Tt 2014 10 07

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tuesday october 7 2014 | thetimes.co.uk | no 71321

Mike Atherton on KP Cricket’s blockbuster — the verdict Pages 62-63

Be Ben Macintyre Wh Why we can’t Pages ke keep secret’s 42, 43

Ebola reaches Europe as Spanish nurse is infected Graham Keeley Madrid

A Spanish nurse has become the first person to test positive for ebola in Europe, raising the spectre of the deadly virus that has ravaged Africa spreading rapidly to Britain and other countries.

The Spanish authorities said that both tests for the virus had proved posi-

tive, confirming that she was infected with the disease, for which there is no known cure. The woman went to the Alcorcon hospital in the outskirts of Madrid yesterday with a high fever.

Health chiefs activated an emergency protocol for ebola and the nurse was placed in an isolation ward. “Two tests were done and the two were positive,” a spokesman for Madrid regional

health department said. The 44-yearold nurse, who is married but has no children, was part of a team that had recently treated a Spanish missionary who was repatriated last month from Sierra Leone after contracting ebola.

The decision to treat the missionary in Spain attracted widespread criticism from health professionals in the country. Manuel García Viejo, 69, was treat-

ed at Carlos III hospital, Madrid, but died after four days on September 25.

Amyts, a union that represents doctors, called the repatriation risky, and its president, Daniel Bernabéu, asked if “anyone could guarantee 100 per cent that the virus wouldn’t escape”.

Mr Bernabéu compared Spain with the US and pointed out that the Americans had ten hospitals with the highest

level of biosafety possible. Spain, in contrast, has just one suitable hospital, with much lower biosafety standards.

The infected nurse has worked for 15 years at the Carlos III hospital. Staff at the hospital claimed that the protective suits which they were given were substandard. According to staff, the suits should include breathing apparatus Continued on page 4, col 1

IBRAHIM ERIKAN /ANADOLU AGENCY / LEFTERIS PITARAKIS / AP

Standing by Turkish tanks on the border with Syria overlooking the town of Kobani where Islamic State militants raised their black flag yesterday. Kurdish forces have pleaded for help to repel the jihadists Page 22

Grandees turn on Miliband

Chorus of concern over strategy from senior Labour figures Michael Savage Chief Political Correspondent Sam Coates, Lucy Fisher

Ed Miliband’s plan for a “crude” mansion tax came under attack from Labour grandees yesterday as prominent figures from across the party piled into his election strategy.

With a new opinion poll putting the Tories two points ahead of Labour, senior voices broke ranks to raise

concerns over leadership and direction.

Mr Miliband’s idea for a mansion tax on properties worth more than £2 million was singled out by Labour’s biggest donor, the businessman John Mills. He warned that it would cause “all sorts of problems” and risked pushing some people into negative equity.

He was joined by Margaret Hodge, the chairwoman of the public accounts committee, who said that the policy was “too crude to work properly”.

Dame Tessa Jowell, the former Labour cabinet minister, said: “I am concerned about my typically older families who are asset rich and income poor. They bought houses 40 years ago, which have appreciated enormously in value and they certainly can’t afford a mansion tax. The important thing is we set out how it will be applied and the fairness test that will apply.”

The criticism comes after a conference speech by Mr Miliband in which

he forgot passages on immigration and the deficit.

Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, revealed frustration at the omission last night, telling ITV’s The Agenda: “Sometimes in life you can forget the most important things. In that speech, not talking about the deficit.”

Labour sources said that Andy Burnham was among those figures most actively preparing for an attempt to become leader in case Mr Miliband

stumbled before the election or was defeated on polling day. “His team is reaching out to party figures in the north and to unions in order to build a base if it’s needed,” a source said.

A poll published yesterday by Lord Ashcroft, the Tory peer, gave David Cameron a two-point lead over Labour.

It is the third recent poll to suggest that Mr Miliband’s long-held lead had disappeared, though another survey Continued on page 2, col 3

IN THE NEWS McCann ‘troll’ outrage Dewani: ‘I’m bisexual’ Clegg warned on EU A Sky News reporter became the focus of an online backlash after a woman accused by the broadcaster of trolling the parents of Madeleine McCann was found dead. Page 5

Shrien Dewani has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife on their honeymoon in South Africa, but revealed at his trial that he is bisexual and saw male prostitutes. Page 7

Nick Clegg has been warned by senior Liberal Democrats that he must not agree to a referendum on the European Union “lightly” amid public divisions over the issue. Page 12

Account protection Bank customers who place large temporary sums in their accounts will qualify for the full deposit protection that currently only applies to the first £85,000. Page 29

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News INSIDE TODAY

Melanie Reid

Students’ parents must learn their lessons, too Opinion, page 18

Louise Cooper Stone age rules les don’t apply to the stock mark rket, so forget about them Business, page 33

Dr Mark Porter

Why children are being given a live version of the flu vaccine

Obituary

Philip Howard, the soul of The Times for half a century Page 48

Times2, page 44

Opinion 17 Weather 17 Cartoon 19 Leading articles 20 Letters 21 World 22 Business 29 Markets 38, 39 Times2 40 Register 48 Sport 52 Crosswords 51, 64 Please note, some sections of The Times are available only in the United Kingdom and Ireland

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Police must disclose how often they have spied on journalists Alex Spence Media Editor

Police chiefs have been ordered to reveal how many times they have used broad surveillance powers to spy on journalists.

The Interception of Communications Commissioner has issued a directive to all chief constables as part of an inquiry into whether the authorities are abusing their powers by using the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (Ripa) to uncover confidential sources.

The surveillance watchdog has been under pressure to act after revelations that the police obtained communications data relating to journalists on The Sun and The Mail on Sunday without permission from a judge or the newspapers knowledge.

Media and free speech groups have accused the police of “snooping” on their sources and argued that it will undermine investigations into important issues. Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons home affairs select committee, said on Sunday that the police should be made to reveal how many times they had obtained data relating to journalists. Sir Paul Kennedy, the interim com-

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missioner, said: “I fully understand and share the concerns raised about the protection of journalistic sources so as to enable a free press. My office will undertake a full inquiry into these matters and report our findings to the prime minister and publically so as to develop clarity in relation to the scope and compliance of this activity.”

Because Ripa allows the police to obtain communications data directly from phone and internet companies without going to court, and because they have not previously been required to disclose detailed statistics, it is not clear how many times they or other authorities have targeted media outlets.

Last month it emerged that the Metropolitan Police had used Ripa to obtain a Sun journalist’s phone data to uncover a whistleblower in the “plebgate” affair in 2012. The Times revealed another case last week, in which police investigating the Chris Huhne speeding points scandal had secretly obtained the communications records of a Mail on Sunday journalist.

The Sun said yesterday that it had made a complaint to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal about Scotland Yard’s

use of Ripa to obtain the communications data of Tom Newton Dunn, its political editor, in the plebgate investigation. It wants the challenge to be heard in public.

“Powers under Ripa are there to prevent terrorism, not snoop on newspapers’ contacts,” a spokesman said.

“We believe our right to protect our sources was breached — as was the right of our sources to anonymity. This was an unlawful interference with a key aspect of press freedom, which cannot be allowed to go unchallenged.”

The commissioner’s office was already investigating whether public authorities are obtaining communications data too often. According to the watchdog’s annual figures, there were about 515,000 requests last year.

Downing Street said that David Cameron believed the “right oversight mechanisms” were in place for monitoring the use of Ripa, but stressed that his approach was to be “supportive of our tradition of investigative journalism”.

The prime minister’s spokesman said that Mr Cameron “thinks that strong and robust investigative journalism is absolutely essential”.

Abolishing fraud agency ‘would cause chaos’ Frances Gibb Legal Editor

Theresa May’s plans to abolish the UK’s main anti-fraud agency and absorb it into her FBI-style national crime force will damage the fight against financial crime, experts said yesterday.

The plans would bring fresh uncertainty and confusion as the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) was struggling to get on the front foot after a series of failings, lawyers said. Mrs May, the home secretary, was warned that the ability to fight fraud risked being undermined.

Barry Vitou, a partner at Pinsent Masons, a law firm, said: “What the SFO needs more than anything if it is to

be effective is certainty and stability, backed up by an adequate budget to allow it to do its important job. This is exactly the wrong moment in history to shut down the SFO [and] risks stalling some of the most important and biggest fraud and corruption investigations it has ever mounted.”

The plan was also opposed by the agency. A spokesman said: “We know of no evidence which suggests that breaking up these teams and putting investigators and prosecutors into different organisations would be more effective.”

Under the directorship of David Green, QC, the SFO has being trying to

reinvent itself as a tough prosecutor of economic crime, and won funding of £19 million to investigate cases such as the rigging of Libor, the rate at which banks lend to each other.

The move by Mrs May comes after a previous attempt three years ago when she was forced to retreat after opposition from two cabinet colleagues, who have since been ousted.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The government is reviewing the overall co-ordination and effectiveness of the UK’s enforcement response to cases of bribery and corruption. This work is ongoing and ministers will consider the findings in due course.”

Labour grandees round on MPs fail to Miliband over mansion tax follow health Continued from page 1

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Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

suggested that it was still in front. An ICM poll yesterday showed the Tories leading by 20 points on who voters trusted to run the economy. It also gave the Labour leader a disastrous approval rating of minus 35 points.

Unrest is centring on fears that Mr Miliband’s team is only attempting to appeal to core voters and former Lib Dem supporters, the so-called 35 per cent strategy.

MPs, former ministers and advisers called yesterday on Mr Miliband to make a broader appeal to the electorate.

Lance Price, a former adviser to Tony Blair, said that Mr Miliband was “throwing the baby out with the bath water” in his attempt to distance himself from new Labour.

“A strong, productive economy produces rich people. We should not resent them that wealth, but we should find ways of asking them to contribute their fair share,” he said.

“In terms of addressing those core central concerns of people who are not particularly politically engaged, I think there have been a lot of wasted opportunities.”

John Mann, the Labour MP for Bas-

setlaw, said that the party’s reluctance to talk about immigration could cost it the election. “I’m concerned [Mr Miliband] is not doing enough to appeal to working-class voters, not least on immigration. It’s a big issue out there.”

One former minister said: “The 35 per cent strategy is a settled strategy.

The only thing I’d say about that is, judging from the Scottish referendum, Labour may have slightly more trouble motivating its core vote than perhaps they think.”

The concerns over the mansion tax will worry the party. Mr Mills, who also wants Labour to hold an EU referendum, has given Labour £1.6 million. “[The mansion tax] is a step from zero to some quite large number which is going to produce all sorts of problems on the boundary,” he told the Huffington Post website. “If people have got mortgages, they could get into negative equity.”

Ms Hodge added: “I don’t think it’s the world’s most sensible idea. We need to tackle the idea that people are shielding their money in London through properties. The problem identified is the right one. I just think the solution is too crude to work properly.”

Leading article, page 20

guidelines

Kat Lay

MPs are stressed, overeating, drinking too much alcohol and failing to get enough exercise, according to a survey.

Nine out of ten MPs admitted exceeding NHS daily calorie guidelines at least once a week, while a fifth drank more than the weekly recommended alcohol limit for their gender.

The survey, by Nuffield Health, also found that almost half failed to meet the government recommendation of two and half hours of moderate activity each week. A quarter got less than six hours sleep a night. Almost a third said their levels of stress adversely affected their health at least twice a week.

Women MPs were almost twice as likely to feel stressed as their male colleagues, and slightly more likely to have less than five hours sleep a night.

Fabian Hamilton, Labour MP for Leeds North East, said: “Like many, the job of MPs makes it difficult for us to balance the pressure of work with the exercise and diet that are needed to live in a healthy way.”

The study, carried out by Dods Parliamentary Service, surveyed 100 MPs.

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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News

How blockbuster author lost the plot TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER GARETH IWAN JONES & UNIVERSAL PICTURES

Misplaced faith in a computer program delayed David Nicholls’ follow-up to One Day, writes Jack Malvern Readers who have cursed David Nicholls for making them wait five years for his latest novel should direct their anger at a computer program that the author hoped would spur him to greater productivity.

The writer, whose book One Day became a hit film starring Anne Hathaway, had so many problems with Us, his latest novel, that he resorted to downloading Write or Die, a piece of software designed to concentrate authors’ minds.

Nicholls believed that the program, which penalises writers when they pause for too long, would solve his difficulties, but found that it only compounded them. He told an audience at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, which is sponsored by The Times and The Sunday Times, that he ultimately had to abandon a 35,000-word draft and begin again.

“At the lowest point I downloaded this piece of software called Write or Die,” he said. “You set it going and start to type and if you stop, it starts to delete what you’ve written. I was convinced that there was a novel in me and I had to just spew it out on to the page.

“I spent quite a long time each day writing with Write or Die. I produced huge piles of paper and I saw it was all rubbish. It was as if I was writing with a gun to my head.”

Nicholls, 47, said that he was unlike improvisational authors such as Zadie Smith, who might thrive under such conditions. “I’m not a guy who can take a pen for a walk. A lot of it comes from film or television [writing]. I need to know where it’s going before I start.”

The author said later that Write or Die was one of a series of attempts to solve his difficulties by downloading software. Other, more successful programs included Freedom and SelfControl, which prevent access to certain internet sites.

Smith, who is best known for her debut novel White Teeth, is also a devotee of Freedom and SelfControl, which she thanked in the acknowledgments section of her novel NW for “creating the time” to write. Nick Hornby, Dave Egg-

The French prime minister has hit back at criticism from the managing director of John Lewis that France is “finished” by suggesting that the department store boss had “drunk too much beer”.

Addressing journalists at the French embassy in London, Manuel Valls said that Andy Street had made “some absurd statements” last week.

Referring to John Lewis’s plans to launch a French language version of its website, Mr Valls said: “He announced an investment in France and then said France is finished.”

Mr Street’s description last week of France as “sclerotic, hopeless and downbeat”, and his advice that entrepreneurs with investments in the country should “get them out quickly”, formed an awkward backdrop to the French prime minister’s official visit to the UK. Mr Valls met David Cameron in the

third person and it was rather lofty. It looked down on my characters and judged them. Once I had the ability to show the inner feelings of this father character, Douglas, it became very easy to write and I wrote it faster than I’ve ever written anything.”

Nicholls said that several of the disasters in the book were based on mishaps that happened to him. One of the most embarrassing was an incident in the red light district of Amsterdam when he struggled to free his bicycle from a mass of others parked near by.

“I got my bicycle out and it knocked a bicycle, which knocked a bicycle, and there was a domino run of bicycles which ended with some vintage motorcycles outside a club called Valhalla. I was standing there with my bicycle and some guys came out and we had an argument.

When these kind of things happen, a little bit of me thinks, ‘Oh, this is hellish,’ but a little bit thinks, ‘There’s a chapter here.’”

Writing with a gun to my head, page 41

Inside

Booker Prize is ‘instrument of torture’ Cheltenham Festival, page 16

ers and Naomi Klein have also used Freedom to prevent themselves from falling prey to the temptation of exploring the internet.

Nicholls said that his abandoned draft took him two years, writing almost every day. “I wrote 35,000 words, and every one was agony. I wrote this book very slowly and polished it as much as I could. In December 2012 I

showed it to my agent [and a friend]. We met in January 2013 and they said, ‘I think you should put this to one side.’”

He made his breakthrough without the aid of technology, by telling the story from the point of view of Douglas, a middle-aged man baffled by his wife’s wish to end their marriage.

“What was wrong was the point of view. I’d written the first attempt in the

French leader hits back at John Lewis boss Philip Aldrick, Charles Bremner

The hit film One Day was based on the bestselling novel by David Nicholls, below

‘He made some absurd statements.

Perhaps he’d drunk too much beer’

morning, addressed a City audience at the Guildhall before lunch and saw Ed Miliband in the afternoon.

His message that France was making the difficult reforms required to fix its stagnating economy and his claim to “love businesses” sat uncomfortably with Mr Street’s observations, which included calling the Gare du Nord “the squalor pit of Europe”.

Mr Valls tried to brush off the remarks at the Guildhall, where he joked that he would be ordering a renovation of the station. However, at the lunch he noted that there was a tendency for “French bashing” in the UK that was “not particularly pleasant”.

Declining to name Mr Street, he added: “This business leader has had to apologise. He made some absurd statements. Perhaps he’d drunk too much beer. He announced an investment in France and then said France is finished.

One has to show a bit of respect.”

Mr Street, John Lewis’s most senior

executive, was in Paris last week to receive a retail award on behalf of the department store chain.

He made his “tongue-in-cheek” comments about France being “finished” to an audience of entrepreneurs in London at an event to mark the culmination of a John Lewis competition for start-ups.

He joked that the award John Lewis was given in Paris during the World Retail Congress was “made of plastic and is frankly revolting”.

Mr Street’s words were surprising because the company is planning to launch a French-language version of its website denominated in euros.

He added: “If you’ve got investments in French businesses, get them out quickly.”

On Friday Mr Street apologised for his remarks. Les Echos, a business newspaper, said: “This ‘French-bashing’ is getting grotesque.”

Letters, page 21

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News TONY MARGIOCCHI / BARCROFT MEDIA

Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

The Times iPad edition Owners of an iPad can subscribe to The Times iPad edition through the App Store on the device

Body is Alice suspect’s A body found in woods in a west London park near where the murdered teenager Alice Gross was discovered was that of Arnis Zalkalns, 41, the prime suspect in the killing, a post-mortem examination has confirmed. The Latvian was found hanged in woodland on Saturday, less than a mile from where Alice, 14, disappeared on August 28 while walking along a canal towpath.

Pesticide ban hits crop Show of strength Elephants in a play fight at Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire. Their trunks contain 40,000 muscles, about 60 times as many as the entire human body

Doctors can monitor blood pressure with data sent straight from iPhone James Dean Technology Correspondent

Millions of people can send personal health and fitness data from an iPhone directly to their medical records after the launch of a ground-breaking app.

Doctors are able to monitor obesity, blood pressure and the number of steps taken per day for up to 40 million patients. The technology links Apple’s new Health app with the digital medical records of most patients in England and Wales.

Tim Walter, a GP in Newbury, Berkshire, said that the app, called Patient Access, marked a “tremendous step forwards” for diagnosis and treatment.

“If you can gather data from a patient’s everyday life, it’s a big help,” he said.

He suggested that the app would be of most use for monitoring high blood pressure. “We would get a much more representative reading,” he said.

“When patients are in our waiting room, waiting to give a reading, they might be stressed out.” Diabetics and those with thyroid conditions would also benefit, he added.

Patient Access has been developed

by EMIS, a software company that supplies more than half of GP practices with digital medical records systems.

Patients have already been able to book appointments, view prescriptions and check their medical records using the app, but it has been upgraded to transmit data from the Health app to medical records held in EMIS’s systems.

The Health app is part of iOS 8, the mobile operating system released by Apple last month. It can gather health and fitness information for its owner including blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar level. Some of this can be collected by an iPhone or an iPod Touch, while other elements are cap-

Inside today

Dr Mark Porter Why children are being given a live flu vaccine Times2, page 44

tured by wearable devices such as “smart” fitness bracelets. Although Patient Access currently works only on Apple devices, EMIS is planning to launch Android and Windows versions if it proves popular.

It transmits Health app data to a patient’s personal health account, which is held in a secure digital “cloud”.

This account can, with the patient’s permission, be linked to their digital medical records for examination by their doctor. Shaun O’Hanlon, chief medical officer at EMIS, said the secur-

ity of the company’s cloud storage facility was “military grade”, as was the technology used to encrypt the Health data.

Mr O’Hanlon said: “The more you can push people to help themselves, such as by taking these automatic readings, the more you free up doctor and nurse time for treating sick patients. Of course, this could also help to free up GPs to work the seven-day week that David Cameron desires.

“Say someone with high blood pressure who is overweight sees the doctor.

They are told they can either take blood pressure medication or get their weight down with exercise. If they choose the latter, the doctor can recommend using a fitness-tracking device and set them some targets. Both parties can monitor progress as time goes on.

“A diabetic who tracks their blood sugar levels with one of these devices might also be giving out interesting readings about their condition.”

Nurse in ebola alert went to hospital with fever Continued from page 1

and must be completely impermeable.

However, they claimed they were not given their own breathing equipment and the suits were not impermeable.

When they treated the missionary in September, the hospital was not evacuated. The sixth floor, where infected cases were treated, was sealed off. Only health professionals with a special card were allowed access to this floor.

After the missionary died the nurse went on holiday. The authorities said that she began to feel unwell on September 30. Thirty people are under sur-

veillance including members of her family. Doctors said last night that she was in a stable condition.

The nurse is the first person in Europe to be diagnosed with ebola outside West Africa where the virus has claimed the lives of 3,338 people in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Guinea and Senegal. Other cases have involved sufferers who had travelled from Africa with the virus.

Two Spaniards have died from ebola.

Father Miguel Pajares died on 12 August in Carlos III hospital after being repatriated from Liberia where he con-

tracted the disease. Mr García Viejo, the missionary, was infected in Sierra Leone, where he worked for 12 years.

On the day of Mr García Viejo’s death, Ana Mato, the Spanish health minister, said that there was almost no risk of a contagion from ebola.

However, the government was last night facing mounting criticism for allowing ebola sufferers to be repatriated from Africa for treatment at hospitals in the Spanish capital, which has three million inhabitants.

Maximilo González Jurado, chairman of the Spanish general nursing

council, demanded an investigation into whether nurses had been put at risk.

“I don’t want to cause alarm but we need to know what procedures were followed here and how this has happened,” he said.

The first man to be diagnosed with the ebola virus in the United States is critically ill after his condition worsened yesterday. Thomas Eric Duncan, from Liberia, is being treated by doctors at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, Texas. Britain has treated one ebola case so far.

A European ban on a group of pesticides is forcing farmers to spray fields with alternative chemicals that may do more harm to the insect population, the National Farmers’ Union has said. Farmers are blaming the ban on neonicotinoid pesticides, imposed to protect bees, for record levels of damage to their oilseed rape crops from the cabbage stem flea beetle.

Twin Peaks revisited The cult TV show Twin Peaks, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, is coming back after 25 years. Lynch confirmed that it was being revived for a series of nine episodes in 2016 to mark the 25th anniversary. It told the story of an FBI agent investigating the murder of Laura Palmer, a high school student. In the finale, Palmer’s ghost said she would see us again in 25 years.

IPCC to review Plebgate A High Court judge has ordered the Independent Police Complaints Commission to reconsider its decision to re-open its investigation into three Police Federation officials who were cleared of misconduct for their role in the Plebgate affair. Lord Justice Davis said that Deborah Glass, the former vice-chairman of the IPCC, had shown bias by criticising the original outcome.

Most read at thetimes.co.uk 1. UK jihadists traded by Turkey 2. Peter Thiel’s quarter-life crisis 3. Mutu: prince of playboys who faces living as a pauper 4. Shrien Dewani: ‘I am bisexual but didn’t kill my wife’ 5. McCanns’ internet troll dead 6. Trial hinges on gay sex claim 7. TV: Downton Abbey, Dr Who 8. Poor little rich kids of Tehran 9. Hurley: end cancer taboo 10. Brussels and its busy bees

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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Sky reporter faces backlash after death of McCann troll Fiona Hamilton Crime Correspondent

A Sky News reporter became the focus of an online backlash yesterday after a woman accused by the broadcaster of “trolling” the parents of Madeline McCann was found dead.

A Facebook group that called for the sacking of Martin Brunt, Sky’s crime correspondent, attracted almost 1,400 likes while one Twitter user published his home address and the name of his wife.

The backlash came after the body of Brenda Leyland, 63, who was confronted as part of Brunt’s exposé last week of a vitriolic online campaign against Kate and Gerry McCann, was found in a Marriott hotel in Leicester on Saturday. Her death is not being treated as suspicious.

Sky News had revealed last week that her Tweets attacking the McCanns, whose three-year-old daughter Madeleine vanished from their hotel room in Portugal in 2007, were part of a dossier handed to the Metropolitan Police.

However, Brunt, who was said to be upset by Mrs Leyland’s death, did not reveal her true identity nor the village in which she lived. Both were identified by other media organisations.

Mrs Leyland, a divorced mother of two from Burton Overy, Leicestershire, used the Twitter handle @sweepyface to post thousands of items about the McCanns, describing them as the “worst of humankind” and writing that they should suffer for the rest of their “miserable lives”.

Mrs Leyland’s son Benjamin, 30, a musician who lives in Los Angeles, wrote on Facebook: “I love you mum and I will miss you forever.”

Hundreds of people expressed their support online yesterday and claimed that Sky was responsible. However, the case also led to a debate about online bullying, with Twitter users saying that Brunt’s story had the legitimate purpose of exposing the destructive nature of trolling.

Sky News said: “We were saddened to hear of the death of Brenda Leyland. It would be inappropriate to speculate or comment further at this time.”

Its report, broadcast on Thursday, had said she was not the worst of the abusers but that Mrs Leyland was part of an online community which believed in the complicity of the McCanns in

Psychological profile

B

renda Leyland’s tweets were not representative of typical internet “trolls” because they lacked narcissism, sociopathy and aggression, according to a psychologist (Fiona Hamilton writes).

Dr Arthur Cassidy, who has spent three years researching online bullies, said that she did not use the “more sinister and highly psychologically destructive language” that many adopt.

While she might have held extreme opinions about Kate and Gerry McCann, Dr Cassidy suggested that they may have been randomly chosen as a vent for the stresses in her life.

“I don’t think the motive behind this was really to destroy the family. I think that this woman was being very cathartic, just emptying out her feelings,” he said.

“I think this lady, if I were speaking to her . . . would have been shocked had I used the word troll to her. She would have felt she was giving her opinion.”

their daughter’s death. The McCanns, who had left their children alone in their holiday unit while they ate dinner near by, have been cleared by police of wrongdoing.

The Facebook page calling for Brunt’s dismissal accused him of “stalking and hounding” Mrs Leyland, who was said to have fled her village following the publicity. He initially confronted her outside her house, where she said she was “entitled” to attack the McCanns online.

The day after the Sky report, Mr McCann called for an example to be made of “vile” internet trolls who had been targeting the family. He said he and his wife did not read such material because it was too “upsetting”.

Mr McCann’s comments, made on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, follow the Met’s confirmation that it was looking at a dossier of abuse posted on Twitter, Facebook and chat forums, compiled by an anonymous group.

Mrs Leyland, a keen gardener,

Brain-damaged baby dies after life-support ruling Frances Gibb Legal Editor

A severely brain-damaged 17-monthold boy has died days after a High Court judge ruled that he should be taken off a life-support machine.

Ms Justice Russell made the ruling last week after a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London despite strong opposition from his devout Christian parents. The boy’s mother wept as the judge announced her decision.

Specialists said that the little boy, who cannot be identified, had suffered “profound irreversible brain damage”.

The trust involved, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London, which asked for the ruling that life-support treatment could be withdrawn, can now be named for the first time, as requested by the parents. A

lawyer who represents the boy’s parents said that his death had left them devastated. They had prayed for a miracle and argued that the hospital trust had no right to end his life.

Yogi Amin, who works for the law firm Irwin Mitchell, said: “The family are, of course, devastated to have lost a precious life in their family and have asked for privacy at this incredibly difficult time to grieve for their son.”

News of the boy’s death was announced yesterday by a member of the legal team appointed by the court to represent his interests.

Michael Marrinan, the trust’s executive medical director, said he was sorry that an agreement about the “best course of action” had not been reached.

He added: “We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his parents for the loss of their son.”

appeared to have been well-liked in her village, where she lived for almost a decade after splitting with her husband.

He refused to comment yesterday.

Dean Randall, landlord of the nearby Bell Inn, said: “Although she appeared to have a busy life, no one in the pub ever mentioned her having a keen interest in computers and tweeting, but obviously she did. My locals are absolutely shocked by what has happened.”

Leading article, page 20

News PIXEL 8000 LTD

Brenda Leyland, who was found dead in a Leicester hotel room, with her son Ben

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Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

Disgraced designer comes back into fashion despite antisemitic rant

Status update: now friends can send cash

so discontent with myself that I just said the most spiteful thing I could.”

The designer had treatment for addiction during his time away from the industry, returning last year for a three-week consultancy at Oscar de la Renta.

Although his influence was clearly visible in baroque dresses from the subsequent collection, the last piece of pure Galliano design seen in public was the wedding dress of his close friend Kate Moss in July 2011.

Galliano was also tapped in 2013 for a lectureship at Parsons design college, the New York equivalent of his alma mater, Central Saint Martins, which was cancelled after the student body protested against his appointment.

In May, he was appointed artistic director of L’Etoile, the Russian perfume house. But he had failed to secure a post in fashion until his appointment at Martin Margiela, whose annual sales come to about €100 million (£78.5 million) — about ten times less than Dior’s.

The opinionated Galliano may also find Margiela a difficult fit. The label’s founder, who left in 2009, encouraged his white lab-coated team to work as a collective.

But reaction to Galliano’s move within the industry and online has been largely positive. His first pieces for the label will be unveiled during the Paris couture shows in January.

James Dean Technology Correspondent

Adam Sage Paris Harriet Walker

John Galliano, the disgraced British fashion designer sacked by Dior after an antisemitic rant, returned to the industry yesterday in the city which saw his downfall.

In a surprise move, the superstar couturier was made artistic director of the Maison Martin Margiela, a label hitherto known for its low-key approach.

The announcement came three weeks after Galliano, 53, gave an interview to French television in which he claimed that he had overcome his addiction to alcohol.

Renzo Rosso, the chairman of Only the Brave, which has a majority stake in Maison Martin Margiela, described the designer from Gibraltar as “one of the greatest talents of all time”.

“He is a unique and exceptional designer who has innovated in the world of fashion,” Rosso said.

Galliano, however, is a very different animal from Martin Margiela, the Belgian designer who founded the fashion house back in 1988.

Margiela avoided cameras, never gave interviews and believed that his often sober coloured work should be

allowed to speak for itself. Galliano, on the other hand, became one of the industry’s most famous figures during his 15 years at Dior — known for his colourful designs and outlandish personal style.

He was dismissed in 2011 after calling a Parisian art curator a “f***ing Jewish bitch” and a “Jewish c***”, among a host of other obscenities. The scandal escalated with the release of a video showing Galliano saying: “I love Hitler.”

The designer was given a suspended fine of €6,000 (£4,720) by Paris criminal court for making racist insults, which means he will only pay the sum if he repeats the offence.

In his French television interview, Galliano said that he was neither racist nor antisemitic and attributed the remarks he made in 2011 to his troubled childhood.

He later said that he had been sickened to see the video evidence against him.

“It’s the worst thing I have said in my life, but I didn’t mean it . . . I have been trying to find out why that anger was directed at this race [the Jewish people],” he told Vanity Fair magazine. “I now realise I was so . . . angry and John Galliano has been appointed artistic director of the fashion label Maison Martin Margiela

thetimes.co.uk/fashion

Facebook friends could soon be able to send each other cash as easily as they post status updates and share photographs.

The social network has equipped its messaging app with a peer-to-peer payments system that would allow friends to transfer money wherever they are in the world.

The social network has incorporated the payments system into Facebook Messenger, its stand-alone messaging service. The function has not yet been activated but it was discovered hidden inside the app by a software developer at Stanford University.

Facebook members would be able to add a debit card to Messenger to send and receive payments. Their account would be protected with a PIN. Facebook would probably charge a fee for every transfer, in a manner similar to peer-to-peer payments systems already on the market.

Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Facebook, hinted recently that some form of digital payments system would be integrated into Messenger. However, he said that the technology could take years to come online.

Facebook declined to comment.

Last month Apple unveiled Pay, its contactless payments service. Apple already holds the credit card details of millions of its users through iTunes.

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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News FOTO24 / LERATO MADUNA / GALLO / REX FEATURES

Shrien Dewani in court yesterday. Left, Anni Dewani’s cousin, Sneha Hindocha, arriving with members of the family at the court in Cape Town

I am bisexual but I didn’t plot to murder Anni, says Dewani Ruth Maclean Cape Town

Shrien Dewani, the Bristol businessman accused of murdering his wife on their honeymoon, pleaded his innocence yesterday, but revealed that he is bisexual and saw male prostitutes.

In a dramatic first day of his South African trial, Mr Dewani, 34, revealed that he had met a number of men in nightclubs including a German-born male prostitute who claims he paid him £400 a session for fetishist sex involving racial humiliation and drug-taking.

Mr Dewani’s statement was designed to pre-empt the forthcoming appearance of Leopold Leisser as the main witness in a prosecution case designed to paint Mr Dewani as having a motive for the murder of his bride, Anni, 28.

The long-awaited trial opened nearly four years after Anni’s killing, on November 13, 2010, as she and Mr Dewani visited a rough township of Cape Town.

Mr Dewani denied any involvement in the murder of his wife, who died from a gunshot wound to the neck in a carjacking.

However, prosecutors claim that the millionaire, who was extradited from Britain to face trial, conspired with three local men, Zola Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni, to kill her. All three are serving prison terms in connection with the murder.

In a string of admissions at Western Cape high court, Mr Dewani pre-emptively confessed to seeing Mr Leisser and other male prostitutes, but main-

tained that he was attracted to his wife and had no reason to kill her. “I consider myself to be bisexual. My sexual relations with males were mostly physical experiences or email chats with people I met online or in clubs, including prostitutes such as Leopold Leisser,” he said, in a statement read out by lawyer, Francois van Zyl. “My sexual interactions with females were usually during the course of a relationship, which consisted of other activities and emotional attachment.”

Mr Leisser has told police that Mr Dewani said he was going to marry a “lovely girl”, but that he “needed to find a way out of it”.

Initially poised in his black suit and tie, Mr Dewani wiped away tears and stared at the ground as footage of his wife’s body at the crime scene in Khayelitsha was shown to the court.

Her sister, Ami, gasped at footage showing Mrs Dewani slumped on the back seat, still in her black cocktail dress and diamante-encrusted high heels, her hair blowing in the wind.

Mr Dewani described in his statement what he could remember from the night his wife was killed, but said that “flashbacks and nightmares have impacted on my memory”.

He said the couple had been driving through Gugulethu township, returning from a sushi dinner, when they were hijacked. “The next thing I remember was banging noises coming from the front and the right hand side of the car.

There was a lot of shouting in a

Shrien and Anni Dewani were seen in their hotel hours before she was killed

Exclusive to members

Interactive map How events unfolded On tablet and at thetimes.co.uk/africa

language I did not understand,” he said.

“The next thing I recall is somebody next to me who told me to lie down.

This person had a gun in his hand . . . he

was waving the gun in the air.

“He shouted: ‘Look down! Lie down!’

We were both terrified and we immediately complied with his demands. I was lying half on top of Anni.” The men were later named as Qwabe and Mngeni.

Mr Dewani said that the gunmen took their money but, when they found that Mr Dewani had not handed over his phone as requested, put the gun to his head and threatened to kill him. The last thing he said to his wife was to be quiet, before they forced him out of the car window and drove off, he claimed.

Mr Dewani also tried to explain a secretive drive he had made the day before with Tongo, the taxi driver convicted of Mrs Dewani’s murder, during which Tongo claimed Mr Dewani asked him to arrange the murder.

According to Mr Dewani’s account, he had given him 10,000 rand (£554) to arrange a private helicopter ride over Cape Town as a surprise for his new bride. The funds, he said, were for a down payment in case Tongo introduced him to the helicopter pilot.

After the murder, he said that he gave Tongo a further 1,000 rand (£55) in a meeting they had in the Cape Grace hotel, which was caught on CCTV, because the latter had complained to him that he was being hounded by the media.

Mr Dewani fought extradition for

three years on the grounds of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Although he has now been declared fit to take the stand, he appeared distracted yesterday, twitching and fidgeting as Dr Janette Verster, a pathologist, gave evidence.

Mr Dewani’s statement was long and detailed many facets of the couple’s relationship. “We were both headstrong and often argued with each other,” it read. Things came to a head and, a week before the £200,000 wedding she had spent months planning, Anni temporarily called it off.

He also revealed that a doctor told him that he might have trouble having children as he had “abnormally low hormone levels”, and should undergo testosterone therapy.

After the statement and the crime scene footage the prosecution, led by Adrian Mopp, called Dr Verster, who said that Mrs Dewani had been shot at close range, adding that there was no sign of sexual assault. The shot to her neck, which immediately paralysed Mrs Dewani, killed her “within a few heartbeats”, Dr Verster said.

Mr Dewani pleaded not guilty to five charges including murder, kidnapping and robbery, conspiracy to commit all three, and obstructing the administration of justice.

The trial continues.

Neighbour who waged campaign of terror was mass killer Fiona Hamilton Crime Correspondent

A man who shot dead his neighbours in a dispute about loud music was released from a mental institution and allowed to change his identity before going on to plot a similar crime against another family.

Harry Street, 70, killed five people in a day in 1978. Yesterday he was given another indefinite hospital order after admitting harassing neighbours and possessing guns and a home-made bomb.

Street was arrested in October last year after a campaign of terror against the Smith family, who lived next door to

Harry Street changed his name after killing five people in 1978

him in Hall Green, Birmingham. Police found an “arsenal of weapons”, and only then did officers realise that Street’s real name was Barry Williams.

In 1978, Williams shot dead George Burkitt, 48, his wife Iris, 47, and their son Philip, 20, outside their home in West Bromwich. He then drove 30 miles to Nuneaton, where he shot dead

Michel Di Maria and his wife Liza at the petrol station they ran.

After admitting five charges of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, he was sent to Broadmoor mental hospital.

He was released in July 1993, moved to Wales and changed his name by deed poll to Harry Street. He married and moved to Birmingham. In 2007 he phoned police to complain that the Smith family had held a party. He then conducted a campaign of harassment against them over several years, in which he drilled holes into his wall to inflict maximum noise on the Smiths.

They moved from the area last year.

Street then turned up at the home of Warren Smith’s father, where the family were staying. He confronted Mr Smith’s wife, Sheree, telling her: “I found you, I know where you live, you didn’t know I could find you. Tell your friend who moved in to stop banging.”

Street, who lived with his wife and 18-year-old daughter, yesterday pleaded guilty to making an improvised explosive device via video-link at Birmingham Crown Court.

He was described in court as a “territorial psychopath”, who became angry at loud parties by the Smiths. It replicated the lead-up to the 1978 slaughter — Street believed that Philip Burkitt

played his radio loudly to annoy him.

Peter Snape, the former MP for West Bromwich, who had communicated his constituents’ concern at Street’s release to the Home Office in the mid-1990s, expressed astonishment he was allowed to return to the West Midlands.

Lord Snape said: “One of the many worrying aspects of this case is that this man was released after 15 years of ‘indefinite’ detention, changed his name, moved back to literally within a tram ride of his former address and developed exactly the same pattern of irrational hatred of his neighbours, whilst acquiring guns, ammunition and home-made bombing material.”

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Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

News ROBERT WILSON / LONDON MEDIA

So that’s what it’s like . . . Robert Wilson photographed Afghanistan from a military viewpoint, showing the few home comforts at Camp Bastion, left, a fish-like surveillance pod on a Tornado wing and the inside of a Foxhound patrol vehicle in Kabul

Race on to identify jihadis sent back to Isis in hostage swap John Simpson Alexander Christie-Miller Istanbul

Security services across Europe were scrambling last night to identify jihadists handed back to Islamic State (Isis) as part of a hostage exchange arranged

by Turkey.

The list of ten names, the existence of which was revealed by The Times, includes two Britons, Shabazz Suleman, 18, and Hisham Folkard, 26.

Mr Suleman, a former grammar school pupil from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, had secured a place at a top university before travelling to Syria, his local mosque revealed yesterday. His father insists that he went to help aid efforts. It is believed that he was stopped about three weeks ago trying to cross the border from Turkey.

Mr Folkard, whose mother is a Kenyan Muslim and whose British father is a devout Roman Catholic, was last contacted by his family in August when he was in Cairo.

Further names have been confirmed as Emil Magshoud, 22, from Sweden, whose father has not heard from him since he left to study Islam in Mauritania in July, and Johan Castillo Boens, 35, the Belgian son of a retired chemistry professor at the University of Leuven.

“An unknown man approached me in the mosque and said my son has been released,” said Mr Magshoud’s father, who asked not to be named. “This man

told me my son has been arrested in Turkey and then released.”

The identities of six others are yet to be confirmed.

Pressure was also growing on the Turkish authorities to confirm the whereabouts of a terrorist of Swiss residency who confessed to a triple murder.

Isis had demanded the release of Qendrim Ramadani, 23, who admitting killing a policeman, a soldier and a member of the public in Nigde, southern Turkey, in March. He was arrested with two other suspected Isis militants, Benjamin Xu and Mohammad Zakiri.

The family of the dead policeman, Adem Coban, 42, said they had been approached by men they believed to be government officials, who asked if they would accept the release of their son’s killers in return for the hostages. They refused.

Ramadani, from Brugg in Switzerland, was reported by local press there to have been on a list of demands delivered to the Turkish authorities by Isis in June. He admitted the murders, saying he targeted the individuals because of Turkey’s membership of Nato.

6 Samia Dirie, 17, from Stockwell, south London, is believed to have travelled to Syria with Yusra Hussien, 15, from Bristol, both intending to be jihadi brides.

Miss Dirie went missing on September 24. The girls are thought to have taken an indirect flight to Turkey.

US sends in Apaches, page 22

We can’t really help those held in Syria, says Hague Laura Pitel Political Correspondent

There is “very little” that Britain can do to help citizens taken hostage by Islamic State, William Hague, the former foreign secretary, has admitted.

He said that “the whole country has enormous sympathy” for the family of Alan Henning, the taxi driver from Salford who was beheaded by the group last week. He warned, however, that there was “so little that we can do if people get into trouble” in Syria.

Mr Henning’s brother-in-law, Colin Livesey, has criticised the government’s response to his capture, saying that “they could have done more when they knew about it months and months ago”.

In remarks that cast doubt on David Cameron’s vow to “hunt down” the

killers, Mr Hague said that in reality it was very difficult for the UK government to help those who fell into the wrong hands.

He said: “For several years now, we’ve urged people not to travel to Syria. It’s very, very hard to do things on the ground.”

Mr Hague’s successor as foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, drew criticism earlier this month after admitting that the government did not know Mr Henning’s whereabouts.

Mr Haguesaid that it was frustrating that other countries paid ransoms to release their citizens. “Paying ransoms for terrorist kidnaps fuels further terrorism and further kidnaps, of course,” he said.

He added that there were no plans to expand British airstrikes to Syria.

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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News

Two killed and blackouts hit homes after gales sweep in

ANDREW BARTLETT / CATERS NEWS

Georgie Keate

A 61-year-old man was killed by falling masonry in Yorkshire and a motorcyclist died after colliding with a tractor on a country lane near Reading, as severe gales swept the country yesterday.

Bricks fell from a building in Cliff Street, in the seaside town of Bridlington, and struck the man and a vehicle parked nearby. Humberside Police and an ambulance were called to the scene at 1pm, but the man died from his injuries.

Thousands of homes across northwest England and Northern Ireland were left without electricity as the storms raged, and a weather warning was issued by the Met Office last night as wind speeds reached 84mph in the Outer Hebrides and 70mph in Londonderry.

Street lights were blown down in Northern Ireland, schools were closed in Cumbria because of debris blocking the roads, and areas of south Wales were flooded by bursts of torrential rain. Gales on the west coast of Scotland cancelled ferries and closed the Skye Bridge.

Kirk Waite, a forecaster at the Met Office, said the weather for the rest of the week would be unpredictable. “The gales could come back midweek and we do not know the effect of the rainfall yet, so it is something to be aware of, especially with potential floods.”

Weather, page 17

High waves test the strength of Porthcawl lighthouse in south Wales as the weather across Britain takes a turn for the worse. The Met Office said the gales could return

Ukip voters feel safer in ‘trailer park’ Essex Laura Pitel Political Correspondent

“I wouldn’t move back to Dagenham if you paid me,” says Christopher Nichols, flinching as the rain drives in off the sea.

Like most residents of Jaywick, the 56year-old former butcher moved from east London to the Essex town to retire.

Jaywick may be notorious as the “most deprived council ward in England” but he’d rather be here than the capital. “Bosnians. Kosovans. There’s so many of them that I feel alienated,” he explains. “I walk down my old street and it’s all African shops. I’m not a racist but we are the minority now. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing but I don’t feel comfortable.”

Mr Nichols and his wife have already sent off their postal votes for this week’s Clacton by-election. They are supporting Douglas Carswell, the former Tory MP who defected to Ukip.

While the Clacton constituency is strongly Conservative, Jaywick has traditionally been a solid Labour enclave. On Thursday, it is expected to turn purple. This is not due to some huge swell of enthusiasm for politics, even of the protest variety. In an area that has suffered years of neglect, it is not difficult to see why people are jaded.

Brooklands, the most rundown part of the town, is plagued by drug dealers and alcoholics. Many of its seafront chalets, built as holiday homes in the 1930s but now used as permanent dwellings, are boarded up or falling down. The roads are riddled with potholes and puddles. It feels like the English equivalent of an American

Susan Gill and Joyce Taylor enjoy the small-town 1950s feel of Jaywick

trailer park. Ask locals to talk about the good bits, however, and a picture of a bygone England begins to emerge.

At Golf Green Hall, a small library that was once forced to close is now run by a team of enthusiastic helpers who work for nothing. As the sounds of next door’s over-60s lunchtime dance club drift through the walls, volunteers discuss the virtues of the area, stopping only to collect a delivery of toys for a fundraising jumble sale.

“There’s no need to be lonely in Jaywick,” says Susan Gill, 57, who has lived here for nine years after moving from nearby Tiptree.

“There’s so much going on. There’s brilliant public transport, two working post offices, a doctor, a dentist, a pharmacy, a shop you can get your groceries.

Oh, and a pet shop and a couple of hair-

dressers. For a town of this size, it’s got everything.”

Others talk of feeling safe to walk the streets, and of turning to neighbours to sort out their problems rather than bothering with “untrustworthy” police.

If it sounds just like small-town England in the 1950s, that’s because Jaywick is as about as close to that period as you can find. Many of the people who live here were children or teenagers at the time.

Their anxieties chime with the “left behind” model outlined by Matthew Goodwin and Rob Ford, the academics who argue that Ukip voters often feel “on the wrong side of social change”.

That doesn’t mean everyone is impressed by Ukip. Mrs Gill certainly isn’t and feels the party has nothing to contribute in Jaywick. “All their policies are about immigration, but everyone here is white British.”

Her friend Joyce Taylor, 75, thinks she is missing the point. “It’s not such a problem here but it is a problem for the country,” she says.

She is a former Labour supporter, but Ukip strikes a chord with her now.

“When they talk they speak my language,” she explains.

Daniel Casey, one of two Labour councillors for the area, predicts a “very strong protest vote down here” this week. He believes, though, that voters will in turn fall out of love with Ukip.

“People seem to think that if they get Douglas Carswell and Nigel Farage, they are going to kick all the foreigners out and give them all jobs. They are living in cloud-cuckoo-land,” he says.

Soaring immigration puts British birth rates among highest in EU Richard Ford Home Correspondent

Birth rates in parts of the UK are among the highest in the EU as the impact of large-scale migration helps to raise the number of babies being born, according to figures published yesterday.

Along with having some of the highest birth rates recorded, one part of Lancashire also has one of the highest proportions of under-15s.

Blackburn and Darwen was among the top four areas of the EU for under15s, with 22.2 per cent of its population being under that age in 2013.

Official Eurostat figures highlight the impact of large-scale migration into the UK over the past decade, which has helped to fuel a rise in the number of births because many migrants are in the key child-bearing ages.

In 2010, birth rates in parts of east inner London were almost 20 per 1,000 population compared with the national average of 12.9. Other high birth rates were found in inner and outer London, Bradford, Birmingham, southern areas of Greater Manchester and parts of Northern Ireland Sir Andrew Green, the chairman of Migration Watch UK, which campaigns for low immigration, said: “This is yet another example of the impact of mass immigration on our society.”

The Eurostat yearbook said that, overall, women in the EU were having fewer children with the crude birth rate — the number of births during the year to the average population — at 10.4 births per thousand in 2012. However, the figure peaked at 15.7 births per thou-

sand in the Irish Republic and was 12.8 in the UK and 12.6 in France. Birth rates fell in most EU states between 2009 and 2012, suggesting that the economic crisis influenced the decision of many people about having children. However, the UK, Germany and Austria recorded birth rate increases.

Highest crude birth rates of at least 14 births per 1,000 population were recorded in London, the west Midlands, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire in 2010, along with parts of the region of Brussels, and the Île-de -France.

Overall, the birth rate for outer London was 16.5 per 1,000 and inner London 17.7 in 2010, the figures showed.

Spanish and French territories outside the main EU, along with the “mid east” region of the Irish Republic, had higher proportions of young people than Blackburn and Darwen, ranging from 24.8 per cent to just about one third, the Eurostat figures show.

Bradford, in west Yorkshire, had the second highest proportion of young people in the UK, with 21.6 per cent of the population being under 15.

Others figures in the yearbook show that more households are connected to broadband in London — 94 per cent — than in any other region of the EU. Access to broadband was over 90 per cent in the southeast and the southwest of the UK and was lowest in the northeast, at 77 per cent. However, even the 77 per cent figure was one percentage point above the EU average. Less than half of households in three areas of Bulgaria, two areas of Greece and one area of Romania had a broadband connection.

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News

Scientist who found the brain’s ‘GPS system’ wins Nobel prize FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA / EPA

Alcohol fears cause women to panic and seek abortion

Hannah Devlin Science Editor

Kat Lay

The discovery of the brain’s “inner GPS” by a British-American neuroscientist has been awarded the 2014 Nobel prize in physiology or medicine.

Professor John O’Keefe, 75, was the first to identify “place cells” in the brain, which allow us to create internal maps to navigate our environment, solving a problem that had occupied philosophers for centuries.

The work revolutionised neuroscience by showing that, rather than being stable in nature, the brain is constantly rewiring, and new networks can be formed within minutes of reaching a different location. The discovery that “place cells” are among the first to malfunction in Alzheimer’s disease could prepare the way for new treatments.

Professor O’Keefe said yesterday: “If I sound like I’m in a state of shock, it is because I am.”

The American-born scientist, who has been at University College London since the 1960s, shares the award with a Norwegian husband-and-wife team, May-Britt and Edvard Moser, who worked with him during the 1990s.

Professor O’Keefe discovered the first component of the mental navigational system in rats by showing that certain cells in the hippocampus were always activated when a rat was at a certain location. He called them place cells and showed that the cells registered not only what they saw, but also what they did not see, by building up inner maps in different environments.

During the work, the neuroscientist pioneered the technique of making direct recordings from the brains of animals while they were interacting “naturally” with their environment, rather than being unconscious or stationary. It allowed scientists to “watch the brain as it learnt”.

John Stein, emeritus professor of physiology at the University of Oxford, recalled the “scoffing” in the 1970s when place cells were initially described. “ ‘Bound to be an artifact,’ [and] ‘He clearly underestimates rats’ sense of smell’ were typical reactions,” Professor Stein said. “Now, like so many ideas that were at first highly controversial, people say: ‘Well that’s obvious!’ ” In 2005, the Mosers discovered a second component of the brain’s positioning system by identifying another

Women are regularly approaching abortion services, fearing they may have damaged an unplanned but otherwise wanted baby by binge-drinking.

The British Pregnancy Advice Service (bpas) said it saw spikes in approaches from concerned women after news reports of studies examining drinking and pregnancy. However, it said, one night of heavy drinking was unlikely to do serious harm.

Ann Furedi, the chief executive , said: “It concerns us greatly when women with wanted pregnancies are driven to consider abortion because they needlessly fear their behaviour has damaged their baby. Women should be reassured that the odd night of heavy drinking before they found out they were pregnant is extremely unlikely to have caused their baby harm. Pregnant women don’t need scare stories, but impartial, evidence-based information, and they should be trusted to make the choices that are right for them.”

A spokeswoman for the charity said that headlines often misrepresented “extremely nuanced” study findings.

She said: “We think there needs to be more formal reassurance provided to women that a couple of nights out drinking before they knew they were pregnant is extremely unlikely to have caused their baby harm.”

Research suggests only half of pregnancies in the UK are planned, and so it might be weeks before a woman suspects she is pregnant. An estimated half of women report binge-drinking before they find out they are pregnant.

While heavy drinking throughout pregnancy is linked to developmental problems and deformities, research suggests the risk of physical or neurological damage from isolated episodes of binge-drinking in early pregnancy is minimal. The charity pointed to a study of Danish women that found no evidence that occasional binge-drinking in early pregnancy had any effect on a child’s cognitive abilities at age five.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence says women should try to avoid drinking in the first three months of pregnancy, as it may increase the risk of miscarriage and if they drink in the later months, stick to one or two units (about one small glass of wine) once or twice a week.

The discovery by the British-American scientist Professor John o’Keefe could lead to new treatments for Alzheimer’s

British Nobel laureates 2001 Tim Hunt and Paul Nurse for finding how cells know when to divide 2002 John Sulston for showing how genes instruct cells to migrate 2003 Peter Mansfield for developing MRI scans 2007 Martin Evans and Oliver Smithies for cultivating mouse embryonic stem cells 2009 Jack Szostak for the discovery of telomeres — structures that “bookend” our chromosomes 2010 Robert Edwards for pioneering in vitro fertilisation 2012 John Gurdon for discovering that adult cells can be “rewound” into a pluripotent stem cell-like state

type of nerve cell that permits co-ordination and positioning — essentially an internal navigational grid.

Professor O’Keefe credited the importance of animals to the success of his research. “It is an incontrovertible fact that if you want to make advances in basic medicine, you need to make use of animals,” he said.

He moved to London after being attracted by the English “attitude towards science” and stayed because of an appreciation for the British way of life, including the BBC and the NHS. He added that, although he moved to Britain with ease, immigration rules form a “very large obstacle” for scientists wishing to move here today.

Sir Colin Blake-

more noted that Professor O’Keefe was the latest in a long line of foreign-born scientists who had risen to prominence in Britain. In 2010 the Russians Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were awarded the Nobel prize in physics for their work on graphene at Manchester University. Charles Kao, from China, won the same award for developing fibre optics the previous year.

“Here is yet another example of a really eminent scientist who we love to claim for our own. It signals the importance of the open movement of talent in science and makes the current xenophobic trend in Britain all the more worrying.”

Leading article, page 20

May-Britt and Edvard Moser will share the prize

Womb transplants from dead donors could solve childlessness Tom Whipple Science Correspondent

Women with wombs implanted from dead donors could give birth to babies in UK hospitals by 2017 if pioneering British research is successful.

A Swedish woman was the first in the world to give birth using a transplanted womb last week, but hers came from a live donor. Applying the same technique to wombs taken from the recently deceased would eliminate the need to find someone willing to have theirs removed, greatly increasing availability.

Richard Smith, from Hammersmith Hospital, west London, said that five women had already been selected to be part of the initial research, but that if it was successful he expected he would scale up to treat a “much bigger cohort”.

He said the Swedish case had provided proof of concept and that the main challenges for his team could well be logistical. “I would not anticipate

How it works 1. Woman given fertility

drugs to harvest eggs, which are then fertilised and embryos frozen

Needle

3. Embryos are thawed and implanted 6-12 months later

Ovary Embryo

2. Donor womb and cervix is removed with two major blood vessels and implanted into patient. She is put on powerful immunosuppressant drugs

4. In event of Womb

Blood vessels

Cervix

Vagina

Blood vessels

a successful pregnancy, baby is delivered by caesarean Vagina

Womb

there being much of a technical difference between this and the live transplant,” said Mr Smith, who is currently applying for ethics committee approval.

With a live donor all the necessary tests such as to make sure the womb does not have HPV can easily be performed in advance. A womb from a cadaver has to be implanted far more rapidly, as and when it becomes available.

Research has shown that it is possible to remove a womb from a recently deceased donor patient without damaging other organs that might themselves be needed for life saving operations.

The successful delivery of a baby boy, called Vincent, in Sweden last week came after his 36-year-old mother received a womb donated by a 61-yearold family friend. Two more babies, both of whom developed in a womb donated by their grandmothers, are expected in the next few weeks as part of the same programme. Professor

Mats Brännström, who led the research, said he hoped that live donors would eventually be plentiful.

“It is a sisterhood thing,” he said.

“Women are saying that they have had their children and why shouldn’t they help another woman to have the same joy?” Nevertheless, demonstrating that it is possible to use a womb from a dead donor should increase the availability of the operation.

The operation to transplant a womb takes six hours and new recipients have to wait a year to see if their body rejects it. Mr Smith said that the transplant would never be an easy option for women who have had a hysterectomy or who were born without a uterus, but he predicted that the procedure could one day become one of the solutions offered for childlessness.

“In the same way as going down the route of surrogacy is a very big deal, if we look well into the future this will also be there — as a further option,” he said.

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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News

TMS

diary@thetimes.co.uk | @timesdiary

Spud bashing for Doberman Don’t mess with “Spud” Baker. In a piece in Radio Times, Danny Baker says that his father would often sit in the green room while his TV shows were recorded. In one, 20 years ago, Baker asked Harry Enfield, the comedian, if he had any new characters. Enfield launched into a routine as Frank Doberman, a bar-room bore who gets increasingly angry, ending with his catchphrase: “Oi, Baker, no! You may think you’re the heir to the late-night talk-show crown, but to me you’ll always be a loudmouthed, talentless, balding —” Unfortunately, Spud had been chatting to another guest and only heard the last bit, missing that it was just an act. When Enfield went back to the green room, Spud pinned him to the wall, threatened to throw him down the stairs and had to be dragged away by security.

To this day, whenever Baker meets Enfield, the comedian will say: “Your dad’s not with you, is he?”

“Would I rather be run over by a train or a bus?” mused Paddy Ashdown on Daily Politics when the former Lib Dem leader was asked to choose

“Usually, when I uncover the painting, I think it’s f***ing *****.” At least he earns marks for honesty.

between a coalition with Ed Miliband or David Cameron. Got to be a bus.

You can catch pneumonia while waiting to be run over by a train.

not lost for words Edward St Aubyn put a few noses out of joint with his satire on literary prizes, Lost for Words, but some were rather keen to claim that they were his inspiration. St Aubyn was surprised to hear a former Booker judge tell the BBC that the author had “nailed” him with a parody in the novel. Deflating this ego in just six words, St Aubyn says: “I have never heard of him.”

Martin Creed, who once won the Turner prize for turning lightbulbs on and off, has gone to the other extreme and taken to painting inside a dark box so that he cannot see his brushstrokes. “I paint on canvas without looking at it,” he told the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

carswell’s on-off message Ukip are an “upstart, one-policy party” with “no cogent thought of politics” and a vote for them would mean a Labour government. So wrote a Tory councillor to his local paper in July. He bounced it off his MP first, though. “That reads very well,” Douglas Carswell replied. “I would be delighted if you were to send it to the press.” Only a month later Carswell had defected to Ukip, prompting his letter writer, Giles Watling, to stand against him in a by-election this week. Wonder if Carswell still agrees with that assessment of his new tribe.

Philip Howard, the Times stalwart who has died aged 80, loved his rugby.

He liked to tell a story about his father, Peter, who gave a half-time team talk on the one occasion he captained England, in 1931, that went: “Are we going to play like English gentlemen — or are we going to play to win?” They lost, by one point. In an earlier match, against Ireland in Dublin, he was kicked hard in the back at a ruck. “What was that for?” he whimpered. “That was for effing Cromwell” came the reply. patrick kidd

Keep hunt pictures off camera, BBC tells earl Valentine Low

There are a range of activities that the BBC tries not to show before the watershed. Sex. Violence. Excessive bad language.

Now, it seems, another adult pastime can be added to that list, one far worse than a bit of early-evening how’s-yourfather: foxhunting.

The corporation’s cold feet regarding hunting came to light when the Earl of Lonsdale was asked by the BBC if Antiques Roadshow could be filmed in the grounds of his ancestral home, Lowther Castle, near Penrith.

Members of the 8th earl’s family were reported to have been horrified when they were told that they would not be able to use the programme to show off his collection of hunting memorabilia.

“Some of my family were very upset,” the 65-year-old earl told the Daily Mail. “My ancestor was mad about hunting and used to ride to hounds all over England.”

Antiques Roadshow, which is presented by Fiona Bruce, will display a portrait of the fifth Lord Lonsdale, who was a celebrated hunting figure.

However, according to the family, the programme was worried The Earl of Lonsdale: sporting ancestors

that devoting too much time to foxhunting artefacts would run the risk of offending animal rights campaigners.

Hunting with hounds was banned by the Labour government in 2005. Last week, Liz Truss, the environment secretary, said that she would vote for a repeal of the Hunting Act, although she said there was little chance of repealing it before the general election.

The BBC said foxhunting was not banned from Antiques Roadshow. “The BBC does not have a general policy on hunting antiques,” said a spokesman.

“We have featured hunting memorabilia, such as stirrup cups, in the past.”

Lord Lonsdale was embroiled in controversy earlier this year when he put Blencathra, a 2,850ft peak in the Lake District, on the market to help to settle a £9 million inheritance tax bill.

Lakshmi Mittal, the Indian billionaire, is reported to have bid £1.75 million but a local group, the Friends of Blencathra, put in a counter bid. It was sold to an anonymous buyer. wa The earl said: “They say they want to ban hunting from the estate, but they’re not allowed to. It’s one of the listed local amenities which have to be preserved by law.”

He is not the first member of the family to have financial problems.

The second earl was forced to close the castle in 1936.

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Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

News Liberal Democrat conference

Lib Dems warn Clegg not to give away vote on EU Sam Coates Deputy Political Editor

Nick Clegg has been warned by senior Liberal Democrats that he must not agree to a referendum on the European Union “lightly”, amid public divisions over the issue.

Allies of the Lib Dem leader made clear that the Tory proposal for a refer-

endum was up for discussion in any future coalition deal, while Mr Clegg said he would “relish” a public vote on EU membership.

Party policy is to hold an in-out referendum if powers are transferred to Brussels, rejecting the Tory demands for an “arbitrary” vote in 2017. However, under one scenario floated by senior

insiders, Mr Clegg would demand further constitutional reform, possibly the introduction of proportional representation in local government, in return for agreeing to the Tory proposal.

Danny Alexander, the chief secretary to the Treasury, also indicated that he had cleared the way for a deal with the Tories when he told a fringe meet-

ing: “Clearly, we’d have to be able to come to an agreement which was satisfactory to both parties.”

However, this triggered warnings from other Lib Dems that the party should not be signalling quite so openly that it was prepared to grant the Tory wish, since it would undermine its negotiating position. Tim Farron, the departing Liberal Democrat president, said he hoped that his colleagues would extract a high price if the party did a deal with the Conservatives next year.

“It’s important that we don’t give away a referendum lightly, if at all,” he told a Times fringe event.

Other senior Liberal Democrat figures took a more aggressive line.

Vince Cable, the business secretary, appeared to rule out a deal with the Tories on an in/out referendum, telling a separate fringe meeting: “Our commitment to the EU is an absolute one . . . We have made it clear that the kind of referendum the Tories want is just not on offer as far as we are concerned.”

Alistair Carmichael, the Scottish secretary, said: “That would, of course, require the Conservatives to get a majority after the next election. I don’t think that’s going to happen. The situation will not arise.”

Meanwhile Mr Farron used his appearance at the Times fringe meeting to issue a broader warning on Europe. “I think that in a practical sense what I’m bothered about more than anything else is that while the EU needs reform, it would be suicide for business and our standing in the world if we were to leave the European Union,” he said.

He said that Britain would be more likely to leave the EU if a referendum were held while a Labour government was in Downing Street. “So the fundamental consideration is how do we stay in the European Union. That may mean having a referendum. I don’t think we should stand on a platform of having one, by the way. However, there is an argument from an academic perspective that we are more likely to win a referendum to stay in under a government that has Conservatives in it.

“I suspect that if a coalition, or government that is led by Labour had a referendum, the Tories would not be able to control themselves and it would be all the more likely that we would end up leaving the European Union.”

Meanwhile it emerged last night that the deputy prime minister had indicated that he would use his veto to block some of the British candidates for the European Commission.

Chris Davies, who was a Lib Dem

Westminster doesn’t appeal to the party’s rising star Sam Coates, Lucy Fisher

One of the Lib Dems’ rising stars is resisting attempts to persuade her to stand for Westminster to fast-track her to the leadership as the party struggles to overcome accusations that it is “male and pale”.

Kirsty Williams, the 43-year-old leader of the Liberal Democrats in Wales, was greeted with a standing ovation after an emotional speech.

She is now No 21 in the list of the top 50 most influential Lib Dem figures published by The Times today, up two points from last year.

Senior officials and donors have touted Ms Williams as a potential replacement for Nick Clegg when he stands down. She has made clear that she wants to stay in the Welsh Assembly for now.

Yesterday Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury, appeared to declare his interest in the top job.

Speaking at a fringe event, he said: “I enjoy playing a leading role for the party . . . yes, of course, I’d like to be”.

Norman Lamb, the health minister, did not rule out running for leader, while Tim Farron, the party president, is also regarded as a favourite.

Meanwhile, female Lib Dems have emerged as the success story in this year’s list of the top 50 most influential figures in the party.

Two women enter the top ten: Lynne Featherstone shoots up nine places to No 7, reflecting her work on equal marriage and her campaign against female genital mutilation; and Jo Swinson rises six places to No 9. Six new entries in the power list, published in full online today, are women.

The list is compiled by an anonymous panel led by Iain Dale, the broadcaster and blogger.

MEP until May, told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme that while Lord Hill of Oareford was a “consensual Conservative”, others were blocked. He said: “Other names, I think were put forward so I hear, but Nick Clegg vetoed them.”

A Whitehall source said that the Conservatives “tested the water” with a number of names, thought to include Lord Howard of Lympne, the former Tory leader, but Mr Clegg indicated that he would not give his support. Mr Davies also said he disagreed with Mr Clegg about the EU referendum, saying there might be benefits to holding a poll as it might “shoot the Ukip vote”.

Rachel Sylvester, page 17

Pension tax relief targeted to raise billions from better-off Sam Coates, Matt Dathan

Nick Clegg is planning a fresh squeeze on the better-off with a further shakeup of the pensions system that could raise billions of pounds. The Liberal Democrat leader highlighted work by his pensions minister, Steve Webb, on cutting tax relief.

He said that Mr Webb was looking at the possibility of cutting the £37 billion bill the government pays towards pension tax relief, but that it was “not a policy we are committed to yet”.

The move would see the lifetime pension allowance cut from £1.25 million to £1 million. The proposal would hit

higher-rate taxpayers harder because they pay 60p for every £1 saved, whereas it costs basic-rate taxpayers 80p to receive £1 in their pension pot.

It is the latest Lib Dem proposal that Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury, said would target the “very wealthiest”.

Mr Clegg told Sky News: “It is something Steve is looking at because, as he has pointed out, the tax relief paid for by ordinary taxpayers in the pension tax relief system goes disproportionately to people who are better off than others. So in a sense you have a distribution of wealth through those tax reliefs from the poorer to the richer.”

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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Liberal Democrat conference News TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER, JAMES GLOSSOP

(-) Nick Clegg Lib Dem leader As each day passes, a little power and influence slips through his fingers. It is almost inconceivable that the Tories would form another coalition with the Lib Dems, and even if Labour did it would probably be with a new leader.

1

2 (-) Danny Alexander

Treasury chief secretary An adept communicator and minister. Almost certainly Mr Clegg’s favoured successor, but he has an uphill task to get LibDem activists and members on side.

3 (+1) Lord Ashdown

Ex-Lib Dem leader He is in control of planning the election campaign and by all accounts is taking it seriously.

4 (-1) David Laws Education minister Not very popular with the LibDem left. He is in charge of writing the LibDem general election manifesto, which won’t be easy bearing in mind the tuition fees promise last time.

(-) Tim Farron 5 Lib Dem president

A leading candidate to succeed Clegg.

6 (+1) Jonathan Oates

Mr Clegg’s chief of staff To get to Clegg, you have to get to Jonny Oates. Therein lies his influence

7 (+9) Lynne Featherstone

International development minister The equal marriage legislation was her baby and she pushed the scandal of female genital mutilation to the top of agenda. If she keeps her seat, she will be a major player.

8 (+5) Norman Lamb

Health minister Lamb is popular even among Tory colleagues. He’s on top of his portfolio and has pushed mental health up the agenda. Could be a candidate for the top job.

Jo Swinson 9 (+6) Business minister

Tipped to replace Alastair Carmichael as Scottish secretary.

10 (-) Ed Davey

Energy secretary A good debater. His popularity makes him a genuine contender for the leadership.

Red Box Power List 2014

Sign up for our daily political briefing and read the full list at

thetimes.co.uk/ redbox

Don’t be fooled by the surface calm

E Nick Clegg and his wife, Miriam González, visiting a primary school in Glasgow, where the Lib Dem conference is being held

ach year I assemble a group of experts to compile a list of the 50 most influential Lib Dems (Iain Dale writes).

Given the party’s awful election performance in May, it’s striking how little change there’s been at the top of the list. Interesting things are happening further down. Michael Moore (unfairly sacked as Scottish secretary, many feel) has fallen 20 places to 31, and Jeremy Browne is down to 36. Ryan Coetzee, the

strategy director (responsible for the “party of in” slogan for the Euro elections) falls eight places to 14, Vince Cable falls to 11th place.

Notable climbers are the ministers Lynne Featherstone and Jo Swinson. Jenny Willott, who covered Ms Swinson’s maternity leave, is a new entrant at 38.

Norman Lamb, the quietly effective health minister, is also on the rise, and Don Foster, promoted to chief whip last year, climbs 20 places.

Vince’s sense of humour? Atrocious I don’t want it all. Just the Ann Treneman Political Sketch

Y

ou know you are in trouble when Vince Cable is the one who is supposed to lift your spirits. It’s like putting the Grim Reaper in charge of birthday party planning. Since Vince went into government, he has been as grey as an overcast rainy day in, well, to pick a place at random, Glasgow.

But a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do. Vince had to start with a joke. So, in true Vince style, he decided to make it about the Bulgarian Atrocities. Only a Lib Dem would see the comedy potential in mass death from 1876. But that’s what makes them especially fun to watch.

Vince arrived looking, as ever, like the Nutty Professor without a sat-nav.

He immediately spoke of Gladstone but this is normal for Lib Dems.

Indeed, if you don’t mention Gladstone in the first few minutes you run the risk of being fined.

Gladstone’s feats of oratory were legendary, Vince noted, and his speech on the Bulgarian Atrocities

was especially so. At the word “Atrocities”, the man next to me perked up. “Oh yes,” he murmured, as if it held fond memories.

“He is said to have spoken for five and a half hours, without notes, from memory,” said Vince, reading his autocue. “As far as we know, he didn’t have to issue a statement the following day apologising for forgetting to mention Bulgaria or the Atrocities!”

Laugh? They positively cackled, clapping wildly, thrilled to be making fun of Ed Miliband, thrilled to be listening to Vince (the “guru of growth”, according to his introduction) and not to be reading the polls that predict their near obliteration. To me, the Lib Dems this year deserve respect just for being here, an experiment in mass delusion that I hope is being studied by scientists around the world.

Vince reminded us that David Cameron had also memorised a speech, the one that won him the Tory leadership in 2005, in which he talked about how much he cared about the underclass and saving the planet. “You might recall the hoodies and the huskies,” he noted. The man next to me did a mini-harrumph, a hiccup of outrage (though it may have been just a small burp).

“Which raises an interesting

question,” noted Vince. “Is it worse for politicians to forget what to say or to remember what to say but forget to do anything about it?”

More laughs! More claps! This from the party — indeed from the secretary of state himself — who vowed to scrap tuition fees and then tripled them. Vince didn’t mention that as he poured praise on his party (and himself ). In all areas, he said, the Lib Dems had a “massive responsibility: to be the voice of sanity, seriousness and sense”.

Sanity? The Lib Dems? I think not.

Just before his speech, I overheard two Lib Dems gushing to each other: “Oh haven’t you met a viscount?

Viscounts are LOVELY!” Another conversation began: “Have you ever been to North Korea?” It’s a chat-up line you would only ever hear here.

Vince likes to be seen to be against the Tory grain and so he extolled the virtues of immigration. “The Tories are horribly torn between open economic liberalism and their inward-looking, Ukip-facing grassroots, who probably see Clacton-on-Sea as the new Constantinople — holding out against the alien hordes!”

The man next to me adored that.

“A bit of Byzantine history,” he chuckled, thrilled to be there and to be seen to be sane.

same as men, says Miriam

Sam Coates Deputy Political Editor

Women don’t need to “have it all” — just everything men can have, according to Miriam González, the international lawyer and wife of Nick Clegg.

In a rare public intervention Ms González added that a woman needed a good husband.

She cited Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook, saying that the most important decision in a woman’s life is with whom she will have children.

Speaking at a fringe event, she said: “If you want to have children . . . if in a family you have children, there is an issue if you want to work, as to how you are going to organise childcare.

“I think it was Sheryl Sandberg who said the most important decision in your life is who you have children with, so of course that is crucial.

“I am being asked all the time, ‘Do you want to have it all?’, and I don’t want to have it all — I want to have what men have.

“So if many men have children and a job, and that’s what they choose, I do not know why I cannot have that, if that’s what I choose.”

Ms González, who is a partner at the law firm Dechert, was attending the launch of Inspiring Women in Scot-

land, whose aim is to bring together high-profile female role models and girls from state schools.

Later she told Sky News: “I never understand what people mean when they say ‘having it all’. I personally have never wanted to ‘have it all’ as a general aim. I just want to have what men have.

“Lots of men have a successful professional life, or what looks like success to them, and they fit it together with a family and that is what I want to have.

“There will be other women who don’t want that. It is different for different women and different men. But childcare is an issue, obviously. And I think that, as Sheryl Sandberg said, the most important decision of your life is who you decide to have children with.”

Mr Clegg was also challenged over who he would prefer to “get into bed” with if next year’s election delivered another hung parliament.

In a typical politician’s answer, he managed to dodge the question by joking: “Miriam, every single time, if you must put it that way.”

He added: “I really do think that if either Labour or the Conservatives were to run this country on their own again, the country would go backwards.

It would go backwards economically under Labour; it would go backwards socially under Conservatives.”

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Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

News

New car sales hit a ten-year high Robert Lea Industrial Editor

Britain’s motorists are back in the fast lane after spending £9 billion on new cars last month.

Sales figures for the first month with the new 64 registration plate topped 425,000, the highest September sales in a decade.

Fuelled by cheap credit, attractive monthly payment plans and the desire to shift to more fuel-efficient new models, more than two million new cars have already been sold this year — a 9 per cent increase on 2013, which itself was up by 10 per cent.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the

Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: “The continuing robustness of the UK new car market has been boosted by intensifying confidence in the economy.”

Richard Lowe, an automotive expert at from Barclays, added: “Consumers are benefiting from stable residual values enabling them to trade in their old cars for shiny new models at a similar monthly cost.”

Sales of new cars in September were last at this level in 2004.

While the Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus and the Vauxhall Corsa remain the favourite cars for British drivers, between them accounting for 15 per

cent of new sales, there has been a shift in Britons’ buying habits: once in love with French design , drivers are readily paying for more expensive German power and function.

Ten years ago Renault was Britain’s third largest car brand, much of that on the back of sales of the Clio and the popular advertising campaign featuring Papa and Nicole. Then, Peugeot was the fifth best seller and Citroën seventh. Now, none of the French manufacturers are in the top seven in the UK and Renault sales on this side of the Channel have slumped by two thirds.

In comparison, the German manu-

facturers have muscled their way in, with the Volkswagen Golf regular vying to be Britain’s third best-selling car and VW, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz all featuring in the top seven manufacturing brands.

The current top ten best-selling cars even include a vehicle that had not been invented in 2004: the British-built and British-designed Nissan Qashqai, which is credited with starting the boom in crossovers, the upright estate cars that are made to look like 4x4s.

Much of the growth, in which the industry has registered 31 consecutive monthly sales increases, is put down to customers being persuaded to buy cars with ever-greater fuel efficiency. With the sale of nearly 10,000 hybrid or electric cars in the UK last month, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders is claiming the average new car is now doing 59 miles per gallon.

However, like the recent warnings about a fall in the housing market, the froth may be coming off the new car market. Noting that September sales were up 5.6 per cent, half the rate of earlier in the year, Mr Hawes warned: “The growth has shown signs of levelling off.”

Top marques New car sales for September

2014

425,861

2004

430,763

Top five, 000s Vauxhall Corsa Ford Focus Ford Fiesta

18.3

17.9

17 Vauxhall Astra 14.4 Peugeot 206 14.2

2004 2014 Ford Fiesta Ford Focus VW Golf

13.5

13 Vauxhall Corsa 12.5 VW Polo 10.3

Percentage market share 2004 14.5 % 1 Ford 12.9

23.2

2014 1 Ford

2 Vauxhall

13.4 %

2 Vauxhall

3 Renault

7.3 6.8 6.6

4 Volkswagen 5 Peugeot

3 Volkswagen

10.7 8.6

4 Audi

6.5

5 BMW

5.8

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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London is world’s best city for workers ready to move Georgie Keate

London has beaten New York and Paris as the best place in the world to work.

In a poll of 200,000 people from 189 countries, one in six people said that they would like a job in the British capital, while the UK as a whole came second to the United States.

Only two fifths of Britons would consider working abroad, compared with two thirds of those from outside the UK who said they would rather work in a foreign country, according to the Boston Consulting Group and Totaljobs, an employment search website.

Mike Booker, international director of Totaljobs, said: “This report cements London’s reputation as a truly global city. Not only does it offer a wealth of job opportunities in a range of industries, but it boasts some of the worlds top cultural attractions, so it’s no surprise that people across the globe want to come and work here."

However, the divide between London and other British cities was starkly underlined with no other location outside the capital featuring in the list of top 40 places to work. The report highlighted high salary prospects in London, cultural diversity and the finance industry as the city’s main attractions for workers.

“If you ask a young person in this country, ‘Where do you want to go in the UK?’ they’ll never say Liverpool or

Dream locations

1 London (above; 16 per cent of respondents want to work in the city) 2 New York (12.2 per cent) 3 Paris (8.9 per cent) 4 Sydney (5.2 per cent) 5 Madrid (5 per cent) 6 Berlin (4.6 per cent) 7 Barcelona (4.4 per cent) 8 Toronto (4.2 per cent) 9 Singapore (3.9 per cent) 10 Rome (3.5 per cent)

Manchester,” said Ali Aslan Gümüs, a 45-year-old Turkish jobseeker who has worked in Brussels and is now back in his native country. “They all say London because of the Turkish population that’s over there and the cultural harmonisation.”

The picture was different in the US, where seven cities fitted the list of the places that people wanted to work.

Mr Booker said that the position of Paris, at No 3, was because of its cultural element, which gives the French capital a global appeal despite its hard economic climate. Sydney, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Toronto, Singapore and Rome made up the rest of the top ten.

“Employers must take a more global approach to recruitment,” Mr Booker said. “As the workforce is so mobile, companies will have to compete globally to attract the best talent, making sure that they target the right groups and differentiate their recruitment strategies.”

The top destinations for Britons wanting to work abroad were the US, Canada, Germany, Australia and France. Conversely, the UK attracts workers from Portugal, Israel, Barbados, Romania and Jamaica.

Rainer Strack, from Boston Consulting Group, said: “It’s a world in which the geographic barriers to employment are coming down, including in the minds of some of the most talented and highly educated workers.”

News BPSDC / PA

Flower power Homes at The Flower, in the former Battersea Power Station, will go on sale this month with prices starting at £590,000 for a one-bedroom flat

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News TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER, GARETH IWAN JONES

Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

Young readers rescuing the written word Georgie Keate

Children and teenagers could be the saviours of the printed word, according to the latest figures from publishers.

Printed book sales for the under-18s rose 10 per cent between January and September while the market overall fell 2 per cent. More than 37 million children’s books have been sold so far this year, making 2014 potentially the highest on record, figures for The Bookseller show.

Bev Humphries, a former school librarian and literacy consultant, said that the sales of books by David Walliams and the non-fiction Minecraft books — based on a video game — were responsible for much of the increase this year. Walliams has sold £3.4 million worth of books alone this year while Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo, has sold £8 million.

Sales of young adult fiction have rocketed by 24 per cent this year as the popularity of the Hunger Games and Divergent franchises continues.

Charlotte Eyre, children’s editor at The Bookseller, said: “There is a massive cult aspect in the dystopian genre.

Teenagers want to be seen by each other as being part of it. For that, you have to have the hard copy book.”

Rhea, left, and Elise Patel from Kent at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. Sales of printed books for the under-18s have risen by 10 per cent so far this year

Booker prize is ‘an instrument of torture’ comic fiction, said that writers were always comparing themselves with others.

“We are obsessed with comparing relative status,” he told the Cheltenham Literature Festival. “It is exhausting and it is certainly exacerbated by prizes and advertising and the culture we live in. Prizes are part of that: that disease of constant comparison and dissatisfaction.”

The Booker prize — which along with the Nobel prize is the only award writers are interested in, according to St Aubyn — has long provoked controversy over its selection process. It was previously open only to writers from the UK, the Commonwealth and Ireland, and was criticised after opening up to American authors this year. Two American writers — Joshua Ferris and

Karen Joy Fowler — are on the sixstrong shortlist.

Mother’s Milk — one of the five books in St Aubyn’s semi-autobiographical Patrick Melrose series, which chronicles his own abusive childhood and descent into drug addiction — was shortlisted for the Booker in 2006 but St Aubyn said that he was relieved not to have won, partly because he would have to overcome his shyness and make

a speech, which he said he had never done.

“It is very gruelling,” he said. “There is a huge anticlimax. It is a sort of torture instrument. It is not about literature, it is about the Booker prize itself. It is drawing attention to itself at the expense of the psychological wellbeing of a couple of hundred people. It is a machine that devours them. Everyone is disappointed except one person who spends the next two years of their life on tour talking about their book and not doing the thing that is being celebrated: writing.”

In his latest novel, St Aubyn lampoons judges of the fictional Elysian prize, one of whom it is believed, although the writer professes innocence, is based on Dame Stella Rimington, the former MI5 chief who chaired the

Booker judging panel in 2011. St Aubyn has denied that the failure of one of his other Melrose books to be long-listed for the prize prompted the satire.

“I am very grateful for being shortlisted [in 2006],” he said. “It was a watershed in my career. Nobody had ever heard of me before Mother’s Milk. It does not mean that it is a completely perfect system.

“There’s an obsession because it makes such a difference. If you win the Booker or get shortlisted for it then you can basically earn a living as a writer and if you don’t it’s really difficult.”

He added that he had not expected Lost for Words to make this year’s shortlist. “Deal with the fear of death by committing suicide,” he said. “I obviously have ensured I will never win the Booker prize.”

how london rioters queued politely to loot the shops

w1a is true to life as actor pays £55 for his own picture

gay footballers will stay in the closet, says thomas

mantel’s novels unfair to ‘a paragon of the nation’

Queuing is so ingrained in the English national character that it was even seen during the London riots in 2011, an anthropologist has observed.

Kate Fox, author of Watching the English, said she had seen footage that showed looters using the same body language as people queuing at Ascot.

“People had smashed a window to get in and they were queueing up in an orderly fashion to loot this shop,” she said. “They were deterring others from queue jumping with eyebrows and coughs — and it worked.”

Fox, right, has also found that people do not like using the English flag, even on St George’s Day, because “they see it, and I don’t like this word, as ‘a bit chavvy’. It’s almost more of a class problem than a political [one].”

No one doubted that W1A, the BBC Two satirical take on its own absurdities, was based on reality within the corporation.

However, Hugh Bonneville, its star, was still taken aback at its bureaucracy. The actor, who plays Ian Fletcher, the corporation’s head of values, was asked by a fan for a signed photograph of himself in his role.

After winding his way through the BBC’s corporate layers Bonneville was told that he could get the photograph if he filled in a form and paid £55.

Despite this John Morton, the show’s director, said he hoped that the series had helped people “become aware of some of the nonsense around corporate life” and become a “force for good in a very minor way”.

No Premier League footballer will out himself for decades, Gareth Thomas, the gay former Welsh rugby captain, has said. The tribalism of football and possibility of abuse from the terraces will frighten footballers from being open about their sexuality, he said.

Thomas, whose autobiography Proud outlined his own difficulties in coming to terms with his sexuality, said there was too much pressure on sportsmen to hide their sexuality.

“Sport is the last bastion,” he said.

“I hope it is not a witch-hunt but everybody is looking for a [gay] footballer. I do not think in my entire lifetime we will see a footballer come out. As a sportsman you are targeted and anything you give [opposing] fans, they will use it.”

Hilary Mantel has been accused of ruining the reputation of a blameless man in her prize-winning novels about the Tudor court (Jack Malvern writes). Sir Peter Stothard, editor of the Times Literary Supplement and a former editor of The Times, said it would take a long time to restore the reputation of George Boleyn, brotherin-law to Henry VIII. Sir Peter said that while he was a great admirer of Mantel, historians were often wary of historical fiction because it created narratives that were hard to correct.

“George Boleyn: it suits Hilary Mantel that if he could find another five orifices on a woman’s body he would be into them. Whereas, in fact, George Boleyn was an absolute paragon of the nation,” he said.

David Sanderson

The Booker prize is a “torture instrument” that “draws attention to itself at the expense of the psychological wellbeing” of writers, one of the country’s most respected authors has said.

Edward St Aubyn, whose books are to be turned into a drama series involving Benedict Cumberbatch and Sam Mendes, said that writers had an unhealthy obsession with literary prizes.

He described the Booker as a kind of “machine that devours” authors and said that it helped to create a “mentality of corrosive, unceasing comparison” within the writing fraternity.

St Aubyn, whose novel Mother’s Milk was once shortlisted for the Booker prize and whose latest, Lost for Words, has won this year’s Wodehouse prize for

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comment pages of the year

Opinion

On sex and marriage this Pope is still Catholic Daniel Johnson Page 18

Why Clegg needs to be a street-fighting man

Despite being close to invisible, the Liberal Democrats are optimistic: they could easily still be in power in a year’s time Rachel Sylvester

@rsylvestertimes

F

or Nick Clegg, it’s a bit like being a woman at a dinner party. You say something and nobody notices, then a man repeats the same thing more loudly and everybody laughs. David Cameron has pinched the Lib Dem policy of raising the tax threshold to £12,500 — getting widespread plaudits for this “tax break for Middle England”. Ed Miliband has swiped the party’s mansion tax plan — Ed Balls even admitted the Labour figure for the amount of money it is likely to raise was based on Treasury modelling commissioned by the Lib Dems.

Yet neither of the other leaders even mentioned the third party in their conference speeches this year.

Mr Clegg’s problem, just seven months before an election, is not indecision, like Mr Miliband, or insurgency in his ranks, like Mr Cameron, it’s invisibility.

Although constitutional reform is the Lib Dems’ specialist area, they hardly got a look in as Labour and the Tories slugged it out over Scotland and exchanged blows over English votes for English laws. The other parties bickered about funding for the NHS, but forgot to listen when the Lib Dems offered up their own £1 billion. And with no ministers at the Foreign Office, they are also missing from the international debate at a critical time for global affairs.

It is as if the Lib Dems have been airbrushed out of the political

equation. A poll last night found that 56 per cent of voters believe they have become “irrelevant” and only 26 per cent disagree.

Their conference, coming at the end of the season rather than the beginning for a change, because of the Scottish independence referendum, seems to be fading into the background. This is not just a question of timetabling but a more existential issue. To paraphrase Dean Acheson, the Lib Dems lost a protest vote empire by going into government, but as the junior partner in the coalition they have not yet found a role. They are in office but, as they slip to seven points in the polls, it no longer feels as if they are in power.

The Lib Dem leader admits he “lost his voice” in the early days of the coalition, biting his tongue over disagreements with Mr Cameron in an attempt to show that two-party governments could work. Now he has started to shout, accusing the Tories of abandoning

‘It’s going to be hard, and sometimes brutal, but we’re advancing’ “compassionate Conservatism” and returning to their “nasty party” instincts. But this risks making the Lib Dems look inconsistent; at the election they will have to decide whether to take credit for their time in power, or disown it. One Downing Street strategist says: “They’re Janusfaced — one moment they say ‘we are a government making progress’, the next it’s ‘we are anti this or that’.

It’s completely incoherent.”

In an article in New Statesman James Morris, one of Labour’s pollsters, argues that splitting the

difference is not enough for the Lib Dems because competence and trust matters more than ideological position. “They seem centrist but also exceptionally deceitful and weak,” he writes. “Being in the centre could mean being seen as mainstream and common sense; for the Lib Dems, it means they are seen as a pointless mush.”

The party that relished its maverick role has still not reconciled itself entirely to being mainstream — yet it must, because Nigel Farage has seized the mantle of the outsider.

During the TV debates next year, Mr Clegg will no longer be the freshfaced unknown who surges ahead.

And, of course, Mr Cameron is more likely to say “I agree with Nigel” than “I agree with Nick”. It is no coincidence that the Lib Dems have lost support to Ukip and the Greens as well as Labour; about 12 per cent of those who supported Mr Clegg in 2010 are now backing Mr Farage; 9 per cent the Greens and 30 per cent Labour.

The irony is that the Lib Dems could still hold the balance of power in a hung parliament next May and end up back in government. In fact, this is looking quite likely. Despite their dire poll ratings, with predictions that they could lose half their seats, there is a surprising level of optimism at the top of the party about their chances at the election.

“National opinion polls tell me nothing about the fortunes of the Liberal Democrats,” says Mr Clegg.

Strategists are confident that local loyalty and carefully targeted campaigns will boost them in the constituencies that matter. “It’s Stalingrad rather than the Battle of Britain,” says one of the leader’s team. “We will find it difficult to win the air war because that is red on blue, but the Lib Dems have always

careful not to fall down the middle and disappear into the void. At the moment, their main pitch to the electorate is that they would be a restraining influence on either a Labour or Conservative government.

That has some appeal among an electorate nervous of the Tories’ motives and equally mistrustful of Labour’s competence; but to get noticed, the Lib Dems need positive identity as well as negative definition.

The party must not disappear into a void between the other two Nick Clegg needs to stand out if the Lib Dems are to avoid being squeezed

been good at the ground campaign.

We are engaged in hand-to-hand combat through the streets. It’s going to be hard work, and sometimes brutal, but we are advancing.”

Mr Clegg is positioning his party in the right place ideologically — on the centre ground of politics. Like Tony Blair before him, he is triangulating between left and right.

The Glasgow conference slogan — “Stronger Economy, Fairer Society” is a deliberate echo of new Labour’s promise to combine economic credibility and social justice.

“It’s the Third Way,” says one senior Lib Dem. “Our whole position is to say Labour can’t be trusted on the economy and the Tories are going to come after your public services. The Conservatives have made a serious tactical mistake because they have created a gap.”

The Lib Dems, though, must be

It is no longer enough for them to present themselves simply as “not the others” if they are to be taken seriously as a party of power. They want to be seen as a brake on the other parties — but they also need to show they have an accelerator and an engine in their own car.

Party president Tim Farron yesterday urged delegates to behave as if they were on 33 per cent in the polls: “We won’t do that by making a negative pitch, we need to believe in ambitious government.” If he wants to be heard this week, Mr Clegg must make a passionate case for liberalism, rather than simply point out the differences between him and everybody else. It’s a message that would appeal in an increasingly individualistic age.

Follow us on Twitter Keep up with the latest from our award-winning team of columnists @timesopinion

Today Rain and showers over northwestern and southeastern Europe, dry and bright elsewhere. Max 28C (82F), min -3C (27F) Today’s temperatures forecast for noon

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Maximum 28C (82F), minimum 10C (50F).

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Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, northeastern Europe, Finland Largely dry, but rather cloudy at times, although there will be some sunny spells where the cloud breaks. Maximum 18C (64F), minimum -2C (28F).

Denmark, Norway, Sweden A cloudy day with rain, heavy at times, Rather windy over western Norway with the chance of snow. Maximum 14C (57F), minimum -3C (27F).

British Isles A mix of patchy cloud and sunny spells with bursts of rain. Rather cloudy over Scotland with more persistent, heavier rain.

Maximum 15C (59F), minimum 3C (37F).

Outlook Rather wet and cloudy over western and northern Europe, but drier with sunny spells in the east.

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Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

Opinion

On sex and marriage this Pope is still Catholic Francis may want to make life easier for his flock, but he is not about to tear up a sacrament Daniel Johnson

@danbjohnson

I

have bad news for anyone who hopes that the synod of Catholic bishops summoned to discuss contraception and marriage will revolutionise the church. It won’t.

Synods propose, popes dispose.

This synod, opened amid much pomp in Rome at the weekend, and its sequel next year will make proposals, but the final decision rests with the Pope. And Francis’s opening sermon on Sunday made clear that, for all his skill in presenting himself as the approachable bloke next door, he is still a mainstream figure. In it he warned the Catholic hierarchy against man’s propensity to greed, underlining the danger that those who think they own the vineyard may spoil it: “God’s dream always clashes with the hypocrisy of some of his servants.” This is a very Catholic message: we are all of us sinners — rulers, secular and ecclesiastical, included — and the church belongs to God, not man. It is entrusted with the “deposit of faith”, and doctrines will not be lightly cast aside. So don’t expect the synod to vote for condoms or cohabitation, gay marriage or divorce.

Yet the church is open to change.

A global survey for the Vatican of millions of laymen and women indicated that the gap between

doctrine and practice has grown too wide for comfort. Expectations have been raised, not least by the Pope’s off-the-cuff remarks about human sexuality (“Who am I to judge?”). Yet even the epoch-making Second Vatican Council of 1962-65 was unable to fulfil all the hopes vested in it by the church’s liberals. A consultative synod cannot possibly do so.

Ever since Cardinal Bergoglio became Pope Francis last year, there has been a crescendo of claptrap that has turned him into a hero of the left. Yet despite his refreshingly informal style, he has yet to alter the church’s politics, let alone its doctrine, on any major issue.

Francis is the first Jesuit pope.

Jesuits combine twice-daily selfscrutiny with the vita activa. He wants to put conscience back at the heart of Catholic life: as an antidote to the ever-present danger that

The gap between doctrine and practice is too wide for comfort

priests may abuse their power, but also so that people struggling with marital problems may see their faith as part of the solution.

The court of conscience is God’s direct line to us all. We are bound to obey its verdict. The church should chime with the voice of conscience.

How, though, does it live up to the Franciscan ideal: a guide for the perplexed, rather than a monolithic, impersonal institution? This global gathering is the response of a pope

Pope Francis has made sure to treat Benedict XVI with the utmost warmth

more at home in Buenos Aires than Rome.

The synod will take place behind closed doors, partly to enable participants to speak frankly, but also to ensure that the papal curia keeps control over how it is reported. In practice what is said will filter out.

Power struggles between “liberals” and “conservatives” will dominate coverage, because we journalists love to divide ecclesiastics into such camps. Yet Francis has been careful to keep a balance of reformers and traditionalists in his inner circle.

Most importantly, Francis has made sure to treat Benedict XVI with the utmost warmth and respect — and to be seen to do so. Last week he publicly embraced the Pope Emeritus, whom he called “the

grandfather of all grandfathers”, and he has hinted that he too may retire if and when he feels unable to cope with the demands of the job.

Francis has no intention of jettisoning Benedict’s intellectual legacy. Franciscan and Benedictine Catholicism are not incompatible, but the emphasis is different. Francis thinks less than Benedict about the big picture — the challenges posed by radical Islam, secularisation or moral relativism — and more about what it all means for the individual.

Benedict retained as pope an air of the university professor he once was; Francis is a pastor from the streets.

This synod gives the Vatican a window on what actually goes on in the world. At pastoral level, many stumbling blocks are quietly being removed. Might life be made easier for Catholics whose marriages have broken down? Might the definition of “natural” family planning be widened to render the ban on contraception otiose? Might women be better appreciated in the church if the clergy listened more to the laity? A pastoral perspective will open up such questions, without presuming that the best answer is always the most permissive.

The church will have its work cut out to reconcile the hopes and fears of more than a billion Catholics. But marriage is still the best foundation for family life — ask George Clooney — and the synod is not about to tear up the principle of indissolubility, which for Catholics is after all a sacrament. In the end, the Pope is still a Catholic.

Daniel Johnson is editor of Standpoint

Melanie Reid Notebook

The parents of students have lessons to learn too

T

wo old schoolfriends and I found ourselves discussing how differently we were raised to the generation just off to university, one so used to helicopter parents controlling every move. Even if stories of today’s mothers sleeping on the floor of student bedrooms during freshers’ week are apocryphal, it is clear that modern children have never been more infantilised.

There are now special university websites for students’ parents. Take that belonging to University College London. “Congratulations, your child is about to embark on a wonderful journey with one of the world’s top universities. These pages are designed to answer some of the key questions you may have about your child’s time at UCL and provide advice on how you can support them throughout their studies.”

The advice on offer says it all: 6 If you believe that your child’s

residence requires any security updates or further security measures then contact blah blah . . .

6 My child lost something on campus. (Advice: first the student must register lost property by emailing a lost property inquiry to Lost and Found.)

6 My child has lost their student ID card.

6 When will classes be?

6 What does my child need to enrol?

6 What happens if my son/daughter doesn’t like their accommodation?

6 How do I get a copy of my child’s results?

6 I’m worried about my child contracting a contagious illness.

What can I do?

“My mother”, commented one of my friends, “didn’t even know which university I was at.”

Kiss and tell

H

ow lucky some of us are in our jobs. Travelling alone to Cheltenham for The Times literary festival, I am like Paddington Bear, utterly dependent on the special assistance staff from Network Rail to meet me.

It is an exercise in absolute trust.

In Birmingham there is no more welcome sight than a kind woman in

a blue gilet who hops on the train to meet me. Her life is spent scurrying about at a relentless pace ushering fragile people on and off trains, the voice in her walkie-talkie stacking up job after job. She could not have been more charming. The only down side, she said, are the drunks, who, when she assists them, ask for her phone number and when that is gently refused attempt to hug and kiss her. So spare a thought, we who spend our days insulated from real life, for those at the sharp end, making the world go round — and where the daily hazard is being snogged by drunks.

An uncomfortable ride

I

t is sometimes said of a horse that it “does not travel well”. One is well rid of such animals, for they refuse to load into lorries or get distressed en route. You can’t take them anywhere.

After my journey to Cheltenham, my sympathies are with the horse.

Maybe they suffer mal de mer too.

After hours in the swaying Pendolino carriages of the West Coast mainline, then 90 minutes in a taxi, my head tight against the roof, able only to see kerbs and road markings, facing backwards in both, I was consumed by motion sickness to the extent that death was a welcome alternative.

I can only put it down to the physics that governs high buildings.

The higher you go, the more you sway. In a high wheelchair, with its own movement, rocking against the swing of the train or the pull of the corner of the road, one’s balancing mechanisms are overwhelmed.

Feel the love

T

o Cheltenham, then, mal de mer or not, for the festival and I would like to say thank you for the incredibly moving reception from Times readers who came to see me in conversation with Libby Purves. Whether or not it is corny to say this, I don’t care: you really did make me feel loved.

We won’t end abuse by constantly spying on each other Ross Clark

G

eorge Orwell foresaw Big Brother, but he never imagined that so many of us would one day become Little Brothers, concealing cameras and microphones in our clothes, cycle helmets and children’s toys for our own private surveillance.

Yesterday the Care Quality Commission issued guidelines for anyone planning covertly to monitor staff looking after relatives in care homes. True, cases of appalling treatment have been revealed through covert surveillance, such as Panorama’s exposé of Winterbourne View in Bristol, which led to 11 staff being convicted. But do we really want to create a society in which we all spy on each other all the time?

It is all very well a wannabe Panorama reporter sneaking into granny’s nursing home to fit a pinprick camera in her vase — until you think of yourself being under constant surveillance. Is there anyone charged with the welfare of

We are Little Brothers, sneaking a camera into granny’s vase

an elderly person, child or animal who would not be embarrassed if footage of everything they had done over the past few years was edited into one five-minute “highlights” tape? We would all look abusive if you spliced together clips of every time we had ever shouted at other members of our family.

Everyone has to be given room to make mistakes, without which we would never learn. This applies as much to care assistants as to anyone else. That doesn’t excuse abuse or sustained maltreatment and neglect.

But if surveillance by private individuals becomes routine the sense of proportion that I am sure is always exercised by Panorama’s editors will quickly go out of the window. YouTube will fill up with grainy clips purporting to show neglectful and incompetent care assistants at work.

And if we spy on them we can expect them to spy on us. Which care home won’t want to protect itself from claims of abuse by filming residents and their families? That might make equally enlightening viewing, as residents assault and hurl abuse at care assistants and their families harangue staff with petty and unrealistic demands.

Anyone determined to commit abuse will quickly learn to live with the threat of surveillance, taking care to land punches only in locations away from the victim’s personal possessions, in which the cameras will inevitably be installed. We can be thankful that covert surveillance has exposed abuse, but the more sparingly it is used the more effective, and less oppressive, it will be.

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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Opinion

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Party leaders are economical with the truth Labour and the Conservatives have been less than honest about the hard financial choices we face at the next election Robert Peston

@peston

I

t was the conference season of forgetfulness. Ed Miliband’s omission of the government deficit — still running at too close to £100 billion a year for most people’s comfort — from his leader’s speech caused a frisson because of its implication that reducing the rate at which the national debt soars nearer to 100 per cent of national income is not necessarily a priority.

For those of you wondering what all the fuss is about, it is mainly that paying interest to lenders on a huge debt is not a desperately productive use of taxpayers’ money.

There is also evidence that longterm economic performance tends to suffer when debt as a proportion of GDP reaches the kind of ratio that we already have in the UK (and in extremis there is possible economic meltdown when debts become so big that they cannot be serviced — although the UK’s public finances are so far a world away from catastrophe).

So it was a bit odd that Mr Miliband didn’t nod to how a Labour government would be mean-ish with public spending, since this is what the shadow chancellor, Ed Balls, had been insisting on only a few hours earlier.

There is no simple choice between cutting and not cutting. Mr Miliband would never make that case, when he remembers that the UK has a deficit equivalent to about 6 per cent of GDP, the widest of any big rich western nation, including France and Italy which are generally seen as being in worse economic shape than the UK. But there is an important debate to be had about how — and how fast — the deficit should be reduced.

For one thing, on the Bank of England’s analysis, investors are now literally donating money to the government: they are charging interest rates for loans with maturities from zero to 25 years that are lower than the expected rate of inflation; or to put it another way, the government can borrow not for free, but for better than free — for a negative real cost.

But if money for the government is so cheap, shouldn’t it simply go crazy and cover the walls of Whitehall in gold leaf? Why on earth is George Osborne bothering himself to shrink the public sector at a rate and to a

size that Margaret Thatcher never contemplated when those who control the world’s great pots of cash have handed him the blingiest of platinum cards and are begging him to max it out?

Well it is never a good idea to pay for recurring public service costs such as the salaries of doctors and firefighters with debt, because if at some point in the future interest rates were to rise (and yes, that will happen one day, perhaps sooner than

Investors are literally donating money to the government

you may like) those salaries would suddenly become unaffordable.

Let us say bonjour here to the relatively new prime minister of France, Manuel Valls, who was in London yesterday and is talking the talk of at least some shrinkage of the magnificently appointed French state (which includes a cherished national right to free taxi rides for the sick to hospital and for some kids to school).

But here is something you should know. When investors want to give free money to governments like ours, it is in part because they don’t think the long-term prospects for the private sector are all that splendid,

and they fear future economic malaise. They lend to the public sector cheaply because they have to park their cash somewhere and the rewards from the private sector just don’t look juicy enough.

That would lend weight to a so-called Keynesian notion, last fashionable when platform boots and loon pants were my uniform of choice, that it is reasonable for government to improve the longterm prospects of the economy by investing large amounts in infrastructure, roads, school buildings and railways. And arguably it should finance this investment by borrowing for 25 years at the negative real interest rates currently on offer.

Funnily enough this is Labour’s official policy, although it is rather coy about it — preferring to point out that it wants to balance the current budget — that is, spending on civil service salaries, welfare payments and so on — by 2020.

There is another argument, made

by George Osborne, that the national debt has risen so far and so fast (on his watch, after the initial mess made by his Labour predecessors) that the UK’s creditors would fall out of love with the government if they could not be confident that the ratio of debt to GDP would start to fall in a few

short years. That is why he would balance the budget on current and investment spending by 2018-19 and in the process would need to shrink the state by almost £30 billion more than Labour would do.

But perhaps as important to Mr Osborne’s claim to be the soundest steward of the exchequer has been his continual insistence that he would not cut taxes beyond what was affordable.

So it was a bit odd to hear David Cameron promising to raise the threshold for the 40p tax rate and boost the tax-free earnings band at a cost over the next parliament of £7.2 billion.

Quite where the money for this would be found has not been made clear, since so far Mr Osborne has made a down payment of only £3.2 billion a year by freezing many benefit payments for two years, compared with total cuts of more than ten times that which would be required to balance the books and cut those income taxes.

So perhaps Messrs Miliband and Cameron are suffering from an identical malady that seems to afflict party leaders late in a parliament: short-term, pre-election memory loss.

Robert Peston is the BBC economics editor

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Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

Leading articles Daily Universal Register

Trolling the Trolls

Recent events have shown that online abuse can end in tragedy. The police and social media companies should both play a greater role in curbing excesses On balance, people rarely scream abuse in the face of strangers in the street. When families are bereaved, jeering gangs do not gather outside their house to gloat at their misfortunes. Sportsmen, it is true, may face abuse from the stands, though few would suggest to them in direct conversation that they should face capital punishment for missing open goals. Political campaigners on the streets are rarely subject to insistent threats of murder, rape or the slaughter of their families.

Yet all these things happen on the internet every day. A woman accused of targeting the parents of Madeleine McCann with online abuse was found dead in a hotel room. No link between the death of Brenda Leyland, 63, and these accusations has yet been definitively established. But it is hard not to suspect that this is an instance of lives, both cyber and corporeal, coming devastatingly together.

There exists on the internet a sizeable constituency prepared to say ghastly, unspeakable things with seemingly no consideration for the feelings of their victims. It is a matter for psychologists whether they would wish to do such things in the real world. Either way, they are a source of considerable distress to the subjects of their derision.

After being accused of attacking the McCanns on the social messaging site Twitter, Leyland

replied, “I’m entitled to do that”. She doubtless believed she was. A week ago, Peter Nunn, 33, was jailed for 18 weeks for sending menacing and abusive messages to the MP Stella Creasy and to Caroline Criado-Perez, a feminist activist who campaigned to have Jane Austen depicted on bank notes. Nunn is a delivery driver and father of one, with no previous convictions. In his messages he threatened the pair with rape.

It is to be hoped that convictions such as his will remind people that their online lives are not some computer game without consequences. Invariably, when offenders tweet their way into court, they have not expected to find themselves there.

Law enforcement is erratic and inconsistent when it comes to policing social media, sometimes appearing to care not at all, and sometimes crashing down like a bludgeon, as with the 2010 conviction (later overturned on appeal) of Paul Chambers, who joked on Twitter about blowing up Nottingham airport when it was closed because of snow. Or there was the 56-day sentence of Liam Stacey, who was jailed for racist tweets after the collapse of the footballer Fabrice Muamba.

Often our overworked police forces may well feel they have better things to do than to worry about such trivia. Yet there is a line between rude-

ness and harassment, and many of those who use social media should better understand the difference and know where that line is. The law certainly has a role in seeing that they do.

A far greater role could be played too by the social media themselves. Habitually, online services such as Facebook and Twitter like to portray themselves as a tabula rasa on which can be scrawled the most vile abuse with no involvement from the providers. They imply they have no responsibility for the messages they carry.

Sometimes this neutrality is wholly admirable, and many such sites deserve credit for their reluctance to censor even when pressured to do so by illiberal regimes worldwide. Yet these services have a responsibility towards their users when the services are used to facilitate bullying and abuse.

Laws governing freedom of speech differ across the globe but such sites ought, at the very least, to be aware of those differences. It should be far easier to report abuse on social media, far easier for victims to be protected and far easier for prosecuting authorities to trace the identities of those who exploit such sites as a means of abuse, and then to pursue them through the courts. Only then can we protect the innocent and prosecute the offenders.

The trolls need themselves to be trolled.

The Broad Point

Lord Prescott is right to warn against Labour’s narrow core-vote strategy Lord Prescott, Labour’s former deputy leader, is combative and difficult. He took the idea of reaching out to voters so literally that he punched one of them in the face while campaigning. Yet this weekend he offered Ed Miliband advice that was subtle and considered. It is advice that the Labour leader should not ignore.

Lord Prescott’s analysis can be summarised like this. Labour could win the election merely by coasting home, allowing Ukip to defeat the Conservatives. Yet it is fighting a governing party that knows how to win and is lifting its game as the election approaches. Coasting is an extremely risky strategy.

At the Conservative conference, the leadership showed energy and an appetite for office. It set out an attractive programme, anchored by its economic credibility. Yet at Labour’s conference, as Lord Prescott put it, “the atmosphere was flat”, lacking policies and leadership. “Ed,” continued the former deputy prime minister, “seems to be pursuing a core vote strategy of getting 31 per cent of traditional Labour supporters with a few ex-Lib Dem voters.”

What makes this argument more powerful is its author. Lord Prescott, after all, achieved high office primarily because he helped to keep Labour’s activists and core support loyal to Tony Blair. He understands the party base well and articulates its concerns. Yet he always appreciated that this base could not win on its own. It needed to reach a much broader electorate. His stock phrase “traditional values in a modern setting” sounded like an advertisement for a high-street jeweller. But it proved a highly successful political strategy, attracting new voters while keeping the old ones.

Labour’s mansion tax proposal, one of the very few concrete policies the party has offered, demonstrates how little its current leadership understands the way in which the party wooed swing voters in the Blair years. Seduced by the false idea that this is a tax only on the rich, Mr Miliband has adopted a policy that threatens residents in prosperous parts of the country, but who may not be prosperous, with a bill they will struggle to meet.

Others, while not immediately threatened with the imposition, will nonetheless wonder how long before the tax reaches them either through prop-

erty inflation or the threshold being lowered. All this for a measure which may not raise much money, and which will throw up untold and time consuming difficulties that will damage Labour’s credibility even further.

The mansion tax is exactly the sort of idea that Mr Blair culled from Labour’s programme as part of his modernisation programme. It has furthermore aroused the ire of some of the party’s few financial backers, such as John Mills.

Yet at least Labour has been clear that it will introduce a mansion tax. In most areas there has been almost total silence. It was not just the deficit that Mr Miliband forgot to mention in his speech.

There was remarkably little that explained his overall approach to government. The suspicion must be that Labour’s leader wants a high-spending, high-taxing, left-leaning and interventionist government but is afraid to say so because he fears, with reason, that the electorate does not share his desire. He seems to be hoping to creep past the finishing line without anyone noticing. This is a dubious strategy, which is quite likely not to work and most certainly does not deserve to.

A Noble Nobel

The scientists’ work in the field of neuroscience has deepened understanding of how the brain calculates and remembers where it is. They have discovered how nerve cells within the brain allow us to judge distance and move around. These place cells and grid cells, as they are called, are the instruments by which we know where we have been, where we are and where we are going.

The discoveries lie at the heart of a problem that has preoccupied some of the greatest of philosophers and thinkers through the ages, including Descartes, Locke and Hume. What is the foundation of consciousness and memory?

Nature notes Chaffinches, unlike some farmland birds, are doing well.

Walking along a country lane between February and June, one can often hear as many as ten of the pinkchested males within a mile, all singing their brisk and cheerful song in the hedgerow trees. During winter they are not so evident, but they can be picked out by their loud “pink, pink” calls, and the soft, lip-smacking call they make as they fly off. They stay around their territories, generally in pairs. In addition, enormous numbers of immigrant chaffinches are now coming in from Scandinavia for the winter. They fly to the French coast, and then cross the Channel.

Here they live very different lives from our native birds. They flock in the fields to feed on weed seeds, and particularly favour a field with a wood next to it. All day one can see them going up and down between the earth and the trees. The brown-breasted females travel further than the males, and there is often a preponderance of them, especially in Ireland. Some of the males stay at home, and Linnaeus, the great 18th-century classifier of nature, saw them on their own in winter in Sweden. So he gave the chaffinch the Latin name coelebs, or bachelor — a name that it still has. derwent may

Birthdays today Clive James, pictured, broadcaster, chat show host, author and poet, Sentenced to Life (2014), 75; Dame Jenny Abramsky, chairwoman, National Heritage Memorial Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund, 68; Christopher Booker, journalist and author of The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories (2004), 77; Michael Casebourne, chief executive and secretary, Institution of Civil Engineers (1999-2001), 69; Simon Cowell, music and television impresario, 55; Sir Colin Chandler, chairman, easyJet (2002-09), 75; Alesha Dixon, singer, Drummer Boy (2010), 36; Thomas Keneally, author, Schindler’s Ark (1982), The Daughters of Mars (2012), 79; Professor Sir Harold Kroto, Royal Society research professor, Sussex University (19912001), 75; John Mitchell, principal research officer, Meteorological Office, 66; Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, 62; Jayne Torvill, Olympic ice-skating champion (1984), 57; the Right Rev Desmond Tutu, archbishop of Cape Town (1986-96), 83.

On this day

Science is illuminating the mysteries of the mind and the brain Of all the questions that science has yet to resolve, among the greatest is inside ourselves: the brain.

Yet great strides have been made in recent years in understanding this most delicate and complex of instruments.

The Nobel committee yesterday honoured, with the prize for physiology or medicine, three scientists, one of them British, who have been at the forefront of discoveries in cognition. They are John O’Keefe, of University College London, and Edvard Moser and May-Britt Moser, of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. They eminently deserve recognition.

UK: Nato holds Joint Warrior, one of Europe’s largest military exercises, in Scotland.

World: The IMF publishes the forecast part of its world economic outlook; a flawless pink diamond is expected to fetch more than £7m at Sotheby’s Hong Kong; the Islamic haj pilgrimage to Mecca officially ends; the UN security council meets to discuss Syria.

Methodical, evidence-based research is helping to illuminate the answers. There are exciting practical applications that the research might have in treating Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders. Yet even without these, the contribution to knowledge of this work is a thing of beauty.

It was once common, even as late as the 19th century, to assume that living organisms contained some vital essence that was different from the atoms of ordinary matter. Not so. Science is a unity, in which gaps in our knowledge are being filled — outward, into the universe, and inward, into consciousness.

In 1806 Josiah Wedgwood patented his invention of carbon paper; in 1919 KLM was founded, making it the oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name; in 1959 the far side of the Moon was first photographed, the pictures being relayed to Earth by Russia’s Lunik III.

The last word “If men are to respect each other for what they are, they must cease to respect each other for what they own.” AJP Taylor, British historian, Politicians, Socialism and Historians (1980)

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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Letters to the Editor

1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF Email: letters@thetimes.co.uk

France? Boss’s outburst was bad for business

Human rights laws Sir, One of the most important tests of any proposal to change human rights legislation (letters, Oct 6) is what kind of message it sends internationally. In almost 80 nations homosexuality is illegal and human rights are explicitly denied. In many other countries the rights of drug users and sex workers are similarly denied. Countries such as Russia, Uganda and many more would be bound to argue that if the British were not prepared to abide by international standards why should they? norman fowler The House of Lords Sir, How appropriate to see that David Gottlieb (letter, Oct 6) was writing from Thomas More Chambers on the subject of the Human Rights Act. In Robert Bolt’s A Man for all Seasons, More says to Roper, who has suggested that “he’d cut down every law in England to get after the Devil”, the following: “And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned round on you — where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat?

This country’s planted thick with laws from coast to coast . . . and if you cut them down . . . d’you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then?”. Perhaps Mr Cameron should reconsider. michael percy London SW11

Action not threats Sir, One of the wisest sayings in times of conflict is that one should never point a gun at one’s enemy’s head if one is not prepared to pull the trigger.

Tempting as it is — in the face of the murders of hostages like Alan Henning — for David Cameron to claim that he will bring “Jihadi John” and his fellow assassins to justice, he should resist the temptation. Every time he makes a promise that is not fulfilled, he gives Isis a propaganda lift. I believe that in the recent past no Islamic terrorist group that has murdered British hostages abroad has been brought to justice. Mr Cameron should stop making empty threats or commit to deploying ground forces. stephen porter London NW6

Corrections and clarifications 6 We incorrectly referred to “British Rail”, which did not exist before 1965, as the originators of a collection of railway posters dating from the 1920s and 30s (News, Oct 4). The posters we showed were advertisements for the London and North Eastern Railway.

The Times takes complaints about editorial content seriously. We are committed to abiding by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (“IPSO”) rules and regulations and the Editors’ Code of Practice that IPSO enforces.

Requests for corrections or clarifications should be sent by email to feedback@thetimes.co.uk or by post to Feedback, The Times, 1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF

Sir, As a longstanding customer of Peter Jones, part of the John Lewis Partnership, and an equally longstanding Francophile I was amazed at Andy Street’s attack on France (“John Lewis boss says France is ‘finished’ ”, Oct 3). All countries go through difficult periods. Britain has done so and is recovering. There is no doubt that France will also recover, and it remains a leading country, and an important trading partner of Britain. In a number of ways it is more effective than we are, for example in reaching decisions about high-speed rail and airport capacity, and we have turned to it for help with nuclear power. Mr Street should keep his francophobe sentiments to himself. Among other things it is bad for business. derek ezra House of Lords Sir, I couldn’t agree more with Mr Street’s view that France has lost it.

On our summer holiday I was struck by how far behind the times the country still is. Woe betide you if you try to get a table at a restaurant after 2pm or on a Sunday evening (“C’est fermee!”), try to take a dip in the hotel pool between 2pm and 5pm (“C’est fermée!”) or ask the patron of your pricey B&B for a bucket of ice to chill some wine (“What do you think this is — a hotel?”). Meanwhile the motorway signs promised adventures ahead such as “Voiture en feu!” and “Animaux en route!” which never materialised. However when we came across a real forest fire there

No way to care Sir, The report “Relatives to spy on care homes” (Oct 6) is an admission of the failure of privatisation. All such facilities should be handed to local authorities for monitoring and regulation with sufficient funding to provide properly trained inspectors.

Power to remove callous staff and irresponsible owners should be incorporated into the structure. Care for the elderly and vulnerable should not be subject to the overriding pursuit of profit. Instead, this deregulation-obsessed government intends to hand permission and,

on this day october 7, 1914

THE ENEMY’S LACK OF RUBBER Lady French yesterday formally presented to Guy’s Hospital the rubber flooring for the Stephen Ward as a gift from the Rubber Growers’ Association. The flooring, which has the warm approval of the medical and nursing staff, was made and laid by the Leyland and Birmingham Rubber Company.

Mr McEwan, chairman of the association, said that about 170 of the producing companies had

was no warning, no police, and chaos reigned as everyone got out of their cars to watch. It was a relief to cross into Spain where we could eat at the times that suited us and were treated hospitably. robbie broughton London SE21 Sir, Andy Street may well suggest that France is “sclerotic, hopeless and downbeat”, but I am sure that he will continue to send his buyers to Maison & Objet, the biannual gift and housewares trade fair in Paris, where John Lewis picks up good ideas. We have been exhibiting at the show for several years and often see his employees searching for inspiration. In view of his opinions, will Mr Street postpone his plans to launch a French-language website and perhaps stop selling French products? george krygier Tobs, the Old Basket Supply, London E16 Sir, Mr Street is right at the geopolitical and economic level; France is in terminal decline, but then so is all of Europe. Mr Street was not commenting on the quality of life, however. There is no question that life here in Provence gives a different and somewhat misleading picture. Rubbish is collected daily, whereas in rural England it is every two weeks at best. The French health service makes the NHS seem like that of a third-world country.

Even small villages have pharmacies (and fresh bread shops). There are bus services everywhere and the implicitly, responsibility for evidencegathering and surveillance to family relatives. Distressed relatives would be likely to watch for the aspects that are obvious to the untrained eye but overlook crucial long-term effects, while lacking holistic objectivity. david hibbert Chadderton, Oldham

We must act now Sir, Your report on the potential spread of ebola (“Ebola ’may reach Britain in three weeks’ ”, Oct 6) makes solemn reading. However, current thinking is that with the West’s more contributed, and members had responded so generously when the proposition was made that a large installation was given to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in August, and on Friday next week Lady Jellicoe had undertaken to hand over their gift of flooring to the Children’s Hospital, Great Ormond Street.

The rubber industry was much concerned in the war, and when the time came to tell the full story of how the Government were forced two weeks ago to declare rubber conditional contraband another of the romances of commerce would be unfolded. The efforts of the enemy to secure rubber for his airships, motor tyres and many other purposes, and the manner in which he had been headed off by growers and the trade, would make a good story. All the manufacturers were busy making waterproof groundsheets for the Army and surgical goods in endless variety.

The Association on Monday voted a gift of 1,000 hot-water bottles made from plantation rubber to the

trains are comfortable and on time.

Gendarmes turn out instantly even for minor crimes. The list goes on.

Of course, all of this is unaffordable, as is the welfare state everywhere in Europe, with its ageing population.

For the elderly, life in countries in terminal decline is very pleasant.

But I would advise anyone under 40 in France to emigrate — as many are doing already. stanislas yassukovich Oppede, France Sir, France is far from being “finished” and there are many fields where the French are streets ahead of us. On a parochial level, Le BHV Marais in Paris offers a much bigger and more varied range than John Lewis in Oxford Street and almost any French market has an array of fresh produce to dwarf any branch of Waitrose. Mr Street even manages to damn the Gare du Nord, the Eurostar terminus in Paris whose trains currently sell Waitrose products in their buffet cars; one wonders for how much longer. raymond gubbay London WC2E Sir, We were amazed to read Andy Street’s comments about France where “nothing works and worse, nobody cares about it”. Having just had the same experience with an order for two sofas and an armchair for a property in France from John Lewis, we suggest that Mr Street focuses on the shortcomings of his own organisation. john and lesley turner Bruntingthorpe, Leics advanced medical facilities we should be able to cope. This may be unduly optimistic, but even if it is not, any infected person reaching Britain could just as easily reach the teeming favelas of tropical South America or southeast Asia or India. Not only has the time come to concentrate all our efforts on containing and eradicating this disease in its homelands, but governments should also be organising a shutdown of all but humanitarian and medical travel between affected countries and the rest of the world. Three weeks from now may be too late. john harvey Rodmell, E Sussex British Red Cross Society.

Mr Cosmo Bonsor, on behalf of the governors, accepted the gift with heartiest thanks. It was, in the opinion of the staff, an ideal flooring for quiet and cleanliness, and much better than the parquet and mosaic flooring in other wards. war names for flowers A feature of the Royal Horticultural Society show at the Horticultural Hall is a collection of asters, among which a new variety of a heliotrope colour named “Louvain” — chiefly remarkable for its striking pyramidal flower spikes — attracted much attention.

The exhibitor is the Hon Vicary Gibbs. Another war name is that of a new orchid “General Joffre” (Miltonia Bleriana), exhibited by Messrs Sander and Sons, St Albans.

Its curiously flat blossom is white with rose markings on the petals. sign up for a weekly email with extracts from the times history of the war ww1.thetimes.co.uk

Crisis solved We are told that “the NHS needs billions of pounds”, yet no-one will recognise that its debt is dwarfed by the amount owed for private finance initiative (PFI) contracts. If the government would take action the deficit would be eliminated overnight.

Most PFI contracts have been “rolled up” and sold on and are now in the hands of private equity companies, and are held almost entirely overseas.

If the government were to buy back all contracts, at no more than 100th of a penny in the pound, the only ones hurt would be the private equity companies; there is little or no involvement by UK pension funds or shareholders. It would be a major gain for the economy. m cohen Godmanchester, Cambs

Pubs’ fungi Sir, There is no doubt that mushroom hunting should be a joy (letter, Oct 6) but the rise of the gastro pub eager to provide wild delicacies does little to help. The chef will have engaged the services of a fungi forager who will guard the patch that produces the best porcini or chicken of the woods.

Woe betide a casual forager seeking “the quiet hunt” when they stumble across the professional’s cache of chanterelle. The observation by Mr Carluccio that they are “one of the most important elements within the ecological chain” should make us leave them well alone and get on with farming a more diverse array of fungi. rob yorke Abergavenny, Monmouthshire Sir, In France you can walk into any chemist’s shop with the mushrooms you have picked on a day out and be told which ones are safe to eat. It is a free public service. dr robert bruce-chwatt Richmond, Surrey

Wear Ukip? No! Sir, Daniel Finkelstein may be right on the narrow point (“Ukip is doomed to be the dead parrot party”, Oct 1) but he misses the wider picture.

Ukip is to policy what the catwalk is to fashion: it launches outrageous and populist policies not in expectation that they will be adopted, but in order to watch the mainstream parties manufacture high street versions that are buyable. We will never wear Ukip, but everything on offer at the election will have been influenced by it. jane shaw Dorking, Surrey

Take a seat Sir, These days young people tend spontaneously to offer me a seat on the bus. This is at one level encouraging: good manners are not in decline. The shadow-side is the unwelcome confirmation that skinny jeans and a modern haircut don’t allow us septuagenarians to get away with it indefinitely. the rev claire wilson London NW3

Zip-a-Dee Sir, Writing as someone who is — um how shall I put it? — over 25 (“To er is human, but only for the elderly”, Oct 6), I find that my favourite and indeed most useful word in a crisis is “doo-dah” . gaye poulton London N7

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Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

World

US sends in Apaches after bombing fails to halt Isis Iraq

Kobani

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s ate hr

US forces in Iraq have escalated their aerial campaign against Islamic State militants, launching strikes with Apache helicopters for the first time — with Washington immediately facing new allegations of “mission creep”.

The use of low-flying attack helicopters, equipped with Hellfire anti-tank missiles and rapid-fire cannon, to hit Isis targets near the city of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, marks a significant escalation in the war against Isis.

It is an acknowledgement that limited US airstrikes are failing to halt the momentum of the militants; in particular, those laying siege to the Kurdish town of Kobani on the Turkish-Syrian border. Yesterday the black flag of Isis fluttered over the town’s eastern suburbs, sparking street-to-street fighting.

“Urban guerrilla warfare has started and the fighting is taking place for the first time in districts at the eastern entrance to Kobani, in Maqtala al-Jadida and Kani Arabane,” Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said. “The jihadists and the Kurds are clashing in the streets, between apartment buildings.” Hundreds more civilians have joined the flood of refugees heading towards the Turkish border.

The Apache helicopters were sent to Baghdad in July, with the US government insisting that their only role was to provide “force protection” to the US embassy and to US advisers based at the capital’s international airport.

However, US Central Command said the helicopters had been deployed at the weekend, alongside aircraft, against targets that included two mortar teams, one large Isis unit and two smaller units.

Andrew Krepinevich, a former senior Pentagon official, said that President Obama was pursuing a strategy in

Jarablus Eu

Michael Evans Hannah Lucinda Smith Sanliurfa Tom Coghlan

TURKEY

Turkish-Syrian border

Tel Abyad

SYRIA Isis controlled

20 miles

TURKEY

Isis artillery strikes

Isis advances

Isis flag raised Hand-to-hand combat

KO BA N I Hand-to-hand combat

Isis artillery strikes

SYRIA Isis captures Mistenur hill

Hostage’s letter reveals his fear

T

he parents of the latest American hostage threatened with beheading have released a heartrending letter he wrote about his fate (Will Pavia writes in New York).

“I am obviously pretty scared to die but the hardest part is not knowing, wondering, hoping, and wondering if I should even hope at all,” wrote AbdulRahman Kassig, who changed his name from Peter Kassig when he converted to Islam.

“If I do die, I figure

Abdul-Rahman Kassig with his mother, Paula

that at least you and I can seek refuge and comfort in knowing that I went out as a result of trying to alleviate suffering and helping those in need.

In terms of my faith, I pray every day and I

am not angry about my situation in that sense.”

In the letter, received by his parents in June, he discusses his faith. “I am in a dogmatically complicated situation here, but I am at peace with my belief.”

His parents — Ed, a teacher, and Paula, a nurse — released the letter in an effort to answer the “many questions” they have received about his conversion. “We see this as part of our son’s long spiritual journey,” they said.

They did not say how they had got his letter.

Terror groups pledge to back caliphate Robin Pagnamenta Mumbai Bel Trew Cairo Aoun Sahi Islamabad

Jihadist groups from across Asia have declared their support for Islamic State and called for attacks against nonMuslims, fanning fears of a growing international backlash to the US-led airstrikes in Syria and Iraq.

The statements by militants from India, Pakistan, Libya and Uzbekistan come amid mounting signs that Isis is using its financial muscle to recruit fighters around the globe to forge a common front.

Security analysts said the potential convergence of different jihadist groups was a “very dangerous development”, with long-term implications for the region. It illustrates how Isis is profiting from the propaganda value of western action being directed against the group and its al-Qaeda-linked rival,

Nusra Front, painting it as an attack against all Muslims.

Hundreds of militants from Pakistan and Afghanistan are already fighting in Iraq and Syria, and western intelligence agencies fear that an endorsement from jihadist groups worldwide could lead to a flood of new recruits.

“If you are in the fortunate position to kill an American or European . . . or other unbelievers who have declared war on Islamic State, then do so,” Maulana Abdul Rehman al-Nadwi al-Hindi, the leader of a Pakistani group, Ansar al-Tawhid fi’Bilad al-Hind (AuT), said.

Isis sympathisers in Peshawar, Pakistan, have been distributing pamphlets supporting the group, and Isis flags have been seen at street rallies in Indian-administered Kashmir.

In Afghanistan, Taliban commanders have been offered financial rewards for switching their allegiance from Mullah Omar to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi,

the Islamic State leader. His group has had messages of support from even farther afield: Usman Gazi, a leader of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, whose fighters were involved in an assault on Karachi airport in June, wrote in an online statement: “Islamic State is free from the patriotic or nationalist agenda . . . you can see Arabs, Chechens, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Kyrgyz, Russians and many English-speaking Muslim mujahidin in its ranks.”

On Saturday, a Libyan jihadist group headed by Abdel Baset Azzouz, a father of four who used to live in Manchester, publicly pledged its allegiance to Isis.

Fighters of the Islamic Youth Shura Council paraded through the Libyan city of Derna on the backs of trucks mounted with anti-aircraft weaponry.

In Egypt, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, another jihadist group, posted images online of its militants beheading three men accused of spying for Israel.

Iraq and Syria which was similar to the decisions taken by two of his predecessors, JF Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, and which led to the increasing involvement of the US military in Vietnam in the 1960s. “Today is eerily reminiscent of Vietnam. Then, we wanted to avoid committing combat troops, so first we put in advisers to train and support the local military. Then we expanded the effort through bombing campaigns,” Mr Krepinevich said.

“Ultimately we were forced to commit ground forces, since bombing could not prevent the enemy from controlling and coercing the local population, and our local allies were not up to the task of defeating them on the ground. We seem to be on a similar path now.”

Fierce gun battles raged in Kobani as Isis fighters tightened their noose.

Kurdish YPG forces have been trying to defend the town since Isis launched a massive attack from positions to the east, south and west. Residential neighbourhoods have been pummelled by tank rounds and mortar shells as the two sides vie for control of Mistenur hill, a strategic high point.

Alan Semo, the representative of the Kurdish YPG in Britain, said: “They are determined to resist. This is the last chance they have. Without support from the international community, the only weapon we have is the will.”

The YPG initially managed to repel the advance, claiming to have killed 20 jihadist fighters. By lunchtime yesterday, however, the black flag of Isis could be seen flying over a high building in the east of the town. There was continuing heavy bombardment in other areas.

YPG fighters are hopelessly outgunned by Isis, which boosted its arsenal with cutting-edge US weaponry looted from Iraqi army bases in Mosul in June. Hundreds of Kurdish volunteers have jumped the border from Turkey to join the fight for Kobani, but the YPG is able to supply them with only rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.

“The YPG will defend it to the last minute,” Idris Nassan, a Kobani official, said defiantly. The YPG claimed to have killed another 98 Isis fighters yesterday, while losing 15 of their own, and five Free Syrian Army fighters.

In the skies above them, the US-led coalition has targeted Isis positions over two nights of airstrikes around Kobani, destroying a number of tanks and anti-aircraft guns. However, despite hopes that Turkey might intervene to stop Kobani falling to Islamic State, there is still little sign that the troops stationed at the border, supported by 14 tanks, will enter the fray.

Kurdish leaders say that unless there is a ground intervention, Isis will take full control of Kobani within days. “We need urgent help from the international community,” said Mr Nassan. “What happened in Sinjar is in people’s minds here. We’ve seen how they behead and rape. People are scared.”

6 Isis militants launched twin suicide attacks against another Kurdish-held enclave in northeastern Syria yesterday. At least 30 Kurdish fighters died when two lorry bombs were driven at a checkpoint near Hasakeh district.

When Dilar Gencxemis, a mother of

Mother is

T

he Kurdish female fighter who blew herself up on the front line in Kobani, killing several Islamic State fighters, was a mother of two young children (writes Hannah Lucinda Smith in Sanliurfa).

Dilar Gencxemis — who was known by her nom de guerre Arin Mirkan — was a commander in the YPJ, a female unit fighting to defend the town against an onslaught by Islamic State.

She is thought to have detonated a grenade as she ran towards a group of Islamic State fighters late on Sunday evening, and is being hailed as a heroine by Kurds around the world who are watching the increasingly desperate battle to save the town.

Sources inside Kobani say that Ms Gencxemis, who was about 20 and from the Syrian town of Afrin, ran out of ammunition during a

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Astronauts in a coma for journey to Mars Page 25

Anger at statue of wartime kiss Page 26

Key critic of Putin regime asks Britain for asylum Russia

Ben Hoyle Moscow

two, ran out of ammunition she charged Isis fighters and detonated a grenade. Jihadists believe that if they are killed by a woman they will not see paradise

hailed a heroine for suicide attack on jihadists close-range gun battle with Islamic State fighters east of Mistenur hill, a strategic high point that overlooks the town.

Her attack was a desperate act against well-armed Isis fighters.

Last week, three women fighters who had been captured by Isis were beheaded. Pictures have since been posted on the internet with the jihadists posing with their severed heads.

Female fighters make up about half of the Kurdish forces fighting in Kobani. The YPJ is an all-women offshoot of the YPG, the Kurdish militia defending Kobani, and was initially set up to provide security for women living in Syria’s Kurdish areas. The deteriorating situation in Kobani, however, has drawn women fighters to the front lines.

Suicide bombing has become a commonly used tactic in Syria’s civil war, and is particularly

Ceylan Ozalp is said to have shot herself with her last bullet as Isis surrounded her

favoured by extreme Islamist factions such as the Islamic State and Nusra Front. However, this is believed to be the first time that a female fighter with a Kurdish militia has launched a suicide attack in the conflict.

Their presence is likely to unnerve Islamic State’s jihadist fighters, who believe that they will not go to paradise if they are killed in battle by a woman.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which is based in Britain but has a wide network of sources inside Syria, also confirmed the attack by the female suicide bomber.

The outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been fighting Turkish forces for 30 years in an insurgency for self-rule and is linked to the YPG, has used female suicide bombers for attacks inside Turkey in the past.

Yesterday, Isis raised its flags on

the eastern edge of Kobani, as the battle for the city entered a decisive phase.

The YPG issued a statement carried by Firat, the pro-Kurdish news agency, extolling Ms Gencxemis bravery and indicating that more suicide attacks were possible. “If necessary, all YPG fighters will follow her example, and the gangs will not be allowed to achieve their aim of taking Kobani,” it added.

Her act was hailed by Kurds and others supporting the opposition to Isis in Kobani, with #ArinMirkan becoming a popular hashtag on Twitter.

Reports this week suggested that a 19-year-old female YPG fighter named Ceylan Ozalp killed herself with her last bullet rather than fall into Isis hands.

However, reports in Turkish media have suggested that she may still be alive.

A close ally of Alexei Navalny, the Kremlin’s most effective domestic critic, is seeking asylum in Britain to escape political persecution.

Vladimir Ashurkov, a former banker who helped to fund Mr Navalny’s campaign to become mayor of Moscow last year, wrote on Twitter: “Some time ago I requested that the government of the United Kingdom . . . grant me asylum because of political persecution by the Russian authorities.”

His tweet followed the publication in the pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia of what it said was his asylum application.

The application claimed that Mr Ashurkov had travelled to Britain so that his partner could give birth there.

“While in the UK, a fabricated criminal case was opened against me,” Mr Ashurkov said in the application. He added that in his absence he had been charged with embezzling electoral funds during the mayoral race. “If I return, I will face detention, inhuman conditions, torture and unfair judicial procedure,” he wrote.

A warrant for his arrest was inssued in June by the Investigative Committee, a law enforcement body with a strong political bent.

Mr Ashurkov, 42, left a senior role at Alfa Group, a private investment fund, to help Mr Navalny to expose corruption among the Kremlin elite.

Mr Navalny, 38, came a close second to Sergei Sobyanin, the Kremlinbacked incumbent, in the mayoral race.

Denied a mainstream TV audience, Mr Navalny spoke to ordinary Muscovites at up to five public meetings a day, mobilised thousands of volunteers, and secured the support of 200 businessmen.

He eventually fell just short of forcing a second round run-off but independent monitors agreed with him that the results had been falsified and called for a recount. It was not granted, but Mr Navalny told a rally of his supporters then that a huge opposition movement had been born, capable of winning future elections.

A witty, partly western-educated lawyer, Mr Navalny made his name as a blogger who exposed the lavish lifestyles of Russia’s ruling elite. He then emerged as the inspiring leader of the street protests that momentarily threatened President Putin’s grip on power. However, he found himself fighting numerous criminal cases, all of which he says were fabricated.

Last summer he was sentenced to five years in jail for embezzling logs and sawdust after a farcical trial. He was surprisingly freed the next day and allowed to run in the mayoral elections but was then placed under house arrest in February in connection with a separate fraud case. A report in Izvestia last week suggested that he would be moved to a remand centre when his house arrest term expired.

The annexation of Crimea and the Kremlin’s confrontation with the West over Ukraine have transformed the political landscape in Russia since Mr Navalny ran for mayor, with Mr Putin gaining record approval ratings.

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World

Japan missed chance to raise alarm over volcanic eruption that killed 63

KYODO NEWS / AP

Japan

Richard Lloyd Parry Tokyo

The eruption of a Japanese volcano that killed 63 people last week could have been predicted, an expert claimed, as it emerged that monitoring equipment on the mountain was out of order.

Koshun Yamaoka, a professor of vulcanology and a specialist on the subject of Mount Ontake, said that installing new measuring instruments, at a cost of a few hundred thousand pounds, could have given the authorities the advance warning necessary to close the mountain to hikers. Three of the 12 earthquake sensors on the volcano were not working at the time of the eruption.

Some scientists have suggested that a bias towards earthquake research has left one of the world’s most seismically active countries with a dearth of volcano experts, and that even the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), which is also responsible for weather forecasting, puts more effort into earthquakes and tsunamis than volcanoes. “If you divide the budget of the JMA by the number of Japanese, then the spending per head is the price of a cup of coffee,” said Professor Yamaoka, of Nagoya University.

“That covers the weather and earthquakes as well. The proportion that goes on volcanoes — that’s the equivalent of a lump of sugar.”

One of Japan’s most active volcanoes, Mount Sakurajima, which overlooks the city of Kagoshima, has 25 seismographs for recording the earthquakes which often precede eruptions. Mount Ontake, by contrast, has 12 — two of which were due to be replaced this

Richard Lloyd Parry

Thailand’s king has had his gall bladder removed, increasing tension and unpredictability in the country less than five months after its latest coup.

Doctors played down the seriousness of the operation, which came after Bhumibol Adulyadej was admitted to hospital last week, officially because of a high fever. However, the 86-year old

Mexico City The bodies of 28

students who went missing last week after clashes with police in Iguala, in the crime-ridden state of Guerrero, have been found burnt and disfigured (James Hider writes). The charred remains were in a mass grave on a hilltop outside the town. They had been doused in petrol and burnt. Some had been dismembered. At least 15 other students are still missing.

Two hitmen told prosecutors that they were acting on the orders of local police when they shot at least 17 of the victims during a protest by students from a teacher-training college.

MH370 search begins Perth An ocean-floor search for

Flight MH370 began off the west coast of Australia yesterday, with authorities optimistic that the missing Boeing 777 will be found within a year (Bernard Lagan writes). Three ships will scour a 60,000sq km region by towing search devices in grid patterns 100m above the sea bed. MH370 vanished after changing course on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8.

Gang ‘ate man’s body’ Madrid Four former members of a

As searchers scour Mount Ontake for bodies, a scientist says the eruption may have been caused by an earthquake in 2011

month. A third operates only seasonally, when electricity from a nearby ski resort is available.

Scientists, including Professor Yamaoka, detected unusual earthquakes beneath the volcano 18 days before the eruption, which, in retrospect, appear to have been precursors of the disaster.

However, because they had limited data, and were unable to see signs of “crustal deformation”, they chose not to raise the alert from the lowest level.

Some scientists believe that the 2011 earthquake, the most powerful on record in Japan, has set off subterranean events which could trigger more

eruptions. “Characteristically, after a huge earthquake offshore, volcanoes which were quiet erupt in two to three years’ time,” Masaaki Churei, a former director of earthquakes at the JMA, told Yomiuri Shimbun. “There is a possibility that the 2011 earthquake prompted the eruption of Mount Ontake.”

Fears for Thai king after surgery Please keep talking, Seoul urges Thailand

Bodies of 28 students in police clash found

king’s health is always a matter of concern in Thailand, in part because of widespread uncertainty about what will happen after his death.

When he went into hospital in 2009, he stayed for almost four years, emerging last summer into a life of seclusion in his seaside palace in Hua Hin. He has looked frail on the few occasions that he has been seen in public since.

A royal spokesman said the king’s overall condition had improved.

North Korea

Richard Lloyd Parry

The two Koreas must conduct regular high-level talks, the South’s president, Park Geun Hye, said yesterday after an unprecedented visit to the South by the senior aide to Kim Jong Un. The meeting opens the possibility of a new era in relations, with President Park — who has said that she would be willing, in the right circumstances, to

meet the North Korean dictator himself — saying that she wanted more than “a one-time dialogue”.

She was speaking after the closing ceremony of the Asian Games in Incheon, which were attended by North Korean athletes. The Pyongyang delegation was headed by Hwang Pyong So, vice-chairman of the country’s chief ruling body, and the man who appears to be closest to Mr Kim. The dictator has not been seen in public for a month.

Serbian paramilitary group killed a compatriot and ate parts of his body, a court in Madrid has heard (Graham Keeley writes). Milan Jurisic, 40, was beaten to death before the gang, members of the Tigers of Arkan, allegedly used an industrial mincer to cut up his body. They ate parts and threw the rest in a river, the court heard.

The men, who were arrested in Spain, deny the charges.

Games official charged Athens An official who allegedly

allowed a number of expensive venues built for the 2004 Olympics to languish unused has been charged with criminal mismanagement. Constantinos Matalas, head of the defunct Olympic Properties SA, faces up to ten years in jail if convicted.

Prosecutors want to charge his successor, Dionysis Stamenitis, an MP for the New Democracy party, with the same offence. (AP)

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Astronauts may be put in a coma for mission to Mars United States

Sleepy journey

It sounds like a plotline from a sci-fi movie: a spacecraft hurtling millions of miles through the cosmos carrying a crew of comatose astronauts strapped upright in their berths.

Yet, Nasa, which aims to land the first humans on Mars in the 2030s, is giving serious consideration to the idea of placing its planetary pioneers in a state of stasis — akin to hibernation — to get them there.

By cooling the core body temperature and slowing the metabolism, astronauts could be placed in deep-sleep mode to get them through the taxing 180-day journey with fewer physical and psychological challenges, while also allowing Nasa to reduce the costs of spacecraft construction, fuel and food.

1 Therapeutic

Jacqui Goddard Miami

hypothermia lowers body tempreature to 32-34C

2 Electrical

pulses stimulate key muscles to prevent withering

3 Fed through intravenous liquid nutrients

“This is one of the options that’s going to enable humans to get to Mars faster, cheaper and sooner,” said John Bradford, president of Spaceworks Enterprises Inc, an aerospace engineering company contracted by Nasa to design a capsule capable of sustaining astronauts in stasis.

Films such as Alien have long depicted space travellers making epic voyages while in suspended animation; a fictitious bodily state in which the metabolism is reduced to zero and all cellular activity is halted by freezing. Stasis, however, stops short of suspending life and, since 2003, has been widely used in the treatment of patients who have suffered traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries, heart attacks or strokes.

By infusing patients with cooling intravenous fluids, placing them on chilled gel pads, or having them inhale

evaporative gases, doctors can induce therapeutic hypothermia, in which the core body temperature is reduced to between 32C and 34C (89F to 93F) and the metabolism is slowed, thus minimising the risk of tissue damage following a period of insufficient blood flow.

The method has been used to treat tens of thousands of critically ill patients, including Michael Schumacher, the retired Formula 1 driver who suffered severe brain injuries in a skiing accident last year.

It is typically employed for a maximum of one week. However, funded by a $100,000 grant from Nasa, Spaceworks is looking into the feasibility of longer-term use in astronauts journeying to Mars — a distance that varies from 34 million to 250 million miles (55 million to 400 million km) — and which could last for six months. One SAMO VIDIC / GLOBAL NEWSROOM / EPA

astronaut would remain conscious to tend to the crew and spacecraft.

A robotic arm would be used to deliver low-level electrical pulses to key muscle groups, to prevent withering, and the astronauts would be fed intravenously with liquid nutrients.

By having the crew immobile, the need for food, water, galleys, entertainment, clothing, gym equipment and living space could be reduced threefold, Spaceworks’ study found, and the size of the spacecraft itself reduced by four fifths. “This is something people have seen in movies, but we’re talking about technology that’s already real. It’s happening in hospitals every day, saving lives, and Nasa can benefit by adapting it,” said Mr Bradford. “We see no competing issues, no showstoppers.

Hopefully, this will be the way mankind goes to Mars.”

Huge blast at Iranian nuclear site kills two Iran

Hugh Tomlinson Dubai

Dress rehearsal Free runners turned up in a variety of costumes to practise for the Red Bull Art of Motion competition, which took place on the Greek island of Santorini

Serial killer pens memoir Speak up on sex, says Pope United States

Will Pavia New York

Novelists including Stephen King have drawn on the story of Dennis Rader, the Kansas serial killer who calmly discussed killing his ten victims before a courtroom filled with their relatives when he was finally brought to justice.

Rader has announced that he is writing a book in which he hopes to explain acts that still appear incomprehensible.

In a letter to The Wichita Eagle, Rader said he hoped the book would help police and psychologists to gain a better understanding of the criminal mind.

“That would be my way [of helping to repay my] debt to society,” he said.

He said any profits would go to the trust set up for the families of his victims to ensure that he did not profit

from his crimes. “I can never replace their love ones, my deeds too ‘dark’ to understand, the book or movies, etc. is the only way to help them,” he wrote.

Rader, who called himself BTK, which stood for “bind, torture, kill”, murdered ten people between 1974 and 1991. He is co-writing a book about his life with Katherine Ramsland, a professor of forensic psychology at DeSales University in Pennsylvania.

Dr Ramsland stressed that the book would be an academic work that sought to explain the mind of one of America’s most notorious serial killers, for the benefit of detectives and criminologists. The work has involved visiting Rader in prison, but she declined to discuss the process in detail. “It’s in part his perspective, guided by someone like myself with psychological training.”

Vatican City

Tom Kington

The Pope urged clerics to speak up about homosexuality, divorce and contraception, after a survey suggested that worshippers were turning away from traditional church teaching.

Addressing nearly 200 bishops and cardinals at a two-week synod in the Vatican, he told them to “say everything the Lord tells you to say, without human respect, without fear”.

After pre-synod clashes between church liberals and hardliners who resist relaxing church teaching, Francis also warned prelates to “listen with humbleness and welcome with an open heart what your brothers say”.

The synod is expected to focus on the unpopular ban on communion for

divorced Catholics who remarry. Since the Church does not recognise civil divorce, it considers such Catholics are living in sin. Cardinal Péter Erdo, who is moderating the synod, hinted in his opening address yesterday that the Vatican could allow divorced worshippers to remarry after a period of penance.

He also recommended ways to make it easier to annul a marriage through the Church — avoiding the need for a civil divorce. “Divorced and civilly remarried persons belong to the Church,” he said. “They need and have the right to receive care from their pastors.”

To prepare for the synod, the Vatican last year launched a worldwide survey asking worshippers and priests for their input into the debates about birth control, divorce and gay marriage.

Daniel Johnson, page 18

An explosion at a military base where Iran is suspected of conducting nuclear weapons tests has killed two people and injured several others.

The blast at the base in Parchin, southeast of Tehran, on Sunday evening, was heard several miles away, according to Iranian sources. Local news agencies said the explosion was caused by a fire at an explosives factory.

There was no immediate indication that the blast was caused by sabotage, however. Iran’s nuclear and military sites have been hit by a number of mysterious explosions in recent years, and physicists have been assassinated.

However, the blast coincides with the arrival in Tehran of inspectors from the United Nations nuclear watchdog, who are trying again to get access to the base. Tehran is accused of testing components for a nuclear warhead at Parchin. The regime denies the claims but refuses to allow inspectors in.

Western powers accuse Iran of buying time in an effort to hide evidence of past atomic weapons research. Citing satellite imagery, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported fresh activity at Parchin last month.

The timing of Sunday’s explosion will raise suspicions that the incident will be used as another excuse to bar IAEA inspectors from the site.

Iranian websites claimed that windows in the area were shattered by the explosion.

While Iran negotiates with world powers over a permanent solution to the dispute over its nuclear programme, the IAEA is investigating suspicions of nuclear weapons activity.

Iran denies seeking to build a bomb, but has dragged its heels with the IAEA. In August, the regime missed another deadline to grant access to sites and officials who are suspected of involvement in nuclear weapons research.

In the interim, Iran’s nuclear and military facilities have been struck by a series of apparent sabotage attacks, most ascribed to Israel’s spy agency, Mossad.

An explosion at the Alghadir base near Tehran in 2011 killed General Hassan Moghaddam, the architect of Iran’s ballistic missile programme, and several members of the Revolutionary Guard.

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World DAMIEN MEYER / AFP / GETTY IMAGES

said the woman in the photograph had been identified as Edith Shain, a nurse, who always maintained that she had been happy to be kissed. “She never considered that she was assaulted,” he said.

However, feminists say the woman was Greta Zimmer Friedman, an Austrian whose parents died in concentration camps, and who said she had been unable to escape. The photo has enraged feminists for years, and ye although Ms Friedman has said in the past: “I wasn’t kissing him. He was kissing wa me,” she never complained. In fact, she and the sailor, George Mendonsa, met several times after 1945. The museum has no plans to remove the statue.

Fury at Normandy ‘sex assault’ statue

F

rench feminists are demanding the removal of a statue installed in Normandy to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War on the ground that it portrays a sexual assault (writes Adam Sage in Paris).

Unconditional Surrender, by J Seward Johnson, the American sculptor, is based on a VJ-Day photo of a sailor kissing a woman in New York in 1945.

The statue, nicknamed The Kiss, which weighs 13 tonnes and stands 7.62m (25 feet) tall, was lent by the Sculpture Foundation in California, to the Caen Memorial Museum, near Pegasus Bridge, and was installed outside, amid extensive publicity.

Officials described it as an “iconic work” recalling the end of the war.

However, Osez Le Féminisme, the feminist group, has started a petition calling for it to be removed, because the woman had a kiss forced upon her by the sailor.

The group points out that Alfred Eisenstaedt, who took the original photo, said the sailor had grabbed all the women around him — old and young — to kiss them.

“The sailor could have laughed with these women, hugged them, asked them if he could kiss them with joy,” said the group. “No, he chose to grab them with a firm hand to kiss them. It was an assault.”

Stéphane Grimaldi, the museum’s director,

My life as a grave robber and rent boy, by Gérard Depardieu France

Charles Bremner Paris

Gérard Depardieu is in third place on France’s bestseller list with a lurid account of his life, including fresh details of his youth as a rent boy and grave robber.

The actor, who is 65 and has claimed to drink up to 14 bottles of wine a day, pours out a tale of suffering in characteristically defiant tones.

He swipes at President Hollande and the establishment in It Happened Like That, a book of conversations with Lionel Duroy, a writer and friend.

Elaborating on past claims, often taken with a pinch of salt, Depardieu talks of the failure of his mother to abort him with knitting needles. “To think I almost killed you,” he says she told him.

He helped a thief to excavate graves to steal jewellery and shoes from the

newly buried, he says. He also served three weeks in jail for stealing a car.

He spent school holidays in the public lavatory at Orly, then the main Paris airport, where his grandmother was an attendant. Moving to Paris at 20, he lived off prostitution. “From an early age I had realised that I was attractive to homosexuals,” he says.

“The thug in me was alive and kicking. I would rip some of the men off, beat up others and leave with all their money.” He also stole from students taking part in the May 1968 protests, he claims. He was saved when spotted by a theatre promoter.

Depardieu, who has entered tax exile in Russia as a guest of his friend President Putin, talks of his extreme distress at the death from pneumonia in 2008 of his estranged son Depardieu says he helped to steal shoes from bodies

Guillaume, also an actor. He also laments the destruction that age has inflicted on his body. “Once you are 65, you can always exercise, take hormones, whatever, your old skin starts falling off your muscles, you become a sort of fat cow,” he says.

In the book and interviews he pours out his contempt for modern France. “If we continue like that, France will be a new Disney World, it will be France World, people will wear berets, and Chinese tourists will come and touch their moustaches and their big noses,” he says. He left France because he did not want to pay taxes to crooks and because people are jealous of success, he says.

He defends Mr Putin, who has given him Russian nationality. “He is like me,” he says. “He has come from a long way away and no one would have bet a penny on him.”

Daniel Cohn-Bendit, a 1968 student rebel and recently retired MEP, said: “Depardieu is a great actor.

Apart from that, he should shut up.”

Jobless reminded to brush their teeth New Zealand

Bernard Lagan Wellington

Unemployed New Zealanders are being reminded by daily text messages to brush their teeth, as part of an offical drive to improve dental health.

The messages to the nation’s 25,000 young unemployed, sent out by the health ministry and described as “motivational”, ask whether recipients had brushed and tells them to respond when they have.

The ministry decided to issue daily reminders to unemployed youngsters after it noticed a rise in claims for assistance to pay for emergency treatment.

A spokeswoman said that the programme — believed to be the first of its kind in the world — was easy to

implement, cost-effective “and allows us to contact hard-to-reach populations to address health disparities”.

Unions and welfare groups have dismissed the health benefits of the policy, claiming that it intruded needlessly into people’s lives.

Paul Blair, a spokesman for the Combined Beneficiaries Union, said: “It just deepens the stereotypes that beneficiaries can’t do anything for themselves, get a job or even brush their teeth.”

Batch Hales, a spokesman for the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties, said: “Badgering unemployed people in this way intrudes on their basic civil rights.”

The ministry said that a ten-week trial of the programme had improved

the oral hygiene of the unemployed, but did not say whether it had reduced the rate of youth joblessness.

“When we started only 53 per cent reported they were brushing their teeth. By the end of the 10 weeks that had risen to 73 per cent,” said Belinda Smith, a member of the team in charge of the scheme.

“Even better was that this success stretched across all the participants, and this wasn’t limited to any particular age, gender or ethnic group.”

Belinda Smith, a member of the team in charge of the scheme.

New Zealand’s first national oral health survey conducted five years ago uncovered high rates of dental ill health, finding their teeth to be in worse shape than those of their Australian neighbours.

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Brazilian leader risks being ousted by united rivals Brazil

James Hider Sao Paulo

Brazil faces a tight presidential run-off after the failure of left-wing incumbent Dilma Rousseff to secure a first round victory left her facing a centre-right, pro-business opponent who won more votes than expected.

The last-minute surge by Aécio Neves, the Social Democrat senator and former governor of Minas Gerais state, swept aside Marina Silva, the environmentalist who had been tipped to win just a few weeks ago. Mr Neves, a 54-year-old economist, won 33.6 per cent of the vote, while Mrs Rousseff came in with 41.6 per cent.

“The desire for change was widely present in the first-round vote. The opposition candidates together were successful in getting the majority of the votes,” Mr Neves said.

Mr Neves’s strong showing caused an 8 per cent rise in the Brazilian stock market, which had fallen on concerns that Mrs Rousseff’s interventionist policies and trade barriers would continue for four more years.

His chances may be increased after Ms Silva, who won 21 per cent of the vote, said she was considering throwing her weight behind him to unseat Mrs Rousseff. Even if she does not, analysts believe many of those who voted for her on Sunday will back Mr Neves in the run-off on October 26.

“A united opposition has, we believe, a slight edge over President Rousseff in the second round. . .” said Tony Volpon of Nomura Securities.

Mrs Rousseff’s Workers’ party has run Brazil for 12 years. Under her predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the country was praised Dilma Rousseff and Aécio Neves face a run-off

for combining economic growth with social welfare programmes that lifted tens of millions out of poverty. But with the economy stagnating and corruption scandals swirling around Mrs Rousseff’s administration, many want a more business-friendly approach.

Ms Silva was seen by many as too much of an unknown quantity despite her popularity among the young, hundreds of thousands of whom took to the streets demanding better healthcare, education and public transport.

Mrs Rousseff infuriated Ms Silva by using an effective campaign of attack adverts to destroy her surge in the polls, a tactic that may come back to haunt her if Ms Silva backs Mr Neves.

Eduardo Giannetti, a close aide to Ms Silva said he would be doing just that. “I don’t think it would be good for Brazil to have four more years of [Mrs Rousseff],” he said. “Now we have to re-establish confidence. Our best chance for that is with [Mr Neves].”

Mr Neves served for two terms as governor of Minas Gerais, a wealthy mining and farming state in the southeast, and where he is credited with turning around the state’s financial woes, with tighter spending, including cutting his own salary by almost half.

While he has promised to maintain popular welfare plans, one of which gives poor families money to send their children to school, he had promised free market reforms and greater transparency in public spending, although his own party has also been embroiled in corruption allegations.

Mr Neves’s pedigree stretches back to his grandfather, Tancredo Neves, a democratic reformer who struggled against the military dictatorship. He had was chosen as president but died before taking office.

GUILLAUME PAYEN / NURPHOTO / REX

Officials in Hong Kong have not ruled out using more force to rid the streets of the remaining 1500 student protesters

Hong Kong diehards vow to fight on Hong Kong

Leo Lewis Hong Kong

Students prepared for another uneasy night on the streets of Hong Kong, vowing to “protect the city’s democratic future” as the number of their supporters fell and the likelihood of police intervention rose.

Protest leaders and government officials last night emerged from long negotiations with a framework for “multiple rounds of talks” and a tentative agreement to act on any consensus.

However, students made clear that the agreement would not have the immediate effect of ending their rallies, no matter how sparsely attended they have now become.

The government of Hong Kong, which has repeatedly warned in bloodcurdling terms, about the consequences of a prolonged occupation of the

streets, would not confirm that it had now ruled out further use of force. The use of tear gas by police in the early days of this crisis had the effect of boosting crowd numbers as much as tenfold.

After a day of tapering throngs in the roads outside the main government buildings, pro-democracy protesters said that they were determined to hold out to ensure that their challenge continued to antagonise the Communist leadership in Beijing.

“Realistically, I think that most of us here know that it will be very, very difficult to win concessions from Beijing, but we do not want to be the city that gave up on the idea of democracy,” said Daisy Chen, a medical student who has volunteered at a first-aid station amid the protests for the past seven days.

However, a gathering feeling of fatigue and frustration has now infiltrated the ranks of protesters, whose en-

campments have become more isolated as the business district of central Hong Kong returned to near normality yesterday.

Crowds across the three sites occupied by the demonstrators dropped to about 1,500 at lunchtime.

A handful of protesters who were last night left in charge of “holding” one of the barricades that run across one of Hong Kong’s largest roads admitted that there was “very little” they could do to prevent the authorities dismantling the makeshift rampart of crash barriers, planks and plastic cones.

The most feisty action of the day once again took place in the Mong Kok retail and residential district, where some local business owners were enraged at the disruption and have engaged in shouting matches and occasional scuffles with the students.

Leo Lewis, China in numbers, page 35

Hold your nose as you vote, Republicans are advised United States

David Taylor Washington

Republican supporters are being urged to hold their noses as they vote for old guard Senators in a sign of the civil war raging within the party.

With less than a month to go until the mid-term polls, the Republican party looks as if it might seize control of the Senate from the Democrats, although it is making heavy weather of its goal, despite President Obama’s personal popularity plunging.

However, the Tea Party movement is deeply hostile to many Republican candidates, arguing that they represent an ageing establishment trying to cling to power. In North Carolina, activists are even urging Republican voters to wear nose-plugs in a symbolic protest when they cast their ballots on polling day.

According to one of the leading Tea Party figures, the biggest problem for the Republican establishment is trying to excite conservative voters about candidates who represent the status quo, fail to attack big spending or do not address the concerns of real people.

Matt Kibbe, the president of Freed-

omWorks, has six million members who unite under the Tea Party banner demanding smaller government, lower taxes and an attack on debt. “People, rightly and rationally, are looking for new blood, they want new ideas and new people and if they had their way they would just fire everybody in Washington and start over,” he said.

The uprising will put pressure on Republican leaders to be radical if they control Congress for the next two years, and is likely to affect the selection of a presidential candidate for 2016.

Mr Kibbe has helped to organise often bitter campaigns, attempting to unseat some of the oldest, most entrenched Republican members of the Senate, including Mitch McConnell, the leader, but with limited success.

Those moves have left the Tea Party frustrated that a win in the Senate will not be down to a grassroots insurgency — but determined nonetheless to influence the new Congress.

“It is true that there’s a civil war within the GOP [grand old party], but it’s really a cultural clash between citizens with better information and more power and the old poobahs who still

think that they get to decide on this stuff from the top down,” Mr Kibbe said.

The battle for the soul of the party has involved young, fiscally conservative candidates emerging as potential 2016 presidential candidates, all of whom owe a debt to the Tea Party movement. Senators such as Rand Paul, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz have all challenged the party leadership and are unhappy at the way that budget deals have been cut with Mr Obama.

The fresh faces are all likely to run against a preferred candidate of the Republican establishment, who has the backing of big donors and the party machine.

After initially getting behind Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor, the establishment favourite now seems

to be Jeb Bush, the younger brother of George W Bush.

Asked, what would be so bad about Mr Bush, Mr Kibbe said: “Erm, his last name. He’s really bad on a couple of issues that are becoming very important, like education. But, more importantly, it’s just an older generation . . . choosing a third Bush seems like the worst of all possible worlds.”

As grassroots conservatives increasingly organise their own campaigns, using Facebook to fight on issues such as standards in education, he said that the parties had lost control and decentralisation was “the new normal”.

Discontent with the Republicans’ direction Matt Kibbe has six million members who unite under the Tea Party banner

could also have an impact. “Old politics was all about money. If you didn’t win Iowa, didn’t win New Hampshire, your money dried up,” he said.

“Well that dissipated . . . how you raise money online is decentralised. Primaries will play out for a while, but I would be surprised if Jeb Bush emerged from the process, and a little bit depressed.”

6 President Obama is turning almost full-time to the campaign trail, but he will avoid states where the race is close (David Taylor writes).

Republicans have turned tight races in states such as Alaska, Iowa, North Carolina and Louisiana into a referendum on the Obama years. As a result, the president is avoiding those states as the Republicans seek the six-seat swing they need to take control of the Senate.

While the Democrats in some contests have distanced themselves from some of his policies, the Republicans seized upon Mr Obama’s remark that: “I am not on the ballot this fall. But make no mistake: these policies are on the ballot. Every single one of them.”

David Axelrod, a former Obama adviser, said he would not have included the line. “It was a mistake,” he said.

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the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

29

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Crying over spilt milk

Power station cracking up

Who controls the web now?

Page 31

Page 32

Working life, page 37

Farmers target shops as prices fall

Nuclear reactor’s future in doubt

Business

Inventor fears for its independence

Flying under the boardroom radar business commentary Alistair Osborne

T

hat’s the trouble with a $50 million Gulfstream corporate jet: the flat-pack version’s such a devil to put together. Ask Sir Richard Broadbent, the Tesco chairman. Just one weekend baffled by the tailfin diagram and he’s on the blower to an expert. Who better than Mikael Ohlsson, the ex-Ikea boss? Such a whiz, him, with an Allen key.

Full marks, too, to Sir Richard for thinking ahead and sorting the inflight catering. Fancy tapping up Richard Cousins, the man from Compass who took turkey twizzlers off the menu? No wonder Tesco shares rose nearly 3 per cent — the first upward tick for eight days. As new non-execs go, the pair look a class above most of the existing crew — faint praise, though that may be, what with them presiding over three profit warnings in as many months and watching £250 million profits go awol.

Still, Mr Ohlsson is bringing some actual shopping nous to the non-exec ranks, a breakthrough at a retail business. Meantime, Mr Cousins has some useful knowledge on the turnaround front, what with arriving at Compass in May 2006 on the back of four profit alerts and claims that the caterer had engaged in a “criminal conspiracy” to win United Nations contracts. He sorted that with £40 million, since when the shares have more than trebled.

Indeed, Compass investors must be relishing seeing him distracted by Tesco. Chairman-designate, anyone?

Eventually the duo will replace Tesco’s longest-serving non-execs — Patrick Cescau, Ken Hanna and Jacqueline Tammenoms Bakker — on the board for at least five years.

Yet non-execs are only one side of the coin. Under Sir Richard, the balance between the part-timers on up to £230,000 a year — excluding the chairman’s £706,000 — and the execs on the shop floor has taken an alarming turn for the worse.

Only three years ago, under the former chairman David Reid, Tesco had seven of each type of director.

Now, it’s nine-two to the non-execs.

Dave Lewis, the new chief executive, has many challenges — but producing executive talent for the board is one. Who knows?

Boardroom talk might then focus on supermarkets rather than, say, the latest corporate toy — even allowing for Mr Lewis already terminating Tesco’s jet-set days.

Plus ça change

C

hapeau to Manuel Valls, the French PM who hot-footed it to Blighty on the pretext of a chinwag with David Cameron — to beat up Andy Street. Must have “drunk too much beer” was Mr Valls’ diplomatic take on the John Lewis MD calling France “sclerotic, hopeless and downbeat”. You should see him sober, Mr Valls. Pity, then,

that the Frenchman was so unlucky with his timing. Forget the eurozone sentiment index, whatever that is, dropping to its lowest since May 2013. It was the terrible news from Paris: that a key part of the local economy is so Mickey Mouse. Yup, Euro Disney’s being bailed out again — ¤1 billion this time, with 40 per cent owner Walt Disney backing a ¤420 million rights issue and a ¤600 million debt-for-equity swap.

The numbers change, but it’s the same, sorry rollercoaster. Debts are up and visitors are down. A similar story went round in 2012, when Walt Disney was forced to take on some nice Parisian loans. There was 2004’s debt restructuring, as well.

No wonder the shares, worth ¤21.32 when the park opened 22 years ago, now trade at ¤3.13.

Now the park is pinning its hopes on Rémy, star of a “Disneylicious adventure that’s sure to leave you hungry for more”. He’s a rat by the way. Please don’t tell Mr Street.

Stuck in the middle

L

og on to the website of Britain’s biggest seller of second-hand motors, BCA Marketplace, and up pops “How to buy at an auction”.

Top advice it is, too — the need to “examine the vehicles in the line-up” and “listen carefully to the auctioneer” etc etc. Pity, then, that the head auctioneer himself, chief executive Jon Olsen, is so coy about how much he owns of a business he’s planning to drive to market — not least when the main reason for the float, valuing BCA at about £1.2 billion including debts, seems to be to cut borrowings from about £400 million to £235 million and allow the owners to sell shares.

Clayton Dubilier & Rice, the private equity firm, owns 70 per cent and 80 managers the rest — and, yes, Mr Olsen promises to disclose his stake soon. The company’s no old banger, either, with sales up 74 per cent over the past three years to £442 million and adjusted ebitda 27 per cent ahead at £62.5 million.

Yet car dealers are just the sort of middlemen the internet tends to supplant — and the industry already attracts enough suspicions.

No point Mr Olsen adding to them.

Beating a retreat

S

trip out Ed Bramson’s 20 per cent stake in Electra Private Equity and his Sherborne fund won support from investors with three million shares — versus board backing totalling 17 million. So, he got soundly beat. Still, he has forced a review of the company’s fees and balance sheet. Let’s hope he likes the outcome. The shares, at £25.75, are just above where he came in.

Getting his money out looks tricky. alistair.osborne@thetimes.co.uk

Mouse prince rides in to rescue castle

W

alt Disney has stepped in to rescue its struggling European theme park, agreeing to

support a €1 billion bailout for Disneyland Paris (Adam Sage writes).

A rights issue and debt restructuring — open to all investors and backed by the Walt Disney Company, which owns 39.8 per cent of the company — will inject €420 million into Euro Disney, the listed entity

that owns the park.

Another €600 million in debt owed to Walt Disney will be converted into an equity stake.

It is not the first time that the House of Mouse has ridden to the rescue, nor it is the first time that critics have claimed that the park outside Paris has struggled to pay its bills,

but there had been hopes that attractions such as Ratatouille, which opened in the summer, would improve its fortunes.

Mark Stead, finance director of Euro Disney, said that the restructuring would save €800 million over ten years. Euro Disney suffered a net loss of €78.2 million last year.

Bank to ring-fence balances up to £1m Philip Aldrick Economics Editor

Bank customers who place large temporary sums in their accounts after selling their home or inheriting money will qualify for special protection under new Bank of England proposals.

Under the financial regulator’s plans, “temporary high balances” of as much as £1 million will qualify for the full deposit protection that applies only to the first £85,000 of money in a bank.

The recommendation was one of several proposals that form the bedrock of the bank’s efforts to reorganise Britain’s lenders and insurers to prevent taxpayers coming to the rescue in another financial crisis.

Overhauling their systems will cost the industry as much as £4.8 billion, with customers likely to bear the brunt of the burden. Regulators say that the reforms are intended to stop a repeat of the multibillion-pound state bailouts of 2008 and 2009 and see off any future bank runs, such as the one at Northern Rock in 2007.

To strengthen the sector’s financial resilience, British banks will have to ringfence their retail operations against

potential problems in their investment banks, to reorganise themselves so that their IT functions do not shut down in the event of collapse, and to restructure their balance sheets so that bondholders bear losses before taxpayers.

Speedy resolutions will ensure that depositors up to the insured limit of £85,000 should not notice if their bank fails. In the event of a small bank’s collapse, the regulator hopes to transfer the deposits to a rival over a weekend, with no essential services disrupted. If no bank steps up, the aim is that depositors receive their money from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme within seven days rather than the twenty days at present.

In the event that a large bank fails, bailing-in the bondholders will buy time for an orderly resolution of the institution.

The principles of a rescue have been in place for years, but the recommendations from the bank’s Prudential Regulation Authority go further than before.

Depositors who have just sold their house, received a personal injury payment or an inheritance will also qualify for protection. Under the “temporary

high balance” proposals, up to £1 million per depositor will qualify as insured as long as it was placed in the account no more than six months before the lender’s failure.

Depositors who have more than £85,000 and do not qualify for the extra protection may not receive their money until the bank has gone through administration. They will sit high up in the creditor hierarchy, giving them a better chance of getting their money back.

The PRA’s proposals also include changes to insurance policyholder protection. It plans to raise the level of protection from 90 per cent to 100 per cent for annuities, claims arising from death or incapacity and professional indemnity insurance.

“These proposals will allow customers to have continuous access to the money in their bank account, or receive payment from the FSCS if this is not possible,” Andrew Bailey, deputy governor of the bank, said. “The increase in FSCS limits for certain types of insurance will mean policyholders who may find it difficult to obtain alternative cover, or who are locked into a product, have greater protection if their insurer fails.”

30

Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

FGM

Business

Need to know Your 5-minute digest economics International Monetary Fund: The Washington-based agency has recommended big changes to the way governments write their bonds as the continuing battle between Argentina and its “holdout” investors raised concerns over the viability of future debt restructurings after a US court ruling. One suggestion is that a binding decision can be made by creditors in the event of a default and debt restructure.

Germany: Factory orders collapsed in August at the fastest rate in five years as investor confidence in the eurozone took another beating, fuelling fears that the currency bloc is slipping back into recession. German factory orders for August dropped 5.7 per cent, the biggest fall since January 2009. The performance was far worse than the 2.5 per cent fall economists expected. Page 34 France: Manuel Valls, the prime minister, pleaded for more time to curb spending as France tried to avoid becoming the first euro state to have its budget rejected by the European Commission. He used a visit to London to say that it was impossible for his Socialist government to meet the eurozone’s deficit targets for two more years, despite a two-year reprieve already granted.

banking & finance 0.87% Bank guarantees: Customers who place large temporary sums in their accounts after selling their home or inheriting money will qualify for special protection under new proposals from the Bank of England. Under the financial regulator’s plans, “temporary high balances” of as much as £1 million will qualify for the full deposit protection that at present only applies to the first £85,000 in an account.

Goldman Sachs: The Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) alleges that the investment bank took advantage of LIA employees’ lack of financial experience to sell it a $1.2 billion collection of complicated bets on the share prices of western companies.

It said the fund lost its investment but the bank made about $350 million. Goldman denies the claims. Page 35 Minimum wage: Business lobby groups have expressed concerns that Vince Cable’s plan to boost apprentices’ pay by more than £1 an hour could deter some employers from taking them on in the first place. Page 32 Bloomberg: Michael Bloomberg, founder of the financial information provider and former New York mayor, has been given an honorary knighthood by the Queen for his “prodigious entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavours”.

As a US citizen he cannot be called “Sir Michael”, but can add the initials KBE. PwC: Turnover at the accountant rose by 6 per cent

to $34 billion. PwC said that growth in emerging markets outpaced that in developed economies.

Electra Private Equity: Shareholders rebuffed an attempt by Ed Bramson, the corporate raider, to get elected to the board and carry out a strategic review. Investors also refused to sanction the eviction of another director, Geoffrey Cullinan. Mr Bramson had argued that £1 billion of additional value could be unlocked at Electra, whose shares were capable of reaching £60 each. Page 32 Woodford Investment Management: Neil Woodford’s first new fund since he left Invesco Perpetual is to pay ‘C’ class shareholders a quarterly dividend of 0.7912p, less than the 1p it had hoped as part of its target of generating a yield of 4 per cent. Page 33 Pension Protection Fund: About 2,000 pension schemes will be worse off despite an average 10 per cent cut in the levy that bankrolls the industry lifeboat scheme.

The PPF said the overall levy next year would be set at £635 million, down from the £695 million this year. Page 34

construction & property 0.67% Premium property: The number of luxury homes being planned or under construction in London hit a record high this year, with £60 billion of properties due to be delivered over the next decade, according to EC Harris. The consultant warned that with shortages at every level of the capital’s construction industry, many are unlikely to be built on time.

Property Innovation Labs: An initiative aimed at finding a property portal to follow in the footsteps of Zoopla and Airbnb was unveiled in London

by Cushman & Wakefield, the property consultant, and Spire Ventures, a venture capital fund. Page 37

leisure 0.51% Hilton Worldwide: The Beijing-based Anbang Insurance is to buy the Waldorf Astoria in New York for $1.95 billion in a deal that will let the US hotel operator run the landmark property under a 100-year contract.

Camelot: The National Lottery will for the first time introduce non-cash prizes in an effort to reverse a fall in EuroMillions ticket sales in the first six months of the year, although overall sales rose by 4.8 per cent to £3.47 billion, as strong sales of Lotto draw tickets and scratchcards offset the EuroMillions decline.

Euro Disney: Walt Disney Company came to the rescue of its troubled European theme park as it agreed to back a €1 billion bailout for Disneyland Paris. The theme park will launch a €420 million rights issue open to all investors. Page 29

World markets FTSE 100 6,563.65 (+35.74)

6,750

natural resources 1.86% BHP Billiton: The world’s largest mining group has laid down the gauntlet to Rio Tinto by unveiling a $17 billion plan to cut the cost of iron ore production. The statement that it plans to cut costs by a quarter, alongside previously announced production increases, will push the mining industry closer to an all-out price war. Page 36

consumer goods 0.54%

retailing 0.34%

Jimmy Choo: The shoe brand made famous by the Sex and the City television series, has priced shares for its flotation at between 140p and 180p, which could value the company at £700 million.

SABMiller: Alan Clark, the Peroni and Grolsch brewer’s chief executive, rejected suggestions that its recent approach to Heineken had been a defensive move against a possible bid from Anheuser-Busch InBev, insisting that abortive talks with its Dutch rival had been in line with the normal investigation of M&A opportunities. Markets, page 39 Totally Wicked: A British judge has given the Blackburnbased electronic cigarette manufacturer the green light to take its legal challenge against EU controls on e-cigarettes to the European Court of Justice.

John Lewis: The French prime minister hit back at criticism from the managing director of John Lewis that France is “finished” by suggesting the department store boss had “drunk too much beer”.

Manuel Valls said Andy Street had made “some absurd statements” in his unprovoked attack last week.

Morrisons: The supermarket chain is in the sights of dairy farmers who are furious over the plunging price of milk in recent weeks. Farmers were set to protest outside a processing plant run by Müller Wiseman in Shropshire. Page 31 Tesco: Richard Cousins, chief executive of Compass, is being billed as a potential successor to Sir Richard Broadbent, chairman of Tesco, by some institutional shareholders who would like to see a more hands-on turnaround specialist chairing the retailer. Page 31

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Dow Jones 16,991.97 (-17.72) 17,400

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Nikkei 15,890.95 (+182.30)

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17,000

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technology 0.44%

Commodities Gold $1,202.11 (+10.48)

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Brent Crude $92.53 (-0.29)

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Hewlett-Packard: The US computing company is to be split in half only three years after Meg Whitman, its chief executive, scuppered her predecessor’s plan to break up the business. Page 36

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Currencies £/$ $1.6027 (+0.0067)

$ 1.660

£/€ €1.2730 (-0.0025)

¤ 1.295

1.640

media 0.35% Facebook: The social network’s purchase of WhatsApp Messenger through cash, shares and management incentives has ended up costing $21.8 billion compared to the $19 billion stated in February when the deal was first unveiled as Facebook’s share price has risen more than 13 per cent since then.

FTSE 250 15,277.01 (+46.93)

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The day ahead The International Monetary Fund is expected to cut its outlook for global growth today when it presents its latest health check on the world economy. It was forecasting 3.4 per cent growth for 2014 and 4 per cent growth for 2015 in July.

Christine Lagarde, the IMF’s managing director, warned last week that the world was at risk of years of sub-par growth unless countries united to “generate the policy momentum to power up global activity”.

German newspapers reported that Germany would be downgraded, and the eurozone in general is also expected to have its growth outlook cut. Britain has been upgraded three times in a row and has proved relatively immune to the eurozone’s problems.

The IMF is likely to reiterate Ms Lagarde’s call for greater co-ordination and to pile pressure on Europe to step up reforms, while making some room for stimulus measures.

Graph of the day The mining industry’s best days are behind it in Britain, but there still remain about 25 working underground mines. Mining, while not without its risks, has become safer over the last five years, with the rate of major accidents falling from more than five per thousand workers to less than three Major mining accidents Injuries per 1,000 miners, 2008-12 6 5 4

Source: Times analysis of Health and Safety Executive and ONS figures

2008

2009

3 2010

2011

2 2012

Results in brief Name

Pre-tax figure Profit (+) loss (-)

Proactis (technology FY)

£0.2m (£0.3m)

Dividend 1.1p p Jan 26

6 Results in brief are given for all companies valued at more than £30 million. f = final p = payable

The day’s biggest movers Company Petroceltic A takeover approach Just Retirement Deutsche Bank upgrades Antofagasta Further consideration of better US economic data Fresnillo Steadier precious metal Barclays Earnings optimism Royal Dutch Shell B A sharp fall in the oil price last week Ashtead Slowing construction in the United States United Utilities Profit-taking Royal Mail Ongoing performance concerns Cranswick Numis trims target price

BCA Marketplace: Europe’s biggest seller of used cars has announced plans to list in a flotation that could value it at £1.2 billion. The company, formerly British Car Auctions, and owner of WeBuyAnyCar, hopes to raise about £200 million. Page 34 Goop: Gwyneth Paltrow is planning to expand her lifestyle website, after appointing its first chief executive in a move to secure advertising, sell own-branded goods and syndicate its content. Page 32

Change 22.4% 5.0% 3.8% 3.5% 3.4% -0.5% -0.5% -0.6% -0.6% -2.7%

telecoms 1.11% Truphone: A small British telecoms company backed

by Roman Abramovich posted a pre-tax loss of £91.4 million. after a £130 million investment over the past two years to offer customers like Harley Davidson and Bugaboo, the pram maker, high-quality international data and call services at local rates.

XLN: A fund controlled by Blackstone has completed the acquisition of the telecoms company that sells services to small companies. Christian Nellemann, the founder and chief executive, said he would welcome a chance to take over Unicom, its rival, with the backing of his new owner.

transport 0.71% Luton airport: Nick Barton, a former managing director of Stansted Airport, has been appointed chief executive of Luton airport. The Luton job had been vacant since the surprise departure of Glyn Jones in the summer.

Little Red: Eighteen months after promising to break British Airways’ grip on domestic flights to Heathrow, Sir Richard Branson has raised the white flag over Little Red. Virgin Atlantic announced that it will close its short-haul operation from Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Manchester after months of failing to fill the aircraft and millions of pounds of losses.

utilities 1.68% EDF: The French state-backed company insisted that cracks at its 38-year-old Hunterston B reactor in North Ayrshire were expected and did not pose any safety risks. Experts said that the discovery, during routine maintenance, cast doubt over whether the reactor could continue operating into the 2020s as EDF Energy hopes.

Page 32

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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Farmers turn on Morrisons in protest at milk price fall Patrick Hosking Financial Editor

Morrisons, the supermarket chain, is in the sights of dairy farmers who are furious over the plunging price of milk in recent weeks.

Falling international dairy product prices, Russian sanctions, dwindling appetite for cream and a supermarket price war have led to sharp drops in the prices processors pay at the farm gate.

Hundreds of farmers were set to pro-

Going off Price breakdown (four pints, 2.3 litres)

£1.18p

Retailer mark-up

34p

Farmer’s loss

84p

Processor’s price

57p

Farmer’s price

Retailer’s price

11p

68p

Farmer’s production costs

Source: Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers/DairyCo

test last night outside a processing plant run by Müller Wiseman in Market Drayton, Shropshire.

The demonstration was orchestrated

by Farmers For Action, a group of more than 6,000 farmers, which plans to protest at sites run by the processors Dairy Crest and Arla and the retailer Morrisons. The unrest has led to speculation that processors and retailers could face blockades similar to those of 2012.

Morrisons has been blamed for the most recent drop in milk prices because it is retendering its milk supply contract, which is met by Dairy Crest and Arla, putting pressure on prospective bidders to squeeze farmers.

David Handley, the chairman of FFA, said: “We’ll go through them all. We’ve got Morrisons firmly ringed because of their tendering process. That’s having a very big destabilising effect.”

Processors were paying 35p per litre in May but are offering 27p for milk delivered from November 1, he said. Müller Wiseman had shaved 1.9p per litre from the price it paid to farmers from November 1, he said. In the shops the price of a four-pint container has dropped from £1.49 six months ago to £1, with some stores charging 89p.

Farmers fear further price cuts unless they put pressure on processors now, Mr Handley said. With production costs running at 30 to 32p per litre, most are farmers selling at a loss. “Dairy farmers are not going to be able to pay their bills,” Mr Handley said. “An awful lot of people are going to be in trouble.”

Milk output grew 8 per cent in the year to August in the UK, 5 per cent in the EU and 16 per cent in New Zealand, a major exporter, because of rising demand and, until recently, firmer prices.

The glut in Europe has been compounded by Vladimir Putin’s retaliatory sanctions against the West. Rob Harrison, the chairman of the dairy board of the National Farmers’ Union, said that Russia imported 250,000 tonnes of cheese a year before the sanctions.

“That’s had a big knock-on effect.”

The supermarket price war has not helped, because retailers see milk as a staple which has to be keenly priced.

Consumers’ turning to skimmed or semi-skimmed milk has led to a surplus of cream, driving down its price.

Morrisons said yesterday: “Morrisons have real sympathy for dairy farmers suffering from price cuts prompted by unparalleled movements in global dairy commodity prices. Suggestions

Cousins sets his compass for Tesco . . . and beyond?

Patrick Hosking, Danielle Sheridan

The chief executive of Compass Group is being billed as a potential successor to Sir Richard Broadbent as chairman of Tesco by institutional shareholders that want a hands-on turnaround specialist to lead the retailer.

Richard Cousins was named yesterday as one of two new non-executive directors at Tesco, as the supermarket moved to restore investor confidence after an accounting scandal broke last month.

One investor, who declined to be named, said that Mr Cousins might make an excellent chairman: “There may be a vacancy [in the chairman’s office] sooner rather than later and it would be a good idea to have someone in place who plausibly could take over.”

Sir Richard is under pressure after a number of disappointing years for Tesco, culminating last month in the admission that first-half profits had been overstated by £250 million and that four executives had been suspended. Some investors expect him to leave within three months.

Mr Cousins would “bring valuable UK and international corporate experience to the board”, Tesco said, as it

also named Mikael Ohlsson, the former chief executive of Ikea, as another new non-executive, addressing concerns that the boardroom contains no handson retailers.

The appointment of Mr Cousins raised eyebrows with some investors, however, who pointed out he had just left another FTSE 100 boardroom — Reckitt Benckiser — because he did not have the capacity to combine the role with his job at Compass, the catering group.

Reckitt Benckiser spelt out how stretched he was in its official explanation of his departure, saying: “Richard is assuming an increasingly day-to-day operational role as chief executive of Compass Group, which he has concluded will impact on his ability to devote sufficient time to his role as a non-executive director of RB.” A friend of Mr Cousins said that while he was busy at Compass, when he was approached about the Tesco role he felt it was too interesting to turn down. Under the corporate governance code, prospective directors have to be confident they have the time and capacity to discharge responsibilities before accepting the job, Oliver Parry, adviser to the Institute of Directors, said.

that our milk supply tender is a response to the current market situation are entirely untrue — we can confirm that our current five-year milk contracts continue early in to next year.”

After the blockades of 2012, supermarkets raised their buying prices, leading to a truce, but dairy farmers continue to go out of business. According to DairyCo, the industry body, there were 35,000 dairy farms in the UK in 1995. Now there are just over 13,000.

Business

Milk production rose in response to demand but dairy prices are falling worldwide

32

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Business

Nuclear reactor’s future in doubt after discovery of cracks in bricks Tim Webb

More safety questions have been raised over Britain’s ageing nuclear reactors after cracks were found in bricks that make up the reactor core at EDF Energy’s Hunterston B power station.

The French state-backed company insisted that the cracks at the 38-yearold reactor in North Ayrshire were to be expected and did not pose any safety risks.

However, experts said that the discovery during routine maintenance cast doubt over whether the reactor could continue to operate into the 2020s, as EDF Energy hopes.

The Scottish plant was originally scheduled to be shut down in 2011, but this was extended to 2016 with plans for another extension to 2023.

Colin Weir, the station director at Hunterston B, said: “During the current Hunterston outage, we found two bricks with a new crack, which is what we predicted during Hunterston B’s lifetime as a result of extensive research and modelling.

“It will not affect the operation of this reactor and we also expect that a few additional cracks will occur during the next period of operation.

Hinkley Point caught up in European row Tim Webb

A £16 billion project formulated by EDF Energy to build Britain’s first nuclear reactor in a generation at Hinkley Point in Somerset could be derailed by Austria.

European competition commissioners are expected tomorrow to formally approve generous subsidies, funded by levies on household energy bills, that have been agreed by the government and the French state-backed company.

However, Austria has vowed to take the European Commission to the European Court of Justice in the event of a “yes” vote, which would leave one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects in limbo.

An appeal would take at least a year to conclude and could delay the completion of the first of the twin reactors in Somerset by 2023, as originally scheduled.

EDF Energy would have to decide whether it could risk proceeding and committing billions of pounds to a project that would have to abandoned if the Austrian appeal was successful.

“The small number of cracked bricks found during routine inspection is in line with our expectations, the findings have no safety implications and are well within any limits for safe operation agreed with our regulator.”

During the summer EDF Energy shut down four reactors at Heysham, in Lancashire, and Hartlepool, which are of the same advanced gas-cooled design as Hunterston, owing to “unexpected cracking” in their boiler units.

The company expects the four reactors to be back in use by the end of the year, but their closure forced National Grid to bring forward plans to set up an emergency power reserve to keep the lights on this winter.

About 6,000 graphite bricks make up the stack around the reactor core and they degrade as they become more exposed to radiation. If they crack or become distorted, there could be problems inserting the control rods that shut down the reactors in an emergency. If the stack moves even a fraction out of place, cooling flows for the reactor core could be blocked and cause it to overheat.

EDF Energy will submit its next safety case for Hunterston B to the Office of Nuclear Regulation in January 2017. It will have to demonstrate to the regulator that it will be safe to continue to operate the reactor.

After the discovery of the cracks, the ONR said that EDF Energy was reviewing its inspection progamme for the rest of its reactor fleet. The regulator said: “ONR specialists will be monitoring this work closely over the next few months to inform our regulatory position in this area.”

John Large, a nuclear consultant, said that degradation of the graphite bricks was a common issue to all EDF Energy’s 14 AGR reactors. He added that it was impossible to detect the cracks in all the bricks, which cannot be replaced.

“EDF has been trying to cure this problem,” he said. “It’s a generic problem. You can’t confidently say that these reactors will pass a safety review.”

In June, EDF Energy said that it had raised a key safety threshold for the graphite bricks of its Dungeness B reactor in Kent.

As well as cracking, the bricks lose weight as they degrade, threatening the stability of the stack.

ONR agreed to the company’s request in June to increase the average weight loss limit from 6.2 per cent to 8 per cent. EDF expects the limit to be raised again to 11 per cent to allow the reactor to operate until 2028, ten years after its scheduled closure.

Cracks have been found in bricks at the Scottish reactor

REX FEATURES

Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

Employers snub Cable’s pay rise for apprentices Kathryn Hopkins

Lobby groups have expressed concern that Vince Cable’s plan to boost apprentices’ pay by more than £1 an hour could deter some employers from taking them on in the first place.

Katja Hall, the deputy directorgeneral of the CBI, which represents tens of thousands of employers, said that companies already paid their share into training; raising the cost of taking on young people, therefore, “would be unwise and put off many smaller firms from getting involved”.

John Longworth, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said that most businesses valued their apprentices highly and paid them significantly above the apprenticeship minimum wage rate. “The proposed Vince Cable’s plan could deter some employers from taking on apprentices

Paltrow adds to her Goop recipe

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wyneth Paltrow is planning to expand her lifestyle website, after appointing its first chief executive in a

move to secure advertising, sell own-branded goods and syndicate its content (Alexandra Frean writes).

The Goop blog and newsletter run by the actress said that it had hired Lisa Gersh, who used to run Martha Stewart’s media empire, to be its chief executive.

“I see this as a ‘next-level’ type of

move,” Paltrow, above, told The Wall Street Journal. “We want to build the business in all conceivable ways.”

Goop mixes the actress’s musings on existence (“honesty . . . is giving yourself the space actually to feel your feelings and be true to them”) with recipes, high-end fashion news and style tips aimed at women aged 25 to 45.

change will have minimal impact on businesses’ bottom line, but it must be up to the Low Pay Commission to make evidence-based recommendations to ensure that wage rates are right for market conditions,” he said.

Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC, said that it was right “for both young workers and the economy and will help encourage more young people into apprenticeships”.

Dr Cable, speaking at the Liberal Democrat party conference in Glasgow, said that the proposed rise from £2.73 to £3.79 an hour for about 31,000 apprentices in their first year could come in by next October, if approved by regulators. The Low Pay Commission will make its recommendations to the government next spring.

Dr Cable said: “With the economy on the road to recovery, all workers — including apprentices — should be able to share in the proceeds of growth. We want apprenticeships to remain an attractive option for young people deciding whether to earn whilst they learn or go straight into employment.”

Electra wins its battle with Bramson Miles Costello

Ed Bramson suffered a rare defeat yesterday when investors in Electra Private Equity saw off an attempt by the corporate raider to take control of its board.

At a meeting in London, shareholders speaking for more than 60 per cent of the votes cast rejected a motion to catapult Mr Bramson on to the board.

If successful, Mr Bramson had planned to carry out a strategic review at Electra, a £1 billion fund that is one of the City’s oldest listed private equity vehicles. He had argued that Electra had been suffering from chronic underperformance and that there was scope to unlock £1 billion of additional value and get the share price to £60.

Shareholders also knocked back a proposal that Ian Brindle, Mr Bramson’s associate, join him as a board director and that Geoffrey Cullinan, an incumbent, be thrown off.

Mr Bramson, who is based in New

York, made a personal appearance at the specially convened meeting.

So, too, did other high-profile City names, including Edward Bonham Carter, the former chief executive of Jupiter Fund Management. Mr Bonham Carter, whose sister is the actress Helena Bonham Carter, spent eight years working at Electra and came along as a small shareholder. He said that if Mr Bramson was so sure there was such value hidden in the company, he should launch a bid for the company and pay a premium for control.

Among other shareholders to speak at the meeting, which lasted less than an hour, was Max King, a fund manager at Investec Asset Management, who argued that Mr Bramson had “no insight, no thoughts, no opinion, no plans”.

The result brings to an end an increasingly tense stand-off between Electra and Mr Bramson that had lasted more than seven months.

Mr Bramson, through Sherborne, his

investment vehicle, has spent almost £200 million accumulating a stake in Electra of 19.3 per cent, in a shareholding that emerged in February.

It marks a rare setback for Mr Bramson, who scored a memorable victory in 2011 when he seized control of the board at F&C Investments.

Roger Yates, the chairman of Electra, revealed yesterday that defending itself from Mr Bramson’s advances had already cost the business “hundreds of thousands” of pounds and the final tally could run to as much as £3 million.

“The whole process has been expensive for the company and shareholders,” he said.

In light of discussions with shareholders in the past few weeks, Electra said that it planned to review its fee arrangements with its investment manager, Electra Partners, as well as reassessing its capital structure and its dividend policy.

Shares in Electra Private Equity closed 25p lower yesterday at £25.75.

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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Louise Cooper

Woodford fund falls short of 4% yield target

Stone age rules don’t apply to the stock market, so forget about them

‘‘

Louise Cooper is a financial analyst and Goldman Sachs alumna. Follow her on @Louiseaileen70

There are not many fund managers who believe that the answers to successful investing are to be found in Neanderthal man’s reaction to a sabre-toothed tiger.

Thomas Howard is not your usual money manager.

An academic for most of his career, he became a fund manager only when he turned 54, an age when most of us are beginning to think of retiring. Yet since its launch 12 years ago, his Athena Pure Valuation fund has performed extraordinarily well.

Interestingly, he has thrown away the foundations of financial theory that were the bible of his early university years. He has jettisoned the gold standards of “modern portfolio theory” and the “efficient markets hypothesis”. He manages money on the basis of what he calls “behavioural portfolio management”.

He realises that “the emotions that the stock market engenders are the same as when a sabre-toothed tiger showed up at the cave door tens of thousands of years ago”. By betting against that evolutionary bias, Mr Howard aims to profit.

Over the past few decades, a lot of work has been done by psychologists on how human beings make decisions. They have discovered that we are remarkably clouded by emotion, far from the “rational” beings that financial theory assumes.

Daniel Kahneman, the psychologist, won a Nobel prize in economics for his work on how human beings make decisions involving risk (irrationally).

In his book Thinking, Fast and Slow, he points out how differently psychologists and economists view human beings: “To a psychologist, it is self-evident that people are neither fully rational nor completely selfish and that their tastes are anything but stable. Our two disciplines seem to be studying different species.”

It is this difference that Mr Howard seeks to exploit. He is betting that other investors make consistent mistakes because their decisions are clouded by emotion. He aims to become the purely rational investor by “ruthlessly driving emotion” out of his investment choices. In order to do that, he deliberately doesn’t know the names of the shares he owns, doesn’t know what they do and he never looks at news feeds. An extraordinary

JERRY LOFARO/CORBIS

The stock market engenders the same emotions as seeing a sabre-toothed tiger

admission from a “normal” fund manager.

How does he invest? He screens 7,000 United States-listed companies for a few criteria. He is looking for companies that pay high dividends and are heavily indebted. Then he values the companies based on their sales and expected future profits.

The accepted narrative against buying high-dividend stocks is that they have nothing else to do with their cash and so are mature or declining businesses. The usual

narrative against buying highly indebted companies is that they are too risky. Mr Howard aims to profit from the fact that these fears overly hurt share prices. Companies that pay generous dividends and are indebted are overlooked by investors and so their share prices are relatively cheap.

The majority of investors mis-price the risks.

Mr Kahneman explains why: “The brains of humans and other animals contain a mechanism that is designed to give priority to bad news. By

Easy money is not an easy answer

B

oris Johnson’s latest wheeze is to pool all public sector pensions to create a giant citizens wealth fund. Its aim is to “create billions for investment” in key British infrastructure.

I agree that having 39,000 separate public sector pension funds is a waste of money — I would hand cash in funded schemes to Vanguard (or another big passive fund manager) to invest as cheaply as possible — but the next step, of using the fund to invest in public sector infrastructure, a step too far.

It suggests political control. And that suggests pork barrel politics.

MPs would use the fund for local projects to boost their popularity. I also fear political investments will be made at the expense of profit and with the cost borne by the taxpayer.

Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff, the economists, have a term for this: “financial repression”, where governments, thanks to their control over savings, get cheap money for their own political use. Britain should beware of politicians looking at pension pots for easy money.

shaving a few hundredths of a second from the time needed to detect a predator, this circuit improves the animal’s odds of living long enough to reproduce.” It is bedded deep into our evolutionary history to fear and it is the mispricing of fear in the stock market that Mr Howard aims to exploit by buying high-dividend-paying indebted companies.

Another problem with investors is an overreliance on narratives. Nassim Taleb states in his book The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable: “We like stories, we like to summarise and we like to simplify.”

He calls it the “narrative fallacy” that is “our predilection for compact stories over raw truth”. As humans, we invent stories to make sense of and explain the complex and ever changing world we live in. However, although the narratives are compelling, they are not good explainers of events.

Again, this is a hangover from our past, where the ability to communicate and tell stories secured the success of our species. Telling your fellow hunter gatherers around a fire at night how to spear a sabre-toothed tiger and where to find the best berries ensured survival. The human desire to listen to a story is hardwired into our subconscious. It was the key skill that enabled our ancestors to flourish in a hostile world.

Yet, as Mr Howard states: “The stock market is almost incomprehensible and impossible to simplify. It is beyond our evolutionary abilities. Narratives may work in many places, but the stock market is such a complex system, narrative no longer works.”

The financial world has moved faster than our evolutionary ability to understand it, but most investors buy stocks on the basis of a story, a simplified narrative that a broker sells them. It is from that Mr Howard aims to profit; he buys and sells stocks purely based on the company’s financials. He avoids Mr Taleb’s “narrative fallacy”.

There is an old Wall Street adage that the stock market is driven by fear and greed. Now we know why. It’s because of our ancestor’s reaction to a sabre-toothed tiger.

’’

Miles Costello

Neil Woodford’s new investment fund has missed its target for dividend payouts in its first distribution to shareholders since its official launch in July.

The CF Woodford Equity Income Fund has told the legions of individual investors who hold its C shares that they can expect to receive a quarterly dividend of 0.7912p a share at the end of December. Despite a sector-beating performance by the fund since its debut, the payout is below the 1p a share that would be needed to hit Mr Woodford’s target of giving investors a dividend yield of 4 per cent.

Paying a similar dividend for the next three quarters would equate to a yield of just over 3 per cent for shareholders who have bought into the fund.

The payout appears to mark an early setback for Mr Woodford’s fund, the first he has launched since his departure from Invesco Perpetual in April after a glittering 25-year career.

He made his name at Invesco running income funds, which aim to generate strong returns for investors by buying shares in companies that are 6 Brevan Howard’s $26 billion hedge fund returned 4.4 per cent in September, its best monthly performance in three years. The returns generated by the fund, which has lost money in seven of the past nine months, meant that it beat the 1.5 per cent gain posted by its peer group last month and appeared to mark a return to form at one of the world’s biggest hedge fund managers. expected to pay generous dividends.

Investors have clamoured to gain exposure to Mr Woodford’s famous stockpicking expertise, helping him to raise £1.6 billion in only six weeks before its launch three months ago.

The fund has since grown to £3 billion and has delivered a return of 3.25 per cent since its launch, making it the best performer out of the 88 funds in its sector, according to FE Trustnet.

The average fund in the Investment Management Association’s UK Equity Income sector has lost 2.7 per cent over the same period.

Mitchell Fraser Jones, the head of investment communications at Woodford Investment Management, said the lower-than-expected payout reflected the “seasonal weighting” of payments.

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Float’s a choo-in at £700m

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immy Choo, the footwear brand made famous by Tamara Mellon and the Sex and The City television series, has priced shares for its flotation at between 140p and 180p, which could value the company at £700 million (Deirdre Hipwell writes).

The company started as an east London cobbler before it became a worldwide fashion label under the direction of Tamara Mellon, selling shoes for between £200 and £2,000 a pair.

It is owned by Labelux, which aims to sell off 25 per cent of the retailer to provide funds for overseas growth. Sandra Choi, left, Jimmy Choo’s creative director, attends an online high fashion retailer’s event with the model Daisy Lowe in May

Recession looms over eurozone amid German factory slowdown Philip Aldrick

German factory orders collapsed in August at the fastest rate in five years as investor confidence in the eurozone took another beating.

Amid fears that the currency bloc is slipping back into recession, economists said that the shock slump in Germany made the prospect of fullscale quantitative easing more likely.

That, in turn, would drive up demand for eurozone sovereign debt in anticipation of the European Central Bank stepping into the market to buy in bulk.

German factory orders for August dropped by 5.7 per cent, the biggest fall since January 2009 and far worse than economists’ expectations of a decline of about 2.5 per cent.

Rainer Sartoris, an economist at HSBC, said that the figures “disappointed heavily” and “do not point to any significant pick-up in industrial activity in the coming months, either . . .

This is no surprise, taking into account the weakness of the eurozone and the persistent geopolitical risks.”

The International Monetary Fund is

expected today to cut its estimates for German growth in 2014 and 2015 to about 1.5 per cent for each year, amid political fallout from the crisis in Ukraine, according to Der Spiegel, the German news weekly. In July, the IMF forecast growth of 1.9 per cent and 1.7 per cent.

The problems in the eurozone’s powerhouse economy came as a closely watched sentiment index showed that confidence had slumped to its lowest level in more than a year.

The Sentix research group’s index tracking morale among investors in the eurozone tumbled to -13.7 in October, from -9.8 the previous month. That undershot the consensus forecast for a reading of -11.5 and was the weakest since May 2013.

“While expectations were only just below the zero mark in September, they are now clearly in negative territory and that means a technical recession in the eurozone — two consecutive quarters of contraction — is ever more likely,” Sentix said.

“It’s conspicuous that neither the ECB’s rhetoric nor its measures were

6 Sterling has slipped to a three-week low against a basket of currencies on the back of a resurgent American economy and signs that British growth may be slowing (Philip Aldrick writes).

Friday’s fall against the dollar to less than $1.60 for the first time in 11 months was briefly extended in early trading yesterday, as the pound slumped to $1.5943. It rebounded to close up 0.6 cents at $1.6031.

A 0.3 cent fall against the euro to €1.2722 helped to drive the trade-weighted sterling index down by 0.1 per cent to 87.4, its weakest since September 17.

Manufacturing data in Britain last week was far weaker than had been expected and a indicator of key services activity suggested that the rate of growth may be slipping away from the advanced-world-leading rate of 3.2 per cent.

In contrast, the dollar was lifted by better-than-expected American jobs data that raised the prospect of earlier interest rate rises.

able to drive up investors’ expectations of the economy this month.”

The ECB plans to buy bundles of debt in the market to help to kick-start lending, stave off deflation and rekindle growth. It has cut interest rates to a record low, begun to charge banks for hoarding cash and launched a cheap funding scheme.

However, its plans to buy up debt bundles, a form of quantitative easing, have come under attack in Germany. At the weekend, allies of Angela Merkel, including Jens Weidmann, the head of the Bundesbank, criticised the policy.

Despite resistance from Germany, economists expect the ECB to launch full-scale sovereign debt quantitative easing.

“The economy is not running at full speed, price pressures will remain very, very low in this environment and this is sparking some QE speculation among some investors,” Christian Lenk, rate strategist at DZ Bank, said.

“That’s overriding the fact that [the ECB president Mario] Draghi did not explicitly announce more details on possible QE last Thursday.”

C’est impossible! France seeks more time to cut spending Charles Bremner Paris

France pleaded yesterday for more time to curb its public spending as it tried to avoid the humiliation of becoming the first euro state to have its budget rejected by the European Commission.

Manuel Valls, the prime minister, used a visit to London to say that it was impossible for his Socialist government to meet the eurozone’s deficit targets for two more years, despite a two-year reprieve already granted to Paris.

He was responding to warnings from the European Commission that, with-

out changes, it was likely to reject the 2015 draft budget, announced last week, because it blatantly breaches French commitments to rein in the deficit. A shortfall of 4.3 per cent of GDP is forecast for 2015, compared with the 3 per cent ceiling that Paris had pledged to meet under the euro rules.

Mr Valls, who was appointed by President Hollande in April to impose economic reforms, has been bristling for weeks over what he sees as Germanled intransigence on deficit rules that Paris believes are hampering efforts to restart a stagnant economy. Last week, he told parliament that Paris did not

take orders from the EU on its budget, contradicting France’s agreement, under President Sarkozy, to do that in the 2011 pact among member states.

The matter has become sensitive as Pierre Moscovici, the former finance minister, is due to take over as the chief enforcer of the eurozone rules in the new European Commission led by Jean-Claude Juncker. Conservatives in the European parliament have delayed Mr Moscovici’s approval, saying that he is a poacher Manuel Valls said further cuts would choke growth

claiming the gamekeeper’s job. He is likely to be waved through this week.

Mr Valls said that further spending cuts would choke growth. A compromise is expected to emerge from Brussels, in which France will be allowed two more years, to 2017, to bring its deficit below 3 per cent, but will be subjected within weeks to demands for a budget revision for 2015.

Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

Car auction house pitches to the market Deirdre Hipwell

Europe’s biggest seller of used cars has announced plans to list in a flotation that could value it at £1.2 billion.

BCA Marketplace, formerly known as British Car Auctions and the owner of WeBuyAnyCar.com, hopes to raise about £200 million through the sale of at least 25 per cent of the company.

Jon Olsen, its chief executive, said that the money would be used to reduce debt and to allow a partial exit for Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, the company’s private equity owner, which bought the used vehicle business for about £400 million in 2010. Thirty per cent of BCA is owned by 80 senior members of staff, including Mr Olsen; they also are expected to sell off part of their stakes.

Mr Olsen claimed that the company was the “only pan-European operator in this space” and that it was two and a half times bigger than its nearest rival.

BCA operates in 13 countries — a dozen in Europe, plus Brazil — matching wholsesale buyers and sellers of used cars. Last year it sold more than 900,000 cars and held 19,000 auctions.

During the past three years its revenues have risen 74 per cent to £442.3 million.

BCA bought WeBuyAnyCar.com last year. The business was heavily criticised by the Office of Fair Trading, now the Competition and Markets Authority, in 2011 after an investigation showed that nearly 96 per cent of customers using the website were misled.

It said that people had received less than the original website valuation, “sometimes by hundreds of pounds”.

The cut that isn’t a cut for some pensions Patrick Hosking Financial Editor

About 2,000 pension schemes will be worse off in spite of an average 10 per cent cut in the levy that bankrolls the industry lifeboat scheme.

The Pension Protection Fund said yesterday that the overall levy next year would be set at £635 million, down from the £695 million estimated to be raised in this year’s levy.

While about a third of the 6,000 defined benefit schemes that pay the levy would be better off, another third would be worse off, according to David Taylor, the head of strategy at the PPF. The fund is also changing the methodology by which it measures the creditworthiness of sponsoring employers. Each fund is charged a fee based largely on the size of its deficit and the likelihood of the employer going bust. The levy ranges from a few pounds to £20 million.

Some companies that benefited from a past over-emphasis on non-financial factors in the assessment of their creditworthiness, such as the age of their directors, will be worse off. Some that paid bills very promptly in order to mask serious financial weaknesses are also likely to be worse off. Winners will be employers that hand over non-cash assets to funds to plug deficits: this approach to deficit repair will get more recognition in calculations in future.

The PPF takes on the defined-benefit pension promises of organisations that fail, paying most of a member’s benefits.

It has 100,000 pensioners on its books and 100,000 deferred pensioners.

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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Home truths that are driving the Hong Kong protest China in numbers

leo lewis

HK$175,735... . . . is the record-breaking price, per square foot, of one of Sun Hung Kai Properties’ new super-deluxe homes on The Peak overlooking Hong Kong.

That’s £14,154 in English money.

A day after the world’s most expensive square footage of housing went on the market, Hong Kong’s spectacularly besieged government revealed that average home prices had also hit another record.

The siege and the property data are bound more closely than the city’s leadership cares to admit.

The remarkable thing about the price of the Sun Hung Kai house is not its breathtaking size — property prices in Hong Kong marched across the line into “bonkers” long ago — but how many of the teenaged pro-democracy protesters who have shut down the heart of this city for

over a week can quote it without hesitation. It is the kind of number (with the average price per square foot in the specific district of the city where they live) that throbs in the veins of Hong Kongers from school age upwards.

Driving the infinitely courageous street-occupation challenge to Beijing — a communist regime whose assertiveness causes the most powerful nations of the world to blanche — is a generation of young Hong Kongers who feel cheated out of both democracy and the hope of ever affording a home.

Academic studies have focused on just how forbidding the market is. A recent survey, by Demographia International, compared the ratios of house prices with salaries in different nations. Hong Kong, by a substantial margin, emerged as the most unaffordable property market in the world, with average homes costing 14.9 times gross median income.

Beijing’s denial of full democracy to the former British colony is the familiar behaviour of a serial denier of things that have been promised.

However, in a city that pulses with commercialism, the affordability crisis is an equally powerful disenfranchiser of Hong Kongers. It is no coincidence that the city’s tycoon-ocracy is being blamed for both betrayals.

Even the schoolchildren who have joined the Hong Kong protests in their thousands are able to explain

XAUME OLLEROS/GETTY IMAGES

Goldman took Libya ‘for a complete ride’ Harry Wilson

Young Hong Kongers feel cheated out of both democracy and home ownership

why it is that the property barons, the preferential sales of government land and the investment billions that the super-wealthy have put into the new luxury developments are combining to make housing unaffordable.

In the tense debates being waged between protest leaders and the Hong Kong government, the issue at stake is the make-up of the election committee that Beijing has said will be required to vet potential candidates for the post of Hong Kong’s chief executive. That committee, the protesters say, will be crammed with pro-Beijing grandees (many of them tycoons),

undermining the whole point of universal suffrage.

According to James Lo, a 33-year-old accountant — and protester — who cannot afford a home of his own, there have been no rants against wealth disparity over the past week, despite the Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini sales rooms a few steps from the centre of the protest, because “there is no point attacking the rich.

But that is why we feel so intensely about the need for democracy. We start by getting a system that allows us to elect the kind of people that will make the policies that will eventually let me buy a home.”

Goldman Sachs has been accused of taking Libya “for a complete ride” amid claims that a former employee of the Wall Street bank had an “impressive grip” on senior management of the country’s $65 billion wealth fund.

The Libyan Investment Authority alleges that Goldman Sachs took advantage of LIA employees’ lack of financial experience to sell it a $1.2 billion collection of complicated bets on the share prices of western companies, adding that the fund had lost its investment but the bank had made about $350 million.

Roger Masefield, QC, for the authority, told the High Court that Youssef Kabbaj, the Goldman banker assigned to the fund, had used the lure of lavish entertainment paid for by the bank, as well as the offer of an internship for the brother of a senior official at the fund, to lure it into loss-making trades in 2008.

According to a witness statement by Catherine McDougall, of Allen & Overy, the law firm that advised the authority, staff at the fund told her that they had “completely trusted” Mr Kabbaj and, when asked about what due diligence they had done before agreeing to the trades, had said: “Due what?”

“They told me about their lavish trip to Morocco and that there was heavy drinking and girls involved and that the trip was paid for by Youssef Kabbaj, mostly on his Goldman corporate credit card. They also told me how Mr Kabbaj would take them out in London for expensive nights out, again paid for on his Goldman Sachs credit card,” Ms McDougall said in the statement.

The case continues.

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Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

Business

BHP cost cuts risk sparking price war Marcus Leroux

The mining industry took a giant step closer to an iron ore price war last night when BHP Billiton threw down the gauntlet to Rio Tinto and unveiled a $17 billion plan to cut the cost of production.

The world’s largest mining group plans to cut its iron ore costs by a quarter, alongside previously announced production increases. If it succeeds, it will overtake Rio, its great rival, as the world’s cheapest iron ore producer.

The market is being flooded with cheap new production from Rio and BHP’s huge operations in Western Australian and from Vale’s mines in South America. The surplus, together with a slackening Chinese economy, has led to the price of iron ore diving by more than 40 per cent this year.

Analysts at UBS said that BHP’s increased production and the cost improvements would be worth $17 billion (£10.6 billion), about a fifth of the company’s market value. BHP recently proposed splitting off its less-favoured divisions into a separate company so that it could concentrate on iron ore, petroleum, copper and coal.

Jimmy Wilson, the head of BHP’s iron ore division, said: “Overall, we aim to be the lowest-cost supplier of iron ore to China on an all-in basis, which includes freight, royalties and sustaining [capital investment].”

He said that about 40 million tonnes of high-cost Chinese production had left the market this year. New productions targets set by Vale, BHP and Rio would amount to the addition of

Iron grip Benchmark iron ore prices

150

Nic Fildes

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Not content with splitting itself in two, Hewlett-Packard has dropped a heavy hint that an important deal is imminent.

The computer group’s management said that it was creating two companies: HP Inc, containing the computing and printing business, and Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, comprising the corporate services, software and servers division.

It said that there was “material nonpublic information”, which it could not discuss, that prevented it from continuing with a share buyback plan.

That, in turn, fuelled rumours that a deal could be on the cards. There have been reports that HP came close to merging with EMC to create a stronger competitor to IBM and Oracle; however, the data centre company was not interested in a combination with HP while it owned the struggling PC and printing units.

Cathie Lesjak, HP’s chief financial officer, was pressed by analysts on the “non-public” information. She said that the company would be “actively looking” to participate in deals.

Meg Whitman, the chief exeuctive, said that the company would focus on value for shareholders during any takeover talks. “I can’t emphasise enough our returns-based approach to M&A,” she said. The company is still reeling from its disastrous $11.1 billion takeover of Autonomy in 2011.

per tonne $140

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millions of tonnes

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100

Chinese GDP growth

percentage (*previous forecast)

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10.4 9.3 7.7 7.7 FORECAST

HP looks past division to future addition

7.4 (7.6*) 7.2 (7.5*) 7.1 (7.4*)

Sources: The Steel Index, World Bank, World Steel Association

about a quarter of current global production.

Mr Wilson said: “Iron ore is abundant in the earth’s crust, which means that the availability of capital is a primary barrier to entry. Higher prices over the last decade have provided an incentive for new entrants to join the market and traditional producers to sustainably increase supply. With growth in seaborne supply exceeding demand in the short-to-medium term,

iron-ore costs will flatten, and high-cost supply will be forced from the market.”

Analysts say that higher-cost private producers had been driven to the wall or had mothballed their mines, but state-owned miners were hanging on.

Chris LaFemina, an analyst at Jefferies, is bullish on BHP, but said that the outlook for iron ore prices may be grimmer than many expect. “In light of growing structural problems in the Chinese economy, we are concerned

that Chinese steel production will hit a soft patch over the short-medium term, even if BHP is right about longer-term Chinese steel production. [It] could lead to an extended period of prices well below $80 per tonne.”

Demand for iron ore is highly dependent on China’s economic growth, because it imports two thirds of the world’s seaborne iron ore, used to produce the steel that underpins its construction boom.

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

37

FGM

Working life Business TIPPING POINT How the World Wide Web is caught between the battle for privacy and freedom

LIFESTORE

Places to go and places to eat Jeff Mills, Barbara Oldridge

‘Libel laws are reasonable. Destroying facts is not’ RICK FRIEDMAN/CORBIS

Sir Tim Berners-Lee tells James Hurley of his fears for the future of his historic invention 25 years ago

postcard from . . .

Hamburg Hamburg is Germany’s second city and one of the most important ports in Europe. It’s surprisingly attractive, with excellent architecture. The hotels and restaurants are excellent, too.

Man on the ground “Although they are working in one of the largest German cities, you should remember that many Hamburg businessmen consider themselves not so much German as citizens of an independent state. They tend to look more towards London than Berlin,” Christoph Eckhardt, a Hamburg-based ship broker, says.

Refuelling Stay at the Hotel Atlantic Kempinski in one of the main business districts, with superb views over the Alster lake.

Acting local The nightlife is the envy of many cities. Avoid the Reeperbahn red-light district and head for Lange Reihe in the St Georg area.

working lunch Cooper’s Trading Company Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow Order The baked goods include a delicious egg and bacon muffin and some gluten-free items, while the lunch menu has gourmet sandwiches (the duck egg or slow roast pork are highly recommended), panini and salads — try the Paleo Power roasted butternut squash and sweet potato salad.

Expect This independent coffee house opened this year in an old industrial space in the Globe Park area of Marlow. The décor is contemporary rustic, complete with enormous coffee roaster, as all the beans are roasted on site. It’s very relaxed, with a range of seating for work or downtime; you might share a sofa with Cooper, the black Labrador after whom the place is named.

Nominated by Barbara Oldridge, managing director, The Doubleknot Company

O

n balance, it was a pretty good idea.” It’s a characteristically understated verdict from Tim Berners-Lee on his invention two and a half decades ago, one that has brought old industries to their knees, allowed new business models to thrive and created a global revolution in the way information is created and consumed.

Happy 25th birthday for the World Wide Web, then? Not necessarily. Sir Tim is using the anniversary to highlight existential threats to the web, particularly from big companies and governments that he fears are “trying to take control of the internet”.

The web was built while he was working at Cern, the European organisation for nuclear research based in Switzerland, to meet demand for automatic information-sharing between scientists in universities and institutions worldwide. When he realised its potential outside academia, there were two concerns: that it would be “too open”; and that corporate and official interests would seek to control it.

“The initial fears that the web would turn out to be too open were rubbish. Now everyone sees that the need for people who filter is much more enhanced.” Trepidation about authority, however, proved prescient. “The fears over it being controlled have come true. It’s always something I worried about over last 25 years, big government and big companies. I used to think that it would be companies in the west, and elsewhere, governments.

In fact, sometimes you can’t tell them apart.”

He believes that there has been too much focus on allegations of government spying and too little attention on the risk posed by big businesses, which “abuse the internet” to gain “unbelievable” power. “We need to make people aware of the facts. We want to heighten awareness of threats to the openness of the web, big companies

Sir Tim Berners-Lee is using the anniversary to highlight threats to web independence

amassing huge amounts of data and profiling people and the things they do with that.”

One fear is that someone who wants to launch a new application on the net will have to negotiate with an authority, such as a telecoms or internet group that is looking to protect its own interests.

Another is that internet service providers will give preferential treatment to the highest-paying customers.

Perhaps counter-intuitively, preserving the openness of the web will mean challenging the received wisdom of most technology entrepreneurs that “privacy is dead”, Sir Tim believes. “People who say privacy is over are wrong. Society is made up of information boundaries.

They are important, including personal ones. We have to move towards a world where there are constraints on how data is used rather than trying to lock it down.”

He cites the European Union’s “right to be forgotten” ruling that has been imposed on Google. It relates to a 1998 newspaper article about the repossession of a Spanish man’s home. The European court ruled that the newspaper had done nothing wrong in reporting the news, but that a link to the article in search results represented an infringement of his privacy — and

sme news

Pi Labs seeks magic formula to launch the next big thing Kathryn Hopkins Property Correspondent

A new initiative aimed at finding a property portal to follow in the footsteps of Zoopla and Airbnb was unveiled yesterday in London.

Cushman & Wakefield, the property consultant, and Spire Ventures, a venture capital fund, have launched Property Innovation Labs to help new companies focused on property and technology innovation.

The “accelerator programme” will be the first of its kind in Europe, providing companies with access to investment, mentoring and business

space. According to Faisal Butt, the chief executive of Pi Labs: “We can empower prop-tech start-ups requiring space, access to capital and support and help spawn the next wave of tech company success stories.

We see Pi Labs as the platform that will create the next Zoopla.”

From this month, innovative property start-ups will be able to apply to join the programme, which will be located within Second Home, an office space for creative businesses in Shoreditch, east London. Pi Labs is planning to invest in 30 start-ups over a two-year period, with the first wave starting in February next year.

so Google should delete the result.

“That legislation is pushing against free speech,” Sir Tim argues. “Libel and slander laws are reasonable.

Destroying facts that are true is much more worrying.” He hopes for a web where there is no right to be forgotten but, equally, one where companies and governments would be restricted in how they use online data to discriminate against users.

Ultimately, legislation will be required to protect web freedoms, suggests Sir Tim, who will be exploring the future of the web in a speech in London tomorrow at IP Expo Europe. “What is the web we want? That’s what I want people to talk about this year. Should people have right to take away information that’s true? Or should we preserve it but make sure we don’t use it to affect someone’s life?”

For anyone who prefers an online environment that’s open and neutral, a place for start-ups and innovation, rather than a closed environment controlled by a social network or government, Sir Tim says it is time to come out fighting.

38

FGM

Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

Business Markets companies news

Deirdre Hipwell Tempus Buy, sell or hold: today’s best share tips

Cream is rising to the top of its market

Turning sour?

Dairy Crest share price

485 445 405

T

£1.39bn Dairy Crest’s estimated 2014 turnover £65.3m Dairy Crest's estimated 2014 pre-tax profit

4% expected half-year sales growth across its four key brands, Cathedral City, Clover, Country Life and Friij milkshakes

5.6% Dairy Crest's forecast dividend yield

365 2013

Dividend 21.3p

585p 525

DAIRY CREST FY PBT £65.3m

Roaming empire cost

2014

Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3

325

here is, they say, no such thing as a happy farmer. It’s MY ADVICE Buy certainly true of dairy WHY This company is farmers, grappling with managing its costs tightly plummeting milk and cream prices in an already and also investing in what low-margin sector. Yet dairy are high-growth areas processors also are taking their share and brands of the pain.

Dairy Crest said two weeks ago that its dairies business, accounting for 70 per cent of its revenue, would might be leaving a very sour taste, suffer a loss in the first half. It is this is a company more than halfclosing a bottling plant in London way through a well-signposted and a creamery in Somerset as programme of “long-term part of a long-term restructuring”. cost-cutting programme and Its plan to focus on its has had to drop the price it 15% four core brands — pays to farmers three times Fall in cream and Cathedral City cheese, since July. It will cut it skimmed milk Clover, Country Life and again in November. prices in August Frijj milkshake — is paying Mark Allen, its chief off. All four are outpacing executive, said the dairy their wider categories and are commodities market had been expected to produce combined “extremely volatile”, with cream and sales growth of 4 per cent in the first skimmed milk powder prices alone half. The plan to cut £20 million of falling by 15 per cent in August. costs is on target and, despite price However, although milk prices volatility, Dairy Crest is expected to

maintain its existing liquid milk volumes.

There is also a potentially lucrative move into the high-growth whey market, a product used as a base for making infant baby formula. Dairy Crest is investing £45 million to create the facilities needed to produce whey at its creamery in Davidstow, north Cornwall.

Despite volatility in the dairies sector, Dairy Crest has maintained its full-year forecast. With the benefit of the milk price cuts coming through in the second half and continued investment in those four core brands and that emerging whey division, the longer-term future looks promising.

The business is also benefiting from buoyant conditions in the property sector, selling off non-core property assets.

Analysts at Shore Capital said that, in a flat-to-declining market, it had increasing confidence in the brand value of Dairy Crest and it reiterated its “buy” rating.

Petroceltic at 230p a share. Its target has said that it is willing to recommend the £500 million offer, which equates to a 30 per cent premium on its 178½p closing share price on Friday. Shares in Petroceltic soared by 40p to 218½p yesterday.

A merger between the two makes sense, as it would expand Dragon Oil’s growing operations in Africa.

The company, 54 per cent-owned by ENOC, of Dubai, has exploration under way in Egypt and Tunisia that could be coupled with Petroceltic’s operations in Algeria, Egypt and northern Iraq. Dragon was awarded licences to explore in Algeria last week.

Dragon Oil is sitting on a large

$1.86 billion cash pile (and this after it said that it would raise interim dividends by a third). Its half-year profits have also jumped by 20 per cent to $289 million.

This seems like a company primed to do a deal. The question is whether its offer, which some analysts deemed “low-ball”, flushes out a rival bidder.

Shares in Dragon Oil closed 13p down at 561p a share.

dragon oil Revenue $547m

Dividend 20c

T

he high cost of exploration and recent volatility in global oil markets haven’t helped confidence among oil explorers, or, therefore, their taste for mergers and acquisitions. But hold on a minute . . .

A report from Morgan Stanley last month said that oil companies’ appetite for expansion would recover as their cash piles increased — and, as if on cue, Dragon Oil, a cash-rich explorer with principal operations in the Caspian Sea off the coast of Turkmenistan, said yesterday that it was in detailed talks to take over

MY ADVICE Avoid WHY There is risk in some Petroceltic assets

A small British telecoms company backed by Roman Abramovich lost almost £100 million last year (twice the amount that the Russian’s Chelsea FC paid for Fernando Torres, its former Spain striker) as it poured money into its global roaming network.

Truphone, which supplies SIM cards sold to banks and other multinational companies looking to reduce roaming fees, said losses had risen from £35 million in the previous 12 months to £91.4 million.

helical bar Revenue £123.6m

Dividend 4.75p

H

elical Bar continued its recent shopping spree yesterday by buying a J Sainsbury regional distribution centre in Bristol — not a flashy property to own, perhaps, but demonstrably safe and reliable for the steady income that it provides.

The purchase confirms the strong return to form for Helical Bar, which endured a tough recession. Although it did not resort to dilutive rights issues, unlike many of its quoted rivals, it had to undertake some painful restructuring.

Since then, though, it has raised cash and has been buying developments in trendy Shoreditch in east London, where it has a new scheme around Silicon roundabout, and at Barts Square in west Smithfield. It also has developments in the Square Mile and White City.

In its latest full-year results, released in May, Helical Bar said that its decision to invest in the regions for income, and in London for capital growth, continued to create shareholder value. It has an investment portfolio of more than £600 million, of which 43 per cent is in London.

With its warehouse business providing a steady income stream and its developments in the capital set to pay off in the future, this is definitely worth tucking away.

Who wants to be a . . . ?

Camelot will introduce non-cash prizes, as yet unidentified, for the first time in an attempt to reverse a fall in EuroMillions ticket sales in the first six months of the year.

The National Lottery reported a 4.8 per cent increase in overall ticket sales in the period to September 27 to £3.47 billion, as strong sales of Lotto draw tickets, which are £2 each, and scratchcards offset the fall in EuroMillions takings.

Wicked welcome A British electronic cigarette maker has been given the green light to take its legal challenge against European controls to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. Totally Wicked, based in Blackburn, Lanxcashire, hailed the ruling at the Royal Courts of Justice as a key step in its fight for e-cigarettes to be excluded from the Tobacco Products Directive because they do not contain tobacco.

MY ADVICE Buy WHY A steady income stream and long-term investments

Filling up the money pit Homeowners were reducing their mortgages and renovating their homes in the three months to September, but at the slowest pace in two years. People injected £10.8 billion into their properties in the second quarter, according to the Bank of England, down from £11.5 billion in the first three months of the year and the lowest figure since the second quarter of 2012. The figure has fallen for five quarters in a row.

And finally . . .

Y

ou may not have heard of Restore, but shares in the office services provider have risen more than 50 per cent this year. Yesterday’s 14p rise to 240½p came on the back of the £23.5 million acquisition of the British division of Cintas, an American rival. It takes Restore’s market cap close to £200 million.

N+1 Singer estimates the deal could add £4 million to operating profits.

Not bad for a company that, five years ago, under its old name of Mavinwood, was heavily indebted and valued at less than £1 million.

Read these stories in full online thetimes.co.uk/ business

PRICES Major Indices New York Dow Jones Nasdaq Composite S&P 500

London Financial Futures 16991.91 (-17.78) 4454.80 (-20.82) 1964.82 (-3.08) 15890.95 (+182.30)

Hong Kong Hang Seng

23315.04 (+250.48)

Sydney AO Frankfurt DAX Singapore Straits Brussels BEL20 Paris CAC-40

8723.04 (+39.51) 3138.67 (+5.30)

Long Gilt 3-Mth Sterling

London

Tokyo Nikkei 225

Amsterdam AEX Index

Zurich SMI Index DJ EURO Stoxx 50

412.24 (+1.05) 5292.60 (-22.80) 9209.51 (+13.83) 3253.24 n/a 3170.65 (+0.93) 4286.52 (+4.78)

FTSE 100 6563.65 (+35.74) FTSE 250 15277.01 (+46.85) FTSE 350 3565.35 (+18.12) FTSE Eurotop 100 2744.00 (+6.04) FTSE All-Shares 3503.63 (+17.67) FTSE Non Financials 4083.07 (+18.78) techMARK 100 3294.56 (-2.28) Bargains 1051025 US$ 1.6047 (+0.0089) Euro 1.2718 (-0.0033) £:SDR 1.09 (+0.00) Exchange Index 87.5 (unch) Bank of England official close (4pm) CPI 128.30 Aug (2005 = 100) RPI 257.00 Aug (Jan 1987 = 100) RPIX 256.50 Aug (Jan 1987 = 100) Morningstar Long Commodity 842.33 (-4.78) Morningstar Long/Short Commod 4632.61 (+6.21)

3-Mth Euribor

3-Mth Euroswiss

2 Year Swapnote 5 Year Swapnote 10 Year Swapnote FTSE100 FTSEurofirst 80

Period Dec 14 Mar 15 Dec 14 Mar 15 Jun 15 Sep 15 Dec 15 Dec 14 Mar 15 Jun 15 Sep 15 Dec 15 Dec 14 Mar 15 Jun 15 Sep 15 Dec 14 Mar 15 Dec 14 Mar 15 Dec 14 Mar 15 Dec 14 Mar 15 Dec 14 Mar 15

Commodities

Open 113.73

High 114.05

Low 113.67

99.350 99.180 98.990 98.810 98.620 99.925 99.935 99.940 99.925 99.905 100.04 100.08 100.09 100.09 111.59

99.370 99.220 99.040 98.860 98.680 99.925 99.935 99.940 99.930 99.915 100.05 100.09 100.10 100.09 111.59 111.56 127.28 100.00 146.50 100.00 6561.0 6509.0 4279.5

99.350 99.180 98.990 98.800 98.620 99.915 99.925 99.930 99.915 99.895 100.04 100.07 100.08 100.08 111.56 111.55 127.13 100.00 146.29 100.00 6504.0 6470.0 4278.5

127.13 146.50 6512.5 6470.0 4278.5

Sett 113.85 113.85 99.365 99.205 99.025 98.840 98.650 99.925 99.935 99.940 99.930 99.910 100.04 100.08 100.09 100.09 111.59 111.59 127.27 127.27 146.45 146.45 6526.5 6475.5 4107.0 4108.0

Vol 132602

Open Int 415191

40497 42819 50573 55482 79513 80814 24099 25756 18041 27974 2370 3798 2567 1536 91 104 135 3 183 3 100785 5 75

471361 407360 406642 282873 341837 492033 408370 385001 282582 297371 77004 79496 42206 25125 22992 9956 4660 574923 1032 75

Jan

ICIS pricing (London 7.30pm) Crude Oils ($/barrel FOB) Brent Physical Brent 25 day (Jan) Brent 25 day (Feb) W Texas Intermed (Jan) W Texas Intermed (Feb)

92.00 92.60 93.20 90.35 89.35

+0.40 +0.50 +0.45 +0.60 +0.70

Products ($/MT) 919.00 781.25 504.00 765.00

920.00 783.25 515.00 766.00

-1.00 +0.50 -1.25 +2.00

788.75-788.25 791.50-791.25 794.00-793.50

Brent (9.00pm) Nov 93.03-93.01 Dec 93.57-93.55

Cocoa Dec Mar May Jul Sep Dec

unq unq unq unq unq unq

Mar May Jul

Sep Nov Jan Mar

unq unq unq unq

May Jul

unq unq unq Volume: 13364

Jan Feb

797.50-796.50 unq Volume: 176277

Feb Mar

94.90-92.50 95.20-93.94

unq unq Volume: 25279

White Sugar (FOB) Reuters

ICE Futures Gas Oil Oct Nov Dec

Volume: 516282

RobustaCoffee

Spot CIF NW Europe (prompt delivery) Premium Unld Gasoil EEC 3.5 Fuel Oil Naphtha

94.13-94.06

LIFFE

Dec Mar May

unq unq unq

Aug Oct Dec Mar

unq unq unq unq Volume: 5061

London Grain Futures LIFFE Wheat (close £/t) Nov May

113.50 119.35

Jan Jul

115.45 121.60

Mar 117.40 Volume: 560

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

39

FGM

Markets Business

Rumour mill saves the best tittle-tattle ’til last Gary Parkinson Market report

A

n analyst revived one bid rumour, a chief executive did his best to snuff out another — and the biggest of the lot landed after London had closed.

After Asos’s annus horribilis — three profit warnings and a near-73 per cent collapse in the share price between late February and early October — Adam Cochrane, at UBS, told his clients that the online fashion retailer “seems ripe for an approach”.

Linked previously with Amazon and eBay, Mr Cochrane thinks Amazon the best fit and possibly willing to pay £50 for shares that jumped 304p to £22.27.

Meanwhile, at an investor seminar in London, Alan Clark, SABMiller’s chief executive, broke the brewer’s

natural resources

Miners mull a mega-merger

G

lencore has mooted the possibility of a merger with Rio Tinto in a multibillion-dollar deal that would create the world’s largest mining group (Marcus Leroux and Deirdre Hipwell write).

Ivan Glasenberg, the chief executive of Glencore, has shared a presentation on the proposal with fellow executives and bankers, a City source said. Rio Tinto’s American Depositary Receipts surged as much as 19 per cent in New York yesterday after Bloomberg, the

Wall Street report The feelgood factor from Friday’s robust employment figures gave an early lift that petered out later and left the Dow Jones industrial average nursing a small slide of 17.72 points to 16,991.97. The S&P 500 index dipped 3.08 to 1,964.84.

BSkyB to cash in its chips with Sky deal

B

SkyB is pushing ahead with its plan to create a European pay-TV giant after winning the backing of 96 per cent of its independent shareholders (Gary Parkinson writes).

BSkyB, up a ha’penny at 895p, agreed to buy Sky Italia and a controlling stake in Sky Deutschland for £4.9 billion from 21st Century Fox, in a

deal that will create a pan-European broadcaster with about 20 million customers. The Rupert Murdoch-run Fox, which owns nearly 40 per cent of BSkyB, was not allowed to vote because of rules on conflicts.

The tie-up sailed through, however, with only 4.1 per cent of BSkyB’s non-Fox shareholders, accounting for 32.5 million shares, voting against. Fox was split last year from News

AHDB meat services Average fatstock prices at representative markets (p/kg lw) Pig Lamb Cattle GB 0.00 157.35 178.61 (+/-) +0.00 +6.54 -11.48 Eng/Wales (+/-) Scotland (+/-)

0.00 +0.00

157.35 +6.54

178.61 -11.48

unq

0.00 +0.00

0.00 +0.00

London Metal Exchange (Official) Cash

3mth

15mth

Copper Gde A ($/tonne) 6712.0-6712.5 6675.0-6680.0

7310.0-7320.0

Lead ($/tonne) 2084.0-2085.0

2093.0-2095.0

1980.0-1985.0

Zinc Spec Hi Gde ($/tonne) 2289.0-2289.5 2297.5-2298.0

1943.0-1948.0

Tin ($/tonne) 20460.0-20465.0

20450.0-20475.0

Alum Hi Gde ($/tonne) 1897.5-1898.0 1925.0-1925.5 Nickel ($/tonne) 16480.0-16485.0 16595.0-16615.0

20560.0-20610.0 2280.0-2285.0 18770.0-18870.0

Sky Atlantic’s The Knick, above,

and Boardwalk Empire, below

Corporation, parent company of The Times. Sky Deutschland called last month for minority investors to vote against BSkyB’s offer of €6.75 per share for its German cousin, as it undervalued the company. BSkyB has insisted that it does not need the German minority shareholders to sell to realise its plans.

Gold/Precious metals (US dollars per ounce) Bullion: Open $1185.08

silence on its recent bid Lambert, an Australian quoted approach to Heineken, company 20 per cent-owned insisting that, in the context

by African Minerals, was follow us of the group’s stated M&A also rumoured to have on twitter strategy, there was “nothing approached London for updates unusual about the @timesbusiness Mining. Such a tie-up has its discussions”. He said that the advantages: Cape Lambert company was constantly holds licences next to London evaluating opportunities, some of Mining’s and, unlike London which came to nothing while others Mining, has the right to shift the ore could come to fruition “years later”. to port using African Minerals’ The only unusual aspect was that the railway. African Minerals dipped discussions had been leaked, 1.6 per cent to 15p. prompting the Dutch brewer to Finally, after London closed, boom! confirm that it had rebuffed SAB, 7½p Bloomberg reported that Glencore, easier at £33.75. He also dismissed up 6¾p at 339¼p, was “laying the suggestions that the Heineken move groundwork” for a potential was a pre-emptive defence against a $160 billion merger with Rio Tinto, possible bid from Anheuser-Busch 47½p higher at £29.97 (see box above).

InBev. The wider stock market still felt the A long-mooted bid for Petroceltic glow of Friday’s unexpectedly strong did emerge and the energy company jobs numbers in America. The jumped 40p to 218½p.

FTSE 100 rose 35.7 points more to London Mining, the embattled iron 6,563.7, mirroring similar modest ore miner, up 8.9 per cent at 4.9p, was gains across most of Europe. said to be in takeover talks with JSW Even Tesco, wholly friendless of Steel, an Indian steelmaker. Cape late, managed a 4½p rally to 176¾p

Dollar rates Australia Canada Denmark Euro Hong Kong Japan Malaysia Norway Singapore Sweden Switzerland

1.1442-1.1444 1.1186-1.1188 5.9175-5.9186 0.7948-0.7952 7.7548-7.7560 109.08-109.10 3.2663-3.2673 6.5012-6.5040 1.2773-1.2775 7.2265-7.2284 0.9636-0.9637

Argentina peso Australia dollar Bahrain dinar Brazil real Euro Hong Kong dollar India rupee Indonesia rupiah Kuwait dinar KD Malaysia ringgit New Zealand dollar Singapore dollar S Africa rand U A E dirham

13.546-13.561 1.8318-1.8328 0.6000-0.6076 3.8587-3.8748 1.2727-1.2730 12.418-12.419 98.442-98.645 19497-19548 0.4614-0.4639 5.1038-5.3075 2.0523-2.0530 2.0451-2.0459 17.974-18.002 5.8781-5.8844

1 mth

2 mth

3 mth

6 mth

12 mth

0.5079

0.5324

0.5643

0.7133

1.0590

Krugerrand $1189.00-1262.00 (£742.44-788.02)

Clearer CDs

0.58-0.43

0.60-0.45

0.65-0.50

0.80-0.65

1.13-0.98

Platinum $1250.00 (£780.53)

Depo CDs

0.58-0.43

0.60-0.45

0.65-0.50

0.80-0.65

1.13-0.98

Silver $17.14 (£10.70)

Eurodollar Deps

0.15-0.25

0.19-0.29

0.23-0.33

0.36-0.46

0.51-0.66

Palladium $768.00 (£479.56)

Eurodollar CDs

0.15-0.08

0.18-0.12

0.22-0.15

0.36-0.21

0.52-0.38

European money deposits %

Sterling spot and forward rates

Currency 1mth

3mth

6mth

12mth

0.10

0.15

0.23

0.48

0.51

0.56

0.71

1.05

-0.15

-0.07

0.04

0.21

Dollar Sterling Euro

after the troubled grocer appointed a couple of new non-executive directors. Airlines, tracking late gains on Wall Street on Friday, were better in London, too. IAG, the owner of British Airways and Iberia, added 6p to 371p after Willie Walsh, the chief executive, said that its Spanish carrier could be as profitable as BA. Oil was steadier after Friday’s American jobs report and the modest rally by equity markets, suggesting a better economic outlook. Stronger economies burn through more fuel.

BG Group, the oil and gas major, improved 27p to £10.93 after Egypt agreed to pay it back $350 million.

There was demand for mining shares amid similar economic optimism and the pause, for now, in the dollar’s 12-week bull run.

Antofagasta, a Chilean copper miner, rose 26p to 706½p. Gold, silver and platinum, already pressured by the dollar’s strength, then hit by the jobs data, managed to pick themselves up from their knees. Just.

Money rates %

Interbank Rates

AM $1193.25 PM $1195.75

news agency, reported that Mr Glasenberg had spoken to Rio’s largest shareholder about combining the businesses.

The story was released after markets had closed in London.

The agency said that

Base Rates Clearing Banks 0.5 Finance House 1.0 ECB Refi 0.05 US Fed Fund 0-0.25 Halifax Mortgage Rate 3.5 Treasury Bills (Dis) Buy: 1 mth 0.38; 3 mth 0.42. Sell: 1 mth 0.35; 3 mth 0.38

Close $1201.81-1202.41 High $1203.14 Low $1182.90

Ivan Glasenberg of Glencore has spoken to Rio about a merger

Mkt Rates for Copenhagen Euro Montreal New York Oslo Stockholm Tokyo Zurich

Range 9.4688-9.5070 1.2773-1.2723 1.7885-1.7984 1.5960-1.6029 10.377-10.431 11.545-11.622 174.55-175.30 1.5414-1.5466

Close 9.4750-9.4773 1.2732-1.2729 1.7913-1.7917 1.6013-1.6015 10.412-10.415 11.570-11.576 174.64-174.72 1.5425-1.5435

1 month 44ds 4pr 9pr 5ds 89pr 17ds 9ds 8ds Premium = pr

3 month 133ds 11pr 25pr 13ds 251pr 64ds 33ds 27ds Discount = ds

Other Sterling

there had been no formal approach and there were no talks between the companies. A merger would create a combined group worth as much £100 billion. Both Glencore and Rio declined to comment.

A deal would make sense for Glencore, guaranteeing a supply of iron ore, which it trades but does not produce itself. Rio Tinto relies on iron ore for the majority of its earnings. Jake Greenberg, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said that a deal made little sense for Rio’s shareholders.

Exchange rates Australia $ Canada $ Denmark Kr Egypt Euro ¤ Hong Kong $ Hungary Indonesia Israel Shk Japan Yen New Zealand $ Norway Kr Poland Russia S Africa Rd Sweden Kr Switzerland Fr Turkey Lira USA $

Bank buys Bank sells 2.010 1.750 1.960 1.700 10.210 8.950 12.610 10.030 1.390 1.220 13.340 11.730 434.430 357.420 22417.200 17881.200 6.460 5.510 189.560 164.170 2.300 1.950 11.340 9.800 5.900 4.830 68.760 57.260 20.060 16.990 12.420 11.040 1.700 1.460 4.070 3.260 1.740 1.530

Rates for banknotes and traveller's cheques as traded by Royal Bank of Scotland plc yesterday

Data as shown is for information purposes only. No offer is made by Morningstar or this publication

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times2 GETTY IMAGES

Getting married to myself — it would never work Robert Crampton

W

hen I first went to see Back to the Future 2 in 1989, I remember coming out of the cinema with my friend, and the two of us sitting in Pizza Express until closing time, sketching out various 1955-19852015 timelines on a napkin to make sure we both understood precisely what had been going on and when.

When I first heard about people getting married to themselves — as a woman called Grace Gelder was reported last week to have done — I struggled in much the same way to conceptualise the parameters of what the idea might even mean. Getting married to yourself sounded like a logical impossibility. Unless, perhaps, you were schizophrenic, in which case it would be simply tasteless.

But no, it turns out people do actually get married to themselves — as in, take actual vows wearing actual wedding gear at actual ceremonies.

Ceremonies which involve only one person. Not one person pretending to be two people, but one person making a pact with his or herself that he or she is now a married man or woman.

It all sounds a bit too much like grown women who overinvested in their dollies when they were girls.

Girls who spent way too much time and effort daydreaming about Mr Right and the Big Day. Little Miss Havishams in the making.

Pietersen on a sticky wicket I’m not convinced about Kevin Pietersen’s claim regarding a culture of bullying in

Then I started wondering what my life would have been like, way back when, had I taken the plunge not with my actual wife, Nicola, but my wife . . . er . . . me. Perhaps we could call her Roberta. I’ve always known — attractive as the notion has occasionally appeared over the years — that for me to have lived as a bachelor would have been a disaster.

But what of this Roberta? Would life with her have secured any of the benefits of being a single man while retaining the delights of wedded bliss?

That would depend on Roberta’s personality, I suppose. A personality I happen to know something about.

Thinking it through, there’s no denying my life might in some respects have been easier. Less bickering. Less hassle over hygiene, tidiness, laundry, punctuality, drinking, smoking, eating. And presumably much more frequent — indeed, close on unlimited— sexual engagement.

Albeit more perfunctory sexual engagement. I could see my ardour for this Roberta character cooling fairly quickly.

As for the rest of our married life, I’ve a horrible feeling that catastrophic short-term gratification would prove to dominate the Robert-Roberta union. “I can’t be bothered to go to work today,” I would announce. “So don’t,” Roberta says. “Have another drink instead. Hell, pour me one too, it’s after 9am.” “I can’t be bothered taking the kids to school today,” I say.

“Nah, me neither,” Roberta says. “Let ’em chill at home, eat crisps.” “I can’t be bothered to insure the house/put petrol in the car/cook anything/make that tricky phone call/stop eating takeaways/swearing, etc.” “Nor me,” Roberta says. “I quite fancy this woman I met in the park. I’m thinking of having a brief no-strings sexually cutting-edge affair with her, that OK with you?” “Be my guest, mate,” Roberta says, popping open another beer and farting.

And so on.

All in all, I’m better off with Nicola.

the England cricket team. He doesn’t provide any examples beyond fielders being made to apologise for dropped catches. Not exactly flushing a kid’s head down the loo at playtime, is it?

Pietersen claims the ringleader was Matt Prior, the ebullient

former wicketkeeper.

Again, he doesn’t provide much evidence of Prior’s wicked ways, but even if such evidence exists, what’s KP complaining about?

He’s a big bloke, Pietersen — a lot bigger than Prior, that’s for sure. He’s also tough, competitive,

Safeguard your loot, ladies The increased popularity of pre-nuptial agreements is being fuelled by highearning women rather than the traditional wealthy old goat ushering trophy No3 up the aisle via his lawyer’s office. Well-off women are eager to safeguard future earnings against the claims of a spouse who they judge will in all likelihood turn out to be less financially successful than them.

I’m sure this trend is set to continue. Across many, if not most, of the couples I know, the woman tends to be the higher-earner. And in a sizeable minority of those couples, the man really doesn’t contribute very much, either in the form of salary or unpaid domestic labour. And in more than a few cases, the bloke is — no way to put this politely — a downright loser. It’s the way of the modern world: some highquality women end up with low-quality men.

Makes sense to take precautions.

Watch box sets?

Milk in coffee?

Ski in France?

You’re vulgar As style arbiter Nicky Haslam comes up with a list of things that are ‘common’, Hilary Rose sets the definitive test

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ociety designer Nicky Haslam likes to stir things up, and he’s done it again, writing a list of things that he thinks are “common”.

These range from the bonkers (having milk in your coffee, skiing in France) to the bang-on (imaginary food intolerances, giving women menus without prices). Box sets, cheeseboards with more than two cheeses and the correct pronunciation of “us” all arouse Haslam’s ire, along with conservatories and the wearing of airline pyjamas.

But what exactly is vulgar? My dictionary describes it as “marked by lack of taste, culture, delicacy, manners, etc”. For a less dry definition, we could usefully turn to Nancy Mitford, who popularised the terms “U” and “non-U” language. First used in an academic article written by a professor of linguistics in 1954, in Mitford’s hands, they became part of a tongue-in-cheek essay. Thus did we learn that looking-glass was the correct word for a mirror; you were ill, not sick; you sprayed on scent, not perfume; and you never, ever asked for the toilet, only the lavatory or the loo.

Things have changed somewhat since then, but while we await the arrival of John Major’s classless society, the popularity of a character like Hyacinth ill, as Bucket proves that we are still, a nation, a little bit obse obsessed with this sort of stuff.

Perhaps we should get a life. Alternatively, as Haslam’s list was far from comprehensive, take our extremely serious quiz to find out if you are, unwittingly, vulgar.

1

famously self-assured.

If Prior was annoying him, why didn’t he just have a quiet word? Or give him a bit of a stare? Or put chillies in his jockstrap? Or give him a friendly belt with his bat? Or something?

These disputes are fairly easily solved if you put your mind to it.

Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

You want a piece of toast. Do you: a) put a slice of bread in the toaster b) have a gluten-free cracker instead: you are wheat intolerant c) go to Daylesford farm shop and pay £3.50 for it

2

Your kitchen shelves are full of Ottolenghi books. Your cupboard is full of: a) za’atar, pomegranate molasses and labneh b) a bottle of tomato ketchup and some crisps c) nothing. You never cook

3

You are decorating. Do you: a) paint all four walls the same, like a normal person b) isn’t decorating what interior designers are paid to do? c) paint only three walls, cover the fourth in vibrant wallpaper, and tell people it is a Statement Wall

4

You feel a bit tired. Do you: a) go to bed earlier b) deal with it c) tell everyone that this is beyond tiredness, this is exhaustion, and a clear sign that your pancreas/thyroid/metabolism [insert random personal neurosis] is not functioning at an optimal level

5

You are staying in a hotel.

When checking out, do you: a) leave all the products in the bathroom b) take only the unopened ones c) swipe them all, right down to the vanity kit and body lotion, neither of which you will ever use

The popularity of Hyacinth Bucket proves that we are obsessed

6

You have a coffee table. On it sit: a) cups of coffee and the TV remote control b) just coasters to protect against marks. pr The remote control must be disguised as a book k and live on top of the TV, which is housed in a mock-Georgian -Georgian cabinet c) a variety of expensive and unopened hardback books, arranged with great care and designed to fool people into thinking you are cleverer than you are, and that you have a keen interest in early Ming pottery

7

You need to buy flowers. Do you: a) buy flowers b) flowers? Why do I need to buy flowers? c) buy an extremely expensive fake orchid in a china bowl

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times2 GETTY IMAGES, REX FEATURES

What it’s like to write with ‘a gun to the head’

By Ben Machell

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that you are wheat, gluten and lactose intolerant

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8

You are in an urban environment.

Wearing wellies is: a) not fine b) fine c) as long as my feet are dry, what does it matter?

9

You have just sat through three and a half hours of Shakespeare.

What do you say? a) Shakespeare? The theatre? Are you mad? b) hey nonny effing nonny c) what a hoot! It was as fresh as the day it was written

10

You have had Botox. Do you: a) fess up: nothing to be ashamed of, after all b) enjoy the process so much you sign up for a full face-lift at 35 c) lie

11

You are having dinner in a restaurant. Do you: a) order a meal b) just an egg-white omelette for me, please c) discuss in great detail with the waiter the contents and cooking method of each dish, making him aware that though your doctor could find nothing wrong with you, your own self-diagnosis has convinced you

You are going to a friend’s house for dinner. S/he asks if there is anything you won’t eat.

What do you say? a) nothing, because you realise that this is a polite way of saying, “Serious, medically diagnosed allergies or religious beliefs only” b) no, I’m very easy. If presented with something vile, you have long-since mastered the arcane art of pushing food round your plate, pretending to take a mouthful, and hiding it under the cutlery c) yes! Thank you for asking. Do you have a pen and a sheet of A4 paper?

13

You are buying a boat.

Your criteria are: a) it has to float b) space for a jet-ski would be nice c) it has to be bigger, showier and more expensive than everyone else’s in the whole world otherwise what is the point?

14

A friend always uses long, obscure words instead of short, easily understood ones. You think this is: a) a stupid, mildly irritating habit which could probably have been remedied by going to university b) an excellent way to lose friends c) an excellent way of showing people how clever you are

15

You are planning a holiday.

Do you: a) decide where you want to go, and book it b) decide it’s a waste of money and buy a new handbag instead c) spend months and months investigating, discussing, boring everyone you know with budgets and flight stop-offs and whether Melbourne is better than Sydney, and if Tanzania is the new Kenya

Style arbiter Nicky Haslam (below left) has laid out his manifesto on vulgarity

0 Mostly As You are a reasonable person. You are aware that vulgarity isn’t just possessions, it’s a state of mind. You think something, or do something, and you do it with the minimum of fuss and the maximum clarity. We salute you.

0 Mostly Bs You are mildly irritating.

You have an unfortunate habit of tending to choose the showy and pseudo over the simple and obvious, but nothing terminal. Lose the mock-Georgian TV cabinet and all will be well.

0 Mostly Cs Do you have any friends? Are they as vulgar as you? It is nonsense to have cookery books but never cook, and no right-thinking person believes Daylesford to be anything other than silly. You medicalise trivial ailments and, worse, bore others with them. Please address yourself, or stay in.

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

his might not be the best place to admit that, a lot of the time, I find writing really hard. I’ll spend the day happily mooching round the office, chatting to colleagues and general feeling pretty good about myself, right up to the point when I actually have to write something.

Then, suddenly, it’s just me, a blank screen, a blinking cursor and . . . nothing. Or nothing good, anyway.

This morning I’ve been trying to write up an interview, and aside from a few tentative sentences that I immediately deleted out of shame, it’s taken me four hours to end up exactly where I began: a blank screen, a blinking cursor and absolutely nothing.

The good news, I guess, is that it’s not just me. This weekend, the author David Nicholls admitted on stage at the Cheltenham Literature Festival that at “the lowest point” in the writing of his latest novel Us, he used a word-processing program called Write or Die. This software, according to its website, “aims to eliminate writer’s block by providing consequences for procrastination”, which sounded promising. So I had a go.

I chose to write in “consequence mode”, and to begin with, it was just like a normal word-processor. I’d type a few words and everything was fine.

Only then I’d stop to agonise over what I’d written, or to gaze out the window at a cool helicopter that was flying past, and after a few seconds my screen faded to a disconcerting blood red. I could only make it return to normal by quickly typing out a few more words. Tap, tap, tap.

After ten minutes of bashing out copy in order to avoid Scary Red Screen, I reward myself with a trip to a football message board to discuss Leeds United’s diamond formation.

Within 15 seconds of doing so, a piercingly loud air-raid siren sounds in my headphones, and the only way to make it stop is to snap back to work.

Other “consequence” noises include sinister crying babies, car horns and a discordant violin. They’re all horrible.

Write or Die also offers a “stimulus” mode, which plays nice, calm noises as you type. There’s quite a pleasant one of waves lapping against a shore, although I found it does make you want to pee quite badly. The final mode, “Kamikaze”, is the one that Nicholls used and described as like “writing with a gun to my head”.

It actually starts to delete what you’ve written if you find yourself dawdling, which is not only chilling to witness, but it means you end up frantically typing out misspelled swear words.

Everything I wrote on this mode read like some kind of weird ransom demand written by a dyslexic psychopath.

Even Nicholls confessed that, having used Write or Die, he ended up with 35,000 words of Us that he simply couldn’t use. I’m actually not surprised. I bet most of them were swear words.

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Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

times2

‘We used to know how to keep secrets. Not any more’ A new biopic of the wartime decoder Alan Turing is reigniting the debate on secrecy. When did we decide it was a bad thing, asks Ben Macintyre

A

lan Turing had two big secrets: the first, which he shared with the other scientists and codebreakers at Bletchley Park, was the cracking of the Enigma code that hastened the end of the Second World War; the second, which he shared only with his sexual partners, was his homosexuality.

The first secret was eventually hailed as a public triumph, in which Turing had played a crucial part; the second was a private tragedy, which destroyed Turing, leading to his prosecution for gross indecency, chemical castration and death, probably by self-poisoning.

Tomorrow the London Film Festival opens with The Imitation Game, a biopic of Turing’s life starring Benedict Cumberbatch, a tale of heroic science and ignoble prejudice, and above all a story about secrecy, its value and its hazards.

Secrecy is a national obsession in Britain, yet our attitudes towards secret-keeping have changed radically over the past century. Once, secrets were regarded as the bulwark of good government, discretion was a virtue and privacy sacrosanct; today a secret is regarded as a species of lie, official secrecy carries the stench of cover-up and the thrust of popular culture is directed toward openness, confession and complete candour.

We remain deeply ambivalent about secrecy, and few figures in modern history illustrate the double-edged

nature of secrecy better than Turing: his willingness to make and keep secrets helped to win the war; yet society forced him to keep the sexual part of his life a secret, and persecuted him ruthlessly when that secret was exposed.

Secrets are hugely valuable, vital tools that enable the smooth running of government. Intelligence work, policing, and even journalism, depend on keeping secrets; but secrecy is also dangerous, a habit of disguise that can conceal the guilty and harm the innocent by forcing them to live a lie.

A government cloaked and soaked in secrecy swiftly rots, but a state unable to maintain some measure of confidentiality could not function.

Britain’s habit of secrecy is deep-grained and ancient. It is allied

Today a secret is regarded as a species of lie

to national characteristics of reserve and understatement. We do not, as a rule, like to say openly or directly what we think or know: English contains more euphemisms than any other language. A person who calls a spade a spade is usually rather embarrassing.

Official secrecy was born of war, and the need to restrict sensitive information to those with a “need to know”. The Official Secrets Act of 1911 was forged in the run-up to the First World War as a counterespionage tool, a way to prevent important information from falling into enemy hands.

Secrecy was Britain’s secret weapon during the Second World War. Whether civilian or military, British citizens had the importance of secrecy drummed into them, and many came

to see secret-keeping as a sacred, lifelong vow.

One touching recent example was Eileen Nearne, the Special Operation Executive (SOE) agent who served as a radio operator in occupied France, survived Gestapo interrogation, and died in obscurity in 2010, never having revealed her wartime work. Nearne did not break under interrogation and

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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FGM FRONT COVER: JULIAN HIBBARD/GETTY IMAGES BELOW: PRESS ASSOCIATION, AFP, GETTY IMAGES,

times2 Nine years earlier, Philby, a senior officer in MI6, stood before the television cameras and smoothly lied that he had never had any dealing with Soviet intelligence. “No comment,” he said, with an easy Whitehall, nose-tapping smile. “I can’t.

I’m debarred by the Official Secrets Act from saying anything that might disclose to unauthorised persons information derived from my position as a former government official.”

In 1963 he defected to Moscow, revealing that he had been a Soviet spy for three decades.

The Spycatcher case of 1987, and government efforts to silence MI5 former assistant director Peter Wright, further undermined Britain’s faith in secrecy. Today, the Freedom of Information Act shines light into corners of British official life that were once entirely sealed off from scrutiny.

MI5 and MI6 recruit openly in newspapers such as this one, and both organisations have published official

Whistleblowers and leakers have exposed great rafts of secrets

she did not blab after the war, a reserve that was truly courageous, but wholly at odds with today’s culture of public confession and instant hero-worship.

Bletchley Park was the best-kept secret in history, the high-water mark of British secret-keeping. Turing and more than 10,000 other people knew that the German codes had been broken, and were being routinely read

by British intelligence, giving the Allies an inestimable advantage. Yet not one spilled the secret during the war.

They were, in Churchill’s words, “the geese that laid the golden eggs and never cackled”.

The secret of Bletchley Park persisted long after it had become useful or necessary: Turing’s entry in the Dictionary of National Biography in the 1960s made no mention of his crucial wartime work, which caused some to wonder why he had been included in the Who Was Who of notable Britons.

Not until the late 1970s did the story emerge. But even after the workers of Bletchley were released from their vow of silence, many found it hard to talk about a secret held so close, for so long. There is even an apocryphal story that a couple, who married after the war, did not discover until many years later that they had both been at Bletchley Park.

Secrecy had played an important wartime role, and helped to keep the nation safe in peace, yet it came with a cost. The Official Secrets Act was intended to catch spies, but too often

The Imitation Game (above), with Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, Keira Knightley, and (left to right) Matthew Beard, Matthew Goode and Allen Leech.

Codebreakers at Bletchley Park (left).

Alan Turing, aged 16 (top, left). Kim Philby denies spying in the mid-1950s (centre)

in the following century it was used to gag rebels, browbeat critics and spare officials from embarrassment.

It became a convenient way to keep the public in the dark about official matters because that, in the view of officialdom, was where the public ought to be kept.

Secrecy for the sake of security evolved into secrecy for its own sake.

The release of any information, sensitive or otherwise, was frowned upon. Concealment was the norm, embedding an official habit of telling the British public as little as possible about how it was governed.

Ted Heath once described Britain as the most secretive state in western Europe. The secrecy laws covered no fewer than 2,000 distinct crimes of

disclosure: not just the intelligence services, but the police, the cabinet, the civil service and the everyday activities of government took place behind closed doors. Even the workings of business were considered none of our business. As for MI5 and MI6, officially they did not exist at all.

The moment Britain began to shrug off the habit of ingrained secrecy can be dated with some accuracy. In 1963, two momentous events changed attitudes towards the clandestine state: the Profumo scandal exposed the way that politicians seemed to be living by a different, secret set of rules, but it was the defection of Kim Philby that revealed just how deeply secrecy had penetrated, and damaged, British society.

histories, behaviour that would have horrified an earlier generation of spooks. Barack Obama swept into the White House promising to overturn “one of the most secretive administrations in our history”.

At much the same time that official secrecy was eroding, unofficial secrecy also began to wane in the wider culture. The demand for transparency has justified the devaluation of privacy: “secretive” became a dirty word in a popular culture that insists public figures reveal their secrets, feelings or emotions without reserve. Secrecy now implies a lack of candour, where once it meant discretion.

The erosion of secrecy comes with a price, and in some respects the pendulum has swung too far away from the beneficial aspects of secrecy.

Cabinet ministers and other government officials speak less openly, commit less to paper, knowing that their words may be prised into the public domain during their own lifetimes. Whistleblowers and leakers, such as Bradley Manning, Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, have exposed great rafts of secrets, on the simple principle that secrecy is bad, little caring of the human and political damage caused by wholesale disclosure. MI6 insists that without maintaining the principle of absolute and inviolable anonymity it could never recruit informants, which is why it will never release its historical archives.

Everyone, from politicians to pop stars, must divulge their secrets and tell all, or stand accused of insincerity.

If Turing had lived today, he would probably have lived as an openly gay man. But he lived in a different time, when a man who was different must keep his difference a dark secret, or face prosecution.

Turing was an intensely private and secretive man, and a great one.

Today, both his secrets have been revealed, and held up for cinematic display. I wonder whether he would have been proud, or appalled.

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body&soul

Why children are being given a live version of the flu vaccine

Dr Mark Porter

FGM

Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

E

bola may be grabbing headlines around the world, but closer to home it is the humble influenza virus that is currently occupying the NHS as it rolls out this year’s vaccination programme. The combination of a quiet season last year, and a “swine flu” epidemic that turned out to be nowhere near as bad as predicted, means influenza has slipped down the family agenda. Despite its lower profile, though, flu is still a significant threat and, even in a good year, one that contributes to thousands of deaths over the winter period.

This year’s programme is again targeted at those deemed to be at highest risk (see below) and while many of the groups will be familiar, some, such as pregnant women, are not so well established. Yet it is plans to include younger children that seem to be attracting the most attention, at least in my practice.

The eventual aim is to immunise all children in the UK between the ages of 2 and 17, but the sheer scale of the project has meant a slow roll-out. It started last year with the vaccine being offered to every two and three-yearold, as well as older primary school children in seven pilot areas. This year four-year-olds will be added to the list.

Children are not only at higher risk of serious complications from flu, they are also an important reservoir of infection, facilitating spread throughout the community. So it is hoped that as well as protecting them from the disease, vaccinating them will slow transmission among contacts such as friends and family.

Parents are wary of new vaccines, and influenza is no exception, not least because children are being given a different version to adults. Though you and I might be offered an injection of mashed up bits of the outer shell of a flu virus — the part of the virus that our immune system “feels” to work out whether it is friend or foe — children are being given a mix of live flu viruses that have been weakened so they pose no threat.

This newer live version (Fluenz Tetra) is still a one-off shot, but given as a squirt into the nostrils rather than a needle into the upper arm. It has been used in America for several years and, like its injectable counterpart, has an excellent safety profile. Side effects include a runny or blocked nose and, less commonly, a brief flu-like illness with headache, fever, muscle pains and loss of appetite.

The upside is that Fluenz involves

QA

Do dog bites always require antibiotics?

Our spaniel got into a fight with another dog at the weekend and my husband was bitten on the hand while trying to separate them. It doesn’t look like much, but I am worried it may get infected.

From a microbiological perspective, if you are going to be bitten by anything, a dog is preferable to a cat or a

JOE MCLAREN

no needles and that it may induce a better immune response that closer mimics the sort of longer-term protection that real flu does. It is not suitable for everyone and should be avoided in some groups, such as children with severe asthma, or active wheezing at the time of vaccination; those with weakened immune systems and anyone allergic to eggs.

Just a word about pregnant women as this is the other recent addition that seems to have prompted some controversy. So far, uptake has been poor following concerns about the safety of the vaccine (the normal injectable form in this case).

Vaccine manufacturers may not have tested the flu jab in pregnancy as part of their trials, but it has been given to lots of pregnant women over the years and analysis has shown it to be very safe. And though maternal concerns are understandable, they need to be balanced against risks. It is impossible to predict the toll for any one year, but it is not unusual for flu to kill ten pregnant women and as many as 50 children (around a fifth will be babies) across the UK over the winter.

For more information on this year’s programme, search the internet for “Flu Plan 2014/15”.

The following groups are advised to have the vaccine 0 Anyone aged 65 or over 0 Anyone between the ages of 6 months and 65 deemed to be in a high-risk group, such as those with diabetes, or chest, heart and liver disease (see nhs.uk for a full list) 0 Pregnant women — at any stage of pregnancy 0 All children aged two, three or four on September 1, 2014 (plus older primary school children in pilot areas) 0 Those in long-stay residential care homes 0 Carers

human as, surprisingly, they tend to have “cleaner” mouths.

Research is patchy, but as a rough rule of thumb, around one in five dog bites become infected. Current guidance suggests that antibiotics should be given for bites involving areas particularly susceptible to infection, such as the face, hands, feet and genitals (it happens!). And they should be considered for any deep wound, or one associated with significant tissue damage. In practice, this means that most

people turning up in an A&E department will be given antibiotics.

Superficial injuries can be managed at home (assuming your tetanus is up to date) by washing and applying antiseptic cream (dog bites being one of the few indications where I still use one).

By the time you read this, your husband’s hand will either be healing, or turning red and painful and in need of antibiotics.

If you have a health problem, email drmarkporter@ thetimes.co.uk

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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body&soul

OK, I’ll run. Just stop shocking me TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER KI PRICE

German scientists have found a new way to make you fitter — an electric shock jacket. It’s like mild torture, says Peta Bee

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rom vibration platforms to toning footwear, some people will try just about any invention if it promises to make them fitter, faster. Even so, a high-tech jacket and “buttock-belt” with integrated electrodes that needles your muscles into action by delivering electric shocks, seems a little extreme.

Yet despite offering a workout that’s about as pleasurable as running barefoot on gravel, the introduction of a Miha BodyTec training system at Chelsea Health Club has apparently sparked a frenzy among the female clientele — which includes models and footballers’ wives — of the exclusive west London gym.

Although intended as a training and rehabilitation aid for athletes — Frank Lampard and Usain Bolt are said to be fans — its reputation as a quick fix for weight loss and improved muscle tone has created huge demand from “your average female gym-goer who wants to get rid of cellulite, body fat and bingo wings”, according to the gym’s trainer and manager, Stuart Parker: “It’s hugely popular in Germany and other parts of Europe and we’ve opened it up to non-members because the demand is so great.”

The principles of the Miha system are not entirely new: Electrical Muscular Stimulation (or EMS) was used 30 years ago in slimming belts designed to trim the waist. For many, the idea that you can reshape and contour the body, or produce the exercise equivalent of 15 minutes of sit-ups, while sitting on your sofa seemed ludicrous, and slimming belts were dismissed as “quackery” in the late 1980s by America’s Food and Drug Administration. Now, though, advances in technology and a smattering of more recent scientific studies supporting claims that they really do tax muscles has seen them re-emerge as a trend among the bodyconscious who are wary of invasive liposuction and cosmetic treatments.

In addition to the Miha BodyTec vest (developed in Germany by exercise scientists), sales of Slendertone EMS devices are soaring.

They have become the secret toning weapon of women who spend too long in the office to devote hours to the gym. Some even wear the ab or buttock-belts to work, their colleagues none the wiser that they are subjecting muscles to the equivalent of a mini circuit session at their desks. One university lecturer I know says she wears an EMS buttock toner every day to offset the hours she spends sitting down at her computer. According to

swear I felt my muscles contract involuntarily even when he switched it off. Was it normal to twitch in this way? “Yes,” he told me. “It’s a sign it’s doing the job.”

If you can endure it — and I’m not sure I could do on a regular basis — it might be worth the discomfort.

Ashlee Henson, in her thirties, who trains with the machine under Parker’s guidance, says she used it to recover from a herniated disc and hip replacement and noticed unexpected perks. “There was a major change in the cellulite and fatty tissue that was accumulating on my thighs, buttocks and stomach,” she says. “And I’m very happy that the bit of back flab that hangs over my bra straps is gone.”

Studies confirming such benefits, while not overwhelming, do exist. A decade after slamming EMS devices for failing to live up to manufacturers’ promises, the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the consumer watchdog, revisited the market to assess developments in equipment.

A team lead by Professor John Pocari,

I have finished a session on it and literally buckled over with fatigue

Parker, the results of adding voltage to your exercise programme can be remarkable: “It’s not going to define your muscles in the way a twiceweekly, tough weights session would,” he says, “but I’ve found that, for many of our clients, a 20-minute session of simple moves, like squats and lunges, using the Miha system produces results comparable to a week’s worth of general resistance exercises.”

Like similar devices, the Miha system uses electrodes on the skin.

These trigger the nerves that operate muscle groups, causing them to contract and relax, just as they would during exercise. By performing strengthening and toning moves when you are wired up to the machine, you intensify the muscular response.

Put simply, your muscles are forced to work twice as hard. “It’s quite a powerful sensation, so it activates deeper underlying muscle tissue as well,” Parker says. “I was sceptical when I first used it, but I am a convert. I have finished a session on it and literally buckled over with fatigue at the end.”

So what does it feel like? For me, it was akin to mild torture. Parker took me through a routine that involved bicep curls (no weights), lunges and abdominal exercises, each accompanied by a supply of what felt like constant static electric shocks.

As he cranked up the intensity of the electronic impulse, I wailed. And I

New tech training

Torq-King (torq-king.com) Express Torq-King classes are launching at some gyms in the next few months. A new take on the oldfashioned ab-roller, this is a wheel system — which is £175 to buy — for core-strengthening moves with a 360-degree range of motion.

Designed by a personal trainer who works with elite athletes, it can be used on the floor or against a wall.

ZONE Dome (runningunlimited.co.uk) Already installed in some gyms, with a roll-out planned throughout 2015, these treadmills transport runners to the location of their choice via a dome screen positioned around them as they run. Destinations include the mountains and lakes of New Zealand, the beaches of the Pacific and highways in California.

Run around the world using a ZONE dome

SenseCore (senseyourcore.com) A Swiss-based system that takes fitness tracking to a new level.

Already widely used by elite athletes, it consists of compression garments holding electrodes that record everything from breathing rate to acceleration, and from speed and pace of movement to the cadence of your running or walking. Personal trainers are snapping them up, despite the £700 price tag.

exercise physiologist at the University of Wisconsin, recruited 72 women who, at the time, did no lower-body training and assigned them to one of three groups. For six weeks, one group did nothing different, one was assigned a regimen of regular leg and bottom-toning moves and the third group used an EMS buttock toner.

At the end of the trial, both activity groups reported improvements in the shape and tone of their posteriors. And tests revealed that buttock-muscle strength increased by 9 per cent among the exercisers and 15 per cent among those subjected to electricity.

Muscular endurance (the ability to contract muscles over time) also rose: by 26 per cent among the regular exercisers and 29 per cent among those who had used an EMS device.

There were caveats in the ACE study: the exercisers spent only five minutes working out, whereas the electrical users wore their equipment for 30 minutes daily. And, as the researchers pointed out, there are no cardiovascular benefits to passive EMS exercise. Still, other small studies have uncovered similar benefits for abdominal EMS equipment, and it is widely used in the medical community and prescribed by physios for athletes unable to resume full training after injury. Germany’s biggest football club, Bayern Munich, is among sporting organisations that have installed Miha BodyTec units. “What this sort of equipment offers is an additional boost to your workout,” Parker says. “They should not replace what you are already doing and are unlikely to make much difference on their own, but if you get wired up at the end of a session and spend 20 minutes a couple of times a week using them, then you’ll notice the difference.”

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arts

Is your great heartbreak song about Joni Mitchell?

In a trailer in Nashville,Will Hodgkinson asks the singer Jackson Browne to solve one of rock’s great mysteries . . .

A

t the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the American songwriter Jackson Browne is singing Fountain of Sorrow, his heartbreak anthem from 1974. With its guitar-led, mid-tempo groove and story about coming across a photograph of an old

lover, it is a classic of the singersongwriter era, a perfect example of the 65-year-old Browne’s ability to give universal significance to intimate moments. It’s also strongly rumoured to have been inspired by his brief affair with Joni Mitchell.

Backed by songwriter JD Souther, and a team of musicians that includes the slide-guitar legend Ry Cooder, Browne’s laid-back vocals resonate

through the wood-panelled walls of the Ryman, a sacred space for country fans. Fountain of Sorrow sounds transcendent, a wise and gentle reflection on what happens when you fall out of love with someone, which makes Browne’s introduction to this early 1970s masterpiece all the more surprising. “As time went on, it turned out to be a more generous song than she deserved,” he says. That makes you wonder: who is the “she”, and what did she do that was so terrible?

Unresolved issues with old flames notwithstanding, Browne remains the quintessential thinking-person’s pop star. He released soft-rock favourites of the Seventies including Late For The Sky and The Pretender, and wrote the million-selling Take It Easy for the Eagles. He is also the epitome of the Californian liberal: good-looking and wealthy while lending his weight to all manner of ecological concerns. After two marriages — the first, to the actress Phyllis Major, ended with her suicide in 1976 and the second, to the Australian model Lynne Sweeney, ended in 1983 when he began a relationship with Hollywood star Daryl Hannah — Browne has been living with the environmentalist Dianna Cohen since the mid-1990s.

Father to two sons (Ethan, a model and actor, from his marriage to Major, and Ryan, a musician, from his marriage to Sweeney) he seems to have found a dignified way of being a rock star of pensionable age.

Browne is in town for the Americana Awards, the Grammys of US roots music. Everyone from Loretta Lynn to Robert Plant is here, and Browne, honoured with the Spirit of Americana award, has used his time at the podium to explain how a song is a way of describing the life you know to the people around you. It’s the kind of speech you would expect from Browne, but the bitterness he hints at feeling for the woman in Fountain of Sorrow comes as a shock.

I remind Browne of his comments at the Americana awards when we meet the following day. He laughs, a little nervously. “Yeah . . . but it’s true of songs in general,” he says, leaning back on a chair in the Airstream trailer we’re sitting in. “If you write a song about anything specific to your experience it’s going to go beyond that.

It can’t be you relating your exploits to other people. It’s got to be about them, so you put in as much as you can. The things that come to bear in that song are the healing and acceptance of each other’s differences. That’s what I meant by it being more generous than she deserved.”

Listen to our playlist of the best songs of Jackson Browne thetimes.co.uk/arts

So, who is Fountain of Sorrow, with its line “When you see through love’s illusion there lies the danger, and your perfect lover just looks like a perfect fool,” about? Is it Joni? If so, it belongs in the small but significant canon of break-up songs by famous people about other, unnamed famous people, including Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain (allegedly Warren Beatty).

“It’s about the fact that when you fall in love with someone, when you’re brokenhearted, you don’t see them as a person,” Browne replies, by way of answer.

Yes, but who is it about?

“I can’t tell you that.”

There is one former girlfriend enshrined in song whom Browne is only too happy to identify, suggesting he has happier memories of their time together. Browne was only 17 when, in 1966, he took a road trip from California to New York to start his career as guitarist for Nico, the icy German model, singer, collaborator of the Velvet Underground. Browne wrote the ballad These Days for Nico’s solo debut Chelsea Girl, and The Birds of St. Marks, the opening song on his new album Standing In The Breach, is about her. He wrote it when he was 18 after their brief affair came to an end, but it has never been recorded until now. With The Long Way Around,

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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PETER MAZEL / RETNA, DANNY CLINCH, GIJSBERT HANEKROOT / GETTY IMAGES

Jackson Browne in the Seventies, main picture; supporting Joni Mitchell in Amsterdam in 1972, above; with Daryl Hannah, left; promoting his new album, bottom right; Nico in the late Sixties, bottom left

another song from the new album, borrowing the melody of These Days, it almost seems that Browne has turned the album into something of a tribute to Nico.

“Nico was a remarkable talent. She rebelled against being considered a beauty, to the extent that she quite deliberately let her beauty go,” says Browne, who even in his mid-sixties looks the part of the laid-back, handsome singer. The surfer’s hair and slight frame remain unchanged since he was a mainstay of the music community centred on West Hollywood in Los Angeles in the early 1970s, which also included David Crosby, Neil Young and, of course, Mitchell. “When I recorded Long Way Around I realised that I was quoting from Nico’s version of These Days rather than my own. So the song became about the passage of time, about all the things that have happened since then and what is happening now.”

In classic Browne fashion, The Long

Fountain of Sorrow turned out to be a more generous song than she deserved

Way Around is both autobiographical and topical. In one verse he’s recalling being a young singer hustling his way through Tinseltown, and then in the next he’s singing about how the American economy is based on the politics of envy.

“With The Long Way Around I was trying to write about what I feel is wrong with America without preaching, so you need a certain amount of stealth,” Browne says.

Browne is no stranger to activism.

In 1979, he founded Musicians United For Safe Energy, in 2008 he was named Environmentalist of the Year by the Surf Industry Manufacturers’ Association for his attempts to make his tours green, and the day after our interview he’s off to New York to join Ocean Elders, a group of silver-haired environmentalists including Ted Turner and Young, who have joined together to serve as a catalyst for the protection of the ocean and its wildlife. “The ocean is collapsing, the life we rely on is in danger, and there are no rules governing the high seas,” Browne explains.

“I don’t want a whole album of songs about the ocean,” Browne says.

“We need music to communicate, but people can’t feel they’re being scolded and lectured. There’s a certain skill in bringing up these subjects with the hope that people then become participants themselves, and it does happen. We’re now seeing how industries once relegated to being folkie, hippie ways of producing energy are entering the mainstream.”

Topical songwriting can also be a liberal luxury, something Browne is only too aware of. Before our interview comes to an end, before he must catch a plane to New York, he recalls a recent encounter with one of his backing singers. “She’s from a gospel background, and I was trying to teach her Living in a Poor Man’s House

by Patty Griffin,” Browne says. “She made it very clear: she didn’t want to sing about a poor man’s house. In fact, she intended to move out of a poor man’s house as soon as possible.”

With that he’s gone, off to make the world a better place in the way only a rich, handsome Californian can.

Standing in The Breach is out on October 6. Jackson Browne is at the Sage, Gateshead, November 20, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, November 21, and the Royal Albert Hall, London, November 24

Great songs about ex-lovers 0 You’re So Vain (1972)

by Carly Simon The daddy of celebrity break-up songs, although Simon still isn’t saying whether it’s about Warren Beatty. Or Jack Nicholson. Or Kris Kristofferson. When The Times asked her in 2010, she ruled out Mick Jagger and David Geffen, but still refused to divulge the culprit.

0 Go Your Own Way (1977)

by Fleetwood Mac The centrepiece of Rumours, the ultimate divorce album, was written

by Lindsey Buckingham about the end of his relationship with band-mate Stevie Nicks: “Loving you/Isn’t the right thing to do” 0 Cry Me a River (2002)

by Justin Timberlake “You don’t have to say, what you did/I already know, I found out from him,” sang a heartbroken Timberlake, apparently referring to his girlfriend Britney Spears’s alleged infidelity with his pal Wade Robson.

“Now there’s just no chance/For you and me, there’ll never be.” Ouch.

0 I Knew You Were Trouble (2012)

by Taylor Swift “I knew his world moved too fast and burned too bright/But I just thought, how can the devil be pulling you toward someone who looks so much like an angel when he smiles at you?”

Swift sang on a song that is held to be about her former boyfriend, Harry Styles of One Direction.

0 Don’t (2014) by Ed Sheeran Dynamiting his reputation as the nice guy of pop, Sheeran responded to the breakdown of his relationship with singer Ellie Goulding with this song on his recent album, X. “I reckon she was only looking for a lover to burn,” he sings, a reference to Goulding’s biggest hit, Burn.

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Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

Register Obituaries

Philip Howard

Much-loved Times journalist who served ten editors and represented the intellectual heart and soul of the newspaper TIMES NEWSPAPERS

For many readers of The Times, Philip Howard was, for half a century, the true soul of the paper. Serving under ten editors, from William Haley in 1964 to John Witherow in 2014, he carried the torch for the intellectual component of the editorial staff in posts ranging from leader writer to literary editor, from columnist to expert commentator on philology, grammar, house style, manners and etiquette.

Described in the official History of the Times as “a Times man of the choicest vintage”, he had interests that were largely highbrow but he was far from being a lofty academic; his hearty guffaw betrayed a mischievous sense of humour and a delight in de-flating the pompous, questioning the conventional and exposing the hypocritical.

He started work on The Times in 1964 as a reporter, and his elegant, classical prose soon marked him out as a writer of substance, though he always referred to himself as a simple hack. This self-effacing modesty, combined with an utterly unstuffy attitude to colleagues in particular and life in general, and his unostentatious pride in his work, was one of Howard’s trademarks.

Another was his careful cultivation of the courtesy and joviality of a very large public schoolboy — he would invariably address male colleagues as “dear boy” or “old bean” — while his dress sense could best be described as “shabby gentility”.

It was said that he bought most of his (usually pin-striped) suits from the “dead man’s department” of Moss Bros

He told the editor he had persuaded the Queen Mother to review a book

Howard with one of his grandsons, Charlie, learning how to download music in 2005, and, below, in The Black Watch

— the discarded, second-hand apparel of the landed gentry — and he inherited from his father a mass of tweed jackets and hunting trousers which he patched up and continued to wear, leading one of his editors, Sir Peter Stothard, to describe him as “part Bohemian man of letters, part Scots puritan gent”. His voluminous corduroy trousers were frequently held up by bright red braces.

Howard was a Times writer in an age when newspapers didn’t have writers; he was employed not because he landed scoops but because of his “easy pen” — his skill as a “colour” writer.

Beautifully crafted articles for the news pages appeared throughout his career, but Howard’s sheer quality ensured that he rose to the more intellectual sections of the paper as columnist and, from 1978 to 1992, literary editor.

This was a job ideally suited to this man of words. The books pages under Howard’s stewardship were serious and heavyweight, but also witty, and he was largely left alone by his bosses. On one occasion, however, one of his editors reproached him for not using enough well-known reviewers (Howard preferred to employ experts in their field, often academics). He bridled at this criticism, mulled it over for a week, then told the editor that he had persuaded the Archbishop of Canterbury and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother to review forthcoming works for him. Not

immediately recognising Howard’s mischievous sense of humour, the editor replied: “Excellent, Philip. Well done. That’s much more the sort of thing.”

Howard’s classical training and tolerant liberalism combined in his love of words and language. He vehemently believed in English as a developing language, and defended the appropriate use of the split infinitive — despite the preference of The Times style guide over many years not to use it. He would always make the case for the evolution of meaning in popular usage: “People know what they mean when they say ‘hopefully’, old bean — so there’s no need to stick by the old rigid rules.”

Outside the office he wrote or edited some 20 books, beginning with The Black Watch in 1968, and covering topics as diverse as The Royal Palaces (1970), London’s River (1975), The British Monarchy (1977), We Thundered Out: 200 Years of The Times (1985), and a host of works on words and language from Weasel Words (1978) and Reading a Poem (1992) to The British Library: A Treasure Trove of Knowledge (2008), as well as various anthologies of Times articles.

He was a sociable, clubbable man too.

He relished his membership of the Garrick and the small Ad Eundem club (which he described as “made up of old Oxbridge reprobates”), plus the Eton Ramblers and International PEN. He was a prominent member of the Classi-

cal Association (and its president in 2002); the Horatian Society; the Society of Bookmen; and of the Literary Society. He was a founder patron of Friends of Classics in 1991, a liveryman of the Wheelwrights’ Company, London editor of the language and linguistics magazine Verbatim, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

He was also a sportsman; he particularly loved rugby (he liked to stand at Twickenham, when that was still possible, and was a keen supporter of Battersea Ironsides, his grandson’s team) and cricket, regularly turning out for the Times team as a demon fast bowler. He enjoyed football too, playing in the Corinthian spirit rather than in the style of today’s premiership prima donnas. He also doted on his jack russells and beagles, and in latter years on his six grandchildren; before catching the Tube to the office at Wapping from his home in Ladbroke Grove, he would push them around Kensington Gardens in a huge old-fashioned pram, his beloved terriers snapping at his heels.

His wide-ranging tastes were evident in his memorable contribution, in 1984, to the Times series “My Perfect Day”, in

which he described finding himself waking up at “six am sharp on a splendid Thursday morning in June, with the sun pouring through the windows like melted butter . . . in the turret guestroom of Castell Coch, William Burges’s Gothic fantasy looking down the valley to Cardiff”. After taking a helicopter to Lord’s he ends up scoring 150 not out on the first day of the Second Test against the West Indies, “England having been blown away by the hurricane of fast bowlers in the First . . . In despair, and having at last come to their senses, the selectors will have chosen me to add some teeth to the middle order batting.”

Later La still he goes punting on the Cherwell, and takes a hot air balloon tak back into Oxford, where he takes over the Ashmolean for the evening.

His involvement with Lord Longford’s campaign in the early 1970s to stop pornography becoming widespread in Britain was equally memorable, and made for one of his best anecdotes. The peer was carrying out a survey on wa the effects of pornography, and part par of his research involved

visiting a sex club. Howard, who was a member of Longford’s inquiry, accompanied him. They sat in the front row of a sex show, watching live sex on the stage. At one point the elderly Longford turned to him and said, “What do you think, Philip. You’re a younger man. Do you find this arousing?”

No stranger to nobility, he was once sent to interview Earl Mountbatten and was the paper’s star reporter at Prince Charles’s investiture as Prince of Wales at Caernarvon Castle in 1969. He was, however, tucked away far from a telephone on that occasion, and so arrived at a suitably medieval solution to file his copy. He wrote out his story by hand on sheets of paper, then lowered takes of them in a basket on a rope over the battlements to the ground, where someone collected them and rushed off to a public phone to dictate them to the office copytaker. Howard later told his then news editor, Peter Evans, that he had written some of his story beforehand.

His love of walking and his fondness for Scotland were regularly indulged from a cottage he and his wife inherited in Ayrshire. She died in March this year and he is survived by two sons and one daughter: John (known as Jock for his passion for Scotland), is a writer for Golf World magazine; James; and Juliette, who is a teacher at a Montessori school.

Born in 1933, Philip Nicholas Charles Howard had a difficult and unconventional upbringing. His father Peter was a top-class rugby player, being capped eight times by England in 1930-31 and captaining the team once; he was also at one time the leader of the “Biff Boys”,

His education instilled in him a lifelong passion for the classics the militia set up by Sir Oswald Mosley for his New Party in the early 1930s.

Howard’s Greek-born mother, Doris Metaxa, excelled at tennis, winning the women’s doubles at Wimbledon in 1932.

Both parents, though, became heavily involved in Moral Re-Armament (MRA) as their sporting careers faded; this was the worldwide movement for moral and spiritual renewal founded by the American evangelist Frank Buchman in 1938. Its somewhat right-wing, evangelical overtones manifested in militant Christianity that never appealed to the young Howard.

His education at Eton, where he was a King’s Scholar, and at Trinity College, Oxford, where he was a Major Scholar, gaining a first in Classics, Literae Humaniores, instilled in him a lifelong passion for the Classics as well as a broad-minded, liberal set of values. The attitudinal rift with his parents was exacerbated by his marriage in 1959 to Myrtle Houldsworth, daughter of Sir Reginald Houldsworth, a Scottish baronet; his father and mother would have preferred to see him married to an adherent of the MRA philosophy.

He had a stock of oft-repeated anecdotes garnered while at Oxford, including one about a fellow student at Trinity College who took a violent dislike to William Rees-Mogg, who was at nextdoor Balliol and later became one of Howard’s editors; the student had

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Andrea de Cesaris

Italian racing driver who was known for his erratic driving and competed in a record number of Grand Prix without a win GETTY IMAGES

Blindingly fast but with a mercurial streak that gave him an unwanted reputation for crashing, Andrea de Cesaris earned the dubious distinction of becoming the Formula One driver with the most race starts without ever winning.

So erratic was his driving in his early years that de Cesaris became widely known as “de Crasheris”, a nickname he never managed to jettison despite in later years becoming a more reliable competitor even if consigned to cars with no chance of winning.

His Formula One career statistics indicated unfulfilled early promise and then a collection of distinctions for the wrong reasons. In 1980 at the age of 20 he was one of the youngest drivers to get a start in Formula One. At 22 he became the youngest driver at that time to take pole position after only his 18th race at the 1982 US West Grand Prix at Long Beach.

But de Cesaris eventually also held the record for the most consecutive non-finishes — 18 between 1985-’86.

He also achieved the record for the most successive non-finishes in one season — 14 in 1986. And his total of 208 Grand Prix started without a victory remains unbeaten.

It was certainly not the career he wanted but the Roman driver never lost his passion for the sport that made him

So erratic was his early driving that he became known as ‘de Crasheris’

De Cesaris, pictured in 2005 at the Grand Prix Masters, developed a taste for racing after his father bought him a go-kart

famous. He remained outspoken about his own ability, convinced that if he had had better cars he could have done well in his later years.

Not long before he retired from Formula One in 1994 he said he would stop only when he realised he was slowing down. “I love being a Grand Prix driver.

It is my work, but I love it,” he told the motor racing writer Joe Saward. “If I keep going well, I shall go on. But if I am not as quick as I should be then I will stop.”

De Cesaris’s “shunts” were sometimes spectacular and were often of his own making. He was lucky not to be killed or seriously injured in several of them. In one season the laid-back Ital-

ian managed to crash 18 times, requiring his mechanics to spend the equivalent of five full working days rebuilding his wrecked cars.

The crashes and their frequency were the subject of speculation among other drivers and commentators who wondered whether his nervous twitch, when he momentarily closed his eyes, might have something to do with his loss of control at the wheel. He never accepted this.

Either way some in the sport grew exasperated by de Cesaris’s erratic driving, not the least of them the former world champion and television commentator, James Hunt. Watching de Cesaris — running in the rear of the

field — tangle with race leader Nigel Mansell at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1990, Hunt gave full vent to his anger.

“Look at this idiot,” he thundered. “It really is a disgrace that he is allowed to interfere with Grand Prix racing.”

Andre de Cesaris was born in Rome in 1959. His early interest in motor racing was kindled by his father who was passionate about the sport and bought his son a go-kart for his 13th birthday.

The young de Cesaris soon began racing it regularly, winning several national titles, culminating in the world championship in 1977.

In 1978 he began competing in saloon and sportscar races in England. The promise he showed prompted Ron Dennis,

then as now, head of the McLaren Formula One team, to invite de Cesaris to drive for his Formula Two team.

The young Italian won the race at Misano in 1980, beating Brian Henton who won the Formula Two championship that year with de Cesaris finishing fifth. This performance earned him his first two drives in Formula One for Alfa Romeo at the end of that season. Appropriately for a driver who was to retire 65 times in his career, he retired from both.

His big break came the following year when de Cesaris was selected for a seat alongside the Ulsterman John Watson driving for McLaren. However, this proved a disaster for de Cesaris who

realised later that he had been out of his depth. During that season — his only one with McLaren — he scored just one championship point and crashed time and again. He later described his move to the British team as the worst thing that could have happened to him. “If you come into Formula One too early you cannot cope with the pressure and your mind goes a little crazy,” he said.

Two years followed at Alfa Romeo where de Cesaris again showed promise — he consistently qualified in the top ten and nearly triumphed at Monaco but ran out of fuel. He enjoyed his best season in 1983, finishing eighth in the drivers’ championship. From there he went to Ligier and a succession of teams followed — he drove for ten in all — when he scored precious few points.

De Cesaris produced some of his best form during his twilight years when he was selected for Eddie Jordan’s new team in 1991. He amassed nine points that year and came close to winning the Belgium Grand Prix. After two years at Tyrrell he returned to Jordan for his final races in 1994.

If Formula One proved a struggle, de Cesaris shone in sports car racing, competing in 11 world championship races between 1980 and 1998, scoring one win and several podium finishes.

In retirement, he made his money from currency trading in Monaco, a business he had dabbled in while still driving. “I could do that and enjoy it and it gave me something to do,” he said. He lived between houses in Monte Carlo and Rome but it is not known whether he was married. For six months of the year he travelled the world pursuing his passion for windsurfing and at 55, he remained super-fit as a result. In 2004 after the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, he made a substantial donation to a sail loft in Sri Lanka that had been destroyed.

De Cesaris was killed while riding his motorbike on a motorway outside Rome. On hearing of his death the former Formula One driver and pundit Martin Brundle, who raced against him for much of his career, summed him up: “A lovely man, passionate racer. A little bit crazy, in a nice way.”

Andrea de Cesaris, motor racing driver, was born on May 31, 1959. He died on October 5, 2014, aged 55

Philip Howard Continued from page 48

attempted to shoot Rees-Mogg through the window.

After Oxford, he was called up for National Service with the Black Watch (1956-58), where for a while he was motor transport officer, which was somewhat inappropriate as he did not drive.

He was proud of his time in the Black Watch, and always went to regimental dinners; his old uniform gradually became scruffier and scruffier, much to the amusement and annoyance of the Queen Mother, who would rebuke him for the state of his tie.

He started in journalism in 1959 on the Glasgow Herald, on a year’s trial as a general reporter. “I was given the accidents — going round in a car at night looking for crashes. I was never very good at that. At my first crash I saw a man decapitated and threw up, much to the delight of the Glasgow journalists, who are very tough.” Nevertheless, he went on to hold a variety of posts for the Herald from political diarist and literary editor to women’s lacrosse correspondent and London-based parliamentary reporter.

He moved to The Times in 1964, accepting a £100 cut in salary “for the hon-

our of working for The Times”. In a profile in the Times House Journal in 1969, he said the ideal news story should have all the facts in the first few paragraphs — “then I can get on with describing the atmosphere and the funny hats people are wearing”. He added that there were “certain subjects it is almost impossible to write about without offending people — animals for example.”

By the time Howard formally retired in 1999 he had moved on to writing leading articles and sometimes seeing the leader page “to bed” (ready for the presses) in the evenings. Again, he enjoyed the creativity of the writing, especially of the lighter bottom leaders, but the administrative and technical aspects of the work did not appeal.

He frequently referred to the Hermes computer system as “f****** Herpes”, adding disarmingly to a less technophobic colleague: “Could you sort it out, dear boy?” Surprisingly, moreover, he was not good as a proofreader — one of his very few failings as a journalist.

But when he was gently told about a mistake he had let through, he would be effusively charming in his thanks. This generosity of spirit was reflected also in his perpetual willingness to help

TIMES NEWSPAPERS

At a newspaper awards ceremony at the Savoy Hotel in London in 1969

younger and aspiring journalists; frequently he was accompanied round the office by teenage work “shadows”.

He was a regular contributor to the Dictionary of National Biography, spending many hours in research at the British Museum, while in the office he continued to produce frequent articles on English usage and development plus

his erudite and witty Word Watching daily feature and his weekly column on etiquette, Modern Manners. His mischievousness was evident when, on his 70th birthday, Howard posed as a reader whose brother was just approaching 70 and wrote to Modern Manners asking how such an occasion should be celebrated. His last piece for

The Times was his regular Word Routes column for the Saturday Review, on July 19, in which he bemoaned the use of “to medal” as a verb, meaning either to win or to award a medal.

Despite living in Notting Hill, he always appeared to be cash-strapped; after discovering that Pret A Manger sold off food cheaply at the end of the day, or gave it away, he would come into the office with the chain’s sandwiches — a pattern of behaviour surely worthy of a column in Modern Manners.

A man who never drove a car, whose attitude to telephones and computers was at best suspicious and at worst downright hostile, Howard was nevertheless a character totally in touch with the world about him, whether through conversation, reading, writing, music, sport, dogs, friends or family. In turn, he was one of The Times’s most loved journalists, admired as much by his colleagues as by his readers; indeed, from his sublime writing many of his readers felt as if they knew him personally.

Philip Howard, journalist, was born on November 2, 1933. He died of prostate cancer on October 5, 2014, aged 80

50

FGM

Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

Television & Radio/ Announcements Births, Marriages and Deaths

Today’s television BBC ONE

6.00am Breakfast 9.15 Rip Off Britain 10.00 Homes Under the Hammer 11.00 Saints and Scroungers 11.45 Break-in Britain: The Crackdown 12.15pm Bargain Hunt 1.00 BBC News; Weather 1.30 BBC Regional News; Weather 1.45 Doctors 2.15 Perfection 3.00 Escape to the Country 3.45 Home Away from Home 4.30 Antiques Road Trip 5.15 Pointless 6.00 BBC News 6.30 BBC Regional News Programmes 7.00 The One Show 7.30 EastEnders 8.00 Holby City 9.00 The Driver. Last in the series 10.00 BBC News 10.25 BBC Regional News; Weather 10.35 My Big Beautiful Wedding Dress 11.35 The Street 12.40am-6.00 BBC News

BBC TWO

6.05am Homes Under the Hammer 7.05 Saints and Scroungers 7.50 Break-in Britain: The Crackdown 8.20 Sign Zone 10.35 HARDtalk 11.00 BBC News 11.30 BBC World News 12.00 Daily Politics Conference Special 1.00pm A Taste of My Life 1.30 Cash in the Attic 2.00 The Life of Mammals.

Last in the series 3.00 Gymnastics: World Artistic Championships 5.15 Flog It! 6.00 Eggheads 6.30 Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 7.00 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 8.00 Cat Watch 2014: The New Horizon Experiment 9.00 Human Universe 10.00 Later Live: with Jools Holland.

With Jessie Ware 10.30 Newsnight 11.20 Today at Conference 11.50 Wonders of the Monsoon 12.50am-1.50 Sign Zone: Hotel India 4.00-6.00 BBC Learning Zone

ITV London

6.00am Good Morning Britain 8.30 Lorraine 9.25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 10.30 This Morning 12.30pm Loose Women 1.30 ITV News; Weather 2.00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 3.00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 4.00 Who’s Doing the Dishes? 5.00 The Chase 6.00 Regional News 6.30 ITV News; Weather 7.00 Emmerdale 8.00 The Pride of Britain Awards 2014 10.00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 10.30 Regional News 10.40 FILM: Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) 12.40am Jackpot247 3.00 Loose Women 3.45 ITV Nightscreen 5.05-6.00 The Jeremy Kyle Show

5.00 Four in a Bed 5.30 Come Dine with Me 6.00 The Simpsons 6.30 Hollyoaks 7.00 Channel 4 News 7.55 Davina McCall: Stand Up to Cancer 8.00 Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners 9.00 Ramsay’s Costa del Nightmares 10.00 Gogglebox 11.05 Educating the East End 12.05am Poker 1.00 KOTV Boxing Weekly 1.25 Trans World Sport 2.20 First Time Farmers 3.15 FILM: Thunder Island (1963) Thriller 4.25 Kirstie’s Handmade Treasures 4.40 Deal or No Deal 5.35-6.20 Countdown

Sky1

6.00am The Real A&E 7.00 Harrow: A Very British School 8.00 Futurama 9.00 NCIS: Los Angeles 11.00 Hawaii Five-0 1.00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 3.00 Airline 3.30 Emergency 4.30 Harrow: A Very British School 5.30 Futurama 6.30 The Simpsons 8.00 Football’s Funniest Moments. Comical incidents 10.00 The Simpsons 11.00 Legends 12.00 NCIS: Los Angeles 1.00am Hawaii Five-0 3.00 NCIS: Los Angeles 4.00 Stargate Atlantis 5.00-6.00 Airline USA

BBC World

6.00am BBC World News 6.30 World Business Report 6.45 BBC World News 7.30 World Business Report 7.45 BBC World News 8.30 World Business Report 8.45 BBC World News 9.30 HARDtalk 10.00 BBC World News 10.30 World Business Report 10.45 Sport Today 11.00 BBC World News 12.00 GMT 1.00pm BBC World News 1.30 World Business Report 1.45 Sport Today 2.00 Impact 3.30 HARDtalk 4.00 Global with Matthew Amroliwala 5.30 World Business Report 5.45 Sport Today 6.00 Outside Source 6.30 Focus on Africa 7.00 World News Today with Zeinab Badawi 8.30 World Business Report 8.45 Sport Today 9.00 Business Edition 9.30 HARDtalk 10.00 BBC World News America 11.00 Newsday 11.30 Asia Business Report 11.45 Sport Today 12.00 Newsday 12.30am Asia Business Report 12.45 Sport Today 1.00 Newsday 1.30 Asia Business Report 1.45 Sport Today 2.00 BBC World News 2.30 Asia Business Report 2.45 Sport Today 3.00 BBC World News 3.30 Asia Business Report 3.45 Sport Today 4.00 BBC World News 4.30 HARDtalk 5.00 BBC World News 5.30 World Business Report 5.45-6.00 BBC World News

12.00 Soccer AM: The Best Bits 1.00pm SPFL Round-Up 1.30 Barclays Premier League Legends 2.00 Football Gold 3.00 Fantasy Football: The Highlights 3.30 Soccer AM: The Best Bits 4.30 SPFL Round-Up 5.00 FL72 Review 6.00 Barclays Premier League Legends 6.30 Fantasy Football: The Highlights 7.00 Live World Grand Prix Darts. Coverage of the second day at the Citywest Hotel, Dublin 12.00 FL72 Review 1.00am Soccer AM: The Best Bits 2.00 SPFL Round-Up 2.30 Fantasy Football: The Highlights 3.00 FL72 Review 4.00 Soccer AM: The Best Bits 5.00 SPFL Round-Up 5.30-6.00 Barclays Premier League Legends

Sky Sports 2

6.00am Super League Gold 7.00 Super League Fulltime 8.00 Sporting Greats 8.30 Super League Fulltime 9.30 Elite League Speedway 12.00 World Grand Prix Darts 5.00pm Sporting Greats 5.30 Sporting Rivalries 6.00 Super League Gold 6.30 Sporting Rivalries 7.00 Barclays Premier League Review 8.00 Premier League 100 Club 8.30 Australia’s Best Ashes Days. Day one of the First Test in 2005 10.00 Super League Backchat 10.30 Sportswomen 11.00 Ashes Fever 12.00 Super League Backchat 12.30am Sporting Rivalries 1.30 Australia’s Best Ashes Days 3.00 Super League Backchat 3.30 Super League Gold 4.00 Ashes Fever 5.00 Super League Backchat 5.30-6.00 Sporting Rivalries

Sky Sports 3

6.00am Live ATP Masters Tennis: The Shanghai Masters 3.00pm Time of Our Lives 4.00 Sporting Rivalries 5.00 WWE: Smackdown 7.00 ATP Masters Tennis 8.00 Sporting Rivalries 8.30 Fishing: World Feeder Championship 9.30 Sporting Heroes 10.30 Sporting Rivalries 11.00 Fishing: World Feeder Championship 12.00 ATP Masters Tennis 1.00am Fishing: World Feeder Championship 2.00 Sporting Rivalries 2.30 Sporting Heroes 3.30 Sporting Rivalries 4.00 Time of Our Lives 5.00-6.00 Sporting Heroes

British Eurosport

6.20am The King of Queens 7.10 3rd Rock from the Sun 8.00 Everybody Loves Raymond 9.00 Frasier 10.30 Undercover Boss Canada 11.30 Four in a Bed 12.00 Channel 4 News Summary 12.05pm Four in a Bed 2.10 A Place in the Sun: Summer Sun 3.10 Countdown 4.00 Deal or No Deal

6.00am Football Gold 7.00 WWE: Afterburn 8.00 Soccer AM: The Best Bits 9.00 Barclays Premier League Review 10.00 SPFL Round-Up 10.30 Fantasy Football: The Highlights 11.00 FL72 Review

7.30am Eurogoals 8.15 Motorsport: Sebastien Loeb Special 8.30 ITU World Triathlon Series 9.30 Triathlon 10.00 US Open Tennis 11.30 Live WTA Tennis. Coverage of the Generali Ladies Linz 8.45pm WTA Tennis 10.00 GT Academy 2014: Masterclass 10.15 Motorsport: Sebastien Loeb Special 10.30 FIA World Touring Car Championship 11.00 Paris Motor Show 12.00-12.45am Eurogoals

Radio 4

BBC World Service

Radio 3

Channel 4

Sky Sports 1

Today’s radio

5.30am News 5.43 Prayer 5.45 Farming 5.58 Tweet of the Day 6.00 Today 9.00 Life Scientific 9.30 One to One 9.45 (LW) Daily Service 9.45 Germany: Memories of a Nation 10.00 Woman’s Hour 10.45 Book of Strange New Things 11.00 Shared Planet 11.30 A Mix-Tape for Gus 12.00 News 12.01pm (LW) Shipping 12.04 21st Century Mythologies 12.15 Call You and Yours 1.00 World at One 1.45 An Eye for Pattern 2.00 Archers (r) 2.15 Afternoon Drama 3.00 Short Cuts 3.30 Costing the Earth 4.00 Out of the Ordinary (r) 4.30 A Good Read 5.00 PM 5.54 (LW) Shipping 6.00 News 6.30 Lewis Macleod Is Not Himself 7.00 Archers 7.15 Front Row 7.45 Germany: Memories of a Nation 8.00 BBC Music Performance 8.04 File on 4 8.42 In Touch 9.00 Inside Health 9.30 The Life Scientific (r) 10.00 The World Tonight 10.45 Book at Bedtime 11.00 Kevin Eldon 11.30 Punt PI (r) 12.30am Germany: Memories of a Nation (r) 12.48 Shipping 1.00 As BBC World Service 5.20-5.30 Shipping

5.00am Newsday 8.30 Business Daily 8.50 Witness 9.00 News 9.06 The Documentary 9.30 Discovery 10.00 World Update 11.00 News 11.06 Outside Source 12.00 News 12.06pm Outlook 1.00 Newshour 2.00 Newshour 3.00 News 3.06 Business Daily 3.30 The Documentary 4.00 The Newsroom 4.30 Sport Today 5.00 The Newsroom 5.30 World Business Report 6.00 World Have Your Say 7.00 The Newsroom 7.30 Click.

Technological news 8.00 News 8.06 The Documentary. Investigating global developments 8.30 World Business Report 8.50 News About West Africa 9.00 Newshour. The stories behind the latest headlines 10.00 News 10.06 Outlook.

Perspectives on important issues 11.00 News 11.06 The Newsroom 11.30 World Business Report 12.00 The Newsroom 12.20am Sports News 12.30 The Documentary 1.00 News 1.06 Business Matters 2.00 The Newsroom 2.30 Click 3.00 News 3.06 Outlook 4.00 Newsday 4.30-5.00 The Documentary

6.30am Breakfast. With Petroc Trelawny 9.00 Essential Classics.

With Rob Cowan 12.00 Composer of the Week: Johannes Brahms 1.00pm News 1.02 Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert. The soprano Rosemary Joshua performs Purcell, Fauré and Rodrigo at BBC Hoddinott Hall 2.00 Afternoon on 3. The Ulster Orchestra plays Mozart’s Horn Concerto No 4 with Paul Klein 4.30 In Tune. The Gould Trio plays chamber music

by Brahms 6.30 Composer of the Week: Johannes Brahms (r) 7.30 Live Radio 3 in Concert. Music by Brahms alongside two of his most significant champions — Joseph Joachim and Clara Schumann 10.00 Free Thinking. Philip Dodd talks to the activist Naomi Klein 10.45 The Essay: Brahms Experience. The writer Lesley Chamberlain explores how Brahms was influenced by nature 11.00 Late Junction. Max Reinhardt’s playlist includes Tchaikovsky, Girma Bèyènè and Ike & Tina Turner 12.30am-6.30 Through the Night

thetimes.co.uk/announcements

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

51

FGM

Games Bridge Andrew Robson

♠9 8 ♥♦K J 5 ♣-

♠N ♥10 W E ♦A 6 3 S ♣10 ♠Q 7 ♥♦9 8 7 ♣-

♠♥9 6 5 ♦Q 10 ♣-

Declarer led the nine of diamonds and West played low. East had turned up with six points, the ace of hearts and the two black jacks.

Unlikely to have the ace of diamonds for his Weak Two, but likely to have the queen to justify the bid, declarer rose with the king, East following with the ten. He now exited with a second diamond to East’s queen.

Dealer: South, Vulnerability: East-West Teams

♠ 10 2 ♥J 10 2 ♦A 6 3 ♣A 10 9 8 3

S(Telfer)

♠K 9 8 4 ♥K 8 ♦K J 5 ♣KQ 7 4

♠J 5 ♥A 9 6 5 4 3 ♦Q 10 ♣J 5 2

N

W

S

E

♠ AQ 7 6 3 ♥Q 7 ♦9 8 7 4 2 ♣6

W

N

2♥ (1) Pass 3♥ (2) Dbl(3) Pass 4♠ (4) End (1) I’m a great fan of the Weak Two – a way of bidding a hand that would otherwise have to pass. But I would not have opened the East hand 2♥ – you are vulnerable, your suit lacks stuffing and your side “quacks” [queens and jacks] look far better suited to defence. If doubled in 2♥ , you might make just two or three tricks.

(2) Raising to the level of the fit. West’s hand I like: three trumps including the valuable jack-ten, two side aces, a ruffing value and lots of stuffing (eg ♣1098).

(3) North’s hand I don’t like: aceless with a horrid heart holding (in context). Can North be talked out of the bidding, though?

Probably not. But it’s with fear and trepidation, not with alacrity, that North enters – with a take-out double.

(4) 3♠ would be consistent with nothing.

With the exception of the heart holding, South loves his hand.

I continue today with the debate provoked by the claim that the Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis, which finished last month, was the strongest tournament of all-time.

Impressive though it was, there are other contenders for the laurels, many of which date from that period of chess pre-history, before the ratings had been established. In particular the claims of the World Championship match tournament from 1948 must not be underestimated. This five man tournament was occasioned by the death of the incumbent champion Alexander Alekhine in 1946. Thereafter, FIDE (the World Chess Federation), took control of the championship.

The Hague/Moscow championship contained three past and future champions. Max Euwe held the title from 1935 to 1937, while dating Botvinnik’s success from this event he and Smyslov (with one brief intervention from Mikhail Tal) were champions for the next 15 years White: Mikhail Botvinnik Black: Paul Keres The Hague/Moscow 1948 Nimzo-Indian Defence 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3

East was endplayed. His forced heart return enabled declarer to ruff in one hand and discard a diamond from the other. 10 tricks and game made. Only an impossible low diamond at trick one defeats the game.

andrew.robson@thetimes.co.uk

0-0 5 a3 Bxc3+ 6 bxc3 Re8 This is a bad idea. Stronger is 6 ... c5 followed by ... Nc6. The problem for White is his doubled cpawns and ... Re8 does nothing to exploit them.

7 Ne2 e5 8 Ng3 d6 9 Be2 Nbd7 10 0-0 c5 11 f3 cxd4 Commencing a disastrous plan which opens up the position in favour of White’s bishop pair.

12 cxd4 Nb6 13 Bb2 exd4 14 e4 Be6 15 Rc1 Re7 16 Qxd4 Qc7 17 c5 dxc5 18 Rxc5 The rook enters the game via the c-file but is destined to land the death blow on the opposite wing.

18 ... Qf4 19 Bc1 Qb8 20 Rg5 Nbd7

________ ár1 D DkD] à0pDn4p0p] ß D Dbh D] ÞD D D $ ] Ý D !PD D] Ü) D DPH ] Û D DBDP)] ÚD G DRI ] ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈ

21 Rxg7+ Kxg7 22 Nh5+ Kg6 If 22 ... Kh8 23 Nxf6 Qe5 24 Bb2 and White wins material.

23 Qe3 Black resigns

11111 22222 33333 44444 Botvinnik ***** ½½1½½ 1½011 11110 Smyslov ½½0½½ ***** ½½1½½ 00½1½ Reshevsky 0½100 ½½0½½ ***** 1½01½ Keres 00001 11½0½ 0½10½ ***** Euwe 0½0½½ 00100 0½½00 0½000

55555 1½1½½ 11011 1½½11 1½111 *****

14 11 10½ 10½ 4

________ á D D 4kD] Winning Move àD D !pDp] ßnD D gpD] White to play. This position is from EuweThe Hague/Moscow 1948. Þ0 D D H ] Smyslov, Euwe played 1 Qe3 and won easily ÝPD D 1 D] enough. However, a better move would ÜD D DBDP] have forced immediate resignation. Can Û ) D ) D] you see it? ÚD $ DRI ] For up-to-the-minute information follow ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈ my tweets on twitter.com/times_chess.

Solution right

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No 6525 7

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Across

1 and 4 across Doctor Who actor (5) 4 See 1 across (7) 8 A mover in water (7) 9 New; book (5) 10 Admit (3,2) 11 Urge strongly (6) 13 Undeviating (6) 15 Heartfelt request (6) Solution to Crossword 6524 S P O MO E C A P R I C O T

T I O I

AGH B A S S Y O L OS V O EMP O GOR O I RN F S I E C

E T R E N ED Y O G R A ED E AR

T I G QU A N O OD O UN

L AW U O A TOR O K ONE S H D I T Y N OF F O A HERON U C O I B B E AN

18 Have ambition (to do something) (6) 20 Items used on stage (5) 22 Prominent constellation (5) 23 Tequila —, cocktail (7) 24 Exact copy (7) 25 Very proficient (5) Down

1 Concluding music piece (8) 2 Sound like small birds (7) 3 Oriental noodles (5) 4 Night-time restriction (6) 5 Fist fight (5-2) 6 Romantic partner (5) 7 Lazy (4) 12 Extra cover for tent (8) 14 Red wine of Tuscany (7) 16 Environmental ruin (7) 17 Water bordering Egypt (3,3) 19 Stint, scrimp (5) 20 Endangered mammal (5) 21 Sixty minutes (4)

Check today’s answers by ringing 09067 577188. Calls cost 77p per minute.

Killer No 3942

Moderate 7min

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How you rate 12 words, average; 16, good; 24, very good; 32, excellent

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Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9. The digits within the cells joined by the dotted lines add up to the printed top left hand figure.

Within each dotted line ‘shape’, a digit CANNOT be repeated.

Codeword

No 2209

Numbers are substituted for letters in the crossword grid. Below the grid is the key.

Some letters are solved. When you have completed your first word or phrase you will have the clues to more letters. Enter them in the key grid and the main grid and check the letters on the alphabet list as you complete them.

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Winning Move solution

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10

Quaich (a) A shallow cup, often with two handles, as presented to medal-winners at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Edacious (b) Greedy, excessively devoted to eating, usually used humorously.

Tosk (a) A member of the Tosk-speaking population of southern Albania.

9

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Word Watching answers

7

7

4

Yesterday’s answers erhu, erst, her, hers, hurst, hurt, rest, ret, rue, ruse, rush, rust, rut, ruth, shutter, strut, struth, suer, sure, thru, thrust, tret, true, trust, truth, user, usher, utter

17

12

20

Polygon From these letters, make words of three or more letters, always including the central letter. Answers must be in the Concise Oxford Dictionary, excluding capitalised words, plurals, conjugated verbs (past tense etc), adverbs ending in LY, comparatives and superlatives.

7

Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9 Solutions tomorrow, yesterday’s solutions below

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6 9 3 2 6 1 4 2 5 1 3 9 9 8 4 7

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9 4 6 5

8 6

Mild

12

World Championship, The Hague/Moscow 1948 1 2 3 4 5

T2 CROSSWORD No 6525 Times Quick Crossword

Contract: 4♠ , Opening Lead: ♥ J

Chess Raymond Keene Superlative events

Quaich a. A shallow cup b. The ball in hurling c. A pine marten’s nest Edacious a. Daredevil b. Greedy c. Comically exaggerated Tosk a. An ethnic Albanian b. Fake ivory c. Tut, tut!

1

E

Sudoku No 6866

1 Qxf7+! Rxf7 2 Rc8+ Rf8 (2 ... Kg7 3 Ne6+ wins the queen) 3 Rxf8+ Kxf8 4 Ne6+ and White emerges a rook up.

Friend and reader David Telfer from Chichester reports this interesting deal in which effective preemption from his opponents pushed him higher than he would have wished.

Trick one went ♥J, ♥K, ♥A, ♥7, East switching at trick two to a passive trump. With three aces to lose plus a likely second diamond loser, declarer faced an uphill struggle. After winning the trump in hand, declarer tried his singleton club towards dummy, hoping to sneak past the ace.

West was having none of it, however, rising with the ace and exiting with a second trump.

Winning in dummy’s king (and observing the 2-2 split), declarer cashed the king-queen of clubs discarding two diamonds and ruffed a club, eliminating the suit.

At trick eight declarer cashed the queen of hearts, eliminating the suit and the scene was set:

Word Watching Paul Dunn

15 15

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1

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Sudoku, Killer and Codeword solutions 8 6 1 3 9 7 5 4 2

5 3 4 2 8 1 7 6 9

9 2 7 4 5 6 3 1 8

7 4 6 9 1 2 8 5 3

No 6863

2 5 3 8 6 4 9 7 1

1 8 9 7 3 5 6 2 4

4 9 5 1 7 3 2 8 6

6 1 8 5 2 9 4 3 7

3 7 2 6 4 8 1 9 5

2 7 8 4 3 1 9 6 5

6 1 9 5 7 2 8 3 4

4 3 5 9 6 8 1 2 7

7 8 6 3 1 4 5 9 2

No 3940

1 2 3 8 9 5 4 7 6

9 5 4 6 2 7 3 1 8

8 6 7 1 4 9 2 5 3

3 4 1 2 5 6 7 8 9

5 9 2 7 8 3 6 4 1

A R M C H A I R J U D O

S A E CA P U L AMEO M UD I B O OW S N E E O T Q U U I RGE N L

CR I D A E E X P E V E L P E E R R E T RO L E E V A ME A S L D Y S S CRA N T I E K I NO I AC E D N

No 2208

F E L A UB I A N E S W Z E R S E D

52

FGM

Sport

Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

Pietersen misfires The batsman’s attack on Andy Flower offers a warped view of events

Lewsey to the rescue England’s World Cup winner behind plans to reinvigorate Welsh rugby

Mike Atherton, pages 62-63

Owen Slot, page 54

Fanshawe leaves sales pitch to stable stars REX FEATURES

Andy Stephens

Treve stole the show at Longchamp on Sunday but James Fanshawe also had plenty to celebrate. The trainer’s High Jinx and Ribbons excelled themselves on the supporting card and he hopes their exploits will carry even greater significance over the days ahead.

Newmarket’s biggest yearling sales of the year get under way at Tattersalls today when an estimated £100 million will change hands for 1,500 horses.

Identifying which will develop into champions is an inexact science but Fanshawe is keeping his fingers crossed that a few will end up at his Pegasus Stables, situated just around the corner.

“Hopefully the timing of how our horses ran at the Arc meeting will be perfect with regard to the sales over the next couple of weeks,” he said yesterday. “We’ve had a group one winner for each of the past four years, and two this year. I hope people notice that.”

Fanshawe doubled his tally of topflight successes for the year when High Jinx made all in the Prix du Cadran.

Earlier, Ribbons had enhanced her reputation when beaten a neck in the Prix de l’Opera.

The pair have between them scooped £370,000 prize money in their handful of French ventures this season,

Rob Wright

2.10 Star Of Seville 4.10 Fire Ship 2.40 Sea Scent 4.40 Whipphound 3.10 Light Of Asia 5.10 Nathr 3.40 Les Gar Gan 5.40 Admirable Art Thunderer’s double 3.10 Knife Point (nap).

4.10 Dark Emerald.

Going: good to firm (good in places) Draw: no advantage At The Races

(Div I: 2-Y-O: £5,175: 7f 9y) (11)

7-2 Intimation, 4-1 Star Of Seville, 6-1 Chain Of Daisies, Forres, 7-1 Looking Good, Redstart, 14-1 Twice Certain, Goodyearforroses, 16-1 others.

Rob Wright’s choice: Star Of Seville, a half-sister to three winners, appeals Dangers: Intimation, Chain Of Daisies

1 (7) 2 (6) 3 (2) 4 (4) 5 (11) 6 (8) 7 (1) 8 (5) 9 (9) 10 (3) 11(10)

Maiden Fillies' Stakes

(Div II: 2-Y-O: £5,175: 7f 9y) (11)

0 BETA TAURI 14 C Appleby 9-0 FALCONIZE C Hills 9-0 HAYBA M Botti 9-0 HEAVENS ABOVE E Dunlop 9-0 MODERAH J Fanshawe 9-0 MYSTERY CODE A King 9-0 5 REGAL WAYS 19 M Johnston 9-0 SEA SCENT Sir M Stoute 9-0 00 SKYLIGHT 15 W Haggas 9-0 3 SYMPATHY 25 Sir M Stoute 9-0 TUTTI FRUTTI J Gosden 9-0

Martin Lane R Kingscote A Atzeni J Crowley T Queally D Sweeney F Norton James Doyle P Hanagan R L Moore W Buick

Evens Sympathy, 5-1 Tutti Frutti, 8-1 Falconize, 9-1 Sea Scent, 10-1 Hayba, 16-1 Beta Tauri, Moderah, Regal Ways, 20-1 Heavens Above, 25-1 others.

Wright choice: Sea Scent can emulate her dam, who won this race in 2008 Dangers: Sympathy, Tutti Frutti

3.10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Handicap

(3-Y-O: £4,690: 1m 3f 183y) (10)

F Tylicki 1 (6) 22142 DESERT SNOW 17 (D) S Bin Suroor 9-7 W Buick 2 (3) 54134 ALLEGRIA 66 (D) J Gosden 9-6 James Doyle 3 (9) 0122 KNIFE POINT 12 (P,D) H Palmer 9-6 G Baker 4 (1) -6314 HOIST THE COLOURS 19 (V) D Lanigan 9-4 D Probert 5 (5) 10604 FROM FROST 13 (T,V,D) A Balding 9-3 Martin Dwyer 6 (10) 11521 SERENA GRAE 13 (H) M Tregoning 9-3 7 (2) 3-314 AUTHORIZED TOO 33 (P,D,BF) W Haggas 9-2 A Atzeni S Levey 8 (8) 1-304 THE ALAMO 18 R Hannon 8-13 W Twiston-Davies 9 (4) 0104 NAM HAI 118 (D) Michael Bell 8-9 J Crowley 10 (7) 22361 LIGHT OF ASIA 11 (D) E Dunlop 8-9 9-2 Desert Snow, 5-1 Light Of Asia, Serena Grae, 6-1 Knife Point, 7-1 From Frost, 9-1 Allegria, 10-1 Authorized Too, Hoist The Colours, 12-1 others.

Wright choice: Light Of Asia improved for a step up to this trip at Haydock Dangers: Authorized Too, Knife Point

finished first and second, is a credit to all the staff here. It’s what we are all striving for.”

High Jinx is entered in the Qipco Long Distance Cup at Ascot on Saturday week but the six-year-old is a probable non-starter. “It’s tough to do

Seller (3-Y-O: £1,940: 1m 1f 218y) (8)

J Crowley (1) 0-56 CANARY LAD 40 T Jarvis 8-11 Martin Lane (8) 00000 EXCEED POLICY 29 (T) D Dennis 8-11 (5) 12664 EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT 3 (P,D) O Pears 8-11 J Fortune (6) 00000 HICKSTER 81 S R Bowring 8-11 Alistair Rawlinson (5) D Brock (3) (4) 00044 CUECA 15 (B) J Portman 8-6 P Hanagan (2) 60530 LES GAR GAN 13J K Dalgleish 8-6 F Norton (7) 05000 MARY'S PRAYER 20 (B) J Holt 8-6 Hayley Turner (3) 35000 SOUTHERN CROSS 5 H Morrison 8-6

11-8 Les Gar Gan, 3-1 Exclusive Contract, 9-2 Canary Lad, 7-1 others.

Wright choice: Les Gar Gan will appreciate this drop in trip and can win a poor race Dangers: Exclusive Contract, Cueca

4.10

Maiden Fillies' Stakes

03 CHAIN OF DAISIES 21 H Candy 9-0 Dane O'Neill 1 (5) DON'T TELL LOUISE W Muir 9-0 Martin Dwyer 2 (11) FORRES R Hannon 9-0 S Levey 3 (10) GOODYEARFORROSES Rae Guest 9-0 P Hanagan 4 (8) INTIMATION Sir M Stoute 9-0 R L Moore 5 (9) A Atzeni 6 (2) 53442 LOOKING GOOD 17 D Brown 9-0 MERRITT ISLAND Sir M Prescott 9-0 Rosie Jessop (3) 7 (4) PERCELLA H Morrison 9-0 J Fortune 8 (6) REDSTART R Beckett 9-0 R Kingscote 9 (7) STAR OF SEVILLE J Gosden 9-0 W Buick 10 (1) 6 TWICE CERTAIN 14 E Walker 9-0 James Doyle 11 (3)

2.40

marginally more than Fanshawe has accumulated in Britain.

“We’ve had an OK year in England but had a wonderful time in France,” he said. “We are off to Kempton most nights during the week and to have two runners at the Arc meeting, who 3.40

Leicester

2.10

Arc angel: trainer Criquette Head-Maarek and her father, Alec Head, watch as Treve enjoys a stretch of her legs yesterday

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

A Atzeni (4) 30430 FIRE SHIP (D) W Knight 5-9-8 (9) -0550 CORDITE 20 (C) M Appleby 3-9-5 Alistair Rawlinson (5) S Sanders (2) 24021 DARK EMERALD 17 (C,D) B Powell 4-9-4 S Donohoe (1) 02040 SPA'S DANCER 20 (D) J Eustace 7-9-4 S Levey (5) 3-240 DAY OF CONQUEST 31 (C,D) R Hannon 3-9-3 (3) 06004 BOOM AND BUST 23 (D) M Tregoning 7-9-2 Martin Dwyer R Tart (6) 00005 LOVING SPIRIT 18 (H) J Toller 6-9-2 J Crowley (7) 66002 STARBOARD 43 D Simcock 5-9-2 M Stainton (8) 25223 BOLD PREDICTION 10 (D) K Burke 4-9-2

3-1 Dark Emerald, 4-1 Fire Ship, Spa's Dancer, 7-1 Day Of Conquest, 10-1 Bold Prediction, Boom And Bust, Starboard, 12-1 Cordite, Loving Spirit.

Wright choice: Fire Ship drops into a handicap for the first time in over a year Dangers: Boom And Bust, Loving Spirit

4.40

Handicap (£2,587: 5f 218y) (18)

D Allan 1 (12) 01441 NATIVE FALLS 7 (D) G A Swinbank 3-9-11 G Baker 2 (6) 12021 BIRDIE QUEEN 29 (H,D) G L Moore 4-9-7 3 (13) 60222 SMOKETHATTHUNDERS 24 (D) J Unett 4-9-7 D Muscutt (5) F Tylicki 4 (11) -4511 TAHCHEE 55 (D) J Fanshawe 3-9-6 J Crowley 5 (4) 052 ROLY TRICKS 90 O Stevens 3-9-6 Amy Scott (3) 6 (8) 51001 HALF WAY 15 (C) H Candy 3-9-6 10 BOY WONDER 10 (BF) M Channon 3-9-5 W Twiston-Davies 7 (9) S Levey 8 (17) 24325 BINT MALYANA 31 (H) P D'Arcy 3-9-5 9 (1) 33042 ELECTION NIGHT 10 (H,D,BF) T Easterby 3-9-5 P Makin W Buick 10 (3) 42300 WHIPPHOUND 12 (D) W M Brisbourne 6-9-4 F Norton 11(14) 35142 MANATEE BAY 7 (V,D) D Nicholls 4-9-4 D Probert 12(18) 03544 ITALIAN TOM 43 (D) R Harris 7-9-4 13(15) 04126 HE'S MY BOY 28 (V,D,BF) J Fanshawe 3-9-2 P Hanagan 14 (2) 01204 CLIMAXFORTACKLE 43 (D) D Shaw 6-9-2 Martin Lane S Sanders 15 (7) 50000 TIME MEDICEAN 34 (D) A Carroll 8-9-1 16 (5) 24432 LEAD A MERRY DANCE 25 S Kirk 3-8-13 J Baudains (5) 46510 MAYMYO 19 (D) S Kirk 3-8-13 James Doyle 17(10) 18(16) 00000 AVONMORE STAR 19 (D) A McCabe 6-8-13Billy Cray (3) 6-1 Tahchee, 7-1 Native Falls, 8-1 Manatee Bay, 10-1 Birdie Queen, Climaxfortackle, Election Night, He's My Boy, Lead A Merry Dance, 12-1 others.

Wright choice: Whipphound can take advantage of a drop in the weights Dangers: Manatee Bay, Smokethatthunders

5.10

Maiden (3-Y-O: £3,881: 7f 9y) (11)

APPROACHING (T) Mrs A Perrett 9-5 J Crowley (11) D Allan (4) 50-25 DANZKI 137 Miss G Kelleway 9-5 0 DUKE OF DUNTON 19 A Carroll 9-5 W Twiston-Davies (10) 23 FOXCOVER 41 (BF) R Fahey 9-5 G Chaloner (3) (8) P Hanagan (3) -0432 NATHR 33 C Hills 9-5 James Doyle (2) 332 NEW IDENTITY 40 (BF) D Coakley 9-5 R Havlin (5) 042 GHARAANEEJ 14 J Gosden 9-0 6 OTTERBRIDGE 19 B Millman 9-0 D C Costello (6) (7) 23223 PERSIAN BOLT 1 (BF,V) Eve Johnson Houghton 9-0 G Downing (5) 2 SEMBLANCE 39 J Gosden 9-0 W Buick 10 (9) 2 WU ZETIAN 21 A Balding 9-0 D Probert 11 (1) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

3-1 Semblance, 100-30 New Identity, 4-1 Wu Zetian, 5-1 Nathr, 8-1 Gharaaneej, 10-1 Approaching, Persian Bolt, 16-1 Foxcover, 33-1 others.

Wright choice: Nathr, a good second at Wolverhampton, can gain an overdue success Dangers: Semblance, Foxcover

Bet of the day

Brighton

Morning Watch (8.05 Kempton Park) Shaped well on his first start since being gelded when a good third here last month. The booking of Ryan Moore catches the eye

1.50 Koharu (nb) 2.20 Shipwright 2.50 Fayreway 3.20 Desert Encounter Going: good Draw: no advantage

Rob Wright’s midday update thetimes.co.uk/sportsbook

Handicap (£15,752: 1m 60y) (9)

the two — a bit like Aintree after Cheltenham — and it’s highly unlikely he will run,” Fanshawe said. “He had a hard race in France and a long journey, but there’s a chance he could go for the Prix Royal-Oak back at Longchamp the following week.

5.40

Apprentice Handicap (£1,940: 7f 9y) (18)

P Prince (17) 05251 ADMIRABLE ART 32 (P,D) A Carroll 4-9-9 Kevin Stott (7) 20026 NELSON'S BAY 15 (D,BF) W Storey 5-9-7 S A Gray (5) 03064 MAD ENDEAVOUR 21 W S Kittow 3-9-7 Megan Carberry (3) (1) 40004 IGGY 13 (T) M W Easterby 4-9-6 T Saunders (7) (16) 50033 KEENE'S POINTE 55 (B) C Hills 4-9-6 (6) 46520 TUBEANIE 22 (P) Miss A Weaver 3-9-5 M M Monaghan (3) 65005 PRIGSNOV DANCER 11 (P,D) Mrs D Sanderson 9-9-5 J Budge (5) 8 (8) 5556 IT'S A YES FROM ME 41 (BF) J Fanshawe 3-9-4 D Muscutt T Clark 9 (10) 44632 SWISS LAIT 15 D Elsworth 3-9-4 N Alison 10(12) 64050 DISTANT HIGH 21 (H) R Price 3-9-3 11(15) 65300 SLICK INDIAN 18 (B) M W Easterby 3-9-2 A Hesketh (3) 12 (4) 6005- SANNIBEL 518 D Bridgwater 6-9-2 Alistair Rawlinson (3) G Downing 13(18) 65-04 OPUS DEI 19 (P) J Murray 7-9-2 14(11) 04602 MYSTERIOUS WONDER 20 P Kirby 4-9-2 Phillip Dennis (5) Claire Murray (5) 15(13) 0/0-5 HENRY MORGAN 9 D Brown 7-9-1 M Hopkins 16 (2) 03033 BURNHOPE 22 (H,D) S Dixon 5-9-1 R While (3) 17(14) 00600 NO REFUND 50 M Smith 3-9-0 18 (9) 02205 VERY FIRST BLADE 15 (B) M Mullineaux 5-8-13 N Garbutt 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

5-1 Admirable Art, 7-1 Burnhope, 8-1 Iggy, Nelson's Bay, 10-1 It's A Yes From Me, Keene's Pointe, Mysterious Wonder, Opus Dei, Very First Blade, 12-1 Swiss Lait, 14-1 Tubeanie, 16-1 Mad Endeavour, Sannibel, 20-1 others.

Wright choice: Admirable Art can add to his ready win in a Chepstow seller Dangers: Mysterious Wonder, Nelson’s Bay

Course specialists Brighton: Trainers D Simcock, 18 winners from 52 runners, 34.6%; P Hide, 4 from 12, 33.3%; R Hannon, 9 from 28, 32.1%. Jockeys R Hughes, 32 winners from 107 rides, 29.9%; H Crouch, 3 from 11, 27.3%; K Fallon, 11 from 58, 19.0%.

Catterick: Trainers Sir M Prescott, 8 from 28, 28.6%; J Bethell, 5 from 23, 21.7%; M Johnston, 30 from 144, 20.8%. Jockeys Miss S Brotherton, 3 from 8, 37.5%; D Tudhope, 28 from 148, 18.9%; J Fanning, 19 from 105, 18.1%.

Kempton Park: Trainers S Bin Suroor, 62 from 230, 27.0%; J Fanshawe, 61 from 258, 23.6%; R Beckett, 66 from 301, 21.9%. Jockeys R L Moore, 78 from 349, 22.3%; R Hughes, 114 from 651, 17.5%; R Kingscote, 36 from 244, 14.8%.

Leicester: Trainers Mrs D Sanderson, 3 from 8, 37.5%; S Bin Suroor, 9 from 32, 28.1%; Sir M Stoute, 15 from 59, 25.4%. Jockeys R L Moore, 32 from 103, 31.1%; G Downing, 3 from 15, 20%; W Buick, 12 from 65, 18.5%.

3.50

Rob Wright

1.50

3.50 Improvized 4.20 Claude Greenwood 4.50 Pink Diamond 5.20 Focail Mear At The Races

Handicap (£1,940: 5f 213y) (14)

D J Bates (3) 1 (14) 00255 KOHARU 26 (P,CD) P Makin 4-9-7 W A Carson 2 (1) -5014 BOOKMAKER 13 (B,CD) J Bridger 4-9-6 3 (5) 0-023 SASKIA'S DREAM 80 (V,CD) Jane Chapple-Hyam 6-9-6 R Hughes H Crouch (7) 4 (11) 05000 LIONHEART 22 (C,D) P Crate 4-9-6 5 (12) 00005 CRAFTY BUSINESS 35 (V) G L Moore 3-9-5 C Bishop (3) J Egan 6 (4) 50006 TELEGRAPH 68 P D Evans 3-9-3 M Harley 7 (10) 66550 VOLITO 87 (D) Anabel Murphy 8-9-3 S Drowne 8 (9) 06422 LUCKY SURPRISE 14 (B) J Gask 3-9-1 O Murphy 9 (3) 05045 ECLIPTIC SUNRISE 8 D Donovan 3-8-11 C Catlin 10 (7) -0040 PORT LAIRGE 22 (B) J Gallagher 4-8-11 L Jones 11(13) 25360 CLEAR FOCUS 25 (V,D) B Powell 3-8-11 L Keniry 12 (8) 00540 ENCAPSULATED 36 (P,D) R Ingram 4-8-11 C Hardie (3) 13 (2) 53603 NIGHT TRADE 34 (P,D) R Harris 7-8-11 P Dobbs 14 (6) 44005 TRIGGER PARK 32 R Harris 3-8-10 4-1 Night Trade, 5-1 Koharu, Saskia's Dream, 6-1 Lucky Surprise, 7-1 Bookmaker, 12-1 Crafty Business, 14-1 Ecliptic Sunrise, 16-1 others.

2.20

Nursery Handicap

(2-Y-O: £2,587: 6f 209y) (13)

1 (4) 01304 L'ETACQ 17 (C) R Hannon 9-7 2 (8) 545 SHIPWRIGHT 19 M Johnston 9-7 3 (2) 4042 BEACH SAMBA 13 E Dunlop 9-5 4 (3) 40216 DESIGNATE 20 (T,B,BF) R Beckett 9-5 5 (13) 043 BOBBIE'S GIRL 27 (H) W Haggas 9-1 6 (5) 644 HAARIB 32 E Walker 9-1 7 (6) 065 BLING RING 10 (H) C Hills 8-11 8 (12) 65002 TUMUT 12 M Channon 8-11 9 (7) 14030 CIARAS COOKIE 15 (D) P D Evans 8-8 10 (9) 00654 POWERFULSTORM 26 R Harris 8-6 11(10) 03050 LUNAR KNOT 22 A McCabe 8-0 12(11) 00000 NOW SAY BOOOOM 50 (H) L Dace 8-0 13 (1) 0506 NOBLE CAUSE 26 L Dace 8-0

R Hughes K Fallon M Harley P Dobbs L Jones P Cosgrave H Bentley C Bishop (3) J Egan C Catlin K O'Neill Doubtful C Hardie (3)

3-1 Beach Samba, 9-2 Bobbie's Girl, 11-2 L'Etacq, 6-1 Shipwright, 8-1 Bling Ring, 10-1 Designate, 12-1 Haarib, Tumut, 16-1 Powerfulstorm, 20-1 others.

2.50 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

“He’s always been a horse with a lot of ability but having him gelded has made him easier to train. Yesterday was a real reward for him and his owner, John Williams, who has been very patient.”

Ribbons is finished for the campaign but Fanshawe has more ammunition for Champions’ Day at Ascot. Seal Of Approval is on course to try to gain a repeat win in the Qipco Fillies’ & Mares’ Stakes, while Hors De Combat could contest the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

“Hors De Combat would not want it very soft but it’s a case of the more rain the better for Seal Of Approval,” Fanshawe said. “She’s not really had the testing ground she likes and taken a long time to come to herself. She’s an Authorized and they don’t take a lot of galloping. I just tend to leave her alone but she looks very well.”

Taghrooda, third in the Arc, may be among her rivals. “Other than Ascot, there are very few options left for her,” Angus Gold, racing manager for Sheikh Hamdan al-Maktoum, the owner, said yesterday.

Fanshawe, meanwhile, paid his own tribute to Treve, the outstanding dual winner of Europe’s middle-distance highlight. “It’s great for our sport when you get celebrities like her bouncing back after being written off,” he said.

Maiden Auction Stakes

(2-Y-O: £2,587: 6f 209y) (7)

0 RAINBOW PRIDE 11 Sir M Prescott 9-1 (7) (6) 22442 VEGAS REBEL 13 P Chapple-Hyam 9-0 0 BURMA BRIDGE 17 R Hannon 8-10 (1) 3 DELAIRE 26 R Varian 8-9 (2) (3) 0550 VINAMAR 13 R Teal 8-7 4 FAYREWAY 119 (H) M Meade 8-6 (5) 44 INKE 13 J Boyle 8-6 (4)

C Catlin M Harley R Hughes J Mitchell O Murphy C Hardie (3) W A Carson

Handicap (Div I: £1,940: 7f 214y) (11)

1 (8) 60030 SHIFTING STAR 13 (T,V,D) J Bridger 9-9-7 W A Carson 2 (5) 20200 BLOODSWEATANDTEARS 166 (CD) W Knight 6-9-5 C Shepherd (7) M Harley 3 (9) 65222 CAPE SUMMIT 19 (BF) E Dunlop 3-9-4 4 (3) 12120 HAWK MOTH 22 (P,C,D,BF) J Spearing 6-9-3 S Hitchcott 5 (11) 26310 MEDDLING 110 (D) Miss J Feilden 4-9-2 Shelley Birkett (5) L Keniry 6 (4) 06030 HEINRICH 6 S Kirk 3-9-1 P Cosgrave 7 (10) 40000 ZAEEM 14 (P,CD) D Ivory 5-9-0 H Bentley 8 (7) 23645 STYBBA 27 (V) A Balding 3-8-13 9 (1) 30102 PRIM AND PROPER 16J (P,D,BF) B Powell 3-8-12 Jenny Powell (5) S Drowne 10 (2) 55061 IMPROVIZED 40 (P,C,D) W Muir 3-8-9 05026 CADMIUM 33 H Dunlop 3-8-4 L Avery (7) 11 (6) 5-2 Cape Summit, 4-1 Improvized, 5-1 Stybba, 8-1 Hawk Moth, 9-1 Prim And Proper, 10-1 Shifting Star, 14-1 Heinrich, Meddling, 16-1 others.

4.20

Handicap (Div II: £1,940: 7f 214y) (10)

P Cosgrave 1 (1) 06000 DANA'S PRESENT 24 (D) G Baker 5-9-7 J Egan 2 (2) 50456 BLACK DAVE 15 P D Evans 4-9-5 3 (8) 46465 ALPHABETIQUE 36 P Chapple-Hyam 3-9-4 J Nason (5) H Crouch (7) 4 (6) 56020 TAX REFORM 14 (B) G L Moore 4-9-3 C Hardie (3) 5 (3) 55400 DJINNI 14 (B) R Hannon 3-9-2 J Quinn 6 (10) 45636 SWILKEN 11 M Tompkins 3-9-2 L Keniry 7 (7) 25520 ARISTOCRATIC DUTY 17 S Kirk 3-9-1 W A Carson 8 (4) 26430 BYRD IN HAND 37 (V,CD) J Bridger 7-9-0 K Fallon 9 (9) 05213 PLOUGH BOY 24 (D,BF) W Musson 3-8-11 10 (5) 05512 CLAUDE GREENWOOD 22 (B,CD) Mrs L Jewell 4-8-7 C Bishop (3) 5-2 Plough Boy, 5-1 Tax Reform, 7-1 Black Dave, Djinni, 8-1 Claude Greenwood, 9-1 Byrd In Hand, 10-1 Aristocratic Duty, 12-1 others.

4.50

Handicap (£1,940: 1m 1f 209y) (14)

C Hardie (3) 1 (13) 00552 GREELEYS LOVE 31 (T) L Dace 4-9-10 Mikey Ennis (7) 2 (8) 00562 HILL FORT 32 (P,D) R Harris 4-9-10 3 (12) 51056 HIGHLIFE DANCER 9 (V,C,D) M Channon 6-9-8 D Cremin (7) M Harley 4 (14) 43516 FAIR COMMENT 32 (D) M Blanshard 4-9-7 P Cosgrave 5 (5) 20136 MISTER MAYDAY 15 (B) G Baker 3-9-5 H Bentley 6 (2) 56000 TOP SET 15 (B) S Dow 4-9-5 W A Carson 7 (10) 43420 MEGALALA 22 (CD) J Bridger 13-9-5 8 (11) 32365 ON DEMAND 40 (V,BF) A Balding 3-9-5 Thomas Brown (3) 9 (7) 33236 INTERCONNECTION 32 (B) E Vaughan 3-9-5 S Hitchcott S Pearce (3) 10 (6) 62013 SEXY SECRET 14 (V,D) L Pearce 3-9-5 I Goncalves 11 (4) 24615 GLENNTEN 24 (D) J Santos 5-9-4 12 (3) 50123 PINK DIAMOND 56 (D,BF) Eve Johnson Houghton 3-9-4 J Fahy J Quinn 13 (1) 40514 SNOW CONDITIONS 22 (C) P Hide 3-9-3 Shelley Birkett (5) 14 (9) 03665 AVIDLY 14 Miss J Feilden 4-9-1 5-1 Sexy Secret, 6-1 Hill Fort, Snow Conditions, 8-1 Glennten, Greeleys Love, Pink Diamond, 10-1 On Demand, 12-1 Highlife Dancer, 14-1 others.

5.20

Handicap (£1,940: 1m 3f 196y) (14)

L Dettori M Harley K Fallon L Jones C Hardie (3) J Quinn

C Meehan 1 (8) 43004 CANDESTA 96 (P) Miss J Feilden 4-9-7 2 (4) 45162 CROUCHING HARRY 60 (H,D) Anabel Murphy 5-9-4 Josh Quinn 3 (10) 30-00 KING'S ROAD 79J (T,CD) Anabel Murphy 9-9-0 Charlotte Jenner 4 (1) 02446 STRATEGIC ACTION 133J (T) Mrs L Jewell 5-8-12 Aaron Jones 5 (5) 62346 INDIAN SCOUT 82 (B,D) Anabel Murphy 6-8-12 G Mahon R Hornby 6 (11) 04536 TAMUJIN 39 K Cunningham-Brown 6-8-12 7 (13) 6060/ EPSOM FLYER 663 P Phelan 4-8-12 Paddy Bradley (3) 05140 MAZIJ 34 (D) P Hiatt 6-8-12 D A Parkes 8 (14) K Shoemark 9 (6) 20000 SALIENT 14 M Attwater 10-8-12 10 (7) 26305 GENERAL TUFTO 14 (B,D) Charles Smith 9-8-12 P Pilley Jenny Powell 11(12) 36233 JACKPOT B Powell 4-8-12 C Hardie 12 (9) 55050 FOCAIL MEAR 3 John Ryan 3-8-6 13 (3) -0340 SOIREE D'ETE 45 (B) Sir M Prescott 3-8-5 M Fernandes (8) H Crouch (3) 14 (2) 0000- CRAFTYBIRD 372 (B) G L Moore 3-8-5

4-6 Aledaid, 4-1 Resonant, 5-1 Desert Encounter, 8-1 Toofeeg, 25-1 Smile That Smile, 100-1 Now Say Boooom.

9-2 Focail Mear, 11-2 King's Road, Mazij, 6-1 Crouching Harry, 7-1 Soiree D'Ete, 9-1 Tamujin, 10-1 Indian Scout, 12-1 Craftybird, 14-1 others.

6-4 Delaire, 11-4 Vegas Rebel, 4-1 Inke, 7-1 Fayreway, 10-1 Burma Bridge, 25-1 Rainbow Pride, 33-1 Vinamar.

3.20 1 2 3 4 5 6

Maiden Stakes

(2-Y-O: £2,911: 7f 214y) (6)

(5) 533 ALEDAID 19 (BF) R Hannon 9-5 DESERT ENCOUNTER D Simcock 9-5 (1) 34 RESONANT 14 M Johnston 9-5 (3) 55 TOOFEEG 14 W Haggas 9-5 (6) (2) 00000 NOW SAY BOOOOM 50 (H) L Dace 9-0 SMILE THAT SMILE M Tompkins 9-0 (4)

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

53

FGM

Sport

Whisper it, but Strictly viewers are set to keep mum Giles Smith Sport on television

T

here seemed to be some surprise in the air. On Twitter, Lord Sugar, who would naturally consider himself well placed to comment on significant developments at the front line of reality television, probably assumed that he spoke for many: “Can’t believe Andy Murray mum got through on strictly.”

But was that such a shock? Was it not, in fact, a giant glitterball of obviousness, hanging at head height?

Judy Murray was never going home at the first time of asking. And, according to our assessment of the way the dancefloor lies, she won’t be going home for a few weeks yet.

For one thing, if you want to be heralded as the most struggling dancer on the 2014 season of Strictly Come Dancing, you’ll need to join the queue. Yes, Judy Murray’s tentative waltz in week one had left even those of us rooting hard for her, on the grounds that there are columns in it, wondering: was that a dance or a good walk spoiled?

And yes, again, the tennis-themed cha-cha that she delivered in round

Catterick Rob Wright

2.00 Magh Meall 4.00 Philosofy 2.30 Beau Eile 4.30 Molly Cat 3.00 Deep Blue Sea 5.00 Pull The Pin 3.30 May Hay 5.30 Rat Catcher Going: good to firm Tote Jackpot meeting Draw: 5f-7f, low numbers best Racing UK

2.00

Nursery Handicap

(2-Y-O: £2,385: 5f 212y) (12)

J Garritty (5) 1 (11) 003 ZAZA ZEST 28 R Fahey 9-7 J Butterfield (3) 2 (12) 04135 STUDIO STAR 20 (P) O Pears 9-6 D Tudhope 3 (1) 032 FROZEN PRINCESS 60 J Osborne 9-4 D Fentiman 4 (8) 45010 SECRET FRIEND 26 (B,D) T Easterby 9-1 R Ffrench 5 (6) 055 MY SPECIALBRU 17 Miss T Waggott 9-1 G Lee 6 (7) 0050 MULLIONHEIR 35 John Best 9-1 B McHugh 7 (9) 406 ALASKAN WING 31 T Coyle 8-13 J Sullivan 8 (5) 56050 PERFECT GIRL 14 T Easterby 8-12 D Swift 9 (4) 44403 POPPY IN THE WIND 14 Alan Brown 8-11 Luke Morris 10 (2) 64404 JERSEY BELLE 21 M Channon 8-10 A Nicholls 11(10) 0505 MAGH MEALL 14 D Nicholls 8-8 12 (3) 000 MAY HILL REBEL 20 (T) Richard Guest 8-6 N Farley (3) 9-2 Zaza Zest, 11-2 Frozen Princess, 13-2 Poppy In The Wind, 7-1 others.

2.30

Maiden Stakes (2-Y-O: £2,911: 5f) (11)

1 (8) 63022 COMPTON RIVER 28 (BF) B Smart 9-5 42 GOLD PURSUIT 19 G A Swinbank 9-5 2 (1) 3 (9) 05260 THUMPER 56 (P) R Cowell 9-5 22 BEAU EILE 30 T D Barron 9-0 4 (5) COURSING Sir M Prescott 9-0 5 (7) 0 DEEP BLUE DIAMOND 14 O Pears 9-0 6 (4) DESIRE R Fahey 9-0 7 (2) 00 LITTLE POLYANNA 28 A Berry 9-0 8 (6) MISS RUBY ROYALE P Midgley 9-0 9 (11) YORKSHIRE NANNY D Brown 9-0 10 (3) 11(10) 02620 ZUZINIA 15 M Channon 9-0

P Mulrennan R Winston D Tudhope G Gibbons Luke Morris I Brennan T Hamilton P P Mathers T Eaves G Lee J Fanning

phone vote, Judy will be cleaning up in (among other places) the “women of 45 and over” constituency to an extent that she might not have been banking on before the partnerships were drawn.

Not that there is room for complacency. And not that there isn’t work to be done in training. “Your body seems to be as tight as a newly strung racket,” suggested Craig Revel Horwood, as the tennis theme began

to backfire. At least Len Goodman, the head judge, praised her for “coming out and having a go”. Alas, experienced viewers know that Goodman only says that when you haven’t been very good and he wants to be encouraging. Being praised for “having a go” by Goodman is no different from having your legs taken off at the knees by a scything verbal challenge from Revel Horwood.

The fact is, though, that Judy and

Anton are through to Movie Week.

Of course, if you can’t move in Movie Week, you’re well and truly stuffed.

But Mills, Wonnacott, Backshall etc know that too. Judy’s not going anywhere for a little while yet.

Sport’s hopes for a proper tilt at the silverware rest perhaps more plausibly with Thom Evans, the almost comically handsome former rugby player. Being a man for whom a room full of mirrors clearly holds no fears, the former Scotland wing has at least adapted smoothly to the training regime and this week produced a samba in which he was said to be “popping like buttons on a tight shirt”.

The number also drew from Revel Horwood the words that all selfrespecting rugby players are desperate to hear said about them in public during a leading lightentertainment format, but which so few do: “I’m absolutely loving the hips, darling.”

What’s worrying is that dancers at the front of the pack are already making an early breakaway. Jake Wood, from EastEnders, comprehensively set out his stall at the weekend with a salsa that generated three nines and an eight.

And Pixie Lott has already been commended for “pure artistry” at a stage in the competition when “pure getting to the end of your routine” has traditionally been enough. Is it already a two-horse race? Let’s hope not: we’ve got a column to write.

3.30

5.00

6.05

7.35

Handicap (Div I: £2,385: 1m 7f 177y) (13)

5.30

4.00

Handicap (Div II: £2,385: 1m 7f 177y) (12)

E Sayer (5) 1 (8) 20200 WALTZ DARLING 17 K Reveley 6-10-0 2 (5) -4152 EASTERN MAGIC 38 (BF) A Hollinshead 7-9-12 J Duern (5) J Fanning 3 (12) 03040 ROCKY TWO 17 (P) P Kirby 4-9-9 T Hamilton 4 (4) 04265 STORMY MORNING 14 (P) P Kirby 8-9-8 D Tudhope 5 (10) 654 PHILOSOFY 10 D O'Meara 4-9-7 J Sullivan 6 (6) -6000 SPITHEAD 14 M Sowersby 4-9-6 A Mullen 7 (3) 50304 COWSLIP 42 (D) G M Moore 5-9-5 T Eaves 8 (9) 4/4-0 ENDEAVOR 2J Mrs D Sayer 9-9-5 2310/ MONTE PATTINO 1911 (T,D) C Teague 10-9-2 R Ffrench 9 (1) R Da Silva 10(11) 00650 DUBARA REEF 10 (C,D) P Green 7-9-2 G Lee 11 (2) 0/0-4 JIM TANGO 21J (B) Karen McLintock 10-9-2 J Hart 12 (7) 33345 NAM MA PROW 38 (P) S West 3-8-11 7-2 Eastern Magic, 4-1 Philosofy, 13-2 Cowslip, 15-2 Stormy Morning, 8-1 Endeavor, 9-1 Rocky Two, 10-1 Waltz Darling, 12-1 others.

4.30

Handicap (£2,911: 1m 3f 214y) (14)

5-1 Dansili Dutch, 6-1 Right Of Appeal, Valantino Oyster, 7-1 Istimraar, 8-1 Giovanni Jack, 10-1 Chant, Save The Bees, 12-1 Apollo Eleven, 14-1 others.

(2-Y-O: £7,762: 7f) (8)

(Div I: £2,305: 5f) (10)

15-8 Jolie Blonde, 15-2 May Hay, 8-1 Modify, 9-1 Impeccability, 10-1 Cool Baranca, William Hogarth, 11-1 Anne's Valentino, 12-1 others.

5-2 Deep Blue Sea, 5-1 Pumaflor, 11-2 Kylach Me If U Can, 6-1 Disavow, 7-1 Tachophobia, 15-2 Kelly's Finest, 10-1 Special Venture, Stardrifter.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Nursery Handicap

Amateur Riders' Handicap

1 (10) 33222 PULL THE PIN 38 (T,B,CD,BF) Miss A Stokell 5-11-0 Mrs C Bartley Mrs V Davies (5) 2 (1) 03653 A J COOK 13 (V,D) R Barr 4-11-0 3 (7) 30300 IMAGINARY DIVA 22 (D) G Margarson 8-10-12 Miss K Margarson (5) 4 (4) 20200 BUSY BIMBO 9 (B,D) A Berry 5-10-11 Mr L A Murtagh (7) 5 (3) 34534 CAPTAIN SCOOBY 6 (V,D,BF) Richard Guest 8-10-7 Mr S Walker 6 (9) 40000 UNDER REVIEW 13 (D) B Llewellyn 8-10-7 Miss H Heal (5) 0-060 ON THE HIGH TOPS 6 (P,CD) C Teague 6-10-6 Miss C Walton 7 (6) 8 (8) 00443 SKINNY LATTE 40 (P) M D Hammond 3-10-5 Mr W Hogg 9 (5) -0450 TIDAL BEAUTY 29 M Appleby 3-10-5 Miss S Brotherton Miss H Bethell 10 (2) 00650 ROSIE HALL 46 (H) L Eyre 4-10-5

J Fanning (4) 51165 DISAVOW 60 (D) M Johnston 9-7 J Garritty (5) (2) 31006 TACHOPHOBIA 19 (C) R Fahey 9-5 G Lee (3) 41240 SPECIAL VENTURE 17 (D) T Easterby 9-5 31 DEEP BLUE SEA 21 A Carson 9-4 Luke Morris (8) T Eaves (6) 33156 KYLACH ME IF U CAN 30 (CD) K A Ryan 9-3 D Tudhope (5) 635 KELLY'S FINEST 20 J Bethell 9-3 T Hamilton (1) 06156 STARDRIFTER 27 (CD) R Fahey 8-13 J Hart (7) 65104 PUMAFLOR 14 Richard Guest 8-9

3.00

Waltzing through: Murray’s dancing may have been tentative, but the Du Beke factor should not be underestimated when sizing up her chances on Strictly

G Lee 1 (7) 5004 MAY HAY 12 A Carson 4-10-0 T Hamilton 2 (13) 00006 MUSIKHANI 61 (T,P) P Kirby 4-9-12 3 (11) 25326 ANNE'S VALENTINO 42 (D) J M Jefferson 4-9-10 P McDonald D Fentiman 4 (4) 314-0 STRIKEMASTER 48 (T,CD) L James 8-9-7 T Eaves 5 (5) 45430 KASTELA STARI 64 (T) T Fitzgerald 7-9-7 6 (8) 02205 COOL BARANCA 17 (D) Mrs D Sayer 8-9-5 E Sayer (5) 00060 YORKSHIREMAN 14 (B) Miss L Siddall 4-9-4 J Garritty (5) 7 (10) Luke Morris 8 (12) 000-1 JOLIE BLONDE 8 Sir M Prescott 3-9-4 P P Mathers 9 (2) 23603 IMPECCABILITY 17 (P) J Mackie 4-9-2 D Tudhope 10 (1) 03310 MODIFY 28 D O'Meara 3-9-1 11 (6) 32335 WILLIAM HOGARTH 10 (P) B Ellison 9-9-1 R Winston D Nolan 12 (3) 05502 MR WICKFIELD 24 John Best 3-9-0 13 (9) -0020 DIFFERENT SCENARIO 50 M Brittain 3-8-5 R Ffrench

J Hart (1) 55364 SAVE THE BEES 13 Declan Carroll 6-9-12 Josh Doyle (7) (3) 12231 DANSILI DUTCH 11 D O'Meara 5-9-12 P Mulrennan (9) 05344 ELTHEEB 62 (P) M Dods 7-9-12 (5) 13322 VALANTINO OYSTER 13 (P,D) Miss T Waggott 7-9-11 C Beasley (3) R Scott (7) 5 (7) 22243 CHANT 16 (D,BF) Mrs A Duffield 4-9-10 6 (6) 13256 ROYAL MARSKELL 26 (D) A Hutchinson 5-9-8 J Duern (5) A Mullen 7 (14) -0065 SIOUX CHIEFTAIN 48 M Appleby 4-9-7 G Lee 8 (13) 215- APOLLO ELEVEN 42J (D) D McCain 5-9-5 T Hamilton 9 (11) 1-002 ISTIMRAAR 17 (P) P Kirby 3-9-5 R Winston 10 (2) 14146 GIOVANNI JACK 32 G A Swinbank 4-9-5 J Butterfield (3) 11(10) 325 MOLLY CAT 21 G A Swinbank 4-9-4 Amy Ryan 12 (4) 01066 TINSELTOWN 17 (CD) B Rothwell 8-9-3 J Fanning 13(12) 05313 RIGHT OF APPEAL 9 (D) M Johnston 3-9-1 14 (8) 31130 SERGEANT PINK 4J (D) Mrs D Sayer 8-8-12 E Sayer (5)

9-4 Beau Eile, 9-2 Gold Pursuit, 5-1 Desire, 15-2 Coursing, 8-1 others.

KIERON MCCARRON / BBC

two, with the phone lines about to open for the first time, could be said to have lacked some elasticity and at least one “cha”. There wasn’t an awful lot of particularly watchable tennis in it either, come to that.

Nevertheless, look around her.

Even after the quite monumentally unsuitable Gregg Wallace, from MasterChef, had Charlestoned himself into second-week oblivion, the leaderboard was still showing a higher than average hopelessness content in the form of Scott Mills, of Radio 1, who is very much a ballroom dancer for the spoken-word medium, and Tim Wonnacott, of Bargain Hunt, who appears to be outbidding himself.

And let’s not entirely leave out Steve Backshall, the television wildlife wrangler who must see a lot of wriggling in his day job but shows precious little sign thus far of being able to replicate it on the dancefloor.

Seasoned Strictly watchers also know never to underestimate the Anton du Beke factor. At this stage in Strictly history, some of the permanent professional dancers are better known and more dearly loved than many of the celebrities. Indeed, if you were to take a straw poll now on the relative public standing and general recognisability of Du Beke against, for instance, a former member of Blue, Du Beke would win it, jazz hands down.

Accordingly, a vote for Judy is a vote for Anton, meaning that, in the

1 2 3 4

3-1 A J Cook, Pull The Pin, 4-1 Captain Scooby, 7-1 Skinny Latte, 8-1others.

Amateur Riders' Handicap (Div II: £2,305: 5f) (9)

(4) 064 BYRONAISSANCE 38 N Bycroft 5-11-0 Mr K Wood (5) Mrs R Wilson (5) (7) 46006 RED INVADER 35 P D'Arcy 4-10-12 (2) 04000 SUNRISE DANCE 6 (P,D) R Johnson 5-10-11 Miss C Walton (9) 00013 THEWESTWALIAN 19 P Hiatt 6-10-10 Miss M King (5) (5) 00660 KALANI'S DIAMOND 32 D O'Meara 4-10-7 Miss J Gillam (7) (3) 00003 RAT CATCHER 17 (B,D) Mrs L Williamson 4-10-7 Miss S Brotherton Mr S Walker 7 (1) -0055 LAZY SIOUX 6 Richard Guest 3-10-6 Doubtful 8 (6) 60500 GYPSY RIDER 13 H Tett 5-10-5 9 (8) 44000 LUNESDALE BUDDY 41 (B) A Berry 3-10-5 Mr L A Murtagh (7) 1 2 3 4 5 6

11-4 Rat Catcher, Thewestwalian, 9-2 Lazy Sioux, 11-2 Red Invader, 8-1 Byronaissance, Kalani's Diamond, 20-1 others.

Rob Wright

5.35 Yarrow 7.35 Galuppi 6.05 Dark Ocean 8.05 Morning Watch (nap) 6.35 Rizal Park 8.35 Gabbiano 7.05 Indomitable Spirit Going: standard Draw: 6f-1m, low numbers best Racing UK

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

(3) (7) (9) (1) (6) (2) (8) (5) (4)

Maiden Stakes (2-Y-O: £2,911: 1m) (9) ALLA BREVE Sir M Stoute 9-0 BARQEYYA J Gosden 9-0 3 FORTE 41 R Beckett 9-0 22 JERSEY JEWEL 32 R Hannon 9-0 00 PURPLE SURPRISE 21 A Reid 9-0 5 SINGOALLA 7 Sir M Prescott 9-0 SONIC RAINBOW Mrs A Perrett 9-0 YARROW Sir M Stoute 9-0 0 ZEBELLA 17 B Millman 9-0

(Div I: £2,587: 1m) (9)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

5-2 John Caesar, 7-2 Blue Army, 9-2 Dark Ocean, Semaral, 8-1 Captain Starlight, 12-1 Blackthorn Stick, 16-1 Embankment, Toymaker, 20-1 Turnbury.

8.05

6.35

Handicap

(Div II: £2,587: 1m) (9)

R L Moore (9) 65665 EVIDENT 41 J Noseda 4-9-7 C Catlin (7) 03150 HILL OF DREAMS 22 (CD) D Ivory 5-9-6 O Murphy (6) -P054 RIZAL PARK 26 (T) A Balding 3-9-3 42330 GO FOR BROKE 33 (B) R Hannon 3-9-3 R Hughes (1) L Keniry (8) 4054R SCRUFFY TRAMP 31 J Butler 3-9-3 S Drowne (4) 32146 BIOTIC 36 (C) B Millman 3-9-1 (3) 21566 JONNIE SKULL 44 (T,V,C,D) Phil McEntee 8-8-13 W A Carson Dane O'Neill 8 (5) 25045 PASHAN GARH 43 Pat Eddery 5-8-12 9 (2) 64010 HONITON LACE 40 (T,P,D) Phil McEntee 3-8-4 D Brock (3) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

P Aspell Dane O'Neill R Kingscote R Hughes D Sweeney C Catlin P Dobbs R L Moore T E Durcan

11-4 Forte, 3-1 Jersey Jewel, 7-2 Barqeyya, Yarrow, 12-1 others.

7.05

Nursery Handicap

(2-Y-O: £1,940: 7f) (14)

1 (10) 06006 FOYLESIDEVIEW 5 L Dace 9-7 2 (2) 000 QUAE SUPRA 13 R Hannon 9-6 3 (14) 04640 PICCADILLO 42 (B) D Kubler 9-4 4 (7) 65206 CUPULATION 17 (B) Miss A Weaver 9-4 5 (9) 000 INDOMITABLE SPIRIT 12 M Smith 9-3 6 (13) 600 INDIAN JOE 42 (B) J Moore 9-2 7 (11) 0055 LAURA B 13 C Wall 9-2 8 (12) 35053 SCENT OF POWER 13 A Carson 9-0 9 (4) 0200 LADY CHARLIE 34 J Hughes 9-0 10 (6) 0065 DECIBELLE 27 Jane Chapple-Hyam 8-13 11 (8) 600 EXCELLING OSCAR 17 C Dore 8-11 12 (1) 050 STEEVO 34 (P) G L Moore 8-11 13 (3) 0500 AROUSAL 27 (V) Michael Bell 8-7 14 (5) 0000 BIRDIE MUST FLY 25 (B) J Fox 8-7

D Sweeney R Hughes R Kingscote O Murphy S Drowne L Jones T E Durcan W A Carson S Donohoe P Cosgrave Hayley Turner R L Moore L Keniry K O'Neill

100-30 Quae Supra, 4-1 Steevo, 5-1 Scent Of Power, 8-1 Laura B, 10-1 Indomitable Spirit, 12-1 Decibelle, Lady Charlie, 14-1 Cupulation, 16-1 Arousal, Foylesideview, 25-1 Excelling Oscar, Indian Joe, 33-1 others.

Maiden Stakes (£2,587: 1m 4f) (8)

04 SEA VISION 12 Miss J Crowley 4-9-12 (1) 6 ARQUIMEDES 75 (T) C Hills 3-9-5 (3) 00 BRIGHT ACCLAIM 25 J Hughes 3-9-5 (7) (4) 6-22 GALUPPI 164 L Cumani 3-9-5 66 HIDDEN POWER 25 J Hughes 3-9-5 (5) 05 MOBHIRR 4 (P) M Botti 3-9-5 (2) (8) 320 WILL 32 N Littmoden 3-9-5 (6) 00422 SHINING GLITTER 27 J Fanshawe 3-9-0

1 (2) 02402 DARK OCEAN 7 (D) Jedd O'Keeffe 4-9-7 R Kennemore K Fox 2 (5) 0050- EMBANKMENT 350 (CD) M Attwater 5-9-7 3 (3) -4003 CAPTAIN STARLIGHT 34 (CD) Miss J Crowley 4-9-6 D Sweeney T E Durcan 4 (6) 00334 SEMARAL 84 (BF) C Wall 3-9-3 P Aspell 5 (1) 50540 TOYMAKER 27 (H,CD) Phil McEntee 7-9-3 R L Moore 6 (7) 666 JOHN CAESAR 35 (T,P) J Noseda 3-9-1 R Hughes 7 (8) 055 BLUE ARMY 69 (BF) S Bin Suroor 3-9-0 L Keniry 8 (4) 14553 BLACKTHORN STICK 194 J Butler 5-8-12 Sophie Ralston (7) 9 (9) 35630 TURNBURY 24 (T) R Mills 3-8-10

7-2 Evident, 9-2 Biotic, Go For Broke, 11-2 Rizal Park, 8-1 Hill Of Dreams, Honiton Lace, 12-1 Jonnie Skull, Pashan Garh, Scruffy Tramp.

Kempton Park

5.35

Handicap

A Beschizza R Hughes Doubtful R L Moore S Donohoe P Sirigu J Mitchell C Hardie (3)

11-8 Galuppi, 11-4 Shining Glitter, 5-1 Will, 7-1 Arquimedes, 12-1 Sea Vision, 16-1 Mobhirr, 25-1 Hidden Power.

Handicap (£4,690: 1m 4f) (10)

P Aspell (2) 00413 KARAM ALBAARI 14 (P,C) J Jenkins 6-9-9 (1) 20423 MEN DON'T CRY 12 (B,D) E De Giles 5-9-9 D J Bates (3) (7) -1053 MORNING WATCH 31 (P,D) Lady Cecil 3-9-5 R L Moore S Drowne (4) 03015 JARLATH 16J (B,CD) J S Mullins 3-9-3 (9) -2150 BISHOP OF RUSCOMBE 34 (H,C) A Balding 3-9-2 O Murphy I Goncalves 6 (6) 62534 BOLD RUNNER 20 (D) J Santos 3-9-2 R Hughes 7 (5) 34462 STRAWBERRY MARTINI 14 W Muir 3-9-2 P Dobbs 8 (8) 34602 CASTLE COMBE 19 M Tregoning 3-9-0 9 (10) 053/3 CASTLEMORRIS KING 16J (D) B Barr 6-9-0 W Twiston-Davies C Hardie (3) 10 (3) 22113 KING CALYPSO 13 (CD) D Coakley 3-8-8 1 2 3 4 5

7-2 Morning Watch, 5-1 King Calypso, Strawberry Martini, 7-1 Castle Combe, 8-1 Castlemorris King, Karam Albaari, Men Don't Cry, 10-1 others.

8.35

Handicap (£4,690: 6f) (12)

K Fox 1 (12) 63650 NOBLE DEED 66 (D) M Attwater 4-9-7 2 (4) 23402 PEACE SEEKER 10 (T,CD,BF) A Carson 6-9-7 W A Carson Dane O'Neill 3 (7) 65400 GABBIANO 31 (CD) J Gask 5-9-4 S Drowne 4 (8) 00220 DANGEROUS AGE 27 (BF) C Hills 4-9-3 O Murphy 5 (6) 00006 DAYLIGHT 6 (T,D) A Balding 4-9-3 6 (11) 10241 DESERT STRIKE 10 (P,C,D) C Dore 8-9-2 Hayley Turner R L Moore 7 (5) 33061 DUTCH INTERIOR 12 (CD) G L Moore 3-9-1 P C O'Donnell (7) 8 (2) 00145 TAQUKA 35 (CD) R Beckett 3-9-0 D Sweeney 9 (3) 45114 ALNOOMAAS 12 (V,CD) L Dace 5-8-13 P Dobbs 10 (9) 51340 AMYGDALA 35 (D) S C Williams 3-8-13 R Hughes 11 (1) 02403 LA TINTA BAY 17 (D) R Hannon 3-8-10 C Hardie (3) 12(10) 0-060 STORM TROOPER 26 R Hannon 3-8-8 7-2 Dutch Interior, 6-1 Gabbiano, 7-1 Alnoomaas, Dangerous Age, 8-1 Desert Strike, Peace Seeker, 10-1 Daylight, La Tinta Bay, Taquka, 12-1 Amygdala, 14-1 Noble Deed, 16-1 Storm Trooper.

Blinkered first time: Brighton 3.50 Stybba. 4.50 On Demand. 5.20 Soiree D’ete, Craftybird. Catterick 5.30 Lunesdale Buddy. Kempton Park 7.05 Arousal, Piccadillo, Indian Joe, Cupulation, Birdie Must Fly. Leicester 3.10 Hoist The Colours. 3.40 Mary’s Prayer.

Yesterday’s racing results Stratford Going: good

2.00 (2m 110yd hdle) 1, Honey Pound (R Johnson, 4-9 fav); 2, Lawsons Thorns (11-4); 3, Bus Named Desire (50-1). 6 ran. 3l, 2Ol. Tim Vaughan.

2.30 (2m 3f hdle) 1, Cloonacool (Brendan Powell, 7-1); 2, Go Odee Go (6-5 fav); 3, Seaviper (10-1). 7 ran. Nk, 6l. Mrs P Robeson.

3.00 (2m 7f ch) 1, Prince Des Marais (A Thornton, 6-1); 2, Nom de Guerre (12-1); 3, Fitandproperjob (3-1). Decimus (pu) 11-8 fav.

5 ran. NR: Giant O Murchu. 1Nl, 14l. Mrs Caroline Bailey.

3.30 (2m 110yd hdle) 1, Tender Surprise (Trevor

Whelan, 11-2); 2, Mystery Drama (13-8 fav); 3, Grimley Girl (9-2). 6 ran. 3l, 1Kl. N King.

4.00 (2m 6f 110yd hdle) 1, Dazzling Rita (David England, 5-1); 2, Baltic Ben (11-2); 3, Speed Check (9-4 fav). 11 ran. 1Nl, hd. N Twiston-Davies.

4.30 (2m 4f ch) 1, Gizzit (A Thornton, 11-1); 2, Red Solo Cup (10-1); 3, Midnight Charmer (20-1). Croco Mister (f) 3-1 fav. 12 ran. 6l, 15l.

J W Mullins.

5.00 (2m 110yd flat) 1, Knight’s Reward (R Johnson, 5-1); 2, I’m A Joker (3-1); 3, The Western Force (2-1). Canicallyouback (4th) 7-4 fav.

4 ran. NR: Patavinus. Kl, 4l. Tim Vaughan.

Placepot: £345.60.

Quadpot: £186.90.

Pontefract Going: good to soft

2.10 (1m 2f) 1, Oceanographer (Martin Lane, 6-4 fav); 2, Mythical City (5-1); 3, Oregon Gift (14-1). 11 ran. 2Kl, 2Nl. C Appleby.

2.40 (6f) 1, Golden Spun (P Mulrennan, 20-1); 2, Russian Heroine (10-1); 3, Arthur Martinleake (7-4 fav). 8 ran. NR: Best Dressed, Firgrove Bridge, Use Your Filbert. Ns, 1Kl. B Smart.

3.10 (1m) 1, Moohaarib (M Harley, 3-1); 2, Top of The Glas (10-1); 3, Dream Spirit (2-1 fav). 6 ran. NR: Ifwecan. Kl, Kl. M Botti.

3.40 (2m 2f) 1, Statutory (F Tylicki, 4-5 fav); 2, Alwilda (7-2); 3, Repeater (11-4). 4 ran. NR: Almagest, Big Thunder, Bright Abbey. Nk, 6l. S bin Suroor.

4.10 (1m) 1, Rangi Chase (F Norton, 5-1); 2, Solid Justice (14-1); 3, Mr McLaren (2-1 fav).

6 ran. 3Nl, 2Kl. R Fahey.

4.40 (1m 4f) 1, Thunder Pass (W Buick, 100-30 fav); 2, Trendsetter (25-1); 3, Cape Karli (33-1). 12 ran. NR: Flying Cape, Westerly. 3l, 1Ol. H Morrison.

5.10 (1m) 1, Dubai Star (R Havlin, 11-2); 2, Tayma (9-1); 3, Archipeligo (25-1). Fallen In Line 5-4 fav. 9 ran. NR: Isabella Bird. 6l, Kl. J Gosden.

Placepot: £277.50.

Quadpot: £162.50.

Windsor Going: soft

1.50 (5f) 1, Pharoh Jake (Miss Eilidh Grant, 5-2 jt-fav); 2, Greek Islands (4-1); 3, First Rebellion

(7-2). Oscars Journey (4th) 5-2 jt-fav. 7 ran. NR: Warm Order. Sh hd, 1Kl. J Bridger.

2.20 (1m) 1, Rocky Rider (Andrea Atzeni, 4-6 fav); 2, Magic Dancer (12-1); 3, Harbour Patrol (3-1). 9 ran. NR: Carnival King, Lionel Joseph.

Ns, 3l. A Balding.

2.50 (1m) 1, Master Apprentice (David Probert, 4-5 fav); 2, Firmament (8-1); 3, Wonder Laish (14-1). 9 ran. NR: Kitten’s Red, Storming Harry.

2l, 2Nl. A Balding.

3.20 (1m 2f) 1, Dalgig (Andrea Atzeni, 2-1 fav); 2, Henry The Aviator (5-2); 3, Desert Society (9-2). 8 ran. NR: I Am Not Here, Skytrain.

3l, 3Kl. J Osborne.

3.50 (1m 3f) 1, Norway Cross (Andrea Atzeni, 2-1 fav); 2, Tobacco Road (6-1); 3, Puzzle Time

(25-1). 8 ran. NR: Jupiter Storm, Placidia, Ragged Robbin, Red Runaway. 1l, ns. L Cumani.

4.20 (6f) 1, Lady Brigid (P J Dobbs, 5-2); 2, Posh Bounty (20-1); 3, Persian Bolt (9-4 fav). 11 ran.

NR: Knockroon, Prominna, Qatar Princess, Suitsus. 3l, 1Nl. O Stevens.

4.50 (5f) 1, Goldcrest (Dane O’Neill, 8-1); 2, Marigot Bay (20-1); 3, Stinky Socks (14-1). La Cuesta (4th) 2-1 fav. 7 ran. NR: Aussie Ruler, Effusive, Equally Fast, Expensive Date, Field Game, Ivors Rebel, Rio Ronaldo. 3l, Kl. H Candy.

5.20 (1m) 1, Donncha (Andrea Atzeni, 7-2); 2, Melvin The Grate (8-1); 3, Hostile Fire (10-1).

Shama’s Crown 9-4 fav. 13 ran. NR: Rayoumti.

Ol, 4Kl. R Eddery.

Jackpot: £285.70.

Placepot: £8.10.

Quadpot: £3.20.

54

FGM

Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

Sport Comment

Grand plan to find the new Gareth Edwards Owen Slot Chief Rugby Correspondent

T

ED LACEY / POPPERFOTO / GETTY IMAGES

he new autobiography of Gareth Thomas is not phenomenally powerful merely because he is so honest, frighteningly at times, about his struggles with and his fears of his sexuality. It is far more than a torturous journey of self-identity peppered with a few page-turning suicide attempts.

Laced neatly throughout is an extended essay on the changing rugby landscape of Wales. The fervent community game he grew up with is described so intensely you may just consider moving to his native Bridgend. At least you would if you did not finish the book, by which time the rugby towns and villages of his childhood are barren. Here is a nation’s sporting history in 300 extremely uncomfortable pages.

“I did a session at the local college recently,” he writes. “The kids couldn’t believe it when I told them that all I wanted to be known as was a Bridgend boy. They felt no connection with the place. None of them watched rugby, and only a couple played it. They were becoming detached from the game that once defined their country.”

This is strange to recount for a nation enjoying its second golden rugby era. If you wanted to bathe in the glory of the first, Gareth Edwards, Phil Bennett, Barry John and their coach, Clive Rowlands, were in magnificent form last week on stage at the Rugby Legends dinner hosted by the Willow Foundation.

They talked of that Barbarians try against the All Blacks. They laughed about grumpy Willie John McBride and his reaction to Bennett’s triple sidestep. (“You stupid bugger. What were you doing?”) They rewound effortlessly into the sepia-tinted joys of their 1970s.

Like Thomas, they talked of the hand-me-down local rugby culture.

6 For good measure, it should be recorded that I was involved in the organising of the aforementioned Rugby Legends dinner, although it is hard to link this remotely to its undoubted success. Phil Bennett told one splendid anecdote about the late, much-loved Ray Gravell that runs contrary to his reputation as one of the great rugby hard men.

Gravell was down in a game with an apparently injured groin. The treatment he received, though, apparently from Dwayne Peel’s grandfather, was a massage to the temples. Gravell’s question: “Why are you doing that when the pain’s down there?” The answer: “The pain might be down there, but the problem’s up here.”

Edwards grew up barely imagining that he could play for Wales, but wanted to be like Rowlands, the international scrum half from the next-door village. Thomas, too, had no grasp of the heights he could reach, he just aspired to be a bit more like the Bridgend senior players like Glen Webbe and Rob Howley. Until the game went professional, many of the local heroes could be found handing down the culture because they worked in the local schools.

And today? A recent survey by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) showed that, in four years, the number of Welsh schools competing at under-17 or under-18 levels has fallen by 26 per

6 Every week that goes by emphasises the lunacy of the promotion of poor London Welsh.

They are clearly not equipped to compete in the Aviva Premiership; it can be no fun for them and their travails do no good for the league as a whole. It is easy to say with hindsight that Bristol, who finished top of the Greene King IPA Championship but lost the play-off final, should have gone up, but the league’s administrators should move quickly and redraw the end-ofseason promotion equation farce.

Reward the league champions, it serves everyone better. its own bid to mend it. It is headed by Josh Lewsey, England’s World Cup-winner and now the Welsh union’s head of rugby. Not that he saw it this way, but much of Lewsey’s strategy involves rebuilding a lot of what Gove had broken.

The headline piece of the strategy is the creation of “school-club hubs”, with the WRU helping schools fund the employment of full-time rugby officers to make them work. In its first term, 43 schools have so far signed up; the intention is to get into treble figures.

There is far more to this new Welsh future than just creating 43 jobs. But the identity of the 43 is interesting; they include Leigh Davies and Neil Boobyer, two former Wales centres, and Mike Hook, brother of James.

There is a sense here of the heroes coming back.

It sounds good. Not just for the revival of the Welsh rugby culture, but for the A levels. Eastern High, a new secondary school in a tough part of Cardiff, had the option of buying in Davies or more new computers; the head teacher was convinced that, for all-round motivation and engagement, Davies was better value for money.

Of course, Lewsey’s big plan may not work, but he has commissioned a study from Birmingham University into the holistic and academic benefits of it. So at least the next Gove will have some data to go by.

For now, we know that at Llanwern High, a school serving a huge council estate, 55 new rugby players came out to play on day one. Up the valley, Brynmawr and Tredegar, schools in neighbouring towns, played their first under-15s fixture for years and the locals turned out to watch. This was the kind of connection that Thomas wrote had died.

Role model: Edwards inspired a generation and the WRU is hopeful its new scheme can increase interest in schools rugby

cent. Howley’s two daughters now attend Brynteg, the same school he was at and which has produced six Lions including JPR Williams. But where there were A, B and C teams, they sometimes struggle to get to A. This is a general trend. The number of youth teams struggling to maintain the numbers to sustain a side is worryingly high; at senior level, where local clubs used to put out three or four teams a weekend, a large percentage of second-team fixtures are having to be cancelled due to lack of players.

At Swansea University recently, a group of students formed a body of “rugby mercenaries”, a pocket

business where they would hire themselves out for weekend games to fill in the gaps when required by local teams.

Decline may not be a term easily applied to a country that can boast three grand slams in the past decade, but you hardly need to peer far beneath the surface to find it.

Children not playing sport is hardly a singularly Welsh disease either, but in a country whose rugby heritage is so entwined in national identity, it seems somehow more acute.

Really, Wales and its rugby is a sad but broad reflection of much of the UK and its sport. Academic pressure in schools is now more intense, school

sport is less intense and often non-existent, there are phones and online games to be played with. You know the deal.

To turn the tide, the previous government introduced a brilliant initiative. It tried to link primary and secondary schools and local clubs, thus creating local sporting communities. It did this by ring-fencing £162 million for what were known as School Sports Partnerships. The initiative was hugely popular until Michael Gove, new as education secretary, broke the fence and withdrew the funding.

On Thursday last week, though, the WRU announced an initiative that is

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the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

55

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Crash course put on back burner while Burgess goes under knife

Rugby league Sport

Grand Final hero not expected to make union debut for Bath until December

Christopher Irvine

MARK METCALFE / GETTY IMAGES

Christopher Irvine

Pommie granite

Sam Burgess’s crash course in rugby union is unlikely to begin until December. Bath had hoped that the rugby league convert would be available for their LV= Cup campaign, which starts next month, but the fractured cheekbone on which Burgess is due to have surgery today will delay his playing debut at the Recreation Ground for up to eight weeks.

Burgess suffered the injury six seconds into Sunday’s NRL Grand Final, yet he remained on the field in inspiring South Sydney Rabbitohs to beat Canterbury Bulldogs 30-6 and collected the Clive Churchill medal as man of the match, the first non-Australian to do so.

His heroics were still being hailed Down Under yesterday, as he delayed his operation by 24 hours to continue his celebrations with team-mates.

The time frame for him to make a sufficient impact on his new sport to be included in England’s 2015 World Cup squad has shortened. Bath have been trumpeting his imminent arrival, and he is scheduled to be paraded at the home European Champions Cup pool game against Toulouse on October 25.

He had been pencilled in for a possible debut in the LV= Cup home tie against London Welsh on November 1.

Burgess’s immediate travel plans may be disrupted by his surgery. Provisional dates for his first appearance have now shifted to two home matches either side of Christmas, the return Champions Cup pool fixture against Montpellier on December 13, or the Aviva Premiership game against Exeter Chiefs on December 27.

His apparent superhuman qualities in Australian league’s showpiece will be tested again if Burgess is to make the England World Cup cut. If scans confirm a depressed fracture, as the bruising to his face and right eye suggested, the bone fragments will be lifted back into position and a small steel plate inserted into his cheek. “For those guys [the surgeons] it’s bread and butter stuff,’’ said Michael Jamieson, president of the Australasian College of Sports Physicians.

Opinion is divided about whether Burgess should have stayed on the field

How Australia reacted the morning after Burgess’s Grand Final heroics “Unbelievably inspirational. The reward of being named the Clive Churchill medal winner has never been more deserved . . . to see the great English warrior overcome with tears even before full-time will be a vision burned in our brains for ever” Phil Gould, Sydney Morning Herald “People will talk about Sam Burgess and what an unbelievable champion he is. That showed how much character he has as a player. He will be missed in this game and at this club. Hopefully we’ll see him back” Greg Inglis, Rabbitohs full back “Blood trickled from his mouth the entire game. It was a brutal start to the final, in the very best sense, a reminder of the greatness of rugby league, the gladiators that play it, what they go through for victory” Paul Kent, Daily Telegraph, Sydney

Turning the other cheek: Burgess became the first Briton to win the man-of-thematch award in the NRL final despite a painful facial injury in the early moments

in terms of his personal welfare.

Michael Maguire, the South Sydney and former Wigan Warriors coach, got a telling message out to the player immediately after he had suffered the injury in colliding with the head of James Graham, the Bulldogs captain and his England league team-mate.

“I said to the trainer, run out and tell him, ‘John Sattler,’ ” Maguire said, in reference to the legendary winning Rabbitohs captain who broke his jaw in three places early in the 1970 final.

Despite the injury being intensely painful, Jamieson said that as long as Burgess could see clearly it was unlikely he would been injured further by

another hit. “These fractures of the cheek or zygomatic arch are relatively common in rugby and it’s usually the case a bloke will cop a knock and he won’t even know he has a fracture until the next day,’’ he said.

“It’s not like a long bone fracture that can splinter through the skin [if it is hit again]. It’s not one of those things I would consider the risk of playing on to be huge. As dramatic as it was, if you look at the serious consequences [of playing on] there’s not much.’’

Dr George Peponis, a general practitioner and a former Australia league international, said: “He was courageous because he stayed on with a fractured

eye socket or cheekbone, whatever it was. However, if he got another bad knock on that eye socket it could have done some more serious damage. It could have been further depressed and caused some damage to his muscles around the eye. Thankfully, luckily, none of that happened.

“Ideally, if it wasn’t a Grand Final, he would have come off, as would have John Sattler many years before him . . . but that’s what a legend is made of, those kind of stories.”

Having recently returned to league after three years in union, Joel Tomkins, the dual-code England international, said of Burgess: “If he can make it into the squad and play in and win a home World Cup, he will go down as one of the best players ever. It’s a brave decision, especially given the level he’s at in Australia. If it pays off, he’s a genius.

“The 2015 World Cup is a tough ask for Sam, even more so now, but if anyone can do it, he can.”

Results Chelmsford C (0) 0

Football Vanarama Conference North Hyde

(1) 3

Chorley

(0) 3

Brizell 22 Stephenson 48, 69, 72 Bentham 49 574 Hughes 90 (pen) Sent off: C Doyle (Chorley) 88; D Whitham (Chorley) 90 P W D L F A GDPts AFC Fylde .......... 11 8 1 2 29 7 22 25 Chorley...............12 7 3 2 21 12 9 24 Barrow...............10 7 2 1 24 12 12 23 Oxford City........12 6 3 3 26 22 4 21 Stockport Co......11 6 2 3 22 16 6 20 Guiseley.............11 5 4 2 18 11 7 19 Boston United...12 5 3 4 18 20 -2 18 Worcester City..13 4 5 4 12 15 -3 17 Leamington ....... 11 5 1 5 17 14 3 16 North Ferriby U.11 4 3 4 12 11 1 15 Hednesford Tn...11 4 3 4 12 13 -1 15 Solihull Moors...10 4 2 4 22 15 7 14 Gainsborough....11 4 2 5 13 17 -4 14 Colwyn Bay........11 3 4 4 18 20 -2 13 Lowestoft Town11 3 4 4 11 17 -6 13 Harrogate Town 11 3 3 5 10 17 -7 12 Stalybridge Celtic11 3 2 6 13 16 -3 11 Brackley Town...10 3 2 5 7 14 -7 11 Bradford PA.......12 3 2 7 16 28 -12 11 Tamworth..........11 1 7 3 11 16 -5 10 Gloucester City..11 1 5 5 16 24 -8 8 Hyde...................12 1 3 8 16 27 -11 6

South

Boreham Wood(1) 2

St Albans City(0) 1

Angol 45 (pen) Shields 51 Morias 78 538 Sent off: D Locke (St Albans City) 45

Concord Rgrs (1) 1

588 Taaffe 26 Sent off: J Love (Chelmsford City) 45

Wealdstone (1) 2

Havant & W (0) 2

Hammond 23 McGleish 63 618

Hooper 52 Donnelly 67

P Boreham Wood..12 Havant & W.......12 Basingstoke Tn . 10 Ebbsfleet Utd....10 Bromley.............10 Eastbourne........10 St Albans City...12 Whitehawk........12 Gosport Boro.......9 Concord Rgrs.....12 Hayes & Yeading.9 Sutton United....10 Maidenhead Utd11 Bath City............10 Chelmsford City 11 Farnborough Tn.11 B Stortford........11 Weston-s-Mare.10 Wealdstone.......13 H Hempstead.....10 Staines Town .... 10

W 7 7 7 6 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 3 3

D 1 1 0 1 2 2 1 1 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 3 2 5 2 0

L 4 4 3 3 3 3 6 6 2 4 3 4 5 4 5 6 5 5 6 5 7

F 28 21 19 17 20 16 19 17 15 19 11 16 15 12 11 11 18 14 13 8 16

American football

A 13 11 10 6 15 14 20 19 4 19 11 17 20 17 16 20 20 21 23 18 22

GDPts 15 22 10 22 9 21 11 19 5 17 2 17 -1 16 -2 16 11 15 0 15 0 14 -1 14 -5 14 -5 14 -5 14 -9 13 -2 12 -7 11 -10 11 -10 11 -6 9

NFL Carolina 31 Chicago 24; Dallas 20 Houston 17 (OT); Denver 41 Arizona 20; Detroit 14 Buffalo 17; Indianapolis 20 Baltimore 13; Jacksonville 9 Pittsburgh 17; New England 43 Cincinnati 17; New Orleans 37 Tampa Bay 31 (OT);

New York Giants 30 Atlanta 20; Philadelphia 34 St Louis 28; San Diego 31 New York Jets 0; San Francisco 22 Kansas City 17; Tennessee 28 Cleveland 29.

1, United States 235.038; 2, China 230.753; 3, Russia 228.135; 4, Great Britain (Fragapane, Downie, Harrold, H Whelan, G Jupp, K Simm) 224.596.

Baseball

Tennis

MLB play-offs American League: Divisional series (best-ofseven series): Detroit 1 Baltimore 2 (Baltimore won series 3-0); Kansas City 8 Los Angeles Angels 3 (Kansas City won series 3-0).

ATP Shanghai Rolex Masters First round: M Jaziri (Tun) bt D Young (US) 7-5, 6-4; J Mónaco (Arg) bt J Sousa (Por) 6-2, 7-6; J Isner (US) bt P Andújar (Sp) 7-6, 1-6, 6-3; I Karlovic (Cro) bt M Cilic (Cro) 7-5, 2-6, 7-6; K Anderson (SA) bt J Ward (GB) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; R Gasquet (Fr) bt J Chardy (Fr) 7-6, 6-2; G Dimitrov (Bul) bt D Istomin (Uzb) 6-3, 6-3; J Sock (US) bt B Tomic (Aus) 7-6, 6-7, 6-4; Lu Yen-hsun (Taiwan) bt M Granollers (Sp) 6-3, 6-7, 6-2.

Darts Partypoker.com World Grand Prix Citywest Hotel, Dublin: First round (England unless stated): A Gilding bt D Webster 2-0; R Thornton (Scot) bt J Pipe 2-0; M Mansell (N Ire) bt I White 2-0; K Painter bt A Hamilton 2-1.

Gymnastics World Championships Nanning, China: Leading final qualifying positions: Women: All-around: 1, S Biles (US) 59.599pts; 2, A Mustafina (Russ) 58.874; 3, L A Iordache (Rom) 58.365; 9, R Harrold (GB) 56.766; 13, C Fragapane (GB) 55.999. Beam: 1, Biles 15.133; 2, Iordache 15.066 3, Yao Jinnan (China) 14.900; 12, R Downie (GB) 14.200.

Floor: 1, Biles 15.366; 2, Iordache 14.933; 3, M Skinner (US) 14.700; 6, Fragapane 14.400.

Uneven bars: 1, Yao 15.666; 2, Huang Huidan (China) 15.333; 3, Tan Jiaxin (China) 15.333; 5, Downie 15.166; 10, Harrold 14.733. Vault: 1, Biles 15.450; 2, Hong Un-jong (N Kor) 15.354; 3, Skinner 15.349; 7, Fragapane 14.716. Team:

WTA Generali Ladies Linz, Austria: First round: M Erakovic (NZ) bt C Garcia (Fr) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4; A K Schmiedlova (Slovakia) bt A Beck (Ger) 7-6, 6-4.

WTA Tianjin Open Tianjin, China: First round: O Govortsova (Bela) bt F Schiavone (It) 7-5, 6-4; A Riske (US) bt C Buyukakcay (Tur) 6-2, 7-5; S Cirstea (Rom) bt M Linette (Pol) 6-4, 6-2.

WTA Japan Open Osaka: First round: E Svitolina (Ukr) bt S Rogers (US) 7-6, 4-6, 6-1; H Watson (GB) bt J Jaksic (Serbia) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2; L Kumkhum (Thai) bt C McHale (US) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3; E Hozumi (Japan) bt B Mattek-Sands (US) 7-6, 3-6, 6-1; M Keys (US) bt S Vickery (US) 6-3, 6-3.

Fixtures Football Kick-off 7.45 unless stated Johnstone’s Paint Trophy: Second round: Northern section: Burton Albion v Doncaster (7.30); Bury v Morecambe; Hartlepool v Sheffield United (7.0); Oldham v Barnsley (7.30); Preston v Port Vale; Rochdale v Walsall (7.30); Scunthorpe v Notts County; Tranmere v Carlisle (7.30). Southern section: Colchester v Gillingham; Coventry v Exeter; Dagenham & Redbridge v Leyton Orient (7.30); Luton v Crawley Town; Milton Keynes Dons v AFC Wimbledon; Plymouth v Swindon; Portsmouth v Northampton.

Brown keen to finish on top before return Down Under

Vanarama Conference: AFC Telford v Forest Green; Bristol Rovers v Dartford; Chester v Aldershot; Halifax v Wrexham; Gateshead v Alfreton Town; Grimsby v Altrincham; Macclesfield v Barnet; Nuneaton v Dover; Southport v Lincoln City. North: Harrogate Town v Gainsborough; Hednesford v Colwyn Bay; Lowestoft Town v Brackley; North Ferriby United v Leamington; Oxford City v Stockport County; Stalybridge v Guiseley; Tamworth v AFC Fylde. South: Basingstoke v Whitehawk; Bath City v Gosport Borough; Bishop’s Stortford v Bromley; Ebbsfleet United v Eastbourne Borough; Maidenhead United v Weston-super-Mare; Staines Town v Hayes & Yeading.

As their press conference ended at Old Trafford, Nathan Brown, the St Helens head coach, invited Shaun Wane, his Wigan Warriors counterpart, for a “couple of beers” after Saturday’s First Utility Super League Grand Final and before his departure back to Australia.

Publicly, Brown was keen to play down the significance of his exit with a year remaining on his contract, which was revealed in his homeland last week and has prompted an unwelcome flurry of speculation in the build-up to his team’s clash with their arch-rivals in the game’s domestic showpiece.

“It’s part of the job. Coaches come and go, that’s the reality of it,” said Brown, who has spent two years at St Helens after a four-year spell with Huddersfield Giants. “I’ll be sad to be leaving England because I’ve a lot of good friends and a lot of great memories here, but I’d rather talk about the players because that’s what it’s about at the end of the day.”

Brown secured his release from Langtree Park to return home for what were described as family reasons. He recently missed out on a coaching vacancy in the NRL at Wests Tigers.

It is thought unlikely that Keiron Cunningham, the club’s former hooker, will step up from the job as assistant Brown will leave St Helens after a two-year spell

coach, with a host of Australian names being mentioned, among them Daniel Anderson, who won a clean sweep of trophies with St Helens in 2006.

David Fairleigh, the former St Helens forward and assistant coach of Penrith Panthers, would be a popular choice among fans and has expressed a desire to return at some stage. Tim Sheens, the Australia national coach, has also been mentioned but is regarded as a less likely candidate.

St Helens will concentrate on the business of Brown’s successor after the final, after which Sia Soliola and Willie Manu will also bow out. Brown confirmed that Greg Richards and Luke Thompson, two homegrown 19year-old forwards, will keep their places after being preferred to Anthony Laffranchi, who is also leaving the club.

Brown has come to appreciate the special nature of derby matches against Wigan. “From a game point of view, it’s a great thing to be involved in,” he said.

“When you come to St Helens, you learn to get that hatred, respect, dislike, whatever you like to call it.

“I think both clubs respect each other a lot, but there’s something different about it.”

Paul Wellens, the 34-year-old St Helens captain — who will equal Jamie Peacock’s record of ten Grand Final appearances on Sunday — is also hoping to end a run of five straight defeats in the fixture. “I’m aware of the record we’ve had in recent Grand Finals but in terms of our group, there’s only me and Robes [James Roby] who played in those teams.”

Michael McIlorum will play opposite Roby at hooker, despite a cheekbone injury. “He phoned me saying, ‘I’ll be playing on Saturday,’ ” Wane said.

“That’s Micky’s attitude and my attitude.”

56

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Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

Sport

Ecclestone demands crash answers

Promoter calls for independent inquiry into Bianchi horror HOCH ZWEI / ACTION IMAGES

Formula One

Kevin Eason Motor Racing Correspondent

Bernie Ecclestone called last night for an independent inquiry into the accident at the Japanese Grand Prix that has left Jules Bianchi in intensive care.

Formula One’s promoter, who was not in Japan, wants to clear up any doubt over the circumstances surrounding the dreadful accident in the final laps of the race at Suzuka when Bianchi’s Marussia car left the circuit and smashed into a recovery tractor.

He wants the FIA, the sport’s governing body, to hand the investigation over to a team of expert lawyers to ensure that there is no repeat of the events that overshadowed a dramatic grand prix won by Lewis Hamilton as dusk fell on a drenched Suzuka.

Jean Todt, the FIA president, has already asked for a detailed internal report from Charlie Whiting, the race director. Professor Gérard Saillant, the FIA’s medical commission president, has flown to the hospital in Japan where Bianchi, 25, is in intensive care and said to be critical but stable. Saillant attended to Michael Schumacher after the seven-times world champion suffered terrible brain injuries in a ski accident ten months ago.

An FIA statement said: “[The report] will aim to be as complete and detailed as possible in order to understand exactly the accident that occurred.”

It is a first step, but Ecclestone wants transparency and speed. “It is difficult for me to say what happened and it will be for an inquiry to find out exactly what did go on,” Ecclestone told The Times. “We have done so much for safety. These days, you see an accident on the track and the driver undoes his safety belt, flips off his steering wheel and jumps out unharmed. I have always said that if I was going to have an accident, it would be in a Formula One car because they are the safest in the world.

“But things happen and we have to find out the cause. This happened to a young man who is very close to us all and that has caused a terrible shock for everyone. Our thoughts are with him and his family.”

As Ecclestone spoke, Philippe and Christine Bianchi were arriving at the Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi, a few miles from the Suzuka circuit,

Watkinson ends 32-year spell with Lancashire Cricket Mike Watkinson has stepped down as cricket director of Lancashire after their relegation to the second division of the LV= County Championship, having served the club for 32 years in various capacities. The former England all-rounder, 53, played for and captained Lancashire before becoming cricket manager in 2002 and, in 2008, the county’s cricket director. Ashley Giles, the former England one-day coach, is the favourite to replace Watkinson.

6 Glamorgan have signed James Kettleborough, the opening batsman, from Northamptonshire.

Watson wins in Japan Tennis Heather Watson, below, the

British No 1, defeated Jovana Jaksic to reach the second round of the Japan Women’s Open yesterday.

The 22-year-old, who won the only WTA title of her career in Osaka two years ago, recovered from losing the opening set to the Serb to triumph 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 at the Utsubo Tennis Centre. However, James Ward could not follow his impressive qualifying performance with another victory and went out of the Shanghai Masters at the hands of Kevin Anderson. The 27-year-old British No 2 lost 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to the South African.

Dark day: Bianchi’s Marussia, right, is seen trapped under the recovery vehicle that had arrived to remove Adrian Sutil’s car

to be with their son. They had been at home in the south of France where Philippe Bianchi has a restaurant and were given the news by telephone that his son was critically ill with head injuries.

Camille Marchetti, Bianchi’s girlfriend, could only send her message via Twitter. She was praying for his recovery and added: “You are my champion!

You are the strongest.”

Graeme Lowdon, Marussia’s racing director, and John Booth, the team principal, have been at the hospital where Bianchi underwent a three-hour operation to alleviate a subdural hematoma. Both men had gone all night without sleep as doctors battled to save Bianchi.

The trauma was felt throughout the sport: Fernando Alonso, of Ferrari, sent a message to his 2.1 million followers in the middle of a Japanese night. “Difficult to sleep,” it said simply. Drivers are holding their breath as they wait for news of their colleague but there is little

Five key questions 6 Given the forecast, should the race have been started earlier to avoid the worst of the rain driven into Suzuka by Typhoon Phanfone?

6 Should the tractor recovering Adrian Sutil’s car have been allowed trackside while cars were racing?

6 Should the safety car have been sent out immediately once recovery of Sutil’s car began?

6 Should such heavy machinery, with large wheels that left a gap for Bianchi’s car to plough underneath, be used for recovery?

6 Will F1 have to ignore tradition and introduce closed cockpits for the sake of safety?

Words by Kevin Eason

time to dwell on events as they have to take to the track again on Friday for practice for the inaugural Russian Grand Prix in Sochi.

Todt will attend that race to offer reassurance but it was left to Max Mosley, the elder statesman of the FIA, to do the talking yesterday. In concert with Ecclestone, Mosley revolutionised safety in F1 after the death of Ayrton Senna in 1994 and he believes Bianchi’s crash was “a freak accident”.

“What happened in Suzuka was very unfortunate — a freak accident — and I can’t really fault any of the people involved, the marshals or the race director or any of those people,” Mosley said. “Everything was done as it should have been. There is pretty much an automatic procedure; as soon as a car goes off, that car becomes a danger to other cars because if another car going off hits it, the effects are unpredictable.”

However, drivers will want to know that answers are found to avoid a repeat of even a freak accident.

European Open returns Golf The European Open will

return next year after a six-year absence from the European Tour schedule. The tournament will be staged at the Hartl Resort in Bad Griesbach, Germany, from September 24 to 27 and will carry a prize fund of €2 million (about £1.5 million). The tournament, first held in 1978, was most recently staged at the London Golf Club in 2009. It will be the second European Tour event staged in Germany in 2015, along with the BMW International Open.

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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Football Sport

Clyne reduces mother to tears after surprise England call-up

NICK POTTS / PA

Oliver Kay Chief Football Correspondent

Greg Dyke, the FA chairman, is open to the possibility of appointing a third overseas coach as England manager in succession to Roy Hodgson, provided that the candidate has a “deep understanding” of the English game.

Hodgson is expected to see out his contract, which runs until the conclusion of the Euro 2016 finals, but Dyke’s comments yesterday hint at a change of approach from the FA. At the opening of St George’s Park, the new national football centre, in 2012, one of the FA’s stated long-term goals was to put an end to the previous culture of relying on foreign coaches for the national team after the tenures of Sven-Göran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.

Dyke’s preference would be for Hodgson’s successor to be English — Gareth Southgate, the under-21 team coach, and Gary Neville, one of Hodgson’s assistants, are highly regarded within the FA — but the chairman’s comments yesterday suggest that he

Southampton right back completes rapid rise Matt Hughes Deputy Football Correspondent

Nathaniel Clyne is in line to make his England debut in the European Championship qualifier against San Marino on Thursday. The Southampton right back will only train with his new international team-mates for the first time today, but barring any calamities at St George’s Park he will start against the minnows at Wembley.

Roy Hodgson’s squad has been afflicted by injuries in defence — with five potential right backs in Glen Johnson, Kyle Walker, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and John Stones all ruled out — leaving Clyne as the main beneficiary. Calum Chambers, his former Southampton team-mate, was called up on Sunday evening after the withdrawal of Stones, but the Arsenal defender is needed to provide cover at centre back, where Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka are the only specialists in the squad.

Hodgson has chosen to go with a small squad in the hope of bolstering

Exclusive to members

the game webchat Can the club v country debate be resolved? Gabriele Marcotti takes your questions from 1pm thetimes.co.uk/football

the options available to Gareth Southgate, whose under-21 side are preparing for a European Championship qualifying play-off against Croatia, but felt that he had no alternative but to call up Chambers after losing Stones. Southgate’s frustration at losing one of the outstanding defenders in the Barclays Premier League will be compounded by the probability that Chambers is likely to spend the vast majority of England’s matches against San Marino and Estonia sitting on the bench.

Clyne has no such concerns however, and is preparing to complete a meteoric rise from outside the squad to the starting line-up in a matter of days.

“I need to go there in training and show what I am about,” he said. “If I do that hopefully I will get my chance and start for England. I am buzzing and can’t wait to get started and join in with the lads. They are world-class players.

I’m looking forward to seeing what they’re like in training and hopefully I can match up to that.”

Clyne was so surprised at being called up last week that his mother burst into tears after he told her the unexpected news, but he has already regained his composure. The 23-yearold has made eight appearances for the under-21s and has been in outstanding form for Southampton this season, scoring two goals from right back including a stunning long-range effort in the Capital One Cup third-round win over Arsenal last month.

“The call-up came as a surprise to me,” Clyne said. “I am still up and coming in the game and I still need to improve on my game. Hopefully this will be another step for me, to play for England, and hopefully I will improve.

“I was just delighted to get called up

Dyke happy to explore foreign fields for new coach

Hodgson’s deal with England will expire in two years It’s been emotional: Clyne, who has caught the eye with his club performances, is likely to start in the games for England against San Marino and Estonia

and I decided to phone up everyone I knew. I called my mum first as she has been a big part of my career so far. She was crying on the phone. I am happy and I am proud. I’ll go with England and show that I am capable of wearing the jersey.”

Luke Shaw was in tears last summer after being named in Hodgson’s World Cup squad, but the Manchester United defender has no complaints about dropping down into the under-21s. The 19-year-old insisted that he is looking forward to facing Croatia in the playoffs, which begin at Molineux on Friday, and raised the prospect of going to the finals in the Czech Republic next summer.

“I’m dropping down there because I haven’t been playing so it’s for me to

help out the under-21s,” Shaw said. “It’s always been a privilege to play for my country, no matter what level it is, and I will do it and do my best.

“I always want to help out my country and I know there are few other lads who can also drop down as well next summer. Who knows yet? I’m away with them for the next couple of weeks and can get to talk about it properly then if we qualify.

“Tournament experience is vital for any young player and something that needs to be built up before you get chucked into the senior team. I went away for the World Cup and it was an amazing experience. This summer coming up could be another time when I could get more experience at tournament level.”

will recommend a less dogmatic view when the time comes.

“They wouldn’t necessarily have to be English, but they would certainly have to understand English football,” Dyke said at an event in Lowestoft to promote the FA’s investment in grassroots football. “You wouldn’t rule out someone who is a Scot or Welsh or French, but they would have to understand English football.”

As such, potential candidates would include Roberto Martínez, Everton’s Spanish manager, Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool’s Northern Irish manager, and even Arsène Wenger. The Arsenal manager has rejected the FA’s advances before, and will be 66 in 2016, albeit still within the duration of the three-year contract he signed at Arsenal in May.

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Sport Football

Henderson next in line after proving the real deal

James McMath

Liverpool have opened talks with Jordan Henderson, the midfielder, over extending his contract beyond the end of next season.

Henderson has 20 months remaining on the deal he signed when he moved to Anfield from Sunderland, his home-town club, in 2011, but Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager, is keen to reward the 24-year-old for his progress over the past two years.

After spending £117 million on new players in the summer — a sum exceeded only by Manchester United — Rodgers regards tying down his existing talent as his next priority.

Daniel Sturridge, the striker, signed a new five-year contract last week and Rodgers has said that preliminary talks had taken place with Raheem Sterling’s representatives over the possibility of extending the England forward’s deal.

Henderson joined Liverpool, then managed by Kenny Dalglish, for £16 million during the same summer transfer window as Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing, both of whom have subsequently left the club after failing to make an impression.

Henderson, too, struggled during his first year on Merseyside but the arrival of Rodgers in 2012 has coincided with his emergence as an integral part of the team. He has since been named as the club’s vice-captain, to Steven Gerrard, Henderson has flourished under Rodgers’s tutelage

while establishing himself as a regular choice for Roy Hodgson, the England manager.

Whether Liverpool’s willingness to offer improved contracts extends to Glen Johnson, however, remains to be seen. The full back held talks with his employers in May but discussions reached an impasse when the 30-yearold pushed for a longer deal than the extra year being offered. Negotiations have not recommenced.

Johnson says that he is relaxed about the situation but confirmed that he would like to remain at Anfield. “Of course, yeah,” he said. “But I worry about this week, this week and then next week, next week. That is how I live my life. [It has gone] very quiet. I am just concentrating week by week and not thinking about it.”

The defender has recovered from a thigh injury to give Rodgers another option in defence, something that may be welcome given that Liverpool have kept only one clean sheet so far this season. He made his first appearance since August when he came on as a second-half substitute during Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at Anfield on Saturday.

“No player wants to be injured,” Johnson said. “I feel good and it’s about match fitness now. I just need some training sessions.

“It is frustrating to watch [from the bench] because you want to be out there on the line with the lads, and you want to be there even more when it is not going too well. The most important thing for me was getting fit and hoping the lads could pull us on while I was not able to help. It is difficult when you have bad periods, but you’ll get good periods — that is football.”

Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

Row comes to a head over Courtois Goalkeeper may return to action with Belgium sooner than Chelsea want ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Matt Hughes, Alyson Rudd

Chelsea found themselves on a collision course with another international federation last night after Marc Wilmots, the Belgium coach, suggested that Thibaut Courtois could return to action immediately in Friday’s European Championship qualifier against Andorra. The Chelsea goalkeeper was released from hospital yesterday after suffering mild concussion during the Barclays Premier League win over Arsenal on Sunday and is due to join up with the Belgium squad tomorrow.

In a statement released yesterday afternoon, Chelsea cleared Courtois to report for international duty but said they would prefer him to sit out Friday’s game, before returning in Belgium’s second qualifier against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday. Chelsea’s medical staff have raised concerns that — in addition to the danger of Courtois receiving another blow to the head — concussion victims have been known to suffer subsequent muscular injuries and believe that he would benefit from a longer period of rest.

Chelsea accept they are powerless to prevent Courtois from playing against Andorra, and will not attempt to do so, but have informed the player of their concerns. The Courtois case is the second club-v-country clash involving Chelsea this week, with José Mourinho already having condemned Spain’s decision to call up Diego Costa despite his ongoing hamstring problems.

Chelsea reviewed their handling of Courtois’ injury yesterday and are convinced they acted correctly, despite being criticised by Headway, the braininjury charity. The 22-year-old appeared alert on the pitch and was able to provide complete answers to the questions posed by Chelsea’s first-team doctor, Eva Carneiro.

Courtois thanked his well-wishers yesterday and pledged to return to action soon. “I’m already feeling better.

Now I’m resting to be recovered and back on the pitch soon,” he tweeted.

He will have a fitness test when he joins up with the Belgium squad to determine his availability to face Andorra.

Despite Chelsea’s confidence, the manner in which they handled Courtois’ head injury has exposed potential flaws in rules governing concussion.

Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the PFA, is disappointed that the goalkeeper was not taken for an immediate assessment and said players must be substituted if concussion is suspected.

Headway criticised Chelsea for not taking “a safety-first approach”.

Courtois collided with Alexis Sánchez at Stamford Bridge and looked to have briefly lost consciousness, but he played on for 14 minutes before being substituted with liquid coming from his ear. Chelsea said that he was given the all-clear after extensive tests.

Q&A Who decided the new rules were needed?

The Premier League’s Medical Working Group spent last season investigating how clubs treated head injuries. The group was led by Mike Foster, the Premier League’s director of football, Dr Gary O’Driscoll, chairman of the Premier League Doctors’ Group and Arsenal’s club doctor, and Dr Ian Beasley, the FA’s head of sports medicine.

Delayed reaction: Courtois played on for 14 minutes after being treated for a head injury suffered in a clash with Sánchez

How other sports deal with concussion Rugby union Five-minute assessment introduced in 2012. Barry O’Driscoll resigned as medical adviser to the International Rugby Board in protest. He says that has been raised to ten minutes for “potential concussions” but warns: “Every single impact on a rugby field is a potential concussion.”

American football Baseline testing and a neurologist at pitch-side to conduct assessments.

This year, the NFL removed its $675 million (about £422.5 million) cap on damages for thousands of concussion-related claims.

Basketball Baseline testing and education prior to each season. Players suspected of being concussed are assessed by medical staff in a quiet environment.

If found to have concussion, they are not allowed to play again that day.

Words by Rick Broadbent

Headway believes the response to Courtois’ injury undermined rules introduced at the start of the season that state clubs should substitute any player who has sustained concussion.

“This incident calls into question whether these rules are working effec-

tively,” Peter McCabe, the charity’s chief executive, said. “It is hard to understand how a concussion was not suspected after the sickening clash.”

Taylor said that concussion was an issue of serious concern to the PFA and that the players’ union is about to

What was the key recommendation?

It was deemed paramount that the decision on whether a player who has suffered concussion can return to action should be made by a doctor, not a manager. Any player suffering a head injury must leave the pitch, but Thibaut Courtois did not initially leave the pitch on Sunday. Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the PFA, argues that the rules have to be applied regardless of the injured party’s playing position.

doctor” who can recognise the signs of concussion.

What if the club’s doctor is not a specialist in diagnosing concussion?

It is now mandatory for all Premier League clubs to provide a “tunnel

Did the working group learn from other sports?

Yes, the group took advice from the Rugby Football Union and the British Horseracing Authority.

Are the new rules linked to the death of Jeff Astle?

Not directly, although the Astle family’s fight for justice forms part of the backdrop of concern into players’ health. The former West Bromwich Albion striker died in 2002 as a result of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a

conduct fresh research to establish evidence of a causal link to neurological problems. “I prefer for there not to be any ambiguity at all,” he said.

Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, confirmed that Courtois had remained on the pitch on the advice of Dr Paco Biosca, the club’s medical director.

The Premier League said last night it believed its new protocols had been followed and that Courtois was appropriately examined by qualified medical staff.

That Courtois was cleared to play on but then had to go to hospital underlines why Headway believes that a relaxed approach should not have been taken in the first place, regardless of how quickly Courtois appeared to recover from the collision.

“Bleeding from one or both ears is one of the symptoms to look out for that requires an immediate visit or return to hospital following a head injury,” McCabe said. disease linked to repeated head injuries. The FA has promised to fund research into the potential damage caused by heading the ball.

Is this a cosmetic exercise so clubs appear to show more concern?

The medical group takes the issue very seriously. O’Driscoll said on launching the new regulations that he wants all staff to be made aware of how serious a head injury can become if it is not treated in the same manner as, say, damaged knee ligaments. Annual baseline testing will be offered to all Premier League players.

Words by Alyson Rudd

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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Can anyone stop Chelsea from becoming the new Invincibles?

Rory Smith examines the potential obstacles José Mourinho’s men must overcome to go the season unbeaten

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osé Mourinho’s eyes lit up with amusement. Forty-eight hours before his side’s 2-0 victory over Arsenal, with the season just six games old, the Chelsea manager had been asked if his team could emulate the feat of Arsène Wenger’s class of 2003-04, and win the Barclays Premier League title without losing a game. “Impossible,” he shot back. “How many times has this happened? Once?”

From the back of the room, he was reminded of the feat of Preston North End’s 1888-89 side. “Twice. Arsenal was the second, and I think the last.”

As Chelsea’s grip on the championship tightens, though, there are plenty who would disagree with him. There are plenty who would suggest that, even at this early stage, Chelsea have by some distance the best defence in the league, arguably the finest striker and have already survived their most difficult away game of the season, against Manchester City, without defeat. There is precious little evidence to suggest they cannot match Arsenal’s feat. So, what could stand in their way?

1 time Chelsea were unbeaten at this stage of the season under Mourinho in 2004-05 and 2005-06, too, and were in the process of building unassailable leads at the top of the table. It would have been easy to suggest that those sides also looked unbeatable, but neither even made it to the turn of the year without losing a game: in 2004, they lost away to City and a year later away to Manchester United.

It is easy, where Mourinho is concerned, to assume that everything he says is in some way disingenuous, designed to light a fire under his players or to intimidate opponents, but when he suggested that seeing a side end a season unbeaten was a “once in a lifetime” event, he was being serious.

2 diego costa’s hamstrings Mourinho is simmering with discontent about his star striker’s

TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER, GRAHAM HUGHES

Matt Hughes Deputy Football Correspondent

Jack Wilshere has conceded that Arsenal need to show more ruthlessness in the final third of the pitch if they are to beat the top teams in the Barclays Premier League on a regular basis.

The midfielder claimed that his side’s performances against their main rivals have been better this season than last, but admitted that improvement is still needed after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat away to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The match featured a touchline spat between Arsène Wenger and José Mourinho, and the Arsenal manager learnt yesterday that he will face no action for shoving his Chelsea counterpart, but Wilshere preferred to highlight the game-changing contributions of Eden Hazard, Cesc Fàbregas and Diego Costa as examples of the clinical finishing to which Arsenal must aspire.

Hazard, the Belgium midfielder, gave Chelsea the lead from the spot after his brilliant individual run had won a penalty, while the Spain team-mates combined to seal the three points with a swiftly executed counterattack.

“Last year, in the big games, the game was almost over after 20 minutes,” Wilshere said. “We were 1-0 down, or two down and when you go behind at places like Chelsea it’s really tough.

This year we were really focused, we

Different shades of blue Chelsea’s Barclays Premier League campaign, which has featured six wins and a draw away to Manchester City, has been controlled and free of anxiety. They have gained a winning lead in the first half-hour in four of their six victories, and in the other two they moved ahead for the last time around the hour mark.

In contrast, City, seemingly their main rivals for the title, have not taken any winning leads in the first 30 minutes, and have twice had to wait until the final quarter to secure victory. Furthermore, while Chelsea have never trailed in the second half, City have required equalisers in the final ten minutes to snatch draws against Arsenal and Chelsea, and have also lost to Stoke City.

This season in Premier League

Chelsea

Wins: took lead for last time: Burnley (a): 21st min (won 3-1) Leicester (h): 63rd min (won 2-0) Everton (a): 1st min (won 6-3) Swansea (h): 56th min (won 4-2) Aston Villa (h): 7th min (won 3-0) Arsenal (h): 27th min (won 2-0) Draw Man City (a): never trailed (drew 1-1)

Man City

Wins: took lead for last time: Newcastle (a): 38th min (won 2-0) Liverpool (h): 41st min (won 3-1) Hull City (a): 68th min (won 4-2) Aston Villa (a): 82nd min (won 2-0) Draws: trailing until: Arsenal (a): 83rd min (drew 2-2) Chelsea (h): 85th min (drew 1-1) Defeat: level until: Stoke City (h): 58th min (lost 1-0) Words by Bill Edgar

international call-up and it is easy to see why: he has, after all, admitted that his team are designed to play with the Brazilian-born Spain forward and that they lose something when he is absent.

The danger is that his troublesome hamstrings give way and Chelsea must cope without him for an extended period of time. Trips to Old Trafford and Anfield await in short order after

All wrapped up: Costa and Jon Obi Mikel celebrate after the Spain player’s goal at Stamford Bridge against Arsenal underlined again Chelsea’s title credentials

the international break; Mourinho will have to hope that Costa returns in one piece.

There is one more concern: Costa tends to score heavily early on in the season and ease off as the campaign draws on. Chelsea will need him to break that pattern, in the absence of a high-calibre alternative.

3 sunderland, aston villa, crystal palace As impressive as Chelsea were against Arsenal — and as effectively as they shut down City at the Etihad — those games were not really their problem last season. Their record against their peers was almost flawless: it was when faced with trips to some of the lesser lights that Mourinho’s team tensed up.

They seem an entirely different beast this season, with far more goal threat and a similarly miserly defence, but that does not mean they are not capable of slipping up.

4 the champions league Mourinho’s presence is essentially a

guarantee of a place in the Champions League semi-finals, and he will be keen to go one better than last season and make the final in Berlin. The problem is that he does not tend to enjoy rotating his squad, preferring occasional changes on the fringes, which can lead to tiredness among his players as the season wears on. With a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League, that may not cost them the title, but it could prevent them going unbeaten.

5 luck As glorious as the Invincibles’ achievement was, they did end the season drawing five of their last nine games. Even for the very greatest sides, the margins are extraordinarily fine. All it would have taken to undo all of Arsenal’s good work in 2004 was one error, one wonderful shot from a Birmingham City or Portsmouth or Newcastle United player. It is not to impugn Chelsea’s undoubted quality to suggest that they, too, are not immune to football’s taste for high drama and low fortune.

Terry urges team to stay grounded on their travels Matt Hughes

John Terry warned his Chelsea teammates last night not to get carried away by their strong start to the season as they departed for international duty with a five-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

The captain is one of only three firstteam players, along with Didier Drogba and Mark Schwarzer, who will be present at the club’s training ground over the next ten days and he remains fully focused on leading Chelsea to their first league title in five years.

Chelsea’s three Premier League titles, in 2005, 2006 and 2010, all followed strong starts to the season in which they led from the front, a feat they are intending to repeat this time around. José Mourinho has made no secret of his intention to take control of the title race from the outset, as shown by him resting several key players during Champions League matches to focus on the domestic competition.

The players have responded to their manager’s demands, and lead Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal by five, eight and nine

Wilshere says Arsenal must give big guns both barrels

Terry says Chelsea’s five-point lead makes them a target for other sides

points respectively, leading Terry to warn of the dangers of complacency.

“Clearly it's not over,” Terry said. “It's nice to have the lead, but when you're at the top, everyone wants to shoot you down.

“Teams are out to get us because we are at the top and playing well. We need to come back [from the international break] and maintain our form.

“When you're at the top and have a five-point cushion, you’re hoping that a couple of them slip up again. All we can do is keep winning and wait for those teams to slip up.”

Wilshere feels his side were wasteful against Chelsea

kept it tight, but you can’t really plan for a bit of a magic from Hazard. We didn’t really see Fàbregas or Costa all game then, all of a sudden, a 50-yard ball from Cesc put it on Costa’s foot. It was a great finish, and the game is over.

“At this level when you’re playing against a top-class team, when you’re on top you have to really make it count.

We created a few half-chances against Chelsea, but in this league if you don’t [take them] then you’re going to get punished.”

Wilshere’s frustration is offset by satisfaction with his own form, saying he believes he is back to his best as a result of staying largely injury-free since the start of the season.

“I’m always looking to improve, but I feel good,” Wilshere said. “I feel like I’m fully fit now and I think you’re seeing the best of me. I said at the start of the season that it was going to take some time to get back to my best.

“Ever since my first injury, it’s always taken a run of games — probably between five and ten games — to get back to my best form.”

Arsenal’s spirits should be boosted this week by the return to training of Theo Walcott for the first time since sustaining cruciate knee ligament damage in January. The England winger is hoping to put himself in contention for a place in the squad to face Hull City a week on Saturday.

Stan Kroenke has purchased 43 more shares in Arsenal at a combined cost of £641,500, taking his holding in the north London club to a shade under 67 per cent. The American bought 36 shares at £15,000 and the remainder at £500 less. Fans hold around 3 per cent of the club’s shareholding and the rest is owned by Alisher Usmanov, the Russian billionaire.

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Support fades fast for Dyke’s push towards ‘League Three’ Oliver Kay

Greg Dyke’s controversial “League Three” proposal is dead in the water as he prepares to put grassroots football at the heart of stage two of his commission for the future of the English game.

Dyke will push for a redistribution of FA wealth, as well as looking for more support from the Premier League and the government, as he spells out the importance of “3G” synthetic pitches when his commission reveals its second set of recommendations this month. A five-year plan will also include recommendations for significant moves to increase the quality and quantity of qualified coaches at junior level.

Commission members have already accepted, though, that their radical “League Three” proposal, which was the most eyecatching of their plans for the professional game in May, is a nonstarter.

Dyke still hoped to win support for the proposal — whereby Premier League clubs would be permitted to register B teams in a new “League Three”, allowing them to be promoted as high as League One — after facing resistance from the Football League clubs at their annual meeting in June, but the level of opposition has increased. Sources have said that, while certain Premier League clubs had been keen for Dyke to push the idea, even that support has now evaporated.

There remains support from Premier League clubs — most notably Chelsea, Dyke’s B-team idea appears to be dead in the water

Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur — for the idea of “strategic loan partnerships”, whereby bigger clubs could establish formal alliances with lower-division clubs over the loaning of players and staff in a move that they and Dyke believe would create more continuity for youngsters as they look to gain first-team experience before appearing at elite level.

Some Football League clubs are open to that idea, which would formalise the type of arrangement that Tottenham already have with Swindon Town, but among many there is a concern that this proposal would signify the introduction of “feeder clubs by stealth”.

Dyke said in May that he believed financial incentives could persuade Football League clubs to make compromises, but the “League Three” idea has been all but officially abandoned.

There has been welcome progress, however, towards the delivery of Dyke’s new recommendations on tightening work-permit criteria for overseas players. The Times revealed last month that, under the new proposals, players arriving from outside the European Union would have to have played in 75 per cent of their country’s competitive international matches over the previous two years if they play for a nation positioned between 50th and 75th in Fifa’s rankings.

Dyke estimates that such a regulation, which would require Home Office approval, would reduce the number of players from outside the EU by 50 per cent and, in doing so, create more opportunities for home-grown youngsters as opposed to “mediocre” imports.

England open to foreign coach, page 65

Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

Keane eager to put the boot in with blow-by-blow page-turner James Ducker puts his shinpads on as he gets stuck into the former Manchester United captain’s latest stormy autobiography, The Second Half

A

s one of the most outspoken and controversial sportsmen of his generation, Roy Keane’s latest autobiography was never likely to be a dull read.

Here The Times takes a look at some of the most explosive extracts from the former Manchester United captain’s new book, The Second Half, which is published this week.

On the row with Sir Alex Ferguson that sealed his fate Keane had criticised his team-mates in an interview with MUTV, the club’s official television station in the wake of a 4-1 defeat by Middlesbrough in 2005.

Carlos Queiroz, Ferguson’s assistant, reacted by accused Keane of a lack of loyalty, which prompted a furious tirade from the Irishman.

“He was just on my right shoulder; how I didn’t f******’ hit him again — I was thinking, ‘The villa in Portugal, not treating me well in training — and he just used the word “loyalty” to me,” Keane wrote.

“I said, ‘Dont you f****** talk to me about loyalty, Carlos. You left this club after 12 months a few years ago for the Real Madrid job. Don’t you dare question my loyalty. I had opportunities to go to Juventus and Bayern Munich.

And while we’re at it we spoke about training downstairs. And were just on about mixing things up in training a bit.”

It had been billed as one of the publishing events of the year, but the launch of Roy Keane’s latest autobiography descended into a version of Supermarket Sweep yesterday when meticulous plans to release the book were undermined by an eager employee at a Tesco store in Burnage, Manchester.

Instead of a grand revelation at 10am on Thursday, when Weidenfeld & Nicolson, the publisher, was due to deliver copies to newspaper offices, Tesco shoppers were offered a peek at the former Manchester United captain’s latest offering after it was put on sale.

The publisher’s sales department was still investigating last night and would not comment, but the understanding is that only one shop was involved and that human error was to blame. It is usual in these cases for packaging to indicate the date when books can be sold.

Keane is still scheduled to speak about his book, The Second Half, cowritten with Roddy Doyle, the novelist, at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin in two days’ time. Whether he sees the funny side is unknown, although, all things considered, probably not.

Ferguson then stepped in to quell the row, saying: “That’s enough, I’ve had enough of all this stuff” only for Keane to respond by saying: “You as well gaffer. We need f****** more from you.

We need a bit more, gaffer. We’re slipping behind other teams.”

On regretting apologising to Ferguson “I went to see the manager and Carlos and I apologised,” Keane wrote. “But now I kind of wish I hadn’t. I apologised but afterwards I was thinking ‘I’m not sure why I f****** apologised’. I just wanted to do the right thing.

“I was apologising for what had happened — that it had happened. But I wasn’t apologising for my behaviour or

stance. There’s a difference. I had nothing to apologise for.”

On abusing his United company car There were a few months between Keane being told he was finished at United and the player formally leaving the club, during which time he was determined to run the club car into the ground.

“When the paperwork had finally been sorted and I’d given back the car – this was three months after the last meeting. So I got an extra three months out of it: I drove some f****** miles in that car — every little victory is vital.”

On his infamously ‘unbroadcastable’ MUTV interview

Sugar-coating rare in outspoken account of little Oliver Kay Commentary chief football correspondent

O

ne of the most revealing, aling, if understated, passages in Roy Keane’s autobiography is the one about having to give back his company car after his acrimonious departure from Manchester United.

In The Second Half, Keane says that he could not simply return the car, an Audi A8, because he was still livid about the circumstances leading up to the termination of his contract. So he kept it for another three months and drove it as often

as he could. “I drove some f*****g miles in that car,” he writes. “Every little victory is vital.”

Keane has a better sense of humour than some imagine — self-parody has also been known to feature, albeit rarely — but this sounds like something from a spoof.

The multi-millionaire so driven by thoughts of revenge that he went back and forth between Cheshire and Glasgow more often during his brief spell with Celtic, in the hope of hastening the depreciation of his company car? Did he even take the long route around the M60 at times?

Every little victory matters, after all.

The reason Keane’s new book has been so widely anticipated and so eagerly devoured is because, even if the story of his departure from United has been well told, nuggets like this give us a deeper insight into

the mind of one of the most complex, fascinating and, at times, heroic characters of English football.

He also appears to have lunatic tendencies. In the book, Keane revisits his gruesome — and, he said in his 2002 autobiography, deliberate — challenge on Alf-Inge Haaland during a Manchester derby. This time Keane denies that he hurt Haaland deliberately, suggesting that he was a victim of ghostwriter’s licence first time around, but he shows no contrition whatsoever.

“There are things I regret in my life and he [Haaland] isn’t one of them,” he says.

Keane’s drive to win was demonstrated by his desire to use his company vehicle

In another section, about his time in charge of Sunderland, Keane recalls how he felt when Clive Clarke, the former Leicester City player, had a heart attack on the pitch. “I had the evil thought ‘I’m glad he had it tonight’ because it would deflect from our woeful wo performance,” Keane said. per Even in the dog-eat-dog world of elite sport, it is not normal to have these emotions, let alone to share them. Keane said that it was “evil” to have those thoughts about Clarke — and, in fairness, he was talking about the timing rather than the heart attack itself — but he felt that he was being true to himself.

Is it about money? He does, after all, admit to looking at the Glazer

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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Football Sport GARY M. PRIOR/GETTY IMAGES

Blatter faced with fresh call for his resignation Sepp Blatter has been urged to resign as Fifa president “for the good of the game” by a former member of the organisation’s independent governance committee (Oliver Kay writes).

Michael Hershman, a co-founder of Transparency International, hoped to be part of Fifa’s reform process after joining its governance committee in 2011, but he has expressed serious about the governing body’s capacity for reform as long as Blatter is in situ. Hershman has also described some members of the Fifa executive committee as “dinosaurs”.

Blatter has been Fifa president since 1998 and is expected to win a fifth term at next year’s election, but Hershman, speaking at the International Centre for Sport Security’s conference in London, said: “I think Blatter should resign for the good of the sport and the good of the organisation. He was in a leadership position when all of these scandals happened. He hasn’t taken personal responsibility. I, at this point, don’t believe Fifa will ever have enough credibility unless there is a change in leadership.”

Fighting talk: Keane’s book expands on controversies during his playing career including his admission that he intended to injure Haaland, left, his row with Ferguson and Queiroz, above, and fights with Schmeichel, right, and Vieira

How De Gea nearly quit

Keane believes the mass “overreaction” to the interview that ultimately cost him his Old Trafford career was part of a calculated move to oust him.

“The next day I was told the interview was being pulled,” he wrote. “They couldn’t believe what I had said. I thought everyone was overreacting. I am pretty sure someone at United leaked it.

“I had insulted the team. I had been disloyal. They were building a picture. I was the loose cannon slagging everyone off.

“Even now people still say: ‘The video had to be destroyed’. Like it was a nuclear weapon or something. Did someone drive out to the countryside and bury it in the f****** ground? Or

victories takeover at Old Trafford through the context of the money he gained from the sale of his shares in the club. Keane, though, has never been driven by that. He would not equate a controversial statement to book sales. If he calls Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill, the former United chief executive, “p***ks” over the handling of his departure, it is because that is how he felt. For better or worse, he is not one for sugar-coating.

It is just a shame that the bitterness towards Ferguson is so hard to escape, but then again it filled almost every page of the Keane chapter in the former manager’s own autobiography. Some will call Keane’s book a settling of scores — every small victory matters — but those who know him say that it is “just Roy”.

did a bomb disposal unit come and explode it? It had to be destroyed.”

On Ferguson’s Rock of Gibraltar row Keane claims he had tried to warn Ferguson to back down in the infamous Rock of Gibraltar row, when the Scot became embroiled in a bitter legal wrangle with John Magnier and JP McManus, the horse racing tycoons, over the stud rights to the champion racehorse.

Although Magnier and McManus ultimately settled out of court with Ferguson, the dispute proved publicly humiliating for the former manager and United with the Irish businessmen buying a significant shareholding in the club and demanding they answer 99 probing questions over its running before selling their stake to the Glazer family, the club’s present owners.

“Somebody I met in Ireland had told me to tell him [Ferguson]: ‘You are not going to win this,’” Keane wrote. “I mentioned it to him. And I told him that I didn’t think it was good for the club, the manager in a legal dispute with shareholders.

“I felt I was entitled to say that. He was just a mascot for them. Walking around with this Rock of Gibraltar — ‘Look at me, how big I am,’ — and he didn’t even own the bloody thing.”

Some fans hold Ferguson responsible for opening the door to the Glazers, who have sucked more than £500 million out of the club to service debt and interest payments, but Keane risked the wrath of supporters by claiming he personally profited from the takeover.

“From the players’ point of view, it didn’t bother us too much,” he wrote. “I had a few shares in the club as part of my contract. So the Glazers coming in was worth a few bob to me.”

On giving Peter Schmeichel a black eye United were on a pre-season tour of Asia in 1998 when Keane, recently returned from a cruciate knee ligament injury, ended up brawling with Peter Schmeichel, the club’s former goalkeeper, after one too many drinks.

“I think we were in Hong Kong,” Keane wrote. “There was drink involved. The manager had a go at us as we were getting on the bus, and people were going on about a fight in the hotel the night before. It started coming back to me — the fight between me and Peter. In the meantime, Nicky Butt had been filling me in on what had happened the night before. Butty had refereed the fight. Anyway, Peter had grabbed me, I’d head-butted him — we’d been fighting for ages.

“At the press conference, Peter took his sunglasses off. He had a black eye.

The questions came at him ‘Peter, what happened to your eye?’” “[Schmeichel] said, “I just got an elbow last night, in training”. And that was the end of it.”

On Ronaldo sending John O’Shea into a spin

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From a shaky start to one of the world’s best goalkeepers — the rise of David De Gea

by James Ducker thetimes.co.uk/football

Keane joked that Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer to United was effectively sealed by John O’Shea “playing like a f******” clown” against the Sporting Lisbon teenager.

Ronaldo joined United from Sporting Lisbon for £12.24 million in August 2003 only days after bamboozling O’Shea in a friendly in Lisbon to the point where the defender had to treated by the club doctor for dizziness.

“I saw how good Ronaldo was that day,” Keane wrote. “He was up against John O’Shea. Sheasy ended up seeing the doctor at half time because he was actually having dizzy spells. The club concluded negotiations after the game and we always joked with Sheasy he had actually sealed the deal by playing like a f****** clown.”

On ‘that’ tackle on Alfe-Inge Haaland Keane was banned for five matches and fined £150,000 by the FA after claiming in his 2002 autobiography that he had set out to hurt Alf-Inge Haaland with a now infamous tackle after the former Manchester City midfielder had wrongly accused Keane of play-acting when he suffered a cruciate ligament injury during a challenge with the then Leeds United player in 1997.

Yet despite the punishment, the Irishman said he had no remorse over the incident. “There are things I regret in my life and he’s not one of them,” he wrote.

On his tunnel bust-up with Patrick Vieira Keane believes he would have been “killed” in a fight with Patrick Vieira had their tunnel bust-up at Highbury in 2005 descended into blows. “If it had come to a fight, Patrick could probably have killed me,” he wrote.

David De Gea has admitted that he considered quitting Manchester United during his early struggles at the club. The goalkeeper — who joined United from Atletico Madrid for £18.3 million in June 2011 — endured a miserable first season at Old Trafford and said he had considered returning to Spain.

De Gea, who has established himself as one of the world’s best goalkeepers, said: “It was difficult when you get a lot of criticism like I did. But I kept strong and I always tried to remain positive.

Those early days were difficult for me and my family. But when you play for a club like United it is normal when you don’t play well.”

Redknapp deal on hold Queens Park Rangers have shelved their decision to offer Harry Redknapp a two-year contract extension after Tony Fernandes, the chairman, questioned whether dismissing the manager is the answer to turning around their fortunes.

Fernandes came under fire after the 2-0 defeat away to West Ham United on Sunday left his team bottom of the Barclays Premier League with just one win.

The Malaysian businessman backtracked after initially casting doubt on Redknapp’s future. “Is sacking the answer?” he tweeted.

“When we [let] Mark Hughes go [in 2012], we still went down.”

Tan pans Mackay again Vincent Tan, the owner of Cardiff City, has revisited his feud with Malky Mackay after officially announcing Russell Slade as the Sky Bet Championship side’s new manager. Tan asked Cardiff fans to give Slade, the replacement for Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, “a chance to prove his long-term value”.

Then, in a barb at Mackay, who was dismissed as manager last December, Tan said: “After all, Cardiff gave a chance to a mediocre manager from Watford and he took the club to the Premier League. I did, however, give him a lot of money to spend for that. Too much money.”

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Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

Sport Cricket

Fallen star’s latest version of truth tries to deadhead Flower again Mike Atherton says the batsman has burnt his bridges with England despite the olive branch held out to Alastair Cook

T

he truth. One man’s battle against the English cricketing establishment and the bullying clique and destructive management that ran and ruined the England team. That is the prism through which Kevin Pietersen and David Walsh, his ghostwriter, would like us to see the world this week. But interpretations of truth are altogether more complex, no matter the right of anyone to put his side of the story if he feels wronged.

Two “truths” — absolute and inescapable — should be remembered, as attempts are made to chart the tricky waters of claim and counter-claim in Pietersen’s brilliantly written autobiography. First, Pietersen was one of the finest batsmen to have pulled on an England shirt in the modern game.

Instinctive and innovative, he was a match-winner who entertained the crowds and was feared by the opposition as all too few England batsmen have been in recent times. A great player.

Second, Pietersen was part of an England team who, for a brief period around 2010 to 2012, were among the most successful ever produced by this country, winning the World Twenty20, the Ashes home and away and becoming the No 1-ranked Test team in the world. That ruthless, disciplined, hugely successful team was coached and managed by Andy Flower, Moriarty to Pietersen’s Sherlock Holmes in this narrative, and led by Andrew Strauss, of whose success as captain Pietersen openly admits he was jealous.

The two truths are linked to some degree. Great players make great teams and the Pietersen effect was a chilling one for opposition bowlers that helped Flower and Strauss produce a team who dominated for a short period of time. But only to some degree: to denigrate utterly one of the finest, if not the finest, professional coach England have ever had, to dismiss Flower as a control freak and irrelevant to England’s success is not a truth, but a warped view of events seen through the rear-view mirror.

Having been lucky enough to have

watched Pietersen’s international career in its entirety, from its brilliant beginnings in southern Africa in 2004, to its sad ending in Sydney ten years later, there have been many press conferences and interviews in which Pietersen’s view of the world, and his place in it, have changed. Flower gets full bore in the book and the teams who Strauss and Alastair Cook have led are portrayed as completely dysfunctional throughout, even during winning times, but it was not always so.

Take this quote from Pietersen, for example, in September 2011 about Flower: “As a coach he’s amazing because he listens so much and makes everyone feel welcome in the dressing room. Everyone has an opinion. I think that is incredible. I really think he’s a fantastic coach.” In the book, Flower is nailed thoroughly, portrayed as a useless coach and a miserable man. A “mood hoover”, a “micromanager” who sweats over the small stuff and, at one point, “f***ing horrendous”.

Just before his 100th Test in Brisbane, Pietersen gave a press conference in which he outlined just how good the atmosphere was within the team. He said: “It’s a nicer environment now.

We’ve all grown up and actually grown a lot tighter. If you look at the environment now, it’s absolutely fantastic and I’m not lying and being real straight.

We’re all having so much fun and that front page [of the Brisbane Courier-Mail newspaper] was so funny because ten

Pointed remarks: Pietersen’s view of Flower, right, is almost a character assassination, but it contrasts sharply with several

hours before that we’d all had an amazing dinner. We all had such a great time together.” And yet, the book portrays the 2013-14 Ashes tour as a miserable place to be from the start. “The dressing room was sick all along,” he writes of the teams led by Cook and Strauss.

Which is not to say that Pietersen’s view of the world should be dismissed.

Far from it. Merely not swallowed whole, although it should be enjoyed, written as it is with great flair and imagination by Walsh.

SHAUN BOTTERILL / GETTY IMAGES

Anderson, left, and Broad were at the forefront of an unhealthy clique that effectively ruled the England team, according to a claim in Pietersen’s book

In many ways, this is a tale that is as old as the hills. Towards the end of the book, Pietersen says of dressing rooms in team sports: “People may think that they are places of milk and honey and soothing music but they are not. I had dinner in India one night not long ago with some great players from a few different countries . . . the stories that were swapped around would make your hair stand on end. I have rugby friends and football friends and the stories are all the same.” Everyone who has ever played cricket for England knows that to be the case.

There are a number of reasons why this particular tale became more rancorous. In no particular order they are: the relentlessness of modern schedules; the Indian Premier League (IPL); Twitter, the dynamics of this particular team, which saw the traditional batsmen versus bowlers clique magnified because the strongest characters were among the bowlers; the modern cult of the coach, which provided an added complication not experienced by players of an earlier generation who would have sorted out problems more directly; and Pietersen’s own complex character.

At the heart of the discord is the IPL, which Pietersen has embraced since its inception and about which he is, not surprisingly, unrepentant. He loves the IPL, the money, the glitz and glamour, the crowds and the friendships formed.

Who wouldn’t? But it created problems, driving a jealous wedge between him and other senior players who did not get to enjoy a slice of the pie. During one Test match, Pietersen took himself off to watch his IPL team on television, which he admits was a crass thing to do.

Pietersen has warm words for the management team of Michael

Vaughan and Duncan Fletcher, who brought him into the England fold.

They encouraged him, nurtured him and valued him in a way that he believed those who followed — the “woodpecker” (forever pecking away) Peter Moores and Flower — never did.

But it is also true to say that neither Vaughan nor Fletcher had to deal with the fallout from the IPL. They might have navigated those waters with greater skill, who knows, but it was a management problem they were spared.

Pietersen is an inveterate tweeter, but it was the parody account, @KPgenius, that hurt him more than anybody realised at the time and in this he must have our sympathy. The clique of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann were sniggering about it behind his back during the summer of 2012, and Pietersen rightly wonders about the difference between this and the text messages about Strauss that he admits to sending to his South African friends.

“The Twitter business and all the behind-my-back sniggering was a clear case of bullying. People couldn’t say the same things face to face but they felt they could do it through the sneakier ways of social media. Hunting in a pack.” At one point in the book, Pietersen recalls breaking down in tears in front of Flower about it. Flower, for his part, has openly acknowledged he should have done more to nip that episode in the bud.

This, and the behaviour in the field of some of the senior bowlers to other, younger members of the team, was out of order. It struck many observers as odd when Broad or Anderson or Swann or Matt Prior would holler after mistakes, misfields or dropped catches.

The strongest members of this team appeared to be the bowlers; the meekest

the times | Tuesday October 7 2014

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Cricket Sport DOMINIC LIPINSKI / PA

‘Flower let the dressing room become home to a clique. Strauss did his best, but it slowly became the territory of the biggest mouths among the bowlers — and a wicketkeeper. If you were outside that clique, you were fair game for mocking, ridicule, bullying’ Kevin Pietersen on a ‘sick’ England dressing room

On being captain: Having the captaincy was a short, sharp lesson about the way things work in the rooms and corridors far away from the crease. I was a cricketer stuck in a world of smalltime politicians and bluff merchants, where nothing ever turned out to be what it looked like.

On Peter Moores: Whereas Duncan [Fletcher] had given us freedom, Moores was tapping on our heads like a woodpecker all day, every day.

On resigning as captain: I told [Giles] Clarke that I no longer wanted to captain England because of the relationship with Peter Moores. I gave it to him straight: this can’t carry on, so let me step down if you want this guy to coach. He’s putting too much pressure on us, he’s killing our spirits. of the comments he made about the England team as recently as last winter

(Cook, Ian Bell) being the batsmen, so opening up farther that age-old batsman-bowler feud.

This was 2012, an annus horribilis for Pietersen, including “textgate”, cyberbullying, retirement from one-day cricket, being dropped in the middle of the South Africa Test series, left out of the World Twenty20 and having a central contract withheld pending good behaviour and “reintegration”. At that point, the story had seemed to reach its conclusion — and many within the ECB wished there had been no postscript (which was instigated by Flower, although Pietersen does not acknowledge that in the book).

Had such an ending occurred, it is unlikely that Pietersen would be in a position to publish such a book as this.

As it was, reintegration happened; Pietersen played some gorgeous innings in India, the team disintegrated under a Mitchell Johnson-inspired rout, and Pietersen, alone, was sacked, a narrative outlined in detail in the book,

but about which Pietersen remains puzzled. Whether the ECB gives added explanation remains to be seen.

Walsh, with many delightful phrases, has certainly turned Pietersen’s story into a compelling read. The tone is cruel (especially to Prior and Flower) in parts; regretful in others (multiple mistakes are acknowledged); elegiac, almost, in some places. At one stage, he reaches some kind of self-awareness, calling himself English by choice, but South African by nature. As a result, this is not a straightforward good guy/ bad guy tale. It is more complex than that. One thing is certain, though: despite the olive branch held out to Cook, the “good guy”, Pietersen will not play for England again.

6 Kevin Pietersen talks to Sunday Times chief sports writer David Walsh at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on Sunday. Tonight, Geoffrey Boycott in conversation with Times journalist Richard Whitehead. Cheltenhamfestivals.com. Tel: 0844 880 8094

Swann hits back at Pietersen Continued from back page

story. Paul Downton, the managing director of England Cricket, said there had been no formal complaints about bullying in the England squad. Pietersen claimed that he had to resort to using Google to find out about Downton before the meeting in February that led to the batsman’s sacking, Geoff Miller, who was the national selector between 2008 and 2013, backed up

that view. “To the best of my knowledge there was no atmosphere of bullying within the England setup,” Miller said.

“What we tried to do as a selection unit was pick the best squad to create the best atmosphere to win matches.”

The ECB declined to comment on the accusations, saying that it had not been sent a copy of Pietersen’s book before the publication date.

On getting an England tattoo: I was in Johannesburg, a South African getting the three lions tattooed onto his arm. Does that make you less South African? More English? Get real, mate. Your skin says nothing about your character.

On being a South African playing for England: I love South Africa. I love England.

My wife is English, my son is English, my mum is English. I live here, my brothers live here. I’ll never leave. My future is English, and at last I understand that I am a South African abroad.

On Andy Flower: Contagiously sour.

Infectiously dour. He could walk into a room and suck all the joy out of it in five seconds. Just a Mood Hoover. On some days he was fantastic. But the other 95 per cent of the time he was f***ing horrendous. They say don’t sweat the small stuff. Andy never found any stuff that was too small to sweat over. Or too small to make somebody else sweat over.

On the IPL: The IPL is the future and in 20 years’ time I will be proud to say that, yeah, I played in the early years of the Indian Premier League.

And playing in the IPL paid for a lot of the life my family will have in 20 years time.

On early days of the clique: After that first West Indies trip in 2009, Flower let the dressing room become home to a clique. Andrew Strauss did his best, but the dressing room slowly became the territory of those biggest mouths among the bowlers — and a wicketkeeper. They ran an exclusive club. If you were outside that clique, you were fair game for mocking, ridicule, bullying.

On Matt Prior: Every tour I hear Prior getting louder and louder. He is dominating the place and has taken to referring to himself as the Big Cheese (or, informally, Cheese). As in, the Big Cheese is pleased with how he played today. The Big Cheese has earned some beer tonight. Who does that?

On success in Australia: Success papers over all cracks. I’m thinking, that son of mine could coach this team from the buggy. So many guys are on fire at the same time. Australia are so bad.

On bullying: [Graeme] Swann, below, and [Stuart] Broad both disagreed with what Flower and Strauss had been saying.

They argued that fielders should field apologise to the bowlers if they’ve made a mistake. mad They felt that bowlers were well within their rights to be angry and aggressive towards the fielders. I just to stood there and realised that it was the closest I’ve ever come to thinking I could willingly slap two guys on my willin team. te On Textgate: I replied to a private message from a friend in which I didn’t disagree with the statement that Straussy was being a doos. That was leaked to the media and blown up into a major betrayal.

On Flower’s management: Flower arranged a one-onone between Cheese and me before the return Tests with bef

New Zealand. He must have read about one-on-ones in a management book out of the library. He loved them.

On the pre-Ashes camp: We were sent to a remote location in the Midlands to take part in a mocksurveillance exercise. Some guys were stationed in fields with only horses for company for hours on end, while others were sitting in cars, tailing “dangerous drug traffickers” or whatever.

On Jonathan Trott leaving the Ashes tour: Trott, left, got to a point where he was all shot through. Cricket.

Exercise. Being in a team. Those are things that should have helped.

Those are escapes from the pressure in a bloke’s head. But our environment was just making things worse.

On dressing-room atmosphere: The dressing room had been awful for years. Flower didn’t grow players by nurturing individual talents, he created a regime. There were wins and star players, but the dressing room was sick all along.

On Paul Downton: I didn’t mind that Paul Downton, according to Google, was a lowermiddle-order batsman with a Test average of under 20. But I did mind that as an administrative employee of the ECB he felt free to critique the performances of players.

On being sacked: Cook shakes my hand, but he doesn’t want to look at me. He looks at the floor. I feel sorry for him; it must be one of the most uncomfortable experiences of his career.

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Tuesday October 7 2014 | the times

Keane puts the boot in United legend lifts the lid on his acrimonious exit from Old Trafford and takes aim at old enemies Special report, pages 60-61

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Swann slams Pietersen ‘fiction’ ANDREW FOSKER / REX FEATURES

Ron Lewis

Graeme Swann, the former England bowler, has accused Kevin Pietersen of writing “the biggest work of fiction since Jules Verne” when he described a culture of bullying in the England dressing room in his autobiography.

The off spinner, who announced his retirement midway through the calamitous Ashes tour to Australia last winter, also denounced Pietersen for his criticism of Matt Prior, the wicketkeeper, whom he claimed fought hard to keep Pietersen in the England team.

Pietersen accuses Prior, along with Swann, James Anderson and Stuart Broad, of creating a clique in the England dressing room in his book, KP, advance copies of which were released to the media yesterday before its publication on Thursday. The batsman claimed that players were forced to apologise to bowlers if they made a mistake in the field, while players outside the clique were “fair game for mocking, ridicule, bullying”.

Prior is singled out for particular vitriol by Pietersen, who refers to him throughout as “Big Cheese”, while Andy Flower, the former England team director, is referred to as a “Mood Hoover” and “contagiously sour, infectiously dour” for removing all the fun from playing for England, while failing to integrate younger players into the side and fussing over small, unimportant matters.

“The dressing room had been awful for years,” Pietersen wrote. “Flower didn’t grow players by nurturing individual talents, he created a regime.

There were wins and star players, but the dressing room was sick all along.”

Swann rubbished Pietersen’s claims while speaking at the NatWest OSCAs awards at Lord’s for grassroots cricket,

Ashes to clashes: Pietersen, right, and Prior enjoy happier times with England now soured by the former’s book revelations

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saying that bullying had not been part of the team’s culture.

“If that was the case a lot of people would have flagged it up before,” Swann said. “We had a magnificent team ethos and spirit until Mitchell Johnson took his blindfold off and then it all fell apart.

“I expected it to be the biggest work of fiction since Jules Verne and that seems to have happened. I immediately realised it was codswallop when I read the character assassination of Matt Prior.

“Tragically, I don’t think Kev realises the one person who fought tooth and nail to keep him in the side is the one person he is now assassinating: Matt Prior.”

Swann went on to say that Pietersen’s book would have little effect on the team and claimed that his former teammate had singled out former members of the squad for attack to leave open the possibility that he might be picked again “I think the players will be fine. They have just got to get on and play,” Swann said. “Kevin has been quite clever because the guys still playing he has left alone and he hopes to get back in again one day. He has picked on people who he thinks can’t answer back.”

Prior, who has not played for England since the second Test against India this summer and is sidelined with an Achilles injury, also denied that there had been a bullying culture in the side in a message on Twitter.

“Obviously sad to see the accusations against me this am and I WILL have my right of reply!” he said. “However, today is not the day and Twitter is not the place for it! Now back to my Achilles rehab and learning to walk again!”

Other figures around the England squad closed ranks to deny the bullying Continued on page 63

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