Xan Brooks Alexis Petridis Peter Bradshaw Elisabeth Mahoney Hermione Hoby

Friday 09.11.12 Published in London and Manchester 1.20

guardian.co.uk Exclusive interview in g2 lm&music To have a friend you can use as a mirror, thats whats really important nt t ZZ Top, Dals of the Delta We just cant stop coming up with ideas

Jake Gyllenhaal

Mistaken identity led to top Tory abuse claim

David Leigh Steven Morris Bibi van der Zee
New evidence obtained by the Guardian suggests that the senior Conservative gure at the centre of sex abuse allegations broadcast last week by BBC2s Newsnight has been a victim of mistaken identity. A local councillor who was himself a victim of abuse at Bryn Estyn, the Wrexham care home at the centre of the allegations, told the Guardian yesterday he did not believe Lord (Alistair) McAlpine was involved in the scandal. McAlpine, who served as a Tory treasurer under Margaret Thatcher, has been widely named on the internet after another former resident of the home, Steve Messham, told Newsnight that he had been taken to a Wrexham hotel and abused by a prominent Thatcher-era Tory gure more than a dozen times. McAlpine has vehemently denied the allegations pointing out that he lived in the south of England at the time and had only been to Wrexham once in his life. Yesterday Keith Gregory, the Wrexham councillor who has been an eloquent spokesperson for the victims of abuse this week, said he believed a dierent member of the McAlpine family who lived locally may have been mistaken for Lord McAlpine. He said a man who children at the home believed to be a member of the McAlpine family would arrive at Bryn Estyn in an expensive car. He was a right flashy thing, he said. Lord McAlpine was exonerated by the 1997 Waterhouse inquiry of any involvement in the abuse of children in the north Wales homes but not named because of an order by the retired judge preventing the identication of either victims of alleged abusers. As a result he has been the subject of persistent smears, which resurfaced following the Newsnight allegations about a senior Tory. But the allegations made by Messham began to unravel after it emerged that he told the Waterhouse inquiry in 1997 that the McAlpine family member he believed to be his abuser was now dead. Lord McAlpine is alive and living in Italy. The Guardian has identied a number of inconsistencies between the Newsnight allegations and testimony heard by the Waterhouse inquiry.

This Mornings Phillip Schoeld hands David Cameron a list of names of Conservative politicians who have been allegedly linked online to the sexual abuse of children

Bring in new law to curb press excesses, Tories urge Cameron

Papers cannot be trusted to regulate themselves, MPs and peers say
Patrick Wintour Political editor
An inuential group of mainstream Tories, including four former cabinet ministers, have opened the door to a limited form of statutory press regulation, warning that proposals being put forward by the newspaper industry risk being an unstable model destined to fail. The letter, published in the Guardian and signed by 42 MPs and two peers, signals a potential shift in the politics of media regulation because it is the rst suggestion that the Conservative party is not going to respond to the Leveson inquiry with a monolithic opposition to legal regulation of the industry. Lord Justice Leveson is due to publish the inquirys ndings at the end of this month and ferocious lobbying of No 10 is under way from both sides in the argument. The signatories believe their letter may show Downing Street that a crossparty consensus on media reform is possible at Westminster. No one wants our media controlled by the government but, to be credible, any new regulator must be independent of the press as well as from politicians, the letter says. We are concerned that the current proposal put forward by the newspaper industry would lack independence and risks being an unstable model destined to fail, like previous initiatives over the past 60 years . Labour and the Liberal Democrats are likely to support Leveson if he suggests the newspaper industry cannot continue to be entirely self-regulated. The letter suggests that David Cameron has greater room for political manoeuvre at Westminster than thought. Senior cabinet ministers, including the education secretary Michael Gove and the communities secretary Eric Pickles, oppose any form of state-backed regulation of the press. George Osborne, the chancellor, is also reluctant to see any state intervention. Cameron has been trying to keep his options open, saying the status quo is not an option and any new formula has to be justiable to the victims of phone hacking. But he is under pressure to support a newspaper industry proposal that would preserve self-regulation and rely on legally enforceable contracts to bind publishers to the system, including the possibility of Caroline Spelman, Malcolm Rifkind, and Lord Fowler are among the former cabinet members to sign the letter nes. Similar pressure has been applied to the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, but it is understood he still stands by the evidence he gave to the Leveson inquiry. Signatories to the Conservative letter include the former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, two former party chairmen Caroline Spelman and Lord Fowler, as well as the former chief whip Lord Ryder. It is also supported by a range of Conservative backbench opinion from rightwingers such as Gerald Howarth, Jesse Norman and Robert Buckland. Supporters also include Camerons former press secretary George Eustice, Zac Goldsmith, Andrea Leadsom, Nicholas Soames, and Gavin Barwell, the parliamentary aide to Gove. The aim of the letter, according to one of the instigators, is to break what is described as the siege of Downing Street by the newspaper industry, and forge Continued on page 2

Continued on page 4

Hello partner. Goldman bankers wait for the million-dollar call

12A

Candidates for one of Wall Streets most prestigious and best-rewarded cliques are being whittled down, writes Jill Treanor

he phone call lasts just a few seconds. The words congratulations, youve become a partner, are just about all Lloyd Blankfein, the boss of Goldman Sachs, will have time to say to the 85 or so bank high-yers he will ring next Wednesday to invite into one of the most prestigious and lucrative cliques on Wall Street. It is a day of huge expectation for individuals spanning time zones from Sydney to New York who are waiting to hear that they have been given a role for which there is no job advert and no interview.

The whittling down of the candidates is under way this week in Goldman Sachss head oce in New York. Stretching across several days, a team of partners led by London-based Michael Woody Sherwood are deciding upon whom to bestow the glittering title of Goldman Sachs partner. The decision comes at the end of a thorough, secretive and sometimes brutal decision-making process that happens only every two years. This years deliberations began in the summer and include the selection of managing directors, one rung below partnership. With the title of partner comes prestige that is, arguably, unrivalled in the nancial world. It also brings vast

wealth in the form of a partnership bonus pool that pays out millions of dollars each year. And it opens the door to high-prole career moves: former US Treasury secretary Hank Paulson was in the golden circle, as was one-time BBC chairman Gavyn Davies. Annual payouts can reach tens of millions of dollars each on top of annual salaries which are thought to start at almost $1m. Blankfein, for instance, took home more than $16m last year, according to Forbes, but received $68.5m (43m) in 2007. To be selected, candidates will have survived a process known as crossContinued on page 35

This charming man Former oil trader will be made Archbishop y y of Canterbury today
Prole, page 7

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

The Guardian Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Telephone: 020 3353 2000 Fax: 020 7837 2114

Simon Hoggarts sketch Dorries fries as Mitchell freewheels

ndrew Mitchell, the government chief whip before Gategate, was speaking for the rst time in the Commons since he resigned. Meanwhile on ITVs This Morning, the prime minister was explaining why Mitchell had been kept in place for four weeks after the bike incident, whereas Nadine Dorries of Im A Celebrity was red from the party before shed even eaten a snakes testicle. Cameron explained that the two cases were entirely dierent. You can say that again. For a start there were no pictures in yesterdays papers of Andrew Mitchell having suncream rubbed in his back while lying topless on a lounger. Nor, come to that, was there any explanation of why the Tory whips are acting as pub-

licists for a agging TV programme. On This Morning, Phillip Schoeld handed the prime minister a piece of paper containing he said the names of alleged paedophiles now circulating on the internet. Cameron declined to look at it, and said that a witch-hunt was not a good idea. He was right. You should never believe anything you read on the internet, especially any post that begins: it is well known that Mitchell is the former international aid secretary and he was appearing at the select committee to explain why he had reversed his decision to postpone aid to Rwanda hours before being moved from the job to become chief whip in the rst place. About 8m was involved, and the committee was suspicious though it couldnt quite work out why. They were far too polite to bring up the contretemps with a policeman at the

gates of Downing Street, when Mitchell lost his rag because the ocer wouldnt open the gates to let him and his bicycle through. (This is not a Boris bike these are presumably banned in Downing Street, for the time being at least.) Would Mitchell back-pedal? No. We got just a glimpse of the testiness which lies not far underneath his skin. It turned out that, having decided to postpone Rwandas aid because Rwandan ministers were supporting M23, a vile bunch of killers and rapists operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he had changed his mind and bunged the money over. And he changed it hours before he quit the job, rather than leaving the decision to his successor. The committee wanted to know what was going on. Mitchell got, so to speak, his trousers caught in the chain. The press had sug-

gested that a rogue minister had been signing cheques under the bedclothes and sending them out. That is an insult to ministers, and I take great oence. And it is an insult to the civil servants who would never let a minister behave in that way! Basically, the Rwandans were the most decent, high-minded and honest legislators in all of Africa, except the ones who are helping the murderous rapists. Labour MPs in particular pressed him. We had the spectacle of Labour demanding explanations from Tories for handing out money to poor people. Mitchell shut them up with a fanfare of expertise. He rattled o statistics, reports, facts and gures until the committee began to reel under the overload. By the end, he was freewheeling home.

Police investigate breast cancer surgeons cases

Specialist accused of doing unnecessary surgery Hospital trust recalls mastectomy patients
Alexandra Topping Katie Gibbons
Police have launched an inquiry into an alleged rogue surgeon being investigated by the General Medical Council after it emerged he might have performed unnecessary or inappropriate breast operations. Women who underwent operations by Ian Paterson, a breast cancer specialist who worked at NHS and private hospitals in the Midlands from 1994 until last month, have been urged to contact the NHS. He carried out the majority of his operations at Solihull hospital after being taken on by the Heart of England NHS foundation trust in 1998. West Midlands police conrmed it had launched a criminal inquiry and was liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service. DCI Matt Markham said: West Midlands police can conrm it has received a referral from the General Medical Council in relation to allegations about the medical practices of a surgeon who previously worked in Solihull. A criminal inquiry has been launched and the force is working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to determine the course of the investigation. Nisha Sharma, a solicitor at RJW representing more than 30 of Patersons patients, welcomed the investigation. Police involvement is long overdue, as the accusation that he has been performing potentially unnecessary surgeries possibly for his own nancial gain is very serious, she said. The investigation has gone beyond the scope of the GMC, and my clients will do everything they can to assist with the criminal investigation. It is also alleged that Paterson made claims to medical insurers for unnecessary surgeries or surgeries he did not perform. Two of his private breast cancer patients

Bring in new law to curb press excesses

continued from page 1 a safe passage for the prime minister so he can engage with the Leveson inquiry recommendations. It was being emphasised that the letter was not prescriptive, but an attempt to change the tone of the debate, so it is not dominated by the press or by campaigners against Rupert Murdoch. The signatories say they agree with the prime minister that obsessive argument about the principle of statutory regulation can cloud the debate. However, they add that forms of statutory regulation in broadcasting and sensitive professions such as the law have proved workable. They write: The Jimmy Savile scandal was exposed by ITV and the Winterbourne View care home scandal was exposed by the BBC, both of whom are regulated by the Broadcasting Act. While no one is suggesting similar laws for newspapers, it is not credible to suggest that broadcasters such as Sky News, ITV or the BBC have their agendas dictated by the government of the day. They call for greater clarity about a future public interest test for the publication of stories. The worst excesses of the press have stemmed from the fact that the public interest test has been too elastic and too often has meant what editors wanted it to mean. The instigators of the letter stressed they were not acting with the covert agreement of No 10, although ocials are now aware of the move. One source said: As Conservatives, we are reluctant regulators and we rmly believe in a free press, and want to help newspapers survive, but they have to meet us half way. Their refusal to countenance any kind of statutory change to raise standards is no longer acceptable to the Conservative party. The source said they could incorporate some of the proposals put forward by the industry, led by Lord Hunt and Lord Black, the peers behind proposals for a beefedup Press Complaints Commission. Letters, page 41

Kashmir Uppal (centre) with some of the women who are taking legal action against breast cancer specialist Ian Paterson

have told the Guardian they have discovered that Paterson miscoded their procedures submitting claims to insurance companies for more expensive procedures than those which he had performed. A spokesman for the trust said in a statement that it had been alerted to concerns about Paterson in 2007, and had put in place a review of breast surgery services at the hospital. This review identied that a surgical technique for mastectomies used by one of its consultants, Mr Ian Paterson, required closer scrutiny to establish whether it represented best practice, he said. An external review highlighted that this was not a usual procedure and that Ian Paterson is said to be co-operating with the GMC inquiry after being accused of carrying out unnecessary operations

Mr Paterson had not followed guidelines to introduce a new technique. This trusts position, after careful consideration, was that the technique was not an approach considered appropriate going forward, and the method was therefore stopped. The trust had recalled more than 550 patients who had undergone a mastectomy. Thompsons Solicitors, who are representing almost 100 of the aected patients, said the surgeon also allegedly performed unconventional cleavage-sparing mastectomies on 700 women, despite the procedure not being sanctioned in the UK as it could lead to a return of cancer. Up to 450 women could have had invasive breast surgery when a biopsy might have been sucient, it is alleged. Kashmir Uppal, a senior medical negligence solicitor at Thompsons, said : The women who have come forward so far have been very brave. Hopefully, all who have had unnecessary or inappropriate treatment will seek reassurance or

justice. Paterson was suspended by the GMC last month and was excluded from the trust in 2011 due to ongoing concerns among ocials. He is expected to face a full tness-to-practise hearing next year. Dr Aresh Anwar, medical director for Solihull hospital, said it had invited all of Patersons patients who had had a mastectomy to see an alternative surgeon for a review of their treatment. We are keen to hear from any patient who may have concerns or further questions and have set up a helpline to ensure that these can be addressed quickly. We are committed to ensuring that whatever learning is needed from these complex events is achieved and shared widely and are currently planning an independent review which we will publish in full. In a statement issued on behalf of Paterson, the Medical Defence Union said he was co-operating fully with the GMC investigation. It said: He cannot comment further due to his duty of patient condentiality and the ongoing investigation.

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

News

If Wiggins can get hit Safety campaigners fear eect of Tour de France winners crash
Cycling star and his coach hurt in separate accidents Activists insist sports benets outweigh risks
Helen Pidd
Shane Sutton cant remember what happened yesterday morning. All he knows is that he had headed out for his usual spin before going to the velodrome in Manchester, where he is head coach for the GB Cycling Team. He likes to get a few hours in on the bike before work. But as for what happened when he rode along the Stockport Road, the A6, near to the junction with Clare Road in Levenshulme just after 8.55am? Nothing. All he knows is that when he came to, he was en route to Hope hospital. Doctors would later tell the 54-year-old Australian he had suffered concussion and a small bleed on the brain. His condition soon stabilised, but he was lucky to be alive. The 61-year-old driver of the Peugeot which hit him was not hurt and has not been arrested. It was horrible timing. The night before, Sutton had been elding calls from journalists anxious for updates on another bike accident involving one of his most famous charges. Bradley Wiggins, the winner of this years Tour de France and multiple Olympic gold medal winner, had been knocked o his mountain bike by a Vauxhall Astra van coming out of a petrol station near his home in Eccleston, near Chorley in Lancashire. He was taken to hospital with bruises to his right hand and ribs. The driver, again, was ne: if horried to be told by police exactly who shed hurt. The crashes made national news bulletins. Phone-in shows stopped talking about the US elections and turned their attention to cycle safety. Newsround, the BBCs childrens programme, asked its viewers whether they felt safe on their bikes. No, said many. Although it helps you to keep fit, I think riding a bike on roads is dangerous and unsafe because vehicles may not be able to see you, said Gabrielle, from Durham. Cycling campaigners listened in horror. After Britains triumphs at the Olympics and the Tour, hopes were high that more Britons would get o the sofa and on to the saddle. Could these two high prole accidents undo all that good work? With accidents like this there is always the concern that the publicity will put people o cycling and make them think it is more dangerous than it is, said Chris Peck, policy co-ordinator for the CTC, the national cyclists organisation. We know there is an overinated fear of cycling, yet studies show that the health benets outweigh the risks by 20 to 1. British Cycling, the national governing body for cycling, which pays Suttons wages, was at pains to point out that cycling is not an intrinsically dangerous activity. A spokesperson said: It is extremely rare that our riders and coaches are hurt while out cycling on the road, even rarer that two incidents should occur in a short space of time, and we wish Shane and Bradley a speedy recovery. But Peck said he was not surprised that Wiggins was hit on a major rural road. Cyclists are disproportionately likely to be hit on these roads, he said. A study showed there are 170 cyclist deaths per billion kilometres cycled on major rural roads, but only eight per billion kilometres on minor urban roads. The latter rate is the same as in the bicycling nirvanas of the Netherlands or Denmark, he added. It is unclear yet whether anyone will be charged in connection with the two crashes. But a Department for Transport (DfT) analysis of cyclists injuries found that two-thirds of crashes involving adult cyclists were deemed by police to be the fault of drivers, with just one in ve blamed solely on the cyclist. Crashes like this are far too common and the reaction from drivers familiar - Sorry mate, I didnt see you, said Peck. Its time for the police to start treating incidents of bad driving seriously and for courts to keep bad drivers o the streets. There was a 16% increase in the number of serious injuries to cyclists last year, while cycling levels only rose by 1-2%, suggesting the risk of being injured while cycling rose. According to the DfT, 10% of adults in England now cycle at least once

Shane Sutton and Bradley Wiggins chat during the 2010 Tour de France. Both men were injured on their bikes in the space of 24 hours Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty

per week. This gure varies signicantly by area, from more than 50% to less than 5%. So far this year, 104 cyclists have been killed in Britain; the total for 2011 was 107. Some believe the deterioration in trafc policing may be in part responsible for worsening accident rates. Figures obtained by CTC show there has been a 22% reduction in trac police in Lancashire over the past 10 years, with just 155 trac police covering 4,303 miles of road. But there is evidence the government has started to take cycle safety more seriously. Earlier this week, the all-party parliamentary group on cycling ocially launched an inquiry into how to get Britain cycling. The inquiry will see experts and organisations give evidence across a broad range of issues highlighting the barriers to cycling and cyclings benets before a written report is published in April 2013. Yet cycling organisations believe more needs to be done to improve conditions for cyclists on the roads. British Cycling is calling on the government to put cycling at the heart of transport policy to ensure that cycle safety is built into the design of all new roads, junctions and trans-

On the web
Bradley Wiggins memoirs Read exclusive extracts from the Tour de France winners book guardian.co.uk/ sport

16

The rise in the number of serious injuries to cyclists last year. Cycling levels rose by just 1-2% in the same period

NEWSPAPERS SUPPORT RECYCLING

The recycled paper content of UK newspapers in 2011 was 78.9%

port projects, said the British Cycling spokesperson. Wishing Wiggins and Sutton well yesterday, the road safety minister Stephen Hammond said: The government is fully committed to encouraging cycling and improving safety and recently launched the rst THINK! cyclist campaign. We have also invested 30m to tackle dangerous junctions for cyclists and are giving more than 1bn to councils to design solutions appropriate to their local transport challenges, including improving their road infrastructure to encourage cycling. The vast majority of projects funded by the 600m Local Sustainable Transport Fund also contain a cycling element. Yet not all MPs are so enlightened. When then Tory transport minister Theresa Villiers was knocked o her bike this year, Tom Harris, now shadow environment minister, oered the following bon mot: I trust that when she returns to her duties after that speedy recovery, she will use her ministerial car rather more often and her push bike rather less often. Carlton Reid, page 40

Guardian News & Media, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. 020 3353 2000. Fax 020 7837 2114. In Manchester: Centurion House, 129 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WR. Telephone Sales: London 020 3353 3400; Manchester 0161 908 3800. guardian. co.uk. The Guardian lists links to third-party websites, but does not endorse them or guarantee their authenticity or accuracy. Missing sections: 0800 839 100. Back issues from Historic Newspapers: 0870 165 1470. guardian. backissuenewspapers.co.uk. The Guardian is published by Guardian News & Media, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU, and at Centurion House, 129 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WR. Printed at Guardian Print Centre, Rick Roberts Way, Stratford, London E15 2GN; Guardian Print Centre North, Longbridge Road, Manchester M17 1SN; and at Carn Web, 2 Esky Drive, Carn, Portadown, Craigavon, County Armagh BT63 5YY. No.51,689, Friday 9 November 2012. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Oce ISSN 0261-3077

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012 National editor: Dan Roberts Telephone: 020 3353 4090 Fax: 020 3353 3190 Email: national@guardian.co.uk

National

PM warns against paedophile witch-hunt

Cameron shown list of Tory names found on web This Morning criticised after names briey seen
Hlne Mulholland John Plunkett Josh Halliday
David Cameron has warned that accusations of paedophilia against senior Conservative politicians risk creating a witchhunt, particularly against gay people. The prime minister made his comments yesterday after he was confronted on daytime television with a list of names circulating on the internet of Tory politicians possibly involved in child sex abuse claims. The piece of paper was accidentally briey ashed on air. Speaking on ITV1s This Morning, Cameron appealed to anybody with information to contact the police but raised concerns over the internet speculation about who may be embroiled in the scandal, dating back to the 1970s and 1980s. Ive heard all sorts of names bandied around and what then tends to happen is everyone sits around and speculates about people, some of whom are alive, some of whom are dead, he told This Morning. I do think its very important that anyone whos got any information about any paedophile, no matter how high up in the country or whether they are alive or dead, go to the police. The presenter, Phillip Schoeld, passed Cameron a list of names he had gathered from the internet, saying: You know the names on that piece of paper, will you be speaking to these people? Cameron replied: There is a danger if we are not careful that this can turn into a sort of witch-hunt, particularly about people who are gay, and Im worried about the sort of thing you are doing right now, taking a list of names o the internet. He said the allegations were extremely serious and the government had moved quickly to try to get to the bottom of what they are. Schofield later apologised for potentially revealing the names. He said: If any viewer was able to identify anyone listed, I would like to apologise and stress that was never my intention. I was not accusing anyone of anything and it is essential that it is understood that I would never be part of any kind of witch-hunt. Unfortunately there may have been a misjudged camera angle for a split second. The Conservative MP Rob Wilson wrote to Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards urging him to investigate whether This Morning breached the broadcasting code. Under Ofcoms code, broadcasters are obliged to seek a response from individuals who are the subject of signicant criticism or allegations of wrongdoing. ITV said: It is extremely regrettable that names may have been very briey visible. As Phillip has stressed, the programme was not accusing anyone of anything. Allegations that senior Conservative politicians may have been involved in

David Cameron said he wanted to get to the truth quickly over abuse claims at childrens homes in north Wales including Bryn Estyn, above Photograph: Ken McKay/Rex Features

You know the names on that paper, will you speak to them?
Phillip Schoeld
abuse at childrens homes in north Wales triggered two separate inquiries this week. They are the latest in a number of inquiries set up over recent weeks after a slew of historic child sex abuse allegations involving the BBC, care homes and Whitehall surfaced, beginning with revelations about the BBC presenter Jimmy Savile. The home secretary, Theresa May, announced on Tuesday that the incoming director general of the new National Crime Agency, Keith Bristow, would head a team looking at how North Wales police investigated allegations of child abuse in the 1970s and 1980s, amid claims that they failed to take complaints seriously. A high court judge, Mrs Justice Julia Wendy Macur, would examine the scope and conduct of the previous Waterhouse inquiry into the abuse. One of the main issues will be why 28 alleged abusers, including an inuential

ally of Lady Thatcher, were identified during the inquiry but had their names protected. The former childrens minister Tim Loughton used an open letter to the prime minister yesterday to urge him to launch a single, wide-ranging judicial inquiry into child abuse for fear of drowning in separate inquiries, which now run to double figures. The Conservative MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, who served as childrens minister for two years, said it was time to set up an overarching inquiry into what went wrong across a whole range of institutions. Cameron said he was interested in getting the information in the quickest way possible. He told This Morning: The real question is would that help us get to the truth quickly. The idea that if you had one mega-inquiry that you would speed everything up Im not sure its true. I dont rule out taking further steps. I want the government to be absolutely on top of this. I dont want anything to be covered up, I dont want any information held back. If there are more things we have to do, we will do them. But we always have to remember its very easy for governments to stand up and say: Heres a new inquiry. What we have got to do is get to the truth as fast as we possibly can.

Saviles former chaueur arrested

A former chaueur and atmate of Jimmy Savile was yesterday arrested over allegations of sexual abuse. Ray Teret, who later went on to work on radio stations in northern England, was arrested by detectives from Greater Manchester police. The force said two men, aged 61 and 71, had been arrested at an address in Altrincham. Both were being held on suspicion of rape. Police stressed the arrests were not part of the investigation into Savile, which is being led by the Metropolitan police. Terets arrest was over historic allegations reported to police late last month. Detective Inspector Simon Davies, of GMPs serious sexual oences unit, said in a statement: The arrest follows an investigation by the serious sexual oences unit into three separate allegations of historic sexual abuse which have been reported to Greater Manchester police since 28 October 2012. Vikram Dodd

Mistaken identity led to abuse claim

continued from page 1 The mounting concerns over Messhams allegations will be awkward for David Cameron who has already been accused of over-reacting to claims that senior Conservatives were involved in child abuse by ordering two inquiries into an issue which had already been thoroughly investigated by a public inquiry. Gregory said boys from Bryn Estyn would be taken in working parties to the homes of two McAlpine family members in the area Gerwyn Hall and Marchwiel Hall, both a few miles south-east of Wrexham town centre. We were like little slaves wed do gardening, cleaning the yards, all sorts of things, said Gregory. We were taken in a van to do work. He said he was not aware of any abuse of children at either of the homes and there is no other credible evidence of such abuse. Gerwyn Hall, a grand Georgian house hidden by woodland from the public road, was occupied by Jimmie McAlpine, who died in 1991, six years before the Waterhouse inquiry began. Jimmies wife, Cynthia, still living at the hall, declined to talk when approached by the Guardian. Jimmie McAlpine chaired the north of England builders Alfred McAlpine Ltd. His Times obituary recorded: His other main interest was vintage cars, and he amassed what was at one time the biggest private collection in Britain. The Waterhouse inquiry, when it attempted to investigate the McAlpine allegations, recorded: According to [Messhams] statement to the police, X [the letter assigned to conceal the identity of the McAlpine family member] had several different motor cars and would wait for him at the bottom of Bryn Estyn Lane. Waterhouse, a retired high court judge, reported his frustration that Messham would not at the time reveal the alleged forename of the McAlpine he believed had abused him, or who had suggested the name to him. The judge concluded that although Messham was testifying in good faith, and had indeed suered extensive

Detectives said that the arrests are not part of the investigation into Savile, being led by the Met police

sexual abuse, his evidence was inconclusive about any member of the X family. He left open the possibility that Messham might have been wrongly told by a third party that a McAlpine was involved, or have jumped to conclusions. Messham did not respond on Wednesday or yesterday to requests to comment on the questions raised over his allegation. Rumours about one or other member of the McAlpine family have accumulated over the years because of a controversial decision by Waterhouse that he would ban publication during the hearings of the names of alleged, but unproven abusers. This attempt at secrecy left the eld open for gossip and allegations of a cover-up. But, crucially, Messhams 1997 evidence to Waterhouse should have ruled out speculation about Lord McAlpine, whose Italian home has been mobbed by reporters for the past week. Reporters covering the inquiry at the time concluded that Messham could not be referring to Lord McAlpine because Messham said his abuser was dead. In another apparent discrepancy, the Times reported this week that their reporter put Lord McAlpines name to Messham in 1996. But he said that his abuser was called Tom and had a at in Wrexham. The only apparent corroborative evidence about Lord McAlpine has also been undermined. It came from another boy who was not a Bryn Estyn inmate. He described being abused in Wrexham ve years later by a wealthy gure with a Harrods charge card. Traced by the Guardian, this victim, who wants to remain anonymous, conrms that his sole knowledge of Lord McAlpine comes from being shown a photograph of him subsequently by a journalist. The victim told the Waterhouse inquiry, under the name Witness C that he was no longer sure he had identied the right man. Waterhouse reported: C had subsequently indicated that he could not be 100% sure that his abuser was a member of the X [McAlpine] family, and it is clear that he was referring to a dierent person. A BBC spokesman said the Newsnight investigation set out to explore alleged failures in a child abuse inquiry. An abuse victim had serious allegations to make and deserved to be heard. We broadcast as much information as we had but made clear we did not have enough evidence to name new individuals.

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

National

Helpline for would-be voters is useless, claims whistleblower

Alan Travis Home aairs editor
A whistleblower says the Home Office call centre established to tell millions of voters without internet access about the candidates in next weeks police and crime commissioner elections is being run in a totally shambolic way. The man, who is working at an Electoral Commission call centre dealing with queries about the election, told the Guardian that he spoke to hundreds of older people every day who could not access the information online. They were referred to a very temperamental automated phoneline at the Home Oce, and then were only given a list of names and no real information, he said. He described the helpline as useless with people frequently told it is not the Home Oce and being fobbed o. A commission spokesman said it had been deluged with complaints about the Home Oce helpline and delays in sending out candidate information, and were demanding urgent action from the Home Oce. The commission said 7 million of the 40 million people eligible to vote in the elections are not able to access the online statements by candidates. Ministers decided not to give those standing for election the usual free mailshot to voters because it would have added 35m to the 75m bill for the new elections. More than 100,000 people have asked for hard copies of the statements by candidates standing in their area. Weve had hundreds of calls from people about problems with the Home Oce helpline or who are waiting for the candidate information booklet to arrive, a commission spokesperson said. We have already asked the Home Office to address both of these issues urgently and understand that steps have been taken to do this. The call centre whistleblowers email to the Guardian said: I speak to hundreds of elderly people every day who dont have access to the internet and are being directed to order printed candidate information from the Home Oce, when we transfer them they leave their details on a very temperamental automated phone line. We cannot provide candidate information and were totally at a loss as to why the Home Office hasnt accommodated for anyone without the internet, and as to why theyre so withholding about providing basic information to the public. The helpline theyve provided us with is useless and people are frequently told its not even the Home Oce or theyre laughed at and fobbed o, he wrote. The Home Office is now sending out hard copies of its candidate information leaets by rst-class post. By last Monday they had had more than 108,000 requests and they hoped to full those by today. A further million people have accessed this information on the choosemypcc website. A Home Office spokesman said: We do not recognise the complaints of this unnamed individual. So far more than 100,000 information booklets containing full details of every candidate have been sent to electors. Once requested booklets are being delivered within three working days. An automated phoneline is the most cost-effective and commonly provided option for a service of this kind.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jr in Iron Man 2, one of the lms studied Photograph: Franois Duhamel AP/Paramount

Wikipedia watchers nd clues to how lms will do

Alok Jha Science correspondent
Patterns of activity on Wikipedia can predict the opening box oce takings of blockbuster movies a month before they are released, according to scientists. Taha Yasseri, a physicist at Budapest University of Technology and Economics, has created a mathematical model that takes into account data such as the number of readers and editors for the Wikipedia page of an upcoming lm and shown that it correlates with takings on the lms opening weekend. Yasseri, a Hungarian, and colleagues Mrton Mestyn and Jnos Kertsz built the model using data on 312 movies with Wikipedia pages, out of a total of 535 that were released in the US in 2010. Overall, the predicted box oce takings matched reality 77% of the time. For the biggest films in the sample such as Iron Man 2, Alice in Wonderland, Toy Story 3 and Inception the relative accuracy of the models prediction was more than 90%. Predictions for less successful movies such as Never Let Me Go, Animal Kingdom and The Killer Inside Me varied more widely from reality. The paper, which is yet to be peerreviewed, was posted on the arXiv database. We were looking for the ngerprints of popularity of a movie, said Yasseri. The Wikipedia entries of lms that were going to be popular were more heavily edited and visited by more readers, he said. Yasseri added that the model could be used by studios to help predict the potential success of their movies. But his principal aim was to show how researchers could address sociological questions by using the enormous datasets being collected on Wikipedia, Twitter and Facebook. We wanted to show there is a way to trace these things through social media impacts, he said. Scientists at HP Labs in Palo Alto, California, have shown that the number of times a lm is tweeted about is a good indicator of its subsequent box oce revenue.

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

The Guardian prole Justin Welby

How charm and fresh thinking put bishop on fast track to Canterbury
Andrew Brown Lizzy Davies

here are not many Old Etonians who think that the biggest problems facing County Durham are loan sharking and its consequent evils and very high youth unemployment. There are not many oil company executives who would say that the pay of many of our top executives in big 100 companies in the UK is outrageous and even obscene we need to get to the point where there is a general recognition that being paid vast multiples of other peoples pay is not acceptable in a society that wishes to be happy and stable. Yet Justin Welby, the Old Etonian former oil trader who is to be the next archbishop of Canterbury, said all this and more in an interview with a fellow bishop in The Living Church, an American magazine, earlier this year. The headline facts about his biography may be very misleading. The second most notable thing about Justin Welby is that no one in a very divided church has gone around badmouthing him. There were other candidates who like him have no enemies, but none who have no critics, and the others who have no enemies were widely thought to be too dull or just too sane to take the job. Welby, however, has praise from all corners of the church and he carries the promise of being able to talk as if the Church of England doesnt matter very much. That may seem like an odd qualication to be archbishop of Canterbury, but it may be the essential one today. The temptation for any archbishop is to suppose he is a terribly important gure. The job will expose him to continual attacks, but will also constantly stroke and inate his vanity. The gap between pretension and reality is one into which far too many bishops and archbishops simply disappear. Welby appears to be grounded by a rather Etonian appreciation of the brutal realities of power. We could send him as an emissary to Nigeria and know that if he was needed to grovel, he could grovel, says Viv Faull, the incoming dean of York, who worked closely with him in Coventry, where he started his church career, and later when he was dean of Liverpool and she was dean of Leicester. He joined the English Cathedral Executives, which I chair. He was utterly supportive, enthusiastic in enabling me to do my job. Everyone in Coventry has said how eective he is. He has a disarming selfdeprecation; he is always assuming the best of other people. Then she added: I dont know how easy it is to know the real Justin Welby. This was something that many of the people the Guardian talked to said. It may not matter very much in the long run, because whoever the real Justin Welby may be today, the job will change him. Many people thought they knew the real Rowan Williams before he took oce, and perhaps they did, but they were to be disappointed by the man he became under the pressure of events. It is not a job in which it is easy to have friends. The great drawback to his candidacy was the very short time less than a year he has spent as a bishop. He was appointed to Durham in 2011, and only enthroned on 26 November. In recent years the Church of England has had a much more conventional career structure, in which candidates for promotion are expected to have done all the right jobs before they get there. Even his leap from dean of Liverpool, an important job but not noticeably glamorous, to Durham, where the prince bishops had their own private armies until 1836, was remarkable. In his short time in Durham he made a great and very favourable impression. Miranda Threlfall-Holmes, a church historian who is also one of the leading liberal voices for womens causes, says people in Durham will be gutted to lose him. Weve only had him for just under a year; hes already turned it around. The

course was not happy to see him go but I understood fully the reasons. I think I knew he had faith, but he didnt push it in your face at all. I do remember that when the investment bankers came in with long-winded presentations hed get pretty impatient, because he was so quick, you see. Hed look at the slide and say, Next! And then the next slide, hed go, Next! He liked them to get through it fairly quickly. He of course knew his stu and so a lot of it was unnecessary. But it did amuse me very often when I observed that. Now that he sits on the parliamentary commission on banking scandals, looking into the xing of the Libor rate, among other things, he will have plenty more opportunities to tell investment bankers to hurry their explanations up.

ut as archbishop of Canterbury, what will really matter is how Welby navigates the world outside the establishment. The Church of England for the last 20 or 30 years has been in an extraordinary way much less than the sum of its parts. How is it that an organisation staed for the most part with clever, thoughtful people has managed at a corporate level to be the enemy of these qualities? How can it get out of this bind? This is where Welbys curious lack of enemies comes to seem a vital quality. No one doubts his sincerity or seriousness, but it is hard to pin it down to any of the causes that have convulsed the church. Since all Christians are stuck with each other for eternity it is not a bad idea to learn to love each other before we get to the point of death, he said to The Living Church. He is presumably opposed to full gay equality, and in favour of female bishops. Those are the default positions for evangelicals of his kind. But no one suggests that he thinks either of these is the most important question facing the church or the country. Neither, of course, did Rowan Williams. That did not prevent them from eating most of his time and energy. Perhaps the real benet of Welbys business background will be that he is more easily able to concentrate on his own agenda amid the distractions of the world than his unworldly predecessor ever proved.

Leader comment, page 40 diocese needs turning around. Durham has the lowest level of churchgoing in the whole of the Church of England. And hes invigorating things; hes changing all our structures. Hes completely changed peoples attitude to giving in the parishes. Every parish in the Church of England moans about having to pay parish share. It feels like a tax on success. And he said, OK, ne, we wont tell you what the diocesan budget is and divide it among you. You tell us what youre prepared to pay and well set our diocesan budget based on that. Which, at a stroke, has transformed the way people think about it, and a lot of parishes have actually put up their giving because hes inspiring. Its a kind of fresh thinking. Welby had a similar nancial success at Liverpool, where the cathedral has none of the income from tourism that keeps places like Durham aoat. But although it is often said that his skill is with money and he did work as an oil trader for 11 years there are plenty of people in the Church of England who can run a spreadsheet. What Welby showed in Durham is that he understands commitment and belief. In his memo setting out the proposed parish changes, he said: In all organisational theory power follows money. He also said his new policy was likely to oer a large improvement on the past in terms of morale and unity money is a means to an end. At the same time as the eorts on stewardship, there will be a major push on evangelism, carefully planned and constructed and led directly by the bishops. The word evangelical has a gentle but unmistakably repellent eect on the rest of the Church of England, and a worse one on the general public. But although Welbys background (Eton and Cambridge) is recognisably public school evangelical, and he has been close to the HTB movement, which lies behind the Alpha course and which has been very conservative in matters of sexual politics, he has charmed in person many people who would dislike him from his biography. Threlfall-Holmes says: Hes very, very likable. And in some ways that surprises me because all the, you know, Old Etonian oil executive thing, I would expect it to put me o. But actually hes not like that and he didnt send his own children to private school and you cant be blamed for the decisions your parents made. He came and preached at my institution service. The entire parish love him now. He made a point of making all the people with young children welcome. He said, Dont worry about any noise your children might make. I can talk louder than any child Ive had six myself. He just put everybody at ease. Theres no pomposity about him. He doesnt want to be called bishop; hes happy just to be called Justin. He talks to people honestly and openly. The death of one of his children in a car crash when she was only seven months old in 1983 turned Welby and his wife closer to God, he has said. But it still came as a shock when he turned his back on a successful business career to study for the priesthood at the evangelical college Cranmer Hall. Sir Graham Hearne was his boss then at Enterprise Oil (the rm has now been taken over). Hearne says: One day he came to see me, and he said, Graham, Im leaving. And I was horried, I can tell you. I said to him, Oh, Justin, thats very bad news. Why would you leave us? Which company has stolen you? And he said, Dont worry about it. Its the Lord! And he explained. And I of

Hes very, very likeable. And in some ways that surprises me because of the Old Etonian oil executive thing. But actually hes not like that

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

National

Science spending falling in real terms despite coalition pledge

Juliette Jowit and Ian Sample
Public spending on science and innovation has fallen even faster than feared, despite a rm government pledge to protect it. The coalition had promised to protect just three areas of spending amid the huge cuts demanded to balance the budget during this parliament the NHS, international development and science. Expert commentators have already warned that the Department for Business, Innovation and Skillss (BIS) core science budget for universities and research councils will not keep pace with ination, resulting in a real-terms cut in spending, especially as inflation in these hi-tech areas is often higher than the average. Now gures produced by the House of Commons library show that another big chunk of government spending on science, through individual departments such as environment and rural affairs, transport and defence, also fell, by 7.6% Chi Onwurah, Labours science spokesperson, said research departments feared further funding cuts overall, in the rst year of this parliament. This departmental spend, as it is known, makes up nearly half of all public support for research and development and innovation, and is considered crucial for areas such as advanced engineering skills through the Ministry of Defence and the fast-growing life sciences industry, where Britain is trying to establish an international lead. As a result, total spending on science activities in 2010-11 also including the British contribution to the European Union research and development budget fell by 6.4% when adjusted for ination. Chi Onwurah, the shadow science and innovation minister, who requested the research, said there were concerns that such cuts continued last year, for which figures are not yet available. Onwurah called on the government to publish longterm funding gures to give scientists a better chance to plan research. Its worse than we thought, she said. We know the pressure on departments to cut [and] this is something they can do relatively silently. There is more to fear from further cuts coming. Since the government ordered a at cash settlement on the science budget in 2010, researchers have braced themselves for a decline in funds as ination takes its toll. The cuts within individual departments, which topped more than 40% in some cases, mean even less research than many feared. Separate gures released by BIS show some of the biggest departmental cuts from 2009-10 to 2010-11. The Department for Transport cut spending on science research and development by one-third, from 82m to 54m; the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, currently struggling to control the ash dieback disease, cut 17.4% or 33m; and the Ministry of Defence, by far the biggestspending department for R&D, cut its budget by more than 13%, or 239m. BIS said that although it was responsible for the core science budget, individual departments made their own decisions about wider spending on research and development and innovation.

Burnham calls for legal limits on salt, sugar and fat in food
Denis Campbell Health correspondent
Food rms should face legal limits on how much fat, salt and sugar they can put in their products to save the NHS money and help tackle illness, Labours health spokesman has proposed. Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, said the shocking amount of sugar in many foodstus was hidden from consumers, but was so great that ministers had to intervene. He is the rst senior politician in Britain to argue for government regulation of the food industry to force through the widespread reformulation of products. The issue is sensitive for manufacturers since they are aware that a consumer backlash against changes to the avour of foods could aect prots. Burnham said: Voluntary efforts [by producers to reformulate] have not worked and its time for a dierent approach. There are some products on the market that are so full of salt, sugar or fat they are unacceptable. The amount of sugar in many cereals is shocking. He said he was worried that large amounts of sugar and fat, in foods such as bread and breakfast cereals, were fuelling the UKs rising obesity levels. Research in February by the consumer group Which? found that the breakfast cereal Kelloggs Frosties was made up of 37% sugar, while Waitroses Honey Nut Corn Flakes were 33.6% sugar, and Special K, marketed by Kelloggs as a healthy choice, had a 17%

37

Research by Which? found that Kelloggs Frosties was made up of 37% sugar; Special K has a 17% sugar content

sugar content. If you have maximum amounts and reduce the sugar or salt in the formulated product then people can choose if they want to sprinkle some on top they are conscious of what they are doing whereas if its in the formulated product its much harder to control, said Burnham. He stressed that he was speaking in a personal capacity ahead of a Labour review of its public health stance and that compulsory reformulation was not party policy. Burnham said he had become convinced of the need for mandatory reformulation partly by the 10-minute rule bill presented by the former Labour minister, Keith Vaz, which sought to force soft drinks manufacturers to cut the large amounts of sugar in their products. Ben Bradshaw, the former Labour culture secretary, recently argued for the introduction of fat taxes on foods following the line of European countries such as Denmark, France and Hungary. Burnham opposes such measures, saying they would hit the poorest hardest. The tax route puts the onus on consumers rather than the manufacturers. You arent focusing your eorts on the creator of the problem, which is the manufacturer so we have to start with them. But the food industry dismissed Burnhams idea as unrealistic, hugely complicated and counter-productive. Barbara Gallani, director of food safety and science at the Food and Drink Federation, said: To introduce regulation would be a lengthy process and could negatively impact the excellent voluntary work that is underway to change recipes.

10

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

Politics

Welcome to the jungle Tory MP earns a dierent kind of celebrity

Nadine Dorries is in Australia, unaware she has lost the whip but gained a Star front page
Esther Addley
There are still two days to go before Nadine Dorries makes her debut in the 12th series of the reality TV show Im a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, but in one respect at least bringing a new image of politicians to an audience of millions the Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire has already amply succeeded in her ambitions. The last time Dorries commanded a rash of newspaper headlines was a little over a year ago, when she proposed an amendment to the Health and Social Care bill to strip independent abortion providers of their role in counselling pregnant women. Yesterday she was pictured semi-naked on the cover of the Daily Star, a cut out of the heads of presenters Ant and Dec over each of her breasts, above a smirking caption claiming that Naughty Nadine Dorries has boobed again! In fact the 55-year-old MP was not topless, as the paper claimed, but had been snapped by a long-lens paparazzo while changing next to a hotel swimming pool. But as an illustration of the gulf between how Dorries doubtless hoped to come across by taking part in the show and the likely reality of her portrayal, the Stars story could scarcely have been more apt. Before departing for the Australian jungle, where the programme is lmed, Dorries said David Cameron would probably be relieved she had gone. Instead the prime minister has suspended the party whip, and yesterday stressed to a TV audience, Shes no longer a Conservative MP while this is going on. The parliamentary commissioner for standards has conrmed it is investigating, while a clutch of Conservative MPs rushed to criticise her involvement in the show, which dependent on the will of the British electorate could keep her from Westminster for up to a month. Taking leave for a month from Parliament shows utter contempt, tweeted Alec Shelbrooke, MP for Elmet and Rothwell. The veteran member for Licheld Michael Fabricant judged she had let down her colleagues and constituency. Claire Perry, elected in 2010 to represent Devizes, oered a new slogan for rebellious, recalcitrant members: Im not t to be an MP kick me out of here. In one respect, the MP, who has rarely shied from the spotlight since her election to parliament in 2005, will welcome the media storm even though, having been shut o from all news media, she will be entirely unaware of it or of her party suspension. Dorries has said she decided to do the show because 16 million people watch it. If people are watching Im a Celebrity, thats where politicians should be going. Her appearance on the show could prove that MPs could be normal, she said, adding: Maybe [the public] will trust us more. (The fee of up to 40,000 may be another factor.) The exposure would oer a platform for her to argue her position on abortion, she told her local paper, allowing her to burst through the extreme zealots who oppose her lobbying for a reduction in the legal limit to 20 weeks. Asked about her absence from parliament, she cited the example of MP Alastair Burt who has had 20 weeks abroad this year. That these were in his role as a foreign oce minister evidently did not strike her as a dierent case to her own. In a party burdened with a posh-boy image, Dorries normalness should be one of her major assets. The daughter of a bus driver and teacher who grew up in a council house in Liverpool, she is one of relatively few northern workingclass Tories in parliament. A divorced mother of three, she traces her opposition to abortion at 24 weeks to her experiences working as a nurse for three years, during which time she assisted at a termination. She worked for a year at a community school in Africa before setting up a medical company, and working for Oliver Letwin before seeking election herself in 2001, and succeeding in 2005. But while she unquestionably adds colour to Westminster, the outspoken MP has also shown a repeated facility for self-sabotage. She escaped censure in the expenses scandal (which she called a witch-hunt) only by claiming that her blog, in which she named her parliamentary address as home despite living 50 miles away, was 70% ction. In 2010 she introduced an abstinence bill, which would see teenage girls but not boys lectured on the importance of abstaining from sex. Her proposed amendment to the health bill last year was roundly defeated, following a long, incoherent speech which even the amendments cosponsor, Labours Frank Field, pleaded with her to bring to a close. Opponents have pointed out that while Dorries has called for a 20-week limit and calls herself pro-choice, she has variously said she would prefer a limit of nine or 13 weeks. I nd her approach incredibly dishonest, said Kate Smurthwaite, vice chair of Abortion Rights UK. If you scratch the surface you realise that shes opposed [to abortion] in all cases. Shes just trying to nd populist hangers to hang her message on. The MP has also proved an increasingly outspoken and highly personal critic of her party leadership. She has said she was partly motivated by revenge for her treatment on the day she introduced her amendment, when during PMQs, Cameron called her extremely frustrated. Her response

Demonstrators at a 2010 protest against Dorries proposed abstinence bill

Nadine Dorries will appear in Im a Celebrity

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

guardian.co.uk/politics Andrew Sparrow blogs on the political news as it happens

Shes probably so sick of ridicule in parliament shes decided to take her arguments directly to the country
has been bitter: Cameron and Osborne, whom she blames for the failure of the amendment, are two arrogant posh boys who show no remorse, no contrition, and no passion to want to understand the lives of others, she has said. Dorries is not unique in her party in disliking the leadership, but parliamentary patience is wearing thin with her self-styled outsider status. It would be wrong of me to criticise someone for having a view thats dierent from yours, fellow Conservative MP Mark Garnier said yesterday, before adding that Dorries interventions were often less than helpful. It was absolutely right to remove the whip, he said. The point is that [as a party] were doing our best. Important things, all of which we feel strongly are the right thing. For someone to decide they dont want to be a team player and take a months holiday, well, its a bit of a slap in the face. At her constituency oce yesterday there was a fervently expressed hope, almost certainly forlorn, that the story would soon blow over. Why? Because its an embarrassment to all of us, said Budge Wells, deputy chair of the local Conservative association, before correcting himself a little to say: Its something we wish hadnt happened. Local members, he said, were rather upset, but would delay any decision until Dorries returned from the jungle. He described her as a hardworking constituency MP with a high moral standard who had beaten a large eld to be selected in 2005. She had lobbied eectively on local conservation causes,

And what if she pulls it o and comes back in glory? What exactly is the party going to do then?

11

when the new series of the reality show starts on Sunday and could be away from Westminster for a month Photograph: PA

he said, and dealt with a lot of peoples problems. As for her outspoken nature and self-styled maverick persona: We didnt know that when we picked her. Even friends said yesterday that Dorries was unlikely to have anticipated the reaction. Most people going to the jungle have no idea of the size it is, or the impact it could make, said her friend Lembit Opik, who took part in the show in 2010 after losing his own seat. I certainly didnt. Dorries, he acknowledged, had probably been naive. He condemned the kangaroo court decision to remove the party whip. Nadine Dorries is a maverick. Rather than celebrating her diversity they simply try to suppress it. He added that though he did not know of her plans to participate, she is probably so sick of being ridiculed in parliament that she decided to take her arguments directly to the country. Ann Widdecombe, who took part in Strictly Come Dancing after retiring as an MP, but has resisted repeated invites to Im a Celebrity, would have urged Dorries not to take part. You have no control at all in those programmes. Its entirely up to the editor which parts are shown. Withdrawing the whip, all the same, was a gross overreaction. Dorries had taken the most tremendous gamble, and yet, it may well work for her if she does manage to open politics to people who are more likely to vote in reality shows than in elections. And what if she pulls it o and comes back in glory? What exactly is the party going to do then?

12

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

National

Doctors angry as health committee is scrapped

Few ministers turned up to meetings, sources say Government accused of backtracking on key policy
Denis Campbell Health correspondent
A Whitehall ministerial committee set up by the coalition as it pledged to tackle problems such as obesity, alcohol abuse and growing health inequalities has been scrapped, prompting a furious response from senior doctors. The cabinet subcommittee on public health, hailed by the government as a symbol of its determination to tackle the causes of some of Britains biggest killers, has been wound up barely two years after it was created. The Department of Health has told public health leaders about the move, which has been greeted with anger, disappointment and claims that it is short-sighted, but given no explanation. The committee is being replaced by a group of ocials. Senior figures in public health have accused ministers of performing a damaging U-turn by axing a body which the Conservatives in opposition claimed would send a powerful message that public health is the responsibility of all government departments. Chaired by the then health secretary Andrew Lansley, it brought together 19 cabinet ministers and junior ministers from 13 government departments and the Cabinet Oce, all of whom were meant to help improve public health by co-ordinating their inuence over related policy areas such as sport, families and transport with the health departments eorts. This committee was a symbol of government leadership that they are now getting rid of. Im very sad indeed and disappointed at the level of leadership [involved]. Setting it up was a big commitment. It was iconic to us [in the eld]. I do feel let down. Id hate to think this was the government in any way stepping back from its commitment to public health, said Prof Lindsey Davies, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health (FPH), which represents specialists in the eld in the NHS, local councils and academia. The decision was baing, she added, because we are facing enormous public health challenges, such as obesity, too many people still smoking, problems with alcohol and the gap in health between the rich and poor, which is meant to be narrowing but is widening. The FPH has written to the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, outlining its dismay at the move. Her predecessor, Prof Alan MaryonDavis, honorary professor of public health at Kings College London, said: This looks like a major U-turn, and a real downgrading of this governments commitment to public health. So much for all their ne words about tackling the many determinants of ill-health across the board. Its very disappointing. Professor Gabriel Scally, who until April was employed by the health department to lead public health eorts in south-west England, said scrapping the subcommittee showed ministers had broken a pledge to make health a priority. A government spokesman denied that axing a body dedicated to the subject meant that public health was being downgraded. Meanwhile, Whitehall sources said it had proved dicult to get ministers from departments other than health to attend the subcommittee and that it had met only a few times. Labour accused the government of backtracking on a signicant health policy commitment.

Princess Anne unveils tribute to war hero

Maev Kennedy
In the winter of 1942 only the striking beauty of the young Indian woman reading a book on a London park bench in her lunch hour would have seemed exceptional. A statue has now been unveiled by Princess Anne near the bench, commissioned by a small group determined that the extraordinary story of Noor Inayat Khan, a gentle artistic intellectual who became a secret agent in occupied France and died aged 30 in Dachau concentration camp, should not be forgotten. The family is pleased of course honoured and touched, said Noors cousin Mahmood Khan van Goens Youskine, who came from his home in the Netherlands for the ceremony along with family, friends, supporters and veterans from Germany, France, Russia and the United States. This is a beautiful place to remember her story. He was a boy of 12 when he last saw his cousin, but he remembers her vividly. She made a tremendous impression on everyone who met her. She was such an intelligent, charming, dainty girl and so beautiful, he said. Khan was a musician and writer, daughter of an American mother and a renowned Indian Sufi philosopher father, Hazrat Inayat Khan, descended from the 18thcentury Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan. She was born in Moscow, lived as a child in London and France, and by 1942 was training as a secret agent known as Nora Baker. In 1943 she was sent by the Special Operations Executive into Nazi-occupied France as a radio operator. In France she was betrayed, imprisoned and shot in September 1944 with three other female agents at Dachau. She was posthumously awarded the George Cross. The statue of hero Noor Inayat Khan Photograph: Graham Turner for the Guardian Leader comment, page 40

14

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

National

Writers and thinkers join forces to defend academic freedom

Bragg, Bennett and Dawkins in new group Campaigners opposed to marketisation of education
Shiv Malik
Some of Britains most high-prole public intellectuals have formed a coalition to defend universities against the erosion of academic freedom and the marketisation of higher education. Lord Bragg, Alan Bennett, Sir David Attenborough and Richard Dawkins are among 65 writers, broadcasters and thinkers who have jointly founded the Council for the Defence of British Universities (CDBU), to be launched next week. The groups manifesto, also backed by former poet laureate Sir Andrew Motion, Booker prize-winner Dame AS Byatt, playwright Michael Frayn and astronomer royal Lord Rees, claims the basis of a degree is under threat. Writing in the Times Higher Education supplement, historian and former British Academy president Sir Keith Thomas said the very purpose of the university was being grossly distorted by the attempt to create a market in higher education. Students were regarded as consumers and encouraged to invest in the degree course they think most likely to enhance their earning prospects. Academics, he added, were now viewed as producers, whose research is expected to focus on topics of commercial value and whose output is measured against a single scale and graded like sacks of wheat. The organisation is expected to campaign for the abolition of government funding bodies and propose a move to fully independent grant councils free from political interference. Last year, dozens of academics resigned from one such funding body, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), in a row over academic freedom. Thomas also took a swipe at remarkably supine university leaders who were only concerned about gaining local advantage from government reforms rather than opposing them. Deep dissatisfaction pervades the university sector. Its primary cause is not the lack of adequate funding rather it arises from Booker prizewinning novelist AS Byatt has backed the new Council for the Defence of British Universities the feeling that an understandable concern to improve the nations economic performance, coupled with an ideological faith in the virtues of the market, has meant that the central values of the university are being sidelined or forgotten. He said the task of the council was not just to challenge a series of short-term political expedients: it must also combat a whole philosophy, adding: British universities are a precious feature of our national life and enjoy a high international reputation. They should not be imperilled by misconceived government policies, however well-intentioned. Writing in the same publication, Rees said morale among sta was being damaged.

Guardians rst book shortlist ranges from war to baseball

Alison Flood
Kevin Powers, who turned to ction after serving with the US army in Iraq in 2004 and 2005, has made the shortlist for the Guardian rst book award with his debut novel, a shattering look at the cost of war. Powerss The Yellow Birds, which opens with the line The war tried to kill us in the spring, is one of three novels chosen for this years shortlist, alongside Scottish writer Kerry Hudsons Tony Hogan Brought Me an Ice-cream Float Before He Stole My Ma, the story of a childhood in council ats and bed and breakfasts, and US novelist Chad Harbachs acclaimed debut The Art of Fielding, about a talented baseball player. Judges headed by Guardian review editor Lisa Allardice also chose two nonction titles for their shortlist: Channel 4 international editor Lindsey Hilsums account of the Libyan revolution, Sandstorm, and the Pulitzer prize-winning New Yorker journalist Katherine Boos Behind the Beautiful Forevers, an account of the time she spent getting to know the inhabitants of a Mumbai slum. Its a very strong list, said Allardice, who is joined on the judging panel by the authors Ahdaf Soueif, Kate Summerscale, William Dalrymple and Jeanette Winterson, and Guardian deputy editor Katharine Viner. The Mumbai book reads almost like a novel, Boo is so deeply embedded in her environment, while Kevin Powers has chosen to ctionalise his obviously rsthand and deeply personal experience of serving in Iraq. Its a very raw book in subject matter and in some places in style, but the powerful authenticity of such a harrowing experience really comes across. Titles including Patrick Flanerys South Africa-set debut novel Absolution, Susan Cains Quiet, a look at the power of introverts in a world that cant stop talking, and Mary Costellos short story collection The China Factory missed out. So did Sarah Jacksons rst poetry collection Pelt, which made the longlist after being nominated by Guardian readers. Allardice called The Art of Fielding bought for an advance in America of $650,000 (407,000) extraordinarily assured for a rst novel, and said while Hogans debut follows a familiar coming-of-age narrative arc of growing up on the wrong side of the tracks, its written with unusual energy and style. Hilsums account of the fall of Gadda in Libya, is a vivid on-the-ground view of one of the key international developments of the last view years, written by an experienced news reporter. The winner, who will receive 10,000, will be announced on 29 November.

Kevin Powers wrote The Yellow Birds after serving with the US army in Iraq

16

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

National
Health
to a complaint can add to the problems of someone who is unwell, struggling to take care of others or grieving, said Mellor. The NHS needs to get better at listening to patients and their families and responding to their concerns. Too often the NHSs response to a complaint about mistakes by its sta gets it wrong by, for example, using equivocal language and sitting on the fence; getting key facts wrong; using technical language without appropriate explanations; fake apologies, the report adds. Mellor cited the case of one relative denied the chance to be with their mother as she passed away who was later told: Death is rarely an ideal situation for anyone. I accept you would have liked to have been there in those last few minutes but in practice this is so hard to achieve and like life itself is left to chance. Truth be told your mother probably said her goodbyes long before the nal moments. Dan Poulter, the health minister, said planned changes to the NHS constitution, including a new right for complaints to be acknowledged within 72 hours and enhanced rights to ensure complaints are handled openly, would help improve the situation. Denis Campbell

NHS failings aggravate distress over blunders

The NHS is adding to the distress of patients who have suered because of sta blunders by handling their complaints badly, for example by not explaining what went wrong, the health service ombudsman warns today. The number of patients and relatives complaining about the NHS in England failing to acknowledge mistakes jumped by 50% last year from 1,014 to 1,523. Complaints about trusts providing poor explanations also rose sharply, from 1,163 to 1,655 up by 42%. Complainants dissatised with the explanation the NHS organisation had given them also increased, from 1,362 to 1,542 (up 13%), according to the latest annual report into the NHSs handling of complaints by the parliamentary and health service ombudsman, Dame Julie Mellor. All too often the people who come to us for help are unhappy because of the careless communication, insincere apologies and unclear explanations theyve received from the NHS. A poor response

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

17

Courts

Abu Hamzas son gets 11 years for jewel robbery

The son of the Islamist cleric Abu Hamza turned to crime after being shunned by schoolmates because of his fathers notoriety, a court has heard. Norwich crown court was told that Imran Mostafa, 20, was sucked into oending because he had been isolated from mainstream society as parents warned their children to stay away from him. As he was sentenced to 11 years yesterday for his part in a robbery, Mostafas barrister told how he had a normal relationship with his father until the age of 11, when Abu Hamza was jailed. Since being remanded in custody, he had been placed in segregation because of the identity of his father. Price said Mostafa had been hit hard by Abu Hamzas recent extradition to the US, adding: He knows he will never see his father again. The robbery happened at the Francis Wain store in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, on 31 January. Gems worth about 70,000 were stolen. Mostafa had denied robbery and possessing a rearm with intent to commit an oence along with Jonathan Abdul, 18, from London, but both were convicted after a trial in September. PA

sequently resigned as chief whip after admitting swearing at police. Human rights groups have criticised Britains move because an interim UN report has alleged Rwandan support for the M23 rebel group operating in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Led by Bosco Ntaganda, a warlord wanted by the international criminal court, M23 has been ghting government soldiers in eastern DRCs North Kivu province since April. The UK is Rwandas biggest bilateral donor and plans to spend an average of 83m a year there until 2015. The Department for International Development says Rwanda has made impressive progress since the 1994 genocide, although more than half of the population still lives in poverty. Following the UN report, however, Britain suspended 16m in general budget support money that goes directly to the Rwandan government in July. Mark Tran

Street lighting man

The three were anked in the dock by 11 prison ocers, and a line of ve sat behind the couple, separating them from Mosley. Mrs Justice Kate Thirwall remanded the three in custody. They are expected to appear again at Birmingham crown court at 2pm on 29 November. PA

Local government

Pickles to ease removal of town hall chiefs

Measures to make it easier to dismiss highly paid but incompetent local government chief executives without excessive payos are to be introduced by the communities secretary, Eric Pickles. He will also urge more councils to consider abolishing the role of chief executive altogether, or to try to merge the post across councils. Pickles says slow and costly bureaucracy, unique to the role of a local council chief executive, requires councils to appoint an independent person, usually a QC, to review dismissal and disciplinary cases involving chief executives. He claims the costs of these cases can be so big that councils often prefer to give chief executives generous payos rather than go through an expensive legal process. The Isles of Scilly council has recently suspended its chief executive pending one such investigation. The review process can cost between 100,000 and 250,000 excluding investigation costs and salary for the suspended ocer. One case cost 420,000 and took 16 months to adjudicate, ministers say. The move was welcomed by Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of the TaxPayers Alliance. He said: Chief executives at successful councils have nothing to fear from this change but it will stop any complacency among those who arent doing what they can to deliver value for money. Elected councillors need to be able to change a chief executive without paying a reward for failure at the expense of local residents. Patrick Wintour

Courts

Parents deny murders of six children

The parents of six children who died when a re tore through their home have pleaded not guilty to six counts of murder. Mick Philpott, 55, and his wife, Mairead, 31, appeared at Nottingham crown court yesterday charged with the murder of Jade Philpott, 10, and her brothers John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, Jayden, ve, and 13-year-old Duwayne. The children died after the blaze engulfed their semi-detached house in Allenton, Derby, on 11 May. Mick Philpott broke down in tears and held his head in his hands as he entered his plea to each of the six charges. His wife appeared more composed as she also pleaded not guilty, but became tearful during the hour-long hearing. A second man, charged with the six murders by Derby police on Monday, also appeared in the dock. Paul Mosley, 45, did not speak during the hearing.

Aid

Mitchell denies rogue action over Rwanda

Andrew Mitchell, the former international development secretary, has insisted that the decision to restore 16m in aid to Rwanda was a collective one and not the action of a rogue minister. Mitchell told MPs on the international development committee that he had acted with absolute propriety when he took the decision on his last day in oce before being appointed chief whip in a government reshue. Mitchell sub-

Carnaby Street in London features Christmas decorations co-designed by the Rolling Stones Photograph: David Parry/PA Wire

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

19

National
Corby byelection

Lunchtime volley Alan Kane, Alastair Melville and John Brown will back Labour but Ken Gill is moving right to Ukip after Louise Mensch ended his lifetime allegiance to Labour in 2010 Photograph: David Sillitoe for the Guardian

Three pints of lager and an MP who wont prefer Manhattan, please?

John Harris tests opinion at the Grampian Association in Corby, where Labour is hoping to wrest back the constituency from the Tories
The HQ of the Corby Grampian Association suggests a small slice of urban Scotland dropped hundreds of miles south of the border. In the ballroom, couples at a lunchtime tea dance swirl around an interior decked with miniature saltires and on 30 November, St Andrews Day will be celebrated with the help of the associations pipe band, a Scottish disco, and one Gerry Trew, with his tribute to Rod Stewart. Founded in 1978, this place is a monument to the Corby Scots: the thousands-strong tribe who rst came here before the second world war to toil in the towns then-vast steelworks. On the face of it, it is not the most obvious place to have a conversation about Louise Mensch, the bonkbuster novelistturned Tory MP who briey became a metropolitan sensation before marrying the manager of Metallica and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, announcing her exit from Westminster due to the pressures of raising her family and a transatlantic relationship, and relocating to Manhattan. But Mensch was, if only briey, Corbys MP and her resignation triggered the byelection next Thursday that will provide this parliaments rst solid indicator of the state of play between Labour and the Tories. In this corner of the constituency, they are not exactly sorry to see her go: when I mention her name to a four-strong crew of lunchtime drinkers, a volley of voices comes back at me, in a ash: She let Corby down She never liked Corby, as opposed to the more rural areas the Conservative strongholds Corby was too working class for her. Alastair Melville (drinking Fosters), who packs goods at a local Asda home-shopping depot, is 19 and will be backing Labour when he registers his rst ever vote next week. Alan Kane (scotch), 55, and 57-year-old John Brown (Carlsberg) will be doing the same, thanks to apparently deep party loyalty. But 65-year-old Ken Gill (Carling Black Label) ended a lifetime of Labour voting by backing the Tories in 2010, chiey thanks to his anger about the towns then Labour MP and health minister, Phil Hope, paying back more than 40,000 in expense claims for furniture and ttings for his London at. Gill is now going to support Ukip, partly because of his feelings about immigration from eastern Europe. Im sure its keeping local people out of a job, he says. And Im dead set against this European Union. We seem to be getting nothing out of it. I was last in this part of England ve years ago. Mensch then known by her maiden name, Bagshawe had just moved here and begun campaigning, assisted by funds supplied by the Tory benefactor Michael Ashcroft. their candidate, 55-year-old Christine Emmett who, like her cabinet chaperone, is a throwback to the pre-Cameron era: a proudly state-educated Liverpudlian with a background in business, who was the rst in her family to go to university, and felt the calling of politics when she started throwing things at the television when Tony Blair was on. Her leaets boast of her opposition to the imposition of windfarms on the rural communities a conviction she repeats when I ask her how she aims to dierentiate herself from the Lib Dem candidate, Jill Hope, when the two of them are standing on the same two-year record. There are quite a few points of dierence, she says. I dont agree with wind turbines. I want a negotiated exit from Europe This is interesting. She wants out? Eventually, at the right time. So shes a wee bit o-message, as they may or may not say in Corby. Am I really? People here need an independent-minded Conservative MP wholl represent them, and do the very best for them. And thats what I intend to do. Ill be the best MP theyve ever had. Unfortunately, even people on Emmetts own side seem doubtful about her winning next Thursday (a day that will also see contests in the Labourheld seats of Manchester Central and Cardi South and Penarth, as well as 41 contests for would-be police and crime commissioners, with three more byelections a fortnight later). Whereas he enthusiastically bankrolled her predecessor, Ashcroft has this time spent money doing detailed polling in Corby and has concluded that Labour may be leading the Conservatives here by as many as 22 percentage points. On that evidence, Ed Milibands people would retake the seat on a 13% swing. I spoke to Lord Ashcroft and weve agreed that hes wrong, says Emmett, but on the Labour side, his ndings seem to have led to a visible spring in peoples step. Midway through its time in power, Labour got in the habit of running byelection campaigns on recurrently shrill themes: immigration, crime, yobs. This one, helmed by the Midlands MP Ian Austin, is very dierent, if a little myopic: the issue that dominates all the partys campaign bumf is the future of Kettering hospital, which serves the most populous parts of the constituency and is the subject of a review of health provision across this area, along with Northampton, Milton Keynes, Luton, Dunstable and Bedford. One option apparently being considered is a cut in Ketterings bed numbers from 658 to 143, and the downgrading of A&E and maternity services: the Tories say the paper that makes this suggestion is a mere working document and arguing about bed numbers is tantamount to believing a hospital is a museum, but Labour clearly think banging on about the hospital is a political no-brainer. Their candidate, Andy Sawford, 36, seems to have little of his Conservatives opponents zeal and vim. A quiet and very measured operator who works for a thinktank-cum-membershipgroup called the Local Government Information Unit, hes the son of the one-time Labour MP for Kettering, Phil Sawford. Perhap the single Perhaps most remarkable th thing about him is his recent w weight loss: whereas most of his leaets show him as a somewhat so rotund gure, he seems to have lost at least three stone a matter, he tells m of workme, ing really hard. Maybe its left him knackh ered, but when we talk in the backroom of a backro campaign oce in campai the small agricultural town of Thrapston, he answers most questions using standard-issue candidates boilerplate. Why, I wonder, does he fancy being an MP? Im a local person. Ive been around this area my whole life. And I think its really important that theres someone to ght for services here, and jobs in this area . What about the fact that his dad was a local MP? How does he feel about suggestions of nepotism? What people care most about is the kind of job Im going to do for them if Im elected as their MP. They want to know that youre going to go down there and ght their corner. I think people are judging me more on what Ive done.

Miserable

Hope, who would narrowly lose this bellwether seat on a Labour-to-Tory swing of 3.4%, was bemoaning the fact that his new opponent was a millionaire, and shes got the Ashcroft money behind her as well. Then, like now, I split my time between the brutalist centre of Corby, and a handful of the smaller towns and villages that seem to exist in a dierent world: Thrapston, Irthlingborough and Oundle, the cutesy settlement built around the public school of the same name (and, weirdly, the one-time home of Billy Bragg, who wrote his enduring classic A New England at No 15 North Street, two minutes from the short stay car park). The car park is where I nd a small gang of Tories engaged in the briefest of walkabouts, led by the unmistakeable communities secretary, Eric Pickles, and

Millionaire

She let Corby down She ed never liked Corby Corby was too working class
On Louise Mensch sch

Today, the Pickles to Sawfords Christine Emmett is David Miliband, who leads a walk around Thrapstons shops and market stalls, popping into a local salon (Hairdressers for Labour! he exclaims), inquiring about the state of demand for fresh sh (well down, it seems), and elding questions from a local BBC crew about the arrival in the ITV jungle of Nadine Dorries. As he sees it, Sawfords campaign is a case study in the pavement politics Labour must grasp if its to improve its fairly miserable levels of representation in southern England, a point he sums up in a typically Milibandian ourish: As we oer our support to campaigns the community cares about, when we run campaigns, theyll be more likely to support us. That requires us to change the Labour party, so it looks outwards and forwards, not inwards and backwards. Theyll surely take the seat back, but Labour insiders claim to be nervy, reckoning that suggestions of a 20-point lead underestimate how many votes will go to other parties (including Democracy 2015 and the good old Elvis Loves Pets party), and that one of their key jobs will be getting core supporters out to vote. But back at the Grampian Association, someone has words that will warm their hearts. Im maybe still living in the world of 20 years ago, but Ive always thought that if you dont vote Labour, thats one the Tories have won, says Alan Kane. So thats what Ill be doing.

20

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

National

EU and trade rules blamed for lack of action on ash disease in 2009
Government was aware of danger, letters suggest FoE says trade rules must not bar species protection
John Vidal Environment editor
The government claimed it was powerless to ban imports of infected trees because its hands were tied by EU and world trade rules when it was warned in September 2009 that ash dieback disease could have a huge impact on the British countryside, the Guardian has learned. Letters between the garden industrys trade body, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), and the Forestry Commissions plant health service suggest the Labour government knew of the potential seriousness of the disease when the HTA wrote in September 2009 saying Danish forests were seriously aected. The situation is indeed worrying and I am aware of and share the concerns that many feel, head of plant health Roddie Burgess replied to the HTA chair. Burgess wrote that it had become apparent fairly recently that the disease which the commission understood to be caused by Chalara fraxinea had a form caused by a dierent fungus called Hymenoscyphus albidus. This, he said, was widespread across Europe, including here in Britain. This fact alone precludes us from initiating an emergency response under the European Union plant health directive and we would also fall foul of our international obligations under the World Trade Organisation, he wrote. He added: I hope you understand how our hands are tied. All I can recommend maintained that it believed the disease in the Danish trees was also in Britain and that it could do nothing. On Tuesday the environment secretary, Owen Paterson, told the environment, food and rural aairs committee that the government and plant sector had been guilty in the past of treating trees and plants as a commodity and needed a change of attitude. The letters were obtained by Friends of the Earth (FoE) under a freedom of information request. FoEs executive director, Andy Atkins, said: Urgent lessons must be learnt from this latest asco world trade rules and politics mustnt be allowed to prevent the Forestry Commission and other wildlife watchdogs from taking action to protect our precious environment. The UK is already paying a high price for government dithering over ash dieback. We cant aord to make the same mistake when it comes to protecting the British countryside from threats like ooding, drought and the loss of species, such as bees. Labour renewed its attack on what it said were unacceptable government delays in acting this year after the rst UK case was identied. Ministers were told about the presence of ash dieback in the country on 3 April yet waited till 29 October to ban ash imports. This seven-month delay is a tragic example of the appalling incompetence and inertia which is a hallmark of this government, said Mary Creagh, shadow environment minister. Scientists tell us the disease loves wet conditions and spreads from June to October, but ministers failed to get a ban in place over the summer months. At a summit convened by Paterson on Wednesday to discuss proposals to tackle the disease, scientists said the fungus had probably arrived on the wind from Belgium and France.

G4S loses private prison contract

Alan Travis Home aairs editor
G4S, the private company at the centre of the Olympic security debacle, has lost its contract to run Britains rst private prison and failed to win any new contracts in the biggest round of prison privatisation in England and Wales so far. The Ministry of Justice said the management of the Wolds prison in east Yorkshire would go back to the public sector next July. The decision follows a critical report in August by the chief inspector of prisons which highlighted high levels of illegal drug use and signicant prisoner idleness. The justice secretary, Chris Grayling, however, has decided that ve of the nine jails in the latest round of prison contracts will be privatised. In a surprise move, ministers have also announced they intend to find 450m worth of savings by putting out to tender resettlement, maintenance and other ancillary services at all 120 public-sector prisons in England and Wales. The public sector is to be left only with core custodial functions in the majority of jails. The five prisons that ministers have decided to hand to the private sector include two HMP Castington and Acklington that are being combined into the new HMP Northumberland. Three jails Moorland, Hateld and Lindholme are being combined into a South Yorkshire prison cluster. There are three remaining bidders for these two contracts: Serco, Sodexho and MTC/Amey. The Ministry of Justice said the bids to run Coldingley, Durham and Onley prisons did not produce a sucient package of cost reductions, regime improvements and enough work for prisoners. They are to remain within the public sector. G4S said it was disappointed at the decision. An MoJ spokeswoman said the decision for G4S to lose the Wolds had not been inuenced by the Olympics contract asco. Nils Pratley, page 36

Letters suggest the government knew in 2009 about ash dieback disease

Fire tragedy house was burgled

Press Association
Police have said that the home where a mother and her ve children were killed by a re was burgled on the night of the tragedy. Sabah Usmani and her sons Sohaib, 11, and Rayyan, six, and daughter Hira, 13, died in Harlow, Essex, on 15 October, with a third son, Muneeb, nine, and daughter Maheen, three, dying later in hospital. Essex police said they believe there was a burglary in which a laptop belonging to the childrens father and the only member of the family to survive, Abdul Shakoor, was stolen. Detective Superintendent Rob Vinson said he was seeking to speak to a teenage boy and young girl who were seen throwing a laptop bag away near the family home. Ocers originally said they suspected the re was arson but later said no accelerant had been found at the scene. Vinson, the senior investigating ocer on the case, said: We believe [the] burglary took place after the family had gone to bed and before the re was discovered. Our inquiries have revealed that in Harlow during the same evening and early morning there were two other unsuccessful attempts to break in to other properties and one where entry was gained but the suspect was disturbed and nothing was taken. How these incidents relate to the current investigation is ongoing. Police also want to speak to a group of teenage boys who were outside the house in Barn Mead in the early hours of 15 October.

for the moment is that the industry carefully considers where it sources its planting material and monitors its purchases for signs of ill health. But the HTA in its letter was clear that the fungus was present in a new form in Europe and requested urgent action. The emergence of a new disease form is a threat to our industry, it said. We feel we must not just accept this pathogen as it has similarities to the virulent strain of Dutch elm disease some 40 years ago. The government which is responsible for the Forestry Commission through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Aairs has been widely criticised for not acting against the disease as soon as it was known it was in Europe and was likely to spread to Britain. But it has

22

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

National

Review A stunning act of theatrical reclamation

Michael Billington
The Orphan of Zhao The Swan, Stratford
This production of a Chinese classic has already caused controversy because only three actors out of a cast of 17 are of east Asian origin. But, although there are serious issues about the plight of east Asian actors, it would be sad if that obscured the fact that this is a stunning act of theatrical reclamation. Gregory Doran, as the new head of the RSC, has unearthed a drama and given it a superlative production. James Fenton has come up with a new version of a story that originated in China in the 4th century BC. It was later turned into a famous revenge tragedy and gradually percolated the west. Voltaire wrote his own version in 1753 and the Irish dramatist, Arthur Murphy, did another in 1759. Meanwhile in China the legend continues to inspire operas, plays and movies such as the recent Sacrice. Often described as the Chinese Hamlet, it reminds me more of the luminous parables of Brecht. So what is it about? Revenge, loss, self-sacrice. And, although its story may sound complex, in Fentons version it becomes magically clear. A decadent emperor wantonly massacres his own people with the aid of a corrupt courtier. But one of his ministers, Zhao Dun, vehemently protests and pays with his life. Zhaos wife, the empresss daughter, gives birth to a son who is smuggled to safety by a country doctor. And, when a Herod-like edict is issued demanding the slaughter of all newborn children, the doctor forestalls it by claiming that he knows where Zhaos missing son is hidden. What follows is a baby-swap that allows the orphan to survive. That is only the rst half; and although the second part, showing the 18-year-old orphan exacting his

Ex-police spy faked claims against activists

Angelique Chrisas Paris Rob Evans Paul Lewis
The former British police spy Mark Kennedy is being accused of making fake claims after leaked documents indicated he was the source behind claims that French activists were learning to make homemade bombs. Ten French leftwing activists are being investigated over an alleged terror plot to overthrow the state in a case that has been criticised by human rights lawyers. Leaked documents seen by the Guardian reveal how claims against some of the activists came from the British police unit for which Kennedy worked. The French authorities are not pursuing charges on this element. Instead, the activists are being investigated for allegedly sabotaging high-speed train lines in November 2008. They deny all charges against them. Kennedy met French campaigners at least twice; in France and New York. He is discredited in the UK, where he has admitted having sexual relationships with female activists. . Kennedys role in the French inquiry could jeopardise the most high-profile legal case on leftist activism in recent years. It centres on a raid by more than 100 French police in the village of Tarnac in November 2008, when anti-capitalists were arrested. French authorities alleged they were subversives intent on anarchist armed insurrection. French authorities accused Julien Coupat of being the groups ringleader. It has now emerged British police chiefs have been assisting French prosecutors building a case against the campaigners. The Metropolitan police said it would not comment on specic deployments. Kennedy could not be contacted for a comment.

Revenge, loss and self-sacrice in the Chinese Hamlet: Graham Turner (Dr Cheng Ying) and Jake Fairbrother (Cheng Bo) thrill the audience in a gripping production of The Orphan of Zhao Photograph: Tristram Kenton for the Guardian

revenge, is marginally less gripping, it is still powerfully moving. What we see is drama hewn out of a myth that speaks across the centuries. It deals with corruption and cruelty, the pain of mothers separated from their children and an unquenchable spirit of goodness. And, even if the revenge motif is nothing like as subtle or as complex as in Hamlet, we still see ghosts returning from the grave to urge the living to action. Dorans production also handles the story beautifully. Theres no fake chinoiserie: simply a skilful use of many of the stylised techniques of Chinese classical theatre. A violent masti is evoked through a massive puppet with three shadowy handlers. Every death is

marked by a shower of red petals. Sundry beatings are suggested by ailing sticks that never make physical contact. And, lest this sound as if cruelty is aestheticised, the audience gasps in horror

Although the story may seem complex, it has become magically clear in Fentons version

as they hear the sound of a puppetbabys neck being broken. The acting engenders none of the confusion experienced in the companys recent Mexican asco, A Soldier in Every Son. Joe Dixon as the brutal courtier, Graham Turner as the honest doctor, Jake Fairbrother as the restored orphan and Lucy Briggs-Owen as his demented mother all put their talents to the service of the story. Chris Lew Kum Hoi also makes a haunting belated appearance as the doctors son who was sacriced for the greater good; and, while I would have liked to see more Asian actors, this should not diminish the power of an extraordinary theatrical event. Until 28 March. Box oce: 0844 800 1110

24

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

China

No change in direction expected

Xi Jinping promises corruption crackdown but reforms are not on the agenda
Tania Branigan Beijing
Beneath the glowing red star, and in front of a giant hammer and sickle, Chinas Communist party delegates gathered yesterday to begin handing over control of the country that is home to a fth of the worlds population. On Tuesday, US citizens re-elected Barack Obama after a tightly fought contest. Now the worlds second major power is commencing its once-a-decade leadership transition. The question is not who will take charge Xi Jinping was anointed years ago but what he plans and is capable of doing. Outgoing leader Hu Jintao, general secretary and Chinas president, outlined the broad course for the new team: above all, it seemed, maintaining the partys tight grip on power. His report to the 18th party congress stressed staying in charge, not embracing change. He

Chinas leadership transition

Read more at guardian.co.uk/china
warned that failing to tackle corruption could prove fatal to the party and even cause the collapse of the party and the fall of the state, adding: Leading ocials should both exercise strict selfdiscipline and strengthen education and supervision over their family and sta. No one was above the law and whoever erred should face justice without mercy, he added, in the sharpest warning he has delivered about the dangers of ocial abuses. Some had hoped that this years spate of scandals and embarrassments would encourage the party to tackle the problem at its roots, through fundamental reforms. But Hu told delegates: We have held high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics and neither taken the old and rigid closed-door policy nor taken the erroneous path of changing the banner. Later he spelled out: We will never copy a western political system. Zhang Jian, a political scientist at Peking University, said the report appeared to have sent a very strong message to any expectations of reform: we are not going to change; we are going to stay where we are. Chen Ziming, an independent Beijingbased scholar, said: I did not expect

China in numbers
Investment Overseas
Total in US$

$21.4bn
$5.1bn
2002 2012

SOURCE: CHINAS PRESENCE IN AFRICA REPORT, A CAPITAL

Everything in the DFS Winter Collection is half price and if you order now many great designs are guaranteed to be in your home before Christmas

Bardot
now

799
after event price

1598

Cavalier
now

699
after event price

1398

any big breakthrough, but this time there is not even a small breakthrough. The congress, held in Beijings cavernous Great Hall of the People, is oldschool Communist pomp. Its political outcomes are as choreographed as the red-jacketed attendants who stepped across the dais in Busby Berkeley unison to top up the cups of tea. Its almost like a show for the party. The main decisions have been made already, said Dali Yang, a political scientist at the University of Chicago. Steve Tsang, an expert on Chinese politics at the University of Nottingham, said: We dont have a say on politics in China, but neither do its citizens or, for that matter, most of the 82 million members of the Communist party. That doesnt mean it isnt important. The leadership will decide what happens to the worlds second largest economy over the next 10 years. The real question is not who rises and falls but whether they will be able to work together and have the capacity to introduce reforms for restructuring the economy. China has transformed itself since Hu took power. In 2002, it was the worlds sixth largest economy; now it is the second. It is, for the rst time, a predominantly urban nation, with just over half its 1.4 billion citizens living in cities. Its global might is growing. Yet most say Hu has overseen a decade of maintaining the status quo, concluding with an annus horribilis for the leadership. The case of politician Bo

Divorces

2.87 million
570,000
2002
SOURCE: MINISTRY OF CIVIL AFFAIRS

2011

Cement consumption
tons

2.10bn

1.85bn

0.72bn
2002 2009 2010

SOURCE: INTERNATIONAL CEMENT REVIEW

making Christmas more comfortable

Visit your nearest store, order direct at www.dfs.co.uk or call free on 0800 110 5000 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Bardot 4 seater sofa, cushions included and Cavalier 3 seater sofa. Delivery charges apply. After event price applies from 26.11.12 see instore or online for details. Mobile charges may apply when calling 0800 110 5000. DFS is a division of DFS Trading Ltd. Registered in England and Wales No 01735950. Redhouse Interchange, Doncaster, DN6 7NA.

Audio Hear the latest podcasts and subscribe for free guardian. co.uk/ podcasts

Bottles of wine consumed

1,600m
700m
2002
SOURCE: CNN

(est)

2011

Xilai now awaiting prosecution after his wifes conviction for murdering British businessman Neil Heywood and other revelations about leaders and their families have fed public scepticism. Meanwhile, economic, social, political and environmental problems have accumulated over years of unbalanced, breakneck growth in a state-dominated economy, and threaten to become still more evident as the pace of growth ebbs. The sense of both crisis and stasis has amplied calls for change. The report to congress reviews the ve years since the last meeting and lays out a general path ahead. Consensus and continuity are crucial; the document is circulated widely and takes several months, numerous drafts and countless revisions to produce. The delegates will have known the content before they arrived in the hall though Xi scribbled assiduously throughout. Hus predeces-

sor, Jiang Zemin, looked less enthralled, glancing at his watch and yawning during the 90-minute address, an edited version of the report. Jiang had entered with Hu and sat beside him, highlighting the power he still wields. Xi will be rst among equals in the new Politburo select committee, which will almost certainly be all male, as it always has. The line-up will be announced next week after the members are formally appointed by the central committee itself chosen by the 2,268 congress delegates. In reality it results from years of backroom politicking by incumbents and party patriarchs. Hus speech nodded to the risks and challenges the new leaders face. Social problems have increased markedly, it warned, and there was perhaps marginally more stress on the need to support the rural poor and integrate urban and rural development. There was also a possible hint at strengthening the role of the market. Environmental issues had a section to themselves for the rst time. In a reection of broad social concerns, Hu also stressed the need to improve civic morality and to exalt the true, the good and the beautiful and reject the false, the evil and the ugly. But overall the blandness was a tting nale to 10 years of Huism, said Kerry Brown, professor of Chinese politics at the University of Sydney. When you think of the extraordinary events going on, and put it beside Obamas victory speech, you realise we are dealing with an elite from another planet.
GDP per capita
(current US$)

$1,135.45 2002 $5,444.79 2011

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

Gallery Chinas leadership gathers for the Communist Party Congress guardian.co.uk/inpictures

as new chief takes reins of power

Tibet

25

Five protesters set themselves alight in one day, says report

Jonathan Kaiman Beijing
Five Tibetans, including three teenage monks, a young mother and a man, have set themselves on re in protest against Chinese rule, according to Tibetan rights groups. At least two of them have died. The ve self-immolations the most recorded by Tibetans in one day came a day before the start of the week-long Communist party congress in Beijing that will usher in Chinas new political leadership. The three monks set themselves on re at about 3pm on Wednesday outside a police station in Ngaba county, Sichuan province, while calling for freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama, according to Radio Free Asia. One of the monks, 15-year-old Dorje, died at the scene, while the other two 16-year-olds Dorje Kyab and Samdrub were taken to hospital by security ocers. Their condition is unknown. The Londonbased group Free Tibet called the incident the rst triple self-immolation protest to happen in Tibet. About three hours later, a 23-year-old woman in Rebkong county, Qinghai province, burned herself to death, leaving a young son. Tamdin Tso siphoned petrol from a motorbike and set re to herself, Free Tibet reported on its website. Her body was taken back to the family home where people gathered to pray. About 3,000 local Tibetans took to the streets to protest against Chinese rule after the woman died, according to Radio Free Asia. The broadcaster also reported that a fth Tibetan set himself alight in the Tibet autonomous regions Nagchu prefecture, but did not give a name. The reports could not be independently veried. Calls to the Ngaba town police station were unanswered. According to the New York-based International Campaign for Tibet, 68 Tibetans have self-immolated since 2009, 55 of whom have died and nine of whom were women. Two-thirds have been under 25; the oldest was in his 60s. According to Tsering Tsomo, executive director for the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Dharamsala, India, Ngaba has faced tight restrictions since protests gripped the county in 2008. Tibetans are not allowed to enter or exit the area freely, she said. Authorities require locals to register with their IDs before they can buy ammable liquids. Its really surprising for us that these three immolations happened in Ngaba, given the internal surveillance in the area, she said. The Chinese government has introduced country-wide regulations for the 18th party congress, a once in a decade leadership transition, that began yesterday morning. Authorities have already embarked on a patriotic education campaign in Tibet, forcing monks to hang portraits of Communist party leaders on monastery walls. They have also oered cash rewards as high as 19,000 for information on self-immolations and protests.

The 18th National Congress of the Communist party of China opens in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday. Above, a delegate from the Mongolian ethnic minority; right, two hotel guides pose with a paramilitary policeman outside; and below, a delegate yawns Main photograph: Li Xueren/Xinhua Press/Corbis

Expert views
Chinas president-in-waiting, Xi Jinping, has 10 years to take his country forward. We asked ve experts what single thing he should do to achieve that.
Wen Yunchao, Hong Kong-based blogger known as Bei Feng The biggest problem isnt political reform, its the economy. Chinas economic situation right now is terrible. Just look at southern China. They should break the monopolies of stateowned enterprises. They should also give the public a space on the internet for opinion polls. People are very unsatised with things, and if there are no major changes in the next few years then public opinion, social protests and political protests will all move beyond the governments control. Bo Zhiyue, senior research fellow, East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore The rst thing would be to do something about corruption in the Chinese Communist party, because its so rampant. If they dont do anything about this they will lose credibility very quickly. There are huge vested interests behind this corruption, and a lot of government ocials and party leaders are a part of these vested interests. So they themselves are liable. Eventually the credibility decit will become so huge that it could mean the collapse of the CCP as the ruling party. Li Bo, head of environmental NGO Friends of Nature The environmental assessment of development projects should be much more open. Right now, according to the law, there is a process for environmental impact assessment. But these processes arent very open, and their discussions arent transparent. Because of this many projects are approved, and then their problems are only discovered afterwards. This causes a lot of fear and rage. These things can really tear a society apart. Yan Anthea Zhang, professor at China Europe International Business School in Shanghai The Chinese government has been encouraging indigenous innovation within the last ve to 10 years and the number of patent applications has gone up very quickly. But there are questions about patent quality. Too much funding has been spent on fast, easy projects instead of big, long-term, risky projects with great potential. Based on my research, ling a high number of patents can help a company get R&D funding from the government, even if the number of patents has no eect on post-intellectual property oce performance. So theres a signicant waste of capital, and the basic ability of Chinese companies may be overestimated. Zhang Ming, political science professor, Renmin University, Beijing Right now Chinas economic situation isnt very good. To x this, the best method for China would be to open up its state-owned enterprises, to break them down into private enterprises. If they do this then there will be a positive turn in the economy, and then they might have enough capital for political reform. If theres no reform, the consequences will be severe. Jonathan Kaiman

26

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

Eyewitness Novaya Zemlya, Russia

Clihanger This picture of a young polar bear in Novaya Zemlya, Russia, searching for guillemot eggs is part of a free exhibition of press images from around the world at the Southbank Centre, London, until 27 November Photograph: Jenny E Ross

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

Gallery More images from the Southbank Centre exhibition guardian.co.uk/artanddesign

27

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

29

International

From pigs tum to dim sum, Germanys stars are rising

Kate Connolly Berlin
Stuffed pigs stomach (saumagen) or horses meat in vinegar (sauerbraten) may not cause most gourmands to salivate immediately. But European diners are being encouraged to try such German delights after a record number of German restaurants won Michelin star status. La Belle Epoque restaurant in LbeckTravemnde became the 10th German establishment to earn the three-star status in Michelins 2013 guide. Kevin Fehling, the Baltic restaurants 35-yearold chef, created dishes that the guide says typied the best of modern German cuisine. Fehling was praised for giving a modern touch to established dishes, earning accolades for his eisbein mit sauerkraut (salted knuckle pork with pickled cabbage). His secret? I dont copy anyone and I set myself goals. My stomach is my guide, Fehling said, adding that his main aim now was to hold onto the star, a hard enough task in itself. Michelin says Germany is now ranked only behind France in Europe in terms of top restaurants, with its top chefs producing extraordinarily varied and experimental food that is very open to the cuisines of the world. France has 26 three-star restaurants. Food critics say a more telling sign of Germanys culinary rise was the number of restaurants in the very respectable two-star category, which has doubled to 36 since 2010. Germany now has 255 restaurants listed in the Guide Rouge. Other star chefs include Harald Wohlfahrt of Schwarzwaldstube in Baiersbronn, in the Black Forest, who earned his three-star status in 1992 and has retained Free Syrian Army ghters re a rocket towards pro-government forces in Harem town Photograph: Asmaa Waguih/Reuters it ever since. Wohlfahrt is seen as something of a spiritus rector, having trained ve of the current three-star chefs. Theres also Douce Steiner, the first female chef in Germany to earn the twostar status. Steiner, who runs a restaurant with her husband in Sulzburg, south-west Germany, learned from her two-star chef father. She is known for her delicate sauces. Berlins Tim Raue was upheld as the chef with the most international outlook, having wowed inspectors with his dim sum. They are highly qualied, motivated and have an intuition for taste, said Ralf Chef Harald Wohlfahrt says Germanys culinary reputation is rising in line with the countrys growing wealth Flinkengel, Michelins editor-in-chief and top taster, adding that one of the secrets to German success was that they were not afraid to go their own way and were not tempted to follow every trend. None of them is copying anyone they are unbelievably diverse, he said. Wohlfahrt said developments in German kitchens were a logical consequence of the countrys growing wealth. Where people have money and time, its clear that a culinary culture will eventually evolve, he said, adding that the status of chefs had risen in Germany, as they had elsewhere. So, whos for saumagen and sauerbraten now? Or maybe some Kohlwurst (lung sausage) or Stippgrtze (barley groats in sausage juice)?

Deant Assad vows to live or die in Syria and warns against invasion
Country a base for regional stability, Russian TV told Opposition groups in disarray at unity talks
Ian Black Middle East editor
Bashar al-Assad has vowed to live or die in Syria, warning against any foreign intervention in the crisis and defending his war-torn country as the last stronghold of secularism and stability in the region. Speaking to Russia Today TV, the Syrian president made clear he had no intention of eeing abroad days after David Cameron suggested he could be oered safe passage if he stepped down. I am not a puppet. I was not made by the west to go to the west or to any other country, Assad said during the interview, to be broadcast today. I am Syrian, I was made in Syria, I have to live in Syria and die in Syria. I do not think the west is going [to intervene], but if they do so, nobody can tell what is next. I think the price of this invasion if it happened is going to be more than the whole world can aord. Assads unwavering message albeit via an interviewer from a country that backs his government contrasts with the disarray among members of opposition groups meeting in the Qatari capital, Doha, for what was supposed to be a drive for the greater unity urgently demanded by western countries. It also seemed intended to signal to a reelected Barack Obama, struggling with the Syrian crisis as he contemplates his second term, that Assad does not plan to change tack despite international condemnation of a policy that has cost an estimated 35,000 lives in the past 20 months. But the gravity of the situation was underlined, as it is daily, by new reports of violence across the country. The International Red Cross also said it was unable to cope with the needs of a growing number of refugees. The humanitarian situation is getting worse despite the scope of the operation increasing, said Peter Maurer, its president. In Doha there was confusion and uncertainty about the outcome of a meeting of the Syrian National Council (SNC), the main foreign-based opposition group. It chose a new secretariat, with gains for the Muslim Brotherhood which were described by the commentator Malik alAbdeh as an aggressive takeover. But the election of a new leader was delayed until today to allow four members representing women and minorities to be added. Riyad Seif, a west-backed veteran dissident, failed to be elected. Seif launched a more inclusive Syrian national initiative to subsume the underperforming SNC and take in other groups, especially those representing activists on the ground. His plan called for the creation of a military council and a transitional government-in-waiting along the lines of Libyas Transitional National Council, which galvanised international political and military support for its successful battle to topple Muammar Gadda last year. The hope is that a military council could establish a monopoly over strategy and weapons amid concern that arms are now owing more freely to extremist Sala or jihadi groups supported by wealthy Gulf Arabs. If it is united and credible enough, the theory goes, the opposition would eventually be able to negotiate a political transition for a post-Assad Syria. Britains representative to the opposition, Jon Wilks, said he was staying in Doha, with other diplomats, to try to help forge agreement. He said: The Syrian opposition have recognised the need to build bridges between the SNC and others, particularly internal [groups]. Anti-Assad Syrians were scathing. I think the SNC should form a revolutionary court and execute itself, tweeted the exiled activist @BSyria. David Hirst, page 38

Iranian blogger tortured to death

Saeed Kamali Dehghan
Iran has been accused of torturing to death a blogger who was arrested last week for criticising the Islamic republic on Facebook. Irans cyber-police, known as Fata , picked up Sattar Beheshti from his home in Robat-Karim last week on suspicion of acting against the national security because of his online activities on social networking sites. He was then taken to Tehrans notorious Evin prison. Beheshtis family heard no news of him until Wednesday, when they were phoned by prison ocials asking them to collect his body from the Kahrizak coroners office. The opposition has accused Iranian ocials of torturing the 35-year-old blogger to death. Beheshtis body was washed according to Islamic rituals on Thursday in Beheshte-Zahras cemetery, south of Tehran, and later buried in his home town amid a tight security presence. Only one family member was allowed to attend the ceremony, carried out by security ocials. Kaleme, a news website close to the opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, was the rst to report the bloggers death. Irans state media have largely refrained from reporting on Beheshtis case but the site Baztab, aliated to Mohsen Rezaei, a former senior commander of the Revolutionary Guard, conrmed his death. Sattar Beheshti, who was arrested by Fata [cyber] police, has died while being interrogated, Baztab reported. Before his arrest, Beheshti had complained on his blog of being threatened by the authorities. They threatened me yesterday that my mother would wear black because I dont shut my mouth, he wrote. Beheshti had been arrested previously for his activism. While in jail, Beheshti had officially complained that he was mistreated and tortured, according to Kaleme. Iranian authorities have so far refused to comment on Beheshtis death or the allegations of torture but one MP, Mansour Haghighatpour, told the semi-ocial Ilna news agency it was not necessary for parliamentarians to investigate the situation.

Manning admits he handled WikiLeaks material

Ed Pilkington New York
Bradley Manning, the US soldier facing life in prison for allegedly having leaked hundreds of thousands of state secrets to WikiLeaks, has indicated publicly for the rst time that he accepts responsibility for handing some information to the website. Mannings defence lawyer, David Coombs, told a pre-trial hearing before his court martial that the soldier wanted to oer a guilty plea for some oences. The move is the rst time Manning has given any public indication that he played a part in the breach of condential US material. The statement is technically known as pleading by exceptions and substitutions. By taking this legal route, Manning is not pleading guilty to any of the 22 charges brought against him, nor is he making a plea bargain, but he is asking the court to rule on whether or not his plea accepting limited responsibility is admissible in the case. Coombs set out the details in a statement posted on his website after the hearing. Should the judge presiding over Mannings court martial allow the soldier to plead guilty by exceptions and substitutions, army prosecutors could still decide to press on with all 22 counts. In this instance, Manning would continue to face the most serious charge of aiding the enemy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in military custody with no chance of parole. The trial has been scheduled to start on 4 February and to last for six weeks. In court this week, Manning also indicated that he had decided that the trial should be conducted by a judge sitting alone, rejecting the option of having a jury. According to a report of the pre-trial hearing by Kevin Gosztola of the website Firedoglake, Mannings oer of a plea is intended to simplify the evidentiary element of the trial. By accepting responsibility for transferring some information, the soldier would avoid pleading to serious oences including breaches of the Espionage Act the aiding the enemy count and Computer Fraud and Abuses Act. I t remains unclear precisely what the soldier admits. It could be that he is accepting responsibility for some of the WikiLeaks documents but not others, or to some form of electronic transfer but not others. What is clear that this is an important step in the legal process, as Manning has for the first time attached his own name to the WikiLeaks material.

30

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

Obama victory

New warning to Republicans on

Senior Obama adviser says it is no longer business as usual as report from IMF claims failure to strike deal on scal cli could result in widespread recession
Ewen MacAskill Washington Larry Elliott
Democrats warned Republicans in Congress yesterday against seeking to wreck Barack Obamas second term by adopting confrontational strategies that risk bringing Washington to a standstill. One senior Obama adviser, David Axelrod, said it was no longer business as usual and the American public did not want to see a return to the kind of deadlock they had witnessed over the last two years. If the attitude [of the Republicans] is that nothing happened on Tuesday, that would be unfortunate, Axelrod said in an interview. His words came amid fears of a renewed clash between the White House and the Republican-led House of Representatives over debt and spending, the so-called scal cli , with a 1 January deadline looming. The crisis began to bubble up as Obama spent his rst full day back in the White House since the election, laying plans for his second term including a major cabinet reshuffle. Recriminations were already ying in Republican circles as Mitt Romney wound up his campaign, thanking donors and sta. The security detail that followed him around for months has been withdrawn and his codename, Javelin, has been deactivated. The seriousness of the scal cli crisis was underlined by an International Monetary Fund report yesterday warning that failure by Obama and Congress to strike a deal on raising the US debt ceiling could result in the country suering a technical default. It cautioned Washington against trying to kick the can down the road, as

Clinton v Bush 2016?

he Washington political media abhors a news vacuum and so it is that a dream contest between Hillary Clinton on the Democratic side and Jeb Bush for the Republicans, below, has stepped into the breach. With breaking news short in supply after the election, the ever-breathless Politico website was the rst to go large on the subject, with a banner headline of 2016 election: Hillary Clinton v Jeb Bush? with the question mark as the only hint of reticence. Whats certain, Politicos reporters declared, is that Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush loom the largest over their respective parties as the long road toward 2016 begins. That may be true for Clinton. She is most obviously next in line, given her ngertip loss to Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination in 2008 and her subsequent performance as secretary of state. And the Democrat bench is thin otherwise, meaning there are no obvious Obama-like candidates to andidates compete against. There is of course Joe Biden, but the biggest barrier to a Clinton nomination is herself: whether or not she wants to run, and its not clear that she does. Other candidates being g chatted about include

New York governor Andrew Cuomo and even Ohios blue-collar senator Sherrod Brown. Some tout newly-elected senator Elizabeth Warren. For Bush the outlook is less certain because of the array of candidates waiting on the GOP sidelines. In the red corner there are a binder-full of plausible candidates of all ideological shapes and sizes. New Jersey governor Chris Christie may have made his chances a lot more dicult with his public embrace of Obama after Hurricane Sandy but that had more to do with him winning reelection next year, a necessary condition for a tilt at the GOP nomination in 2016. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, Wisconsins superstar governor Scott Walker, and VP candidate Paul Ryan all stand out as strong contenders whether or not Jeb Bush runs. But make no mistake: with his name and track record, Bush would be a leading contender. As governor of Florida he championed education reform, and had a record of support from Hispanic voters that the GOP despe GOP desperately needs to O emulate. emulate So yes, America y could be in for a repeat 1992 of 199 and a country that spurned aristocracy rac 240 years ago will wi have created one on by default. Richard Adams Rich

Coverage of the US election continues guardian. co.uk/world

the Republicans are suggesting, and outlined the risks to business and consumer condence from protracted uncertainty. It warned that if the US fell o the scal cli the result would be a recession with large international spillover. Axelrod, in his interview with MSNBC, was primarily concerned about the confrontation over the scal cli. Hopefully people will read those results and read them as a vote for co-operation and will come to the table, he said. And obviously, everyones going to have to come with an open mind to these discussions. The Republicans, however, may choose to interpret the election dierently: if the electorate had really wanted an end to confrontation they would have given the Democrats a majority in the House as well as the Senate. The Democrats increased their representation in the 100-seat Senate from 51 to 53 and will receive the support of at least one of the independents. The other is also likely to back the Democrats but has not yet said. The Republicans have dropped to 45. While some races have still to be called for the 435-seat House, the Republicans have 234, well above the 218 needed for control, to the Democrats 194. The Republican House speaker, John Boehner, and the Democratic Senate leader, Harry Reid, both expressed a desire on Wednesday to work together. But neither oered any hint of a compromise. One of Obamas former economic advisers, Austan Goolsbee, told CNN he feared there would be one more death match. Almost no major legislation has been passed for at least 12 months in the stando with Congressional Republicans, many of them backed by the Tea Party. In the battles over spending and debt, Washington came close to shutting down. One senior Democrat in the Senate, Charles Schumer, opted to take Boehners hint of co-operation at face value, applauding him for his change of tone. Republican leaders had seen the handwriting on the wall. In Boston, Romney met some of his wealthiest donors on Wednesday, to thank them but also to oer an analysis of what had gone wrong. His Boston headquarters and eld oces across the country were being cleared and an oce in Washington where preparations had been under way for transition to the White House if he had won was ordered to be cleared by today. Some of his sta as well as Republicans outside his immediate campaign circle oered a range of explanations. One of the commonest was that Romney had lost vital campaign days last week because of superstorm Sandy. More brutal Republican critics blamed the candidate, describing him as bland, with no clear message. Others said that the Romney organisation fell far short of Obamas in identifying and getting out voters. With the result in Florida still not declared, there was no nal gure for the share of the popular vote. But it is unlikely to change signicantly from Obama with 51% down from 53% in 2008 to Romneys 48%. In spite of more than $1bn spent by Romney and his supporters, and an incumbent presiding over high unemployment, Romney managed to improve by only 2% on the 2008 Republican challenger, John McCain. A conservative commentator with a large following, Erick Erickson, founder of the blog RedState, described Romneys approach to Latinos as atrocious. Frankly, the fastest-growing demographic in America isnt going to vote for a party that sounds like that party hates brown people, Erickson said. One target for conservative ire was George W Bushs former strategist Karl Rove, co-founder of Crossroads, one of the biggest of the super-political action committees that raised hundreds of millions for the campaign, much of it from rich donors. The Hungton Post quoted a Republican as saying: The billionaire donors I hear are livid. There is some holy hell to pay. Karl Rove has a lot of explaining to do I dont know how you tell your donors that we spent $390m and got nothing. In the rst sign of Republicans already looking beyond this election to 2016, Senator Marco Rubio already touted as the frontrunner, announced he is to hold a meeting next week in Iowa, whose caucus normally marks the start of the nomination process.

Barack and Michelle Obama and their daughters,

Marriage equality

Tipping point
Karen McVeigh New York
Gay rights advocates say the US election was a tipping point in the battle for marriage equality and are readying themselves to take advantage of what they believe is an unstoppable cultural and generational shift in their favour. Voters came out in favour of marriage equality measures or against restrictions in four states, each of which would have been seen as a signicant victory alone. By winning the argument for marriage equality through a popular vote in Maine, Maryland and Washington, and defeating a proposed restriction in Minnesota, campaigners believe they have overturned a losing streak at the polls and knocked the wind out of the sails of their opponents. Over the last 14 years, there have been 32 previous attempts to put it on the ballot, each ending in defeat. Brian Ellner, of marriage equality group TheFour.com, said that America was now on a fast track to federal acceptance of marriage equality. My best estimate would have been two or three [states favouring gay marriage]. But to have all four is seismic and historic and opens a new chapter in this movement. In Maine, Maryland and Washington, voters approved or ratified same-sex union initiatives on the ballot, and in Minnesota voters rejected a state constitutional amendment banning it. The results mean that gay, lesbian and bisexual couples can now marry in nine states and the District of Columbia. The other states where legislative measures were already in place are Massachusetts, Iowa, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire and New York. Maryland will begin issuing marriage licences to same-sex couples on 1 January. Campaigners will now take the rights battle to four new states: New Jersey, Illinois,

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

31

tax and spending deadlock

Malia and Sasha, board Air Force One at Chicago OHare international airport on Wednesday. Obama spent his rst full day back in the White House yesterday Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images

First overseas visit

for gay rights, say campaigners Joy and anger greet news of trip to Burma
favour of same-sex marriage. It will give greater confidence to the next wave of decision makers, lawmakers and even justices of the supreme court. Wolfson said there were three reasons for the gains the cumulative eect of the campaigns eorts to engage the public, the example set in places where same-sex marriage already exists, where people can see with their own eyes that it helps families and no one is hurt, and betterrun and earlier campaigns compared with 2008. My mantra is there is no marriage without engagement. The more we engage with people to think it through, the more support we get. Chad Griffin, president of Human Rights Campaign, said: Years from now, well remember this election day as the most historic and the most important in the LGBT community. However, Wolfson said they still had work ahead of them to achieve full equality.Although we have tremendous momentum and we now have nine states with the freedom to marry plus the District of Columbia and possibly California, we still have a lot of states where people dont have that freedom. We also have federal marriage discrimination. The Defense of Marriage Act (Doma), a 1996 federal law, denes marriage as a union between a man and a woman and bars federal recognition of all same-sex marriages. It places restrictions on the raft of state laws that favour same-sex relationships. For instance, a couple legally married in New York can be discriminated against in other states if they move or receive an inheritance in another state which does not recognise the union. There were other wins for gay rights on Tuesday night. Tammy Baldwin, of Wisconsin, made history by becoming the rst openly gay senator to be elected to the Senate.

Jason Burke Delhi

Barack Obama will risk controversy to become the rst serving US president to visit Burma later this month on his rst trip overseas since his re-election. During what is likely to be a short stop in the secretive and still repressive southeast Asian country, Obama will meet both the countrys president, Thein Sein, and Aung San Suu Kyi, pictured below, the veteran democracy campaigner and Nobel prize laureate. The visit is likely to provoke great excitement as well as concern and anger among some Burmese. His presence would be the most signicant endorsement yet by the international community of Burmese reforms and its government. Representatives of ethnic minorities in Burma, long subject to human rights abuses by the military rulers, last night criticised his decision. This is good for the new government but Im not sure it is good for minorities and especially the Kachin people, said achin Goon Tawng, a representative resentative of the Kachin ethnic minoric ity who are based in the north of the country. We recognise there have been some reforms me but these are not deep and if you p look at the ethnic areas there are eas still human rights violations and lations ghting going on, said Tawng, id who is based in the UK. K Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, said Obama was rushing to normalise relations with Burma, h adding: But Burma isnt a normal country, it is not a s democracy and still has one as of the worst human rights records in the world. In March 2011 nearly half a y

The decision in four states to ease the path to same-sex marriage is being seen as a crucial breakthrough by advocates

century of repressive military rule ended when a quasi-civilian government took power and initiated sweeping changes. The US and EU suspended sanctions on Burma this year in recognition of the political and economic reforms. Though media and labour laws have been relaxed and hundreds of political prisoners released, the military is still responsible for widespread human rights abuses and many fear democratic progress might be reversed at any time. In recent weeks there has been renewed violence aimed at Muslim Rohingya people in the west of the country, with hundreds killed and tens of thousands displaced. Mabrur Ahmed, director of Restless Beings, a UK-based campaign group, said Obamas visit would be good for the US and good for Burma in the long run even

Mitt and Barack twins

Kenyan mother Millicent Owuor might have some explaining to do when her ex second son grows up and reads intergr national political history. Why, he may politi ask, did she name his twin brother n Barack while sentencing him to a lifes time under th less auspicious Mitt? the Owuor, 20, gave birth to the boys on the day Barack Obama defeated Ba Romney Mitt Romne in the US election. The twins were born at Siaya district wer hospital i south-west Kenya, in not far fro Obamas ancestral from home village of Kogelo. Owuor vill said she named her twins after US n presidential candidates in order to presidenti remember the day of the vote. Time will tell if Barack Owuor wil grows up to achieve greatness. But if Mitt Owuor is destined to political Owu obscurity, h may at least be rich. he David Smith Smit

Delaware and Rhode Island. They will also focus attention on attempting to have same-sex marriage accepted federally. Opponents of marriage equality have said that the four states that passed the measures are liberal and have denied that it represented any cultural shift to acceptance. However, Ellner said that poll after poll showed that young people were in favour of gay marriage, irrespective of politics, religions or gender. Our opponents are dinosaurs, he said. They have said that the only way we have won is by left-leaning legislators and activist courts. But we have exploded that argument, as four very diverse states voted in favour. Campaigners say they are now turning their attention to national acceptance. Evan Wolfson, founder and director of Freedom To Marry, said the four wins had solidied an irrefutable momentum in

if it was bad for Rohingya people in the short term. There will no doubt be some pressure [from Obama] on the Kachin, Karen, Rohingya too even, but [his visit] is really about solidifying moves to full bilateral trade, he said. Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent years in detention under the military as the gurehead of the pro-democracy movement and was elected to parliament in April, has been criticised for not speaking out sufciently strongly on ethnic issues. In Rangoon, Burmas commercial and cultural capital, many were happy about the visit. Maung Zaw, a 41-year-old English teacher, said he was very excited by the prospect. This is amazing for us. We could never have imagined it happening. There are strategic and economic advantages for the US in any rapprochement with Burma, ruled from the isolated new capital of Naypyitaw. The country has abundant resources and low-cost labour as well as a potentially huge new market for consumer goods. It is also strategically situated, and it grew close to China during decades of isolation, reinforced by western sanctions. One reason for the new reform push may be that the army hopes to balance close relations with Beijing with new ties to the west. The trip ts with Obamas broader strategic pivot, involving eorts to reinforce US inuence in the Asia-Pacic region as wars in Iraq and Afghanistan wind down. In November last year Hillary Clinton became the rst US secretary of state to visit Burma in more than 50 years. Several world leaders have already asked Obama to visit during his second term. On Wednesday Vladimir Putin said he had invited the US president to go to Moscow next year, despite the faltering reset between the two nations, and Angela Merkel, Germanys chancellor, told Obama: I would be pleased to welcome you again soon as my guest in Germany.

32

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

International
Guatemala

High note

President warns quake death toll likely to rise

The death toll in Guatemalas worst earthquake since 1976 has risen to 52 people, and many of the 22 still missing are not expected to be found alive, said President Otto Prez Molina. He said the powerful 7.4-magnitude quake that hit on Wednesday morning o the Pacic coast aected up to 1.2m people. He said about 700 people were in shelters, with most opting to stay with family or friends. They have no drinking water, no electricity, no communication and are in danger of experiencing more aftershocks, Prez told a news conference. The president said there had been 70 aftershocks in the rst 24 hours after the quake, some as strong as magnitude 4.9. In San Marcos, the worst aected area with at least 40 deaths, people fearing aftershocks huddled in the streets. Rescuers continued to dig at a huge mound of sand at a quarry trying to rescue seven people. We started rescue work very early, said Julio Cesar Fuentes of the local re department. The objective is our hope to nd people who were buried. But workers were only able to recover one body yesterday. The quake caused terror over a wide area, with damage reported in all but one of Guatemalas 22 states and tremors felt up to 600 miles away in Mexico City. Hundreds crammed into San Marcoss small hospital, the only building left with electricity, seeking help for injured family members. Some complained they ained were not getting care quickly enough. Ingrid Lopez, who bought in her n 72-year-old aunt whose legs were crushed by a wall, said she had d waited hours for an x-ray. We ask e the president to improve condiditions at the hospital, she said. d. There isnt enough sta. It was the strongest earthquake to hit Guatemala since the disaster in 1976 when 23,000 died. AP San Marcos

Anger in the two villages where Bales allegedly went on his rampage prevented military investigators from visiting the crime scene for several weeks, meaning they lost valuable evidence. Witnesses had earlier told the hearing that Bales was upset after another soldier lost a part of his leg in a bomb blast a few days earlier. Bigham admitted that the accused man was annoyed by restrictions on US forces use of weapons. As testimony moved on to those wounded in the attack, including young children, Bales leaned back in his chair and betrayed no reaction. He has not entered a plea nor participated in a sanity board, because his lawyers have objected to him meeting army doctors without being in attendance. Emma Graham-Harrison Kabul, and agencies

Bulgaria

Archaeologists unearth ancient golden artefacts

Bulgarian archaeologists have discovered bracelets with snake heads, a tiara with animal motifs and a horse-head piece in a hoard of ancient golden artefacts unearthed during excavations at a Thracian tomb in the north of country. The artefacts have been dated to the end of the fourth or the beginning of the third century BC. They were found in the biggest of 150 ancient tombs of the Getae people, a Thracian tribe that was in contact with the Hellenistic world. The hoard also yielded a golden ring, 44 female gure depictions and 100 golden buttons. These are amazing ndings from the apogee of the rule of the Getae, said Diana Gergova, head of the archaeologist team and a researcher of Thracian culture with the Soa-based National Archaeology Institute. From what we see up to now, the tomb may be linked with the rst known Getic ruler, Cothelas. The site is at the ancient Getic burial complex near the village of Sveshtari, about 250 miles north-east of Soa. One of the tombs there, the Tomb of Sveshtari, is included in the Unesco world heritage list for its unique architectural decor showing half-human, half-plant female gures and painted murals. The Thracians, ruled by a powerful warrior aristocracy wealthy for their gold treasures, inhabited an area extending over modern Romania and Bulgaria, northern Greece and the European part of Turkey from 4000BC. They lived on the fringes of the Greek and Roman civilisations. Reuters Soa

Rihanna performs at the Victorias Secret fashion show in New York Photograph: Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images

Somalia

Cabinet appointment milestone for women

Abdi Farah Shirdon Saaid, new prime minister of Soma , has appointed a Somalia female foreign minister. Fauzia Yusuf Haji Adan, left, was one of two women chosen to join a cabinet ch of 10 ministers charged with min leading the east African counth try, ra rated as one of the worst places to be a woman. plac It is the rst time a woman has held such w a senior position in the conservative Muslim co state. Haji Adan, also st

appointed deputy prime minister, said it was a milestone for the women of Somalia. It turns a new page for the political situation of our country, she told reporters in the capital Mogadishu. In a 2011 global survey TrustLaw found Somalia was the fth worse place in the world to be a woman. About 95% of Somali girls undergo genital mutilation, domestic violence is commonplace and access to education is rare. The then minister of women, now named minister for development and social aairs, Maryan Qasim Ahmed, said she was surprised Somalia was not in rst place. Some analysts warned that Haji Adan is unlikely to be viewed as trustworthy among central and southern Somalis given her role in Somaliland, which has sought to assert independence since the 1990s. Clar Ni Chonghaile Nairobi

USA

Afghan massacre soldier had no signs of trauma

An American soldier accused of massacring 16 Afghan civilians, mostly women and children, in a midnight shooting spree had a preference for aggressive military tactics but showed no signs of mental trauma, his immediate superior told a preliminary hearing. Sta Sergeant Robert Bales had surgery for a sleep disorder, but never complained of post-traumatic stress or headaches, First Sergeant Vernon Bigham, speaking by video link from Afghanistan, told the Washington state hearing. Instead Bales was doing an outstanding job, Bigham said. The testimony could limit any defence argument that Bales was mentally impaired during the ve-hour massacre or was damaged by repeated deployments to war zones. The 39-year-old father of two faces 16 counts of murder, six of attempted murder and other charges of assault and use of steroids and alcohol while deployed. The hearing will determine whether the case goes to a full court martial. He could face the death penalty.

24 hours in pictures The most arresting news photography from the last 24 hours guardian. co.uk/ inpictures

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

33

Financial
FTSE 100 -15.58 5776.05 FTSE All Share -9.12 3019.85 Early Dow Indl -47.25 12885.48 Early S&P 500 -5.98 1388.55 Nikkei 225 -135.74 8837.15 UK 10 year gilt -0.8790 120.8200 Oil ($ per barrel) +0.14 106.96 Gold ($ Troy oz) +1.75 1717.00

Business editor: Julia Finch Tel: 020 3353 3795 Fax: 020 3353 3196 Email: nancial@guardian.co.uk Follow us at twitter.com/BusinessDesk Rate Change 1.2549 +0.0014 Rate Change 1.5971 -0.0017

Taiwans Foxconn weighing up plan to outsource jobs to America

Rising labour costs may lie behind reported move Internet TVs could be made in Detroit and LA
Juliette Garside Telecoms correspondent
Foxconn, the controversial Taiwanese manufacturer that has become one of the worlds largest employers thanks to booming demand for the Apple products it assembles, is reportedly planning to open factories in the United States. With an 800,000 strong workforce largely based in mainland China, Foxconn is one of the businesses that has proted from the decline of western manufacturing. Now the rm is apparently planning to reverse the labour drain by opening American factories. As labour costs surge in its home market Foxconn has been looking overseas for opportunities, and sources have told Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes that the company is evaluating cities including Detroit and Los Angeles. The news should cheer Barack Obama, who has promised to create 1 million new manufacturing jobs over the next four years. Foxconn will have to adapt its formula, however, because America does not have armies of workers willing to survive on a few hundred dollars a month and live in dormitories as its Chinese sta do. In Foxconns huge assembly halls in China, iPhones and iPads are largely put together by human hands, with very little automation. In the US, sources say Foxconn will specialise in atscreen TV sets, which are easier to assemble with the help of robots. Apple has for some time been planning to make an internet-connected television set, which would essentially combine a TV screen with a computer. If the work is contracted to Foxconns rumoured new factories, the iTV would be the rst Apple product made in the US for some years. The company declined to comment on its plans, but chairman Terry Gou revealed this week he was planning to invite dozens of American engineers to his factories in China to learn about manufacturing. Gou told a business meeting on Wednesday that he did not believe President Obama could succeed in moving production lines back to the US because Americans have outsourced those jobs for too long. But he hoped Americans could learn how factories are operated so they can return home to set up facilities with automated equipment. Gou said he was already in discussion with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology about establishing an exchange programme. Foxconn will have to adapt its working conditions to operate in the US market. Worker suicides, industrial accidents and riots have dogged its mainland China plants, which were recently discovered to be employing workers as young as 14. The scandals have proved a source of embarrassment for its largest client. Apple chief executive Tim Cook was prompted in January to appoint an external auditor, the Fair Labor Association, to evaluate conditions throughout its supply chain after a string of workers killed themselves and there was a lethal explosion at the companys Chengdu plant, thought to have been caused by combustible dust. The company has cut overtime hours and announced a near doubling of salaries in China in recent months. already has eight factories in Brazil It alre and in September signed a memorandum of co-operation with the ra So S Paolo government to invest $14m building a technological $14 industrial plant. in Gou founded what is now Foxconn co in 1974 with $7,500 (4,624) borrowed from his mother. The b company listed in Taipei in 1991, c and its largest single plant in Shenzhen, China, employs S hundreds of thousands of people. hun

$
SOURCE: INTERACTIVE DATA

Jumbo costs 160m repair bill

Inquiry into boardroom gender bias to expand remit

Simon Goodley
Lord Daviess inquiry into male dominance in boardrooms is preparing to extend its remit by setting female hiring targets for companies outside the FTSE 100. The former trade minister has asked his advisers to prepare research in preparation for recommending that FTSE 250 businesses should work towards a minimum level of female representation on their boards. The peers 2011 report only backed targets for the UKs 100 largest public companies. Prof Susan Vinnicombe, a member of the inquirys steering committee, said: [Davies] has asked us what we do next. I have been tasked with looking at the gures. We are debating whether to set targets for FTSE 250 companies. It is quite possible [we will set a FTSE 250 target]. The Davies report into women on boards recommended that FTSE 100 companies fill 25% of board roles with women by 2015. At the time of its publication female directors held 12.5% of board positions, but according to research by the Public Boards Forum the current gure is 17.3%. However, the position for FTSE 250 companies is much worse, with women now lling 11.3% of board roles, compared with 7.8% when Davies reported. There are 94 FTSE 250 companies that have all-male boards, including Mitchells & Butlers,

11

In its own Galaxy

Apples iPhone 4S has been displaced as the worlds bestselling smartphone by Samsungs Galaxy handset, in a sign that the Californian groups march to world domination may have been halted. Samsung shipped 18m Galaxy SIIIs in the third quarter of this year, according to research rm Strategy Analytics, outpacing the iPhone 4S which shifted 16.2m units. It has become the worlds bestselling smartphone model, said analyst Neil Shah. The upset could be temporary, with Apples iPhone 5 expected to move into the top slot during the run-up to Christmas, but Apples share price continued to fall yesterday, hitting $545 (341), a drop of more than 22% since its record high of $705.05 on the eve of the iPhone 5 launch in September. After the Apple maps asco aps and the departure of two executives, Scott Forstall and John Browett, tt, investors are asking whether it has jumped ped the shark the moment ment in Happy Days when the Fonz vaulted a shark on water-skis, which signalled the decline of the show. Juliette Garside de

The proportion of women in board roles in FTSE 250 companies, compared with 17.3% in the FTSE 100

Airbus owner EADS has taken a 200m (160m) hit from costs related to repairing cracks inside the wings of A380 super jumbos. Reporting pretax prots of 1.6bn for the nine months to 30 September, EADS said the total expenditure on the A380 wings this year would be 260m Photograph: Jason Alden/Bloomberg

which runs restaurants and pubs such as Harvester and Toby Carvery, Mecca bingo owner Rank Group and comparison website Moneysupermarket.com. The news that Davies is planning to extend the scope of his campaign comes at a time of renewed focus on sexual discrimination within British business. Vinnicombe appeared at a Women in Leadership debate in London on Wednesday hosted by the Chartered Management Institute, an event designed to tie in with the trade bodys annual pay survey, released that day. The study revealed that female executives earn 400,000 less over their working lives than male colleagues with identical careers. It also showed how much more likely women are to lose their jobs, with twice as many female directors as male directors being made redundant (7.4% compared with 3.1%). Last month the Liberal Democrat equalities minister, Jo Swinson, proposed a shakeup of company annual reports to push rms into tackling gender imbalances by compelling them to report how many women they employ, from boardrooms down. In Europe, the European commissioner for justice and rights, Viviane Reding, has also renewed her push for mandatory quotas of female directors at listed companies, although her eorts have been resisted by many member states, including the UK, which prefer a voluntary code.

Aviva warns of huge loss on sale of US arm as part of radical shakeup

Julia Kollewe
Aviva warned yesterday that it would take a big loss on the sale of its US life insurance and annuities arm, which forms a key part of a shakeup aimed at boosting the insurers agging share price. John McFarlane, the new chairman, set out a radical restructuring plan in July, which includes selling o or winding down 16 underperforming businesses almost a third of groups operations and improving the performance of 27 others. McFarlane, a banker who headed Australia and New Zealand Banking Group for a decade, has been running Aviva since shareholders, frustrated by the groups poor share price performance, ousted chief executive Andrew Moss in May after a row over executive pay. McFarlane said the sale of the US division, which was bought just before the nancial crisis erupted in 2006, would be at a substantial discount to its book value of 2.4bn, and would happen reasonably soon. We would expect shareholders in general to support it, he added. The value of the US arm was written down by 876m in August. It is expected to sell for little more than $1bn, but the sale would also free up more than 1bn of capital, analysts say. Aviva is said to have received bids from Guggenheim Partners, an American privately owned nancial services rm, and US private equity houses Apollo Global Management and Harbinger Capital Partners. McFarlane, who has vowed to only stay in areas where we can win, admitted that it had taken longer than expected to get the group restructuring o the ground. But Aviva said the search for a new chief executive was on track, with candidates being interviewed by non-executive directors this week. The board expects to make an appointment early in the new year, with nance chief Pat Regan seen as a strong candidate. The US life and annuities division is one of the 16 units on the block. Aviva has also pulled out of Sri Lanka and sold down its stake in Dutch insurer Delta Lloyd. It plans to sell another eight businesses next year and take radical action in ve others. Its decision to pull out of the large-scale bulk annuity market in the UK earlier in the year is one example. Investec analyst Kevin Ryan expects the eight smaller businesses to be sold for book value. Barrie Cornes, at Panmure Gordon, said: Aviva remains a work in progress and we can understand nervousness of potential investors, but at the same time we view the valuation as compelling. Sliding sales highlighted the challenges faced by McFarlane in turning the business around. Sales at Aviva, which sells home and car insurance along with life and savings policies across Europe, dropped 5% to 28.9bn in the rst nine months of the year, with UK sales at at 8bn. Life and pensions sales were down 10% to 18.8bn, with only Singapore and the US showing growth. New business sales in the troubled markets of Ireland, Spain, Italy and Poland all fell by more than 30%. Read Nils Pratleys verdict online: www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/ nov/08/aviva-us-troubles

It is a work in progress and we can understand investor nervousness

Barrie Cornes, Panmure Gordon

34

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

Financial

France and Belgium take control of Dexia

Lender handed third bailout as losses mount Further help cannot be ruled out, says minister
Simon Neville
Franco-Belgian bank Dexia has been given a third bailout as the repercussions of the banking crisis continue to shake the nancial system four years on. The French and Belgian governments will pay 5.5bn (4.4bn) to take near-full control of the bank, once the worlds biggest municipal lender, after it reported a nine-month loss of 2.39bn. The institution lost 11.6bn last year due to its exposure to sovereign debt across Europe, and contributed to Belgiums credit rating being downgraded after the French and Belgian governments guaranteed 90bn of loans. The latest bailout involves Belgium paying 2.9bn and France 2.6bn, leaving them guaranteeing 51.4% and 45.6% of the banks debts respectively. The remaining 3% is held by Luxembourg. Belgiums nance minister, Steven Vanackere, said he could not rule out a future bailout: Is it a total guarantee? People who give such a guarantee are unwise. The bank is still exposed to government debts across the eurozone with 38.5bn outstanding in Italy, 24.1bn in Spain, 3.8bn in Portugal, 1.7bn in Ireland and 405m in Greece although Greek exposure has been reduced by 74%. The deal, agreed on Wednesday night, will give the French and Belgian governments a holding of around 94%. The bank said it was necessary to avoid the materialisation of a systemic risk in the case of bankruptcy of the Dexia Group. In the banks first bailout in 2008 it received 6bn of help from France and Belgium. Last year the bank, which provides backing for more than 40 private nance initiative projects in the UK, persuaded France and Belgium to guarantee loans worth up to 90bn, due to its 3.4bn exposure to Greek debt putting o rival banks from lending it any money. That deal was allowed on condition Dexia cut operations and sold o subsidiaries. Any deal on the bailout must rst be agreed by the European Commission, which is wary of raising sovereign debt. Belgian debt is already at nearly 100% of GDP. There has been tension with the commission over past bailouts, with bureaucrats citing anti-competition rules and delaying the decision. Last years guarantee to the bank led to credit rating agency Moodys downgrading Belgiums credit rating from AA1 to AA3 on a negative outlook. The agency said in December that the second Dexia bailout was a main factor in its decision. It said: There is a signicant risk that the dismantling of the Dexia group, and especially the run-o process of Dexia Credit Local, will result in increases in government debt metrics, although Moodys notes that the precise extent of any increase remains highly uncertain Moodys estimates these current exposures as representing close to 10% of the countrys GDP.

Adidas, maker of these trainers on show in Berlin, is suering a sales slump Photograph: Sean Gallup/Getty Images for Adidas

German exports falling fast as eurozone crisis bites

Nadine Schimroszik
German exports fell in September at the fastest pace since late last year, official gures showed yesterday, adding to evidence that the eurozone crisis has infected the continents economic powerhouse. Recent data showed business sentiment and industrial orders had worsened and the private sector had contracted. Adding to the gloom, Siemens said yesterday it would seek 6bn (4.8bn) of cost savings and disposals to remain competitive. September imports fell 1.6 % and exports declined 2.5% month-on-month, seasonally adjusted data from Germanys federal statistics oce showed. Exports were down 3.4% from a year ago but orders from eurozone countries fell by 9.1%. The debt crisis has arrived in Germany: at year-end 2012, weaker demand from abroad comes on top of uncertainty that has weighed on investments since 2011, said Andreas Scheuerle of DekaBank. All economies of the single currency are struggling with austerity measures and rms are cutting orders for German products. In addition exports were hurt by slowing growth in China. A lot of company news added to the evidence that Germanys export-oriented economy could get into trouble. Engineering conglomerate Siemens aims to save 6bn over the next two years as it ghts to stay competitive in a weak global economy. This higher than expected goal to increase protability sent Siemens shares up almost 4% one of the biggest gainers in Europe. Overall, fourthquarter net prot from continuing operations fell by 2% to 1.48bn. Further negative news came from the worlds second-largest sportswear group Adidas, which trimmed its 2012 sales forecast amid a continuing sales slump.

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

35

Financial

Goldman Sachs high-yers wait for the call to join multi-million dollar clique
MARK WILSON/GETTY IMAGES

continued from page 1 rung, a term borrowed from the card game bridge. Insiders describe it as a rigorous cross-checking procedure that involves teams of Goldman partners interviewing each other about potential candidates. The individuals being cross-rued should, in theory, be unaware that their strengths and weaknesses are being scrutinised. They are not interviewed. But in reality, the hierarchical nature of the rm means that anyone with any ambition will be aware they are next in line for promotion, and William D Cohan, a former US banker who authored a book about Goldman called Money and Power, told the Guardian the partnership selection procedure was an incredible endurance test on one hand and incredibly anxiety-inducing on the other. The Goldman hierarchy is rigid. Graduates are hired as analysts while business school graduates come in as associates. The next rung is vice-president the level attained by the disgruntled former employee Greg Smith who has just written a book about the hardnosed culture of the bank which is known as executive director in London. Then comes managing director and there are hundreds of them and ultimately partner managing director, the highest level of the rm. Sherwood, a partner since 1994 who can still recall the brief but crucial call he took 18 years ago summoning him into the elite group, describes how partners are given the job of interviewing their fellow partners to discuss candidates put forward by divisional heads. The partner selected to cross-ru is always drawn from another part of the rm, possibly even in another part of the world. No stone is left unturned every aspect of their career to date is scrutinised the deals they have worked on, the prot they have generated and the way they are regarded by their colleagues and sta. The process, which Cohan believes was formalised by former Goldman banker and existing board member Stephen Friedman, continues even

though the rm was oated on the stock market in 1999 and is no longer a partnership in the conventional sense. But the idea of partnership was retained to maintain various core aspects of the rms partnership culture among its leaders, including teamwork, client focus and a commitment to excellence. To those inside the rm, the status is much more than just a job title. The idea of having a partnership within a public company is quite literally brilliant, said one partner, who has now stepped aside. This year 33 partners have departed, leaving the total at 407 before the new crop or class as Sherwood describes them are appointed next week. Those who leave the partnership often only in their late 40s and early 50s go on to other careers, retire

Its a collection of very motivated, very diverse people from all types of dierent backgrounds
or stay on as advisory or senior directors. Some even join the board, such as is the case of the outgoing chief nancial ocer David Viniar. In 2010 Blankfein made calls to 110 new partners. This year he may not spend so much time on the phone: the precise number of new appointments is still being worked on, but at a time when the rm has been cutting sta to save costs, it is likely that the 2012 class will be fewer than 100, with speculation that between 75 and 100 Goldman bankers will make the grade. An aspiring partner describes how the process is intense. Its a brilliant process but it is a reasonably odd one because as a candidate you dont have an interview. No one talks about it but everyone knows you are up for it. People are asking questions about you but you are having zero involvement. Cross-rung allows comparisons to be made. Rankings given to candidates by the department heads are crossmatched against those drawn up by the

partners leading the assessment process. Dierences are sometimes exposed. Sherwood stressed that it is not about how you did any one year. And, if the process of being named a partner sounds gruelling, getting a foot on the ladder lower down the rm is tough too. Even though many investment bankers are now often ashamed to say what they do in polite company, and Goldman is often portrayed as the epitome of all that is wrong in the nancial world, it is a still an organisation that ambitious people scramble to join. Goldmans annual report reveals that almost 300,000 applied for jobs in 2010 and 2011. Fewer than 4% were hired and though most had multiple oers, nearly nine out of 10 people oered a job accepted. Cohan writes in his book that candidates can be subjected to 30 interviews and describes Goldman as a place that is not for prima donnas but stued to the gills with high-achieving alpha males. Each year there is a formal assessment process. Sta are subjected to a 360-degree review, where they are rated and assessed by their peers, subordinates and superiors. These assessments are resurfaced during the nal selection process in the promotion to partner. Few are hired from outside at partner level, although these so-called lateral hires can hope for fast-track promotion. The easy solution would be to select those who generate the most revenue for the rm. This is what Smith suggested when he resigned from Goldman and penned an excoriating attack on the rm and its culture in the New York Times. Today, if you make enough money for the rm (and are not currently an ax [sic] murderer) you will be promoted into a position of inuence, he wrote. Sherwood disagrees. In his view the partnership is something far more altruistic: It is often about doing something that is good for the whole rm, to make the rm better and subduing your individual motivation and aspirations for the good of the whole rm. Acting for the good of the partner-

$68.5m 407 4%

The remuneration taken home by the chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, Lloyd Blankfein, above, in 2007. Last year his salary was a more modest $16m

The number of partners this year before the new intake. Some 33 partners have left this year

Percentage of the 300,000 people who applied for jobs at Goldman Sachs in 2010-11 who were hired

$1.51bn

Net prots reported by Goldman Sachs for the third quarter of 2012, on revenues of $8.35bn

The Goldman Sachs building in New York as superstorm Sandys approach cut the electricity. It has backup generators

ship is a prerequisite once membership of the exclusive club has been attained. The average tenure of a partner is eight years. As Cohan puts it: Its very good for the junior people. Viniar reckons that 20% leave every other year. But it is not just a benevolent act to encourage younger bankers. It is also about the bonus pool that exists for the partners. The prospectus accompanying the 1999 otation described the process: Upon selection to the partner compensation plan, participants will be allocated a percentage interest in a pool for annual bonus payments in addition to base salaries. The size of the pool will be established by the partner compensation plan committee annually, taking into account our results of operations and other measures of nancial performance. In 2009, in the wake of the nancial crisis, the 100 London-based partners decided they needed to demonstrate that they understood public anger with the banking sector so they capped their pay and bonuses at 1m each. But that was a one-o. Sherwood insists that the partners bonuses are handed out after the wider bonus pool is agreed and that the process of becoming a partner is a meritocracy: Some are great leaders, some drive the organisation, others are just incredibly productive people or are building new businesses. Some are lateral hires. There is no particular person, there is no particular nationality, race, region or gender. Its a collection of very motivated, very diverse people who come from all types of dierent backgrounds. If you talk to the candidates it is a very aspirational process, Sherwood said, acknowledging that it also means that some hoping to become partners will not make it. Those aspiring partners who pick up their phones next week and hear not Blankfeins New York tones but, perhaps, the more familiar voice of their divisional boss on the end, will know their time has not come. Some will walk. But others, as Sherwood puts it, will go back to their desk, and work hard and try again in two years time.

36

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

Financial

Netherlands own Iron Lady leads 50bn EU drive on infrastructure

Transport and broadband key to commissioners plans for win-win investment
Juliette Garside
In the 1980s Neelie Kroes was considered the Netherlands answer to Margaret Thatcher. Three decades later the Iron Lady is in retirement but Kroes, now in her second term as a European commissioner, battles on. During her time as competition commissioner she clobbered Microsoft and Intel with billion-euro nes. Later, as the nancial crisis raged, she forced downsizing and de-risking on banks whose bailouts had pushed their governments deep into debt. More recently, as commissioner for the digital agenda, overseeing telecoms and the internet, Kroes has taken the populist step of driving down the extortionate roaming charges extracted by mobile phone rms from customers using phones abroad. Now Kroes, whose full title is vicepresident of the European commission responsible for the digital agenda for Europe, is taking on David Cameron. While the British prime minister pushes for a freeze on European spending and considers the use of his veto at the European council summit on 22 November, Kroes and her fellow commissioners have been on the phone to ministers to persuade them to agree to a 50bn (39bn) fund for infrastructure projects between 2014 and 2020. I need all the backing now that can be thought of, its a big opportunity to take a big step forward, said Kroes. Most of the money is not for grants but will be disbursed by the European Investment Bank in the form of equity stakes or loans to projects set up by private companies, or regional and city councils. The commission believes each euro it commits to the connecting Europe facility will attract between 15 and 20 times as much from the private sector. The backing of the AAA-rated European Bank for Reconstruction and Development should attract pension funds or sovereign wealth funds those prepared to invest over one or two decades rather than three or four years, and eager to spread the risk across the European region. While the bulk of the money is reserved for transport projects, and a smaller chunk for energy, Kroes has made sure that 7bn is earmarked for building xed and wireless broadband networks, especially in rural and suburban areas. There is a further 2bn for public service IT projects. It is not a huge cost to taxpayers. On the contrary, the loans and the bonds will be paid back. I have been explaining to the ministers in the UK who are involved that this is a win-win situation for them, she said. Kroes wants Europe carpeted with bre-optic cables and buzzing with 4G mobile connections. China, Japan and the US are racing ahead of the UK, and many other European nations, in replacing old copper networks with bre, and Europe needs to keep up. The commissions goal is for every household to have download speeds of at least 30 megabits per second by 2020, with half of homes subscribing to services oering more than 100mbps. Thats a big change from todays average UK speed of 9mbps. Kroes believes getting Europe to this point will cost 270bn, but the amount governments spend on infrastructure has, on average, been falling as they leave such investment to the private sector. Without the EUs intervention the telecoms rms, studies suggest, will spend 50bn on digital networks in the run-up to 2020. In the UK a combination of funds from BT and central and local government could just get slow broadband to nearly every home in the UK, and 24mbps to two-thirds by 2015. But after that there is no roadmap. The growth of data is so absolutely tremendous in the coming couple of

It is not a huge cost to taxpayers. On the contrary, the loans and bonds will be paid back

Neelie Kroes was her countrys rst female secretary of state, and later became a company director Photograph: Wolfgang von Brauchitsch/Bloomberg

years that we should be aware that consumers are not willing to wait until there is a service collapse and everybody is awake, Kroes warned. Born in 1941, Kroes is old enough to remember when long-distance communication was a luxury. These days she never leaves home without her BlackBerry and iPad; she tweets and blogs and keeps in touch with her granddaughter via Skype. Where she grew up, in Rotterdam, there was just one house on the street with a phone. On her desk in Brussels she keeps an antique rotary telephone that looks like a nuclear hotline. Kroes was the eldest of three siblings. She studied economics and sat on the board of her family road haulage business, Zwatra. But when her father retired she was passed over for the top job in favour of her brother. So she entered politics, where she blazed a trail while raising a family. Kroes became the rst female member of the Rotterdam chamber of commerce, and was her countrys rst female secretary of state. She privatised telecoms and postal services, and on leaving Dutch politics in 1989 became a company director, advising Volvo, McDonalds Netherlands and the French defence group Thales, to name a few. Described as determined and coherent by her predecessor, Mario Monti, and by a City insider as extraordinary, prickly, focused, like hugging barbed wire, Kroes has admitted: I wouldnt be a commissioner if there had not been positive discrimination. Appointed in 2004, she was chosen because the Netherlands was told it could secure a plum role if it put forward a female candidate. When it comes to telecoms, Kroes is more than willing to use her power to engineer the market. One senses that having spent years battling powerful corporations, Kroes wishes to leave on a more positive note, with a legacy in the form of a fully wired-up Europe. If we fail to invest, millions in less populated areas will nd themselves on the wrong side of the digital divide cut o from tomorrows opportunities, she said.

Business analysis
G4S
Firm deserves to know why it lost the prison tender, says Nils Pratley
Was the Ministry of Justice administering popular justice when it stripped G4S of the contract to run the Wolds prison in East Yorkshire and failed to select the rm for its shortlist of bidders for other prison contracts? In other words, was it pay-back for the companys Olympics security bungle? It is impossible to be certain. A critical report on Wolds by the chief inspector of prisons, highlighting clear weaknesses, could have been sucient reason in itself to take administration back into the public sector. As for the new contracts, G4S was one of four companies not to be selected for the shortlist: its pitch may just have been poor. But if G4S has been unocially blacklisted, the government is on very weak ground. G4Ss failure to provide enough security guards for the Olympics was disgraceful. But that episode has nothing to do with its ability (or not) to run prisons. The two issues should be entirely separate. By all means, hit G4S in the wallet for its Olympics cock-up but keep the award of prison contracts out of it. Any confusion on that point would merely undermine condence in the governments ability to hand out contracts to the best bidder. And that condence is not high after the west coast rail debacle. To be clear, we dont know why G4S failed in this case because transparency is roughly zero. But the slight tone of bitterness in the companys response is understandable: We look forward to discussing the contract award decision with the MoJ within the next few days to determine why we were unsuccessful. Quite right. It is not a popular thing to say, but G4S deserves to know if it will receive fair treatment from government in future. Crunch time is 5 December, the date of the chancellors autumn statement. There is both a political and an economic case for more austerity. If Osborne pushes back the deadline for reducing the national debt, it will vindicate the argument made by the shadow chancellor, Ed Balls, that the government went at decit reduction like a bull in a china shop. What is more, the chancellor has always insisted that any backsliding would risk the loss of Britains AAA rating. If Osborne does accept a later deadline he runs the risk of a downgrade. Would that actually happen, though? Vicky Redwood, UK analyst at Capital Economics, said that the ratings agencies would probably take a relaxed view of an extended deadline for reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio provided the new plan looked credible. And even if they did knock the UKs credit rating down a notch, she thought it unlikely there would be any serious impact on the governments cost of borrowing. The case against fresh austerity measures is simple. Despite the bounce back in the third quarter of 2012, the economy is fragile. Growth looks like being weak in the nal three months of the year. Osborne has to be sure that the damage caused by decit reduction measures would be less than that from a credit downgrade. He would have to be sure Britain would avoid a triple-dip recession: that would be a brave call.

UK economy
More austerity measures would be a brave call for Osborne, says Larry Elliott
Heres the dilemma for George Osborne. The economys weakness means that he will miss one of his two targets that he set in 2010. The chancellor pledged to have the national debt declining by the nal year of this parliament (2015-16) but as things stand will miss the target by one or two years. Osborne will need to supplement the existing austerity measures with new spending cuts (or tax increases) if he is to stick to his original debt plan.

Read more expert analysis on our blogs at guardian.co.uk/business

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

Reviews Reviews

Up to 11 The loudest gigs of all time guardian.co.uk/music

All hands on deck as Bellowhead storm through biggest gig yet

Folk
Bellowhead/Mama Rosin Roundhouse, London
Bellowhead can never be accused of making life easy for themselves. Theyve built up a remarkable following, thanks largely to their stomping shanties and rousing big-band arrangements, but their latest studio album, Broadside, features traditional songs given highly elaborate arrangements, with constant changes of mood and pace. This was the biggest non-festival performance of their career, and they had attracted a near-capacity crowd to the Roundhouse, where the stage was decked out with nautical ropes. The set included almost every new song from Broadside, starting out with some of the most complex. It was a brave move, and for the most part it worked remarkably well, though it sounded at rst as if Jon Boden might be swamped by the sheer power of the band on the creepy opener Black Beetle Pies. Boden is an enthusiastic, declamatory performer, with a vocal style that is best suited to the full-tilt songs, from the old Whiskey Is the Life of Man to the new and rousing Roll the Woodpile Down. Broadside provides a reminder that there are other strong voices in Bellowhead, and the most successful experimental new songs were those in which the band demonstrated their harmony work, as on the deadpan, chugging and suitably spooky treatment of the ghost story The Wife of Ushers Well. It would have been good to hear more from Paul Sartin, a ne singer (and oboe and ddle player), perhaps on the potentially thoughtful and Brechtian Whats the Life of a Man, which ended up as another stomping singalong. Bellowheads greatest strength is the multi-instrumental skills of the 11 musicians. Here there was tight brass punctuation work on their daring new treatment of Old Dun Cow, and sections where brass and melodeon were matched against stirring ddle work from Boden and three other members of the band. The encores included a stomping New York Girls (dedicated to Barack Obama) complete with tickertape swirling across the stage, much to the delight of the crowd. All those going to see the Bellowhead tour are advised to arrive on time for the opening band, Mama Rosin. A Swiss trio, specialising in an unlikely blend of American Cajun, zydeco, blues and rock, they played melodeon, electric guitar, banjo, harmonica, washboard and drums, and mixed easygoing, roughand-ready punk energy with impressive musicianship. Singing in French and English, they sounded at times like a frantic folk band, but they ended with a furious swamp rocker, Bon Temps Rouler. Exhilarating. Robin Denselow At Norwich Open, tonight. Box oce: 01603 763111. Then touring until 24 November.

37

Pop
Kindness Heaven, London
If Adam Bainbridge looks tired, he tells us, it is because he was up until 5am watching the US election coverage. Say Obama! he instructs earnestly, and is rewarded with an O-BA-MA! loud enough to be heard outside the venue. Bainbridge, the 6ft5in focal point of Kindness, does a little caper, evidently forgetting that he is supposedly an enigmatic quantity who is too cool to caper. That, anyway, is the reputation that precedes him and his London-based chillwave disco group, xtures on the hipster list since their rst single in 2009. Maybe Bainbridge is too buoyed by the election to worry about preserving the mystique, but he spends the next 45 minutes dancing and joshing. This show ags up the dierence between any old chillwave-disco unit and one that has been endorsed by the blogerati: only the latter would pull in this sold-out crowd of skinny jeans and artful hats. And only the latter, pulsing through full-cream, slap-bass funk, last voguish in 1984, would be extolled by some as the sound of the future. In fact, there is nothing futuristic about Kindnesss on-stage conguration, which recalls a 1970s American funk band: there are female backing singers, a powerhouse rhythm section and the baseball-capped, satin-shirted Bainbridge, who careens between microphone and drum kit. Nor do the songs, mostly from the debut album World, You Need a Change of Mind, look forward. The lazy, synthwashed chillwave of Cyan lets us know were still in the 21st century, but Thats Alright is anchored rmly in the past by its choppy, Nile Rodgers-inuenced guitar and wailing disco chorus. Throughout, the elephant in the room is Level 42, the 80s pop-funk synonym for uncool; somehow, though, the skinny jeans are unbothered. At the end, the audience are pelted with balloons imprinted with smiley faces, and Bainbridge lopes o, manifestly uncool but all the better for that. Caroline Sullivan At the Brudenell, Leeds, tomorrow. Box oce: 0113-275 2411.

Stomping singalongs Jon Boden of Bellowhead plays to the London crowd Photograph: Tim Whitby/Redferns

precise pianism, which repays close listening, and doesnt reveal all its subtleties easily. Those qualities characterised the two sonatas in the rst half of his programme, Mozarts D major work K284, and the earliest of the three in A minor that Schubert produced, D537. The Mozart certainly had the right kind of rangy brilliance to match the musics ambition, especially in the set of variations with which it ends, though Piemontesi didnt neglect its moments of quieter contemplation, either. But the Schubert, with its central slow movement based on a theme that would be recycled for the nale of his penultimate piano sonata, the A major D959, seemed less of a coherent whole; technically it was immaculate, but it never engaged the ear in the way the best Schubert playing unfailingly does. Piemontesi then turned to Chopin and Debussy. While his account of the Op 60 Barcarolle was refreshingly straightforward the textures, bright and clean, the rhythms spruce there were moments in some of the second book of Debussys Preludes that could have done with a bit more colour; not all of them are conceived in terms of the pastel shades that were used here. The more austere numbers, in which Debussy anticipates the pareddown style of his later music, were wonderfully wrought. The wittier ones, such as Hommage S Pickwick Esq, were just a bit dry. Andrew Clements

pre-adolescent naivety by Edie, his obsessive-compulsive mother. Like one of Enda Walshs more neurotic characters, Edie has dealt with her fear of the outside world by sticking to a rigid routine. Meals are toast and jam, washing is in lavender bubble bath, bedtime is strictly 8pm. So far, she has kept Georey under similar control, but now, his belated sexual awakening is unleashing forces neither of them can cope with. The strength and weakness of the piece is in its cartoonish distortion of reality. Pearsons universe is compelling, yet at one remove from our own. The play has a captivating internal logic, but as a reection of behaviour we may actually recognise, it is fanciful. As a result, it tapers to a conclusion that should be explosive. In her debut production as artistic director, Orla OLoughlin allows the strangeness to be constrained by an overly literal set, but her cast, led by Garry Collins and Anne Lacey, are superb, rooting Pearsons ear for Doric poetry in a disturbingly credible world. Mark Fisher Until 17 November. Box oce: 0131-228 1404.

likewise, a ne fantasy sequence in which Ed Miliband inherits power with all socialist guns blazing. But passion isnt enough: however much Long loves Dennis Skinner, it doesnt make his parliamentary quips particularly comical. And elsewhere Longs yah-boo-sucks level of political discourse feels like a function of her anxiety about being didactic. That anxiety forms a subplot here, as Long frets about her right as a privileged comedian with a taste for aristocratic pursuits to speak for the people. Theres no need: the shows better when the self-doubt evaporates and she talks frankly and entertainingly about what she believes, and what shes doing to make the world better. In those moments, she is inspiring. Brian Logan Ends tomorrow. Box oce: 020-7478 0100. Then touring until 15 December.

Comedy
Josie Long Soho theatre, London
The show is called Romance and Adventure, but thats deceptive, says Josie Long: it should be called how do you carry on when youre in the pit of despair? Long makes political comedy that is anxious about its political content. Having taken up Tory-bashing after the 2010 election, this is her midterm blues show, when the rst rush of oppositional fervour cedes to disillusion at the diculty of the task in hand. Her honest and self-lacerating account of this political evolution is always engaging, and unique in contemporary standup even if, tonight, her eorts to render it funny arent always successful. One problem is that her overgrownchild persona cramps the political material. Long gets laughs from her over-the-top enthu over the top enthusiasm, from how volcanically she loves things the lo French, lesbians and social justice a and hates things. Thats ha endearing, but theres end only so far it can take on you politically. I hate yo this 1980s tribute thi government as much gov as Long does, and I love L the image of her kicking th oral displays across o the stage to represent th Camerons mob C revealing their true r colours once elected c M Mummy issues The Artist Man and T the Mother Woman t

Theatre
The Artist Man and the Mother Woman Traverse, Edinburgh
The wag who described Morna Pearson as the Dr Dre of Scottish theatre was probably exaggerating. The Elgin-born playwright is no gangsta rapper, though you cant deny the social dysfunction and casual violence of her view on the world. Her 2006 play Distracted was about a boy damaged by the death of his junkie mother and preyed on by a sex-starved older woman. Likewise, her latest, The e, Artist Man and the Mother Woman, a ther vivid 100 minutes, deals with incest, ls assault, stalking and murder. urder For all that, its less Straight Outta Compton than an n episode of Ronnie Corbetts betts Sorry! reimagined by David avid Lynch. Pearson gives us s grim human behaviour aplenty, but osets it with toe-curlingly black comedy and an air of heightened weirdness. We meet Georey Buncher, a thirtysomething art teacher, who is frozen in a state of

Classical
Francesco Piemontesi Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
The Swiss pianist Francesco Piemontesi has been admired so widely, and tagged as a future star by so many, that it was hard to know what to expect from the 29-year-olds debut in the Southbank Centres International Piano series. Piemontesi is certainly an artist who goes out of his way to attract attention. His platform manner is unaected, almost bookish, and his playing is free from amboyant musical gestures; this is considered and unfussily

More reviews online

The growling, barking MC Ride leads his backroom team, Zach Hill and Andy Morrin, through a tirade of disturbing danger-step thats just as much hardcore punk, glitchtronica and industrial doom-goth as it is hiphop Mark Beaumont on Death Grips, Electric Ballroom, London

guardian.co.uk/culture Tweet your reviews using #gdnreview

38

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

Comment

Debate

Simon Jenkins From the gulf between rich and poor, to welfare reform, old arguments are failing to nd answers for a world thats in ux

The tribal grunts of left and right will not rescue us

A real world archbishop

Stephen Bates Justin Welby, a former oil trader, understands the modern holy grail money and the City
n the 1960s there used to be a favourite childrens television character called Mr Pastry. Benign, bespectacled, dressed in black, with a bowler hat and a walrus moustache, he invariably ended up looking surprised and covered in wallpaper paste. Well, the moustache has gone, but otherwise thats vaguely like the modern Church of England which today, having been trumped by betting companies and most of the press, will unveil the next archbishop of Canterbury. If it is not Justin Welby, the current bishop of Durham, who has been talked about as favourite for weeks, ocials will have some explaining to do. A selection process that is supposed to be a) transparent and democratic, and b) condential for a candidate has to be passed by the prime minister and authorised by the Queen has once again been sidestepped and pre-empted. It leaves Church House, as usual, looking wrongfooted, hapless and drenched in paste. It happened last time too, when Rowan Williams was appointed. The established church ought perhaps to feel pleased there is still so much interest in who gets its top job on Earth. Welby has excellent credentials, possibly above all that he is not John Sentamu, the archbishop of York, who has been a self-promotional gure not much liked by fellow bishops. Everyone knows where Sentamu stands on most issues (although it does depend on who he is speaking to, or writing for, at any given time), whereas Welby is so new as a bishop that his stance on the litmus tests of gay people in the church and women bishops, rather than, say, the nature of the Trinity or substitutionary atonement remains opaque. This may be a good thing while he remains all things to all men (and, presumably, women) in the pews. Even more compelling is his interesting background as a 1980s oil trader before he saw the light, gave up a 100,000 salary and trained for the ministry instead. That means he understands the modern holy grail: money and the City, objects of mystery and awe to many in the church. They hope it means he is connected to what they think of as the real world. His experience running Liverpool cathedral and re-energising the diocese of Durham, reorganising its nances in the months he has been there, evidently help. The CofEs real problem, though, is not so much money as its place in the life and future of the country. It is a mark of the relative thinness of the eld of candidates, thanks to the timidity of the episcopal selection processes started under that ultimate grey archbishop George Carey 20 years ago, that the Crown Nominations Commission has opted for a largely unknown and untested gure. No one suggests Welby is another Carey a man who had also been only briey a bishop before being inicted on the church by Margaret Thatcher but he is being thrust into a job where he will have a high prole. Every move and utterance will be scrutinised for heresy, error or obtuseness by the Pharisees of the church and the soothsayers of the media, not all of them actuated by faith, hope or charity. Welby certainly looks like an archetypal clergyman and has a thin, harsh voice to match. Some mutter about whether an Old Etonian who would be the rst for 150 years to be archbishop can keep the church in tune with modern society. People who were at Eton and Trinity, Cambridge, with him say they cant remember him at all, but that may be because he was in the exclusionary God-squad evangelicals of the Christian Union in those days. The death of his baby daughter in a car crash 30 years ago is thought to have impelled him towards ordination. If the CofE is to reconnect with a largely indierent society, empathy may prove his greatest asset. Maybe charisma will follow who knows? Stephen Bates is a former Guardian religious aairs correspondent

Across Europ e the game is going to those who know exactly what they want to separatists, racists and lobbyists

olitics has never been so fascinating. It drips from the ceiling. It oozes up through the oor. It reeks across the internet. Reading politics, being informed about it, participating in it, should be the compulsory national service of the 21stcentury state. Yet never can the toolkit of political debate have been so empty and the task of understanding the world so titanic. America has just undergone a monumental exercise in democracy. But no one can now tell whether the result means that the country will decline into singularity or soar to a new supremacy. Nor can anyone say whether America has turned left, merely by sticking with Barack Obama and rejecting Mitt Romney. All that happened was that the Democrats persuaded more minorities to come out and vote, while an awesome debt remains. Across the Pacic, China is progressing its epic experiment in non-democratic revolution. The outcome must have huge signicance for other half-free states in Asia and Africa. Western visitors moan, with more than a touch of hypocrisy, about Chinas civil and human rights. But it is like Britons complaining about the Paris streets during the French revolution. Elsewhere in Asia, the Muslim world is no less engrossing, enmeshed in a cultural upheaval with which few westerners can sympathise or engage. The only certainty is the fragility of reform and the counter-productivity of outside interference. We do not know what we should do, but feel some ancient white mans urge to do something. In Europe, the political agony is no less acute. The continent seems fated to resume the turmoil between nationalism and supra-nationalism of the rst half of the 20th century, albeit on an economic rather than a military plane. As in China, a grand experiment in sub-continental governance faces its greatest test. The refusal of the Brussels elite to see danger in federal union, notably in imposing a single currency on disparate states, is subjecting Greeks and Spaniards to punitive poverty. One more attempt to create a pan-European empire is turning into the nancial equivalent of bombing them back to the stone age. Most Britons still respond to these issues by turning to some blue remembered hills in their political upbringing. They sh about in their pockets, take out an ancestral slide-rule and read o the answers from left to right according to taste. This no longer works. Tories and Labour may bang the antique drum in parliament and print, but they have

no idea how to drag the economy back from recession. Standing Keynes on his head, both parties went along with decit expansion during the boom, and now champion decit reduction in recession. It makes no sense, yet appears immune to its failure to work. The welfare consensus may hold, but austerity has denied left and right any coherent policies on pensions, families, housing, schools, energy or law and order. Not even badgers and ash trees are spared the resulting hesitancy. The right has no answer to the widening gulf between rich and poor. The left has no answer to the chronic need for welfare targeting and means testing. When the right makes changes to health policy, housing subsidies or deregulation, the left howls. When the left proposes higher property taxes or fewer prisoners, the right howls. These are mere tribal grunts. The one industry to benet from all this is global risk aversion. Americas defence and security establishment, now employing one in ve US workers, seems to be the tail that wags every dog, foreign as well as domestic. No presidential hopeful in the 2012 election dared advocate a cut in defence, despite America facing a big decit and no conceivable threat to its security or integrity. Risk aversion in Britain has a more imperialist tinge. A craving for a world role echoes in the interventionism of David Cameron and Ed Miliband, both platitudinising about what we want to see and punching above our weight. Bereft of the old lodestars, politicians of left and right become the useful idiots

of sectional groups and commercial interests. Across Europe the game is now going to those who know exactly what they really want, to separatists, racists, tax evaders, securocrats and lobbyists. In the kingdom of the blind the beady-eyed are free. For all this, I do not nd the collapse of an ideological route map depressing. I nd it exhilarating, dicult and important. The worlds great conicts may be of unprecedented immediacy, but they are not immovable objects facing irresistible forces. They are part of the churning cauldron of human aairs. I believe through some rational gene that these conicts are best resolved through the creaking mechanism of democracy. But, as China apologists such as Martin Jacques are writing with growing plausibility, this is neither a complete answer, nor one likely to be adopted everywhere. When this week Obama implied that God is an American, I felt uncomfortable. It was the sort of claim made by the pre-Reformation church. The right response is not to surrender to the complexity of it all. It is not to agree with the Zen master who said, The struggle between for and against is the minds worst disease. It is to lie down with a cold compress on the head and plunge ever deeper into the struggle. That is what Americas voters have just done in all their craziness. Whatever the society and whatever the risk, the citizens one duty is always to argue the toss. simon.jenkins@guardian.co.uk
SATOSHI KAMBAYASHI

High stakes in Jordan

David Hirst As long as King Abdullahs regime continues to block genuine reform, it inches closer to extinction

t is almost a cliche by now: the inferno in Syria will eventually spread to its neighbours. Its already happening for some of them. The car bomb that killed Wissam Hassan, the Lebanese intelligence chief, and the sharpening of tensions it produced, was the most recent, dramatic illustration of it. The ramications for Turkey and Iraq are also increasing in severity. But is a fourth neighbour, Jordan, going the same way? Perhaps the most articial of the regions western-created states, surrounded by much larger, stronger or richer ones, it was always peculiarly exposed to inuences from beyond its borders. Can Jordan survive? was once a regular headline in western newspapers. Yet, to begin with, Jordan weathered the upheaval that is the Arab spring with relative ease. King Abdullah, like his father Hussein, retained some real legitimacy in his peoples eyes. True, the people took to the streets, but, unlike elsewhere, their rallying cry was never the people want the downfall of the regime; rather, they wanted its reform. Nor does Jordan suer from those sectarian antagonisms that have disgured what, in Syria, began as a popular, peaceful movement for freedom and democracy. It has no Kurds; it is almost uniformly Sunni. Most of its people favour the Syrian rebels; but the regime itself has sought neutral ground between the two sides, fearing reprisals from one or the other if it didnt. But events of the past two weeks show just how serious Jordans exposure to the drama next door could become. These include the rst death of a Jordanian sol-

dier along the Syrian-Jordanian border; clashes between the army and groups of jihadists seeking to cross it; and the unmasking of an alleged al-Qaida plot and the arrest of 11 men all Jordanians planning bomb and mortar attacks on targets in Amman. Disturbing, of course. Yet terrorism on its own never really works; it requires the right context to be eective. And, in the nal analysis, it is on Jordans basic political, social and economic health that its ability to resist the Syrian contagion depends. And Jordans health is, in fact, looking increasingly poor. The relationship between ruler and ruled is deteriorating, as the latter intensify their pressures for reforms and the former persists in eorts to dilute or block them altogether. On the constitutional front, King Abdullah has made what are seen as minor, cosmetic changes that do little to transfer ultimate authority from the palace to parliament and the people. He also insists on preserving an electoral law that favours the Transjordanian segment of the population the minority from which the monarchy traditionally derived its support at the expense of the urban one. That penalises the numerically larger, better educated, economically more productive segment, the Palestinians. They have long considered themselves secondclass citizens and, if things got bad, this faultline could be as dangerous as those sectarian and ethnic ones now playing havoc in neighbouring countries. The law also disadvantages the Muslim Brotherhood, Jordans most powerful political party, whose support is strongest in urban areas and especially

among the Palestinians. It now seems headed for a major confrontation with the regime over elections due at the end of the year. If, as threatened, it boycotts these, that will produce a parliament with no real legitimacy, making a mockery of Abdullahs reformist pretensions. Then there are the Salas. Some of Jordans have gone to Syria to ght the heretic Alawite regime, now a prime target for Sunni jihadists everywhere. After at rst seeming to turn a blind eye to this, Jordan is now seeking to prevent it, for it threatens to boomerang against itself. As the alleged al-Qaida plot shows, for some Jordanian Salas jihad in Syria is merely a preparation before returning home to take on their own regime which orthodox Sunni though it is is impious on other grounds. Whatever the outcome of the Syrian civil war, Jordans own reform-related troubles are now such that it might make little dierence whether Assad survives or falls. For Abdullah both alternatives look bad. If Assad survives, with at least the perceived connivance of Jordan, that will increase the hostility of Jordans Islamist-led opposition towards the throne. If he falls, that will greatly strengthen them, because they will have the full support of the new order doubtless heavily Islamist that will emerge in Assads place. In either case the more stubbornly the king resists the clamour for meaningful reform, the more the opposition will be inclined to go the whole hog and raise the slogan: The people want the downfall of the regime. David Hirst is a journalist and author of Beware of Small States

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012 Follow us on Twitter @commentisfree Join us on Facebook facebook.com/guardiancomment

*
Comment editor: Becky Gardiner Telephone: 020 3353 4995 Fax: 020 3353 3193 Email: cif.editors@guardian.co.uk

39

Diary Hugh Muir

So there goes Nadine Dorries, pictured sunning herself in Australia ahead of Sundays debut on Im A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here. And simultaneously confounding the smart money that her colleague Aidan Burley would be the rst self-harming Tory MP to selfdestruct. He seemed to have it in the bag: attending Nazi-themed stag parties and calling the Olympic opening leftie multicultural crap on Twitter. Nobody wanted to admit to being poor Aidans pal Big Dave called him idiotic. But his seat is vulnerable and the Tories look certain to lose Corby, so Aidans getting a bit of help. He recently recorded a 10k donation to his constituency party from JCB, the digger rm run by Tory donor Sir Anthony Bamford. Burley may be an idiot but hes useful. Hows that hopey, changey thing workin out for ya, Sarah Palin once asked of Barack Obama. He gave the answer this week. Shes down, Romney is disconsolate. As for Melanie Phillips, shes plain vanilla furious. Four years ago, America put into the White House a sulky narcissist with an unbroken history of involvement in thuggish, corrupt, far-left, black power, Jew-bashing, west-hating politics, blogs Mel. And now they have gone and done it again. The Islamic enemies of civilisation stand poised with the re-election of Obama, America now threatens to lead the west into a terrifying darkness. And the horses and cows, theyre shacking up, taking over. Mayday, mayday. Nurse! Nurse! A measure of head-scratching in Whitehall over the changing of the guard at the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Three lauded, long-serving commissioners sacked by an automated headhunters email. How could that happen, goes the cry. Well, one must look away from the commission itself, for the decisions are being made at a higher level. Look instead to the Government Equalities Oce and the director general there, Jonathan Rees. He and the new chair, Baroness ONeill, are among a small group pulling the strings. Rees is himself heading out of the Equalities Oce door, and the department is itself being painfully scaled down by cost-cutting ministers, so there will be precious little sympathy for the commission sta who will lose their jobs or the humiliated commissioners red by email. Sad to see it happening, but the abused so often go on to abuse. What will the future be like at the EHRC? We know that ONeills body will be smaller. It seeks leaders with dierent skills experience of business and audit. And in keeping with the governments view that the human rights fuss should be kept to a minimum, one suspects there will be less troublesome intervention on behalf of victims of discrimination. ONeill doesnt seem one for making a fuss about these things. Blaming is, she said in a 2005 lecture, The Dark Side of Human Rights, a readily available and cheap pleasure even for complainants whose case is not upheld. Those who cast blame can appropriate, enjoy and prolong their role and status as victims, can enjoy indignation and a feeling of superiority, even if they cannot quite identify or demonstrate the failings of others. If it proves impossible to identify a blameworthy culprit, they can at least blame the system. One feels shell have no truck with that sort of thing. We catch up with James Athill, the Tory candidate for police commissioner in Norfolk, and talk to the former military man and defence attache about his other life undeclared on campaign literature as UK point man for a CSOK, a Czech chamber of commerce. Questions have been raised. Are you working for the Czechs, he was asked on BBC Radio Norfolk yesterday. Yes and no, he tells us. Its a straightforward commercial opportunity. Nothing to interest John le Carr. And anyway, 10 months in, it hasnt made him a shilling. That commissioner job must look better by the day. Finally, to Amazon, where there are still Denis MacShane mugs on sale. Just 8.99, but therell be a rush, for obvious reasons. And Christmas is coming. Hurry, hurry. diary@guardian.co.uk Twitter: @hugh_muir

Polly Toynbee Many Conservative MPs can see whats going wrong for the party, but their prescriptions are all for more of the same

Will Romneys defeat force a Tory rethink? No chance

Since entering No 10 and ditching all that go-green poverty-sympathy stu, Cameron hasnt returned to the realm of nice

hat do the Tories make of the rights defeat in America? Despite the ever-widening gulf between British and American society, both Labour and Conservatives suer the same infatuated identication with sister parties across the Atlantic. So some Tories this week are feeling Mitt Romneys defeat viscerally, achingly. Whistling in the dark to keep their spirits up, a few seek comfort in an incumbent winning even when economic recovery is anaemic. This weeks gures for UK construction, retail, services and manufacturing plunged again. Faced with an unshifting 10-point lag in the polls, the Conservatives are sprouting an array of anxious how to win groups: Conservative Voice, Blue Collar Conservatives, the Free Enterprise Group, and Strong and Compassionate. These are not really factions, not the wets and dries of Thatcher days. Though frustrated by coalition and angry with David Cameron for not doing better, this is not an ideologically riven party. Thats a danger: every party needs people to pull on both ends of the rope to keep it anchored. But the Tory party pulls all one way and Cameron is certainly not tugging on the other end. On hearing the Romney result, he spoke wanly of the need to be on common ground, but few Tories know where that is and even fewer want to go there. Since entering No 10 and abandoning all that go-green, family-friendly, NHS-loving, poverty-sympathy stu, Cameron has shown no inclination to return to the realm of nice. All these groups have 10- or 15-point plans that say the same thing: lower taxes, a smaller state, less spending, cut business tax. Scrap the Human Rights Act. Scrap regulation of childminders. Scrap maternity pay, says the Politeia thinktank. Let free schools make a prot. Cut wind farms, cut benets, freeze the minimum wage. The Institute for Economic Aairs, which helps fund the Free Enterprise Group of MPs, wants to privatise all roads, with companies xing their own speed limits. Its transport expert calls for grubbing up bike and bus lanes. All of them are, in

Camerons words, forever banging on about Europe. Just one drumbeat thunders through them all. As these same tropes were aired at every event at the Tory conference, another voice suddenly crashed in with a brisk reality check. Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow, told one meeting a story with a salutory warning. At a jubilee street party he asked a constituent what he did for a living. The man said, You wont like me if I tell you. When pressed, the man said: I work for the public sector and you dont like us. What exactly did he do? Im a reman. So how did it happen that the Conservatives have become the enemy of every public employee, Halfon asked? They are aspirational too. Instead, the Free Enterprise Group sees them all as parasites, labelling the whole UK workforce the worst idlers in the world. Halfon warns of the need to win what he calls the white-van Tory vote. He recalls that Mrs Thatcher had 170 Conservative trade union branches, all now gone. Halfons Essex seat, mostly white working class, would revert to Labour on current polls. With a ght on his hands, he has a tad more realism about what voters think than most of the other intensely ideological 2010 intake of MPs. In his surgery inside a Citizens Advice bureau in a shopping precinct, I sat with him listening to his constituents worries. A retired GP had a list of complaints about the local hospital where he had just been treated. A mother wheeled in a double buggy bearing newborn twins. She is an administrator on maternity leave, at her wits end, living with her partner and children aged seven and 13 in a tiny two-bedroom at with the twins, life was impossible. She was soon in tears. What can he do? Ill be on her side, and write a letter and try to get her pushed up the list, he said, but he admits the housing shortage is so acute hes not expecting a result. Next, a sickly man in his late 50s crept in on crutches to tell of the drilling hed had in his spine, the 80% paralysis in his leg, and his six-a-day painkillers. At a two-minute Atos test at a Romford centre with no disabled access, he was asked to raise his arms. Because he can, they certied him t for work and took away his 200 a month in disability benets. An appeal will take a year. Halfon promised to write and speed up the

appeal. As it happens, he himself walks on crutches, with a lifelong chronic disability. He has always relied on his disability living allowance to help him work, as it pays for his motability car. So what does he think about the abolition of DLA next April, when around 90,000 lose cars and mobility scooters? I think it is, perhaps, going a bit too far, cutting a bit too much, he says, but he doesnt resile from disability cuts altogether.

alfon is approachable and warm with his constituents. Honest about their lives, he sees the danger of his party of privilege doing a Romney the one-percenters alienating working-class people, women, trade unionists, the public sector and all those striving as prices rise and wages fall or disappear altogether. How should he connect with them? He looks over one shoulder at Ukip, the other at Labour. But ask what he would do and he oers no dierent prescription from Cameron and George Osbornes austerity, now causing a 250% increase in long-term young unemployment in Harlow. He wants less taxing and spending. His big campaign is on fuel tax: We have to show that tax cutting is moral. All these anxious new Tory groups see the demographic mountain to climb: no prime minister since the war increased their vote, not Thatcher, not Blair so how can Cameron? They know the challenge: the Blue Collar group says plebgate added to perceptions of a party not for ordinary people. Thrashing about, some like Tim Montgomerie say social conservatism on gay marriage and a married couples bonus would attract black Pentecostal churches. But how appealing to these churches is their tougher immigration stand? Anti-gay policy did nothing for Romney. A plaintive wail calls out for reconnecting with the people and their diagnosis is often right but their prescriptions are all for more of the same. Will Romneys defeat force a rethink? The view from Harlow is why it wont: this MP can see whats going wrong, but he just cannot force himself to change his views. Polly Toynbee is co-author of Dogma and Disarray Cameron at Half-time

40

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

Founded 1821 Owned by the Scott Trust Number 51,689

Justin Welby

A pragmatic priest in turbulent times

It was not through a pu of white smoke but through the suspension of booking at Ladbrokes that providence made itself known. For the identity of the new archbishop of Canterbury to emerge in this way is embarrassing, but then embarrassment is nothing new for the Church of England. In recent months fellow churchmen have torn themselves asunder over Occupy, and for far longer they have obsessively observed the injunction of Salt-n-Pepa: lets talk about sex. The divisive preoccupation with gay clergy and gay marriage crowds out much other discussion, and at times prevents the church being heard on anything else at all. And, all the while, the relentless withering of the congregations continues. Easy as it is to deride the church, the country as a whole, and not just its believing elements, ought to wish the new man at Canterbury, Justin Welby, the very best. The networks that blossom out of the pews are a kind of bulwark for wider community life, bolstering civic engagement as well as good neighbourliness, as sociologists are documenting. In addition to lling a social gap, the church at its best lls an ideas gap too. These are times that cry out for searching moral questions, not least about our economy, and public intellectuals are not exactly thick on the ground. With his willingness to debate celebrity atheists, and his embrace of Karl Barths dictum about preaching with a bible in the one hand and a newspaper in the other, Rowan Williams has used his tenure at Lambeth Palace to make the country that bit more thoughtful. But at the helm of both a fractious church and a global Anglican communion that is dogged by more powerful centrifugal forces, Dr Williams has failed to secure the unity he hankered for. Aspects of the job are perhaps impossible, but there are paradoxical reasons to believe that Mr Welby just might have more luck. An evangelical conservative, he will not run up against the suspicion of the churchs reactionaries, as Dr Williams automatically did. And while doctrinaire in his doctrine, he is instinctively pragmatic in temporal matters. Thus his reading of the scripture inclines him against gay marriage, and yet he allowed the bells of Liverpool Cathedral to ring out Lennons atheistic Imagine after he grasped this would be a popular thing to do. He has a knack for persuading bickering elements to rub along, and without flinching from uncomfortable facts. Sometimes, as in relation to gay clergy, this might be a question of having the tact to change the subject; sometimes it is a question of being relaxed about the coexistence of incompatible points of view. Asked by the Guardian how hed square the circle on women bishops, he said that the trick was to look at the circle and say its a circle with sharp bits on it. It was because Clement Attlee was an impeccable conservative in all matters other than politics that he was able to be Britains most radical prime minister, and less doomed by temperament than Dr Williams to try so hard it could just be that Mr Welby will have more success in fostering unity. Instead of seeking to unite the warring communion through a new covenant, for example, he might accept it for what it is a federation so loose that it hardly exists and speak on its behalf only when he can spot common ground. One promising place to pitch up is moral capitalism, an agenda that sits on the left side of the political aisle, but one which can unite spiritual liberals and conservatives. Mr Welby has already damned top pay as obscene. Also at the top of the inbox is a messy compromise over women bishops, which the church establishment needs to get through next weeks general synod. Looking further ahead, there is a need for the established church to reimagine this role and to lend some strategic thought to the eventual passing of the crown. The last coronation gave established religion its rst televisual role, but an awful lot has changed about Englishness since 1953. If, and it is a big if, Mr Welby can call time on the churchs insular rows, the next step will be facing the future.

Greeces austerity

Democracy tested to destruction

In spring 2010, as Athens wrangled with the IMF and the rest of Europe for what would turn out to be a 110bn emergency loan, a revealing, chilling phrase slipped out. When Greeces then-premier, George Papandreou, begged for easier borrowing terms, he was told by Angela Merkel that the deal had to hurt. According to a well-sourced report in the Wall Street Journal, the German chancellor said: We want to make sure nobody else will want this. She certainly made good on her side of the deal: Greece has spent the past two years on a nancial life-support that has kept its government ticking over, but which has destroyed its economy and pushed its entire democracy to the brink of collapse. This week, Athens reenacted what has become a traditional ritual. Under duress from its troika of creditors (the IMF, the European commission and the European Central Bank), the government identied more areas for cuts and deregulation: another 8,000 civil servants to be sacked by next Christmas, yet more slashing of pensions and wages and of the minimum wage. Meanwhile, the country went on a general strike and petrol bombs were lobbed at the Vouli, the parliament, even as MPs voted through the package. If the government also passes its 2013 budget this Sunday, it will get another chunk of cash to keep paying salaries and other bills. The price of the severest austerity programme ever imposed on postwar western Europe has been severe. Greeces economy is in severe depression: this year its annual national income is projected to be 23% below what it was in 2009, that is to say that nearly a quarter of everything the economy used to produce has disappeared over three years. Partly as a result, the debt burden will soon be three times GDP. Unemployment has skyrocketed, with one in two young people out of work. Extreme policies in; extremist politics out. From being a rump just three years ago, the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn now eectively polices parts of Athens and has infiltrated the ocial police force. The centre has collapsed: after acceding to Mrs Merkels terms, Mr Papandreous Pasok has gone from being a reliable centre-left party of government to a husk of its former self. Journalists who threaten to show any independence of mind, such as the admirable Kostas Vaxevanis are hounded by ocials. In the heart of Europe, a democracy now teeters on the edge. True, most of the blame for this is that of a corrupt Greek elite that has dominated politics, business and media for many decades. But the rest of the eurozone is also guilty: rst for enforcing impossible austerity, then for turning a blind eye to the predictable results. Mrs Merkel was surely right: no other country in Europe or elsewhere would want this.

In praise of Noor Inayat Khan

Yesterday afternoon, in a corner of Bloomsbury, Princess Anne unveiled Britains rst memorial to an Asian woman. The bust is of Noor Inayat Khan, a woman who was a pioneer in so many things: an Indian princess who was also a gifted harpist; a Su who wrote Buddhist fables for children; an anti-imperialist who spied for the British empire and the rst female radio operator sent into Nazi-occupied France. As great-great-great granddaughter of Tipu Sultan, the Muslim ruler who heroically held back the East India Company, Khan told her army bosses that she might very well ght the British in India. But in Paris she ran a spy ring: a role so dangerous she was expected to live only six weeks. When the Gestapo did catch her, they tortured her for 10 months but she did not give up a thing. Khan was one of the 2.5 million Indians who formed the singlebiggest volunteer army in the second world war. They all deserve commemoration.

Comment is free In brief

This harsh austerity in Greece is the catalyst for radical change
Costas Douzinas
The passing of the third and most draconian tranche of austerity measures by the Greek parliament on Wednesday was a pyrrhic victory. It marks the beginning of the end of the coalition government and offers a textbook example of the terminal decay of a system of power. The signs are everywhere. The one-clause bill incorporating a large number of unrelated measures amounted to several hundred pages but was given to MPs only the day before the debate, making detailed discussion impossible. The bill introduces new spending cuts, tax rises, education and social security reforms, and attacks on labour and trade unions rights. A number of its measures were declared unconstitutional by the supreme court. The new cuts in salaries and pensions come on top of the 40% reductions already in place. Greece has experienced a 24% GDP contraction over ve years, with unemployment at 25% and the youth rate at 55%. A humanitarian crisis has followed, with homelessness, mental illness and suicide at unprecedented levels. Hospitals cannot work for lack of basic medicines; schools have no textbooks or fuel for heating; people scour rubbish bins for food. The various lists of potential tax evaders, many of them supporters of the mainstream parties, disappear in the drawers of the elites. When a power system becomes historically obsolete, radical change follows. This requires three elements: strong popular desire; a political agent prepared to take power; and a catalyst, which gives the moribund power system the nal push. In Greece, all three elements are present. The will for change was evident in last years protests and occupations and in the recent strikes and demonstrations. The Syriza party, which has been adopted by the people as the agent of change, is asking for elections. And the disastrous austerity measures have become the catalyst. Costas Douzinas is a professor at Birkbeck, University of London felt the incident required some cyclistsshouldnt-be-on-roads vitriol. Take a peek at @cyclehatred on Twitter. LeylandPNE wrote: One thing that really annoys me is when cyclists use the road when my hard earned taxes have gone into providing cycle paths. I have news for LeylandPNE: Bradley Wiggins didnt become Britains rst ever winner of one of the worlds biggest sporting events by training on cycle paths. They are few and far between in Britain and tend to be strewn with glass, indirect, dotted with bollards and potholes, narrow, short, and with no priority over side roads; pretty much next to useless. The driver who hit Wiggins, as she was leaving a petrol lling station, said: I cant believe it. Of all the people to hit, bloody Bradley Wiggins. This carries the implication, surely unintended, that hitting a celebrity cyclist was the real sin. Wiggos status as national treasure means this particular SMIDSY (Sorry mate, I didnt see you) event gets widely reported and highlights the daily dangers faced by cyclists in Britain. Carlton Reid is executive editor of BikeBiz magazine

Be wary of contacting aliens you dont know what theyd say to us

Roz Kaveney
If you were, say, a giant jellysh entity in the oceans of the planet humans call Threapleton Holmes B, how would you react to a phone call from physicist Brian Cox? Let alone being told that you were live on air? Im not sure, in the end, that the BBCs instincts were entirely wrong when they told Cox that he shouldnt try to make rst contact from the Jodrell Bank observatory on his programme Stargazing Live. Its pretty silly to cite health and safety as a reason, of course, if that is indeed what happened. But the revelation that there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe is going to be one of the major events of human history if it ever happens and its probably something that needs to be given some serious advance thought. It means explaining to a giant jellysh entity, or something far stranger that we are a bunch of hairless primates who are in the process of making our planet uninhabitable and lying to ourselves about that. An alien civilisation might go: Ah, puny earthlings, let us explain to you the secrets of the universe and how to solve all your problems in 10 easy stages. They might say, thats disgusting and go o in a hu. Or they might just say, Oh, you too? That

Bradley Wiggins cycle accident yet another SMIDSY moment

Carlton Reid
Bradley Wiggins had a lot to be thankful for yesterday. First, he had some sausages named in his honour. And second, he didnt die, but broke his ribs instead, when a van knocked him from his bike while out on a team training ride. The news (about the crash, not the sausages) has made the headlines and predictably, the trolls have been out in force. The story quickly gathered comments from concerned citizens, wishing Wiggo well, and heartless bastards who

Cycle paths are few and far between and tend to be strewn with glass, dotted with potholes, narrow, indirect and short

totally sucks. Its far from clear which of those responses would be the most disheartening because, even if they tell us how to solve our problems, their solutions might be amazingly stupid. Even if they reject us as their hopeless inferiors, it might be because they are a species just as neurotic, just as riddled with petty bigotries. It might be gross inequalities that disgust them, or it might be the musical stylings of Stock, Aitken and Waterman. Presumably, since we are not picking up broadcasts from Threapleton Holmes B, any civilisation there has not gone in for mass media, and is accordingly less likely to be already thoroughly conversant with every detail of our civilisation. Most other species in the galaxy, if there are any, probably regard us as the equivalent of the friend on Facebook and Twitter who posts every 30 seconds with invitations or unsubstantiated political rumours. Or perhaps theyll be so much like us that our rst conversations will be about the current status of Brangelina or the premature cancellation of Firey. Maybe rst contact wont be a dening moment in human history, just a story that hits the wrong point in the news cycle and goes away within hours and be exactly the same for them. Roz Kaveney is a critic and editor of Reading the Vampire Slayer

Read more Comment is free

The full versions of these articles plus comment online guardian.co.uk/commentisfree

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

*
Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU Telephone: 020 3353 2000 Fax: 020 3353 3193 Email: letters@guardian.co.uk We do not publish letters where only an email address is supplied; please include a full postal address, a reference to the article and a daytime

41

Reply
Letters and emails

telephone number. We may edit letters. Submission and publication of all letters is subject to our terms and conditions: see http://gu.com/letters-terms

How should the press be regulated?

After eight months, 650 witnesses and 6,000 pages of evidence submitted to the Leveson inquiry, we can be clear about two things. Firstly, that a free press is essential for a free society. Secondly, that there are fundamental weaknesses in the current model of self-regulation which cannot be ignored (Prejudging the judge, 2 November). No one wants our media controlled by the government but, to be credible, any new regulator must be independent of the press as well as from politicians. We are concerned that the current proposal put forward by the newspaper industry would lack independence and risks being an unstable model destined to fail, like previous initiatives over the past 60 years. These concerns are shared by the NUJ. We agree with the prime minister that obsessive argument about the principle of statutory regulation can cloud the debate. Instead we must do what is necessary to create a genuinely independent system. The defamation bill is currently going through parliament with the support of all parties and the newspaper industry. This proves that, when people try, it is possible to make sensible changes to the law. We should also keep some perspective: the introduction of the Legal Services Board in statute has not compromised the independence of the legal profession. The Jimmy Savile scandal was exposed by ITV and the Winterbourne View care home scandal was exposed by the BBC, both of which are regulated by the Broadcasting Act. While no one is suggesting similar laws for newspapers, it is not credible to suggest that broadcasters such as Sky News, ITV or the BBC have their agenda dictated by the government of the day. The worst excesses of the press have stemmed from the fact that the public interest defence has been too elastic and, all too often, has meant whatever editors wanted it to mean. To protect both robust journalism and the public, it is now essential to establish a single standard for assessing the public interest test which can be applied independently and consistently. The prime minister was right to set up the Leveson inquiry. While it has been uncomfortable for both politicians and the press, it also represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to put things right. Parliament must not duck the challenge. Lord Fowler, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Caroline Spelman, George Eustice, Penny Mordaunt, Nadhim Zahawi, Zac Goldsmith, Robert Buckland, Andrew Bingham, Adam Afriyie, Neil Parish, Rehman Chishti, Brian Binley, Jackie Doyle-Price, Stephen Metcalfe, Oliver Colvile, Mike Weatherly, Sheryll Murray, Claire Perry, Gary Streeter, Gareth Johnson, James Morris, George Freeman, Andrea Leadsom, Marcus Jones, Bob Stewart, Nicholas Soames, Guto Bebb, Georey Cox, Crispin Blunt, Angela Watkinson, Gerald Howarth, David Morris, Mark Garnier, Mark Field, Henry Bellingham, Gavin Barwell, Jesse Norman, Chris Skidmore, Nicola Blackwood, Paul Uppal, Simon Hart, Lord Ryder (Richard) I found myself bemused by the Guardians editorial suggesting that Lord Justice Leveson ought to favour the regulatory solution proposed by the newspaper industry itself, the so-called Hunt-Black plan. My phone was hacked by the News of the World in 2006 and, while the oences against me are minor compared to the suering of other (ordinary, non-celebrity) victims, it troubles me that the Guardian, of all papers, should assume that another round of self-regulation similar to the failed Press Complaints Commission should be sucient to remedy the many ills exposed in the Leveson inquiry. The key test for public acceptability of a new regulator is that it really is independent of the newspaper bosses who encouraged the phone-hacking culture in the rst place, and then tried to bury the scandal while you were busy exposing it. A regulator whose independence and powers were xed in law could help to prevent others becoming victims of unwarranted press intrusion. I urge you to reconsider your position. Benedict Grant Noakes London The gap between your editorial and Brian Cathcart (The press can live with this, 7 November) can surely be bridged. Self-regulation of the press can hardly be called a success so far, and something more substantial is needed. But press freedom demands some kind of rewall between government and the press. This can be achieved by setting up a press regulation board by statute. The statute would set the constitution of the PRB and its membership, how it is chosen and length of service. The statute would also determine the PRBs powers nes or temporary or permanent suspension of publication and publishing of corrections. It would be for the PRB to administer these powers, without interference from government but with provision for judicial review of its decisions. Membership might not be compulsory, but could be a condition for exemption from VAT. Funding could come from a proportion of VAT saved. Any attempts by government at direct intervention would then require new legislation, as Brian Cathcart points out. That is the rewall. Tim Gossling Cambridge The 20 academics who wrote to the Guardian (Letters, 5 November) and the National Union of Journalists have gone for the authoritarian option of statutory underpinning and right of reply. Their reforming zeal should have talked instead of a privacy and libel act, calibrating burden of proof on claimants, channelling all litigation into an arbitral legal process capped at 10,000 damages and non-punitive costs, with published adjudication. We need a social contract and due process for journalism reform not a crime-control manifesto. Tim Crook Senior lecturer, media law and ethics, Goldsmiths, University of London

Corrections and clarications

Several articles published in print and online in recent months, including a Shortcuts item (Will the UKs ash trees escape the fate of the elm?, 27 September, page 3, G2) and a Country diary on Fineshade Woods, Northampton (8 November, page 37) have said that the fungal disease known as ash dieback has already killed 90% of ash trees in Denmark. That is not quite correct: it would be more accurate to say that about 90% of ash trees in Denmark have been aected by the disease. A photo accompanying a report on Catalan leader Artur Mas and the question of whether Catalonia would automatically remain in the European Union if it became independent from Spain (Catalan leader presses EU on secession issue, 8 November, page 28) was captioned Artur Mas said an independent Catalonia would want to remain in the European Union and in the eurozone. However, the picture was of Mariano Rajoy, the Spanish prime minister. A brief item about Amancio Ortega, founder of the Spanish clothing retailer Inditex (Story in numbers, 7 November, page 26), said he had made nearly $18bn (11bn) since October 2011, or $66m a day. While the monetary gures given were correct, the time period mentioned wasnt. It was actually between 1 January and 5 October this year that Ortegas net worth grew by an average of $66m a day, according to Bloomberg Markets magazine. Contacts for Guardian departments and sta can be found at gu.com/help/ contact-us. To contact the readers editors oce, which looks at queries about accuracy and standards, email reader@guardian.co.uk including article details and web link; write to The readers editor, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU; or phone +44 (0)20 3353 4736 between 10am and 1pm Monday to Friday. The Guardians policy is to correct signicant errors as soon as possible.

Press freedom demands a rewall between government and the press

Tim Gossling

Tarzan and the trees Britains shameful role in the international arms trade
Fifteen pages on the US elections (8 November), and only three short columns on page 16 of Chancellor Merkels attempt to get the UK to focus on whether or not it wishes to stay in the EU, is a distorted sense of news coverage. Important as the US election is, it is less important to the British people than our future in or out of the EU. Rather more coverage of the change in the Chinese leadership is also necessary. The news coverage in the UK does not reect the rapidly changing power relationships in the modern world. Am I alone in thinking that you have got this wrong? Clive Soley Lab, House of Lords Surely Tower Hamlets council has no legal right to sell the Henry Moore statue (Report, 8 November). The work was given to the ward conditionally and title passed accordingly. Once the condition of public exhibition is breached, title should revert to the estate of the sculptor. Any sale should be challenged accordingly. Colin Burke Manchester If Mr Heseltine feels he has wasted his time on local government, apparently unsupported by Cameron and Osborne and now selling o its heritage with all his resources, energy and passion for trees, wouldnt he make an excellent ash tsar? John Bailey St Albans, Hertfordshire I notice that your published piece by Louise Mensch (Comment, 8 November) criticising Nadine Dorries for blatant populism is positioned right next to Steve Bells cartoon of Mitt Romney as a pot, and Martin Kettles byline. Meow! Christopher Gordon Winchester, Hampshire Even if David Cameron installs a micro-brewery at No 10 (Letters, 8 November) hell never be able to organise a party there. Suzanne Saxby Wrexham Im planning to go down the chute to Clare Torrys astonishing vocal gymnastics on Great Gig in the Sky. The button must be pressed the moment she starts (Letters, 8 November). Ed Collard Nottingham How humiliating for British citizens that the prime minister tramps the world pimping for the UK arms manufacturers (Cameron heads to Gulf in bid to sell Typhoon ghter jets, 5 November). In September the target was Brazil, when he escorted six defence contractors on a sales spree. Now Saudi Arabia is the mark; one of the most repressive tyrannies on the planet which already has one of the largest stocks of armaments (at $48bn, it was the seventh largest military spender in 2011). The only potential enemy of the regime, terried by the implications of the Arab spring, is its own population. These are the people who could eventually suer and die from Camerons blandishments to the dictators. Jim McCluskey Twickenham, Middlesex What a supremely surreal and oensive sight it was to see our PM descend the steps of his aircraft and arrive in the Gulf states to boost British arms sales. Cameron tells us that arms sales to the Gulf are entirely legitimate (Report, 6 November). Well, maybe in commercial terms they are. But, as he descended those steps, his brilliant red poppy standing out against his dark suit, he clearly hadnt considered the moral legitimacy of his actions. To promote the selling of arms in Remembrance week suggests a man with either no scruples or very poor judgment. Are there no depths to which he and we will not sink? Osbert Sitwells great and dreadful poetic commentary The Next War once again rings so true. But why stop in the Gulf states powder keg? Maybe our PM could nip over to Argentina and sell a few arms there then we could have another scrap. It worked for Mrs Thatcher. Tony Beale Ruddington, Nottinghamshire Countries that sell arms to states that have repeatedly violated the human rights of their people should receive universal condemnation from their own citizens for the role they play in furthering the misery and bloodshed around the globe, and Britains sale of ghter jets to Saudi Arabia and the UAE should be no exception. Human Rights Watch has reported numerous human rights abuses conducted by both states, which have included the assault and intimidation of nonviolent human rights defenders, political activists and civil society actors in an attempt to suppress freedom of expression and protect the regimes from democratic change. Britains long-standing international support for democracy and human rights has already been undermined by the sale of 72 Typhoons to Saudi Arabia. Should Britain prop up these oppressive states further by putting an extra 6bn worth of military hardware into their hands, its position will rightly be viewed as hypocritical by the rest of the world. Andrew Lovatt Market Drayton, Shropshire If David Cameron is irritated by claims that he uses his overseas trips to sell defence equipment to countries with questionable human rights records, then surely the correct response would be to stop selling the weapons altogether rather than try to do so in secret. Or would he perhaps argue that he has to sell weapons because his prime ministerial predecessors destroyed so much of UK manufacturing that weapons are the only industry the country has left? Joseph Nicholas London

Country diary

South Downs, near Arundel

The farm buildings seem to grow out of the chalk and clay earth of the Downs. Beside them starlings assemble on telegraph wires. They whistle a muddled cacophony of notes to each other, as if tuning up for a concert that never comes. The air is cold and clear, but a grey bank of cloud is sweeping in from behind me as I walk uphill. A few poppies glow among the browns and greens of the specially sown 10m-wide strips of wild plant and ower mixes. The insistent, squeaking rasps of furtive grey partridges echo from the eld margins. Once common, grey or English partridges have become a rare sight around the Downs, except here. Theyve been reintroduced on the estate for shooting, but it is hoped the restriction on how many can be taken will ensure they will spread. The welcome sideeect of the planting of conservation headlands, the provision of beetle banks and undersown cereal crops is the plentiful numbers of other birds and wildlife. Flocks of nches and buntings bustle over the hedgerows. Three buzzards swirl over the bare tips of the trees. Swarming starlings panic. Another buzzard perches on a game-feeder bin and watches a kestrel hungrily pick at something in the middle of a eld. The kestrel abandons its meal and swoops over the buzzard before moving away. Another large shape soars out from the dark trees. Its at wings, forked tail and stable ight instantly separate it from the buzzards. The weak light picks out its tricoloured wing bands. The red kite moves slowly over the eld, ignoring the bothersome attentions of crows. Red kites too have been a rare sight on the Downs, but it is now rare not to see one here. It banks and drifts away, climbing into the cloud. The wind is turning cold. To the south, darkness envelops the coast, and rain is spilling down from the sky. Rob Yarham

Reforming the Equality Commission

Hugh Muir reports strange goings on at the Equality and Human Rights Commission (Hideously diverse Britain, 5 November). Strange goings on would indeed suggest something needs explaining so perhaps you will let me, as secretary of state responsible for women and equalities, explain? We are reforming the EHRC because, since its creation in 2007, it has struggled to deliver across its remit or inspire condence in its governance, expertise or ability to deliver high-quality work at good value for the taxpayer. The noble aims with which it was created became lost in the mire. These problems were highlighted by the qualication of its rst three sets of accounts by the comptroller and auditor general and a critical report from the joint committee on human rights. So there is a strong case for change and that change has already begun. I believe it would have been irresponsible to taxpayers to let the status quo continue. That is why we have brought forward a strong package of reforms to help the commission to focus on its important equality and human rights functions. A key element is the appointment of a new chair and smaller board with the business skills needed to provide eective leadership and hold the organisation to account. The new board members will replace a number of those currently on the board whose appointments are due to come to an end shortly. This, coupled with a sharper focus, will leave us with an organisation that has public credibility and can challenge the government and other public bodies with authority. We need an eective and authoritative EHRC more than ever. A fair and equal society, where peoples talents are valued regardless of disability, race, faith, age, gender and sexuality, is a vital ingredient for sustained economic growth and for national pride and fullment. The commission must be at the heart of bringing this about and I am condent it can do so. Maria Miller Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Happy days
Stephen Mosss piece (Easy riders, G2, 8 November) reminded me of the documentary I directed for the South Bank Show in 1984 which explored the anity between Samuel Beckett and the music hall actor Max Wall. Eileen Atkins is right that people can be a bit too reverential with the work of Beckett. I recall meeting the playwright at the Riverside Studios before the shooting and enjoying many laughs with him. As part of the production I wanted some still pictures of Sam and Max together and asked Beckett if he would mind sitting next to Max. He said with relish that if I wanted, he would happily lie down for the shot. There was so much humour in the man and his work and Max was able to draw on this when he performed Krapps Last Tape and scenes from Waiting for Godot for our cameras. Eileen Atkins is right: you can laugh at Beckett, and I hope she does put up a notice encouraging the audience to do just that. Paul Foxall Collingbourne Ducis, Wiltshire

42

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012 Obituaries desk Email: obituaries@guardian.co.uk other.lives@guardian.co.uk Twitter: @guardianobits

Obituaries

Joe Melia
Noted actor of stage and screen who made his name in A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
he British theatre changed for ever when Joe Melia, as the sardonic teacher Bri, pushed a severely disabled 10-year-old girl in a wheelchair on to the stage of the Glasgow Citizens in May 1967 and proceeded to make satirical jokes about the medical profession while his marriage was disintegrating. The play was Peter Nicholss A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, which transformed the way disability was discussed on the stage. It made the names overnight of its author, the director Michael Blakemore, and Melia. Albert Finney took over the role of Bri on Broadway. Flat-footed, slightly hunched, always leaning towards a point of view, Melia, who has died aged 77, was a distinctive and compassionate actor who brought a strain of the music hall to the stage, a sense of being an outsider. As he demonstrated in the Nichols play, he was more than adept at straddling the stage and the audience in a conspiracy of co-operation. He struck gold again with Nichols 10 years later when he played the foul-mouthed disciplinarian Corporal Len Bonny in the Royal Shakespeare Companys production of Privates on Parade, again directed by Blakemore (who also directed the 1983 film). Melia was hilarious, suspended in his own lunatic dyspepsia between the gormless Private Flowers, for whom the play is a rite of passage, Nigel Hawthornes Major Giles Flack and the antics of the army stage show led by Denis Quilley as the flouncing Captain Terri Dennis. Melias vaudevillian tendencies suited his clown roles such as Touchstone, Thersites and Autolycus during a 16-year spell at the RSC, with which he also won an Olivier supporting actor award in 1982 for his performance as a Jewish doctor who wants to become a true German in CP Taylors Good, while Alan Howard wrestled with the concept of being a good Nazi. Melia was born above a barbers shop in Camden, north London, the son of immigrant Italian parents who relocated to Leicester during the second world war. He attended the City of Leicester boys grammar school, did his national service with the Intelligence Corps and went to Downing College, Cambridge, where he read English and (spotted by Michael Frayn) appeared with the Footlights revue, which led directly to a film role in Too Many Crooks (1959), a criminal comedy romp starring Terry-Thomas, Sid James and George Cole. He then played two significant takeover roles in long-running hits: Peter Brooks production of the musical Irma La Douce and, in 1963, the Jonathan Miller material in Beyond the Fringe at the Fortune. He was so good in the latter that he was acclaimed by Miller himself, and went on to become a fixture on television comedy and satire shows for a decade or more, even appearing on the panel game Call My Bluff. Melia had a droll sense of humour and a dry wit. This put him in the frame for a wide range of stage roles, not just in revue-type material he warmed up for Beyond the Fringe in One to Another (1959) at the Lyric Hammersmith alongside Beryl Reid, Sheila Hancock and Patrick Wymark but also in such serious drama as Bernard Kopss Enter Solly Gold (1970), about a false messiah, disguised as a rabbi, who causes havoc in a materialistic household; and Whos Who (1973), a beautifully written adult sex comedy by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall in which he happily returned to the Fortune. Because of his ability to play sideways on to an audience, he was a perfect performer in Brecht, following an appearance in Happy End at the Royal Court in 1965 with the leading role of Macheath in Tony Richardsons gloriously eclectic production of The Threepenny Opera at the Prince of Wales in 1972, co-starring Vanessa Redgrave, Barbara Windsor and Hermione Baddeley. At the RSC, he went beyond clowning in his contribution to Terry Handss stunning production of Peter Barness

Other lives
Derek Hutchinson
My friend Derek Hutchinson, who has died aged 79, was known as the father of sea kayaking. He wrote the classic book Sea Canoeing (1976) and, as a member of the British Canoe Unions expeditions and sea touring committees, led numerous firsts including, also in 1976, the first unescorted group crossing of the North Sea by kayak, gaining recognition in the Guinness Book of Records for the 31-hour journey from Felixstowe to Ostend. Derek also led the first expedition to paddle Scotlands infamous Corryvreckan whirlpool and, in 1978, an expedition to the Aleutian Islands, filmed for the TV documentary Canoeing Into the Past. His other trips included Alaskas Inland Passage and a circumnavigation of Prince Edward Island. Born in South Shields, Derek attended Argyle House school in Sunderland and trained Derek Hutchinson led the rst unescorted crossing of the North Sea by kayak as a teacher at New College Durham. He taught craft, design and technology for 25 years at Greenwell school in Gateshead. Derek became captivated by kayaking after watching a pool demonstration by Alan Byde. During the 1960s and 70s he developed his own skills, eventually becoming a BCU senior coach. Working closely with the national coach Chris Hare, he helped develop the BCUs coaching awards in sea kayaking. With South Shields Volunteer Life Guard Club, Derek trained one of the first kayak beach rescue units in the UK. Over the years he carried out many successful rescues, including that of three horses stranded by the tide in Marsden Bay, which he managed by tying them to his kayak and leading them to safety round a headland. Derek designed many leading sea kayaks, including one he called the Baidarka, the first glassfibre kayak to have watertight bulkheads and hatches as standard fittings. He was a popular lecturer and his ability to tell a tale was second to none. He was still delivering on-water masterclasses at the age of 78. Derek is survived by his partner, Maureen, two sons, Clive and Graham, and a daughter, Fiona. His wife, Helene, predeceased him. Martin Meling Melia with Zena Walker in the 1967 production of A Day in the Death of Joe Egg Photograph: The Scottish Theatre Archive

The Bewitched, a black, sardonic epic about the Spanish Inquisition, and in the rediscovery of John OKeefes longforgotten, riotous 18th-century Wild Oats which with a cast also including Howard, Zo Wanamaker and Jeremy Irons transferred from the Aldwych to the West End and re-entered the nations repertory. Hands who counted Melia an extraordinarily rich and complex talent was his ideal director, and he responded with a great gallery of RSC performances, not just as the scavenging, scampering Thersites in Handss black fur and burnished metal Troilus and Cressida (with David Suchet as Achilles), but also a cringing chief of police in Jean Genets brothel-bound The Balcony at the Barbican in 1987, the same year as his Autolycus in The Winters Tale, with Simon Russell Beale and Penny Downie. Television work ranged from an

ideally confidential storyteller on the BBC childrens programme Jackanory to a regular slot on series such as A Very Peculiar Practice and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (he was Mr Prosser) in the 1980s. His film work was sporadic, but included a small role in Joseph Loseys Modesty Blaise (1966), with Dirk Bogarde and Monica Vitti, and another one (the photographer) in Richard Attenboroughs Oh! What a Lovely War (1969).

Melia retained an objectivity that made him a Brechtian actor long before he appeared in Brecht

e last appeared with the RSC in 1989, as the Chorus in Peter Flannerys Singer, and his last notable West End roles, in 1992, were the subtly argumentative Burglar in Trevor Nunns handsome all-star Haymarket revival of Shaws Heartbreak House (with Paul Scoeld, Redgrave, Daniel Massey and Felicity Kendal) and one of the vivid theatricals in Pineros Trelawney of the Wells (with Michael Hordern, Sarah Brightman and Helena Bonham Carter). Melia was a strong and likable personality who could dominate any theatre green room. For many years, he and his wife, Flora, whom he married in 1963, lived in Primrose Hill, London, settling in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1998. Flora died in 2008. He is survived by two sons, Jonathan and Joseph. Michael Coveney

Peter Nichols writes: Joe Melias unique quality as an actor was his intelligence. Even when deep in character, he retained an objectivity that made him seem to be assessing the scene he was

in, a quality that made him a Brechtian actor long before he appeared in Brecht. Looking at photos of A Day in the Death of Joe Egg from 1967, that quality is there, even in stills of Joe looking intently at the cushion held by Zena Walker playing Bris wife, Sheila standing in for their disabled child. Joe and Zena were a dynamic duo. I take some credit for having proposed Joe for the role after seeing him in the film Four in the Morning (1965). Never an easy man, Joe was perverse enough not to take over the part on Broadway after Albert Finney had kickstarted it. The reason he gave was that the US was a fascist country. I later found him lining up at the passport office to go on holiday to Francos Spain, and asked the room in general: Is it all fascists in this queue? Joes remains the best embodiment of that part. Years later he was equally good as the dim, swearing Corporal Bonny in the play and film of Privates on Parade. He had the biggest laugh in the show with a line he made funnier by adding fucking, telling me: The rhythms better. Theyve been rehearsing it again this week for the Michael Grandage company at the Nol Coward theatre and Joes emendation is intact. Our families often mingled, and he made up for my failings as a father by taking my son to stand on the terraces at the old Arsenal ground, calling him to come out to play by bawling Come on, you Gunners! from the street outside. Joe (Giovanni) Philip William Melia, actor, born 23 January 1935; died 20 October 2012

Birthdays
David Barrie, chair, Make Justice Work, 59; David Constant, cricket umpire, 71; Alessandro del Piero, footballer, 38; Karen Dotrice, actor, 57; David Duval, golfer, 41; Sir Ronald Harwood, novelist, playwright, 78; Sir Alistair Horne, military historian, 87; Andy Kershaw, broadcaster, 53; Roger McGough, poet, 75; Frances OGrady, TUC general secretary designate, 53; Tony Slattery, writer, actor, comedian, 53; Bryn Terfel, baritone, 47; Donald Trelford, former editor, the Observer, 75; Prof Marina Warner, writer and critic, 66; Tom Weiskopf, golfer, 70.

Announcements

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

43

Osman nally recognised with call into England squad

Football, page 46

guardian.co.uk/sport

Murray goes for Tsonga Roger that Federer reaches nal four and a longer season
Tennis Kevin Mitchell 02 Arena
Andy Murray, still holding his aching body together with grit and plaster at the end of a momentous season, is about to have his rst Christmas at home in a few years although he would prefer his holiday did not start immediately after his match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga tonight. Defeat by the Frenchman in the third Group A match of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals would almost certainly put the Scot out of the weekends semi-nals. Of the 10 possible scenarios in the group, four would see him survive, including one in which he loses to Tsonga in three sets, as long as Novak Djokovic takes three sets to account for Tomas Berdych earlier on. Whatever the strength of their rivalry, he would prefer Djokovic to win, making it tougher for Berdych to go through, and his path easier; whether the world No 1 would be happy for his long-time friend to complicate his drive for the title by staying in the mix is another matter. The only case in which Djokovic goes home early is if he loses in two sets to Berdych and Murray beats Tsonga in two sets. Ive won two matches here before and qualied, Murray said, and Ive won two matches and not qualied. The only way to guarantee is by winning three matches or by winning your rst two matches in straight sets. Its not easy to win comfortably here because youre playing against the best players on a quick surface. If Murrays newly barbered head hurts doing the maths, his back, knees and ankles at least do not appear to be giving him the grief they did when he all but collapsed in the early stages of the French Open. But he could do with a break. I havent taken a holiday the last few years because Ive gone straight from Miami [where he does his warm-winter training] to Australia [for the Open]. This year we will take a holiday, then Ill spend a few days at home over Christmas, for the rst time in a few years. He and the caravan of dream-chasers on the Tour spend precious little time in their expensive homes, especially those who invariably go deep in the draw. This year, it is dierent for Murray; he returns as a grand slam champion and an Olympic gold medallist, and he has noticed a slight change in the publics reaction to him. A little bit, he says, but nothing too drastic I didnt really want that to be the case either. When we are playing tournaments we dont really go out and about, walk the streets, go to restaurants and see loads of people. Maybe when Im at my home Ill see more of a change. It is two years since he had a proper extended break but he will not be turning to lard in the sunshine. Im happy to sit on the beach for a couple of days but, after that, I try to do [exercise] because, when you just lie around, your body stiens up. When you do start practising, it takes time to get back into it. I speak to Kim [Sears, his girlfriend] about where to go and we try to nd the most convenient place for the time weve got somewhere thats not a real hassle to get to. That, for me, is important because we do a lot of travelling. I dont want to go somewhere where its three or four ights away. Because the seasons long, it is nice when we do get some time o to just be at home. Im looking forward to it.

Kevin Mitchell O2 Arena

How they stand

Group A Novak Djokovic Andy Murray Tomas Berdych Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Group B Roger Federer David Ferrer Juan Martn del Potro Janko Tipsarevic W-L 2-0 1-1 1-1 0-2 W-L 2-0 1-1 0-1 0-1 Sets 4-1 3-3 3-3 1-4 Sets 4-0 2-3 1-2 0-2 Games 30-23 29-30 29-27 21-29 Games 25-14 25-26 13-15 4-12

*Players are ranked by number of matches won, then sets won, and nally by games won

Roger Federer beat David Ferrer in straight sets on day four of the ATP World Tour Finals in London but gave a laboured performance Julian Finney/Getty Images

Roger Federer rolls on, the not-so-old man by the river yet not so convincingly in dispatching David Ferrer in two tough sets to suggest strongly that he is going to win his seventh title here, the third in a row. He is the rst to qualify for the weekends climax to the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, though, and that will be a comfort. As with all Federer performances, there was artistry, but, when the job needed a shovel rather than a brush, he looked ill at ease, having to save nine of 10 break points, ghting against his serve and struggling to control his normally awless ground strokes. There were enough worrying dips in yesterdays 6-4, 7-6 win to feed the hopes of his peers. Can Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray do to the 31-year-old Swiss what the 30-year-old Spaniard could not? On this showing, yes. Here was the recent world No1 labouring against a player who, for all his ne attributes, brought so little to their 13 previous encounters that he could not manage a single win. Federer won 10 of those matches in straight sets, including all ve indoors, notably here the past two years. Before the match the rst in this season-ending nale between two 30-plus players since Andre Agassi played Goran Ivanisevic in Sydney 11 years ago Ferrer articulated the reason for the disparity: Hes just a better player than I am. And there was no denying a more obvious truth: a second-gear Federer was still too good for a Ferrer revving near the red-line. He makes you hit the extra shot, Federer said of Ferrer. He makes it physical. You know that mentally hes not going to go anywhere. Thats why he has so much respect from his fellow competitors. But, after he had secured his 14th win over this most rugged of sparring partners, they met at the net like old friends and Federers smile said it all.

Racing

Scotney quits integrity role after nine years as BHA is restructured

Greg Wood
The British Horseracing Authority said yesterday that Paul Scotney, its director of integrity services, compliance and licensing since 2003, will leave his position on 14 December by mutual agreement as part of a restructuring plan instigated by Paul Bittar, the Authoritys chief executive. Scotney, a former policeman, broke the mould for security chiefs at racings ruling body when he was appointed nine years ago, as his predecessors had emerged from military backgrounds. His time in oce has coincided with the rise to prominence of the Betfair betting exchange, which shares betting information with the Authority and has played an important role in a series of successful corruption investigations and hearings during Scotneys time as racings senior policeman. The jockeys Gary Carter and Dean McKeown, who were warned o for ve years and four years respectively, were among dozens of riders, trainers and both current and former owners to face charges under the integrity rules over the past nine years. The most recent high-prole t investigation carried out by Scotneys department resulted in two owners, Maurice Sines and James Crickmore, being kmore, banned for 14 years for serious breaches ous of the rules, including three instances in which horses were stopped by ped their riders. Scotney has also been a controversial figures at times, not s, least when he endured a searcharching cross-examination from a m lawyer representing Kieren en Fallon, the six-times champion Flat jockey, when Fa l l o n w a s t r i e d o n criminal charges of corrupPaul Scotney conducted investigations into dozens of people in racing during his nine years in the sport tion at the Old Bailey in 2007. Scotney denied telling the trainer Alan Bailey at a social function that he wanted to get Fallon and was also forced to concede that some notes relating to the case might have been in his briefcase when it was stolen during a robbery at BHA headquarters in 2005. The case against Fallon and ve others collapsed several weeks later, the judge ruling they had no case to answer. Scotney will be succeeded by Adam Brickell, current the BHAs head of legal and compliance, who will be promoted to the role of director of legal, integrity and risk. Scotney will continue to advise the Authority, while also pursuing new opportunities in other sports. I am sad to be leaving my full-time role but also excited at the prospect of working for clients outside of racing while also retaining my links to the BHA, Scotney said. I am proud of the progress that has been made during my time in racing. The links between racing and betting are more deeply ingrained than in other sports, so it is only fitting that racing should lea the way in understanding betlead ter the thr threats posed as a result of sports betting. betting. Bittar said that it is good news that, s in ensuring our commitment to integrity ensurin standards, we will be able to call upon standar Pauls experience and expertise Paul when needed. wh Paul has put in place strong systems and built an excellent sy team. This is reflected in the te fact weve got an internal candifa date, in Adam, to promote and d Paul leaves his full-time role with British racing far better equipped to deal with threats to the sports integrity than it was on his arrival in 2003.

Todays tips
Fontwell
1.10 1.40 2.10 2.40 3.10 3.40 4.10 1.00 1.30 2.00 2.30 3.00 3.30 4.00 Chris Cook Portrait Emotion Annimation Jive Master Venetian Lad Overlay Bonoman Millers Pudsey Makhzoon Fightstar Marshmallow Jasperito Get The Papers Panthers Run Mansonien LAs Top Form Lord Of The Dun Rydalis Quaddick Lake Princely Hero Overlay Terra Bleu Radical Impact Spear Thistle Secret Desert Goat Castle Papamoa Ashes House Panthers Run Mansonien LAs

Musselburgh
Chris Cook Top Form 12.50 Stars Du Granits Schelm Kie 1.20 Glenora Gale 1.50 Swift Escape Swift Escape 2.20 Dannanceys Hill (nb) Dannanceys Hill 2.50 Hi George Simply Ned (nap) 3.20 Relax (nap) Balding Banker 3.50 Glingerburn Lord Usher (nb)

Hexham

Wolverhampton
4.20 4.50 5.20 5.50 6.20 6.50 7.20 7.50 Another Citizen Sherry Cherie Polar Venture Space Artist Elegant Muse Clapped Mawhub Lucky Mark Half A Crown Tidals Baby Polar Venture Alhaarth Beauty Hey Fiddle Fiddle Clapped Mawhub Arch Walker

Todays big races

3.20 Musselburgh Buy Your 2013 Badge Today Handicap Chase (Class 3) 2m 4f 6,498
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1114-4 Simply Ned (23,CD,BF) N Richards 5 11.12 D N Russell 90 6-0000 Unknown Rebel (23) D McCain 4 11.9 J Maguire 84 004-06 Nine Stories (23,D) C Grant 7 11.6 K Renwick 87 4-1010 Hi George (20,D) J Jeerson 4 11.3 H Haynes 88 310450 Cool Baranca (13,D) Mrs D Sayer 6 11.2 Miss E Sayer (5) 81 5-0F11 Claude Carter (69) A Whillans8 10.11E Whillans (3)89 20U-02 Grand Diamond (33,D) J Goldie 8 10.8 Lucy Alexander (3) 86 -33205 Bridlingtonbygones (23,CD) K McLintock 7 10.6 B Hughes 85 0215-0 Golden Future (7,CD) P Niven 9 10.5 H Brooke (3) 83 0533-P Smart Ruler (F43) J Moatt 6 10.1 R McGrath 82

Betting 9-4 Simply Ned, 9-2 Claude Carter, 5-1 Grand Diamond, 6-1 Bridlingtonbygones, 8-1 Nine Stories, 10-1 Unknown Rebel, Hi George. Simply Ned was fourth as joint-favourite in a better race on his comeback at Wetherby and, despite a 3lb rise, is still weighted to win. Bridlingtonbygones, Nine Stories and Unknown Rebel were behind him last time without excuses. Claude Carter has won twice at Market Rasen but the form is nothing special.

2.50 Musselburgh Dalhousie Bonnyrigg 720 Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) 2m 6,498

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1122-1 Relax (191,D) Miss V Williams 7 11.12 A Coleman 89 211P2- Red Tanber (203,CD) B Mactaggart 9 11.11 Lucy Alexander (3) 88 661-44 Balding Banker (27,D) F Murphy 6 11.7 J Reveley 90 335435 Fred Bojangals (28,CD) Mrs B Butterworth 10 11.5 B Hughes 87 -3503F Dica (30,C) P Grin IRE 6 11.0 R Mania 80 3-121P Blazin White Face (44,D) Miss L Russell 5 10.12 P Buchanan 86 01-102 Locked Inthepocket (14,D) Miss P Robson 8 10.11 R McGrath 84 014-04 One Fine Morning (41) R OLeary IRE 6 10.1 Peter Carberry (5) 85

Betting 15-8 Relax, 7-2 Red Tanber, 4-1 Balding Banker, 6-1 Locked Inthepocket, 10-1 Blazin White Face, 16-1 Dica, One Fine Morning.

Whos running today? Racecards, news and live results online at guardian.co.uk/horseracing

44

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

Sport

Centurion Pietersen back to his disdainful best

Cricket Mike Selvey Ahmedabad
Until Kevin Pietersen, with a disdainful century, and Ian Bell, shedding the cares of impending fatherhood, rippled out their strokes and enlivened the nal session, this rst day of Englands nal warmup match had produced some dull fare. It was not their fault. The opposition is callow and, until the Test leg-spinner Amit Mishra had his rst bowl midway through the afternoon, the bowling was an all-you-can-eat buet on which the batsmen gorged themselves, but circumspectly, so as not to disturb the digestion. Alastair Cook made a bright 97 before he was caught behind trying to cut an o-spinner, and looks in prime form, although he will have made more dicult runs for Redburn against Crescent in a Bedford School house match. For Nick Compton, inked in now as his opening partner for the rst Test, there was conrmation of a solid technique and temperament in his 74 before he was lbw to Mishras seventh ball, a slider, despite being a good stride forward. Jonathan Trott did what he generally does, which is make some runs without anyone really noticing, before he too was lbw to Mishra for 46, trying to sweep his way to a half-century. Overall, though, the most exciting thing to have happened thus far was the sight and sound of Bell falling out of a plastic chair. How we chuckled. Once, Indias famed all-rounder Kapil Dev was known as the Haryana Hurricane, but these bowlers would barely register on the Beaufort scale. The explosions of firecrackers in the Ahmedabad night-time already gives notice that Diwali is approaching, and Bell and Pietersen provided more reworks. Bell got o the mark by launching Mishra over wide long-on for six, and he and Pietersen, who had clambered into Mishra earlier this year in the Indian Premier League, continued the assault so that the on 408 for three, with Bell on 57 and Samit Patel only just under way on 11. Englands Test match intentions have now become a lot clearer, largely conrming what many thought regarding the batting. Compton had been earmarked as opener before the tour and has now given the management the conrmation they were seeking. Installing Patel at six is recognition of the way that he has demonstrated skills against spin over the past year that are as good as any in the side. In Sri Lanka earlier in the year, England went part way to acknowledging his qualities but sent out mixed messages to him by moving Matt Prior up the order above him. Now they are saying that he is a frontline batsman, which is important psychologically, as well as keeping Prior in the position of which he is the leading exponent in world cricket. The bowling is less straightforward. Jimmy Anderson has been rested from this match as was always the plan and he is comfortable with his preparations. Stuart Broad is also not playing but has only a low-grade bruise to his left heel and will be t to play in the Test. As for Steven Finn, he is said to be making excellent progress in his recovery from the thigh strain that he collected in the rst match, better than anticipated, and arrived at the ground for the nal session in order to go through some training drills and tness work. It would be an uphill struggle, though, to get him t for the rst Test and his aim now will be the second match in Mumbai. Which bowler makes up the pace trio may to some extent come down to who bowls well in this match, although Stuart Meaker, who only arrived in the country on Wednesday and is decidedly undercooked, is not in contention. But Tim Bresnan has already shown his credentials in the rst match, and has his batting as a valuable second string, while Graham Onions, while not bowling badly, did not bowl particularly well either in Navi Mumbai. A strong performance from Bresnan here should gain him the place.

Ramprakash in coaching role

Andy Wilson
Mark Ramprakash will return to the England setup during the second Test in Mumbai this month, as part of a new role with the performance programme. Ramprakash, who retired from firstclass cricket in July, will y to India with the England Lions players for a training camp that has been arranged to run alongside the senior tour. He will work alongside Graham Gooch, the senior teams batting coach, and will eectively be lling in for Graham Thorpe, the national lead batting coach whose departure for India will be delayed by coaching exams. Mark has been involved for the rst time on the performance programme at Loughborough, said David Parsons, the Mark Ramprakash will y to India with the England Lions and work with Graham Gooch, the senior teams batting coach performance director of the England and Wales Cricket Board. Were going to have another 17 cricketers out in India in addition to the team who are already there, and we just feel that to ask one coach to provide batting support for all those guys would be too much. Thorpe, a former England and Surrey team-mate of Ramprakash, said: In a way Ramps retiring came at a good time. Hes had something like 10 days with the under-17s already. I see that as really important, having someone like Ramps to work with them. Karl Krikken, the former Derbyshire wicketkeeper, has been recognised for leading the club to promotion from Division Two last season. He will go to India as wicketkeeping coach, deputising for Bruce French, who is unavailable.

Kevin Pietersen strikes another boundary on his way to a quick-re century in Englands last warm-up before the rst Test Punit Paranjpe/AFP/Getty Images

Scoreboard
England XI First innings *AN Cook c S Singh b Yadav........................................... 97 NRD Compton lbw b Mishra .......................................... 74 IJL Trott lbw b Mishra ................................................... 46 KP Pietersen retd hurt ............................................... 110 IR Bell not out ............................................................. 57 SR Patel not out ........................................................... 11 Extras (b7, lb1, w3, nb2).............................................. 13 Total (for 3, 90 overs) ................................................. 408 Fall 66, 211, 246. To bat MJ Prior, TT Bresnan, G Onions, SC Meaker, MS Panesar. Bowling Budhwar 15-3-62-0; Vashisht 21-1-115-0; Rana 19-6-48-0; C Saini 8-2-40-0; Yadav 16-1-85-1; Mishra 11-1-50-2. Haryana *A Mishra, AA Khod, AA Vashisht, C Saini, N Saini, J Yadav, R Dewan, Sandeep Singh, Sunny Singh, S Rana, S Budhwar. Toss England XI elected to bat. Umpires AM Saheba and C Shamsuddin.

Haryana captain withdrew himself from the ring line after eight overs. Dropped on the boundary when 85, Pietersen reached a hundred from only 86 deliveries, with 14 fours and three sixes, clobbered two more exotic boundaries and then retired to the pavilion. Retired hurt or retired out is a moot point. He had been limping a little at the crease (cramp apparently), and indulging in some extravagant stretching exercises while non-striker, although he did not seem hampered in his strokeplay. Some batsmen care about such semantics: it aects the average. Meanwhile Mishra, the little devil, promptly emerged from his bunker and brought himself back on. England nished

Ennis: Van Commenee wanted me to move

Athletics Anna Kessel
Jessica Ennis has revealed how she stood up to Charles van Commenee when the former UK Athletics head coach attempted to force the heptathlete into relocating from Sheeld to London as part of the sports restructuring in preparation for London 2012. When Ennis refused, the Dutchman tried to move her coach, Toni Minichiello a UKA employee to Lee Valley. They knew that would be dicult for me, the Olympic champion told BBC 5 Live yesterday, because we work as a unit and we need each other to perform and to achieve what I need to achieve, but Chell [her coach] was adamant we both believed in what we were doing in Sheeld and we stood strong and it worked out very well. Van Commenee, who became known for his controversial approach, used similar tactics on the high jumper Martyn Bernard when he threatened to remove his funding if the athlete did not relocate from Liverpool to London. He also had a year-long public Jessica Ennis, the Olympic champion, said moving to London from Sheeld would have been the worst thing spat with the triple jumper Phillips Idowu ahead of the Olympic Games. Asked if it seemed Van Commenees methods were at odds with helping her to prepare for 2012, Ennis said: some comments maybe werent great. I think Charles is a slightly different character and might go around things in a slightly dierent way. Ennis wrote about the incident in her book, Unbelievable, released this week, recalling how following her world indoor title win in Qatar in 2010 Van Commenee had begun suggesting that Ennis should change her training setup. I could not understand that, Ennis wrote. I had won the world title and everything was working perfectly. Moving to London would have been the very worst thing for me. She describes what the move would have meant giving up life with her fiance, Andy, whose job was based in Sheffield, moving away from family and friends and her dog, Myla, to live in what she describes as akin to university halls of residence. She says Van Commenee simply didnt get it. I dont like conict, but if it is something that I am passionate about then I will put my foot down and argue until the sun comes down.

Motor racing F1 drivers warned over swearing in interviews

Formula One drivers have been told to mind their language after the world champion, Sebastian Vettel, and the race winner, Kimi Raikkonen, turned the air blue on the podium at last Sundays Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. A spokesman for the governing body, the FIA, said yesterday that a friendly letter had been sent to all teams communications directors about the bad language. The letter reminded them that it was very much our collective responsibility to make sure drivers are aware such language has no place during media events. Vettel and Raikkonen swore live on air in their podium interviews. The letter added that swearing in broadcast interviews shines an unwelcome beam of adverse publicity on their teams and sponsors, the sport and FIA. AP

Nathan Cleverly is unbeaten in 24 ghts as a professional, winning 11 by knockout

Boxing Cleverly eager to follow in Calzaghes footsteps

Nathan Cleverly will be proud to follow in the footsteps of his countryman Joe Calzaghe when he defends the WBO light-heavyweight title in the US for the rst time. The 25-year-old Welshman faces South Dakotas Shawn Hawk at Los Angeles Staples Centre tomorrow night. Cleverly is also an undefeated world champion heading into his 25th professional contest, the same position enjoyed by Calzaghe when he brought down the curtain on an unblemished 46-ght career in New York four years ago. Its a really proud moment for me, Cleverly said. Joe retired, he was looking for a new star to come through and take over the mantle. Fortunately and thankfully Ive fallen into that category. PA

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

45

Football

How Celtics scouts unearthed hidden gems to outshine the jewels of Bara
The Glasgow club have assembled a cut-price squad to compete with the very best, writes Ewan Murray
When Celtic lifted the European Cup in 1967, all but one of their 15-man squad had been born within 10 miles of the clubs home ground. Forty-ve years on, another famous and indelible mark was etched in Celtics history by a distinctly more cosmopolitan group of players. Not that nationality will matter one iota to the Celtic support, who will rightly hail the heroes who defeated Barcelona on Champions League business on Wednesday night, but only one of the starting XI, Charlie Mulgrew, was Scottish-born. Albeit player values have been warped by the ability to move under freedom of contract, a glance at Celtics successful line-up in comparison to their Catalan opponents paints a striking picture. It also endorses just how impressive Celtics shock victory, and general performance, actually was. Earlier in this campaign, Celtic had held their own in the Camp Nou and scored three times in victory at Spartak Moscow. Five of the starting Celtic team Adam Matthews, Kelvin Wilson, Mulgrew, Mikael Lustig and Joe Ledley moved to Glasgow under freedom of contract. One, Miku, is a loan signing. Fraser Forster, Efe Ambrose, Kris Commons, Victor Wanyama and Georgios Samaras did command transfer fees but that gure, in total, is no more than 6m. Tony Watt, an 18-yearold who stepped from the bench to score Celtics crucial second goal, cost 50,000 from Airdrie United. Paltry figures, in other words, compared to the vast sums which are now thrown around by the clubs who prominently feature year on year in the Champions League. No Celtic player earns more than 1.5m a year as a basic wage; Barcelonas average annual salary is reported to be about 5m. Celtics ability to perform with distinction at Champions League level highlights how successfully they have recruited young players from far aeld. Under Neil Lennons predecessor, Tony Mowbray, too many players arrived at Celtic who lacked an ability to handle the pressures of Old Firm life. John Park, Celtics football development manager, is the man credited with sourcing the clutch of players who could now be sold on for considerable profit. During Parks time at Hibernian, the club produced and sold a number of exciting young players. Wanyama is Celtics case in point; a 21-year-old athletic midelder, with no shortage of passing talent, who cost just 900,000 from Beerschot in Belgium. Amid interest from top English clubs, Celtics manager Lennon spoke of Wanyama being valued at 25m. The Kenyans display against Barcelona oered food for thought to those who scoed at Lennons words. Wanyama is an example of the specic markets Celtic have targeted; those with aordable young players in terms of transfer fee and salary whom bigger clubs may be reluctant to take a chance on; other smaller leagues, essentially, which oer potentially hidden gems. For the players, there is the obvious lure of Champions League football and a decent shop window towards the English top ight. The full-back, Emilio Izaguirre, arrived from Honduran football for 600,000 after Celtic launched a specific scouting focus on the 2010 World Cup. Beram Kayal signed from Maccabi Haifa and Ki Sung-yueng, who was subsequently sold to Swansea City for three times the 2m Celtic paid for him, joined from FC Seoul. Commons, at just 300,000, represents one of Celtics best value for money purchases of recent times. Gary Hooper would have played against Barcelona and was poised to have joined Forster in the England squad named for next weeks friendly in Sweden, had the striker not picked up a hamstring injury. Alan Thompson, in 2004, is the only player to win an England cap while employed by Celtic. Lennon instantly took to Hooper and made him a priority signing after watching him play for Scunthorpe United, with Celtics manager taken by the scrapping qualities which are valuable when seeking Scottish Premier League goals. Hooper has surpassed Lennons aspirations and justied his faith; the 24-year-old is now tipped for a lucrative move to Englands Premier League. At face value, it is curious that Forster was overlooked for so long at Newcastle United. The goalkeeper found himself placed behind Shay Given, Steve Harper and Tim Krul in the pecking order at St James Park. Newcastle had decided Krul was a better prospect than Forster long before the latter made a 2m move to Celtic. It is in European matches over the past two seasons that Forsters form has been especially impressive. One Catalan newspaper yesterdaymorning dubbed Forster La Gran Muralla, The Great Wall. For Lennon, too, there has been an epic turnaround. Last October, Celtic found themselves 3-0 down within 45 minutes at Kilmarnock with their manager, by his own subsequent admission, wondering how to compose his resignation letter. Lennons team recovered to claim a draw that day, won the championship and are now making positive inroads in Europe. For the manager, whose own talent may well have been understated in the past, that is an achievement worthy of wide recognition.

Lennons bargain buys

Victor Wanyama Beerschot Was courted by major European clubs but Celtic were the ones to re take a 900,000 chance on the ance midelder from the Belgian e side Beerschot. Physically ysically and technically a highly ighly impressive player, the 21-year-old Kenyan has now been linked with both Manchester clubs and rated at 25m by the Parkhead manager

900k
Emilio Izaguirre Motagua Injured for Barcelonas visit, with tness troubles halting what had been previously stunning progress for the left-back in Glasgow. Celtic stepped in ahead of Seattle Sounders to sign Izaguirre, 26, for just 600,000 from his home country, Honduras, after he impressed at the 2010 World Cup

Prices that were right

Celtic
Fraser Forster 2m Mikael Lustig free Kelvin Wilson free Efe Ambrose 900k Charlie Mulgrew free Adam Matthews free Kris Commons 300k Joe Ledley free Victor Wanyama 900k Miku loan Georgios Samaras 2m Subs used Tony Watt 50,000 Beram Kayal 1.1m TOTAL 7.25m

Barcelona
Vctor Valds youth Dani Alves 23m Javier Mascherano 20m Jordi Alba 12m Marc Bartra youth Andrs Iniesta youth Alex Song 15m Xavi youth Lionel Messi youth Alexis Snchez 21m Pedro youth Subs used Cesc Fbregas 24m Gerard Piqu 5m David Villa 34m TOTAL 154m

600k
Fraser Forster Newcastle United Signed for Newcastles academy in 2005 and was contracted to the club until last summer, when Celtic turned an earlier loan deal into a permanent one. The 6ft 7in goalkeepers form, especially in European ties, has prompted a call-up to the past two England squads

2m

Tony Watt Airdrie United The scorer of Celtics second goal against Barcelona played only 15 rst team games for Airdrie United before Celtic signed him for 50,000. At 18, he is one of Scotlands brightest prospects. In just 11 appearances for Celtic, Watt has scored six goals

50k
Adam Matthews Cardi City The energetic 20-year-old defender is comfortable on either ank, as demonstrated when he was switched to left-back and excelled during Barcelonas visit. Enjoyed a stunning start to his career in Glasgow after arriving on a free transfer from Cardi City but had faded slightly before a terric display in the Champions League victory

Free
Gary Hooper Scunthorpe United Celtics top scorer has also attracted the attention of Roy Hodgson, who n would have called the 24-year-old into his squad for next ad weeks friendly in dly Sweden but for injury. Hooper was at Grays Athletic six years ago and arrived at Celtic via Scunthorpe United. Liverpool have ve been strongly y linked with a 9m bid

2.4m
Celtics Tony Watt, left, celebrates his decisive goal against Barcelona in the Champions League the 18-year-old was signed for 50,000 from Airdrie Scott Heppell/AP

Holloway issues early warning to Zaha suitors

Dominic Field

Six days into his life as manager of Crystal Palace and Ian Holloway is in the doghouse. My wife told me when I woke up how jolly I looked, he says. I told her: Thats because I cant wait to get out the house and in to work, love. Id best go home and apologise. There are clearly catches to boundless enthusiasm, though he has good reason to be eager. Holloway arrived at Selhurst Park last Saturday to take over a resurgent team lying fourth in the Championship. Dougie Freedman had left for Bolton Wanderers, his defection untimely and potentially disruptive, and yet the team the Scot left behind remain irrepressible. Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town have been dispatched in style to hoist the south London club to the Championships summit. The new manager, a near miracle worker over three years at Blackpool, watched in disbelief from the sidelines as opponents were left shattered by the experience of confronting Wilfried Zaha, Yannick Bola-

sie & co. This club have irted with disaster too often in recent seasons. Suddenly it feels like an opportunity again. Palaces progress owes much to astute owners who have learned from the lavish mistakes of previous regimes. The rst three league games may have been lost but they are now unbeaten in 12 and travel to Peterborough tomorrow apparently sweeping all before them. I walked into something that was running fantastically well, says Holloway. The investment, Dougies foresight, the structure Theyve got an academy setup here, a conveyor belt to the promised Ian Holloway, the Crystal Palace manager, claims it is frightening how far his new club, now unbeaten in 12 games, can go

land. Look at what we achieved at Blackpool. If we manage something similar here, its quite frightening where this club could end up. I want to unlock some of the lads from this area, young fellas who come from backgrounds that arent wealthy, and make them shine. Some are already doing that, notably Zaha. The England Under-21 winger turns 20 tomorrow with the co-owner Steve Parish having suggested bids of 20m in January will be laughed o. Zahas almost mesmeric, a genius with the ball, says Holloway. When hes facing up to someone, I feel for them. But hes at a place where hes loved, hes treasured. He has his own song. These bigwig rival clubs dont half covet talent and they try and stack em and rack em. The great thing about Palace is these lads know theyre going to get in the rst team with us rather than rot in someones reserves, getting frustrated worrying theyre losing time to become famous. Well

Wilfs got a song about him. Some of those Arsenal lads dont have songs about them, have they? They aint got a billboard with them on like he does. Sometimes youre at the right place at the right time. We hold all the cards. If anyone comes in, I know what the answer is going to be Can I be polite? Jog on. But dont think for one minute its just the Wilf Zaha show. That much is clear. Palaces squad may lack depth but the rst team has balance and quality. Glenn Murray has 13 goals already, having managed only seven last term. But footballs a funny game, says Holloway. Three league matches in and they had lost the lot, so there isnt a better example for this club to avoid becoming complacent than that. My club back then had won three in a row and I was manager of the month, but then we could hardly win again with the same players. How does that work? Lets get on with it, play it down, keep the enthusiasm With Holloway, the enthusiasm will never diminish.

46

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

Football

Osman earns late chance to make an international mark

Everton midelders form at 31 is rewarded in England squad that mixes young and old, writes Daniel Taylor
Roy Hodgsons determination not to rule out players because of age has led to an unexpected England call-up for Leon Osman, the talented Everton midelder who now gets his first opportunity at international level at the age of 31. Osman has the chance to make his debut in Wednesdays friendly in Sweden after being introduced to a squad that also features the return of Jack Wilshere and a place for the 17-year-old Raheem Sterling. Wilsheres inclusion demonstrates how strongly Hodgson wants a chance to work with him, despite Arsne Wenger warning that the midelder cannot be rushed too much when he has only just come back from a 17-month layoff. Hodgson, who had to make a dicult telephone call to the Arsenal manager, will also bring in Carl Jenkinson once Fifa gives its authorisation, as he had previously played for Finlands Under-21 and Under-19 teams. Osman has not played for England at any level since representing the schoolboys side 15 years ago but he has been rewarded for his consistently impressive form in Evertons mideld. Kevin Davies made his England debut aged 33 and Chris Powell was 31 when he won a cap against Spain in 2001 but, before then, the last time England featured a debutant of this age was in 1994. Two, in fact Kevin Richardson of Aston Villa and Steve Bould of Arsenal. Hes a player Ive admired since I came back to Fulham five years ago, Hodgson said of Osman. Hes always done extremely well whenever Ive played Everton or watched Everton. Of course, hes faced great competition in the position that he plays, but on this occasion weve got the opportunity and the space to bring Leon into the team. Steven Gerrard, a year older than Osman, will win his 100th cap, while Hodgson is hoping the occasion will help to convince Sterling to dedicate himself to playing for England despite the counter-offer of representing Jamaica. As it stands, Sterling has not fully decided and the friendly status of this match makes it possible he could still switch to Jamaica even if he plays. Hes in the squad on merit and because I think hes done extremely well for Liverpool, Hodgson said. He burst on to the scene at the start of the season and has been ever present in the Liverpool team in recent games and played a very exciting part. It has nothing to do with him being courted by anybody else. But it would seem to me, having played at every level for England so far, it must be Raheems hope that hes going to represent his country at nationalteam level and hes on the threshold of doing that. Hodgson has left out several of his regulars, including James Milner, Andy Carroll and Jermain Defoe, and included only three forwards Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck. There are some young players and one or two new players that we would like to look at, such as Leon Osman and Raheem Sterling. Its good to have Ashley Young back and Jack Wilshere is back. Hodgson also explained the process that will ultimately see Jenkinson sw itch to England. The reason I didnt include Carl from the start is because we havent, at this moment, got clearance from Fifa but we do believe that they are going to grant that within a day or two. He wants to play for England and has made that clear so we applied for permission.
Goalkeepers Fraser Forster (Celtic), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich) Defenders Leighton Baines (Everton), Ryan Bertrand, Gary Cahill (both Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham), Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal, pending Fifa clearance) Midelders Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Leon Osman (Everton), Jonjo Shelvey, Raheem Sterling (both Liverpool), Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere (both Arsenal), Ashley Young (Manchester United) Forwards Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)

Leon Osmans call-up shows age is no barrier. Hes a player Ive adm admired since barrier. I came back to Fulham ve yea ago, years said Roy Hodgson Nick Potts/PA Wire Potts/P

FA to conclude Clattenburg inquiry today

Dominic Field
The Football Association is confident it will have completed its investigation into Chelseas claim that Mark Clattenburg made a racist comment to Mikel John Obi during last months defeat by Manchester United by close of business today. Witness statements have been given by those involved at Stamford Bridge to Jenni Kennedy, the head of governance at the FA, and her investigative team over the course of the week, with Mikel having been interviewed at Stamford Bridge on Monday. Other Chelsea players have similarly given their testimonies to the FA while the referee, who has been kept o the ocials roster for a second successive weekend, is the last to be questioned. Clattenburg is expected to conclude his interview today, and the governing body will scrutinise the evidence before announcing early next week if he is to face a charge. The referee, who denies any wrongdoing and is understood to have been bafMark Clattenburg is the last person to be questioned by the FA, with the interview expected to be concluded by the end of today ed by the allegation, has liaised heavily with the ocials union, Prospect, over the course of the week in preparation for his meeting with the governance department. He will also be interviewed by the Metropolitan police, which has acted upon a complaint lodged by the Society of Black Lawyers, though the Met has not asked the FA to put its investigation on hold for fear of prejudicing any potential criminal charges. The other members of the refereeing team at Stamford Bridge for Uniteds controversial 3-2 victory, the assistants Michael McDonough and Simon Long, and the fourth ocial Mike Jones, have also been interviewed to ascertain if they heard Clattenburg use inappropriate language over the referees open-microphone system in an altercation with Mikel after Uniteds third goal. Clattenburg has accepted his priority this week was to prepare for his interview with the FA rather than for a return to the Premier League roster. Professional Game Match Officials announced on Monday that it considered it to be in his best interests to stand down for a second weekend in a row.

A country for old men m

If Leon Osman plays against Sweden, he would not be the first p player to make his England debut in h 30s his Steve Bould Arsenals assistant manager had a glittering playing career at t club, the but had to wait until 1994 for his rst England cap. Bould had been in several squads i the in b been early 90s, but his two caps, the rst against Greece, c came at the age of 31, as h was he largely unable to break past competition p past competit that includ Tony included Adams, Gary Ga Pallister a and Martin K Keown. Leslie Compton When he played against Wales on 15 Wale November 1950, Compton wa 38 was years and 64 days, and he remains rem Englands oldest outeld deb debutant. Compton had made almost 2 250 appearances for Arsenal before he befo received his rst of two senior caps. senio Kevin Davies After many near misses, th the Bolton forward was nally given an England cap aged 33 b Fabio by Capello in a 0-0 home draw with d Montenegro. England were w appalling and the secon second-half substitute Davies made little impact, was booked and never selected again. Tim Sherwood Blackburns 1995 Premier Premie League-winning captain was unfortunate to play foo football at a time when Paul Gascoigne, Gasco David Platt, Paul Ince, Steve St McManaman and Paul M Merson all featured in the England team. Englan He made over 400 appearances in appeara Englands top division, yet received a measly three caps. The rs was rst handed to him by Kevin Kee Keegan in 1999, a then 30-year-old Sherwood Sher producing an impressive disp display in a 3-1 Wembley victory aga against Poland. Alex Keble

Results
Football
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE Group A P Anzhi Mhachkala 4 Liverpool 4 Young Boys 4 Udinese 4 Anzhi Mhachkala (1) 1 Traor 45 Udinese Group B Atltico Madrid Plzen Acadmica Hapoel Tel-Aviv Acadmica Plzen Group C Fenerbahce Borussia Mgladbach Marseille AEL Limassol Fenerbahce Marseille Group D Newcastle Bordeaux Club Brugge Martimo Club Brugge Trickovski 14 Jorgensen 19 18,000 Bordeaux Group E Steaua Bucharest VfB Stuttgart FC Copenhagen Molde FC Copenhagen Molde Group F Dnipro Napoli AIK Solna PSV Eindhoven AIK Solna Napoli P 4 4 4 4 (1) 1 (1) 4 W 3 2 1 1 D 0 0 1 1 L F 1 10 2 9 2 4 2 4 A Pts 7 9 8 6 8 4 4 4 (0) 0 (1) 2 P 4 4 4 4 (0) 0 (0) 1 W 3 1 1 1 D 1 2 1 0 L 0 1 2 3 F 7 4 2 4 A Pts 3 10 4 5 4 4 6 3 (0) 2 (2) 2 P 4 4 4 4 (2) 2 W 2 2 1 0 D 2 1 1 2 L 0 1 2 2 F 6 6 4 1 A Pts 2 8 4 7 7 4 4 2 (2) 2 P 4 4 4 4 W 3 1 1 0 D 1 2 2 1 L 0 1 1 3 F 9 6 9 1 A Pts 4 10 6 5 7 5 8 1 P 4 4 4 4 (1) 2 (2) 4 W 3 3 1 0 D 0 0 1 1 L 1 1 2 3 F A Pts 6 3 9 9 3 9 5 6 4 2 10 1 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 2 W 2 2 2 1 D 1 0 0 1 L 1 2 2 2 F A Pts 4 2 7 8 7 6 9 10 6 7 9 4 (0) 0 (1) 3 Group G Genk Videoton Basle Sporting Basle Sporting Group H P Rubin Kazan 4 Internazionale 4 Partizan Belgrade 4 Neftchi 4 Neftchi (0) 0 Partizan Belgrade (0) 1 Group I Lyon Sparta Prague Hapoel KS Athletic Bilbao Athletic Bilbao Hapoel KS Group J Lazio Tottenham Maribor Panathinaikos Tottenham Defoe 22 49 77 Lazio Group K P 3 4 4 3 (0) L (1) 1 P 4 4 4 4 (1) 3 W D L F 3 0 0 8 2 1 1 8 0 2 2 6 0 1 2 3 Lyon Sparta Prague W D 2 2 1 3 1 1 0 2 Maribor Beric 40 L 0 0 2 2 F 5 5 5 2 A Pts 5 9 5 7 9 2 6 1 (2) L (1) 1 A Pts 1 8 3 6 5 4 8 2 (1) 1 W D L F 3 1 0 6 3 1 0 9 0 1 3 1 0 1 3 1 Rubin Kazan Internazionale A Pts 2 10 4 10 6 1 5 1 (1) 1 (0) 3 P 4 4 4 4 (0) 1 (0) 1 W D L 2 2 0 2 0 2 1 2 1 0 2 2 Videoton Genk F 8 5 4 2 A Pts 4 8 5 6 4 5 6 2 (0) 0 (0) 1

Golf
BARCLAYS SINGAPORE OPEN (Sentosa) Leading rst-round scores (GB/Ire unless stated) Play abandoned for the day with 78 players still to complete rst round. 66 T Bjorn (Den). 67 P Martn (Sp); C Phadungsil (Tha); S Khan. 68 P Casey; K Tannin (HK); YE Yang (Kor). 69 H Otto (SA); G Mulroy (SA); D Howell; R Green (Aus); G Charoenkul (Tha); HS Rai (Ind); J Randhawa (Ind). 70 R Ramsay; P Meesawat (Tha); S Kapur (Ind); Y Ikeda (Jpn); A Dodt (Aus); J Quesne (Fr); E Molinari (It). 71 S Kjeldsen (Den); C Nilsson (Swe); A Scott (Aus); J Luiten (Neth); G Bhullar (Ind); A Caizares (Sp); P Hedblom (Swe); J Edfors (Swe). 72 A da Silva (Br); C Montgomerie; Peter Lawrie; R Jacquelin (Fr); L Slattery; A Yano (Jpn); S Gallacher; T Olesen (Den); A Que (Phi); M Foster; Mo J-k (Kor); B Wiesberger (Aut); M Hoey; D Kataoka (Jpn). 73 T Hamilton (US); D Lynn; U Duangdecha (Tha); J Morrison; Koh D-s (Sin); P Mickelson (US); K Aphibarnrat (Tha); W Artjanawat (Tha); Kim Bio (Kor); P Marksaeng (Tha); D Chia (Mal). 74 D Beck (Aus); R Davies; M Kobayashi (Jpn); M Both (Aus); R Kulacz (Aus); MA Jimnez (Sp); P Karmis (SA); P Harrington. 75 T Hiratsuka (Jpn); B Fox (US); M Siddikur (Ban); J Granberg (Fin).

Liverpool 15,000 Young Boys

Atltico Madrid Hapoel Tel-Aviv

Tennis
ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS (O2 Arena, London) Singles: Group B: R Federer (Swi) bt D Ferrer (Sp) 6-4 7-6 (7-5); JM del Potro (Arg) bt J Tipsarevic (Ser) 6-0 6-4. Doubles: Group A: L Paes & R Stepanek (Ind/Cz) bt M Granollers & M Lpez (Sp) 7-5 6-4; B Bryan & M Bryan (US) bt A-u-H Qureshi & J-J Rojer (Pak/Neth) 7-5 6-4.

(2) 2 (0) 2

AEL Limassol (0) 0 Borussia Mgladbach (1) 2

Fixtures
Football
NPOWER CHAMPIONSHIP Middlesbrough v Sheeld Wed (7.45pm) BLUE SQUARE BET PREMIER Alfreton Town v Newport County (7.45pm) IRN-BRU FIRST DIVISION Airdrie Utd v Livingston (7.45pm) BARCLAYS UNDER-21 PREMIER LEAGUE National Group One Arsenal v West Ham (1pm) Group Three Wolves v Middlesbrough (7pm)

(2) 3

Panathinaikos W D L 3 1 0 2 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 4 Rapid Vienna Rosenborg W D L 2 1 0 2 1 1 0 3 1 0 1 2 Helsingborg Levante

(0) 0

Newcastle Anita 41 Shola Ameobi 43 Martimo

(1) 1

(0) 0

VfB Stuttgart Steaua Bucharest

P Bayer Leverkusen 4 Metalist Kharkiv 3 Rosenborg 3 Rapid Vienna 4 Bayer Leverkusen (1) 3 Metalist Kharkiv (1) L Group L P Hannover 3 Levante 4 Twente 4 Helsingborg 3 Hannover (1) L Twente (0) 0

F A Pts 8 0 10 4 1 7 3 4 3 1 11 0 (0) 0 (1) L F 6 5 4 3 A Pts 4 7 2 7 7 3 5 1 (0) L (0) 0

Rugby union
LV CUP Group stage Cardi Blues v Wasps (7.30pm); Ospreys v Gloucester (7.45pm); Saracens v Leicester (7.45pm) THE CHAMPIONSHIP Doncaster v Bedford (7.45pm); Newcastle v Nottingham (8pm); Plymouth Albion v London Scottish (7.45pm)

THE WORD WELSH LEAGUE CUP Semi-nals Carmarthen L Llanelli L; The New Saints 5 Airbus UK 2 THE NEXTGEN SERIES Group Two Manchester City 2 Juventus 3 Group Three Chelsea 6 Molde 0

Cricket
FIRST TEST (rst day of ve) Brisbane Australia v South Africa (midnight) TOUR MATCH (second day of four) Ahmedabad Haryana v England (4am)

PSV Eindhoven Dnipro

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

47

Football Europa League

Defoe hat-trick vindicates Villas-Boass change of heart over forward thinking

The Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe icks home his rst goal against the Slovenian side Maribor last night Ian Kington/Getty Images

Rodgers on the defensive after young Reds stumble to loss

Group A Carl Markham Lokomotiv Stadium
A Makhachkala 1
Traor 45

Liverpool 0

Brendan Rodgers last night claimed it was disrespectful to suggest selection policy was wrong after his Liverpool team lost by the only goal to Anzhi Makhachkala in Moscow. The Reds, who left players such as Steven Gerrard and Luis Surez at home, were beaten by Lacina Traors goal seconds before half-time. Rodgers felt the team, which contained nine Englishmen, one of them a debutant in Conor Coady, and had an average age of just under 24, had performed well. The defeat means Liverpool concede top spot in the group to Anzhi. The manager, asked whether bringing Gerrard and the others would have made a dierence, said: Not at all. I think that is a little disrespectful to the players who are here. They have been magnicent and I thought they did really well and we just got punished for a mistake. That led to us losing the game but I dont think it was anything to do with Surez, Gerrard, Joe Allen, Martin Skrtel or Daniel Agger not being here. It was just one of those things. Traors goal came when he turned Sebastin Coates and lobbed the goalAnzhi Makhachkala 4-4-2 Gabulov; Samba, Carlos, Tagirbekov, Logashov; Boussoufa, Jucilei, Ahmedov (Gonzalez, 29), Zhirkov; Etoo, Traor (Smolov, 80). Subs not used Pomazan, Gadzhibekov, Agalarov, Lakhiyalov, Burmistrov. Liverpool 3-5-1-1 Jones; Carragher, Coates, Wisdom; Flanagan, Henderson, Coady (Suso, 61, Shelvey, Downing; Cole (Assaidi, 77); Morgan (Pacheco, 61). Subs not used Gulacsi, Wilson, Sama, Robinson. Referee D Borbalan (Sp)

Group J Paul Doyle White Hart Lane

Tottenham H 3
Defoe 22 49 77

NK Maribor 1
Beric 40

Jermain Defoe struck a hat-trick to give Tottenham Hotspur the rst win of their Europa League campaign and restore the feelgood factor to White Hart Lane. The performance had its imperfections, notably the defensive blunder that gifted Robert Beric a goal for the visitors, but at least Andr Villas-Boass side brimmed with the vibrance and attacking intent that their supporters crave. Villas-Boas has trumpeted his desire to win this tournament with Tottenham as he did with Porto and, after three draws in his teams rst three matches, identied the visit of the Slovenian champions as a dening moment that would impart a clearer idea of what we can achieve in the competition. Accordingly, he insisted that he would give no thought to the Sundays trip to Manchester City when selecting his team but his line-up suggested he may have considered the boos from Tottenham fans during last Saturdays defeat by Wigan Athletic. A feature of the transitional stage that Tottenham are traversing under their new manager is that they have sometimes appeared inhibited by uncertainty. But

there was no sign of that at the start here, as they tore into Maribor from the outset, Adebayor and Gareth Bale both going close with headers from corners. Bale quickly became Spurs preferred route of attack and in the 15th minute but neither of the strikers was on hand to convert after he pulled the ball across the face of goal. One minute later Bale excelled again before offering another inviting cross but Defoe could only skim a header wide from eight yards. Still, with Aaron Lennon also often threatening, the sight of Tottenhams wingers in ight gave the home fans cause for satisfaction. Satisfaction turned to jubilation in the 21st minute when Defoe, 30 seconds after heading an Adebayor cross straight at the goalkeeper, exploited a slip by his marker, Aleksander Rajcevic, and turned a Bale cross into the corner of the net from 10 yards. Spurs have let leads slip too many times this season but there appeared little initial prospect of them re-oending here, as Bale, in particular, continued to torment the visitors, rst forcing Jasmin Fabrice Muamba made an emotional return to White Hart Lane where he suered a cardiac arrest in March this year

Handanovic into an awkward save and then, on the half hour mark, curling in a cross that Adebayor headed into the goalkeepers arms. Soon, however, Tottenham tread on the self-destruct button. Maribor mustered their rst shot in the 31st minute when a long-range effort from Ales Mertelj that ew just over via a ricochet o Tom Carroll. Then, in the 38th minute, the hitherto redundant Hugo Lloris spooned a low Tavares cross up into the air and was grateful that Goran Cvijanovic headed over. There was no reprieve two minutes later when Kyle Naughton put the French goalkeeper under pressure with a shoddy back pass and Lloris tried and failed to dribble past Beric, who relieved him of the ball and rolled it into the empty net. Tottenham fans, who until then had been interspersing their cheers with pointed chants of Yiddos in deance of the Society of Black Lawyers threat to reports such chants to the police for prosecution, were stunned into silence. During the break they regained their voice to give a rapturous reception to Fabrice Muamba, the former Bolton Wanderers midelder who was appearing at the ground for the rst time since March, when he suered the cardiac arrest that threatened his life and cost him his career. I just wanted to see the place and put closure on everything, said Mua-

Group J
P W D L F A GD Pts

Lazio Tottenham Maribor Pnaikos

4 2 2 0 5 1 4 8 4 1 3 0 5 3 2 6 4 1 1 2 5 5 0 4 4 0 2 2 2 8 -6 2

mba, who is now heading the Hearts and Goals campaign to raise aware of sudden cardiac arrest. Maribor emerged from the interval with fresh belief and looked dangerous, but Tottenham quickly quelled the uprising. In the 49th minute Naughton redeemed his earlier error by venturing forward and slipping an astute pass through to Defoe, who red past Handanovic from 12 yards. Adebayor should have settled matters moments in the 55th minute but, after a clever lofted pass from Bale, he dragged a volley laughably wide from seven yards. Defoe put the result beyond doubt in the 77th minute when he slid in to convert another Bale cross and complete his hat-trick.
Tottenham Hotspur 4-4-2 Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Naughton; Lennon (Falqu, 90), Carroll, Huddlestone, Bale (Mason, 86); Defoe (Dempsey, 82), Adebayor. Subs not used Cudicini, Gallas, Livermore, Sigurdsson. NK Maribor 4-5-1 Handanovic; Milec, Rajcevic, Arghus, Mejac; Cvijanovic (Mezga, 69), Mertelj (Dodek, 89), Filipovic, Ibraimi, Tavares (Komazec, 76); Beric. Subs not used Pridigar, Vidovic, Potokar, Viler. Referee A Munukka (Fin).

keeper Brad Jones for his fourth goal in six matches. Rodgers said the players know what went wrong and he felt the team he picked had justied his selection. We controlled the game for 44 minutes and 50 seconds of the rst half. We made a bad mistake and got punished and that is the level. Coady, who captained England Under17s to their rst European Championship title in 2010 and has progressed through the academy, played his rst game in an icy-cold Lokomotiv Stadium. Adam Morgan made only his second start and was given the dicult job of leading the line. In the rst half, chances were at a premium, which made it all the more remarkable that when presented with a shooting opportunity by Morgan, Jordan Henderson declined to do so in the 23rd minute. At the other end the former Barcelona forward Samuel Etoo forced Jones into a good save from Yuri Zhirkovs cross. The substitutes Suso and Dani Pacheco, on for Morgan and Coady, gave the Liverpool forward line some more youthful impetus but Jones had to make another good save from a Traor header. PA

Group A
P W D L F A GD Pts

Mhachkala Liverpool Young Boys Udinese

4 2 1 1 4 4 2 0 2 8 4 2 0 2 9 4 1 1 2 7

2 2 7 7 1 6 10 -1 6 9 -2 4

Pardew full of praise as Ameobi brothers spark Newcastle comeback

Group D Damian Spellman Jan Breydel Stadium
Club Brugge 2
Trickovski 14, Jorgensen 19

Newcastle United 2
Anita 41, Shola Ameobi 43

Alan Pardew predicted big things for Sammy Ameobi after he combined with brother Shola to spark a Europa League ghtback against Club Brugge. The 20-year-old was a key gure as Newcastle United cancelled out Club Brugges early two-goal lead to claim at point and ease closer to qualication for the knockout stage. It was his 43rd-minute pass that 31-year-old Shola converted two minutes after Vurnon Anita had dragged the visitors back into the game, and Pardew was delighted with his contribution. The Newcastle manager said: I thought they were both good tonight. We had Ameobi to Ameobi which is almost like a song for the second goal, which was nice. It

was a great little turn from Sammy. He has just got this way of getting out of corners that I have not seen many players being able to get out of. He wriggles out of situations. He still needs to tighten up a little bit on the tactical and intelligence sides of the game. He takes people on where perhaps he should pass. But he will learn that. He showed his talent tonight and he marks at set plays, which he needs to do. Hes 6ft 5in. Hes not very good at it but hes learning. Newcastle got o to a catastrophic start as the hosts raced into a 2-0 lead, aided and abetted by some dreadful defending. Ivan Trickovski took advantage of Fabricio

Group D
P W D L F A GD Pts

Newcastle U Bordeaux Club Brugge Martimo

4 2 2 0 6 2 4 4 2 1 1 6 4 2 4 1 1 2 4 7 -3 4 0 2 2 1 4 -3

8 7 4 2

Coloccinis indecision to control Ryan Donks 14th-minute long ball and beat Tim Krul, and Jesper Jorgensen doubled the score within ve minutes after shooting home from 20 yards. But it was the visitors who nished the half with a urry, Anita volleying home his rst goal for the club four minutes before the break and Shola Ameobi levelling. Both sides could have won it in the second half: the Newcastle substitute Yohan Cabaye hit the bar with a free-kick and Krul made a series of ne saves to deny Brugge but a point kept the visitors at the top of the group. Pardew said: I wasnt too concerned. I thought we would score goals tonight, it was just important not to let any more in. We got a great goal from Anita after a good bit of pressure and then immediately got

the second before half-time, which was a bonus, really. We came in at half-time in a strong position and really all we did second half was just to make sure defensively we were sound, and apart from a few break-aways and a couple of set plays, I thought we were and it was just about whether we were going to score the winner. We hit the bar and had a couple of good situations but overall, I am delighted. They have got pace in their team, so they are always going to be a threat. The draw leaves Newcastle knowing victory over Maritmo at St James Park a game the midelder Cheik Tiot will miss through

suspension after picking up his third booking in the competition tonight on 22 November will ensure their progression. We are going to have to kick ourselves if we dont beat Maritmo at home, with all due respect to them, Pardew added. We have got ourselves in a great position and are looking to just wrap the league up perhaps with that win there. The caretaker Brugge manager, Philippe Clement, was in philosophical mood after the game: I think as a team, we can be happy with the way we played. For the supporters of both sides, it was a very good European game with a lot of ght, mentality and chances.
Club Brugge 4-4-1-1 Jorgacevic; Jordi Almeback, Hoefkens, Hogli; Trickovski (Tchite, h-t), Odjidja-Ofoe (Lagrou, 81), Donk; Jorgensen; Lestienne; Bacca. Subs not used Kujovic, Vleminckx, Buysse, Engels, Verstraete. Referee L Banti (It) Newcastle 4-1-4-1 Krull, Anita, Williamson (Taylor, 58), Coloccini, Tavernier; Tiot; Sa Ameobi, Marveaux (Amaltano, 83), Bigirimana (Cabaye, 72), Obertan, Sh Ameobi Subs not used Elliot, Santon, Cabaye, Cisse, Amaltano, Steven Taylor, Ferguson

48

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

Rugby union Autumn internationals Youngs leads march of the next generation
Robert Kitson
Stuart Lancaster has officially called a halt to Twickenhams Dads Army era by picking the least experienced England matchday squad for more than a decade. The starting XV to face Fiji tomorrow contains only 215 caps but Lancaster rejects suggestions he is taking an unacceptable risk by naming the most callow group since England toured Argentina in 2002. The inclusion of the uncapped hooker Tom Youngs, plus the presence of the 21-year-old replacements Joe Launchbury and Mako Vunipola, is a far cry from last years World Cup, when the starting lineup in the quarter-nal contained 709 caps in total. Lancaster is not concerned, arguing past England regimes have been guilty of picking players too late. Traditionally in England weve not given young players the opportunity when theyve been ready, but were prepared to do that, said Lancaster, who succeeded Martin Johnson as head coach last November. Its not a risk in the slightest. Weve picked the players who are on form. Were not doing it at the expense of wanting to win. The guys are playing well in the Premiership and deserve their chance to start. Theres no issue about someone being too old or too young. Its an intuitive feel about whos right for the team and where the team is going. Lancaster wants England to arrive at the 2015 World Cup in more settled shape than they have at the past two. The All Blacks dont seem to go through this period of renewal; its a gradual drip feed of change. Thats the way we should be from now on. I dont see England in the next eight to 12 years having to go through the same change weve had this time. Youngs, selected in place of the injured Dylan Hartley, has been a hooker only since 2009 after switching from centre on the advice of the Springboks coach, Heyneke Meyer. Launchbury and Vunipola also have limited top-level experience but Lancaster believes the modern generation are better equipped to succeed than their predecessors. There are far more prepared technically and physically. The younger players havent got all the aches and pains associated with playing for a long time at this level.

Lancaster calls on England to

The head coach and his assistants Andy Farrell and Mike Catt hope to see their side adopt a
Robert Kitson
A few telling words from Alex Goode neatly sum up the fundamental shift in attitude within the England squad. Past coaching regimes have too often obsessed about winning the collisions and kicking enough goals. Under Stuart Lancaster, Andy Farrell and Mike Catt it is a subtly dierent story. Were not the biggest team in the world but were very mobile, Goode says. Andy Farrell is looking for changes of tempo, changes of angles, not being obvious or running into a brick wall. At Test level theyre going to knock you down. We want to move the point of attack, use our footwork and be streetwise. Goodes Saracens team-mate Brad Barritt quotes from a similarly refreshing gospel. We want to play with tempo. In international rugby you need to do that to wear down opponents. You also get far fewer chances than in a normal club game. You need to be clinical and put the sword in when you can. England, both players believe, will display a sharper edge this autumn than has been the case, with the odd exception, for years. Lancaster calls it the complete game, a lofty ambition for a coach who has had the job for less than a year. A conspicuous trait of his regime, though, is a willingness to experiment. Lancaster, Farrell, Catt and the forwards coach Graham Rowntree also have a very clear vision of what they want. If you split the game into four areas, traditionally we only talk about three: attack, defence and set piece, suggested Lancaster yesterday, explaining why thinking players, as well as youthful ones, are Englands future. People talk a lot about attack but game management is key as well. Those four components are critical to winning games. By way of illustration he refers back to the South African tour, when Farrell was not involved and Catt was still nding his feet as skills coach. We were between the 22 and the halfway line, playing the ball around. They had a full defensive line, with both wingers up and the scrum-half in the line. It doesnt matter how good an attacking side you are, you werent going to break them down. But behind them there was space. Its about getting them to understand and recognise that. Starting against Fiji, Lancaster is hoping that particular penny will drop rather more swiftly. Catt and Farrell have had more time to impart the knowledge picked up in their distinguished respective careers and Lancaster has been pleased with their training-ground alchemy. Its actually worked exactly the way Id hoped it would. I knew their characters and I knew I could get on well with them but my gut instinct was they could work well together. I had to check there were

Stuart Lancaster, left, and his coaches Andy Farrell and, far right, Mike Catt have been leading training at Pennyhill Park in Surrey. The trio have high hopes for a cerebral display from players such as Alex Goode, above running at Toby Flood, and Brad Barritt, below Getty Images; PA

Lions centre Roberts to join Welsh exodus

Paul Rees
Waless crackdown on players who join clubs in England and France was challenged less than 48 hours after it started when the Lions centre Jamie Roberts, rejected a new contract from Cardiff Blues that would have made him one of the highest paid players in Britain. The 26-year old, who hopes to qualify as a doctor at the end of the season, was offered 300,000 a year by the Blues, where he has spent his senior career. He told the region that he wanted to move for lifestyle, not nancial, reasons and is expected to sign for Racing Mtro. Robert Howley, the Wales interim coach, said on Tuesday, after announcing that the Bayonne scrum-half Mike Phillips had been dropped to the bench for tomorrows Test against Argentina in Cardi, that players who left Wales for clubs in France and England were putting their international careers at jeopardy. Roberts said then that the policy would turn what was already a tough decision into a dilemma, but the following day he told the Blues he would be leaving at the end of the season. If he joins Racing Mtro, he will become the 10th Wales squad player to leave Wales in the past two years after Phillips, Gethin Jenkins, James Hook, Lee Byrne, Luke Charteris, Paul James, Huw Bennett, Aled Brew and Craig Mitchell. Neil Jenkins, the Wales kicking coach, said: We want our best players in Wales, but the most important thing is that if they do leave they secure in their contracts a clause allowing them full release for all international training camps and sessions. I am sure that Jamie wants to be part of the national setup.

Hansen has pushed the world-beating All Blacks to

Since Hansen, eight years the apprentice, took over as coach on 15 December, New Zealand rugby has soared. The team who have just completed the Rugby Championship are certainly better than the one that lifted the Webb Ellis Cup and there are plenty who agree with their former captain Sean Fitzpatrick when he said that they could become one of the best sides ever. On Sunday, Scotland will see just how good before Hansens All Blacks slip o to Rome ahead of visits to the Millennium Stadium and then Twickenham, where they complete their autumn tour. The team that came within a whisker of equalling the record of the 1969 All Blacks and 1998 Springboks in winning 17 successive games have altered their target and are looking to end 2012 unbeaten. But thats only half the story. The interesting bit is the pace at which Hansen, right, is remodelling the All Blacks, with a view to defending the World Cup in the UK in 2015. Just look down the 32-strong squad and you see at least 10 new names; forwards such as the lock Brodie Retallick, the tighthead Charlie Faumuina and Sam Crane, nominated as the IRB player of the year last year. The latter is the new Richie McCaw, or the guy likely to take his place in the back he row when the captain begins his sixis month break after the England game. In the backs there are guys such as uch Beauden Barrett who has two caps o already, but is young enough to admit o that his heroes include Conrad Smith, one of the more seasoned All Blacks who could be playing outside Barrett Tamati Ellison, who was brought home after a couple of seasons in Japan, and Aaron Smith, the half-back who has made so much dierence to the pace at which New Zealand now play. Smith, who played his rst game under his new coach in the rst coac Ireland Test of th summer the and has started eight of the nine since then gives the All Blacks something s they didnt have with didn players like Piri Weepu, Andrew Weep Ellis, Jimmy Ellis Cowan, Byron Co Kelleher or even Ke Justin Marshall: Ju pace over the pa ground as gr well as speedy we service. When the serv All Blacks attack, Smith res out t passes, but the

Shaun Edwards
year ago, Steve Hansen looked to be on a hiding to nothing. New Zealand were still celebrating the World Cup they had won a fortnight earlier, Graham Henry basked in the glow of having removed a particularly tactile monkey from the All Blacks back, and Hansen was waiting in the wings. It had to be downhill from then on, didnt it? Well no.

The interesting bit is the pace at which g Hansen is remodelling the All Blacks

The Guardian | Friday 9 November 2012

49

Weather&Crossword

take ight
freer, nimbler style of play against Fiji
no problems when they played together in 2007 but weve not had a situation yet where weve been on a different page. I think thats important, otherwise the players see through it very quickly. One of those shared philosophies has been to select a second backline orchestrator to take some of the pressure o Toby Flood at No10. Alex, having been a yhalf, brings an extra footballing dimension into our back line which allows us to move the ball in certain ways, Lancaster said. It also allows the head coach to pick two direct centres without necessarily reducing the teams ability to weave subtler patterns. We want to be able to play o 12 as well as just having options o 10. Alex gives us that second ball-player. The next objective is to mould Tuilagi and others into more rounded players, instinctively comfortable with this allcourt philosophy. Thats the reason Mike Catts been brought into the equation to allow players to develop different areas of their game. If we can add to the repertoire of every player, well get closer to being a complete side. If Tuilagi ends up at 12 playing as eectively as Maa Nonu, Lancaster will still not be entirely satised. Its not the Nonu model Im thinking of, its the Sonny Bill Williams at 12 and Conrad Smith at 13 model. It seemed to work pretty eectively for New Zealand. Goode, about to make his rst Twickenham start, also believes more variety is the way forward. The game is shifting. Centres are getting bigger and bigger, and maybe you need more of a passing, kicking player at full-back. You also get a wonderful viewpoint of where the space is. If its on, you have a chance to manipulate that space. Of course there have to be caveats. There is an opposing team, for a start. Listening to Flood, though, is to suspect Fiji will have their hands full. With the speed weve got on the wings and Alexs vision at full-back we want to go out and play a game that encourages people to enjoy it, conrmed Flood. It doesnt necessarily mean throwing the ball around, it means doing the right things, doing them well and turning the screw with ball in hand and our kicking game. It could be a very interesting autumn.

Weather forecast
UK and Ireland Noon
Shetland Islands
10
Temperature () X Wind (mph) X Sunny Sunny intervals Mostly cloudy

Summary
London, SE England, Cent S England, E Anglia, Channel Is Mainly dry with some bright spells, but the odd shower later on, particularly around Kent. Moderate southerly to south-westerly winds. Max temp 9-12C (48-54F). Tonight, rain by morning. Min temp 6-9C (43-48F). SW England, W Midlands, E Midlands, Lincolnshire Mostly dry to start, but rain and drizzle edging in from the north-west by late afternoon. Moderate to fresh south-westerly winds. Max temp 10-13C (50-55F). Tonight, rain, heavy at times. Min temp 5-8C (41-46F). Wales, NW England, NE England, Yorkshire Mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, the rain turning heavy at times. Moderate to fresh south-westerly winds. Max temp 9-12C (48-54F). Tonight, rain clearing away. Min temp 3-6C (3743F). SE Scotland, SW Scotland, NW Scotland, W Isles, N Isles Early rain will clear to the southeast, followed by spells of sunshine and scattered showers. Moderate to fresh south-westerly winds. Max temp 8-11C (46-52F). Tonight, a few showers in the west. Min temp 2-5C (36-41F).
35 30 25 20 15

988

Showers Heavy showers Light rain Rain

992

10

1000

Sleet

Sleet showers

996

28
Rough

1004

9 23
Moderate

1008 10

11

NE Scotland A mainly dry day for most areas with sunny spells, but the chance of an odd shower further west. Moderate to fresh south-westerly winds. Max temp 8-11C (46-52F). Tonight, mainly dry. Clear spells. Min temp 3-6C (37-43F). N Ireland, Ireland Early rain clearing to the south-east, followed by sunny spells and scattered showers, mainly in the west. Moderate southwesterly winds. Max temp 9-12C (48-54F). Tonight, a few showers in the west. Min temp 2-5C (36-41F).

Channel Islands
11

12

10 5 0 -5 -10 15

Slight

12

UK and Ireland Five day forecast

Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday

Atlantic front Noon today

1024 1016 976 992 984 1000 1008
LR H

1016 1016
H

1016 1008

1016
H

Cold front Warm front Occluded front Trough

1024

High 11 Low 0

High 11 Low 0

High 14 Low 4

High 14 Low 3

High 13 Low 2

Low R lls slighty and gradually moves eastwards.

Around the world

C F Weather Ajaccio Algiers Amsdam Athens Auckland B Aires Bangkok Barcelona Beijing Belgrade Berlin Bordeaux Boston Brussels Budapest Chagen Cairo 18 28 11 14 17 33 32 18 12 13 10 13 6 10 13 10 26 64 82 52 57 63 91 90 64 54 55 50 55 43 50 55 50 79 Sunny Sunny Cloudy Cloudy Fair Sunny Showers Sunny Sunny Sunny Rain Sunny Rain Cloudy Sunny Cloudy Sunny Cape Town 27 Chicago 8 Christrch 14 Corfu 20 Dakar 30 Denver 22 Dhaka 28 Dublin 9 Faro 18 Florence 13 Frankfurt 9 Funchal 18 Geneva 9 Gibraltar 18 H Kong 27 Harare 30 Helsinki 3 Innsbruck 8 81 46 57 68 86 72 82 48 64 55 48 64 48 64 81 86 37 46 Sunny Cloudy Sunny Sunny Sunny Sunny Fair Cloudy Sunny Sunny Cloudy Showers Cloudy Rain Sunny Sunny Sunny Cloudy Istanbul Joburg Kmandu Kabul Karachi Kingston L Angeles Larnaca Lima Lisbon London Madrid Majorca Malaga Malta Melbrne Mexico C Miami 15 13 20 20 32 30 19 26 21 14 12 12 19 18 20 19 17 22 59 55 68 68 90 86 66 79 70 57 54 54 66 64 68 66 63 72 Cloudy Thunder Mist Sunny Fair Fair Fair Cloudy Cloudy Sunny Cloudy Drizzle Sunny Cloudy Cloudy Fair Fair Fair Milan Mombasa Montreal Moscow Mumbai Munich N Orleans Nairobi Naples New Delhi New York Nice Oporto Oslo Paris Perth Prague Reykjavik 12 29 2 2 32 8 19 24 18 24 3 17 15 1 10 24 8 3 54 84 36 36 90 46 66 75 64 75 37 63 59 34 50 75 46 37 Sunny Cloudy Sunny Snow Fair Sunny Sunny Cloudy Sunny Fair Rain Sunny Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy Fair Cloudy Cloudy Rio de J Rome Shanghai Singapore St Pburg Stockhm Strasbg Sydney Tel Aviv 26 17 19 31 2 3 9 24 27 79 63 66 88 36 37 48 75 81 Fair Sunny Cloudy Fair Cloudy Cloudy Sunny Fair Sunny Tenerife Tokyo Toronto Vancouvr Venice Vienna Warsaw Washton Wellton 23 20 5 11 11 12 9 7 13 73 68 41 52 52 54 48 45 55 Fair Sunny Cloudy Sunny Sunny Fair Showers Cloudy Sunny

Sun & Moon

Sun rises Sun sets Moon rises Moon sets New Moon 0708 1620 0117 1354 13 November

Tomorrows lineup
15 Alex Goode Saracens 14 Charlie Sharples Gloucester 13 Manu Tuilagi Leicester 12 Brad Barritt Saracens 11 Ugo Monye Harlequins 10 Toby Flood Leicester 9 Danny Care Leicester 1 Joe Marler Harlequins 2 Tom Youngs Leicester 3 Dan Cole Leicester 4 Tom Palmer Wasps 5 Geo Parling Leicester 6 Tom Johnson Exeter 7 Chris Robshaw, capt Harlequins 8 Thomas Waldrom Leicester

Guardian cryptic crossword

1 2 3 8 9 10 4 5 6 7

Across
1 Inform, ___ but when (the Fourth of July?) (6) 4 Pop art isnt a movement (7) 9 For example, Maggie Thatcher (British prime minister) once admitted a wrong (9) 10 Jewellery not allowed for 2 (5) 11 Sent back hotpot dumpling (5) 12 Killed many animals turning them inside out (9) 13 Provide food ocut to be stued in bottle (7) 15 See about investment return with little eort (6) 17 Flicks coins inside, heads on reverse so be it (6) 19 Rider embraces wildcat strikes (7) 22 Union ocial behind arresting core Republican (9) 24 Permit energy to be delivered up front after surge in current (5) 26 Euros exchanged for last of old money owing through Europe (5) 27 First milk produced painful swellings (9) 28 First music septet played was Stormy Weather (7) 29 Sort of scan applied to head of hapless character (2,4)

Replacements David Paice London Irish, Mako Vunipola Saracens, David Wilson Bath, Joe Launchbury Wasps, Tom Wood Northampton, Ben Youngs Leicester, Owen Farrell Saracens, Mike Brown Harlequins

11

12

13

14

15

16

even greater heights

from anything up to 40 metres out, hes prepared to go himself. With so much fresh blood in the squad, its almost surprising to nd there are only two rookies, the Waikato scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Dane Coles, a prop who scored within 30 seconds on his debut for Wellington. However, a closer look at the party shows there is plenty of experience for the young guys to tap into. In the front row they have Tony Woodcock and Keven Mealamu, who has just played his 100th Test. Among the locks, Ali Williams looks after three second rows of a slightly more athletic mould and in the back row there is McCaw himself. Outside the pack there is Dan Carter at 10 of course and Smith in the centre, but for those who have not been looking closely, its the improvement in a couple of guys we saw at the World Cup which might surprise. For a start, Aaron Cruden is unrecognisable from the guy who understudied Carter, while the real revelation of the recent Rugby Championship was the full-back Israel Dagg, who has not only developed a considerable understanding with the wings Hosea Gear and Cory Jane, but has also upped his all-round game and is now a special player. Dagg was once seen as primarily an attacking threat but has now become with Carter the man who helps the All Blacks play in those areas of the eld in which they are happiest. Carters left boot and Daggs right both boom balls right and left, but now Dagg is also accomplished at that clever attacking ploy where Carter chips ahead the target space is between 18 and 22 metres looking to regain the ball immediately. If you want evidence to prove the full-backs value, all you have to do is look at the stats for the Rugby Championship when Dagg topped the pile for distance kicked 1,900m in six games; distance carried 500m more than anyone else, and most line breaks. A special player.

17 21 22 23

18

19

20

24

25

26

27

28

29

No 25,789 set by Bonxie

3 Sell-out crowd gives a good hand (4,5) 4 Create large solution of sweet liquid (7) 5 Record-breaking compound (black) (5) 6 Wise guy graduate wearing scarlet shift (5,4) 7 Shot over target with it (6) 8 Spoiler on vehicle lawyer left behind (6) 14 Cold sh skin used for wrapping (5,4) 16 Poll covering sweet and sour cooking (9) 18 Mammal rounds on another one performing in circus (7) 19 Doorman icks old style penny (6) 20 Mediates, when spite erupts between opponents (5,2) 21 A mountain, a river and a desert (6) 23 Material inuenced broadcast (5) 25 Class right to have vital transmitter outside (5)
Solution No. 25,788

H A S I D I C A S H A M E D

Stuck? For help call 0906 751 0038 or text GUARDIANC followed by a space, the day and date the crossword appeared another space and the CLUE reference to 85010 (e.g GUARDIANC Monday12 Across1). Calls cost 77p per minute from a BT Landline. Calls from other networks may vary and mobiles will be considerably higher. Texts cost 50p per clue plus standard network charges. Service supplied by ATS. Call 0844 836 9769 for customer service (charged at local rate, 2p per min from a BT landline). Want more? Access over 4,000 archive puzzles at guardian.co.uk/crossword. Buy the Guardian Cryptic Setters series (4 books) for only 20 inc UK p&p (save 7.96). Visit guardianbooks.co.uk or call 0330 333 6846.

Down
1 Writer rising against ne Scottish town (7) 2 The whole pit express disapproval over it (5)

A P R A I V R A T L E P C R O I P E A R T R Y

L E S S Z E NO B I N W E O O N T B E R N A R D DO R E O T Y MA P I C K HO L E P R I O P A T R A P A N D E A T O E I D B R E A K A B L B E O P O L Y T A R OWS P C N F L G I N A L I S A T I O N T M C N N E S S A V E NG E

A U G U S T A E L E A N O R

Friday 09.11.12

Three and easy Defoe hat-trick res Spurs win

Tottenham 3 Maribor 1, page 47

guardian.co.uk/sport

Rugby union Why England have placed their trust in Catt and Farrell Page 48

Wenger hits out at England for Wilshere call-up

Arsenal manager says media have too much inuence on national selection
David Hytner
Arsne Wenger has made it plain that he is opposed to Englands selection of Jack Wilshere for next Wednesdays friendly against Sweden and fearful of what could happen to the midfielder, as he feels his way back to full tness after 17 months out with a foot injury. The Arsenal manager, who said that too many of the November friendlies were motivated by the desire to make money rather than by football reasons, suggested that all he could do was hope that Wilshere does not suer a setback. Wenger has discussed the issue with Roy Hodgson, with whom he has a good relationship, and reached a compromise with the England manager over the extent of Wilsheres involvement. The 20-yearold is expected to play for 45 minutes in Stockholm, although the Arsenal manager would rather that he did not feature at all. Wilshere has played three matches for Arsenal since his return, completing 90 minutes for the rst time in the Champions League at Schalke on Tuesday. He was sent o in his second game, at Manchester United last Saturday, and as a result he is suspended for tomorrow s home game against Fulham. I wouldnt like to come out on my feelings [over the decision] because at the moment they are not very positive, Wenger said. The ideal solution would be yes [that he would not be involved with England]. Its good to have a little break after three games. What we like is that he wont play over the weekend so he will recover. But I think he needs 10 days of good recovery. He is not completely through the big test of durability. The fact is that he has come out in a positive way of the first three games, which were quite intense physically. The rst response is positive. Lets touch wood and hope he gets through well [the England game]. The next 10 games, of course, will tell you a lot more. I feel, physically, Jack is quite there; slowly he gets stronger in every game. That means his basic fitness is good. Sometimes, when you accumulate games, you need to have a little rest again, to build on that, to recover and then go even harder. For us, it is important to know to stop him before he gets to that point. Wenger noted that Wilshere did not hold back on the pitch and that it would be pointless telling him to do so against Sweden, as he sounded a note of resignation over Hodgsons decision. He also made a dig at the Football Association, whom he accused of being too easily inuenced by the media. I saw it coming, thats all I can say, Wenger said. Because of Jacks suspension [for the Fulham game] because of the fact that England looks for some midelders and, as well, because the media puts some pressure to bring him in as quickly as possible. You [the press] always have a big inuence on the FA. Anyway, I have no choice. I have good relations with Roy Hodgson. We spoke about the situation, he knows my feeling and I know his feeling. You know that I think it is early for Jack. We found a good understanding and a good compromise. Roy wants him in the group to connect with the players. Wenger reminded his audience that Wilshere had suered the original stress fracture when playing for England against Jack Wilshere is expected to play only 45 minutes against Sweden next Wednesday after three games back from injury Switzerland in June last year. You cannot ask a club not to overplay a player if he is not injured with the club, he said. And Wenger warmed to a familiar theme when he attacked the purpose of international friendlies, particularly the upcoming round of xtures. You dont know how the November friendlies can prepare you for a game in February, he said. There are a lot of politics behind these games. When you see some teams travelling [long distances], you think: Is it more to pay back some corporation than prepare a team for the next ocial game? The problem is not to have too much conict with the interest of the clubs. But when we play next Saturday at 12.45pm against Tottenham and [Santi] Cazorla plays for Spain in Panama on Wednesday night, you cannot say there is no conict of interest between the two. It is also difcult to understand why these games are not like the ocial games and played on a Tuesday night. Osmans late chance, page 46

Frankel comes home Greatest racehorse arrives at stud

Greg Wood
Frankel, who completed a perfect 14-race career with victory in the Champion Stakes at Ascot last month, moved into his new home at Banstead Manor Stud near Newmarket yesterday, where he will be the most valuable and sought-after stallion in Britain when the covering season begins in mid-February. The stud is owned by Prince Khalid Abdulla, in whose pink, white and green colours Frankel raced, and it is where the son of Galileo was foaled in February 2008. Little did we realise that we were witnessing the birth of a phenomenal racehorse, Philip Mitchell, the studs general manager, said. The rest, as they say, is history, and it is now extremely exciting that Frankel will be returning to the stallion unit at Banstead, some 500 yards from where he was born. Prince Khalid will send a signicant number of his own mares to be covered by Frankel, but the horse will be available to service mares owned by other breeders too, at a fee which is expected to approach 100,000. The covering season begins in midFebruary to ensure that mares give birth to their foals after 1 January, which is a thoroughbreds ocial birthday, and Frankels rst foals should be born in the rst weeks of 2014. They will become yearlings in January 2015 and any which are oered for public auction are likely to appear at Tattersalls prestigious October Sale in just under three years time. His rst generation of ospring Sir Henry Cecil, Frankels trainer, watched the horse leave his Newmarket stable for the nal time yesterday will start to appear on the racecourse as two-year-olds in the spring of 2016. Ten of Frankels 14 career victories were at racings highest level, in Group One races, while the Timeform organisation, which has been rating thoroughbreds since 1948, awarded him its highest ever rating. I am pretty certain that there has never been a better or more talented thoroughbred, Sir Henry Cecil, Frankels trainer, said as the colt left his Warren Place stable for the nal time yesterday to make the short trip to his new home. He had the speed to be a champion sprinter and then, once he grew up and settled, he got a distance with a turn of foot that makes champions. Today is a sad day in some ways for us, as he has given us so much pleasure over the last three years. But I want to thank Frankel for so much, for being such a very special part of my training career. Thank you, Frankel. Racing, page 43

Sutton follows Wiggins into hospital after suering head injury in crash
William Fotheringham
All of Britains Olympic cyclists regularly mention the dangers they encounter when riding on the road. On Wednesday and yesterday those risks were reiterated when the sports biggest star, Bradley Wiggins, and his mentor, Shane Sutton, the British Cycling head coach, ended up in hospital after being in collision with vehicles in separate incidents 15 hours apart. Wiggins was released yesterday with minor injuries while Sutton was expected to remain in hospital for several days as doctors monitor his recovery from bleeding on the brain. Wiggins suered severe bruising to his ribs and hands after being knocked o his bike on Wednesday evening as a motorist in a van pulled out of a service station a few miles from the Tour de France winners home in the village of Eccleston. Eyewitnesses said he was in considerable pain and complaining of rib injuries, and the force of the impact shattered the wing mirror of the van. The Tour de France winner was taken to the Royal Preston hospital where he was given morphine and had a scan to his head, because, although he reported no head injuries, his helmet smashed in the impact. He was kept in overnight and left hospital yesterday morning. Richard Freeman, Team Skys doctor, said: Bradley has been discharged from hospital after suering minor injuries, including bruises to his right hand and ribs, but is expected to make a full and speedy recovery. He is now going to spend the weekend at home convalescing with his family. It was not immediately Shane Sutton, the British Cycling head coach, suered bruising and bleeding on the brain after a collision with a car clear when Wiggins would be able to ride his bike again but the fact he had no broken bones implied that his preparations for next years Giro dItalia would not be seriously aected. Sutton had been returning to his at from his regular pre-work bike ride at about 9am yesterday morning when he was in collision with a Peugeot 206 in Levenshulme, about three and a half miles from the Manchester velodrome where Team Sky and the Olympic cycling team are based. He too was wearing a helmet, but is said to have fallen heavily on his head and was taken to Salford Royal hospital, which specialises in head injuries. Shane was taken into hospital where it was identied he has suered bruising and bleeding on the brain, said British Cycling. He is set to undergo more tests, and is likely to stay in hospital for the next few days. It is extremely rare that our riders and coaches are hurt while out cycling on the road, even rarer that two incidents should occur in a short space of time. The British Cycling head coach has been close to Wiggins for more than 10 years. Wiggins has said Sutton played a key role in his recovery after a disastrous Tour de France in 2010. He described the Australian as the only person who could put me on the right footing, who could tell me things I didnt want to hear at times when I might not want to hear them.

TREVOR JONES / THOROUGHBREDPHOTO

Frankel is reintroduced to George, the stable cat, on arrival at Banstead Manor, where the colt was born in 2008 and where he will cover around 100 mares a year