daily newspaper of the year
Wednesday April 10 2024 | thetimes.co.uk | No 74379
Are we dating
the same guy?
If you’re angry, put it in writing . . . but be sure to throw it away
Rhys Blakely Science Correspondent
Dealing with an irritating boss by
writing down exactly why you find
them annoying may seem a high-risk
manoeuvre. However, a study suggests
that the tactic can ease feelings of anger
and frustration — as long as you
destroy the paper afterwards.
Researchers in Japan deliberately
NHS review
rejects use
of puberty
blockers
‘No good evidence’ for giving transitioning drugs
Eleanor Hayward Health Editor
James Beal Social Affairs Editor
Lucy Bannerman, Steven Swinford
An entire field of medicine aimed at
enabling children to change gender has
been “built on shaky foundations”, the
chairwoman of an NHS review has
concluded.
Dr Hilary Cass found that there was
no good evidence to support the global
clinical practice of prescribing hor-
mones to under-18s to halt puberty or
transition to the opposite sex.
This method of medical interven-
tions for young people who identify as
transgender has become embedded in
clinical guidelines around the world
over the past two decades.
Thousands of children have received
puberty blockers on the NHS since
2011, and referrals to its youth gender
identity service have increased 100-
fold in little over a decade.
Cass, a former president of the Royal
College of Paediatrics and Child
Health, was commissioned by NHS
England in 2020 to review services
for children with gender dysphoria.
Her final report has endorsed a
fundamental shift in approach away
from medical intervention towards a
holistic model that addresses other
mental health problems the children
may have.
Rishi Sunak welcomed her findings
and said that the lack of knowledge
about the long-term impact of medical
SL
Charlie Gowans-Eglinton
annoyed volunteers by asking them to
write brief opinions about social issues,
such as whether smoking in public
should be banned, and telling them
their efforts were poor. The volunteers
were then asked to spell out, in writing,
their negative feelings.
Those who were next told to throw
away what they had written seemed to
experience a catharsis, with their anger
interventions meant people should
proceed with “extreme caution”.
He said: “We’ve seen a sharp rise in
recent years of children, particularly
adolescent girls, questioning their gen-
der. I welcome Dr Cass’s expert review
which urges treating these children,
who often have complex needs, with
great care and compassion.
“We simply do not know the long-
term impact of medical treatment or
social transitioning on them, and we
should therefore exercise extreme
caution.
“We acted swiftly on Dr Cass’s in-
terim report to make changes in
schools and our NHS, providing com-
prehensive guidance for schools and
stopping the routine use of puberty
blockers, and we will continue to ensure
that we take the right steps to protect
young people. The wellbeing and
health of children must come first.”
The report contains 32 recommen-
dations for overhauling services. “For
most young people, a medical pathway
will not be the best way to manage their
gender-related distress,” Cass said, add-
ing that children must be seen “as a
whole person and not just through the
lens of their gender identity”.
She said it was vital that services take
into account high rates of autism and
mental health problems in children
identifying as transgender.
The report concludes the world’s big-
gest review of the contested field of
£2.80 £2.00 to subscribers
level — on a scale of one to six — quick-
ly falling to where it had been before the
experiment. By contrast, those who
held on to the note remained upset.
“We expected that our method
would suppress anger,” said Nobuyuki
Kawai of Nagoya University in Japan,
the senior author of the study. “How-
ever, we were amazed that anger was
eliminated almost entirely.”
Alan Bates with his partner, Suzanne Sercombe, after telling the public inquiry that the Post Office needed “disbanding”
Bates: Post Office bosses were thugs in suits
Tom Witherow
Alan Bates labelled former Post Office
executives “little more than thugs in
suits” and called on the government to
sell off the company.
The campaigner, who gave up work
to devote himself to the two-decade
quest for justice over the Horizon IT
scandal, said the bosses in charge
through the 2010s were responsible for
a “cover-up”.
His comments, part of evidence in a
marathon session at the public inquiry
into the scandal, came before 15 weeks
of hearings in which former chief exec-
utives, chairmen, cabinet ministers and
top lawyers will give evidence.
INSIDE
TIMES2
The study was small, with 50 partici-
pants, and other scientists will want to
see the results replicated to show the
effect is real.
However, Kawai’s team believes the
method echoes a centuries-old Japa-
nese tradition known as hakidashisara,
in which feelings of anger are set down
in writing and sealed in a small vessel,
which is then destroyed. Kawai said the
Some of Bates’s remarks were made
in a letter to Sir Ed Davey, the former
postal affairs minister, in July 2010 after
he rejected a meeting with the cam-
paigner, saying the Post Office was
operationally independent.
“It is because you have adopted an
arm’s length relationship that you have
allowed a once great institution to be
asset-stripped by little more than thugs
in suits, and you have enabled them to
carry on with impunity regardless of
the human misery and suffering they
inflict,” Bates wrote.
At the time David Smith, who will
give evidence tomorrow, was managing
director. He was succeeded five months
later by Paula Vennells, the former
(based on a 7 Day Print and Digital Subscription)
Strawberries
and the
chemicals
in our food
intention was “to restore the original
purity of the heart”.
He believes the findings, published in
the journal Scientific Reports, may help
businesspeople who find themselves in
stressful situations. “This technique
could be applied in the moment by
writing down the source of anger, as if
taking a memo, and then throwing it
away,” he said.
network director. Bates, who was
sacked from his post office in
Craig-y-Don, Llandudno, north Wales,
in 2003, was accused of being “un-
manageable”, “struggling with the ac-
counting” and “flouting” instructions
from his area manager in internal Post
Office correspondence.
He told the inquiry this was untrue
y(7HB7E2*OTSNNM( |||+=!\'
2 S1
News
Today’s highlights US congressional leader snubs
7am
8.15am
2.10pm
Laura Farris, the safeguarding minister
Ehud Barak, the former PM of Israel
Gene Simmons, right, from Kiss talks
Cameron over aid to Ukraine
about the rock band’s new virtual show
Hugh Tomlinson
3.45pm The broadcaster Adele Roberts on her
cancer diagnosis and new memoir Alistair Dawber Washington
8.15pm Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom speaks to The foreign secretary was unable to
Kait Borsay after giving evidence at secure a meeting with the speaker of
the Post Office inquiry the House of Representatives during a
trip to Washington this week, it has
emerged, as he presses United States
officials to pass a $60 billion package of
DAB RADIO l ONLINE l SMART SPEAKER l APP
military aid for Ukraine.
Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton
met Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in
Florida on Monday night before a trip
T O D AY ’ S E D I T I O N to Washington yesterday where he
spoke to Antony Blinken, the secretary
of state, and members of Congress.
He pressed the members to pass a bill
NEWS SPORT TIMES2 stuck in the House that would release
$60 billion in fresh military aid for
Ukraine. A spending bill with support
for Kyiv has stalled for months in
Congress, where it faces vehement
opposition from Republican hardliners
loyal to Donald Trump.
Key to unlocking the aid is Mike
Johnson, the House speaker and a
Trump ally, who has refused to table a
vote on the bill since it was passed in the
ROOT OF IT ALL LEAP OF FAITH RIDING HIGH Senate in February. Sources in the UK
confirmed that Johnson could not find
Naturalists rally for The gymnast Max Cowgirl chic is time in his diary to meet. His office
the home of the Whitlock on his galloping back to
‘father of ecology’ Olympic inspiration our wardrobes
PAGE 20 PAGES 54-55 PULLOUT, PAGES 6-7
Japan could be weapons partner to West
378 days since Wall Street Journal
reporter Evan Gershkovich
was detained in Russia
#FreeEvan
Larisa Brown Defence Editor
Japan could help the United States,
Britain and Australia develop new mili-
tary technology as a “friend” of the
Aukus security pact in a move aimed at
countering Chinese expansionism.
THUNDERER 22 WORLD 26 SPORT 52 Defence ministers from the Aukus
LETTERS 24 BUSINESS 31 CROSSWORD 62 nations said they were considering
LEADING ARTICLES 25 REGISTER 45 TV & RADIO TIMES2 bringing Japan into “pillar two” — part
of the pact that focuses on developing
advanced technology such as artificial
Fighting the Post Office: intelligence and hypersonic weapons.
The Aukus deal, signed in 2021,
Alan Bates at the inquiry commits the UK and US to sharing
The nuclear technology with Australia to
Story The campaigner who took on
the Post Office to expose flaws
in its IT systems has appeared
enable it to build its first nuclear-
powered submarines.
It has yet to be decided what project
Japan could help with, and allies will
before the public inquiry into have to agree on how much sensitive
the scandal. Can this crucial
stage of the inquiry take the
continued from page 1
victims a step closer to justice? Review into transgender care
Available on the Times Radio app or
wherever you get your podcasts trans healthcare, and involved patients,
families, academics and doctors.
Researchers at the University of York
examined all available evidence on how
OFFER to treat children questioning their gen-
der identity. They concluded there was
Save up to 30% with a subscription to “wholly inadequate” evidence to
The Times and The Sunday Times support medical intervention, making
it impossible to know whether it im-
THETIMES.CO.UK/SUBSCRIBE
proves mental or physical health.
The treatment, or pathway, involves
THE WEATHER giving children puberty blockers, and
then cross-sex hormones from the age
of 16, and has been adopted globally.
In an opinion piece for the BMJ, Cass
6 said evidence-based medicine was built
around three pillars of integrating the
29
best available research with clinical
9 25 expertise, and patient preferences. She
said: “When conducting the review, I
found that in gender medicine those
12
pillars are built on shaky foundations.”
14
13
The review found that the use of
14 puberty blockers had “spread at pace”
13
around the world, based on a single
29 Dutch study that began in 1998. It said
there was no good evidence puberty
blockers helped, and they may damage
Cloud and rain spreading eastwards, bone health and height.
heaviest in northwestern areas. The NHS has committed itself to
overhauling its gender identity services
declined to comment when asked if he
had refused the foreign secretary’s
request for a meeting. The two did meet
in December during Cameron’s last trip
to the US capital.
Cameron said last week that while in
Washington he would meet Johnson
and urge him to pass the aid package.
Johnson has delayed a vote as he
attempts to secure concessions from
the White House to placate the Repub-
licans who have threatened to oust him
as speaker if he brings the bill to a vote.
Speaking in Washington, Cameron
said: “We know if we give the Ukraini-
ans the support they deserve, they can
win this war. They can achieve the just
peace that they deserve.”
He insisted that while the UK and
other allies had stepped up efforts to
supply more arms to Ukraine, “nothing
is more important” than releasing the
$60 billion stalled in Congress. He said
adversaries of the UK and US were
watching Nato’s support and would
judge “whether we are committed”.
“We face a huge threat from an
aggressive [President] Putin taking
other countries’ territory by force and it
is so important that we stick together.”
During the press briefing with Blink-
information they are willing to share.
Japan is not part of the Five Eyes
intelligence-sharing network — the
US, Canada, Britain, Australia and New
Zealand — though it co-operates with
many of its members. Japanese diplo-
mats have spoken of their wish to be-
come the “sixth” member.
A senior British government source
said the idea behind the widening of
Aukus pillar two was to show that Japan
was firmly on the side of the West and
not of China, as well as to be in a better
position to develop the technology to
deter Beijing from seizing Taiwan.
Grant Shapps, the defence secretary,
and Lloyd Austin and Richard Marles
— his US and Australian counterparts
— said they were set on delivering “ad-
vanced military capabilities” to their
own forces. “We are confident that en-
for children, including banning the use
of puberty blockers for under-16s. The
youth gender identity clinic run by the
Tavistock and Portman NHS Founda-
tion Trust has been closed, with care
moved to two new NHS services.
The review also found that debates on
trans issues had led to fear among doc-
tors and parents, with some worrying
about being accused of transphobia.
Since the Gender Identity Development
Service opened in 1989, it has seen more
than 9,000 young people.
An NHS spokesman said: “NHS
England is grateful to Dr Cass for com-
prehensive work on this important
review. The NHS has made significant
progress towards establishing a funda-
mentally different gender service for
children and young people.”
A 2019 investigation by The Times
first exposed concerns about children
being put on experimental treatments
at NHS gender clinics.
Helen Joyce, from Sex Matters, a
charity that campaigns for clarity on
sex in law, said: “Hilary Cass’s report is
the nail in the coffin for the so-called
‘gender-affirming’ treatment model.
The total lack of evidence base is laid
bare for everyone to see.”
Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
en, Cameron said the West needed a
“plan B” in case Israel pressed ahead
with an invasion of Rafah.
He said: “We have a very clear plan A
for how we bring this conflict to an end:
we have a temporary pause, we turn
that into a sustainable ceasefire, we see
Hamas leaders removed from Gaza, we
see the terrorist infrastructure taken
down ... But if that doesn’t work, we
have to think about what is plan B?
What can humanitarian and other
organisations do to make sure that if
there is a conflict in Rafah, people can
achieve safety ... ?”
On Monday, Cameron met Trump
who recently provoked alarm about his
commitment to the alliance by com-
menting that he would not protect Nato
allies who did not spend more on de-
fence if he won the presidency. In an
effort to appease his demands, Camer-
on said the July Nato summit in Wash-
ington would focus on bringing all 32
members up to the threshold of spend-
ing 2 per cent of GDP on defence.
The White House said it was aware in
advance of the meeting with Trump.
Jake Sullivan, US national security ad-
viser, declined to address if the adminis-
tration believed the talk was helpful.
gaging like-minded partners in the
work of pillar two will only strengthen
this pursuit.”
It is understood the US is keen to pro-
mote Japan’s involvement in pillar two
to show how valued it is as a partner.
Japan, which is already working with
the UK on Tempest, a fighter jet due to
enter service by 2035, has increased de-
fence spending amid concern about
China’s military assertiveness.
China said it was “gravely con-
cerned” about the prospect of Japan
joining the pact. A foreign ministry
spokeswoman said the move “dis-
regards the risk of nuclear prolifera-
tion”. It would “intensify the arms race
in the Indo-Pacific region and disrupt
regional peace and stability”, she said.
continued from page 1
Post Office inquiry
and that he believed he was sacked
because he was blowing the whistle on
the faults in the £1 billion Horizon com-
puter system.
Documentary evidence produced
yesterday showed that he had raised
the alarm as early as December 2000,
but found “they didn’t like me standing
up to them”. In a letter he told the Post
Office: “I can assure you of my con-
tinued and now increased resolve to
bring the real facts of what is going on
... regardless of whether it takes years.”
He concluded his evidence by saying
the Post Office was an “atrocious orga-
nisation” that needed “disbanding” and
“building up again from the ground
floor”. He added: “The whole of the
postal service is a dead duck. It’s beyond
saving, and it needs to be sold to some-
one like Amazon ... otherwise it’s going
to be a bugbear for the government for
the years to come.”
Vennells has said she is “truly sorry”
for the “devastation caused to the
sub-postmasters and their families”,
and is co-operating with the inquiry
fully. She will give evidence over three
days next month.
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
Hollywood
scouts for a
theme park
in . . . Bedford
Jack Malvern
When Universal Studios announced
that it was building its first theme park
in Europe, the people of Bedford were
astonished to learn that their town was
considered the equivalent of Los Ange-
les and Beijing.
The owners of the brand are now
seeking Bedford residents’ opinions on
how they should build their park in a
way that “celebrates this area’s vibrant
history”.
It is not yet clear what vibrant history
Universal Studios is hoping to cele-
brate, but among the town’s claims to
fame are its 18th-century lace industry
and hosting John Bunyan while he
wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress during his
imprisonment in Bedford Gaol.
Histories of Bedford tend to linger on
its destruction. The first record of Bed-
fordshire’s existence was when King
Canute “laid waste” to it in 1016. Its
12th-century castle is now a mound
after its destruction at the hands of
Henry III in 1224.
NBC Universal, which released fur-
ther details of the park on Monday, said
that if its feasibility study is positive, it
would like to “design select food and
drink facilities and attractions with
Bedford’s town history in mind”.
The only idea put forward in the con-
sultation document is that buildings
would incorporate bricks left on the site
TikTok’s copycat photo app aims to stick claws into Instagram
Charlotte Alt
TikTok is taking on Instagram, its
social media rival — it has revealed that
it is working on a photo-sharing app
that will provide a “dedicated space” for
images and text.
The app will be called TikTok Notes
and will allow users to upload photo
posts, although TikTok said that it had
not finalised the design or confirmed a
release date.
Nonetheless, some users have re-
ceived notifications telling them that
S1
from when it was a brickworks. The
works were demolished in 1980 when a
demolition crew toppled the final 18
chimneys on a site that once had 167.
Although the company said it was
too early to announce what attractions
it would include, it said that visitors to
other Universal Studios parks found
themselves “chased by velociraptors,
fending off an alien attack or
escaping an indoor tomb”.
Universal’s other parks
include attractions based
on Jurassic Park, Jaws, ET,
The Fast and the Furious,
Transformers and The
Simpsons.
The company owns
476 acres and has an
option to increase it
to 700 for a site
that would make it
larger than its 415-
acre park in Holly-
wood.
It said if it does pro-
ceed, it will provide
“emotionally fulfilling
moments” in “beautifully
designed and landscaped
areas”. It promised support
for local wildlife sites at
former industrial pits, such as
Kempston Hardwick Pit, and
to plant thousands of trees.
The company promised to
their photo posts will be shared on the
new app unless they opt out via a box
underneath the text.
In screenshots shared online, the
notification states: “Your photo posts
will be shown on TikTok Notes. TikTok
Notes, a new app for photo posts, is
coming soon!
“Your existing and future public Tik-
Tok photo posts will be shown on Tik-
Tok Notes. If you prefer not to show
your public TikTok photo posts on Tik-
Tok Notes, turn this off now.”
It is the latest example of social
Universal Studios’
LA park has rides
based on films such
as ET. Bedford, top
left, could get a
movie theme park
built on an old
brickworks
media companies imitating each
other’s features after Instagram
launched Reels in 2020 — a TikTok-
like tool by which short videos are post-
ed online.
Mike Proulx, a research director at
the analysis firm Forrester, told the
BBC: “The copycat phenomenon runs
rampant across social media plat-
forms.”
Such features can pay off, Proulx
said, giving the example of when Insta-
gram copied Snapchat by introducing
Stories, which are posts that disappear
3
News
Worlds apart
Bedford V Orlando
185,300 (2021) Population 2.1 million
10th century First settled 1843
Bedford Castle, Oldest castle Cinderella Castle,
12th century Magic Kingdom, 1971
Edible Ornamentals Highest rated Universal Islands of
pick-your-own chilli farm tourist attraction Adventure
on Tripadvisor
John Bunyan Notable residents Wesley Snipes
limit the heights of buildings 8,000 jobs, rising to 10,000 after 20
to 75m, although rides could years, three quarters of which would go
go as high as 115m. to residents of Bedford, Luton and
It also said light and Milton Keynes.
sound pollution would be The park would be 40 miles from
minimal as each zone Watford, which appeared on tourist
would be designed so it maps in 2012 when it opened the
did not interfere with Making of Harry Potter studio tour.
the others. “A land at a However, plans have yet to be con-
Universal theme park firmed. Bedford residents appear to
cannot be an immer- have been stunned by the prospect of a
sive experience if the theme park on the outskirts of a town
music from next door is whose current top ten visitor attrac-
heard. That is why we design tions, according to Tripadvisor, are led
our lands and use advanced techno- by a pick-your-own chilli tunnel.
logy to focus all the sound and light Residents have until May 3 to
effects inwardly,” a spokesman said. influence the project by filling in a ques-
The park would create an expected tionnaire.
after a set time period, usually one day. media platform would be banned un-
However, imitation attempts can less its Chinese owner sold it within six
also end in failure: a similar move by months of the law taking effect.
Twitter proved unpopular. Jasmine Enberg, principal social
TikTok said: “As part of our commit- media analyst at Insider Intelligence,
ment to innovating the TikTok experi- told the BBC: “Launching Notes as a
ence, we’re exploring ways to empower separate app would be a departure in
our community to create and share strategy for TikTok, which has previ-
their creativity with photos and text in ously incorporated new features direct-
a dedicated space for those formats.” ly into the core app, but it makes sense
TikTok has been experiencing a diffi- given the current regulatory and con-
cult time in recent months after the US sumer scrutiny. There are few places
House of Representatives approved left where it doesn’t have a stronghold,
legislation under which the social and photo-sharing is one.”
4 Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
News
News Cass report
Damning verdict on medical
The Cass report, out today, should be the final nail
in the coffin of Gids, the clinic that told thousands
of children they were transgender. James Beal,
Lucy Bannerman and Eleanor Hayward report
In 2009 the NHS’s gender identity
development service (Gids) saw fewer
than 50 children a year. Since then
demand has increased a hundredfold,
with more than 5,000 seeking help in
2021-22.
The sudden increase has gone hand
in hand with the adoption of a model of
“gender-affirming” care, which puts
children on a life-altering path of hor-
mone treatment. Services have been
left overwhelmed, with vulnerable
young people clamouring for medical
interventions to help them change gen-
der — despite a lack of evidence over
the long-term effects.
It was against this backdrop that Dr
Hilary Cass was commissioned in 2020
to examine the state of NHS services
for children identifying as trans. Her
final report, published today, delivers a
damning verdict on the medical path
thousands of children have been sent
down. It marks a turning point in years
of bitter debate over how to help this
distressed group of young people, con-
firming a shift towards a holistic model
that takes into account the wider social
and mental health problems driving the
rise in demand.
gen z and online porn
The Cass report shines a light on the
biggest unanswered question over
transgender healthcare: why are so
many Gen Z women suddenly wanting
to change gender?
Cass paints an alarming picture of an
anxious and distressed generation of
digitally savvy young women and girls,
who not only are more exposed to on-
line pornography and the wider prob-
lems of the world than any previous
generation but also consume more
social media and have lower self-es-
teem and more body hang-ups than
their male peers.
When Gids opened in 1989, it treated
fewer than 10 people each year, mostly
males with a long history of gender
distress. In 2009 it treated 15 adoles-
cent girls. By 2016 that figure had shot
up to 1,071.
Cass concludes that such a sudden
spike in such a short time cannot be ex-
plained alone by greater acceptance of
trans identities, which “does not ade-
quately explain” the switch in patient
profiles from predominantly male to fe-
male. She also says greater investi-
gation of the “consumption of online
pornography and gender dysphoria is
needed”, pointing to youngsters’ in-
creasingly early exposure to “frequent-
ly violent” online material that can
have a harmful impact on their self-
esteem and body image.
Gen Z is defined as those born
between 1995 and 2009. Rather than
focusing on the issue of gender in isola-
tion, Cass looked at the context in
which adolescents today, who have
“grown up with unprecedented online
access”, are experiencing such a dispro-
portionate crisis over their gender.
“Generation Z is the generation in
which the numbers seeking support
from the NHS around their gender
identity have increased, so it is impor-
tant to have some understanding of
their experiences and influences,” she
writes. “In terms of broader context,
Generation Z and Generation Alpha
(those born since 2010) have grown up
through a global recession, concerns
about climate change and most recent-
ly the Covid-19 pandemic. Global con-
nectivity has meant that as well as the
advantages of international peer net-
works, they are much more exposed to
worries about global threats.
The report also focuses on 2014,
when female referrals to Gids acceler-
ated. Although this is not mentioned,
2014 was the year that CBBC, for exam-
ple, broadcast I Am Leo, a video-diary-
style documentary, to an audience of to
6 to 12-year-olds, showing the positive
personal journey of a child who transi-
tioned from female to male.
Throughout almost 400 pages, Cass
argues that the gender-related issues of
young patients should be treated in the
same context as the wider mental
health issues facing their entire genera-
tion. “The striking increase in young
people presenting with gender incon-
gruence/dysphoria needs to be consid-
ered within the context of poor mental
health and emotional distress among
the broader adolescent population,
particularly given their high rates of co-
existing mental health problems and
neurodiversity.” Cass calls for more re-
search into the “complex interplay”
between these issues and a teenager’s
sudden desire to change gender.
lack of evidence for medical
pathway
Rather than affirming
children’s gender ident-
ity with medical treat-
ment, the report calls for
a holistic approach that
examines the causes of
their distress. It finds
that, despite being incor-
porated into medical
guidelines around the
world, the use of “gen-
der-affirming” medical
treatment such as puber-
ty blockers is based on
“wholly inadequate” evi-
dence. Doctors are cau-
tious when adopting new
treatments, but Cass says
“quite the reverse hap-
pened in the field of gen-
der care for children”,
with thousands of child-
ren put on an unproven
medical pathway.
Cass says gender care
is “an area of remarkably
weak evidence” and that results of stud-
ies “are exaggerated or misrepresented The now closed Gids clinic was housed in the Tavistock Centre and treated children for gender dysphoria. The NHS review,
by people on all sides of the debate”. She
adds: “The reality is that we have no mental health difficulties than the gen- gender distress, the report finds. This ty suppression on psychological or psy-
good evidence on the long-term out- eral population. This includes rates of was because gender dysphoria was not chosocial health, it says, and some
comes of interventions to manage gen- depression, anxiety and eating dis- considered to be a mental health young females had a worsening of
der-related distress.” orders. Some research studies have condition. problems like depression and anxiety.
The report finds that treatment on suggested transgender people are three The report finds that, compared with Cass says there is “some concern”
the NHS since 2011 has largely been in- to six times more likely to be autistic the general population, young people that puberty blockers may actually
formed by two sets of international than the general population, with age referred to gender services had higher change “the trajectory of psychosexual
guidelines, drawn up by the Endocrine and educational attainment taken into rates of neglect; physical, sexual or and gender identity development”.
Society and the World Professional account. emotional abuse; parental mental ill- Her report warns that blocking the
Association of Transgender Health- Therefore, the report says that the ness or substance abuse; exposure to chronological age and sex hormones
care (WPATH), but that these lack striking increase in young people domestic violence; and loss of a parent released during puberty “could have a
scientific rigour. The WPATH has been presenting with gender dysphoria through death or abandonment. range of unintended and as yet un-
“highly influential in directing inter- needs to be considered within the con- identified consequences”.
national practice, although its guide- text of rising levels of poor mental puberty blockers It describes adolescence as a time of
lines were found by the University of health. The report says there was “no evi- “identity development, sexual develop-
York’s appraisal to lack developmental The increase in gender clinic patients dence” puberty blockers allowed young ment, sexual fluidity and experimenta-
rigour and transparency”, Cass says. “has to some degree paralleled” the de- people “time to think” by delaying the tion”. The report says “blocking” this
The report says the NHS must work terioration in child and adolescent onset of puberty — which was the origi- meant young people had to understand
to improve the evidence base. mental health, it finds. Mental distress, nal rationale for their use. It finds the identity and sexuality based only on
the report says, can present through vast majority of those who start puber- their discomfort about puberty and an
mental health physical manifestations, such as eating ty suppression continued on to cross- early sense of their gender. Therefore, it
Mental health issues could be present- disorders or body dysmorphic disor- sex hormones, particularly if they adds, there is “no way of knowing” whe-
ing as gender-related distress. Children ders. Clinicians were often reluctant to started earlier in puberty. ther the normal trajectory of someone’s
and young people referred to specialist explore or address co-occurring mental There was insufficient and inconsist- sexual and gender identity “may be per-
gender services have higher rates of health issues in those presenting with ent evidence about the effects of puber- manently altered”.
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024 5

News
News

path many children sent on their child being socially transitioned

Number of children and young people presenting to the UK NHS Gender Identity Service The recommendations
Children (male)
Data collection
1,500 Gender identity clinics should offer
Children (female) their data to NHS England for
Adolescents (male) review, and more research should
be conducted on the impact of
Adolescents (female) psychosocial intervention — such as
1,000 therapy — and the use of
masculinising and feminising
Source: The CASS Review
and affirmed in their expressed gender
without their involvement. Draft gov-
ernment guidance, published in
December, stated that schools should
not accept all requests for social transi-
tion and should involve parents in any
decision that is made.
Despite this, there has been evidence
of schools ignoring ministers and
allowing children to change gender

hormones, such as testosterone and behind their parents’ backs.

2009
Child and adolescent referrals for
gender dysphoria (UK, GIDS)
Children (less
than 12 years)
Female
Male
Unknown A
2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2021
-11 -13 -15 -17 -19 -21 -22
Number of referrals by country ...
Sweden
Netherlands
Australia
Finland
Norway
2000 02 04
which featured a model, above left, in its report, will shape NHS services for young people questioning their identity
Brain maturation may also be “tem-
porarily or permanently disrupted” by
the use of puberty blockers, it says. This
could have a significant impact on a
young person’s ability to make “com-
plex risk-laden decisions”, as well as
possible long-term neuropsychological
consequences.
The report highlights the “concern”
of young people remaining on puberty
blockers into adulthood — sometimes
into their mid-twenties. This is partly
because some “wish to continue as non-
binary” and partly because of ongoing
gender indecision, the report says.
Cass adds: “Puberty suppression was
never intended to continue for extend-
ed periods.”
The report finds young adults who
had been discharged from Gids
“remained on puberty blockers into
their early to mid twenties”. A review of
audit data suggested 177 patients were
discharged while on puberty blockers.
Cass says the review “raised this with
oestrogen. Cass recommended that The report makes clear that “parents
500 the NHS should also consider data should be actively involved in decision
from private clinics. making” unless there are strong
grounds to believe that it may put the
Puberty blockers and hormone child at risk.
treatment It also finds that social debates on
0 Cass recommended research to trans issues led to fear among doctors
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 establish the long-term impact of and parents, with some concerned
puberty blockers, which is expected about being accused of transphobia.
Distribution of patient’s age on referral and to start by December. The interim report, from 2022, had
birth registered gender on referral to GIDS classed social transition as “not a neu-
Apr 1, 2018 to Dec 31, 2022 Assessment of other conditions tral act”. The full report explains that it
5,000 Cass said that children arriving at is an “active intervention”, because it
gender identity services should be may have significant effects on a young
Adolescents screened for conditions such as person’s psychological functioning and
(12 to 17 years)
17 years + autism and other longer-term outcomes.
Female 4,000 neurodevelopmental conditions. In a strong warning to schools, the re-
port describes the need for “clinical in-
Male Criteria for medical treatment volvement” in the decision-making
Unknown B 15-16 When treating children with gender process on social transitioning. It adds:
3,000 dysphoria, only those who have “This is not a role that can be taken by
experienced “long-standing gender staff without appropriate clinical
incongruence” will be able to get training.”
12-14 medical treatment. Even then, this The report concludes that maintain-
2,000 will only be available — with ing flexibility is key among those going
“extreme caution” — for over 16s. down a social transition route and says
11-12 Female a “partial transition”, rather than a full
A holistic approach one, could help.
1,000 Male Before any medical intervention, In decisions about whether to transi-
Cass recommends that children tion prepubescent children, families
10 and under should be offered fertility should be seen “as early as possible by a
counselling and “preservation” by clinical professional”.
0 specialist services. This formed part
2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 500 of a more “holistic” approach to rogue private clinics
Number of patients gender identity services. Cass Long waiting lists for NHS care mean
suggested the creation and distressed children are turning to pri-
... and the rise in the UK implementation of a national vate clinics or resorting to “obtaining
framework and infrastructure for unregulated and potentially dangerous
400 000s 2.5 gender-related care. hormone supplies over the internet”,
the report says.
Growing into adulthood Some NHS GPs have then felt “pres-
Denmark The review advised that follow- surised to prescribe hormones after
2.0
Canada through services for 17 to 25-year- these have been initiated by private
Belgium 300 olds should be established to providers”, and Cass says this should
Israel ensure a continuity of care and not happen.
1.5 support when children grow into The report also urges the Depart-
adulthood. ment of Health to consider new legis-
lation to “prevent inappropriate over-
200 Detransitioners seas prescribing”. This is intended to
0.5 The report proposed that NHS tackle a loophole which means that,
England should “ensure there is despite the NHS banning the use of
provision for people considering puberty blockers last month, children
detransition”, while recognising that can still access them from online clinics
0 0 they may not wish to attend such as GenderGP, which is registered
06 08 10 12 14 16 18 19 2009 11 13 15 17 services that assisted in their initial in Singapore.
gender transition.
detransitioning
Cass says some of those who have been
NHS England and Gids”, citing the un- to a wider range of adolescents, it social transition through medical transitions “deeply
known impact of use over an extended says, including patients with no history The report concludes it was “possible” regret their earlier decisions”. Her re-
period. “The detrimental impact to of gender issues before puberty and that social transition, including the port says the NHS should consider a
bone density alone makes this concern- those with neurodiversity and changing of a child’s name and pro- new specialist service for people who
ing”, the report adds. complex mental health issues. nouns, may change the trajectory wish to “detransition” and come off
A Dutch study originally suggested Clinical practice, Cass found, of their gender development. It hormone treatments. She says people
that puberty blockers might improve appeared to have “deviated” finds “no clear evidence” social who are detransitioning may be reluc-
psychological wellbeing for a narrow from the parameters originally transitioning in childhood has tant to return to the service they had
group of children with gender issues. set. any positive or negative mental previously used.
Following this, the practice “spread at Overall, the report concludes health effects, but that child-
pace to other countries” and in 2011 the there was a “very narrow ren who socially transi- nhs numbers
UK trialled the use of puberty blockers indication” for the use of tioned at an earlier age The report recommends that the NHS
in an early intervention study. puberty blockers in males were more likely to pro- and Department of Health review cur-
The results were not formally pub- to stop irreversible ceed to medical treat- rent practice of issuing new NHS num-
lished until 2020, at which time it pubertal changes, while ment. A more cau- bers to people who change gender.
showed there was a lack of any positive other benefits remained tious approach to Cass suggests that handing out new
measurable outcomes. It also found that unproven. social transition NHS numbers to trans people means
98 per cent of people had proceeded to It says there were needs to be taken for they risk getting lost in the system —
take cross-sex hormones. “clearly lessons to be children than for ad- making it harder to track their health
Despite this, from 2014 puberty learnt by everyone”. olescents, it con- histories and long-term outcomes.
blockers moved from a research-only cludes. The review says that this has had
protocol to being available in routine Dr Hilary Cass, a The review also “implications for safeguarding and
clinical practice. “The rationale for this retired consultant heard concerns clinical management of these children”,
is unclear,” the report says. paediatrician, from “many — for example, the type of screening
Puberty blockers were then given compiled the report parents” about that they are offered.
6 Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times

News
News Cass report

Debate on
trans rights
‘shut down
by bullying’
Eleanor Hayward Health Editor social media, and where name-calling

Dr Hilary Cass has called for an end to

the “exceptionally toxic” debates on
transgender healthcare after being vili-
fied online while compiling her review.
In a foreword to her 388-page report,
the medical doctor said that navigating
the culture war over trans rights had
made her task over the past four years
significantly harder.
She said that the “stormy social dis-
course” did little to help young people,
being let down by a lack of research and
evidence.
Cass revealed that she had faced crit-
icism from groups on both sides of the
debate over trans healthcare and rights
since being appointed by NHS England
and NHS Improvement in September
2020 to chair an independent review of
gender identity services for children
and young people amid concerns the
services had become overwhelmed.
She said she had tried to remain fo-
cused on her remit while being “buffet-
ed by different issues along the way”.
Cass wrote: “Despite the best inten-
tions of everyone with a stake in this
complex issue, the toxicity of the debate
is exceptional. I have faced criticism for
engaging with groups and individuals
who take a social justice approach and
advocate for gender affirmation, and
have equally been criticised for involv-
ing groups and individuals who urge
more caution.
“The knowledge and expertise of ex-
perienced clinicians who have reached
different conclusions about the best ap-
proach to care are sometimes dismissed
and invalidated.”
Cass added: “There are few other
areas of healthcare where professionals
are so afraid to openly discuss their
views, where people are vilified on
echoes the worst bullying behaviour.
This must stop.
“Polarisation and stifling of debate do
Key figures in clinic
nothing to help the young people
caught in the middle of a stormy social
at heart of a scandal
discourse, and in the long run will also
hamper the research that is essential to sue evans, nurse and years ago after colleagues
finding the best way of supporting them psychotherapist raised concerns about
to thrive.” Evans was one of the staff Gids. His report, which
Cass was president of the Royal Col- who blew the whistle on went to senior figures in
lege of Paediatrics and Child Health the practices at the the NHS Trust, addressed
from 2012 to 2015 and is a retired paedi- Gender Identity many matters, such as
atric consultant specialising in neuro- Development Service concerns that children
disability. She was awarded an OBE in (Gids) at the Tavistock with several problems
2015 for services to child health. and Portman NHS were being put on the
The review had vulnerable children Foundation Trust in wrong medical pathway.
and young people “at its heart”, Cass London.
said, adding: “Yet from the start, the She raised concerns in sonia appleby, social
review stepped into an arena where 2005 after she became worker and adult
there were strong and widely divergent increasingly worried that psychoanalytic
opinions unsupported by adequate young children were therapist
evidence. being given experimental Appleby won £20,000
“The surrounding noise and increas- treatment without what from an employment
ingly toxic, ideological and polarised she believed were tribunal after the Gids
public debate has made the work of the adequate assessments. service attempted to
review significantly harder and does Evans, who left Gids in prevent her from carrying
nothing to serve the children and 2007, later said that the out her safeguarding role.
young people who may already be sub- clinic was willing to offer Staff had approached her
ject to significant minority stress.” drugs to children under with concerns about
The review also found that social de- 16, and even to those as doctors prescribing
bates on trans issues had led to fear young as nine or ten. puberty blockers to young
among doctors and parents, with some people. Appleby was
concerned about being accused of dr david bell, responsible for protecting
transphobia. It said that many doctors consultant children at risk from
“have concerns about their capacity psychiatrist maltreatment.
and competence to work with this pop- Bell wrote a The tribunal heard
ulation and some are fearful of doing so whistleblowing report six evidence that she had
given the surrounding social debate”.
Cass said that research showed some
parents were “fearful” of what would affirm their child’s assumed identity or validity of trans identities, challenging some would be pleased with her report,
happen if they did not consent to their risk being painted as transphobic and/ the right of people to express them- others who wanted urgent access to
children’s wish to change gender. or unsupportive”. selves, or rolling back on people’s rights hormones and puberty blockers might
She said that this could lead to “an ad- Cass insisted that the review was “not to healthcare”. be upset and disappointed.
versarial position between parent and about defining what it meant to be Addressing young people directly in On the standards of care to date, she
child where some parents felt ‘forced’ to trans, nor was it about undermining the her foreword, she recognised that while wrote: “I have been disappointed by the

This militant lobby must be kept at bay to safeguard children

surprising, they are no less sickening.
Sajid Javid Quite simply, ideology replaced the
Comment best interests of children, thousands
of whom have been failed.
At every opportunity, and in each
autism, which about 2 per cent of
children in the UK are thought to
have. At Gids, a review found that
about 35 per cent had moderate or
severe autistic traits.
gender ideology, which enables them
to persist.
Across political parties, we need to
reassess how effective the
commitment is to protecting children
demonstrates, the consequence of
compliance risks people being forcibly
silenced.
At the same time, the natural
political instinct of some, including in

W
hen I was briefed on
the NHS’s Tavistock
Gender Identity
Development Service
(Gids) for the first
time, I knew this was not just another
policy area but a child protection
problem and huge medical scandal in
the making.
As health and social care secretary
at the time, I instructed officials to
provide all available support to Dr
Hilary Cass. I introduced legislation
to support her investigation and,
months later, backed her interim
report’s recommendations.
She has demonstrated exceptional
courage throughout. Although the
findings of her report are not
department I served in, I tried to
advance the cause of child protection.
In this case, the source of lessons lies
in both the clinical practice and
political culture that enabled it to
persist for so long. Unless each is
resolved, more children will be
harmed.
In any other setting it is hard to
imagine a patient meeting a doctor
and the patient telling them what
their diagnosis is. Yet the approach of
self-diagnoses was the medical
pathway adopted at Gids. This
resulted in clinicians not showing
enough interest in other potential
factors, including trauma, social
influence, sexual abuse or different
conditions. Take the example of
Compounding this was the
widespread prescription of puberty
blockers. Thankfully that practice in
the NHS is changing, but loopholes
remain. Both private clinics and
prescriptions ordered from abroad
remain significant problems. In the
case of prescriptions, someone could
simply order them online to any
pharmacy in the country.
The government must close this
loophole without delay. But this is
only one area and many more exist.
Despite the specific data legislation I
brought forward at Dr Cass’s request,
parts of the NHS continue to block
access and frustrate the express will
of parliament. The common thread
between all of these is an extreme
and keeping this militant gender
lobby at bay; otherwise this review
will be wasted.
Only the courage of whistleblowers
and activists was able to provide the
beginning of much-needed
accountability. Without political
support, advocates of the system will
continue to dominate, as they have in
other countries. The same theme of
being afraid to tackle “uncomfortable”
problems has existed in other areas
before, to the detriment of children.
Whether it is race, sex, gender or
other identity characteristics,
politicians cannot let a culture of
silence prevail because of political
sensitivities. As the introduction of
the hate crime law in Scotland
my party, will need to be tempered.
The debate always risks descending
into one where far more heat than
light is offered, and one where serious
policy recommendations fall by the
wayside in favour of stronger words of
condemnation.
That is why the NHS process was
so important. It had the time and
power to recommend meaningful
change. In a changing society, where
many more of these challenges will
arise, only substantive processes and
firm decisions can deal with these
complex matters.
All of us have to navigate such a
society. But as this report makes clear,
never again should that come at the
expense of our children.
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024 7

News
News
raised concerns about the
treatment of an
increasing number of
Force gender service
children being referred to
Gids.

Sue Evans, left, said Gids was willing to offer drugs to children
as young as nine. Sonia Appleby and David Bell, below left and
right, were also among those to raise concerns. Aidan Kelly,
far left, wearing jacket, has set up a private gender clinic,
while Heather Wood, above, says she plans to do so
lack of evidence on the long-term im- um without being able to weigh their
pact of taking hormones from an early risks and benefits now and in the long-
age; research has let us all down, most term, and we have to build the evi-
importantly you. dence-base with good studies going
“However, we cannot expect you to forward.
make life-changing decisions in a vacu- “That is why I am asking you to join
dr polly carmichael,
former director of
gids
Carmichael left her
position following the
closure of the clinic, after
presiding over a service
that sent young people
into the medical
unknown.
She was the new Gids
director in 2011 when it
began the first trial of
puberty blockers, a type
of hormone therapy that
halts the development of
children in an effort to
treat gender distress.
The clinic made the
drugs more widely
available, despite a study
showing a lack of any
positive measurable
outcomes.
Carmichael is
understood to be in line
for a payout of at least
£80,000 after leaving
Gids.
dr aidan kelly,
consultant clinician
Kelly is one of several
clinicians who left roles at
Gids to set up a private
clinic. Gender Plus, which
operates next door to a
chicken shop in Hackney,
east London, does not
prescribe puberty
blockers, but it does
provide cross-sex
hormones for people aged
16 and over.
dr heather wood,
psychologist
Wood rose up through
the ranks of the Gids
satellite clinic in Leeds
and is also believed to be
among the staff to receive
payments as the service
closes. In a Facebook post
from February she said
she was buying a
campervan for a road trip
before going into private
practice.
any research studies that look at the
longer-term outcomes of these inter-
ventions so you can help all those com-
ing behind you.”
to release withheld
data, Cass tells NHS
Lucy Bannerman, Eleanor Hayward,
James Beal
Dr Hilary Cass has urged NHS Eng-
land to force its gender clinics to release
crucial missing data after they refused
to co-operate with her independent
review.
The landmark report argues it is
impossible to understand the true
impact of the “affirmative model” of
transgender healthcare without know-
ing what has happened to the thou-
sands of patients who have passed
through the NHS’s gender identity clin-
ics for young people.
Of the 9,000 young people referred
to the Gender Identity Development
Service (Gids), about 2,000 are be-
lieved to have been referred for hor-
mone treatment. Little is known about
their outcomes as they have dis-
appeared into adult services.
Cass expressed her frustration that
NHS gender clinics blocked her re-
quests for long-term data on their
cases. “Despite efforts to encourage the
participation of the NHS gender clin-
ics, the necessary co-operation had not
been forthcoming,” she wrote.
She has written toNHS England, ask-
ing it to “direct” its gender clinics to
release more information on the first
cohort of patients to pursue this experi-
mental pathway so gender services can
be improved.
Cass had, through her Independent
Review of Gender Identity Services for
Children and Young People, commis-
sioned research tracking the journeys
of young people who were seen by Gids
at the Tavistock and Portman NHS
Foundation Trust.
The research could have outlined
what difference, if any, the treatment
made to the lives of the estimated 9,000
young people who moved from Gids in-
to NHS adult gender dysphoria clinics.
Cass said it was a “world-leading op-
portunity” to add to the evidence base,
which her report makes clear is sorely
lacking in the area of gender care.
However, six of the seven adult clinics
declined to support the study. In a letter
to John Stewart, national director for
specialised commissioning in NHS Eng-
land and NHS Improvement, dated last
month, Cass said that despite his “wel-
comed efforts to obtain co-operation,
most of the NHS gender clinics have re-
fused to take part in research”. Cass said
it had “not been at all straightforward
trying to get this research off the
ground” and that it had “absorbed a con-
siderable amount of time and attention”
from the review and delayed its work.
She said the study “follows usual NHS
research practice” and was “only novel
because of the sensitivity of the subject”.
It was, she said, “hugely disappoint-
ing that the NHS gender services have
decided not to participate”. She added:
“I am frustrated on behalf of the young
people and their families that the
opportunity to reduce some of the
uncertainties around care options has
not been taken.”
In her review, she said it was “un-
acceptable” that this data should not be
available. “One of the most problematic
data gaps for the review has been trying
to obtain robust data on the numbers of
young people who go on to a hormone
pathway at Gids and what care path-
ways or interventions are available for
those who do not. This seems unaccept-
able in the digital age.”
She noted how Gids declined to
respond to the review’s invitation to
participate in an international study on
transgender healthcare.
She highlighted how allowing a
patient who has legally transitioned to
also change their NHS number
hampered efforts to track the long-
term safety and efficiency of treatment,
a practice which she said should be
reviewed.
Of particular concern, was the case of
a patient who continued puberty block-
ers until their “early to mid-20s”, Cass
said. “Puberty blockers are intended to
be a short-term intervention and the
impact of use over an extended period
of time is unknown, although the detri-
mental impact to bone density alone
makes this concerning.”
In 2022 ministers created legislation
to require Gids to hand over crucial
data on patient experiences to the Cass
review and to collect long-term data to
conduct a follow-up study.
The reforms were drawn up by Sajid
Javid when he was health secretary. He
instructed Gids officials to co-operate
fully with the review.
Writing in The Times today, Javid
said: “Despite the specific data legis-
lation I brought forward at Dr Cass’s
request, parts of the NHS continue to
block access and frustrate the express
will of parliament.”

‘Puberty blockers ways of expressing his

identity instead of
prescribing hormones to
halt his physical
puberty blockers, Jacob
received no follow-up
from the clinic, which
he claimed made no
long battle for change.
“We’ve been advocating
for evidence-based care
and the whistleblowing
people who had already
left children’s services.
“A lot of the Bayswater
families, kids are now
response to doctors who
raised the alarm. He said
yesterday: “Hilary Cass
has put clinical practice
were the biggest development.
He said: “I feel
extremely let down. We
attempt to track his
outcome.
He added: “It’s awful it
clinicians have been
saying this … and they
were pushed out of their
16, 17, 18, 19,” she said.
“So they wouldn’t be
subject to the findings in
and clinical concerns
back at the heart of
thinking about kids with

regret of my life’ were told they were the

Case studies name), a former Gids
patient who spent four
specialists from day one
— there was nowhere
else to go, so I had to put
my faith in them. But
my mental health was
was allowed to go on for
so long. [The affirmative
approach] should have
been condemned a long
time ago. The whole
thing was a mess.”
jobs,” she said.
Although the review
had recommendations
for further support for
17 to 25-year-olds, the
parent said that this age
the Cass review. They’re
falling through the
cracks.”
Others, including Dr
Marcus Evans, a
consultant
gender dysphoria.
“Where we’ve been
for a while is that
political concerns and a
political agenda have
pushed that out. There

T
he Gender
Identity
Development
Service (Gids)
has now closed,
but its impact is still
being felt by the
thousands of young
people who went
through the clinic’s
doors (Lucy Bannerman
writes).
Jacob (not his real
years on puberty
blockers from the age of
12 to 16 before deciding
to abandon the medical
pathway, said the
experience was “the
biggest regret of my life”.
Jacob, who is now 20,
still identifies as a
transgender male, but
says he wishes that Gids
clinicians had helped
him to explore other
always worse after the
appointments.
“I never broke as
many bones as when I
started doing the
injections. I thought
puberty would be the
end of the world. But I
didn’t need injections, I
needed somebody to
help me [realise] that
puberty wasn’t so scary.”
After coming off
Parents have also
fought for years over the
care their children
received at Gids.
One woman, who acts
as a representative for
Bayswater Support
Group, which helps
parents of children who
question their identity,
welcomed the Cass
Review findings, but
said it was “day one” in a
group was still a big
concern, adding: “That’s
a big issue for us, and
that’s outside [Cass’s]
remit.”
The parent said that
attention now needed to
be on schools, where
children often socially
transition before
seeking services.
She raised concerns
about those young
psychotherapist who
worked at the Tavistock
and Portman NHS
Foundation Trust for
decades, felt “very
relieved” by the review’s
findings.
Evans, whose wife,
Sue, was one of the first
people to speak up over
concerns about Gids,
resigned in 2019 in
protest at the Tavistock’s
hasn’t been enough
thought about the
downside of treatment
and not enough
curiosity about what is
going on with these
kids.”
He continued: “All the
principles of clinical
practice have been
markedly absent from ...
care for gender
dysphoric kids.”
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
Veterans rally to give lonely paratrooper, 69, a fitting farewell
Charlotte Alt, Stuart Higgins
Dozens of strangers said farewell to a
former paratrooper who died alone
after posts on social media urged veter-
ans to attend his funeral.
Only two people had been expected
to be at the funeral of Lance Corporal
Terence “Paddy” Purcell, from South
Armagh, who died aged 69. However,
after the posts on Twitter/X and Face-
book, the chapel at the crematorium in
Kingston upon Thames was filled with
dozens of former servicemen who
£54m benefit
gang treated
system ‘like a
cash machine’
David Woode Crime Correspondent
A Bulgarian organised crime gang
fleeced taxpayers out of almost £54 mil-
lion in Britain’s biggest-ever benefit
fraud and laundered the cash to buy
expensive cars, clothing and jewellery.
Prosecutors said the gang treated the
benefit system “like a cash machine to
fund their own lavish lifestyles”.
Gyunesh Ali, 34, Patritsia Paneva, 26,
Galina Nikolova, 38, Stoyan Stoyanov,
27, and Tsvetka Todorova, 52, filed an
estimated 6,000 fraudulent universal
Clockwise from
top left: Patritsia
Paneva, Stoyan
Stoyanov,
Gyunesh Ali,
Galina Nikolova
and Tsvetka
Todorova
credit claims between 2016 and 2021.
They operated from three “benefit
fraud factories” in Wood Green, north
London. In rented office spaces at the
back of corner shops, the gang kept
libraries of legitimate identities and
supported their claims with counterfeit
employment contracts, payslips, GP
notes and forged tenancy agreements.
For some claims they simply made up
identities and attempted to allocate a
different phone number to each claim.
The funds were paid into hundreds of
separate bank accounts which, investi-
gators said, created a “complex finan-
cial web”. The money was withdrawn in
cash, enabling the gang to splash out on
luxury cars, designer clothing, watches
Lance Corporal Terence “Paddy”
Purcell had no known family or friends
and jewellery. A video extracted from
Ali’s phone showed him flicking notes
around a flat. An unidentified individu-
al is seen picking up the money. Ali
soon grows bored and throws the wad
of cash on the floor.
The criminal enterprise was exposed
in May 2021 when the Department for
Work and Pensions realised names and
addresses were repeating in claims.
Police raided Nikolova’s property and
discovered £750,000 in cash stuffed in
suitcases and hidden under beds. Offi-
cers seized 900 devices including com-
puters, mobile phones and Sim cards.
When Ali escaped to Bulgaria the
Crown Prosecution Service worked
with international partners to extradite
him. Property owned by the gang has
also been identified in the coun-
try, prosecutors said.
Ali, Paneva, Nikolova, Stoyanov and
Todorova pleaded guilty to a string of
fraud and money-laundering charges
involving creating false universal credit
claims worth £53.9 million. They will be
sentenced at Wood Green crown court
on May 28.
Ben Reid, a specialist prosecutor at
the CPS, said: “These convictions mark
what has been the largest benefit fraud
prosecution and investigation ever
brought to the courts in England and
Wales. This was an industrial-scale
fraud committed by an organised crimi-
nal network. They carried out a sus-
tained attack on a system designed to
support the most vulnerable people in
our society and treated it like a cash ma-
chine to fund their own lavish lifestyles.”
Reid said that his team worked close-
ly with the DWP after uncovering a
“very strong haul of evidence” against
the defendants to bring them to justice.
He added: “The CPS is committed to
tackling fraud and organised crime in
all its forms and where there is suffi-
cient evidence, we will not hesitate to
prosecute those who abuse our welfare
system for their own profit.”
The CPS’s proceeds-of-crime team
has obtained restraining orders against
the defendants and will seek to liqui-
date their assets and return the money
to the public purse.
Mel Stride, the work and pensions
secretary, said: “Building on our success
in preventing £18 billion going into the
came to pay their respects. Bob Craft, of
the 1st Battalion, the Parachute Regi-
ment (1 Para), and the 22nd Special Air
Service Regiment, who was at the fu-
neral, said: “The outpouring of support
and energy from the veteran communi-
ty has demonstrated the unwavering
brotherhood, comradeship, compas-
sion and love that exists among us,
especially for a fellow veteran like
Terence Purcell.”
Purcell served with 2 Para and com-
pleted a spell in an anti-tank regiment
in Germany in 3 Para. His last residence
wrong hands in 2022-23, these convic-
tions underline our commitment to
protecting taxpayers’ money. It is only
right and fair that we bring those steal-
ing from the public purse to justice.”
Universal credit was launched in
April 2013, replacing six other benefits.
The monthly payment is means-tested
and available to people on low incomes
or out of work. It is intended to help
was a care home in Kingston, but not
much else was known about his life.
Yesterday morning six Para veterans
carried Purcell’s coffin, draped in the
flag of the Parachute Regiment, past a
guard of honour standing to attention
near the chapel entrance.
During the ceremony, the sound of a
C-130 troop carrier aircraft was played.
The Last Post was sounded, followed by
Ride of the Valkyries, Pomp and Circum-
stance and the theme tune from A
Bridge Too Far, the 1977 film by Richard
Attenborough.
A video found on
Gyunesh Ali’s
phone shows him
throwing money
on the floor while
an unknown
woman picks it
up. The gang
spent the cash
they stole from
the public purse
on clothes,
jewellery and
cars including
this Audi
with the costs of housing, children and
childcare. It also supports disabled
people and carers.
Online applicants must provide bank
account details, an email address and a
working phone number. Claimants
must also prove their identity and pro-
vide information about their housing,
earnings, other benefits and details of
any disabilities or health conditions.
9
News
Alan Crutchley, from Shropshire,
was the only person there who had
known Purcell. He said: “He was a good
boxer and I remember fighting with
him in Berlin in 1979.”
The small chapel was filled with
former members of the Parachute Regi-
ment, the Welsh Guards, the Royal
Navy, the armed forces charity SSAFA
and the Surbiton and Croydon bran-
ches of the Royal British Legion.
Purcell’s ashes will be scattered at
Peterlee airfield in Hampshire and on
top of Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons.
Suspect held
over mother
killed while
pushing baby
Mario Ledwith, Ali Mitib
A marketing graduate has been
arrested on suspicion of murdering a
woman while she was pushing her baby
a pram.
Police began a hunt for Habibur
Masum, 25, after Kulsuma Akter, 27,
was stabbed while shopping in Brad-
ford city centre on Saturday afternoon.
The suspect was arrested early
yesterday in Aylesbury, Buckingham-
shire, more than 170 miles away.
Akter had been shopping with a
friend in Westgate when she was
stabbed. A knife was found near by.
Her brother, Hossain, said that the
family was “completely devastated”. He
told Mail Online: “We are not even able
to speak and have been crying all the
time since this happened. We had to call
our mother in Bangladesh to tell her the
news. Can you imagine what this was
like for us? I can’t believe my sister is
dead. I’m sorry, I can’t speak any more.”
Akter’s cousin, Aftab Miah, said that
she “was a wonderful lady . . . a good,
humble, likeable person, a caring per-
son”. He told the BBC: “She had a good
personality, she used to make people
laugh.” Miah said his cousin had moved
to the UK with her husband two years
ago. “All we want is justice, nothing
else,” he added. “Not revenge or any-
thing, just justice for our sister.”
Announcing the arrest, Detective
Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson said:
“This is a tragic incident in which a
mother has lost her life in the most
horrific of circumstances.”
West Yorkshire police and Greater
Manchester police said on Monday that
they had referred themselves to the
police watchdog in connection with
Akter’s death.
Court documents show that Masum
was charged with threatening to kill
Akter on November 24 and assaulting
her on the previous day. He pleaded not
guilty to the alleged offences, said to
have taken place in Manchester, at a
hearing on November 27 at Tameside
magistrates’ court.
Masum left Bangladesh in 2022 to
study for a master’s degree in marketing
at the University of Bedfordshire.
Masum, whose Facebook profile
states that he is married, moved to
Greater Manchester after graduating
where he began to position himself as
an online influencer. He has 3,800 fol-
lowers on Facebook, where he
describes himself as working for a
wedding planning business, and almost
2,000 on Instagram.
During their search for Masum,
officers raided properties in Burnley,
Oldham and Chester and arrested a
man aged 23 on suspicion of aiding an
offender.
10
News
Post Office mediation scheme
was just a cover-up, says Bates
Tom Witherow
The Post Office’s scheme to mediate
with victims of the Horizon scandal was
“part of the cover-up”, Alan Bates
claimed yesterday.
The campaigner, who gave evidence
to the Post Office inquiry, said he
believed the company and its bosses had
“no intention” of coming to a fair deci-
sion when they set up the scheme in
2013. “I expect Post Office discovered
things they did not like and did not want
to come out,” he wrote in his witness
statement. “There definitely was an
element of not wanting to accept fault.
The comments come as Sir Anthony
Hooper, the former Court of Appeal
judge who chaired the scheme, pre-
pares to give evidence today, alongside
Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom, who
supported postmasters as an MP.
The scheme, which collapsed in
failure in 2015, accompanied an
independent investigation by the
forensic accountancy firm, Second
Sight, which started in 2012. Even at the
time, Bates believed the efforts to medi-
ate, ultimately overseen by Paula Ven-
nells, the company’s chief executive,
were not sincere.
He wrote to Hooper in mid-2014:
“The further the scheme progresses,
the more entrenched and defensive
Post Office has become, and
the original concept of actu-
ally seeking the truth has
long since been aban-
doned.”
He said slow disclosure
was one of the greatest frus-
trations as it meant that
cases “dragged on and on
and on”.
He also wrote to Vennells
in May 2013, the inquiry was
told, to say: “I have little
doubt it is now feasible to show many of
the prosecutions that POL [Post Office
Limited] have pressed home should
never have taken place.”
Two years later she told MPs that she
had seen no evidence of miscarriages of
justice and in 2020 she placed a large
portion of the blame for the mediation
scheme collapsing on postmasters.
Board documents have revealed that
the Post Office planned only £1 million
in “token payments” for postmasters
Twenty years on, the quiet campaigner is still fighting for justice
Tom Peck
Political Sketch
A
lan Bates arrived at the
Post Office inquiry like
Lenin at the Finland
Station. He was the little
guy once. Now he is one
of those rarefied people who finds
the streets cleared before him by a
frenzied crowd of backwards
walking photographers and TV
cameramen.
This gentle but quietly ferocious
man, in his suit and tie and khaki
baseball cap, was a sub-postmaster
for only six years, from 1998 to
2004. He is now into his 20th year of
fighting for justice, not just for
himself but for thousands of other
postmasters. That fight for justice
was meant to have been won more
than five years ago now, in a
stunning legal victory at London’s
Alan Bates wrote to Sir Ed Davey, the Post Office minister in the coalition government, about Horizon
through the mediation scheme. The
“Project Sparrow” sub-committee asked
for a memo to be prepared on the role of
the independent investigators from
Second Sight and “options to support
them or reduce their role”.
Three weeks later the committee,
which was attended by Vennells and
Alice Perkins, then Post Office chair-
High Court that formed the
dramatic resolution of the ITV
drama, Mr Bates vs The Post Office.
And yet here he was, still going,
still fighting. Still, as it happens, not
having received a penny of what he
insists be called not compensation
but “financial redress”. Specifically,
here he was for the first time, giving
evidence into the Post Office
Horizon scandal — a public inquiry
he first called for 14 years ago.
The purpose of the occasion was
not to provide Bates with another
public veneration, of which he has
had plenty, though it occasionally
felt like one. He had brought with
him fresh evidence, in the form of
his witness statement, some of it
even now retaining the capacity to
shock. As counsel to the inquiry,
Jason Beer KC, guided him through
his evidence, we would see a letter
he received from Sir Ed Davey, now
Liberal Democrat leader, who was
then in 2010, the postmaster
woman, agreed to bring investigation of
sub-postmasters’ cases “within the con-
trol of the Post Office”, widely inter-
preted as a decision to sack Second
Sight.
Yesterday’s hearing gave an insight
into just how much Bates gave up to
pursue his case, and eventually those of
more than 500 others. Jason Beer KC,
general. It had Davey’s name at the
bottom of it, but it read like it had
been knocked up by the work
experience kid. A bog standard
template affair, explaining why it
would be pointless for them to have
a meeting, there’s nothing he can do,
the Post Office is a private company
(a fact that Bates may not have
needed to have explained to him), so
please don’t bother asking again.
The Post Office is indeed a private
company, but it doesn’t seem
entirely ridiculous to think that, had
the man with ministerial oversight
of it been a touch more interested in
a miscarriage of justice on this kind
of jawdropping scale, the righting of
that wrong might not have taken a
further decade and a half. If he’d
taken seriously what Bates had
written to him years ago, that the
Post Office were “thugs in suits” —
a view now vindicated — it is
possible that Davey could have been
one of this sad story’s few heroes,
counsel to the in-
quiry, asked: “You
ceased to work No-
vember 2003, and
you’ve not returned
to work since because
you’ve dedicated to
campaigning account-
ability, justice and re-
rather than another of its seemingly
endless villains.
The two men did meet in the end.
We would also be shown Davey’s
briefing notes from civil servants,
which clearly state they have agreed
to the meeting mainly for
“presentational reasons”. For what
it’s worth, on this particular subject,
Bates repeated a view he has
expressed many times before. “I find
the officials far more guilty in all of
this than the politicians,” he said.
It is certainly arguable that
Davey’s woeful explanation, the
nothing-I-can-do-mate attitude, is at
the heart of the matter.
“It is because you have adopted an
arm’s length relationship that you
have allowed a once great institution
to be asset stripped by little more
than thugs in suits,” wrote Bates in
2010. “You have enabled them to
carry on with impunity regardless of
the human misery and suffering
they inflict.”
Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
dress. Is that right?” Bates replied: “Yes
... I didn’t set out to spend 20 years doing
this. I hadn’t expected to be doing this
so much by myself, but it got more and
more complex.”
He was thrown out of his post office
in Llandudno, north Wales, after he was
blamed for a shortfall. A sum of £6,000
had appeared to go missing weeks after
the Horizon system was installed and
correspondence shown to the inquiry
proved that he had identified Horizon
as the suspect immediately.
“The evidence that appeared during
that day proved beyond any doubt that
the Horizon system cannot be relied
upon to give 100 per cent accurate
figures,” he wrote in a letter dated
December 2000, adding that “the prob-
lems I am experiencing are being found
by others around the country”.
His contract was terminated and
Bates, 69, and his partner of 33 years,
Suzanne Sercombe, 68, lost their
investment and life savings.
He found others facing the same
issues and in 2009 the Justice for Sub-
postmasters Alliance met for the first
time in a village hall in Fenny Compton,
Warwickshire. Shortly after, their sto-
ries hit the media and the group have
been clawing their way to justice ever
since. Bates, who became a household
name after he was played by Toby Jones
in an ITV dramatisation of the scandal,
led a group of 555 postmasters against
the Post Office at the High Court. In
two damning judgments handed down
in 2019, Mr Justice Fraser found that the
Horizon system was riddled
with bugs, errors and defects
and that it could cause
shortfalls to appear in post-
master accounts.
The ruling unlocked
compensation for post-
masters and opened the
door for dozens of vic-
tims with convictions to
take their cases to the
Court of Appeal. The
public inquiry is expect-
ed to report next year.
Vennells said she was
“truly sorry for the
devastation caused to the
sub-postmasters and their
families” and pledged to
fully support the inquiry.
At the end of five hours of
evidence, the inquiry chairman, Sir
Wyn Williams, could see that hands
were about to come together in the
public seats, where Bates’s
substantial fan club, mainly other
postmasters but not all, had come to
witness his latest moment in the
sun. Williams had to politely warn
them not to applaud. He wouldn’t
permit bad behaviour, he said,
towards other subsequent witnesses
of whom they might have a “less
favourable opinion”, so applause for
this one would not be appropriate.
They heeded his advice, and Bates
stepped silently down from the de
facto stand. By the time he hit the
streets, the cap was back on. It’s not
clear whether it had been worn as
an attempt to preserve anonymity,
as the super famous now so like to
do. It was also a bitterly cold and
windy day. But he’ll be a hero
everywhere he goes for the rest of
his days, whether he likes it or not.
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024 11

Woman found dead at luxury home after neighbour heard screams
David Woode Crime Correspondent
Residents in an affluent neighbour-
hood near Hyde Park in central
London heard “high-pitched screams”
hours before a woman’s body was dis-
covered in her home.
A friend of the victim, who has not
been named, had contacted the police
twice on Sunday out of concern for her
welfare. The Metropolitan Police said
the victim had been graded as a “med-
ium-risk” missing person.
Officers went to the house near
Marble Arch shortly after 8.30am on
Monday and the woman’s body was dis-
covered in the multimillion-pound
property. She had been stabbed.
Her next of kin have not yet been in-
formed. Forensic teams are investiating
and a post-mortem examination will be
held. No arrests have been made.
Neighbours spoke yesterday morn-
ing of their shock. One woman who
declined to give her name said she was
at home when she heard a commotion
on Sunday evening.
She said: “I [heard] very, very high-
pitched screams. I recall two — I’m
very sensitive to sound. They were very
unusual. There was no other sound
other than the screams, then silence
after. I was in my room and I thought,
‘That’s very strange.’ I’ve always been so
paranoid living here, but nothing like
this has ever happened before. Things
have gotten worse in London recently.
It’s becoming dangerous.”
Previously owned by the Ethiopian
embassy, the grade II listed house is
believed to be owned offshore in the
British Virgin Islands. Neighbours sug-
gested that the building had been con-
verted into flats, some of which have
been listed for use on Airbnb.
Detective Chief Inspector Adam
Clifton, of the Met’s specialist crime
command, who is leading the investi-
gation, said: “I understand this news
will be concerning and that local
women especially may be worried.
“Our inquiries are in the very early
stages and we are keeping an open
mind as to the motive. However, I can
assure people that my team are work-
ing 24/7 to establish what happened to
News
the woman and to identify and arrest
whoever may be responsible for this
attack.”
Scotland Yard said it had referred
itself to the Independent Office for
Police Conduct (IOPC) “in relation to
the contact from the woman’s friends”.
Its directorate of professional stan-
dards, which is responsible for investi-
gating officers’ conduct, has also been
informed.
The IOPC said: “We will assess the
referral and decide what further action
may be required from us.”

Beach huts were battered

at Hordle, Hampshire, and
a caravan park near
Bracklesham, West Sussex
was inundated. Below, the
River Arun overflowed

captured video of the

freshly painted huts
being swept away from
Castle Beach on
Monday.
The Met Office issued
six separate yellow
weather warnings from
Monday to this morning.
Winds in southwest
England, including
Cornwall and parts of
Tourists rescued as Devon, could reach
speeds of 60-65mph
along some stretches of
flooding hits coasts the coast, with a “small
chance” of causing

O
ne person
was taken to
hospital
and holiday-
makers
were rescued by the
coastguard after severe
flooding from Storm
Kathleen hit Sussex
(Emma Yeomans
reports).
About 200 people,
including children, as
well as pets, were taken
to safety from a holiday
park in Medmerry, West
Sussex, in dinghies after
the River Arun burst its
banks. Many had been
hoping to enjoy the
Easter school holidays
but areas across
southern England as
well as western Wales,
Northern Ireland and
Scotland have been hit
by heavy rainfall and
strong winds.
West Sussex Fire and
Rescue Service told
residents in Little-
hampton to stay at home
if it was safe to do so, or
seek higher ground. It
said: “Avoid the area and
remain in your homes
where possible to allow
crews to work safely.”
South East Coast
Ambulance Service
confirmed that a
“number of resources”
were sent to help
evacuate people from
the site. A spokesman
said: “We’ve assessed
and triaged a number of
people. One person
showing signs of
hypothermia has been
power cuts and
damaging buildings.
In Scotland, as much
as 50-60mm of rain was
expected in some areas
yesterday, Further rain
was forecast in
western Scotland
between 9am and
6pm this morning.
Simon Partridge,
taken to hospital.” of the Met Office,
In Cornwall, said it would fall
huge waves and on “already
high winds washed saturated ground”,
beach huts into the increasing the risk of
sea. Stacey Lewin, flooding.
from Falmouth,

Alert over ‘zombie’ drug Two charged after human

linked to 11 British deaths
Poppy Koronka Health Correspondent
A “zombie” drug strong enough to
tranquillise an elephant has become
widespread in Britain’s illegal drug
market, according to new research.
Britain’s first fatality from the drug,
xylazine, was recorded last year, but
researchers have identified ten more
deaths that could be linked to the sub-
stance, often known as “tranq”. In total
they found it in samples from 16 people.
Xylazine can cause a dangerously
low heart rate. Those who inject it may
develop deep skin ulcers, which can rot
and ultimately require amputation,
leading to its reputation as a “flesh-
eating zombie drug”.
The team of researchers, from the
National Programme on Substance
Use Mortality (NPSUM) at King’s Col-
lege London, said the drug, already a
concern in the US, was a public health
threat for the UK. Caroline Copeland,
senior author of the study, said: “We
now know that xylazine has penetrated
the UK’s illicit drug market. This is
cause for alarm, as a much wider popu-
lation of people who use drugs beyond
heroin users will be exposed to its
harms. We also know that most people
who buy heroin will not intend to buy
xylazine, and this combination increas-
es the risk of overdose. Xylazine was
designated an ‘emerging threat’ to the
United States, and this public health
threat is a growing concern for the UK.”
Copeland recommended that the UK
make cheap xylazine test strips
available, teach healthcare providers
about the signs of chronic skin ulcers
due to its use and ask pathologists to
test for xylazine during post-mortem
examinations.
The researchers contacted all toxi-
cology laboratories in the UK to collate
evidence of xylazine in biological
samples and found the drug present in
blood from 16 people, 11 of whom had
died. It was also found in 19 samples of
seized drugs.
The study, published in the journal
Addiction, said that in most cases the
drug was mixed with strong opioids
such as heroin or fentanyl, but it was
also detected, in the absence of strong
opioids, mixed with stimulant drugs
such as cocaine as well as in counterfeit
codeine and diazepam tablets and even
in cannabis vapes. Researchers said the
drug was “probably more widespread
than these findings indicate”, in part
because of “limitations in toxicology
screening protocols” — in other words,
because it is not regularly tested for.
Nitazenes, a group of synthetic opi-
oids that can be stronger than fentanyl,
have been linked to at least 54 deaths in
the UK, according to BBC News.
A co-author of the study, Adam Hol-
land, said: “The emergence of xylazine
in the UK drug market, as well as the
proliferation of potent synthetic sub-
stances including nitazenes and benzo-
diazepine analogues, is concerning. As
. . . drug-related deaths mount, it be-
comes more clear our punitive drug
laws are not reducing harm. We need to
expand the range of harm reduction in-
terventions . .. including drug checking
and overdose prevention centres.”
remains found in a park
Laurence Sleator
Two people charged with the murder of
a woman whose remains were dis-
covered in a south London park have
appeared in court.
Gemma Watts, 48, of Croydon, and
Steve Samson, 44, of Sutton, southeast
London, appeared at Bromley magis-
trates’ court yesterday, charged with
murder and preventing a lawful and
decent burial.
Human remains that were discov-
ered in Rowdown Fields in New
Addington, near Croydon, on April 2
were identified as those of Sarah May-
Steve Samson and Gemma Watts have
both been charged with murder
hew, 38, also from Croydon. Separately,
Samson also faces three charges of
making indecent images of children.
Judge Robert Brown accepted submis-
sions from Jessica Kang, for the prose-
cution, that the indecent images char-
ges were linked to the alleged murder.
He sent the charges to the Old Bailey,
where the defendants will attend
tomorrow.
The pair appeared via video link from
a police station in southeast London
and confirmed their details. They will
be remanded in custody.
Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain,
who leads policing in Croydon, thanked
detectives and officers across the
Metropolitan Police for their quick and
thorough work as well as the local com-
munity for providing support.
“My sincere condolences are with
Sarah’s family and we will continue to
support them as the investigation pro-
gresses,” he added.
Earlier this week Mayhew’s father,
David, posted a photo of her on Face-
book, and friends commented on their
likeness and offered condolences. One
said: “Beautiful. She’s like her dad, that’s
for sure.”
12
News
Mighty maharaja Ranjit Singh: Sikh, Warrior, King, which explores the life of “the Lion of the Punjab”, is running at the Wallace Collection in London until October
Six months in jail for
assaulting shop staff
Matt Dathan Home Affairs Editor
Assaulting shop staff is to become a
specific offence punishable by up to six
months in prison, under government
proposals.
Rishi Sunak also announced £55 mil-
lion of funding for police forces to pur-
sue shoplifters. Mobile units with facial
recognition cameras will scan crowded
areas such as high streets for people
wanted by the police, including fre-
quent shoplifters.
The technology is routinely used in
real time by only two forces at present:
the Metropolitan and South Wales
police. The mobile units were first de-
ployed in the capital in April last year
and have since been used 62 times, re-
sulting in 152 arrests, equivalent to
nearly one arrest every two hours.
Other forces have access to retro-
spective facial recognition, but the
Home Office hopes that the extra funds
will encourage them to use it live.
An amendment to the criminal jus-
tice bill going through parliament will
make assaulting a retail worker a spe-
cific offence.
There has been a surge in attacks on
shop staff. The Union of Shop, Distribu-
tive and Allied Workers reported that
almost a fifth of staff had been subject-
ed to a violent attack last year, up from
8 per cent in 2022.
The change in the law will make it
easier to prosecute and deal with of-
fenders and give the police better data
on such offences, which are recorded
and prosecuted as common assault,
with no reference to the type of offence
or the victim.
Perpetrators of common assault are
given harsher sentences only if they
attack an emergency worker or if the
assault is racially or religiously aggra-
vated, both of which carry a maximum
sentence of two years in prison. Under
the new plans, those found guilty of as-
saulting a shop worker will face a maxi-
mum punishment of six months in pris-
on and an unlimited fine.
Judges will be given the power to
impose criminal behaviour orders
barring people from visiting certain
premises. Breaching an order is an
offence that carries a maximum
punishment of five years in jail. Crimi-
nal behaviour orders will also be avail-
able to judges for repeat shoplifters.
Those convicted of shoplifting or
assaulting a retail worker on three
occasions will be forced to wear an elec-
tronic tag as part of any community
order they are given.
That will allow the probation service
and police to track the most prolific of-
fenders and be notified of breaches of a
banning order.
Announcing the measures last night,
Sunak said: “Since 2010, violent and
neighbourhood crime in England and
Wales has fallen dramatically, showing
our plan to keep our streets safe is work-
ing. Yet shoplifting and violence and
abuse towards retail workers continues
to rise.
“I am sending a message to those
criminals — whether they are serious
organised criminal gangs, repeat of-
fenders or opportunistic thieves — who
think they can get away with stealing
from these local businesses or abusing
shop workers: enough is enough.
“Our local shops are the lifeblood of
our communities, and they must be free
to trade without the threat of crime or
abuse.”
The measures were welcomed by
shops, which have said that retail crime
is costing them more than £1 billion a
year and having a big impact on staff.
Dame Sharon White, chairwoman of
John Lewis, said: “We’ve long called for
violence towards retail workers to be
recognised as a stand-alone offence, so
we welcome this announcement, which
sends a clear message that abuse will
never be tolerated. It will help deter acts
of aggression.”
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of
the British Retail Consortium, said:
“The voices of the three million people
working in retail are finally being
heard. The impact of retail violence has
steadily worsened, with people facing
racial abuse, sexual harassment, threat-
ening behaviour, physical assault and
threats with weapons, often linked to
organised crime. Victims are ordinary
hard-working people — teenagers
taking on their first job, carers looking
for part-time work, parents working
around childcare.”
However, Labour said the govern-
ment had acted too late. Yvette Cooper,
the shadow home secretary, said:
“Labour has been calling for assaults on
shop workers to be made a standalone
offence for a decade. Why has it taken
the government so long to act?
“Labour has set out a community po-
licing guarantee, with 13,000 more
neighbourhood police and [community
support officers] to crack down on
shoplifting and keep the public safe.”
Met snares 24 predators
using anti-terror tactics
Ben Ellery Crime Editor
A Metropolitan Police project that uses
anti-terrorism tactics to target the 100
suspects who pose the most risk to
women has convicted 24 people in the
first six months.
The force has collected the names
of 35,000 people who have been
accused of violence against women and
girls in the past year and has ranked
them on the severity of their alleged
offences.
Specialists within the force meet
monthly and discuss plans to secure
convictions against them or, when
there is not enough evidence, civil
orders prohibiting them from certain
activities.
The idea behind the scheme, called
V100, is that a small number of suspects
are responsible for a disproportionate
number of the most serious offences
against women and girls.
On average, the Met said, if the top
100 were convicted of the crimes of
which they were accused, they would
each be sentenced to 16 years in prison.
As well as the 24 convictions so far,
there have been 60 arrests, 33 people
charged and 23 civil orders.
Scotland Yard released details of
an offender named Marcelino Gon-
calves, 55, from Acton, west London,
who was on the list and was convicted
last month of rape, assault by beating,
assault occasioning actual bodily harm,
stalking and controlling or coercive
behaviour.
He came to police attention when a
member of the public saw him assault
his ex-partner. The victim then dis-
closed the abuse she had faced at the
hands of Goncalves — who had threat-
ened her at her home, burnt her with a
cigarette because she did not want to
Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
Quintagram® No 1912
Solve all five concise clues using
each letter underneath once only
1 Spike Milligan’s comedy group (5)
-----
2 Pain caused by a nettle, eg (5)
-----
3 Shaped like a dunce’s cap (5)
-----
4 Strip (7)
-------
5 Californian city (3,7)
----------
A C C D E E E G
G G I I L L N N
N N N O O O O R
S S S S S S T U
Solutions see T2 MindGames p15
Cryptic clues T2 MindGames p14
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and smart
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have sex with him and punched her in
the face.
Goncalves continued to target her
while on remand, making 15 calls from
prison, but with enhanced manage-
ment within the prison system, staff
were able to put a stop to the harass-
ment when it was reported.
Detective Chief Superintendent
Angela Craggs, the operational head of
V100, said: “We’re relentless and use all
available tactics to target these danger-
ous offenders and take them off the
streets of London when we can.
“We’re working with subject-matter
experts to give really good tactical op-
tions around those cases and lifting
Angela Craggs,
who leads the
Met’s V100 project
them out of the pool, and putting addi-
tional focus on them because we know
that they are the highest offenders.”
The list is updated each month, with
about 15 names added. The names they
replace continue to be monitored. The
Met said that about four or five names
added each month were women.
Commander Ben Russell, who works
on V100, said: “The Met is determined
to stop predators and bring them to jus-
tice. The results show our approach is
working in targeting the most danger-
ous suspects.
“We are using innovative, precise
techniques to take dangerous offenders
off the streets of London, and we will
ensure the most harmful will be
brought to justice.”
Goncalves will be sentenced in June.
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
So much for Ferraris, Clarkson wants the Coach and Horses
Will Humphries
Countryside Correspondent
Jeremy Clarkson became an unlikely
hero after his TV series Clarkson’s Farm
shone a spotlight on the harsh realities
of the farming industry.
Now embattled publicans have wel-
comed reports the motoring presenter
turned tractor driver is weighing up
whether to run his own country pub.
The grade II listed Coach and Horses,
on the edge of the Cotswolds village of
Bourton-on-the-Water, is on the other
side of the Fosse Way from the brewery
where Clarkson makes his Hawkstone
Top lawyer fell to his
death on Med cruise
Jonathan Ames Legal Editor
A former top lawyer at William Hill, the
bookmakers, died when he plunged
into the Mediterranean from the balco-
ny of a cruise ship cabin.
Nigel Blythe-Tinker, 72, went miss-
ing from the Seven Seas Mariner, the
world’s first cruise liner to boast “all
suite, all balcony” cabins. The crew
raised the alarm after he failed to dis-
embark at Barcelona.
The High Court in London was told
yesterday that the former head of legal
at William Hill, who was travelling
alone, had boarded the ship at
Marseilles the day before he vanished
and that his cabin was found empty
with his “clothes folded neatly on the
bed”. After learning that Blythe-Tinker
was missing, his family were said to
have made “desperate attempts” to
make contact with him.
Peter Higgs, physicist who proposed the Higgs boson, dies aged 94
Tom Whipple Science Editor
Peter Higgs, the Nobel prize-winning
physicist whose theories helped to
explain the nature of mass, has died at
his home aged 94.
Sixty years after the University of
Edinburgh scientist proposed the exis-
tence of a field that gives other particles
mass, 12 years after the particle bearing
his name was discovered at the Euro-
pean particle accelerator at Cern and 11
years after he purposely headed out for
lager, using spring barley grown
on his Diddly Squat farm,
12 miles to the east in
Oxfordshire.
Stonegate Pub Part-
ners is advertising for
a retail partnership
tenancy at the pub
after years of strug-
gling to make a
success of it.
Andrew Lund-
Rumour has it Jeremy
Clarkson may buy the
Bourton-on-the-Water inn
The judge, Karen Shuman, declared
that Blythe-Tinker died after falling
feet first into the sea from his cabin
balcony early on July 22 last year.
The lawyer, who was from Worksop,
Nottinghamshire, had been married
three times and had two adult daugh-
ters, Sophie and Claire Blythe-Tin-
a walk and lunch so as to be uncon-
tactable on the day of the Nobel prize
announcement, Higgs died peacefully
at home, colleagues said.
Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, the
principal and vice-chancellor of the
University of Edinburgh, said that his
death followed a short illness. “Peter
Higgs was a remarkable individual — a
truly gifted scientist whose vision and
imagination have enriched our know-
ledge of the world that surrounds us,”
Mathieson said. “His pioneering work
Yates, who owns the Old
New Inn in Bourton and
runs the Bourton Busi-
ness Network, said
Clarkson had been
speaking to Stone-
gate last year
about the pub but
allegedly walked
away after finan-
cial disagree-
ments.
Reports from in-
side the local council
appear to show Clark-
son is still interested in
The Seven Seas
Mariner bills
itself as one of
the world’s best
cruise ships with
“all suite” cabins.
The body of
Nigel Blythe-
Tinker has never
been found
ker. As well as his role at William Hill,
he had a ten-year stint in a senior non-
executive position at Ladbrokes’ parent
company, GVC Holdings.
At the time he vanished, Blythe-Tin-
ker was in the process of moving back to
the UK after a period living in Australia.
The lawyer had been travelling on a
has motivated thousands of scientists,
and his legacy will continue to inspire
many more for generations to come.”
The confirmation of the existence of
the Higgs boson in 2012 provided proof
of the Higgs field, which gives other
particles mass. This helped complete a
system for understanding the subatomic
world known as the Standard Model.
The particle had been posited at the
same time by other scientists, but it was
Higgs’s name that had been irrevocably
attached to it, despite his efforts to
buying the pub. A source told Glouces-
tershire Live that there was great ex-
citement among staff at the county
council last month before a planned
visit by Clarkson to discuss possible
highways issues if he were to expand
the site. The talks are believed to be in
preparation for a planning application.
“There’s stuff swirling around,” a source
said. “He has been in talks . .. but has not
got to the stage of a planning applica-
tion yet — it’s early days.”
When approached for comment on
whether he was thinking of buying the
inn, Clarkson said: “I don’t have a clue
what I’m doing.”
vessel that was billed as “one of the
world’s best all-inclusive cruise ships”,
with individual balconies attached to
each cabin.
The liner, which carries 700 passen-
gers and 445 crew, was en route from
Marseilles to Barcelona when Blythe-
Tinker, who had been in “constant con-
share the credit. Higgs disliked the
fame that resulted, which only grew
with its eventual discovery in experi-
ments at the Large Hadron Collider at
Cern. He complained that he would be
beset by people seeking selfies and that
if he went to the school of physics at
Edinburgh “a horde of students ... will
descend on me bearing smartphones”.
The day of the 2013 Nobel prize,
which most assumed would be awarded
for the discovery of the Higgs boson,
Higgs headed to Leith for lunch — pur-
13
News
Lund-Yates said the idea of Clarkson
taking over the pub was a “no-brainer”.
He said: “The brewery has a tap room
and pop-up food outlets every week-
end. It hasn’t detrimentally affected the
pubs in the village and I think the pub
would have its own clientele. It will
draw it from far and wide. The
Cotswolds is big enough to cope with
another eatery and a well-known
name. More often than not people stay-
ing with us are off to see Diddly Squat.”
The latest data shows that more than
1,200 pubs closed their doors last year,
and pub owners and managers say they
are being strangled by high taxes.
tact” with his family, began to display
unusual behaviour and was sending
messages in which he “wasn’t himself”.
At the time of the cruise, Blythe-Tin-
ker was renovating a house in England
that he had bought near to the home of
his cousin, Andrew Gilling.
The court was told that he had told
his cousin that he was worried about
having insufficient funds to complete
the project.
The judge heard evidence that
Blythe-Tinker told Gilling that he had
experienced “a suicidal thought”. His
daughter, Sophie, a teacher, told the
court that her father had seemed con-
fused in messages with other family
members.
His family initially contacted ship
staff with concerns about their father
and the ship’s doctor checked on the
lawyer. But the doctor reported that
Blythe-Tinker had “no suicidal
thoughts” and was physically well,
apart from back pain.
Because Blythe-Tinker’s body was
not found, the case went before the
High Court under legal provisions that
allow a missing person to be declared
presumed dead. That declaration
under the Presumption of Death Act
2013 enables any property, money and
other possessions of the missing person
to be administered.
It also dissolves the missing person’s
marriage or civil partnership.
posely leaving the Swedish committee
unable to reach him.
Professor Brian Cox, a particle physi-
cist and TV presenter from the Univers-
ity of Manchester, paid tribute to Higgs
yesterday. “Beyond being a famous
physicist — I think to his embarrass-
ment at times — he was always charm-
ing and modest,” Cox said, adding that
thanks to the particle, he had gained a
form of immortality. “His name will be
remembered as long as we do physics.”
14
News
News Politics
MP honeytrapper
used pictures of
students as a lure
Billy Kenber, Aubrey Allegretti
MPs who responded to a Westminster
honeytrap were lured by a scammer using
photographs showing two students who
were then in their late teens, The Times
can reveal.
The perpetrator used images nearly a
decade old of a financial analyst and a law-
yer, who have no involvement with poli-
tics, to target as many as two dozen MPs,
political researchers and journalists in
Westminster.
The victims of the scam were contacted
on WhatsApp or Grindr, a gay dating
EARLSFIELD
SW17
app, by someone posing as “Charlie” or
“Abi” who claimed to have met them
previously.
In some cases the targets, almost all of
whom were men in their twenties or
thirties, were sent explicit photographs
and were persuaded to send naked images
of themselves in return.
The profile photographs used by
“Charlie” and “Abi” on social media were
stolen from the Facebook pages of a fin-
ancial analyst working in London and a
lawyer in Birmingham, both 28.
They included one showing the analyst
wearing a Levi’s T-shirt in a bar and
Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
another showing the pair having dinner on
a Turkish beach. The pictures, which were
still available this week on their Facebook
pages, were taken in 2015 when the pair,
who attended the same sixth form, were in
their late teens.
The analyst contacted police about the
stolen images and was shocked to discover
how they had been used, Politico reported.
He deleted his LinkedIn and Facebook
pages shortly after being contacted by The
Times. The female lawyer did not respond
to a request for comment.
There is no suggestion of any
connection between either of the pair,
whom The Times is not naming, and those
who were targeted in Westminster. It is
unclear why their photographs were used.
The explicit photos sent to targets were
not images of the analyst or lawyer.
The identity of the honeytrapper, and of
the people pictured in the social media
accounts they used, has been the subject of
much speculation.
They appear to have been operating for
more than a year and have pursued
disparate groups of people involved in
politics, including during last year’s
Labour conference, in the aftermath of the
Mid Bedfordshire by-election and as
recently as last month.
Luke Evans, the MP for Bosworth,
Leicestershire, has revealed he was one of
those contacted. The Times has spoken to
another male Tory MP who said he was
contacted by “Abi” in the past month.
At least three MPs contacted by
“Charlie” received naked pictures and
reciprocated by sending back explicit
images of themselves.
William Wragg was one of them. After
victims suspected he had become involved
with the plot to solicit pictures of
colleagues, The Times approached him One picture used by the Yesterday Wragg stepped down from his
and he confessed to giving “Charlie” the honeytrapper showed two two senior parliamentary positions — as a
phone numbers of some of his colleagues. teenagers having dinner vice-chairman of the 1922 Committee of
Wragg said he was “scared” that the man on a Turkish beach; Tory backbenchers, and as chairman of
“had compromising things on me”. another showed one the public administration select commit-
At least two other Tory MPs also sent teenager in a bar. The tee. He also voluntarily relinquished the
images of themselves to “Charlie”, but are photos date back to 2015 Conservative whip, meaning that he will
not believed to have told party whips. sit as an independent in parliament.
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
Rwanda flights ‘will leave this spring’ SNP leader’s brother-in-law
Matt Dathan Home Affairs Editor
Rishi Sunak has assured the Rwandan
president, whom he hosted at a hastily
arranged meeting in Downing Street
yesterday, that Britain will start deport-
ing migrants to the country this spring.
Downing Street said the prime min-
ister had updated Kagame, who was in
London on a private visit, on the next
stages of the Safety of Rwanda Bill,
which declares the country safe for asy-
lum seekers. The aim is to address the
concerns that in November led the Su-
preme Court to rule the deportation
policy unlawful.
The legislation will return to the
Commons on Monday after the Lords
delayed its passage last month by forc-
ing through seven amendments that
would dilute it.
The government is confident of forc-
ing the bill through both houses of par-
liament by the end of next month.
Downing Street said Kagame and
Sunak had discussed their wish to start
implementing the policy by the end of
spring, although there was confusion
about whether that meant the end of
May or mid-June.
A spokesman said they had discussed
the “UK and Rwanda Migration and
Economic Development Partnership,
which will break the business model of
criminal gangs risking lives at sea, and
the prime minister updated President
Kagame on the next stages of the legis-
lation in parliament”.
He added: “Both leaders looked for-
ward to flights departing to Rwanda in
the spring.”
Kagame dodged questions outside
No 10 about revelations in The Times
yesterday that housing earmarked for
migrants had been sold to private buy-
ers. Suella Braverman, the former
home secretary, said she was “dis-
appointed” to hear that only a few
dozen homes were available for mi-
grants on the Bwiza Riverside Estate
where she visited in March last year.
The Home Office is said to be closer
to finding an airline to operate the
flights. The private company AirTanker
refused to confirm or deny claims that
it had been in talks about operating the
deportations. The company leases 12
aircraft to the RAF, including the Voy-
ager passenger jet, and two others to
the Jet2.com airline.
The Freedom from Torture charity
said it had intelligence suggesting that
AirTanker was in discussions with the
Home Office.
In June 2022 AirTanker said it had no
involvement in the policy but refused to
Welcome relief British military
personnel took part in the largest
international aid airdrop into
Gaza since October 7. It coincided
with the end of Ramadan
respond to inquiries last night by The
Times or the charity. The Home Office
also refused to comment on possible
talks about the flights.
The Ministry of Defence has previ-
ously resisted attempts to use RAF air-
craft such as the Voyager jet because it
is needed for other purposes such as
air-to-air refuelling. The MoD is under-
stood to be reluctant to become in-
volved due to the legal repercussions of
servicemen and women carrying out
government policy likely to attract
legal action.
Leasing the aircraft directly from
AirTanker could provide a way around
these difficulties, according to govern-
ment sources. Airlines have refused to
sign contracts when the Home Office
tried to line up planes, fearing damage
to their reputations.
The Home Office tendered a £78 mil-
lion contract for the transport of mi-
grants to Rwanda last year after Privi-
lege Style, a private Spanish charter
firm that was booked for flights in June
2022, pulled out because of the bad
publicity.
Commercial airlines have pulled out
of operating deportation flights for for-
eign criminals after numerous inci-
dents in which passengers staged
protests to prevent take-off.
Reeves ‘absolutely
certain’ Rayner did
not avoid paying tax
Aubrey Allegretti
Chief Political Correspondent
Rachel Reeves has said she is “abso-
lutely certain” that Angela Rayner did
not avoid paying capital gains tax on
the sale of her former council house.
The shadow chancellor said the
allegations related to Rayner’s living
situation were “more than a decade
ago” and Labour’s deputy leader had
sought legal advice since then.
“She’s confident and I’m confident
she has paid her tax,” Reeves said yes-
terday. She described Rayner as a “good
friend” and said she had already
answered questions about the sale of
her former house.
Speaking as Labour announced plans
to clamp down on tax avoiders, Reeves
was asked on Today on BBC Radio 4 if
she was sure Rayner was not one of
them. “I’m absolutely certain of that,”
Reeves said.
Rayner has struggled to silence crit-
ics who suggest she may have lied over
tax owed on her home on Vicarage
Road, Stockport, when she sold it for a
£48,500 profit. On Sunday, old tweets
emerged in which Rayner described a
property in Lowndes Lane owned by
her ex-husband as “home”, rather than
the property she now claims was her
principal residence and where “I lived”.
Rayner has dismissed the claims as a
“Tory smear”. But senior Conservatives
say it is a “serious ethics scandal” and
have called on Rayner to publish the tax
advice that she claims proves she did
nothing wrong.
Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader,
has accused the Conservatives of using
the saga to distract from their own fail-
ings before the local elections on May 2.
He said on Monday that it would be
inappropriate for him to see Rayner’s
legal advice on her tax affairs.
Starmer said only his team had seen
the advice on which Rayner has relied
while batting away claims she under-
paid up to £1,500 of capital gains tax
when she sold her home in 2015.
charged after man dies in fall
Lizzie Roberts, Laura Paterson
The brother-in-law of Scotland’s first
minister has been charged with abduc-
tion and extortion in a case linked to a
man who died falling from a window.
Ramsay El-Nakla appeared in court
yesterday in connection with an inci-
dent in which Ryan Munro fell from a
property in Dundee on January 10.
Police Scotland said the 36-year-old
was seriously injured at a block of flats
and died later in hospital.
El-Nakla, 36, from Dundee, was
accused of abduction and extortion at
the private petition hearing at the city’s
sheriff court yesterday. He made no
plea and was released on bail.
El-Nakla, the brother of Humza
Yousaf’s wife, Nadia El-Nakla, was the
fourth person to appear in court in
connection with the case.
Jennifer Souter, 38, appeared at Dun-
dee sheriff court last Thursday charged
with culpable homicide. She did not en-
ter a plea and was remanded in custody.
Souter appeared briefly in private to
face a petition alleging she assaulted
and abducted Munro at the flat from
which he fell.
15
News
News
The row began with revelations in a
book by Lord Ashcroft, the former Tory
peer, and was revived at the weekend
when the Mail on Sunday revealed
Facebook and Twitter posts from 2014 in
which Rayner described the house
owned by her ex-husband as “home”.
Alongside another selfie in Lowndes
Lane, she said: “Just got back from work.”
The comments cast doubt on a state-
ment made by Rayner on February 26,
when she said she lived at her Vicarage
Road property. “I owned my own home,
lived there, paid the bills there and was
registered to vote there, prior to selling
the house in 2015,” it read.
In interviews, Rayner said Vicarage
Road, a council house bought with a
Help to Buy discount in 2007, was her
“principal residence”. It appears her
ex-husband later sold the Lowndes Lane
property with a similar exemption.
Married couples can nominate one
residence as their primary home, Dan
Neidle, a tax expert, said. He added: “A
married couple get one joint main resi-
dence, and that was clearly Mark Ray-
ner’s property regardless of what she
considered her ‘home’.”
Greater Manchester police is review-
ing a decision not to investigate a
complaint that Rayner registered the
wrong property on the electoral roll. An
update is expected this week.
Labour said on Monday that Rayner
and her ex-husband had decided to
maintain their existing residences “to
reflect their family’s circumstances and
they shared childcare responsibilities”.
“Angela has always made clear she
also spent time at her husband’s pro-
perty when they had children and got
married as he did at hers. They were
both perfectly entitled to do so. The
house she owned remained her main
home.”
Rayner said if any tax had been owed
“she would have paid it” but that she
took advice “confirming that no capital
gains tax was payable”, Labour added.
She is alleged to have threatened,
intimidated and detained him against
his will with a view to extorting money
from him, placing him in a state of fear
and alarm.
Souter is alleged to have committed
culpable homicide by putting Munro in
fear for his safety and causing him to
fall from a second-floor window.
Munro sustained serious head injuries
when he fell about 30ft and landed on a
parked vehicle.
Stephen Stewart, 50, and Victoria
McGowan, 41, appeared at the same
court on Thursday charged with
abduction and extortion. Neither
entered a plea and both were released
on bail.
Police Scotland said in a statement:
“A 36-year-old man has been arrested
and charged with abduction and
extortion following an incident where a
man fell from a block of flats on
Morgan Street, Dundee, on Wednes-
day January 10. He died a week later
in hospital.
“Three others were previously
arrested and charged following the
same incident ... A report will be sub-
mitted to the procurator fiscal.”
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
Arts cuts will strip theatre of its stars, says director
David Sanderson Arts Correspondent
One of Britain’s most renowned direct-
ors has delivered a damning assess-
ment of the funding system, which he
said had been brutalised over the past
decade.
Edward Hall said that because “arts
subsidy has been eroded so badly”,
Britain would soon be asking: “Where
are the great artists to fill our big
institutions?”
The stage and screen director, who
had been at the heart of the system for
decades, criticised Arts Council En-
gland (ACE) and said he preferred the
subsidy-free American theatre world.
The 57-year-old was speaking to The
Times as he prepared for his first season
as the artistic director at Chicago
Shakespeare Theatre, where he moved
to after nearly a decade running the
Hampstead Theatre in north London.
He said it was “really refreshing” to
speak to philanthropists and board
members in pursuit of a $20 million
budget “rather than an arts officer”.
Hall added: “I don’t miss the lack of
public subsidy here” and said that the
TMS
diary@thetimes.co.uk | @timesdiary
Brush with a
new reality
The proposal by Lord Sedwill to
modernise the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office (FCO) by
getting rid of all those imperialist
paintings has not impressed Denis
MacShane, Tony Blair’s former
Europe minister. MacShane recalls
Robin Cook trying this in 1997,
replacing a grand portrait of a
fighting maharajah behind the
foreign secretary’s desk with what
MacShane calls a “tacky Bolton
Art Gallery painting in a poor
white frame” by the 1950s kitchen-
sink realist John Bratby. “It was
ghastly,” he says. MacShane says
Sedwill, the former cabinet
secretary, owed his promotion to
being the only mandarin who
understood theresamayspeak and
worries where it might end. “They
could relocate the Foreign Office
to Finchley,” he shudders, “or a
Thames Water branch office.”
One person who may favour an
FCO rebrand is Prince Andrew,
whose recent Netflix appearance
reminded a former ambassador of
working with him. With trademark
charm, the Duke of York told the
diplomat he would not be leaving his
cabin on a tour. “My father calls you
lot the F***ing Contrary Office,” he
said. “It’s best to do the complete
opposite to what you advise.” And
hasn’t it served him well?
raising a glass
Ben Elton is unmoved by anti-
drinking campaigns. Noting one
that said even moderate
drinking will knock two years
off your life, the writer says:
“They don’t tell you which
two years. It’s the last two, the
rubbish two, the two you
spend not recognising
your kids and having to
be taken to the toilet.”
As far as Elton, right, is
concerned, he’s happy
to sacrifice those years
17
News
ACE “destructively” withdrew its entire Hall said it was refreshing working in films such as Blithe Spirit star- two years after an initial fund-
grants to both of his “successful Chicago where “smart, intelligent ring Dame Judi Dench, said he ing cut. His successor, Rox-
companies”. Hall — the son of Sir Peter people who had risen to the top in what- felt betrayed by ACE. “I think ana Silbert, left in 2022
Hall, the late founder of the Royal ever field they were in” felt a civic duty what they did to Hamp- when the remaining
Shakespeare Company (RSC) and di- to support the “cultural ecology of the stead was short-sighted £750,000 subsidy was with-
rector of the National Theatre — said: city”, allowing for adventurous theatre and very destructive.” drawn.
“I think the arts subsidy [in Britain] has programming. He said the 55-strong The theatre has been Hall said that even
been eroded so badly, and the debate board encouraged him to “think big noted since its founding when it received the
about what it is and what it means has and be ambitious”, while acknowledg- 60 years ago for its grant it accounted for
been removed from the public forum in ing the different “culture” in the US. world premieres and “about 22 per cent of in-
a really bad way. It has been brutalised Hall is bringing a flavour of Britain to platforms for then-new come but 80 per cent of
over the last decade.” Chicago with the opening of a partner- writers such as Harold administrative time”, add-
He added: “I hope in the future we get ship with the RSC, whose new co-artis- Pinter. Hall left in 2019, ing that he was told he
more funding back into the arts tic director, Tamara Harvey, is bringing should take the cuts as a
because once it is gone, it is gone and it her inaugural production of Pericles. Edward Hall, who now “compliment because we
takes a long time to rebuild it. In not too Hall, who has directed television pro- works in Chicago, with the were so good at the busi-
long a time we will be suddenly be grammes such as Downton Abbey and actress Issy van Randwyck ness of theatre”.
going, ‘Where are the great artists to fill
our big institutions?’”
Hall is the latest figure to warn of the
state of the industry. In February, the
Young Vic’s Kwame Kwei-Armah said
funding conditions were making it “un-
tenable for artists like me”. The
National Theatre said that despite
having had arguably its most successful
year critically and commercially, it
could not balance the books due to re-
duced funding.
for some good claret. Maybe it
should be prescribed?
well turned out
The 8th Marquess of Anglesey is
auctioning some of the family
possessions via Sotheby’s to help
to run his estate. Hopefully, he is
keeping hold of the ermine. For
the big royal occasion last year, the
marquess had to reclaim the
family’s Coronation robes from the
National Trust, which took over
their country house in 1976, but as
he was getting togged up in the
Abbey he felt something was not
quite right. It took the Duke of
Wellington to note that he was
trying on the marchioness’s robes.
Fortunately, the 7th Earl of
Caledon had a spare outfit that
Anglesey could borrow to spare
his blushes with the few who
would notice, even if it meant a
Free books of the month
temporary reduction in rank. This April, read the award-winningKilling Thatcherby
The war photographer Sir Don Rory Carroll andAfter That Nightby bestselling author
McCullin and his wife, Catherine, are
hosting a party at the Frontline club Karin Slaughter. This month’s audiobook isFree Your Mind
this month to celebrate the launch of
a new podcast. Amusingly, the by Laura Dodsworth and Patrick Fagan. It blends popular
invitation tells guests they can pick
up a “singed copy” of one of Don’s psychology, sociology, politics and self-help to guide readers
books. Or maybe it wasn’t a typo?
on to how to resist everyday manipulation and influence.
smoke signals
“He’s selfish, he’s arrogant, he
believes he is the centre of the
world. He is a great man.” So said
Winston Churchill of Charles de
Gaulle. Sinclair McKay, who has
written Meeting Churchill, told the
Oldie literary lunch about their
irascible relationship. In 1941, De
Gaulle barged into Downing Street
to air grievances. “Officials outside
could hear the screaming, the
shouting,” McKay said. “And then, Visit mytimesplus.co.uk
after about an hour, it went quiet.”
Staff wondered if the French
leader had killed Churchill. They
entered the room, and found
that the pair’s mouths had
been bunged by two huge
cigars. De Gaulle was still
fuming, but now in a
different, better sense.
T&Cs apply.
patrick kidd
18
News
Golden boy After fathering more than 300 puppies, the last litter produced by nine-year-old retriever Trigger will be trained by the charity Guide Dogs in Leamington Spa
Congestion rises in capital despite Ulez
Ben Clatworthy
Transport Correspondent
Congestion in London is worse than
when the ultra-low emission zone
began five years ago, undermining the
benefits of the clean air scheme.
The daily average congestion level in
the capital was 45 per cent last year, up
from 37 per cent in 2019 when Sadiq
Khan, the mayor of London, intro-
duced the scheme, figures show.
The congestion level is a measure of
the extra travel time a driver experien-
ces as a percentage of the journey time
in free-flowing traffic conditions.
Khan has long insisted that the aim of
the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) is to
improve air quality by spurring people
to buy cleaner cars.
A year after the scheme began in cen-
tral London, however, the mayor’s
office published a report that said the
scheme “had already helped reduce
traffic in the central zone by approxi-
mately 10 per cent”.
Experts argue that the rising levels of
congestion, caused in part by the estab-
lishment of 20mph zones and poor traf-
fic management, is a significant cause
of emissions even if more vehicles meet
Ulez standards.
The zone was expanded last summer
to cover outer London with a boundary
reaching Buckinghamshire, Es-
sex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey.
Previously, the boundaries of the zone
were the North Circular and South Cir-
cular roads.
Last year London was the slowest
city out of 387 in which to drive a six-
mile journey, according to the traffic in-
dex by the geolocation technology
company TomTom. This pushed up
emissions from idling vehicles.
Andy Marchant, a traffic expert at
TomTom, said that such programmes,
which aimed to curb traffic emissions,
were essential for Britain to reach net
zero by 2050.
But he cautioned that these should
be coupled with long-term action.
“London remains the world’s slowest
city to drive through,” he said. “The
capital’s fuel consumption and CO2
emissions inevitably increased at the
same time.”
Susan Hall, Khan’s Conservative op-
ponent at the mayoral elections next
month, said: “It’s no surprise London is
the slowest city in the world under
Khan.”
She said that the expansion of 20mph
limits and low-traffic neighbourhoods
amounted to a “war on motorists”
which “all lead one way: a dead end”.
Under Ulez restrictions, drivers of
non-compliant cars — typically petrol
Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
Farmer fined
for polluting
rural river
Will Humphries
Countryside Correspondent
A farmer has had to pay more than
£4,500 for allowing silage effluent six
times more polluting than untreated
human sewage to enter his local river.
Daniel Macey from Underhill Farm,
near Taunton, Somerset, was caught
after a member of the public reported a
terrible smell and colour in the Five-
head river to the Environment Agency.
Taunton magistrates’ court was told
that agency officers went to the scene
and a sample showed the water had a
dissolved oxygen level of below 12 per
cent, whereas an unpolluted water-
course would expect to have levels of
above 70 per cent. The officers traced
the source of the pollution to Underhill
Farm, where they spoke to Macey, who
said he had an issue with a silage
storage unit about four days earlier.
Silage is a type of fodder made from
green foliage crops preserved by fer-
mentation to the point of acidification.
The court was told that analysis of
the effluent showed it was about six
times more polluting than untreated
human sewage. No evidence of pollu-
tion was found upstream of the farm.
Macey, 44, was fined £228. Magis-
trates also ordered him to pay costs of
£4,502.21 and a victim surcharge of £90.
cars made before 2005 and diesel ones
from before 2015 — must pay a daily
£12.50 charge. Motorists spent more
than £5.3 million during the first week
of the expansion when the number of
charges leapt by almost 300,000.
Critics said the scheme was being
used to make money for Transport for
London, which the mayor had previ-
ously said could face bankruptcy
because of plunging passenger num-
bers during the pandemic.
A spokesman for Khan said: “The
evidence shows that Ulez is working,
with 95 per cent of vehicles seen driving
on London’s roads now compliant and
not needing to pay a penny.”
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
Billie Eilish to release eco-friendly album using recycled materials
David Sanderson Arts Correspondent
It would perhaps be the greenest record
release of the year — if only so many
vinyl variants were not going to be sold.
Billie Eilish has unveiled a sustain-
ability plan for her much-anticipated
third album, Hit Me Hard and Soft
which is set to be one of the bestselling
albums of the year after its release on
May 17.
The 22-year-old American musician
said her record label had agreed to the
Not so much
Rehab in this
life of Amy
Winehouse
Film Kevin Maher
Back to Black
15, 122 mins
HHHII
You can see why Sam Taylor-Johnson
was hired to make the first proper
Amy Winehouse drama. She has done
a musical biopic (the John Lennon
film Nowhere Boy) and an addiction
drama (A Million Little Pieces) so this
would seem to sit in the middle of her
directorial Venn diagram.
It turns out to be closer to Nowhere
Boy, her first and best film and
another that captures the first blush
of genius but frames it in tragedy. If
Back to Black also feels a bit
lightweight, Taylor-
Johnson should be
applauded for avoiding
a queasy obsession
with Winehouse’s
illness and early
death. The early
scenes, in which
Winehouse
gallivants around
Camden Town in
north London,
takes her first
steps in music
and juggles male
admirers, have a
girlish joie de
vivre that those
who were close
to her say is
totally accurate.
Winehouse is
Chelsea fired ‘molested’ groundsman
Jonathan Ames Legal Editor
A groundsman at Chelsea’s Stamford
Bridge stadium was unfairly sacked
after accusing his boss of sexual assault
and sending emails alleging bullying.
Conor McKnight told an employ-
ment tribunal that he had been a life-
long fan of the Premier League club
before alleging that Jason Griffin grab-
bed his crotch at a Christmas party and
threatened to kill him.
The groundsman complained about
his boss’s behaviour and said he was
furious that Griffin had kept his job.
After his grievance and appeal were
ignored, McKnight was said to have
sent a barrage of emails headed “Chel-
sea Football Club scandal — cover up
widespread use of recycled materials in
packaging and tour merchandise as
well as for all eight vinyl editions. She
told Billboard magazine that her label
had “listened to my concerns and
helped me find the best way forward
when releasing music and product into
the world”, adding: “We are doing
everything we can to minimise waste in
every aspect of my music.”
Her environmental efforts come
amid a resurgence of interest from
music fans in un-environmentally
played by Marisa Abela,
the English actress best
known — until now — as
the ambitious City
trader Yasmin Kara-
Hanani in the BBC
series Industry. It’s
decent casting:
Abela has sass
and savvy in
abundance. She
also sings, which
wasn’t part of the
original plan.
Taylor-Johnson
had intended for
her to lip-sync to
Winehouse’s vocals,
but the actress
assault and sexual assault” to other
clubs. McKnight was immediately
sacked when bosses noticed similarities
in spelling mistakes between his emails
and those sent anonymously.
The tribunal in central London
agreed that he was unfairly fired
because bosses did not adhere to the
legal requirements of the process.
But McKnight will not receive com-
pensation after the panel decided it was
“certain” the club would still have dis-
missed him if it had followed proper
procedure.
McKnight worked for the club for
three seasons between 2019 and 2022
alongside his father, David, also a
groundsman. The tribunal heard that at
a Christmas event in 2019 at a pub in
friendly vinyl versions of albums. Based
on studies by Keele University, the near
six million vinyl records sold last year in
Britain alone would produce 2,700 ton-
nes of CO2, before transport and pack-
aging — the footprint for 560 people.
Eilish’s website stated that while the
standard vinyl disc of Hit Me Hard and
Soft would be made from recycled black
material the other seven editions would
be made from factory off-cuts using a
technique said to give unique colouring
to each pressing in seven colour ranges.
secretly had singing lessons and asked
if she could have a go herself. That’s a
ballsy move of which Winehouse
would have approved, and Abela does
as well as you could reasonably hope.
Her voice and stage presence are
more than decent, especially in the
sequences that recreate Winehouse’s
2008 performances for the Grammys
at Riverside Studios in London (she
couldn’t attend in person because her
visa hadn’t been processed in time —
classic Amy). Yes, Abela’s Rehab isn’t
in the volcanic class of the woman
herself, but what did you expect?
Would it have been better to have had
her lip-syncing? That may have added
one layer of artifice too many.
Winehouse’s father, Mitch, loathed
Cobham, the Surrey village where the
club’s training ground is, there was at
least one “physical incident” between
McKnight and Griffin.
The tribunal said the junior grounds-
man claimed at some stage during the
evening that Griffin “threatened to kill”
him. He accused his boss of saying: “You
will be leaving here in a body bag,” as
well as throwing him against a wall and
squeezing his genitals.
McKnight took sick leave, citing
“stress at work”. He submitted a griev-
ance claiming he had been assaulted,
sexually assaulted and had received a
death threat. He also claimed that his
drink had been spiked. McKnight
alleged that the same evening, his car
tyres were deflated and that on “nu-
The Eco-mix Yellow Vinyl, for exam-
ple, will be sold by HMV for £35. Eilish
said packaging on physical copies and
tour merchandise would be made from
recycled materials and non-toxic dyes.
Musicians have increasingly found
themselves answering tricky questions
about their environmental footprint
while advocating for actions to mini-
mise climate change impacts.
British band Coldplay said in 2019
they would not tour until they found a
way of being “sustainable”. Two years
Two-for-one cinema
tickets at Everyman
with
Each month Times+ members can
bring a friend for free at Everyman
on a Wednesday
mytimesplus.co.uk
Asif Kapadia’s Oscar-winning 2015
documentary Amy, which he believed
portrayed him unfairly as
domineering and exploitative. Played
by Eddie Marsan, he comes out far
better in this film, duetting with his
merous occasions” he had been told his
boss would give him a poor reference.
The tribunal was told that a griev-
ance meeting at the club found that
Griffin had pushed McKnight at the
Christmas event, agreed it was “un-
acceptable” behaviour and said that
“appropriate action had been taken”.
Other aspects of his grievance were
not upheld, including his allegations of
sexual assault and a death threat.
McKnight filed an appeal, which he
copied to “a large number” of club re-
cipients, claiming the club had “done
nothing” about his boss’s behaviour.
“I do not want anyone to go through
what I am going through mentally,” he
said in the email. He added: “It has trau-
matised me and it will be a series of
19
News
later they announced a dancefloor that
generated electricity would be one of
the methods they would be using.
Eilish said: “My parents have always
kept me well informed and hyper aware
that every choice we make and every
action we take has an impact some-
where or on someone, good or bad, and
that has always stuck with me.”
Hit Me Hard and Soft, produced with
Eilish’s brother Finneas, 26, was
described by promoters as the artist’s
“most daring body of work to date”.
Marisa Abela gives Amy plenty
of heart, but Jack O’Connell as
her husband, Blake Fielder-
Civil, lays on the Cockney
geezer shtick too heavily
daughter at a family get-together and
boasting about her to passengers in
his black cab. It’s an altogether
cuddlier working-class patriarch than
the one Marsan played opposite
Olivia Colman in Tyrannosaur.
The best thing about the movie is
Lesley Manville as Winehouse’s
brassy yet compassionate
grandmother, Cynthia, who looms
larger in Winehouse’s life than her
rather quiet mother, Janis (Juliet
Cowan). Cynthia, a former singer who
once dated Ronnie Scott, was her
granddaughter’s self-proclaimed style
icon, and her conversations with
Winehouse have an unforced
sweetness.
More problematic is Jack
O’Connell’s performance as Blake
Fielder-Civil, Winehouse’s future
husband, whose turbulent
relationship with her fuelled so many
of her best songs. Fielder-Civil, who
got off relatively lightly in Kapadia’s
documentary, is the closest thing to a
villain of this piece, introducing
Winehouse to drugs and playing
callously with her feelings.
O’Connell is a great actor, with a
magnetic mix of charm and danger
that’s well suited to the role. He lays
on the Cockney geezer shtick too
heavily, though, as he woos
Winehouse over a pool table at the
Good Mixer pub in Camden. One
insider described the turn as “James
Dean meets Joe Strummer”; instead
think more Danny Dyer meets Joe
Swash.
The ending, of course, is sad. I had
forgotten that Winehouse’s death
came after an extended period of
sobriety. Yet, for all its faults, the film
is more celebratory than tragic.
“I wanted to make something that
people would watch and then go
straight home and listen to her
music,” Taylor-Johnson told The
Sunday Times recently. Mission
accomplished.
events that will remain with myself for
the rest of my life.”
The tribunal heard that an ano-
nymous email was sent 980 times in
2022 to other clubs, with a link to a
video that allegedly showed Griffin’s
sexual assault and death threats.
The judge, Antoine Tinnion, said
that while McKnight’s emails had in-
voked “rude, intemperate, and hostile
language”, they did not justify his dis-
missal without a disciplinary hearing.
He said the tribunal was satisfied that
club bosses had not conducted “a fun-
damentally fair disciplinary process”
and that the dismissal was unfair. Tinn-
ion said had the club applied a fair pro-
cedure, the panel was “certain” manag-
ers still would have sacked McKnight.
20
News
Titchmarsh leads
plea to save father
of ecology’s home
Adam Vaughan Environment Editor
Seventy years ago conservation leaders
appealed for funds to turn the home of
the man considered to be the father of
ecology into a museum.
The house and gardens of Gilbert White were last saved in 1954 after conservationists wrote to The Times, below right Their letter to The Times helped to
save Gilbert White’s house and gar-
dens. Now, in a case of history repeating
itself, the gardener and broadcaster
Alan Titchmarsh, the Bishop of Win-
chester and the director-general of the
Royal Horticultural Society have asked
for help to stop the museum at White’s
home from closing in the face of esca-
lating costs.
The museum, in the Hampshire vil-
lage of Selborne, is home to the book in
which White recorded the plants, birds
and other species
that he saw there
in the 18th
century. In a sign
of White’s idio-
syncratic nature,
his own copy of
The Natural His-
tory of Selborne
was bound with
the hair and
leather of his dog.
Today the mus-
eum dedicated to
keeping alive the legacy of the clergy-
man considered by many to be Eng-
land’s first ecologist is facing severe fi-
nancial challenges. Since 2020 the
home’s insurance costs have increased
by 55 per cent, energy costs by 113 per
cent and staffing costs by 29 per cent, in
part because of the rise in the minimum
wage. “Like all museums we are experi-
encing a difficult time,” Judith Bowles,
co-director of the museum, said.
The 1954 appeal came from conser-
vationists including the heads of the
RSPB and Zoological Society of
London. In their letter to The Times
they asked for £24,500 to preserve the
home known as the Wakes and its
27 acres of parkland.
“If lovers of Gilbert White can find
Nando’s removes painting
‘depicting soldiers as Nazis’
Nando’s has removed a painting in one
of its branches after an army veteran
said it depicted soldiers in the shape of
a swastika and accused the restaurant
of “branding British armed forces as
Nazis”.
Paul Watson, from Fenham, Newcas-
tle upon Tyne, noticed the painting
when he visited the Wallsend branch
on Tyneside. The 58-year-old, whose
grandmother was Jewish, said it
depicted four soldiers facing
THE CHRIS EVANS outwards from a circle and
pointing guns, creating
a swastika effect.
BREAKFAST Watson tweeted a
complaint to Nan-
SHOW do’s the same day.
The former soldier,
who served six
years, including a
TODAY FROM 6:30AM short tour of North-
ern Ireland, said the
artwork suggested
the British armed
ASK YOUR SMART SPEAKER TO PLAY VIRGIN RADIO LISTEN ON DAB RADIO forces had acted like
fascists.
Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
this money in these hard times, it is
proposed to purchase the property, to
restore it as near as possible to what it
was in 1793,” they wrote, adding that it
should be opened to the public. The
appeal led to funding from the family of
the explorer Robert Washington Oates.
Today’s letter is a deliberate echo of
the 1954 original, and several of the
signatories are descendants of those
behind the first letter, including the
Earl of Selborne.
“The museum is threatened by fac-
tors entirely beyond its control,” they
write. “As an independent museum, de-
pendent on visitor income, with no
public subsidy, its external costs are
rising massively.” They add that White
is a “hugely important figure” and it
would be a “trage-
dy” if the museum
had to close.
“White shows
how everyone can
be involved in
understanding
and protecting the
natural world. It is
no accident that a
new GCSE will
highlight White as
the father of ecol-
ogy,” they say.
The museum, which is visited by
5,000 pupils every year to inspire a love
of natural history, is able to cover its
costs when visitor numbers are high in
the summer. It is hoped the appeal will
raise enough for a £1 million endow-
ment, which could generate enough in-
terest to make ends meet during quieter
periods in winter. “It’s not a begging let-
ter. We need to make sure the future is
secure by having a sustainable endow-
ment fund,” Bowles said.
Although less well known than
Charles Darwin, White played a key
role in influencing the author of On the
Origin of Species. “He was the first
person to start writing about nature
and recording nature,” Bowles said.
He said: “I thought it was bang out of
order. All these lads who go out and die,
then they’re depicted like a Nazi. It’s
offensive to see it in public.”
Nando’s messaged him directly the
next day and has confirmed the paint-
ing has been removed. It said Watson
was the first person to complain about
the artwork, which had been hanging in
the restaurant since it opened in 2013.
It said: “We commission the art in
our restaurants from up-and-
coming South African art-
ists, the country in which
we were founded, and
they are all one of a
kind.
“We recognise
that art is subjective
and our intention is
never to offend. We
have removed it and
apologise for any
offence caused.”
The picture was said to
have had a swastika effect
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024 21

I watched in shock as she

fell into the danger zone
Matthew Parris
Page 22
Streeting’s lessons from Nixon and China
Conventional wisdom suggests Labour will find it easier to reform the NHS than the Tories — history suggests otherwise
the NHS. “They know the public
Daniel doesn’t trust them with it, so they
Finkelstein daren’t change it. Only Labour can
reform the NHS.”
Streeting’s argument relies on one
of the most popular lessons in politics
— the experience of Nixon’s opening
@dannythefink of a dialogue with China. But it is an
experience I believe is much
Comment
backer, ran against him for the only be resisted by “middle-class
presidential nomination the lefties”. The second is that in any
following year. fight the self-interest of doctors and
And when Nixon became their desire for control of the NHS,
entangled in the Watergate scandal, mingled with a drive to increase their
the right turned on the weakened remuneration, will assert itself.
leader. The first House Republican The position of the doctors is hard
to call for his resignation was to guess ideologically, save that they
Ashbrook. And the president finally will be against whatever the

S
hould they try to seize misunderstood. Far from Nixon and accepted he would have to go when government of the day is doing, as
Richard Nixon’s aircraft? It China reinforcing Streeting’s point, I Barry Goldwater, the leading they have been since the creation of
might make the problem think they undermine it. And show conservative in the Senate, told him the NHS (which they opposed).
worse. But really, argued just how difficult the path ahead will he no longer had his support. I favour Streeting’s intention to
Gerald Ford’s strategists, be for the Labour man. In the subsequent presidential reform the NHS, including his use of
what could be worse? In 1971 Nixon’s national security campaign, conservatives ran a much the private sector. I think he’s being
It was February 1976 and Ford’s adviser, Henry Kissinger, began a stronger candidate than Ashbrook. admirably bold in his rhetoric, though
team had just learnt that the secret mission to prepare for a Ronald Reagan fought the Nixonian obviously we’ll have to wait to see if
government of communist China had presidential visit to Peking. When Gerald Ford for the nomination and any of it happens. But then I would
invited former President Nixon to Nixon touched down in China’s made Kissinger and the Ford/Nixon think this, because I’m on the centre-
visit (what was then) Peking. And that capital six months later it was hailed foreign policy the focus of his right. What I wonder is whether, on
the plan was for Nixon to arrive in as a massive diplomatic and political attacks. Nixon going to China the centre-left, Sir Keir Starmer
China on the morning of the New coup. And it was widely noted that the first time was so unpopular with really understands what his health
Hampshire primary. It was a contest only the president’s long history as the base that Ford’s team worried spokesman is getting them all into.
in which Ford, Nixon’s successor, a an opponent of communism gave that a repeat would rob their man What they blithely expect to
man inextricably linked to him and him the political space to make the of the nomination. Hence their Wes Streeting has promised a “decade happen — that they can be radical
his foreign policy, was facing a contest opening to China. A Democrat aircraft-seizing talk. of change” as Labour reforms the NHS because Labour is trusted — is not at
that was already tough enough. Ford very narrowly saw off Reagan all what I think will happen. I think
At Ford campaign meetings they
cursed Nixon and talked of a
Doctors will always be in 1976 but the feelings of betrayal
that began with Nixon’s original visit
in the care of) patients on the
15th floor of Charing Cross Hospital.
much of the party and the base will
resist these changes. I think there
conspiracy. Nixon was trying to help
Ford’s conservative opponent,
anti-government — no to China were a major part of what
fuelled the conservative takeover of
These patients were in private beds
within an NHS hospital and
will be a fight with the doctors,
possibly over weekend work and
Ronald Reagan, to steal the
Republican nomination. Or at the
matter who’s in charge the Republican Party.
The use of the “Nixon goes to
opposition to such private beds had
become a cause on the left.
certainly over pay that will rattle
Labour politicians even more than it
very least, push Ford out of the race. would have been accused of China” analogy is therefore wrong. The Labour government was soon has Tory ones, and will send them
In the end, the wild aircraft-seizing indulging their left-wing impulses. His visit doesn’t prove it is easier to embroiled in a major political battle. knocking on the door of No 10.
idea was dropped. But it’s still a story Nobody could think Nixon had any. run against type and defy your base. The health secretary Barbara Castle Wes Streeting may be committing
I’d like Wes Streeting to consider as “Nixon goes to China” became It shows the opposite. That, as was determined to abolish the Starmer to a massive fight that will
he prepares to become Labour health commonly cited as showing that it is Reagan himself once put it to a group private beds and ended up in a use up much political capital. That’s
secretary in a Starmer government. easier for someone from the right to of conservative activists, you gotta massive fight with consultants and fine. I just hope the two of them feel
This week Streeting issued the do something thought left-wing, or “dance with the one that brung ya”. junior doctors, one that intersected secure in each other’s resolve.
latest of a series of statements someone from the left to do Let me accompany this with with negotiating their pay deals. The
promising (a welcome promise to something right-wing. But this another story from around the same prime minister, Harold Wilson,
me) to be bold with the NHS. He ignores what actually happened to time that should also be of interest to eventually had to get his fixer, the
would insist that the NHS worked Nixon, to Kissinger and to Ford. Streeting. In June 1974 a woman lawyer Arnold Goodman, to mediate
around the clock, he would use the Conservative Republicans did not dubbed “Ma” Brookstone, a Cockney and arrange a compromise. red box
private sector to cut waiting lists, he accept that Nixon should be trusted grandma, briefly became famous. The viciousness of this fight shows For the best analysis
would see off vested interests and because of his history. Instead they Brookstone was a shop steward for two things. First, that private
“middle-class lefties”. He promises a felt he had betrayed his past. And the National Union of Public healthcare has always been fought
and commentary on
“decade of change”. them. A right-wing congressman, Employees and her members decided over on the left. It is an immensely the political landscape
The Tories, he says, can’t reform John Ashbrook, previously a Nixon to “black” (in other words not assist controversial issue and it will not

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22
Comment
Banning arms sales to Israel makes no sense
Absence of British exports would not end the war but would alienate key allies pivotal to peace
Roger
Boyes
@rogerboyes
I W
srael’s critics see the country
heading into the quagmire that
America faced in the Vietnam
War: a blundering, high-tech
army outwitted by plucky
freedom fighters, a prime minister
who is starting to mimic Richard
Nixon, and an isolated state trying to
mask its weakness. In this telling —
heard not only from restless US
Democrats — the Gaza war is set to
be never-ending. The conclusion:
turn off the flow of arms and make
Binyamin Netanyahu “see reason”.
This is a capital error, what the
Germans call a Hirngespinst, a
chimera. The Gaza war is not
interminable. But neither is it on the
brink of resolution, a crisis just
waiting for a turning point in the
form of an international weapons
embargo against Israel.
The war, six months in, is probably
halfway through. The planned and
loudly broadcast Israeli offensive on
Rafah is inevitable since the
calculation is that four Hamas
brigades — the last of the original 24
— are stationed there, that the
remaining core of the Hamas
leadership lurks underneath the city
and that smuggling routes from
Egypt have to be blocked to prevent
the re-arming of Hamas. Many of
the October 7 hostages are also
believed to be there. This, then,
Matthew Parris Notebook
I watched in
shock as she
fell into the
danger zone
H
ave you ever seen anyone
nearly killed? I did
recently, in broad daylight
on a city street. It’s a
danger I know has been
flagged up by cyclists ever since the
tram was invented. And of course it
can be avoided by prudent cycling,
and sensible cyclists do avoid it. But
still it came as a shock to see a
woman almost killed by overlooking
a hazard that had previously struck
me as more theoretical than real.
She was pedalling perfectly
sedately across a set of tramlines that
ran at an angle to her direction of
travel. She must have turned her
handlebars slightly (as you do on a
bike to maintain balance) so that her
front wheel was momentarily aligned
with the narrow iron trench that is a
tramline. The wheel must have
slotted itself into the trench,
throwing her off balance. I saw
her fall.
A tram was approaching at some
should be the decisive battle since
it would allow the generals to
announce that Hamas no longer had
the military framework to pose a
threat to Israeli citizens. Alongside
the release of the hostages, this is
the principal war aim. In order to
reduce civilian casualties a corridor
would be opened to Khan Yunis to
house (among the ruins) those
Gazans who fled for the apparent
safety of Rafah.
The big uncertainty would be in
the north and the possible activation
of Hezbollah, Iran’s Lebanon-based
military ally. That, too, might entail
sustained fighting. The war may
stutter on but the final curtain on
this most political of conflicts will
None of the protests
engage with what the
UK is actually selling
surely fall only when the US
presidential election has been
fought and won.
The open question at this point is
how a British arms embargo could
influence the course of the conflict or
its final outcome. The answer: it
makes no sense at all. Four former
Supreme Court judges, joined by
600 members of the legal profession,
have been arguing for a halt to arms
sales because they claim that it could
make Britain complicit in genocide.
The former head of MI6, Sir Alex
Younger, says that Britain’s arms sales
could be used as leverage on Israel to
make its war-fighting more
compassionate. Civil servants are
threatening a walkout unless sales are
speed. She could have fallen either
way: under the iron wheel of the
approaching tram or just clear of it.
The driver braked hard and
immediately but could not stop short
of her.
Mercifully, she fell clear. The tram
came to a halt a couple of yards past
where she fell. People rushed to help
her up and she was shaken but
unhurt. The woman remounted and
cycled off in one piece. Had she
fallen the other way, she would have
been in two pieces.
Inventor’s blow
I
was looking forward to
meeting Sir James Dyson,
the inventor of the bagless
vacuum cleaner and much else, to
record a programme for my
Great Lives series. Dyson —
straight-talking, pleasant
and to-the-point — had
chosen the life of
Sir Frank Whittle, who
invented the turbojet
engine: a machine that
today powers your
every flight by
passenger jet.
Whittle’s son was with
us too, and I found our
recording fascinating —
but equally my chat with
Sir James afterwards.
Shyly, I told the great
man that I was an
stopped. And the agitprop battalions,
tired perhaps of Just Stopping Oil,
have again been splattering red
paint, this time around Labour Party
offices, in support of the Gazan cause.
Their message is simple: take away
Israel’s military edge and the result
will be peace.
Yet none of these protests engage
with what Britain is actually selling
to Israel. Sales amount to about
£42 million a year and comprise
0.9 per cent of Israeli weapons
purchases. They don’t in themselves
contribute to infringements of
international humanitarian law.
There is technology for military
radars, for electronic warfare, for
aircraft and helicopter components.
Some of the kit is supplied first to the
US for installation into fighter jets
that are then delivered to Israel.
Other equipment is dual use — that
is, applicable to civilian as well as
military machines.
The US is Israel’s chief supplier
(almost 70 per cent), Germany
comes second (almost 30 per cent).
Both countries are rightly committed
to defending the survival of the state
of Israel. As is Britain, in the
knowledge that several countries in
the region have been committed to
its destruction. Hamas chose the
timing of its atrocities last year to
derail a process of restoring
diplomatic relations with its Arab
neighbours. It was plainly helped
along the way by Iran.
It is Hamas that initiated a war of
human shields, not only by taking
hostages but also by siting its
launchpads in or close to places
protected by humanitarian law.
Human shields are forbidden by
inventor too and explained to him
my design for a parasol that doesn’t
buckle or blow over in gusts of wind.
He listened carefully and in silence,
then asked whether I’d patented
the idea. I replied that I hadn’t.
“Then you can’t be a proper inventor
or you wouldn’t have told me about
it,” he said.
Strike a light
e need an outside light and
W
I undertook to search
online: an efficient way to
save time, I thought, rather
than driving to hardware stores
on spec. Online, on various
traders’ websites, there were
thousands of lamps. After more
than an hour of scrutinising
specifications, looking at
pictures and trying to
visualise sizes, I was
struggling to
remember what I
had seen at the
beginning, but finally
compiled a shortlist.
At the top was a
lamp that appeared to
be in stock at a B&Q
store just outside
Buxton so I set out: a
20-minute drive.
“Do you stock all-
weather outside lights?” I
asked the friendly woman
at the counter. She smiled
additional protocol 1 of the
Geneva conventions and are
therefore a war crime as well as a
violation of humanitarian law. They
are part of the Hamas trap set to
ensnare Israel on October 7.
Now it is also trapping Israel’s
natural western friends. The
argument is that democratic Israel
should be kept to higher standards
than the terrorist group that is
determined to destroy it. Following
that train of thought, some countries
such as Canada and Spain have
suspended arms sales to Israel. But
realpolitik suggests that apart from
urging care for non-combatants, the
West should also be supplying, rather
than blocking, precision weapons to
target those Hamas units hiding
behind civilians.
Britain’s biggest arms customer is
Saudi Arabia and remained so even
at the height of its war with the
Houthis of Yemen. If Israel is to
be made the target of an embargo,
then sales to Saudi Arabia would
have to be limited too. Yet if there
is to be a lasting peace in the
Middle East after the Gaza war
is over, Saudi Arabia will be
needed to help anchor it.
The policy dilemmas are complex.
It’s not only about how to help a
friendly power beat away a challenge
from a terrorist group backed by a
ruthless near-nuclear power. It’s also
about how to achieve a Middle East
at peace with itself rather than being
poisoned for generations. In that
context, arms embargos against
Israel look like a bit of cosmetic
virtue-signalling. The best way to
help the Palestinians is to banish
Hamas from the political spectrum.
at the naive old fogey come in from
the sticks. “You bet we do,” she said
and pointed down an aisle. There,
on the wall, was an array of about
60 types, all set up so one could see
at a glance how they’d look in situ. I
immediately spotted one that would
be right, bought it, and drove home;
the whole exercise taking less time
than my hour-plus hunched over a
laptop screen and resulting in an
assured right choice. Online
shopping can waste time.
Exit from planet X
ve left Twitter/X. “Big deal,” you
I’ may say, “who cares?” Nobody,
and that’s the point. It was not
adding to my life or anybody else’s. I
joined Twitter because I thought it
would widen my vista, open me up to
more diverse opinion and
information, and keep me in touch.
But experience has not shown this. I
fast decided against tweeting much
myself because the impulse is
immediate but the consequence
permanent. And I found I was
reading others either for the few
minutes’ advance notice of news
that one hardly needs, or to confirm
my own opinions, or get myself
steamed up about the opinions of
others. I would rarely quit the site
happier or better informed than
when I’d accessed it.
So let the Twitter storm rage: I’ve
left that planet.
Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
Russian athletes at
Olympic Games is
a victory for Putin
Alyson Rudd
hat has sport to do
with anything? This
would appear to be
the surprising
attitude of
Stuart Andrew, the sports minister,
who has opted to support the
participation of Russian and
Belarusian athletes under a neutral
flag at the Olympic Games in Paris.
It marks a U-turn in government
policy, bringing it into line with the
International Olympic Committee,
and follows a tightening of neutrality
rules. This includes a vetting process
that would bar any participant who
has publicly offered support to the
war in Ukraine.
But sport has a great deal to do
with politics and power, especially
when it comes to the Olympic
Games. Leaders bask in the
superiority of competitors that
represent just about everything they
hold dear. If you produce an
Olympic champion, you must be in
charge of a clever and admirable
sports programme and your winners
must be motivated by nationalism
and self-sacrifice.
The history of the Olympic Games
is a history of politics. In 1906 Peter
O’Connor smuggled an Irish flag
into the stadium in Athens so that
when he won gold he could protest
at being labelled a competitor for
Great Britain. In 1968 there was the
Black Power protest. In 1980 the
United States led a widespread
boycott of the games in Moscow in
protest at the Soviet Union’s invasion
of Afghanistan.
The idea that making Russian and
Belarusian athletes wear neutral
uniforms dupes anyone is laughable.
They will look just as they looked
before the invasion of Ukraine and, if
they are adept at what they do, they
will gain widespread recognition.
It is impossible to sever the
connection between a competitor
and their nationality.
Indeed, so used are we now to the
“non-aligned” competitor, it barely
raises an eyebrow. The Candidates
tournament is at present determining
which players will challenge for the
World Chess Championship.
Ian Nepomniachtchi has no
country next to his name but
everyone glued to their screens
knows he is Russian. When the
tennis player Aryna Sabalenka won
the Australian Open earlier this year,
no one needed her national flag on
the scoreboard to remember that she
is from Belarus.
You can try all you like to dilute the
imagery but Russian and Belarusian
athletes will be recognisably
representing their nations in Paris
and simply should not be there. You
can be sure President Putin will take
enormous satisfaction from the fact
that they are. Indeed, he might even
conclude that so vital is it for his
impressive sportsmen and women to
be in Paris that not even an invasion
can stop them from being there.
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
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This Rayner pile-on risks petty class war
Cheap, personalised squabbling surrounding the pursuit of Labour’s deputy leader is the last thing the country needs
Alice
Thomson
@alicettimes
T
he Tories should recognise
in Angela Rayner a
Thatcherite success story.
The 5ft 10in redhead in the
Dr Martens is the poster
girl for one of their most successful
policies, the Right to Buy scheme.
The deputy Labour leader bought
her own council house and has
bettered herself by selling it. In a
small way she became a capitalist,
although not a “landlady with a
property portfolio”, she is quick to
stress. She made improvements,
added “soft furnishings” and is
“punching above my gene pool”,
she once told me, going to the
opera at Glyndebourne, standing in
at prime minister’s questions and
bossing it.
Here is a woman who had a
dysfunctional, impoverished
childhood but could become the
second most-powerful politician in
the country. Despite that, having
interviewed her myriad times, there
is still a vulnerability about Rayner.
Raised on a Stockport council
estate, her father was abusive, her
mother was bipolar and illiterate and
would buy Immac hair removal
cream thinking it was toothpaste.
Angela left school with no
qualifications and was a single mum
at 16. But the former care worker
owned her council semi by the age
of 27 before becoming an MP.
Margaret Thatcher surely would
have been pleased.
Now, she is being accused of
having fraudulently benefited from
the sale of her property a decade
ago by failing to pay capital gains
tax of about £1,500. In his biography
of her, Red Queen?, the Tory
peer Michael Ashcroft accuses
Rayner of claiming that the house
she owned was her principal
residence, while actually residing in
It looks like one rule
for the super-rich and
their clever accounting
her now ex-husband’s home.
It does seem unlikely that they
lived apart while married. It’s hard
to know. But her life has always
seemed a bit shambolic. She has had
a full-on career at Westminster, a
blended family, a child with special
needs and no domestic help. Being
chaotic is not an excuse, but I can
see how she possibly flitted between
the two places, only a mile apart.
Rayner has never appeared obsessed
with making money. She likes a
venom cocktail and an iced
doughnut, a sparkly pair of shoes
and AirPods Pros but she has few
other luxuries except for splashing
out on a breast enhancement
“because my boobs looked like two
boiled eggs in socks”.
If I was advising her, I would
suggest that if she really has done
nothing wrong, as she insists, she
could give £1,500 to a children’s
charity so that she can feel she’s
won morally while moving on. Or,
if she now thinks that she might
have been poorly advised, she pays
the money due on a second home —
although, as the tax expert
Dan Neidle says, a good accountant
could whittle that down to £1.
Unlike Boris Johnson, she doesn’t
have rich friends who could help
to bail her out but it would be
money well spent to preserve
her integrity.
There are many who will say it’s
not relevant whether she owed
£1,500 or £5 million, it’s the principle
that matters. But it does also look
like one rule for the super-rich with
their clever accounting and another
for the less well-off.
The Tories must know they are
being hypocritical. Their former
chancellor and party chairman
Nadhim Zahawi forgot to pay
capital gains tax worth £3.7 million
incurred by the sale of shares in his
company YouGov (although it
eventually cost him his job).
Meanwhile, the billionaire Ashcroft’s
family may have come from
“Burnley, where we used torn-up
newspaper as toilet paper”, but he
lives mainly in Belize and is a
sometime non-dom.
Rayner has often been the first to
goad the “Tory scum”, as she is now
not allowed to call them, when they
appear to have transgressed over
Resurrecting Sure Start
centres would be a
more positive policy
their finances, and that may have
been a mistake too. But the Tories are
in danger of stoking up class warfare
and making the Labour front bench
more vitriolic. Rachel Reeves, the
shadow chancellor, came to Rayner’s
defence yesterday while announcing
that Labour was cracking down
harder on non-doms. Even if her
colleagues are unsure about what
their deputy leader may have done,
and Sir Keir Starmer has been careful
to say that he hasn’t himself read her
lawyers’ advice, they are incensed
that she is being hounded by wealthy
Tories, many of whom have avoided
paying much tax at all.
Class warfare isn’t what the
23
Comment
country needs right now. Labour’s
worst suggestions are the ones
that appear to be class-motivated,
such as charging VAT on private
schools and eliminating hunting.
Instead, both parties need to
focus on policies rather than
personalities in the run-up to the
general election. Yesterday the
Future Governance Forum
think tank pressed Labour
to offer a clearer sense of its
defining mission. It’s not enough
for Rayner to say, “I’m not a Blairite,
I’m not a Corbynite, I’m not a
Brownite” without saying what
she would want Labour to do
in power.
For a start, she could champion
the resurrection of Sure Start
centres, abandoned by the Tories
during the austerity years, that
provided help for disadvantaged
parents. It was the New Labour
policy that most benefited Rayner
when she was a struggling teenage
mum. Having never been shown any
love as a child, she said it was only
when she went to one of their
nurseries that she “learnt to hug
my son”. Research out this week
shows children who lived near a
Sure Start scheme performed up to
three grades better at GCSE.
Voters need great transformational
policies like Right to Buy and
Sure Start rather than this petty,
personalised squabbling.
24
Letters to the Editor
Gibraltar deal fears
Sir, You report that Lord Cameron of
Chipping Norton is considering
ceding control of Gibraltar’s airport
(“UK and Spain inch closer to deal on
Gibraltar”, Apr 9). Our foreign
secretary should not give up the
airport lightly. If the Spanish
government wants an airport it could
simply build one on the large plain
that extends up to Gaucin. It should
be noted, however, that Spain has a
record of building regional airports
that are not much needed by the local
economy: Castellón, funded by EU
money, lay dormant for the best part
of a decade. A change in control of
the airport would inhibit our resupply
of Gibraltar in the event of a
deterioration in relations, deny the
RAF a valuable staging post, and also
gift the Spaniards control of inbound
tourism — a significant contributor to
the economy of Gibraltar.
Paul Smiddy
Woodbridge, Suffolk
Exchange benefits
Sir, I agree with Nick Megoran (letter,
Apr 9; news, Apr 8) about the
short-sightedness of the government’s
decision to leave the Erasmus+
programme. My disappointment is
based on the success of the vocational
element of this programme, which
enabled young people, many from
disadvantaged backgrounds, to spend
from three to 12 weeks working in
their chosen area of employment with
partners across all EU member states.
The experience hugely improved
participants’ self-confidence, language
abilities and transferable skills,
enabling them to gain employment
both in Britain and on the Continent.
Carolyn Booth-Jones
Transnational manager, Leeds City
College 1993-2014; Beverley, E Yorks
Parental larks
Sir, Hannah Skelley’s article “Help!
Mum bought an iPhone at 65 — now
she’s hooked” (Times2, Apr 8; letter,
Apr 9) reminded me of my favourite
tweet of the month in Sathnam
Sanghera’s Notebook column “Larks
with Larkin” (Jun 6, 2022): “They
phone you up, your mum and dad.
They do not mean to, but they do.”
Jane Pilgrim
Teddington, Middx
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Feedback, The Times, 1 London Bridge
Street, London SE1 9GF
Call for modernisation of the Foreign Office
Sir, One of the points made in the
former senior diplomats’ pamphlet is
true for anyone planning the foreign
policy of a future British government:
the UK would maximise its global
impact if one ministry looked after all
aspects of overseas policy (“Get rid of
colonial-era art, Foreign Office told”,
Apr 9). More attention has focused on
their argument that the FO is “elitist”
and needs shaking up, including a
new name. I distinguish between
“elite” (good) and “elitist” (bad).
Surely the UK wants its best people
(its elite) to represent it? And it is a
century since the FO took an elitist,
entitled view of what constituted the
best. Changing names implies a wish
to break with our past, but we do
better when we understand — and
own — our history. The Foreign
Office can be reinvented for the 21st
century: it can represent a country
whose overseas effort is more
prioritised, more humble and more
centred on partnerships. But we will
not achieve that by trying to draw a
line under our past; for starters, the
people we deal with overseas would
not let us get away with the attempt.
Lord McDonald of Salford
Permanent under-secretary, Foreign
and Commonwealth Office 2015-20
Reform of the NHS
Sir I am not sure if Wes Streeting is
correct in identifying “middle-class
lefties” as those who seek to prevent
him from using private hospitals to
reduce waiting lists, but I applaud his
intention to take them on (“ ‘Middle-
class lefties’ won’t hold me back, says
Streeting”, Apr 9). That vocal group
insist all services must be provided by
direct employees of the NHS. Do they
not appreciate that a large proportion
of NHS services are already provided
by private enterprise? Medicines,
drugs, operating equipment (scalpels,
lights, gases, etc) and prostheses are all
provided by private industry. Perhaps
they are referring only to staff? One of
the largest contributory sectors of the
NHS, GPs, are not employees of the
NHS but are private contractors. The
critical element in Mr Streeting’s
objective is that, whoever provides the
service, it is free to the patient, ie the
cost is borne by the taxpayer. All
strength to Mr Streeting’s elbow.
John Evans
Wingerworth, Derbyshire
Sir, Wes Streeting is right to question
the shortcomings in our health
DEATH FOR
RUSSIAN
PROFESSORS
from the times april 10, 1924
From our correspondent in Riga.
The result of the trial of members of
the intelligentsia before the
Revolutionary Tribunal at Kieff on
March 20 was announced today.
Sentence of death was passed on
three men and one woman — M
Tchebakoff (a former Prosecutor of
the Kieff Court of Justice), M
Yakovieff, and M Yenidevsky, and
Mme Vinogradova.
Professor Nikolai Vasilenko, his
brother, M Constantin Vasilenko, M
Tchelgansky, Professor Smirnoff,
and M Tolpyga were each sentenced
to ten years’ imprisonment; Anna
Sir, Our report argued for
transformation in UK foreign policy.
In response, Melanie Phillips writes of
“self-loathing mandarins” talking
Britain down with “mandatory
self-flagellation” (“Mandarins fail to
understand their country”, Apr 9).
Given her view that “universities have
become places where open minds go
to die”, I assume she also disapproves
of my present job. Between us, the
authors have served Britain for more
than 75 years. We love our country
and want it to be as effective in the
world as possible, including on climate,
poverty and conflict, which Phillips
dismisses as peripheral wokery.
This is not about abolishing the
Foreign Office but making it great
again: what our diplomats do, not
what we call the building they do it in.
Policy, not paintings. If culture war is
the price for debate, bring it on. But
Britain’s future security, prosperity
and positive potential in the world are
much more important than that.
Tom Fletcher
Principal, Hertford College, Oxford
Sir, Melanie Phillips’s denunciation of
the authors of the pamphlet about the
Foreign Office, and by extension of its
present members, reminds me of
system but his contention that
“everyone should be able to have
timely access to healthcare but not
have to worry about the bill” seems
an aspiration too far. While users of
healthcare services may not have to
worry about post-treatment costs,
they will certainly have to contribute
through better advance funding
mechanisms. He may consider the
difference in waiting times between
the NHS and private healthcare to be
“a disgrace” but those going private
have paid twice (once to the NHS
through tax and national insurance
contributions and again to their
insurer), whereas many NHS users
have paid very little or nothing.
Stuart Southall
East Horsley, Surrey
Sir, It is not “inexcusable” that NHS
operating theatres lie empty in the
evening and at weekends, it is
inevitable (“Sacred Cow”, leading
article, Apr 9). There are too few staff
to safely man the service during the
week, so how will any government
find the additional trained staff to
provide a full weekend service? This
is political magical thinking.
Dr Bob Bury
Leeds
Kapotsinsky to seven years; and five
others, including two women, to five
years’ imprisonment.
The Soviet Press declares that M
Poincare’s appeal, in the name of the
French Government and members of
French universities, on behalf of the
Russian professors, is an example of
arrogant intervention in the internal
affairs of Russia.
The prisoners sentenced to death
may appeal for a reprieve within 48
hours. The whole trial has been the
usual Bolshevist travesty of justice.
The prisoners committed their
greatest crime at the trial itself by
calmly and fearlessly declaring
themselves convinced adherents of
democracy, civil freedom, and
representative government.
M Constantin Vasilenko, who is an
old member of the Social Democratic
Party, embarrassed the Court by
declaring that according to Marx,
Engels, and other Socialist thinkers,
freedom of speech and of the Press
Letters to the Editor should be sent to
letters@thetimes.co.uk or by post to
1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF
Margaret Thatcher, who was wont to
describe the Foreign Office as “the
department for the defence of
foreigners”, while regarding individual
members she knew as “wonderful”.
Her record shows what our diplomats
and armed services can achieve when
given strong political leadership.
Lord Butler of Brockwell
Head of the civil service 1988-98
Sir, What a pity that the authors of
the latest essay on “reform” of the
Foreign Office should have come up
with such an absurdly woke torrent of
verbiage, with no bearing whatever
on the real challenges facing our post-
Brexit diplomacy. The appropriate
comparator for us is not Australia or
Canada but France.
Lord Renwick of Clifton
Former British ambassador to the US
Sir, Instead of ditching colonial
paintings, portraits of British officials
should be replaced with paintings of
the important institutions they
established abroad. These could
include the Calcutta High Court
(1862), Barbados parliament (1870)
and Colombo Museum (1877).
RP Fernando
Epsom, Surrey
Power of attorney
Sir, Stephanie Calman’s suggestion
(letter, Apr 8) of having a joint bank
account with an elderly parent rather
than power of attorney, while
apparently simplifying matters, could
have severe disadvantages. The
transfer to joint ownership would be a
gift for inheritance tax purposes.
Income arising thereafter would be
divided and the parties liable to
income tax on their share. One should
be aware of unintended consequences.
Simon Pym Williamson
Former president, Institute of
Financial Planning; Broadway, Worcs
Glorious signing
Sir, Olwen Davis (letter, Apr 9) is right
to mourn the passing of the autograph
book. Aged 12 I persuaded my mother
to get Cardiff City’s promotion-
winning team of 1976 to sign my
match-day programme. One of those
autographs was of Peter Sayer, who
went on to score a spectacular goal
that knocked Spurs out of the FA Cup.
Rob Skinner
Chalfont St Giles, Bucks
was the first essential of a Socialist
regime; therefore as a Socialist he
was unable to regard the present
Communist regime as an acceptable
form of government.
The charges against the accused
included holding views in favour of
the abolition of the Communist
dictatorship, military espionage on
behalf of Poland, and carrying on
secret communications with
Russian emigres abroad. All of the
accused indignantly denied the
charge of espionage. The Vasilenko
brothers and M Tchebakoff
admitted that they had formed an
organisation for discussing political
questions, editing a review, and
informing a “Centre of Action”
abroad as to conditions in Russia.
The organisation, incidentally, had
helped women and children to
escape from the country.
thetimes.co.uk/archive
Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
Museum in peril
Sir, On May 18, 1954, you were kind
enough to print a letter appealing for
funds to purchase Gilbert White’s
house and gardens in Selborne and
create a museum, describing him as
the “Father of English Natural
History”. Some of the signatories to
this letter are descendants of those
who signed that letter. We are writing
today because the future of Gilbert
White’s house is again in question.
The museum is threatened by factors
entirely beyond its control. As an
independent museum, dependent on
visitor income, with no public subsidy,
its external costs are rising massively.
Independent museums nationwide
face the same challenges. Many —
including Gilbert White’s House &
Gardens — could close.
White is a hugely important figure,
both nationally and internationally,
the man who taught us how “to live in
harmony with nature” as Sir David
Attenborough puts it. White shows
how everyone can be involved in
understanding and protecting the
natural world. It is no accident that a
new GCSE will highlight White as the
father of ecology. It would be a
tragedy if the place that inspired him
and led to his great work The Natural
History of Selborne (1789) had to close.
Lord Selborne; Clare Matterson,
director-general, Royal Horticultural
Society; Rupert Tyler, chairman,
National Gardens Scheme and The
Garden Museum; Alan Titchmarsh,
president, Hampshire Gardens Trust;
the Right Rev Philip Mounstephen,
Bishop of Winchester
Sunak’s Sambas
Sir, Your report “Sunak’s Samba step
puts ‘shoe of the moment’ back in its
box” (Apr 8) took me back to 1979,
when I returned to teaching. Among
the subjects on my timetable was PE,
which I’d never taught. I bought a pair
of Sambas especially for the job: they
didn’t do anything for my PE teaching
skills but at least I looked cool (or so I
thought). To stop buying these trainers
because of Rishi Sunak would be to
rate street cred over comfort. They
were practical and comfortable: I wore
them intermittently for over 20 years.
Gill Moss
Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancs
Horrible haitches
Sir, It was satisfying to see
mispronunciation given the treatment
it deserves (“Humbled Rajan vows to
drop those haitches”, Apr 9). Alas,
Amol Rajan’s “haitch” is the tip of the
iceberg. The proliferation of elongated
“ayes” and “thees” has reached
epidemic proportions. For example:
“Thee prime minister is chairing ay
meeting.” The two most common
words in the English language have
been stretched hopelessly out of
shape, initially by reporters and
newscasters hoping for a nano-second
to think ahead. Now everyone is
piling in: Rajan leads the charge, with
Gary Lineker his twin striker.
Tony Francis
Ex-BBC presenter, Hawridge, Bucks
Squeezed for space
Sir, Further to your report “Bigger
cars leave us less room to manoeuvre”
(Apr 9), rather than disrupting the
economics of car parks by increasing
the width of spaces by 20cm, would a
waist reduction by a similar amount
mean that people could still exit the
car using the existing layout?
Tim Chacksfield
Sandhurst, Kent
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
Daily Universal Register
UK: The Financial Conduct Authority
publishes a survey on personal finances,
finding that 7.4 million people were
struggling with bills in January.
Nature notes
The march of the
American skunk
cabbage (Lysichiton
americanus) seems
unstoppable. A
native of swamps
and wet woodlands
in the US Pacific Northwest, American
skunk cabbage was introduced to Britain in
1901 as an ornamental plant for ponds and
bog gardens. By 1947, it had established itself
in the wilds of Surrey. From the home
counties, the plant has spread through the
rest of the country. With highly mobile
seeds that travel via water, bird or mammal,
it quickly colonises suitable habitat, such as
stream banks, pond edges or wet woodland.
Its large, leathery leaves allow it to
outcompete other species, by casting shade
over them. The tiny flowers grow on a
central spike, screened by beautiful yellow
“lantern-like” hoods. jonathan tulloch
Birthdays today
Stig Abell, pictured,
broadcaster, Times
Radio, and author, Death
in a Lonely Place, editor
and publisher of the
Times Literary
Supplement (2016-20),
44; Prof Sir John Baker
KC, legal historian, 80; Gordon Buchanan,
wildlife film-maker and presenter, Snow
Dogs: Into the Wild (2022), 52; Ed Byrne,
comedian, Mock the Week (2006-22), 52;
Nicky Campbell, BBC radio and TV
presenter, 63; Sophie Ellis-Bextor, singer-
songwriter, Wanderlust (2014), 45; Lesley
Garrett, soprano, A North Country Lass
(2012), 69; Anoushka Healy, executive vice-
president and chief strategy officer, News
Corp, 52; Rosemary Hill, writer, Time’s
Witness: History in the Age of Romanticism
(2021), 67; Tim Hollingsworth, chief
executive, Sport England, British Paralympic
Association (2011-18), 57; Gloria Hunniford,
radio and TV presenter, panellist on Loose
Women since 2003, 84; Debora Kayembe,
human rights campaigner, rector of the
University of Edinburgh (2021-Mar 2024),
49; David Moorcroft, middle and long-
distance runner, chief executive, UK
Athletics (1997-2007), 71; Peter Morgan,
screenwriter, The Crown (2016-23), 61; Craig
Overton, cricketer, Somerset CCC and
England (2017-22), and twin brother Jamie,
Surrey CCC and England (2022), 30; Dame
Carol Robinson, chemist, president, Royal
Society of Chemistry (2018-20), the first
female professor of chemistry at Oxford and
Cambridge universities, 68; Paul Theroux,
writer, Burma Sahib (2024), 83; Sir Rodney
Walker, sports administrator, chairman,
London Marathon Charitable Trust, 81;
William Sackville, Earl De La Warr,
stockbroker and dairy farmer, 76; Robin
Southwell, chairman, Aeralis (light jet
manufacturer), chief executive, Airbus
Group UK (2005-14), 64; Benedetto Vigna,
chief executive, Ferrari, 55; Errollyn Wallen,
composer, Mighty River (2017), 66.
On this day
In 1912 RMS Titanic departed Southampton
for the French port of Cherbourg, its first
stop on the voyage to New York. At least
1,500 people lost their lives on April 15 when
the ship sank after colliding with an iceberg.
The last word
“A stumble may prevent a fall.” Thomas
Fuller, English writer and physician,
Gnomologia (1732)
Prescription for Disaster
A review of the NHS gender identity service has exposed the recklessness and
incompetence of those who administered life-changing drugs to troubled children
Common sense so often trumps the supposed in-
sight of experts. It is common sense that children
who feel an overwhelming compulsion to physi-
cally change their gender must be exceedingly
rare, and it is common sense that youngsters must
not be allowed to diagnose themselves as such
because they are likely to be prey to conditions and
pressures that could cloud their judgment. And, of
course, it is common sense that radical and irre-
versible medical treatments should never be un-
dertaken unless the case for them is beyond ques-
tion. The problem in regard to transgenderism is
that ideology has long since replaced common
sense as a guide. That ideology, which has invaded
public life, is so aggressive and so intimidating that
parents, doctors, politicians and civil servants
have become blind to its dangers and absurdities.
This is how, over a decade, vulnerable children
in this country were betrayed on an epic scale, fed
puberty-blocking drugs that in many cases were
followed by radical procedures. This institutional-
ised abuse was based on the flimsiest scientific evi-
dence and became established practice in the
health service. In her review of the NHS Gender
Identity Development Service (Gids) at the Tavis-
tock Clinic, now released in full, Dr Hilary Cass
lays bare a scandal measured in ruined lives.
Japan is adopting a more muscular posture to maintain peace and counter China
In his state visit to Washington, the first by a
Japanese prime minister since 2015, Fumio Kishi-
da will impress on President Biden his country’s
readiness to join the United States in seeking to
contain Chinese expansionist aims in Asia and de-
ter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. He will therefore
give eager endorsement to proposals that Japan
should be closely associated with the new trilateral
Aukus defence treaty, which binds America, Brit-
ain and Australia in providing Australia with nu-
clear submarines. Joining the three western allies
in reinforcing security in East Asia is of enormous
strategic importance for Japan — the biggest up-
grade in Tokyo’s relations with America since the
signing of their mutual defence treaty in 1960.
It is premature to speak already of “Jaukus”.
What the three western partners propose is that
Japan become an associate partner in what is
called “pillar two” of the 2021 pact. This focuses on
sharing advanced technology, ranging from artifi-
cial intelligence and quantum computing to un-
dersea capabilities and hypersonic weapons. The
aim is to engage Japan’s resources, especially its
advanced technological industrial base, while en-
There are clear and proven benefits to removing smartphones from schools
The Times has reported on a school in Kent that
has adopted an ingenious solution for keeping
small screens not only out of the classroom but out
of the playground, too. At the John Wallis Aca-
demy, each pupil, each morning, places their de-
vice into a lockable pouch from which it cannot be
removed until they leave. The system, first devel-
oped to stop phone-obsessed audiences from
ruining concerts, is already widely used both in
American schools and in private schools in the
United Kingdom. It costs about £25 per person.
Other solutions may be available, but the con-
cept is a clear success. Merely banning pupils from
The review is a damning indictment of clini-
cians and others, including some parents, who al-
lowed a developing obsession with gender to ob-
scure the actual problems of many of the children
involved. Problems like autism and adverse expe-
riences in childhood — more common in those re-
ferred to Gids — were ignored in favour of the
newly-fashionable diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
No one involved appeared to notice that this
affliction, which if genuine should have been rea-
sonably constant in the rate of presentation, bal-
looned over time. Gids was established in 1989 and
at that time saw fewer than ten children in a year.
Only a small proportion were referred for hor-
mone treatment. It saw fewer than 50 in 2009 and
in 2021-22 referrals reached 5,000. How did a rare
condition become more common? Boys, once the
majority of patients, were replaced by girls. Why?
And why was autism so much more prevalent in
that cohort? No one joined the dots.
It should have been obvious that this explosion
in cases was due to societal shift and misdiagnosis
of various forms of mental distress rather than a
discrete condition. But the NHS continued to rely
on sloppy research to justify life-changing treat-
ment. Treatment, moreover, that should have
been allowed only when those children attained
Pacific Alliance
suring that Japan does much more to guard secret
information and protect sensitive data. Already
Mr Kishida’s government has announced that it is
to create a 20,000-strong cyber-security force and
introduce legislation to assure the US that classi-
fied information would not be compromised.
The underlying and unspoken aim seems to be
that the Aukus treaty should not be seen just as a
western attempt to deter Beijing’s aggression but
should include a significant Asian nation in guar-
anteeing Asian security. It could be seen as the
prototype of a regional security treaty, along the
lines of Nato in the West, to contain China.
That is indeed how China sees it. Unsurprising-
ly, it has denounced Aukus and the proposal to
bring in Japan, saying it was “gravely concerned”
about a plan that was “stoking bloc confrontation”.
The inclusion of Japan is particularly neuralgic for
Beijing, which believes its former enemy has never
accepted responsibility or properly atoned for its
atrocities in China before and during the Second
World War.
The need to deter China from invading Taiwan
is vital not only to Japan, which would find its
Hang Up
bringing phones to school inconveniences parents
and incentivises the illicit smuggling in of devices,
which are then sneaked out in playgrounds. Far
better to have them accounted for and disabled.
Four months on, the John Wallis Academy’s ex-
periment is a clear success. Pupils can no longer
turn to their phones in classrooms, meaning they
work as intended rather than googling answers.
Truancy rates have dropped. “I can’t go and watch
Netflix in the toilets,” one pupil explains. Outside
lessons, during breaks, staff have witnessed activi-
ties all but forgotten in many modern-day play-
grounds, such as children playing tag, and noticing
25
Leading articles
majority. Instead, youngsters were prescribed pu-
berty blockers, which were intended to slow down
sexual development and give patients a breathing
space in which to consider their true wishes and
options. But these powerful drugs may impede
brain maturation, weaken bones, stunt growth,
and cause depression and anxiety. In some
patients these effects may turn out to be perman-
ent. Yet despite being no longer prescribed by the
NHS, puberty blockers are still available online
and in private clinics. This trade must be banned as
a matter of urgency.
The recklessness with which this policy was
pursued verges on the criminal. Some victims are
now trying to reverse the damage. In a survey of
237 “detransitioners”, 70 per cent said their “gen-
der dysphoria” turned out to be due to other issues.
Writing in this newspaper, Sajid Javid, the former
health secretary, argues that for too long “extreme
gender ideology” trumped the interests of child-
ren. The trans lobby has distorted public life in
Britain, from the hounding of women who affirm
the immutability of biological sex to the torturous
pronoun etiquette of Whitehall. These excesses
may be greeted with mere bemusement by future
generations. For those who suffered at the hands
of Gids, the emotions will be much stronger.
southern sea lanes to the outside world blocked,
but also to other nearby countries. China’s region-
al neighbours are increasingly angered by its claim
to hegemony over all of the South China Sea and
its physical attempts to consolidate its expansion-
ism with military installations on reefs and artifi-
cial islands. None is more worried than the Philip-
pines. It is no coincidence that President Marcos
will join Mr Kishida and President Biden in a joint
summit to underline their mutual interests.
Mr Kishida’s government is suffering a slump in
opinion polls at the moment, due largely to eco-
nomic headwinds. A clear foreign policy gain and
a symbolic strengthening of Japan’s ties with the
US and the West in general would boost his
authority and popularity. It was perhaps prema-
ture for Rahm Emanuel, the US ambassador to
Japan and former chief of staff to President Ob-
ama, to announce that a deal with Aukus had been
done. But given the rapid rise in Japanese defence
spending, worries over North Korea and the con-
sequent transformation of Japan’s once pacifist
constitution, Tokyo will do its best to join its allies
in giving meaningful support to deterring China.
the weather, and even flirting. They have been
given their childhood back.
Luddism helps nobody. School children today
learn alongside the internet, and must, so as to be
prepared for later life. Yet it is also true that smart-
phones rank among the most addictive of man-
kind’s creations, and the young are particularly
vulnerable to their depredations. Many adults,
likewise, may have all but forgotten how it used to
feel to spend whole hours without the distraction
of notifications. Perhaps some offices could follow
this bold school’s example and get lockable pouch-
es of their own. You may even want one at home.
26 Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times

World
China and Russia
cement alliance
‘against tyranny’
China
Richard Lloyd Parry Asia Editor
China has agreed to strengthen its
strategic partnership with Russia, pre-
senting a united “dual opposition” to
the West, which it accused of “Cold War
thinking” and bullying.
At a meeting in Beijing, Sergey
Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister,
and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi,
promised mutual support in one of their
strongest shows of friendship since
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
in 2022.
Their meeting came as Fumio
Kishida, the Japanese prime minister,
travelled to the US for a summit with
President Biden, and marked a further
hardening of the great power blocs as
they face off in Europe and the Pacific.
“Beijing and Moscow will continue to
strengthen strategic co-operation on
the world stage and provide each other
with strong support,” Wang said, ac-
cording to Russian state media. “China
and Russia must take a clear-cut stand
on the side of historical progress, on the
side of fairness and justice: oppose all
acts of hegemony, tyranny and
bullying; oppose Cold War thinking
and separatist provocations; and ac-
tively push for the construction of a
common future for all humankind.”
Lavrov said Russia was “comprehen-
sively grateful to our Chinese friends
for this support”.
The warmth of the meeting seems to
quell any lingering doubts about Chi-
nese support for Russia. A few weeks
before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022,
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping met in
Beijing and declared a friendship with
“no limits”. It is not clear, however, if the
Russian president shared with his Chi-
nese counterpart his plans for Ukraine.
When the invasion came three weeks
later, Beijing gave the appearance of
being caught off guard. China’s long-
established policy is to insist on the
inviolability of domestic sovereignty, a
means of deflecting criticism of its sup-
pression of independence movements
in Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tai-
wan. It is difficult to reconcile this with
approval of Putin’s decision to invade a
sovereign country recognised by China.
After the war began, China refused to
condemn or sanction Russia but
stopped short of expressing outright
support for Moscow and called for
peace. Whatever qualms Xi may have
had then have clearly been soothed by
the progress of the war, which has dis-
tracted Nato countries, drained them of
military resources and left Putin in a
position of needy supplication.
Sanctioned by many western coun-
tries, Moscow is increasingly turning to
China, putting Beijing in a position to
set its own terms. Trade between Russia
and China increased by more than a
quarter last year to a record $240 bil-
lion, and Chinese exports to Russia
went up by 47 per cent.
China denies supplying weapons to
Russia, but its trade in other goods re-
lieves the pressure of sanctions. “China
continues to provide materials to
support Russia’s defence industrial
base,” Antony Blinken, the US secre-
tary of state, said last week.
Janet Yellen, the US Treasury secre-
tary, who returned on Monday from a
Sergey Lavrov,
centre, and
President Xi at
talks in Beijing.
The Russian
foreign minister
and China’s
leader gave their
strongest show
of friendship yet
visit to Beijing, warned Chinese offi-
cials of “consequences” for supporting
the Russian armed forces. The implicit
threat of secondary sanctions against
Chinese companies selling to Russia
has clearly been identified by Lavrov as
a possible focus for deeper solidarity.
Biden and Kishida are about to dis-
cuss the possibility of Japanese mem-
bership of Aukus, an agreement
between Australia, Britain and the US
to provide nuclear submarines to the
Royal Australian Navy. China regards
this as the seeds of an “Asian Nato” —
an effort to contain its ambitions as a
regional power. Lavrov hinted at the
creation of a new organisation to
counter it and spoke approvingly of a
slogan proposed by Wang — “dual op-
position to dual deterrence”. Dual de-
terrence is the long-standing US policy
on the self-ruling island of Taiwan: it
discourages moves towards independ-
ence but also opposes Chinese threats
to invade.
“Yesterday Minister Wang Yi in-
vented this formula of ‘dual opposition
to dual deterrence’,” Lavrov said. “And
our leaders, President Putin and
Chinese leader Xi Jinping, have repeat-
edly underscored the resolve on the
part of Russia and China to counter at-
tempts at putting brakes on efforts to
build a multipolar world order or the
long overdue processes of democratis-
ation and justice.” Life’s a playground Students in traditional clothing at Khalsa College in Amritsar,

Why London is off the menu for Italy’s army of young waiters
Italy
Tom Kington Rome
Matthew Dathan Home Affairs Editor
Italy is mourning the demise of the
London-based Italian waiter as thou-
sands of young people who once head-
ed to the British capital to work in
restaurants are blocked by stringent
post-Brexit rules.
“Goodbye London” said the Italian
daily La Repubblica yesterday after a
new British regulation raised the mini-
mum salary for work visas for EU citi-
zens from £26,200 to £38,700.
That was deemed enough to exclude
the army of young Italians who for
decades have travelled to London in
search of adventure, English lessons
and the chance to hover over res-
taurant diners with an oversized pepper
grinder.
“A young Italian with initiative, the
will to work and curiosity could once
say ‘I’ll go to London’ — a fantastic city
for the young which practically invent-
ed music, fashion and style,” the com-
mentator Antonio Polito wrote in
Corriere della Sera.
The minimum-salary rule will not
keep out only waiters, reported Il Mes-
saggero, which interviewed Alessandra
Solinas, 32, an Italian who took a
masters in marketing in the UK but
cannot find a starting salary of £38,700.
“I am crying when I think about it.
That masters cost me £22,000 — I
invested a lot in this country and now
it’s throwing me out,” she said.
Italians have already lost the right to
qualify automatically to work in the UK
because of Brexit. La Repubblica said
the latest rule change was definitively
putting an end to a chapter in the Ital-
ian involvement in London, which
dated back to the founding of the city in
AD43 by the Romans and the 14th-
century presence of bankers from Lom-
bardy in what is now Lombard Street.
After the Second World War Italians
introduced café culture to Soho by
opening the Bar Italia on Frith Street
before restaurateurs acquainted the
British with pizza, parma ham and
chianti bottles wrapped in raffia.
London is today home to up to
500,000 Italians, which would make it
Italy’s seventh-largest city by popula-
tion, and highly qualified Italians who
are offered more than the new mini-
mum salary in sectors such as banking
will continue to arrive.
But even before the latest increase in
the minimum salary, the need to find a
company willing to pay the administra-
tive costs of obtaining a work visa put
off many from hiring Italian waiters
and lower-paid workers, said Francesco
Ragni, the head of the Italian expat
website Londra Italia.
“It was already complicated — I don’t
think many waiters were coming over
with that visa. More likely it was chefs
and pizza makers, who are hard to find
in the UK,” he said.
London’s problem, however, is not
only a shortage of expert pizzaioli but
also of waiters, meaning the real vic-
tims of the new salary rule are not just
young Italians but the London restau-
rants struggling to stay open without
enough staff. With 120,000 roles
already unfilled in the UK hospitality
sector, the fate of an industry that relies
on foreign workers to do 15 per cent of
jobs is about to get worse.
Recent research has shown that
more than 90 per cent of the 8,500 mi-
grants recruited in the sector last year
would not qualify under the new
£38,700 threshold.
“Since coming out of Covid, the hos-
pitality sector has had labour shortages
of between 8 and 12 per cent,” said Kate
Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospi-
tality, which represents companies in
the sector. “The successive tightening
of the skilled-worker visa means that
the route from Europe to fill those
skilled jobs has all but been eliminated.”
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024 27

Eco campaigners win Crowning moment:

human rights court battle Miss France contest gets
over climate change its very own museum
Page 28 Page 29

Putin: I’m like Jesus

on a divine mission
against satanic West
Russia
George Grylls
President Putin has compared himself
to Jesus Christ as he quoted the Bible to
explain his divine mission to school
Russia’s youth in “traditional” values.
The Russian leader has often por-
trayed himself as a stalwart defender of
Christianity against the “satanic” West.
But in a revealing insight into how
Putin sees his role, he spoke in overtly
religious terms about the need to shape
the worldview of young people.
Appearing via video link to celebrate
the opening of children’s centres near
Moscow, Putin began quoting from the
Bible. He has ordered the establish-
ment of youth centres across the coun-
try in a move redolent of the Soviet-era
camps where children were indoctri-
nated in Communist party values.
From the age of six, primary schoolchil-
dren in the Soviet Union could join the
Little Octobrists, before advancing to
the Young Pioneers when aged nine
and progressing to the Komsomol at 14.
Under Putin, the strict atheism of the
Soviet Union has been replaced by a
muscular form of Orthodox Christian-
ity that is often used to spread state-
approved messages.
Putin compared his mission of pro-
tecting the Russian youth from the
creeping influence of the West to Jesus
Christ having recruited the fishermen
Peter and Andrew to spread the word of
God.
“Do you remember how Jesus came
to Galilee and saw the fishermen beside
the Sea of Galilee?” he asked a meeting
of Russian officials. “One was catching
fish, another was fixing his net. And He
said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will
make you fishers of men, fishers of
human souls.’ They became his evan-
gelists, his students.
“This was very important at a time
when world religions were developing
... but it is no less current now, when we
must defend our traditional values, our
culture, our traditions and our history.
This is very important for the future of
the country.”
The return of religion to Russian
India, have fun balancing on a swing at a fair before the Vaisakhi festival, which celebrates the founding of the Sikh faith politics and Putin’s apparently sacred
role in upholding the country’s tradi-
tions mirrors the deification of the Tsar
before the February Revolution of 1917.
At the meeting last week Putin insist-
ed he did not want to share a solely
Christian message and referenced the
four “traditional religions” of Russia:
Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and
Judaism. But in a country where 70 per
cent of Russians identify themselves as
Orthodox, Christianity has enjoyed a
privileged role and has been co-opted
into justifying the war in Ukraine.
Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Rus-
sian Orthodox Church, has said that
Russian troops who die in Ukraine are
absolved of sin, in effect anointing the
war as a holy crusade.
In the run-up to Orthodox Easter on
May 5, the Moscow patriarchate, which
is closely aligned to Putin, has heaped
further blessings on what it describes as
a struggle for “national liberation in ...
southwestern Russia”. At a meeting in
Moscow at the end of last month the
patriarchate officially called the special
military operation a “svyashchennaya
voyna” or holy war.
The patriarchate also identified the
continuing decline of the Russian pop-
ulation as one of the gravest dangers
facing the nation. Putin has declared
2024 the Year of the Family, encourag-
ing Russians to have more children by
offering subsidised mortgages and im-
proved maternity leave, and telling
women they must have at least two
babies to “preserve our ethnic group”.
At the same time LGBT groups were
banned as extremist organisations.
Putin’s attempts to shape the values
and worldviews of Russia’s youth
appears to be working, polling suggests.
Although independent polling in
Russia is difficult, a survey by the Chi-
cago Council on Global Affairs and the
Levada Centre, a Russian independent
polling organisation, of those aged 18 to
34 found that young Russians were
overwhelmingly patriotic.
They were also found to be apathetic
about engaging in democracy, with
only 30 per cent having voted in an
election in the past two years. In total
82 per cent said they were very proud or
somewhat proud of being Russian.

Scholz tiptoes on to TikTok to find his satchel is a bigger star

Germany
David Crossland Berlin
Khaby Lame is a Senegalese-born
Italian influencer who genially gesticu-
lates his way through videos on TikTok.
“If u wanna laugh u r in the right place,”
the 23-year-old informs his followers,
all 161.4 million of them.
Olaf Scholz is the chancellor of Ger-
many, an inscrutable technocrat with a
reputation for unflashy competence. If
the 65-year-old’s new followers on Tik-
Tok are expecting laughs, however,
they r in the wrong place.
The latest in a growing number of
world leaders, including presidents Bid-
en and Macron, courting younger votes
on the Chinese-owned site, Scholz,
with 36,000 followers and counting,
has a long way to go before he challen-
ges Lame for the crown of the world’s
most watched TikTok star.
The move illustrates how Berlin has
overcome its misgivings about a pres-
ence on the platform and launched the
channel @teambundeskanzler before
the European election in June. It also
wants to challenge the dominance of
the hard-right Alternative for Ger-
many (AfD) among German political
parties on TikTok.
Steffen Hebestreit, Scholz’s spokes-
man, said the channel would give in-
sights into Scholz’s work and govern-
ment policy, and space for comments,
questions and suggestions.
Those suggestions have been coming
in thick and fast. In addition to de-
mands that he break his no-dance pro-
mise, he is being called on to cap the
price of doner kebabs.
Special security precautions had
been taken to prevent eavesdropping,
Scholz’s officials said. Devices without
access to internal government data are
being used to operate the channel.
The German government had
ruled out a TikTok presence
for Scholz until recently but
said it changed its mind
because it wanted to
provide users with reli-
able and relevant infor-
mation in the fight
against foreign mani-
pulation and disinfor-
mation. “It’s a bit of an ex-
periment,” Hebestreit said.
The star of the show may
TikTok mocked Scholz’s
office as “dull”. His satchel
made several appearances
prove to be the black
leather satchel Scholz
carries around. His first
video gives more time to
the satchel’s two polished
silver buckles than Scholz,
showing it reclining on a sofa
before the camera pans to the chancel-
lor behind his desk.
Another zooms in on the satchel as it
travels on planes and in cars to press
conferences accompanied by Scholz.
“Sometimes separated, but always to-
gether at heart,” reads the caption.
Scholz and his satchels have history,
his bag becoming the closest thing the
chancellor has to a trademark. Last
year two German museums were re-
ported to be competing to display his
old satchel, which for 40 years he
carried around containing briefing
notes, reading glasses and, often, a
book. “It’s practical. You can fit a lot in
it,” Scholz once said.
The new TikTok account, however,
suggests he has replaced the old bag
with a younger model.
28
World
Band faces the music for complaining president’s speech was too long
Uganda
Jane Flanagan Africa Correspondent
Lengthy speeches at golden wedding
anniversaries are no rarity, but not
many couples will have an autocratic
leader boring their guests for hours
with traditional folklore.
During his nearly four decades in
power, the speeches of President Muse-
veni of Uganda have become longer
and longer. His tribute at the annivers-
Spanish steps Lilla Harvey and the Australian Ballet in rehearsals for Johan Inger’s dance version of Bizet’s Carmen at Sydney Opera House, which opens today
US parents jailed for failing
to stop son’s school shooting
United States
Andrea Blanco New York
The parents of a teenager who killed
four classmates in a Michigan school
shooting have been sentenced to at
least a decade in prison for failing to
stop him.
In the first prosecution of its kind,
Jennifer and James Crumbley were
held criminally responsible for the
crimes of 15-year-old Ethan at Oxford
High School in November 2021.
Four pupils — Madisyn Baldwin and
Justin Shilling, both 17, Tate Myre, 16,
and Hana St Juliana, 14 — were killed.
Six pupils and a teacher were injured.
Juries found that the Crumbleys had
ignored their son’s pleas for mental
health help and had bought him the
gun he used to kill his classmates.
The couple, now estranged, had sep-
arate trials but appeared in court yes-
terday for a joint sentencing hearing.
ary celebration of Amama Mbabazi, the
former prime minister, and his wife,
Jacqueline, on Saturday night was no
exception. But by 11pm, the paid enter-
tainment had had enough.
“We are tired, leave the microphone,”
members of Crane Performers mut-
tered between themselves, or words to
that effect, perhaps not realising their
own microphones were still live.
“Immediately, security rounded up
Crane Performers as suspects who had
They were each given ten to 15 years in
prison, matching the term sought by
the state. Prosecutors had argued that
the parents showed a “chilling lack of
remorse”.
Jennifer, 46, was the first of the pair to
stand trial, in February, and her defence
team had asked the judge to sentence
her to house arrest. Her lawyer, Shan-
non Smith, told the court that she
would be willing to have Jennifer to stay
at her property to serve the sentence.
A lawyer for James, 47, who stood
trial in March, argued that the two and
a half years his client had spent in jail
was a sufficient punishment. Ethan
entered a guilty plea as an adult in
December and is serving life in prison
without the possibility of parole.
The mother of Madisyn Baldwin
spoke at the sentencing hearing and de-
nounced the couple as “failed parents”.
“You’ve shown no remorse or respect
to our family,” Nicole Beausoliel said
insulted the president,” sources at the
party said. Eight members of the group,
including its manager, were taken to
the central police station in the capital,
Kampala, where they were held over-
night before being charged with insult-
ing the president.
Most of the members of the band,
named after Uganda’s national bird, the
crested crane, have never known any
other leader but Museveni who has
used violence and election-rigging to
James and
Jennifer Crumbley
in court. Their son,
Ethan, is serving
life in jail without
parole
through tears. The mother of Justin
Shilling condemned the Crumbleys for
not “cherishing or even wanting your
son”. “But I cherished and wanted
mine,” she added.
In their respective trials, prosecutors
hold on to power since 1986. The group,
who use costumes in their shows, de-
scribe themselves as “talented youths
with an objective of achieving educa-
tion and a better future through the use
of their talents in performing arts”.
Museveni, 79, who leads a population
with an average age of 16 while being
one of Africa’s oldest leaders, has dem-
onstrated a growing intolerance of crit-
icism. Recent legislation curbed what
he called hate speech, with critics say-
convinced the jury that the Crumbleys
were negligent. The state argued that
the parents knew Ethan’s mental health
was spiralling out of control but did not
take steps to help him.
In a text that Ethan sent to a friend
months before the shooting, he wrote:
“… I hear people talking to me, and see
someone in the distance … I actually
asked my dad to take me to the doctor
yesterday, but he just gave me some pills
and told me to suck it up … My mom
laughed when I told her.”
An excerpt from his journal read: “I
have zero help for my mental problems
and it’s causing me to shoot up the …
school.” The couple were called to the
school on the day of the shooting after
a teacher spotted Ethan drawing a gun.
They were advised to take him home,
but did not. They did not mention that
his father had bought a 9mm semi-au-
tomatic handgun for Ethan, nor did
they check his backpack.
Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
ing it would further squash free speech
and cripple electronic commerce.
Penalties range from custodial sen-
tences of up to ten years to steep cash
fines. Last year Museveni signed anti-
homosexuality laws, considered some
of the world’s strongest, with penalties
of up to life in prison and capital punish-
ment in “aggravated” cases. In the face
of international criticism, Museveni
praised MPs for passing the bill and re-
jecting “pressure from the imperialists”.
Eco activists
win human
rights fight
over climate
Switzerland
Adam Vaughan Environment Editor
A group of 2,000 women have won a
climate change case against Switzer-
land at the European Court of Human
Rights, in a ruling hailed as “monumen-
tal” by experts.
The court agreed with the Klima-
Seniorinnen, or Senior Women for
Climate Protection, that the Swiss gov-
ernment’s failures on tackling carbon
emissions had breached the author-
ities’ duty to protect citizens from the
“serious adverse effects” of a rapidly
warming world.
It is the first time the court has ruled
on climate change. But while the Swiss
campaigners were successful, climate
cases brought by young Portuguese
people were rejected.
Joana Setzer, an expert on environ-
mental litigation around the world and
an associate professor at the London
School of Economics, said the ruling
was a landmark. “The significance of
the victory in the KlimaSeniorinnen
case is monumental,” she said.
Climate campaigners have turned to
the courts in the last decade to push
governments to act faster on reining in
the emissions causing global warming.
Last week Shell was in an appeals court
in the Netherlands fighting a lower
court’s 2021 ruling that it must improve
its carbon targets.
In the KlimaSeniorinnen case, the
campaigners won under article 8 of the
European Convention on Human
Rights, which the court found covers
governments’ duty to protect people
from the impact of climate change.
The court ruled that Switzerland had
“critical gaps” in its plans for cutting
national greenhouse gas emissions and
noted that the country had failed to
meet previous emissions goals. “The
Swiss authorities had not acted in time
and in an appropriate way to devise and
implement the relevant legislation,” the
court said in its judgment.
“The first ruling by an international
human rights court on the inadequacy
of states’ climate action leaves no
doubt: the climate crisis is a human
rights crisis,” said Joie Chowdhury,
senior attorney at the Centre for Inter-
national Environmental Law, a non-
profit group. Greta Thunberg joined
the KlimaSeniorinnen campaigners in
celebrating at the court in Strasbourg.
However, the court dismissed a case
brought against Portugal and other
countries for inadequate action on cli-
mate change. It said the case was inad-
missible, partly because the group —
comprising campaigners aged 11 to 24
— had not brought their case to a court
in Portugal first. “We didn’t break the
wall but we’ve made a huge crack,” said
Catarina dos Santos Mota, one of the
Portuguese applicants.
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
Crowning
moment for
Miss France,
the museum
France
David Chazan
It’s a big year for traditional beauty
standards: the Design Museum an-
nounced an exhibition on Barbie, and
now France has devoted a museum to
the Miss France beauty pageant.
The competition is regarded as a
national institution and has remained
one of the most popular annual events
on French television, despite accusa-
tions of sexism stretching back decades.
The Miss France museum will open
in an elegant belle époque villa in the
Riviera resort of St-Raphaël next year.
Once the holiday retreat of Lord
Rendel, a British industrialist and Lib-
eral politician, the 19th-century villa is
now owned by the town of St-Raphaël.
The local authority has spent €1.5 mil-
lion on refurbishment, and entrance
will cost €5 to €7, according to Frédéric
Masquelier, the mayor.
The exhibition will include more
than 100 costumes worn by contest-
ants, winners’ crowns, shoes, paintings,
photographs and footage of highlights
from the pageant.
Frédéric Gilbert, president of the
Miss France Society, rejected sugges-
tions that a beauty contest was not a fit
subject for a museum. “Miss France has
existed for more than a century, and
there is a real history to recount,” he
said. “We are always one of the two
most popular programmes on televi-
sion, reaching an audience of seven to
nine million each year. That is compa-
rable to a football match when the
national team is playing.
“It unites the generations, as families
watch it together and discuss who
should win,” Gilbert added. “A lot of
A rosé future as red wine grape growers resort to making whites
David Chazan Paris
It is not quite as miraculous as turning
water into wine, but Bordeaux’s
vintners have mastered a less ambitious
challenge: turning red wine grapes into
white wine.
It is the region’s latest response to
plummeting demand for the robust,
tannic clarets for which it is famous.
Rising summer temperatures and a
preference for lighter food are boosting
demand for white and rosé wines. The
trend is prompting claret producers to
break with tradition by using grape
varieties such as cabernet sauvignon
and merlot to make whites instead of
reds. The grape skins and seeds are dis-
carded before the juice is fermented to
make white wines. For red wines the
skins and seeds are left with the juice
during fermentation.
White wines made with red wine
grapes are known as “blancs de noirs”
— whites from black grapes. The
method is new to Bordeaux but has
been used for centuries in Champagne.
29
World
viewers are very young, and the winner
is chosen partly by members of the
public. The contestants represent
the different parts of France, so it’s
also about regional rivalries, a bit
like supporting your local foot-
ball team.”
The contestants wear a
sash indicating the region
they come from. “French
people love arguing about
which part of the country
has the best food, the best
wine, the best beer, and
Miss France is an opportu-
nity to express regional
pride and support their
local contestant,” Gilbert
said. “It’s good-natured,
but television viewers get
involved and pretty pas-
sionate about it.”
The contest has also
prompted conversa-
tions about race as its
winners become in- Eve Gilles, above, is Miss France 2024. Diana Leyre won in 2022; Raymonde Allain in the 1920s
creasingly diverse,
with the first black of the the first Miss France with a “gamine” took more than 200 hours to make,
Miss France contest- short hairstyle, instead of the usual long would “showcase French know-how
crowned in ants is tresses, provoked an outcry on social and fashion”.
1993. different media last year. After her victory in Last year the jury, which accounts for
In the UK and now,” he December, Eve Gilles, 20, said she was half the votes to choose the winner, was
many other Euro- said. “Former not just a haircut. made up exclusively of women for the
pean countries the popu- Miss Frances are ac- “I am human: inevitably criticism af- third time since 2019. The remaining
larity of beauty contests has tresses, TV presenters, even fects and hurts me. My body is the way votes are cast by members of the public
plummeted. Even Miss World is no doctors. it is. Whether I like it or not, that’s how who phone in.
longer shown on a main British chan- “It’s not a reality show where I am. If people don’t like it, they don’t The victory of Gilles was controver-
nel. Feminist groups have long argued people are fighting all the time. It like me, and that’s it,” she told the sial not only because of her short hair
that Miss France should be scrapped has values and it is about respect.” French broadcaster TF1. but also because she was placed first by
because it reflects outdated attitudes, Most contestants are students or Miss France was first held in 1920 the jury but third in the public vote, be-
but Gilbert argued that it had survived graduates, and they must be good and, according to Gilbert, still repre- hind contestants representing French
by adapting. “Miss France has always public speakers. They still parade in sents “the elegance and the charisma” Guiana, an overseas region on the coast
been under attack, even back in the swimwear, however, and are judged of the French woman. He said that ex- of South America, and Guadeloupe, a
1970s and 1980s, but the profile mainly on their looks. The choice of hibiting the costumes, some of which département in the Caribbean.
“I’ve made our first blanc de noirs,” tastes and patterns of consumption.” sufficient demand for the new types of “These are slightly tannic, well-
said Pierre Cazeneuve of Chatêau Other Bordeaux producers embrac- Bordeaux wine, given the variety of structured wines with depth and com-
Paloumey, which normally produces ing the trend include Château Carme- whites already produced in the Loire, plexity, which makes them interesting,”
Haut-Médoc, a claret. “It’s a blend of nère and the Meyre vineyards. In the Burgundy and other French regions. Gwilherm de Cerval, a wine critic and
65 per cent cabernet sauvignon and Loire Valley, the Amirault family pro- Some experts, however, think the Bor- former sommelier, said. “Champagne
35 per cent merlot grapes from our 2023 duces a blanc de noirs from cabernet deaux whites will attract drinkers with producers do this with pinot noir. I don’t
harvest. We’re responding to changing franc grapes. Critics doubt there will be their different aromas and flavours. see why other regions shouldn’t.”
The claret industry has been in
crisis since the pandemic, with
Clutching at straws is not the answer Bordeaux’s winemakers producing
more red wine than they can sell.
Many have been ripping up their
white wine out of the prove to be a short-term What is a mystery to vines or handing over unsold wine
Jane MacQuitty region’s red grapes. “success of curiosity”, discerning wine drinkers to be distilled into industrial
Comment So far this Bordeaux rather than a long-term and commentators is alcohol for use in cosmetics or
blanc de noirs movement, source of sales. why Bordeaux’s wine medicine in return for govern-
usually made with However, he did feel producers don’t spend ment compensation. Last year
Beleaguered Bordeaux herbaceous, tannic that Bordeaux’s blancs de more time and effort on the French government said it
merchants and proprietors cabernet sauvignon noirs would be much more sprucing up and would set aside €200 million
are clutching at straws to grapes, has met with palatable than Argentina’s expanding the region’s to fund the destruction of sur-
try to drum up trade for limited enthusiasm. bitter, coarse white promising champagne- plus wine.
their increasingly One leading Bordeaux malbecs. method crémant de “The demand for Bordeaux
unfashionable bottles. château owner involved in The blanc de noirs Bordeaux sparkling reds is mainly at the bottom
The latest wheeze, this marketing exercise, scheme follows the bizarre wines, or making a and the top of the market,” de
adopted by as many as 12 who does not want to be Bordelais attempt to better fist of their Cerval said. “Where Bordeaux
château owners, is to named, felt the blanc de produce zero-alcohol rosés, both popular is struggling is with mid-range
make a more modish noirs campaign would château-bottled claret. wine styles. wines costing €20 to €30.”
30 Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times

World
A Donald Trump silhouette
Trump ad eclipses the sun in a
campaign video released
leaves solar on his Truth Social
platform on Sunday
eclipse in Republican candidate
the shade then eclipses the sun,
and the words “We will

S
tanley Kubrick’s save America and make
epic 2001: A it great again” appear. A
Space Odyssey compilation of American
was lauded for its faces follows before the
special effects ad fades out to chants of
and memorable music, “USA, USA”.
but the latest homage to In 2017 a viral image
the 1968 film might have showed Trump watching
the director turning in an eclipse from a White
his grave (Seren Hughes House balcony without
writes). protective eyewear. On
Donald Trump has Monday, President
posted a campaign video Biden shared a video of
set to the film’s theme himself in protective
tune, Strauss’s Also eyewear on the same
Sprach Zarathustra, balcony.
with special effects that His voiceover said:
seem almost comically “Folks, enjoy the eclipse,
amateurish. Starting but play it safe — don’t
with footage of people be silly.”
viewing Monday’s solar Hillary Clinton was
eclipse, the ad states: more direct, resharing a
“The most important post from 2020 saying:
moment in human “Please do not take
history is taking place in medical advice from a
2024.” A stylised man who looked directly
silhouette of the at a solar eclipse.”

Times
EIGHT DAYS FROM

£2,509* Books written off for entire

generation in banning spree
per person
readers save
£150 with code
TIMES150 on
any Exodus
Premium
trip^
United States Clayton County, said a state law
Shelved authors passed in 2022 imposing a fine of up
Will Pavia New York
The number of titles targeted for to $2,000 or up to a year in prison for
Two years after Maia Kobabe pub- censorship in the US surged in 2023 giving “explicit sexual material” to
lished a graphic novel called Gender 4,240
students had caused him to reconsid-
Queer, about an adolescent journey 4,000 er keeping the graphic novel.
of self-discovery, the author received “There’s a depiction of a rape scene,
word that protests had broken out at 3,000 a handmaid being forced into a
a public meeting in northern Virginia 2,000 sexual act,” he told the Associated
where officials decided to remove it Press. “It’s literally one panel of the
Portugal: Walking & Wine from school libraries.
It was later reinstated, but the row
in Fairfax County was only the begin-
1,000

PREMIUM ADVENTURE ning of a story in which Gender
2000 05
Queer was at the centre of fights over
Departures | April 2024 to October 2025 children’s books that have erupted in
school board meetings, statehouses
and courts all over the US.
Take a deep-dive into the premier Price Includes For the third year in a row Kobabe’s
graphic novel was the most frequent
wine region of Portugal, the Return flights from London target of efforts to remove books
Unesco-listed Douro Valley
from libraries, schools and universi-
All breakfasts, two ties last year, according to a report by
ortugal has been making wine for
0
graphic novel, but we felt it was in vio-
lation of the law in Missouri.”
Similar bills have been proposed in
10 15 20
more than a dozen states, making
Source: American Library Association
librarians, long protected from legal
action, targets for prosecution.
Maia Kobabe,
whose Gender Moms For Liberty, an influential
Queer has drawn group in conservative circles, has
protests, as has been at the forefront of efforts to
challenge some books. According to
an edition of The
its website, the group reviews books
Handmaid’s Tale
for “objectionable content, including
profanity, nudity and sexual content”

P centuries, with some estimates placing the

first planting of vines as far back as 2000
BCE. The Basto and Douro regions are perhaps
lunches, three dinners and
three wine tastings
All premium
accommodation
the American Library Association.
The organisation said the number of
books targeted rose from 2,571 in
2022 to 4,240 last year.
lish writer Juno Dawson. Nearly half
the challenged books deal with gen-
der, sexuality and race but others
were targeted “simply because they
so that parents “can make informed
decisions”.
A report by the Heritage Founda-
tion titled Project 2025, which aims to
the best known and offer rich landscapes and Most of these “challenges” sought touch on sex”, Caldwell-Stone said. offer a blueprint for a second Donald
fascinating history to discerning visitors. Tipping for all hotel staff, to remove several titles from collec- The Bluest Eye, by the Nobel laure- Trump presidency, argues that books
local staff and drivers tions, many “using lists of titles draft- ate Toni Morrison, was sixth on the that propagate “transgender ideolo-
Led by one of our expert guides, Lina Ferreira
or Ana Carla Moura Parente da Costa, immerse Named tour leader, chosen ed by organised pressure groups list. The same concerns apparently gy and sexualisation of children”
yourself in atmospheric Porto and indulge in a for their expertise seeking to empty library shelves of all drove education officials in Clayton, have no claim to First Amendment
voyage of taste and discovery through the books they deem inappropriate for Missouri, to remove an illustrated protections. “The people who pro-
All transport and listed young readers”, Deborah Caldwell- edition of Margaret Atwood’s dysto- duce and distribute it should be im-
verdant Douro Valley, where port wines are activities Stone, director of the association’s pian novel The Handmaid’s Tale. prisoned,” it says. “Educators and
produced. Venture into the region known as office for intellectual freedom, wrote. Tom Bober, head of the Missouri public librarians who purvey it
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available Queer for readers in high school co-ordinator of district libraries for fenders.”
hotels including properties in the heart of the and above but added, in an article But some groups champion-
Douro Valley, which have exceptional views. in The Washington Post in 2021, ing free-speech protections for
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authentic cultural visits provide a memorable marily wrote it for were my own of seeking to stop the circulation
introduction to this lush, captivating country, parents and extended family. of books by conservative auth-
once a dominant trading power in the world. When I was first coming out as ors. In 2021 the American Book-
CALL TODAY ON nonbinary, I kept getting respons- sellers Association issued an
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the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
world markets (Change on the day)
FTSE 100
7,934.79 (+8.68)
8,500
8,000
7,500
7,000
Mar 8 15 22 Apr 2 9 Mar 11 18
Next and Frasers Group target collapsed Ted Baker business
Isabella Fish Retail Editor
Retail groups led by two of the sector’s
biggest hitters have expressed an
interest in purchasing Ted Baker’s
stricken European retail business.
Frasers Group, headed by Mike Ash-
ley, and Next, led by Lord Wolfson of
Aspley Guise, have contacted adminis-
trators at Teneo Advisory to explore a
sale of all or parts of the collapsed busi-
ness. No Ordinary Designer Label, the
HSBC quits
Argentina
to cut losses
Bank agrees sale to escape ‘earnings volatility’
Ben Martin Banking Editor
HSBC is braced for a billion-dollar hit
after striking a deal to sell its business in
Argentina and quit the hyperinflation-
riven country.
The FTSE 100 bank said that Grupo
Financiero Galicia, based in Buenos
Aires, had agreed to buy the division,
which boasts more than 100 branches
and has about 3,100 employees, for
$550 million.
The deal with Argentina’s fifth
largest bank is likely to result in HSBC
suffering a $1 billion pre-tax loss in its
first-quarter results this month,
although this could change and will be
known only once the sale has been
finalised, which is expected within the
next 12 months.
It also will lead to the Asia-focused
lender taking about $4.9 billion in his-
torical foreign exchange reserve losses
that have built up over a period of years
and increased by $1.8 billion last year
alone, owing to the recent sharp deval-
uation of the Argentinian peso against
the US dollar. While these currency
translation losses have been reflected
already in HSBC’s capital position, they
lay bare the scale of the volatility that
the bank has faced in Argentina.
The populist Javier Milei was elected
as the country’s president last year and
he has devalued the peso by more than
50 per cent as part of a package of
measures intended to quell an econ-
omic crisis. Inflation in Argentina has
soared in recent years, with the annual
rate hitting 276.2 per cent in February.
The slump in the peso erased
$548 million from HSBC’s pre-tax
commodities
Dow Jones Gold
38,883.67 (-9.13) $2,347.14 (+17.45)
42,500
40,000
37,500
35,000
25 Apr 2 9 Mar 11 18
fashion brand’s retail and ecommerce
business in Britain and Europe, was
placed into administration last month.
PDS Group, the designer, supplier
and wholesaler operator for Ted Baker
in Britain and on the Continent, and
OSL, the operating partner for the
retailer’s operations in North America,
were not affected by the decision to
appoint administrators.
Ted Baker employed about 975
people and ran 46 British and European
profits in the final quarter of 2023, an
outsized hit for a business that is small
in the context of the wider group.
Noel Quinn, HSBC’s chief executive,
said: “HSBC Argentina is largely a
domestically focused business, with
limited connectivity to the rest of our
international network. Furthermore,
given its size, it also generates substan-
tial earnings volatility for the group
when its results are translated into US
dollars. Galicia is better placed to invest
in and grow the business.”
HSBC shares closed up ¼p at 644¾p.
The sale is the latest in a series of dis-
posals agreed by Quinn, 62, as he seeks
to streamline HSBC and tilt the lender
further towards Asia, where the bank
has its roots. The London-based lender
was founded 159 years ago in Hong
Kong, which remains its single biggest
market, and has extensive operations
across China and Asia more broadly,
where it makes most of its money.
Quinn has allocated further capital
to Asia since taking charge of HSBC in
2019 to harness the tailwinds of fast
economic growth in the region. This
has involved selling non-core business-
es elsewhere, including the bank’s retail
operations in France and the United
States and its Canadian division.
Efforts to streamline the group also
have helped Quinn to counter criticism
that HSBC has faced from Ping An, the
Chinese insurer that is its biggest share-
holder. It emerged two years ago that
Ping An wanted Quinn to split the bank
in two by spinning off its Asia business,
an idea that the bank’s board vehe-
mently opposed.
Brent crude (6pm)
$ $89.35 (-0.74)
2,400
2,200
2,000
1,800
2 Apr 2 9 Mar 11 18 25
shops when it fell into administration,
as well as a website and department
store concessions. The administrators
have said that 11 UK shops will close by
April 19, resulting in the loss of about
120 jobs.
However, sources said that some
shops could be saved under a deal with
Frasers or Next, both of which are
understood to want to keep some of
them. It is understood that they have
less than six weeks to submit a bid.
Face to face The King was presented with the first banknotes to feature his portrait by Andrew Bailey, governor of the
Bank of England, and Sarah John, the Bank’s chief cashier, at Buckingham Palace. The notes will go into circulation in June
Lynch loses right to Darktrace board seat
Richard Fletcher Business Editor
Mike Lynch, the business tycoon facing
fraud charges in the United States, has
lost the right to appoint a director to the
board of Darktrace, ending his formal
relationship with the FTSE 250 techno-
logy group and removing a drag on its
share price.
The right to appoint a non-executive
director was granted to three Darktrace
investors holding more than 10 per cent
of the share capital at the time of the
flotation in 2021, including Invoke
Capital, the investment fund founded
by Lynch, 58.
In December, Darktrace investors
pushed back against Lynch’s continued
involvement in the business, with
56 per cent of shareholders voting
against the election of Patrick Jacob,
Business
currencies
£/$
$ $1.2672 (+0.0020)
120
100
80
60
Apr 2 9 Mar 11 16 25 Apr 2
Next and Frasers, which owns Flan-
nels, Sports Direct and House of Fraser,
have become two of the most prolific
buyers of distressed retail businesses in
recent years. Next is already the licens-
ing partner for Ted Baker children’s
wear, lingerie and nightwear.
Next has invested in Sealskinz, an
outdoor clothing brand majority-
owned by Ray Kelvin, the founder and
former chief executive of Ted Baker.
The group has been struggling since the
Invoke’s appointed representative, to
the company’s board. “Mike Lynch’s
trial in the US creates unhelpful head-
line risk for Darktrace, which we view
as unwarranted, so any move to dis-
tance Darktrace from these headlines is
a positive in our eyes,” one institutional
investor argued at the time. “We do not
believe granting a board seat to Invoke
is conducive to helping Darktrace to de-
velop and mature as a global business.”
Invoke had been expected to put for-
ward another representative to fill the
seat in Jacob’s place, but an analysis of
the Darktrace shareholder register re-
veals that the Invoke holding has fallen
below the 10 per cent level.
The Invoke holding was made up of 11
individual shareholders at the time of
the flotation, although the vast major-
ity of the holdings were held by five
31
£/€
$ €1.1674 (+0.0015) ¤
1.400 1.300
1.300 1.200
1.200 1.100
1.100 1.000
9 Mar 11 16 25 Apr 2 9
fallout from the exit of Ray Kelvin, 68,
its founder, who stepped down in 2019
amid allegations of “forced hugging”.
He strongly denied the claims.
In 2022 the retailer, which was listed
at the time, was bought for £211 million
by Authentic Brands, the American
group that owns Forever 21 and Ree-
bok. Under the agreement, Ted Baker
became a privately owned company.
Next and Frasers Group were
contacted for comment.
connected shareholders: Sushovan
Hussain, Peter Menell and Vanessa Co-
lomar, alongside Lynch and his wife
Angela Bacares. Combined, the group
owned a 21 per cent stake.
Shares in Darktrace, which uses ma-
chine learning to detect cyberattacks,
have underperformed despite a num-
ber of profit upgrades. They fell 6¼p, or
1.4 per cent, to close at 434½p.
Lynch is facing 16 felony charges of
fraud and conspiracy in the US. His
trial, which began last month, is expect-
ed to run until late May or June. The
prosecution claims that Lynch oversaw
a “multi-year, multi-layered fraud” that
led Hewlett-Packard to pay $11 billion
for Autonomy, his software company.
Lynch denies the claims.
Darktrace and a spokesman for
Lynch refused to comment.
32
Business
Need to know
1
Alan Bates labelled former Post
Office executives as “little
more than thugs in suits” as he
called on the government to sell
the company. The campaigner for
subpostmasters, who gave up work
to fight for justice over two
decades, told a public inquiry that
bosses during the 2010s had
conducted a “cover-up”.
HSBC is braced for a billion-
2 dollar hit after a deal to sell its
business in Argentina. Grupo
Financiero Galicia has agreed to
buy the division, which has more
than 100 branches, for
$550 million. HSBC is likely to
take a $1 billion pre-tax loss in the
first quarter as a result
Two retail groups have
3 expressed an interest in
purchasing Ted Baker’s
stricken European retail business.
Frasers Group, headed by Mike
Ashley, and Next, led by Lord
Wolfson of Aspley Guise, have
contacted administrators.
Mike Lynch, the business
4 tycoon facing fraud charges
in the United States, has lost
the right to appoint a director to
the board of Darktrace, ending his
formal relationship with the
FTSE 250 technology group and
removing a drag on its share price.
The gap in stock market
5
valuations between European
and American oil companies
is “a major issue” that makes them
more likely to consider switching
listings to New York, a former boss
of Shell has said. Ben van Beurden
cited deeper pools of capital in the
US and “more positive” attitudes
towards conventional energy.
A lithium miner listed on
6 London’s junior stock market
has suspended its chief
executive on suspicion of using
nine million shares in the
company as collateral for a
personal loan. CleanTech Lithium
is investigating Aldo Boitano.
Boeing has missed analysts’
7 targets for production and has
fallen further behind Airbus,
its European rival, amid its
continuing problems with the 737
Max. The US aerospace group
delivered only 29 commercial
aircraft in March.
Revenue at Times Media, the
8 publisher of The Times and
The Sunday Times, rose to
£386 million in 2023, up from
£373 million, as the group added
58,000 digital subscribers. Pre-tax
profit slipped to £60.9 million from
£73.2 million.
The chief executive of
9 AstraZeneca is “massively
underpaid” and merits an
increase on last year’s £16.9 million
package, one of the
pharmaceuticals group’s largest
shareholders said. Rajiv Jain, the
chief investment officer of GQG
Partners, was speaking before the
FTSE 100 company’s annual
shareholder meeting.
10 The Barclay family’s Very
Group has been dealt a
fresh blow with the
departure of its chief executive.
The exit of Lionel Desclée, 44, a
former Walmart boss, after 19
months comes soon after the
chairman stepped down.
HSBC is shedding
no tears about exit
from Argentina
Ben Martin Banking Editor
Twenty-two years ago HSBC’s opera-
tions sprawled to such an extent that
it could credibly claim in its adver-
tising to be “the world’s local
bank”. Those days are long gone.
Yesterday the lender unveiled
a plan to offload its business in
Argentina, the latest in a string
of deals under Noel Quinn, its
boss, that have fully or partially
withdrawn it from countries
including Canada, New Zealand,
Greece, France and Oman, as
well as from mass-market retail
banking in the United States.
The aim has been to boost HSBC’s
once-flagging stock market returns by
refocusing the lender even further on
Asia, which was where the bank was
founded. Yet it also has meant a paring
back of HSBC’s formerly lofty global
ambitions.
Under Quinn, 62, there has been a
focus on HSBC’s role as a bridge for
money and trade flows between the
East, particularly China, and the West.
The mainly inward-facing nature of its
set-up in Argentina, where HSBC has
operated since 1997 and where it serves
about a million customers through
more than 100 branches, contribute
little to this.
“HSBC Argentina is largely a domes-
tically focused business, with limited
connectivity to the rest of our inter-
national network,” Quinn said as
HSBC announced the sale of the unit to
Grupo Financiero Galicia, Argentina’s
fifth biggest bank, for $550 million.
This has been compounded by the
economic turmoil gripping the South
American country, which has meant
HSBC’s Argentinian operations have
delivered a hit to the British bank’s
Shell’s ex-boss warns of switch to US BP on track
Emma Powell
The gap between stock market valua-
tions for European and American oil
companies is “a major issue” that makes
it more likely that they will consider
switching their listings to New York, the
former boss of Shell has said.
Ben van Beurden, who ran Shell until
2022, told the FT Commodities Global
Summit in Switzerland that deeper
pools of capital in the United States and
“more positive” attitudes towards con-
ventional energy companies made list-
ing in Europe less attractive.
Oil groups with listings in New York
also were lifted by higher valuations
throughout the Wall Street markets, he
said. “All these factors conspire against
the people listed in Europe,” he said,
adding that Shell was “massively
undervalued”.
Van Beurden, 65, said that Shell’s
board had considered switching the
group’s primary listing away from
Europe at the time of the relocation of
its global headquarters from the Hague
in the Netherlands to London in 2022,
but a listing in New York had been
viewed as “a bridge too far”.
“Of course we looked at all sorts of
HSBC has been negatively affected by
the economic turmoil that has gripped
Argentina, with the new populist
Javier Milei president devaluing the
peso by more than 50 per cent
results that far outstripped the unit’s
relevance to the wider group.
HSBC took City analysts by surprise
in February when it revealed that
hyperinflation in Argentina and the
sharp devaluation of the peso had
knocked $548 million from its fourth-
quarter pre-tax profits last year. This
tarnished the lender’s annual profits,
which reached a record $30.3 billion in
2023 but were lower than investors and
analysts had expected.
Selling the business in Argentina will
result in HSBC recognising about
$4.9 billion in historical foreign curren-
cy translation reserve losses associated
with the unit that have built up over
time, as well as the bank booking a
The US was “more positive” towards
energy groups, Ben van Beurden said
options,” he said. “We thought that
going to the UK was the most logical
next step. Was it going to be the end
game? You always have to reconsider
what other options are there.”
His warning came a day after Wael
Sawan, the company’s present boss, re-
iterated that he was open to moving
Shell’s primary listing away from
London if the valuation gap compared
V2 Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
Banking on sell-offs
$1 billion loss on the sale. Quinn said
that “given its size”, the Argentinian
unit “generates substantial earnings
volatility for the group when its re-
sults are translated into US dollars”.
While many City analysts
welcomed the deal and agreed
with the rationale, those at Keefe
Bruyette & Woods, a broker, said
that “it does feel somewhat dis-
appointing that, as a global
business, HSBC is unwilling to
look through idiosyncratic
volatilities”. Share price
Yet the gaze of Quinn, who took
charge of the lender in 2019, and
other senior bosses is elsewhere.
Founded in Hong Kong in 1865, the
now London-based bank continues to
make most of its money in Asia and
pivoting the group even further
towards the fast-growing economies of Feb 18, 2020
this region is central to Quinn’s Noel Quinn sets out
strategy. plan to accelerate
In February 2020, he set out a three-
HSBC’s pivot to Asia
year cost-cutting plan to free up
$100 billion of risk-weighted assets to
be reinvested in higher-returning
businesses in Asia and the Middle East.
This initiative accelerated a reshaping
of the group that had been under way
ever since 2011, when Stuart Gulliver, 2020
one of Quinn’s predecessors as chief
executive, took charge of the bank.
It was under Gulliver that HSBC on Ping An, the Chinese insurer that is
began to retreat from its pre-financial HSBC’s biggest shareholder. It
crisis global ambitions. The lender
began to phase out “the world’s largest
bank” slogan in 2012 and withdrew
emerged in 2022 that Ping An wanted
HSBC to break itself up by spinning off
its Asian division into a separate com-
from a slew of Latin American busi- pany listed in Hong Kong. The insurer
nesses. The asset disposals pursued by believed that HSBC’s share price was
Quinn have further streamlined the being dragged down by rising political
group and have helped to assuage tensions between China and the West
festering shareholder frustrations and that splitting the group in two
about HSBC’s stock market returns. would unlock value for investors.
Investors’ unrest has centred mainly While Quinn and the HSBC board
with international rivals did not
narrow. Sawan, 49, who was appointed
for strong
to the top job at the start of last year, is
in the middle of what he has described
as a “sprint” to improve performance by
first quarter
simplifying the business and reducing
operating costs. Emma Powell
“If we work through the sprint and
we are doing what we are doing and we BP expects a “strong” first-quarter per-
still don’t see that the gap is closing, we formance from its trading business that
have to look at all options,” Sawan said buys and sells oil, alongside an
in an interview with Bloomberg.
Shell would require the consent of in-
vestors holding more than 75 per cent of
improved upstream production of oil,
gas and low-carbon energy.
The FTSE 100 group said in advance
its shares to switch its primary listing. of its first-quarter results, which will be
When a move to New York was con- released in May, that “the oil trading re-
sidered in 2022, the board did not think sult is expected to be strong following a
it would clear the 75 per cent sharehold- weak result in the fourth quarter”.
er approval rate required, given that However, it noted that oil and gas
more than 40 per cent of Shell’s share- prices had fallen during the first three
holders are based in the UK and months of this year, which would have
Europe. “So we didn’t think it was the an adverse effect of between $300 mil-
battle to go into,” Sawan said.
Shell is valued at a discount to
American peers such as Chevron and
ExxonMobil, with its shares trading at
eight times forward earnings, lower
lion and $600 million for its oil produc-
tion and operations business and
between $200 million and $400 million
for the gas and low-carbon operations.
The price of Brent crude, the inter-
than a multiple of 12 for the latter two national benchmark, averaged $83.16 a
companies. barrel in the first quarter, down from
Shares in Shell rose by 14½p, or 0.5 per $84.34 in the final three months of last
cent, to £28.28½ last night. year. However, oil prices have risen in
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
May 26, 2021
HSBC announces sale of
its US mass market retail
banking operations
Mar 14, 2022
Jun 18, 2021
Strikes deal to
Unveils disposal
offload its Greek
of its French retail
retail bank
banking arm
2021 2022
opposed the idea, some of the lender’s
numerous Hong Kong-based retail
investors backed the proposal and
forced a vote on it at the bank’s annual
meeting last year. Although the rebels
lost the vote after failing to secure
support for a break-up from HSBC’s
wider shareholder base, the affair has
galvanised Quinn, who in 2022 pledged
to bolster capital returns by the bank to
mollify unhappy investors.
This includes a 21 cents-a-share
recent weeks amid supply concerns and
fears of an escalation in the political
turmoil in the Middle East, and have
breached the $90 mark for the first time
since October.
During the final quarter of last year,
BP joined its oil major rivals in report-
ing profits that were comfortably ahead
of market expectations, despite oil and
gas prices receding from the highs re-
corded in the immediate aftermath of
the outbreak of war in Ukraine. Profits
last year declined to $13.8 billion, from a
record $27.7 billion in 2022.
The encouraging first quarter will
provide an early boost for Murray Au-
chincloss, who was appointed perma-
nently to the top job at BP in January, as
he seeks to rebuild investors’ confi-
dence after the abrupt resignation of
Bernard Looney last year.
Auchincloss, 53, has committed to
the same strategic direction pursued by
Looney, under whom he was finance
chief, which includes a greater embrace
of greener forms of energy than other
leading oil and gas companies. The
move has drawn criticism from Blue-
bell Capital, the activist investor that
previously was behind campaigns
against Glencore, the commodities
group, and Danone, the foods company.
The shares rose 6¾p, or 1.3 per cent,
to close at 516½p.
V2
Nov 30, 2022 Apr 9, 2023
Agrees $10.1 billion sale of Agrees deal to sell
its Canadian operations to Argentina business
800p
Royal Bank of Canada
700
600
500
Jun 13, 2023
Announces wind 400
down of its wealth
Nov 16, 2022
and personal 300
Reaches deal to exit
banking business
its Oman business
in New Zealand 200
100
0 streamlining the process of tax
2023 2024
Source: FactSet
special dividend, worth approximately Armenia and Mauritius, as well as from
$4 billion, that Quinn has said HSBC Russia after Moscow’s invasion of
aims to pay after the $10.1 billion sale of Ukraine. There has long been
its Canadian business to Royal Bank of speculation, too, that HSBC will sell its
Canada. The FTSE 100 lender is Mexican business, although Quinn
expected to confirm this bumper insisted yesterday that the bank was
payout alongside its first-quarter re- “committed” to the country.
sults on April 30. Analysts at JP Morgan, the power-
The global retreat by HSBC is also house American investment bank, said:
expected to continue in the coming “We continue to expect HSBC to exit
months. The group is in the midst of more sub-scale markets within its
withdrawing from operations in global footprint.”
Lithium miner suspends chief
amid share transfer inquiry
Emma Powell he transferred to the custodian account
had equated to a stake of 6.5 per cent.
A lithium miner listed on London’s “The granting of security and sub-
junior stock market has suspended its sequent transfers of ordinary shares are
chief executive after he was found to considered notifiable events which
have used his shares in the company should have been notified by Mr Boi-
effectively as collateral for a personal tano to the company at the relevant
loan without informing the board. time,” the company said. Boitano there-
CleanTech Lithium said it had fore has been suspended from his role,
launched an investigation into Aldo pending the company’s investigation.
Boitano after it found he had trans- Steve Kesler, the executive chairman,
ferred his nine million shares in the will take up the responsibilities of chief
business to a custodian account as executive in the interim.
security for a loan agreement he had CleanTech Lithium owns four pro-
entered into with a third-party finan- jects in Chile that are at the exploration
cial institution in August. The transfer and feasibility study stage and where it
of shares took place through a series of is seeking to mine lithium, a mineral
transactions between September 8 and used in batteries for electric vehicles
February 6. and energy storage. The company is
The custodian account is controlled not yet generating revenue and made a
by the lender, but Boitano, 57, is unable pre-tax loss of £3.3 million during the
to ascertain whether the shares have first half of the last financial year, an
been transferred to another nominee increase from £1.2 million over the
account in the name of the lender or same period the year before. It listed its
whether his beneficial interest in the shares on Aim, the junior stock market,
company has been sold to a third party. in March 2021.
He is unable, therefore, to disclose his Shares in CleanTech Lithium were
present beneficial holding of shares to down by 3½p, or 23.7 per cent, at 11¼p at
the company. The nine million shares the close.
Attack on tax fraud
could be dodgy
business commentary Patrick Hosking
H
ire more tax inspectors.
Prosecute more
suspected tax cheats.
Earmark special funds
to go after super-
dodgers such as Bernie Ecclestone,
for the deterrent value, and make
the HM Revenue & Customs
process for answering queries and
filing tax returns easier, to reduce
honest mistakes. The plan from
Rachel Reeves, shadow chancellor,
to bag an extra £5 billion a year in
tax revenues may be politically
palatable, but will it work?
Politicians at election time have
always seized on improving tax
compliance as a way of relatively
painlessly boosting Treasury coffers
without nasties such as tax rate
rises. But enforcement is expensive
and time-consuming, while the
accounting trade is ever creative
and energetic in outwitting the
HMRC gamekeepers.
The arguments are persuasive,
nevertheless. Every extra £1 spent
on compliance boosts revenues by
£9, according to figures from
HMRC. Reeves wants to spend
£555 million hiring an extra 5,000
inspectors. Every £1 spent on
investment in technology and
systems boosts revenues by £2,
according to National Audit Office
estimates. Again, simple reforms
such as improving phone lines and
returns should more than pay for
themselves.
It has always been a curious
skewing of priorities that while
HMRC loses an estimated nine
times as much to tax fraud as the
Department for Work and Pensions
loses to benefit fraud (£20 billion
plays £2.2 billion), it employs far
fewer people to go after the rule
benders. There are caveats,
however: while there may be some
easy, low-hanging fruit for Reeves’
proposed new army of tax gatherers,
the law of diminishing returns will
set in. The Revenue has already
been stepping up the pace: its tax
investigations yielded a record £39
billion last year, up by 22 per cent,
according to research from UHY
Hacker Young, the accounting firm.
Reeves made much of the fact
that the tax gap, the difference
between what is owed and what is
collected, widened by £5 billion to
£36 billion last year. However, as a
percentage of total theoretical tax
liabilities, it was flat and has been
on a downward path for the past 20
years, dropping from 7.5 per cent to
4.8 per cent. That probably has
more to do with the dwindling of
the cash economy than the
persistence of tax inspectors, but it
suggests further progress may be
more difficult.
There’s another awkward number
in the tax gap stats. The biggest
dodgers are not the people the
nation loves to demonise — large
multinationals or rich individuals.
Nor are they criminals, whose share
of the tax-dodging pot has fallen
from 13 per cent to 11 per cent over
the past five years. They are small
firms, which now account for 56 per
cent of all tax underpayment, up
from 40 per cent five years ago.
Reeves, if she gets to No 11 and dons
her tax-collecting bovver boots, will
need to tread carefully.
33
Business
Argentine tangle
ne of the great episodes of
O value destruction began
when Sir John Bond decided
to get out his chequebook more
than 25 years ago. The former
HSBC chief notoriously flushed
away $15 billion on Household
International, the American sub-
prime lender. Another disaster was
Crédit Commercial de France,
bought for $6.6 billion, with the bulk
of it sold 21 years later for a token €1.
But it was Bond’s buying spree in
Latin America that may have been
even more costly for shareholders.
He snapped up banks all over the
continent, including Banco Roberts
in Argentina for $600 million and
Bital in Mexico for $1.1 billion.
The rebadged Bital was at the
centre of HSBC’s darkest hour,
when it was used by the El Chapo
drug cartel to launder cash. The
gangsters were so confident of
HSBC’s complicity in the criminality
that they had their cash boxes
designed to fit the tellers’ windows.
The episode cost the bank $1.9
billion in fines and a long spell of
detention under a deferred
prosecution agreement with
authorities in the United States.
Now the old Banco Roberts is
being dumped for less than was paid
for it, plus a $1 billion writedown on
top. HSBC had to write off
$1.1 billion from the Argentina
operation in 2002 after a previous
economic convulsion in that
country, but decided to stay on for
more. No one at HSBC is prepared
to say how much the entire foray
has cost, but it won’t be pretty.
Reputations are made and lost on
big, bold, strategic acquisitions.
Bond’s favourite Chinese proverb is
more apt than ever: “Today you are
a cockerel, tomorrow you are a
feather duster.”
Making ends meet
f it is the state of people’s
I finances that wins or loses
elections, then Rishi Sunak can
derive a tiny bit of comfort from the
latest Financial Lives snapshot from
the Financial Conduct Authority.
According to the survey, the number
of adults who say they’re struggling
to pay bills is down by 3.5 million to
7.4 million in the past year.
Whether that is because recent
real-terms wage increases are
starting to feed through or because
people have grown more
accustomed to scrimping is not
clear, but fewer are now classifying
themselves as in serious financial
strife. The study also shoots down
the notion that large numbers of
workers have opted out of pension
saving because of the cost of living
crisis. The FCA puts the proportion
stopping or reducing pension
contributions in the past 12 months
at only 3 per cent.
One other myth is emphatically
exploded by the survey: it’s not
mortgage payers who are suffering
the most in this era of higher
borrowing costs, it is renters.
patrick.hosking@thetimes.co.uk
Alistair Osborne is away
34
Business
737 Max turmoil blows hole in Boeing production
Robert Lea Industrial Editor
Boeing has missed analysts’ targets for
production and has fallen further be-
hind Airbus amid its continuing prob-
lems with the 737 Max.
The American group delivered only
29 commercial aircraft in March. They
comprised twenty-four of the narrow-
body, short-haul 737 Max and five twin-
aisle, long-haul 787 Dreamliners.
Regulatory constraints and produc-
tion difficulties had meant that Boeing
was always going to produce signifi-
cantly fewer 737 Max jets in March. In
the event, the number delivered is less
than half the 64 that went out to cus-
tomers in the same month last year. It
left total deliveries for the first quarter
of the year at 83, of which 66 were the
737 Max, lower than already down-
wardly revised estimates. In the first
quarter of 2023 it delivered 130 aircraft.
It leaves Boeing trailing Airbus, its
European rival, which said it had deliv-
ered 142 jets in the first quarter.
The Airbus A320 family is a direct
competitor to the Boeing 737 Max —
easyJet flies the former, Ryanair the
latter — while the Airbus A350 is the
European group’s equivalent to the
Boeing 787. The 737 Max programme
has long been in crisis, culminating last
month in the Seattle-based manufac-
Boeing recorded 66 deliveries of the
737 Max in the first quarter of 2024
turer announcing the departure of Dave
Calhoun as its chief executive. The air-
craft type began flying commercially in
2017. It had two fatal crashes in 2018 and
2019, killing 346 people. All 737 Max
aircraft were grounded until late 2020.
This year a panel covering a redun-
dant emergency exit on an Air Alaska
787 Max blew off in mid-flight, causing
injuries but no fatalities. The aircraft
type was grounded again to allow
global fleet checks by the Federal Avia-
tion Administration, the American
regulator, into production, quality and
safety issues at the manufacturer.
The FAA has put a temporary cap on
Boeing of producing a maximum of 38
aircraft a month. The knock-on effect
has been felt by big customers such as
Ryanair, which has trimmed its profit
forecasts because of delays in delivery.
Airbus said it had delivered 63 air-
craft in March, taking its first-quarter
total to 142. Of that, 128 were narrow-
bodied jets, 116 of which were the A320
family, with the rest in the smaller A220
model. It also delivered 14 long-haul
aircraft.
The wings for Airbus aircraft are
Times Media revenues and
digital subscribers on rise
Richard Fletcher Business Editor
Revenue at Times Media, the publisher
of The Times and The Sunday Times,
rose to £386 million in 2023, up from
£373 million, as the group added 58,000
digital-only subscribers.
Pre-tax profit slipped to £60.9 million
in the 12 months to July 2, down from
£73.2 million the year before.
“The Times and Sunday Times re-
main committed to showcasing their
journalism and unique storytelling
capabilities to new audiences in new,
compelling formats across a range of
platforms,” the company’s directors
stated.
The number of digital-only subscrib-
ers increased by 58,000 to 558,000 over
the year. Digital-only subscribers at the
end of the financial year accounted for
83 per cent of the group’s 673,000 sub-
scribers.
News Corp, the ultimate parent com-
pany of Times Media, revealed in its
most recent Nasdaq filing that the
AstraZeneca boss ‘massively
underpaid’ on £17m a year
Alex Ralph
The chief executive of AstraZeneca is
“massively underpaid” and merits an
increase on last year’s £16.9 million
package, one of the pharmaceuticals
group’s largest shareholders has said.
Speaking before the FTSE 100 com-
pany’s annual shareholder meeting to-
morrow, where investors will vote on a
contentious new executive pay policy,
Rajiv Jain, the chief investment officer
of GQG Partners, a top-20 shareholder
based in Florida, told the Financial
Times that Sir Pascal Soriot was
deserving of the increase, “given Astra-
Zeneca’s impressive turnaround since
he joined more than a decade ago”.
Jain, 56, added: “I’d argue he should
be paid more, not less.”
The Times reported last month that
plans to raise Soriot’s potential pay had
been labelled “unprecedented in the
FTSE”, with two influential proxy
advisers recommending that share-
Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
mainly assembled at the company’s
factory at Broughton in north Wales.
Rolls-Royce Derby is the exclusive
manufacturer of engines for the Airbus
A350.
The 737 Max crisis has put Boeing in
such a spin that before his departure
Calhoun, 66, withdrew forecasts for the
company this year. “While we often use
this time of year to share or update our
financial and operational objectives,
now is not the time for that,” the former
chief executive said, while reporting a
full-year $2.2 billion loss for 2023, after
a $5 billion deficit in 2022.
Analysts believe the shortfall in first-
quarter deliveries could mean that the
Boeing Commercial Airplanes division
reports a 30 per cent drop in revenues
for the three months to $4.7 billion.
The FAA said yesterday that it was
investigating a Boeing whistleblower’s
claims that the company had dismissed
safety and quality concerns in the pro-
duction of its 787 and 777 jets.
By late afternoon in New York
Boeing shares were down by $4.25, or
2.4 per cent, at $177.31, continuing a fall
of almost 30 per cent this year.
number of digital subscribers had risen
to 575,000 at the end of 2023.
“Strong subscription growth has
been achieved outside of the UK and
international growth is expected to
continue to be an important area of
focus,” the directors said.
Separate accounts filed by News
Group Newspapers, publisher of The
Sun, show that pre-tax losses narrowed
to £65.8 million in the year to July 2,
from £127 million the year before. News
Group Newspapers is a subsidiary of
News Corp.
The loss included £51.6 million of
costs related to continuing legal claims
“as a result of voicemail interception al-
legations”. The costs are indemnified by
Fox Corporation under a deal struck
when Fox was split from News Corp.
News UK Broadcasting, the owner of
Talk TV, reported a pre-tax loss of
£53.7 million for the 12 months to July 2,
up from a £34.1 million loss the year
before, as the group increased pro-
gramming after its launch in April 2022.
holders vote against the policy. Soriot,
64, has been credited with overseeing
the transformation of the Cambridge-
based company into one of the most
valuable groups on the London Stock
Exchange through the revival of its
drugs pipeline and portfolio.
AstraZeneca’s new three-year remu-
neration policy includes proposals to
increase the annual potential maxi-
mum long-term performance share
award to up to 850 per cent of Soriot’s
salary, which means he potentially
could earn about £18.5 million this year.
It compares with the maximum of
650 per cent under the company’s
existing policy, which was passed in
2021, despite almost 40 per cent of
voting shareholders opposing it at that
year’s annual meeting.
AstraZeneca has said the new pay
policy “reflects the need to be com-
petitive in the global market for talent,
and our compensation is structured to
reward performance”.
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
David Smith
A slowing jobs market will be good
news for the Bank of England
‘‘
There’s quite a lot
going on. Figures at
the end of this week
will determine
whether the
government, in need of succour
before May’s local elections, will be
able to claim that the economy has
turned a corner.
If, as economists expect, Friday’s
monthly gross domestic product
figures show a tiny 0.1 per cent rise in
February (after one of 0.2 per cent in
January), ministers may be able to get
away with it. If there is no increase at
all, then, like generations of farmers
and shop owners, they may have to
resort to blaming the weather.
Also on Friday, the Bank of
England will announce its response to
Ben Bernanke’s review into its
forecasting methods and the way its
predictions are communicated. I
doubt they are waiting with bated
breath at the Dog & Duck for the
outcome, or, for that matter, for the
GDP figures, but you never know.
I, for one, will be sad if the review
means the end of the Bank’s famous
fan charts. These set out its
predictions in visual form and have
drawn merriment over the years
because of the wide range of possible
outcomes. Thus the fan charts in the
Bank’s February Monetary Policy
Report said that growth in three years’
time could range from a high of
nearly 6 per cent to a low of -2 per
cent, while inflation could be
anything from -1 per cent to 5 per
cent.
In giving talks over the many years
that the Bank has been using the fan
charts, my little joke has been that
they are a great way of presenting
forecasts because you can never be
entirely wrong. It’s not a great joke,
but now I may need a new one.
The Bernanke review has
been a bit of a
humiliation for the
Bank. It would not
have happened had
its forecasts over
the past three
years not gone so
wrong. There is
evidence,
though, that in
other respects
Ben Bernanke’s
review has hit the
Bank’s reputation
Expert business analysis
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things are going the Bank’s way. Next
week should bring a continuation of
inflation’s recent rapid fall, on its way
down to the 2 per cent official target
later this spring. Not many people
expected that a few months ago.
There are indications, too, that the
labour market is turning. This has
been the biggest worry for the Bank,
and the biggest puzzle. Senior Bank
officials and monetary policy
committee members (some have both
roles) have been surprised by the jobs
market’s resilience in the face of
higher interest rates and a stagnant
economy. These are not the
circumstances in which you would
expect the unemployment rate to be
below 4 per cent.
That may now be changing. The
latest report from the Recruitment
and Employment Confederation
(REC), published this week, suggested
a rapid jobs market cooling. The
survey, sponsored by KPMG and
based on responses from about 400
employment and recruitment
consultancies, pointed to a fifth
successive month of falling demand
for labour, rising redundancies, the
biggest fall in temporary staff billings
since the Covid downturn of 2020
and a deceleration in pay growth,
with starting salaries rising at their
slowest rate for three years.
On the face of it, this is meat and
drink for the Bank. Tie it to recent
predictions from XpertHR, the
specialist consultancy, that pay
settlements will average 4 per cent
this year, after 6 per cent last, and it
seems that the Bank’s pay worries
could be fast evaporating. This
month’s big rise in the minimum
wage/national living wage may make
the deceleration in pay growth
bumpier than it need be, but it looks
to be happening.
It may be some time before
the official figures catch
up with surveys such as
these, and others,
such as the CBI’s
latest quarterly
view of financial
services, which
suggests that
recruitment
activity in that
sector remains
quite strong. But
the Bank will be
happy that the spell
appears to be broken at
last, with the labour market slowing
and moving out of a period of
extraordinary and unexpected post-
pandemic tightness. The government
may have a different view, though, in
this election year. At first glance, it is
hard to square the “turning a corner”
economic story with weak
employment and rising redundancies.
Even strong pay growth, supporting
rising pre-election real incomes, is
viewed differently in Westminster
than in Threadneedle Street.
There is an explanation that you
can put together about the labour
market, which is that it responds with
a lag to changing economic
conditions and that the slowdown
picked up by the REC survey is a
lagged response to the stagnant
economy of 2023. That may be true,
but the REC survey also pointed to
continuing uncertainty about the
economic outlook as far as employers
are concerned. Jon Holt, chief
executive and senior partner of
KPMG, noted that “persistent
economic uncertainty has led to
many business leaders delaying major
investment decisions” and that the
picture from the survey was of
“ongoing weak demand in the labour
market”.
Neil Carberry, chief executive of the
REC, said that “economic growth has
been sidelined for too long” and that
the economy would be in “a holding
pattern” until interest rates started to
come down and employers had a
clearer view about its direction.
This is the dilemma. Many
businesses, and certainly the
government, would love the Bank to
be cutting interest rates soon
(although some older voters, enjoying
the higher interest rates on their
savings, might demur). But, as
discussed by my colleague Mehreen
Khan, the Bank and other central
banks are reluctant to be rushed. And
there is no silver bullet here.
Monetary policy, like the labour
market, operates with a lag.
The Bank wants to be certain this
bout of inflation is dead and buried.
The warning from
’’
the labour market is
that it may badly
damage the patient
in the process.
David Smith is Economics Editor of
The Sunday Times
david.smith@sunday-times.co.uk
Comment Business
Katie Prescott
Fancy C-3PO doing the
chores, or something
a little more robotic?
R
obots demonstrating their
capabilities proliferate at
technology conferences.
On a recent visit to the
Mobile World Congress in
Barcelona, one handed me a
morning coffee. Its crane-like arm
ended with a pincer that deftly
carried a cup to a machine to fill
with liquid, then passed it, spill-free,
to my hand.
While this was going on in one
corner, a set of crane arms
performed keyhole surgery on a
fake patient in another. Meanwhile,
a 5ft-high rectangle with a
wraparound screen glided about the
conference centre, offering
information to lost delegates,
making reassuringly robotic beeps
as it did so. None of these robots
looked like people. Yet the push for
those that do, referred to as
‘Why be human
when you can be
superhuman? Why
have two arms when
you can have eight?’
“humanoids”, is increasing. Think C-
3PO from Star Wars.
One company in pursuit of this is
Figure, in Silicon Valley, which is
building human-like robots powered
by artificial intelligence. It raised
$675 million this year from OpenAI,
the developer of ChatGPT, and
Nvidia, among others, valuing it at
$2.6 billion. What are these robots
for? Figure’s heady vision is to help
solve the labour shortage and
replace dangerous jobs with
technology. The argument goes that
the world is designed for the human
form, so robots would be best
designed that way too.
Agility Robotics, a developer
backed by Amazon, is building
robots that move like a person to fit
“a world made for people”. Elon
Musk, the owner of Tesla, has also
been working to build a human-like
robot named Optimus. The tycoon
predicted in January that there
could be a billion of them walking
the Earth within the next 20 years.
There has long been a fascination
with humanoids and a desire to
create robots in our likeness. An
SUBSCRIBE
35
early example was Eric, a robot built
in England in 1928 that looks a bit
like The Tin Man from The Wizard
of Oz. Recreated for the Science
Museum in 2016, he could stand,
bow, give a four-minute speech and
answer up to 60 questions.
A recent report from Goldman
Sachs, the Wall Street investment
bank, said the market for humanoid
robots would reach $38 billion by
2035, as they helped with everything
from folding washing to handling
hazardous waste.
While they are certainly striking
to look at, not everyone believes the
hype. Look more closely at the
demonstrations, robotics experts
say, and there is a very long way to
go before humanoids can approach
the capabilities of a human, and
they question whether the human
form is the most useful.
Engineered Arts in Falmouth has
been building humanoid robots
since 2004. Far from replacing
human labour, these incredibly
realistic bots are popular for
entertainment, such as in theme
parks. Will Jackson, 59, chief
executive, says humanoids work best
when they are interacting with
people. Form, he argues, should
always follow function, so he can see
uses in healthcare, in care homes
and in hospitality. For all other
automated tasks, he queries: “Why
be human when you can be
superhuman? Why have two arms
when you can have eight?”
James Matthews, 41, chief
executive of Ocado Technology,
agrees that it comes down to the
problem you are trying to solve.
Ocado’s bespoke robotics
warehouses are dedicated to
machines that do specific jobs, such
as a hand that can both pick up a
peach without bruising it and grasp
a heavy wine bottle.
Yann LeCun, 63, chief AI scientist
at Meta and a global leader in the
field, explained: “How is it that we
don’t have domestic robots that can
do all the chores? It’s not because we
don’t know how to build those
robots; it’s because we don’t know
how to make them smart enough.”
Rather than having two arms, two
legs and a head, the brain will be the
key to creating human-like robots.
Katie Prescott is Technology Business
Editor of The Times
D I G I T A L SUBSCRIPTION
TODAY
36 Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times

Business

Revolving door taking a CVS hit by

cyberattack
spin again at Very Group without a
head of IT
Isabella Fish Retail Editor Universal Stores. It offers “buy now, pay group companies … and accounts were

Helen Cahill
The Barclay family’s Very Group has
been dealt a fresh blow with the depar-
ture of its chief executive after less than
two years in the role.
Lionel Desclée, 44, a former Walmart
boss who joined Very in September
2022, was stepping down to “pursue
new opportunities”, the company said.
His exit comes two months after that
of Dirk Van den Berghe, 60, who left
two years into his tenure as chairman,
and a month after Deloitte resigned as
the company’s auditor.
Very’s leadership upheaval comes as
the Barclay family retreat from a range
of operations within their debt-laden
business empire. They are set to lose
control of their media assets with the
expected auction of The Daily Tele-
graph, The Sunday Telegraph and The
Spectator and in February they sold
Yodel, the parcel delivery company.
Desclée is to be succeeded by Robbie
Feather, 56, who is being promoted
from the role of retail managing
director, having joined Very in 2021.
Feather formerly was the chief execu-
tive of Fenwick, the department stores
chain, and before that worked in
various roles for Sainsbury’s Argos.
Very is an online retailer formed by
the Barclays after their acquisitions of
the Littlewoods catalogue business and
the home shopping division of Great
later” finance on its ranges of clothing,
home and beauty products and is a key
pillar of the Barclays’ remaining
corporate assets.
Desclée’s appointment as group chief
executive had reunited him with Van
den Berghe, a fellow Belgian. They had
worked together at both Walmart and
Ahold Delhaize, a Dutch food retailer.
At the time, the Barclay family was said
to have been gearing up for an expected
stock market float that would have
valued the business at £2 billion.
Van den Berghe announced his
departure in February this year.
Nadhim Zahawi, 56, the former
chancellor, was reported to have been
among the candidates to replace him.
Deloitte said it was resigning as
auditor last month, ending an 11-year
relationship, after encountering
“difficulties with respect to the availa-
bility of and access to appropriate and
relevant information”.
The fashion and home retailer’s
structure is complex and is spread
across a web of various businesses
whose ultimate parent is based off-
shore. Deloitte said some of these
businesses were “either not audited by
the same audit firm or are unaudited”.
While it said that it had resolved the
difficulties, “we have concluded that we
wish to resign as auditors”. At the time,
Very said that “all the necessary infor-
mation was provided by those other
T
filed on time and with an unmodified he London-
audit opinion”. It said it would appoint a listed
new auditor in due course. veterinary
The Liverpool-based company re- services
ported profit before tax of £4.6 million company hit
in the year to July 1, down 92 per cent on by a cyberattack has
the year before, which it attributed to a been without a head of
“heightened cost of funding”. The busi- cybersecurity amid a
ness’s financing costs have risen by churn in its senior IT
43.5 per cent amid the increases in the and technology roles
Bank of England’s base interest rate. (Alex Ralph writes).
Very Group’s debt is comprised of CVS Group revealed
bonds, credit facilities and securitised on Monday that it had
loans totalling over £2 billion. The recently detected and
group has bonds worth £575 million, responded to an
revolving credit facilities of £150 mil- incident that it
lion and has agreed a new debt funding believes will disrupt its
package with Carlyle, the American operations in Britain
private equity firm, and International for weeks.
Media Investments, the Abu Dhabi- The incident has
based group, worth £125 million. been reported to the
IMI was brought into Very Group’s Information
debt structure as part of a separate deal Commissioner’s Office
designed to help the Abu Dhabi inves- and is being
tor to gain control of the Telegraph investigated by third-
titles. The Telegraph transaction has party consultants.
been blocked by ministers, leaving IMI CVS has been
in control of debt tied to both the media advertising for a new among 16 key risk likely”. It stated that
group and the Barclay family’s separate head of cybersecurity, factors to the company potential hypothetical
commercial operations. having had two in its last annual consequences could
Aidan Barclay, 68, Very’s acting employees in the job report, issued to include a loss of client
chairman, praised Desclée for his in less than three shareholders in data resulting in
“strong, customer-focused leadership”. years since the role November, deemed reputational damage.
He added that Feather was the “perfect was created in 2021. “possible” on a scale Under “mitigating
person to lead the next stage of the Very A breach was listed of “remote” to “very factors”, it stated that
Group’s development”.

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conferences for Black professionals, companies finding talent, for job seekers solid foundations to build on for
BYP Network quickly became a platform and for BYP Network itself. “Having our businesses of all sizes.
for companies to access top talent. own platform gives us direct access to BT already connects more than a
When BYP won £40,000 across three GDPR-compliant data. Companies can million companies and public sector
different pitching competitions, Agoro see who has been matched to their jobs, organisations, and when it comes to
decided to quit her job in fintech and whether someone applies or not, and we
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024 37

Business
experienced head of
cybersecurity to lead
our organisation’s
but increased security
had meant that “some
systems are not
Robust outlook for
efforts in safeguarding working as efficiently
our digital assets and
ensuring compliance
with industry
as previously”. It said
operations outside the
UK were unaffected,
student housing
standards”. as were the group’s
A spokeswoman for ecommerce systems. Tom Saunders
CVS said the vacancy The cyberattack has
had been open for “a come at a difficult The largest owner of student accom-
matter of weeks and time for CVS, with its modation in Britain expects to achieve
we’ve been covering shares having slumped full occupancy for the coming acad-
this with internal and amid a separate emic year, with rental growth of at least
external support. We market investigation 6 per cent.
have made an by the Competition In a trading update, Unite said it had
appointment to the and Markets sold 86 per cent of its rooms for the
post and the successful Authority. academic year starting in September,
candidate will start CVS is one of the slightly below the record rate of 90 per
shortly.” biggest veterinary cent reported at this time last year.
The cyberattack practice businesses in It added that demand from foreign
prompted CVS to shut Britain and is one of students was robust despite recent
a “small number” of the largest companies changes to UK visa rules targeting the
its vet practices for a on Aim, the London dependants of people studying for post-
“short time” and to Stock Exchange’s graduate qualifications. It said foreign
direct clients to other junior market. It students accounted for 13 per cent of its The biggest owner of accommodation
local practices. CVS operates about 500 reservations this year, compared with for students expects full occupancy
has said it believes practices in the UK, 15 per cent in 2023.
that any client data the Netherlands, the Unite is building university abolish multiple dwellings relief in its
was stored on a Republic of Ireland residential blocks nationwide. It has spring budget. The law had meant that
separate, cloud-based and Australia. It also received full planning approval for a when buying two or more houses
server “which was not operates laboratories 500-bed project in Bristol, located close valued at £250,000 or less, stamp duty
impacted as a result of providing diagnostic to the new Bristol University Temple would not apply. Unite’s other fund, its
this incident”. The services to CVS and Quarter Enterprise Campus, and London Student Accommodation Joint
company took its IT third parties, pet expects approval for a 925-bed site in Venture, also was affected by the tax
systems temporarily cremation and clinical Stratford, east London, shortly. In a code changes, but this was more than
offline to contain the waste disposal and joint venture with Newcastle Uni- offset by rental growth of 1.3 per cent,
it employed a head of the position is CVS is one “threat of malicious Animed Direct, an versity, it has submitted a planning prompting its value to increase by 0.8
cybersecurity understood to have of the activity”. online retail business. application to demolish the Castle per cent to £1.93 billion.
alongside third-party been vacant since biggest Its IT services to Shares in CVS, Leazes accommodation block and to The company said it was in the
advisers “where December. veterinary practices and business which have nearly replace it with a 2,000-bed facility. advanced stages of selling a £180 mil-
appropriate to ensure A recently closed practice functions had been halved over the past The value of Unite’s largest fund, its lion portfolio, of which Unite’s share
we maintain high job advertisement businesses securely restored year, closed down a UK Student Accommodation Fund, fell would be £75 million, which it hopes to
standards of sought a “highly in Britain across the majority of further 16p, or 1.7 per by 0.5 per cent on a like-for-like basis to complete in the second quarter.
protection”. However, skilled and its estate, CVS said, cent, at 926p. £2.98 billion during the quarter owing Shares in Unite fell by 12½p, or 1.3 per
mainly to the government’s decision to cent, to 937p.

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38 Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times

Business
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the times | Wednesday April 10 2024 39

Business
Klarna, whose chief

New staff are making executive is Sebastian

Siemiatkowski, has cut
customer service roles
way for AI at Klarna ChatGPT, and as a
result tests its latest

K
larna intends
to grow its
business by
deploying
generative
artificial intelligence
instead of hiring new
staff (Katie Prescott
writes).
The “buy now, pay
later” credit business
believes that it will
continue to expand its
operations and revenue
despite a hiring freeze
that was announced in
December, because AI
is making work more
efficient.
“Outside of
engineering, we’ve
slowed down hiring
across the board,
because AI allows us to
create efficiencies,”
Martin Elwin, the
financial technology
group’s head of AI, said.
“We still have high
growth ambitions and
previously it would
have meant growing the
organisation a lot faster
as well. But now we
don’t need to do it.”
This year Klarna said
its virtual assistant tool
had replaced 700 of
3,000 customer service
jobs, which would save
the business $40 million
a year. Government
departments in
Westminster and a
leading airline have
been among those
approaching Klarna to
find out how it is
deploying the
technology.
Elwin said Klarna was
not anticipating more
job cuts, but added that
it was changing its
attitude to hiring. “As
we are putting these AI
solutions in place, what
is actually needed
might shift a little bit.
And if someone leaves
the company, we need
to think is it really
necessary to replace
them immediately? We
can be a little bit more
careful and mindful
there. Many things just
can be automated, can
be simplified, without
having to invest a lot of
engineering hours.”
At Klarna the average
models and how the
technology works in the
sensitive world of
finance. Although it is
looking at other
generative AI
businesses, OpenAI’s
models were said by
Elwin to be “hard to
beat”. The business does
not yet use generative AI
as part of its credit
checks, because of fears
about the technology’s
reliability. There have
been warnings over AI
reinforcing stereotypes
or and seeing misleading
patterns.
Elon Musk, the Tesla
boss who co-founded
OpenAI in 2015, said last
customer support customer satisfaction year that the rapid
waiting time has has remained the same. advance of AI
dropped from 3min to Klarna, led by its co- technology would
7sec and the average founder Sebastian “eliminate” the need for
time to resolve a Siemiatkowski, 42, was jobs entirely, with
problem has gone from an early partner of people working only for
11min to 3min, while OpenAI, the creator of “personal satisfaction”.

Software provider says ‘yes’ to

American private equity offer
Helen Cahill
Gresham Technologies has become
the latest London-listed company to
be targeted by an American bidder.
The software provider has recom-
mended that its investors accept a
£147 million, 163¾p-per-share bid
from STG Partners, a Californian
private equity firm, which represents
a near-27 per cent premium to
Gresham’s previous closing share
price and comes alongside an interim
dividend of ¾p per share.
Shares in Gresham jumped by
almost a quarter, or 31½p, to 160½p
last night.
Gresham builds data management
and compliance software for clients
including easyJet, M&G Investments
and Santander. The company, which
has about 270 customers in 30 coun-
tries, has invested $35 million to
create its Clareti platform, which
provides financial reconciliation
services to companies.
The deal comes as private equity
players take advantage of the
depressed valuations of London-
quoted stocks, while public compa-
nies are looking to buy up rivals amid
an improvement in Britain’s econo-
mic outlook.
Gresham’s directors said they faced
“uncertainties and risks” to the
delivery of their strategy and that
many of these were outside of the
board’s control. Investors were said to
have been held back by a lack of
liquidity in the London stock market,
with an average of only 107,615 shares
changing hands each day.
“This low level of liquidity can
make it challenging for Gresham
shareholders to monetise their hold-
ings in the market should they so
wish,” the company said.
Kestrel Partners, the largest share-
holder with a stake of 24 per cent, has
backed the deal, alongside other in-
vestors with a combined holding of
45 per cent.
Listed companies became more
active in the mergers and acquisitions
market in the first three months of
the year as the path for the economy
became clearer, Peel Hunt has found.
Its research showed that 77 per cent
of all new offers in the first quarter
had come from listed bidders seeking
strategic acquisitions. Barratt Devel-
opments was one of the first big
buyers this year when it announced a
£2.5 billion bid for Redrow, a rival
housebuilder, in February.
The broker’s analysis also found
that fewer investors were dissenting
against takeovers in shareholder
votes compared with 2020. In re-
search that looked at how many deals
were rejected by more than 10 per
cent of investors, it found that share-
holders had dissented in 18 per cent of
deal votes in 2020 but had pushed
back in only 13 per cent of votes in the
first quarter of 2024.
The report said: “Depressed UK
plc share prices have led to an
increased dislocation between trad-
ing and fundamental valuation. To
close the gap, higher premiums are
often needed for target boards to
recommend an offer and for share-
holders to be convinced to accept it.”

Meta’s AI guru shoots down Musk forecast

Katie Prescott
Technology Business Editor
Elon Musk is wrong to say that artifi-
cial intelligence will overtake human
intelligence next year, according to
one of the world’s leading AI
scientists.
Yann LeCun, Meta’s chief AI scien-
tist and one of the so-called godfa-
thers of the technology, said that
while artificial general intelligence
was achievable, it could take decades
to arrive.
Speaking at an event at its London
headquarters to showcase Meta’s AI
strategy, LeCun, 63, reflected that sci-
entists were still lacking significant
advances that would be required to
reach animal intelligence. “AGI is
Sir Nick Clegg and Yann LeCun spoke
about AI at a Meta event in London
certainly not next year as our friend
Elon has said,” he said.
Musk, chief executive of Tesla, had
said that artificial intelligence would
be smarter than the smartest human
as early as next year. In an interview
on his platform X Spaces, Musk said
the development of AI was being con-
strained by a chip shortage and the
availability of electricity.
LeCun asserted that the history of
AI “is a succession of people being
overly optimistic and then realising
that what they’re trying to do is more
difficult than they thought”.
At the same event Sir Nick Clegg,
the former deputy prime minister
who is now Meta’s president of global
affairs, played down the impact of AI
technology on forthcoming elec-
tions, which many have feared. “Of
the major elections which have taken
place already this year … so far what’s
been very striking is how little these
tools have been used on a systemic
basis to really try to subvert or disrupt
the election system,” Clegg, 57, said.
40
Business Markets
Lauren Almeida Tempus
Buy, sell or hold: today’s best share tips
Green shoots will need time to grow
bp
Market cap free cash flow
£85bn Forward yield 12.1%
B
P seems to be back in high
spirits. Shares in the oil
major perked up after a
preview of its first quarter
suggested that its upstream
production of oil and gas, as well as
of low-carbon energy, would be
higher than in the previous period.
Not that this is the only reason to
be cheerful. The appointment of
Murray Auchincloss as the
company’s permanent chief
executive in January has helped to
restore confidence after the shock
departure last year of Bernard
Looney. Brent crude oil prices have
risen above previous expectations of
$83 per barrel for this year to about
$90, which the market thinks should
feed into earnings upgrades and will
help to improve margins throughout
the sector. And BP has allocated
$3.5 billion for share buybacks in the
first half of 2024 and aims to have
repurchased at least $14 billion by
the end of 2025, redistributing at
least 80 per cent of its surplus
cashflow back to shareholders.
Yet BP’s shares remain among the
cheapest in the sector. It trades at a
forward price-to-earnings ratio of
only 8, compared with an average of
10. Investors are nervous about the
company’s strategy. BP is an oil
major turning itself into an energy
company, gradually investing in
renewable areas to help to reduce its
carbon emissions and to develop
city of london inv trust
Share discount Dividend yield
to NAV 2.8% 5%
ity of London Investment
C Trust has increased its
shareholder payouts for 57
years in a row. Only two other trusts,
Bankers Investment Trust and
Alliance Trust, have such an
impressive record.
City’s official objective is to
provide long-term growth in income
and capital. So far, so good. The
trust has a dividend yield of just
under 5 per cent, compared with an
average 3.8 per cent yield in the
PRICES
Major indices
Energy boost
Share price
Source: FactSet
2020 21 22 23
ADVICE Hold
WHY Shares are trading at
deep discount relative to
history and US peers, but
investors need more evidence
of strategy progress
more sustainable cashflows.
However, it has rowed back on some
of its green targets. In February it cut
its target for reducing fossil fuel
production to 25 per cent by 2030
compared with 2019 levels, from a
2020 goal of 40 per cent, partly as an
acknowledgement of the sharp rise
in commodity prices amid the war in
FTSE 100. It has underperformed the
leading share index over the past five
years, but still delivered a respectable
total return of 22 per cent. Over 15
years it has outperformed, returning
284 per cent since 2009, compared
with a 228 per cent rise in the
Footsie.
The £2 billion portfolio is large,
made up of 82 holdings. Most of this
is concentrated in Britain, but there
is some exposure to Europe, the
United States and Hong Kong. Its
single largest holding is in BAE
Systems, which makes up 4.5 per
cent of the portfolio, followed by
Relx, the analytics business, at
4.2 per cent and Shell at 3.9 per cent.
London Financial Futures
re-distributed; is not warranted to be accurate, complete or timely; and does not constitute
investment advice. Tradeweb is not responsible for any loss or damage that might result
from the use of this information.
BP's forward free cash flow yield
600p compared with American and
European peers
500 BP
12.1%
Repsol
400
10.9%
Shell
300 10.5%
Equinor
7.7%
200
Eni
7.6%
100 Chevron
7.5%
ExxonMobil
0 6.6%
24
Ukraine. The plan to reduce its oil
and gas output has provoked a mixed
reception, with some investors
arguing that the plan will shrink its
core business while promoting
diversification into sectors with
lower targeted returns.
In its defence, BP has focused its
clean energy business on growing
areas such as biofuels and electric
vehicle charging. The latter looks
particularly promising, with the
business growing in the United
States via the $1.3 billion acquisition
of TravelCenters of America, the
truck stop operator, last year, which
is expected to add $800 million a
year in earnings before interest, tax
and other charges by 2025. The
company aims to increase pre-tax
All are London-listed, but about two
thirds of the revenue generated by
the companies in the portfolio come
from overseas, so there is some
diversification baked in.
With so many holdings, the trust’s
performance is unlikely to knock the
lights out — it made a net asset
value return of 4.5 per cent in its
2023 financial year, compared with a
total return of 7.9 per cent in the
FTSE All-Share. The trust said at the
time that although this was
disappointing, the portfolio was
managed for the long term and the
net asset value total return had
exceeded the index over three, five
and ten years. This long-time
© 2021 Tradeweb Markets LLC. All rights reserved.
The Tradeweb FTSE Gilt Closing Prices information contained
herein is proprietary to Tradeweb; may not be copied or
Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
earnings from these “transition
growth engines” from $1 billion in
2023 to $3 billion to $4 billion in
2025 and to $10 billion to $12 billion
in 2030.
The shares offer a dividend yield of
4.3 per cent and payouts look well
covered by a forecast free cashflow
yield of 12.1 per cent, well ahead of its
peers in Europe and America. This
resilient cashflow, combined with an
improved balance sheet (net debt fell
from $21.4 billion to $20.9 billion last
year, its lowest in a decade) should
support cash returns to
shareholders. A focus on generating
high returns on investments in
renewables, combined with chunky
cash returns to shareholders via
buybacks and dividends, have helped
to renew confidence in BP, with the
shares rising by 10 per cent in the
year to date. A rising oil price is
likely to support the stock further in
the coming weeks, if not longer.
BP’s stock remains, however, at a
discount to its American peers,
which have committed themselves to
the long-term future of oil. Its shares
trade at a forward enterprise value to
pre-tax earnings multiple of 3.7,
compared with ExxonMobil’s 6.7 and
Chevron’s 6.1, despite its competitive
cash generation.
This does make the shares look
relatively decent value, but it reflects
a great deal of uncertainty about
how BP’s new strategy will play out.
Cash returns are alluring, but long-
term investors should wait for
evidence that BP’s “transition
engines” can deliver the growth that
Auchincloss has promised.
investor favourite now trades at a
2.8 per cent discount, despite
historically trading at a small
premium. Net gearing stood at 7 per
cent as of the end of February, at the
lower end of a historic range
between 6 per cent and 11 per cent,
which seems reasonable. With a
recently reduced management fee of
0.3 per cent, the trust seems a
reliable pick for steady income.
ADVICE Buy
WHY Pays reliable dividend,
trading at a modest discount
Commodities
news in brief
Sabadell has TSB plan
There is no pressure for Sabadell
to sell its TSB British unit and the
Spanish lender is focused on
improving its profitability, Josep
Oliu, chairman of the bank, said
before today’s annual general
meeting for Sabadell shareholders
in Alicante. “TSB has the
potential to continue growing its
profits over the coming two or
three years and there are no
other plans regarding TSB,” Oliu
said. TSB reported a 30 per cent
rise in pre-tax profits to
£237 million and made a
£29 million provision for
restructuring within the bank.
Tasty to close 20 sites
The company behind Wildwood
restaurants plans to close a
number of venues in a
restructuring. Tasty, which also
runs sites under the Dim T
brand, said it intended to shut
about 20 lossmaking restaurants
after a “challenging” start to the
year. It said its performance
“continues to be inhibited” by
underperforming sites. It also will
enter into a £750,000 loan
agreement with Will Roseff, the
Bet365 shareholder, to fund the
restructuring.
PureTech brainwave
PureTech Health, the FTSE 250
biotechnology group, has spun off
a new firm, Seaport Therapeutics,
and raised $100 million in a series
A financing from investors.
Seaport will focus on developing
neuropsychiatric medicines
created at PureTech. Seaport’s
investors, ARCH Venture
Partners, Sofinnova Investments
and Third Rock Ventures, initially
backed Karuna Therapeutics, a
PureTech company recently
acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb
for $14 billion.
Brits burdened by bills
More than seven million Britons
were estimated to be struggling
with bills and credit repayments
in January, according to the
Financial Conduct Authority.
Renters, single adults with
children, ethnic minorities and
those in the northeast of England
were most likely to be affected,
research shows. An estimated
7.4 million adults felt heavily
burdened with bills at the start of
the year — an improvement on
the 10.9 million people who felt
that way in January 2023.
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024 41

Markets Business

BAE Systems in crossfire

as wary investors retreat
Jessica Newman Market report

A
erospace and defence
companies have enjoyed a banking and finance
barnstorming rise in the
past couple of years,
hardly surprising given
that war, be it Russia’s invasion of
Orchard considers Aim exit
Ukraine or the conflict between Israel
he “continued full review of the

T
and Hamas, has continued to
dominate the headlines. One of the and escalating benefits of continuing
main beneficiaries has been BAE costs of listing” to maintain our
Systems, shares of which have more have prompted admission on Aim
than doubled in value since Russia Orchard Funding should be
invaded its neighbour in February Group to consider an undertaken.”
2022, hitting a peak of £13.69 last exit from London’s Orchard’s profit
month. junior stock market before tax fell by
Yesterday, however, investors (Helen Cahill writes). 13.6 per cent to
thought it timely to lock in their The Aim-listed £1.08 million in the six
profits at Britain’s biggest defence finance business months to January 31,
company. Indeed, the builder of the warned that its share Orchard said that its although it said this
nation’s nuclear submarine fleet and price was standing at listing on Aim was would have increased
squadrons of fighter jets was swept up a “material discount” affecting earnings by 18.7 per cent to
to its net asset value £1.48 million had it
looking to provide debt trades from about of £17.75 million. escalating costs of not been for an
L’Occitane financing to fund his
plan.
2,700 sites in 90
countries. It has more
Wall Street report Orchard said it also
was considering a
listing having a
significant impact on
external fraud that it
said had prompted a
sees beauty The $5.5 billion than 8,500 employees. Indices were mixed ahead of today’s share buyback to our earnings, the poor possible loss of
French luxury retailer It was listed in Hong inflation data and the earnings return capital to trading of our stock, £398,000 and was
in buyout halted trading in its Kong in 2010 on the season that starts on Friday. The investors. Ravi the lack of liquidity of “unlikely to occur in
Hong Kong-listed hope that its growth Dow Jones industrial average shed Takhar, 59, its chief the stock and the the future”.
he owner of shares yesterday before prospects in the Far 9.13 points, or 0.02 per cent, to executive, said: “As a inability of the Its shares closed up

T L’Occitane is said
to be planning to
take the cosmetics
an expected stock
market announcement.
L’Occitane and
East would secure a
better rating than it
would get in Europe. It
38,883.67. The S&P 500 rose 7.52
points, or 0.1 per cent, to 5,209.91.
result of the
continued and
company to raise new
capital, we believe a
33.8 per cent, or 5½p,
at 21½p last night.

company private again, Blackstone declined to was one of the first

months after shelving a comment. western companies to in a sell-off of aerospace and defence specialist, shed 21½p, or by 15p, or 1.8 per cent, to a two-year
previous attempt It was not clear what sell its primary shares stocks after analysts said valuations in 3.2 per cent, to 649½p. high of 839p after the fund manager
(Simon Freeman price Geiger was there at the time. the sector potentially were getting a Despite a commodities push reported full-year results ahead of
writes). preparing to offer, Geiger is an Austrian bit stretched. providing a positive start to the what the market had been expecting.
Reinold Geiger, 76, although Bloomberg, billionaire who led “We would be cautious on session, the downward pressure from Investors also moved into John Wood
who controls almost which first reported L’Occitane for 25 years European defence stock valuations as BAE and Rolls caused the FTSE 100 Group, the engineering consultancy,
three quarters of its the latest potential before he stepped we approach 2025,” Victor Allard, an to fall 8.68 points, or 0.1 per cent, to on advice from Investec as the bank
shares, is understood takeover, said he was down in 2021. He is analyst at Goldman Sachs, said, 7,934.79. The more UK-focused FTSE praised the engineering consultancy’s
to be in advanced talks considering a 20 per now an executive adding that the valuations presented 250 gave up 91.23 points, or 0.5 per cost-cutting plans. Its shares closed
with investors and cent premium to the director and chairman “more downside than upside risk”. cent, to 19,76336. up 3¼p, or 2.4 per cent, at 134¼p.
lenders about a buyout. undisturbed share of the group. The Allard also thinks that growth in Investors were more confident For investors wanting to take a
Blackstone, the price of HK$26. company’s shares stood European military budgets is likely to snapping up commodity-focused punt on the beauty industry, there
American alternative L’Occitane, which at HK$29.50 at decelerate from next year. stocks as metals prices were was Warpaint London. The Aim-
asset manager, is was founded in 1976, Monday’s market close. BAE was the biggest loser among strengthened by hopes of a worldwide listed cosmetics group reported
London’s biggest companies, falling manufacturing rebound. It gave a lift record sales of about £23.5 million in
60½p, or 4.5 per cent, to £12.77. Its to Antofagasta, up 54p, or 2.4 per the first quarter, sending its shares up
The day’s biggest movers peers Chemring and QinetiQ cent, to £22.69; Anglo American, 52½p, or 14 per cent, to 427½p.
dropped 18p, or 5 per cent, to 342½p which rose 36½p, or 1.7 per cent, to It was a brutal day for Surface
and by 13½p, or 3.8 per cent, to 349p, £21.91½; and Glencore, which finished Transforms, however, which declined
respectively, while Babcock 6¼p, or 1.3 per cent, ahead at 473p. by 3½p, or 37.8 per cent, to finish at a
International retreated 13p, or 2.5 per However, Fresnillo took the top spot new low of 5¾p. The company, which
cent, to 500½p. And there were more: on the FTSE 100 risers’ board, makes carbon brakes for cars, said it
shares in Rolls-Royce, the jet engine jumping 22p, or 4 per cent, to 578p as had generated revenues of £3 million
maker and the FTSE 100’s best- gold prices hit a record high for an in the first quarter, lower than its
performing share of 2023, slid by 17p, eighth consecutive session. target, and warned that high levels of
or 3.9 per cent, to 412¼p, while One of the biggest movers in the scrap had absorbed a “sizable amount
Melrose Industries, the aerospace mid-cap index was JTC, which rose of working capital and cash”.

Gold/Precious Money rates % Dollar rates Exchange rates

metals
Because of a technical issue, the gold fix
prices are from Monday.

Sterling spot and forward rates

Other Sterling

European money
deposits %

Data as shown is
for information
purposes only. No offer is made by
Morningstar or this publication
42 Wednesday April 10 2024 | 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 divided

v v
by the last day’s closing share price.
v v
12-month high and low High/low prices for UK
v
equities are based on closing prices. Investment trust
high and low prices are based on intra-day figures. v
v

v
v v
12 month Price 12 month Price
v
High Low Company (p) +/- Yld% P/E High Low Company (p) +/- Yld% P/E
v
v
v
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the times | Wednesday April 10 2024 43

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44
Register
Obituaries
Professor Peter Higgs
Theoretical physicist who won the Nobel prize for his work on the mass of subatomic particles
The way in which matter acquires mass,
what we perceive as weight, was a prob-
lem that had long baffled scientists.
They figured that the answer to this
question would unlock many of the se-
crets of how the universe was formed.
Peter Higgs, an unworldly and donnish
academic, was reading some new re-
search papers on July 16, 1964, when he
had his eureka moment.
“I looked at one, realised what it
meant, and then jumped up and shout-
ed out loud, ‘Oh shit!’ ” he recalled in an
interview in 2008. He spent the week-
end walking through the hills outside
Edinburgh like a latterday Word-
sworth: “When I came back to work on
Monday, I sat down and wrote a new
paper as fast as I could.”
In layman’s terms, Higgs’s theory
suggested that all space is permeated by
a “field” that interacts with the particles
within it, giving them mass. One analo-
gy is to imagine a room with people
milling round. A celebrity (the particle)
enters and people cluster around —
suddenly the celebrity particle has
mass. Higgs developed the idea that
particles had no mass when the uni-
verse began, but acquired mass a frac-
tion of a second afterwards when they
entered a theoretical field. Higgs pro-
posed that this field, now known as the
“Higgs field”, permeates space, giving
mass to all elementary particles that in-
teract with it.
Higgs needed no laboratory or ex-
pensive equipment, only a sharpened
pencil and a notebook. His first paper
on the subject was quickly published by
the journal Physics Letters, based at the
European Organisation for Nuclear
Research, known as Cern, in Switzer-
land. Yet it was largely ignored by scien-
tists. A second, in which he described a
theoretical model (now known as the
Higgs mechanism), was rejected by the
The term ‘God particle’
somewhat rankled with
its theoriser, an atheist
same editors as being of “no obvious
relevance to physics”. He said: “I was in-
dignant, but I also thought I was right.”
Undeterred, Higgs added a further par-
agraph to the paper “to spice it up”, em-
phasising his theory about a missing
boson, and submitted it instead to the
journal Physical Review. There it at-
tracted the attention of some of the fin-
est minds in the field.
Elsewhere, other physicists were ar-
riving at a similar conclusion, albeit
they were working in teams and Higgs
was working alone. On the day that
Higgs submitted his first paper, another
proposing a near-identical theory, by
François Englert and Robert Brout of
the Free University of Brussels, ap-
peared in a different journal. Soon
afterwards Tom Kibble (Imperial
College London), Carl Hagen (Ro-
chester University, US) and Ger-
ald Guralnik (Brown Univers-
ity, US) chimed in with a simi-
lar idea. Over the years
Higgs would go out of his
way to ensure that his fel-
low researchers were
suitably credited, and
Higgs in the 1960s. Below, with the Belgian physicist François Englert, left,
who shared the 2013 Nobel, and Rolf-Dieter Heuer, the director-general of Cern
they in turn respected his generosity. “I
have no resentment with respect to
Higgs,” Brout once said. “He has been
more than fair.”
Higgs’s theory gained traction during
the late 1960s as other physicists devel-
oped the idea. In 1972 Benjamin Lee, a
physicist at Fermilab, a laboratory spe-
cialising in high-energy particle phys-
ics near Chicago, began referring to the
“Higgs boson” and the name stuck.
Meanwhile, Steven Weinberg, another
American physicist, referred to the
Higgs mechanism, Higgs field and
Higgs boson in a scientific paper. The
terms soon became widespread, if still
only theoretical.
The Higgs boson soon became
known as the “God particle”, a term that
rankled somewhat with its theoriser, a
professed atheist. Typically, Higgs
would refuse to discuss the subject with
believers, saying that they were already
confused. “If they believe that story
about creation in seven days, are they
being intelligent?” he mused. The term
came about from a book by Leon Led-
erman entitled The God Particle: If the
Universe is the Answer, What is the
Question? (though Lederman later said
he had originally intended to call it the
“goddam particle”).
For several decades Higgs’s theory
stood unchallenged, but nor could any-
one prove it. Even into the 21st century
doubters and detractors continued to
snipe from the sidelines, including Ste-
phen Hawking, who once had a $100
bet with an American academic that
the Higgs boson would never be found.
Hawking lived to see his wallet light-
ened.
Interest in the theory fluctuated over
the years. It was taken up by the Cern
laboratory in Switzerland and in the
1980s hope rested on Cern’s Large Elec-
tron-Positron Collider, which acceler-
ated particles in opposite directions
around a 17-mile diameter ring before
smashing them into each other. It
proved unsuccessful and the collider
was eventually dismantled. Scientists at
Cern then used the same tunnel to
build a £3 billion Large Hadron Collid-
er, the most powerful “particle smash-
er”, to test Higgs’s ideas. When it began
operating on September 10, 2008,
Higgs expressed cautious optimism. “I
shall open a bottle of something,” he
said when asked what he might do if the
Higgs boson was found. “It will be
champagne — whisky takes a little
more time to drink.”
In 2012 the elusive particle was final-
ly detected by the Cern researchers.
Out of the hundreds of trillions of pro-
tons collided in the tunnels beneath the
French-Swiss border, a small hand-
Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
ful were seen to produce the tell-tale
signature of the Higgs. With their dis-
covery, the Higgs mechanism was con-
firmed and the great edifice of quantum
mechanics, known as the Standard
Model, was completed. On July 4 Peter
Higgs, now an elderly man with a shock
of white hair, large thick spectacles and
two hearing aids, pulled out a handker-
chief and wiped away a tear as he sat in
the Cern lecture hall listening to how
the particle had been located and the
theory that he had developed half a
century earlier had been proven.
Few doubted that in November 2013
the Nobel prize committee would hon-
our Higgs with its annual award in
physics, which he shared with Englert,
the surviving author of the main rival
paper. But the man himself was anxious
to avoid the fuss. On the day of the an-
nouncement he intended to disappear
into the western Highlands, but his son
pointed out that he had not started the
car for several months and the battery
was likely to be flat. Instead, Higgs left
his apartment in Edinburgh early, as al-
ways without a mobile phone, and
headed to the dockside suburb of Leith
for lunch. Later in the day he bumped
into a former neighbour who congratu-
lated him on the award. “What award?”
For decades his theory
stood unchallenged; nor
could anyone prove it
was Higgs’s mischievous reply.
Peter Ware Higgs was born in El-
swick, Newcastle upon Tyne, in 1929,
the son of Thomas Higgs, a BBC sound
engineer. His father’s work took the
family around the country which, com-
bined with Peter’s asthma, meant that
he was home-schooled for a time. The
family moved to Bristol, but when his
father was transferred to Bedford, Peter
and his Scottish mother, Gertrude (née
Coghill), remained in the West Coun-
try, where he was a pupil at Cotham
Grammar School, the alma mater of Higgs in 2007: for the theory that gave
Paul Dirac, known as the founding
father of quantum mechanics. Higgs Great Exhibition from a century
became enthused by Dirac’s work and earlier.
later spoke of the wonder of “under- Even as a student Higgs could be ob-
standing the world”. Yet he almost lost tuse. As president of the scientific Max-
interest in physics after seeing the dev- well Society at King’s he gave a speech in
astation caused by the allies’ bombing May 1950 on the theme “How can scien-
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. “These tists be sure the observations they make
were obviously things I didn’t want to are real?”. According to the notes of the
be involved in,” said Higgs, a devout meeting, his talk “aroused considerable
pacifist. controversy”. He conducted research at
At 17 he moved to City of University College London and Imperi-
London School, where he devel- al College, and in 1957 was appointed
oped a passion for mathematics. lecturer in mathematics at UCL.
Oxford and Cambridge were of He was also attracting a reputation
little interest. “These places for being shy, even something of a loner.
were all very well for the child- A former colleague at King’s recalled
ren of the idle rich,” he recalled. that whenever they went on a driving
“But if you were serious about holiday around Europe he would have
university, you went some- to sort Higgs out with a girlfriend. “It
where else.” Instead he read never worked out romantically,” re-
physics at King’s College called the friend. “He was never as ro-
London, staying on to com- mantically successful as the rest of us.”
plete a master’s and, in 1954, Higgs had first set eyes on Edinburgh
his PhD in molecular phys- in 1949, when he and another friend ar-
ics. It was funded by a research rived in the city for a hitch-hiking holi-
fellowship provided by the day in the western Highlands. The city’s
Royal Commission for the third international festival was in full
Exhibition of 1851, set up swing and he was thrilled by the excite-
with the proceeds of the ment and vibrancy of the Scottish capi-
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
him his eminence, the physicist needed no laboratory or expensive equipment, only a sharpened pencil and a notebook
tal. In 1955 he spent a year as a senior
research fellow at the city’s Tait Insti-
tute of Mathematical Physics, but it was
not until 1960 that he was offered a per-
manent position at the city’s university
as lecturer in mathematical physics.
Arriving in the autumn of that year
he was soon set his first mathematical
challenge. Nicholas Kemmer, the nu-
clear physicist, had arranged a Nato-
funded conference at the nearby New-
battle Abbey. Higgs was given responsi-
bility for the domestic arrangements,
including the provision of wine. De-
spite his best efforts, the number of bot-
tles set aside for dinner never quite tal-
lied with the number of empties after-
wards. Apparently some of the
delegates, among them two future
Nobel prizewinners, were hiding bot-
tles in a grandfather clock, which were
then used to lubricate their late-night
discussions.
While in London, Higgs had become
an activist in the Campaign for Nuclear
Disarmament (CND). It was at one of
their meetings in Edinburgh that he
met Jody Williamson, an idealistic
American linguist. They were married
in 1963 and had two sons, Chris, a com-
puter scientist, and Johnny, a jazz musi-
cian. However, Higgs’s fame soon put a
strain on their marriage. “One time I
backed out of a family holiday ... I got on
a plane and went to a conference,”
he said.
The couple divorced in 1972 and
thereafter his domestic arrangements
remained frozen in time. Friends joked
that his fifth-floor flat in the New Town
area of Edinburgh was a “bubble in the
space-time continuum”. He eschewed a
television, avoided the computer, only
had an email address (checked by a col-
league) because it was a university re-
quirement, and listened to music on
vinyl records. One of his sons bought
him a mobile phone for his 80th birth-
day, but he rarely turned it on and never
gave out the number.
Meanwhile, the pursuit of profes-
sional goals that had helped to ruin his
personal life now sent his research
career into limbo. “After the break-up
of my marriage, I think I just lost touch
with the things I should have been
learning about just to follow my own
work,” he said. “I couldn’t keep up.”
Over time he and Jody rekindled their
friendship and would attend classical
concerts together. Jody died in 2008
and Higgs, who was also an art lover
and a keen hill walker, is survived by
their sons.
From time to time Higgs suffered
moments of self-doubt. In March 1966,
while driving along the east coast of
‘My life has been ruined
by people recognising
me on the street’
America with his wife and their six-
month-old son, he suffered a panic
attack and had to stop the car. He had
been en route to present his theory at
Princeton University, where Albert
Einstein, who had been dead only a
decade, had developed much of his
work. He survived that gruelling or-
deal, followed by another at Harvard
where the physicists in the audience
had been instructed to “tear him to
shreds”. He was in the US on sabbatical
at the University of North Carolina, but
Higgs in 2013 with Professor Stephen Hawking, who once had a $100 bet that
the Higgs boson would never be found. Hawking lived to see his wallet lightened
his experiences of racism in the South
put him off any idea of an Ivy League
career in that country. Instead he
elected to remain at Edinburgh, being
appointed reader in 1970 and professor
of theoretical physics in 1980.
Although in later years he was fêted
by the University of Edinburgh, theirs
had often been an uneasy relationship.
After his original work theorising the
boson, Higgs published very little. He
had regular disputes with his superiors,
campaigned against the university’s
shareholdings in South African compa-
nies, took part in trade union activities
with the Association of University
Teachers and agitated for greater staff
involvement in the running of the phys-
ics department. For more than 20 years
he was not even on speaking terms with
the university’s principal, whom he had
failed to convince of the validity of the
1960s’ student protests.
Higgs retired in 1996 and for many
years kept his distance from his former
department. “Today, I wouldn’t get an
academic job,” he mused. “I don’t think
I would be regarded as productive
enough.” Indeed, his published papers
can be counted on two hands, com-
pared with the several per year that are
expected of academics nowadays. “I
was an embarrassment to the depart-
ment when they did research assess-
ment exercises,” he said. “A message
would go round the department,
‘Please give a list of your recent publica-
tions.’ And I would send back a state-
ment, ‘None’.” He liked to say that the
only reason he was kept on was because
of the distant prospect that he might
win a Nobel prize and the university
would then bask in the reflected glory.
He felt sorry for younger academics. “I
think anybody who wanted to pursue
the kind of interests I pursued would
need to do it a bit surreptitiously as a
spare time activity.”
Later there was talk of a Peter Higgs
building in the university’s physics de-
partment, but this morphed into a
Higgs Centre for Innovation, which
displeased this shy and modest man.
“In spite of my never having any real
connection with it, they put my name
on it and my name shouldn’t be on it,”
he grumbled before it opened in 2018.
Around friends, close colleagues and
those he knew well, Higgs was invari-
ably warm, funny and engaging. He
45
stuck to his principles, no matter how
unfashionable. When the CND began
opposing nuclear power as well as nu-
clear weapons, he resigned; when
Greenpeace opposed genetically modi-
fied crops, he again quit. Awarded the
Wolf prize in 2004 (jointly with Brout
and Englert), he refused to visit Jeru-
salem to collect it in person because of
his opposition to Israeli treatment of
Palestinians. Almost every other signif-
icant scientific prize also came his way,
including the Royal Society’s Copley
medal, the world’s oldest scientific hon-
our. In 2017 the 1851 Commission,
which had funded his original research
65 years earlier, awarded him its medal.
Higgs remained admirably distrust-
ing of the establishment in all its forms.
He turned down a knighthood in 1999
because of his belief that the honours
system is “used for political purposes by
the government in power” and only ac-
cepted a Companion of Honour
because he believed, mistakenly, that it
was the personal gift of the Queen.
Later he would joke that the post-nomi-
nal letters CH meant he was “honorary
Swiss”.
He grew to dislike the publicity that
came with the discovery of the boson
and winning the Nobel prize. “My life
has been ruined by people recognising
me on the street and wanting a selfie,”
grumbled the sprightly man who pre-
ferred to be as elusive as his boson. In a
rare Times interview in 2017, he added:
“I hardly dare to go to the school of
physics because a horde of students
from the Far East will descend on me
bearing smartphones. It’s made partic-
ularly difficult by the fact that a portrait
of me hangs on the stairway — they
know what to look for.”
Higgs would later describe his work
in 1964 as “the climax of my career”,
adding that it was almost the end of it,
“because I didn’t do much of interest
afterwards”. As for the Higgs boson it-
self, he saw very little use for it, other
than understanding the origins of the
universe. “It’s very difficult for me to
imagine anybody doing anything use-
ful with that particle,” he told Tom
Whipple in The Times. “I don’t see any
future for it at all.”
Professor Peter Higgs CH FRS, theoretical
physicist, was born on May 29, 1929. He
died on April 8, 2024, aged 94
46
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HE THAT handleth a matter wisely shall
find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD,
happy is he.
Proverbs 16.20 (AV)
Bible verses are provided by the
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Births
CARBONI on 27th March 2024 to Liberty
(née Marchant) and Julius, a daughter,
Cecilia Taylor.
Legal Notices
Invitation to submit an
Expression of Interest for the
"Construction of Breakwater and
Complementary Works for
Puerto Exterior"
San Antonio, Chile
Within the framework of the port
development policy promoted by the
State of Chile, Empresa Portuaria San
Antonio invites specialized companies
to express their interest in
participating in the construction of the
"Breakwater and Complementary
Works of Puerto Exterior"
Description of the project:
"Puerto Exterior" will be in the
southern area of the San Antonio Port
precinct, located in the City of San
Antonio, Valparaíso Region,
approximately 100 km from the city of
Santiago.
In compliance with the regulations in
force in the country, Empresa Portuaria
San Antonio will develop the basic
infrastructure -breakwater and
complementary works- of "Puerto
Exterior" and, subsequently, will
tender the construction and operation,
through the granting of
port concessions to private parties, of
each of the four port terminals
contemplated in the project.
The transfer capacity of "Puerto
Exterior" will be 6 million TEUs per
year, once all its phases have
been completed.
Description of the breakwater and
complementary works:
The works to be considered in the
expression of interest include the
construction of a breakwater of
approximately 4 kilometers in length,
dredging around the future dock, filling
of platforms and complementary works
such as roads and railroad access to
the terminals.
Companies expressing interest:
Interested parties may be national and
foreign companies, with proven
experience in the development of large
port works and/or marine dredging,
being able to demonstrate
such experience individually or as part
of a consortium.
Communication and deadline:
Companies interested in having more
detailed information on this invitation
and that have accreditable experience,
should contact Empresa Portuaria San
Antonio through the following
email: eoi@puertosanantonio.com
Expressions of interest, together with
the background of the relevant
experience indicated, must be
submitted until May 31st, 2024.
CR-2024-000455
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
BUSINESS AND PROPERTY
COURTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES
COMPANIES COURT (ChD)
BEFORE INSOLVENCY AND
COMPANIES COURT JUDGE
BURTON
DATED 26 MARCH 2024
IN THE MATTER OF IMETA
TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
AND IN THE MATTER OF THE
COMPANIES ACT 2006
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the
Order of the High Court of Justice
Chancery Division dated 26 March 2024
confirming the reduction of the share
capital of the above-named company
from £836.02 to £832.02 by cancelling
and extinguishing all of the issued
ordinary B shares of £0.01 each in the
capital of the company and the
Statement of Capital approved by the
Court were registered by the Registrar
of Companies on 4 April 2024.
Dated: 8 April 2024
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
Governor’s House
5 Laurence Pountney Hill
London
EC4R 0BR
Ref. 3013364.000001/JSM
Solicitors for the above-named
company
FINLEY
on 3rd April 2024 to Siobhan and
Daniel, a daughter, Aurelia May Sadie
Finley, sister to Ruari.
Forthcoming Marriages
MR O. J. MIDDLEDITCH
AND MISS L. E. CLOWES
The engagement is announced between
Oliver, younger son of Mr Matthew
Middleditch, of Burnham Overy Staithe,
Norfolk, and Mrs Penelope Middleditch, of
Catfield, Norfolk, and Lucy, daughter of Mr
George and Lady Rose Clowes, of Ham,
Wiltshire.
CAPTAIN I. A. WEALE SCOTS
GUARDS AND MISS V. E. P. HUDD
The engagement is announced between
Ivo, son of Lt Col and Mrs Adrian Weale, of
London W8, and Venetia, daughter of Mr
and Mrs David Hudd, also of London W8.
DR. G. J. N. TOWNSEND
AND MISS E. S. G. WARDE-ALDAM
The engagement is announced between
George, middle son of Andrew Townsend
and Margaret Nairne of Faringdon,
Oxfordshire, and Grace, daughter of Jamie
and Amynta Warde-Aldam of Healey,
Northumberland.
Deaths
BAKER Molly (née Slater) died peacefully
on 19th February 2024, aged 90. Much-
loved wife of Clive, mother of John, Nigel
and Sarah and loving grandmother. Funeral
held at Croydon Crematorium, 3rd April.
Donations to British Heart Foundation
welcome.
BOSWELL John Robert Douglas died
peacefully on 2nd April 2024, husband of
Therese and father of Mark, Simon, Hamish
and the late Nicolas, and much-loved
grandfather of Harry, Alex, Jay, Keiki and
Blake. Funeral at St Michael’s Church,
Gittisham, noon on Wednesday 24th April.
BOYLE Jennifer Catherine (Jenni) died on
27th March 2024, aged 74, after a sudden
illness. Dearly beloved wife of Michael and
mother of Emma. Funeral at the Church of
the Ascension, Burghclere RG20 9JW on
Wednesday 17th April at 1pm. Inquiries to
West Berks FD, 44 London Road Newbury
RG14 1LA Tel, 01635 43355.
BRIDGEMAN John H. O. At home,
Boreland, on 2 April 2024, aged 85. Much-
loved husband, father and grandfather.
Funeral at Holy Trinity, Lockerbie, noon on
Tuesday 16th April 2024.
Court Circular
Buckingham Palace
9th April, 2024
Mr Andrew Bailey (Governor of the
Bank of England) was received by
The King this morning.
Ms Angela Macro was received by
The King upon her appointment as
British High Commissioner to Papua
New Guinea.
Ms Joanne McPhail was received
by The King upon her appointment
as British High Commissioner to the
Gabonese Republic.
Dr Alastair McPhail was also
received by His Majesty.
Mr Alastair Long was received in
audience by The King and kissed
hands upon his appointment as His
Majesty’s Ambassador to the
Kingdom of Bahrain.
Mrs Long was also received by His
Majesty.
Mrs Alison Thorpe was received by
The King upon her appointment as
British High Commissioner-designate
to the Republic of Rwanda.
Mr Reuben Thorpe was also
Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
Lives remembered
BYWATER Murray Lloyd died peacefully
Michael Tanner performance fully engaged him Lord Hoyle
on 4th April in the Isle of Wight, aged 85.
Much-loved husband of Pamela, father of (such as Longborough Festival
Nick, Jane, Giles and Tom, grandfather of David Opera’s Tristan in 2017, con- Nicholas
Amelia, Sam, Ben, Hannah, Evie and Wilf. Woodhead ducted by Anthony Negus and Bennett JP,
Private family funeral. Thanksgiving service
in Odiham to be announced. writes: directed by Carmen Jakobi, or vice chair-
Michael Furtwängler’s 1944 Bruckner 8 man, Asso-
ILLIS Nicky (née Pattison) on 29th March
Tanner in Vienna, about which we cor- ciation of
2024, aged 53, much-loved wife of Seb and
wonderful mother to Luke and Eliza died (obituary, responded) his enthusiasm was Former
peacefully at home. Taken far too soon. April 6) was boundless. Members of
KEAVENEY Benn (born Peter Bernard) not easily Parliament,
died peacefully on 29th March 2024, aged pleased. In Professor Nicholas Marston writes: Un-
67. Benn, CEO, Emeritus Mind
one of his opera reviews he writes: Michael Tanner’s phe- like some left-wing Labour
Hammersmith, Fulham, Ealing & Hounslow,
died in his sleep after a short illness. quoted a Susan Sontag essay in nomenal record collection, re- MPs, Doug Hoyle (obituary,
Funeral at St Marylebone Crematorium,
East End Road, London N2 0RZ, 12pm
which she wrote: “The depth ferred to by Chris Ramsey April 8) was a genial man who
Thursday 11 April 2024. Flowers to A and grandeur of feeling of (Lives Remembered, April 8), happily chatted to colleagues in
France, 45 Lamb’s Conduit Street WC1N which Wagner is capable is functioned as a lending library other parties in the Commons. I
3NH. Donations to Mind.org.uk/donate;
Médecins sans Frontières, msf.org.uk. RIP. combined in his greatest work to undergraduate and graduate was delighted to renew our ac-
with an extraordinary delicacy members of Corpus Christi Col- quaintance when, as chief exec-
ORR-EWING in the depiction of emotion. It is lege. This was an enormous utive of the Association for
Ann (née Terry) this delicacy that may finally boon to those of us reading Consultancy and Engineering,
1931 - 2024 convince us that we are indeed music, as neither the university he joined our parliamentary
Died peacefully at home on Easter
in the presence of that rarest of nor the city had anything group for those with an interest
Saturday, 30th March 2024. Beloved
wife of the late Hamish Orr-Ewing. A achievements in art, the rein- remotely of the kind. Michael in construction and engineer-
private service and cremation will be
held in memory of Ann. No flowers
vention of sublimity.” To which was “at home” 6.45-7pm on ing. As a peer Doug regular at-
please. Donations if desired to the Tanner added, with a character- Monday evenings, and one tended functions organised by
Dingle Tree Planting Project c/o Hillier istic sting in the tail: “For a per- never came away disappointed. the association of former MPs
Funeral Service, Kingshill House, Kent
Road, Swindon SN1 4NH. Inquiries formance of any of Wagner’s It was wise, however, to be and was delighted when his son
01793 522797. mature works, either we feel we punctual in returning loans: I Lindsay became our patron
are in the presence of sublimity well remember him confronting after his election as Speaker.
ROBINSON Crispin Charles 22.12.1959-
or the whole thing is a frustrat- one of my contemporaries in
ing waste of time, as almost all New Court and demanding,
6.4.2024. Scholar, consummate teacher,
generous tutor and very dear friend. performances are.” with Hagen-like menace: “Her @
Liberatus a dolore. Requiescat in pace.
On the other hand, when a den Ring!”
YOUNG Elizabeth Eileen (née Giblett) died
peacefully on 5th April 2024, aged 93. A
unique and invincible spirit.
Thanksgiving Services
DAME ANN LESLIE
Readers’ Lives
A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of
Dame Ann Leslie will be held at St Bride’s
Church, Fleet Street, on Thursday 23rd May
2024 at 11.30am. Please indicate if you
intend to come, via this link: https://
www.eventbrite.com/e/service-of-
thanksgiving-for-the-life-of-dame-ann-leslie-
tickets-865381488327. No tickets will be
issued.
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Listen to Matt Chorley on
Times Radio, Monday to
Friday at 10am
50%
discount for
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received by His Majesty.
The Princess Royal, on behalf of
The King, held an Investiture at
Windsor Castle this morning.
St James’s Palace
9th April, 2024
The Princess Royal, accompanied by
Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, this
afternoon opened Tideway’s Chelsea
Quay, Chelsea Embankment, London
SW3, and was received by General Sir
Adrian Bradshaw (Deputy Lieutenant
of Greater London).
Her Royal Highness, Master, the
Corporation of Trinity House,
accompanied by Admiral Laurence,
this evening attended the Seventieth
Anniversary of Re-Hallowing Service
at St Olave’s Church, 8 Hart Street,
London EC3, followed by a Reception
at Trinity House, Trinity Square,
London EC3.
Executive who changed
Kensington Palace
9th April, 2024
fortunes in the car trade
The Duke of Gloucester, Royal
Patron, Peace and Prosperity Trust, JAMES TYRRELL, WHO DIED AGED 60, APPEARED IN THE TIMES ON AUGUST 27, 2022
this morning received Mr Rajai
Khouri (Chairman).
His Royal Highness, Patron, the
Commemorate the life of a friend or relative in
Readers’ Lives, a service in contracted tributes
Worshipful Company of
Pattenmakers, this afternoon received
Mr Patrick Tyrrell upon relinquishing
his appointment as Master and Mr
Keith Bottomley upon assuming the Call 020 7782 5583 or email
appointment.
readerslives@thetimes.co.uk
Ms Claire Hobson (Clerk) was
present.
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the times | Wednesday April 10 2024 51

Weather
Today Cloud and rain spreading eastwards, heaviest in northwestern areas. Max 15C (59F), min 3C (37F) Weather Eye
Paul Simons
Around Britain Five days ahead Wind speed Sea state Orkney Shetland
Key: b=bright, c=cloud, d=drizzle, pc=partly cloudy Drier and warm for a 34 Calm
du=dull, f=fair, fg=fog, h=hail, m=mist, r=rain, (mph) 21 7
sh=showers, sl=sleet, sn=snow, s=sun, t=thunder time in southern Britain, Slight 11
*=previous day **=data not available otherwise turning fresher Temperature Moderate
Rough
Temp C Rain mm Sun hr* and staying unsettled 28 (degrees C)
8
midday yesterday 24 hrs to 5pm yesterday
8 16
6 R 17.4 5.0
Tomorrow Flood alerts and warnings
Aberdeen
Some sunny intervals at times over
Aberporth 8 B 11.2 0.7
Ireland, Scotland and northwestern At 17:00 on Tuesday there were 7
Anglesey 10 B 6.0 0.8 England, otherwise it will be cloudy 188 flood alerts and 43 warnings in 7
Aviemore 5 R 18.2 4.7 with showery rain. Overcast in Wales England, 29 flood alerts and three
and western England. Dry elsewhere.

O
Barnstaple ** ** 3.4 ** 32 C F n March 23 a British
warnings in Wales and 12 flood alerts Aberdeen
Bedford 8 C 1.4 ** Max 19C, min 7C 35 95
and six warnings in Scotland. couple, Mike and Helen
Belfast 9 R 8.4 0.3
For further information and updates 30 86
Birmingham 7 R 8.2 **
in England visit flood-warning- 25 77 Beech, were on their
Bournemouth 10 C 3.2 0.7 14 NORTH yacht in the Bahamas
Bridlington 12 C 2.8 **
information.service.gov.uk, for Wales 20 68
naturalresources.wales/flooding and SEA 15 59 when the mast was
Bristol 11 C 3.2 0.3
for Scotland SEPA.org.uk 9
Camborne 10 PC 3.0 0.6
16 Edinburgh
10 50
struck by lightning. The couple saw
Cardiff 10 C 6.2 0.0 31 Glasgow 5 41
Edinburgh 7 R 13.4 4.0
19
0 32
a flash of white and blue light before
Eskdalemuir 7 R 18.8 **
8 24 -5 23 an “almighty bang” that blew all the
Glasgow 9 C 19.4 5.2
15
-10 14 onboard navigation equipment,
Hereford 9 C 4.6 ** Londonderry
Herstmonceux 9 R 3.6 3.4 ATLANTIC
-15 5 although the couple were
Ipswich 8 C 1.2 3.1
Newcastle unharmed.
OCEAN Carlisle
Isle of Man 9 C 45.4 0.1
Friday Belfast Yachts are especially vulnerable to
Isle of Wight 11 C 1.2 ** 10
Jersey 11 C 4.0 1.8 Warm and dry over southern Britain 13 9 lightning strikes, with a mast
with sunny spells. Blustery and rather
Keswick 7 R 33.8 ** cloudy with showery rain in Scotland,
12
rk
York standing up high above the water
Kinloss 7 R 14.0 8.4 Ireland and northern England. like a lightning conductor. Typically,
30
Leeds 5 R 13.6 ** Max 19C, min 3C
Lerwick 7 R 7.6 6.9 Manchester Hull
anything close to the mast when
Leuchars 7 R 16.0 3.6 Liverpoo
Liverpool 10 lightning strikes can be destroyed,
Lincoln 11 R 5.0 2.0 Galway IRISH 21
such as wind instruments, television
Liverpool 8 C 20.4 ** 13 SEA Sheffield
London 9 R 3.0 1.4 Dublin
Llandudno
13 antennas, radar, lights and anything
Lyneham 9 C 4.4 0.0 electronic inside the boat. Lightning
Manchester 8 R 13.2 1.0
Margate 9 C 1.2 6.2
17 14
Shrewsbury
Nottingham can also punch holes through the
Milford Haven 10 PC 14.6 ** 19
Norwich
fibreglass hull of a yacht.
Newcastle 7 R 33.0 ** 30 10 In July 2009 a bolt of lightning
Nottingham 8 C 6.0 0.5 Birmingham
Orkney 7 R 14.6 10.2 17
Cork
Cambridge struck a yacht in Loch Ness after it
Oxford 9 R 2.8 ** 11 had nearly completed a round-the-
Swansea Oxford 14
Plymouth 11 R 2.4 ** world voyage. The Norwegian family
Portland 10 PC 0.0 ** Cardiff
Scilly, St Mary’s 11 PC 3.6 **
Saturday Channel Islands CELTIC 13 on board heard a huge bang and saw
Shoreham 9 R 3.6 2.4 Mostly cloudy with outbreaks of
SEA Bristol London a lot of smoke coming out from
rain over Scotland, Ireland, northern
Shrewsbury 8 R 8.0 0.0 13
Snowdonia 7 C 41.0 **
England and western Wales. Dry
elsewhere with sunny spells. Southampton
inside the boat, while a teenager at
11 the wheel of the vessel had a lucky
Southend 10 C 0.8 1.8 Max 17C, min -1C eter
Exeter
South Uist 9 PC 0.2 ** 19 Plymouth Brighton escape when his wellington boots
Stornoway 9 C 0.2 8.8
Tiree 10 C 1.2 **
were burnt on the outside. The mast
Whitehaven 6 R 38.8 1.1 10
11 was destroyed, and three holes were
CHANNEL 19
Wick 7 R 19.8 ** 29 punched through the boat and
Yeovilton 11 C 0.8 0.0
cracked the walls of a cabin.
12
17 General situation: Dry with sunny increasing to bring showery rain during N Isles: The risk of an isolated shower, Other boats have suffered worse
The world spells in eastern Britain at first, the afternoon. Light increasing to otherwise it will be a dry day with incidents. In June 2022 lightning hit
All readings local midday yesterday
otherwise cloud will increase with rain moderate or fresh southwesterly wind. sunny spells. Moderate to fresh a fishing boat in the Gulf of Mexico
Alicante 22 S Madeira 19 PC 17 spreading eastwards. Maximum 14C (57F), minimum westerly wind, turning southerly later.
Amsterdam 12 B Madrid 12 S
some 100 miles off the coast of
SW Eng, N Ireland, Republic of Ireland, 9C (48F). Maximum 8C (46F), minimum 7C (45F).
Athens 22 S Malaga 19 S Wales, IoM: Overcast and misty with Cen S Eng, E Eng, Midlands, Channel Is: Cen N Eng, NW Eng, NE Eng, Scotland, Florida. The outrigger on the side of
Auckland 22 PC Mallorca 18 PC
outbreaks of rain spreading eastwards, Dry with sunny spells and some mist Lake District: Dry with some sunshine the boat exploded into splinters and
Bahrain 29 S Malta 21 PC Sunday
Bangkok 35 PC Melbourne 13 SH Mainly dry with some sunny spells in
heavy at times. Moderate to fresh patches at first, then cloud increasing at first but cloud soon increasing to caught fire, the engine and electrics
Barbados 30 PC Mexico City 27 S England and Wales, but thicker cloud south or southwesterly wind, strong to bring outbreaks of rain from the bring an overcast rest of the day with packed up and one passenger was
will bring the risk of a few showers at near the coast. Maximum 15C (59F), west. Some fog patches developing outbreaks of rain, heavy at times.
Barcelona 15 PC Miami 27 B
times. Cloud increasing over Scotland minimum 8C (46F). in the afternoon. Moderate to fresh Moderate to fresh southerly wind,
knocked unconscious. He recovered
Beijing 14 S Milan 17 C
Beirut 22 B Mombasa 32 B
and Ireland bringing rain or sleet.
E Anglia, SE Eng, London: Dry with southerly wind. Maximum 12C (54F), strong near the coast. Maximum after a few minutes, and everyone
Max 13C, min -1C
Belgrade 26 S Montreal 15 PC sunny spells in the morning but cloud minimum 9C (48F). 13C (55F), minimum 3C (37F). else on board was uninjured.
Berlin 26 S Moscow 16 PC The crew had already decided to
Bermuda 17 SH Mumbai 33 **
Bordeaux 14 PC Munich 19 S
8 Tides Noon today head to shore because conditions
Brussels 12 PC Nairobi 25 B Tidal predictions. LOW 1008 HIGH were growing stormy with high
22 S 24 S Heights in metres 1032 HIGH
Bucharest Naples
9
992 winds, 6ft waves and relentless
Budapest 25 S New Orleans 23 R Today Ht Ht 1024
Buenos Aires 23 B New York 17 B 13 Aberdeen 03:05 4.4 15:14 4.6 1016
LOW lightning. The coastguard was
Cairo 23 B Nice 16 B Avonmouth 09:14 14.4 21:33 14.1 1000 alerted by a distress signal from the
Calcutta 34 ** Nicosia 18 T Belfast --:-- -- 13:02 3.7 boat’s radio beacon and a helicopter
Canberra 8 SH Oslo 7 DU 13 09:05 13.2 21:21 13.0
Cardiff
Cape Town 18 R Paris 12 B 07:47 5.8 20:08 5.6
was dispatched and airlifted
Devonport
Chicago 19 S Perth 25 S
Dover --:-- -- 13:04 6.9 everyone to safety. The odds of a
Copenhagen 18 PC Prague 22 S 992 boat being struck by lightning in the
Monday Dublin 00:12 4.5 12:29 4.8 984
Corfu 24 S Reykjavik 2 SN
Delhi 35 ** Riga 21 S Blustery and feeling fresher with Falmouth 07:09 5.5 19:29 5.3 1016 LOW 1008 US are about one in 1,000, but in
sunny spells and scattering of Greenock 02:13 3.4 14:33 3.7
Dubai 31 S Rio de Janeiro 29 S
showers, heavy in places with some
1000
HIGH Cold front Florida lightning is so frequent that
Dublin 10 SH Riyadh 26 C Harwich 01:17 4.2 13:47 4.2 1016
Faro 19 S Rome 23 S
sleet, snow or hail.
Holyhead --:-- -- 12:10 6.1 1032 Warm front the chances of lightning damage to
Max 11C, min -3C 1024 1024
Florence 24 S San Francisco 19 S Hull 08:12 7.7 20:21 8.2 HIGH Occluded front boats are about four times higher.
Frankfurt 12 PC Santiago 24 S Leith 04:19 5.8 16:32 6.0 Trough
Geneva 9 B São Paulo 26 S Liverpool --:-- -- 13:01 10.0
Gibraltar
Helsinki
20
15
S
S
Seoul
Seychelles
19
30
S
PC
9 London Bridge
Lowestoft
03:31 7.5 15:58 7.3
11:26 2.5 23:30 2.8
Synoptic situation Highs and lows
24hrs to 5pm yesterday
Hours of darkness
Aberdeen 20:37-05:38
Speak directly to one
Hong Kong 25 PC Singapore 33 B An area of low pressure in
Honolulu 28 PC St Petersburg 15 S
11
Milford Haven
Morecambe
08:08 7.6 20:27 7.4
--:-- -- 13:11 10.2 the Atlantic will push a warm Warmest: Gosport,
Hampshire, 13.5C
Belfast
Birmingham
20:47-05:59
20:27-05:47 of our forecasters on
Istanbul 16 S Stockholm 16 S
Newhaven --:-- -- 13:07 7.0 front and blustery winds across Coldest: Cairngorm, -2.8C Cardiff 20:31-05:54
Jerusalem
Johannesburg
21
18
PC
PC
Sydney
Tel Aviv
20
21
SH
PC
10
Newquay 06:58 7.5 19:17 7.3 most of the British Isles,
bringing increasing amounts
Wettest: Ronaldsway,
Isle of Man, 45.4mm
Exeter 20:31-05:56 09065 777675
Oban 07:37 4.3 19:44 4.0 Sunniest: Kirkwall, 10.2hrs* Glasgow 20:43-05:50
Kuala Lumpur 35 PC Tenerife 24 PC and outbreaks of rain moving
** ** 19 SH 11 Penzance 06:31 5.9 18:51 5.7 Liverpool 20:33-05:50 8am to 5pm daily (calls are charged
Kyiv Tokyo eastwards, heaviest over high London
22 PC 8 R Portsmouth 01:00 4.9 13:13 4.8 Sun and moon 20:19-05:42 at £1.55 plus network extras)
Lanzarote Vancouver ground. A complex set of fronts For Greenwich Manchester 20:30-05:46
Las Palmas 23 PC Venice 20 PC Shoreham --:-- -- 13:18 6.6 Sun rises: 06.13
The Times weather page Southampton 00:31 4.8 12:46 4.7
will move over Britain and Newcastle 20:31-05:41
Lima 21 PC Vienna 23 S Sun sets: 19.48
08:17 10.2 20:34 10.0
Ireland overnight bringing low Moon rises: 06.45 Norwich 20:15-05:34
Lisbon 17 S Warsaw 26 S is provided by Swansea
cloud and some showery rain or Moon sets: 22.46 Penzance 20:38-06:05
Los Angeles 19 PC Washington 22 B Tees 05:30 5.7 17:37 5.9
Luxor 29 S Zurich 8 R
fog in many areas. First quarter: April 15 Sheffield 20:27-05:44
Weymouth 08:57 2.4 21:18 2.3 weatherquest.co.uk

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52
Sport
Woods is not
kidding when
he says ‘I can
get one more’
Owen Slot
Chief Sports
Writer, Augusta
In front of a heaving press room
yesterday Tiger Woods attempted to
persuade us that he is not a Masters
museum piece. We packed out the place
to hear him say it, though, and he may
be a 100-1 shot, but still we turn up in
numbers that no one else can draw. No,
I’m not a relic, he says. Yes, I can still
win this thing.
Of course, we scoff under our breath,
but there can be no one who leaves the
room without having some doubt sown
within. This is Tiger Woods; this is not
a usual human being.
Yet there is a tug-of-war over the
modern perception of Woods. To
almost every observer, his story now is
his fight with his own fitness, not the
battle to win. He said this year that he
hoped to play one tournament a
month, yet this is a man who has
completed only a single round on the
PGA Tour all year. If he beats the cut in
the Masters this week, that will be for
the 24th consecutive time, which would
be a record; wouldn’t that be achieve-
ment enough?
One guy in his press conference
asked him a question about what he
thought about being a “ceremonial”
golfer. Yes, he used the word “ceremoni-
al” and then asked if Woods, 48, had
thought about being one of the Thurs-
day morning starters — those epic
grandees who take a single drive on the
1st and then hobble off for a Horlicks.
“No, no,” Woods said. Not too impa-
tiently, mind.
Yet even the grandees are talking
past tense. Jack Nicklaus hailed his
future on the Seniors Tour. “He’d be
able to get in a cart,” he said, “and he’ll
absolutely kill everybody.”
McIlroy grouped with Scheffler in latest crack at career grand slam
The Masters
Rick Broadbent Augusta
Rory McIlroy will get to play with the
red-hot favourite Scottie Scheffler for
the first two rounds of the Masters.
Scheffler, the world No 1, won the
Green Jacket in 2022 and is the man to
beat again at Augusta National after six
consecutive top-ten finishes on the
PGA Tour, including wins at the Players
Championship and Arnold Palmer
Invitational. Xander Schauffele com-
pletes the marquee trio.
The defending champion Jon Rahm
is grouped with England’s Matt Fitz-
patrick and Nick Dunlap, who became
the youngest amateur to win on the
PGA Tour in January before turning
Yet Woods himself isn’t having it. It is
not that he hasn’t changed; his compet-
itive spirit is simmering rather than
boiling over. There is some grace in his
ageing. He will, for instance, happily sit
back and discuss his Augusta history. At
one point yesterday he described the
arc of his first Green Jacket and “hug-
ging my dad” to his fifth, when he
hugged his son, as “a full circle”.
Yet he doesn’t believe that circle is
necessarily complete, because the only
answer that really mattered here was
when he was asked what he believed he
could achieve this week and his answer
was: “If everything comes together, I
think I can get one more.”
When the answer was greeted by a
telling silence, he followed up with
heavy eye contact and: “Do I need to
describe that any more than that, or are
we good?”
What would that require? Most
obviously it would need him to over-
come the pain. “I hurt every day,” he
said. “I ache every day.”
His right ankle is now fused so, he
says, “the back, the knee, other parts of
the body have to take the load of it”. He
is OK on the flat of the tee box, but, he
says: “Once we start the hole, it’s a bit of
a challenge.” Then there is the chal-
lenge of 72 holes. He hasn’t completed
the full walk in a major for 24 months.
Therefore, as he says, he requires
everything to come together. “Some
days,” he says, “I just feel really good,
and other days, not so much.” So he has
to respond accordingly. “It’s a daily
adaptation.”
Clearly he has timed everything in
his rehabilitation to give himself a
chance of withstanding the physical
challenge at the Masters, but he needs
other elements to come together.
“I prefer it warm and humid and hot,”
he says. Last year it was cold and wet
and that was the end of him. This year
it will at least be warm; that will help.
The rain that is expected for the first
round will not. Neither will his draw
help him. He would have preferred to
professional. Tiger Woods plays with
Jason Day and Max Homa, while one of
the most intriguing trios comprises
Ludvig Aberg, Jordan Spieth and Sahith
Theegala.
McIlroy had not even arrived at
Augusta National yesterday when
Woods was stating that it was inevitable
that the world No 2 would win a Green
Jacket. McIlroy’s deliberately late en-
trance to this year’s Masters was part of
his plan to erase distractions and silence
the noise, so he was quick to disagree
with the 15-times major winner.
“It’s flattering and it’s nice to hear, in
my opinion, the best player to ever play
the game say something like that,” he
said. “Does it mean it’s going to happen?
Obviously not.”
Woods, 48, said that his body “hurt every day” – but he still believes in his ability
start early tomorrow and later on
Friday; that would have given him more
time to rest in between. A late struggle
on a wet afternoon tomorrow will
clearly be a test.
Put all that together and then throw
in that he hasn’t been able to compete
properly yet this year and there is only
one thing that can persuade you that he
has any chance of getting one more.
And that is the Tiger thing.
In the confines of his Florida home
we don’t know where the rehab project
McIlroy had been at the course for
only half an hour when he was ushered
into the plush media theatre at Augusta
National and raced through one of the
briefest press conferences of his Masters
career. He answered eight questions,
compared with the 28 faced by Woods,
but explained why he had chosen to get
to the course a day later than his rivals.
“I came up here last week to play two
practice rounds, so I feel like I’ve already
got most of my prep work done,” he said.
“It’s about going out there and being
relaxed and being in the right frame of
mind. The more I can do that, the more
I’ll be able to execute on the golf course.”
The urge to remain out of the lime-
light until the golf starts did not mean he
was not grateful for Woods’s assess-
has got to. We know he has been
working to mend his body; we know he
has been eking out every moment to
renew his game, but we don’t know how
successful this has been.
Of one thing we are sure: this is no
way to prepare for a major, but we also
know this is Woods and this is now the
only way he can do it.
And we also know, for sure, that
he would not be coming out tomorrow
if he didn’t think there was still
a chance.
ment. “He’s been around the game long
enough to know that I at least have the
potential to do it,” he said. “I know I’ve
got the potential too. It’s not as if I ha-
ven’t been a pretty good player for the
last couple of decades.”
Woods had said there was “no ques-
tion” McIlroy would win the Masters
and complete the career grand slam at
some point. “Rory’s too talented, too
good,” he said. “He’ll get it done. The tal-
ent he has, the way he plays the game
and the way the golf course fits his eyes
— it’s just a matter of time. Rory will be
a great Masters champion one day and
it could be this week.”
Yesterday was media day at the Mas-
ters, when a raft of players rolled into
the theatre in a sort of antebellum man-
Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
Full Masters tee-times
United States unless stated
* denotes amateur
All times BST
First round: 1pm — second round:
4.06pm Erik van Rooyen (SA),
Jake Knapp.
1.12-4.18 José Maria Olazábal (Sp),
Taylor Moore, *Santiago de la
Fuente (Mex).
1.24-4.30 Danny Willett (Eng),
Austin Eckroat, Stephan Jäger (Ger).
1.36-4.42 Charl Schwartzel (SA),
Luke List, *Christo Lamprecht (SA).
1.48-4.54 Gary Woodland, Thorbjorn
Olsen (Den), Bryson DeChambeau.
2pm-5.12 Zach Johnson, Corey
Conners (Can), *Jasper Stubbs (Aus).
2.12-5.24 Sergio García (Sp), Chris
Kirk, Ryan Fox (NZ).
2.24-5.36 Lucas Glover, An Byeong-
hun (S Kor), Harris English.
2.36-5.48 Phil Mickelson, Sepp
Straka (Austria), Tony Finau.
2.48-6pm Nick Taylor (Can), Joaquin
Niemann (Chile), Russell Henley.
3.06-6.12 Patrick Cantlay, Lee
Min-woo (Aus), Rickie Fowler.
3.18-6.24 Hideki Matsuyama (Japan),
Will Zalatoris, Justin Thomas.
3.30-6.36 Jon Rahm (Sp),
Matt Fitzpatrick (Eng), Nick Dunlap.
3.42-6.48 Scottie Scheffler, Rory
McIlroy (N Ire), Xander Schauffele.
3.54-7pm Wyndham Clark,
Viktor Hovland (Nor), Cameron
Smith (Aus).
4.06-1pm Lee Hodges, Adrian
Meronk (Pol), Grayson Murray.
4.18-1.12 Camilo Villegas (Col), Denny
McCarthy, Cameron Davis (Aus).
4.30-1.24 Mike Weir (Can), Ryo
Hisatsune (Japan), *Neal Shipley.
4.42-1.36 Vijay Singh (Fiji), Kim
Si-woo (S Kor), Emiliano Grillo (Arg).
4.45-1.48 Fred Couples, Adam
Hadwin (Can), *Stewart Hagestad.
5.12-2pm Justin Rose (Eng),
Eric Cole, Peter Malnati.
5.24-2.12 Akshay Bhatia, James
Tyree Poston, Shane Lowry (Ire).
5.36-2.24 Bubba Watson, Nicolai
Hojgaard (Den), Adam Schenk.
5.48-2.36 Patrick Reed, Im Sung-jae
(S Kor), Kurt Kitayama.
6pm-2.48 Keegan Bradley, Matthieu
Pavon (Fr), Tyrrell Hatton (Eng).
6.12-3.06 Adam Scott (Aus),
Sam Burns, Cameron Young.
6.24-3.18 Tiger Woods, Jason Day
(Aus), Max Homa.
6.36-3.30 Brian Harman,
Brooks Koepka, Tom Kim (S Kor).
6.48-3.42 Jordan Spieth, Ludvig
Aberg (Swe), Sahith Theegala.
7pm-3.54 Dustin Johnson, Collin
Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood (Eng).
sion that is Augusta’s answer to a press
tent. Rahm was one of those and he
countered criticism of his preparations
on the LIV Golf circuit.
Nick Faldo had alleged the competi-
tion did not provide the necessary in-
tensity and that “resort courses” were
not the breeding ground of champions,
but Rahm said: “The competition’s still
there. They’re smaller fields but you
have to beat some of the best players in
the world and you still have to play at
the same level you play on the PGA
Tour to win those events.”
His fellow LIV man, Bryson De-
Chambeau, added an unusual reason
for leaving. “I think my mom would
have probably smacked me for not
taking the deal,” he said.
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024 V2 53

One squad, eight flights –
White’s fury at cup chaos
Rugby union Jake White has criticised
the South African Rugby Union for
the chaos of his Vodacom Bulls squad
needing to travel to England on eight
different flights for their Champions
Cup quarter-final with Northampton
Saints (Will Kelleher writes).
The Bulls beat Lyon 59-19 on
Saturday in Pretoria to book their
place in their first Champions Cup
quarter-final. The next day the Saints
beat Munster to earn the right to host
the South African side at Franklin’s
Gardens on Saturday night.
But the players have not been able
to travel to the game together, with
White expressing his anger at the
governing body for not holding
flights, in the hope that Munster
would beat Northampton to give the
Bulls a home tie.
Twenty-four starting Bulls players
have travelled from Johannesburg to
Heathrow on a direct flight in
business class. Four other players and
management are going via Frankfurt.
SA Rugby said last night that the rest
of the touring party of four
management and players, travelled
via Zurich to Birmingham, or Doha
and Dubai to London. They will have
to take the same routes home.
White, the club’s director of rugby,
said: “If you are talking about a
competition where you want to be the
best in the world, that doesn’t add up.”
Draper misses chance to
close gap on British No 1
Tennis Jack Draper missed out on an
opportunity to edge closer to the
British No 1 spot with a three-set
defeat by Hubert Hurkacz, the world
No 8, in the first round of the Monte
Carlo Masters (Stuart Fraser writes).
The 22-year-old, who is ranked
No 39 in the world, admitted recently
that becoming the best player in the
country was a goal this season and
Sport
the door had opened this week when
the incumbent, Cameron Norrie, lost
his opening match on the French
Riviera. But a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2) defeat
by Hurkacz means the wait goes on.
Draper played well and battled
hard from 5-3 down in the deciding
set, moving to within a game of
victory at 6-5 up. Hurkacz, 27, who
had won the Estoril Open only
48 hours beforehand, showed his
experience and produced a dominant
finish to deny his younger opponent.

3.30 Handicap Hurdle (£4,093: 2m 1f) (16)

Kempton Park
Rob Wright
8.30 Handicap (£3,140: 1m 4f) (13)

3.10 Novice Stakes (£7,668: 6f) (6)

5.30 Novice Stakes 4.25 Handicap (£3,716: 6f) (8)
(2-Y-O: £3,672: 5f) (8 runners)

3.40 Handicap
(3-Y-O: £2,983: 1m 1f 104yd) (9)
4.00 Handicap Chase (£4,489: 2m 1f) (11)
5.00 Handicap (£3,716: 1m 4f) (9)
Lingfield Park
6.00 Novice Stakes (£3,780: 1m) (10) Rob Wright

4.10 Handicap (3-Y-O: £2,983: 1m 4f) (8)

1.52 Handicap (3-Y-O: £2,983: 1m) (7)

Market Rasen 4.35 Open NH Flat Race

Rob Wright (Div I: £2,178: 2m 1f) (11)

6.30 Handicap (£6,281: 1m) (12)

2.22 Handicap (£2,983: 7f) (14)
1.57 Maiden Hurdle (£4,084: 2m 5f) (15) 4.45 Handicap (£2,983: 1m 1f) (11)

5.10 Open NH Flat Race

(Div II: £2,178: 2m 1f) (10)

7.00 Handicap (3-Y-O: £6,281: 7f) (5) 5.20 Handicap (Div I: £2,983: 6f) (12)
2.52 Handicap (3-Y-O: £2,983: 5f) (6)
2.30 Handicap Hurdle (£4,093: 2m 5f) (13)

Wolverhampton
Rob Wright
7.30 Handicap (3-Y-O: £6,281: 1m 3f) (6)
3.22 Maiden Stakes (£5,670: 1m 2f) (11)

2.05 Handicap (£2,983: 5f) (10) 5.50 Handicap (Div II: £2,983: 6f) (11)

3.00 Handicap Chase (£7,922: 2m 3f) (7)

8.00 Handicap (£6,281: 2m) (6)

3.52 Handicap (£4,972: 7f) (10)

2.40 Maiden Stakes (2-Y-O: £3,402: 5f) (6)

Yesterday’s racing results

Hereford
Going: soft (heavy in places)
2.30 (2m 8yd ch) 1, Trapista (Jonjo O’Neill Jr,
15-2); 2, Pep Talking (9-4 fav); 3, Famoso (11-4).
8 ran. 7l, l. Jonjo O’Neill.
3.00 (2m 3f 147yd hdle) 1, Shillanavogy
(James Bowen, 4-1); 2, Ionity (25-1);
3, Whynotnowroy (11-2). 10 ran. NR: Another
Lord, Buck Of Maine, Ceejaybe. 6l, 1 l.
W Greatrex.
3.30 (2m 4f 194yd ch) 1, Village Master
(James Bowen, 5-1); 2, Jack Doyen (3-1 fav);
3, Supasunrise (18-5). 7 ran. 1 l, ns.
W Greatrex.
4.00 (2m 53yd hdle) 1, Ask Me Another
(C Price, 11-4); 2, Rockola (6-4 fav); 3, Crystal
Glance (15-2). 8 ran. 7l, 2 l. R L Llewellyn.
4.30 (2m 53yd hdle) 1, Our Dylan (Ben
Godfrey, 4-1); 2, Tour Ovalie (13-8 fav); 3,
Mambo Beat (6-1). 7 ran. 2 l, 11l. K Woollacott.
5.00 (2m 5f 163yd hdle) 1, El Granjero (Stan
Sheppard, 4-9 fav); 2, Cabhfuilfungi (7-1); 3,
Petty Cash (14-1). 5 ran. NR: Kapamazov, River
Of Joy. 6l, 3 l. C Boultbee-Brooks.
Placepot: £18.40. Quadpot: £3.60.
Thirsk
Going: heavy
2.15 (5f) 1, Atherstone Warrior (K T O’Neill,
7-4 fav); 2, Arabie (9-2); 3, Dukes Of Haather
(5-2). 7 ran. l, 3 l. Alice Haynes.
2.45 (1m 4f 8yd) 1, Clansman (B Garritty, 3-1);
2, Ebony Maw (9-1); 3, Dark Jedi (13-2). 7 ran.
NR: A Gift Of Love, Bearaway, Lawmaker. 7l, 1l.
L Bailey.
3.15 (6f) 1, Burj Malinka (P Mathers, 7-2);
2, Stormy Pearl (8-1); 3, Jack Of Clubs (12-1).
13 ran. l, 1 l. Adrian Nicholls.
3.45 (6f) 1, Nights Over Egypt (Jason Watson,
11-1); 2, Yazaman (15-2); 3, Wreck It Ryley (12-1).
13 ran. l, sh hd. R Menzies.
4.15 (5f) 1, Glory Fighter (Mark Winn, 11-1);
2, Illusionist (11-4 fav); 3, Thunder Star (12-1).
13 ran. NR: Majeski Man. Sh hd, 6 l. P T
Midgley.
4.45 (7f) 1, Sea The Dream (Connor Beasley,
7-2); 2, Asteverdi (7-1); 3, Catton Lady (5-1).
9 ran. 1l, 1 l. E Bethell.
5.15 (7f 218yd) 1, Hostelry (Joanna Mason, 9-
1); 2, Lunario (16-1); 3, Love Your Work (17-2). 12
ran. NR: Knight Of Magic. 4 l, l. Mrs R Carr.
5.45 (7f) 1, Highfield Viking (Jason Hart, 8-1);
2, Buckshaw Village (66-1); 3, Russco (4-1).
14 ran. NR: Sluzewiec, Willow Baby. l, 5l.
J & S Quinn.
Placepot: £299.90.
Quadpot: £44.60.
Southwell
Going: standard
5.30 (4f 214yd) 1, Leodis Dream (D Nolan, 9-1);
2, Masterclass (7-4 fav); 3, Birkenhead (9-2).
6 ran. 1 l, l. P T Midgley.
6.00 (1m 6f 21yd) 1, Cool Party (J Fanning,
2-1); 2, Robusto (4-1); 3, Isle Of Sark (6-4 fav).
6 ran. 2l, l. C Johnston.
6.30 (1m 3f 23yd) 1, Bearwith (Cam Hardie,
5-1); 2, Percy Willis (12-1); 3, Iron Lion (13-2).
8 ran. Nk, 1 l. H Bethell.
7.00 (1m 13yd) 1, Great Blasket (K Shoemark,
5-1); 2, Wadacre Grace (14-1); 3, Sycamore
(20-1). 14 ran. 1 l, l. Dr R Newland & J Insole.
7.30 (7f 14yd) 1, Joe Gargery (S A Gray, 33-1);
2, General Assembly (17-2); 3, Gressington
(30-100 fav). 11 ran. NR: I Predict A Riot, King
Of Codes. Nk, 1 l. K A Ryan.
8.00 (7f 14yd) 1, Bellarchi (Brandon Wilkie,
11-1); 2, Zainabb (4-1); 3, Royal Elysian (9-2).
7 ran. l, 3 l. Grant Tuer.
8.30 (2m 102yd) 1, Socialist Agenda (Rossa
Ryan, 13-8 fav); 2, Easy Equation (7-4);
3, Foinix (5-1). 7 ran. NR: Three Dons. 3l, 3 l.
L Morgan.
Jackpot: Not won. Pool of £5,548.14 carried
forward to Kempton today.
Placepot: £616.60. Quadpot: £105.50.
54
Sport Gymnastics
‘I’m retiring after
the Olympics
– but I’m as
motivated
as ever’
Max Whitlock tells Alyson Rudd that he almost quit
after Tokyo Games – until his five-year-old daughter
inspired him to make final bid for fourth gold medal
T
he arena will fall silent as
Max Whitlock attempts to
make history at this
summer’s Olympics, around
the point at which Willow,
his five-year old-daughter, is highly
likely to call out “Daddy” and give
him a thumbs-up for his last
competitive spin on the pommel.
Whitlock is announcing today that
he will retire from gymnastics in
August at the conclusion of the men’s
apparatus finals in Paris. It is a sport
that has been at the centre of his life
and brought him three Olympic gold
medals — two in the pommel at Rio
2016 and Tokyo 2021 and one for the
floor exercise in Rio.
Having also claimed bronze at
London 2012 in the pommel, the
31-year-old will be attempting to
become the first gymnast to win a
medal on the same piece of apparatus
at four consecutive Games.
That Whitlock is leaving the sport
is not a shock given he is, on paper,
eight years past his peak, but it is
significant that he is going public well
before the Games begin.
“I don’t think anybody truly knows
when is the right time to announce,”
he says. “But for me what feels good is
that I’ve been asked the question
constantly since 2016. ‘When are you
finishing? When are you retiring? If I
were you, I would stop now.’
“I thought I was done after Tokyo
and now I’m back. Now I’m in a really
clear headspace. I want to get it out
there so it’s off my shoulders, if I’m
really honest. It feels a nice thing to
be able to answer the question people
constantly ask me.”
This month Whitlock will compete
at the European Championships in
Rimini as a final preparation — not
only on the pommel but also the
parallel bars and probably the high
bar as part of the men’s team event.
“I have nothing to lose but all to
gain,” he says. “I want to show people
what it’s like to build up to a fourth
Olympic Games. I’ve been written off,
I’ve been doubted my whole journey.
I want to show people I might be 31
years old, eight years over peak, but
I’m as motivated as I’ve ever been and
I’m excited for the challenge.”
Written off? Whitlock has done
more than anyone to put Britain in
the frame when it comes to
gymnastics. His rivalry with Louis
Smith was one of the most tense and
emotional within any team in any
event at the 2016 Rio Games. Smith
was in tears receiving his silver medal
for the pommel while Whitlock took
gold. So who, exactly, has been
“
I’ve been written off,
I’ve been doubted
my whole journey. I’m
excited for the challenge
writing him off his entire career?
“I don’t want to name and shame,
but it’s people within the gymnastics
world,” he says. “It kind of hit me, it’s
almost a shame for someone to say
that to me. The way it was said, like,
‘Why? Why are you carrying on?’
The naivety of that is crazy.
“It’s so easy to judge people on a
surface level. You don’t know how
they are feeling. I’m still going
because I feel I can achieve more. I’m
pushing boundaries every day and
hoping I can get some personal best
scores.”
If it is people within the world of
gymnastics, then surely they should
have known better? “It’s people who
should know better, there’s no doubt
about that,” Whitlock says, albeit
without a trace of anger.
I have interviewed him regularly
since he burst on to the scene in
London 12 years ago when, along
with that bronze in the pommel, he
was part of the men’s team who
secured a podium finish, a first in
100 years. In all that time he has
never once complained about lack of
support or understanding and has
always tried to see the best in people
and circumstances.
“In the grand scheme of things it
[the fact there are doubters] just
motivates me more,” he says. “I’ve
learnt the more you do, the more
you are making an impact, making
waves, you have to be thick-skinned
and use things that could go against
you to progress.
“At the start, people said I would
never compete on the world stage.
Before London 2012, by the team
selector I was told 2012 was not my
cycle. I made London 2012, [only] to
be told by a British judge that I
wouldn’t medal on the pommel.
“It’s been constant. At times it’s
been hard. It’s been a long time but
I’m doing something that I love and
want to create the biggest impact I
can after my career.”
But back to the role of young
Willow. In fact, Whitlock’s daughter
will have every right to steal the
limelight in Paris briefly because she
has had a significant part to play in
her father’s determination to make
history. Whitlock made what was for
him a highly unusual snap decision to
retire after he had won gold in Tokyo,
but the idea of one day having to
explain to his daughter that he had
suffered a fear of failure helped him
to re-engage with a discipline that
had begun to take its toll.
“A massive factor was that if I had
retired after Tokyo, that would have
felt like quitting and that just feels
awful to me,” he says. “Willow says,
‘We’re Whitlocks and we don’t quit.’ ”
This is something his daughter may
well shout out in Paris given it is a
phrase she uses a good deal and was
her mantra when she learnt how to
cartwheel.
“The message I’m getting from
Willow is that she is proud, and that
just spurs me on,” Whitlock says. “It
would eat me up inside for years and
years if I quit because I was scared of
moving forwards. I am sending the
Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
right message to Willow, it is better to
try than not try.
“Tokyo was a Covid Olympics and
no one was there, but I now have the
opportunity to go to the closest we’re
going to get to a home Games and
hopefully we can get everyone [in the
family] out there, including Willow, to
come and watch.
“It’s an amazing experience for
everyone, not just the athletes.
There’s Centre Parcs and Disneyland
[in Paris] so I’m sure they’ll have an
amazing holiday at the same time.
They probably won’t want to come
and watch the competition!”
Still, given that he has announced
his retirement in advance of the
Games, there will be an added layer
of pressure. Commentators will tell
viewers this is the very last time they
will see Whitlock and so, surely, he
has to bow out on a high?
“I’m encouraged hearing you say
that,” he says with a smile. “I’m eager
for it to come round. Usually
competitions come around too
quickly but this time I am eager
because of the openness and honesty.
“That layer of fear of failure post-
Tokyo has completely gone. I feel
excited. I’d love to finish on a high,
of course, but I am also not someone
who feels he has to finish on a high.
It forces the mindset that I can give
it everything I’ve got because it’s
my last. I don’t hang my hat on
thinking you are remembered for
the last thing you do. I just want to
push boundaries.”
Is there a chance he will win gold
and then think; “Oh, I can carry on
after all?” How would he handle that?
Whitlock laughs at length as he
pictures the scenario. “Usually, when
I make a decision, I make a decision,”
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
PHOTO BY MARC ASPLAND Britain’s most decorated
Olympians
Gold Silver Bronze
Jason Kenny Cycling; medals won
from 2008 to 20
7 2
Bradley Wiggins Cycling; 2000-16
5 1 2 8
Chris Hoy Cycling; 2000-12
6 1
Laura Kenny Cycling: 2012-20
5 1
Steve Redgrave Rowing; 1984-00
5 1
Charlotte Dujardin Equestrian; 2012-20
3 1 2 6
Max Whitlock Gymnastics; 2012-20
3 3
Ben Ainslie Sailing; 1996-12
4 1
Jack Beresford Rowing; 1920-36
3 2
Adam Peaty Swimming; 2016-20
3 2
Mo Farah Athletics; 2012-16
4 4
Matthew Pinsent Rowing; 1992-04
4 4
Paulo Radmilovic
Water polo /swimming; 1908-20
4 4
Max Whitlock’s major
medal record
Gold Silver Bronze
Olympics 0 Saturday was just another step down a
3 3
World
Championships 3 5
European
Championships
4 3
Commonwealth
Games 4 4
zero,” he says. “If I don’t feel
productive outside of training then I
am lacking, I feel low. The business
fuels my training. My days are filled.
And I can jump with both feet into
the business. It’s a proud feeling.
“I’m not going into schools trying
to create the next Olympic champion.
I didn’t start the sport wanting to be
an Olympic champion — it was fun.
“I want to show what real
gymnastics is. Teachers are scared of
real gymnastics. Only a small few feel
confident. Teachers think if you teach
a forward roll the kids will hurt their
necks. So we simplify the process. We
know our stuff. If you start with
gymnastics you get a head start, a
foundation that will help with other
subjects and any other sport.”
Whitlock’s edge over his younger
rivals in Paris could be that he
understands how to handle the big
moments in the most demanding
of disciplines.
“The highest pressure moments
Whitlock celebrates pommel gold in I’ve been in, I’ve performed better
Tokyo, above, and in Rio, right. His than the less pressured
aim as a child, left, was to have fun, environments,” he says. “We’re in a
he didn’t have Olympic ambitions sport where you don’t get three
attempts and you take your best one.
he says. “I stick to them. It feels It doesn’t take an hour so you can
good, it feels right. The result is redeem yourself. We’re in a sport
irrelevant.” where it’s very individual, with one
Over the past three years that shot which lasts just over a minute.
he has been contemplating life That’s why the sense of relief when
post-retirement, he has found you finish a near-perfect routine
“a massive passion” outside of is crazy.”
training, having formed his But perhaps not as crazy as
own company. Max Whitlock those who chose to doubt his
Gymnastics goes into schools ability. For Whitlock, to perform
to equip primary school well in Paris would be proof that
teachers to teach the sport and he gymnasts can have longevity if
wants the business to go nationwide they listen only to more positive
eventually. “I’ve seen athletes retire voices — including pep talks from a
and feel like they are starting from five-year-old.
Lack of England
recognition for
9
7
6
Northeast now
6 looks baffling
Glamorgan batsman
6 Lord’s he was equal with Brian Lara’s
has beaten my record
5 twice, says Steve James
5
– so why has he never
got a national call-up?
5 kept in the locker (there were a
I
feel Graham Gooch’s pain. The
great man from Ilford may have
seen his mammoth, longstanding
record score for Lord’s of 333 not
out surpassed by Sam Northeast
on Saturday, but there were other
casualties, including none other than
Sir Jack Hobbs, who previously held
the highest score against Middlesex at
Lord’s of 316 not out, and, er, me.
OK, it wasn’t even a record that I
lost, or anything to do with Lord’s,
where, yes, I never scored a first-class
century — caught on the boundary in
a run chase off John Emburey for 94
was as close as I came. For me
slippery slope, relegated to fourth on
0 the list of top scores by Glamorgan
batsmen. That’s twice now that
dastardly chap Northeast has gone
1
past my score of 309 not out.
Two years ago I was top of the pile,
king of the (Cardiff) castle. Then
2 came a game against Leicestershire at
Grace Road in which Northeast
made an astonishing 410 not out,
obliterating my record, and then, just
to rub it in, at the end of the same
2022 season David Lloyd made 313 not
out against Derbyshire in Cardiff.
Third place and consigned to a
footnote in the history books.
Now this: a monumental 335 not
out from Northeast, and not even a
place for me on the Glamorgan
podium any more. My reaction after
we have got all that fun out of the
way? Absolute delight, actually.
For I should declare a small interest
here. I did a bit of work with
Northeast this winter, feeding the
bowling machine for him and offering
the odd observation, but
I am not trying to
claim one iota of
credit for his
achievement. Rather,
the reason for
mentioning this is to
be able to reveal his
insatiable desire for
practice and
improvement, even
at the age of 34.
It is quite remarkable.
He simply loves batting,
whether in the nets or out
in the middle. Most of our
afternoon sessions
lasted at least two
hours after he had
already practised
with the rest of the
squad in the morning.
Last season did not go
as well as he might have
liked, even if he ended it with
166 not out (which meant that
Northeast’s 335 not out proved he
is a batsman of the highest class
55
Sport
before his second-innings 14 not out at
world record of 501 not out over his
previous two innings).
Having assumed the captaincy and
moved up to No 3 in the order he was
determined to return to his lofty
standards, perhaps even with greater
confidence in some shots previously
number of reverse-sweeps at Lord’s)
and what a start he has made.
Some may want to denigrate
Northeast’s achievement and point to
a Division Two encounter on a flat
pitch at Lord’s, as well as the use of
the less responsive Kookaburra ball,
but batting records are rarely set on
green mambas, and to make scores of
410 and 335 clearly requires
something rather special in both mind
and method. He is undoubtedly a
batsman of the very highest class.
But why has Northeast, a man of
Kent who joined Hampshire to pursue
his international aspirations before
revitalising a stalling career at
Glamorgan, never played for England?
That is a question being asked as
fervently now as it was two years ago
after that stunning innings at
Leicester. He is certainly very unlucky,
a schoolboy prodigy whose first-class
average has now gone back up above
40, the usual benchmark for any
county batsman wanting to knock on
the international door. The word is
that he was very close to touring
Pakistan two years ago, and there are
undoubtedly inferior players who have
been capped (probably guilty, your
honour), but timing is everything, and
Northeast was simply unfortunate
that England have possessed so many
high-class middle-order Test batsmen
— think Joe Root, Ian Bell, Kevin
Pietersen et al — during his career.
Every county has its own stories of
supposed selectorial prejudice. At
Glamorgan Don Shepherd’s beyond-
belief haul of 2,218 first-class wickets
at 21 each never merited a cap.
Northeast has produced numbers
that make his lack of international
recognition just as baffling, despite
remaining close to his former Kent
team-mate Rob Key, who just
happens to be managing director
of England men’s cricket, while his
tutor for the MA in leadership
in sport he is taking is the
former national selector Ed
Smith.
For now Northeast will be
more concerned about what
to do when Marnus
Labuschagne, doubtless
wanting to bat at No 3, arrives
at Glamorgan next month.
Kiran Carlson is rightly
batting at No 4 because he has
international ambitions too, so
which of Northeast and
Labuschagne drops to No 5?
Didn’t another Australian,
Nathan Lyon, say he did not
want to
take Tom
Hartley’s
spot at
Lanca-
shire?
56
Sport
J
ürgen Klopp didn’t quite go the full
Fergie. Sir Alex Ferguson always thought
there was an entire league trying harder
against his Manchester United team,
while Klopp restricted it to only two
clubs that had it in for Liverpool.
Everton and Manchester United, specifically.
The latter as part of a conflict between the cities
dating back to the construction of the
Manchester Ship Canal, which opened months
before the first match between Liverpool and
what was then Newton Heath. And Everton?
Well, it’s a derby. Klopp thinks Liverpool have
got it harder because they have to meet Everton
at Goodison Park on April 24. And Everton, as
poor as they might be, always raise their game
for Liverpool. Yet given that Everton have won
once, in all competitions, in their previous 29
Merseyside derbies, we may have to take his
word for that.
This means more? No, it doesn’t. Liverpool
play two noisy, robust derbies in a season. And
impassioned affairs they are. Yet in this
campaign, Arsenal will play 12. London derbies
are no different to those on Merseyside or in
Manchester — there are just more of them.
And there is no equivalent of one win in 29 for
Arsenal’s capital opponents. Tottenham Hotspur
have won three of their past eight meetings with
Arsenal; Chelsea four in 13, with two draws; West
Ham United have beaten Arsenal twice — one
league, one cup — this season; Fulham have
taken four points in six from them; Crystal
Palace need only to wind back to 2022 for a 3-0
win at home, and to 2019 for a 3-2 win away;
even Brentford can claim a 2-0 win on the
opening day of the 2021-22 season, the first
league meeting of the clubs since 1947.
“For people up here, when they have worked
all week, watching Newcastle is like people down
south going to the theatre,” Kevin Keegan said
on his return to St James’ Park in 2008. Yet that
isn’t right. The south isn’t all opera and opening
nights. Looking at the average gates in the
Premier League this season, if the seven London
clubs played at home on the same day it would
put 290,000 people in football stadiums. And
that’s not including three clubs in the bottom
half of the Championship, averaging a total of
52,015 — or Charlton Athletic getting 13,510
while 16th in League One.
The reason many remain sceptical about
Arsenal’s title potential is because their run-in
brings matches against Chelsea and
Tottenham, two teams that are plainly
inferior. Tottenham trail them by 11
points, Chelsea by 27, so what is it
about these matches that makes
them difficult? The local factor.
Even London clubs that have no
great historic rivalry with Arsenal,
such as Fulham, will take
enormous delight in
beating them. Indeed, if
Arsenal do come up
short this season, it is
likely to be a series of
disappointments in
London derbies that
deny them. Arsenal
have failed to win only
nine league matches,
five of which were
against London teams.
Defeats by West Ham
and Fulham, draws with
Fulham, Tottenham and
Chelsea. And will Fulham
supporters delight in
denying Arsenal a title?
Of course.
London football is
full of irrational grudges
and resentments, and
proximities that people
do not realise. West
Ham’s London Stadium
and Arsenal’s Emirates
are separated by a mile
more than the two
Manchester clubs. Yet
those outside the city
think that Arsenal’s
only rivals reside in
north London.
Plus, Klopp knows
English football by now.
His implication that
Arsenal will find Old
Trafford more hospitable
when they visit next
month should be
taken with salt.
All the London clubs, not only Spurs, would take great delight in denying Arsenal the league title
Martin Samuel
Two derbies or a
dozen? It’s tougher
for Arsenal, Jürgen
The voice of sport
Klopp may feel such pressure
keeps United honest — certainly
Ferguson was not averse to
similar tricks — but it really
isn’t necessary.
Every year we go through
this charade of speculating that
opponents will go soft to gift-wrap
the title to old friends, or deny old
enemies, and it never happens.
There is always integrity in
that 90 minutes. Think of
the last day in 1994-95 when
Blackburn Rovers, managed
by Kenny Dalglish, needed to
win at Anfield to secure the
title and deny Manchester
United. Speculation was rife
that Liverpool would just wave
through a favourite son. Final
score: Liverpool 2 Blackburn 1. Had
the West Ham goalkeeper, Ludek
Miklosko, not played the game of
his life to deny Manchester United
victory at Upton Park, Liverpool
would have delivered the title to
their hated rivals.
No one is denying the edge
between the two teams and the
sets of fans. The boardrooms at
Liverpool and Manchester United
are thick as thieves — Super
League plotters and venture
capitalists all, with the
exception of Ineos’s 25 per
centers — but the animosity
6 Kobbie Mainoo scored an excellent goal
against Liverpool on Sunday. He didn’t,
however, have an excellent game. He got
better as it went on, as did Manchester United,
but in the first half at least he was all at sea.
Mainoo seemed lost defending the corner
from which Liverpool scored their first goal,
and United’s midfield was too often exposed by
poor positioning, caught out high up the field.
This doesn’t diminish Mainoo’s potential. He is
the prime candidate to be Declan Rice’s
partner for England this summer — as
advocated in this column — but he’s 18, it’s a
complex role and he will need coaching.
The worry is that good players have a habit
of emerging and disappearing at Manchester
United of late. Who would have imagined
Marcus Rashford would struggle, given the
impact he made in his first season? Mainoo
needs more direction than he was clearly
receiving against Liverpool. The goal, as fine
as it was, masked a troubling first 45 minutes
— for him and his coaches.
inside the stadium when these two meet is
unmistakable. It does not mean, however, that
when Arsenal visit, United will throw it away. It
certainly does not mean that Mikel Arteta gets it
easy in the coming weeks. Next up for Arsenal,
Aston Villa at home. Leaving aside the matter of
Champions League qualification, does anyone
think that Unai Emery and his goalkeeper,
Emiliano Martínez, may have a point to prove?
Think back to December 9 (Villa 1 Arsenal 0)
for the answer to that.
Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
Favourable sanctions
keep Everton afloat
A
cynic would say the independent
commission had a quick look at the
league table, alighted on a number that
wouldn’t guarantee Everton’s relegation, and
gave them that as a punishment. It was a ten-
point deduction back in November, at a time
when they were on a good run. Everton had
won four and drawn one of their previous seven
league games at the time they were plunged
into the bottom three. It was a draconian
reaction but one that the form book suggested
Everton could ride. Before it was implemented
Everton were 14th and two points outside the
top half of the table. Plus, they had 26 games to
haul themselves clear.
Then, the form dried up. By the time Everton’s
appeal was heard, the deduction had left them
only a single point above 18th-placed Luton
Town, with four defeats and five draws in their
previous nine matches, 12 games to go and a real
chance of relegation. Getting four points back
propelled them up the table to 15th. Handy.
Now their latest penalty, of two points, means
they drop only one place, to 16th. There may be
a greater financial wrong, apparently, but the
commission ran out of time to rule on it. Also
handy. That won’t now happen until next
summer when, if guilty, Everton may start on
minus points, but with 38 games to turn that
around. Even handier.
It is almost as if nobody wants to deliver a
ruling that would doom Everton, so instead they
keep them just afloat, head above water, to
preserve the illusion that relegation is being
decided on the field of play. The Premier League
may not appreciate how bad this is for the
credibility of the competition — after all, it
wanted Everton to have 15-17 points deducted,
which would have almost certainly relegated
them — but it appears the independents have
cottoned on. No one wants that on their hands.
6 The government’s changed stance on
Russian participation at the Olympics seems
less to do with events in Moscow and more to
do with Israel. Undoubtedly, there will be calls
for Israeli athletes to be barred from
competing over the war in Gaza. The British
government will not support this and will then
be accused of hypocrisy over its opposition to
Russian and Belarusian involvement.
By getting behind the IOC decision to allow
participation under a neutral flag, the
government stays ahead of the story. It’s basic
realpolitik, something Russians understand.
O’Neil offside error
I
t is to be hoped that Gary O’Neil, the Wolves
head coach, is granted his conversation about
Saturday’s disallowed goal with referees’ chief
Howard Webb. And that, before O’Neil has his
turn to speak, Webb asks him a straightforward
question: “Gary, without using the words
obstruct, disrupt, interfere, block or synonyms,
can you explain why your player, Tawanda
Chirewa, was standing where he was?”
Because O’Neil can’t. Chirewa wasn’t the
target for the ball played into the box, nor was
he making any attempt to play that ball or to get
involved in the action that followed. He was just
there to obstruct, disrupt, interfere with or block
the movement of the West Ham goalkeeper,
Lukasz Fabianski. He could have moved into an
onside position as the ball was crossed, so that
when Max Kilman headed it into the net, his
position would have been legal. He chose not to.
And that’s why he was offside.
6 Staff at the Office for National Statistics
intend to strike after being ordered into the
office two days a week. They’ve been working
from home since lockdown but wish to keep
that option. This is an unforeseen consequence
once football is regulated by government: civil
servants, now running the game, downing
tools over terms and conditions. They do know
the sport plays across weekends, for instance,
and that the process of constant financial
assessment can’t be paused if a ballot by the
Public and Commercial Services Union calls
everyone out? Or maybe the government
hasn’t thought this through.
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024 57

Football Sport

Premier League is envy of the world –

government must not put that at risk
Richard
Masters
Premier League
chief executive

Last year the government announced

that it would not create a new regulator
for AI — a technology that experts be-
lieve will change almost everything
about the way we live. It stated that “by
rushing to legislate . . . we would risk
placing undue burdens on business-
es” and highlighted the desire to “es-
tablish the UK as an AI superpower”.
However, the government has
decided that we will become the first
country to introduce a regulator for
football, an industry in which the UK is
already a “superpower” and a genuine
world leader.
The Football Governance Bill, pub-
lished last month, will establish strict
banking-style regulation for more
than 100 football clubs, with rules gov-
erning liquidity, debt, overall expendi-
ture, ownership and fan relationships.
It will give the regulator unprece-
dented power over the sport, including
the right to determine how much
money is distributed to lower-league
teams by Premier League clubs. This is
an arrangement that, under a voluntary Casemiro tests Caoimhin Kelleher in the 2-2 draw between Manchester United and Liverpool on Sunday, one of the headline fixtures in the Premier League calendar
system, already provides the most
generous funding in world football. the regulator to determine how the investors, who often see club ownership intervening in the carefully calibrated our clubs understand the value of good
As chief executive of the Premier game is run. as a passion project as well as a distribution of revenues and upsetting governance, the importance of the
League, my overriding concern is We are asking MPs and peers to pro- business. While the sport is buoyant competitive balance, it would be doing pyramid, and can be trusted to continue
that the bill would reduce our competi- tect the game, including the Premier today, it would be so easy to misstep and exactly that. to support all levels of the game.
tiveness and weaken the incredible League, which not only helps sustain drive our world-leading investment Premier League clubs irretrievably Finally, it is a risk to rush through
appeal of the English game. the football pyramid for the benefit of elsewhere. lost £2 billion during Covid. Despite complex legislation at the end of a
Our competition is the most watched fans but also contributes £4 billion in It is a risk to bring politics and lobby- this, our clubs didn’t just honour their parliament, especially when there is a
and commercially successful football annual tax revenues and creates ing into football, especially when there existing pledge to give away record danger of it unbalancing our national
league in the world. Thanks to that 90,000 jobs across the country. The are also genuine concerns regarding amounts to the lower leagues, they sport. The past tells us that rushed legis-
success, Premier League clubs are able unintended consequences of regula- how truly independent the regulator went further and committed that no lation is usually bad legislation. Parlia-
to give away £1.6 billion every three tion generate significant risks. will be. Already, before it has even EFL club would go out of business due mentarians need time to scrutinise this
years — 16 per cent of our total reve- It is a risk that regulation will arrived, the promise of regulatory to the pandemic. unprecedented plan and I hope they
nues — to the wider game, helping to undermine the Premier League’s global intervention in football finances has The Fan-Led Review of Football will be as determined as I am to ensure
make it the envy of the world. This spe- success, thereby wounding the goose changed incentives for a new voluntary Governance published in November that no harm is done to English football.
cial aspirational structure made it poss- that provides English football’s golden arrangement to be struck. We have 2021, which gave rise to this present bill, Fundamentally, we all need to remem-
ible for Brighton & Hove Albion this egg. spent the past year in discussions with identified some areas where the game ber that the people who will suffer the
season to become the 21st club in the It is a risk to regulate an indus- the EFL about an even more generous could improve — and the Premier most, if this goes wrong, are the very
Premier League era to rise through the try that has worked so hard to lead the financial settlement. But these talks League responded by reforming our fans whose interests the legislation
EFL and play in European competition. world, especially when none of its com- have only served to highlight how own governance structures. This aims to protect.
The government may now look to petitors are subject to the same regula- destabilising intervention could be. included creating a Fan Engagement We will continue to work
push the bill through against a tight tion. Those competitors are relishing The EFL has indicated it would Standard, including fan advisory with everyone to support the govern-
deadline before the general election. the prospect of the Premier League happily accept a generous new deal boards at every Premier League club; a ment’s intention, of making football
The apparent rush comes despite sig- being uniquely constrained. Empires from the Premier League but would new owners’ charter; strengthening more sustainable while not harming
nificantly improved levels of stability rise and fall — and while I am confident also immediately use the new regulator financial controls; the introduction of the world-leading Premier League.
and resilience in football, with club in- about the league’s immediate future, it to seek even more money for its clubs, new rules to stop the threat of clubs Sensible, light-touch regulation, collab-
solvencies throughout the pyramid at would be a mistake to be complacent including the Sky Bet Championship, joining breakaway competitions; an orating with the leagues, could be made
their lowest levels for 30 years. about our place as the world’s most which is already the sixth-richest enhanced owners’ and directors’ test; to work. However, the question is: once
There are already suggestions that popular league. league in Europe, with many very and appointing a diverse group of inde- politics enter the game, can anyone
the bill could be amended by those It is a risk to introduce uncertainty wealthy club owners of its own. pendent non-executive directors to the guarantee this is what we will get? And
seeking a more interventionist ap- and red tape into an industry that relies The government claims its regulator Premier League board. if they cannot, are we sure we should
proach, with even stronger powers for heavily on a relatively small pool of would not interfere on the pitch, but by Our track record demonstrates that take the risk?

Paris triathlon could become a duathlon if Seine is too polluted

Olympics
Matt Lawton
Chief Sports Correspondent
The triathlon at this summer’s Paris
Olympics could become a duathlon —
without the swimming leg — if adverse
weather conditions affect the quality of
the Seine’s water.
Since 2012 British athletes have dom-
inated the three-discipline event that
comprises a 1,500m open-water swim, a
40km bike ride and a 10km run. Alistair
Brownlee took individual gold in
London and Rio de Janeiro, before Alex
Yee and Georgia Taylor-Brown claimed
silvers in Tokyo three years ago and
were also part of a British team who won
mixed-relay gold. Yee and Beth Potter
won last year’s test events in Paris.
But Tony Estanguet, president of the
Paris 2024 organising committee, has
warned that heavy rain could lead to
dangerous levels of pollution despite an
effort to improve the quality of the
water in the French capital. More than a
billion euros has been invested in an ef-
fort to provide safe outdoor swimming
in summer for the first time in a century.
Estanguet, a three-times Olympic
canoeing champion whose own events
were disrupted during his career, said
contingency plans were in place, includ-
ing delaying the event, should there be a
risk to the health of athletes. However,
he also said the rules of triathlon’s inter-
national federation would allow for the
event to be reduced to cycling and run-
ning, should it be deemed necessary.
The individual races are due to take
place on July 30 and 31 with the mixed
relay on August 5. The Games open on
July 26. Estanguet says scheduling the
events towards the start of the Games
gives organisers an opportunity to post-
pone if there is heavy rain. That said,
there is less flexibility — and no alter-
native venue — for the 10km marathon
swimming events that are due to take
place in the Seine on August 8 and 9.
Asked about the potential threat of E.
coli bacteria, Estanguet said: “We are
working hard on it; you know it’s one of
the bigger challenges.
“When we decided to have this
competition in the Seine we knew it will
be a big challenge but there is a big
programme of investment and, when
we talk about legacy, this project is
fantastic. We are still confident that the
triathlon will be based in the Seine
because we have contingency plans.
“We can postpone for rainy condi-
tions. Because it’s programmed at the
beginning of the Games, we can wait for
better conditions. So we are confident
that it will be possible to use the Seine.”
He then stressed that there was no
alternative location. “We can change
the date and postpone from one day to
three days until it’s OK,” he said.
“There is a final decision where we
could not swim — it’s part of the rules of
the international federation. It’s what
we want to avoid, of course. There’s
always a risk. I was an athlete. I attended
World Championships that were post-
poned because of floods. When you are
in a sport where you rely on natural
conditions, you have to adapt.”
58 S1 Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times

Sport Champions League quarter-final, first leg

Three great goals

and one hell of a
Madrid ding-dong
because they dominated possession the ears of the home side, who wanted
Paul Hirst and were at times wasteful but, make no to make the atmosphere as hostile as
mistake, this is a highly creditable possible.
Madrid
result, one that makes them slight It took City precisely 108 seconds to
Real Madrid favourites for the second leg. send the Bernabéu into silence.
Camavinga 12, Rodrygo 14, Valverde 79 3 Given that City battered Real 4-0 at
the Etihad Stadium last season, they
Aurélien Tchouaméni’s poorly timed
challenge on Jack Grealish earned him
will be confident of finishing the job a yellow card — plus a suspension for
Manchester City
Silva 2, Foden 66, Gvardiol 71 3 next Wednesday. Until that point Pep
Guardiola will be praying day and night
the second leg — and gave City a
chance to test Real’s aerial defences.
for the return of Kyle Walker. How they That looked to be the plan, anyway.
Six goals — three of them from the top missed the right back’s speed and expe- Five grey shirts descended on the Real
drawer — one cheeky free kick, one rience in the face of the brilliance of penalty area. The hosts expected a
closed roof and one vomiting bug. This Rodrygo and Vinícius. lofted ball into the area but Silva had
Champions League quarter-final first Guardiola will also be minded to keep other ideas. After spotting that Vinícius
leg had it all. Foden on the bench when City play was the only man in Real’s wall — and
Kevin De Bruyne missed last night’s Luton Town on Saturday. The mid- that Lunin was busy organising his
ding-dong at the Bernabéu because of a fielder, now on 22 goals this season, defence — Silva fired a low shot into
sickness bug and the 3,840 Manchester is City’s most dangerous player. the net from 25 yards.
City fans inside this famous, rowdy sta- Not for the first time in his blos- It was embarrassing for Real. They
dium probably felt a little nauseous at soming career the midfielder were shocked and dazed. Real’s
times during this rollercoaster of a tie. came to the fore on the biggest press was non-existent, and
When Bernardo Silva pinged a clever stage, fighting for the ball City walked through the lines
free kick past Andriy Lunin with less and linking play as well as as if they were playing a pre-
than two minutes on the clock, the scoring the pick of the season friendly. Only last-
coast was clear for City to put Real goals before coming off ditch blocks prevented
Madrid to the sword but, aided by two late on with a knock. Grealish and Erling Haa-
deflected goals scored in the space of Until the City squad land from adding to
114 seconds, Real surged into the lead. arrived at the Bernabéu, City’s tally. Then came a
Rodrygo and Vinícius Jr toyed with De Bruyne was in the start- period of craziness, and
City and the latter should have opened ing XI. “He arrived here in the incredibly bad luck, for
up a bigger advantage, but Phil Foden locker room and started to vomit,” City as they conceded two Foden drew his side level with a shot into the top corner, after Rodrygo, top right,
equalised with a peach of a shot and Guardiola said. goals in quick succession.
then Josko Gvardiol found the net for As Guardiola was notifying Mat- Eduardo Camavinga collect- fans, pushed for a second and it came far corner of the net from a tight angle,
the first time for City with an equally eo Kovacic that he would be start- ed the ball from a throw-in on courtesy of their Brazilian attacking but it clipped Akanji and squeezed
fierce strike. ing instead of De Bruyne, the streets the right, cut inside past Grealish duo. through Ortega’s legs before rolling
In keeping with the madcap nature of surrounding the Bernabéu were fill- and let fly with a speculative Vinícius slotted the ball down the over the line.
the game there was one twist left in the ing with white smoke as thousands long-range shot that would not inside-left channel for Rodrygo, who City hogged possession but they
tale. Federico Valverde struck a power- of fans greeted the Real team bus. have troubled Ortega had it sprinted ahead of Manuel Akanji, then were vulnerable on the break. Akanji,
ful volley past Stefan Ortega to leave Earlier in the day Uefa had not taken a deflection off Rúben slammed on the breaks, allowing the playing at right back because of
the tie finely poised. City will be dis- agreed to Real’s request to close the Dias. City were rattled. Real, Switzerland defender to get goalside. Walker’s absence, could not live with
appointed not to have claimed victory retractable roof, which was music to urged on by their now buoyant Rodrygo tried to prod the ball into the Rodrygo’s pace. Rodrygo exchanged

Results
Swansea .............. 41 12 11 18 49 62 -13 47 Port Vale..............41 10 10 21 38 63 -25 40 Accrington.........42 15 9 18 56 60 -4 54 Women’s European Championship Kings 280-6 (20 overs: S Singh 46 not out).
Football QPR.......................42 12 11 19 40 54 -14 47 Burton..................42 10 10 22 33 59 -26 40 Tranmere............43 15 6 22 61 63 -2 51 Qualifying group A3 Sunrisers Hyderabad (2pts) won by two runs.
Millwall................42 12 11 19 39 54 -15 47 Cheltenham........41 10 8 23 34 57 -23 38 Swindon..............42 13 11 18 70 74 -4 50
Champions League
Blackburn............41 12 10 19 56 66 -10 46 Fleetwood..........42 7 13 22 42 68 -26 34 Salford.................43 12 11 20 62 78 -16 47
Ireland (0) 0 England (2) 2 Darts
Quarter-finals, first leg Stoke.....................41 12 10 19 40 56 -16 46 Carlisle (R)..........43 7 9 27 40 75 -35 30 Grimsby .............. 42 9 16 17 52 70 -18 43 James 12
Greenwood 18 (pen) PDC Players Championship 8
Arsenal (1) 2 Bayern Munich (2) 2 Plymouth............42 11 12 19 57 66 -9 45 deducted *8pts/@6pts for breaching league rule Sutton Utd..........43 9 12 22 51 76 -25 39 Mattioli Arena, Leicester (Netherlands
Saka 12 Gnabry 18 Huddersfield.....42 9 16 17 46 69 -23 43 Colchester...........41 9 11 21 52 72 -20 38 Other result Sweden 0 France 1.
League Two P W D L F A GD Pts
unless stated): Quarter-finals (best-of-11
Trossard 76 Kane 32 (pen) Sheffield Wed...42 12 7 23 35 66 -31 43 Forest Green.....43 9 9 25 41 71 -30 36 legs): L Humphries (Eng) bt G Anderson
60,221 Birmingham.......41 11 9 21 45 63 -18 42 Colchester (1) 1 Stockport (1) 2 France ..................2 2 0 0 2 0 2 6
Vanarama National League Barnet 1 England ................2 1 1 0 3 1 2 4 (Scot) 6-4; G van Veen bt S Bellmont (Switz)
Rotherham (R) .. 41 4 11 26 32 82 -50 23 McGeehan 43 Powell 31 Bromley 1; Maidenhead Utd 3 Hartlepool Utd 6-5; R Szaganski (Pol) bt A Gilding (Eng) 6-5; D
Real Madrid (2) 3 Man City (1) 3 4,118 Madden 61 Sweden ................2 0 1 1 1 2 -1 1
Dias 12 (og) Silva 2, Foden 66 League One 1; Solihull Moors 3 Ebbsfleet Utd 0; Ireland ...................2 0 0 2 0 3 -3 0 Noppert bt K Doets 6-3. Semi-finals (best-of-
Rodrygo 14 Gvardiol 71 Blackpool (1) 1 Fleetwood (0) 0 Doncaster (1) 2 Walsall (0) 1 Wealdstone 1 Southend Utd 2. Postponed 13 legs): Humphries bt Van Veen 7-6; Noppert
Ironside 39 Gateshead v Aldershot Town; Rochdale v Group B2 bt Szaganski 7-2. Final (best-of-15 legs):
Valverde 79 76,680 Beesley 22 10,845 Hutchinson 90+3
Adelakun 77 6,487 Boreham Wood. Scotland (0) 1 Slovakia (0) 0 Noppert bt Humphries 8-6.
Sky Bet Championship Bristol Rovers (0) 0 Reading (2) 2 P W D L F A GD Pts Howard 61
Leeds (0) 0 Sunderland (0) 0 7,951 Smith 8
Harrogate (0) 1 Grimsby (0) 0
Chesterfield (C) 43 30 5 8102 60 42 95 Other result Israel 2 Serbia 4.
Tennis
Wing 45 Thomson 49 3,201 Barnet..................44 24 8 12 85 59 26 80
36,793 P W D L F A GD Pts ATP Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters
Charlton (1) 2 Wigan (0) 2 Mansfield (1) 1 Forest Green (0) 0 Bromley .............. 43 20 15 8 66 46 20 75 Serbia ...................2 1 1 0 4 2 2 4 First round A de Minaur (Aus) bt S Wawrinka
Millwall (0) 1 Leicester (0) 0 Solihull Moors..44 20 13 11 70 59 11 73
Hughes 19 (og) Kelman 62, 66 Nichols 20 7,245 Scotland ...............2 1 1 0 1 0 1 4 (Switz) 6-3, 6-0; S Korda (US) bt A Davidovich
Longman 59 14,889 Altrincham.........44 20 11 13 81 59 22 71 Slovakia ................2 1 0 1 2 1 1 3 Fokina (Sp) 6-1, 6-2; R Bautista Agut (Sp) bt
Aneke 79 11,169 Morecambe (0) 0 Crewe (0) 1
Plymouth (0) 1 QPR (0) 1 Gateshead...........41 20 9 12 83 57 26 69 Israel .....................2 0 0 2 2 6 -4 0 F Diaz Acosta (Arg) 6-2, 6-4; Zhang Zhizhen
Cheltenham (0) 0 Carlisle (1) 1 3,564 Nevitt 70 Halifax.................42 18 12 12 53 46 7 66 (China) bt M Giron (US) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3;
Adomah 85 (og) Field 73 Sent off: L Leigh (Crewe) 89 Group B3
16,928 4,682 Lavelle 42 Aldershot............43 19 8 16 70 77 -7 65 M Kecmanovic (Ser) bt M Berrettini (It) 6-3,
Newport Co (1) 1 Accrington (1) 3 *Southend..........44 20 12 12 67 43 24 62 Bosnia-H (0) 1 N Ireland (0) 3 6-1; H Hurkacz (Pol) bt J Draper (GB) 6-4, 3-6,
Preston (0) 4 Huddersfield (1) 1 Leyton Orient (1) 2 Exeter (0) 2 Oldham ............... 43 15 16 12 59 55 4 61 Milinkovic 56 Wade 54, Bell 60 7-6 (7-2); T Etcheverry (Arg) bt N Jarry (Chile)
O’Neill 36 Alli 88 Morris 13 Henderson 22 Magill 68
Keane 53 (pen) Koroma 42 3,201 Leigh 46 Rochdale.............43 15 12 16 66 62 4 57 6-4, 7-5; G Monfils (Fr) bt A Vukic (Aus) 6-7
Osmajic 84, 87, 90+1 14,698 Moncur 64 Carroll 90+2 Hartlepool..........44 16 8 20 65 78 -13 56 Other result Malta 0 Portugal 2. (7-9), 6-3, 7-5. Second round N Djokovic (Ser)
Pritchard 67
Stevenage (1) 2 Barnsley (1) 1 Maidenhead......44 14 13 17 56 63 -7 55 P W D L F A GD Pts bt R Safiullin (Russ) 6-1, 6-2; A Zverev (Ger) bt
Sheffield Wed (0) 2 Norwich (2) 2 Wrexham (2) 4 Crawley (0) 1 Dagenham & R 44 14 12 18 65 59 6 54
Reid 45+2 Phillips 30 Portugal ..............2 2 0 0 5 0 5 6 S Ofner (Austria) 6-3, 6-4; J Struff (Ger) bt
Ihiekwe 78 Sargent 11 Barnett 21 Lolos 90+4 Eastleigh.............43 14 11 18 71 84 -13 53 N Ireland ..............2 1 1 0 3 1 2 4 B Coric (Cro) 7-6 (7-2), 6-1; L Musetti (It) bt
Smith 85 Sainz 16 Butler 51 4,727
Mullin 23, 82 11,544 AFC Fylde...........43 14 10 19 72 77 -5 52 Malta .................... 2 0 1 1 0 2 -2 1 A Fils (Fr) 6-3, 7-5.
28,516 P W D L F A GD Pts Cannon 76 Woking................44 14 10 20 46 53 -7 52 Bosnia-H ...............2 0 0 2 1 6 -5 0
Southampton (2) 2 Coventry (0) 1 Portsmouth.......42 26 12 4 71 36 35 90 Ebbsfleet.............43 14 10 19 59 72 -13 52
Derby...................42 25 7 10 72 37 35 82 Postponed Barrow v Bradford City. Group B4
Walker-Peters 18
Adams 38
Bidwell 68
28,564 Bolton..................42 24 9 9 78 45 33 81 P W D L F A GD Pts
York......................44 11 17 16 53 68 -15 50
Wealdstone ....... 42 12 11 19 52 67 -15 47 Kosovo (0) 0 Wales (2) 6 Football fixtures
Peterborough .. 40 22 8 10 77 50 27 74 Stockport............42 24 11 7 84 42 42 83 Boreham Wood 43 11 14 18 56 73 -17 47 Rowe 30, 60
P W D L F A GD Pts Barnsley..............42 21 11 10 75 55 20 74 Wrexham............43 23 10 10 78 51 27 79 Kidderminster..44 11 13 20 39 54 -15 46 Barton 44 Kick-off 7.45 unless stated
Leicester..............41 28 4 9 79 37 42 88 Oxford Utd.........42 20 10 12 71 53 18 70 Mansfield............42 21 13 8 81 43 38 76 Dorking...............43 12 8 23 48 76 -28 44 Morgan 62 Champions League: Quarter-finals, first leg
Leeds....................42 26 9 7 76 33 43 87 Lincoln City........42 18 14 10 61 35 26 68 MK Dons.............43 22 8 13 73 57 16 74 Oxford City (R) 43 8 8 27 53 90 -37 32 Hughes 85, 90+3 (8.0): Atletico Madrid v Borussia Dortmund;
Ipswich.................41 26 9 6 84 52 32 87 Blackpool............43 19 10 14 59 43 16 67 Crewe...................43 19 13 11 68 58 10 70 *deducted 10pts for breaching league rules Other result Croatia 1 Ukraine 0. PSG v Barcelona.
Southampton...40 23 9 8 78 52 26 78 Stevenage..........43 18 13 12 53 42 11 67 Barrow ................. 41 18 13 10 57 45 12 67
West Brom..........41 19 12 10 64 41 23 69 Crawley...............42 20 5 17 66 61 5 65 North Alfreton Town 3 Gloucester City 0; P W D L F A GD Pts Sky Bet Championship Birmingham v
Leyton Orient....43 17 11 15 50 50 0 62 Wales .....................2 2 0 0 10 0 10 6 Cardiff; Bristol City v Blackburn; Hull v
Norwich .............. 42 20 8 14 75 60 15 68 Northampton....43 17 8 18 55 61 -6 59 AFC Wimbledon 43 16 14 13 55 44 11 62 Kings Lynn Town 1 Chorley 0; Peterborough
Sports 1 Farsley Celtic 0; Rushall Olympic 4 Croatia .................2 1 0 1 1 4 -3 3 Middlesbrough; Ipswich v Watford; Swansea
Coventry..............41 17 12 12 66 49 17 63 Exeter..................43 15 10 18 39 56 -17 55 Walsall.................42 17 11 14 63 61 2 62 Ukraine ................2 1 0 1 2 1 1 3
Preston.................41 18 9 14 56 56 0 63 Doncaster...........42 18 7 17 59 63 -4 61 Bishop’s Stortford 0. South Braintree Town 0 v Stoke (8.0); West Bromwich v Rotherham
*Wigan.................43 17 10 16 57 54 3 53 Kosovo ................. 2 0 0 2 0 8 -8 0 (8.0). League One Peterborough v Port Vale;
Middlesbrough 41 18 7 16 58 53 5 61 Charlton..............43 11 18 14 62 62 0 51 Harrogate...........43 17 10 16 53 60 -7 61 Taunton Town 0; Dartford 1 Worthing 2;
Hampton & Richmond 0 Bath City 1; Wycombe v Derby.
Hull.......................40
Cardiff .................. 41
17
17
10
5
13
19
57
46
52
57
5 61
-11 56
Wycombe .......... 40 13 12 15 51 52 -1 51 Morecambe.......43 17 9 17 63 74
Gillingham..........43 17 9 17 40 53
-11 60
-13 60 Maidstone Utd 2 Weymouth 0; Weston- Cricket Vanarama National League: South Havant &
Bristol Rovers...42 14 9 19 48 63 -15 51
Bristol City..........41 15 9 17 44 45 -1 54 @Reading.............43 15 10 18 61 63 -2 49 Bradford City....42 15 12 15 50 54 -4 57 super-Mare 2 Chippenham Town 1. Indian Premier League Waterlooville v Welling; Truro City v
Sunderland........42 15 8 19 51 50 1 53 Shrewsbury.......42 13 7 22 31 59 -28 46 Notts County.....42 16 7 19 83 79 4 55 Cinch Scottish Championship Ayr 1 Morton 1; Mullanpur Sunrisers Hyderabad 182-9 (20 Eastbourne Borough.
Watford................41 12 15 14 57 55 2 51 Cambridge U......41 12 9 20 37 57 -20 45 Newport County 43 16 7 20 60 69 -9 55 Raith 1 Airdrieonians 3. overs: N K Reddy 64; A Singh 4 for 29); Punjab Cinch Premiership Dundee v Rangers (8.0).
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
had put Real ahead; Gvardiol, above right, then scored a stunning long-range goal to take the lead — only for Real to equalise, on a relatively night for Bellingham, inset
passes with Vinícius before firing a
powerful shot wide. The Swiss was
booked for a foul on Vinícius.
City started the second half confi-
dently. Grealish curled over from 12
yards. But again Real found space down
the left. Rodrygo ran on to a crossfield
pass and teed up Vinícius, but he cleared
the bar. Moments earlier Jude Belling-
Leicester stumble in fresh title twist Leeds find no way through
Millwall
Longman 59 1 cing a free kick into the arms of Mads
Leicester City
0 Gradually, though, the Leicester
Sky Bet Championship
Ivan Speck
A strike of staggering timing and accu-
racy from Millwall’s Ryan Longman at
once gave his side vital relegation
breathing room and stalled Leicester
City’s ambitions of an immediate
return to the Premier League.
Longman exemplified the tenacity of
the home side just before the hour
when he found the top corner after
cutting in from the left.
The result lifted Millwall clear of the
bottom three while denying leaders
Leicester the opportunity to strengthen
their bid for automatic promotion.
Leicester appeared to have recovered
their poise with two victories in April,
but The Den is a ground where a lack of
resolve can be quickly exposed.
While the atmosphere generated by
those in attendance was febrile as usual,
issues with trains meant there were
swathes of empty seats. Or maybe it
was because Millwall’s revival under
Neil Harris, which appeared to have
hauled them away from the relegation
S1
ham had shot wide. Then City went
back on the attack. Silva stung Lunin’s
palms after being found by Kovacic.
It was end-to-end stuff, like a basket-
ball match, but neither team had a
player with enough composure or skill
to finish off the move. That was until
Foden collected the ball off John
Stones, on the edge of the area, and
Longman’s strike moved Millwall four
points clear of the relegation zone
zone, has stalled in recent weeks.
While taking a single point from fix-
tures against Leeds United and West
Bromwich Albion might have been
envisaged, successive defeats in York-
shire, to bottom club Rotherham
United and fellow strugglers Hudders-
field Town, most certainly were not.
“It’s so Millwall-like to lose at Rother-
ham and at Huddersfield and then to
come back and beat the leaders,” Harris
said. “I could feel fear coming back into
the club, but I told the group that I ha-
ven’t got time for that.”
6
Goals scored from
outside the box by Phil
Foden this season; the
most of any player for a
Premier League club in
all competitions
took one touch before bending a superb
goal into the top corner of the net.
Five minutes later Gvardiol beat
Lunin with a thunderous right-footed
strike from the edge of the area.
City needed to maintain their
composure, but instead Valverde’s
volley from a Vinícius cross levelled
the scores.
A header from Ryan Longman, glan-
Hermansen, offered early encourage-
ment to the Millwall faithful.
pressing game squeezed play back to-
wards the home goal, establishing a
pattern that seemed likely to last.
In spite of their territorial dominance
efforts on the Millwall goal were scarce.
It took more than half an hour before
Matija Sarkic had to scramble across
his goal as a deflected Kiernan Dews-
bury-Hall shot spun inches wide. At the
other end, a tame Jake Cooper header
was easily gathered by Hermansen.
Millwall looked anxious to increase
the tempo as they emerged after the in-
terval, pressing with greater urgency
and running harder with the ball.
Longman’s laser-like strike, which
gave the home side the lead just before
the hour, came after he had cut inside
with pace and purpose. The goal served
to raise the atmosphere on and off the
pitch with every Millwall foray into the
Leicester half accompanied by a roar.
Michael Obafemi almost brought a
second explosion of noise in the 67th
minute with a run that ended with the
striker being denied by Hermansen.
Millwall were indebted to their own
goalkeeper Sarkic, who saved from
Ricardo Pereira in the 82nd minute.
Real Madrid (4-3-3): A Lunin 5 — D Carvajal 5, A
Tchouaméni 6, A Rüdiger 7, F Mendy 5 — E
Camavinga 6, F Valverde 7, T Kroos 5 (Modric
72min) — Rodrygo 8 (Díaz 72), J Bellingham 7,
Vinícius Jr 8. Booked Tchouaméni, Carvajal.
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): S Ortega 6 — M Akanji
6, J Stones 7, R Dias 6, J Gvardiol 7 — Rodri 6, M
Kovacic 6 — B Silva 8, P Foden 9 (Álvarez 87), J
Grealish 8 — E Haaland 5. Booked Akanji.
Referee F Letexier (Fra).
Dodds’s disciplined defence
Leeds United
0 ing two changes and switching to five at
Sunderland
0 Wearside, Dodds’s tinkering initially
James Shield
Leeds United remain in the hunt for
automatic promotion, but a lethargic
display against Sunderland will do little
to calm nerves inside Elland Road with
their fate no longer in their own hands.
Still unbeaten at home since the
beginning of the season, the result was
enough to lift Leeds to second in the
table and within a point of the leaders
Leicester City. But the tactical disci-
pline demonstrated by the away side
was matched only by the lack of convic-
tion in Leeds’s performance. At this
stage of the campaign, strong minds as
well as skill are required.
Daniel Farke, the Leeds head coach,
has a habit of making changes after a
defeat. But with the finishing line in
sight, he selected the same 11 players
beaten by Coventry City three days
before. Mike Dodds, now in interim
charge for the third time since joining
Sunderland’s backroom staff three
59
Sport
Pep: In past
we’d have lost
this game 5-1
Paul Hirst
Pep Guardiola said that last night’s re-
sult demonstrates how much maturity
and composure his Manchester City
players have gained over the years.
Despite leading twice, Guardiola was
happy to come away with a draw, de-
scribing Real Madrid as “the kings of
this competition”.
City were knocked out by Real at the
semi-final stage two years ago after a
shocking collapse in which they con-
ceded two goals in stoppage time and
another in extra time at the Bernabeu.
“This is the Bernabeu. It is so difficult
here and we scored three goals,” Guard-
iola said. “This result or this game, in the
first three seasons together, we’d have
lost 4-1 or 5-1. We were not stable emo-
tionally, but we are now.
“One of the key points in these games
is being stable emotionally. It’s funda-
mental. Take the good moments and be
stable in the bad moments. How you
are stable and stick with the plan in the
bad moments is the key point.”
Guardiola suffered one of those set-
backs less than two hours before kick-
off when Kevin De Bruyne had to be re-
placed by Mateo Kovacic because of ill-
ness. “He started to vomit when he
arrived and he didn’t feel good enough
to play,” he said.
Foden came off towards the end of
the match with what appeared to be an
injury, but Guardiola said the problem
was not serious. “It’s a knock. He was
grumpy with me about why I made the
substitution, so that means he’s OK.”
The City manager admitted that the
playing surface at the newly renovated
Bernabeu was not the best. “I haven’t
been on the pitch but it is what the
players told me [it wasn’t good],” Guard-
iola, formerly a player and manager of
Real’s rivals Barcelona, said. “But no
hard feelings, please. The stadium is
amazing, it’s a great piece of work.
“What I remember about Real Ma-
drid is that they always have had very
good grass, it was like a carpet, but to-
day that was not the case.”
years ago, was not afraid to tinker, mak-
the back. If it was a ploy designed to re-
peat December’s victory over Leeds on
had the desired effect.
Indeed, for all of Leeds’s probing, the
first real chance fell to Sunderland’s
Jack Clarke, who headed over from
close range after meeting Timothee
Pembele’s centre.
As the home crowd raised the decibel
levels, so Leeds’s momentum grew. On-
ly an offside flag against Dan James
prevented Sunderland from conceding
a penalty soon after the interval when
Dan Ballard pushed the Wales inter-
national inside the box. Wilfried Gnon-
to’s introduction gave Leeds even great-
er impetus. However, with Sunderland
keeping their shape and defending with
venom when required, clear-cut open-
ings proved few and far between.
Farke was left to bemoan his side’s
lack of cutting edge, but also criticised
the officiating. “We were very unfortu-
nate not to get some penalties,” he said.
“We have had six letters this season,
apologising for non-penalties or non-
red cards. We will probably get two more
[after this match], but it won’t help us.”
60 S1 Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times

Sport Champions League quarter-final, first leg

Arsenal head to the Allianz with
Henry Winter
Chief Football
Writer
Arsenal
Saka 12, Trossard 76 2 As Dier stooped in an attempt to
Bayern Munich
Gnabry 18, Kane 32 (pen) 2 with his left foot that the ball curled
Arsenal fans turned round, beseeching
anyone with access to a monitor to
confirm whether Bukayo Saka had
been fouled by Manuel Neuer deep into
injury time. Everyone knew what a key
moment it was, how it could shape this
Champions League quarter-final, and
how Saka himself would doubtless have
converted, giving Arsenal the advan-
tage heading to Bavaria next week.
Arsenal will beware Thomas Müller’s
traditional away-day, first-leg reminder
to his Bayern team-mates that the
opposition “have to come to the Alli-
anz”. They have to step into a European
fortress where Manchester United,
Galatasaray and Lazio have succumbed
this season. Bayern’s travails in the
Bundesliga simply increase their deter-
mination to deliver in Europe. So the
Saka moment was huge.
The Arsenal winger had broken in
from the right and was aiming to run
across Neuer. He knocked the ball past
the Bayern goalkeeper, but then his
rising right knee went into Neuer, caus-
ing the collision. The Swedish referee,
Glenn Nyberg, was well placed and
adamant there had been no foul. Given
Uefa’s preference for light-touch use of
VAR, there was little chance of this
being overturned. Yet it was one of
those touch-and-go incidents where,
had Nyberg awarded the penalty, VAR
would not have overturned it.
There was no need for Saka to initiate
the contact. He would have passed
Neuer and been presented with a
straightforward shot on his favoured
left foot, even with Alphonso Davies
covering across.
Far more contentious from Nyberg
was Harry Kane receiving only yellow
for an elbow on Gabriel ten minutes
into the second period. Competing for a
dropping aerial ball, Kane glanced over
his left shoulder, checking his marker’s
position and then swung his right elbow
back, catching him under his chin.
Jorginho, yards away, instantly
appealed, arms flying up. The Emirates
howled in frustration as Nyberg settled
for a yellow. But the officiating balance
sheet was probably even overall: Kane
could have been awarded a penalty
when dragged over at a Bayern corner
by Martin Odegaard.
The focus was inevitably on Kane’s
return to north London. Kane and Eric
Dier were both roundly booed
warming up, let alone when the fray
slipped the ball back, Havertz touched
it to White and Saka made his dart into
the area. He took White’s ball and
cleverly used Dier as a screen to block
Neuer’s view.
block, hands behind back like a peni-
tent pupil, Saka imparted so much whip
round Dier and Neuer for his 18th goal
of the season.
Arsenal were in charge and White
really should have doubled their lead,
following Havertz’s threaded pass, but
shot disappointingly straight at Neuer.
That wasted opportunity looked costly
when Bayern equalised within six min-
utes. David Raya and Gabriel got in a
mix-up in their attempt to build from
the back, Sané and Kane applied the
press on the right and Leon Goretzka
sent Gnabry through. He raced past
Declan Rice, who was having one of his
less influential nights, and placed his
shot between Raya’s legs.
Bayern then took the lead on the
half-hour. Sané turned Jakub Kiwior
far too easily on the halfway line and
then cut a 50-yard swathe through the
red and white of Arsenal.
Jorginho slid in but Sané was too
quick. Gabriel stretched out a foot but
Sané was past him in a blur. Sané was
travelling so fast that any contact was
going to send the attacker spinning off-
balance. William Saliba, so assured this
season, tried to intervene but his right
leg touched Sané’s left knee and the
former Manchester City winger went
down, clearly fouled. No question.
Arsenal fans hoped for VAR inter-
vention but Sané was clearly clipped.
They waved their scarves and jeered,
but nothing was going to put Kane off.
There was an inevitability to his 15th
goal against Arsenal in 20 games in all
competitions.
Kane assumed his spot-kick stance,
put the weight on his forward left foot,
then powered towards the ball, slowing
momentarily. As Raya dived to his
right, Kane unerringly placed his
penalty low the other way.
The half-time scoreline could have Trossard wheels away after equalising in the second half to hand Arsenal a draw; above right, Raya sits despondent after
been worse for Arsenal had White not
raced back to thwart Sané with a last-
ditch tackle.
Arsenal know the test in store next
week in Bavaria, knew that Müller’s
Kane gets rare stroke of luck as
words often carried weight, so they
fought hard to get level. Mikel Arteta
kept making attacking changes. He first
removed Kiwior for Oleksandr
he haunts old rivals once more
Zinchenko. Arteta then sent on Gabriel And perhaps Gabriel is no innocent in requiring assessment. Arsenal
Jesus and Leandro Trossard for the Martin Samuel this either. His performance against couldn’t play in their style and shape
disappointing Gabriel Martinelli and Erling Haaland two Sundays ago is this season with a target man like
the defensive Jorginho. probably the only time we have seen Haaland up front, it was decided. No
Bayern began showing their game Manchester City’s striker physically laughing at the back. Next up, Kane.
management, slowing the game down, bullied since coming to the Premier Now, there was never any possibility
staying down. Tuchel’s players looked League, and Kane was no doubt of signing Kane, never a hope he
to be tiring too, and he removed Gnab- having to put up with a lot that went would move to the red zone of north
ry and Sané, encouraging Arsenal on unseen. London, not now, not ever.

commenced. For the Arsenal fans
climbing the steps from Holloway Road
and chanting abusively about Totten-
ham Hotspur, there was an extra spring
in their step, slightly forgetting the
threat arriving with Kane, Serge Gnab-
ry and Leroy Sané.
For those hurrying past the touts
between the Tube and the stadium,
there was belief that this would be a
chance to show Europe Arsenal’s
re-emergence as a force. They started
well. Kai Havertz harried Dier, much to
the Emirates’ delight. Gabriel got tight
to Kane, not for the last time. Thomas
Tuchel, the recipient of all manner of
hand gestures from Arsenal fans,
touched the ball away from the excel-
lent Ben White to slow a home throw.
Davies was booked, harshly, for a
challenge on Saka, ruling the left back
out of the Allianz return. Saka was even
more emboldened, soon seizing the
lead by running again at Davies. He
even more. Arteta’s substitutions paid
off in style with 15 minutes remaining.
Jesus took a pass in from Saka on the
right and calmly laid the ball past
Goretzka and into the path of the
unmarked Trossard.
Such a prolific impact sub, Trossard
swept the ball past Neuer to give
Arsenal belief for when they head to the
Allianz. Judging by Saka’s angry reac-
tion at the final whistle over Neuer’s
challenge, Arsenal will travel fuelled by
a sense of grievance.
Arsenal (4-3-3): D Raya 6 — B White 7,
W Saliba 6, Gabriel 6, J Kiwior 5 (O Zinchenko
46min, 6) — M Odegaard 7, Jorginho 6 (G Jesus
67), D Rice 6 — B Saka 7, K Havertz 6 (T Partey
86), G Martinelli 5 (L Trossard 67, 7).
Booked Partey.
Bayern (4-2-3-1): M Neuer 6 — J Kimmich 6, M de
Ligt 6, E Dier 6, A Davies 6 — L Goretzka 7, K
Laimer 6 — L Sané 8 (K Coman 66, 6), J Musiala
6, S Gnabry 7 (R Guerreiro 71) — H Kane 7.
Booked Davies, Kane.
Referee G Nyberg (Sweden).
F
ew think of Harry Kane as a
particularly lucky footballer.
He was last night. He gets to
play in the return leg in
Munich next Wednesday.
Given an incident in the second half
here, that makes him very fortunate
indeed.
It wasn’t just that he caught Gabriel
with an elbow, but that he checked on
the Arsenal man’s movements first. A
quick look over the shoulder, then
bang. Glenn Nyberg, the referee, did
not see Kane’s little recce. For if he
had, the forward would surely have
gone. Uefa’s guidelines for VAR
involvement are more testing too.
Had this match been overseen from
Stockley Park, Nyberg would surely
have been summoned to a pitchside
monitor.
And that would have been Kane’s
lot. Bayern Munich down to ten men,
and their talisman out of the return.
Yet no matter. This wasn’t unseen.
This was an elbow to the throat with
evidence to suggest that was exactly
as intended. So Kane may have been
unlucky to arrive in Munich just as
Germany’s seemingly perpetual
champions fell off a cliff, but that he
still has a say in their European
campaign is fortune indeed.
And chances are, he has a say. That
is Kane’s consistent narrative against
Arsenal. He turns up, he makes his
point. He defies, he teases. Journeying
north two weekends ago there were
some Arsenal fans on the train.
Heading up for the City game. Very
excited, obviously; and as confident as
could be expected, given the
destination. Somewhere near Stafford
the conversation turned to
goalscorers. Did Arsenal need one,
would they be better had they signed
one?
Haaland was the first name
And just as well, because they didn’t
want him either. Once again he
wouldn’t fit Arsenal’s delicate pattern
of play, as if prolific goalscoring was a
problem to be overcome, rather than
a trait that might have Arsenal ten
points clear now, given the strength of
their defence.
Then again, as Arsène Wenger said,
everyone thinks they have the
prettiest wife at home. Arsenal have
been successful this season without a
recognised striker, so loyalists won’t
necessarily know what they are
missing. But maybe they do now.
Leaving aside his later misdemeanour,
Kane proved a point, again, in this
inhospitable region of north London.
In the 32nd minute, when Kane
stood over his penalty in front of
what would have been the old North
Bank, an unnerving quiet descended
on the stadium. There were some
distracting antics immediately behind
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
hope and a grudge
being beaten by Gnabry for Bayern’s first of the night
the goal and plenty of booing,
obviously, but it was not the cauldron
of noise that often accompanies such
occasions. This was genuine
trepidation, the fear that follows the
greatest goalscorers from ground to
ground. Arsenal were about to be
reacquainted with what a team get
from having Kane, or Haaland. A
certainty, a sense of security.
Not that he’s infallible, because
nobody is, but he does what it says on
the tin. David Raya has been good for
Arsenal this season, but Kane simply
let the goalkeeper plough to the left
and slipped the ball almost
contemptuously to the right. He often
goes for power on such occasions,
power and accuracy. This seemed as if
it was one he had been saving for
Arsenal, especially. Saving it for all
those sceptics who wonder what he
brings to a team.
Not trophies, ha ha ha! Yet anyone
can look at the numbers and conclude
if Bayern’s failure this season is down
to anybody, Kane is last on that list.
He has been Haaland-prolific,
Ronaldo-prolific, Messi-prolific in his
first season. He has scored, as the
modern greats do, in torrents. That
Bayern live in hope of surrendering
the German crown but gaining a
European one is down to Kane, more
than anyone.
This Arsenal team have entered
virgin territory in the Champions
League, and it is telling on them.
They needed a penalty shoot-out to
get past Porto and have an uphill
struggle visiting Munich, having first
S1
Terror fear
at grounds
David Sharrock Madrid
T
he Spanish interior
ministry
announced an
“extraordinary” security
response to threats made
by the terrorist group
Islamic State relating to the
Real Madrid v Manchester
City match last night.
More than 3,500 police
officers were in force
drawn at home. Yet Kane sails on.
Disappointment after disappointment
in so many competitions, yet he
always plays like a man who believes
his time will come. This was no
exception.
Leading the line, ably supported by
forwards whose talent makes that 16-
point gap at the top of the Bundesliga
appear unfathomable, Kane was as
potent here as he always looked for
Tottenham Hotspur, a nuisance on
stilts when Arsenal met their noisy
neighbours. He strolled out after the
game for his post-match interview,
coolness personified as watching fans
barracked. He was even wearing
white again, this time a quilted jacket.
And great strikers make defenders
nervous. It is surely no coincidence
that Arsenal’s outstanding centre
halves, William Saliba and Gabriel,
failed to exude the confidence that
has seen them through so many
recent league matches. Raya too.
Nobody thinks Aaron Ramsdale
should have been left in goal any
more. Raya has been excellent. Yet
there were uncharacteristic mistakes
last night. Random positioning, rash
challenges, poor distribution.
Arsenal were most recently this
deep in the Champions League in
2010 but those ghosts shouldn’t haunt
this team. Past failures against Bayern
did not happen on their watch. Yet
plainly something was wrong. And
there to witness it was Kane, as he
will be in Munich on Wednesday.
Whether he deserves to be, however,
is quite another matter.
X
Sané’s brilliant pass sent
Goretzka (circled) clear to
set up Gnabry’s equaliser
around the Santiago
Bernabéu stadium, north
of Madrid’s city centre.
Fans passed through four
separate rings of security,
while snipers were posted
on the roofs of buildings
overlooking the stadium.
The response came after
Islamic State released a
threat over social media
to attack all stadiums in
which the first legs of
the Champions League
quarter-finals were being
played. This included
Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium,
where they faced Bayern
Munich last night.
continued from back
haven’t seen it. The decision is made.
We cannot change that. We have to
focus on other aspects that we can
control.”
Arteta was disappointed that Ben
White had not taken a chance to double
his side’s lead. Two minutes later
Gabriel’s poor pass led to Serge Gnabry
equalising for Bayern, who will be with-
out Alphonso Davies after the left back
was booked for a foul on Saka.
“I have a lot of belief we can go there
and beat them,” Arteta said. “When
Ben is in front of Neuer and if [he scores
and] it was 2-0 it would have been a very
different game. In the Champions
League you give something, they will
take it. You get punished.”
Thomas Tuchel praised his Bayern
side’s recovery and claimed they were
denied a penalty when Gabriel received
the ball in the area after a pass from
David Raya, the goalkeeper.
“The referee did not have the
courage to give a deserved penalty in a
bit of a crazy and awkward situation,”
the Bayern coach said.
“What makes us really angry is the
explanation on the field. He told our
players that it is a ‘kid’s mistake’ and he
will not give a penalty like this in a
quarter-final.We feel angry because it is
a huge decision against us.”
The reigning European champions
City thought they had the upper hand
in their tie against Real Madrid after
superb strikes by Phil Foden and Josko
Gvardiol put them 3-2 ahead, only for
Real to equalise in the 79th minute.
James, right, put England on course for victory in the 12th minute at the Aviva
Understudies
give Wiegman
much to ponder
Ireland
0 the bench, while of the returning quin-
England
James 12, Greenwood 18 (pen) 2 in her first international in 364 days, put
Euro 2025 qualifying
Kit Shepard
England’s win in Dublin will fuel
debates over Sarina Wiegman’s best XI
before her squad reconvenes in late
May. The head coach made five changes
from Friday’s draw with Sweden,
including dropping Mary Earps.
“Of course she is disappointed,”
Wiegman said of Earps, who was not in
England’s goal in a game with genuine
jeopardy for the first time since the 2019
World Cup. “She wants to play and has
been so good for us and very consistent.
So yes she is disappointed, we had that
conversation, then she showed up and
moved on.”
Many of those brought in, such as the
midfielders Jess Park and Ella Toone,
justified their inclusion. As for Hannah
Hampton, she shook off some distribu-
tion struggles to keep a clean sheet.
The team’s performance was good
enough, as Lauren James’s opener and
Alex Greenwood’s penalty within 18
minutes provided control. To their
credit Ireland rallied and, after Green-
wood missed a penalty, stayed right in
the contest until the climax at a noisy
Aviva Stadium.
Ireland showed in the second half
that they are no pushovers but England
will have to overcome better teams
(namely France and Sweden) to qualify
automatically for Euro 2025, let alone
defend their continental crown.
Hampton v Earps will headline forth-
coming selection disputes. Her omis-
sion proved that Wiegman will not
flinch from dropping anyone — even
the reigning Fifa “best goalkeeper” and
BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Hampton, 23, gave glimpses of both
her abilities and frailties. The Chelsea
goalkeeper dealt ably with crosses and
communicated well, yet made only two
saves and having a kick charged down
by Katie McCabe epitomised her tra-
vails with the ball at her feet. “In the air
she was good. We know she is good with
her feet, though in some moments she
could have been better,” Wiegman said.
Elsewhere, Grace Clinton and Geor-
gia Stanway are hardly out of the
61
Sport
midfield picture after being relegated to
tet Leah Williamson came closest to ce-
menting her spot. The England captain,
in a collected performance in defence.
Any nerves she did have were settled
by England’s fast start in the first game
between these teams since 1987. For
Ireland to hold off their more fancied
visitors they needed unerring fortune
and discipline, but got neither.
Poor marking and misfortune con-
tributed to James’s goal. Keira Walsh,
back to her metronomic ways having
played poorly on Friday, picked out
Lucy Bronze at the back post. Bronze’s
header across goal rebounded off Anna
Patten and fell kindly for James. The
Chelsea forward capitalised on the luck
by smashing past Courtney Brosnan.
And then came the ill-discipline.
Ruesha Littlejohn blocked a Jess Park
volley with a charge-down more befit-
ting the rugby played at the Aviva, and a
penalty for handball was awarded.
Greenwood sent Brosnan the wrong
way and Ireland needed a miracle.
Greenwood’s subsequent penalty
hitting the post after Louise Quinn’s
handball reignited the crowd.
Two more characters in the immi-
nent selection squabbles, Beth Mead
and Fran Kirby, were introduced short-
ly after half-time. They nearly com-
bined for a third when Kirby met Mead’s
cushioned header on the volley, forcing
an instinctive save from Brosnan.
Ireland could have set up a nervy
ending when Quinn fired across goal
from a McCabe free kick, but England
scrambled clear. The home side con-
tinued to push. Hampton saved from
Caitlin Hayes’s header and then was let
off the hook by McCabe, who chipped
tamely into her grasp after blocking her
punt. England’s unfamiliar No 1 there-
fore preserved her clean sheet. Let the
battle with Earps commence.
Ireland (4-3-2-1): C Brosnan 6 — A Patten 5, C
Hayes 7, Lo Quinn 5, A Mannion 6 — R Littlejohn 5
(M Connolly 46min, 6), D O’Sullivan 5, Lu Quinn 6
(M Campbell 61, 6) — H Payne 6 (L Kiernan 61, 6),
K McCabe 7 — K Carusa 6 (E Murphy 67, 6).
Booked McCabe.
England (4-1-2-3): H Hampton 6 — L Bronze 6,
L Williamson 7, A Greenwood 7, J Carter 6 —
K Walsh 8 — E Toone 7 (G Stanway 75), J Park 7
(F Kirby 56, 6) — L James 7 (C Kelly 86), A Russo 6
(R Daly 86), L Hemp 6 (B Mead 56, 6).
Referee L Lehtovaara (Finland).
Attendance 32,742.
 S1 Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times

Sport Max Whitlock exclusive

Team GB star tells Alyson Rudd why
he’s more driven than ever for Paris

Saka was furious

after being denied
a stoppage-time
Governance
penalty for this
collision with
goalkeeper Neuer
Bill puts our
game at risk,
says Masters
Matt Lawton
Chief Sports Correspondent
The head of the Premier League has
warned the government not to
“undermine” English football’s “global
success” with the introduction of what
he considers unnecessary legislation.
Writing exclusively for The Times,
Richard Masters, the Premier League’s
chief executive, has said that he fears
measures introduced as part of a Foot-
ball Governance Bill could be “wound-
ing the goose that provides English
football’s golden egg”.
Masters also argues, at a time when
Arsenal 2 the Premier League has yet to agree a
new deal with the EFL for financial
Bayern Munich 2 support, that the top-flight clubs
already provide £1.6 billion to the
pyramid. “The Football Governance
Real Madrid 3 Bill, published last month, will establish
strict banking-style regulation for more
Manchester City 3 than 100 football clubs,” Masters writes.
“It will give the regulator unprece-
dented power, including the right to
determine how much money is distrib-
uted to lower-league teams by Premier
League clubs. This is an arrangement

Comebacks and controversy

Saka denied late penalty, Kane escapes red for elbow as City and Arsenal battle to keep dreams alive
Gary Jacob
Hopes of an all-English semi-final
survive after an epic night of
Champions League football in London
and Madrid that brought ten goals and
plenty of intrigue.
Both Arsenal and Manchester City
led and then had to come from behind
to secure draws that give them every-
that, under a voluntary system, already
provides the most generous funding in
world football.
“My concern is that the bill will
reduce our competitiveness and weak-
en the incredible appeal of the English
game. There are already suggestions the
bill could be amended by those seeking
a more interventionist approach, with
thing to play for in the second legs of Harry Kane had put the German side even stronger powers for the regulator.
their quarter-final ties. ahead with a penalty but might have “We are asking MPs and peers to pro-
Leandro Trossard scored a late been dismissed for an apparent elbow tect the game, including the Premier
equaliser to give Arsenal a 2-2 draw at on Gabriel, left. Mikel Arteta claimed League, which not only helps sustain
home to Bayern Munich. The home he had not seen Kane’s foul or Saka’s the football pyramid but also contrib-
side were then denied a last-gasp penal- penalty appeal but said that he sympa- utes £4 billion in annual tax revenues
ty when Bukayo Saka was brought thised with his winger’s reaction. and creates 90,000 jobs across the
down by the Bayern goalkeeper Manu- “Yeah, for sure, if he thought it was a country. The unintended consequences
el Neuer. The angry forward had to be penalty,” the Arsenal manager said. “I of regulation generate significant risks.”
restrained by Arsenal coaching staff.

Times Crossword 28,887 across down Yesterday’s solution 28,886

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 Irish clan established around 1 Sultan’s palace complex is large and S P A SMO D I C S A D DO
A M A I H O R N
Priesthaggard originally (4) old (8) V A UGH A NW I L L I A MS
3 Landlord initially thrown by elusive 2 Joke I’d set up and attempt, E S J K M E U L
girl’s rental arrangement (10) expressing expert opinion (8) D A EMON A P O L OG I A
M N L A Y H U
9 10 11 9 Frenchman introducing canon 4 Old soldier’s high-class article E V E RGR E E N S S T AG
backing restoration (7) about hard left (5) A N G G Z A E H
11 Wood turns tail, having left 5 Body artist first to support military S E T T M A K E A N E X I T
Y A P L E E C
instrument in the kitchen (7) pageant (9) C A ROU S E L E U C L I D
12 Broadcast losing sad musical slide 6 Miners rational about famous H C R A E R U R
12 13 (9) statue, endlessly studying figures A P A S S A GE T O I ND I A
13 Character in Thessaloniki carrying (13) I D U L C S E W
R E E V E E P H EM E R A L
home money (5) 7 Scandinavian chap raised one in
Check today’s answers by ringing 0905 757
14 Enticing berries I still mostly the Washington area (6) 0141 by midnight. Calls cost £1 per minute
14 15 supply (12) 8 Cowardly to react thus to being plus your telephone company’s network
18 Useful publicity label on vehicle hurt? (6) access charge. SP: Spoke 0333 202 3390.
16 17 taking MDMA round the States 10 Musical politician overwhelmed by
(12) bridge-player’s tragic day (4,4,5) Newspapers
21 Idiot crossing motorway? That’s 15 Most of deprived area in resort, one
18
out of order (5) serving Italian food (9) support recycling
The recycled paper content of
22Holy Willie, type involved with 16 A lot of skill required to capture UK newspapers in 2020 was 67%
19 20 choir (9) neat craft? (8)
24European in South Africa left 17 A second US statesman perhaps,
21 22 23 Durban for example (7) not a political enabler (8)
25Conspicuous way to accommodate 19 Old woman’s ultimately serious
a legal right (7) condition, a rocky situation (6)
26What’s shown by a couple of 20Asian dish having edge over a
24 25 Liberals briefly sharing equally? French fricassee initially (6)
(5-5) 23Advance after crossing island (5)
27 In Massachusetts, a respected
national leader once (4)
26 27
Have you heard
the good news?
Times Radio is proud to have received eight nominations at this year’s
prestigious ARIAS, The Radio Academy’s annual awards.
• Best Speech Presenter: Hugo Rifkind, Matt Chorley, Jane Garvey and Fi Glover
• Best Speech Breakfast Show: Times Radio Breakfast
• Best News Coverage: Israel-Hamas War Coverage and Russell Brand Investigation
• The Impact Award: Seventeen Years – The Andrew Malkinson Story
• Radio Times Moment of the Year: Isabel Oakeshott’s Hancock hang-up

THE ELECTION STATION

 April 10 | 2024

Would you like polyfluoroalkyls

with your strawberries?
The hidden chemicals in your food
2 Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times

times2

Finally, some good news

Are we dating
about booze: your love A man is suing more than 50 women
life will benefit from it for sharing details about his behaviour
online. But there’s a good reason women
Carol Midgley swap notes, says Charlie Gowans-Eglinton

A
read an article this week that colleague of mine

I
I then had to put down to rub has been hearing
my spectacles and make sure my My sexting rave reviews of the
rheumy eyes weren’t deceiving wonderful new men
me. But no. It appeared to be a offer — it’s in two of her friends’
good news story about alcohol. lives. Bright,
Aren’t such things illegal now, only £50 charming, funny,
punishable by a spanking from with all their own
the wellness police or that former I’ve been following the teeth. Unfortunately, it turns out these
chief medical officer who told women Tory MP “nude pics” wonderful new men are actually just
to think about breast cancer every blackmail story and the one wonderful, rather busy man.
time they looked at a glass of wine? “A have made a decision. But dating two women is nothing
small glass of cancer please, barman.” I want in. If there’s compared to some. “Are we dating the
“Certainly, madam. Will it be the red money to be made from same guy?” is a women-only Facebook
or white cancer today? Enjoy.” But this sextortion lark, group (male equivalents exist) where
hooray. A huge study over two I’m having some. But women share notes on men they’re
decades has found that “couples who I’m not stupid. Oh no. dating and their bad behaviour, outing
drink together stay together”. And I realise that from cheaters, frauds, misogynists and
they tend to live longer too. Just let people of my age the creeps to other women who might
me finish these Andrews liver salts demand for naked otherwise have dated them. Stewart Lucas Murrey. Right: Olivia
and I’ll raise a glass to that. pictures is probably In Los Angeles, scores of women Burger and Vanessa Valdes (front),
Even more encouragingly, the study not high. Quite the agreed that Stewart Lucas Murrey was two of the women he is suing
is from America, where if you ask for opposite. People are a bad date — and we know this
so much as a second sherry the more likely to pay me because he is suing more than 50 of more people were being catfished
number for the nearest rehab clinic is not to send them them for $2.1 million, over damage to online, and perhaps it was wise to be
shoved into your fanny pack. The each other’s company and are photos of my pinky, his romantic life, working life and wary. But he seemed particularly
University of Michigan study found buckling up to be a bit stupid together. perky and whatnot. reputation. The first suit was dismissed paranoid, she went on. Maybe it was
that drinker couples have “better That it may even do you good in an Which is the nub of by a judge on Monday. because he was an actor, though she
relationship quality”, possibly because era when there seems to be only two my genius idea. I’m Did Murrey deserve to be so publicly didn’t recognise him from anything . . .
drinking together “increases intimacy”. extreme positions on alcohol — flipping sexting on its blacklisted? Many of the comments The penny finally dropped. We were
Of course it does. And not just the teetotaller or dipso pisshead with a head. If you send me, just painted him as rude or arrogant — messaging the same man, at the same
type that finds you both dancing to beetroot for a nose — is especially say, £50 I won’t send not dangerous to date, just unpleasant. time; we had received the same
the Killers with the dog in the kitchen gratifying. We rarely hear from the you a photo of me That this was shared with thousands of unsolicited selfies of him sitting on the
at 1am. You’re obviously going to be middle-grounders, do we? The vast unzipping my second others online, as opposed to with a few top deck of a bus in his sweaty gym
more up for Sunday afternoon “sexy majority for whom alcohol is not a worst fleece to reveal close friends over a glass of wine, does vests. Better than an unsolicited dick
times” with a cheeky Aperol spritz problem but a little life-lifter for £9.99 the greying bra with mean that it has a digital footprint that pic, we agreed, and mostly harmless,
inside you than if you are sitting with from Sainsbury’s and not a guarantee the partly perished might follow him around. But if it’s though he did sort of act as if we were
a cup of PG Tips watching The Chase. of being found 12 hours later sitting in mesh. A bargain, no? true, then — well, tough. crazed superfans stalking him, rather
These are facts. your own urine with a traffic cone on Pay up now and you Online dating has allowed people to than women he’d approached online.
As you will have cunningly detected, your head. won’t get pinged date far outside their social circles, but But definitely odd behaviour.
I am part of a “drinking couple”. A The study found that drinking with a pic of my it also provided an opportunity to Odd enough that I recognised it at
“drouple”. Or, as the disapproving couples fared better than those in baggy gardening behave terribly with little or no once a few years later when a different
might term it, “a pair of soaks”. We which one member likes a drop and slacks being lowered. accountability. Many of the horrors of friend, living on the opposite side of
met, like so many do, in drink, and the other doesn’t. Obviously. Another See? Everyone wins. modern dating are thanks to the extra London, described a handsome app
many years later keep the flag flying bonus for the drouple is that there’s This seems far less degrees of separation, the online match who she thought was behaving
with enthusiasm. no “No sympathy! You brought it on hard work than being shroud of anonymity, and knowing strangely (which, for handsome men
Let’s be clear, no one wants to be yourself” recrimination the next one of those saddos that your friends and peers won’t hear on dating apps, is saying something)
the swaying duo with barnacled faces morning when you have the forever shoving their that you’re behaving like a rotter. and sure enough, in a city of nine
screaming at each other in the bus complexion of a half-putrefied corpse. phone down their pants Yet, as we waive our privacy for million, it was the same guy.
shelter. But in fairness that was only Because you both look as revolting as hoping to snare some digital ease, it’s increasingly possible to I didn’t warn her off him — we’d
the once and we’d had a long day. each other. Result! dim politician with join the digital dots, for which I’m not only been on one date, and it wasn’t
Like most people we have a few Oh. Closer inspection of the report badly lit genitalia. alone in feeling grateful. Modern bad, or in any way sketchy — but it
nights off a week (aka “the most suggests that smug celebration may You’ve heard of milf dating is like a part-time job, so gave her context, and stopped her
boring nights”), as the 0 per cent be premature. The study defines sites (mothers I’d like anything that can streamline the from feeling that maybe she’d done
Peronis in the fridge attest, and we “drinking” as whether a participant to f***)? Well, my new process is appealing. If one woman’s something wrong to make him so
do like to be in bed fogeyishly early. had had a drink within the past three business idea is milfcs wasted evening and half of the bill can suspicious. In the end he asked for her
But there isn’t a single occasion that months. Three. Months. So that — mothers I’d only like help the rest of us to rule out a few Instagram handle — more proof of
can’t, IMHO, be improved by a glass includes nearly everyone then? Boo. to see fully clothed. duds, what’s the harm? who she was — and when she
of cheer. (If you are one of those It also cautioned against using the A few years ago, I was comparing mentioned she’d actually seen him in
people who don’t need it — respect. findings to drink more with your battle stories from life on the dating a show, he ghosted her.
I envy you, but I am not one of you.) partner. Damn. That’s the only reason apps with a friend. She began to tell Over the dinner table last week, I
Drinking together is saying you like I read it in the first place. me about a man she was texting who polled the group about a dishy man
asked her to send photos almost daily, that my Hinge algorithm had been
because she wasn’t sure whether this showing me daily, but who used to
your year. The Dorset could choke. Look, a knob, but you can was a red flag or not. He wasn’t asking date our mutual acquaintance — and
Knob festival is back, don’t blame me for the pin the knob on the for nudes — that wouldn’t have been was glad to hear of his love for cocaine
Let them five years after it was double entendres. It’s Cerne Abbas Giant,” worth mentioning, since its so and threesomes before I wasted any of
scrapped for growing all true. an organiser said. If you commonplace — and he was my time. (Both are no-thank-yous for
eat knobs? too big. The knob- A knob, FYI, is a hard swapped that word for otherwise interesting and funnyish, me, though I’m only judgmental about
throwing game will savoury biscuit, and a “bread roll” you’d and handsome. But he wanted candid the first one.)
No chance return in July, but word that the British barely get any takers. selfies as she bought her coffee or sat An extract from Chimene
health and safety find hilarious. It’s doing Although if they held a at her desk, and he sent her his own, Suleyman’s new book, The Chain: The
Could you guess the has kiboshed the a hell of a lot of heavy “bap-weighing contest” though she never asked for them. Relationships That Break Us, The
weight of a big knob? knob-eating race amid lifting here. “We don’t I dare say they’d raise I told her I’d had the same Women Who Rebuild Us, appeared in
Then 2024 could be fears that someone want people choking on some interest. experience — we agreed that maybe these pages last month. While
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
the same guy? Probably
her partner texted her — apparently
from the waiting room outside — as
she had an abortion, he was actually
recorded by security cameras
removing all traces of himself from her
New York apartment.
Searching for news of him on social
media, she found a drawing posted by
another woman living in another
country, captioned: “Unfortunately,
the guy in the picture turned out to be
a psychopath.”
The woman who posted it lived in
Australia, but connected Chimene to
another woman who had responded
to it and also lived in New York. Zoe
had even been pregnant with the
same man’s child at the same time
as Chimene.
The Instagram post gained traction,
until his pattern emerged. “He told
us he was in hospital or a suicide
clinic, asked us for money to pay for
Chimene Suleyman, his meds or the admission fee, or one
left, and Becky Holmes treatment or another that would save
his life.
“All these relationships overlapped
with other women. Most wrote of
giving him money, of losing items from
their homes, pregnancies, lies and his
mother who was, as it turns out,
coming back to life again and again,
but unfortunately dying of cancer on
a regular basis.”
The money came to at least
$100,000, while he pretended to have
a job. One of his friends, who met so
many of these women, told Chimene
they “guessed he was probably
homeless and staying between
women’s houses”.
Last month New York Magazine
published an article about Andrew
Huberman, an associate professor at
3
times2
The lowdown
JLo’s grubby
Stanford University’s School of jeans
Medicine and podcast host who Can I just check something?
teaches “bro science” to five million
YouTube subscribers. Fire away.
The extent to which his
relationships with five different How often should one wash
women — including his ex-partner one’s jeans?
Sarah, who tested positive for an STI A compelling question. Officially:
for the first time three years into their barely ever. I think every three to ten
relationship, which she says they wears is the general rule, though
agreed was exclusive — overlapped admittedly I can’t remember the last
was something that they investigated time mine were cleaned. In fact, I’ve
together, by comparing screenshots of just noticed an unidentifiable stain
their conversations with Huberman in on each leg. Hmmm. Wonder how
a group chat. long they have been there?
According to the magazine, he had
told Sarah that the women that she I could ask the same question of
was suspicious of were “stalkers, JLo. She was out in New York
alcoholics, and compulsive liars”, over the weekend in a pair of blue
before she caught him in one affair baggy jeans that were covered in
and began to speak directly to the what looked like mud and dust.
“other women”. Surely you’d wash visibly dirty
If data-pooling group chats had jeans, if they were, you know,
existed when I was younger, I might for smart?
have realised that my first great love Well, she’s a very busy gal.
was lots of people’s first great love,
consecutively, and was also lying Too busy to empty her laundry
about his age. basket by the looks of it (or get
I might have realised that a someone else to).
boyfriend’s crazy exes weren’t
Ah. I think I know what is going
actually crazy, just cheated on, before
on here — JLo wants her jeans to
I became one of them. It’s only the
look grubby.
real red flags that would actually
put me off if I liked someone, not
I see. And have we checked on her
reading on a Facebook group that
recently? Is she … OK?
they were boring or ten minutes late
or rubbish at texting (he’d be a Yes. More than that, my friend, she
kindred spirit, actually). is trendy.
Then there are the actually criminal
red flags, true conmen like the You’ve lost me.
“Tinder Swindler” who take thousands It’s a fashion thing. The pair she is
of pounds from their victims, and who wearing are the height of cool. They
deserve more than just outing in a are from Acne Studios and cost
group chat. about $620 if I am not mistaken —
In Keanu Reeves Is Not in Love with and when it comes to these things, I
You: The Murky World of Online rarely am.
Romance Fraud, Becky Holmes shares
her solution. Targeted by romance So, to clarify, people are paying
scammers on Twitter, she began to hundreds for mucky clothes?
mete out vigilante justice. She replied Goodness, no.
to their auto-generated declarations of
love with unintelligible nonsense, not Phew.
that it put them off; she faked travel
plans to meet a “pilot” on his busy Just jeans. It is
flightpath; she sent fake gift card codes very specific.
when they asked for money.
Thankfully, most people are who Ugh. So dirty is the
they say they are, at least when it new distressed?
comes to the vital statistics. Exactly! Instead of
Dating profiles show rose-tinted complaints about
versions of ourselves; so does our buying clothes
behaviour on those first few with holes in
dates. And for anyone who rose- them, now a
tints a little too aggressively, generation of
there’s the risk of the group chat. fashionistas will
There’s a reason some famous have to listen
bachelors ask their romantic to their elders
partners to sign NDAs — so that joking about
the heart-throb persona remains putting a
intact. Suing your detractors is wash on.
one option — if only for the very
fragile and/or angry — but my But still. Wearing
hope is that the possibility of dirty jeans and
being named and shamed might carrying a Chanel
stop some men from digitally handbag, you
flashing, or Andrew Tate-esque accept this is
value appraising, or simply ridiculous, right?
ghosting the women that It’s not a look
they meet. I’ll be rocking
We’ve all had bad dates, but myself — on
if a man thinks a few women purpose,
sharing notes about him is anyway.
something to be afraid of, that’s
probably because he knows he’s been a Hannah Rogers
prick.
4 Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times

times2

Strawberries and
cream season?
You may want to
think again ...
Government analysis has found that 95 per cent of
strawberries carry traces of PFAS — toxic chemicals
that stay in our bodies ‘for ever’. How worried should
we be about the fresh produce we eat, asks Peta Bee
e know cent were found to have at least one

W
summer is PFAS present. And according to new
on its way analysis of the committee’s report by
when
seasonally
the campaign group Pesticide Action
Network (PAN), grapes (61 per cent
There’s
fresh
strawberries
of samples), cherries (56 per cent),
spinach (42 per cent), tomatoes
probably
appear in (38 per cent) and peaches (38 per no garden
the supermarkets. Who can resist the cent) contained worrying levels of
cream of the fruit crop adding its the toxins. Could it be that in aiming or patch of
burst of juicy sweetness to smoothies,
desserts and cocktails? But this
for our five a day we are unwittingly
consuming toxins that may harm our land free
week came a warning from scientists
that whichever way you prefer to
health?
PFAS were discovered in 1938 by
from PFAS
eat your strawberries — plain, with a chemist working for DuPont.
cream or otherwise — there is a They are invisible to the naked eye,
strong chance they will come with an virtually indestructible and almost
unwanted trace of PFAS (per- and impossible to avoid. They seep
polyfluoroalkyl substances), those insidiously into our homes, our “PFAS are man-made, non- Sciences Academy. “They are
ominous-sounding “forever chemicals” drinking water, soil and consequently biodegradable chemicals created by persistent because the body cannot
that can remain in our bodies for years the food we eat — and therefore into fusing carbon and fluorine atoms that chemically destroy them or neutralise
and in the environment for centuries. our bodies too. You will find them have been leeched from industrial them.”
In 2022 more than 3,300 food everywhere, from food packaging and production in factories since about In terms of fruit and vegetables, it is
samples were tested for pesticides by shampoo bottles to non-stick cooking the 1970s,” says Alex Ruani, a the juiciest and tastiest varieties that
the government’s expert committee pans and stain-resistant sofas and researcher in nutrition science at are primed to be PFAS carriers.
on pesticide residues in food. Of the rugs, and in clothing, shoes and University College London and “Freshly grown foods that absorb the
120 strawberry samples tested, 95 per accessories. chief science educator at the Health most water, like strawberries and

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the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
grapes, are the most likely to have the
greatest PFAS content,” Ruani says.
According to PAN, there are 25
pesticides containing PFAS, but
washing them off won’t necessarily
help much, partly because our tap
water contains the chemicals. “In the
UK the government advice is always
to wash or peel fruit and vegetables
to remove pesticide residues,” says
Dr David Megson, a reader in
chemistry and environmental
forensics at Manchester Metropolitan
University. “But these PFAS
chemicals make a very good job of
sticking to stuff.”
Buying organic is one option for
reducing exposure to many
agricultural chemicals, but this doesn’t
necessarily reduce the intake of PFAS,
which are mostly absorbed from land
and water, whether organically
farmed or not. A study last year in the
journal Environmental Research
indicated that organic vegetables may
have lower amounts of PFAS, but
they are not free from the chemicals.
Growing your own or sticking to
seasonal eating doesn’t remove
the risk. “When a garden or
greenhouse is in or near an
industrial area PFAS concentration
in produce is higher,” Ruani says.
“Sad to say there’s probably
no garden or patch of land
entirely free from PFAS,
and seasonal or not these
persistent chemicals will
make their way into
our food.”
Concerns about the toxins centre
on research showing a correlation
between long-term exposure to
PFAS and an increased risk of health
issues and diseases including cancer,
high cholesterol, kidney and thyroid
problems, reduced fertility and
repressed immunity. “These
potentially carcinogenic
molecules accumulate in
blood, cells and tissue,”
Ruani says. “There’s
evidence that they are
passed on to our children
during pregnancy and can
affect learning and behaviour
in young people.”
Research published in 2007 in the
journal Environmental Health
Perspectives estimated that 99 per
cent of people have PFOA
(perfluorooctanoic acid) —
considered one of the most
harmful of the PFAS —
in their bodies. “They
have been traced in
glacial water and
rainforests, basically
everywhere in our
environment,” Ruani
says. “And the worrying
thing is, we don’t yet know
the full consequences on our
health and longevity.”
Not that the advice is to avoid
fruit and vegetables shown to
contain PFAS. “These chemicals
are certainly not desirable in the
food system, but we have a
well-regulated food supply,
and the amounts in food are
considered a safe and not
dangerous level of exposure,”
says Dr Duane Mellor, a
registered dietician and
senior teaching fellow at
Aston University. “No single
food is likely to expose you
to toxic levels of PFAS, and
as far as we know the benefits
of consuming more fruit, veg
and wholegrains in terms of
cancer and disease prevention will
offset some of the risks associated
with consuming them via the
There’s food chain.”
Ruani says there are benefits
evidence to eating strawberries and
other summer fruits —
they are and we shouldn’t stop
doing so. “They are
passed on packed with precious
to children polyphenols, vitamins
and fibre, so the benefits
during of eating them far
outweigh any kind of PFAS risks.”
pregnancy But there are steps we can take to
reduce chemical exposure when
eating fruit and veg.
Citrus fruit
Grapefruits, mandarins and satsumas
were at the top of PAN’s latest
“dirty dozen” list of UK produce
that contains the highest levels of
pesticide residues. Although most of
these are in the peel, PAN says that
some citrus fruit pesticides are
“systemic”, meaning they are
contained within the flesh and pith.
Handling citrus fruit can lead to
dermal absorption, through the skin.
“Avoid using non-organic peel and
zest where possible,” Ruani says.
Potatoes
Although they featured relatively low
down in the government survey, with
only 2 per cent of 145 potato samples
containing PFAS, according to PAN,
5
times2
a hectare of non-organic potatoes in
the UK is treated with agricultural
pesticides an average of 22 times.
Although not sprayed directly,
potatoes can absorb the pesticides and
germs in the soil. “It is advisable to
Where
wash and scrub potatoes
before consuming them,”
else can
Megson says.
PFAS be
Apples
Although only 2 per cent
of 96 samples tested
found?
contained traces of PFAS,
according to PAN, the number
of apples containing multiple Drinking
pesticide residues increased from water
44 per cent in 2018 to 72 per cent in Last year a
2022. “Apple skins do contain useful report from the
sources of fibre, but always wash them Royal Society of
before eating,” Ruani says. Washing Chemistry
fruit and vegetables will remove revealed that
some pesticides but has little more than a
effect on PFAS levels. third of water
supplies tested
in England and
Grapes Wales contained
Research carried PFAS. “I would
out by PAN in like to be
2022 showed that confident that
grapes from 13 countries, the water I am
including South Africa, Brazil and drinking poses a low risk and the RSC
India, had multiple chemical residues have proposed sensible steps to allow
on their surface, with 84 per cent of this to happen,” says Megson, who was
samples containing at least one of part of the RSC report team. “An
47 “active substances”, including interactive map allows consumers to
31 fungicides used to prevent rotting see what PFA levels are like near
during storage. Fungicides can them.” To access the map visit rsc.org.
partially be removed by
washing the fruit
thoroughly. Yet grapes were Food packaging
found to have absorbed We are not just talking ready meals
other systemic pesticides, and ultra-processed foods but
making them more disposable snack and sandwich bags
difficult to remove. and one-use cutlery items. “PFAS
European grape growers, were historically used in the coating of
including those in Spain, food packaging and wrapping in order
France and Italy, are to make it resistant to grease or water,”
moving away from Ruani says. “While the more
pesticides, PAN says. damaging longer-carbon-chain PFOA
has been phased out in the UK and
Europe, it has been replaced with
Salad, spinach shorter-chain PFAS products which
and rocket are an improvement but not PFAS-
It’s convenient, but
ready-to-eat bagged
free.” Opt for PFAS-free compostable
greaseproof paper for baking.
salad may contain more
than a colourful
array of leaves. Non-stick pans
In the Throw away any of
government’s these that have
tests 7 per cent
of 97 lettuce
been hanging
around in your
samples contained
traces of PFAS. Spinach
cupboards for
years — they
containing multiple pesticide residues
has increased from 57 per cent in
likely contain
higher levels of
2019 to 73 per cent in 2022, according materials that
to PAN. may contain
With any leaves, health chiefs PFAS. “Teflon and
recommend removing any loose soil other non-stick
before storing vegetables, and washing coating used to be made
all herbs and salads that will be eaten using PFOA,” Ruani says.
raw thoroughly unless they have “This use has been phased out
been pre-prepared and are labelled and replaced with shorter-
“ready to eat”. chain PFAS. The best type to
Even so, ready-washed salads come opt for are stainless steel,
with other risks. Researchers at the ceramic and cast-iron pots
University of Leicester found that the and pans.”
moist environment in a bag of washed
salad with damp, partially bruised
leaves, combined with nutrients
Anything described
leeching out, provides the perfect as stain-resistant
breeding ground for bacteria including This includes sofas, rugs, jackets,
salmonella — which increased hiking boots and moisture-resistant
2,400-fold in their five-day trial. sports performance fabric, all of which
They have also been linked with usually contain PFAS. You can’t avoid
outbreaks of E. coli. “It is always better everything and will want to stay dry
to prepare and wash your own salad on a long walk or run — but be
leaves rather than to purchase strategic about buying too many of
ready-bagged,” Mellor says. these products.
6 Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
fashion
Left: dress, £85,
nobodyschild.com.
Right: Beyoncé
Cowgirl chic (just don’t go the full
Yes, the Wild West is in, says
Anna Murphy — but remember,
less is more when it comes to
looking at home on the range
I
have got so much wrong with
fashion over the years, a fact
I choose to believe you might
find reassuring (she’s human,
not a fashion bot) rather than
annoying (who does she think
she is, presuming to give advice
about anything?!).
For example, there is nothing that
adds edge to your look better than
a soupçon of cowboy, to use a turn
of phrase that I imagine never left
Calamity Jane’s lips. And you can
trust me on this, precisely because
for so long I wasn’t having any of it.
Yes, one of my biggest errors was not
getting with the cowboy programme
until a handful of years ago.
A pair of cowboy boots can help us
to dream of life on the frontier while
sweating that Thursday morning
PowerPoint presentation; help us to
pretend to ourselves that we are
nonconformists even as we go about
our entirely conformist existence.
A trouser suit plus the right cowboy
boots? Yee-haa. A pencil skirt or
tailored trews and kitten heels plus
the right denim shirt. Ace high. That
same skirt or trousers with a white
tee and the right suede fringed jacket?
Ace in the hole. I can’t give you a
fourth example, because that’s as far
as my cowboy colloquialisms go, but
you catch my drift.
You are hopefully also catching my
drift when it comes to the fact that
rightness is key, by which I mean,
freshness. Any item that looks as if it
started life in the original Wild West
is not for you; is a calamity in waiting,
in fact. (Sorry, Jane.)
Note too that in all of the above
ensembles, I am advocating for only
one item, and that you keep the rest
of the look polished. OK, I will allow
you cowboy boots with jeans, but
that’s it. I am even wary of so-called
double denim.
Less is more when it comes to
cowboy fashion. It’s all very well for
Beyoncé to go the full ten gallon
with her new album Cowboy Carter,
if not 20 gallon, given her new-found
predilection for chaps worn not
with what Americans call pants but
what we Brits do. (Accessorised, in
other words, with a whole lot of inner
thigh.) For those of us who are not
global superstars and/or who are
older than 28, I would urge that the
only variety of chaps you engage with
is the Clearing House Automated
Payment System.
Jacket, £35, George at Asda,
direct.asda.com
Left: Paris
street style.
Right: shirt,
£105, and
skirt, £150,
sezane.com
I suppose it was only a matter of
time before a sartorial appropriation
that started in the Fifties with jeans,
an item of clothing now so ubiquitous
that many of us have forgotten they
were originally worn by cowboys and
goldminers, spread to other elements
from the same uniform.
When Ralph Lauren first put the
cowboy aesthetic on the catwalk in
1978 it was seen as an anti-fashion
statement. But the designer called it
right. “The spirit of western style has
a rugged elegance and authenticity
that people want to relate to,” he says.
“There’s both a sensibility and
honesty to the clothing that gives it an
enduring appeal.” His high-end takes,
such as a red-on-white embroidered
western shirt (£355, ralphlauren.com),
remain some of the best around.
A key factor in the rise of cowboy
boots in particular? That they have
to be some of the most comfortable
heels you can wear. Why? Because
they were conceived of for men, and
though men may have their failings
they have long known better
than to impede themselves with
challenging footwear. That has
been our speciality, goddam us.
Extra centimetres without extra pain.
There’s a result right there.
Indeed, I would argue that a pair of
cowboy boots should be your gateway
purchase. And that’s without factoring
in that they are one of the most
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
Shirt, £319,
allsaints.com
ten gallon)
youthifying single-item purchases you
can make. My favourites come from
the British brand Penelope Chilvers.
Indeed, Chilvers was one of the first
women I saw wearing them in a
non-John Wayne way, with a linen
summer dress, no less. She insists
they are not something you age out
of either. “They give you attitude.
That feeling of having the freedom to
kick the dust!” Her low-rise style Calie
Broderie in sand suede, with its pretty
Add only one
item, and keep
the rest of the
look polished
punched edging, is especially flattering
for summer because it reveals the
narrowest part of your lower leg
(£269, penelopechilvers.com).
A shoutout too for Ivylee
Copenhagen for its navy leather
Frances (£347, ivyleecopenhagen.com),
and for All Saints for its double
metallic silver and gold, also
available in black with a gold toe
(£249, allsaints.com). At a more
affordable price point I like M&S
Collection’s black leather (£45,
marksand spencer.com), Mango’s
slouchy tan suede (£109.99, mango.
com) and John Lewis’s And/Or
black leather or sand suede (£159,
johnlewis.com).
A couple of standout suede jackets,
neither of which is cheap, needless to
say, are Jigsaw’s fringed style in black
or brown (£450, jigsaw-online.com)
and Mint Velvet’s plain and pocketed
tan (£329, mintvelvet.com). For a
cheaper take try George at Asda’s
stone faux leather (£35, asda.com).
All Saints is the high street brand
that most consistently subscribes to
the belief that west is best. Its tassel
chain blazer — think Wild West meets
Upper East Side — is one of my picks
of the season (£299, allsaints.com).
Mango’s cream fringed cardigan is
another statement item (£59,
mango.com), ditto Monsoon’s
embroidered denim dress (£85,
johnlewis.com). Tabitha Webb has a
wool-cashmere knit with the words
“Cowboy Ride Campfire Stargaze” and
another that says “This Ain’t My First
Rodeo” (£195, tabithawebb.co.uk).
I like WNU’s denim shirt precisely
because it is so sleek as to make it
clear that you are not the type to carry
a lasso (£130, withnothingunderneath.
com), and the same goes for Sézane’s
cream flower-embroidered iteration
(£105, sezane.com). And/Or’s is a
little more rugged in a good way
(£65, johnlewis.com).
@annagmurphy
My family, the von Trapps
in Lycra, are in it to win it
There’s mileage in a ‘run-cation’, says Clare Conway
t started as a gift idea for my
I
mum’s 62nd birthday. The two of
us would run a half-marathon
together. Surprise! She’d always
claimed, wistfully, that she
wished she had tried long-
distance running. Madrid’s
official half-marathon was
offering race entry for €40 a head. A
run and a mini-break: what could be
nicer? The rest of my family caught
wind of it and soon they’d signed up
too. We had become a demented
family of von Trapps in running shoes,
flying in from our home cities: New
York, Stockholm and London.
It’s not just us. Sports tourism is a
fast-growing industry and now makes
up about 10 per cent of all global
tourism. If people are willing to fly to
another country for a 5km Parkrun —
runners from the UK have gone to
Poland to compete in Zielona Gora’s
Parkrun to complete an A to Z
challenge — they’ll certainly board a
plane for a half-marathon (21km).
The Madrid race is the biggest half-
marathon in Spain: 23,000 runners
have signed up for this year’s edition,
and plenty of them are on my flight
from Heathrow. Dad, 62, is doing
his best Joe Biden impression in
his Hokas, with extra spongy
soles to cushion the joints. He’s
pointing at other passengers
(albeit 30 years younger and
much leaner) in their Hokas and
nodding at them as if in a club. It
must be the fittest flight to Spain
I’ve been on — no alcohol, just
bottles of water all round.
As for our family’s fitness, we
have half-heartedly followed
training plans, what with work,
busy lives and babies (my sister
Orla, 33, had a daughter four
months earlier). My mum,
however, has been unusually
diligent and stuck her training
plan on the fridge, ticking off
each run in disgust. “Christ,” she says
and shakes her head, as if seven miles
is not the logical next step after six
miles the week before. As if the
training plan is out to get her.
My brother Bryan, 38, has been
doing runs in Stockholm in minus ten
degrees — until, two weeks before the
race, he gets a blood clot in his leg.
Just a small one, he assures us,
dubiously, when we meet at our rented
apartment in Madrid. Bryan will run
in knee-high compression socks. My
New York-based sister and Orla’s twin,
Maeve, 33, who does a few marathons
a year, says her knee hurts. Dad’s
back is at him — the evening before
the race, he can’t bend down to
reach the bin.
We’re all up at 8am on Sunday to
catch the Metro. We follow the surge
of runners to the start line at the
Paseo de la Castellana. Thousands of
people are warming up en masse,
hopping on the spot, kicking their legs
out and leaning against trees to
stretch. I’m starting to regret the wine
last night. No time to dwell on it: a
voice over a speaker announces that
the race starts in 15 minutes.
Mum turns to my beleaguered dad:
7
fashion
times2
“Every man for himself,” she says.
We filter off into our start pens,
based on our estimated race times.
Bryan and Maeve go off at speed.
Further back, I resist an adrenaline
rush and try to pace myself. Far
behind me are my mum, dad and Orla.
We’ve all been so resigned to our
fate that we haven’t bothered to look
at the course. Turns out the first
quarter is one long hill. My mum
thinks she’s running well until she
realises that the signpost marked 8
means kilometres, not miles. I press on
in the warmth of the Spanish spring:
22C at 10am and rising. Rollerskating
volunteers weave in and out of the
runners, offering bottles of water and
Vaseline for chafing nipples. A brass
band plays on a corner, a DJ pumps
out trance music on the next.
Firefighters cheer outside their station.
Spectators wave all kinds of national
flags and a sign is held aloft by an Irish
woman: “Hurry up, I want a pint.”
Bryan starts limping about 16km.
Well-meaning runners slap him on
the arse. “Let’s go!” He picks up the
pace. My grey-haired mum gets a few
cries of “Venga, abuela!” (Come on,
The Conway family grandma!) and scowls, resolving to dye
— Mags, Mark, her hair. Even though, as I later point
Orla, Clare, Bryan out, she is a grandmother.
and Maeve — after By 11am, it’s seriously warm. There
finishing the Madrid are casualties on the side of the road,
half-marathon towards the end of the route. Mostly
they’re young men, wrapped in foil
blankets being attended to by medics.
Possibly they’ve run too fast. I look for
a pair of pasty compression-socked
legs on the pavement and am relieved
when I can’t see my brother.
On the whole, the atmosphere is
Dad, 62, supercharged with endorphins. There
are couples racing together, mothers
is doing running with their babies in buggies, a
whole army platoon chanting and in
a Joe step. I am beaten by a man dressed up
as a banana — but what a rush.
Biden We cross the finish line as follows:
Maeve, 1hr 40 min; Bryan, 1hr 42min;
in his me, 1hr 52min; Orla, 2hr 9min. Then
Hokas, comes my dad, two minutes behind
Orla, puffing his way across the finish
with line: 2hr 11min. And finally, the
reluctant grandma crosses the finish
extra line at 2hr 22min, indignant that she
hasn’t beaten my dad. Tomorrow there
spongy will be hell to pay on the muscles
front. For now, it’s time for another
soles half — I mean beer, obviously.
8 Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
arts
n Manchester even the rats are
I
mad fer it. In the Noughties
early days of the Warehouse
Project, the club night that has
become perhaps the city’s most
revered nocturnal destination
since the Haçienda, rats were
known to lick the dregs of
discarded cocaine wraps. This meant
that the unlucky souls clearing up
afterwards were sometimes confronted
by very, erm, confident rodents.
“These rats were stood on their back
legs, saying, f***ing come on then!”
says Sacha Lord, who describes this
and other lurid episodes in his rip-
roaring new book, Tales from the
Dance Floor. As the promoter for the
Warehouse Project — whose 10,000
capacity at Depot Mayfield, its current
venue, puts it among the biggest
clubs in the world — and Parklife,
Manchester’s largest music festival, he
has seen some sights. “Might help fill
in a few blanks,” runs a quote from the
Happy Mondays’ Shaun Ryder on the
book’s cover.
Lord, 52, is rightly smug about the
city’s cultural heritage, once telling a
journalist that “the south has all the
Strangeways
prisoners wrote
letters saying it
sounded amazing
money, the north has all the fun”. A
local artist picked up on it, “and now
there are people walking around with
that on their tote bags”.
Even the city’s prisoners know how
to party. The Warehouse Project used
to be held at the old Boddingtons
brewery near HMP Strangeways — so
near that the inmates could hear the
music. “The governor went on record
saying that we were responsible for a
spike in drug taking,” Lord says. “We
used to get letters with a Strangeways
letterhead from prisoners saying, ‘It
sounded amazing on Saturday — can
you send us a tape?’”
Elsewhere he writes about the
American rapper Cardi B cancelling a
headline show at Parklife because her
breasts hadn’t healed after plastic
surgery (“a new one on me”), and
about the enterprising barman who
brought his own card machine to the
festival and scammed £11,000 in a
week. Then there are the surprising —
if logical — mathematics of venue
capacities. When Lord booked New
Order to play the Warehouse Project
in 2015, it seemed unusually busy,
despite not being a sellout. He realised
that the band’s older fans, many with
a case of middle-aged spread, were
“taking up nearly twice the space of
our usual crowd”.
What separates Lord’s book from
the clichés about gurners in bucket
hats is its focus on the darker period
after the Madchester era, when gangs
held sway. In 1991 the Haçienda shut
temporarily after a bouncer was
threatened with a machinegun. Lord
was once bundled into a car and
ordered to play at a rave by
gangsters who had confused him
with the superstar DJ Sasha. Another
gang member was caught trying to
leave the Warehouse Project with
43 stolen mobile phones down his
trousers.
“I’m a pretty small guy, standing up
to these hugely intimidating gangsters
Johnny Marr joined Chic’s Nile Rodgers at the Warehouse Project in 2011. Top right: the club night
Ravers, raids and
rats on cocaine
Manchester knows how to party, says the veteran club
promoter Sacha Lord. Ed Potton hears the inside story
from Salford,” Lord says. “I look back Snoop Dogg with Grammar, he left with two Us and an
now and say, how the hell did I get Sacha Lord at Parklife E at A-level — club promotion was the
through that?” Charm, probably, festival in 2014 only thing he was good at.
although he says it’s simply because he It would be naive to deny that drugs
“had to get through it”. Despite going are part of that world, Lord says. “If
to a private school, Manchester Strangeways can’t stop drugs getting
into a category A prison, what are we
supposed to do with a festival or a
nightclub?” Since the Warehouse
Project opened in 2006, “we must
have had touching three million
people through the doors”, and few
major incidents. Which is not to
diminish them when they happen. In
2013 Nick Bonnie, 30, died after
collapsing at a Warehouse Project
night with cocaine and high levels of
MDMA in his system.
Lord describes that experience as
shattering. “We very nearly pulled the
plug on Warehouse Project. Then we
thought, if we do pull the plug, people
won’t stop partying. And that’s when
we started to educate people.” Now
the project runs back-of-house testing,
which Lord says has
saved at least one
life. When a
woman fell ill after
taking Ecstasy at
Parklife, they
asked her friends
to describe the
tablet she had taken
and found something
similar that had been
confiscated from
someone else. “We tested it,
within seconds told the doctor
what was in it, and they saved her life.”
Much of Manchester’s vitality is
born of adversity. After the 2017
bombing of Ariana Grande’s concert at
Manchester Arena, which killed 22
people, “the UK saw what the city was
about”, Lord says. He remembers a
vigil where somebody started to sing
Oasis’s Don’t Look Back in Anger. “It
wasn’t orchestrated but everybody
else joined in, shoulder to shoulder,
defending the city.”
Lord was appointed Manchester’s
night-time economy adviser, aka
nightlife tsar, by the mayor, Andy
Burnham, in 2018. He has fought his
corner with gusto, taking the
government to court during the
pandemic over its “Scotch egg” ruling
— the one that said pubs could open
only if they offered “substantial meals”.
He argued that this discriminated
against more than 1,800 venues in the
Greater Manchester area that didn’t
offer food, many of them in poorer
areas. “People were shutting left, right
and centre, losing their homes and
their marriages,” he says. The
government dropped the rule before
the case could conclude.
He and Burnham seem to be doing
something right. While the number of
nightclubs in London has fallen by
more than half over the past ten years,
Manchester is “absolutely bouncing”,
Lord says. There is the Warehouse
Project’s move to Depot Mayfield, part
of a £1 billion regeneration of a railway
depot, while the city has a new arts
centre, Aviva Studios (formerly
Factory International), and a music
arena, Co-op Live, with a 23,500
capacity. Lord’s current priorities
are improving safety and accessibility
at venues, and reintroducing night
buses, which are vital for his staff as
well as punters.
Nightlife tastes are changing fast.
“The stat that knocks me sideways is
that one in five under the age of 25
now don’t drink any alcohol,” Lord
says. “Ritzy-style nightclubs are very
quickly dying away.” He puts it down
to the cost of living crisis and the
impact of Covid on socialising habits.
People are still going out, just not
as often: “They’re waiting for those
big moments.”
The biggest moment for him was a
2011 show at the Warehouse Project
by Chic. “I was sat in the pit and it
completely blew my mind,” he says.
“Johnny Marr came on to play on the
last track, Le Freak.” Manchester still
has that swagger, Lord says. If he was
doing it all again, though, “I’d start a
Portaloo company. I worked out that
I’d have made more money doing that
than putting nights on.” But possibly
less fun.
Tales from the Dance Floor by Sacha
Lord is published tomorrow
(HarperNorth £22). To order a copy
go to timesbookshop.co.uk or call
020 3176 2935. Free UK standard
P&P on online orders over £25.
Special discount available for Times+
members
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024
Chelsea tractor drivers: get your
big, fat bumpers out of my grille!
Cars are becoming
bigger and more
obstructive than
ever. Driving SUVs
in the city is awful,
says Hilary Rose
W
hen I was
little my
parents
used to
ferry me
around in
a Mini the
size and
weight of a coffee table book. When I
sat in a Mini last year it was the size of
the bookshop. The news that cars are
getting bigger is therefore not news to
me, because I have eyes and I drive.
A study has found that the most
popular family cars have widened by
an average of 12cm since they were
launched. Minis are now more
accurately maxis, 34cm wider than
they were in 1959. Vauxhall Corsas
have expanded by 24cm since 1982,
Ford Fiestas by 19cm since 1989,
and Volkswagen Golfs are now
officially 179cm wide, compared with
161cm in 1974.
This is mostly due to side-impact
protection technology, and while we’d
all love to know more about side-
impact protection technology, alas we
cannot tarry. Because the problem isn’t
that small cars are getting bigger so
that they’re safer. The problem is big
cars getting bigger so that you feel
important. Big cars that proclaim you
king of the road, master of all you
survey, someone whose children need
a ladder to climb in but they would be
safe in nothing less.
The other problem with new cars,
specifically the electric ones we’re all
supposed to be buying, is their weight.
Their batteries weigh a tonne or, more
accurately, half a tonne. One petrol
BMW model weighs 1,695kg, but
2,125kg if it’s electric. A 1970 Mini
weighed 620kg, a Kia Niro EV today
weighs 1,739kg and a Mercedes electric
people carrier is more than two and a
half tonnes. That’s about the average
weight of a baby blue whale, so bad
luck if you’re a pedestrian hit by one.
There have been calls for car park
spaces to be made bigger, for wider
cars, but they might also need to be
reinforced to cope with the weight.
The Institution of Structural
Engineers has called for car parks to
“evolve”, or consider introducing a
weight limit, with one of the
institution’s fellows saying that older
structures from the Sixties and
Seventies could collapse.
Now, if you drive an SUV with
consideration and respect, I salute
you. I hope one day to have the
pleasure of encountering you on one
Lily Allen and Abbey Clancy in London
of the narrow roads of southwest
London, when you will pause and
wave me forward first. Everyone else:
why do you never do that? Literally,
ever? You just barrel on through in
your massive Bentley 4x4, driving
down the middle of the road like you
own it, and man alive is it annoying.
This is ironic, because most are
women. Why do they think it’s always
their right of way, even when it isn’t? I
imagine they drive Porsche Cayennes
badly round Exeter and Aberdeen and
all points in between as well, but I’m
not there, I’m here, in Chelsea, the
spawning ground of the wretched
Chelsea tractor. The women in
Aberdeen don’t rile me as much as the
women who casually swing into
parking bays at my gym in Fulham, for
example, and straddle two spaces. Are
they so busy that straightening it out
would take ten seconds too long?
Might the café have sold out of vegan
skinny cappuccinos? “Perhaps they
don’t know how to reverse,” said a
friend, as we watched one woman park
halfway across a disabled bay then
jump out with a tennis racket.
The roof of my little Polo comes
roughly halfway up the side of a
Mercedes GLS, which the carmaker
says is built to carry you “over the
toughest terrain”. And also Fulham.
Driving a smaller car is not a
dereliction of parental duty. You will
not be reported to social services, even
in Fulham, for transporting little Milo
in a Golf, or indeed a Vauxhall Corsa.
And who knows, you might even be
able to park it.
I love my SUV (until it
comes to parking)
By Georgina Fuller
‘H
elp, I’m stuck!” my nine-
year-old daughter yells
from the back as she tries
to open the passenger
door of our new (or,
rather, second-hand) Land Rover
Discovery. I sigh with frustration. Not
again, I think.
I had been driving round the car
park at our local shopping centre for a
good ten minutes looking for a double
parking space as I knew it would be a
squeeze getting myself and my three
children out. It always is. It wasn’t a
problem when I was bombing around
in my nifty little Mazda. We didn’t
have to end up contorting ourselves
to climb out of our car each time
then, but the bigger the car, the
bigger the parking problem, as I have
since discovered.
So I wasn’t remotely surprised to
hear that car owners now have an
9
times2
average of only 30cm — the
height of a bog-standard
cereal box — between the side
of their car and the edge of a
parking bay. Despite cars,
alongside our waistbands,
having become bigger over the
past few decades, the size of an
average parking space has not
gone up since the Seventies.
Having a car that is too big
to park may be a first-world
problem but it’s not really
something I anticipated when,
after decades of wanting a Land
Rover, ever since I had a model
as a child, I finally splashed out
on a Discovery last year. Our
road trip to Ireland with the
dog and kids — and the
prospect of eight hours of
sibling squabbles in the back —
sealed it. We realised that a
Discovery was one of the only
compact SUVs with seven seats
that could fit us all in, with the
youngest at the back. It was
either that or one of those taxi-
style vans.
Underground car parks are a
nightmare if you’ve got a car like
ours. And supermarket ones.
Only the other week, after I had
done a quick stock-up of snacks
in preparation for a long journey
with the kids, I looked up from
the steering wheel to see a man
in a Nissan Micra shaking his
head at me. When I looked
around to see what he could
possibly find to be annoyed about,
I saw that I had accidentally
parked across the line of the next
parking space. I really don’t make
a habit of it but I couldn’t fit the
car anywhere else. I looked over and
shrugged at him. He wagged his finger
at me superciliously and drove off.
He obviously thought I was one of
those privileged, out-of-touch women
who swan around in their Chelsea
tractors without any regard for our
fellow motorists, whose cars have also
become bigger. Is it really any wonder,
then, that I have the odd scrape on
mine (much to my husband’s horror),
I looked up to see
a man in a Nissan
Micra shaking
his head at me
after reversing out of a tight spot
next to a wall? Eek. Or that I have
annoyed the odd pedestrian after
parking a few inches onto the
pavement when it’s either that or
get my wing mirror clipped off by
another passing Land Rover?
Despite all that, I still love my car
and wouldn’t trade it in for a smaller
model. Even if it does mean we have
to breathe in a bit when we’re getting
out. Or annoy Nissan Micra drivers.
10
times2
Your weekday brain boost
Every day, Monday to Thursday, a page of extra Sudoku easy
puzzles to give your brain an extended workout
Samurai difficult
Fill each grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.
Where the puzzles overlap, the rows and columns do not go beyond their usual length.
Suko
Place the numbers 1 to 9 in
the spaces so that the
number in each circle is
equal to the sum of the four
surrounding spaces, and
each colour total is correct
Mini
Sudoku
Fill in the grid so that
every column, every
row and every 3x2
box contains the
digits 1 to 6
Solutions in
tomorrow’s Times2
Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
More
puzzles
Pages 14-16
Train Tracks
Lay tracks to enable the train to travel
from village A to village B. The numbers
indicate how many sections of track go in
each row and column. There are only
straight sections and curved sections. The
track cannot cross itself.
Killer gentle
Fill the grid so that every column, every row and
every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9. Each set of
cells joined by dotted lines must add up to the target
number in its top-left corner. Within each set of cells
Futoshiki
Fill the blank squares so that every row and
joined by dotted lines, a digit cannot be repeated. column contains each of the numbers 1 to 5
once only. The symbols between the squares
indicate whether a number is larger (>) or
smaller (<) than the number next to it.
Solve Times puzzles interactively with
same-day solutions at thetimes.co.uk
Codeword Yesterday’s solutions SUKO MINI
SUDOKU
SAMURAI
Every letter in the
crossword-style grid,
right, is represented by
a number from 1 to 26. TRAIN TRACKS
Each letter of the
alphabet appears in
the grid at least once.
Use the letters already
provided to work out
the identity of further
letters. Enter letters in
the main grid and the
smaller reference grid
until all 26 letters of
FUTOSHIKI
the alphabet have been
accounted for. Proper
nouns are excluded.
SUDOKU KILLER CODEWORD
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024 11

television & radio

The Alamos’ cult of fire, brimstone and abuse

not the biscuit, then certainly the Soon he was being publicly beaten
Ben communion wafer.
The Alamos were two decidedly
with mighty thwacks from a paddle
by grown men working on Tony’s
Dowell unsavoury individuals who preyed on
young people and their parents for
orders who had to work in relay
because they were so exhausted by
decades. At first they lured Sixties their labours.
TV review hippies and dropouts, persuading them
to follow their fire-and-brimstone
Archive footage showed that the
journalist Alan Whicker came calling
ministry while administering beatings and beneath his debonair Man from
and other depravities. And somehow, Del Monte delivery seemed to have an
for years, they escaped detection. inkling that something was amiss. Bill
Television loves stories of cults for Clinton (one of many famous people
their shock value and the availability who visited the Alamo’s Arkansas
of wounded survivors to give honest restaurant) compared Tony to “Roy
testimonies, and in many ways the Orbison on speed” in his memoir,
pattern here was familiar. We had the which doesn’t exactly capture the
Ministry of Evil: The slightly hammy reconstructions and man’s true hideousness. The reason
Twisted Cult of Tony Alamo the intrusive incidental music in a that Tony came to the attention of law
BBC4 story that didn’t need embellishing. It enforcement wasn’t because of the sex
{{{{( worked best with the raw accounts of or violence but for not paying his
those who were sucked in, isolated taxes. He died in jail in 2017 having
f you want evidence that Susan from their families and made to spent eight years behind bars.

I Alamo might not have been a

prophet of God and a conduit to
divine wisdom, the fact that her
husband, Tony, kept her body on
display in his church for a year after
she died from cancer in 1982 may
suffice. He ordered his brainwashed
followers to pray over her night and
day to bring her back to life. Instead of
resurrecting she rotted.
And if you think you have heard
everything about hypocritical
Christian fundamentalism, the cruelty,
venality and greed that burst from this
unsparing four-part series will take, if
believe that this ghastly pair possessed
supernatural insight. If you say a
beating is God’s will and preferable to
an eternity of hellfire it’s astonishing
what you can get away with.
When Susan, with her bottle-blonde
hairdo and long, sharp red fingernails,
met her maker, Tony became even
more disgusting and violent, his greed
more insatiable. But just when you
thought you had heard the worst,
other shocks piled in, including the
story of a sweet man called Justin
Miller, who as a boy thought he was
being rescued from a deprived home.
Still, there were flickers of hope.
After so many did their best to relay
their hellish experiences in halting,
broken testimony, Christhiaon Coie,
Susan’s daughter and Tony’s
stepdaughter, was a clear-eyed voice of
reason who swiftly cottoned on to the
wickedness of her parents and fled.
She was smart enough to reflect with
terrifying plausibility on what many
people damaged by these monsters
will be feeling. “No matter how they
sound like they are just fine, don’t kid
yourself. They go home at night and
Tony Alamo set up the Alamo Christian Foundation in 1969 they beg God to forgive them.”

3.00 Choral Evensong 9.30 Inside Health

Radio choice
Ben Dowell
The Folk Show
Radio 2, 9pm
Radio 6 Music listeners who
have missed the warm,
authentic broadcaster
Shaun Keaveny, above, since
he stepped away from the
station in 2021 after a
14-year run, first on
breakfast and then
afternoons, have largely
had to make do with his
occasional stints filling in
for Radio 2 presenters. He
now takes over The Folk
Show for the next two
months while the regular
host Mark Radcliffe enjoys
a brief sabbatical. The
acclaimed guitarist and
singer Martin Simpson is
the main guest this evening,
discussing his 50-year
career and performing
songs from his new
album, Skydancers.
our tv newsletter
Tim e s R a dio
Digital, web, smart speaker, app
5.00am James Hanson with Early Breakfast
6.00 Rosie Wright and Adam Boulton with
Times Radio Breakfast 10.00 Matt Chorley
1.00pm Ed Vaizey 3.00 Jane Garvey and Fi
Glover 5.00 John Pienaar with Times Radio
Drive 7.00 Pienaar and Friends 8.00 The
Evening Edition with Kait Borsay. Engaging
evening conversation 10.00 Rick Kelsey.
Politics in-depth and consumer features
1.00am The Story 1.30 Highlights from
Matt Chorley 2.00 The Best of Times Radio
R a dio 2
FM: 88-90.2 MHz
6.30am The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show. Ben
Elton pops by with details of his latest tour
9.30 Gary Davies. Joe Wicks chooses the
soundtrack to his life on Tracks of My Years
12.00 Jeremy Vine 2.00pm Scott Mills 4.00
Sara Cox 6.30 Sara Cox’s Half Wower 7.00
Best of Radio 2’s Piano Room. Featuring
Texas, Jalen Ngonda, Crowded House, Lisa
Stansfield, Jess Glynne and Paloma Faith
9.00 The Folk Show with Shaun Keaveny.
Shaun Keaveny sits in for Mark Radcliffe.
The guitarist and singer Martin Simpson
is this week’s guest. See Radio Choice
10.00 Trevor Nelson’s Magnificent 7. Seven
of Rhythm Nation’s biggest hits 10.30
Trevor Nelson’s Rhythm Nation 12.00 OJ
Borg 3.00am Sounds of the 90s with Fearne
Cotton (r) 4.00 Owain Wyn Evans
Radio 3
FM: 90.2-92.4 MHz
6.30am Breakfast
Petroc Trelawny presents Radio 3’s classical
breakfast show. Including 7.00, 8.00 News.
7.30, 8.30 News headlines
9.30 Essential Classics
Ian Skelly plays the best in classical music
1.00pm News
1.02 Classical Live
Tom McKinney presents the Ebene Quartet
playing Ravel from Paris, and Ailish Tynan
singing Strauss in Belfast. Plus, music by
Tchaikovsky, Butterworth, Borodin and
Mozart. Tchaikovsky (Waltz — Swan Lake,
Act I); Butterworth (The Banks of green
willow); Strauss (5 songs: Zueignung —
Dedication; Cäcilie — Cecily; Heimliche
Aufforderung — Secret Invitation; Befreit
— Released; Morgen — Morning); Borodin
(Polovtsian dances — Prince Igor);
Ravel (String Quartet in F); and Mozart
(Symphony No 35 in D, K385, Haffner)
From All Saints, Kingston, London, with the
choir of Tiffin School and music by Howells,
Stanford and Joanna Forbes L’Estrange.
Introit: Now the Green Blade (Simon
Lindley). Responses: Joanna Forbes
L’Estrange. Office hymn: Love’s Redeeming
Work Is Done (Wesely). Psalms 53, 54
(Goss). First Lesson: Hosea 5:15-6:6.
Canticles: Stanford in B flat. Second Lesson:
1 Corinthians 15:1-11. Anthem: Te Deum
(Howells). Blessing: May the Grace of Christ
Our Saviour (David Nield). Voluntary:
Fantasia in D minor (Stanford). James Day
(director of music), Richard Gowers
(organist). Recorded March 7
4.00 Composer of the Week:
Brahms (1833-1897)
Kate Molleson follows Brahms as he puts
down roots in Vienna, and begins making
a name for himself in the musical soirees
of Viennese culture vultures. Brahms
(Waltz in A flat; Six Quartets, Op 112,
1. Sehnsucht; Piano Quartet No 2 in A,
3rd movement — Scherzo; Ein Deutsches
Requiem: Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen;
Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit; Geistliches
Wiegenlied; and Piano Concerto
No 2, 3rd movement. Andante)
5.00 In Tune
John Wilson talks about his new recording
of music by Bacewicz, Enescu and Ysaye
7.00 Classical Mixtape
A selection of classical favourites mixed with
jazz, folk and music from around the world
7.30 Radio 3 in Concert
Recorded live in concert at Wigmore Hall, the
Elias Quartet play Felix Mendelssohn’s Four
Pieces, Op 81 and his final Quartet, No 6 in
F minor, and Fanny’s Quartet in E flat.
Presented by Ian Skelly. Felix Mendelssohn
(Andante sostenuto and Variations Op 81
No 1; Scherzo Op 81 No 2; Capriccio Op 81
No 3; Fugue Op 81 No 4; and String Quartet
No 6 in F minor Op 80); and Fanny
Mendelssohn (String Quartet in E flat)
9.45 The Essay:
Watching from the Wings
Michael Goldfarb talks about performing
The Count of Monte Cristo with the Jean
Cocteau Repertory in New York City
10.00 Night Tracks
Sara Mohr-Pietsch presents
11.30 ’Round Midnight
The saxophonist Soweto Kinch presents the
best in jazz with a particular focus on the
British scene. Fergus McCreadie will be
Soweto’s guest, selecting a piece of
music that has shaped his journey
12.30am Through the Night
Radio 4
FM: 92.4-94.6 MHz LW: 198kHz MW: 720 kHz
5.30am News Briefing
5.43 Prayer for the Day
5.45 Farming Today
6.00 Today
9.00 Life Changing
The recollections of retired nurse and
midwife Agnes Nisbett (2/7)
9.30 Helen Lewis Has Left the Chat
Helen finds out how one messaging app
brought down three prime ministers (2/6)
10.00 Woman’s Hour
Emma Barnett presents the magazine show
offering a female perspective on the world
11.00 File on 4
Issues of major concern (r)
11.45 Book of the Week: The Life and
Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah
Benjamin Zephaniah reads his autobiography.
A passion for religion begins to take on a
great role in the poet’s life as he finds
Rastafari (3/5) (r)
12.04pm You and Yours
1.00 The World at One
1.45 The Everest Obsession
A helicopter rescue begins (3/5)
2.00 The Archers (r)
2.15 Drama: The Performer
By William Humble (1/2) (r)
3.00 Money Box Live
Financial questions (2/7)
3.30 Why Do You Hate Me?
Marianna Spring speaks to a survivor of the
2017 shooting in Las Vegas about how social
media posts made him question an event he
had witnessed with his own eyes (2/5) (r)
4.00 The Media Show
Ros Atkins presents the latest news from
the fast-changing media world
5.00 PM
6.00 Six O’Clock News
6.30 Room 101 with Paul Merton
Hannah Fry puts exams and complicated
toilet flushes in Room 101 (2/6)
7.00 The Archers
There is an awkward encounter for Hannah,
and George makes his presence felt
7.15 Front Row
Arts programme
8.00 AntiSocial
The issues of the day presented
by Adam Fleming (1/9) (r)
8.45 Uncharted with Hannah Fry
A climate scientist who shocked the world
and provoked a scandal (2/10) (r)
9.00 The Life Scientific
Jim Al-Khalili talks to fellow scientists
about their life and work (2/4) (r)
Demystifying health issues (2/6) (r)
10.00 The World Tonight
News round-up
10.45 Book at Bedtime: Prophet Song
By Paul Lynch (3/10)
11.00 Aurie Styla: Tech Talk
Aurie takes a look back to the beginning
of mobile phones (2/4)
11.15 Jessica Fostekew:
Sturdy Girl Club
Jessica Fostekew explores women’s
weightlifting (1/4) (r)
11.30 Between Ourselves
with Marian Keyes
The author reads selections from her writing
on the subject of health (3/4)
12.00 News and Weather
12.30am Book of the Week: The Life
and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah (r)
12.48 Shipping Forecast
1.00 As BBC World Service
Radio 4 Extra
Digital only
8.00am Dot 8.30 Small Pleasures 8.45
Halfway Here 9.00 Room 101 with Paul
Merton 9.30 A Piece of Cake 9.45 Daily
Service 10.00 Short Cuts 10.30 Joan Turner:
The Highs and Lows of the Wacky Warbler
11.00 The Rivals 11.30 A Charles Paris
Mystery: Murder in the Title 12.00
Ballylenon 12.30pm Hancock’s Half Hour
1.00 Dot 1.30 Small Pleasures 1.45 Halfway
Here 2.00 Say the Word 2.30 Elephants to
Catch Eels 3.00 The Ragged Trousered
Philanthropists 4.00 Short Cuts 4.30 Joan
Turner: The Highs and Lows of the Wacky
Warbler 5.00 The Rivals 5.30 A Charles
Paris Mystery: Murder in the Title 6.00
Ballylenon 6.30 Hancock’s Half Hour 7.00
Dot. Last in the series 7.30 Small Pleasures.
By Clare Chambers 7.45 Halfway Here. By
Lucy Catherine 8.00 Say the Word. Panel
game 8.30 Elephants to Catch Eels. Comedy
with Lucy Speed and John Bowe 9.00 The
Ragged Trousered Philanthropists. Frank
tries to educate his fellow workers 10.00
Comedy Club: Room 101 with Paul Merton.
Paul talks to famous faces about their pet
hates and worst nightmares 10.30 The
Museum of Everything. Comedy with Marcus
Brigstocke 11.00 Alex Horne Presents the
Horne Section. With guest Tom Basden
11.30 The Skewer. Jon Holmes twists
current affairs clips into a surreal, satirical
soundscape. Last in the series 11.45 Creme
de la Crime. Michael Feydeau and David
Pershore probe death by cutlery back in 1824
Radio 5 Live
MW: 693, 909
5.00am Wake Up to Money 6.00 5 Live
Breakfast 9.00 Nicky Campbell 11.00 Naga
Munchetty 1.00pm Nihal Arthanayake 4.00
5 Live Drive 7.00 5 Live Sport. Coverage of
tonight’s Champions League quarter-finals
10.30 Nick Bright 1.00am Dotun Adebayo
talkSPORT
MW: 1053, 1089 kHz
5.00am Early Breakfast 6.00 talkSPORT
Breakfast with Alan Brazil 10.00 Jim White
and Simon Jordan 1.00pm Hawksbee and
Jacobs 4.00 talkSPORT Drive with Andy
Goldstein and Darren Bent 7.00 Kick Off
10.00 Sports Bar 1.00am Extra Time
TalkRadio
Digital only
5.00am James Max 6.00 Talk Today with
Jeremy Kyle and Nicola Thorp 9.30 Kev and
Alex 10.00 Julia Hartley Brewer 1.00pm
Kevin O’Sullivan and Alex Phillips 3.00 JJ
Anisiobi 4.00 Vanessa Feltz 6.00 The Talk
7.00 Prime Time with James Max 8.00
The Independent Republic of Mike Graham
10.00 Petrie Hosken 1.00am Paul Ross
6 Music
Digital only
5.00am Emily Pilbeam 7.30 Deb Grant
10.30 Mary Anne Hobbs 1.00pm Craig
Charles 4.00 Huw Stephens 7.00 New Music
Fix Daily 9.00 Riley & Coe. Music, chat and
features 11.00 Courtney Love’s Women
12.00 Freak Zone Playlist 1.00am The Story
of Pop 2.00 The Story of Pop (r) 3.00 6
Music Live Hour (r) 4.00 6 Music’s Jukebox
Virgin Radio
Digital only
6.30am The Chris Evans Breakfast Show
with webuyanycar 10.00 Steve Denyer
1.00pm Olivia Jones 4.00 Ricky Wilson
7.00 Bam 10.00 Amy Voce 1.00am
Sean Goldsmith 4.00 Steve Jordan
Classic FM
FM: 100-102 MHz
6.30am Classic FM Breakfast with Dan
Walker 9.00 The Classic FM Hall of Fame
Hour 10.00 Stephen Mangan 1.00pm
Anne-Marie Minhall 4.00 Margherita Taylor
7.00 Relaxing Evenings 10.00 Calm Classics
1.00am Bill Overton 4.00 Early Breakfast
12 Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times

television & radio

Viewing Guide journey of 15,000km and eight borders Betty, 25, and her teams through some of Solomon helping a
by land and sea on a before they reach party-loving brother, the world’s most
Stacey Solomon’s couple in Enfield who
Joe Clay budget of £1,390 per the finishing line in James, 21; the cleaner populous regions as Renovation lost tens of thousands
Race Across person — the cost of Lombok, an island Sharon, 52, and her well as some of the Rescue of pounds after building
flying the distance. As paradise in Indonesia. daughter Brydie, 25, a most unexplored. Channel 4, 9pm work on an extension
the World before, mobile phones, The couples are the dyslexic snowboarding The first checkpoint is After helping families had to be redone. She
BBC1, 9pm
credit cards and the usual varied bunch — instructor; and the Japanese city of to clear their clutter in gives advice on how to
The addictive internet are banned. the competitive Stephen, 61, and Viv, Nara, 1,600km by the BBC2 series Sort tackle jobs — including
TopBafta award- This time the location 20-year-old best mates 65, a recently retired road from Sapporo, Your Life Out, Stacey plumbing and flooring
winning show
pick is eastern Asia, and a Alfie and Owen; the married couple who and the teams must Solomon is rescuing — themselves to save
returns for journey that will take teacher Eugenie, 61, feel they have another navigate the language homeowners who have money. We see our host
a fourth series, with them from Sapporo, and her daughter big adventure in them. and etiquette barrier been left high and dry working on her home,
five more teams of the stunning capital of Isabel, 25, a trainee This is a huge as well as deciding by their builders. The Pickle Cottage, starting
intrepid Brits racing to Hokkaido in northern clinical scientist; the undertaking, the how they will travel six-part series begins with building a wall in
complete a demanding Japan, across six seas seasoned traveller journey taking the there. with knowledgeable her garage.

BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 Channel 4 Channel 5

6.00am Breakfast 9.30 Morning Live 10.45 Big Little 6.30am Money for Nothing (r) 7.15 Bridge of Lies (r) 6.00am Good Morning Britain. A lively mix of news and 6.10am Countdown. Dr Nighat Arif is in Dictionary Corner 6.00am Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine. The broadcaster
Early

Crimes. A rookie officer finds himself on the front line of
a murder investigation 11.15 Homes Under the Hammer.
Properties in Beeston, Welwyn Garden City and Brighton
(r) 12.15pm Bargain Hunt. From the Royal Welsh
Showground in Builth Wells (r) (AD) 1.00 BBC News at
One; Weather 1.30 BBC Regional News; Weather 1.45
Clive Myrie’s Italian Road Trip. Clive goes fishing on
Europe’s biggest volcanic lake (r) 2.15 Money for
Nothing. Sarah Moore visits Witley recycling centre in
Surrey (r) 3.00 Escape to the Country. Sonali Shah helps
a couple from London with a budget of £325,000 to find a
new home in the Monmouthshire countryside (r) (AD)
3.45 The Bidding Room. Nigel Havers presents the
programme in which five dealers bid for a golfing statue
called Bob, some designer glassware, a chopping block,
some glass vases and a sideboard 4.30 Bridge of Lies.
Contestants compete for cash by crossing a bridge of
stepping stones across the studio floor. Quiz show
hosted by Ross Kemp 5.15 Pointless. Quiz hosted by
Alexander Armstrong and Hugh Dennis 6.00 BBC News
at Six; Weather 6.30 BBC Regional News; Weather
8.00 Sign Zone: MasterChef (r) (AD, SL) 8.30 Robson
Green’s Weekend Escapes (r) (AD, SL) 9.00 BBC News
1.00pm Impossible. Rick Edwards hosts the quiz (r) 1.45
The Edge. Game show hosted by Gabby Logan (r) 2.30
Lose Weight and Get Fit with Tom Kerridge. Tom offers
solutions to keep the volunteers on track (r) (AD) 3.00
Jay Blades’ Home Fix. Jay demonstrates an effective
window-cleaning hack using a few everyday items, while
Sarah offers advice on building a garden wall out of stone
(r) 3.45 Best Home Cook. The three finalists face the
challenges that could win them the title — and to keep
them on their toes, the judges present their tasks in a
different order. Last in the series (r) 4.45 The Hairy
Bikers’ Pubs That Built Britain. Si King and Dave Myers
visit Carlisle. Last in the series (r) (AD) 5.15 Flog It!
David Harper and Christina Trevanion value items brought
into Aberystwyth University’s Old College (r) 6.00
Richard Osman’s House of Games. With Toby Anstis,
Kerry Howard, Evelyn Mok and Joe Sugg (r) 6.30
Great Coastal Railway Journeys. Michael Portillo
explores the southwestern shores of Britain (AD)
current affairs, plus health, entertainment and lifestyle
features 9.00 Lorraine. Entertainment, current affairs
and fashion news, as well as showbiz stories and gossip.
Presented by Lorraine Kelly 10.00 This Morning. A mix of
chat, lifestyle features, advice and competitions. Including
Local Weather 12.30pm Loose Women. Another helping
of topical studio discussion from a female perspective
1.30 ITV News; Weather 1.55 Regional News; Weather
2.00 Riddiculous. Contestants take on Riddlemaster
Henry Lewis as they try to answer general knowledge
questions and confusing conundrums (r) 3.00 Winning
Combination. Contestants battle one another in the
hope of taking their number to the final. Omid Djalili
hosts (r) 4.00 Tipping Point. Ben Shephard hosts the
arcade-themed quiz in which contestants drop tokens
down a choice of four chutes in the hope of winning a
£10,000 jackpot (r) 5.00 The Chase. Bradley Walsh
presents as four contestants answer general knowledge
questions and work as a team to take on one of the
ruthless Chasers and secure a cash prize (r) 6.00
Regional News; Weather 6.30 ITV News; Weather
(r) 6.50 3rd Rock from the Sun (r) (AD) 8.05 Everybody
Loves Raymond (r) (AD) 9.30 Frasier (r) (AD) 11.00
Work on the Wild Side (r) (AD) 12.00 Channel 4 News
Summary 12.05pm Sun, Sea and Selling Houses. A look
at how some property purchases have worked out (r)
1.05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It. Traffic lights and roof tiles
get upcycled in Glastonbury (r) (AD) 2.10 Countdown.
Dr Nighat Arif is in Dictionary Corner 3.00 A Place in the
Sun. A woman searches for a holiday home in Malaga
with help from her friend and guidance from Scarlette
Douglas, who lines up five properties within her budget of
£250,000 (r) 4.00 A New Life in the Sun. The owners of a
farm in France try alpaca yoga, a Sussex couple renovate
their gîtes, and in Spain, storms wreck a padel tennis
tournament (r) 5.00 Château DIY. Owners create a new
terrace for their hot tub, but taking on all the work
themselves is no simple task, especially when it comes to
moving the bath into position (r) (AD) 6.00 A Place in the
Sun. A Solihull woman seeks a holiday home in La Mata
on Spain’s Costa Blanca (r) 6.30 The Simpsons. The
first-ever episode of the animated comedy (r) (AD)
and Storm Huntley discuss the latest news and get your
views and opinions of the day 11.15 Storm Huntley. The
presenter carries on the discussion and takes your calls to
discuss the biggest stories of the day 12.45pm Friends.
Double bill of the comedy (r) (AD) 1.40 5 News at
Lunchtime 1.45 Home and Away. Mackenzie and Levi
rendezvous in private after convincing Mali and Tane to
give them space, and Mali cannot be honest with Rose
about his housemate’s affair (r) 2.15 FILM: Living Next
To Danger (PG, TVM, 2023) A woman’s daughter goes
missing and suspicion falls on her new neighbours.
Thriller starring Kristi Murdock, Noemi Alexis, James
Hyde and Alisha Ricardi 4.00 Bargain-Loving Brits in
the Sun. Holiday makers and engaged couple research
their retirement dream in Benidorm. Meanwhile, a busy
mother begins training for the London Marathon 5.00
5 News at 5 6.00 The Cotswolds with Pam Ayres. The
poet heads to Stow-on-the Wold to meet antiques expert
Paul Martin, and also explores one of Britain’s
best-known Arts and Crafts gardens in the Cotswolds —
Hidcote Manor Garden (r) 6.55 5 News Update

China’s tech battle to control

President Xi Jinping’s new slogan, “develop new productive forces,” ims
a to bolster the expansion of high-tech sectors.
China already dominates the world of electric cars and controls more than 08 percent of the global solar panel
manufacturing market. So, what could China’s technological domina nce mean for the West?

7.00 The One Show Presented by 7.00 Britain’s Biggest Dig Yasmin Khan 7.00 Channel 4 News The day’s news and 7.00 Shop Smart, Save Money Gaby
7PM

Lauren Laverne and Jermaine Jenas
7.30 EastEnders Cindy and Elaine join
forces as George testifies against
Eddie, while Denzel faces off
with Pastor Clayton (AD)
and professor Alice Roberts go in
search of the lost remains of an
explorer who expanded the British
empire and a champion boxer who
was born in slavery (2/3) (r) (AD)
analysis. With sport and weather Roslin and Ortis Deley look at ways to
keep a home ship shape — from tips
on finding the right tradesperson, to
7.30 Emmerdale Marlon struggles to money-saving shortcuts for decorating
comfort Rhona, Charles proposes,
while Caleb pleads for help (AD)
7.55 5 News Update

8.00 The Repair Shop New series. 8.00 Andi Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts Andi 8.00 Coronation Street Stu puts himself 8.00 George Clarke’s Remarkable 8.00 The Great British Train Scandal
8PM

Jay Blades and his team of experts
breathe new life into a pair of cowboy
boots, a traditional Turkish saz,
some scales and a glass lamp (AD)
Oliver travels to the East Yorkshire
seaside and harbour town of
Bridlington, where she plans to throw
a party to secure the future of its
historic fishing industry (3/8) (AD)
at risk to help Roy, Toyah identifies
Rowan as a fraud, and Rita gets tough
with Jenny. Dylan begs Violet to let
him stay in Weatherfield to make
amends, and Lauren’s mum, Kerry,
introduces herself (AD)
Renovations A project manager and a An investigation into British railways,
plasterer have sold both their houses which can be slower and more
and poured their life savings into the expensive than flying, have had
renovation of a Victorian pie factory harmful pathogens detected on them
they bought for £160,000 (AD) and are not immune to accidents

9.00 Race Across the World New series. 9.00 Surgeons: At the Edge of Life 9.00 Professor T As he takes the stand in 9.00 Stacey Solomon’s Renovation 9.00 The Cuckoo Sian lies to Alice about
9PM

Five teams race from Hokkaido, the
most northerly island of Japan, to the
Indonesian island of Lombok, crossing
six seas and skirting the path of the
volcanic ring of fire without being
able to use phones or credit cards.
See Viewing Guide (1/9) (AD)
A consultant and a surgeon operate
on a 55-year-old who has a tumour in
her pancreas that has spread, causing
multiple tumours in her liver. The pair
must remove the tumours while
mitigating the risk of bleeding by
keeping her hydration low (3/6) (AD)
court, the professor must decide
whether to save himself or his former
lover. A prison officer is found dead
and there is no shortage of suspects.
Drama starring Ben Miller (3/6) (AD)
Rescue New series. Stacey shares her
infectious enthusiasm for DIY and her
clever money-saving design tips as
she helps families who have been
left high and dry by their builders.
See Viewing Guide (1/6) (AD)
her parents not caring for her, and Fay
is left reeling at the news that Sian
wants to bring Alice to her house,
leading them to argue about family
history. After police arrive at the house
due to calls of a disturbance, Sian
falsely claims Nick hit her (3/4)

10.00 BBC News at Ten 10.00 MandyThe jobless woman confesses 10.00 ITV News at Ten 10.00 Defiance: Fighting the Far Right 10.00 Inheritance Wars: Who Gets the
10PM

10.30 BBC Regional News and Weather
10.40 The Bradford Aunties Documentary
following three women from Bradford
as they organise an intergenerational
coach trip to Blackpool in a bid
to keep their Asian culture and
11PM
a secret. See Viewing Guide (5/6) (AD)
10.15 MandyExamining the shadowy global
elite. See Viewing Guide (6/6) (AD)
10.30 NewsnightAnalysis of the day’s
events with Victoria Derbyshire
Twelve young people in Bradford are Money? The shocking story of
arrested for stockpiling petrol bombs, Tory politician and model Diana Coad
leaving them to convince a court they who after losing her husband and
10.30 Regional News are for self defence (3/3) (AD) love of her life Peter, enters a vicious
10.45 Ramadan: A Journey Across legal battle with his children (r)
Britain Shehab Khan delves into
Islam’s holy month of Ramadan
11.05 India 1947: Partition in Colour 11.05 Lost Boy: The Killing of James

traditions alive. See Viewing Guide
11.30 Pointless Celebrities Quiz with
Kate Holderness, Adele Roberts, Dave
Gorman, Jarred Christmas, Cat
Sandion, Martin Dougan, Matt
Dawson and Martin Bayfield (r)
11.15 Meet the Roman Emperor
with Mary Beard The classicist
explores what it was like to be
an emperor of Rome, travelling
behind palace walls to reveal the
hidden world of the Roman imperial
court and lifestyle (r) (AD)
11.25 Heathrow: Britain’s Busiest
Airport Border officers help a
student from India (8/12) (r) (AD)
11.50 Sorry, I Didn’t Know With Desiree
Burch, Nick Helm, Tez Ilyas and Sikisa.
Jimmy Akingbola hosts (3/5) (r)
In the wake of Mountbatten’s Bulger Documentary telling the
announcement of the division of India, definitive background to the abduction
uncertainty over the new borders leads and murder of James Bulger, which
to tensions between different shocked the nation in 1993, and
communities (2/2) (r) (AD) continues to resonate to this day (r)

12.20am Celebrity Bridge of Lies Ross Kemp presents 12.15am Pilgrimage: The Road Through North 12.15am English Football League Highlights Action 12.10am Random Acts (AD) 12.15 Ramsay’s Kitchen 1.00am PlayOJO Live Casino Show 3.00 VE Day: The
Late

the high stakes quiz, with Sam Quek, Dion Dublin, Joanna
Page and Melvin Odoom playing to win money for their
chosen charities. They must cross the Bridge by stepping
on the truths and avoiding the lies, earning money
for each correct answer (r) 1.10-6.00 BBC News
Wales The travellers head into Eryri National Park (r)
(AD) 1.15 Sign Zone: Make It at Market. A contemporary
furniture-maker and a wearable cake shoe designer
receive advice (r) (AD, SL) 2.00-3.00 Bring the Drama.
The actors perform on the set of Casualty (r) (AD, SL)
from the latest fixtures 1.25 Shop on TV 3.00 Priced
Out? The Rising Costs of Your Car — Tonight. A look at
the unprecedented price hikes in the cost of driving (r)
(SL) 3.25 Fishing Allstars (r) (SL) 3.50 Unwind with ITV
5.05-6.00 Alan Titchmarsh’s Gardening Club (r) (AD, SL)
Nightmares USA (r) (SL) 1.05 24 Hours in A&E (r) (AD)
2.00 FILM: Hit the Road (12, 2021) Persian comedy
drama 3.35 Grand Designs New Zealand (r) (AD)
4.30 Renovation Nation (r) (AD) 5.25 The Perfect
Pitch (r) 5.50-6.10 Sunday Brunch Best Bits (r)
Lost Films. Celebrations marking the end of the Second
World War in Europe (r) 3.50 Lighthouses: Building the
Impossible (r) 4.40 Great Artists (r) (SL) 5.05 House
Doctor (r) (SL) 5.30 Entertainment News on 5 (r) 5.40
Fireman Sam (r) (SL) 5.50-6.00 Pip and Posy (r) (SL)
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024 13

television & radio

colleagues including next day. But when the from Bradford who
The Warhol Effect the Blondie singer
Mandy delivery turns up it’s
Bradford Aunties are on a mission to
Film Fight Club
Sky Arts/Now, 9pm BBC2, 10pm/10.15pm BBC1, 10.40pm Film4, 10.50pm
Debbie Harry and not quite what they ensure that their
“The idea is not to live the art dealer Larry In the final double bill are expecting, and the Unlike western aunts, language, food, music Brad Pitt and Edward
for ever, it is to create Gagosian. His work in of the inspired third episode turns into a Asian “aunties” need and values are handed Norton star in a movie
something that will.” the 1970s and 1980s is run of the silly-com, B-movie horror. The not be related to the on to the next that refutes the idea
So said Andy Warhol, discussed much less Diane Morgan has a series finale follows person in question. The generation. Their of films and escapism.
and it’s safe to say he than the more famous blast playing Mandy’s Mandy’s woes in the term loosely refers to master plan is to run The story climaxes in a
achieved his goal. This pop-art offerings are, 110-year-old nan. job market, ending women who use their a series of workshops skyscraper demolition
documentary focuses but could they be the Mandy is shocked to with her throwing a “lifetimes of experience — on music, poetry, that foreshadowed the
on his late work and works that resonate hear that her nan had party for local celebs to impart wisdom, cooking and the end of all 20th-century
legacy, interviewing long after everyone has one of her frozen eggs including Linda Lusardi pass judgment and glue importance of family ideas two years later
contemporary artists forgotten Marilyn fertilised through the and, yes, Alan Yentob. their communities — to connect the with 9/11. This is
such as Jeff Koons Monroe, Elvis Presley dark web and the baby But will Shirley Bassey together”. This film youth with the old ways significant film-making.
along with friends and and Campbell’s Soup? is due to arrive the turn up? meets three aunties and ideals. (18, 1999)

Sky Max
6.00am NCIS: New Orleans (r) 7.00 DC’s
Legends of Tomorrow (r) (AD) 8.00 Supergirl (r)
9.00 Stargate Atlantis (r) 11.00 NCIS: New
Orleans (r) 12.00 Supergirl (r) 1.00pm
MacGyver (r) 3.00 Hawaii Five-0 (r) 4.00
S.W.A.T (r) (AD) 5.00 DC’s Legends of
Tomorrow. Rory gets unexpected news (r) (AD)
6.00 Stargate Atlantis. Sci-fi drama (r)
7.00 Stargate Atlantis. Rodney McKay
gains superhuman abilities (r)
8.00 There’s Something About Movies.
With guests including Sean Bean (r) (AD)
9.00 S.W.A.T. Yakuza assassins descend on LA,
and Nichelle is accused of taking bribes (r) (AD)
10.00 Banshee. Pilot episode (1/10) (r) (AD)
11.15 Brassic. Vinnie’s friend Gideon calls
to say his mother has passed away (r) (AD)
12.15am The Force: North East (r) 2.00 Rob
Beckett’s Smart TV. With Joel Dommett, Jason
Fox, Nathaniel Curtis and Hermione Norris (AD)
2.45 Road Wars (r) 3.10 Hawaii Five-0 (r) 4.05
S.W.A.T (r) (AD) 5.00 Highway Patrol (r) (AD)
Sky Atlantic
6.00am Fish Town (r) 7.55 My Brilliant
Friend (r) 10.05 Boardwalk Empire (r) (AD)
12.15pm Game of Thrones (r) (AD) 1.20 Ray
Donovan (r) (AD) 3.30 My Brilliant Friend (r)
5.45 Boardwalk Empire (r) (AD)
7.55 Game of Thrones. Tyrion defends King’s
Landing against Stannis Baratheon’s naval
assault in a battle that will determine the
fate of the seven kingdoms. Starring Peter
Dinklage and Stephen Dillane (r) (AD)
9.00 The Regime. As Chancellor Elena Vernham
prepares for Victory Day, her new adviser
Herbert Zubak arrives at the palace. Political
satire starring Kate Winslet (1/6) (r)
10.05 Mary & George. George tries to persuade
the king to open parliament to request funds (r)
11.10 The Gilded Age. The opera war escalates,
and there is a surprise guest at Bertha’s
fundraiser. Starring Carrie Coon (3/8) (r) (AD)
12.15am Euphoria (r) (AD) 1.25 The White
Lotus (r) (AD) 2.35 Game of Thrones (r) (AD)
3.35 In Treatment (r) 4.05 Fish Town (r)
Sky Documentaries Sky Arts
6.00am The 2010s (r) 8.00 The Directors (r)
9.00 Lockerbie (r) (AD) 9.55 The Vietnam War
(r) 11.00 Veleno: The Town of Lost Children (r)
12.00 FILM: Who Killed the KLF? (15,
2021) The rise and fall of the KLF (AD) 1.50pm
My Icon: Leon Pryce (r) (AD) 2.00 FILM: A
Choice of Weapons — Inspired By Gordon
Parks (15, 2021) Profile of the photographer,
film-maker and novelist (AD) 3.50 My Icon:
Linford Christie (r) (AD) 4.00 The Directors (r)
5.00 Discovering: Jack Nicholson (r)
6.00 Lockerbie (r) (AD)
7.00 The Vietnam War (r)
8.05 David Fuller: Monster in the Morgue.
The murderer and necrophile (r) (AD)
9.00 The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of
Robert Durst. Double bill (3 & 4/6) (r)
11.00 Ghislaine Maxwell: Epstein’s Shadow.
A chance to see the docuseries (1-3/3) (r) (AD)
2.00am Villeneuve Pironi: Racing’s Untold
Tragedy (r) 4.00 The Directors (r) 5.00
Discovering: Jack Nicholson (r)
6.00am Cirque du Soleil: Volta 8.00 The Joy of
Painting (AD) 9.00 Tales of the Unexpected
(AD) 10.00 Alfred Hitchcock Presents 11.00
Discovering: Anthony Hopkins 12.00 The Joy of
Painting (AD) 1.00pm Tales of the Unexpected
(AD) 2.00 The Art of Architecture 3.00
Wonderland: From JM Barrie to JRR Tolkien 4.00
Discovering: Faye Dunaway. The life of the
actress 5.00 Tales of the Unexpected (AD)
6.00 Alfred Hitchcock Presents
7.00 The Joy of Painting (AD)
7.30 The Joy of Painting (AD)
8.00 Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir.
With the broadcaster Chris Packham (AD)
9.00 The Warhol Effect. The last decade
of Andy Warhol’s life. See Viewing Guide
11.00 Klimt and The Kiss. Experts
examine Gustav Klimt’s painting (AD)
12.15am The Seventies (AD) 1.15 Mae West:
Dirty Blonde (AD) 2.35 Death of England: Face
to Face 4.00 Marina Abramovic Takes Over TV
5.00 The South Bank Show Originals
Sky Main Event
6.00am Sky Sports News 7.00 Good Morning
Sports Fans 8.00 Good Morning Sports Fans
9.00 Good Morning Sports Fans 10.00 Live
Tennis: The Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
Coverage of day three of the ATP Masters 1000
event, a clay-court tournament at the Monte
Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin,
France 2.00pm The Masters. Build-up
ahead of the tournament in Georgia
7.00 Live SPFL: Dundee v Rangers (Kick-off
8.00). Coverage of the Scottish Premiership
match from The Scot Foam Stadium at Dens
Park. The Gers have won both the previous
meetings between the teams this season,
prevailing 5-0 here in November and 3-1 at Ibrox
a month later, and they will expect nothing less
than another three points to aid them in their
closely fought race to the title with rivals Celtic
10.30 Back Pages Tonight
11.00 Sky Sports News
12.00 Sky Sports News 1.00am
Sky Sports News 2.00 Sky Sports News
AUDIO
Vari ati ons
BBC1 Scotland
As BBC1 except: 11.30pm Sportscene:
Premiership Highlights. Extended highlights
of Dundee v Rangers at Scot Foam Stadium
12.00 Pointless Celebrities. Contestants
include Kate Holderness, Adele Roberts, Jarred
Christmas and Dave Gorman (r) 12.50am The
Edit. Entertainment news and chat with Amy
Irons and David Farrell (r) 1.05 Celebrity Bridge
of Lies. With Sam Quek, Dion Dublin, Joanna
Page and Melvin Odoom (r) 1.50 Weather
for the Week Ahead. A look ahead to the
latest forecast 1.55-6.00 BBC News
STV
As ITV1 except: 10.30pm STV News 10.40
Scotland Tonight. Current affairs show 11.05
Ramadan: A Journey Across Britain. Shehab
Khan delves into Islam’s holy month of
Ramadan 11.40-12.15am Heathrow: Britain’s
Busiest Airport. Border officers help a student
from India (r) (AD) 1.25-3.00 Shop on TV
3.50-5.05 Night Vision. News, sport
and weather from across Scotland
BBC Scotland
7.00pm This Farming Life. The Frasers

the future
experience teething problems with their farm
shop. Last in the series (r) 8.00 Scotland’s
LISTEN Greatest Escape. The judges check out bespoke
cabins, a modern bothy and a boutique hotel
8.30 Accidental Renovators. Cal and Claire
NOW reach 100,000 followers on their Instagram
account (r) 9.00 The Nine 10.00 River City.
Listen for free via the QR code, on the Times Radio app Amber’s driving lessons fail to go to plan (AD)
or wherever you find your podcasts 10.30 Disclosure: Dead Man Running. The story
of the Inverness street trader who became an
international fugitive (r) 11.30-12.00 Anton
Danyluk on Body Shame. The reality TV star
explores the male body-image crisis (r) (AD)

TalkTV
6.00am Talk Today with Jeremy Kyle and Nicola
Thorp. Big stories from the world of politics,
current affairs and showbiz 9.30 Kevin & Alex.
Hosts Kevin O’Sullivan and Alex Phillips give
their unique take on the front pages and the
latest news 10.00 Julia Hartley-Brewer
1.00pm CrossTalk with Kevin O’Sullivan and
Alex Phillips. Analysis, debate and humour 3.00
Ian Collins. Monologues and debates 4.00
Vanessa Feltz. Viewers’ calls and guest analysis
6.00 The Talk. A panel of well-known faces
debate the topics everybody is talking about
7.00 Prime Time with James Max. The
charismatic host brings a wealth of journalistic
experience to get inside the stories of the day
with expert analysis and lively debate
8.00 The Independent Republic of Mike Graham.
A run through the day’s breaking news
10.00 The Talk. A panel of well-known faces
debate the topics everybody is talking about
11.00 Prime Time with James Max
12.00 Petrie Hosken 1.00am CrossTalk with
Kevin O’Sullivan and Alex Phillips 3.00 Prime
Time with James Max 4.00 The Talk 5.00 James
Max. An initial insight into the day’s top stories
ITV2
6.00am CITV 9.00 World’s Funniest Videos
9.30 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records
10.00 Veronica Mars 11.00 Dawson’s Creek
12.00 Secret Crush 1.00pm Dress to Impress
2.00 Supermarket Sweep 3.00 Veronica Mars
4.00 Dawson’s Creek 5.00 Dress to Impress
6.00 Celebrity Catchphrase (AD)
7.00 Family Fortunes. A clan from London
goes up against family from Bristol
8.00 Superstore. Amy joins Jonah for lunch
with his parents and brother (AD)
8.30 Superstore. Cheyenne enlists Bo’s help to
make her birthday memorable (AD)
9.00 Hell’s Kitchen. The contestants must
deliberate on which chef makes the best scallops
10.00 Family Guy. Peter befriends an actor and
Stewie loses sleep over The Da Vinci Code (AD)
10.30 Family Guy (AD)
11.00 Family Guy (AD)
11.30 American Dad! (AD)
12.00 American Dad! (AD) 12.30am Superstore
(AD) 1.30 Shopping with Keith Lemon. In
Blackpool 2.25 Celebrity Karaoke Club 3.10
Unwind with ITV 5.30 Teleshopping
BBC4
7.00pm India’s Frontier Railways. Documentary
charting a train journey from the town of
Janakpur in Nepal to Jaynagar in India (AD)
8.00 Himalaya with Michael Palin. The
adventurer travels along the Yangtze river into
China, where he meets Mosuo singer Namu,
before travelling to India to marvel at
one of Assam’s great tea estates (AD)
9.00 Henry VIII’s Enforcer: The Rise and Fall of
Thomas Cromwell. Diarmaid MacCulloch argues
that the 16th-century lawyer and statesman
was not corrupt and manipulative, but
an idealist whose radicalism laid the
foundations for the modern British state
10.00 Clocking Off. Steve takes the law into his
own hands when his wedding anniversary
is disturbed by an armed burglar (4/6)
10.55 Clocking Off. Trudy is shocked by the
sudden death of her father, and makes a
mistake which leads to Katherine’s infidelity
becoming public knowledge (5/6)
11.45 Clocking Off. Last in the series
12.40am Peter Sellers: A State of Comic
Ecstasy (r) 1.55 India’s Frontier Railways (AD)
2.55-3.55 Himalaya with Michael Palin (AD, SL)
ITV3
6.00am Classic Emmerdale 7.00 Classic
Coronation Street (AD) 8.05 Wild at Heart
10.15 The Royal (AD) 11.20 Heartbeat (AD)
1.30pm Classic Emmerdale 2.35 Classic
Coronation Street (AD) 3.45 Agatha Christie’s
Poirot (AD) 5.55 Heartbeat (AD)
8.00 Midsomer Murders. When a farmer is
discovered bound to a tree, doused in truffle oil
and mauled to death by a wild boar, the
investigation leads Barnaby to a tyrannical
celebrity chef. With Neil Dudgeon (AD)
10.00 Blue Murder. The discovery of a child’s
body presents Janine with a particularly tough
case, especially when her ex-husband, Pete,
delivers shattering news. Crime drama
starring Caroline Quentin (2/4) (AD)
11.30 Wild at Heart. When a plane crash-lands,
Caroline finds the pilot and his pet chimp are a
welcome distraction from life at Leopard’s Den.
Meanwhile, a mystery virus puts the farm in
jeopardy. Starring Stephen Tompkinson (8/10)
12.20am Wild at Heart 1.10 Upstairs,
Downstairs 2.00 Heartbeat (AD) 4.00 The Royal
(AD) 5.00 Unwind with ITV 5.30 Teleshopping
Talking Pictures
6.00am Burke’s Law 7.00 FILM: The Black
Abbot (PG, 1934) Crime comedy (b/w) 8.10
FILM: You Will Remember (U, 1941) Biopic
of the composer Leslie Stuart (b/w) 10.00
Together 10.30 The Buccaneers (b/w) 11.00
FILM: Your Witness (PG, 1950) Courtroom
drama with Robert Montgomery (b/w) 1.00pm
Look at Life 1.15 FILM: Landfall (U, 1949)
Second World War drama starring Michael
Denison (b/w) 3.00 Saddle Up 3.05 FILM: The
Outlaw’s Daughter (U, 1954) Western
starring Sheila Connolly and Bill Williams (b/w)
4.40 Saddle Up 4.45 Johnny Ringo 5.15
Glimpses: Wide Open Town 5.30 Bonanza
6.30 Dick Powell’s Zane Grey Theatre (b/w)
7.00 Dixon of Dock Green (b/w)
8.00 Public Eye. Guest starring Alun Armstrong
9.05 Gideon’s Way. Geoffrey Palmer guest stars
10.05 FILM: Full Moon in Blue Water (15,
1988) Comedy drama starring Gene Hackman
12.00 FILM: Nightbeat (PG, 1947) Crime
drama (b/w) 1.55am FILM: Games That
Lovers Play (18, 1970) 3.35 FILM: The
Gorbals Story (PG, 1950) (b/w) 5.05
FILM: Desert Mesa (U, 1935) (b/w)
ITV4
6.00am The Best of the 70s 6.15 Minder (AD,
SL) 7.20 The Professionals (AD, SL) 8.20
Dempsey and Makepeace (AD) 9.20 Magnum, PI
10.25 Kojak 11.30 Monster Carp 12.30pm
Dempsey and Makepeace (AD) 1.40 Magnum, PI
2.40 Kojak 3.45 Minder (AD) 4.55 The
Professionals (AD) 5.55 Monster Carp
7.00 Monster Carp. Ali Hamidi travels to
South Africa where he, Tom Dove and Neil
Spooner experience the big five Safari
8.00 FILM: Hulk (12, 2003) Exposure to
radiation transforms a scientist into a
formidable green monster. Comic-book
adventure starring Eric Bana (AD)
10.50 River Monsters. Part one of two.
Jeremy Wade investigates deaths in the
waters of America’s tourist hotspots
11.20 The Best of the 80s. A selection of
sports covered by ITV during the 1980s
11.30 English Football League Highlights.
Action from the latest fixtures
1.00am All Elite Wrestling: Collision 3.00 The
Professionals (AD, SL) 3.50 Kojak (SL) 4.40
Unwind with ITV 5.30 Teleshopping
Film4
11.00am Mysterious Island (PG, 1961)
Sci-fi adventure starring Michael Craig (AD)
1.05pm Johnny English Strikes Again (12,
2018) Spy comedy starring Rowan Atkinson
(AD) 2.50 Sister Act (PG, 1992) Comedy
starring Whoopi Goldberg (AD) 4.55 We
Bought a Zoo (PG, 2011) A widowed father
takes over ownership of a dilapidated zoo. Fact-
based comedy drama starring Matt Damon (AD)
7.20 Table 19 (12, 2017) Dumped by the best
man via text, a former maid of honour decides to
pitch up at her friend’s wedding anyway. Comedy
starring Anna Kendrick and Craig Robinson
9.00 Nobody (15, 2021) A quiet and
unassuming family man slowly reveals his true
character after his house is burgled by two petty
thieves. Crime drama starring Bob Odenkirk,
Connie Nielsen and Aleksey Serebryakov (AD)
10.50 Fight Club (18, 1999) An office worker
and his mysterious friend start a club where
men vent their anger in bare-knuckle fighting.
Drama starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton and
Helena Bonham Carter. See Viewing Guide
1.40am-4.00 Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime
Walk (15, 2016) War drama with Joe Alwyn
Drama
6.00am Teleshopping 7.10 All Creatures Great
and Small 8.00 Doctors 9.15 Classic Holby City
10.35 Classic Casualty 11.40 The Bill 12.40pm
Classic EastEnders 2.00 Pie in the Sky 3.00
Lovejoy 4.10 All Creatures Great and Small
5.20 Terry and June. Blueprints go missing
6.00 Keeping Up Appearances
6.40 Last of the Summer Wine
7.20 Last of the Summer Wine. Compo has an
interesting experience when he loses his ferret
8.00 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries. A horse
trainer with money worries is found hanged, and
suicide is assumed until tests reveal he was
drugged shortly before his death (2/4)
10.00 New Tricks. The detectives investigate
the case of two boys kidnapped in 1979,
and believe it may be linked to more
recent disappearances (7/8) (AD)
11.00 Spooks. Beth Bailey is tasked with
protecting an oil baron, but Harry and Lucas’s
suspicions are raised and they soon
discover he is planning an attack (2/8)
12.20am Lovejoy 1.35 Hustle 2.50
Classic Holby City 4.00 Teleshopping
More4
8.55am The Hotel Fixers 9.30 A Place in the
Sun 10.25 A New Life in the Sun 11.25 Find It,
Fix It, Flog It (AD) 12.30pm Come Dine with Me
3.10 Four in a Bed 5.50 The Secret Life of the
Zoo. Memorable stories 2015 to 2020 (AD)
6.55 Car SOS. Fuzz Townshend and Tim Shaw
enlist the help of the actor Roger Moore (AD)
7.55 The Dog House. Staff at Woodgreen animal
charity set out to match their homeless dogs
with prospective owners. A family of four meets
a cheeky cockapoo puppy (1/8) (AD)
9.00 24 Hours in Police Custody: The Home
County Cartel. The covert team tries to find the
true identity of Jaguar Palace, as well as the
evidence to link the suspect directly to the
drug-importing conspiracy (2/2) (AD)
10.30 999: On the Front Line. Following the
paramedics of West Midlands Ambulance
Service, as police flag them down to help deal
with a man who has overdosed on drugs
11.35 24 Hours in A&E. A 40-year-old man is
rushed in after losing control of his car (AD)
12.35am 24 Hours in Police Custody: The
Home County Cartel (AD) 2.05 999: On
the Front Line 3.10-3.40 The Hotel Fixers
Yesterday
6.10am Guitar Heroes at the BBC 8.00
Abandoned Engineering (AD) 10.00 World War
Two from Above 11.00 Secret Nazi Bases 12.00
Great American Railroad Journeys 1.00pm
Antiques Roadshow 2.00 Bangers & Cash (AD)
4.00 World War Two from Above 5.00 Secret
Nazi Bases. One of the largest Nazi bunkers
6.00 Antiques Roadshow. Dover Castle
stages an edition aired to mark 80 years
since the start of the Second World War
7.00 Great British Railway Journeys. Michael
Portillo completes his journey to Chichester
7.30 Great British Railway Journeys. Michael
Portillo travels through southern Scotland
8.00 Great Canal Journeys. Timothy West and
Prunella Scales explore Argentina’s waterways
9.00 Bangers & Cash. Derek casts his eye over a
Citroën 2CV, before admiring motorbikes (AD)
10.00 Bangers & Cash. Tucked away in the
showroom is a WW2-era Willys Jeep (AD)
11.00 Abandoned Engineering. An eerie country
village that hides a sad secret (8/8) (AD)
12.00 Great British Railway Journeys 1.00am
Guitar Heroes at the BBC 3.00 Teleshopping
BBC Alba
6.00am Alba Today 5.00pm Nannag a’
Noo/Huggleboo (r) 5.10 Bing (r) 5.15 Na
Clangairean (r) 5.30 Peicein/Petit (r) 5.35
Gasta a’ Ghraineag (Happy the Hoglet) 5.45 Su
Pic (Peek Zoo) (r) 5.50 Stòiridh (r) 6.00
Donnie Murdo (Danger Mouse) (r) 6.25 Stri (r)
6.30 Gaemannan Gaidhealach (r) 6.35 Na
Dana-thursan aig Tintin (The Adventures of
Tintin) (r) 7.00 Fuine (Home Baking) (r) 7.30
SpeakGaelic (r) 8.00 An Là (News) 8.30
Dealbhan Fraoich (Heather’s Portraits) (r)
9.00 All That Lies Behind Me (Sgeulachd
Donald Merrett) (r) 10.00 Mach à Seo! (r)
10.30 Bannan (The Ties That Bind) (r)
11.00 Na Gleidheadairean (The Animal
Keepers) (r) 12.00-6.00am Alba Today
S4C
6.00am Cyw: Blociau Lliw (r) 6.05 Fferm Fach
(r) 6.20 Sion y Chef (r) 6.35 Ein Byd Bach Ni
(r) 6.45 Octonots (r) 7.00 Caru Canu (r) 7.10
Olobobs (r) 7.15 Byd Tad-Cu 7.30 Blero yn
Mynd i Ocido 7.45 Dal Dy Ddannedd 8.00
Timpo (r) 8.10 Halibalw (r) 8.20 Abadas (r)
8.30 Guto Gwningen (r) 8.45 Ysbyty Cyw Bach
(r) 9.00 Cymylaubychain (r) 9.10 Twt (r) 9.25
Sblij a Sbloj (r) 9.30 Crawc a’i Ffrindiau (r)
9.45 Asra (r) 10.00 Caru Canu (r) 10.05
Olobobs (r) 10.10 Byd Tad-Cu (r) 10.25 Blero
yn Mynd i Ocido (r) 10.40 Dal Dy Ddannedd (r)
11.00 Dysgu Gyda Cyw: Shwshaswyn (r) 11.10
Anifeiliaid Bach y Byd (r) 11.20 Jen a Jim a’r
Cywiadur (r) 11.35 Teulu Ni (r) 11.45 Amser
Maith Maith yn Ôl (r) 12.00 News; Weather
12.05pm Colleen Ramsey: Bywyd a Bwyd (r)
12.30 Heno (r) 1.00 Byd o Liw: Arlunwyr (r)
1.30 Garddio a Mwy (r) 2.00 News; Weather
2.05 Prynhawn Da 3.00 News; Weather 3.05
Arctig Gwyllt Iolo Williams (r) 4.00 Awr Fawr:
Caru Canu (r) 4.05 Timpo (r) 4.15 Byd Tad-Cu
(r) 4.30 Crawc a’i Ffrindiau (r) 4.40 Dal Dy
Ddannedd (r) 5.00 Stwnsh: Dewi a’r Ditectifs
Gwyllt (r) 5.10 Ar Goll yn Oz (r) 5.30 Cic (r)
5.50 News Ni 6.00 Caeau Cymru (r) 6.30
Sgorio (r) 6.57 News 7.00 Heno 7.30 News;
Weather 8.00 Pobol y Cwm. Diane finds out
Jason plans to sell Bryntirion, and Griffiths
struggles to keep the truth from Anita (AD)
8.25 Y Sîn. A look at the creative arts scene
for youngsters in Wales 8.55 News; Weather
9.00 Y Lein — Streic Friction Dynamics.
Delving into the history of one of Britain’s
longest-running industrial disputes 10.00
Jess Davies. Jess investigates what is being
done to keep women safe and end public sexual
harassment (r) 10.30-11.35 Teulu’r Castell (r)
14
MindGames
Poker Byron Jacobs
Beat the station
The most common player type
you will meet at the poker table is
the “station”, an abbreviation for
“calling station”. This is someone
who has come in order to play.
The station hates to be a bystan-
der (“I didn’t travel over to the
casino so I could sit here and fold
all night. I want some action!”) so
they get involved in a lot of pots.
Once they are in a pot they rarely
take the initiative but don’t like to
give up. So their main action is to
call and they call a lot. This is
clearly not a good style but the
fact that the station rarely folds
creates difficulties as they cannot
easily be barged out of the pot. You
will meet a great many stations
during your poker career so you
need to know how to get the better
of them. Here are some tips.
1) Many players get frustrated
facing stations for the following
reason. Stations stay in pots so
much they inevitably get lucky and
outdraw better hands on a fairly
regular basis. This is annoying and
tempts a victim to think, “Right, I’ll
teach them to play with garbage. I
won’t play moderate hands any
more – I’ll wait for a really good
hand they will never outdraw.”
However, “a really good hand” at
the table is very rare and you
could sit around all night hoping
for such an opportunity.
You don’t need to wait for the
crown jewels. All you need is a
hand likely to be ahead of the
station’s range. The station opens,
For more puzzles, including
Mini Sudoku, extra Codeword,
Train Tracks and Futoshiki
go to page 10
Winning Move
KenKen Medium No 6177
All the digits 1 to 6 must appear in every row and column. In
each thick-line “block”, the target number in the top left-hand
corner is calculated from the digits in all the cells in the block,
using the operation indicated by the symbol.
Wednesday April 10 2024 | the times
Codeword No 5185 Train Tracks No 2216
you have K-J. That’ll do. Raise
them. What about A-9? Yep. Defi-
nitely good enough – raise. And
7 -5 ? No – fold. This hand is
speculative and would be margi-
nal at the best of times. Against a
station you want raw card strength.
2) When betting for value, bet
big. You have K-Q and the flop is
K-9-7. You are strong and nor-
mally may bet 30-50 per cent pot.
Facing a station? Go bigger, 80-
100 per cent pot. If they will call
the small bet they will call the
bigger one. They want to play?
Good. Make them pay.
3) Stations can be bluffed but
only creatively. You have J-10 and
open. The station calls. The flop is
9-8-4 so you have a straight draw.
You bet about 60-70 per cent pot
and (of course) the station calls.
The turn is 9-8-4-K. The station
probably has a mediocre hand
that is nevertheless ahead of you,
such as 8-6, 5-4, 3-3 etc. Do not
Lay tracks to enable the train to travel from village A to village
make the mistake of making an
B. The numbers indicate how many sections of track go in
“normal-sized” bet, eg 80-100 per each row and column. There are only straight sections and
cent pot. The station will simply curved sections. The track cannot cross itself.
call. Instead bet 2x the pot – a huge
overbet. The station will never
have seen a bet this big in their
life. They will mumble and splutter Quintagram® Challenge
and stare at you, wondering what your mind
the hell you are up to. But sud- Solve all five cryptic clues using each
denly their hand will not look so letter underneath once only with puzzle
enticing and they will usually fold. books from
Finally, remember you cannot 1 Mother, ultimately subservient, The Times
win every hand. That is impossible Every letter in this crossword-style grid is represented by a number from 1 to 26. one walks all over? (3)
and creates an unhelpful mindset. Each letter of the alphabet appears in the grid at least once. Use the letters already
Keep it realistic. You are aiming to
exploit your stronger range and
provided to work out the identity of further letters. Enter letters in the main grid
and the smaller reference grid until all 26 letters of the alphabet have been
-2 Vital
- time
- to organise clubs in
win about 60 per cent of the pots. accounted for. Proper nouns are excluded. Yesterday’s solution, right church (6)
Cluelines Stuck on Codeword? To receive 4 random clues call 0901 293 6262 or -3 Axe-for-cutting
- -frozen
- surface —
text TIMECODE to 64343. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company’s network
access charge. Texts cost £1 plus your standard network charge. For the full solution or pick (6)
call 0905 757 0142. Calls cost £1 per minute plus your telephone company’s network
access charge. SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5.30pm). -4 Fifties
- -naval
- officer
- - getting in
bother? One should be calm! (8)
Lexica No 7345 No 7346
-5 UK-combat
- -unit
- initially
- - trained
- to
G I I N W W I N T U G
do nothing useful? (4,5)
U S ---------
White to play. A A B C C C C C
This position is from I N R I
Korchynskyi-Burmakin, Titled D E H H I I K L
Tuesday, chess.com 2024. T Q A O L M M M N N O O
thetimes.co.uk/
In this position the kings find H U R S O P R T T U U U bookshop
themselves on opposite wings
and both sides are attacking O D C D
furiously. White is a piece ahead
but, considering the violence
being witnessed, this is almost an
Z Y H What are your favourite
irrelevance. In such positions the
initiative is everything. It is
White to play. How did he make
I U A M T R S O E S
puzzles in MindGames?
the most of this small initiative?
Slide the letters either horizontally or vertically back into the grid to produce a
completed crossword. Letters are allowed to slide over other letters Email: puzzles@thetimes.co.uk
Futoshiki No 4725 Kakuro No 3684
Fill the grid
using the
numbers 1 to 9
only. The
numbers in each
horizontal or
vertical run of
white squares
add up to the
total in the
triangle to its left
or above it. The
same number
may occur more
than once in a
row or column,
but not within
the same run of
white squares.
Fill the blank squares so that every row and column contains
each of the numbers 1 to 5 once only. The symbols between
the squares indicate whether a number is larger (>) or smaller
(<) than the number next to it.
the times | Wednesday April 10 2024 15

MindGames
times2 Crossword No 9501 Brain Trainer Cell Blocks No 5068
Just follow the instructions from left to right, starting with the number given to reach an answer at the end.

ANSWER ANSWER ANSWER

1 2 3 4 5 6 Divide the grid
into square or
EASY 12 ÷ 6 x 14 +OF1/4IT TREBLE
IT
+ 105 +OF3/5IT DOUBLE
IT
–2 DOUBLE
IT rectangular
7 blocks, each
containing one
8 9 digit only. Every
block must
10 86 x 2 + 1/4 + 30 DOUBLE + 7/10 – 25 – 3/4 DOUBLE ÷4 contain the
MEDIUM OF IT IT IT
OF IT OF IT number of cells
indicated by the
11
digit inside it.

12 13 – 1/5
HARDER 54 SQUARE
IT
+ 124 – 3/8 ÷ 20 – 3/4 x 22 – 366 HALVE
IT
OF IT OF IT OF IT
14

15 16 17 18
Polygon Set Square No 3687
19
From these letters, make words of Enter each of
20 21 four or more letters, always including the numbers
the central letter. Answers must be in from 1 to 9 in
22 the Concise Oxford Dictionary, excluding the grid, so that
capitalised words, plurals, conjugated the six sums
23 verbs (past tense etc), adverbs ending work. We’ve
in LY, comparatives and superlatives. placed two
How you rate 11 words, average; numbers to get
24
15, good; 21, very good; 28, excellent you started.
Each sum
Yesterday’s answers should be
Across 19 Grid-like framework (7) calculated left
air, airer, are, ear, era, err, hair, hare,
1 Potential source of injury (6) 20 Gin and vermouth to right or top
harrier, hear, heir, her, hire, hirer, ire, rah,
7 Highly conductive metal (6) cocktail (7) to bottom.
rai, rare, rear, rhea, ria
8 Condemnation, censure (8) 22 Escorting or guiding (in) (8)
10 Great bravery (7) 23 Soothe, make tranquil (6)
Please note, BODMAS does not apply
11 Old-fashioned ship (7) 24 Point of view, attitude (6)
12 Look fixedly (5)
14 Penchant, predilection (5) Down Killer Tricky No 9408 Solutions
15 Spectrum, gamut (5) 1 Forbidden belief (6)
Quick Cryptic 2645 Codeword 5184 Kakuro 3683
2 Airship (8)
Solution to Crossword 9500
3 One sharing living or
A ESOP HE L P FU L sleeping space (4-4)
M U L U A I O
4 Darts throwing line (4)
A I RSA NDGRACES
Z R Y S D T E 5 Displace unceremoniously (6)
O VERG R OW L I A R 6 Detecting device (6)
N P O N F O 9 Pupa (9)
S I T T E R COGN AC 12 Motorist’s safety strap (8)
I R A R O 13 Screen test (8)
C A T S I NSEASON 16 Old sayings (6)
A I S I N C C 17 Rich creamy cake (6) Train Tracks 2215
P ROB L EM SNAKE 18 Insubstantial, paltry (6) Sudoku 14,820 Tetonor 455
E U A U I R D 21 Unfeeling, deadened (4)
R I SKY SOCKEYE 29 156 35 400
13 + 16 2 x 78 16 + 19 20 x 20
Need help with today’s puzzle? Call 0905 757 0143 to check the
answers. Calls cost £1 per minute plus your telephone company’s 196 40 208 46
network access charge. SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390 (Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm). 2 x 98 20 + 20 13 x 16 2 x 23

27 304 34 264
Bridge Andrew Robson 17 + 10 16 x 19 12 + 22 12 x 22

100 80 170 25
Sudoku 14,821 98 + 2 78 + 2 10 x 17 23 + 2
Top Tens Dealer: West, Vulnerability: Neither
C. Defence ♠ KQ2 2 2 Cell
2 10Blocks
12 13 5067 Set20Square
16 16 17 19 20 3686
22 23 78 98 Lexica 7343
5. Third hand plays high ... usually ♥ 754 S T E P
(i) Why third hand plays high ♦KQ103
♣853 Killer Deadly No 9409 C T O

Third hand plays high is perhaps ♠ A73 N ♠ 85 E C U P

the most core motto for the ♥ J1062 W E ♥ K83
I N C H I
defence. Partner has already played ♦A84 S ♦962
a card (the first card). If you don’t
♣A107 ♠ J10964 ♣J9642 E U

play high, declarer will win a cheap ♥ AQ9 P A L M

trick. This applies even if partner ♦J75

has led a high-ish card. ♣KQ Sudoku 14,822 Futoshiki 4724 KenKen 6176 Lexica 7344
In these three scenarios, the S W N E
K B
contract is, say, 4♠ . 1NT Pass Pass
2♠ (1) Pass 3♠ Pass D I M O
(a) Dummy 4♠ (2) End Q W U
West ♦7532 East (you)
(1) Would pass in second seat but worth a
♦Q led — ♦A94 2♠ bid in the protective (a k a “cheat”) seat.
U N I S O N

After ♦Q, ♦2, you as East (2) Could have a lot less.
I U D

should normally play ♦A. Partner’s P A M P A S

lead has told you declarer has ♦K; At the table, West led ♥ J and
it may be singleton. East made the knee-jerk third-
hand-high play of ♥ K — fatally. Today’s solutions
(b) Dummy Declarer won ♥ A and led ♠ 4 to
West ♣ 754 East (you) ♠ K, West ducking. Declarer now Killer 9406 Concise Cryptic Suko 4086 Brain
♣ J led — ♣ A93 Quintagram Quintagram Trainer
led dummy’s♦K, East signalling the
After ♣ J, ♣ 4, you should nor- count with ♦2 (low = odd). West 1 Goons 1 Mat Easy 1,340
mally play ♣ A. Partner’s lead has 2 Sting 2 Crunch Medium 101
ducked, and ducked♦3 to ♦J. West 3 Conic 3 Choice Harder 26
told you declarer has ♣ Q; fail to won ♦7 with ♦A and, unable to 4 Undress 4 Millpond
play ♣ A and declarer will win that continue hearts or she’d promote 5 Los Angeles 5 Muck about
♣ Q, disastrous if the layout is: declarer’s ♥ 9, tried ♣A and ♣10.
Dummy Declarer won♣K and led ♠ 6. West Word watch Quiz
West ♣ 754 East (you) won ♠ A and led ♣7 but declarer 1 Television 2 The Knave of
Nivellisation (a) Levelling,
♣ KJ108 — ♣ A93 ruffed, crossed to ♠ Q and cashed removal of distinctions Hearts 3 Hannibal 4 Limerick
♦Q, shedding ♥ 9. Game made, (OED)
Declarer Eventrate (c) To open the 5 Rasputin 6 William Blake
♣ Q62 despite West’s best ducking efforts. Killer 9407
7 Puffin Books 8 Birmingham
As with standard Sudoku, fill the grid so that every column, belly of (Collins)
East should not have wasted♥ K Humbucker (b) A device in 9 Bride of Frankenstein 10 Tracey
But (c) Dummy at trick one, knowing declarer has every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9. Each set
an electric guitar (Collins)
Thorn 11 Drayton House
West ♥ 754 East (you) ♥ AQ. Instead, she encourages with of cells joined by dotted lines must add up to the target number
♥ J led — ♥ K83 in its top-left corner. Within each set of cells joined by dotted Chess — Winning Move 12 Andrew Huberman, it is called
♥ 8. Declarer wins ♥ Q and leads the Huberman Lab podcast
If this is trick one, partner won’t ♠ 4. West hops up with ♠ A (or lines, a digit cannot be repeated. 1 Rg6+! Kh8 (1 ... hxg6
have ♥ A (no ace-underlead at trick ducks). She now leads ♥ 2 to ♥ K. 2 Qh8 mate) and White 13 Giuseppe Cesari or Cavaliere
has various wins including d’Arpino 14 Wrestling, his only
one to a suit contract). Partner’s suit Declarer wins ♥ A and will soon Cluelines Stuck on Sudoku, Killer or KenKen? Call 0901 293 the pretty 2 Qxh7+! Rxh7
is headed by♥ J10. There is no point lead ♦J. West wins ♦A, cashes 6263 before midnight to receive four clues for any of today’s 3 Bf6 mate
known defeat came against Hank
in playing ♥ K — indeed it could be ♥ 10, and comes to ♣A. One down. puzzles. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company’s network Thompson during the Black
damaging for the defence ... andrew.robson@thetimes.co.uk access charge. SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390 (Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm). Hawk War of 1832 15 The Smiths
 10.04.24

For extra
puzzles
See page 10

Word watch Sudoku Difficult No 14,823 Fiendish No 14,824 Super fiendish No 14,825
David Parfitt

Nivellisation
a Levelling, removal of
distinctions
b The formation of
snowdrifts
c The creation of new
societies
Eventrate
a A late supper in a
monastery
b To make airtight
c To open the belly of
Humbucker
a An intensely pungent
object
b A device in an electric
guitar
c The cockchafer beetle

Answers on page 15

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

The Times Daily Quiz Olav Bjortomt Suko No 4086 D I G I TA L S U B S C R I P T I O N

1 “Idiot box” is slang for 11 The 2023 movie

which electronic device?
2 In the nursery rhyme
The Queen of Hearts, who
stole the queen’s tarts?
3 The subtitle of JMW
Turner’s 1812 painting
Snow Storm refers to
which Carthaginian
general crossing the
Alps?
4 What is the only
place in Ireland to
give its name to a form
of poetry?
5 Plácido Domingo
played which Russian
mystic in a 2003
production of Deborah
Drattell’s opera Nicholas
and Alexandra?
6 Which visionary
poet and painter is a
15
character in Tracy
Chevalier’s 2007 novel
Burning Bright?
7 Which children’s
imprint of Penguin
Books is named after
the seabird in the genus
Fratercula?
8 Which Midlands
city’s Longbridge car
factory was home to
Austin, British Leyland
and MG Rover?
9 Dr Pretorius says: “To
a new world of gods and
monsters!” in which
1935 horror film?
10 Which Everything
But the Girl
frontwoman wrote the
2013 memoir Bedsit
Disco Queen?
Saltburn was filmed at
which 700-year-old
stately home in Lowick,
Northamptonshire?
12 Which Stanford
neuroscientist started his
popular wellness podcast
in January 2021?
13 Caravaggio was a pupil
of which Rome-born
Mannerist painter, also
known as Il Giuseppino
(1568-1640)?
14 A young Abraham
Lincoln reportedly
amassed 300 victories
over 12 years in which
sport?
15 Breaking up in 1987,
which Manchester band
is this?
Answers on page 15
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weekend with
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Place the numbers 1 to 9 in the spaces so
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The Times Quick Cryptic No 2646 by Teazel

1 2 3 4 5 6 Across 3 Bird of prey child has on a

1 Sailor, stabbed, doubled over string (4)
7 (10) 4 By the sound of it, swallowed a
8 Shortly put down one chapter delicious drink (6)
8 9 in colloquial speech (7) 5 Briefly run up to a series of
9 Basket maker more comfy out boats (8)
of cold (5) 6 Bore strict training (5)
10 Prepare to swallow a red wine 7 Best seats here, but a thousand
at the start (4) can’t sit down? (10)
10 11 11 Set of bells in collar, moving 8 Remove restrictions from disc,
(8) safely reformatted (10)
12 13 Get thanks when opening a 12 Steal identity, an informal one
can (6) (8)
13 14 15 14 Son makes big strides skiing 15 In large level area place a meal
here (6) for all to see (7)
16 17 Regular staff, one looking after 16 Specimen, small, more than
cattle (8) adequate (6)
17 18 19 19 A convict returning for festival 18 Toxic gas over region (5)
(4) 20 Secretly look up to find castle
20
21 Female at Hebridean isle? (5) tower (4)
22 Simulated pressure on nurse
(7)
21 22
23 Part of simple sum in school
exam (6-4)

Down
23 2 Support for limb motionless
initially in seizure (7) Yesterday’s solution on page 15
 Classic Collection
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Wonders of China
Departures | April 2024 to November 2025

This all-encompassing 17-day tour of China blends must-see sights with spectacular natural scenery and Itinerary
cultural encounters.
Beijing • Xi’an • Yangtze River Cruise
tarting in the bustling capital, Beijing, scenery as you pass riverside villages and forest- The trip ends amongst the towering skyscrapers • Guilin • Yangshuo • Shanghai

S explore the magnificent Forbidden City and

harmonious Temple of Heaven, before a trip
to the iconic Great Wall. You’ll discover the ancient
covered mountains.
No trip to mainland China is complete without
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of Shanghai – a city where the old and new
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which have been shrouded in mystery since their along The Bund.
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Next up is a four-night cruise on the Yangtze Traveller, you will get an exclusive complimentary
Wind between the dramatic limestone karsts of
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the Li River with a trip to the lush emerald-green All four-star accommodation
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Treasures of Turkey
Departures | May 2024 to November 2024
urkey dazzles the senses and on a round
T trip from Istanbul, you’ll be immersed in
the vibrant sights, sounds, and flavours of
this captivating country. From the bustling Grand
Bazaar to the surreal landscapes of Cappadocia,
every moment of this tour promises to be an
unforgettable experience.
Begin your adventure with a sightseeing tour of
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such as the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace and
wander through the mesmerizing maze of stalls of
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take in the other-worldly landscapes of undulating
valleys strewn with mesmerising rock formations
in the Göreme Valley. The bustling city of Ankara
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is next where you can spend an afternoon delving overseas transportation
poignant battlefields of Gallipoli along the way.
into Turkey’s ancient past at the Museum of
Discover the myths and legends of Troy and
Anatolian Civilizations and Mausoleum of Atatürk. 11 nights in four-star hotels
the ruins of Pergamon before visiting the well-
Your holiday ends back in Istanbul where there is
preserved ancient city of Ephesus. Marvel at
time to explore at your own pace before a farewell 11 breakfasts, two lunches, ten dinners
Pamukkale’s natural wonders, explore Hierapolis
dinner with the rest of the group. and welcome drink
and journey to Konya, once the capital of the
Seljuk Empire, home to the Mausoleum of
Mevlana. Tour of Istanbul including The Blue
Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Topkapi Palace
and Grand Bazaar
Visit the Temple of Artemis, in Ephesus
Cappadocia and the Goreme Valley
with a glass of wine at sunset
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ENCHANTING FJORDS AND CHARMING CITIES:

Unforgettable Norway
Departures | June to September 2025

lready sold out for 2024 dates, get ready and watch the enchanting landscapes transform fruit orchard to sample the fruits of the farmers’

A for what is truly an unforgettable journey

across Norway. You’ll start by diving into
Oslo’s finest cultural treasures in the company of
into a stunning tapestry of lush greenery,
meandering rivers and cascading waterfalls. A
fjord cruise is a delightful change of pace from
labour. With a refreshing cider in hand, you may
decide you don’t want to go home after all your
idyllic encounters! And the exploring doesn’t stop
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an expert local guide, including iconic buildings
and pretty neighbourhoods. You’ll leave the city
behind for two of the world’s most scenic train
journeys: the Bergen and Flåm railways. Sit back
your thrilling journey on the rails. Take in the fresh there, the last chapter to your trip awaits with a
air and calm waters, while soaking up the dramatic tour of Bergen – a Unesco World Heritage City that Overseas transfers, other
scenery that surrounds you. Back on land, you’ll captivates the heart and soul with its old world transportation & porterage
spend time in cosy villages including a visit to a charm.
Six nights in three- and four-star hotels.
A guaranteed twin or double room
of your own

Six breakfasts, three dinners and a

welcome drink

Just You Holiday Director and

specialist local guides

Tours of Oslo and Bergen, sailing on

the Naeroyfjord, orchard visit with cider
tasting, and scenic drive through the
Hardanger Valley

Train journeys on the scenic Bergen

and Flåm Railways

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 EIGHT DAYS FROM
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Rome, Assisi & Magical Umbria

Departures | April 2024 to October 2025

Discover world-renowned classical ruins and a rural idyll yet to be discovered by mass tourism Price Includes
hether it’s your first time in Italy or in the hills of Umbria. From here, we explore gentle walks through unspoiled countryside and

W your 100th, this guided walking trip

will live long in your heart. It begins
in Rome, visiting world landmarks and classical
the green heart of Italy, an area surprisingly
undiscovered by the tourist masses. Don’t expect
it to stay that way: Lonely Planet named it one of
medieval villages, we visit Assisi and Perugia,
sample fine wines and craft beers, enjoy a hands-
on Italian cooking class and relax with a blissed-
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ruins, before we head to a four-star country resort their top destinations to visit in 2023. In between out moment in the resort spa.

All accommodation. One night in a

four-star hotel in Rome city centre. Six
nights in a four-star country resort and
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All breakfasts, three lunches

and six dinners

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Wine, beer and olive oil tastings

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Welcome aperitivo and complimentary

spa access

Chocolate tasting

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Warner Hotels
ADULT SHORT BREAK DESTINATIONS

O ur collection of 16 country houses and coastal villages can be found in

some of the UK’s most stunning locations. Each property boasts its own
unique style, combined with our consistent passionate attention to detail. Our
hotels have elegantly designed rooms surrounded by breathtaking British
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STRICTLY COME DANCING WEEKEND EXPERIENCE

T reat yourself to a totally immersive Strictly Come Dancing weekend experience

where you’ll get to meet and mingle with the professional dancers, learn the steps
to your favourite dances, watch showstopping dance extravaganzas, and go behind the
scenes on a sequin-packed costume tour. It’s strictly the most spectacular weekend
ever and an unmissable experience for fans.
Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire, June 7, 2024

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BBC Gardeners World Weekends Discover the stars at Warner

Hotels
E njoy appearances from presenters Adam Frost, Joe Swift, Nick Bailey and
Frances Tophill, as well as garden expert David Hurrion**. Plus, you can also
expect dedicated sessions, talks and garden tours on every break. E njoy private appearances for a live performance like no other. Experience our
Star Breaks at Warner Hotels for your opportunity to join a small audience to get
up close and personal with one of our headline stars, perhaps even meeting a few in
Ask Me Anything – your chance to ask the presenters about their gardening life
person too. See full list of featured Star Breaks on the Warner Hotels website.
and times.
My Specialist Subject – the presenters share their passion and expertise from Gareth Malone OBE
a lifetime of gardening. Gareth Malone OBE is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and was awarded an
honorary doctorate from the University of East Anglia and Freedom of the City of
Your Questions Answered – bring your gardening conundrums for the
London in 2010. He first appeared on TV in the three-part BAFTA award-winning
experts to try and solve.
series, The Choir, for the BBC, along with three further series; The Choir: Boys Don’t
Exclusive Garden Tour – led by your Warner Hotels Head Gardener, plus Sing, The Choir: Unsung Town, and The Choir: Military Wives in 2011.
a gardening expert.
August 30, 2024 Thoresby Hall, Nottinghamshire
May 10, 2024 Bodelwyddan Castle, North Wales September 27, 2024 Studley Castle, Warwickshire
May 31, 2024 Cricket St Thomas, Somerset December 6, 2024 Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire
June 28, 2024 Nidd Hall, North Yorkshire December 13, 2024 The Runnymede on Thames, Surrey

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 EIGHT DAYS NOW FROM
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£1,649
per person
Seven nights’ bed and breakfast
accommodation in Lisbon (two
nights), Vila Real de Santo António
UP TO (two nights), Arcos de la Frontera
£400 (two nights) and Malaga (one
night)
OFF*
PER COUPLE
Tour of Lisbon with a coffee break
BOOK BY
in Belém
MAY 31, 2024
Excursion to Estoril and Sintra
Scenic drive from Lisbon to the
Algarve with visits to Alcácer do
Sal and a wine tasting in Alentejo
Excursion to Olhão, Tavira, and
Cacela Velha

Paradores & Pousadas of Spain & Portugal Excursion to Seville and a sherry
tasting in Jerez de la Frontera
Excursion to the white villages of
Departures | June to October 2024 Cadiz and a goat’s cheese tasting
Excursion to Ronda, Marbella and
Seville, Spain Mijas
Return flights to Lisbon and from
thetimes.co.uk/nh-spainportugal Malaga
Comfortable, air-conditioned,
coach travel and transfers
n Iberian heritage escapade from Lisbon to Malaga with stays at a collection throughout

A of historic, luxury and culturally significant boutique hotels.

Stays at unique accommodation promises complete immersion into the rich

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Fully escorted by friendly,
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heritage of two countries, from dining on regional cuisine to admiring historic

architecture. A guided tour of hilly Lisbon’s cobbled streets lined with colourful tiled
buildings will be followed by visits to the coastal town and royal haven haunt, Estoril
and UNESCO-listed Sintra, renowned for its 19th-century Romanticist architecture.

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Visit the Corinth Canal and
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Wander around the site of

Olympia, the home of the Olympic
Games movement
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Comfortable, air-conditioned
Ancient Greece Uncovered coach travel and transfers
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Departures | May to October 2024

Athens, Greece

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Thessaloniki and the bustling metropolis of Athens. Enjoy escorted tours of some nh-newmarket
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Magical Northern Lights
IN FINLAND
Departures | January to March 2025
Immerse yourself in the magic of the Arctic wilderness on this unique seven-night winter holiday high above
the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, crafted by Northern Lights holiday experts The Aurora Zone.
arvel at the magic of the Northern
M Lights on an aurora camp, be whisked
away on a thrilling husky safari, attend a
photography workshop, learn about local culture
at the Sami Siida Museum and try your hand at
everything from snowshoeing to snowmobiling.
Combining two of the most popular destinations
in Finnish Lapland, is the perfect way to
experience the best of what the region has
to offer.
What we love
Finland offers everything we love about the Aurora and
Lapland in general! Awesome bucket list activities, glass-
roofed accommodations all set in the most picturesque winter
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EIGHT DAYS FROM
*
£3,999 per person
Price Includes
Return flights from London to Ivalo
Your stay at Lake Inari will include a stay in an for the duration of your stay. and airport transfers (via Helsinki)
Arctic Chalet equipped with its own private
sauna, fireplace, and panorama windows hosting
spectacular views.
With a blanket of crisp, white snow stretching
far beyond the horizon and the mystical
Northern Lights dancing above, seeing this
Four nights’ full-board upgraded Arctic
Chalet accommodation at Wilderness
Hotel Inari
A laser-heated, glass-roofed Aurora Cabin awaits winter wonderland first-hand really does feel
Three nights’ full-board accommodation
you in Saariselka; a magical way to experience the like you have been granted exclusive access to
wintry star-filled sky and the Northern Lights. a well-guarded secret. The Aurora Borealis is a in an Aurora Cabin at the Northern
Lights Village
remarkable natural phenomenon which should
Expect delicious Lappish cuisine, a great service
be seen at least once in a lifetime. Guided activities including snowmobile
from your local guides, and cold weather clothing
safari, Aurora camp, visit to Sámi Siida
Museum, Aurora snowshoeing, Aurora
photography workshop, husky sledding,
Aurora Hunt by heated sleigh and short
reindeer sleigh ride
Cold weather clothing for the duration
of your stay
24/7 assistance from the UK based
operations team and in destination
support from local partners
CALL TODAY ON
Scan the QR code with
your camera app to 0808 239 8052
view more details. thetimes.co.uk/finland
QUOTE TIMES^
*From price based on January 11, 2025 departure. Based on two sharing an Aurora cabin at Saariselka and an Arctic Chalet room at
Inari. Single supplement applies at £851pp. Subject to availability. Itinerary details are subject to change. Operated by and subject to the
booking conditions of The Aurora Zone, a company independent of News UK. The Aurora Zone, 168 Brinkburn Street, The Old Public Library,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2AR; ATOL 6865, ABTA Y6261. Photography credits: Robert Corkill., Markku Inkila, Northern Lights Village,
Wilderness Hotel Inari.