -43.8
120 90 Marwyn Val In 95 … 5.1 -46.3 1 X Provexisv O … … 0.3 30K 5 Allergy Therapv# 6N + 1N … -7.3
94 71 BMO UK HIT 85 … 6.2 -9.4
251K 158N Mercantile IT 208 … 3.1 -13.1 33 22K STM Groupv 27K – 1K 5.0 10.5
93 79 BMO UK HIT B 85K … … -8.8 813V 485N Land Sec 708V + 2K 4.8 … 218K 182O PZ Cussons 215 – 3 2.8 24.8 156 24 Anglev 27V – 1K … -3.7
591 480 Merchants 586 – 3 5.0 0.3
376 294 BMO UK HIT UNIT 330 … 4.6 -12.0 4530K 3312O Sun Life Can 3898Y – 13O 3.4 9.9
820 639O Mid Wynd 720 – 11 1.4 0.6 105 70 Life Science Reit 70 – V … … 200K 98K REA 104 … … -8.2 640 370 Anpariov 380 – 2K 2.1 19.9
1335 1072K Brown Advsr US Smlr1220 + 15 … -15.4
1196 875 Monks Inv Tst 991 – 11 0.2 -10.4 10 3X Tavistock Invv 8K … 0.5 1.4
1120 888 Brunner 1040 – 25 1.9 -10.6 25 12 Lon & Assoc 17K – K … -2.3 3 1 Real Gd Fdv 1W … … 0.1 11802 8282 AstraZeneca 11578 – 22 1.7 …
185Y 104V Montanaro Eur Sml 138K – W 0.6 -9.7 2280 901 TBC Bank Group 2170 – 30 1.6 6.3
4065 3015 Caledonia Inv 3540 – 30 4.8 -27.8
904 715 Murray Income Trust 860 … 4.1 -8.1 280W 161O London Metric Prop 189W – 3Y 4.6 4.0 600 235 Tandemv 292K + 2K 3.0 4.1 46 29 Circassia Groupv 34 … … 34.0
187V 141 Invesco BondInc 170 + 1 7.0 1.1 16O 7 Ternv 8K + N … 6.3
1374 1090 Murray Int 1290 – 4 4.3 -3.9
427 363N City of Lon IT 422 – 2 5.0 1.2 1245 507 Treatt 642 – 11 0.9 25.7 248K 166O Convatec 244K – 3W 1.6 57.1
89W 70O Nb Global Floating 73V – W 7.0 -9.3 27 15N Time Financev 19K – N … 11.8 59 37 Macau Prop Op 51O + N … -6.7
123K 90 Crystal Amber Fd 94 … 22.9 -28.5 4K 1O Ukrproduct Gpv 3N … … -2.2
368 286N Pacific Assets 355 – 5 0.5 -7.6 85 25W Creighton 37K … 3.0 7.2
555 452O Dunedin Entp 507K + 2K 8.9 -8.4 1230 900 Volverev 1100 – 50 … … 713O 225W Marshalls 314K … 2.8 11.4
335 229V Pantheon Int 265K – 1 … -43.2
668O 537 Edinburgh IT 669 – 3 3.9 -7.2 65K 4K Unbound Groupv 4K + W … … 4290 2520 Dechra Pharma 2850 – 70 1.4 42.5
3038V 2295 Pershing Sq 2970 – 30 0.9 -32.2 46 23 WH Irelandv 25 … … 14.0 135 74 Michelmershv 93 … 3.9 14.8
246X 154K Edin Wwide 179 – 1V … -13.6 4876K 4010 Unilever (NV) 4675 – 55 3.0 24.0
506 465K Personal Assets 479 – 1K 1.4 1.1 33K 27 Walker Crips Grp‡ 28 … 2.6 80.0 1W O Deltex Medicalv 1N … … -7.6
325 268 EP Global Opp 322 – 6 1.4 -9.3 2480 1392 Morgan Sindall 1622 – 10 4.3 7.9
2410 1697K Polar Cap Tech 1822 – 30 … -10.6 4227 3328 Unilever 4095 – 70K 3.5 21.0
126 74K European Assets 93X + K 8.9 -7.0 4858X 3079N Wells Fargo 3538Y – 21W 1.6 9.6 40 15W e-Therapeuticsv 16W + … …
202 143V Prem Glb & Inf 158K + 1 3.9 -12.4 N
14500 11100 Mountview 11900 … 3.5 14.8
770 608 European Opp Tr 748 – 1 0.3 -14.0 148K 112K Renewables Inf 129V – O 5.1 -3.4 1406V 1094O Westpac 1347N – 6V 3.5 18.2 1200 317 Victoriav 550 – 2 … …
230 82K Eco Animal Hlthv 92K … 1.0 11.2
942 767V F&C Investment Tr932 – 3 1.4 -1.9 2680 1928 RIT Cap Ptnr 2025 – 10 … -17.0 100 68N NewRiver REIT 90 + 2Y 3.3 -3.1
30 21K Worsley Investors Ltd 28 + X … 87.8
522K 406V Fidlty Asian Val 518 – 4 2.7 -3.6
Engineering
750 506 Riverstone 614 – 2 … -52.9 75O 30 EKF Diagnosticsv 49 + W 2.0 13.8
309K 181Y Fidelity China Sp 282K – 5 2.0 -3.8 40830V 34497W Zurich Fincl 38941 – 53 4.1 15.2 297 195 Palace Capital 215 + 3 5.1 10.2
499X 366K Schroder TotRt 428 – 1 2.0 -5.3 56K 24X Futura Medicalv 51K – … …
O
384N 256K Fidlty Euro Val 338K + 3K 2.2 -8.0 582 446 Schrd Asia Pac 526 – 4 2.1 -10.4 310 255 Panther Securitiesv 305 – 10 3.9 2.7
194
310X
143 Fidlty Jap Tru
232 Fidlty Spec Val
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281K –
… … -9.2
1K 2.7 -7.4
319K
216
254K Schrod Inc Gwth
185Y Schrod Jap Gwth
311
204
– 5
…
4.4
2.1
0.3
-12.3
Construction & 2608 1138K Persimmon 1460 + 32K 16.1 5.9 … … Ass Br Eng# 15 … … -3.5
4192 2234 Genus 3054 – 52 1.0 54.3

885
120V
731O Fins Gwth & Inc
85X GCP Infrastructure
864
101
–
–
8 2.0 -5.1
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660 454 Schrod UKMid 568 – 2 2.6 -13.3 property 7X 2N Pires Investmentsv 2O … … -6.1 1381 739 Avon Rubber 1081 + 15 2.7 …
1828K 1296 GSK

Y W Gunsyndv
1410

W
– 27O 5.6 16.2

… … 4.1
30Y 14O Schroder UK PP Tr 15N – N … -49.9
367K 268K Babcock 304V + 1K … -1.8
814 552X Gen Emer Mkts 626W – 3N 1.9 -12.8 536K 434 Scot American 515 – 3 2.8 0.9 112K 45 Plaza Cent 45 … … -0.1
230 133 Alumascv 155K – K 6.1 7.8 327N 246V Haleon 317Y – 9N … …
55 28K Gldn Prosp Prc Mtl 37O … … -8.9 1127K 670K Scot Mtge 768O – 10W 0.4 -7.9 867 572V BAE Sys 837W – 1 2.8 15.3
151X 98X Primary Hlth‡ 112X – 1W 5.5 11.5
168K 130W Greencoat UK Wind 152Y + N 5.9 -1.8 242 207 Secs Tst Scot 223 – 3 2.7 0.9 16 10N Aseana Props 11N … … -5.6 2122 1190K Hikma Pharms 1711 + 6 2.2 12.8
2250 1600 Braime A N/Vv 2150 … 0.5 24.2
212 166 Hansa Investment 180 … 1.0 -42.1 104V 75K Sequoia Eco 87V – X 6.8 -6.5 40K 28N Real Estate Invsv‡ 29 … 12.9 3.8
71O 48X Assura Grp 55N – 1O 5.2 11.0 466 134K Hutchmed Chinav 282 + 5N … …
212 168 Hansa Inv Co 'A' 177 … 1.0 -43.1 255O 195V Temple Bar 233K … 3.5 -7.1 2300 1480 Braime Groupv 1750 … 0.6 19.7
2835 1986 Hbrvest Glbl Pt Eq 2240 – 5 … -43.4 179K 130 Tplton Emg Mkt 156W – 1 2.9 -12.3 2W 1W Aukett Swankev 2N – V … -3.2 646V 372K Redrow 529 + 8K 4.6 6.5
602K 500 Caffyns 550 … … 7.9 … … Immunodiag Sysv 378 … 0.5 …
161Y 120K Hend Euro Foc 152 … 2.1 -13.2 W V Tiger Royal and Investv V … … 25.0 356K 215K Balfour Beatty 356K + 3K 1.2 16.9 1398 794 Safestore 1006 + 3 2.0 5.7 7O 1K ImmuPharmav 2V – K … -0.6
185 137N Hend High Inc 170 – 2K 6.2 -0.4 491 263 TR Property 326K – 8 4.6 -8.4 5Y 3 Cap XX Ldv 4K … … -9.7
684O 323W Barratt Devs 461K + 3O 6.3 7.2
1144 674N Hend Smlr 868 + 3 2.6 -10.7 78 64W Troy Inc&Gth 71 – W 2.0 -2.4 1440 763K Savills 933K + 21 2.4 9.3 7025 1060 Indivior 1954 – 4 … …
368 279 Castings 358 + 6 4.2 17.3
2120 1540 Herald 1844 – 8 … -14.5 260 144 Utilico Ord 162 + 2 3.4 -39.9 3038 1586K Bellway 2167 + 10 5.4 6.5
7N 5X Secure Propertyv 5X … … 14.8 7O 3W Chamberlinv 3K … … -0.2 118 54K Inspiration Healthv 56 – K 1.0 8.6
457K 310 HgCapital Trust 376 – 8 1.6 -14.7 227K 196K Utilico Emerging Mkt 214 – 1 3.4 -13.9 4486 3165 Berkeley 4362 + 25 0.2 11.3
184Y 138Y HICL Infra 167K – K 5.0 2.1 772 500 Vietnam Ent Inv 627 + 6 … -10.5 1389 694 Segro 832V – 17O 2.7 2.4 51K 14 Checkitv 23 … … -2.8 60V 24K IXICOv 25K … … 8.1
1573 987 Big Yellow Group‡ 1173 – 19 2.8 7.7
272 216 Highbridge Tactical 243 … … -9.4 245K 199O Witan 225K – 1 2.5 -8.1
1260 928 ICG Ent Tr 1178 – 14 1.1 -35.8 3500 2820 Ww Health 3180 – 35 0.7 -7.7 316 181K Billington Hldgsv 310 – 10 1.3 25.2 45W 27O SIG 33X – W … … 560 391 Cohortv‡ 506 + 4 2.1 44.9 501K 315W Mediclinic Int 497O + W … 31.1
the times | Thursday January 19 2023 47

Equity prices Business

12 month Price 12 month Price 12 month Price 12 month Price 12 month Price 12 month Price
High Low Company (p) +/- Yld% P/E High Low Company (p) +/- Yld% P/E High Low Company (p) +/- Yld% P/E High Low Company (p) +/- Yld% P/E High Low Company (p) +/- Yld% P/E High Low Company (p) +/- Yld% P/E

3O 1K N4 Pharmav 2 – V … -2.4 147K 49 Catalyst Mediav 147K + 2K … … 7912X 68V DRD Gold 68V – X 5.5 8.0 2Y Y Sound Energyv 1Y + N … 11.8 862 440 Robert Walters 502 + 9 3.2 11.4 77K 38 Intercedev 56K … … 19.4

88.42 72.84 Novartis CHF 84.74 – 0.87 3.2 9.5 X V Catenaev V … … -0.3 1X K ECR Mineralsv Y … … -5.4 V … Sunrise Resourcesv … … … … 20 11K Roebuck Food Grpv 13K + K … 2.0 200 112W Iomartv‡ 113O – 3V 6.2 12.5

18O 2N Omega Diagsv 3N – K … -1.2 N … Tertiary Mineralsv V … … -4.3 239 92 RPS Group 222 … 0.1 … 57V 28V IQEv 45O – K … …
… … Daily Mail‡ 270 – 2K 8.9 10.3 25N 7W Edenville Energyv 7O … … -0.5
22K 4O Ovoca Biov 7 – V … -1.9 1159 812 RS Group 925 + 16 2.7 23.4 175 113 K3 Business Tchv 115 … … -1.9
195 100 DCD Mediav# 100 – 30 … 5.0 11O X Empyrean Energyv Y … … -6.2 Y N Thor Miningv N … … -1.8
1026 297 Oxford Biomedica 458 + 4 … 20.5 2319Y 1069W LG Electronics‡ 1420N + 129 … 3.7
71K 43 Ebiquityv 57N … … … 5332W 3944O Total Eng SE 5218X + 61K 4.3 11.9 42K 17 RTC Groupv 18K … … …
2090 1461 Endeavour Mining1926 – 4 2.4 28.6
5Y 2 Physiomicsv 3O … … … K V Location Sciencesv V … … -2.0
1466 829 Euromoney In Inv 1460 + 2 0.7 … N V Tower Resourcesv V … … -3.5 576K 264W RWS Hldgsv 402 + K 2.3 36.8
36K 19V EnQuest 23O + O … 1.5 530W 256N Micro Focus Intl 530V + W 3.3 -5.6
5V 3N Proteome Sciesv 4N + N … …
3462 1145 Future 1530 + 20 0.1 26.3 62V 34Y Tullow Oil 39 … … 3.9 450 350 Science Groupv 390 + 5 1.0 17.9
28K 3O Eurasia Miningv 3O – N … … 73K 45 MTI Wirelessv 51 … 3.5 16.9
6808 5450 Reckitt Benck 5834 – 148 2.9 …
V … UK Oil & Gasv … … … -2.0 188N 121V Serco Gp 151X – 1 1.4 6.2
1425 930 GlobalDatav 1362K – 2K 1.3 67.4
67 31W RUA Life Sciencesv 48 … … -4.6 3K Y Europa Oil&Gasv 1N … … 11.3 55O 17 Nanoco Gp 37X + 3 … …
460 135 URU Metalsv# 150 … … 4.8 57K 27K Smiths News‡ 55 + V 0.9 5.3
115 46O Hyve Group 71 – 3K … … 104K 52 Netcallv‡ 104K + 2 0.3 …
295 70 Sareum Hldgsv 105 + 10 … … 310K 97K Ferrexpo 172K – 1 8.3 1.3
1Y V Vast Resv V … … … 4150 2452 Smurfit Kappa 3465 – 3 2.8 15.8
267 46K IG Design Grpv 145 – 3 5.9 21.2 62K 43 Northamberv‡ 43 … 2.3 …
1337 984K Smith & Neph 1133K – 6K 2.4 25.7 967W 622W Fresnillo 941O + 3O 2.5 22.3
5K 3O Victoria Oil&Gasv# 3O … … -1.8 64W 33N Staffline Gpv 34Y + V … 26.8
660 495 Informa 660 + 2W … … 45K 10N Online Blockchainv 21Y – 3O … …
249K 206 Spire Hcare 239 – 1 … … … … G3 Exploration# 28 … … -2.6
491 317K SThree 399K + 1K 2.0 12.9
123X 55V ITV 77K – 1K … 8.3 4O 2V W Resourcesv# 2X … … -0.3 117K 76K Oxford Metricsv‡ 102 – 3 1.7 44.3
209 12N Synairgenv 13N – V … -0.5
41K 25 Galantas Goldv 29K + K … -5.0 137K 90 Synecticsv 122K … … …
8V 2V Westmount Engyv 2O … … -0.6 9 6 Parityv 6K … … -9.4
X N Tissue Regenixv X … … -8.5 11K 7N Jaywingv 8 … … …
8V 3N GCM Resourcesv 4X … … -3.8 34K 21X Thruvision Groupv 22 … … -8.0
251X 104K Wood Grp (J) 148N – 5V … -6.1 40 29 Pennant Intlv 30K … … …
47K 27O Totallyv 35N – K 1.4 55.9 12N 2K Live Company Gpv 2O … … -0.5
72Y 28K Gem Diamonds 33 … 5.5 3.4 100K 39 Tribalv 51K – 1 2.3 16.0 730K 390O Playtech 535 + K … 5.6
455 292 Tristelv‡ 370 – 5 1.7 76.2 … … Mediazestv … … … -5.8 8 1X Woodboisv 1X … … 6.2
32Y 12X Getechv 12Y – N … -3.0 102K 49 Vianetv 74K … … … 394V 250V QinetiQ‡ 344V … 3.2 26.8
34N 10V ValiRxv 11 – K … … 47K 32 Merit Grpv 32 … … -9.5 7 1O Xtract Resourcesv 1O … … -3.1
576K 383 Glencore 576K + 23X 1.5 21.1 980 660 Vp 696 + 1 3.5 17.1 195 20K RM 63 + 2 7.4 12.6
74 25 Miradav 25 … … -1.1 7X 4 Zephyr Energyv 6 – N … -7.7

Industrials 3W 1 Westminsterv 2 … … -2.4 817V 595K Sage Gp‡ 775O + 15W 2.2 29.7
Y N Global Petrolv N … … -4.3
70 42 Mission Groupv 54 – 1K 4.3 9.1
Professional &
10W 5N Seeing Machinesv 6O … … …
124340 1004O Gold Fields 1004O – 4 2.5 15.4

175 54W Accsys Techv 75 + 6W … …

225K 167 Moneysupermarket 214O + 2V 5.4 21.9
12K 6O Goldplatv# 10N + V … 7.7
support services Retailing 139 74 Shearwater Grpv 95 – 2K … 58.8
1948 1229Y News Corp A 1540Y – 14 0.9 25.1 85 31K Smartspace S'warev 44K + 3 … -4.6
6106X 3453O BASF 4643Y + 25N 5.9 9.1
10W 3 Goldstone Resv 3O … … …
1971 1256V News Corp B 1571Y – 11N 0.9 25.6 107 37Y AO World 67N + K … … 1786 1084 Softcat 1235 – 14 1.6 24.2
6021N 4215N Bayer DM50 4919N – 63O 3.4 57.4 4505 2240 4imprint Grp 4505 – 25 0.2 76.0
16Y 7N Greatld Gldv 8N – V … … 286V 215W Spirent Comms 282W + W 1.6 26.3
1458 755 Next 15 Commsv 1032 – 4 0.6 … 610V 295K B&M European‡ 441O – 1 3.9 10.2
320 46K Biome Techv 74 – K … -2.4
120K 70 Griffin Miningv 82V – N … 9.0 555 457 Andrews Sykesv 505 … 4.6 16.1 54 24O SRT Marinev 42O … … …
995V 599 Pearson 931K + 15V 2.1 44.5 41W 20N Brown (N)v 30 – 1W … 8.8
4K 1Y Byotrolv 2W … … …
5828 3359 Ashtead‡ 5120 + 66 0.8 24.9 918 469O Tele. Ericsson 498V + 2N 3.6 9.0
107 61 Photo-Me 107 + 5 … 18.6 310 193W Gulf Keystone 200 + 1K 4.1 12.5 95 40W Card Factory 92V + 1K … …
7 6N Camb Gbl Timberv 6O … … -9.0
34K 1K Asimilar Groupv 2O – W … 0.1 90 70 Touchstarv 80 … … …
4V 2 Primorus Invv 2O + V … 5.0 25Y 5X Harland & Wolff Gpv 20K + 4N … 1.6 2122 1549 CVS Groupv 1926 + 12 0.3 53.9
81W 50Y Coats Grp 70V + 1Y 2.0 15.6
160 58 AssetCov 74K – K … 0.4 1055 825 Tracsisv 925 – 15 … …
8592 5908 Croda 7072 – 38 1.3 30.8 175K 108K Quarto 120 … … 6.6 147V 51K Hochschild 82N + W 3.8 7.9 262 104O DFS Furn 162O + 1V 4.6 8.6
52 36 Avisenv 51 … … … 23 12N Trakm8v 17 + 2K … …
1475 675 Cropper (James)v 675 + 35 … 20.5 275K 67 Reach 87 – 1V 8.0 96.6 173 85 Horizonte Minrlsv 133K + K … … 1434 670K Dunelm 1074 + 39 3.2 14.4
148 100 Begbies Traynorv 147 – 1 2.0 … 165 81 Triad Grp 100 + 5 2.0 10.9
146K 87X Elementis 120K … … … 2V O REACT Grpv 1V … … 16.7 356K 187K Hunting PLC 342K + 9 1.7 -8.7 949K 562K Frasers Group 755 – 8K … 33.5
995 222K Wandiscov 995 – 3 … …
245 155 Blancco Techv 177 … … 63.4
36 13K Hardidev 13K … … -2.6 2449 2071 Relx 2399 – 1 1.9 31.6 106K 13W IGas Energyv 20W – 2Y … -1.0 2806 1673 Greggs 2636 + 56 0.5 23.0
1140 560 Water Intelv 610 – 20 … 33.5
3163 2575 Bunzl 2954 – 17 1.8 22.4
2360 1721 Johnson Math‡ 2197 – 2 3.1 27.7 725K 445W Rightmove 555 + 2 0.8 31.4 364 124X Halfords‡ 180 – K 2.7 6.0
K … Independ Resv … … … -0.1 273 144K Xaar 173W + W … …
37K 20V Capita 27W … … 2.0
1950K 1309 Mondi 1501 + 1K 3.4 11.4 878V 480Y Howden Join 703V + 10W 1.9 13.2
155 67K SpaceandPeoplev 67K … … … 317 228 Indus Gasv 264 … … 27.3 12N N Yourgenev W … … -0.2
90 75 Robinsonv 90 … 6.1 … 51K 39K CEPSv 39K … … -8.9
919 647 Inchcape 919 + 4K 1.4 31.0 190 96W Zoo Digitalv 166 + 7 … …
360 247 STV Group 271K + 2K 3.5 6.6 1N N Ironveldv N … … -4.4
396 241O Smith (DS)‡ 350W – 2V 3.4 19.9 130 97K Christie Groupv 120 … … 51.0
6K 1X IQ-AI 3 … … -8.8
435 122K System1 Groupv 173 + 13 … 8.2 406V 79Y ITM Powerv 88V – 3W … …
733O 428N Swire Pacific 723O – 3 2.1 …
3619O 2317W 21st Cent Fox Inc A 2557N – 6W 1.3 14.0 17K 10 Jubilee Metalsv 11O + V … 9.8
1969K 1546 Compass 1922K – 11 0.7 46.7
197Y 89V JD Sports 156 – 2K 0.1 18.8 Telecoms
24 10N Symph Environv 12 … … … 370 97 CPPGroupv 110 … 27.2 … 341 203 Kingfisher 267 – 1X 4.5 6.7
3294O 2185O 21st Cent Fox Inc B 2402N – 8Y 1.4 13.1 3N 1O Karel Diamd Resv 2 … … -8.3
391 88 Synthomer 146W – 3Y 11.8 3.0 91K 53K Croma Securityv 59K … 3.3 8.5 225 100 AdEPT Technologyv 125 + 5 … …
101 61K Lookers 84K + 2 … 5.4
… … Vela Techv … … … 6.0
2648O 2079O Takeda Pharm 2617V + 28N 4.4 14.6 1N K KEFI Gold and Copperv O … … -3.1 6486 4030 DCC 4455 – 45 3.5 14.7 170Y 107O Airtel Africa 116X – 1K 2.7 10.4
233 93V Marks Spencer 151 + V … …
334 216 Wilmington 334 + 2 1.8 21.2
7K 4V Velocysv 4N … … -5.3 526 380K Kenmare Res 463 + 27K 2.3 5.4 160O 73 De La Rue 77W + 1Y … 10.1 200Y 112 BT Group‡ 128 – 4V … 12.4
19V 6 Mothercarev 10K + O … -6.5
2334 1545 Victrex 1794 + 5 3.3 21.3 1224 725O WPP 917V – 7V 2.8 17.4
38W 5O Lamprell# 8Y … … -0.7 2980 2158 Diploma 2856 + 8 1.4 51.0 112W 53K Currys plc‡ 66O + 6O … 3.1
607 75K Naked Winesv 125O – 6K … …
651 500 Wynnstay Groupv 570 + 10 2.6 13.0 123K 77K Zinc Mediav 87K – 1 … -5.5 1624 1012 Gamma Commsv 1172 … 1.0 21.2
30O 11Y Landore Resv 13W – W … -3.0 966 597 Discoverie 767 – 7 1.3 62.8 7672 4383 Next 6544 – 72 … 12.4
400 233 Zotefoams 349K – 10K 1.8 21.0 157O 100N Helios Towers 115K – K … …
50N 23K Driver Groupv 25K … 5.8 12.1
Natural resources
X W Lansdowne O&Gv W … … … 1560 393 Ocado Gp 761O + 28O … …
4067K 1103K Just Eat T'away 2215K + 86K … -4.7

Leisure
21 14 Leeds Groupv 14 … … -2.2 354 175V Essentra 213 + K 2.4 23.9 28O 17K Pendragon 19K … … 6.0
K … Mobile Streamsv … … … -1.7
6W 1Y Lexington Goldv 5W – V … … 3200 2285 Experian‡ 3049 + 88 1.1 39.1 434W 257O Pets at Home 334K … 2.3 13.6
1 W ADM Energyv X … … … 2N X Mobile Tornadov 1O … … …
20K 2N MC Miningv 19K … … -4.0 12800 8680 Ferguson‡ 11295 – 55 1.5 16.6 320 72Y Saga 149 – N … …
285V 82 888 Hldgs 95K + 2N 11.5 7.0 5N … Advance Energyv# V … … -0.1 2500 1322 Telecom Plus 2040 + 5 2.7 52.3
1X O Metals Explornv 1K … … 2.6 250 215 FIH Groupv 250 + 8 … … 299 169Y Sainsbury J 242K – 1O 4.3 20.3
850 542 Accesso Techv 814 – 10 … 21.4 139K 83X Vodafone Gp‡ 90X – 1W 8.5 …
43N 17O AFC Energyv 22O + 1K … …
148 53K Gattacav 68K … 2.1 … 1708K 1132K Smith WH‡ 1570 – 47 … …
612 370 Best of the Bestv 410 … 1.2 4.5 X V Nostra Terrav N … … -1.5
… … Afentra PLC … … … …
1588V 501W Carnival 760 – 12V … -1.2
N … Alba Mineral Resv V … … -2.6
8V 2 Nostrum O&G 2Y … … …
7X 5N Grafeniav 7X + K … -5.6 30O 14N Sosandarv 20O … … …
Transport
610 317 Hargeaves Servv 444 + 12K 1.6 4.6 2K 1N Stanley Gbbnsv 1K … … -1.6
140 98K Celticv 111K … … 11.0 … … Oil Search 218Y – 5W 0.1 60.3
1 W Alien Metalsv K … … …
44W 1Y Cineworld 3K … … -0.1 1198 608K Homeserve 1198 + 1 2.1 … 168K 103 Studio Retail# 115 – 2K … 2.4 340 220 Braemar Ship 317K – 1K 1.5 10.5
121K 69N Alumina 96V + 2O 4.8 20.0 N V Oilexv# V … … -3.7
436O 215V Domino's Pizza 301K – W 4.0 15.3 735 413 Impellam Grpv‡ 670 … … 36.6 156 69K Ted Baker 109O … … … 727W 285 easyJet 440N + 4W … -2.7
1N X Aminex 1 … … -6.0 W … Oriole Resourcesv V … … -1.7
1728 1075K Entain 1445K – 1K … 32.3 39N 4 Ince Gv# 5V + V … 2.9 303W 199V Tesco 247O … 3.6 12.6 14W 4K Esken Limited 5N … … -0.2
3Y X Amur Mins Corpv O – V … … 1 K Ormonde Miningv Y … … -3.6
12465 7614 Flutter Ent 12130 – 110 … … 64V 38 Topps Tiles‡ 49 + 1V … 8.8 139K 88K FirstGroup 108X + Y … 25.8
5424 3619 Intertek 4356 – 23 2.4 24.4
1234066 6646K Anglo Amer Plat 6646K + 63 7.3 4.7 17V 5O Orosur Miningv 8Y … … … 510 251 Fisher (James) 396K + 1K … -7.1
36W 22 Gaming Realmsv 26K – X … … 299 115W IWG 185N – 1O … -7.0
290 290 Heavitreev 290 … … 17.4 4170K 2547K Ang Am 3672K + 83K 4.8 7.2 24 16 Pan African Resv 17Y … 4.6 5.8
162 77 Johnson Srvcev 101W + 3Y … 63.3 Technology 178N 93X Intl Cons Air 161 + 4 … -3.5

120K 64 Anglo Asian Mngv 106K + K 5.4 9.2 149K 40W Pantheon Resv 47X + 1 … … 526V 183V Int Distrib Serv 221W – 2 4.5 2.5
200 140 Heavitree Av 140 … … 8.4
138 99 Journeov 125K + 4 … 28.1
152K 62K Access Intellv 73K … … … 389 262N Irish Cont Uts 368 … … …
145 145 Hermes Pacificv 145 … … … 1799K 991K Antofagasta 1799K + 58 2.9 18.6 79 36 Parkmead Grpv 52W – O … -4.5
109K 56K Kier Gp 66 + 1W … 6.4
1423 667O Jet2v‡ 1075 + 27 … -5.7
5580 4193 Intercont Htls 5580 + 120 … 52.2 5N 2K Arc Mineralsv 3O … … 2.7 X W Pathfinder Minsv W … … -3.1 158K 81K Aferian plcv 100 – K 2.9 17.9
1400 1080 Latham (J)v‡ 1275 … 1.6 6.9
284V 127 Natl Express 139Y … … -8.3
1N Y Minoan Gpv 1 … … -7.0 4O 2K Ariana Resv 3V … … 4.2 198 137 Alfa Financial 175 + 5 0.5 27.3
134 71 Petra Diamonds 91K – 1 … 3.0 1080 695 Lok'n Storev 990 + 20 1.5 30.0 1050 820 Ocean Wilson 930 – 10 8.6 4.7
266O 102 Mitch & Butlers 167K + Y … … O W Arkle Resourcesv K … … -1.8 22K 8N Allied Minds 13O + 3V … -1.2
4 1N Petrel Resourcesv 1N … … -6.8 3850 2300 Lon Securityv 3050 + 200 2.6 16.8 106V 75W Stagecoach 104X … … 14.7
312 92K On The Beach 185 + 8 … -9.7 5N 1W Armadale Capv 1X – V … … 556 290 Aptitude Software 323 + 2 1.6 36.2
5W 1X Petro Matadv 4Y … … … 440 220 LSL Prop Services 269 + 2 … 7.4 24K 19K Sutton Harbourv 22 … … …
1600 1100 PPHE Hotels 1125 – 5 … -9.1 721 465 Avast 716K – 3K 1.6 28.5
2Y Y Asiamet Rsrcsv 1K … … …
157Y 70 Petrofac 82X – 4N … -2.1 135 86 Macfarlane 105 – 2K 2.5 12.1 424 282 Wincanton 303 – 6K 3.4 8.2
168 52W Rank Grp 86 + 2V … 11.6 3220 1924 Aveva Gp 3219 … 1.2 …
448 188 Atalaya Minev 371 + 1 7.8 4.6 4867 1357K Wizz Air Hldgs 2712 – 65 … -6.1
3K N Petroneft Resv K … … -1.5 385 147K Maintel Hldgsv 147K + 2K … 4.5
106W 26X Restaurant Gp 36W – 1W … -6.8 215 126K Bangov 215 + 6 … …
N … Baron Oilv V … … …
17Y Y Petropavlovsk# 1V – V … 1.6 3300 8N Malvern Intlv 14K + N … …
Utilities
39K 21K Rotalav 39K + K … … 79 21 BATM Adv Coms 29Y … 2.4 12.5
17K 3K Beowulf Miningv 4 … … …
40 15K Sportechv 20 … … … 7K 3K Phoenix Globalv 6K + N … -1.6 224 182 Mears Group 205 … 1.2 17.8
34 11K Berkeley Res 18N + O … -7.7
V … Bezant Resv … … … -1.5
303V 184O SSP Group 257Y + 3 … -5.0 9 1X Plexus Holdingsv 1O … … -0.4 608 278K Menzies (John) 607 – 1 … 48.0
27K 11K Blackbirdv 13 – N … … 97O 67N Centrica 97O + X … 9.8
3019 2034 BHP Group 2804K + 29 … 12.2
6N 3N Tastyv 3K … … 4.7 1247 92 Polymetal Intl 350 + 26 27.8 … 81K 46W Mitie Gp‡ 81K – 1X … 40.8
1O O CloudCoCo Groupv O … … -2.0 258 178 ContourGlobal 251 + K 5.1 28.3
6Y K Border & Sthn Petv 2O … … … 13O 3O MobilityOnev 9N + O … 6.8
305 65 Tintrav 170 – 7K … -3.0 740 499 Porvair 622 + 8 0.8 23.9 2978 1810 Computacenter 2018 – 24 2.7 12.5 831K 473W Drax Group 645 – 4K 2.7 47.7
294V 105W TUI 190W + 6Y … -1.9 50O 14O Bougainville 17O – 1W … … 41 25 Newmark Secv 35K + 1 … -8.8
16 3W Prospex Energyv 14K + K … … 96 65K Concurrent Techv 79 – K 3.2 18.7 620 484 Jersey Electricity 499 … 3.3 9.4
3X 1V Webis Holdingsv 1Y … … … 4O 1K BowLevenv 1K … … -1.9 8 3K Norm Broadbentv 3K … … -6.6
19 8K Proton Motor Power Sv 12 – W … -2.2 14K 8K Corerov 8K … … … 1245K 858W Natl Grid 1032K – 5 4.7 24.0
931K 389O Wetherspoon JD 473W + 1O … -4.4 501O 348V BP 486V + 1K 3.2 17.6 64K 43K Northern Bearv 43K … … 4.4
2385 1340 Cranewarev 1920 + 30 1.4 87.5 11N 5X OPG Powerv 6V + N … 3.9
4 1O Providence Resv 3N … … 29.0
3243 2285 Whitbread 2978 – 50 … … 29Y 8O Cadence Minv 16K + K … 1.6 286 193 NWF Grpv 230 – 1 3.1 …
2O 1O Crimson Tidev 2K … … 16.6 1117 755 Pennon 917K – 4K 3.5 66.4
2O 1 Quadrise Fuels Intlv 1K … … -5.9
1585 870 Young & Co - Av 1170 – 26 … … 3K 1X Cadogan Petrol 1O – K … 24.3 621 362V PageGroup 453W + 9W 1.0 12.2 X W Rurelecv K … … -0.4
21N 11N CyanConn Hldgsv 17K … … …
36O 3K Rambler Met&Minv# 5W + N … 0.1
890 564 Young & Co - N/Vv 639 – 1 … … 1250 825 Caledonia Miningv‡ 1190 – 20 2.8 11.6 3211 2213 Severn Trent 2743 – 28 3.7 …
73 47K PCI-PALv 53K – K … … 345 221 D4t4 Solutionsv 240 + 1 1.1 28.4
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261O 186X Capricorn Energy 246 + 2K … 1.9 13 8N Petardsv 9O … … 17.7 1920 1428 SSE‡ 1708 – 10K 4.7 6.6

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125K 74W Centamin 116O … 4.4 18.1 4V Y PowerHouse Egyv 1 … … -1.9 1N N EQTECv N … … -3.2
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95W 61 Record 95W + 2 2.4 26.2 1200 599 FDM Group 791 – 9 5.4 27.4 † Ex dividend; ‡ Ex scrip; s Ex rights issue;
19X 9W Chaarat Goldv# 10Y … … … 41V 29O San Leon Energyv 35 – 1N … 13.1
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23Y 8 Chariot Oil & Gasv 18X + X … … Y V Scirocco Energyv V … … …
803 555 Renew Hldgsv 726 – 4 1.8 17.9 Companies in bold are constituents of the
98 72 Arcontech Grpv 73K … 3.7 10.1 2450 1230 First Derivtsv 1348 – 32 … …
FTSE 100 Index. Investment Cos sector Nav
10V 2K China Nonferr Goldv 3N … … … 60K 22K Serabi Goldv 38K + 1K … 5.2
381W 176V Ascential 203O – 4W … … 851 489 Renewi 647 – 4 … 13.6 693 313V GB Groupv 356 – 3V 1.8 27.1 Dis or Prm supplied by Morningstar.
X … Clontarf Energyv … … … -1.4 450 229K Serica Energyv 271K – 4K 1.2 … 562O 444K Rentokil Itl 516O – 3 1.4 36.6 183 136 GreshamTech 180 … 0.4 …
706 486V Auto Trader‡ 566O + 7V 0.8 27.9 Data as shown is
492 328 Bloomsbury Pub 455K – 1 1.9 18.7 35O 15N Condor Gldv 17X – V … … 12K 6O Shanta Goldv 11V – N 0.9 7.0 494 302 Restorev 302 – 4 0.8 35.9 172K 24N Ilikav 42 – 6 … … for information
purposes only. No offer is made by
10W 3N Bonhill Groupv 7O … … … 2 V Corcelv N … … -0.2 2526K 1747V Shell 2403K – 15K 2.5 12.6 517 331K Ricardo 515 – 3 1.3 45.9 132K 77K Ingentav 116 – K 1.2 67.8
Morningstar or this publication
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
Ukraine’s interior minister
and ally of President Zelensky
Denys Monastyrskiy
Page 50
Obituaries
His Honour Judge Graham Boal KC
Clubbable barrister who defended Jeremy Thorpe and became a judge at the Old Bailey but faced his greatest trial in battling alcoholism
In 1999 Graham Boal, at the time an
Old Bailey judge, delivered an after-
dinner speech to the Criminal Bar
Association.
In an attempt to make the point that
New Labour was appointing judges for
reasons of political correctness, he told
a joke that was widely seen as racist,
sexist and homophobic. Amid the ensu-
ing uproar, he was reprimanded by
Lord Irvine, then lord chancellor, and
obliged publicly to apologise.
“For a long time after that speech, if a
case I was trying was reported in the
press, the report would always end with
‘Judge Boal is the judge who . . .”, he
wrote in his autobiography, A Drink at
the Bar: A Memoir of Crime, Justice and
Overcoming Personal Demons.
“One day, sitting at the breakfast
table with Lizzie [Boal’s wife] and
Thomas [his son], I read a report that
did not end with those words, and
remarked upon it. Thomas retorted:
‘It’s all very well for you, but I’ll have to
read it again in your obituary.’”
And so he shall, but Boal’s son had a
point. That unfortunate episode, which
Boal deeply regretted, eclipsed an
otherwise remarkable life that he
described, somewhat euphemistically,
as “swings and roundabouts”.
During a legal career that spanned
four decades, he was an extremely
successful criminal barrister who rose
to the distinguished position of first
senior treasury counsel and later
became a popular, if mildly eccentric,
judge who had Test match scores
He met the Kray twins
and thought they looked
‘small and insignificant’
passed to him on Post-it Notes during
trials. He participated in many of the
most notorious criminal trials of the
late 20th century, including those of the
Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe
and the IRA’s Balcombe Street Gang.
He was also instrumental in overturn-
ing the conviction of the “Birmingham
Six” on terrorism charges.
But Boal was also, by his own admis-
sion, an alcoholic depressive who
attempted suicide and underwent
extensive treatment before turning
teetotal for all but a single day of his last
29 years. He described those very dif-
ferent sorts of trials with brave and
painful honesty in his memoir, and in
later life became an active supporter of
an addiction charity.
A jocular, clubbable, convivial man,
he was for good measure the founder of
the Old Bailey Judges Golfing Society, a
member of the Marylebone Cricket
Club (MCC) and a lifelong supporter of
Arsenal FC. As “president for eternity”
of the golfing society, he devised a truly
hideous blazer and tie combining the
colours of the MCC, the Garrick Club
and the Royal West Norfolk Golf Club
in his beloved adopted county.
John Graham Boal was born in
Torquay in 1943. His father was a sur-
geon in the Royal Navy, his mother a
first officer in the Women’s Royal Naval
Reserve. He grew up at Eastbourne
College, where his father served as the
school doctor until he died when Boal
was only 14. His interest in the law had
Boal in 1996, the year he was appointed a judge. He aided the
defence of Jeremy Thorpe, right, in the 1979 “trial of the century”.
His frank memoir was an attempt to help others with addiction
begun a year earlier, when an East-
bourne GP, John Bodkins Adams, was
charged with murdering elderly
women who had left him money in
their wills.
Adams had allegedly forged the sig-
natures of other local doctors, includ-
ing Boal’s father, to secure the lethal
drugs and faced the death penalty if
convicted.
In the event he was acquitted, but
Boal saw him in court and was instantly
hooked: “From then on there was noth-
ing else I wanted to do in life.”
He read law at King’s College
London, earning a modest 2:2, joined
Gray’s Inn and was called to the Bar in
1966. He served his pupillage in the
chambers of William Howard QC at
TOPFOTO/UPP
3 King’s Bench Walk.
Soon he was prosecuting
or defending minor
cases in the magistrates’ s’ courts off
London, Hertfordshire and Essex,
occasionally amusing himself by
challenging opposing barristers to
insert improbable words into their
submissions.
He once met the Kray twins while
defending one of their accomplices at
Bow Street magistrates’ court in central
London. “They appeared quite small
and insignificant,” he recalled.
By the mid-1970s he was regularly
prosecuting cases at the Old Bailey, and
began drinking heavily to cope with the
stress of the big criminal trials there. He
also met Elizabeth East at a dinner
Register
party, and married her at Gray’s Inn
Chapel in 1978, but not before he had
been convicted of drink-driving after
hitting a police car while returning
home from her flat one night. He was
fined £30 and disqualified from driving
for a year.
Thomas, their only child, is now chief
culture officer at What3words, the
global location identifier.
In 1977 Boal served as junior counsel
in the successful prosecution of the Bal-
combe Street gang, which had been ter-
rorising London and the home coun-
ties. When the four men were released
in 1999 under the Good Friday agree-
ment Boal said he felt “physically sick”.
In 1979 he served as junior counsel to
George Carman in what was dubbed
“the trial of the century”. Together they
defended Jeremy Thorpe against char-
ges that the Liberal leader had con-
spired to murder Norman Scott, his
former lover. Night after night they
drank copious amounts of whisky as
they plotted their tactics, and event-
ually secured Thorpe’s acquittal by
u
undermining the credibility
o key witnesses.
of
Carman and Boal subse-
q
quently co-operated on two
o
other big cases. They de-
fe
fended the board of Kagan
T
Textiles Limited, a com-
p
pany owned by Harold
W
Wilson’s crooked friend
J
Joseph Kagan: the board
w
was exonerated when
K
Kagan pleaded guilty to
t
tax fraud. They also
s
secured a second inquest
fo the family of “God’s
for
b
banker”, Roberto Calvi,
t
the chairman of Italy’s
V
Vatican-linked Banco
A
Ambrosiano who was found hanging
beneath Blackfriars Bridge in what had
been initially ruled a suicide. The
second jury returned an open verdict.
Boal described the diminutive
Carman as a “flawed genius” of whose
dubious methods he sometimes
strongly disapproved, and probably an
alcoholic. That was, however, what he
was himself becoming.
Outwardly he continued to flourish.
He served as vice-chairman of the
Criminal Bar Association, and was
appointed senior treasury counsel in
1985. He prosecuted terrorists, rapists
and corrupt policemen, and advised the
49
director of public prosecutions on cases
including the 1987 King’s Cross Tube
fire and the 1989 sinking of the Mar-
chioness pleasure boat in the Thames.
He defended, albeit unsuccessfully,
Jack Lyons, one of the so-called Guin-
ness Four led by Ernest Saunders who
had engaged in a notorious share-trad-
ing fraud. Boal used the fee from the
case to buy a holiday cottage in the
Norfolk village of Thornham.
In 1990 he oversaw an official investi-
gation of the 1975 convictions of six
men who had been accused of bombing
two Birmingham pubs, and advised
that the convictions of the “Birming-
ham Six” were unsatisfactory. They
were eventually overturned by the
Court of Appeal.
Privately, Boal was being treated for
depression, for which he routinely
“self-medicated” with excessive alco-
hol. He stressed in his memoir that he
was never drunk on duty, but in 1993 he
was admitted to the Priory Hospital in
Roehampton, where he was diagnosed
as an alcoholic depressive and under-
went several weeks of treatment. He
vowed never to drink again.
On his release he took silk and
resumed his career as a criminal barris-
ter until, in 1996, he was appointed an
Old Bailey judge. He travelled to work
by Tube and enjoyed the services of a
court shorthand writer who had
opened the bowling for the West Indies
women’s cricket team. He described the
next seven years as “one of the happiest
times of my life”, his misjudged speech
of 1999 notwithstanding.
Then, in 2003, Boal’s marriage broke
down. He called it a “devastating
personal catastrophe” and sank ever
deeper into depression until, in 2005,
he attempted suicide.
He took an overdose of pills washed
down with a glass of whisky, the only
alcohol he had drunk since 1993. “It was
a serious attempt, not a cry for help,” he
later wrote. “I felt that there was not a
flicker of light at the end of the tunnel,
that there was nothing to live for.”
He survived, having been found by
friends the following day, but he real-
ised he could no longer hear murder
cases involving marriage break-ups
with the necessary objectivity, and
retired from the bench.
The following year his wife returned
to him and they slowly rebuilt their
marriage to the point, Boal said, that
“we were happier than we ever were
before”.
In retirement he did much to help
other addicts, becoming a trustee of the
Westminster Drug Project, counselling
people face-to-face and raising £25,000
through a parachute jump. He wrote his
memoir during the Covid lockdowns of
2020 in the hope that it would encour-
age other victims of addiction.
The memoir ended: “If someone
reads this book and recognises in them-
selves — or in a colleague or a loved one
— the symptoms I have described,
leading to that person seeking assist-
ance from one of the many support sys-
tems available, then the writing of this
memoir will have been worthwhile.”
Graham Boal KC, Old Bailey judge, was
born on October 24, 1943. He died of
throat cancer on December 30, 2022,
aged 79
550
Register
Denys Monastyrskiy
Ukraine’s interior minister who worked on Zelensky’s presidential bid and was thrust into the spotlight after Russia invaded
A week after Russia invaded Ukraine
on February 24 last year, Denys Mo-
nastyrskiy visited the Byzantine cathe-
dral of St Sophia, which has stood
beside the Dnieper river in Kyiv for
more than 1,000 tempestuous years.
Amid the mosaics, frescoes and golden
cupolas, the heads of the Orthodox,
Roman Catholic and Protestant
churches, as well as the leaders of the
Jewish and Muslim communities, took
turns to recite prayers for peace.
Wearing a bulletproof vest, he was
accompanied by a bodyguard carrying
an assault rifle. In one extraordinary
vignette Bishop Vitaliy Kryvytskyi,
head of the Roman Catholic diocese of
Kyiv-Zhytomyr, stepped forward,
placed his right hand flat on the chest of
Monastyrskiy’s body armour and, with
eyes closed, prayed for the Ukrainian
interior minister.
Monastyrskiy had been in the post
for only seven months. However, he
had long been a close associate of Presi-
dent Zelensky, and in 2019 had been
elected to parliament as a representa-
tive of Zelensky’s Servant of the People
party, at the same time that Zelensky
won the presidency.
Within a month of the invasion,
Monastyrskiy could be
found on both the political
and military front lines,
giving regular updates
about missile strikes
across the country
and issuing grave
warnings about the
legacy of unex-
ploded ordnance.
“A huge number off
shells and mines
have been fired att
Ukraine, and a
large part haven’tt
Jeremy Bullmore
Influential advertising executive who rose from copywriter to chairman of J Walter Thompson’s London branch
With a sharp wit and self-confdence
that inspired rather than intimidated,
Jeremy Bullmore was one of the driving
forces behind London’s rise as a world
centre of creative advertising in the
1960s and 1970s.
During his 33-year tenure at the
London branch of the US advertising
agency J Walter Thompson (JWT), he
rose from copywriter to chairman.
More than anyone, Bullmore under-
stood that it was not what you put into
an ad that made it a success, but rather
what the consumer took out. Until his
arrival on London’s burgeoning adver-
tising scene in the mid-1950s the indus-
try tended to be inward-looking, with
writers existing in a creative bubble.
The change towards a more open out-
look was in part down to Bullmore.
John Jeremy David Bullmore was
born in 1929, the son of Adeline (née
Roscoe) and Francis Bullmore, who
separated when he was four. His father
first ran a small advertising agency that
folded, and then later worked for MI6.
Jeremy was educated at Harrow. Called
up in 1950 for his National Service, he
served in a tank regiment. While on an
exercise in Germany he failed to read
correctly the symbols on his map and
inadvertently led his troop of tanks into
a bog. After much winching and towing
the tanks were retrieved from what
could have been a marshy grave and
Bullmore was saved from a certain
dressing-down by his superiors.
On leaving the army in 1950 he went
up to Christ Church, Oxford. There he
spent much of his time contributing to
undergraduate revues with his chief
collaborator Ned Sherrin, whom he
exploded. They remain under the rubble
and pose a real threat,” he said. “It will
take years, not months, to defuse them.”
He also described how Russian
troops were targeting the homes of
Ukrainian government employees,
hiding explosive booby traps in their
vehicles, houses and even inside their
washing machines. “Wherever the
occupiers stayed overnight, they would
set up trip wires, both at the doorstep
and by the fences,” he told Ukrainian
television. “Our people are now also
finding explosives in houses and apart-
ments where Ukrainian police officers,
rescuers and military servicemen live.”
Two months ago, when investigators
uncovered 63 bodies bearing signs of
torture in the newly liberated southern
Kherson region, Monastyrskiy said
that this was only the beginning of his
mission to expose Russian brutality
during the war. “We must understand
that the search has only just started —
so many more dungeons and burial
places will be uncovered,” he said.
Denys Anatoliiovych Monastyrskiy
was born in Khmelnytsky, in the west of
Ukraine, in 1980 and studied law at the
city’s University of Management and
Law. He continued his stud-
ies at the Koretsky Insti-
tute of State and Law,
part of the
National Aca-
demy of Scien-
ces of Ukraine,
where he com-
p
pleted his PhD.
By 2007 he was
a lawyer at Hill-
mont Partners,
an Anglo-
Ukrainian legal
firm that repre-
sented Kvartal
Bullmore in the 1970s. He led campaigns for brands including Oxo and Guinness
might have followed into light enter-
tainment had it not been for a chance
encounter. After a performance of one
of Bullmore’s revues, a senior JWT
executive asked him to join the agency
as a trainee copywriter in 1954.
Even from the outset, Basil Clarke,
the company psychologist, spotted his
talents. Clarke wrote in his report after
Bullmore took the mandatory psycho-
metric test for employees: “He has a
great deal to recommend him. He has a
sharp, though not snarling, sense of
humour, keenness, an independent
critical sense and a personable manner.
He seems to be potentially a very good
recruit.” The report did note one defect,
however — a “functional blindness to
‘technical-looking things’”.
In 1958 Bullmore married Pamela
Roscow, a landscape gardener and writ-
Monastyrskiy last April and, below, with President Zelensky two months later
95, Zelensky’s TV production company.
A couple of years later he joined the
Ukrainian offices of Global Ties KC, an
American law firm. He was, meanwhile,
building a public profile as the co-
founder of a youth cultural association.
When Zelensky, a stand-up comedi-
an and actor with little experience of
politics, stood for president in 2019,
Monastyrskiy was part of his team
working on law enforcement reforms.
However, after the election Zelensky
retained as interior minister Arsen
Avakov, who had been in office since
2014 but was viewed with suspicion by
some, with criticism surrounding his
links to Ukrainian nationalist groups
and to corruption scandals.
Monastyrskiy was instead tasked
with taking charge of the law enforce-
ment committee. Avakov, who was
blamed for blocking the president’s at-
tempts to tackle corruption, resigned in
KEITH MCMILLAN/CAMPAIGN ARCHIVE AT HISTORY OF ADVERTISING TRUST
er, who survives him with their three
children: Edward, a professor of psychi-
atry at the University of Cambridge;
Adam, the managing director of Octo-
ber Films; and Amelia, an actress.
Bullmore’s entry into advertising
came at a time of rapid expansion;
powered by the growth of television as a
medium and the long-awaited postwar
consumer boom, London began to
eclipse America in terms of creativity.
Although Bullmore quickly estab-
lished a reputation as a copywriter, his
real talent lay in identifying the crucial
stages that led up to the moment the
copywriter and artist sat down to
conceive an ad. In an industry that was
still formulaic, Bullmore was deter-
mined to rewrite the rule book.
When in 1964 he was appointed to
run the agency’s creative department,
RAJ VALLEY/ALAMY
July 2021 amid rumours that Zelensky
was planning to dismiss him. The
Ukrainian president nominated Mo-
nastyrskiy to replace him.
“When I was offered to head the min-
istry of internal affairs, this proposal was
made by the president personally,”
Monastyrskiy confirmed in an inter-
view. Yet he said his decision to accept
the post had not been easy. “I can say
that I made the most difficult decision in
my life, to answer yes to the president’s
proposal,” he said, stressing that he was
making a sacrifice “as a person and as a
politician”. He also had to contend with
allegations of nepotism because his
wife, Zhanna Monastyrska, is a lawyer
at the State Investigation Bureau. She
survives him with their two sons.
In his early days in office Monastyr-
skiy’s time was occupied by domestic
matters similar to those facing his
European counterparts, including
he insisted that writers, too often clos-
eted inside the agency, spent some time
in the “real world”. Accordingly, those
working on beer accounts would serve
a spell behind a bar, while those on
retail accounts manned the tills.
Conducting consumer research and
matching the results to the needs of the
clients might be standard practice now,
but it was seen as revolutionary then.
When there was little to differentiate
between rival products, he urged writ-
ers to identify the emotional trigger in a
product that would make it a more
desirable purchase in the eyes of the
consumer than its rival. He was also one
of the first admen to understand the
importance of building brands; to be
successful, an ad had to have a long-
lasting idea and preferably one that
drew on real-life characters.
In the 11 years he led the creative
department before becoming chairman
in 1976, JWT enjoyed its golden age, pro-
ducing some of the most memorable
advertising and creating household
names in the process. These included,
among others, the Oxo family, Mr
Kipling’s cakes, Kit Kat’s “Have a Break”
campaign, the Andrex puppy and the
long-running Guinness campaigns. The
stout account, the most prized in adver-
tising, was wrested from SH Benson in
1969 and was to stay with JWT until
1982, when it was moved to another
agency without notice or explanation.
He also sought talent from outside
the industry, bringing in writers and
actors such as Bill Oddie and Graeme
Garden, both later of Goodies fame, to
bring a product alive with witty scripts.
For many, being made chairman
Thursday January 19 2023 | the times
tackling the growing black market in
counterfeit Covid-19 vaccination certif-
icates. Towards the end of 2021, as
neighbouring Belarus sent thousands
of migrants west to the Polish border,
he ordered the deployment of 8,500
troops and police officers to his coun-
try’s northern border to deter migrants
from entering.
Soon his attention was focused on
preparing for the Russian attack,
though like Zelensky he played down
its imminence. “Keep calm. Don’t pan-
ic. This is not 2014,” he said in a video
address ten days before the invasion,
referring to when Russia annexed Cri-
mea and pro-Russian separatists began
claiming control of eastern Ukraine.
“Ukraine has become stronger and bet-
ter organised.” Two days later, dressed
in combat fatigues, he was visiting
troops in the occupied eastern Donetsk
region when the area came under a
“surprise mortar barrage” and he was
forced to scramble for cover along with
his entourage and reporters.
Monastyrskiy was remembered by
one colleague as “a very bright, smiley,
friendly, patriotic person”. He was killed
along with Yevhen Yenin, his deputy,
and Yurii Lubkovich, the state secre-
tary, when the helicopter they were
travelling in — which was headed for a
war “hotspot”, according to the deputy
head of Ukraine’s presidential office —
crashed close to a nursery in the Brova-
ry suburb in the east of Kyiv. There were
14 casualties, including one child.
His death made him the most senior
Ukrainian official to have died since the
start of the war.
Denys Monastyrskiy, interior minister of
Ukraine, was born on June 12, 1980. He
was killed in a helicopter crash on
January 18, 2023, aged 42
would have been the crowning glory of
a successful career but to Bullmore,
who enjoyed the creative process and
working with people to achieve that
end, the move was not an entirely
happy one, spending more time in
client meetings than on the “shop floor”.
His wisdom on advertising was still in
demand with clients, though, who were
flattered when Bullmore presented the
agency’s thinking on their brand to
them directly. He continued to intro-
duce a gentlemanly air into the pro-
ceedings at a time when London’s
advertising scene underwent an often
uncomfortable transition from creative
village into the competitive business of
the 1980s.
Between 1981 and 1987 he divided his
time between his roles as chairman of
JWT and of the industry lobbying
group, the Advertising Association. In
1988 he became a non-executive direct-
or of the Guardian Media Group and
the media and advertising group WPP,
the owners of JWT. His memoir, Behind
the Scenes in Advertising, was first pub-
lished in 1991. In 1985 he was appointed
CBE for his services to advertising.
One former client recalled how be-
hind the unflappable façade, Bullmore’s
mind continued to produce original
and incisive ideas. “Like a swan on the
surface all was composed, but beneath
the water the legs were whirring.”
Jeremy Bullmore CBE, advertising
executive, was born on November 21,
1929. He died on January 4, 2023, aged 93
Email: obituaries@thetimes.co.uk
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
Atarah Ben-Tovim
Off-beat flautist who created children’s concerts featuring crockery for percussion
Atarah Ben-Tovim was so
obsessed with the flute, which
she had a remarkable gift for
playing, that she kept 1,300
figurines and dozens of commis-
sioned portraits of the instru-
ment in her rundown barn-
house in southwest France.
“I’ve stopped collecting them
now,” she finally declared in
2020, by which time they filled
five rooms. “My husband can’t
stand it any more. ‘It’s more than
enough,’ he says.”
Ben-Tovim’s enthusiasm was
never more evident than when
captaining Atarah’s Band, an
ensemble she started in 1975 to
make classical music more
appealing to children. Made up
of six musicians and two com-
posers, and equipped with a
flute, oboe, trumpet, trombone,
electric guitar, bass guitar and
drum kit, they played a mix of
jazz, rock and baroque and
toured schools across the north-
west of England. It was pro-
pelled by the irrepressible Ben-
Tovim, who once compared
being a professional flautist to
being a professional athlete.
She would stand in a colourful
kaftan and glittering Doc Mar-
tens, her arms outstretched like
a spiritual guru and her bright
eyes flickering across a sea of
expectant young faces, their
instruments held aloft in silvery
unison. Her musical disciples
might include a scarecrow on
the trombone, a cuddly bear on
the trumpet or an alien on the
drums, and percussion instru-
ments included crockery and
cutlery.
It was the input of her second
husband, Douglas Boyd, a BBC
Television producer, that took
the band’s shows to a new level.
They recorded in Strawberry
Studios in Stockport, where
Paul McCartney once recorded,
and in 1976 started a weekly
series on Radio 3, which Boyd
scripted. They also appeared on
Blue Peter and Omnibus, and
started their own TV series,
Atarah’s Music, in which each
episode introduced young
viewers to a different musical
instrument. The following year
the band performed as part of
the Schools Proms at the Royal
Albert Hall. Boyd survives Ben-
Tovim, along with a daughter,
Dahlia, from her first marriage
to Uriel Priwes, whom she
divorced in 1974.
Despite the fun, Ben-Tovim
was a gifted and experienced
musician, having spent 13 years
as principal flute of the
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Orchestra. She had first picked
up the instrument at the age of 11
and found that a week later she
could play a Telemann suite. “It
was as if I was born to play it,”
Court Circular
Balmoral Castle
18th January, 2023
The King this afternoon attended
a Reception for British Muslim
Faith Leaders participating in the
Mosaic Leadership Programme at
Ben-Tovim in 1985 with a pupil. She herself began playing aged 11
she said. Yet few children were
so immediately enraptured with
classical music and it bothered
her that during the orchestra’s
contracted concerts children
grew so bored they would fly
paper aeroplanes across the
auditorium. With a group of
friends she staged a concert at a
school for disabled children,
where they performed simple
nursery rhymes and short solos.
“I got an almost religious call-
ing,” she recalled of that first
experience.
Returning to Liverpool, she
immediately booked out the hall
and their first concert drew
about 800 children. Eventually
they performed over 2,000 con-
certs in 12 years; many children
in the audiences later attributed
picking up an instrument to her.
The second child of three,
Atarah Ben-Tovim was born in
1940 in Abergavenny, south
Wales, to Tsvi “Harry” Ben-
Tovim, a doctor from Jerusalem,
and Gladys (née Carengold), a
Welsh teacher. Their family
home was constantly filled with
classical music courtesy of her
father’s extensive collection of
78s, but it was at Notting Hill
and Ealing High School where
Ben-Tovim discovered the flute.
“It was a very bizarre thing,”
she recalled. “I’m very cack-
handed, and in school we had
three months of metalwork,
three months of pottery, and
three months of doing wood-
work.” She was “appalling” at
the first two but had a knack for
the third, so she crafted a
recorder and when she played it
her music teacher said: “My God
you’re good at the recorder, why
don’t you try a flute?” Why not,
she thought — so the teacher
came the next day with a Rudall
Carte wooden flute. From then
on Ben-Tovim played only the
wooden flute, even with the Liv-
erpool Philharmonic, and never
had time for its silver sibling.
She was confident, even arro-
gant occasionally, and when she
decided that she did not like her
Dumfries House, Cumnock,
Ayrshire.
His Majesty this evening
received Sir Ian Cheshire
(Chairman, The Prince of Wales’s
Charitable Fund) and Ms N
Jeffery (Chief Executive Officer)
at Dumfries House.
The Queen Consort,
Chancellor, this morning visited
the Science Teaching Hub at the
University of Aberdeen, King’s
College, Aberdeen, and was
received by His Majesty’s Lord-
JENNY GOODALL/ANL/REX
first flute teacher’s vibrato she
signed herself up for the Royal
Academy of Music. Her forma-
tive years were spent in Ealing,
west London, where she played
at the National Youth Orchestra
and where, given the lack of
women and her obscure-sound-
ing name, she was placed in the
men’s dormitories.
She played her first concerto
on television with the Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra at the
age of 16. Barely 12 months later
she performed at a Henry Wood
Promenade Concert at the
Royal Albert Hall.
Ben-Tovim found her teacher
Gareth Morris’s methods limit-
ing (“F major for two years”) and
she taught music four days a
week on the side, acquiring
some 40 pupils by the age of 18.
Yet she was desperate to get a
job in an orchestra and went to
bed every night with her score
sheets, poring over every bar.
“They were a part of my breath-
ing,” she said.
When she was 21, and had just
married for the first time, Ben-
Tovim went to Paris on a schol-
arship awarded by the French
government. She found her new
teacher, Fernand Caratgé, who
always taught in a bright velvet
jacket, much more exacting.
Ben-Tovim was renting a room
from a clairvoyant who com-
plained that her playing was
“disturbing the spirits”, so she
hired a studio to practise in for
four hours every day.
When she was offered the
position of second flute with
Sadler’s Wells, Ben-Tovim
turned it down. “I thought, I’m
just not a second flute,” she said.
“I’m not the right tempera-
ment.” She applied instead to
play the piccolo but was rejected
because she was unsuited to that
temperament too — she was not
a person able to “sit there
patiently and wait for their solo”.
When the first flute, James Gal-
way, left, she received a telegram
while on holiday in Yugoslavia
inviting her to take up his posi-
Lieutenant of the City of
Aberdeen (Councillor David
Cameron, the Lord Provost).
The Princess Royal, on behalf
of The King, held an Investiture
at the Palace of Holyroodhouse
this morning.
Her Royal Highness, on behalf
of His Majesty, held an
Investiture at the Palace of
Holyroodhouse this afternoon.
Kensington Palace
18th January, 2023
tion. After three months, Ben-
Tovim left Sadler’s Wells to
work at a school in Isleworth,
west London, where she taught
French in exchange for using a
room for “Atarah’s School of
Music”. After three weeks she
had assembled four pupils but
one day she sat next to a cellist
she had known at school, who
told her about the vacancy in the
Liverpool orchestra.
The audition was a battle
between her and Galway and
they were given a piece of diffi-
cult sight reading. “All my life
I’ve loved sight reading,” said
Ben-Tovim, who used to read
her music upside down to delib-
erately puzzle the sequences. “It
was like all my training from the
age of 12 was for that moment.
I’ll never forget. Every bar I
played perfectly.” Galway, with
his “bad eyesight”, she noted,
was not up to the standard.
For her second piece of music,
Bach’s Flute Sonata in E major, “I
came in as loud as I could, and I
put my whole body into it”, she
said. “I was about five stone
heavier than I am now, appall-
ingly dressed, full of unbelieva-
ble, physical energy . . . I had the
choice at one point of joining the
Israeli army or becoming a
discus thrower; I had that kind
of physical punch. I think I still
have, really.”
When she was appointed first
flute at the age of 22, Ben-Tovim
became one of the first female
principal flautists in Britain.
Still, she reflected later in life
that, had she been a man, it all
would have panned out differ-
ently. Her real ambition was to
be a conductor, but when she
auditioned she was told that
they did not take women.
After a month-long trial with
the Liverpool orchestra the
other players, all men, com-
plained that she was too “loud”
and “overbearing” and blended
in with the clarinets. “They did
not want a woman there, there’s
no question,” she said. The head
backed her anyway, saying that
the orchestra needed someone
with dynamism and energy.
She was required to wear a
long black gown and Ben-Tovim
had to borrow a particularly
tight-fitting one from a small-
boned viola player for one of her
first performances. She recalled,
with more amusement than em-
barrassment, that when she was
invited to take a bow, the front of
the skirt split open. “That taught
me a fact,” she said. “That made
me very humble afterwards.”
Atarah Ben-Tovim MBE, flautist
and music teacher, was born on
October 1, 1940. She died of
cancer on October 20, 2022,
aged 82
The Princess of Wales, Joint
Patron, the Royal Foundation of
The Prince and Princess of Wales,
this morning visited Foxcubs
Nursery, 30A Runley Road,
Luton, and was received by His
Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of
Bedfordshire (Mrs Susan
Lousada).
St James’s Palace
18th January, 2023
The Countess of Wessex this
afternoon received the Rt Hon
Births, Marriages and Deaths
AND he who was seated on the throne
said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
Also he said, “Write this down, for these
words are trustworthy and true.”
Revelation 21.5 (ESV)
Bible verses are provided by the
Bible Society
Births
SHARMA
on 4th January 2023 to Sonya (née
Pal) and Gunjan, a daughter, Raina,
sister to Sarina. Raina was born at 6lb
15oz on a sunny Wednesday morning
in the Kensington Wing at Chelsea and
Westminster Hospital.
Deaths
ANSELL Margaret (Maggi) (née Stokes)
on 12th January 2023, aged 75. Maggi died
peacefully at home, in West LaHave, Nova
Scotia, after accessing MAiD following the
aggressive return of cancer. We can all
celebrate the life of Maggi through
sharing stories and memories of her. She
has enjoyed a full life, travelling with her
husband, Robin, for his work as an
engineer, and living in several different
countries. She is survived by her husband
and best friend, Robin, of 55 years; two
wonderful children, daughter Lisa (Pete)
Phillips in PEI; son, Bill (Laurie) Ansell in
Ontario; and four lovely grandchildren:
Alexander Phillips, Mitchell Ansell,
Elizabeth Phillips and Jessica Ansell. We
live on in the memories of others!
ARCHIBALD Sally died on 9th January at
home in Fort William after a short illness,
aged 86. Daughter of Brian Archibald and
Mardi Chinnery, step-daughter of Michael
Chinnery, Daphne Archibald and Nancy
Archibald, and much-loved sister of
Elizabeth. Funeral private; a memorial
event will take place in Fort William in the
spring. No flowers, but donations may be
made to Macmillan Nurses or to the West
Highland Museum, where she was formerly
curator. Inquiries and messages should be
directed to the West Highland Museum:
info@westhighlandmuseum.org.uk
BISHOP Marty (Maggie) after a long and
brave battle, died peacefully at home with
her family on 12th January 2023, aged 84.
Beloved wife of Charles, devoted mother to
David, Thomas and Isabelle and loving
grandmother to Eloise, Daniel, Lewis, Freya
and Esme. She will be missed desperately
by her loving family and friends. There is to
be a cremation but no funeral service and
any donations should be sent to Marie
Curie c/o JH Kenyon, 279 Kensington High
Street, London, W8 6NA.
BROWN Gillian Masaroon (née Harvey).
Peacefully passed away on 23rd December
2022, aged 98. Beloved wife of the late
Graeme. Loving mother of Stephanie. Sister
of Margaret. Funeral service will be held at
Hereford Crematorium on Wednesday 1st
February 2023 at 9.30am. Inquiries to
Dawe Brothers (01432) 274066.
GALITZINE Rohays (née Butter) on 7th
January 2023. Loving wife to Alexander
and much-loved mother to Sasha and
Nadia. Family funeral in Scotland.
HERBERT John Anthony died peacefully
on 8th January 2023, aged 83. Writer and
film director with a love of travel. Adored
husband of Michie for 60 years, much-
loved father of Rebecca and Tamsin,
grandfather to Eleanor and Theo, and
father-in-law to Marcus and Peter. He
brought happiness, kindness and humour
to our family lives. We shall miss his
integrity, his adventurous spirit and his
wise words. At his request there will be no
funeral.
HOSSACK Dr Ian James died peacefully
on 27th December 2022. Beloved partner
of Penny Lewis, father of James and
Edward Hossack, stepfather of Lucy Jupe,
grandfather of Mathilda and Finlay
Hossack, and step-grandfather of Emily and
Isabelle Jupe. Funeral service for family
and friends at St James’ Church in
Finchampstead at 12pm on Wednesday
25th January.
Andrew Mitchell MP (Minister of
State for Development and
Africa).
Palace of Holyroodhouse
18th January, 2023
The Princess Royal, Chancellor,
the University of Edinburgh, this
evening held the Chancellor’s
Dinner at the Palace of
Holyroodhouse and was received
by the Reverend Neil Gardner
(Deputy Lieutenant of the City of
Edinburgh).
51
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MYGIND Timothy Kai passed away on 8th
November 2022, aged 64. Beloved father of
Katie and Emily. Memorial service is to be
held at St Peter and St Paul’s Church,
Godalming, GU7 1ER on 3rd February 2023
at 2pm and afterwards at the Inn on the
Lake. No flowers please but donations to
Men’s Minds Matter.
TAYLOR Glen on 22nd December 2022,
peacefully at Aldbourne Nursing Home,
Aldbourne. Dearly beloved wife of John,
loving mother of Claire and Alison and
devoted grandma to Venetia, Henry, Emily
and Edward. Funeral service on Friday 27th
January at 1pm, St John the Baptist Church,
Cookham Dean. Flowers or donations to
Riding for the Disabled Association or
Cancer Research UK c/o Arnold Funeral
Service, Marlow. 01628 898866.
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CR-2022-004288
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
BUSINESS AND PROPERTY
COURTS OF
ENGLAND AND WALES
COMPANIES COURT (ChD) 
IN THE MATTER OF HURRICANE
ENERGY PLC 
and 
IN THE MATTER OF THE
COMPANIES ACT 2006
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a claim
was on 18 January 2023 issued before
His Majesty’s High Court of Justice for
the cancellation of the share premium
account of Hurricane Energy plc, a
public company registered in England
and Wales with company number
05245689 and with its registered office
at Ground Floor The Wharf Abbey Mill
Business Park, Lower Eashing,
Godalming, Surrey, GU7 2QN.
AND NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that
the said claim is directed to be heard
before the Insolvency and Companies
Court Judge at the Rolls Building, 7
Rolls Buildings Fetter Lane London
EC4A 1NL, via a hearing on 31 January
2023. Should that date change, the new
date will be advertised on the website
of Hurricane Energy plc:
www.hurricaneenergy.com.
ANY creditor or shareholder of the
above-named company desiring to
oppose the making of any order for the
confirmation of the proposed
cancellation of the share premium
account should contact the Court and
make arrangements to appear at the
time of the hearing in person or by
Counsel for that purpose.
A copy of the said claim will be
furnished to any such person requiring
the same by the undermentioned
Solicitors on payment of the regulated
charge for the same.
Dated this 19 day of January 2023
SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS (UK) LLP
2 & A Half Devonshire Square
London
EC2M 4UJ
Tel: +44 (0)20 7655 1000
Fax: +44 (0)870 460 3191
REF: JGM/HUR.063.1
Solicitors for the above named
company 
552
Law
We have been
in crisis mode
for too long
Lord Justice Edis tells Frances Gibb about his
plans to tackle the court backlog and trial delays
One of the most senior judges in
England and Wales has added his voice
to concerns over the state of the
criminal justice system, warning that it
is in “crisis mode”.
Lord Justice Edis, the senior presid-
ing judge, says that in the past three
years the system has been struggling to
bring cases to trial because it is beset
with a succession of problems.
“First there are not enough court-
rooms, then there are not enough
judges, then when we’ve got the judges
there aren’t enough advocates to do the
cases,” he tells The Times. “Since the
pandemic, we have been in crisis mode
and we need to get away from that and
move towards normality.”
Edis, who is hotlyy tipped to
be the next lord chiefief jus-
rnett
tice when Lord Burnett
of Maldon steps ps
down in September, r,
was speaking pub-
licly for the first
time since being
appointed to his
key judicial post
last October.
His comments
coincide with
warnings from thee
cia-
Criminal Bar Associa-
tion that the system em is
“about to crack”, with a
record number of trials being
aborted at the last minute because of a
shortage of barristers to prosecute
them. Fees for prosecutors lag about 20
per cent behind those of defence
barristers since ministers agreed last
year to a 15 per cent rise to the latter’s
Ministers must prioritise rule of law over political gain
Jeannie Drake
Comment
P
eers on the House of Lords
constitution committee
published a report into
the roles of the lord
chancellor and the law
officers yesterday. It examines the
development of the roles of those
legal ministers since the reforms
of the mid-2000s, particularly in
light of perceived recent challenges
to the rule of law.
The lord chancellor and the law
officers have a duty to uphold the
rule of law and ensure that it is
respected in government. In the
lord chancellor’s case this duty,
including a responsibility to uphold
the independence of the judiciary,
fees. Edis declines to comment on fees
for either — “it is not for judges to say”
— other than saying that he is “delight-
ed” that the dispute, during which crim-
inal law barristers formed picket lines,
has been settled.
But in his role as senior presiding
judge Edis is leading an assault on
backlogs and trial delays. From this
week judges have been told to imple-
ment a “change in culture” to end
thousands of wasted or “ineffective”
hearings. He is leading a working group
drawn from the main criminal justice
agencies, which launched a practice
direction on Monday to remove the
“blockers” at pre-trial hearings,
enabling cases to proceed. This should
ma
result in many more early
plea
guilty pleas.
6
The 65-year-old judge
has seen the system
dete
deteriorate since his
day as a practising
days
cr
criminal barrister.
T
There
in
ing
were staff-
problems
b
before the pan-
de
demic,
m
made
but that
matters
wo
worse. Edis careful-
ly avoids
ly av stepping in-
to political
to po waters by
urging ministers to pro-
vide more funding, but he
m
says: “In the medium and long
term funding of the criminal justice
term,
system across the piece needs to be
addressed. All the agencies which con-
tribute to it are starved of resources —
and that includes staff, not just money.”
Edis spent 17 years as a silk, mainly
is set out in the Constitutional
Reform Act 2005. But controversies
over the government’s attempts to
implement Brexit have led to doubts
as to its commitment to the concept.
Obvious examples are the two bills
introduced in parliament to alter the
operation of the Northern Ireland
protocol: the United Kingdom
Internal Market Bill and the
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.
The government was candid
about the lawfulness of the earlier
bill with Brandon Lewis, the
secretary of state for Northern
Ireland at the time, acknowledging
that it would breach the UK’s
international obligations in a
“specific and limited way”.
The committee has previously
found the government’s reliance
on the “doctrine of necessity” to
justify the latter bill unconvincing.
Lord Justice Edis’s comments come after years of chaos in the justice system, including last year’s barrister strikes, left
defending for the first half, mostly in
Liverpool and Manchester; then from
2008 to 2014 he was senior treasury
counsel at the Old Bailey, prosecuting
and appearing in crime-related cases
for the government. His well-known
cases include defending in the “lady in
the lake trial” in 2005 and prosecuting
Chris Huhne MP and his former wife,
Vicky Pryce, for perverting the course
of justice over a 2003 speeding case. In
2013 Edis was the lead prosecutor in the
News of the World phone-hacking trial.
Edis grew up in Liverpool, the son of
a GP father and physiotherapist
mother, but was not tempted into medi-
cine. “My father thought law a good de-
cision.” He went to Liverpool College,
then to University College, Oxford,
where he switched to law from Classics.
“I had thought I’d quite like to be a pro-
fessor of Roman poetry.” His favourite
Roman poet is Virgil.
Called to the Bar in 1980, Edis was
appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1997,
became a High Court judge in 2014 and
an appeal judge in 2021. That year he
In allowing these bills to be
introduced it appears, at the least,
that the government has recently
been operating under a conception
of the rule of law that is not shared
by the committee.
The committee’s report examines
the concept of the rule of law and
finds that, while it is difficult to
define, its fundamental tenets,
as set out by Lord Bingham, are
well understood.
The government should always
strive to operate within the rule of
law, whether that means adhering
to international obligations or
seeking sufficient assurance that
its proposed actions are lawful.
Therefore, it is critical that all
ministers consider the rule of law
to have primacy over political
expediency. This applies to a greater
degree to the lord chancellor and
became deputy senior presiding judge
before being promoted. Edis is a
founder member of the Liverpool Bar
Cricket Club and lives in south London;
he is married with three children.
In his present role, Edis is the only
judge other than the lord chief justice
responsible for the judiciary across the
jurisdictions of civil, family and crime.
The state of court
buildings mean people
don’t want to work there
He is responsible for tackling produc-
tivity, deployment and personnel.
Backlogs and trial delays are the big
challenge in the face of staff shortages.
Of the 60 circuit judges sought at the
last recruitment round, 18 posts were
left vacant. To cope, recorders are being
enlisted, but that in turn exacerbates
the shortage of advocates. District
judges from magistrates’ courts are
being deployed for the first time in the
the law officers, who have special
responsibility in this area.
The committee concludes that it is
not sufficient for the lord chancellor
to exercise rule of law functions
merely by running the justice
system effectively and ensuring
judicial independence; the lord
chancellor has a wider role in
ensuring that the rule of law is
defended and understood by the
government as a whole.
To assist this, we recommend that
the lord chancellor is normally a
lawyer, commanding the respect
of the legal community and
parliament. We also conclude that
the law officers, the only members
of the government who are
necessarily legally qualified, have
a wider role in defending the rule
of law, which goes beyond their
core functions of providing legal
Thursday January 19 2023 | the times
TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD POHLE
crown court and will take 50 cases a
year including jury trials. Extra deputy
High Court judges are being trained to
do likewise and listing practice is being
improved.
As to why lawyers are not applying
for judicial posts, Edis says: “I don’t
think it is all about money. Some people
don’t want to give up the freedoms you
have as an individual practition-
er.” Conditions are also worse than
before: “The state of the buildings are
such that people don’t want to spend
the rest of their lives working in them.”
But given such difficulties, morale is
“surprisingly high”.
In the next 12 months Edis says he
hopes to bring an attitude that will end
the culture of adjournments, led by
judges and with cross-agency support,
and mean lawyers have “confidence
that the facilities will be there to enable
them to do their jobs better”.
The latest figures show a small re-
duction in the trial backlog. Edis is cau-
tious, but the move, he says, “is in the
right direction”.
advice and superintending the
prosecution services.
The rule of law is vitally important
to the health of our democracy.
Whatever formal reforms to the
roles of the lord chancellor and law
officers might be contemplated,
appointing those with the correct
character, authority, intellect and
independence is the best way to
ensure that they are able to defend it.
Baroness Drake is a Labour peer and the
chairwoman of the House of Lords
constitution committee
Times Law
Editor Jonathan Ames
020 7782 5405 jonathan.ames@thetimes.co.uk
Advertising and marketing
For print and online: Jeanine Kiala
020 7782 7518 jeanine.kiala@news.co.uk
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
London’s dispute crown at risk
Catherine Baksi
Promoting London as the world leader
for arbitration has become increasingly
important as challenges emerge from
other financial centres, especially in
east Asia.
In a bid to ensure that English law re-
mains up to date, with London an at-
tractive seat for dispute resolution, the
Law Commission, the government’s re-
form advisers, is reviewing the Arbitra-
tion Act 1996, which was introduced
more than a quarter of a century ago.
The City of London Law Society has
established an arbitration committee to
advise ministers and others on the
handling of disputes outside conven-
tional court litigation. The first task of
the committee chaired by Michael Da-
vison, the deputy chief executive of Ho-
gan Lovells, one of London’s transat-
lantic law firms, was responding to the
commission’s consultation, which
closed last month. Broadly welcoming
the proposals, Davison says the law
needs to be free of complexity to ensure
the UK’s processes are as modern, effi-
cient and cost-effective as possible.
International arbitration was the
preferred method for resolving cross-
border disputes for 90 per cent of those
surveyed in the latest report from the
law firm White & Case, and London has
historically been the most preferred
seat, with English law governing the
highest number of commercial dis-
putes. But there are signs that London’s
crown may be starting to slide. While it
remained at the top of the global charts,
for the first time in the White & Case
survey it shared that spot with Singapo-
re, which was also the preferred arbitral
seat for respondents in Asia-Pacific.
Further signs of the rise in popularity
of key Asian arbitral hubs was the
success of Hong Kong, which took third
place overall. Paris was fourth, followed
King’s
Counsel
Alex Steuart
The Queen’s
Counsel Official
Lawyers’
Handbook,
Biteback, £14.99
Lawyer of the week Lucy Organ
Lucy Organ, a tenant at 6KBW
College Hill chambers, prosecuted
the former Charlton Athletic football
player Richard Rufus, who was found
guilty of defrauding friends, family
and associates out of £8 million in a
pyramid scheme, and of money
laundering. Rufus was sentenced to
seven and a half years in prison.
What were the biggest hurdles you
had to overcome in this case?
Richard Rufus was promising
huge profits trading on the foreign
exchange markets. I had hundreds
of pages of expert reports on foreign
exchange trading with intimidating
diagrams. I was concerned how
digestible it would be for the jury.
But the material could be broken
down significantly because the issue
Singapore is joint-top of the global arbitration league with London
by Geneva. In Asia-Pacific, Singapore
and Hong Kong surpassed London by a
margin of more than 20 per cent.
Historically, arbitration has been fa-
voured by the energy and construction
sectors, but lawyers report that it is in-
creasingly being used to resolve dis-
putes in other areas, such as techno-
logy, life science and healthcare. Post-
acquisition conflicts remain prevalent
and experts predict increasing work in
relation to disputes around environ-
mental, social and governance (ESG)
clauses in agreements.
Richard Bamforth, a partner at CMS,
says that London owes its position as a
leader for arbitration to the combina-
tion of having well-developed dispute
resolution mechanisms with a market
supplied with leading professionals,
supported by a sophisticated infra-
structure of technical experts and ad-
vanced legal technology. “It is also sup-
ported by arbitration-friendly courts
and an experienced and well-regarded
was simple; foreign exchange trading
was extremely high risk and Rufus
was saying it was low risk.
What is the best
decision you have
taken as a lawyer?
To get on a plane.
I practised in the
Cayman Islands
for five years —
this gave me
confidence and
experience; I was led
by many great silks. Itt
was wonderful to live in
sunnier climes. I madee
usband.
friends and met my husband.
Who do you most admire in the
law? Baroness Hale of Richmond,
GETTY IMAGES
judiciary, applying English law, which is
globally recognised by international
businesses for its flexibility, fairness
and quality,” Bamforth says.
Concerns that the capital would lose
its shine as an arbitral centre of excel-
lence after the UK left the European
Union have so far proved unfounded,
according to Hannah Ambrose, a
senior associate at Herbert Smith Free-
hills. But, she says, its future as a seat of
arbitration continues to be linked to
international perceptions of the UK
more generally, including whether it
maintains the confidence of commer-
cial parties as a hub of finance and
trade, with strong adherence to the rule
of law. Ambrose insists that any
changes to the legal framework should
be made with the perspective of inter-
national commercial parties in mind.
One reason for choosing arbitration
over litigation is the failure of the EU
and the UK to reach an agreement on
the reciprocal enforcement of judg-
the first female president of the
Supreme Court.
What is the best advice
h
you have received?
Rem
Remain calm and say
as little as possible.
W
What is the
fu
funniest thing that
h happened in
has
yo job? I was
your
sw
swearing a jury
and one of the
pote
potential jurors popped
up and started waving
at me and shouting, “Hi,
Miss Lucy, how
Miss ho are you?” He
was another client of mine. That
did, unfortunately, disqualify him
from sitting.
ments, says Shantanu Majumdar KC of
Radcliffe Chambers. He warns that ar-
bitration is vulnerable to politics as
much as economics, observing that
Russians shifted away from Singapore
as an arbitral seat in response to the
western sanctions after the country’s
invasion of Ukraine.
“Russian eyes have turned instead to
Hong Kong,” Majumdar says, adding
that its status as an arbitral seat may be
undermined by China’s national secur-
ity law and what he predicts is the “in-
evitable withdrawal” of the foreign
judges from the Hong Kong Court of
Final Appeal.
The global response to the Russian
invasion of Ukraine has, he adds, forced
many Russian businesses and their
owners to the centres in the Gulf and to
Istanbul, which he says could stimulate
arbitration in the Middle East, which
has so far remained underdeveloped.
Fortunately for London, as David Jo-
seph KC, the chairman of the Commer-
cial Bar Association, explains, disputes
come from every sector and corner of
the globe. “As a result, there is no over-
reliance on one type of work whether it
be Russian disputes or one particular
commercial sector,” he says. “One type
of dispute is rapidly replaced by another
as business adapts to the circumstances
or the economic cycle turns.”
The commission’s proposals include
the introduction of an express provision
for summary disposal; orders to support
arbitral proceedings, such as interim in-
junctions, and a duty on arbitrators to
disclose circumstances that might
cause doubt over their impartiality.
One key issue that Ben Giaretta, a
partner at Fox Williams, says he regrets
has been put on the backburner by the
commission is the use of technology in
arbitrations. A commission spokesman
said that it hoped to publish its report in
the autumn.
exclusive to members
Inquest torment Families
must have access to justice
War-torn Where children
go after conflict ends
Building defects Rethink
needed on duty of care
thetimes.co.uk
What are the best and worst
elements of being a lawyer? There
is nothing like it when you are on
your feet and it feels like everything
is going right. The worst element is
the quantity of work because
preparation is key.
What law would you enact? Better
financial assistance with childcare
from the end of parental leave.
What is your favourite book?
I have just read Lessons in Chemistry
by Bonnie Garmus. It is about a
woman who will not allow men
to diminish her. It is funny and
sad and brilliantly entertaining.
Linda Tsang
l_tsang@hotmail.com
53
Headline
In conversation
here xyx
Law
Quinn
Xxy xyxEmanuel’s
yx yx yx
xyx
senior
yx yxxyx
partneryxonyx
xyxitsyxx
bestyxxy
yearyxyx
in
yx London
y x yx yxsoyxy
far xx
thetimes.co.uk
OUT OF COURT
The cases, the chatter, the chaos:
what’s really going on in the law
Law Society
sues ministers
Senior figures at the Law Society
have performed an impressive
volte-face. Initially the society,
which represents solicitors in
England and Wales, welcomed the
government’s announcement of
a 15 per cent increase in criminal
defence legal aid rates. But on
Tuesday Lubna Shuja, its
president, told MPs on the justice
committee that the society is suing
ministers. Its number-crunchers
reckon that the government deal
is worth only 9 per cent, nowhere
near what the government’s
independent review recommended
as the minimum. Shuja told the
committee that the society was
applying for a judicial review,
claiming that the government
acted unlawfully by ignoring its
own review’s advice.
Doom and gloom
Shuja appeared before the justice
committee this week armed with
plenty of doomsday figures. The
number of law firms with criminal
defence legal aid contracts had
tumbled by nearly 45 per cent to
just more than 1,000 over the past
12 years. More importantly, Shuja
said, the number of individual
solicitors taking legally aided
criminal defence cases had
dropped by more than 20 per
cent over the past five years.
Court of public opinion
One welcome development for
lawyers on the civil legal aid front:
they have got the public on side.
Results of a survey of 2,000
punters commissioned by the
Law Society showed that 84 per
cent of Conservative Party
sympathisers said that legal aid
was a “good thing”, while that rose
to 95 per cent of those supporting
Labour and 97 per cent of Liberal
Democrat-backers. How those
punters would pay for it, of course,
is another matter.
Dirty tactics
Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC has had
her fair share of threats of violence
over her role as part of the team
representing Jimmy Lai, the press
baron and democracy activist
facing trial in Hong Kong. Now
the Doughty Street barrister has
disclosed that colleagues received
a fake email claiming to be sent by
Gallagher. It said she had resigned
because she realised that her work
meant that she was an enemy of
the Chinese state and her presence
in chambers put everyone at risk.
Commenting on the sophistication
of the fake email, Gallagher joked
that the sender had even spelt her
first name, which is pronounced
key-len, correctly.
n Subscribers can register for
The Brief, our newsletter. This
week: it’s a dog’s life at the
“magic circle” Slaughter and May
556 Thursday January 19 2023 | the times

Weather
Today Sleet and snow showers in northern and central Britain, mostly dry elsewhere. Max 7C (45F), min -8C (18F) Weather Eye
Paul Simons
Around Britain Five days ahead Wind speed Sea state Orkney
ney Shetland
Sh
Key: b=bright, c=cloud, d=drizzle, pc=partly cloudy Frosty and wintry for 34 Calm
du=dull, f=fair, fg=fog, h=hail, m=mist, r=rain, (mph) 26 4
sh=showers, sl=sleet, sn=snow, s=sun, t=thunder much of the British Isles, Slight 19
*=previous day **=data not available then turning milder and Temperature Moderate

Temp C Rain mm Sun hr* unsettled by next week 28 (degrees C)

Rough
2
midday yesterday 24 hrs to 5pm yesterday
4 14
2 C 13.4 1.9
Tomorrow Flood alerts and warnings
Aberdeen
A band of rain will move eastwards
Aberporth 5 C 2.6 1.6
across Ireland and western Britain At 17:00 on Wednesday there were 5
Anglesey 6 PC 0.8 3.8 through the day, heaviest and perhaps 89 flood alerts and 57 warnings in 3
Aviemore 1 PC 0.0 0.0 turning wintry across Northern Ireland. England, two flood alerts and no
27

I
Dry and sunny elsewhere.
Barnstaple 6
3
C
B
5.2
0.2
**
**
warnings in Wales and no flood alerts Aberdeen
C F t has been icy cold this week,
Bedford Max 6C, min -6C 35 95
Belfast 1 C 8.2 2.8
or warnings in Scotland.
30 86
with snow in places, but if it’s
For further information and updates
Birmingham 3 S 0.2 **
in England visit flood-warning- 25 77 any comfort conditions were far
Bournemouth 2 C 0.0 0.0 1 NORTH worse 60 years ago. On this day
5 S 0.0 **
information.service.gov.uk, for Wales 20 68
Bridlington
naturalresources.wales/flooding and SEA 15 59 in 1963 a two-day blizzard
Bristol 4 PC 0.0 1.1
Camborne 7 C 0.4 ** for Scotland SEPA.org.uk 4 10 50
began that virtually cut off Scotland
4 Edinburgh
Cardiff 3 C 3.8 0.0
4
18 Glasgow 5 41
from England. The day before, a
Edinburgh 3 PC 0.0 2.4 0 32
Eskdalemuir 2 C 0.2 **
2 30 -5 23 temperature of minus 22.2C had
Glasgow 4 PC 0.0 0.4
6
-10 14 been recorded at Braemar in the
Hereford 4 PC 0.2 **
Herstmonceux 3 S 0.2 2.4 ATLANTIC Londonderry -15 5 Highlands, the coldest of the long
Ipswich 1 S 0.2 **
Newcastle freeze that winter.
OCEAN Carlisle
Isle of Man 5 PC 1.0 2.4
Saturday Belfast It was not just the north that
Isle of Wight 3 S 0.2 ** 2
Jersey 7 PC 1.0 0.0 Bright spells and showery rain in 4 2 suffered. The southeast of England
Ireland and western Scotland through 4
Keswick 5 PC 0.0 ** the morning. Dry with lengthy spells Yorkk was also badly hit by blizzards and
Kinloss 3 C 8.8 1.8 of sunshine across England and Wales. abandoned vehicles were strewn
15
Leeds 2 S 0.2 ** Max 7C, min -6C
Lerwick 2 PC 3.6 0.3 Manchester Hull
across roads all over the country,
Leuchars 4 C 0.0 2.2 ooo
Liverpool 4 with trains trapped in snowdrifts
Lincoln 4 S 0.0 ** Galway IRISH 17
6 M 1.2 ** 2
and ferries having to steer through
Liverpool SEA 5 Sheffield
London 3 S 0.0 0.8 Dublin
LLlandudno
waters teeming with ice floes.
Lyneham 3 S 0.0 0.0 Seagulls were frozen in ice at
Manchester 5 S 1.6 0.0
Margate ** ** ** **
7 4
Shrewsbury
Nottingham Poole Harbour, while Heathrow
5 airport, known then as London
Milford Haven 6 C 0.8 **
i h
Norwich
Newcastle 2 S 1.0 ** 11 3 airport, was closed when an airliner
Nottingham 4 S 0.2 2.2 Birmingham
Orkney 3 C 2.4 0.0 6
Cork
Cambridge skidded off an icy runway. Hundreds
Oxford 3 S 0.0 ** 4 of London buses were put out of
Swansea Oxford 3
Plymouth 6 PC 0.4 ** action when their fuel froze.
Portland 4 PC 1.0 ** Cardiff
Scilly, St Mary’s 8 PC 1.0 **
Sunday Channel Islands CELTIC 5 Conditions in the uplands were
Shoreham ** ** 0.0 0.0 Remaining unsettled with showery
SEA Bristol London ferocious. Two groups of climbers
rain across Ireland and the Hebrides.
Shrewsbury 3 PC 0.0 1.0 5
Snowdonia 4 C 14.4 **
Mostly dry with sunny spells and the
odd shower in southern Britain. Southampton
were killed by avalanches on
7 moorlands in Lancashire. A rescue
Southend 3 S 0.0 0.7 Max 8C, min -5C Exeterr
South Uist 4 PC 6.0 ** 6 Plymouth Brighton mission was launched with RAF
Stornoway 2 PC 12.6 0.3
Tiree 5 R 2.0 0.9
helicopters on January 20 at
Whitehaven 3 S 1.4 3.4 2
6 Fylingdales early warning station on
CHANNEL 9
Wick 3 PC 4.2 ** 1 the North York Moors to save 283
Yeovilton 4 S 1.2 0.0
civilian workers who had been
8
4 General situation: Wintry showers in and snow, heaviest over tthe hills and London, E Anglia, E Mids, W Mids, IoM, trapped for several days by the snow.
The world northern Scotland and the Midlands, most widespread through the early N Wales, E Eng, NW Eng, Cen N Eng: “In one of the biggest airlifts ever to
All readings local midday yesterday
largely dry and sunny elsewhere. afternoon. Light to fresh southeasterly Sunny spells and wintry showers, take place in Britain, workers were
Alicante 13 PC Madeira 16 B 5 Republic of Ireland, N Ireland: Early fog winds, strong at times. Maximum heaviest and most widespread through
Amsterdam 5 SH Madrid 5 PC
ferried in batches of seven or eight,
and frost clearing to leave a mostly 5C (41F), minimum -8C (18F). the morning. Light easterly winds,
Athens 18 PC Malaga 14 PC
dry day with sunny spells and a few Edinburgh and Dundee, Argyll, Borders, perhaps moderate in places. Maximum in wind gusts up to 80 miles an
Auckland 23 PC Mallorca 12 PC
showers across northwest Ireland, Glasgow, SW Scotland, Lake District, 5C (41F), minimum -4C (25F). hour,” The Times reported. They
Bahrain 18 S Malta 19 S Monday
Bangkok 30 PC Melbourne 16 D Cloudy with showery rain for most,
perhaps turning wintry at times. Light NE Eng: Patchy mist and fog clearing SE Eng, Cen S Eng, S Wales, SW Eng, were flown to Whitby, 12 miles away,
Barbados 26 SH Mexico City 23 B heaviest across southwest England. and variable winds. Maximum through the morning to leave a largely Channel Is: A mainly dry day with but many found themselves
Southeast Britain will be mainly dry 4C (39F), minimum -3C (27F). dry afternoon with sunny spells sunny spells and the odd isolated
Barcelona 11 PC Miami 24 PC
with bright spells and patchy cloud. Moray Firth, Cen Highland, Aberdeen, and the odd wintry shower. Light to shower across southwest England.
marooned there by snowdrifts.
Beijing 0 S Milan 4 S
Beirut 19 PC Mombasa 32 B Max 11C, min -3C NE Scotland, NW Scotland, N Isles: moderate easterly winds. Maximum Light southeasterly winds. Maximum On January 20 there was also
Belgrade 12 PC Montreal -4 PC A frosty day with showery rain, sleet 4C (39F), minimum -5C (23F). 7C (45F), minimum -4C (25F). treacherous freezing rain and two
Berlin 2 B Moscow 0 DU days later a car drove across the
Bermuda 20 PC Mumbai 30 S 4
Bordeaux 2 SN Munich 2 B Tides Noon today 992 frozen Thames at Oxford; almost
Brussels 3 PC Nairobi 28 PC Tidal predictions. LOW 1032 the entire length of the non-tidal
Heights in metres LOW
Bucharest 18 S Naples 13 R
11
Thames froze as far as Teddington.
Budapest 6 B New Orleans 24 B Today Ht Ht 1024
Buenos Aires 35 S New York 6 C 5 Aberdeen 11:05 3.8 23:34 4.0 1000 But the river did not freeze in
Cairo 20 S Nice 12 S Avonmouth 04:30 11.0 17:02 11.4
LOW
1016 central London, as in the historical
Calcutta 22 S Nicosia 20 PC Belfast 08:35 3.1 21:04 3.3 1008 days of frost fairs, because the
LOW
Canberra 27 PC Oslo 0 SN 5
Cardiff 04:19 10.3 16:48 10.7 LOW
Cape Town 25 S Paris 4 S 02:57 4.8 15:30 4.8 LOW 1000 waters were too fast and were
Devonport
Chicago 4 DU Perth 28 S
Dover 08:27 6.0 21:04 5.9 warmed by effluents pouring out
Copenhagen 3 PC Prague 0 B from factories and power stations.
Tuesday Dublin 09:05 3.7 21:36 3.8
Corfu 17 PC Reykjavik -11 S 1008 LOW
Delhi 16 S Riga 2 DU A dull day with persistent rain for Falmouth 02:28 4.4 14:59 4.5 LOW On January 23 the temperature
much of the British Isles, heaviest Greenock 10:11 3.0 22:18 3.2
Dubai 23 PC Rio de Janeiro 31 PC
across Scotland and Wales. Dry with Cold front sank to minus 20.6C in
2 B 14 S Harwich 08:59 3.5 21:36 3.6 1016
Dublin
Faro 14 PC
Riyadh
Rome 13 SH
bright spells in the southeast.
Holyhead 07:57 5.0 20:24 5.1 LOW Warm front Hertfordshire, the coldest
Florence 9 B San Francisco 12 PC
Max 10C, min -1C
Hull 03:27 6.5 16:05 6.6
1024
Occluded front temperature in England that winter.
Frankfurt 3 S Santiago 25 PC Leith --:-- -- 12:17 4.9 1032 Trough
HIGH
Geneva 1 SN São Paulo 30 PC Liverpool 08:35 8.2 21:05 8.4
Gibraltar 13 PC Seoul 0 S 6 London Bridge 11:12 6.4 23:50 6.4
Synoptic situation Highs and lows Hours of darkness
Helsinki 2 B Seychelles 28 PC Lowestoft 06:42 2.3 19:27 2.3 24hrs to 5pm yesterday Aberdeen 16:36-07:59
Hong Kong 14 S Singapore 30 B Milford Haven 03:33 5.9 16:03 6.1 An occluded front associated Belfast 17:05-08:01
Honolulu 28 PC St Petersburg 2 DU with a low-pressure system to Warmest: St Mary’s, 7.7C
10 Morecambe 08:47 8.2 21:17 8.4 Coldest: Benson, -7.1C Birmingham 16:59-07:35
Istanbul 17 S Stockholm 3 PC the east of Norway will bring a Wettest: Trawsgoed, Dyfed,
4 Newhaven 08:30 5.9 21:03 5.9 Cardiff 17:08-07:36
Jerusalem 21 S Sydney 29 S mixture of showery rain, sleet 16.8mm
Newquay 02:28 6.0 14:57 6.2 Exeter 17:13-07:35
Johannesburg 23 PC Tel Aviv 21 S and snow to northern Scotland, Sunniest: Valley, Gwynedd,
Oban 03:32 3.4 15:55 3.5 3.8hrs* Glasgow 16:52-08:01
Kuala Lumpur 31 PC Tenerife 21 PC heaviest over higher ground.
5 Penzance 01:56 4.8 14:25 4.8 Liverpool 16:59-07:44
Kyiv ** ** Tokyo 9 B A few showers will move into
21 B 7 C Portsmouth 08:54 4.3 21:29 4.2 Sun and moon London 16:56-07:24
Lanzarote Vancouver northwest England and turn For Greenwich Manchester 16:56-07:41
Las Palmas 22 PC Venice 5 M Shoreham 08:39 5.6 21:14 5.6 Sun rises: 07.55
The Times weather Southampton 07:51 4.1 20:31 4.1
wintry. Elsewhere will be Newcastle 16:46-07:46
Lima 20 PC Vienna 6 PC Sun sets: 16.26
largely dry with sunny spells Moon rises: 06.07 Norwich 16:46-07:23
Lisbon 11 PC Warsaw 2 D page is provided Swansea 03:41 8.0 16:08 8.3
and frost lingering through the Moon sets: 13.08 Penzance 17:23-07:40
Los Angeles 14 PC Washington 6 R Tees 00:42 4.9 13:18 4.9
20 S 2 C
by Weatherquest day over the hills. New Moon: January 21 Sheffield 16:53-07:38
Luxor Zurich Weymouth 03:57 1.7 16:23 1.6
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
Sport
Doyle faces spell on sidelines after breaking elbow in fall
Racing The leading Flat jockey
Hollie Doyle will be out of action for
several weeks after breaking her
elbow in a heavy fall at
Wolverhampton on Monday evening.
Doyle, 26, was riding the 4-7
favourite The Perfect Crown when
her mount broke both front legs and
fell in a freak accident on the home
turn. She was able to roll clear as she
hit the ground and was able to walk
away but she went to see a specialist
to determine the extent of her injury.
Kempton Park
Rob Wright
5.30 Barrel Aged 7.30 Annaf
6.00 Trojan Legend 8.00 Eloso
6.30 Dembe 8.30 Big Jimbo
7.00 Kingdom Come
Going: standard to slow
Draw: 5f-1m, low best Racing TV
5.30 Novice Stakes
(3-Y-O: £3,780: 1m 4f) (9)
1 (4) BARREL AGED M Botti 9-7
2 (9) 022- BURDETT ROAD 47 M Bell 9-7
3 (2) 0-5 COME MUSICA 12 (B) M Botti 9-7
4 (7) FRENCH INVASION Charlie Johnston 9-7
5 (1) 42- SUPER MO 148 D M Simcock 9-5
6 (8) 0-0 LENS LEGACY 13 C Wallis 9-3
7 (5) 0- STORM VALLEY 31 A Balding 9-2
8 (3) 0-6 A LITTLE RESPECT 12 Charlie Johnston 9-0 D Muscutt
9 (6) BLONDELLE R Beckett 9-0
7-4 Super Mo, 15-8 Burdett Road, 5-1 French Invasion, 8-1 Barrel Aged, 10-1
Storm Valley, 20-1 Come Musica, 33-1 A Little Respect, 100-1 Lens Legacy.
Rob Wright’s choice: Barrel Aged, a son of Golden Horn, can
make a winning debut Dangers Super Mo, Burdett Road
6.00 Handicap (3-Y-O: £3,140: 1m) (11)
1 (10) 050- BALMAHA 51 R Hannon 9-9
2 (8) 006-5 GRAND CENTRAL 5 (B,E) P McEntee 9-9
3 (1) 000- TROJAN LEGEND 147 Charlie Johnston 9-7
4 (9) 60-14 GREAVSIE 2 (B,C,D) J Osborne 9-7
5 (11) 0656- TWILIGHT KISS 21 (P) M Botti 9-7
6 (7) 600-0 ITALIAN LOVER 13 C Hills 9-4
7 (6) 4002- BERNADINE 28 J Fanshawe 9-3
8 (4) 5436- BLUE CURACAO 19 R Hannon 9-2 AVoikhansky (7)
060- STRIKE ALLIANCE 51 (H) A Balding 9-2
9 (3)
10 (5) 0054- READY RECKONER 21 (P) J Chapple-Hyam 9-0
11 (2) 6600- LOOE P LOOE 125 D Coakley 8-5
9-2 Bernadine, 5-1 Strike Alliance, Greavsie, 6-1 Blue Curacao, 7-1 others.
Wright choice: Trojan Legend, gelded since last season, is
bred to stay Dangers Strike Alliance, Ready Reckoner
The following horses are blinkered for the first time today:
Kempton 6.30 Keyser Soze; 8.00 Eloso. Wolverhampton
3.40 Vienna Poppy.
Yesterday’s racing results
Southwell
Going: standard
4.37 (1m 4f 14yd) 1, Master Grey (Mr
P Millman, 7-2); 2, Bascinet (13-8 fav); 3, Luna
Magic (10-1). 10 ran. 2Nl, 2Nl. B R Millman.
5.12 (1m 3f 23yd) 1, Sax Appeal (F Norton, 11-8
fav); 2, Biscoff Joe (14-1); 3, Oyamal (7-4). 7 ran.
NR: Coriano Ridge, Ramensky. 5Kl, ns. Charlie
Johnston.
Tom Marquand, her husband who
is also a top Flat rider, said yesterday:
“She has broken her elbow. We don’t
really know how long she will be out
for as she only just had her MRIs [on
Tuesday night].
“It is one of those fiddly things, as
you could put a number on it and
you’d be wrong every time anyway.
“It is just a case of making sure she
gets it right now, because you
wouldn’t want to stop halfway
through the summer. It is frustrating.”
6.30 Handicap (£6,281: 1m) (8)
1 (2)503-2 DEMBE 16 (BF,C,D) B Johnson 5-9-9
2 (3)4000- KEYSER SOZE 68 (B,C,D) R Spencer 9-9-8 T Marquand
3 (8)012-3 AGUAPLANO 12 (P,CD) M Botti 4-9-6
050-0 UZINCSO 12 (CD) J Butler 7-9-2
4 (4)
5 (1)2641- THE THUNDERER 106 (C) S Curran 5-9-1
6 (6)4040- ROGUE FORCE 61 (H,CD) Tom Clover 5-8-13 J Mitchell
7 (7)31-21 SATIN SNAKE 8 (B,C) A Keatley 4-8-13(5ex) C Murtagh
8 (5)0002- GOLDEN SANDS 20 (H,P) M Appleby 4-8-8
A Voikhansky (7)
3-1 Dembe, 7-2 Aguaplano, 4-1 Satin Snake, 6-1 The Thunderer, 7-1 others.
Wright choice: Dembe is relatively unexposed and goes well
on the all-weather Dangers Keyser Soze, The Thunderer
R Havlin
T Marquand
7.00 Novice Stakes £3,780: 7f) (9)
S Cherchi 1 (6) AFTERNOON TEA J389 A Carroll 5-9-7
J Mitchell 2 (8) 422- CENTRAL HALL 22 (P,T,BF) S & E Crisford 4-9-7 J Mitchell
J P Spencer 3 (9) 5 ENDUED 15 J Fanshawe 4-9-7
4 (2) 00/ KINGDOM COME 496 C Cox 4-9-7
F Marsh
5 (7) 52- RUMNOTRED 21 B Millman 4-9-7
D Probert
6 (3) 6- WHAT A MAN 43 R Ingram 4-9-7
7 (5) 05- ZOFFANY PORTRAIT 351 A Carroll 4-9-7
Doubtful
8 (1) 0000- HIGHLAND LASS J15 R J Price 4-9-2
9 (4) MAJESTIC CHARM Sarah Hollinshead 4-9-2
4-5 Central Hall, 9-2 Rumnotred, 5-1 Kingdom Come, 6-1 Endued, 16-1 others.
Wright choice: Kingdom Come drops in class and can
overcome a lengthy absence Dangers Central Hall, Endued
7.30 Conditions Stakes (£12,885: 6f) (6)
S Levey
1 (2) 2125- TINKER TOY 24 R Varian 6-9-7
J Gordon
2 (4) 005-1 ANNAF 5 (D) M Appleby 4-9-4
J Mitchell
3 (3) 4040- HAZIYM 24 (D) A Carroll 4-9-4
N Currie
4 (6) 604-1 KIWANO 12 (CD) D M Simcock 4-9-4
T Marquand
5 (5) 5056- TONE THE BARONE 32 (H,T,D) S C Williams 7-9-4 S Levey
K Stott
6 (1) 112-2 ARAMIS GREY 18 (CD) R Guest 6-8-13
D Muscutt
5-4 Annaf, 5-2 Tinker Toy, 6-1 Kiwano, 7-1 Tone The Barone, 8-1 others.
D Probert
Wright choice: Annaf showed a smart turn of foot to win
at Lingfield Park; he can follow up Danger Aramis Grey
J P Spencer
G Rooke 6 The meetings at Ludlow, Newcastle
and Wincanton today have all been
called off because of frozen tracks.
Lingfield Park tomorrow is also off,
while there is an inspection at midday
for tomorrow’s card at Market Rasen.
5.45 (1m 13yd) 1, Naomi’s Charm (Pierre-Lou-
is Jamin, 15-8); 2, Victory House (5-4 fav); 3,
Ray Of Colours (5-2). NR: Dancing Gypsy. 6l,
8Kl. K R Burke.
6.15 (7f 14yd) 1, Atrafan (Connor Beasley, 9-4
jt-fav); 2, Written Broadcast (9-4 jt-fav); 3, Kra-
ken Florida (10-1). 10 ran. NR: Fact Or Fable,
Oxygen Thief, Piselli Molli, River Chorus. 1Nl,
ns. A D Brown.
6.45 (7f 14yd) 1, Cailin Saoirse (Taylor Fisher,
57
Gill becomes eighth man Blow for Surrey as South Africa legend Amla, 39, retires
to score 200 in an ODI Cricket The South Africa great centuries against Northamptonshire
Cricket India’s Shubman Gill has Hashim Amla has announced his in September.
become the youngest man to hit a retirement from professional cricket, Amla, who first played for Surrey as
double century in a one-day leaving Surrey with a sizeable gap to an overseas import in 2013 before
international. fill for the 2023 season. returning full-time three years ago,
The 23-year-old opener hit 19 fours The 39-year-old, who has scored said: “I have great memories of The
and nine sixes in his innings of 208 more than 18,000 runs for his Oval and to finally leave it fills me
from 149 balls, as India, who made country, called time on his with gratitude for what has been.”
349 for eight, beat New Zealand by 12 international career in 2019 but Amla was a particular thorn in
runs in Hyderabad. continued playing for Surrey and England’s side over the years, scoring
He is the eighth batsman to achieve helped them secure the LV= County six centuries in 21 Tests including his
the feat — Rohit Sharma has done it Championship crown last summer. country’s first triple-hundred — at
three times — and the fifth Indian. He scored the last of his 57 first-class The Oval — in 2012.
8.00 Handicap (£4,187: 1m 4f) (12) 3.05 Handicap (£4,239: 1m 1f 104yd) (11)
H Burns (3) 1 (4) 3635- LEGENDARY DAY J18 (T) A Keatley 5-10-2 Ryan Sexton (3)
Wolverhampton 1 (1) 0260- LOVE YOUR WORK 30 R Menzies 7-10-0 O Stammers (3)
2 (12) /42-0 ANGEL ON HIGH 16 A Wintle 6-10-0 F Marsh Rob Wright 2 (7) 1260- DEFINITE 101 (W,T) M Harris 4-9-13 R Hornby
D Probert 3 (2) 3132- DINOO 51 (P,BF) R Varian 5-9-13 C Noble 3 (3) 124-4 DUNDORY 15 J G O'Shea 7-9-13 Gina Mangan (5)
D Muscutt
1.20 Hello Me (nb) 3.05 Mafia Power
4 (7) 031-3 MILLE MIGLIA 18 (P,CD) C Cox 5-9-12 J Fahy 4 (8) 0415- VISIBILITY 37 (CD) S Dixon 6-9-12
1.55 Serenity Rose 3.40 Send In The Clouds Elisha Whittington (5)
C Bishop 5 (6) 4510/ LIGHT IN THE SKY J84 C Down 7-9-12 Jordan Williams (5)
2.30 Pysanka (nap) 4.15 Spanish Angel 5 (10) 000-1 WAR IN HEAVEN 10 (CD) M Appleby 4-9-12 A Rawlinson
6 (1) 504-6 ELOSO 15 (E,D) G Kelleway 5-9-11 T Marquand
Going: standard Sky Sports Racing
7 (3) 6610/ GLORIOUS ZOFF J486 (H,T,D) F O'Brien 6-9-11 K Stott 6 (4) 3-165 MAFIA POWER 10 (B,CD) A Watson 6-9-12 T Fisher (5)
Draw: 5f-7f, low numbers best 7 (5) 004-1 ARCADIAN NIGHTS 3 (CD) M Loughnane 5-9-12(5ex)
8 (8) 045/2 DANIEL DERONDA 15 (T) Miss A Murphy 6-9-11 S Cherchi
Billy Loughnane (7)
9 (10) 053-5 CRIMSON KING 15 (V,CD) M Appleby 7-9-10 F Larson (3) 1.20 Handicap (£3,699: 6f) (8) 8 (11) 215/0 IRON HEART 12 A Newcombe 6-9-11 W Cox
10(11) 63/4- MURHIB 313 (H,CD) Mrs L Richards 11-9-7 R Havlin
11 (9) 310-3 BUXTED TOO 14 I Williams 5-9-7 K O'Neill
1 (2) 331-1 ALGHEED 10 (C) M Loughnane 5-10-4 Billy Loughnane (7) 9 (2) 002-2 TOOPHAN 3 (P,T) P & O Cole 4-9-9 L Morris
2 (6) 0060- HELLO ME 32 (CD) Joseph Parr 5-10-2 L Morris 10 (6) 155-5 KENTUCKY KINGDOM 6 (CD) H Evans 7-9-7 D Costello
12 (5) 5200- BLUENOSE BELLE 24 (P) R Phillips 5-9-4 D Probert
3 (1) 060-3 INEVITABLE OUTCOME 10 (P,CD) D Loughnane 6-9-11 11 (9) 51-16 JOHNNY BOOM 3 (P,BF,CD) S Lycett 5-9-4 C Lee
7-2 Dinoo, 11-2 Mille Miglia, 13-2 Daniel Deronda, 15-2 Legendary Day, Buxted Laura Pearson (3)
Too, Glorious Zoff, 10-1 Eloso, Crimson King. 4 (7) 1046- STARSONG 36 (H,P,D) M Appleby 4-9-8 Doubtful
9-2 Arcadian Nights, 5-1 War In Heaven, 6-1 Toophan, Johnny Boom, 8-1
Visibility, Mafia Power, Kentucky Kingdom, 10-1 Love Your Work.
D Keenan 5 (5) 4530- SECOND COLLECTION 37 (H,CD) A Carroll 7-9-4
Wright choice: Eloso has dropped back to his latest
winning handicap mark Dangers Dinoo, Legendary Day Mollie Phillips (3)
D Muscutt 6 (4) 025-1 CARIAD ANGEL 16 (C) K R Burke 3-9-1 C Lee 3.40 Classified Stakes (£3,591: 7f) (10)
Rossa Ryan 7 (8) 36-63 ROSE BANDIT 6 (P,D) I Jardine 6-8-11 A Mullen 1 (7) 035-6 ELEGANT ELLEN 6 (H) Miss A Murphy 5-9-2 A Farragher (3)
O Searle (7)
8.30 Classified Stakes (£3,140: 1m 3f) (10) 8 (3) 2016- DRAGON GLORY 79 G Kelleway 3-8-8 A Farragher (3)
2 (6) 0000- FLOATS ON AIR 34 (T,V) I Furtado 4-9-2 A Rawlinson
R Havlin 1 (1) 606-1 PRINCESS NIEVE 5 G Boughey 4-9-7 K Stott 2-1 Algheed, 11-4 Cariad Angel, 4-1 Inevitable Outcome, 11-2 Rose Bandit, 3 (5) 04-22 HACHERT 4 (H,P,T,CD) J Candlish 6-9-2 L Morris
S M Levey 2 (2) 600-5 BELLA COLOROSSA 2 (CD) J Best & K Jewell 5-9-4 10-1 Hello Me, 20-1 Dragon Glory, Second Collection. 4 (9) 000-4 KASWARAH 14 (H) J G O'Shea 5-9-2 Gina Mangan (5)
J Mitchell
G Rooke 5 (8) 060/6 LITTLE GEM 13 (D) M Weatherer 5-9-2 L Edmunds
3 (8) 0025/ BIG JIMBO J643 G L Moore 6-9-4 R Clutterbuck
N Currie
4 (5) 652-2 CENDRILLON 15 (H) Matt Crawley 5-9-4 D Probert
1.55 Maiden Fillies' Stakes 6 (2) 000-5 MADAME MARMALADE 7 I Furtado 4-9-2
(£3,888: 1m 1f) (7) Elle-May Croot (7)
5 (10) 006-0 DARK ICON 13 J Butler 6-9-4 D Keenan 7 (3) 06-01 MOVEONUP 7 G Kelleway 7-9-2 Billy Loughnane (7)
1 (4) 062-2 SERENITY ROSE 11 M Loughnane 3-8-8 L Morris
6 (6) 06/0- GOKOTTA 51 C Poulton 5-9-4 K O'Neill 8 (10) 366-3 SEND IN THE CLOUDS 12 (D) A Carroll 6-9-2 J Fisher (5)
2 (1) 0 JUNEY 16 C Cox 3-8-6 H Turner
7 (4) 5444- MEISTERZINGER 117 M Usher 5-9-4 R Havlin 9 (4) 6460- VIENNA POPPY 84 (B) Darryll Holland 4-9-2
8 (3) 040-4 CHELSEA ANNIE 15 N Mulholland 4-9-2 T Marquand 3 (2) PRINCESS ANGELA P Evans 3-8-6 C Hardie Liam Wright (7)
9 (7) 000-2 FAITHLESS INSOMNIA 5 (P,T) P McEntee 4-9-2 4 (3) FLASH BARDOT Jack Channon 3-8-4 Rose Dawes (7) 10 (1) 400-0 WON LOVE 5 (T) M Loughnane 5-9-2 C Hardie
J Mitchell Rossa Ryan 5 (5) 00- PRECIOUS LAGATHA 19 K P De Foy 3-8-4 T Ladd 3-1 Moveonup, 7-2 Hachert, 4-1 Elegant Ellen, 6-1 Send In The Clouds, 7-1 others.
Rossa Ryan 10 (9) 3600- PHOTO BOMB 92 C Poulton 4-9-2 C Shepherd 6 (6) 42-3 SCRAMBLE 4 C Allen 3-8-4 A Keeley (5)
T Marquand 5-2 Princess Nieve, 7-2 Faithless Insomnia, 4-1 Cendrillon, 6-1 Meisterzinger, 7 (7) TIZ LIKELY J S Moore 3-8-4 Jimmy Quinn 4.15 Handicap (£3,699: 5f) (11)
J P Spencer 8-1 Chelsea Annie, 12-1 Big Jimbo, 14-1 Bella Colorossa, 25-1 others. 11-10 Serenity Rose, 3-1 Scramble, 6-1 Flash Bardot, 8-1 Princess Angela, 16-1
1 (6) 004-6 APACHE STAR 9 (C) M Loughnane 4-10-4
Wright choice: Big Jimbo has the ability to take this if fully Tiz Likely, Precious Lagatha, 20-1 Juney.
Billy Loughnane (7)
C Shepherd fit after a break Dangers Princess Nieve, Faithless Insomnia
2 (9) 04-44 WEE FAT MAC 7 I Jardine 4-10-4 A Mullen
2.30 Handicap (£3,699: 1m 1f) (8)
3 (4) 500-2 BOOM THE GROOM 3 (CD) A Carroll 12-10-3 L Morris
/34-6 YAKHABAR 15 Liam Bailey 4-9-12 B Garritty 4 (7) 2225- SPANISH ANGEL 29 (BF,C,D) R Carr 6-10-2 JP Sullivan
1 (6)
5 (8) 360-0 YOU'RE COOL 9 (T,V,CD) D Shaw 11-9-12 L Edmunds
Course specialists 2
3
(1)
(8)
23-4 PYSANKA 12 M Loughnane 4-9-10 Billy Loughnane (7)
424-4 DEEP SIGH 18 D M Simcock 5-9-10 H Turner 6 (10) 0045- ELLIE PIPER 38 (CD) R Brisland 5-9-11 R Hornby
Kempton: Trainers R Varian, 57 from 244 4 (3)221-0 KARDINYA 8 (B,CD) M Appleby 4-9-8 A Rawlinson 7 (5) 0022- GLORIOUS CHARMER 20 (T,C,D) M Herrington 7-9-7
runners, 23.4%; S & E Crisford, 22 from 96, 22.9%. T Eaves
Jockeys J Mitchell, 54 from 348 rides, 15.5%; R
5 (5)6013- BEARING BOB 21 A Carroll 4-9-7 C Lee
8 (1) 003-6 ICONICDAAY 5 (P) D O'Meara 4-9-6 Mark Winn (5)
Havlin, 46 from 319, 14.4%. 6 (2)55/0- CIRRUS 182 (T) M Harris 5-9-5
2420- REGATTA QUEEN 66 R Brisland 4-9-5
R Hornby
L Morris 9 (2) 0356- MOPS GEM 129 (C) M Appleby 5-9-5 A Rawlinson
7 (7)
Wolverhampton: Trainers J Parr, 12 from 62
8 (4)60-24 HOPEMAN HARBOUR 4 (B) P McBride 4-9-4 10(11) 0/03- MAGNA BELLA 227 A Ralph 4-9-5 C Hardie
runners, 19.4%. Jockeys Rose Dawes, 3 from 14 11 (3) 630-1 MINTANA 6 (D) H Evans 3-8-10 Mollie Phillips (3)
rides, 21.4%.
A Farragher (3)
11-4 Bearing Bob, 9-2 Deep Sigh, 5-1 Kardinya, Pysanka, 6-1 Hopeman 4-1 Spanish Angel, 9-2 Wee Fat Mac, 5-1 Glorious Charmer, Boom The Groom,
Harbour, 8-1 Regatta Queen, 12-1 Yakhabar, 20-1 Cirrus. 6-1 Mintana, 8-1 Apache Star, 12-1 Ellie Piper, 14-1 Mops Gem.
4-1); 2, Divine Connection (17-2); 3, Queen Of
Burgundy (5-1). 6 ran. NR: Grey Belle. 2Kl, 2Ol.
Jackpot: £2,507.30.
Placepot: £63.30.
2.10 (1m 1f 104yd) 1, Majestic Warrior (Rossa
Ryan, Evens fav); 2, Chronograph (11-4); 3, Al
(7-2). 6 ran. NR: Calonne. Nk, hd. A D Brown.
3.50 (7f 36yd) 1, Plumette (Rossa Ryan,
Alexandra Dunn. Quadpot: £29.20. Alaali (5-2). 5 ran. NR: Bravura, Super Mo. 2Nl, 11-1); 2, The Nail Gunner (13-2); 3, Chookie
7.15 (6f 16yd) 1, Tennessee Dream (Kevin 1l. J Tate. Dunedin (10-1). 7 ran. Nk, nk. D Loughnane.
Stott, 2-1 fav); 2, Struck Gold (6-1); 3, Sumac
(7-1). 9 ran. Kl, Kl. C Hills.
Wolverhampton 2.40 (1m 142yd) 1, Broughtons Flare (Billy
Loughnane, 11-4 fav); 2, Hot Day (6-1); 3, Trusty
4.25 (6f 20yd) 1, Kensington Agent (C Lee,
Going: standard 4-1); 2, Jupiter Express (5-4 fav); 3, Fristel
7.45 (6f 16yd) 1, Ignac Lamar (Hector Crouch, Scout (10-3). 10 ran. NR: Somedayonedaynev-
1.40 (1m 1f 104yd) 1, City Escape (Billy er. Sh hd, Kl. D M Loughnane. (15-2). 8 ran. 1l, nk. A W Carroll.
5-1); 2, King’s Gem (Evens fav); 3, Daytona
Lady (40-1). 7 ran. NR: Geralt Of Rivia. Ol, 2l. B Loughnane, 5-1); 2, Richard R H B (5-2); 3, King 3.15 (1m 142yd) 1, Crownthorpe (Ryan Sexton, Placepot: £101.60.
R Millman. Carney (18-1). 8 ran. Ol, 1Kl. D M Loughnane. 13-2); 2, Fast Style (10-3); 3, Jenson Benson Quadpot: £54.50.
558 Thursday January 19 2023 | the times

Sport Cricket

Mike Atherton
Chief Cricket Correspondent

Saint Patrick and his ‘big dog’ Smith

lead Aussie charge of the nice brigade JONO SEARLE/CA/GETTY IMAGES

A
dedication to Andrew Symonds and
the voice of Shane Warne on
commentary are shocking reminders
of how much has changed between
the filming of the second series of
Amazon Prime’s The Test and its release last
Friday. They are reminders, too, of how different
a beast the present Australia team are from their
predecessors, reflecting the urbane leanings of
the captain, Pat Cummins, over the rough-
edged machismo of a previous generation.
The link between the two is Justin Langer, the
star of the first series but who is largely absent
in the second, his coaching tenure having come
to an acrimonious end after last winter’s Ashes.
His dismissal is brushed over in the
documentary in the eagerness to show a
harmonious team rather than one bickering, as
all sporting families do from time to time.
Nevertheless, Langer’s absence leaves a void
unfilled and the second series is much less
interesting for it.
Documentary makers, and writers of
non-fiction, would hope for two o countless international cricketers.
essential ingredients to keep thee
viewer or reader engaged:
narrative arc and tension.
Having already burnished the
team’s reputation in the first
series, moving on from
Sandpapergate, there was
nowhere to go, not least
because Cummins’s team
were in the ascendancy
throughout the period during
which this series was filmed.
And tension? All is sweetness and
light in the absence of Langer on
eflate a
film to poke, prod, niggle and deflate
few egos.
Langer’s replacement, Andrew “Ronnie”
McDonald, is not interviewed for the second
series. He is seen briefly banging on about
“processes” during the tour to Pakistan but he is
everything Langer is not: low-key and
unobtrusive (which may mean that he does little
damage — not a bad outcome for a head coach).
The chances of a team playing a style of cricket
named in homage to McDonald appear thin,
even though the players were recently seen
scrawling “RonBall” on a sign in the dressing
room in a nod to England’s “Bazball” approach
under Brendon McCullum.
Instead, the main theme of the series is the
transformation from a coach-led team to a
captain-led team, and one in which the players
take on much more responsibility.
There is the delightful Usman Khawaja, front
and centre, finding joyous late-career fulfilment
after Travis Head’s Covid absence with twin
centuries in the fourth Ashes Test in Sydney.
And there is the journeyman’s journeyman,
C
Cummins — centre, with his star batsman, Smith, left, and Head — has overseen a
ca
captain-led environment after the micromanagement of ex-coach Langer, inset
Sco
Scott Boland, whose rise to
stard
stardom — “Build the man a
statue! — was one of the more
statue!”
remarkab events of the Ashes.
remarkable
And a jolly nice bunch they seem too.
Khawaja is in his ele element in Pakistan, the land
of his birth, and Boland appears to be one of the
humblest, gentlest fast bowlers you could wish
to meet. Niceness, though, has no bearing on
sporting outcomes, good or bad. Leo Durocher’s
aphorism — “nice guys finish last” — is one of
the most misunderstood and misappropriated in
sport. Sport is not a morality play: nice guys can
finish first, last and anywhere in between.
There are glimpses of grit in the oyster. Most
cricketers of yesteryear enjoyed the dressing
room as a camera-free sanctuary, but not this
team, who have traded that right away. There is
no escape from post-dismissal bat-throwing
tantrums and when Steve Smith is run out in Sri
Lanka and sits fuming madly in the dressing
room, every weekend village cricketer would
sympathise. That is the deadening effect of the
cameras, of course, reducing the mystique of an
international dressing room to the quotidian.
But, for all this, there are offerings that
intrigue. Marnus Labuschagne’s team-mates
clearly can’t decide whether he’s very good or
very fortunate. “How lucky is he?” exclaims one
after another dropped catch/no-ball wicket at
Adelaide in the Ashes. So lucky that Matthew
Wade was said to have appropriated an eagle
sticker, inspired by Isaiah 40:31 and used by
Labuschagne, to his own bat — to no avail.
Labuschagne is lucky, but also very good,
averaging 59.4 in Tests.
That is still marginally behind Smith (60.9)
and their relationship is part bromance, part
rivalry. Smith, according to team-mates, is the
“big dog” but Labuschagne is in close company
now, although he gives way where obsession
over kit is concerned. Smith must be one of the
biggest kit badgers going, one scene showing
him laboriously changing the thumb protector
in the right glove of each of the roughly 20 pairs
he carries with him.
Then there is Cummins’s home library, which
groans with worthy and interesting tomes —
books by, among others, Christopher Hitchens,
Jared Diamond, Steven Pinker and Richard
Dawkins. The series begins with Cummins
looking at some field plots like the novice
captain he was, but by the end his authority and
stature is unquestioned. Is there a flaw in Saint
Patrick’s make-up? Only computer games, at
which, according to a team-mate, he is “shit”.
At last, a pathway
for young women
I
t only took 35 years, but better late than
never. The inaugural Under-19 Women’s
World Cup is up and running in South
Africa, a pathway to what will be a
professional career worth striving for if the
recent television deal for the forthcoming
women’s Indian Premier League (worth more
than £700,000 per game) is anything to go by.
I played in the inaugural men’s version in
1988 in South Australia, and the benefits are
not hard to recall of becoming acquainted
with travel, new conditions and high-class
contemporaries from around the world at a
time, in those late teenage years, when
improvement tends to be rapid and the mind is
receptive to new experiences. That
tournament helped further the careers of
The good-news story so far has been
Rwanda, a country that did not play cricket
until about 20 years ago. On Tuesday, Rwanda
beat their counterparts from Zimbabwe by 39
runs, a victory completed by Henriette
Ishimwe, who took four wickets in four balls.
A World Cup first, for Rwanda and women’s
under-19 cricketers, but not the last.
So far, Bazball has discombobulated
opposition captains, and how well Cummins
holds his nerve in the Ashes this summer will be
intriguing. After victories against England, West
Indies and South Africa at home and Pakistan
away, the second series of The Test shows a
confident captain of a confident Australia team.
They certainly think highly of themselves:
Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Cummins
contact each other through a WhatsApp group
entitled “The Legends”; Labuschagne, at one
point in the documentary, says: “We’re a team
that shouldn’t lose”; Cummins advances the
notion that his “can be as good as any team of
any era”, and Glenn Maxwell says of Cameron
Green, the all-rounder: “This bloke’s going to be
the best ever.”
They have some way to go before any
comparison with the golden era of the late 1990s
and early 2000s — the team of Warne and
Symonds — can be justified. Australia travel to
India next month for four Tests and then come
to England in the summer for another five,
aiming to become the first Australia team to
win on English soil since 2001.
A third series of The Test, capturing the next
12 months, should be a lot more intriguing than
the second.

Lees: I’ll attack to regain England place Fixing charges for Chinese players
Elizabeth Ammon
Alex Lees has vowed to fight to win
back his Test place having been
dropped from the England squad at the
end of the summer. The opener believes
that although he did not score big runs,
he did make an impact on some of
England’s wins over New Zealand,
India and South Africa.
England dropped Lees, 29, for their
tour to Pakistan last month, opting for
Ben Duckett as Zak Crawley’s opening
partner, and have not picked him for
the forthcoming tour to New Zealand,
but the Durham opener is part of the
England Lions squad that will tour Sri
Lanka next month.
Lees played ten Tests last year, aver-
aging 23.84 and passing 50 only twice,
with a top score of 67. He acknowledges
that was not enough to warrant keeping
his place. “I played pretty competently
but just lacked that big score,” he said.
“Having got myself in good positions,
I just didn’t capitalise.
“The messaging [from Rob Key, the
ECB’s managing director of men’s
cricket, and Brendon McCullum, the
Test head coach] has been about trying
to keep developing my game and keep
trying to play in a manner in which the
Test team is now playing.
“The days of scoring 100 at a 40 strike
rate are gone, particularly under this
regime, so you’ve got to buy into that.”
Snooker
The former Masters champion Yan
Bingtao is among six Chinese players
charged with match-fixing by snooker’s
governing body, whose chairman Jason
Ferguson described the situation as
“heartbreaking”.
The other players charged with fixing
a match or matches are Lu Ning,
Zhang Jiankang, Chen Zifan, Chang
Bingyu and Zhao Jianbo. Zhao Xintong,
winner of the 2021 UK Championship,
is accused of being concerned in fixing
matches and betting on snooker. In all,
ten Chinese players suspended from the
World Snooker Tour have been deemed
to have cases to answer by the World
Professional Billiards and Snooker
Association (WPBSA).
An independent disciplinary tribunal
will be convened to consider the
evidence. “It is a heartbreaking situa-
tion for those of us who have
been in this sport for a long time,”
Ferguson said.
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
Ealing ready
to sue RFU if
promotion is
blocked again
Alex Lowe
Rugby
Correspondent
Ealing Trailfinders are prepared to take
legal action against the RFU if they win
the Championship and are blocked
from being promoted to the Gallagher
Premiership for the second year
running.
The west London club are top of the
RFU Championship and favourites to
win the title. They were denied
promotion at the end of last season
after falling short of the RFU’s
minimum standards requirements
because their stadium, Vallis Way, did
not hold 10,000 supporters.
Ealing, who average about 1,000
spectators for every home game,
dropped their appeal against that
decision but believe that they can prove
the stadium capacity demands are an
unlawful barrier to entry.
The minimum standards for this
season were redrawn. Any club who
want to go up must now provide
evidence within two weeks of winning
promotion into a 12-team Premiership
that they will have a 10,000-capacity
stadium by the 2024-25 campaign.
At the same time, Premiership Rugby
(PRL) and the RFU are working on a
plan to relaunch professional club
rugby. The favoured model at present is
to reduce the Premiership to ten teams
in 2024, just at the point when Ealing
need to open their new stadium.
In effect, the club are being asked to
commit to a £14.8 million stadium con-
struction project without any clarity
from PRL about what the league would
look like in 2024 and whether they
would be in it.
Ealing say that level of blind financial
commitment could push a debt-free
club into the red and questioned PRL’s
approach, given its publicised commit-
Stokes urges Newcastle to be positive ‘I am committed to Scotland’
Chris Jones
Newcastle Falcons have turned to Ben
Stokes, the England Test cricket cap-
tain, in the hope that he can inspire
them to a victory that could rescue their
European Challenge Cup campaign.
Stokes is no stranger to reviving
seemingly lost causes and Falcons, who
have lost all three Challenge Cup
matches, still have a slim chance of
making the knockout stage by beating
Connacht at home on Saturday.
Dave Walder, the Falcons head
coach, who captained the England
Schools under-18s cricket team and
played in the same Northumberland
under-17 side as Steve Harmison, was
impressed with Stokes’s advice to his
players. Walder said: “Ben is off to New
Zealand with England in a couple of
weeks and agreed to come and speak to
the players about the benefits of being
ment to sustainability in the wake of
Wasps and Worcester Warriors going
into administration.
Officials at Ealing are anxious to
avoid the legal route but feel that they
are being treated like a “problem child”
by the governing bodies, when all they
want is clarity on the future and to be
part of the restructuring conversation.
“We believe we can prove that 10,000
is unlawful and we feel we have a very
good case,” Ben Ward, the Ealing
director of rugby, said.
“Why can we host men’s Premiership
football here? We can have Man United
come down here. We had a licence to be
the London Broncos’ base in Super
League. So we can do all of those but for
some reason we can’t do men’s Premier-
ship rugby. You can’t tell me that’s for
any other reason than to be a barrier of
trade or restriction of trade.
“We don’t want to use that [legal
route]. I don’t believe we should be
arguing with our union. I believe we
should be working together for what’s
right for the game. I would have the
same interest if Jersey Reds won the
league.
“All we want is good conversations.
At the moment we believe it is illogical,
illegal and unfair the way they are look-
ing at it. Last year, I was getting
messages from the RFU saying one
thing and PRL telling us something
completely different.
“There is no clarity. They are
making decisions to protect the 11
[existing Premiership clubs].”
Simon Halliday,
the former
chairman of
European club
rugby, has
been recruited
by Ealing to try
to bring the
RFU and PRL to the table.
“We are not expecting to be told
that we can’t go up if we finish top,”
Halliday said. “In a very friendly and
direct way we have said, ‘We have
significant legal opinion.’ We want
Stokes is
given a
Newcastle
Falcons shirt
with his Test
No 55 on it
by Walder,
the club’s
head coach
positive in everything you do and
having an aggressive mindset.
“Ben is a very impressive guy and
talked about having a belief and philos-
ophy and sticking to it regardless of
outside noises. The way he spoke
showed how strong he is in his beliefs
around messages and how they are
delivered. He spoke about trust and
how you earn that by showing people
by your actions not your words. There
Ealing remain top of English rugby’s second tier and are favourites to win it for a second season, but Ward, their director of
rugby, below, says they have been placed in an impossible situation by a lack of clarity from those in charge of the game
to know what we are getting into. We
want to know what plan they have. We
want to be part of a sensible and sus-
tainable restructuring of English rugby.
“If we finish top again and we don’t go
up again, we have already put the RFU
on notice that we do not intend that to
be the outcome. I don’t believe the
game will accept it. What does that
mean to ambition in this country? Are
we just kissing goodbye to the top 11
clubs in the country?”
Ealing are desperate to achieve
their long-held ambition of win-
ning promotion. But promotion
into what? Simon Massie-Taylor,
PRL’s chief executive, has said
that a decision on the
competition size and
structure for the
2024-25 season
has to be made
as a matter of
urgency so
that Ealing and
other promotion
hopefuls know
where they stand.
The Premiership’s
finances were brand-
ed as “clearly unsus-
tainable” in a parlia-
mentary report pub-
is a positivity about how he attacks
everything and he is always looking for
improvements.”
Stokes, who was presented with a
Falcons shirt with his favourite No 55
on the back, played rugby league and
union as a youngster in New Zealand,
starting as an outside half and ending
up at full back. His son plays junior
rugby at Hartlepool.
“I have never gone in somewhere like
I did today to speak to athletes from
other sports, so this was a big thing for
me,” Stokes said. “I didn’t want to
come in and say, ‘This is how you need
to do things,’ because every environ-
ment is different.
“I was more keen to hear what ques-
tions the Falcons guys had. I love my
sport and it’s interesting to see how
different teams go about things. I was
made to feel really welcome, and hope-
fully the lads got something out of it.”
lished by the Department for Digitial,
Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on
Tuesday. PRL and the RFU issued a
statement saying they were “working
hard . . . to create a sustainable league”.
Ealing questioned that commitment,
given they are being asked to spend
£14.8 million on a stadium — with pres-
sure to commit up to £20 million more
in buying a share of the league — with-
out knowing the structure from 2024.
“Where is the sanity in spending
£15 million on a ground when we don’t
know if we will be in that league and we
don’t know if the minimum standards
will change?” Ward said. “To build that
without knowing why we are building it
or what for would put the club at risk.”
For Ealing to have full rights as a
Premiership club — to receive £1.5 mil-
lion in central funding each year and to
have a voice at the discussion table —
they would need to purchase a P share.
Owning a P share is not a prerequi-
site for playing in the Premiership.
“They expect you to have one,” Halli-
day said. Wasps and Worcester had
their P shares bought by the league at
the agreed insolvency rate of £9.8 mil-
lion. Ealing have been quoted prices of
between £15 million and £20 million.
“The DCMS report says the Premier-
ship is unsustainable. We know this,”
Mark Palmer
Ruaridh McConnochie, the former
England wing, has said that his pride in
his roots meant that he could not turn
down a call-up to the Scotland squad
for the Six Nations.
The 31-year-old Bath player won two
England caps before and during the
2019 World Cup, scoring a try in a pool
game against the United States, but is
now eligible to represent the land of his
parents’ birth having served the requi-
site three-year stand-down period.
He said that there had been no mixed
emotions when the head coach, Gregor
Townsend, called him up, even if some
of his former colleagues have made
plain their feelings before a potential
debut at Twickenham on February 4.
“When I signed for England sevens
and made my debut, it was difficult-ish
in my head to make the choice, but it
59
Rugby union Sport
GARRY BOWDEN/SHUTTERSTOCK
Ward said. “So why would the RFU or
PRL ask another club to go into debt,
when we have zero debt at the moment,
for something that is a barrier to entry
rather than being something that
makes the league better.
“I am fully in favour of minimum
standards — safety for players, medical
staff, all of that is very important. What
I am not in favour of is asking us to build
a stadium for 10,000 when we are
attracting a 1,000 crowd.
“By the time we build it they are tell-
ing us it may go to a ten-team league. So
what are we building for? What is the
future? To build without knowing what
the future is, we believe that is irrespon-
sible for the club, especially when you
see what has happened with Worcester
Warriors and Wasps.
“We are not sitting here saying we
wouldn’t develop our stadium but we
are saying it should be developed with
the rate of our crowd. And as that grows
we should grow.
“We have only been professional for
nine years and we have done every-
thing in a calculated way.
“I believe as a club we should be
applauded for doing this in the right
way. As should other Championship
clubs like Coventry and Doncaster,
who are growing in a sustainable way.”
wasn’t really a choice at the time,” he
said. “I was happy with it then, knowing
that if it was the thing to be, I would pur-
sue the England career — I didn’t know
what was going to happen after that.
“When the [World Rugby] ruling
changed and I knew I could be eligible,
I was like, ‘I’m proud of my career so far,
proud of playing for England and what
I achieved there, but I’m also really
proud of where I come from, my family
roots, my family ties’ — why wouldn’t I
pursue this as much as I can?
“I’m 100 per cent committed. To be in
the mix, to have the opportunity is
pretty incredible and something I
never thought I would be able to do.
“I got a load of shit from the
[England] lads straight away,
messaging me yesterday with different
gifs. Will I get more if I end up making
my debut at Twickenham? Yes,
probably — I’d expect nothing less!”
60 2GM Thursday January 19 2023 | the times

Sport Football

Gnonto’s star continues to rise MOLLY DARLINGTON/REUTERS

World Cup
timekeeping
Leeds United
Gnonto 1, 36, Rodrigo 34, Bamford 71, 76 5 ‘stops faking’
Cardiff City
Robinson 84, 90+3 (pen) 2 continued from back
trial a countdown clock to replace the
FA Cup third-round replay referee as the timekeeper. Fifa will tell
Martin Hardy
competitions including the Premier
By the time Leeds United had League to follow its approach at the
completed a stroll into the FA Cup World Cup in Qatar, which led to more
fourth round for the first time in six ball-in-play time during matches, with
years, Wilfried Gnonto was being asked larger amounts of stoppage time at the
how he thought his stunning scissor- end of each half.
kick volley compared with that by Ifab also rejected a bid by the Premier
Paolo Di Canio all those years ago for League, Major League Soccer in the
West Ham United. United States and France’s Ligue 1 to
“I think his goal was better,” he said, hold a trial of rugby-style temporary
“but I think mine was also good.” concussion substitutes, whereby
That felt about right, but after players would have ten minutes to be
Gnonto’s performance there was a need assessed after a head injury and could
to do another check on the transfer fee return to play if they passed the checks.
that brought him from Zurich to Leeds Fifa has insisted on instead retaining
in the summer. Only £3.8 million? Yes, permanent concussion substitutes.
the decimal point is in the right place. On the VAR change, Mark Bulling-
This was a destruction, an FA Cup ham, the FA chief executive and Ifab
third-round replay walkover, and board member, said: “There will be a
Gnonto was at its heart, scoring twice trial in Fifa tournaments over the next
— the first such a dramatic, acrobatic 12 months. We think that is important
volleyed goal in only the 26th second of in terms of transparency, and also for
the match. the crowd in the stadium who we think
It was the fastest goal in the competi- do not get enough information.
tion this season, from one of the fastest- “The conversation with the VAR offi-
emerging stars in English football. cial will remain private, but the referee
Rodrigo floated a cross with his left will effectively go to the crowd and say,
foot to the left side of the Leeds attack. ‘This is what has happened.’ ”
The ball dropped behind Tom Sang, the Fifa will now iron out issues over
Cardiff City right back, and what translating the announcements for
followed was a scissor-kick with Gnon- viewers and fans at the Club World Cup
to’s right foot, rather than his left, which in Morocco, which starts on February 1;
flew into the Cardiff goal. It deserved seven teams will compete for the
comparison with Di Canio’s famous Gnonto leaps to score the opening goal for Leeds within the first 26 seconds of the game with a spectacular volleyed finish trophy, including Europe’s Real Madrid,
goal against Wimbledon 23 years ago. the Champions League holders.
“We wanted to have a fast start and Leeds are signing good players and starting to take shape; that has not been went from one end of the pitch to the It was also confirmed that Fifa’s
that was a dream start,” Jesse Marsch, starting to look like the team Marsch easy. “The BS that some of the players other, Marc Roca fed Harrison, who guidelines will be used to increase play-
the Leeds head coach, said. “It was a wants them to be. Gnonto is only 19 and are against me is just awful, it’s awful,” moved the ball out wide to Gnonto, and ing time in matches. At the World Cup,
good ball from Rodri, a good run in the still has more caps for Italy than he does Marsch added. “We believe in ourselves the right-footed finish from 15 yards the average ball-in-play time was
deep. He [Gnonto] bumps the goals for Leeds, despite his and we know we are going to get better.” flew through the legs of Sang and past 58 minutes, compared with 55min 18sec
defender, arranges his feet second of the game before Gnonto’s substitution in the 66th Jak Alnwick again. in the Premier League this season.
and it is an incredible half-time, but that will minute drew a standing ovation from all Two more goals came from Bamford, Bullingham added that referees
finish. Boreham surely change quickly. four sides of Elland Road. He was still the first with 19 minutes to go, and then, would be told to stop their watches for
“He is a very humble, At the break Leeds smiling in his seat in the dugout a min- four minutes later, he took a touch with the entire duration of stoppages for
grounded human being Wood/Accrington paraded their new for- ute later, still receiving high fives. It will his left and cleverly finished with the injuries or other delays rather than just
who wants to improve Stanley v Leeds ward Georginio Rutter, cause some consternation that a song same foot. Robinson’s double at the adding on a minute, which he said
and believes in the pro- a record-breaking sign- about Gnonto which Leeds have urged death, the second a penalty given by would stop players feigning injury for
Fourth-round ties to
cess we have created.” ing from Hoffenheim their fans to alter the lyrics to was sung VAR, could not detract from how long periods.
be played over
It was an incredible whose fee could reach during the game. That remains an issue. Gnonto and Leeds had performed. Ifab also decided that no change to
the weekend of
way to start an FA Cup tie £35 million. Luis Sinisterra, His transfer fee could rise to about the offside law was needed despite
January 27-29
and it ended it, really. Leeds a £20 million summer arriv- £10 million, according to those in incidents such as Marcus Rashford’s
demolished their Sky Bet al, came on in the second half Zurich, because of bonuses. That will be Leeds (4-2-3-1): I Meslier 6 — R Kristensen 7, equaliser in the Manchester derby on
D Llorente 7, M Wöber 7 (sub: L Ayling 57min, 6),
Championship opponents from there. and Rodrigo was given the captain’s money well spent. J Firpo 6 — T Adams 7 (B Aaronson 45, 6), Saturday, but that in relation to other
Rodrigo got one and Patrick Bamford armband. He set up Gnonto’s first and Rodrigo scored Leeds’s second in the M Roca 7 — S Greenwood 7, J Harrison 8 controversies — such as Mohamed
two, late in the game, after coming on as then calmly finished his side’s second. 34th minute, cutting back after a Jack (L Sinisterra 79), W Gnonto 8 (J Gelhardt 67, 6) — Salah’s FA Cup goal for Liverpool
a substitute. Marsch has insisted that this is the Harrison pass before drilling a left- Cardiff Rodrigo 87 (P Bamford 45, 8). Booked Gnonto. against Wolverhampton Wanderers on
(4-1-4-1): J Alnwick 5 — T Sang 5, C Nelson
It was all very easy. Do not read too most belief he has had in this team, and footed finish into the Cardiff goal. Two 6, J Simpson 6, J Bagan 5 — R Sawyers 6 — January 7 — that “a player who is clear-
much into Cardiff’s two consolation therefore his work, since his arrival minutes later Gnonto added his second M Harris 5 (C Kipré 45, 6), A Rinomhota 6 (C ly in an offside position should not be-
goals, both from Callum Robinson, at 11 months ago. Certainly there is finally and Leeds’s third. The speed of transi- Robinson 64, 7), S Ojo 7 (G Whyte 88), R Colwill 5
(R Wintle 45, 6)— K Etete 5 (I Davies 64, 5). Booked
come onside on all occasions when an
the game’s close. a post-Marcelo Bielsa identity that is tion will have pleased Marsch. They Sang. Referee T Bramall. Attendance 34,465. opponent moves and touches the ball”.

Results

L H Ferguson c Gill b Pandya 8 (7) R P Burl run out 59 (41) Lokoli (Fr) 4-6, 2-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-4, 6-2; Potapova (Russ) bt S Stephens (US) 7-6 (7-2),
Football Cricket B M Tickner not out 1 (1) †C Madande not out 12 (9) T Kokkinakis (Aus) bt F Fognini (It) 6-1, 6-2, 6-4; D Vekic (Cro) bt O Selekhmeteva (Russ)
Extras (lb 5, w 14) 19 B Evans lbw b Hume 6 (2) 6-2; B Holt (US) bt A Vukic (Aus) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (10-7); M Vondrousova (Cz) bt A
Premier League India v New Zealand, first ODI
W P Masakadza not out 1 (1) 3-6, 6-3; (24) R Bautista (Sp) bt J Sousa (Por) Riske (US) 5-7, 6-1, 6-4. Second round (1)
Crystal Palace(0) 1 Manchester Utd(1) 1 Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium (India Total (49.2 overs) 337 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Second round M McDonald
Fall of wickets 1-28, 2-70, 3-78, 4-89, 5-110, Extras (lb 1, w 10) 11 I Swiatek (Pol) bt M Camila Osorio (Col) 6-2,
won toss): India beat New Zealand by 12 runs (USA) bt (1) R Nadal (Sp) 6-4, 6-4, 7-5; (31) Y
Olise 90+1 Fernandes 43 6-131, 7-293, 8-294, 9-328. Total (7 wkts, 37 overs) 214 6-3; C Bucsa (Sp) bt B Andreescu (Can) 2-6, 7-6
India (balls) R Ngarava and V M Nyauchi did not bat. Nishioka (Japan) bt D Svrcina (Cz) 6-3, 6-4, (9-7), 6-4; (22) E Rybakina (Kaz) bt K Juvan
6 Table on pages 62/3 *R G Sharma c Mitchell b Tickner 34 (38) Bowling Shami 10-1-69-1; Siraj 10-2-46-4; 6-2; (18) K Khachanov (Russ) bt J Kubler (Aus)
Fall of wickets 1-9, 2-49, 3-80, 4-99, 5-175, (Slovenia) 6-2, 6-1; (13) D Collins (US) bt
S Gill c Phillips b Shipley 208 (149) Pandya 7-0-70-1; Yadav 8-1-43-2; Thakur 6-203, 7-209. 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2; (16) F Tiafoe (US) bt Shang
7.2-0-54-2; Sundar 7-0-50-0. K Muchov (Cz) 6-7 (1-7), 6-2, 7-6 (10-6);
FA Cup third-round replay V Kohli b Santner 8 (10) Bowling Adair 8-0-40-2; Little 8-0-39-1; Hume Juncheng (China) 6-4, 6-4, 6-1; (10) H Hurkacz K Kozlova (Ukr) bt C McNally (US) 6-1, 7-6
Leeds (3) 5 Cardiff (0) 2 †I P K P Kishan c Latham b Ferguson 5 (14) 6-0-41-2; Tector 4-0-20-1; McBrine 7-0-38-0; (Pol) bt L Sonego (It) 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3; (7-4); (17) J Ostapenko (Lat) bt A Bondar (Hun)
S A Yadav c Santner b Mitchell 31 (26) Zimbabwe v Ireland, first ODI (20) D Shapovalov (Can) bt T Daniel (Japan)
Gnonto 1, 36 Robinson 84, 90+3 Harare Sports Club (Zimbabwe won toss and Campher 3-0-18-0; Dockrell 1-0-17-0. 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 6-0; B Pera (US) bt (29) Zheng
H H Pandya b Mitchell 28 (38) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5; (29) S Korda (US) bt Qinwen (China) 6-4, 6-4; (7) C Gauff (US) bt E
Rodrigo 34 (pen) elected to bowl): Zimbabwe beat Ireland by Y Watanuki (Japan) 6-2, 7-5, 6-4; (7)
Bamford 71, 76
W Sundar lbw b Shipley
S N Thakur run out
12 (14)
3 (3) three wickets (DLS Method) Snooker D Medvedev (Russ) bt J Millman (Aus) 7-5, 6-2, Raducanu (GB) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4); (3) J Pegula (US)
6-2; (3) S Tsitsipas (Gr) bt R Hijikata (Aus) 6-3, bt A Sasnovich (Bela) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5); M Kostyuk
Scottish Premiership K Yadav not out 5 (6) Ireland (balls) Duelbits World Grand Prix (Ukr) bt O Gadecki (Aus) 6-2, 6-1; (20)
M Shami not out 2 (2) P R Stirling lbw b Ngarava 13 (25) The Centaur, Cheltenham: First round 6-0, 6-2; T Griekspoor (Neth) bt (32) B van de
Celtic (2) 4 St. Mirren (0) 0 Zandschulp (Neth) 6-4, 6-4, 6-4; M Fucsovics B Krejcikova (Cz) bt C Burel (Fr) 6-4, 6-1;
Extras (w 13) 13 S T Doheny b Nyauchi 3 (9) L Brecel (Bel) bt J Perry (Eng) 4-1; S Craigie A Kalinina (Ukr) bt (15) P Kvitova (Cz)) 7-5, 6-4;
Abada 15 *A Balbirnie retired hurt 121 (137) (Eng) bt T Ford (Eng) 4-2; S Murphy (Eng) bt (Hun) bt L Harris (SA) 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4; (15) J
Total (8 wkts, 50 overs) 349 Sinner (It) bt T Etcheverry (Arg) 6-3, 6-2, 6-2; (10) M Keys (US) bt Wang Xinyu (China) 6-3,
Furuhashi 35, 53 M Siraj did not bat. H T Tector not out 101 (109) A Carter (Eng) 4-0; A McGill (Scot) bt G Wilson 6-2; (24) V Azarenka (Bela) bt N Podoroska
Turnbull 86 G H Dockrell c Burl b Butt 12 (5) J Lehecka (Cz) bt C Eubanks (US) 6-4, 6-4, 3-6,
Fall of wickets 1-60, 2-88, 3-110, 4-175, 5-249, (Eng) 4-1; J Lisowski (Eng) bt Yuelong Zhou 6-3; (28) F Cerundolo (Arg) bt C Moutet (Fr) (Arg) 6-1, 6-0; Zhu Lin (China) bt (32)
6-292, 7-302, 8-345. C Campher c Burl b Nyauchi 8 (8) (China) 4-2; N Saengkham (Thai) bt R
Hearts (4) 5 Aberdeen (0) 0 †L Tucker not out 12 (8) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-5; (6) F Auger-Aliassime (Can) J Teichmann (Switz) 6-2, 6-2; (6) M Sakkari
Bowling Shipley 9-0-74-2; Ferguson O’Sullivan (Eng) 4-2); M Williams (Wales) bt bt A Molcan (Slovakia) 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2; (Gr) bt D Shnaider (Russ) 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Shinnie (og) 15 18,497 Extras (b 8, lb 1, w 8, nb 1) 18 Ding Junhui (China) 4-0.
10-0-77-1; Tickner 10-0-69-1; Santner 10-0- Total (4 wkts, 50 overs) 288 (11) C Norrie (GB) bt C Lestienne (Fr) 6-3, 3-6,
Smith 28 56-1; Bracewell 6-0-43-0; Mitchell 5-0-30-2. 7-6 (7-2); 6-3.
A R McBrine, M R Adair, G I Hume and J Little
Shankland 40 (pen)
New Zealand (balls) did not bat. Tennis
Ginnelly 45+1
Devlin 61 F H Allen c sub b Thakur 40 (39) Fall of wickets 1-4, 2-25, 3-254, 4-266. Australian Open
Women’s singles: First round
V Gracheva (Russ) bt (8) D Kasatkina (Russ)
Fixtures
D P Conway c K Yadav b Siraj 10 (16) Bowling Ngarava 10-0-40-1; Nyauchi Melbourne Park: (seeds in brackets) Men’s 6-1, 6-1; L Stefanini (It) bt T Maria (Ger) 3-6, 7-5,
Kilmarnock (1) 2 Rangers (1) 3 H M Nicholls b K Yadav 18 (31) 10-0-65-2; Evans 9-3-48-0; Burl 7-0-40-0; singles: First round E Ruusuvuori (Fin) bt M 6-4; (23) Zhang Shuai (China) bt P Tig (Rom)
Stokes 6 Morelos 23, 72 D J Mitchell lbw b K Yadav 9 (12) Butt 8-0-47-1; Masakadza 6-0-39-0.
Zimbabwe (balls)
Purcell (Aus) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11); D Kudla 6-1, 4-6, 6-0; M Linette (Pol) bt M Sherif (Egy) Football
Wright 85 Kent 51 *†T W M Latham c Sundar b Siraj 24 (46) (US) bt R Safiullin (Russ) 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3; 7-5, 6-1; (27) I Begu (Rom) bt E Mandlik (US)
8,461 W N Madhevere c sub b Adair 2 (14) U Humbert (Fr) bt R Gasquet (Fr) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3; 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2; L Siegemund (Ger) bt L Premier League Man City v Tottenham (8.0)
G D Phillips b Shami 11 (20)
Sent off: Armstrong (Kilmarnock) 59 I Kaia c Campher b Hume 19 (39) M Cressy (US) bt A Ramos (Sp) 7-6 (7-2), 7-5, Bronzetti (It) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3; L Davis (US) bt D
Livingston P Dundee United P
M G Bracewell lbw b Thakur
M J Santner c S A Yadav b Siraj
140 (78)
57 (45)
*C R Ervine c and b Tector 38 (43) 3-6, 6-3; A Mannarino (Fr) bt J Isner (US) 6-7 Kovinic (Montenegro) 1-6, 7-5, 6-1; C Liu (US) Snooker
G S Ballance c Hume b Little 23 (28) (5-7), 7-6 (10-8), 6-2, 6-2; E Couacaud (Fr) bt H bt M Brengle (US) 6-3, 6-4; N Parrizas Diaz (Sp)
*Postponed due to frozen pitch H B Shipley b Siraj 0 (1) S R Butt c Campher b Adair 43 (45) Dellien (Bol) 6-4, 7-5, 6-0; M Mmoh (US) bt L bt (14) B Haddad Maia (Br) 7-6 (13-11), 6-2; A Cheltenham: World Grand Prix
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
Messi’s pitstop in Saudi Arabia will
show Ronaldo how far he has fallen
Fan pays £2.1m to see
friendly that could be
salutary lesson for
Argentina star, writes
Tom Kershaw in Riyadh
A
fter the fractious months
spent reckoning with his
own footballing
mortality, one could
hardly imagine a
more damning confirmation of
Cristiano Ronaldo’s decline than
his debut tonight. His reluctant
pasture makes for a kingdom’s
poster here in Riyadh, where
luminous billboards heralded
his arrival throughout the city,
yet this final chapter is an
exhibition in celebrity rather
than sporting conquest, a
political coup de grâce
rendering arguably the
world’s most powerful
influencer as another of Saudi
Arabia’s pawns.
It was only two months ago that
Ronaldo proudly told Piers Morgan a
lucrative twilight in the desert held
little appeal, but the temperamental
saga that ended in Manchester
United exile and tears at the World
Cup left the 37-year-old with few
alternatives. He might have been
hailed as “the world’s greatest player”
at an obsequious unveiling a
fortnight ago, but a reported
£173 million-a-year contract with Al-
Nassr marked the bitter surrender of
his status among the elite. That his
first appearance will come in an
exhibition game, as captain of an all-
star Riyadh XI including players
from arch-rivals Al-Hilal, is a
testament to that — and having to
share the stage with Lionel Messi
will rub salt in the wound.
Paris Saint-Germain arrived in
Riyadh after a pitstop in neighbouring
Qatar, with Messi’s World Cup glory
at the forefront of the parade. Reports
have been rife in recent days that Al-
Hilal are attempting to persuade the
Argentina star to join Ronaldo here,
but the 35-year-old’s flame is burning
as ardently as ever. A new contract at
PSG — or a move to Inter Miami in
the US — is expected soon and he is
the clear favourite to win the Ballon
d’Or. When he takes to the field
alongside the likes of Neymar and
Kylian Mbappé, it will serve as the
starkest reminder of what Ronaldo has
FA slams own inquiry for saying Yems ‘not a conscious racist’
Martyn Ziegler, Molly Hudson
The FA has criticised its own independ-
ent commission for saying that a
manager who used racist language on
numerous occasions was “not a
conscious racist”.
The FA is also considering an appeal
against the 15-month ban for the
former Crawley Town manager John
Yems. It had argued for a two-year ban.
The wording of the full findings of the
case by an independent regulatory
commission — made up of Robert
Englehart KC, the former Sheffield
United striker Tony Agana and Wolver-
hampton Wanderers’ club secretary
Matt Wild — has provoked an uproar
2GM
sacrificed and further the feeling that
the past couple of months delivered a
decisive chapter in their rivalry.
For those in Saudi Arabia, that
debate means little. Reuniting
Ronaldo and Messi here for the first
time in more than two years, and
quite possibly the last time, guarantees
victory regardless of the match’s
outcome. A concerted effort to host
major sporting events may already be
familiar, if not relentless — the Italian
and Spanish Super Cup finals were
held in Riyadh in the past few days —
among players and anti-discrimination
campaigners.
The FA chief executive, Mark Bull-
ingham, said: “We’re looking into our
legal options now. We don’t agree that
the panel should have found that this
was not a case of conscious racism.”
It is understood it is not clear whether
the FA can appeal against the sanction
in this case. Kick It Out, the campaign
group, called Yems’s 15-month ban “a
slap in the face” and warned that the
commission’s findings and the use of a
“banter defence” sets a “dangerous
precedent”.
Yems, 63, admitted to one charge and
was found guilty of 11 others relating to
comments that referenced ethnic
Tale of the tape
T
P
PSG’s match with the Saudi Arabia
A
All-Star team will be the 37th time
tthat Lionel Messi and Cristiano
R
Ronaldo have played each other
Messi Ronaldo
Head-to-head
Messi wins
M Draw 8 Ronaldo
16 11
F
First encounter
Barcelona
B 0-0 Manchester United,
C
Camp Nou, Champions League,
semi-final
se first leg, 23/4/2008
Last
L encounter
Barcelona
B 0-3 Juventus, Camp Nou,
Champions
C League, 8/12/2020
Minutes
3,140
3 3,001
Goals
22
Assists
12 1 It is indicative of Saudi Arabia’s pull
J
June 24, 1987 Born Feb 5, 1985
B
Barcelona, PSG Clubs S Lisbon,
Man United,
Real Madrid,
Juventus, Al-Nassr
League titles
11 7 still playing for Al-Nassr when the
Champions League
4 5
International honours
W
World Cup 2022
C
Copa America 2021
Euro 2016
Ballon d’Or
7 5
European Golden Boot
6 4
but their magnitude is far outweighed shock victory over Argentina in the
by tonight’s spectacle and the notion World Cup group stage.
that Ronaldo is now one of their own. When tickets went on sale for
It may often be obscured by Saudi tonight’s match, more than two million
Arabia’s ghoulish reputation, but people supposedly joined the online
there is a genuine football culture queue. One fan even bid £2.1 million
here. It stems back more than a for a “Beyond Imagination” pass that
century to when foreign pilgrims includes perks such as access to both
introduced locals to the game on their dressing rooms and meet and greets
journeys to Mecca. The Riyadh derby, with Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar and
in which Ronaldo will feature in May, Mbappé. It is indeed surreal, but the
can command attendances upwards excitement is not only confined to
of 50,000 and a public holiday was locals. One German fan said he’d
declared after the national team’s spent £718 on a second-hand ticket
origin, colour, race, nationality, reli- Yems, 63, received
gion, belief or gender between 2019 and a 15-month ban for
2022. He called black players “Zulu his racist language
warriors” and referred to an Asian
player as a “suicide bomber” among
other incidents.
The commission’s report had said:
“We regard this as an extremely serious
case. We have accepted that Mr Yems is after a number of players from the
not a conscious racist. League Two club complained to the
“Mr Yems simply paid no regard to PFA, which led to a full investigation.
the distress which his misplaced jocu- Kick It Out said in a statement that it
larity was causing. Mr Yems’ ‘banter’ was alarmed at the commission’s con-
undoubtedly came across to the victims clusions: “It is very hard to understand
and others as offensive, racist and how the panel have concluded that ‘Mr
Islamophobic.” Yems is not a conscious racist’. The
Yems, who took charge of Crawley in behaviour outlined in the report must
December 2019, was sacked in May be called out for exactly what it is,
61
Sport
and compared it with watching Pelé
play with Franz Beckenbauer for the
New York Cosmos in 1977. “It’s the
sort of thing you can tell your
grandchildren about,” he said.
Ibrahim Alkassim, the general-
secretary of the Saudi Arabian
Football Federation, said Ronaldo’s
recruitment will improve the quality
of football in the country and inspire
its young population. “When these
kids attend a match every week and
see Ronaldo playing, that will add to
their passion,” he said. “Also, now that
he’s here, that will open the door for
other players to join the league.”
The latter half of that statement
alludes to the Portuguese’s global
appeal and how valuable it can be to a
nation attempting to reform its image
and diversify its influence beyond the
might of its oil reserves. Although
Alkassim wouldn’t confirm it, Saudi
Arabia’s long-mooted bid to host the
2030 World Cup is central to that
ambition. “Every nation would love to
host the World Cup but nothing is
announced so far,” he said, before
demonstrating a similar tact about
21 Messi. “Who would not love to see
him playing in their country?”
that Messi already has ties of his own
here anyway. He was announced as
one of the country’s official tourism
ambassadors last May but while his
advocacy is important, his visits have
been fleeting. Ronaldo’s presence will
be a constant and the 2½-year
contract he signed should mean he’s
World Cup voting process concludes
in 2024. Only last week, Al-Nassr
publicly denied that the move
entailed “commitments to any World
Cup bids”, but Ronaldo’s residency is
an endorsement in itself.
Ronaldo is acutely aware of that
and is keen to avoid an awkward
conflict with Portugal’s rival bid, but
that is the Faustian bargain he has
accepted. It required an
embarrassment of riches and, after
Messi and PSG return to Paris, it may
leave him with riches of
embarrassment too. But if he desires
an audience to fête the delusions of
grandeur that caused Europe’s giants
to reel this winter, Ronaldo has come
to the right place. He might not be
dealing in the currency of meaningful
records any more, but a volatile fall
from grace has landed him on a
different kind of pedestal, one
arguably of even greater importance
— and consequence. You suspect he
wouldn’t have it any other way.
racism and Islamophobia. A 15-month
ban given the severity of the 11 proven
charges is a slap in the face to the victims
of the discriminatory abuse detailed.
“This decision sets a dangerous prec-
edent by allowing perpetrators to hide
behind a ‘banter’ defence when inten-
tionally using harmful and discrimina-
tory language, and we will be in touch
with the FA to understand how the
panel came to their conclusion.”
Shaista Aziz, of the Three Hijabis
campaign group, said: “I’m disgusted by
the fact the FA sees fit to put out state-
ments that make no sense. I would not
blame anybody who looks at what is
going on in relation to this story and
thinks the FA is institutionally racist.”
62
Sport Premier League
United halted in their tracks
Henry Winter
Chief Football
Writer
Crystal Palace
1
Olise 90+1
1
Manchester United
Fernandes 43
Goals can be graded by all manner of
criteria, including timing, execution,
significance, even quality of the beaten
goalkeeper and setting. All those crite-
ria spiced Michael Olise’s equaliser
here at Selhurst Park last night. It came
in stoppage time, Fergie time, to Man-
chester United’s deep frustration, and
shook the bar and both ends of the
Premier League table.
Jeffrey Schlupp, an inspired intro-
duction from the bench by Patrick Viei-
ra, had run at Luke Shaw and Fred and
won a free kick right of centre, perfect
for a left-footed player such as Olise. He
had had a good game, constantly look-
ing to get on the ball and attack United’s
defence. He had started on the right of
a midfield four, then moved inside as a
No 10, and showed what Vieira praised
as his “tactical discipline”. He has only
just turned 21.
Now he did the damage with a still
ball. Nathaniel Clyne made a decoy
move, and Olise charged, four strides,
generating the power to propel the free
kick over a wall formed of Alejandro
Garnacho, Fred and Casemiro. It
curled over their heads and away from
the stretching David de Gea. It had to be
good to beat a ’keeper of De Gea’s shot-
stopping strengths, the Spaniard
having already denied Odsonne Édou-
ard and Marc Guéhi.
mportant,
The timing was important,
erfect,
the execution was perfect,
and the fact that the ball
struck the bar, bounced ed
down, and ripped thee
net back made it even n ang
more eye-catching.
The calibre off
opposition was clearlyy
impressive, and United d
have been the team in
form. The significance nce
was huge for both sides. s. For
Palace, it was a welcome
reminder that they do have quality in
eira’s tactics and
their midst, that Vieira’s
changes work, that a poor run of form
could be overturned through belief,
hard work and teamwork.
Even though Olise did not celebrate
the goal, standing there calmly as if
something very special was actually
routine, the Palace fans erupted in joy.
They had been urging their team on as
the clock ticked louder, and their loyal-
ty and support, not just last night, was
rewarded.
For United, it shredded their chance
of a tenth win on the spin and ruined
their hopes of overtaking second-
placed Manchester City. Such a studi-
ous coach and perfectionist as Erik ten
Hag will doubtless focus in debriefings
on the way United stood off in the
second half, lacking the urgency that
had brought them chances and their
goal, elegantly struck by Bruno
Fernandes, in the first half. United
know how dangerous it is to ease up in
the Premier League. Opponents fight
back, urged on by fans who expect total
commitment, especially against
United. There are few easy games.
Ambushes lurk everywhere.
The significance was also for City,
who will have heard all the talk about
United being title contenders again,
Casemiro, who was later booked,
allows a pitch invader to take a selfie
2GM Thursday January 19 2023 | the times
and can move three points clear of their
fierce rivals if they defeat Tottenham
Hotspur tonight. The significance was
also for Arsenal, who could finish the
weekend 11 points clear of United after
their meeting at the Emirates on
Sunday when United will be without
the suspended Casemiro.
United have to respond, and main-
tain their concentration. Maybe there
was a trace of complacency that made
them believe they could comfortably
see out the game after Fernandes’s goal
three minutes from the break. Christian
Eriksen laid the ball left to Marcus
Rashford, continued his run down the Olise’s late long-range free kick beat De Gea and went in off the crossbar
inside-left channel, collected the return
and immediately checked on Fernan-
des’s movement.
Eriksen cut the ball back perfectly for
Fernandes, who had made a typically
clever run into space on the edge of the
Palace area. One touch brought the ball
under his control and set up the shoot-
ing opportunity, and Fernandes’s
second sent the ball firmly past Vicente
Guaita.
Fernandes was playing off Wout
Weghorst, making his debut five days
after arriving on loan from Burnley via
Besiktas. Weghorst worked hard, show-
ing for the ball, giving United that
option of a long ball knowing it would
stick. Weghorst soon played a one-two
with Fernandes, who released Rash-
ford and only the excellent Guéhi saw
off the danger. A regular feature of
United’s play was Weghorst laying the
ball off to Fernandes. His new team-
mates quickly realised that Weghorst is
not the fastest so balls had to be to feet
or aerial.
The first half was not a classic, chan-
ces at a premium. When Tyrick Mitch-
ell misjudged a bouncing ball, Antony
nipped in, h hooking the ball but
just wide.wid Mitchell then
threw Antony on to the
apron of the pitch, and
the Brazilian reacted
angrily. It was pure
pla
playground theatrics,
we
well handled by the
rreferee,
efe Robert Jones.
A nt
Antony was immediate-
ly tre
ly treated to some panto-
m ime boos which went up
mime
aan
n octave
octav when he argued
wi Fernan
with
wi Fernandes. There was only
one winner there.
on there United’s captain.
United were still indebted to De Gea
for pushing Édouard’s powerful shot on
to the bar, then punching Guéhi’s head-
er away. United threatened occasional-
ly on the break. Chris Richards, the
United States defender, marked his first Fernandes opened the scoring for United with a curling finish that gave him his fifth goal of the season — but his side did
Premier League start with a couple of
well-judged tackles on Antony and
Rashford, then risked conceding a
penalty when challenging Scott
Ten Hag: It was lesson learnt Chief threat
McTominay but VAR cleared him.
Schlupp and Eberechi Eze arrived continued from back for us, and one of the reasons we are in Matt Lawton, Matt Dickinson
and caused further problems for the [good] position we are in now, but
United. So did Wilfried Zaha, who booked. “We have to take the lesson and the last time we beat Arsenal we did it The greatest threat to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s
looked to have got away from Casemiro invest more for the second goal,” Ten without Casemiro, so we have the ambition to buy Manchester United is
until the Brazilian cynically brought Hag said after seeing Michael Olise’s squad to make a plan to beat Arsenal.” expected to come from the United
him down resulting in that costly book- 91st-minute free kick cancel out A pitch invader also attempted to States, according to sources close to the
ing. Palace fans, wrapped up warm, Bruno Fernandes’s strike to deny his take a selfie with the midfielder before sale process.
appreciated their efforts. Temperatures side a tenth successive win in all being escorted off by stewards. Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals
had slid below freezing and the club competitions. Palace remain 12th in the table but company, Ineos, are the first of any
shop on the corner did a brisk trade in “It’s difficult to say [why we didn’t the point relieves some pressure on potential bidders to publicly declare
branded gloves. It was a night to be clad win]. I have to criticise my team. Go for Patrick Vieira, the manager, after losing that they have officially entered the
all over. And glad all over for Palace the second. Bruno and [Marcus] three matches in a row. race to succeed the Glazer family as the
when Olise struck and then Casemiro Rashford on the wings, [Alejandro] “The process takes time,” Vieira said. owners at Old Trafford.
missed from close range. Garnacho — a lot of creativity, speed “People are waiting for us to win games They are not, however, the first to
and power and [Scott] McTominay with because of our talent. But the talent register their interest with the New
penetration behind.” isn’t enough. The team still have to York merchant bank overseeing the
Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): V Guaita — T Mitchell, United were dealt a further blow with grow, to believe. It was important not to sale, with groups from the US, the Mid-
M Guehi, C Richards, N Clyne — W Hughes
(L Milivojevic 84), C Doucouré (J Schlupp 71) — Casemiro’s second-half booking for a lose today. dle East and Asia already entering the
M Olise, J-P Mateta (E Eze 56), W Zaha — foul on Wilfried Zaha. “They are two teams who [want to process to undertake due diligence.
O Édouard (J Ayew 71). Booked Hughes. “I think it’s instinctive,” Ten Hag said. play] Champions League football,” But the question for any buyer is how
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): D de Gea — L Shaw,
L Martínez, R Varane, A Wan-Bissaka — Casemiro, “He missed the ball. It’s quite clear it Vieira said when asked if his former to grow a business with a price tag of
C Eriksen (Fred 83) — M Rashford, B Fernandes, [was] a dangerous situation. He wanted club Arsenal could beat United. “I think £6 billion to £8 billion, with the view
Antony (A Garnacho 70) — W Weghorst to stop it and that was his reaction. both teams can win the league because being that expertise in how to monetise,
(S McTominay 69). Booked Martínez, Casemiro.
Referee R Jones Attendance 35,853 Casemiro is a really important player of the quality of players that they have.” digitally, a worldwide supporter base
the times | Thursday January 19 2023 2GM 63

Sport

by Olise’s moment of magic TONY OBRIEN/REUTERS

How they stand
P W D L F A GD Pts
Arsenal..................18
Man City ............... 18
Man United..........19
Newcastle ............ 19
Tottenham...........19
Fulham.................20
Brighton................18
Brentford..............19
Liverpool..............18
Chelsea ................. 19
Aston Villa............19
Crystal Palace.....19
Nottm Forest.......19
Leeds ..................... 18
Leicester...............19
Wolves...................19
Bournemouth.....19
West Ham.............19
Everton ................. 19
Southampton......19
not manage to add a second and Palace’s Olise made them pay late in the game with his stoppage-time free kick
15 2 1 42 14 28 47
12 3 3 46 18 28 39
12 3 4 30 22 8 39
10 8 1 33 11 22 38
10 3 6 37 27 10 33
9 4 7 32 29 3 31
9 3 6 35 25 10 30
7 8 4 32 28 4 29
8 4 6 34 25 9 28
8 4 7 22 21 1 28
7 4 8 22 27 -5 25
6 5 8 18 27 -9 23
5 5 9 15 34 -19 20
4 5 9 26 33 -7 17
5 2 12 26 33 -7 17
4 5 10 12 27 -15 17
4 4 11 18 41 -23 16
4 3 12 15 25 -10 15
3 6 10 15 26 -11 15
4 3 12 17 34 -17 15
Q&A
estimated at between drawn by the prospect
£6 billion (Sunday of one of Britain’s
Times) and £11 billion richest men, a local self-
(Forbes). Ineos makes made man, but Ratcliffe
about £53 billion in can expect stiff
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is the annual sales. competition and could
first potential buyer of There are personal even be regarded as an
Manchester United to and professional outsider. Middle Eastern
have gone public with reasons for Ratcliffe’s riches have been
his interest — but does interest in United. pouring into sport
that mean he is the United were the club of (Avram Glazer was in
favourite to take over his youth — he was born Qatar at the World Cup,
the club from the Glazer in Failsworth. He was at seemingly to engage
family? We look at the the Champions League with potential
big issues around what final in 1999 when the investors); US investors
could be the most club clinched the Treble. will have seen the
expensive purchase of a “Three minutes you Chelsea takeover and
sports club in history. never forget in your be keen to follow.
lifetime,” he says. Ratcliffe has
Will United definitely There has also been a previously said he does
be sold? huge shift in Ineos’s not want to be “dumb
United will attract profile and how it has money” in football,
interest from all over the used sport so that the squandering a fortune
world given their global firm is no longer, as like so many owners,
renown and heritage. Ratcliffe once said, “the and while he was willing
Raine, the merchant biggest company in the to pay the asking price
bank hired by the world you have never for Chelsea he does not
Glazers to oversee the heard of”. have the bottomless
sale of a stake or the wealth of sovereign
whole club, is Who would run United? funds, though state-
understood to have had An intriguing backed involvement of
contact with groups appointment last month Saudi Arabia, Qatar and
from the Middle East, US, was the hiring of Jean- Dubai is complicated by
Asia and now Ratcliffe, Claude Blanc as chief their existing interests
the billionaire born in executive of the sports in Newcastle United,
Greater Manchester. arm of the Ineos PSG and City.
Despite United’s business. Blanc spent There is also the
allure, valuation is one more than a decade as involvement of Raine,
obvious issue. There is a a chief operating officer which oversaw the sale
belief at Raine that at Paris Saint-Germain of Chelsea. The bankers
United could attract during the club’s did not like the way that
more than £5 billion but transformation into one Ineos entered the
that is twice what the of the richest in the process so late.
American Boehly- world thanks to a Qatari
Clearlake consortium takeover. He previously What happens next?
paid for Chelsea last worked at Juventus as The upswing of United’s
year (with an additional the chairman and chief fortunes under Richard
promise to invest executive. Arnold, who replaced
£1.75 billion over ten Ineos says Blanc’s the disastrous Ed
years). The world record recruitment was not Woodward as chief
for any sporting directly related to a bid executive, and Erik ten
franchise is the $4.65 for United, given far- Hag as manager is well
billion (about £3.77 ranging interests in the timed for the Glazers
billion) paid for the Mercedes F1 team, and means they may be
Denver Broncos in the America’s Cup sailing, able to sell a resurgent
NFL in 2022, so the Grenadiers cycling side, reassuring
£5 billion-plus is team, All Blacks rugby, potential purchasers.
unprecedented. Nice football club and But there is still huge
United’s revenues of more, but he would investment needed to
€689 million (about bring considerable modernise the stadium
£600 million) put them experience of running and some of the
fourth in global football huge sports training facilities. Ten
according to Deloitte organisations if a deal Hag has improved the
(behind Manchester did proceed. team but they still have
City, Real Madrid and to prove they can
Liverpool) but the club Is Ratcliffe favourite for compete for top

to Ratcliffe’s bid will come from the US have long been a

that United claim is in excess of a billion
people is needed. Joe Ravitch, the co-
founder of the Raine Group bank that
sold Chelsea for Roman Abramovich,
and who is now tasked with finding a
buyer for United, said as much in No-
vember. “United is not just a football
club when it has such a huge global fan-
base,” he told this newspaper.
One senior New York hedge-fund
manager told The Times that there re-
mains a strong desire in the US to invest
in sports teams. “Sport is one of the few
industries that seems to be immune to
the economic crisis,” he said. “The Den-
ver Broncos was sold for a record
$4.75 billion [£3.8 billion, in June] and
the price for the Washington Com-
manders could be more than $6 billion.
“Broadcast deals are secure and the
money keeps coming in. The Premier
League is so strong. Sport is still seen as
a good investment as well as an area for
growth, even at that kind of price.”
financial freak — a
profitable football club
— and there is no sign of
United?
Fans are seemingly
honours, with some of
the squad still to be
overhauled at a cost.
Any sale of a stake or
While the Broncos were purchased Other names cited by The Post in the Premier League the whole club would
by a group led by the Walmart heir Rob relation to the Commanders sale in- bubble bursting. But have to be approved by
Walton, Jeff Bezos has been linked with clude the co-owners of Chelsea, Clear- how high will bidders six Glazer siblings, which
the Commanders. As the founder of lake Capital and Todd Boehly, and Josh go? And what will the adds complication,
Amazon, the world’s fourth-richest Harris, an American billionaire who has Glazers settle for? though they can be sure
man has the expertise to maximise the a stake in Crystal Palace. The Post said United’s listed value to emerge much richer
potential of United. However, this week all had declined to comment. hit a record $4.8 billion for any deal.
The Washington Post, which is owned This week senior figures at United, on the New York Stock Fans want the
by Bezos, claimed that he was not the chief executive, Richard Arnold, Exchange in 2018 but Glazers out but they
among those to table a bid for the Com- among them, are in Davos for the is now closer to are under no
manders. The Post reported that no World Economic Forum. Clearly it is an $3.75 billion after a obligation to sell,
bidder had reached the $7 billion mark opportunity to meet potential buyers. small rise yesterday and it could depend
set by the owner of the NFL franchise, Ineos came late to the table in its bid once Ratcliffe on the scale of bids.
Daniel Snyder, and also highlighted an for Chelsea, when Ratcliffe communi- confirmed his interest. Until bidding starts,
obvious issue for Bezos, even if he does cated his best offer via text message. He expected next
have a net worth of $121.3 billion. is employing similar tactics this time Does Ratcliffe have month, one source
The Post made the point that, should too, albeit for the club he has supported that sort of money? believes it is too early
Bezos return to Amazon as its chief his entire life, but he believes he is an His personal wealth, as to say if the club will
executive, there could be a conflict of attractive option as he will not be seek- owner of 60 per cent of be sold by the end of
interest when Amazon pays the NFL ing a quick return on behalf of clients. Ineos, the the season.
$1 billion a year for the league’s Thurs- However, the price could yet prove petrochemicals giant
day Night Football package. Amazon too high, even for Ratcliffe, when US he founded with two Ineos recently hired
also owns TV rights to Premier League investors are continuing to spend big on friends in 1998, is Blanc from PSG
and Champions League football. NFL franchises.
64
Sport Premier League
Don’t write us
off in title race,
warns Guardiola
continued from back feel I have to find something to help the
team get better.”
Guardiola said. “To play better, we have Should City lose at home to Totten-
to create more chances, provide more ham Hotspur tonight, it will be the third
balls for him or the other strikers. time in Guardiola’s managerial career
“How we played in the last two games that he has suffered three successive
didn’t help Erling to score. We seem like defeats. One of those sequences came
we have too many players outside and in Guardiola’s second campaign at
too few players inside. Without players Bayern Munich and the other occurred
inside you cannot defend or play well. five years ago when City lost twice to
This is mainly the problem. If Erling is Liverpool in the Champions League
alone we are not going to score goals.” and against United at the Etihad.
It is a problem of Guardiola’s own City won the Premier League that
making, he admitted. “The mentality of year with a record 100 points. Now they
these players is not a problem,” Guardi- trail Arsenal by eight points, but Guard-
ola said. “When the players don’t play iola warned not to write his team off.
well, it’s because there is something “I’d prefer to be eight points in front,
wrong in my decisions. Sometimes I but I like to handle this situation
didn’t choose the players properly or though; I love it,” he said. “I’m less
the way we played. stressed when I feel there is no solution.
“I have to find a solution. That is a Always I have the feeling I know the
challenge I like because it makes me reason why it doesn’t work.
“There are 60 points to play for and
there are many tough games for every-
Man City under Guardiola one, so we are going to fight. People say,
After 18 games Final ‘Why are City not on top of the league?’
position but it can happen, no? There has been a
2016-17 39pts 3rd team that has been fantastic so far.”
Another reason for Guardiola to be
2017-18 52 1st positive is that he has a fully fit squad to
2018-19 44 1st choose from for the first time this
2019-20 38 2nd season. Kevin De Bruyne was back in
training yesterday and Rúben Dias has
2020-21 38 1st recovered from his hamstring injury.
2021-22 44 1st John Stones is also in contention to
2022-23 39 face Tottenham, who have won their
past two games against City.
Conte: Spurs would regret it if I left – all my former clubs have
Gary Jacob League places, which acted as leverage
for Conte in the transfer market.
Antonio Conte has suggested that There are parallels as they return to
Tottenham Hotspur would regret it if he the Etihad tonight: poor form, a need
left and claimed that all his previous for new signings and a manager playing
clubs have felt that way too. down expectations.
Eleven months ago Conte master- The difference, however, is that Con-
minded a victory away to Manchester te must share some of the blame, with
City that was one of the defining his team’s playing style under question
moments of Spurs’ season. It was the cat- and his refusal to commit to the club be-
alyst for their push into the Champions yond the summer not helping matters.
Man City
v Tottenham
Premier League,
kick-off 8pm
TV: Sky Sports Main
Event & PL. Radio:
talkSPORT
Haaland has scored 27 times this term, but has been goalless for three games
But Conte believes that Spurs would
be wrong to look to move on from him
now. “You could tell me I could not be a
good coach but about the commitment
and what I give the club, no club was un-
happy about this,” the 53-year-old said.
“Usually when I left they regret [that] a
lot because they knew the way I work.”
That may not be wholly true. After
Conte left Juventus in 2014 they won six
straight titles, although there has been a
MARC ATKINS/GETTY IMAGES
mooted return this summer after three
seasons of struggle. Chelsea have not
won the title since Conte’s first season
there in 2017, but they have won the
Champions League and have not
finished outside the top four.
Under Conte, Tottenham also beat
Arsenal and drew at Anfield in the run-
in last season. This season, however,
they have played five games against the
“big six” and lost every one, bar a draw
Thursday January 19 2023 | the times
Moyes has
one game to
save his job
continued from back
Brentford in the FA Cup third round
has provided any sense of optimism.
The West Ham board met informally
yesterday to discuss plans for
honouring David Gold on Saturday,
when the club will play their first home
match since the club’s co-owner died on
January 4.
Sources have said that the position of
Moyes will be considered untenable if
he is beaten by Frank Lampard’s strug-
gling side. Indeed, it is expected that
things will move quickly if the Scot’s
team lose to the Merseyside club that
Moyes’s team have
taken one point
from seven games
he managed for 11 years between 2002
and 2013.
Moyes, who managed West Ham for
a large part of the 2017-18 season, has
earned the admiration of his employers
since returning to the club in December
2019, having stabilised their position in
the top flight and secured European
football — reaching the Europa League
semi-finals last season. But they spent
more than £100 million in the summer
and are 18th in the Premier League,
above Everton and Southampton only
on goal difference. With matches
against Newcastle United, Chelsea and
Tottenham Hotspur to come, Moyes
must avoid defeat on Saturday to keep
his job.
away to Chelsea, and now face City
twice in less than three weeks.
“It’s not important to give extra moti-
vation to your players, they know the
importance of the game,” Conte said.
He also acknowledged the emotional
strain caused by the death of three of his
friends this season, most recently Gian-
luca Vialli. “This is making me have an
important reflection on my future,” he
said. “This season is difficult for me.”
the times | Thursday January 19 2023
A
t 8.45am on Monday
it was “lights, camera,
action”, and then there
he was. Boris Becker on
television. This was Becker
not talking about his eight months
behind bars, not talking about how
he feared for his life in Wandsworth
prison, not talking about the
occasions when other inmates had
threatened to kill him. This was
Becker talking tennis.
“The most important thing
everyone wants to know,” Matthias
Stach, his co–presenter, said as a
welcome back, “is: how are you?”
Becker reported that he was fine
and, indeed, he looked it. He was
sporting a statement crew-cut plus a
black suit, white trainers. He looked
far fitter than in those court case
pictures in April. “I’m back in peace
and freedom,” he said. “I just hid for
some time. And I missed you,
Matthias, my doubles partner at
Eurosport. I’m happy that I can again
pursue my great passion, tennis.”
And with that he was up and
running, his TV relaunch swift, neat
and complete, he and Stach now
twice a day until the end of the
Australian Open presenting their
Matchball Becker programme from a
Eurosport studio on the outskirts
of Munich.
It’s curious that the
“yellow press”, as the
tabloids are known
here in Germany, is
desperate to find
him, yet here he is,
on his own shows
in the nation’s
homes on television
twice a day. He has
managed to keep
secret where, in or
near Munich, he is
staying. This is a gamee
that he is good at; when en he
was given early release se from the
eavily man
UK, reporters were heavily man-
marking Berlin and Munich airports
and Becker came through on a private
plane to Stuttgart.
Maybe this just feeds the appetite
for anything Becker. On Sunday
night Becker’s first wife gave a TV
interview which was actually quite
soft and empathetic (“We’re all a
family”). Becker himself had given
another Eurosport interview when
he explained that he was fully up to
speed with the game because he had
got the BBC and ITV in prison, “so
I was able to follow every match in
Wimbledon and the highlights at the
US Open”.
This follows quotes from a former
fellow inmate, speaking to Stern
magazine, where he said that despite
Becker’s claims of hardship in prison,
he did receive special celebrity
favours, and even “drank coffee with
the guards in the staff room”.
Anything goes.
It is curious, too, even to see him
on the TV. He was sentenced to 30
months for bankruptcy offences but
served eight and was then deported
on a fast-track release for non-
nationals. Part of the agreement is
that he is not allowed back in the UK
for several years, yet, as part of the
Eurosport team, he can be teleported
into the London studios for the
broadcaster’s UK transmission. In
other words, he is not allowed in the
UK, but he can appear on our screens
virtually instead.
This may sound like a fabulous
deal, but the part that hurts him the
most is that he cannot therefore get
visiting rights to his 12-year-old son,
Amadeus, who lives in London with
Lilly, a second former wife, with
whom he is on less cordial terms.
This is the same ex-wife who spent
the new year in Dubai with Cathy
Hummels, an influencer and one of
Becker’s arch critics. Hummels,
former wife of the footballer Mats
Hummels, has a podcast, Shitstorm, in
From prison to
TV: the strange
rehabilitation of
Boris Becker
Tennis may be keen to welcome back one of
its heroes but, as Owen Slot discovers in
Germany, the wider jury remains out on one
of the world’s most notorious bankrupts
which she rails against
whic
h is ear
his early release. “He
ffooled
ooled pepeople,” she said, “he
ruined them. YouY have to serve
that [sentence]
[sentence].””
She also posted a new year’s picture
of herself and Lilly with the acerbic
message: “We’re celebrating new year
together with the kids.”
Yet if you thought that was hurtful,
Becker’s new year’s Instagram post is
also of note. It’s not that he says that
he feels he “came out stronger” from
the “most difficult year of my life”,
which is positive, it’s the fact that he
posts this from a beach on an island
off the coast of west Africa — not the
best of looks for one of the world’s
most notorious bankrupts.
So there is a lot of noise, a lot of it
polarising. Even when he’s on
Matchball Becker and opining about
the state of Nick Kyrgios’s knee, it is
hard not to hear it. So here is what it
sounds like from Leimen, which is
Becker’s home town.
Leimen is a small industrial town
in the southwest of Germany, midway
between Stuttgart and Frankfurt.
It is known for two things: it was
once home to the largest cement
plant in the country and it produced
Boris Becker.
How does a town like this make a
man like Becker? The answer is not
actually that hard to grasp. Go to the
Tennis Club Blau-Weiss, where
Becker started, five minutes from
where his mother, Elvira, still lives,
and you see a decent local club. It isn’t
completely Becker-fied, though that
may be because they are renovating.
There is just one big picture of him,
plus the indoor court named the Boris
Becker Halle.
But look over the road, literally
across a tiny road in a small industrial
suburb, and you see Tennis
Landesleistungszentrum: the state
training centre. So Becker learnt with
the local kids in the club and could
see the state’s elite players right over
the road.
His first ambition was to get from
one side of the road to the other. Susi
65
Tennis Sport
APPLE
squads and went to the same training the sport here. “I am so sad that he
camps. “He hated playing with the got in trouble,” Schaffner says. “I feel
girls,” she recalls. “But that’s normal really sorry for him.”
for boys. The worst thing he could do “I see first the tennis man,”
is to lose to a girl. And we had a good Hammer says, “then the man who
girl.” That was Steffi Graf. made mistakes.” And he added that
On the wall of the training centre, Becker is for ever welcome at the
there are three vast pictures of its club. Does everyone here feel the
three top graduates: Becker, Graf and same? Hammer shrugs. He reckons
Anke Huber. The one of Becker is one 80 per cent of the town are still
of the classics: at net, Wimbledon, with Becker.
mid-dive for a volley. The country is no doubt less in the
Back over the road, it is less elite, Becker camp. Bankruptcy is a big sin
more a community feel. Sabine, here. And, of course, because he is
Becker’s eldest sister, now lives in Boris Becker, his financial affairs are
Switzerland but when she is back all played out in the public domain.
home, she will often return here for a He received a reported £450,000
game. Claus Hammer, a club director, for a TV interview on his return
Becker arrives at court with girlfriend last played with her in October. home. He has a two-part docuseries
Lilian, where he would be jailed. He recalls both Sabine and Boris with Apple TV+ pending, and a book,
Above and left, he has been largely in from their childhood. He shows a plus an open job offer from the
hiding since his early release. Below, picture on his phone of Boris and a national tennis federation. Even when
as a teenage Wimbledon champion club youth team with himself in the you are obliged to hand over half of
background. “No,” he says, “I didn’t your earnings to an insolvency
coach him. He already had a administrator, that’s enough to get
Frankfurt professional coach then.” He did play you to an African island for new year.
football with him though. “Boris was And he is letting everyone see that
Leimen very good. He had to decide whether too. “I think we will see a different
to play football or tennis.” Boris Becker after imprisonment,” his
GERMANY Both Schaffner and biographer, Christian Schommers,
Hammer vividly recall said, “with much more humility.”
those golden Wimbledon The jury on that — and that is
Stuttgart years, 1985 and 1986, when much of the country — is still out.
30 miles
the teenage Becker The newspaper Suddeutsche Zietung
shocked the world. “It was described him as the “national
Schaffner, the sporting director a really amazing time for all treasure who never learnt to take
of the state training centre, of us,” Schaffner recalls. personal responsibility”.
remembers the second. When Hammer remembers the You wonder, therefore: did
Becker was 15, club restaurant area Eurosport ever think twice about
he won the heaving with having Matchball Becker? Is there any
state men’s members straining sense of tainted goods?
singles to see the television. “Not for a minute,” Scott Young,
championship “After that,” he says, the head of production overseeing
— not boys’, but “everyone wanted Eurosport, says. “We’re delighted to
men’s — and it to be a member of have him back.”
was, she says, a the club. Germany Tennis, it seems, is only too keen to
huge coup. “I i a soccer land
is rehabilitate one of its greatest.
remember going to but Boris made it a Germany, you feel, requires more
congratulate him tennis land.” persuasion and Becker needs to work
and him saying, ‘Bring And what now? What out how to give it.
me McEnroe!’ ” now that the town’s Becker is free in his home country
Schaffner was five famous prodigal has done yet nevertheless in hiding, unsure
years older than time in Wandsworth where in the world to settle, but
Becker and, for a brief prison? Their answer is desperate to get to the UK from
period, they were in the same. You can’t take where he is banned. It is a strange,
the same junior away what he did for deeply unenviable version of liberty.
66 Thursday January 19 2023 | the times

Sport Australian Open

Raducanu first to fall in battle

Stuart Fraser I still felt like I could have done
better myself.”
Tennis Correspondent, In a hotly anticipated match-up, both
Melbourne
players made a slow start, struggling to

Emma Raducanu (GB) 3 64

Coco Gauff (US, No 7) 6 77
Seventy places separate Emma Radu-
canu and Coco Gauff in the world rank-
ings but there was enough evidence in
their first meeting on the court, at
the Australian Open, to suggest that
this could become a British-American
rivalry to savour.
Gauff, ranked No 7, won this second-
round encounter in straight sets but
only after being pushed hard right to
the end by the No 77 Raducanu, who
will rue the two set points she failed to
take to force a deciding set. Gauff let out
a roar of relief and raised her game in
the tie-break to prevail 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) in
front of 15,000 in the Rod Laver Arena.
“Probably the future of women’s
tennis,” tweeted Boris Becker, who is
back on television as a pundit for Euro-
sport Germany after being released
early from prison last month. Given the
quality of the ball-striking between the
20-year-old Raducanu and 18-year-old
Gauff, it is hard to disagree.
“I just told myself to hang in there,”
Gauff said. “Emma was playing really
good tennis towards the end. In the
beginning we both started off rocky but
the match was good quality for the most
part. This was a long-anticipated match
since the draw came out so I am glad
this was a good match for you guys.”
While there is obvious disappoint-
ment for Raducanu, the 2021 US Open
champion, at being knocked out before
the third round of a fifth consecutive
grand-slam tournament, this was still
an impressive showing considering her
troubled build-up. She had needed
crutches after turning her ankle at a
warm-up tournament in Auckland,
before somehow negotiating a tight
turnaround of 11 days to recover for
action in Melbourne.
“With what [injury] I had 13 days ago,
to be in the draw is a massive achieve-
ment,” Raducanu said. “I would say all
the chips were against us, and the
chances of me playing this tournament
were very, very low. I had extremely
limited practice time. It was obviously
going to be a push to get me on the
court. I think 13 days ago if you would
have told us, ‘Hey, you’re going to be in
the draw and win a round’ it would have
been a massive effort for sure.
“Saying that, I still think I didn’t play
my best today. Although in the second
set I had chances and was pushing,
hold serve and making several errors,
but soon the clean and quick hitting
took over. Gauff edged ahead and
17
Winners hit by Emma
100
Gauff is the first female
served out the first set at 5-3 after Raducanu, compared with player to win 100 WTA-
saving three break points. A total of 21 13 for Coco Gauff. The level matches before
unforced errors from Raducanu at this Briton made one more turning 19 since Caroline
point was a little too high. unforced error (42) Wozniacki in 2009
Raducanu looked in trouble after than her opponent
hitting two double faults to go a break
down at 2-1 in the second set, and she
increasingly began to touch her left side
in apparent discomfort — she later
dismissed this as a minor issue arising
from her lack of practice. But a dreadful
service game from Gauff allowed
Raducanu to break back to love for 4-4,
giving the crowd hope of an extension
to the match.
The closing stages were intense.
Raducanu had two set points against
the Gauff serve at 5-4 up but missed
both by putting a backhand long and
then netting a drop shot. As is often the
case at this level, she was made to pay, as
Gauff stepped up with some dogged
defence in the tie-break to bring up four
match points at 6-2, converting the
third with a fine drop shot and lob
combination after one hour and 42
minutes.
“I wouldn’t say anything surprised
me because I feel like I’ve watched
enough of her play,” Gauff said. “I knew
how she was going to come out. I knew
she’s a grand-slam champion and had it
in her.
“She raised her level a lot
towards the end of the second set. It
takes a lot of resilience to do that, espe-
cially on the big stages and in the big
matches. When you’re down a set
and a break, it’s easy to throw in
the towel. I think she did a good
job of raising her level when she
needed to. Just honestly, tie-
breaks can go either way, and it
went my way tonight.”
At a time when the WTA
Tour is devoid of several high--
profile names — Ashleigh Barty
and Serena Williams are now
both retired, Naomi Osaka is
pregnant and Simona Halep is
provisionally banned for failing a
drugs test — a rivalry between Ra-
ducanu and Gauff feels like the
shot in the arm that the women’s
game needs.
If Raducanu can continue to im- “I think we’re going to play each then surely there will be more battles
prove her fitness under her trainer, other many times,” said Raducanu, against Gauff to come.
Jez Green, maintain stability with main, after pushing Gauff, inset, “She [Gauff] is a great mover and a
her new coach, Sebastian Sachs, close in a gripping second-round great athlete,” Raducanu said. “She
and climb up the rankings through match, which was the first meeting puts another ball in play, so you feel
consistency week in, week out, between the young stars like you have to squeeze it closer to the

Racism? Sexism? Criticism of

in tennis. She has done it the hard
way.
She is also impressive off the court.
She grew up in Bromley and attended
the Newstead Wood School where
a stalker whose antics made her
question her safety at home and
fearful about going out alone. On
February 23, 2022, the offender was
sentenced to a community order and

Emma looks like plain jealousy teachers have proclaimed her

the court to vomit. Elsewhere, on
Matthew Syed
yed court upon court, stretching to the
horizon, I could see players as young
as eight — and from all corners of the
world — hitting balls, charging from
side to side, enough piston power to
fuel a small city.
Over lunch I chatted to the
eponymous ringmaster, Bollettieri,
you name it. To make the top isn’t
just about talent but guts and
persistence.”
“It’s a hell of a thing, baby,” he
finished, eyes flashing behind those
famous shades.
I mention this because, try as I
might, I cannot fathom the stream of
abuse that seems to attach to Emma
dedication (she excelled in her exams
and is fluent in multiple languages).
Alan Blount, the headteacher, said
in an interview with The Times a
couple of years ago that she had made
a deep impression on classmates and
teachers. “Sometimes Emma did
early-morning sessions in [the local
tennis academy] and would be in
school for 8.45am. And then she
could be back there as soon as
school had finished. That made it
a five-year restraining order.
You might have thought that with
the challenges she has faced, then,
she would be widely admired. You
might have thought that she would be
a source of pride to her fellow
countrymen. And yet the drip-drip of
abuse is ever-present, not only on
social media but in the comments on
newspaper websites. “She’s past it.”
“She’s a busted flush.” “She is only
good for selling products.” “Washed
up at 20.” These are some of the more

A
decade and a half ago, I
travelled to Florida to visit
the Nick Bollettieri Tennis
Academy in the small
town of Bradenton. On
the first day, I saw a young Andy
Murray playing in heat so ferocious
that his sparring partner had to leave
who died last month.
“For every kid you see here, there
are tens of thousands of rivals in their
home nations who are training just as
hard,” he said. “Tennis is one of the
most punishing sports because you
have competitors from Europe, the
United States, Asia, South America,
Raducanu. She is a player who,
just a short way into the third decade
of life, has accumulated achievements
that few can dream of. She battled
through the junior circuit and has
made her mark on the senior one too,
despite lacking a silver spoon of the
kind that can often make a difference
very easy for her to keep up to speed
with both her tennis and her
schoolwork,” he said.
One can’t help admiring the way
she has coped with some of the more
onerous aspects of fame too — and I
don’t just mean the inevitable press
attention. Raducanu had to deal with
palatable criticisms that followed her
defeat by Coco Gauff in the
Australian Open yesterday.
There is nothing wrong with
feedback, by the way. When it is
candid and well directed, we all
benefit from a blast of truth from time
to time. But this criticism, to me at
the times | Thursday January 19 2023 67

Sport

of future JAMES GOURLEY/SHUTTERSTOCK

line and then she kind of teases errors
out of you that way. But I had a lot of
chances today, and I was creating quite
a few. It obviously sucks a bit, but
it’s fine.
“I’d really like to play her again, may-
be with more than five hours of practice
under my belt. She’s a great opponent
and I think that we’re going to be play-
ing each other many times in the future
as we’re both young and coming. We’re
going to be the next generation.”
Nadal ‘mentally destroyed’
as title defence ends in tears
Rafael Nadal (Sp, No 1) 4 4 5
Mackenzie McDonald (US) 6 6 7
Stuart Fraser
Rafael Nadal admitted that he was
“destroyed mentally” after the defence
of his Australian Open title ended with
a whimper in the second round.
The 22-times grand-slam singles
champion was overcome by both an
inspired opponent, the American world
No 65 Mackenzie McDonald, and a hip
problem that left him walking with a
heavy limp.
Twelve months on from his stunning
triumph at Melbourne Park, Nadal
gave a prolonged wave to the crowd as
he departed the Rod Laver Arena
without any silverware in hand. His
6-4, 6-4, 7-5 defeat by McDonald
resulted in his earliest exit at a grand-
slam tournament since losing in the
first round here in 2016.
Nadal, 36, has not looked right since
arriving down under last month, and
there is inevitably speculation sur-
rounding how long he can continue in
the sport. His wife, Xisca, was in tears in
his coaching box after he called an off-
court medical timeout towards the end
of the second set.
Afterwards Nadal insisted that he
was willing to undertake yet another
gruelling period of rehabilitation if
required — last season he played after
anaesthetic injections in his left foot —
yet was under no illusion as to how
challenging this will be. Even for this
great player there are signs of mental
fatigue after losing seven of his past
nine matches.
“It was not the right moment to have
something like this [hip injury] now,”
Nadal said. “At the end, you need to keep
going. Sometimes it’s frustrating, some-
times it’s difficult to accept, sometimes
you feel super tired about all this, in
terms of injuries.
“I can’t come here and say that life is
fantastic and [that I will] stay positive
and keep fighting. Not now. Tomorrow
starts another day. Now it’s a tough
moment. It’s a tough day, and you need
to accept that, and keep going.
“In the end I can’t complain about my
life at all. I just can’t say that I am not
destroyed mentally at this time,
because I will be lying.
“It’s hard for me, but let’s see. Hope-
fully [the injury is] nothing too bad. I
really hope that it doesn’t put me out of
the court for a long time, because then
Nadal’s injury-hit six years
Australian Open 2018 Leading his
quarter-final with Marin Cilic, he had
to retire with hip injury
US Open 2018 Retired at semi-final
stage with pain in his right knee
US Open 2020 Missed the
tournament, in part because of
chronic foot injury
Wimbledon 2021 Recovering from
foot injury, he opted not to play at
Wimbledon or the Tokyo Olympics.
He later pulled out of US Open.
Wimbledon 2022 Tore an
abdominal muscle and withdrew
from semi-final against Nick Kyrgios
Australian Open 2023 Pulled up
with hip pain during eighth game of
second set in defeat by McDonald
it’s tough to make the recovery again
and [to put in] the amount of work that
you need to put together to come back
at a decent level. I went through this
process too many times in my career,
and I am ready to keep doing it, I think,
but that’s not easy.”
To McDonald’s credit, he had posed
plenty of problems for Nadal even
before injury struck. The 27-year-old
former college player, who has Scottish
ancestry, brought his flashy game to the
court from the off and was far superior
throughout the first set and a half.
The first sign of physical trouble for
Nadal came when he was a break down
ROGER PARKER/ALAMY
Nadal called for
the physio after
feeling hip pain in
the second set and
received treatment
backstage before
continuing, but
never looked
like he would be
able to overcome
McDonald, the
world No 65
at 4-3 in the second set. Slightly
grimacing after losing a rally, he then
looked in more visible discomfort after
chasing out wide for a forehand. He
crouched down in pain and then called
for the tournament physio after losing
the game.
“It has been a couple of days like this,
but nothing like today in that move-
ment,” Nadal explained. “I have history
in the hip that I had issues. I had to do
treatments in the past and address it a
little, but it was not this amount of prob-
lem. Now I feel I cannot move.
“I don’t know till I do the tests and all
this stuff. It is difficult to make a
resolution if it’s a muscle, the joint or
the cartilage.”
After five minutes of treatment on his
hip backstage, Nadal returned to the
court and could barely move. He
managed to hold serve to remain in the
set at 5-4 down but McDonald comfort-
ably served out for a two-set lead.
Admirably, Nadal continued in the
third set but never looked capable of
making a successful comeback. He
hung in there before his serve was
broken at 5-5, and McDonald eased to
victory by closing out the biggest win of
his career.
“I tried to keep playing without
increasing the damage,” Nadal said. “I
was not able to hit the backhand at all,
I was not able to run for the ball, but I
just wanted to finish the match.
“I didn’t want to retire as the defend-
ing champion. I didn’t want to leave the
court with a retirement. It is better like
this at the end. I lost and congratulate
the opponent.”

least, feels and smells different. You

might wonder about misogyny, or
racism or the other depressing “isms”
that linger like a bad smell in society.
But, when you look at the tidal wave
of sheer negativity, it is not difficult to
discern a potent kind of jealousy too.
For a certain group of people, there
is something intolerable that this
upbeat, positive woman is living her
best life — and earning millions to
boot. How dare she make money
from some of the most prestigious
brands in the world! How dare she
smile while doing interviews, as if she
is actually having fun! How dare she
lose tennis matches, given that we all
thought she was going to win
everything in sight for the rest of
her career!
Of course, Raducanu has endured a
lean time after her triumph at the US
Open in 2021. Part of the problem has
been a succession of injuries, and
there has also been a process of
psychological adjustment to the fame
and expectation. But there was plenty
of evidence in the last half an hour
against Gauff that she still has what it
takes to challenge for big titles. It is
perhaps worth remembering that
Murray (another who was on the
receiving end of shrill criticism) didn’t
peak until his mid-twenties.
On the wider point, though, even if
Raducanu wins nothing in tennis for
the rest of her career, she will still
have achieved far more than the vast
majority of her armchair critics.
Norman Vincent Peale, the author
whose books on psychology
influenced millions (myself included),
said: “The way to happiness is to
keep your heart free from hate,
your mind from worry. Scatter
sunshine . . . Try this for a week and
you will be surprised.”
It is a philosophy that seems to
have worked wonders for Raducanu. I
can’t help thinking that some of her
naysayers may benefit from giving it
a go too.
Norrie prevails in face of rowdy fans
Stuart Fraser
Cameron Norrie overcame a tricky
French opponent and rowdy spectators
in the early hours to reach the third
round of the Australian Open. He has
now reached at least this stage in his
past four grand-slam tournaments.
At 1.28am, the No 11 seed completed a
6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 win against Con-
stant Lestienne, the world No 55, after
three hours and 13 minutes. That his
third-round opponent is Jiri Lehecka,
the Czech world No 71, gives Norrie real
hope of reaching the second week.
This was a challenging day for Nor-
rie. His match had been scheduled in
the fifth slot on the Kia Arena but the
start of play on the outside courts was
delayed from 11am to 5.30pm because
of persistent rain. It was 10pm when
Norrie instead took to No 13 Court in
front of a crowd of about 100 people.
Inevitably there were some who had amid a chilly swirling wind. “He is one of
consumed a few drinks too many. Three the toughest guys to play in those condi-
men chanting “England” — Norrie was tions but I found a way,” Norrie said.
born in South Africa and raised in New Meanwhile, friendship will have to be
Zealand by a Welsh mum and put aside when Andy Murray and
Scottish dad — were ejected Thanasi Kokkinakis face each
after the first set for sledg- other in the second round
ing both players with Murray v this morning. The pair
chants including “You’re have been close for some
just a shit Andy Murray” Kokkinakis time after Murray, 35,
and “Lestienne’s going Second round took Kokkinakis, 26,
home”. Norrie, fortu- Today, 9.15am under his wing when he
nately, found it all quite first emerged on the tour
funny. “There were a lot TV: Eurosport in 2014.
of English fans,” he said. Radio: BBC 5 Live “Andy is someone I res-
“They had the chants going, Sports Extra pect a great amount,” Kok-
which was good fun. It defi- kinakis said. “He was someone
nitely spurred me on and got me who, when I came on the tour, was
through it, especially in that third set.” always willing to give me some advice.
Norrie, 27, did well to recover in the I remember watching him when I was
third set from 5-2 down and 0-30 on younger thinking, ‘This dude looks
serve. He struggled against Lestienne’s moody as hell’. Then, when you get to
unorthodox game but battled hard, know him, he is actually a ripper bloke.”
 Thursday January 19 2023 | the times

Sport
2GM

Raducanu’s early exit

Rivalry is born as British No 1
is beaten by American Gauff
Australian Open, pages 66-67

JUSTIN SETTERFIELD/GETTY IMAGES

Moyes one loss

Olise’s late from the sack

strike stuns
Matt Lawton Chief Sports Correspondent
David Moyes is likely to be sacked by
West Ham United if his side lose to
Everton on Saturday.
The club reiterated their stance at a

United
Blow as Casemiro ruled
out of clash with Arsenal
Crystal Palace
Man Utd
Molly Hudson
Erik ten Hag criticised his
Manchester United side’s lack
of attacking intent after they
squandered a 1-0 lead in the dying
minutes against Crystal Palace.
United missed the chance to go
second and they are now eight
points behind the Premier League
leaders, Arsenal, whom they play
on Sunday. Casemiro will be
suspended for the game after being
Continued on page 62
Olise takes his team-mates’ congratulations in
board meeting yesterday as, while
senior figures at West Ham recognise
the success the manager has had in his
second spell in charge, their drop into
the Premier League relegation zone
after securing only one point from
seven games has persuaded them that a
change may be necessary.
Moyes, 59, was given three league
games to rescue the situation, and
the encounter at home to Everton,
1 who are second-bottom — one position
below West Ham — is now considered
1 critical after a draw at Elland Road
with Leeds United was followed by
a defeat away to Wolverhampton
Wanderers. Only a win away to
Continued on page 64
Crowd to hear
VAR reasons
Martyn Ziegler Chief Sports Reporter
Referees at next month’s Club World
Cup — including the English official
i his
hi stride
id after
f salvaging
l i a draw
d for Palace with a free kick that left Ten Hag, inset, frustrated at two points dropped Anthony Taylor — will for the first time
explain the reasons for VAR decisions
to the crowd at the stadium and the

Pep: Don’t blame Haaland for our poor results TV audience.

Paul Hirst
Pep Guardiola has insisted that he is to
blame for Manchester City’s poor form
and has denied that Erling Haaland has
anything to do with the recent down-
turn in results.
Guardiola believes that City have
become a victim of their own success,
with expectations rising to a point
where some regard it as a failure if his
team are not streets ahead of the rest of
the chasing pack by the halfway stage of
the season.
The Catalan, who has won four of the
past five Premier League titles, poked
fun at those who have had a knee-jerk
reaction to City’s consecutive defeats
by Southampton and Manchester
United.
“Since we are here people expect us
to perform well and win games, other-
wise it’s [a case of], ‘Pep out,’ ” he said.
“That is how our job is. And I want, ‘Pep
in.’ I want to stay here. To do that I have
to win games.”
Perhaps the most contentious criti-
cism of City in recent games has been
directed at Haaland, who has scored 27
goals in 24 appearances since arriving
from Borussia Dortmund.
Haaland’s critics claim that City are
worse off with the Norway striker up
front because unlike the other players
whom Guardiola used as a false nine
last season, he does not drop deep and
link play as much. Guardiola, who
turned 52 yesterday, laughed off the
idea that Haaland is to blame for City’s
recent slump.
He thinks that Haaland has often
been left isolated, as in the recent 2-0
Carabao Cup defeat by Southampton
and 2-1 derby defeat in the Premier
League at Old Trafford last weekend.
“We have played really well with him
[Haaland], so it is not about that,”
Continued on page 64
During a trial at the tournament in
Morocco, referees will relay their
decisions via a microphone connected
to the public address system, though
their conversation with the video
official will remain private.
The experiment, which could be
extended to the Women’s World Cup in
Australia and New Zealand this
summer if successful, was given the go-
ahead at a meeting of the International
Football Association Board (Ifab), the
game’s lawmaking body, in London.
However, Ifab rejected a proposal to
Continued on page 60

Times Crossword 28,504 across down Yesterday’s solution 28,503

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 Inclination to nap in shelter among 1 Bag a drink (4) S E M I Q U A V E R OP U S

U A U R A D E K
small trees with son (10) 2 Questionable to supply shortened MO RD A N T T H E A T R E
9 6 Magazine’s cold insolence (4) sung performance (9) A Q R F I E R D
10 Noble’s answer queen dismissed (5) 3 Shame about a bird on desert CO UN T D OWN DR AMA
E E R T O D
10 11 11 Truro’s head girl found in tower in staying with new family? (9,5) MO T O R MOON F A C E D
a sad state (9) 4 Siegfried’s sword in opera is unlike A R P C O L
12 Excessively worrying about that of Damocles? (7) S K Y R O C K E T ON I C E
T U N O V N
E-numbers, do cooking (14) 5 Do second language before end of E S S E N I N S P E C T OR
14 Support for equipment extracting schooling (7) R E D T T N R E
12 oil without force (7) 7 See about donkey’s rope (5) F A N B E L T A N A H E I M
15 Old nan has splendid morning (7) 8 Appointment to office coming U S R E D N A A
L E E S B R E A S T P UMP
13 17 Relieved everyone still in Scotland before unrest? (10)
Check today’s answers by ringing 0905 757
departs (7) 9 Ensign on carrier is outstanding 0141 by midnight. Calls cost £1 per minute
14 15 16 19 Extinct bird seen finally biting leader (8-6) plus your telephone company’s network
wings of gulls in Lewis? (7) 13 Money on commission for access charge. SP: Spoke 0333 202 3390.
20 Show disapproval of a general lab experimental rig (10)
changing logical system (7,7) 16 Is rail service on time after duke’s Newspapers
23 A short note about current seizure? (9)
17 18 19
volunteers showing spirit (4,5) 18 One who makes gift of two notes support recycling
The recycled paper content of
24 Rule: ignore changes when nought and eighteen letters (7) UK newspapers in 2020 was 67%
is missing (5) 19 Fantastic old people’s tombs (7)
25 Consider idle team being dismissed 21 Handy ring mains protector (2,3)
20 21 regularly (4) 22 Aim to embrace one woman (4)
26 Exasperated with oxidation speed
22 in fine old penny (10)

23 24

25 26
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