The Guardian UK_1805

PReorseiez The movies, the stars, the secrets
The return of the Cannes festival
Boxing,
Botox and  News
doing the
right thing Wednesday
18 May 2022
£2.50
From £1.85 for subscribers

 G2

Sunak faces
Tory clamour
to act now on
cost of living

uplift in universal credit, transfer-

Rowena Mason ring the cost of energy green levies
Heather Stewart
Alex Lawson to the exchequer, abolishing VAT on

Tory MPs are piling pressure on domestic fuel, increasing the warm
Rishi Sunak to take decisive action
to deal with the cost of living crisis homes scheme, and increasing the
with measures such as cutting
VAT, increasing energy bill support pensioners’ fuel allowance.”
and raising benefits, as inflation is
forecast to top 9% today. He also backed the idea of cutting

A string of Conservatives from dif- VAT overall as the present inflation
ferent wings of the party called on the
chancellor to intervene within weeks, and tax increases are “sucking
amid dire economic predictions
about the squeeze on households. demand out of the economy”.

One senior Tory, Sir Bernard Jen- One charity said yesterday that
kin, the chair of the liaison committee
that holds Boris Johnson to account, families struggling to cope with
is to warn today that “the economic
situation is far worse than the govern- energy bills were seeking shelter in
ment is prepared to admit”.
McDonald’s, with hard-pressed par-
He is expected to highlight new
figures from the Commons library ents and children spending evenings
showing pensioners and the low-
est income households face paying in the restaurants, relying on their
£1,000 more a year for food and
energy, arguing that any help for facilities as an emergency kitchen,
them cannot “wait until the autumn”.
bathroom and living room.
Jenkin will say: “The measures
that need to be looked at are £20 “People are buying their kids

a Happy Meal for a few quid and

keeping them warm inside. Then

they wash and brush their teeth in Ticket to ride
Queen opens
the sinks and watch TV on the free rail line with
her name on it
wifi,” said Matthew Cole, the chair of
News Page 7
the trustees of the Fuel Bank Foun-

dation, which tries to help families

with their bills.

Jenkin’s call for Sunak to take

measures to help households was

echoed by Stephen Crabb, a Tory MP

and former work and pen- 9 
sions secretary, who said he
PHOTOGRAPH: ANDREW MATTHEWS/REUTERS

Conservative MP held Fate of Azovstal soldiers prisoner exchanges of fighters who
on suspicion of rape unclear after surrender
Moscow claims are “terrorists”.

Russian investigators have also

said they plan to interrogate the

soldiers and could charge them for

“crimes committed by the Ukrainian

regime against the civilian popula-

sexual offences including rape. The transferred to Russian-controlled tion” in south-east Ukraine.
territory.
Heather Stewart unnamed man’s arrest followed a Shaun Walker Kyiv Yesterday evening, seven buses
Rajeev Syal Andrew Roth Ukraine’s deputy defence minis-
Vikram Dodd two-year investigation, the Metro- ter said they would be swapped in a carrying Ukrainian soldiers left the
The fate of hundreds of Ukrainian prisoner exchange, but some Russian
Boris Johnson’s party was engulfed in politan police said, and related to soldiers who have ended weeks of officials said yesterday they could be steelworks in Mariupol and arrived
fresh scandal last night as it emerged resistance at the Azovstal steelworks tried or even executed. MPs in Rus-
that a Conservative MP has been offences alleged to have been com- in Mariupol remains unclear after sia’s parliament said they would at a former prison colony in the Rus-
arrested on suspicion of serious the fighters surrendered and were propose new laws that could derail
mitted between 2002 and 2009. sian-controlled town of Olenivka

In a statement, the Met said: “A near Donetsk, Reuters reported.

• man, aged in his 50s, was 2  Russia called the Azov- 14 
arrested on suspicion of stal operation a mass

• The Guardian Wednesday 18 May 2022

2Inside 18/05/22 News
Four sections
every day

News and Sport Children walk at how big an impact pollution is hav-
over rubbish as ing in their country.”
Tributes to Kay Mellor local residents
‘Phenomenal’ writer clear debris The review, published in the
of Fat Friends and Band washed ashore journal Lancet Planetary Health,
of Gold dies aged 71 from Lampung analysed data from the 2019 Global
Page 13 bay in Sukaraja, Burden of Disease project, the most
Indonesia recent available, and found air pol-
Journal Outside G2 lution caused almost 75% of the 9
Opinions and ideas PHOTOGRAPH: million pollution deaths.
PERDIANSYAH/AFP/
 Reality check: Brexit GETTY IMAGES Toxic chemicals resulted in 1.8
is the problem, not the million deaths, including 900,000
Northern Ireland protocol Pollution kills 9 million a year deaths from lead pollution, which is
Rafael Behr in ‘existential threat’ to planet more than from HIV/Aids.
Page 1
Damian Carrington was largely overlooked in the inter- College in the US and a lead author The number of deaths from chem-
G2 Centre pullout Environment editor national development agenda, of the analysis, said: “Pollution is ical pollutants was likely to be an
Features and arts the researchers said, with funding still the largest existential threat underestimate, the scientists said,
Pollution is killing 9 million people increasing only minimally since 2015. to human and planetary health. as only a small proportion of the
‘I’ve got the jitters’ a year, a review has found, making it Preventing pollution can also slow 350,000 synthetic chemicals in use
Actor and director Louis responsible for one in six of all deaths. Deaths from toxic air and chem- climate change – achieving a double had been adequately tested for safety.
Garrel is scrambling to get icals have risen by 7% since the benefit for planetary health – and
his film ready for Cannes Toxic air and contaminated water previous review and 66% since 2000, our report calls for a massive, rapid More than 90% of pollution deaths
Page 8 and soil “is an existential threat driven by increased fossil fuel burn- transition away from all fossil fuels occur in low- and middle-income
to human health and planetary ing, rising population numbers and to clean, renewable energy.” countries such as India and Nigeria.
Save up to 33% health, and jeopardises the sustain- unplanned urbanisation. This rise While high-income countries such as
with a subscription ability of modern societies”, the was offset by improvements in the Awareness of pollution was key, the US and members of the EU had
to the Guardian review concluded. “ancient scourges” of water polluted said Richard Fuller, at the Global Alli- controlled the worst forms of pollu-
and the Observer by pathogens and poor sanitation and ance on Health and Pollution (GAHP) tion, the researchers said, few less
Visit theguardian. The death toll from pollution indoor smoke from cooking fires. in Switzerland, another lead author. affluent nations had been able to
com/paper-subs dwarfs that from road accidents, HIV/ He said action plans had been pre- make pollution a priority.
Aids, malaria and TB combined, or The researchers said pollution, sented to 11 national governments to
Weather from drug and alcohol misuse. The the climate crisis and the destruc- date: “Ministers are just gobsmacked Pollution also crossed interna-
Page 36 researchers calculated the economic tion of wildlife and nature “are the tional borders, carried on winds or
impact of pollution deaths at $4.6tn key global environmental issues 1.8m in food exports, said Fuller: “If we’re
Quick crossword (£3.7tn), about $9m a minute. of our time. These issues are intri- going to keep everyone safe we need
Back of G2 cately linked and solutions to each The number of deaths caused by to help countries that have these
The overall impact of pollution has will benefit the others. [But] we can- toxic chemicals, including 900,000 toxic problems to stop the pollution
Cartoon not improved since the first global not continue to ignore pollution. We from lead pollution, each year at the source.”
Journal, page 4 review in 2017, since when 45 million are going backwards.”
lives have been lost to it. Prevention Unsafe water causes 1.4 million
Cryptic crossword Prof Philip Landrigan of Boston early deaths a year, but this has been
Back of Journal falling due to improvements in san-
itation and healthcare, particularly
Contact in Africa. However, the UN estimates
more than 2 billion people still do not
For missing sections call 0800 839 100. have access to clean drinking water.
For individual departments, call the Guardian
switchboard: 020 3353 2000. The researchers called for
For the Readers’ editor (corrections increased funding for pollution con-
&  clarifications on specific editorial content), call trol from governments and donors,
020 3353 4736 between 10am and 1pm UK time better monitoring and a new, inde-
Monday to Friday excluding public holidays, or pendent scientific body to assess the
email [email protected]. problem modelled on the Intergov-
Letters for publication should be sent to ernmental Panel on Climate Change,
[email protected] or the whose influential reports are agreed
address on the letters page. by all governments.

SNRUEEPCWPYSCOPLRAITNPEGRS “Pollution has typically been
viewed as a local issue,” said Rachael
The recycled paper Kupka, also at the GAHP, which
c ontent of UK newspapers includes the UN Environment Pro-
in 2017 was 64.6% gramme and the World Bank.
“However, it is clear that pollution is a
Guardian News & Media, Kings Place, 90 York Way, planetary threat. Global action on all
London N1 9GU. 020-3353 2000. Fax 020-7837 2114. major modern pollutants is needed.”
In Manchester: Centurion House, 129 Deansgate,
Manchester M3 3WR. Telephone Sales: 020-7611 9000. Continued from page 1 Ahmad Khan, the former MP for the whip from the MP until the police place at the next general election, cer-
The Guardian lists links to third-party websites, but Wakefield, was convicted of sexually investigation has been completed to tainly in the [Conservative] party, as
does not endorse them or guarantee their authenticity Tory MP is assaulting a 15-year-old boy; while protect the anonymity of the victims. we will have taken much more time
or accuracy. Back issues from Historic Newspapers: arrested on the former Tiverton MP Neil Parish to scrutinise people. There will be a
0870-165 1470 guardian.backissuenewspapers.co.uk. suspicion admitted watching pornography in Female Conservative MPs recently much longer process,” he said.
Published by Guardian News & Media, Kings Place, of rape the House of Commons chamber. met with the chief whip to air their
90 York Way, London N1 9GU, and at Centurion House, concerns about the behaviour of Details of the MP’s arrest emerged
129 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WR. Printed at Reach indecent assault, sexual assault, Both byelections will take place on some colleagues – a gathering that during what the government had
Watford Limited, St Albans Road, Watford, Herts rape, abuse of position of trust and 23 June, with Labour hoping to win led to Parish’s resignation after his hoped would be “crime week”, with
WD24 7RG; Reach Oldham Limited, Hollinwood Avenue, misconduct in public office. He in Wakefield and the Liberal Demo- behaviour was discussed. announcements planned on tough-
Chadderton, Oldham OL9 8EP; Reach Saltire Ltd, remains in custody. crats positioning themselves as the ening up policing. The prime minister
110 Fifty Pitches Place, Glasgow G51 4EA; and by challengers in Tiverton. The leader of the House of Com- told his cabinet yesterday morning:
Irish Times Print Facility, 4080 Kingswood Road, “The offences are alleged to have mons, Mark Spencer, said last week “Crime, crime, crime is what we want
Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24. No. 54,660, occurred in London. An investigation Another Conservative MP, David that his party was committed to to focus on.”
Wednesday 18 May 2022. Registered as a newspaper at is ongoing, led by officers from Cen- Warburton, who represents Somer- selecting higher quality candidates
the Post Office ISSN 0261-3077. tral Specialist Crime.” ton and Frome, has had the whip at the next general election, claim- The Met continues to investi-
suspended while under investiga- ing the snap contests of 2017 and 2019 gate gatherings held in Downing
Westminster sources suggested tion for sexual harassment by the had led to mistakes. Street and Whitehall during Covid
some of the offences were believed House of Commons Independent lockdowns.
to have taken place in parliament. Complaints and Grievance Scheme. “I think we’ll be in a much better
More than 100 fixed penalty
The MP’s arrest came on the day A Conservative whips’ office ‘The chief whip has notices have so far been issued,
the date was announced for two spokesperson said the MP would asked that the MP though Johnson has only been fined
byelections triggered by the resig- be asked not to come to parliament. does not attend the once along with his wife, Carrie John-
nations of Conservative MPs. Imran “The chief whip has asked that parliamentary estate’ son, and the chancellor, Rishi Sunak,
the MP concerned does not attend for a birthday party held in 2020.
the parliamentary estate while an Spokesperson
investigation is ongoing. Until the Tory whips’ office Many Conservative backbenchers
conclusion of the investigation we are concerned about the impact on
will not be commenting further.” the Tories’ reputation as the party of
law and order but have so far declined
It is understood no decision will to move against the prime minister by
be made about whether to remove demanding a vote of no confidence.

Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

News 3

Crash test
dummies
need to
represent
women
too, says
research

Linda Geddes
Science correspondent

Women are almost twice as likely as ‘A trapped woman predict who is more likely to have shape are also likely to come into ▲ The study found that carmakers
men to become trapped in a motor is not the same as certain injuries, which could have play, and these are not accurately are not using biologically accurate
vehicle after a crash and they also a trapped man. implications for how you help them modelled in simulations of crashes. dummies in their crash tests
sustain different patterns of injury, Women have a higher out, and where you end up taking Weekes said: “We know that women’s
data suggests. rate of pelvic injury’ them. It may also help vehicle man- pelvises, even correcting for height PHOTOGRAPH: IMAGEBROKER/ALAMY
ufacturers direct safety systems to and weight, are much wider than
The research – the first large UK Dr Lauren Weekes protect men and women equally.” men’s, so the crash test dummies therefore the data from those should
study to compare sex differences in Consultant anaesthetist used … are more like a 12-year-old be able to protect men and women
injury patterns and the likelihood of One possibility is that the nature prepubescent girl than an adult equally. But if manufacturers are
becoming trapped after a collision suffered more head, face, chest and of women’s injuries makes it harder female. If you think about where a not using biologically accurate dum-
– could help vehicle manufactur- limb injuries. The research was pub- for them to escape the wreckage. “For woman’s pelvis is likely to be in rela- mies, how do they know that this is
ers improve car design and safety lished in BMJ Open. example, women have a much higher tion to the door, it is going to be closer. the case?”
features to reduce rates of injury in rate of pelvic injury, and it’s harder to
both sexes. It also strengthens calls “The important bit is that it shows get yourself out of a car if you’ve bro- “Crash tests are standardised, and Criado Perez said she hoped the
for the inclusion of more biologi- that women and men have different ken your pelvis,” Weekes said. study would also put pressure on reg-
cally accurate crash test dummies in experiences of entrapment – that Caroline Criado Perez’s ulators to take the issue seriously.
simulations of vehicle collisions to a trapped woman is not the same Differences in the way men and book inspired the research “The EU is currently in the process
investigate their impact on women. as a trapped man,” said Dr Lauren women drive could also be a factor. of introducing new legislation, which
Weekes, a consultant anaesthetist Men are involved in more frontal for the first time will say that female
Prof Tim Nutbeam, an emergency at University Hospitals Plymouth, collisions, and more likely to be in car occupants must be as protected
medicine consultant at University who was also involved in the study. the driver’s seat, compared with as male occupants – but the UK is cur-
Hospitals Plymouth, and colleagues women, and therefore more likely rently not intending to adopt this,”
carried out the study after reading “Understanding sex differences in to be injured by hitting the steer- she said. “I really hope that this kind
Caroline Criado Perez’s bestselling injury patterns may help paramedics ing wheel or air bag. Also, if women of research will focus the minds of
book Invisible Women, which high- are driving, they tend to have their those in government who have the
lighted how women were more likely seat positioned closer to the steer- power to ensure that women are no
to be seriously injured in car crashes ing wheel, which could contribute longer disproportionately and need-
because crash test dummies were to them becoming trapped. lessly injured and killed in the event
modelled on the “average male”. of a car crash.”
However, differences in body
To investigate, they looked at
data from 70,027 patients admitted
to major trauma centres and units
in the UK between January 2012 and
December 2019.

They found that although men
were more likely to be involved in
serious crashes and admitted to hos-
pital, 16% of women became trapped
in the wreckage, versus only 9% of
men. Women also sustained more
hip and spinal injuries, whereas men

Scientists find new way to catch most valuable fishery in England had scallops in them and yet every only two. Overall, 99.6% of scallops
scallops – by using ‘disco lights’ and fourth most valuable in the UK, haul without lights had no scallops. were caught in pots with lights.
according to government statistics. It was conclusive,” said Ashworth.
Anna Turns and lobster pots to protect fish stocks. Most are dredged up, which is dam- The research, funded by the
The LED lights were supposed to lure aging to marine habitats. Using divers In further experiments, 985 pots Department for Environment, Food
An unusual technique for catching crabs. But scallops, which can have is labour intensive, time-consuming with lights caught 518 scallops; 901 and Rural Affairs and Natural Eng-
scallops discovered accidentally up to 200 eyes, were quite unexpect- and therefore more expensive. control pots without lights caught land, is outlined in a peer-reviewed
by scientists may reduce damage edly attracted. paper published in the Journal of
caused  to seabeds by traditional Enever hopes scallop potting could ▲ Scallops found the LEDs placed in Fisheries Research, co-authored
fishing methods. “It’s like a scallop disco – illuminate create a low-input, low-impact, high- lobster and crab pots hard to resist with Dr Bryce Stewart of the Univer-
the trap and they come in. It’s aston- value fishery that supplements the sity of York.
Dr Rob Enever and his team at the ishing that no one else has discovered income of crab and lobster fishers.
Fishtek Marine fisheries consultancy this before. It’s quite an exciting find,” “This is one of the most excit-
in Devon designed small “potlights” said Enever. “This has the potential He trialled the potlights in 2019 ing things I have come across in my
to replace the fish used to bait crab to open up a whole new inshore fish- with the Newlyn-based fisher Jon whole career – it’s such a surprise,”
ery and that’s a global first.” Ashworth off the Cornish coast. said Stewart.
While Ashworth did not notice any
Commercially, scallops are the difference in crab or lobster catches, The Fishtek team are repeating
he found huge numbers of European the experiments in four more UK
king scallops in his pots. locations, from Lyme Bay to Orkney,
using different trap designs in various
“Pretty much every pot we hauled conditions and depths.

• The Guardian Wednesday 18 May 2022

4 News
Northern Ireland

EU warns of end
to free trade deal
if Truss pushes
protocol changes

Heather Stewart UK could lose its free trade arrange- Analysis hardline Truss was prepared to be
Jennifer Rankin ments with the EU if it went ahead. Jessica Elgot and how her cabinet colleagues –
Lisa O’Carroll and leadership rivals – Rishi Sunak
Šefčovič, a European Commission Leaks and bungling surround and Michael Gove had gone soft. It
The European Commission raised the vice president who has been lead- was “leadership feather-fluttering”
spectre of an economically damag- ing talks on changes to the protocol, bid to move against Brexit deal – one cabinet source said of Truss.
ing trade war with the UK yesterday, said Truss’ proposals raised “signif-
pledging to respond with “all meas- icant concerns”, adding, “unilateral and now everyone’s irritated The leak of the plans for the bills
ures at its disposal” if Liz Truss actions contradicting an interna- sent shockwaves through European
pressed ahead with a plan to rewrite tional agreement are not acceptable”. F or a government which title of US special envoy on capitals too, prompting threats
the Northern Ireland protocol. has just announced a the Northern Ireland protocol, to cancel the UK’s trade deal, one
He said: “Should the UK decide to bill that could spark a dispatched to Boston and of three weapons available to either
The British foreign secretary yes- move ahead with a bill disapplying trade war in the middle Washington to bend ears over the side in the agreement. Truss hit
terday set out plans to table a bill that constitutive elements of the protocol of a cost-of-living crisis, UK’s predicament. back in late-night briefed quotes,
would make key changes to the pro- … the EU will need to respond with it is remarkable how saying the solutions proposed
tocol, including waiving all checks all measures at its disposal.” often members of the government Burns had the responsibility by the European Union would
on goods flowing from Great Brit- say what they really want is for of softening up a sceptical White make the situation worse.
ain to Northern Ireland where they The EU could hit UK goods with everyone to calm down. House over the need to change the
were not destined for the Republic tariffs within seven days of legal protocol, armed with the hefty All the above might suggest
of Ireland. action or freeze the entire trade deal The intention to legislate has volume of paperwork needed that a row has been choreographed.
agreed with Boris Johnson in 2020, now been formally announced – under the new system in order to Boris Johnson has been happy to
She said the UK government hoped two of three immediate weapons at but when it will actually be seen by demonstrate how bad the situation use memories of the Brexit fight as
to agree on the changes it believed its disposal, according to Catherine MPs is intentionally vague. was for traders. a way to gee up flagging backbench
were necessary. She said these were Barnard, a Cambridge university EU support. But those close to the
“comprehensive and reasonable”, law professor. Legal action against The Northern Ireland secretary And it might have been a prime minister seem genuinely
adding: “Our preference is to reach the UK that was frozen as a goodwill Brandon Lewis says it was never reasonable diplomatic mission if miffed and there has been no
a negotiated outcome with the EU. gesture last year could restart. meant to be this week. Of course it the Times had not spiked his guns attempt to disguise the irritation
We have worked tirelessly to that end wasn’t. Now the only commitment with leaked plans for the bill finally with Truss over how this has
and will continue to do so.” Truss said the plan to create a is “before the summer” which announced by Liz Truss today. been handled.
“green channel” allowing exports of could mean anything. US diplomats and key lawmakers
She claimed the protocol in its cur- goods from Great Britain to North- fumed at being blindsided. No 10 sources have openly
rent form jeopardised the stability of ern Ireland without checks as long as Was it really meant to happen briefed against Truss in lurid detail
the Good Friday agreement, which they were not destined for the Repub- like this? The original plan began Meanwhile, a day earlier in the across the Sunday papers. Even on
she said was “under strain”. The lic of Ireland, would create a “dual with Conor Burns, with his new US, papers were briefed on how Monday they were emphasising
government would act unilaterally regulatory system that encompassed that Johnson has had firm words
if necessary. “To respond to the very either EU or UK regulation as busi- with his foreign secretary and told
grave and serious situation in North- nesses chose. her to cool things down.
ern Ireland we are clear that there is
a necessity to act to ensure the insti- The legislation would also let the So now there is some need for
tutions can be restored as soon as UK determine tax and spending in damage control – perhaps because
possible,” she said. Northern Ireland. Johnson had hoped he could

Part of the government’s motiva- It was suggested by sources that if
tion is to placate the DUP, which is the government tabled a bill, Brus-
refusing to enter a power-sharing sels would issue a formal warning and
government with Sinn Fein at Stor- launch a process to decide on retali-
mont unless the protocol is altered. atory measures.

The DUP’s Westminster leader, EU insiders believe the UK has
Jeffrey Donaldson, said Truss’ state- never seriously engaged with what
ment was “a welcome if overdue step they see as far-reaching proposals to
that is a significant move towards lighten customs and administrative
addressing the problems created by checks made by Šefčovič last October.
the protocol, and getting power shar-
ing, based upon a cross-community However, Truss dismissed this in
consensus, up and running again”. the Commons. “Their current pro-
posals are not able to address the
Truss called for the EU’s top offi- fundamental concerns. In fact it is
cial in charge of UK relations, Maroš our assessment that they would go
Šefčovič, to be given a rewritten nego- backward from the situation we have
tiating mandate that would allow today with the standstill,” she said.
the protocol to be revised. However,
Šefčovič responded to Truss’ state- EU sources also said that a change
ment with a veiled warning that the in mandate would require unani-
mous sign-off by all member states.
▲ DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson They said there was no desire to
welcomed plans for a protocol bill change Šefčovič’s mandate to enable
wholescale changes to the protocol.
But the senior EU diplomat said: “The
EU doesn’t have a mandate, the pro-
tocol is the mandate.”

The chair of a US congressional
committee, Richie Neal, who is head-
ing to London and Brussels in the
coming days to try to head off further
deterioration of Anglo-Irish relations,
said: “Northern Ireland shouldn’t be
held hostage in the political process,
rather all parties must stay the course
and continue to work together to find
durable solutions.”

Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

Retaliatory tactics 5
Brussels’ options

The EU could impose tariffs on UK Liz Truss, seen Sketch
fish and agricultural goods in just with the deputy John Crace
seven days if Boris Johnson goes PM, Dominic
ahead with moves to disapply Raab, left, says Slurred ramblings and
parts of the Northern Ireland the NI protocol and full-on denial.
Brexit protocol, legal experts say. strains the Good
Friday deal
The short, sharp shock is one of
the three key retaliatory weapons PHOTOGRAPH:
available, according to Catherine HOLLIE ADAMS/EPA
Barnard, a professor of EU law at
Cambridge University.

The nuclear option – end the Foreign secretary is
trade and cooperation agreement
(TCA) using articles 770 and 779 at the PM’s level now
This allows the EU to terminate
the entire trade agreement, T here was going to be hell to pay when
spelling the end of tariff-free trade Liz Truss found out who had negotiated,
in both directions along with all agreed and signed the Northern Ireland
the other elements, including protocol. What’s more, no one had ever
90-day visa-free holidays and the said there was an election-winning,
fishing agreement. oven-ready Brexit deal on the table
back in 2019. That was the kind of shameless lie only
It would essentially return the
UK to a no-deal Brexit scenario, opposition parties could tell …
with damaging consequences
including the suspension of police Boris Johnson has the knack of bringing everyone
and security cooperation.
down to his level in the end. Corrupt, narcissistic,
As this requires a year’s notice,
it may not appeal to member incompetent. The foreign secretary is just the latest – if
states who want to show they
have real teeth in the face of what entirely complicit – victim in this. So when she came
they consider an act of bad faith
by the UK. to the Commons to give her statement on government

plans to disapply the Northern Ireland protocol,

Finger-on-the-button Truss was in a full-on state of denial. Any correlation
option – article 521
This would allow the EU to between what she said and the truth was entirely
suspend the trade parts of the
TCA, leaving all the other areas coincidental.
agreed last December, including
visa-free holidays and police What we got was slurred ramblings reminiscent of
cooperation, intact. Again,
this option may not appeal to someone strung out on fentanyl. The Northern Ireland
member states as it would not
deliver practical objectives protocol had never been intended to be set in stone.
demonstrating the EU has teeth.
It had always been just a temporary fix until the UK
“It seems to me unlikely that
they would do this because, government came up with something it liked better.
frankly, if things have got so
bad that the EU is talking about Really? Truss clearly hadn’t been following how the
terminating part of the treaty, it
seems unlikely that they carry on Convict had sold it to the country back in 2019. Then it
cooperating in the other areas,”
says Barnard. had been the answer to every Brexiter’s dreams.

Trade war in a week – There was clearly a part of Truss that knew she
article 506, paragraph 2
This allows the EU to “suspend, was spewing bollocks, because she stumbled over
in whole or in part”, access to
its waters. Such a response may sentences and spoke in a robotic monotone. As
have nothing to do with Northern
Ireland, but Barnard says: “The if struggling to disengage from what’s left of her
advantage from the EU’s point of
view is that you only have to give conscience. Telling lies on this scale must be so
seven days’ notice,” so a trade war
could be started within a week. corrosive to any sense of personal integrity and self-

Article 506 allows for wider worth. There may still be a small
retaliation if deemed necessary.
adopt a statesmanlike persona and foreign secretary has ultimately got If the EU considers a suspension She had thought the part of her that knows she is a
announce the bill with a “more in what she wanted. of fishing around the Channel EU were negotiating in fraud. But it must be silenced. She
sorrow than in anger” tone. Islands or the Isle of Man has sold her soul in the belief that
Most ministers are optimistic “commensurate to the economic
For the past few days, he has that there will be progress in talks, or societal impact of the alleged equally bad faith and her ambition can only be realised
been playing the peacemaker as are the Conservative MPs who failure” of the UK to comply with it had come as a total by Out-Convicting the Convict. It
– with a 2,200 word essay on are wary of voting for the bill but the threat, it can suspend tariff- won’t end well. Sleep-walking and
Northern Ireland on Monday which believe it will never come to that. free trade. In other words, it could
was far more thoughtful on issues slap tariffs on fish and other goods shock that they really washing her hands.
of nationhood than some of his Those with even medium- within seven days. meant what they said Yet on she went. The protocol
critics might have expected. term memories will remember
a similar tactic on the internal But is it an either/or situation? had had unintended consequences.
But of course, it is also likely to markets bill and its plans to break Barnard says: “They [the EU]
be satisfying for Johnson to see international law “in a limited could do them all at the same time Consequences, such as a border in
both his biggest rivals, Sunak and and specific way.” The bill was a but it is more likely that they may
Truss, a little cowed – though his transparent negotiating tactic and try to escalate matters. Instead the Irish Sea, that had been widely
was dropped as soon as it became of talking about resolution, we
▲ Poster on the road to Larne in expedient to do so. are talking about ratcheting predicted long before the Brexit
Northern Ireland, where the DUP is up the arguments to the point
standing fast against the protocol Still, it is hard to argue there of terminating the treaty. It is deal had been agreed. But Truss was at pains to point
is not even more urgency now extraordinary.” Lisa O’Carroll
that Northern Ireland is without out that she wasn’t planning to scrap the protocol.
any functioning government.
Yesterday, the leader of the Just planning to render it totally unrecognisable
Democratic Unionist party, Sir
Jeffrey Donaldson, stared down the unless the EU happened to agree to everything the UK
tactic and said the announcement
that legislation was coming was government asked.
“just words.”
And it was definitely legal to break international
The big, perhaps unintended,
consequence of the past week is laws. She knew that because the government had
that it seems to have turbo-charged
the DUP into going further on their taken advice from a top lawyer, though she couldn’t
anti-protocol tactics than before –
warning that they would not return say who that top lawyer was because it was a secret.
to Stormont until the law was
enacted. Luckily she didn’t need to. The attorney-general,

If this is all “just words”, no one Suella Braverman, was sitting right by her side.
knows quite how the real action
will play out. Now Truss fully lost the plot. It was like this, she

said. The UK had only agreed to the protocol because it

had never expected the EU to actually apply it. She had

always thought that the EU had been negotiating in

equally as bad faith as the Convict and it had come as a

total shock that they had really meant what they said.

That wasn’t how legal agreements normally worked.

The government’s priority was to preserve the Good

Friday agreement which was totally incompatible with

the protocol, so it was now her duty to break the law if

the EU didn’t oblige. Which she hoped they wouldn’t.

Simon Hoare, the Northern Ireland select committee

chair, was appalled Truss could be thinking of breaking

the law, but almost every other Tory MP was ecstatic.

Brexit derangement syndrome was in full swing.

• The Guardian Wednesday 18 May 2022

6 National

Contact lens Nicola Davis generally caused by increased pres- The arrangement appears to give the the University of Birmingham, who
that releases Science correspondent sure within the eye, usually due to a effect of the wearer having golden was not involved in the work, said the
drug into eye buildup of fluid. irises. However, the design allows research was potentially very excit-
‘helps treat A contact lens that can release a drug the components to be included in the ing and that there was potential for
glaucoma’ if it detects high pressure within the Researchers in China say they have device without blocking the wear- developing the technology further.
eye has been created by scientists developed a contact lens that can to er’s view or irritating the eye. When
who say it could help to treat the eye sense increased pressure in the eye pressure in the eye increases the gap He said: “We can imagine that a
disease glaucoma. and release an anti-glaucoma drug between the upper and lower lenses glaucoma sufferer wearing these
should it exceed a certain level. decreases. The sensor sends a signal lenses will not only receive real-
Glaucoma involves damage to the to the wireless system, which triggers time information about the pressures
optic nerve and can lead to blindness. Writing in Nature Communica- the release of a drug and enables it to within the eye, since the contact lens
According to Glaucoma UK the most tions, the team describe how they cross the cornea. The drug, brimo- has built-in wireless capacity and can
common form – primary open angle created the device using an upper and nidine, acts to reduce the pressure. communicate with an app on your
glaucoma – is thought to affect almost lower lens, with a snowflake-shaped smartphone, but also receive for
10% of people over 75. This form is pressure sensor and wireless power Prof Zubair Ahmed, from the Insti- example, pressure relieving drugs
transfer device sandwiched between tute of Inflammation and Ageing at when needed.”
them around the rim of the lenses.

PHOTOGRAPH: SWNS Hound of the Serpentine A dog cools off
yesterday in the Serpentine, the 16-hectare

recreational lake in Hyde Park in London,

as the UK recorded the hottest day of year

so far – with temperatures hitting 27.5C.

Johnson ‘was he asked Johnson to break the log-
advised’ not to jam following conversations with the
link Iran debt then defence secretary, Gavin Wil-
with detainees liamson, about the MoD’s objections.

Patrick Wintour Burt had been given to understand
that the department would accept a
Boris Johnson appeared to accept ruling from Number 10.
advice while he was foreign secretary
that payment of the £400m debt to The revelations have the potential
Iran must not be linked to the release to damage the prime minister as they
of the British-Iranian dual nationals, suggest Johnson may have misjudged
according to evidence given to MPs the link between the failure to pay
by his former Middle East minister. the debt and the continued detention
of the British-Iranian dual nationals
Alistair Burt also told the foreign Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoo-
affairs select committee that he wrote sheh Ashoori.
to Johnson in May 2018 urging him
to ask the then prime minister, The- Last Friday, Zaghari-Ratcliffe
resa May, to overrule objections to accused Johnson of casting a shadow
payment of the debt being made by over her by mistakenly telling the for-
the Ministry of Defence. Burt said eign affairs committee that she had
been training journalists in Iran at the
▲ Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe said time of her arrest in 2016. He subse-
Johnson’s error cast a shadow on her quently apologised for that mistake.

The current inquiry was set up
at the request of the now released
detainees who believe ministers
have not revealed the true source of
the blockage within Whitehall about
delays to the payment of the debt,
including if America played a role.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Ashoori were
released two months ago as soon as
the debt arising from an arms deal in
the 1970s was paid. Burt said the offi-
cials’ consistent advice had been not
to link the debt with the detainees.

The former foreign secretary Jer-
emy Hunt told the inquiry Britain
could not look back on its handling of
the case with any pride. He accepted
a share of the blame, but seemed una-
ble to pinpoint the main source of
objections to the payment. He said a
“terrible injustice was done”.

Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

National 7

The Queen makes development, Her Majesty the Queen ‘We’re all incredibly
surprise appearance is attending today’s event to mark the touched and grateful
at opening ceremony completion of the Elizabeth line. Her to Her Majesty for
for Elizabeth line Majesty was aware of the engagement coming today. It was
and the organisers were informed of fantastic to see her’
Caroline Davies The Queen It was a rare public engagement the possibility she may attend.”
with Boris for the 96-year-old monarch, who Boris Johnson
The Queen has marked the comple- Johnson, missed the state opening of parlia- The engagement is the Queen’s Speaking at the launch event
tion of London’s Crossrail project by Grant Shapps, ment last week. first outside the Windsor area since
attending the opening ceremony of Sadiq Khan, she attended the Duke of Edinburgh’s first big event of the Queen’s plati-
the Elizabeth line. Transport for Announcing the Queen’s intention memorial service in Westminster num jubilee festivities.
London’s Andy to take part in the ceremony, Buck- Abbey seven weeks ago.
Accompanied by the Earl of Wes- Byford and ingham Palace said: “In a happy Crossrail, the name of the project
sex, she was welcomed by the prime Prince Edward Kofi Duah, an Elizabeth line cus- to build the new east-west railway,
minister, Boris Johnson, the London at Paddington tomer experience assistant, said he was delayed and over budget because
mayor, Sadiq Khan, and the commis- had been “thrilled” to present an Oys- of numerous problems, including
sioner of Transport for London, Andy PHOTOGRAPHS: ter card loaded with £5 of credit to the construction difficulties and compli-
Byford, at Paddington station. ANDREW MATTHEWS/ Queen and show her how it could be cations installing signalling systems.
AFP/GETTY IMAGES topped up on a machine.
Using a walking stick and moving It was initially due to be com-
slowly as she made her way around Elizabeth line and spent 10 minutes “I gave her an Oyster card and told pleted in December 2018 and was
the concourse, the Queen smiled in the station before leaving via a lift. her she can tap it on the yellow reader. set a budget of £14.8bn in 2010. The
as she met staff who have been key I showed her the current balance and total cost has been estimated at
to the project and who will run the Johnson told guests: “We’re all how to top up the Oyster. £18.9bn, including £5.1bn from the
railway, including train drivers, incredibly touched and moved and government.
station workers and apprentices. grateful to Her Majesty for coming to “She said, ‘Where can I use it?’
open the Elizabeth line today. It was I said, ‘You can use it across our line, The Elizabeth line will boost capac-
She was given an Oyster card fantastic to see her.” so from Paddington to Abbey Wood.’ ity and cut journey times across the
and shown how to use it on a ticket She said, ‘Oh nice, splendid.’” capital and beyond, stretching from
machine. Reading in Berkshire and Heathrow
The Elizabeth line, named in the in west London to Shenfield in Essex
The Queen unveiled a plaque stat- Queen’s honour, will open to pas- and Abbey Wood in south-east Lon-
ing that she “officially opened” the sengers on 24 May. It was hoped the don. Trains will initially operate in
head of state would be involved in the three sections, which are expected
opening ceremony but her attend- to be integrated in autumn.
ance was not guaranteed as she has
missed a number of big events this
year owing to mobility problems.

She made a trip to the Royal Wind-
sor horse show on Friday, and on
Sunday was the guest of honour at the
equestrian show A Gallop Through
History near Windsor Castle, the

• The Guardian Wednesday 18 May 2022

8 National
Cost of living

Schools could be
forced to cut meal
sizes or quality,
says food firm boss

Joanna Partridge entitled to free school meals if they ‘The price has become astronomical’
Patrick Butler attend a state-funded school and if Primary struggles to feed children
Julia Kollewe the parent or carer they live with is on
benefits or receiving universal credit, Sally Weale made discretionary payments to increase the burden on families
Soaring food inflation could force with a household income of less than help families unable to afford gas, caught in the cost of living crisis.
schools to choose between offering £7,400 a year. A t St Jude’s, a small electricity or nappies.
smaller lunch portions and using Church of England Helen Stout is the headteacher
cheaper ingredients, the boss of one Campaigners have urged minis- primary school in Budgets are tight, says Jones, but at Meadowfield primary school in
of the UK’s largest food wholesalers ters to provide free school meals for south London, the the school is determined to protect Halton Moor, Leeds, where many
has warned, as providers called for 1 million extra children to ease grow- morning breakfast quality school dinners for its parents are already struggling to
more funding to tackle rising costs. ing pressures on struggling families. club is exceptionally children, come what may. “We are feed their children. The school
busy. Over the past six weeks, the taking a stance,” he said. “For many serves a disadvantaged community
Andrew Selley, the chief executive Currently only two in five children number of pupils coming in to have of our children, the food they get at where some families have been
of Bidfood, a food distribution busi- in poverty are eligible for free school porridge, scrambled egg and fruit our school might be the one decent held back by generations of
ness with a turnover of nearly £2bn, lunches or school holiday support. smoothies before the school day meal they get each day. So we’ve worklessness.
said schools would face tough deci- Campaigners say the priority should begins has gone up from eight to 22 got to make sure it continues.”
sions unless the government upped be to widen the availability of free – nearly a quarter of the Southwark More than 60% of her pupils are
funding for free school meals. school meals. Devolved governments school’s population. However, schools are facing eligible for free school meals and
in Scotland and Wales have already a rapid increase in the cost of the school provides breakfast for
Cash for free school meals for chil- taken steps to extend free school Families hit by the cost of living ingredients. One school catering all children every day. There are
dren in the first three years of primary meals in all primary schools. crisis are increasingly desperate, manager in Liverpool reported 5kg however worrying signs of hunger,
school has increased by just 4p to says the acting deputy head Matt of long grain rice, which was £6.49 says Stout: “Members of staff say
£2.34 per meal since the allocation Making school meals more afford- Jones. They need help with their in April, cost £8.30 in May; 5kg of children are gorging on food in the
was introduced in 2014. able is not just related to funding, debts; they can’t pay their bills. fresh chicken fillet went up from morning.”
according to Myles Bremner, a con- Staff are making more and more £19.96 to £28.53; and 1.7kg tinned
The invasion of Ukraine has sultant on school food policy. referrals to the StepChange debt tuna rose from £6.99 to £8.07. Meadowfield is still providing
sparked a doubling in the price of charity and the school has even food parcels for the most needy
sunflower oil compared with a year “The catering industry should Some schools are considering families – a legacy of lockdown
earlier, Selley said, with knock-on focus on ensuring that all those chil- putting up the price of school – with the help of the charity
effects on other vegetable oils. dren who struggle to afford paid-for lunches next term for those who Rethink Food, which intercepts
meals can be enfranchised into the pay, but they are reluctant to food that is just past its sell-by date
Baked goods prices have gone up school meal system,” he said. “If you
by 20%-30%, while the increase in do that, you increase the uptake of
wheat prices will also raise pasta, egg school meals and by doing so improve
and chicken prices, he said. the economics.”

“This is going to lead to some dif- Labour MP Stephen Morgan,
ficult decisions for school caterers: the shadow schools minister, said:
either they serve smaller portions or “Nutritious school food is the fuel
use cheaper ingredients, which isn’t children need to achieve and thrive.
going to be good for the children,” he But soaring inflation compounded
told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. by Conservative tax hikes, univer-
sal credit cuts and an energy crisis is
School caterers and other food creating a perfect storm for families,
providers said they were facing signif- schools and businesses.”
icant difficulties amid rising food and
fuel prices, while their labour costs Campaigners are concerned that
have also gone up. “The situation is struggling parents may withdraw
now unprecedented,” said Jacquie their children from school meals
Blake, of LACA, a representative body and provide packed lunches instead.
for school food. “Our members are There are anecdotal reports that
telling us that they will be unable to levels of school meal debt are also
meet the school food standards if growing, as families struggle to pay.
funding does not increase,” she said.
A Tory backbench MP, Jo Gideon,
Blake said caterers were reluctant has urged ministers to consider
to raise prices for those who pay for expanding eligibility for free school
meals, as it is the sole hot meal of the meals. Gideon, the MP for Stoke-
day for many pupils. “Increasingly on-Trent Central, said: “I certainly
we are seeing children fall through think we need to look at the options
the gap, they are not entitled to free as more and more people are feeling
school meals but their parents can- the pinch. Expanding eligibility for
not afford a school lunch,” she said. free school meals is a feasible option.”

Older children in England are The government’s food strat-
egy adviser Henry Dimbleby put an
4p expansion of free school meals at the
heart of his national food strategy, but
Increase in funding for free school the government’s response, expected
meals for primary pupils in the first in a white paper, is not expected
three years of school since 2014 before June at the earliest.

20–30% A government spokesperson said:
“We recognise the pressures that
Proportion by which baked goods some schools may face and have given
prices have risen in recent months, them the autonomy to agree indi-
according to Andrew Selley vidual contracts with suppliers and
caterers, using their increased core
funding. This funding has gone up by
£4bn in 2022-23 alone – a 7% increase
in cash terms per pupil from last year.”

Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

9

▼ Some schools are reluctantly
considering increasing the
price of lunches next term

PHOTOGRAPH: LEON NEAL/GETTY IMAGES

Fuel poverty rarely turned to their energy supplier. Cole says a big goal is to prevent
Struggling “It’s a hidden problem – if a customer people turning to doorstep lenders
families stops paying they rarely tell you at high interest rates. Industry exec-
‘seek warm why,” he says. Instead, many of the utives have already forecast a surge
refuge’ at 4.5m households using prepayment in bad debts if capped annual energy
McDonald’s meters are “self-disconnecting” by bills hit the £3,000 some have fore-
sitting cold in the dark. cast in October. Citizens Advice says
Alex Lawson the average energy debt now stands
Energy correspondent The Fuel Bank Foundation is now at £1,450, up from £1,330 in 2020.
independent, funded through a
Families struggling to cope with mixture of grants, public funds and Research from British Gas and You-
energy bills are seeking shelter in industry support. It does not have Gov shows 40% of UK adults will
McDonald’s, with one charity saying its own premises but ties up with struggle to make their next payment.
hard-pressed parents and children existing providers of foodbanks and There has been an outcry for govern-
are spending their evenings in the community support such as the Trus- ment help, and suppliers offer some
fast food restaurants, relying on the sell Trust and Citizens Advice in 350 support. The biggest have hardship
facilities as an emergency kitchen, sites around the country. funds for grants, and Octopus Energy
bathroom and living room. last month doubled its pot to £5m.
It has helped more than 500,000
“People are buying their kids a people. Needs are assessed and Jessica Taplin, the chief executive
Happy Meal for a few quid and keep- people are usually given funds elec- of the British Gas Energy Trust – an
ing them warm inside. Then they tronically to cover seven to 10 days independent charity funded by Brit-
wash and brush their teeth in the of energy supply. They also get help ish Gas – says its backers’ desire to
sinks and watch television for hours speaking to their energy supplier and help has been “genuine”. It received
on the free wifi,” says Matthew Cole. applying for other state support. £6m in funding from British Gas last
year, and has gained £10m this year.
He is the chair of the trustees of the “If you’re struggling with heating It has tied up with the rapper Profes-
Fuel Bank Foundation, which tries to then you’re likely worrying about sor Green to urge people to speak up if
help families with bills, currently bal- food and clothing too,” says Cole. they’re grappling with energy debts.
looning amid raging inflation. The foundation saw a 74% increase
in inquiries on last year in the first Those the charity has helped
The realities of life for those in three months of 2022. include an unemployed mother of
financial distress are stark – parents four afraid to open billing emails for
who take their children to leisure ▲ Parents are turning to McDonald’s fear she’d kill herself; a bereaved
centres to use the showers with- for the facilities and warm shelter father in tears over energy costs as
out swimming, or heat pans over he cared for his two pre-schoolers; an
tea lights. Cole’s team tries to per- ‘If you’re struggling elderly east Londoner who stayed in
suade people not to burn furniture with heating, you’re bed all day if a red bill hit the doormat.
or wooden pallets to keep warm, in likely worrying about “Much of the time helping people
case they set their homes on fire, but food and clothes too’ understand what support is already
many feel they have no choice. available is crucial,” Taplin says.
Matthew Cole
Cole was originally in charge of Fuel Bank Foundation Jo Gilbert, of the utility bills advice
dealing with vulnerable custom- group Cubes, says struggling house-
ers at the energy supplier Npower. holds need to ask suppliers not to put
He quickly realised that when cus- them into the debt collection process.
tomers had trouble paying bills they “If you are struggling to pay for the
energy you are using now there is no
point in creating a debt repayment
plan – you simply won’t pay it off.”

Energy suppliers can electroni-
cally top-up pre-payment meters or
send engineers to “wind on” pre-pay-
ment meters. But Gilbert cautions:
“In reality, we’re way past using
energy-saving tricks at home to limit
bills significantly. People need gov-
ernment help now.”

▲ Helen Stout, a headteacher, says Stout, “but [the decision] sits Continued from page 1 insisting that any policies would not the consumer prices index, as energy
school meals should be ‘sacrosanct’ uneasily with me”. be allowed to cost money. bills soared during the month.
Chancellor faces
and destined for landfill. “It’s all She is, however, horrified at the clamour to act on The chancellor has repeatedly With fuel prices still high, Kwasi
perfectly fine to be eaten. It comes suggestion that children might cost of living crisis ruled out bringing in an emergency Kwarteng, the business secretary,
to us and we bag it up,” says Stout. be given smaller school lunches budget that would be needed for wrote to petrol retailers yesterday
Staff have also been directing made with cheaper ingredients did not “know a single Conservative fiscal measures such as tax cuts, but raising concerns that the chancellor’s
parents to Zarach, a charity that because of rising costs. “For some colleague who isn’t acutely aware of is facing a revolt on the Tory benches 5p fuel duty cut “is not being passed
provides bedding, beds and of my pupils it’s the only hot meal the financial pressures facing their if he fails to take major action. on in any visible or meaningful way”.
mattresses. they are getting a day. I would have constituents and the need for some
hoped school dinners would be easing of the burden”. A source told the Guardian that Speaking in a debate on cost of
The school has already decided sacrosanct. We can’t educate them officials had been examining a tem- living in the House of Commons,
– reluctantly – to stop funding milk if they’re hungry.” Writing on ConservativeHome, he porary cut to VAT similar to Alistair a succession of Conservative MPs
for its 200 key stage 2 children at said “both the scale of the current Darling’s 2.5% reduction in 2008 – or made it plain they expect Sunak to
the end of next week. “The cost At Meadowfield, like many crisis and the speed of its impact are even as high as 5% – but this was dis- do something more. A Conservative
has become astronomical,” says schools, there are other telltale alarming”. He said the way to protect missed by Treasury sources as too MP, Derek Thomas, said “more must
signs that families are struggling, the most vulnerable was “finding a expensive at £7bn per percentage be done now to help” on energy bills,
such as children’s personal hygiene way to increase pension and benefit point cut and a “blunt instrument”. while the Tory MP Miriam Cates said
and appearance. Children come levels to a realistic level long before the government should “urgently
in without socks, while others the next uprating is due in April Experts warn that while a VAT cut review universal credit rates”.
are wearing school uniforms that 2023”. Michael Forsyth, a Conserva- would have the effect of cutting prices
have been handed down through tive peer and former cabinet minister in the short term, if would then push Tory MPs are also coming round to
a couple of siblings. also called for the £20 uplift in univer- up inflation whenever it is reversed. Labour’s windfall tax idea, with the
sal credit to be restored, asking why “You’re basically moving inflation chancellor leaving the door open to
Dr Paul Gosling, the headteacher the government had acted to increase from this year into what may be an it as an option to raise money to help
at Exeter Road community primary the benefit during the pandemic but election year,” said one economist. households with their energy bills.
school in Exmouth, and president not when households wrestled with
of the National Association of Head the current cost of living crisis. New data from the Office for The Conservative former min-
Teachers (NAHT), said his school National Statistics is expected to ister Robert Halfon told MPs: “The
was struggling to absorb the impact Sunak and Boris Johnson have show today that inflation hit 9.1% oil bosses are earning multimil-
of rising food costs. been meeting in recent weeks to in the year to April, as measured by lion-pound salaries and getting
thrash out a package to help with multimillion-pound bonuses, they
“We have held off increasing the the cost of living, but were initially 2.5% are in essence in my view the new
cost of meals to paying families oligarchs and I would urge him to
as it will be another pressure on The VAT cut believed to be under consider both a windfall tax on the
them. At the moment the school is consideration, similar to the action oil companies which we can then use
absorbing the increased cost, but it taken amid the 2008 banking crisis to cut taxes for the lower paid or cut
is not sustainable.” energy bills.”

• The Guardian Wednesday 18 May 2022

10 National ▼ Jake Daniels, right, referenced
football’s ‘toxic masculinity’ culture
‘It’s terrific’ Daniels hailed in his announcement on Monday Lucy’s partner Tom said that
in Blackpool for decision while he appreciates it must have
that changes the game PHOTOGRAPH: PAUL DENNIS/TGS PHOTO/REX “taken a lot” for Daniels to come
out, he “couldn’t understand why
Sophie Zeldin-O’Neill 1990. Fashanu, who was frequently ‘Football is the only like this is good for football and it’s it even qualifies as news”. He
the target of malicious comments sport that hasn’t good for all of us because it helps added: “Maybe it’s a generational
A s the UK’s first and crowd abuse relating to his caught up with the erode prejudice – not just sexual thing, but I just don’t get what the
male professional sexuality, killed himself in 1998. times, and it needs to prejudice, but those relating to fuss is about. Who cares about his
footballer to come – quickly. If this is the race, gender and disabilities too.” sexuality if he’s a good footballer?”
out as gay in over 30 Speaking on Sky Sports, which first step then great’
years, the Blackpool also broke the story, the former Paul Robinson, 52, echoed this Hall isn’t alone in calling out
forward Jake Daniels’ Manchester United defender Gary Megan Lucy sentiment. “If it stops people being the flaws in the sport’s so-called
announcement on Monday night Neville reflected that a similar Blackpool resident scared and bullied, then it’s a good “locker room culture”.
was always destined to make an announcement even in the late 90s thing,” he said.
impact. But walking along the when he was playing would have Football fan Cullen Charnock, 19,
town’s promenade yesterday, felt “unthinkable’”. He described it Megan Lucy, 22, had mixed insisted that Daniels “should not be
opinion among locals was divided. as “a great day for English football”. feelings. As the manager of a gay looked at as being any different to
bar in Leeds, she found the news the rest of us”, and his friend Logan
While older fans are praising the It’s a sentiment many Blackpool “positive, but slightly bizarre in this Artingstall summed up the mood
courage and strength exhibited by locals share. Bonny Street market day and age”. “Football is the only among his peers, asking: “Don’t you
the 17-year-old, barely out of school stall owner Mark Kerbil says his sport that hasn’t caught up with the think this news story is bigger than
and newly in the public eye, many wife, a lifelong fan of the club, times, and it needs to – quickly. If it should be?”
younger fans are asking “So what?” was delighted with the news. “It’s this is the first step towards it doing
and calling on football as a sport to terrific,” he said. “People shouldn’t that then great.” Football has long been thought
move more swiftly with the times. feel trapped inside a shell and of as a sport notorious for
unable to be their true selves.” homophobic attitudes, with high-
Daniels is the first professional profile campaigns such as ‘Football
player in British men’s football to Kerbil’s feelings were similar to v Homophobia’ and ‘Kick It Out’
come out as gay since Nottingham those of Dorothy Dempster, who aiming to eliminate abuse.
Forest’s Justin Fashanu did so in runs Silcots ice cream parlour on
the main high street. “I’m one of In his announcement, Daniels
10 kids, and I have a gay brother made reference to the culture of
and a gay sister,” she said. “News “toxic masculinity” that many still
associate with the sport, calling out
those who equate openness with
“weakness” and going on to explain
how the decision to come out had
improved his mental health.

For many, this was a watershed
moment. To others, it is barely
newsworthy. For some, it may just
be life-saving.

Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

National 11

Rooney ‘asked teammate Vardy conversation were reported in the Woman guilty
Sun. He said he would never have of murdering
spoken to a journalist from the tab- baby she was
loid, as he was from Liverpool, where going to adopt
if his wife could calm down’ there is a longstanding boycott of the
newspaper: “I never speak to a Sun Mark Brown
North of England correspondent
journalist on a personal level.”
A former care worker who used
Jamie Vardy later issued a state- physical force and lost her temper
with a baby boy whom she was in the
ment outside court denying he ever process of adopting has been found
guilty of murder.
Jim Waterson occasionally glanced sideways at ‘They asked me as had a chat with Rooney about his
each other, while their husbands wife’s newspaper column. Laura Castle violently shook the
baby to death because he would not
Media editor largely avoided eye contact. captain if I could “Wayne is talking nonsense,” he stop crying after his breakfast, a court
Wayne Rooney asked Jamie Vardy if Rooney, now the manager of speak to Mr Vardy … said. “He must be confused because heard.
he never spoke to me about issues
Derby County, said England’s play- Leiland-James Corkill had been
taken into care at birth and was
his wife could “calm down” and cut ers attempted to relax in between regarding his wife’ concerning Becky’s media work at placed with Castle, 38, and her hus-
back on her media activities during Euro 2016 matches by playing pool Euro 2016. There was nothing to band, Scott Castle, 35, by authorities
in Cumbria in August 2020. Five
the Euro 2016 football tournament and other games. During this time, speak about, I know this because I months later the baby, not long after
his first birthday, was dead as a result
because it was causing “distractions” Jamie Vardy would regularly be in the discuss everything with Becky.” of catastrophic head injuries.

for the England team, the high court room talking to his wife: “Mrs Vardy Wayne Rooney Rooney also expressed astonish- Laura Castle had initially told
family, friends and police that
has heard. was almost there with the team, she Former England captain ment at the week-long libel trial and Leiland-James died because of a
tragic accident that had happened
Rooney told the “Wagatha Chris- was on FaceTime a lot.” said had been totally unaware that while her husband, a night-shift
worker, was asleep. She stuck to this
tie” libel trial that the then England In a written statement, Rooney his wife was attempting to conduct story until a jury was sworn in for her
trial at Preston crown court, when
manager Roy Hodgson and his assis- said Vardy had agreed to speak to his a sting operation to catch the leaker she tearfully pleaded guilty to man-
slaughter. She denied murder.
tant, Gary Neville, had both been wife about the way her media activ- from her private Instagram account.
Castle’s new version of events
concerned Rebekah Vardy’s deci- ity was causing a distraction. “Me sitting in this court is the first claimed that she had shaken Leiland-
James because he would not stop
sion to write a column for the Sun Rebekah Vardy had previously told time I’m hearing almost everything crying and screaming after break-
fast. His head had hit the arm rest of
newspaper during the contest was the court her husband denied ever on this case,” he said. “This week the sofa before he fell off her knee to
the floor, she said.
disrupting the squad. having a conversation with Rooney is really the first time I’ve had any
Medical experts told the court that
Jamie Vardy responded outside about her media career causing dis- understanding of what happened.” the degree of force required to cause
the baby’s injuries would have been
the court by saying England’s record tractions at Euro 2016. Vardy is bringing the libel claim, “severe” and likely to be a combina-
tion of shaking and an impact with a
goalscorer was “talking nonsense”. Rooney told the court: “I 100% arguing that while she did not leak solid surface.

Rooney said it was “awkward” that spoke to Mr Vardy about the situa- stories to the Sun, it is possible that Michael Brady QC, prosecuting,
argued it was likely that Castle
he had to have the chat with his fellow tion. If he wants to relay that back to her former agent and close friend had “smashed the back of Leiland-
James’s head with significant force
England striker, but the team’s man- his wife, that is entirely his business.” Caroline Watt may have done. against the armrest of the sofa or
possibly a table”.
agement wanted to find a solution. Rooney said he was surprised to ▲ Wayne Rooney attends the The trial is scheduled to conclude
The jury took two and half hours
“They asked me as captain to see later learn that details of their private ‘Wagatha Christie’ libel trial tomorrow. to convict Castle of murder and child
cruelty yesterday. She will be sen-
if I could speak to Mr Vardy on issues tenced next Wednesday.

regarding his wife,” he said. “We all Scott Castle was found not guilty
of child cruelty and allowing Leiland-
knew that it was an awkward subject James’s death.

so I needed to speak to Mr Vardy and

ask him to speak to his wife – and ask

him to ask his wife to calm down.”

“Ask his wife to calm down?” asked

Vardy’s barrister Hugh Tomlinson

QC. “She wasn’t dancing on tables.”

Rooney replied: “No, she wasn’t –

as far as I’m aware.”

The pair were part of a squad that

was unexpectedly knocked out of the

tournament by Iceland. While pre-

paring for one match, Rooney said,

he spoke to his fellow striker. “I

remember the conversation I had with

Jamie,” he said. “It was a bit awkward

for me to have to speak with a team-

mate regarding his wife. I sat down

with Jamie Vardy and he had a coffee.

It was such an awkward moment.”

Jamie Vardy, who has played for his

Premier League club, Leicester City,

during most of the trial, turned up at

the court for the first time. His wife,

Rebekah, is suing Coleen Rooney for

libel, after Coleen alleged Rebekah

was passing information from a pri-

vate Instagram account to the Sun.

The Vardys sat on the front bench a

metre from the Rooneys. The women ▲ Rebekah and Jamie Vardy arrive at the high court in London yesterday PHOTOGRAPH: TAYFUN SALCI/ZUMA/EYEVINE

V&A urged to investigate auction to the V&A director, Tristram Hunt, to promote your personal interests or were involved and no special access
of private tour at Tory fundraiser and the permanent secretary at the those of any connected person, firm, to the museum was offered.”
Department for Digital, Culture business or other organisation.”
Jessica Elgot the code of conduct for trustees of Media and Sport, Powell said the offer Quintessentially said Elliot no
Chief political correspondent public bodies. raised “new questions about the con- The museum said it understood longer had day-to-day control over
flicts of interest that seem to be so a “short tour of the museum with the business. It has previously said
The Victoria and Albert Museum Ben Elliot, a V&A trustee, is a co- common with this Conservative gov- Nicholas Coleridge was offered at it “condemns Putin’s invasion of
has been urged to investigate why chair of the Conservative party and ernment and public bodies”. auction … No V&A staff or resources Ukraine” and that it was “monitor-
it auctioned a private tour as a prize has faced repeated questions over the ing its member base to ensure it was
at a Conservative fundraising dinner use of his concierge business, Quin- The code of conduct for board ▲ Ben Elliot is a V&A trustee and not servicing any individual or corpo-
when one of its trustees was a Tory tessentially, and the services it has members of public bodies states: co-chair of the Conservative party rate body on sanctions lists”.
party chair. provided to Russian oligarchs. “In your public role, you should be,
and be seen to be, politically impar- A Tory party spokesman said the
In a letter to the commissioner on The tour with the museum’s chair, tial. You should not occupy a paid event had been arranged by Women-
public appointments, the shadow Nicholas Coleridge, was auctioned at party political post or hold a par- 2Win, which campaigns to elect more
culture secretary, Lucy Powell, said a spring lunch party fundraiser by the ticularly sensitive or high-profile Conservative women. “This was not
the auction was a clear breach of Foreign Office minister James Clev- role in a political party. You should a Conservative party event and Ben
erly, according to the Mail on Sunday. abstain from all controversial polit- Elliot had no involvement in it.”
ical activity.
In the letter, which was copied The Institute for Government’s
“You must not use, or attempt to Alex Thomas said there remained
use, the opportunity of public service serious questions for the V&A about
whether rules were followed.



Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

National 13

Kay Mellor, writer Rapist guilty of
of hit TV shows Fat killing woman
Friends and Band of found in lake
Gold, dies aged 71 35 years ago

Matthew Weaver

Alexi Duggins included Geraldine James, Cathy ▲ Kay Mellor in A man has been found guilty of the
Tyson and Samantha Morton, had 2015. She began murder of Shani Warren, whose
Kay Mellor, who wrote TV series its first two series turned into nov- her TV career body was found bound and gagged
including Band of Gold and Fat els, both of which Mellor co-wrote in the 1980s, in Taplow Lake, Buckinghamshire,
Friends, has died at the age of 71. In with the author John Burke. becoming one 35 years ago.
a career spanning more than 30 years, of the earliest
she penned numerous hit shows. Mellor branched out into children’s female writers A jury at Reading crown court
TV, creating the Bafta-winning drama on Coronation found Donald Robertson, now 66,
A spokesperson for her TV produc- Children’s Ward. The show, set in the Street guilty of the imprisonment, indecent
tion company, Rollem Productions, children’s ward of the fictitious South assault and murder of the 26-year-
said: “It is with profound sadness that Park hospital (known as Sparky’s) was Cathy Tyson, old, after the discovery of new DNA
we announce the untimely and sud- co-written with Paul Abbott and gave Geraldine James evidence. He was also found guilty of
den passing of our beloved friend, an early career break to Russell T and Barbara the kidnap and rape in July 1981 of a
mentor and colleague Kay Mellor on Davies, who wrote and produced a Dickson in ITV's 16-year-old girl who cannot be named
Sunday 15 May 2022. number of episodes. Band of Gold, for legal reasons. She was reported as
a Bradford-set having been attacked less than four
“We have lost a phenomenal talent “I adored her. She taught me so drama about miles away from where Warren’s
and a true luminary. We ask that you much. And she was hilarious!” said sex workers body was found in April 1987.
please respect the privacy of the fam- Davies in an Instagram post. “She
ily and friends at this time.” mentored so many. She had an Janet Dibley, Robertson, a serial attacker, was
unshakeable belief in story, story, Lynda Baron, charged last year after a police cold
Mellor began a career in TV writ- story, I think of her always when Lisa Riley and case team found the DNA evidence.
ing in the 1980s, moving there from I’m writing … What a talent. What James Corden in The court heard he had convictions
fringe theatre. She spent some time a power. What a joy. Christ, she was Fat Friends for raping two girls aged 14 and 17 in
on Coronation Street, being one of the funny. I love you Kay.” separate incidents in 1981 and 1987.
earliest female writers on the show. PHOTOGRAPHS: He is currently in prison after being
Fat Friends – Mellor’s Bafta-nom- MIKE LAWN; ITV/REX/ sentenced in 2010 for the second
“It was a very male-dominated inated ITV drama about members of SHUTTERSTOCK offence. He also has a conviction for
environment; powerful, wealthy a slimming club in Leeds – launched burglary with intent to commit rape,
men. The only other woman in the in 2000. It gave first breaks to James and the kidnap of a woman in 1990.
room would be a secretary,” she Corden and Ruth Jones, and became
told the Guardian last year. “I would a massive hit with viewers, pulling Prosecutors said the cornerstone
forever be saying: ‘But she would in audiences of up to 10 million for of the case was DNA evidence that
have her kids to see to.’ I could see its final series. After its cancellation emerged decades after the attack
the blank looks.” Mellor turned it into a musical, which on Warren and the rape of the
toured the UK and gave a stage debut 16-year-old. DNA traces found on
By the 90s she was working on the to Freddie Flintoff. the underwear of both victims and a
ITV drama Band of Gold, which won gag used on Warren were a match for
plaudits for the human way it told The many shows Mellor went on the defendant. Robertson was con-
the stories of sex workers. The Brad- to create included the ITV drama victed by unanimous verdict after
ford-set programme, whose stars Girlfriends, which starred Zoë Wan- a two-week trial. He did not attend
amaker and Miranda Richardson, and trial or give evidence and will be sen-
'I adored her. She the witty BBC drama The Syndicate. tenced on Thursday.
taught me so much. The latter followed various groups
And she was hilarious of lottery winners, and was praised The judge, Mr Justice Wall, told
... What a talent' by the Guardian as “a candlelit bath jurors he needed to consider whether
of a series”. “to recommend he [Robertson] is
Russell T Davies in never released” from prison and
an Instagram post Bafta paid homage to the “hugely thanked them for deliberating on
influential” writer, who received such a “difficult and traumatic” case.
the academy’s Dennis Potter award Sentencing will take place tomorrow.
in 1997 for Outstanding Writing for
Television. The original investigation con-
cluded Warren had killed herself,
Journal Obituary Page 6 although she was bound and gagged.

Appreciation S criptwriter and director been a breeze, full of fluff and kids lives of working-class women from Thames Valley police’s major
Zoe Williams Kay Mellor brought the rolling in unexpected dosh. In fact, a bag of cliches. Steven Spielberg crime review team’s principal inves-
same urgency, vividness it was a searching examination of once congratulated her on a season tigator, Peter Beirne, said: “I’m sorry
She changed and deceptively light life on zero hours. of The Syndicate, its sense of that it took so long to bring Robertson
the way TV social critique to every community and place, and she before the court.”
was written – project. You could never She covered a huge amount of replied: “I think that even when
its ambition guess the tone from her subject the human condition, and changed I write dark stuff it’s got a hidden ▲ Shani Warren, 26, was murdered
matter. For instance, her children’s the way TV was written – its scope, warmth to it and maybe that is the and dumped in a lake 35 years ago
TV drama Children’s Ward – co- depth and ambition. Yorkshireness. That northern side
created with Paul Abbott in 1989 of people.”
and set in a hospital in Bolton – Born in Leeds, Mellor had
sounds like a classic tearjerker, a her first daughter, the producer Mellor never moved from Leeds,
triumph-over-adversity tale. It was Yvonne Francas, at 17, and her and she never forgot, she said last
anything but: caustic and edgy, second, the actor Gaynor Faye, year, “what it’s like to not have
constantly causing friction with three years later. This was not a enough money to get to the end
Granada executives for including teenage-pregnancy disaster story: of the week. I’ve experienced that
such adult themes (sex offenders, the marriage she entered into at 17, first hand, so it’s easy for me to
HIV) in a young adult drama. to Anthony Mellor, lasted. write that.”
The BBC lottery drama The
Syndicate, which would be the But her accelerated Without that perspective, drama
last thing she wrote, should have responsibilities left her with little can feel rather thin. Needless to
patience for writers’ rooms full say, that’s not a problem from
of powerful, wealthy, completely which Mellor ever suffered.
feckless men trying to conjure the

• The Guardian Wednesday 18 May 2022

14 News
War in Ukraine

Protesters
at the Chinese
embassy in
Kyiv, where
they called
on China and
Turkey to help
in the Azovstal
evacuation

PHOTOGRAPH:
CHRISTOPHER
FURLONG/GETTY

The bombed
Azovstal plant
in Mariupol, a
city where the
death toll could
exceed 20,000

PHOTOGRAPH:
ALEXANDER
ERMOCHENKO/
REUTERS

Fate of Azovstal soldiers
unclear as Russian MPs
say they are ‘terrorists’

Continued from page 1 Maliar. The deputy prime minis- that they stand trial.” Volodin did not End of the of defeat after 82 days of fighting in
ter, Iryna Vereshchuk, also said the directly address the surrender of the the besieged port city.
surrender, while the Ukrainian army fighters would be exchanged. “God troops at Azovstal in his statement long siege
said the soldiers defending the steel willing, everything will be fine,” she but the context was clear. “The Mariupol garrison has
plant had “performed their combat wrote. Zelenskiy was more cautious. Brutality at fulfilled its combat mission,”
task” and that the main goal was now “The work of bringing the boys home Russia’s ministry of justice yes- the general staff of Ukraine’s
to save their lives. continues, and this work needs del- terda appealed to the supreme court steel plant armed forces said in a statement.
icacy – and time,” he said. to declare the Azov regiment a terror- “Defenders of Mariupol are the
“Ukraine needs Ukrainian heroes ist organisation, suggesting another gripped heroes of our time.”
alive,” said the president, Volodymyr Details of the agreement that led hurdle to a potential exchange.
Zelenskiy, in a video address. to the evacuation remain unclear, the world In a long-denied victory for the
and a flurry of hardline statements Yesterday evening, Russia said it Kremlin, a battle that has gripped
For weeks, hundreds of troops from Russian officials suggested an would interrogate the captured fight- Peter Beaumont the world’s attention appeared
have been holed up in a warren of exchange could still be some way off. ers and could seek to charge them finally over, leaving a city in ruins
tunnels beneath the steelworks as with crimes against civilians in the C ut off from the world and perhaps thousands of civilians
Russian forces took control of the city Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson, Donbas region of east Ukraine. and low on food and dead. The siege of Mariupol
after turning much of it into a waste- Dmitry Peskov, promised the fighters ammunition, many came to define one of the most
land. Many of those at Azovstal had who surrendered would be treated Azov has been a key part of the Rus- of the hundreds of brutal episodes in Russia’s war of
serious injuries, with limited medical “in accordance with international sian propaganda narrative about the defenders of the aggression against Ukraine.
care and dwindling supplies. standards”, but this was immediately war in Ukraine, which was originally Azovstal steel plant
undermined by statements from two launched with the supposed goal of in Mauripol were wounded, some Mariupol was one of the first big
In the last few weeks, civilians who Russian officials. “denazification”. It was formed in missing limbs. Their capitulation cities to be encircled and viewed as
had also taken cover in the plant were 2014 as a volunteer militia to fight had been inevitable for weeks. one of the Kremlin’s key objectives
rescued after a deal was brokered by Leonid Slutsky, a Russian MP Russia-backed forces in east Ukraine both for its economic importance
the International Committee of the who took part in negotiations with and many of its original members had That moment came late on and as a stepping stone in building a
Red Cross to allow them to leave for Ukraine earlier in the war, suggested far-right extremist views. Since then, Monday as more than 260 – land bridge from Russia to Russian-
Ukrainian-controlled territory. Russia should lift its moratorium on the unit has been integrated into the bearded, filthy, emaciated, and occupied Crimea.
the death penalty for fighters from Ukrainian national guard and its com- including 51 severely injured
Ukraine had been pushing for a the Azov regiment, one of the main manders say it has moved away from – laid down their arms and were The capture of the port city
deal that would also allow the fight- forces defending the steelworks, call- its far-right origins. evacuated amid a wider concession loomed large in the Kremlin’s
ers to retreat to Ukrainian-controlled ing them “animals in human form”. imagination for propaganda
areas, or for their evacuation to a neu- On Twitter, the Zelenskiy adviser purposes too – as the home base
tral country. But when that was not “Nazi criminals should not be Mykhailo Podolyak compared the of the Azov brigade, which at its
forthcoming, Ukrainian officials exchanged,” said Vyacheslav Volodin, Azovstal defenders to the Spartans 2014 inception, when the war in
announced in the early hours of yes- one of Russia’s most powerful offi- who held out against a much larger Donbas began, included far-right
terday that the defence of the plant cials and the chair of the state Duma, attacking force in the battle of Ther- volunteers, some with neo-Nazi
was in effect over. “This was the only during a speech yesterday. “Our coun- mopylae in the fifth century BC. The affiliations. (In recent years the
option,” said the deputy defence min- try treats those who surrendered or defence of Mariupol “completely brigade has been fully integrated
ister, Hanna Maliar, yesterday. were captured humanely. But with changed the course of the war” and into the Ukrainian military.)
regards to Nazis, our position should “ruined Russia’s plans to capture the
Russia’s defence ministry said 265 be unchanged: these are war crimi- east of Ukraine”, he said. It was the sheer level of violence
Ukrainian fighters surrendered at the nals and we must do everything so inflicted on the city and upon
plant, including 51 seriously injured Sandra Krotevych, the sister its civilian population day after
soldiers who would be transferred to ‘Nazis should not be of Azov’s chief of staff, Bohdan day, however, that kept Mariupol
hospitals in Novoazovsk in Russian- exchanged … they are Krotevych, said she had been in con- in the headlines. The few who
controlled territory in east Ukraine. war criminals and tact with her brother at 5am yesterday have been able to enter the city,
It was not clear how many Ukrainian they must stand trial’ when he was at Azovstal, but she had including the International
troops remained in the plant. not heard from him since then.
Vyacheslav Volodin
Footage shared by pro-Russian Russian state Duma She said the fighters were hoping
social media accounts showed groups to be able to bury their dead and evac-
of soldiers carrying out the wounded uate their injured. “To put it mildly,
on stretchers amid the devastation I’m a bit surprised,” she said. “I am
outside the plant. not happy about it and I would have
liked to hear security guarantees
“An exchange procedure will take before this happened.”
place for their return home,” said

Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

15

▲ Ukrainian
troops take the
injured out of
the steelworks
yesterday

PHOTOGRAPH:
RUSSIAN DEFENCE
MINISTRY/ANADOLU
AGENCY/GETTY

Surrendering
Ukraine forces
leave yesterday
by bus, escorted
by Russian
militia

PHOTOGRAPH:
ALEXANDER
ERMOCHENKO/
REUTERS

Committee for the Red Cross, have The battle for Mariupol 16 March the theatre was bombed Putin, then ordered his forces
described conditions in the city as as hundreds of civilians sheltered not to storm the last remaining
“apocalyptic”. Those civilians who Late February Ukraine 2014-22 inside it. An investigation by Ukrainian stronghold but instead
managed to escape in the weeks of frontline Associated Press suggested that to block it “so that not even a fly
the encirclement often had to run Dnipro 28 February about 600 people could have died comes through”.
the gauntlet of Russian shell fire, Dnieper River Mariupol residents Russian-controlled in that attack alone. Before the order to surrender, that
even when humanitarian corridors said city was territory, encirclement was total. Civilians
were supposed to have been Zaporizhzhia surrounded by 26 February The violence aimed at the who were finally evacuated from
negotiated and set up. Russian Russian forces and Donetsk port city has been a reflection on the steel plant in May spoke of the
advances under attack how long it has held out, with its awful conditions.. “No one came
Health facilities, including the Russia defenders dug into well-protected out of there unchanged,” said
city’s maternity hospitals, have positions, including within the Oksana, an Azovstal employee.
been hit in lethal attacks. In March, Melitopol Berdyansk Kyiv labyrinth of the sprawling Azovstal “They were one person when they
in one of the most grisly incidents, Russian-controlled Mariupol steelworks. went in, and another person when
the Donetsk regional drama theatre territory, Sea of Azov they came out.”
in the city, where large numbers 26 February 50 km As the Russians advanced ever
of civilians were sheltering was 50 miles further into the city the defending There are questions still
bombed and hundreds were killed. Crimea Russian advances forces issued statements reflecting unresolved, not least how many
Annexed by their perilous position. Last Ukrainian civilians died inside
In the earliest weeks of the Russia in 2014 week more than 1,000 soldiers of Mariupol, an issue unlikely to
war Mariupol was not entirely Ukraine’s 36th marine brigade, be resolved while it is under full
cut off from the rest of Ukraine. Russian-controlled territory including scores of officers and Russian control. Ukrainian officials
Reinforcements from cities as Azovstal steel plant several Britons fighting in the have suggested that the death toll
distant as Lviv were able to bolster city, surrendered. A Ukrainian could well exceed 20,000.
the frontlines. But as the war Mariupol Mariupol commander in Mariupol sent a
ground on even those few entry message saying “they will soon kill Boichenko has suggested that
points were being shut off. Port Drama theatre 15 April 5 km us” as he sheltered from Russia’s Russia has been hiding evidence
Sea of Azov Russian forces continued to bombardment of the steel plant of the civilian deaths by shelling
With Russian forces – backed grind down Ukrainian 5 miles where his troops were making a a mass grave. “The invaders are
by fighters of the notorious 24 March defenders, who said situation last stand. Among them was Serhiy concealing evidence of their
Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov Russian forces entered city was ‘deteriorating’ 16 May Volynskyi, of the 36th marine crimes,” the mayor said.
– demanding the surrender of centre and local Ukrainian Evacuation of Ukrainian brigade, who sent a message from
the city, on 4 March the mayor authorities left soldiers from steelworks inside the plant as Moscow stepped For those inside the Azovstal
of Mariupol, Vadym Boichenko, marked unofficial end of up its assault calling on the last plant the concession of defeat was
warned gravely of the dangers the battle for city defenders to give up or die. coloured with fatalism.
trapped civilians faced.
Source: Rochan Consulting, The Institute for the Study of War with AEI’s Critical Threats Project. In a video that was widely The commander of the Azov
“We are simply being destroyed,” *Areas where ISW assesses Russian forces have operated or launched attacks but do not control posted, Volynskyi appealed for help regiment inside the steelworks,
he said in a video appeal, describing from the world to allow them to Denys Prokopenko, said in a
indiscriminate shelling of hospitals leave. “We are only defending one recorded video message released
and residential areas. “They want objective: the Azovstal plant where, on Monday that the regiment’s
to wipe Mariupol and Mariupol in addition to military personnel, mission was finally over, with
residents off the face of the earth.” there are also civilians who have as many lives saved as possible.
fallen victim to this war,” he said. “Absolutely safe plans and
By 12 March Russian forces had operations don’t exist during war,”
captured the eastern suburbs of The Russian president, Vladimir he concluded grimly.
the city, tightening their grip. On

• The Guardian Wednesday 18 May 2022

16 News ▼ Mourners at a church in Luga
War in Ukraine at the funeral of Russian soldier,
Nikita Avrov, 20, killed in Ukraine

PHOTOGRAPH: AFP/GETTY IMAGES

‘It’s pistols against tanks’ Losses that another popular blogger wrote
in Ukraine test Russians’ faith that it was “idiocy or sabotage to
make such a mistake three months
Andrew Roth and Pjotr Sauer soldiers and discouraging people over the past week, even some pro- the pseudonym used by a Russian into the war”.
who had supported the invasion. Russian cheerleaders appeared to blogger and former soldier who
T he satellite and drone “I look at my government totally be losing faith in the wisdom of the has more than 300,000 subscribers And Igor Girkin, a Russian proxy
imagery from above different since the war started,” country’s military leadership. on Telegram. He has generally field commander during the 2014
Bilohorivka tells said Tatyana Efremenko, 39, supported the war. war who has been critical of the
a tale of folly and whose son Nikita Efremenko was “Until we know the name of government during this conflict,
destruction. Dozens of a conscript on the Moskva missile the ‘military genius’ who put a Rob Lee, a senior fellow in the appeared to feel vindicated.
Russian tanks, infantry cruiser when it was sunk in a battalion tactical group by the river Eurasia programme of the Foreign
fighting vehicles and trucks lie Ukrainian missile strike a month and he answers for it publicly, then Policy Research Institute thinktank “I have already said several
destroyed, some sinking into the ago. She is still searching for her there will never be reforms in the who has been documenting some times what needs to be done in the
waters of the Donets River by a son. “There are some very harsh army,” wrote Vladlen Tatarzky, of the backlash to the war, noted current situation,” he said, “when
broken pontoon bridge, pointing to things I would like to say about it has become clear that our forces
the latest disaster in Russia’s three- our leadership, but it may be best Ukrainians are unable to deliver even a limited
month war in Ukraine. if I don’t because they would put inspecting defeat to the enemy in ground com-
me in prison for it.” the wreckage bat and when we must prepare for a
The toll of Russia’s attempts to of a Russian drawn-out, difficult, full-scale war.”
cross the river, part of its costly In Russian-controlled eastern helicopter in
offensive in the east, are staggering: Ukraine, wives of fighters have Kharkiv region That criticism has even reached
more than 485 killed and as many complained on camera that their state TV. In a rare condemnation
as 80 vehicles destroyed, according husbands were left behind as PHOTOGRAPH: of Kremlin policy on a political
to one estimate, although no Russian forces retreated across the BERNAT ARMANGUE/AP talkshow, the defence columnist
numbers have been confirmed. border near Kharkiv. Mikhail Khodaryonok suggested
that the government was in
As Russia continues to hide Kyiv has said it has the remains denial about the war and the
the scale of its losses in Ukraine, of thousands of Russian soldiers chance for victory against highly
more information has leaked out, but Moscow will not accept them motivated Ukrainian forces
angering the families of Russian because that would force it to admit armed by the west.
the high death toll. As evidence of
the Bilohorivka rout became clear “The main deficiency of our
military-political position is that,
in a way, we are in full geopolitical
isolation and that, however much
we would hate to admit this,
virtually the entire world is against
us,” he said. “And it’s that situation
we need to escape.”

But Russia has continued to
cover up or minimise its losses
during a disastrous campaign
in Ukraine. A month after the

Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

17

sinking of the Moskva, the Russian Putin’s role idea of a political leader longer Refugees Breakdown with
government has only confirmed the trusting his generals – most hosts leaves some destitute
death of one crew member and said Is president notably the downfall of Adolf
27 more were missing. Hitler, who in the latter stages Miranda Bryant Marta Mulyak, who has hosted
dictating the of the second world war, as several Ukrainian families since the
But the families of crew mem- described by biographer Ian Growing numbers of refugees are start of the war, said: “A lot of people
bers say the death toll could be as war strategy? Kershaw, refused to heed his being made homeless and in many say, ‘Of course I can give a room to a
high as 200, and many have not generals’ calls for tactical cases destitute after relationship Ukrainian.’ But then bills, cost of food
received any confirmation about Dan Sabbagh retreats in the east. He insisted breakdowns with their Homes for – people maybe don’t think about that
what happened to their husbands, instead upon overoptimistic Ukraine hosts, community organi- until [the refugees] have come.”
brothers, and sons. IDefence and security editor counteroffensives. sations have said.
t is Vladimir Putin’s war – or Many are still experiencing the
“No one is telling me anything,” least that’s how the west There is no shortage of other Some predict the system could trauma of living in a war zone. Mulyak
said Efremenko, whose son dis- characterises it. Not only examples. In 1965, in the early crash entirely after reports of Ukrain- has seen children fall to the floor after
appeared on the ship. “They asked was the decision to invade stages of the Vietnam war, US ian refugees being asked to leave the mistaking a loud noise for a bomb.
me to sign a document which says Ukraine made by the Russian president Lyndon B Johnson homes of their sponsors with only “The Homes for Ukraine scheme has
I accept that my son died and then president, but western and his administration began a day’s notice and being left with a lot of problems and eventually will
they want to compensate me for military officials now say Putin Operation Rolling Thunder, a no option but to be referred to local lead to a total crash,” she said.
his death. They have sent the same is engaged in battlefield decision bombing campaign aimed at authorities as homeless or to try to
document to all the parents of all making “at the level of a colonel or North Vietnam, which defined the find rented accommodation. A spokesperson for the Depart-
the other missing conscripts, too.” brigadier” as the Donbas offensive targets that could be attacked to ment for Levelling up, Housing and
in eastern Ukraine unfolds. avoid offending China or Soviet Community leaders said such Communities said: “We do not recog-
Efremenko said she was in a Russia. The confused strategy was incidents were happening among nise these claims. More than 46,100
Telegram chat with more than 80 In part, the observation is not an attempt to break the resolve of well-meaning hosts who might have people have arrived through both
family members of those who were very surprising. Any idea that the Hanoi by bombing lesser targets, failed to anticipate the enormity of Ukraine schemes and the vast major-
missing. Many have been told not Russian president – as commander and a step in an escalating war the commitment until the refugees ity of these are settling in well.
to speak to the press or go public. in chief – would not be involved in that the US would ultimately lose. had arrived in their homes.
the battle plans, particularly once “There are stringent safeguard-
“They are trying to buy my the war started going badly, would In the run-up to the last Iraq Other factors cited included costs, ing measures in place for the Homes
silence, but it won’t happen,” she be impossible to believe. Autocratic war, Saddam Hussein decided that personality and cultural clashes, for Ukraine scheme and according
said. “I will look for my son until regimes tend not to favour military the country’s air force should play hosts not setting house rules and to council data reports very few of
the end. I promised the authorities decentralisation. no part in the war, with its planes communication problems. these sponsorships are breaking
that I wouldn’t talk publicly about “in palm groves or buried … in the down. Where they do, councils are
my son, but already a month has But it also comes at a point of sand”, according to an account in Iryna Terlecky of the Association able to provide support or find a more
passed and people are forgetting embarrassing military failure. Foreign Affairs. The belief was the of Ukrainians in Great Britain said: suitable sponsor.”
about Moskva. An attempt to encircle Ukrainian Iraqi air force would be no match “Our community is seeing these cases
forces last week resulted in nearly for the western invaders – and that frequently and our perception is that ▲ Ukrainians wait to board buses
“People are moving on, but we 500 killed and the loss of more it was best saved for a post-war they’re increasing. We are finding that will take them across the border
still have so many unanswered than 70 armoured vehicles in a future under his leadership that that sponsorship relationships are
questions. Why the hell were disastrous attempt to cross the never transpired. breaking down in spite of the very
conscripts there? Why were they Siverskyi Donets river, which took clear desire of people to help.”
fighting? No one has been able to place, western sources said, not The relationship between
tell me this.” under the cover of darkness but in political leadership and military The Local Government Association
the broad light of day. command has always been said there had been a “concerning
This week the Ukrainian complex and at times fraught. increase” in Ukrainian arrivals pre-
government also released new So if the western claim is to Freedman, also the author senting as homeless. Government
data claiming that Russia’s 1st be believed, Putin would have of Command, a soon-to-be sources said they were working on
Guards Tank Army lost a staggering approved the battle plan. Decision published book on the subject, a “rematching” service.
131 tanks in the first three weeks making at the “level of a colonel says military decisions during war
of the war, one of the bloodiest or brigadier” implies a brigade time are “intensely political” and Nato Sweden their bids to join the US-led mutual
periods of combat for the Russian level command of two or more that it is up to political leaders and Finland to defence alliance and European secu-
army. The data on personnel and battalions and the movement of to “set objectives, push senior submit bids rity more broadly.
vehicle losses for the unit “could 1,500 or more troops: precisely the commanders, ask questions”. ‘hand in hand’
be genuine”, said Michael Kofman, kind of force that tried and failed to Finland, which shares an 80-mile
a research programme director ford the strategic river. The goal, Freedman says, is Jon Henley border with Russia, has remained
in Russia studies at the CNA to ensure there is “a dialogue Europe correspondent neutral or non-aligned since the
thinktank. Prof Sir Lawrence Freedman between politicians and the end of the second world war, while
from King’s College London said military” and that leaders are not Sweden and Finland will formally Sweden has stayed out of military alli-
Russia last released casualty he judged the statement about overruling legitimate objections or submit simultaneous requests to join ances for more than two centuries.
data in late March, stating that 1,351 Putin’s level of involvement to be trying to micromanage battle plans Nato today, the Swedish prime minis- Both had long seen Nato member-
Russian soldiers had been killed plausible: “Putin has chased the when they should be focusing on ter, Magdalena Andersson, has said, ship as an unnecessary provocation
and 3,825 wounded in the war’s military operation, first by giving wider political strategies. in a seismic shift in Europe’s security of Russia.
first month. The government very little notice he would launch architecture after Russia’s invasion
has not released any more infor- an attack and then pushing hard In the past few days some of Ukraine. Andersson said the simultane-
mation on casualties in the last for quick wins. That’s particularly Russian military bloggers and ous applications reflected the brutal
month and a half, except to say that been the problem with the second experts have begun to question “Finland and Sweden have agreed impact of “Russia’s illegal war” on
they were “significant”. stage of the war, in the Donbas.” the Russian strategy. One popular to go through this entire process hand Ukraine and the Nordic neighbours’
blogger, who uses the pseudonym in hand, and we will tomorrow file common history, traditions, values
Western estimates have been 10 Yet claims about Putin go Vladlen Tatarsky on his Telegram the application together,” Andersson and culture. “In recent months, it has
or even 20 times as high, with some further. They bring to mind the channel, wrote: “Until we know told a joint news conference with the also become clear that Sweden’s and
suggesting that Russia has lost the name of the ‘military genius’ Finnish president, Sauli Niinistö, in Finland’s security are closely linked,”
more than 30,000 soldiers in total. who put a battalion tactical group Stockholm. she said.
by the river and he doesn’t answer
Kofman wrote: “Numbers get for it publicly, then there will “Membership of Nato strengthens The announcements came after
thrown about with broad ranges, never be reforms in the army.” It security in Sweden but also in the Bal- the Finnish parliament yesterday
and it is hard to say what to make of turns out the writer might have tic Sea region,” Andersson said. “The overwhelmingly backed the govern-
these estimates, or guesstimates.” been criticising Putin himself. fact that we are applying together ment’s proposal to join the alliance,
with Finland means we can contrib- and a day after Sweden’s govern-
As Ukrainian forces launch a Vladimir ute to security in northern Europe.” ment confirmed its intention to do
counterattack that has reached Putin attends likewise. Finnish MPs voted by 188
the Russian border near Kharkiv, the Victory The announcement came as votes to eight in favour of joining.
Russian soldiers are also being Day parade in the White House said Niinistö and
accused of abandoning their allies Moscow’s Red Andersson would meet the US presi- However, their applications must
from the Donbas region of Ukraine. Square on 9 dent, Joe Biden, tomorrow to discuss be approved by all the alliance’s 30
May, where he members and Turkey seems set to
Video reportedly shot in Luhansk used his speech throw a spanner in the works.
showed women surrounding a to justify his
local official and pleading for him invasion of Ankara has said it will not support
to help their family members. Ukraine the bids, citing Sweden and Finland’s
“They aren’t being allowed on to history of hosting members of Kurd-
Russian territory,” said one woman. ish militant groups and decisions in
“They didn’t give in. They were 2019 to impose arms embargos over
completely destroyed.” Turkey’s military operations in Syria.

The descriptions matched some
images of mobilised conscripts
from the Russian-controlled
territories of Donetsk and Luhansk
pictured with light body armour
and outdated rifles. “They’re facing
tanks and all they had were pistols,”
the woman said.



Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

National ▼ From left: jury members 19
Jasmine Trinca, Rebecca Hall and
The bigger Noomi Rapace in Cannes yesterday But he presides over an eclectic
picture: nine-member panel that includes
Zelenskiy PHOTOGRAPH: SAMIR HUSSEIN/WIREIMAGE Indian actor Deepika Padukone, Ira-
the screen nian film-maker Asghar Farhadi and
star at “I’m sure that the dictator will British actor-director Rebecca Hall.
Cannes lose,” he continued. “We will win in
this war. Glory to Ukraine.” At the jury press conference, the
Xan Brooks members suggested the panel’s
This year’s film festival showcases diversity reflected the industry. “We
The 75th Cannes film festival opened ▲ Finishing touches are put to the steps outside the Palais des Festivals before new work from David Cronenberg all grew up in different countries,
yesterday against a backdrop of the opening of the 75th Cannes festival yesterday PHOTOGRAPH: GAO JING/XINHUA and Baz Luhrmann, together with a remote places,” said the Swedish
international crisis as jury president premiere of Top Gun: Maverick. In actor Noomi Rapace. “But I think
Vincent Lindon mounted an impas- a show of support for Ukraine, the that film is a kind of remote oxygen.
sioned case for the event’s relevance. organisers have banned official Rus- It shows us things that we wouldn’t
sian delegations while accepting normally know or understand.”
Acknowledging the rumbling individual artists, many of whom are
noises off from the war in Ukraine and at odds with Vladimir Putin’s regime. Contenders for the crowning
a persistent pandemic, the French Dissident Russian director Kirill Sere- Palme d’Or award range from the
actor said that, given the “turbulent brennikov, recently freed from house Paris banlieue to a circus in Poland,
times” in the world, the festival’s role arrest, has a film – Tchaikovsky’s Wife the streets of Cairo to the holy
was more vital than ever. – screening in the main competition. Iranian city of Mashhad. Elsewhere
the schedule makes room for Saim
“Do you think the world will The presence of Lindon, a 62-year- Sadiq’s Joyland, the first Pakistan-
change if we stop Cannes?” he said. old veteran of French cinema, made film to play in official selection.
“No. If it would, then I’m sure we’d ostensibly signals a business-as-
stop Cannes. But I think the opposite. usual message for an event that has The Norwegian director Joachim
At this festival we can be a mirror. faced criticism for its lack of female Trier argued that the scope and qual-
directors and stubborn resistance ity of the programme showed that the
“And I think that culture is the to programming films produced by industry – if not the world – remained
most crucial piece of proof or evi- streaming platforms. in a state of good health.
dence of what the world was like
when we were living in it. So it’s very “Cannes represents the most
important. We have to do it.” sophisticated approach to cine-
matic storytelling on a big screen,”
The surprise guest of honour at he said. “And cinema is going through
the opening ceremony last night a very vibrant time. So don’t believe
was Ukrainian president Volodymyr the hype. People say that it’s dying.
Zelenskiy, who addressed the audi- I don’t believe that for a second.”
ence by video link.
Lindon won the best actor award at
“We continue fighting,” Zelens- Cannes in 2015 and co-starred in Julia
kiy said. “We have no choice but to Ducournau’s Titane, which took the
continue fighting for our freedom.” Palme d’Or here last year.
The president spoke about Charlie
Chaplin in The Great Dictator, quoted He insisted that his will be a con-
Apocalypse Now and drew parallels sensual jury – open to debate and
between fictional war and dictators tolerant of dissenting views. “Firstly,
and the one Ukraine now faces. I detest any friction or tumult,” he
said. “But I also agree with [French
writer] Marcel Pagnol, who said
something like: ‘I don’t want our
opinions to be viewed as judgment.’

Lindon will now sequester himself
with his jury before the prize-giving
ceremony on 28  May. “The rules
are simple: keep the secrets. Don’t
speak to your husband, wife, boy-
friend, girlfriend … and it’s a privilege
to keep a secret in this fucking time
of social networks, when everyone
knows everything and we know it will
be cloudy between 11.23 and 11.30 in
Texas. So for the next 12 days we live
the secret. That’s what I’m looking
forward to. It’s why I love this job.”



Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

National 21

Music review My Chemical Romance Romance could not have timed of thousands, so these two intimate the years melt away. Against
Emo’s elder Eden Project, St Austell their comeback better, making a dates at the 6,500-capacity Eden a backdrop of an apocalyptic
statesmen ★★★★☆ new generation of fans as their Project allow them to ease into cityscape (and the Eden Project’s
march into original teenage audience ages it. Fans are rapturous at the mere red-lit biomes), MCR commit to
a new era Elle Hunt into stadium rock. The band split fact of a reunion, and any initial the world-building and sardonic
after 12 years in March 2013, but trepidation over how MCR might humour that have seen their music
Emo never dies: the fourth wave remained beloved by the MySpace sound in 2022 seems to come from age better than many.
of the angsty rock subgenre began generation; tickets to a one-off the stage: the band are somewhat
a decade ago and you could argue reunion show in December 2019 stiff through the sombre opener The frontman, Gerard Way,
that now, with all the fretful sold out in minutes. Now, after The Foundations of Decay, released seems surprised by the crowd’s
pop-punk in the charts, we’re several pandemic-related delays, days earlier. That choice seems youthfulness – but this will
on to a fifth. So My Chemical MCR’s world tour gets under way in too pre-emptive, given their have been the first gig for many
St Austell, Cornwall. The band have beloved back catalogue. But they pandemic-age teenagers.
nearly a year on the road ahead of launch into Helena – emo’s defining
them, playing to stadiums of tens video of millennials’ MTV – and At Stadium MK, Milton Keynes,
19, 21 and 22 May. Then touring

▲ Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded View (1991), which includes a garden shed,
is in Parker’s career-spanning show PHOTOGRAPH: AMER GHAZZAL/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK

Art review Works made
to delight and unsettle

Cornelia Parker from a gun or incinerated cocaine Stir up a Sweet Chilli and Mixed Vegetable
Tate Britain, London into something more than residue. stir fry from your local Co-op
★★★★☆ Sometimes the residue is literal
– handkerchiefs stained with the Co-op Free Range Egg Noodles 250g (£1.30), Co-op Sweet Chilli Stir Fry Sauce 150g (£1.00), Co-op Mixed Vegetable Bag 320g
Adrian Searle tarnish of various silver relics, from (£1.50), Co-op British Stir Fry Chicken 300g (£3.30). Participating stores only. Subject to availability. Serving suggestion.
Guy Fawkes’ lantern to Charles Restrictions to Home Delivery and Click & Collect apply. Check coop.co.uk/store-finder to see your local Co-op services.
F illed with set-piece Dickens’ teaspoon. These smudgy
sculptures and cloths are nothing much until you
installations, and with know how they came to be.
artworks so seemingly
accidental – soiled Parker’s own little wall labels are
handkerchiefs, piles of succinct, funny and illuminating.
rust – we would barely know what Her short texts are almost works
they were if Cornelia Parker had not in their own right, and one begins
told us, this survey of her 40-year to wonder whether we need the
career is full of delights and bomb objects themselves, but somehow
damage, delicacy and violence. we do. Here’s a doll of Dickens’
Oliver Twist, cut in half by the
It is also an art of collaboration guillotine that chopped off Marie
– not least in a giant embroidery of Antoinette’s head. This conflation
the Wikipedia entry on the Magna of two very different symbols (one
Carta, with sewing by, among fictional, one actual) has real edge.
others, Edward Snowden, Julian No wonder Oliver’s face has such a
Assange and the former Guardian look of surprise and frozen horror.
editor Alan Rusbridger.
Parker’s art is filled with shadows
There are photographs of and traces, thoughts and objects,
clouds above London’s Imperial often suspended in the gap
War Museum, shot with a camera between the idea and its arrival.
that once belonged to Auschwitz Where do ideas come from? Do you
commandant Rudolf Höss; there look for them or do they find you?
are Rorschach-blot drawings made
with ink from snake venom and its In many of her larger sculptural
antidote. The clouds (shot on infra- works there is more of a sense
red film) look creepy and lowering. of contrivance – such as a new
The blots reveal snakeskin textures sculpture, Island, a greenhouse
and intimate body parts. The whose panes are covered in small
associations are everything. vertical chalk marks like the ones
prisoners make to count the days.
Parker’s art is all a kind of
performance, teasing out poetry How rich and full of inexplicable
from the world about us. She’s meanings and associations the
a sort of alchemist, turning rust world is, her art says. There’s an
unsettling magic to it, and she
teaches us to be alert.

Tomorrow until 16 October

• The Guardian Wednesday 18 May 2022

22 Eyewitness

Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

▼ Byker Bridge, Newcastle the city’s East End. Born in Finland, 23
Kids with Collected Junk, 1971, by Konttinen studied photography in
Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen, from a new London, before moving to the north-
Tate book of her work illustrating east of England in the 1960s. She has
the impact of the redevelopment of been based in Newcastle ever since.

• The Guardian Wednesday 18 May 2022
24

Biden condemns spread of white Police have said they are investi-
supremacist lies on visit to Buffalo gating Gendron’s online postings,
which included a 180-page docu-
Edward Helmore Buffalo atrocities and marked an alarming Churchgoers fight off attempted massacre in California ment he was believed to have written
David Smith Washington convergence of racist extremism, gun outlining the “great replacement”
violence and the radicalising effects A gunman motivated by hatred two 9mm handguns – legally theory, which claims white people
Joe Biden has condemned those who of social media. against Taiwan chained shut the purchased years ago in Las Vegas are being intentionally overrun by
spread white supremacist lies “for doors of a California church and – and three bags, containing extra other races through immigration or
power, political gain and for profit” It also revealed the scale of the hid firebombs before shooting at a ammunition. He opened fire and in higher birth rates.
during a visit to Buffalo, New York, challenge facing Biden, who ran group of mostly elderly Taiwanese the ensuing chaos Dr John Cheng,
where 10 people were killed in a racist for president to restore “the soul of parishioners, killing a man who 52, tackled him, allowing other The theory has been given succour
attack last Saturday. America” after his predecessor Don- tackled him, authorities said. parishioners to subdue Chou. by some Republican members of Con-
ald Trump’s failure to denounce a gress as well as Tucker Carlson, the
The US president was close to tears white supremacist rally in Charlottes- David Chou, 68, of Las Vegas, Cheng died and five people were most watched prime-time host on
as he recalled the lives of the victims, ville, Virginia, and took office weeks a US citizen who authorities say wounded, the oldest 92. Chou was Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News network.
then became angry as he described after an assault on the US Capitol that grew up in Taiwan, drove to Orange expected to appear in state court
forces of hatred that have haunted included racially motivated groups. county on Saturday and the next yesterday. A federal hate crimes In emotional and pointed remarks
his administration. “In America, evil day attended a lunch held by Irvine investigation is also ongoing. in Buffalo, Biden did not name names
will not win, I promise you,” Biden Authorities say Payton Gendron, Taiwanese Presbyterian church in but made clear that such violence
said. “Hate will not prevail and 18, opened fire with a semi-auto- Laguna Woods. Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing- takes place in a wider political con-
white supremacy will not have the matic rifle on Saturday at the Tops wen, said she condemned “any text. “What happened here is simple
last word.” Friendly Market in a predominantly Chou chained the doors and form of violence” and extended and straightforward terrorism,” he
African-American neighbourhood of put super glue in the keyholes, her condolences to those killed and said. “Terrorism. Domestic terror-
The mass shooting shook a nation Buffalo. He struck 13 people with gun- according to authorities. He had injured. Guardian staff and agency ism. Violence inflicted in the service
that can sometimes seem numbed to fire, killing 10, and used a camera to of hate and a vicious thirst for power
livestream the rampage. that defines one group of people
being inherently inferior to any other
group. Hate.

“And through the media and poli-
tics the internet has radicalised angry,
alienated lost and isolated individu-
als into falsely believing that they
will be replaced – that’s the word,
replaced – by the other. By people

Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian • 25

Art for sandwiches The truth is out there
Traded painting Congress UFO briefing
reaches record price ends in frustration
Page 28 Page 29

Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, pay ‘It was everything to us’ Grocery
their respects to the 10 people killed was an oasis for the community
in Saturday’s racist mass shooting
Edward Helmore although shuttered, had also regular Tops clientele may not ▲ Tops Friendly in East Buffalo
PHOTOGRAPH: LEAH MILLIS/REUTERS set up a food distribution and want to return. provided healthy food for locals
T ops Friendly on counselling centre nearby, and
who don’t look like them and who Jefferson Avenue in was offering a bus service to “I don’t want to go back in there. to a 2018 report from the
are therefore, in the perverse ideol- East Buffalo was more another location. I knew most of the people who Partnership for the Public Good
ogy that they possess and are being than just a grocery worked there,” said Erma Ecford. that linked such “food deserts” to
fed, lesser beings. I and all of you store. It served as a Simmons said she was worried “Friday he [Gendron] was in the higher rates of disease.
reject the lie.” community centre, about the store remaining closed, store. He was right there by the
a place to hang out, a source of in part because of the stimulating water when I was getting my pop. If Terry King, chief executive of
In recent years America has wit- employment – and a spot for effect it had on other local he did it then he would have taken Saving Grace Ministries and board
nessed mass shootings driven by healthy sustenance unavailable at businesses. “They paved the way a lot more people out, because the chair of the Resource Council,
racist hatred in Charleston, El Paso, bodega stores in an area described for us to have things on Jefferson. store was crowded.” said that most Tops customers
Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Dallas, Biden as the oasis in a food desert. I loved everything about Tops. did not drive and “were isolated
noted. “White supremacy is a poison Some people can’t afford to go Police authorities have not from what we would normally
… running through our body politic In the three days since Tops way out to get food.” confirmed that Gendron was in the have for goods and services”.
and it’s been allowed to fester and became the carefully targeted site store a day before the shooting, but
grow right in front of our eyes. No of a mass shooting and was closed The site is currently an FBI Ecford’s account tallies with others “For two decades, before Tops
more. I mean, no,” he said. indefinitely, community groups, crime scene. Given the death and in the neighbourhood. Shonnell was built 19 years ago, the closest
local advocates, western New devastation allegedly caused by Harris Teague, a manager at Tops, grocery store was five or six
Earlier Biden and his wife, Jill, laid York’s emergency food network, the suspect Payton Gendron, some claimed she saw Gendron sitting miles away. Without the ability
a bouquet of flowers at a makeshift corporate donors, churches and on a bench outside the store for to drive they were dependent on
memorial of blossoms, candles and even Tops staff have scrambled to ▲ Sherry Schenck : ‘This guy literally several hours dressed in the same getting food from a local bodega
messages of condolence set up under fill the gap. drove 200 miles up here and went on camouflage outfit he allegedly or store at high prices – and not
a tree outside the Tops supermarket. a rampage killing black people’ wore during the shooting. the most healthy of food. So they
“It was everything to us. It struggled,” King said.
The couple and New York’s two was the heart of Jefferson,” said And late on Saturday, just
senators were greeted by Governor Jeanette Simmons, a former Tops hours after the violence, Grady “Tops represented something
Kathy Hochul, the Buffalo mayor, cashier who said she had left Tops Lewis reported a similar account. that was really important for
Byron Brown, and local police and fire on Saturday when she heard the “He looked out of place,” Lewis healthy living.”
officials. After visiting the supermar- first gunshots. Ever since, she was recalled. “He was a bit of strange
ket, the Bidens went behind closed finding it hard to cope. kid. He said he was coming to see Sherry Schenck, standing
doors at the Delavan Grider commu- the countryside. He talked about outside the Resource Center’s
nity centre and met the families of “It’s been difficult to sleep, string theory, critical race theory, food bank with a bag of
the victims. eat, shop – everything. He took shapeshifters, the beginning of groceries, said she, too, was “a
everything from us.” civilisation.” little shaken”.
Ruby Davis, an elderly lady stand-
ing behind police lines two blocks Simmons was standing in On Monday, the Buffalo police “We just ended the protests
from Tops, said: “He’s coming to line at an emergency food commissioner, Joseph Gramaglia, for Black Lives Matter, and now
show love because there’s so much distribution centre run by the confirmed that the suspect had we have start it all over again,”
hatred around.” Resource Council of WNY and visited the city in early March. she said. “This guy literally drove
Feedmore WNY on Ferry Street, 200 miles up here and went on a
But more than love and support, 10 minutes from Tops – which, Black residents in Buffalo are rampage, killing black people. I
residents said, they want action. six times more likely than white mean, who does that? And now
Cherell Toe, 50, commented: “If neighbours to live in an area our community has to suffer
laws don’t change it’s giving permis- without a grocery store, according because of him.”
sion for this to continue and it sends
the message that there’s no conse- Hungary Orbán to address arriving in Budapest for the first ever they see Hungary as a conservative
quences for your actions.” US right as bond over ‘great CPAC meeting in Europe. safe space,” Orbán said.
replacement’ theory grows
Derrick Johnson, the president “I think it is logical that he was sig- Alongside prominent Fidesz
of the National Association for the Flora Garamvolgyi supermarket in a predominantly nalling to US conservatives because figures will be an array of other Euro-
Advancement of Colored People, told Julian Borger black area of Buffalo, New York. of the upcoming CPAC,” said Zoltán pean hard-right leaders, including
the Associated Press: “We’re more Lakner, editor-in-chief of the Jelen the former head of the UK Independ-
concerned with preventing this from Hungary’s autocratic leader, Viktor Orbán argued this week that the news outlet. “He is trying to define ence party Nigel Farage; Herbert
happening in the future.” Orbán, will be the star speaker western world was “committing sui- himself as a global political actor.” Kickl, the head of the Austrian Free-
tomorrow at an extraordinary ses- cide” through immigration. dom party; and Santiago Abascal, the
A record 45,222 people died from sion of America’s Conservative One of the speakers at the event, president of Spain’s Vox party.
gun-related injuries in the US in 2020, Political Action Conference (CPAC), “Such is the programme of the Balázs Orbán, the prime minister’s
according to the Centers for Disease to be held in Hungary in an effort to great European population exchange, political director, said that “there The US contingent will include sev-
Control and Prevention. Biden has cement bonds between the radical the essence of which is to replace are political forces in every country eral Republican members of Congress
asked Congress to require new back- right on both sides of the Atlantic, the lack of Christian children with that see the world the same way” as and the Fox News talkshow host,
ground checks for gun buyers and to under the banner of “great replace- migrants.” Orbán said in a speech to Hungary does, but he said US con- Tucker Carlson.
ban military-style “assault” weap- ment” ideology. mark the start of a new term in office. servatives have showed exceptional
ons and large-capacity ammunition Echoing another popular theme on encouragement. “American con- Carlson has arguably done more
magazines. But the efforts have been In a speech on Monday, Orbán the American right, he argued that servatives are very supportive of us than anyone to popularise the “great
blocked by Republicans in Congress. made explicit reference to the ide- another form of cultural suicide was because they can see that we have replacement theory” in the US,
ology, which claims there is a liberal “gender madness”, a reference to the huge domestic support and because promoting it in 400 of his shows,
Republicans’ drift to the far right plot to dilute the populations of the spread of LGBTQ+ rights in the west. according to an analysis by the New
has also come under renewed scru- US and European countries through ▲ Viktor Orbán has condemned York Times. Last year Carlson broad-
tiny. Yesterday Chuck Schumer, the immigration. Increasingly wide- The prime minister’s choice of immigration and ‘gender madness’ cast a week’s episodes of his show
Democratic majority leader in the spread among US Republicans, vocabulary was not accidental, Hun- from Hungary, with a soft interview
Senate, sent a letter to Murdoch and the creed was cited by the killer garian political analysts said, but was with Orbán himself, portraying his
other senior Fox News executives who opened fire on Saturday in a rather designed to underline the com- government in a positive light.
urging them “to immediately cease mon ties between his Fidesz party, his
the reckless amplification of the so- self-described “illiberal” form of gov- “At this point, [American conserv-
called ‘great replacement’ theory on ernment, and the American visitors atives] are studying the Hungarian
your network’s broadcasts”. model and are looking at Hungary as
a place where conservative policies
‘In America, evil will can achieve their goals” said Boris
not win and white Kálnoky, head of Mathias Corvinus
supremacy will not Collegium – which was granted about
have the last word’ $1.7bn (£1.4bn) by Orbán last year.

Joe Biden
US president

• The Guardian Wednesday 18 May 2022

26 World

US rock band return to The band escaped through a side
Paris to give evidence door after Hughes had found his girl-
at Bataclan terror trial friend in the concert hall.

Angelique Chrisafis he had been “really excited” to play Arthur Dénouveaux, a rock fan PHOTOGRAPH: Bold demands Members of Indian
Paris in Paris. He said he recognised the who is now the president of the JAGADEESH NV/EPA health and social care unions take part
sound of gunfire instantly when three survivors’ group, Life for Paris, was
The frontman and guitarist for the gunmen with suicide vests burst in among the fans who managed to in a protest in Bengaluru over pay and
American rock band Eagles of Death mid-show and opened fire. “Being escape at the same time. He led the
Metal have told a Paris court how they from a desert community in Califor- band members running through the centralised electronic wage system.
watched from the stage in confusion nia, I know the sound of gun shots,” Paris streets, handing them €50 and
and horror as terrorists opened fire he said. putting them in a taxi telling them
on the crowd at their sold-out con- to head for the nearest police station,
cert at the Bataclan in 2015, leaving While other band members hesi- where they found other fans covered
90 people dead. tated and wondered what was going in blood.
on, Hughes said he “knew death was
Jesse Hughes, the band’s singer, upon us”. He said the band “ran for During the wait there, they learned
and Eden Galindo, a guitarist, both their lives”, describing how “nearly that Nick Alexander, who had been
said the attack had changed their 90 of my friends [the fans] were mur- working on the band’s merchandise
lives “forever”. They travelled to dered in front of us”. at the gig, had been killed.
Paris to give evidence to France’s
biggest-ever criminal trial over the ‘We ran for our Hughes said that six years on, he
attacks claimed by Islamic State on lives… nearly 90 still got nervous looking into crowds
13 November 2015, which killed 130 of my friends and had been anxious over giving evi-
people and injured more than 400 in were murdered’ dence, with emotions rising up that
synchronised suicide bombings and he thought he had got over.
shootings across the French capital, Jesse Hughes, singer
from the national stadium to bars and Eagles of Death Metal But he said: “Evil did not win...You
restaurants and the Bataclan rock gig. can’t kill rock and roll.”

Hughes, 49, said the gig should Galindo, 52, said there were so
have been the best of their tour and many people in front of the stage that
they couldn’t move and he recalled
the fans’ faces looking up at the band
and the stage in confusion as the ter-
rorists opened fire.

“We were thinking that it was
going to stop but it just kept com-
ing,” Galindo told the court.

He eventually left the band. “I’ll
never be the same after that night,”
he said, adding that he thinks of the
victims’ families every day.

We’re coming together to bring you more adventure than ever.
We don’t just share passion and expertise but also a duty to protect
the outdoors. Together we walk, run, camp and ski but we can also

learn, change and make a difference. We’re here to find you the
right kit and help you make it last, for adventure, for the planet.

Find your nearest store at cotswoldoutdoor.com

Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

World ▼ Soldiers launch a campaign to 27
North Korea improve drug delivery yesterday and
(below) inspect medical supplies health campaigns calling for mask-
‘It looks really bad’ wearing and social distancing.
Covid set to wreak PHOTOGRAPHS: EPN/NEWSCOM/AVALON
havoc in isolated But testing levels are far
nation, experts say ▲ Kim Jong-un visits a pharmacy in Pyongyang. The government portrays below what is needed to form an
the virus as an enemy that can be defeated PHOTOGRAPH: EPN/NEWSCOM/AVALON accurate picture of the outbreak
Justin McCurry and to quickly identify and
isolate patients. Some observers
NTokyo orth Korea stands speculated that authorities were
on the brink of deliberately under-reporting cases
a coronavirus to ease the pressure on Kim. North
catastrophe unless Korea has tested just 64,200 people
swift action is taken since the start of the pandemic,
according to the World Health
to provide vaccines Organization.

and drug treatments, experts have “We were talking about a
0.1% fatality rate for Omicron in
warned, as the number of people South Korea, but that’s going to
be significantly higher in North
reported to have fallen ill rose to Korea, possibly even 1%, although
it’s difficult to make accurate
almost 1.5 million. predictions at this point,” said Jung
Jae-hun, a professor of preventive
The isolated country reported medicine at Gachon University.

another big rise in new cases of A ruling party member in
North Hamgyong province said
what it continues to refer to as people were still going to work
and markets remained open,
“fever” yesterday, days after it reported Japan-based Asia
Press. “There are no bans on
admitted it had identified Covid-19 going outside,” the unidentified
official told the website, which
infections for the first time since receives information from citizen
journalists. “However, we’ve been
the start of the global pandemic. ordered to double mask. People
are going to factories and to their
It recorded 269,510 additional places of work as normal. The
authorities don’t want work to be
cases and six more deaths – disrupted. People get fever checks
when they go to and from work.”
bringing the total to 56 since late
The official said people were
last month. About 1.48 million more concerned about being
prevented from working. “People
people have become ill with the are worried about how to survive.”

virus since the first case was Some interpreted North Korea’s
admission it is battling the virus
reported last Thursday and at least after two years of denying it had
found any cases as a plea for help.
663,910 people were in quarantine, But it has already refused millions
of vaccine doses via the UN-backed
according to official figures. The Covax scheme, while South Korea
says it has yet to receive a response
true numbers are almost certainly to its offer this week of vaccines,
drugs and medical staff.
greater, given a lack of testing.
The Omicron variant has caused
A significant Covid-19 outbreak protection from vaccines, without significantly fewer deaths in
much – if any – immunity in the countries with high vaccination
could create a humanitarian crisis population and without access to rates, proper medical services and
most of the drugs that have been previous exposure to Covid-19.
in North Korea, where the economy used to treat Covid elsewhere.” But that is unlikely to be repeated
in North Korea, said Kim Sin-gon,
has been battered by the pandemic- There has been no response to a professor at Korea University
offers of outside help as yet. There College of Medicine in Seoul.
enforced closure of its border with is concern that the leader, Kim
Jong-un, may be willing to accept a “North Korea has many
its main trading partner, China, large but “manageable” number of vulnerable people who don’t have
cases and deaths to avoid opening strong immune systems,” he said.
natural disasters, and years of his country up to scrutiny. “Its official inoculation rate is zero
and it has no Covid-19 treatment
international sanctions. Since it reported its first pills.” Without urgent international
cases last week, North Korea’s help, he added, “North Korea may
The regime is not thought propaganda machine has portrayed end up with the pandemic’s worst
the virus as an enemy that can death and infection rates in the
to have vaccinated any of its be defeated through lockdowns, world for its population size.”
quarantine and greater vigilance.
population and does not have The state-run KCNA news agency Additional reporting Agencies
has reported the delivery of
access to antiviral drugs. Its unspecified drugs to pharmacies
by army medical units, and public
hospitals have few intensive

care resources and widespread

malnourishment has made the

population of 26 million more

susceptible to serious illness.

“It looks really bad,” said Owen

Miller, a lecturer in Korean studies

at Soas University of London.

“They are facing the rampant

spread of Omicron without

‘Home’ worker, Staff and agencies circumvent US and UN sanctions, “These IT workers take advantage payments in virtual currency. The
or a hacker for and bring in money for North Korea’s of existing demands for specific IT advice says that while much of the
Pyongyang? US officials have warned businesses nuclear weapons and ballistic missile skills, such as software and mobile surreptitious job-seeking is to earn
FBI issues IT against inadvertently hiring IT staff programmes. Companies who hired application development, to obtain foreign exchange or to access vir-
jobs warning from North Korea, saying that rogue and paid such workers may be expos- freelance employment contracts tual currency exchanges, some of
freelancers were taking advantage of ing themselves to legal consequences from clients around the world, the workers have helped Pyong-
remote work opportunities to hide for sanctions violations. including in North America, Europe, yang’s government-backed hacking
their true identities and earn money and east Asia.” operations.
for Pyongyang. “There are thousands of DPRK
[Democratic People’s Republic of Workers pretended to be from They may also “steal the customer
Advice issued by the state and Korea] IT workers both dispatched South Korea, Japan, or other Asian account information of US or interna-
treasury departments and the FBI overseas and located within the countries, the advice said. It laid out tional banks to verify their identities
said the effort was intended to DPRK, generating revenue that is a series of warning signs for employ- with freelance platforms, payment
remitted back to the North Korean ers, including a refusal to participate providers and companies employ-
government. in video calls and requests to receive ing” contract workers, it said.

• The Guardian Wednesday 18 May 2022

28 World

Clash of forces deters
rival Libyan PM after
move to take Tripoli

Patrick Wintour boost for Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, the Canadian art Before the auction at the weekend, ▲ Black Truck by Maud Lewis was
Diplomatic editor caretaker prime minister based in swapped for the highest price ever recorded for a exchanged for a toastie from Irene
Tripoli. Bashagha, who comes from sandwich sells work by Lewis was C$67,250. Demas (below, with husband Tony)
Fighting broke out in Tripoli yester- the north-west city of Misrata and is a for £218,000
day after one of the two rival Libyan former interior minister, surprisingly She lived in poverty for most of PHOTOGRAPH: JON DUNFORD/MILLER & MILLER
prime ministers entered the capital allied himself with Marshall Khal- Leyland Cecco her life and her output as a painter
to claim the role only to flee hours ifa Haftar, the military strongman Toronto declined as rheumatoid arthritis bid increment by C$10,000 after
later when he realised that he had in the east, just before the planned took hold of her body. She and her watching the film the night before
misjudged the scale of military December elections. Bashagha was A Canadian painting that was husband, Everett, sold paintings the auction.
opposition. appointed prime minister, in Feb- swapped 50 years ago for a grilled by the roadside to tourists visiting
ruary, by Libya’s parliament in the cheese sandwich has sold at auc- Nova Scotia in eastern Canada, but Irene Demas, who as a young chef
Fathi Bashagha said he had east, in Tobruk. tion for an “astounding” C$350,000 her distinct and cheery work did not in 1973 acquired the work in exchange
retreated to prevent further blood- (£218,000). receive international acclaim until for a grilled cheese sandwich, said she
shed. It was clear that he had found Dbeibah was made interim prime the decades after her death in 1970. was in “disbelief” at the sale. She and
the levels of militia support he had minister last year by an ad hoc UN Black Truck by the late folk art- her husband, Tony, had an arrange-
been promised were not forthcom- body but he was supposed to remain ist Maud Lewis sold for 10 times its Her struggles and success were ment with the artist John Kinnear
ing. He entered the city in secret in power only until the elections. assessed value, setting a new high documented in the 2016 biopic that in exchange for grilled cheese
overnight with the support of one After the elections were postponed mark for a painter whose popularity Maudie, which introduced the work sandwiches, they could choose from
powerful armed group, the eighth he refused to stand aside, and has has surged in recent years. of Lewis to a larger audience. The a selection of paintings by Kinnear
brigade, but it found itself isolated continued to use Libyan oil reve- auction house said the purchaser of and his friends.
and no other support had arrived nues to shore up his popular support. “In a time of great turmoil and Black Truck increased their initial
from outside the city. change the art world lived vicariously One morning, Kinnear brought
The UK diplomatic mission in Trip- through Maud Lewis, her story, and in several by Lewis, whose distinc-
In statements before Bashagha’s oli was one of many embassies to urge her art,” said Ethan Miller, the head tive style caught his eye and whose
retreat, his camp said they planned to calm. It said: “Events in Tripoli dem- of the Miller & Miller auction house struggles tugged at his sympathies.
take control of the government. The onstrate urgent need for a durable in Ontario. They included Black Truck, which
bulk of the clashes occurred at dawn. political solution that cannot and has hung in Demas’s house for five
must not be achieved by force.” decades.
There has been stalemate in Libya
with rival groups claiming to run the The abortive attempt on Tripoli In a series of letters, Lewis thanked
country. Parliamentary and pres- will add to calls for the international Kinnear for his generosity in supply-
idential elections planned for last community to take a stronger grip on ing her with paints and boards. The
December had to be shelved as the Libya’s reconciliation process. three letters, which were also up for
eligibility of various candidates was sale, fetched C$70,000, far above
disputed, and there was no consensus Germany has hosted two summits their C$5,000 estimate.
that the result would be honoured. to try to persuade each side to accept
presidential and parliamentary elec-
Bashagha’s retreat not only dam- tions, but the change in government
ages him personally – for instance, last autumn in Germany and the over-
his effort internationally to portray riding focus on Ukraine has let Libya
himself as a unifying figure – but is a slip down the diplomatic agenda.

▲ Fathi Bashagha, appointed prime Most current diplomatic efforts
minister by the Tobruk government regarding Libya have come from
Stephanie Williams, who is acting as
special envoy of the UN secretary gen-
eral, António Guterres, rather than
as a UN security council-appointed
envoy. She has been working to per-
suade both sides to agree to a draft
constitution before elections.

The absence of an agreed perma-
nent constitution setting out the
relationship between parliament and
president was one of the reasons cited
for delaying the election.

Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

World 29

‘A series of detonators’ How art ▼ The exhibition
fuelled protest in Latin America looks into how
marginalised
and abused
people have
used graphic
art to fight
back against
oppression

Sam Jones political graphic art as something ▲ Scott Bray of US navy intelligence
that “lives, mutates, and creates a
FMadrid orty-three kites bearing dialogue between its past and its US Congress
43 black-and-white future”. The exhibition also looks grills military
faces hang from the into how marginalised and abused after bumper
ceiling of the Reina people have used art to fight back. year for UFOs
Sofía, each one a mute
Sol Henaro, another of the Adam Gabbatt
appeal for answers, exhibition’s investigators, likes to New York
see it as “a series of detonators”
remembrance and justice. rather than something exhaustive. The US Congress held its first open
briefing on UFOs in more than 50
Close by, T-shirts and posters “There’s a poem by a years yesterday, but those seek-
Paraguayan poet, Susy Delgado, ing explanations for what are now
clamour for equality, a forest called Curuguaty–Ayotzinapa, called unidentified aerial phenomena
which is about two very tragic (UAPs) were disappointed as defence
of placards commemorates the contemporary moments,” she officials appeared to hold back infor-
said. “The last bit reads: ‘The mation for closed-door hearings.
detained, disappeared and dead same tragic story / repeated a
thousand times over / in time’s During a 90-minute briefing in
of Uruguay’s military dictatorship, deaf notebook’. We think this Washington, a highlight was the
exhibition is about being time’s release of two new videos showing
and an icon of the struggle for deaf notebook.” UAPs, although one was immediately
debunked by Scott Bray, the deputy
Peruvian independence undergoes ▲ A 1981 march in Amsterdam against Argentina’s military junta and, right, director of navy intelligence.
an earlier poster captures the country’s slide into chaos PHOTOGRAPHS: REINA SOFÍA
a queer, pop art makeover. The hearing, the first of its nature
since 1966, came after a bumper year.
The latest exhibition at the In 2021 the US intelligence commu-
nity released a landmark report
Madrid gallery explores how which found 144 reports of UAPs,
only one of which could be explained.
graphic art – whether on walls,
The report followed US navy pilots
posters, prints, flyers or fabric – has publicly discussing their encounters
with UAPs, with one retired lieuten-
been used to confront political ant claiming he saw objects in the sky
above the east coast “every day for at
repression and demand social least a couple of years”.

justice in Latin America and Yesterday Bray sought to defend
the government’s investigation. He
beyond over the past 50 years. showed an intelligence subcom-
mittee videos, with one, filmed in
Called Graphic Turn: Like the Ivy daylight, showing an object that
appeared to whiz past a military jet.
on a Wall, it hopscotches around Its fleeting appearance showed the
difficulty in gathering data, Bray said.
some of the key sociopolitical
Another clip, recorded at night
moments in recent regional history, from a military plane at some time in
2019, showed triangle shapes appear-
examining the responses they ing to hover in the sky. Bray followed
it up with a mundane explanation:
elicited on the streets and beyond. the objects were drones, which
looked triangular because of a quirk
The show is based on research in the way video was captured.

by the Red Conceptualismos del The debunking did little to counter
accusations, including one by André
Sur (Southern Conceptualisms Carson, the committee chair, that the
Pentagon has little interest in inves-
Network), which has spent years tigating the inexplicable. “One of
Congress’s concerns is that the execu-
examining how street art has been tive branch, the administration, both
parties, have been sweeping concerns
used as a tool of creative resistance. about UAPs under the rug by focusing
on events that can be explained,” said
While some of the exhibits fizz Carson, a Democratic congressman.

with rage at dictators, torturers The questioning followed con-
cerns that UAP research is still far
and foreign interventions – one from a top priority for the Pentagon.

poster titled Stop Yankee Attacks Bray acknowledged the intel-
ligence community had “had to
on Nicaragua shows an American sometimes be less forthcoming”,
adding: “We do not want potential
eagle swooping towards an armed adversaries to know exactly what
we’re able to see or understand or
crowd – others derive their power how we come to the conclusion.”

from silence and pain.

A whole room is given over to

the 43 student teachers who were

disappeared in Mexico in 2014

and whose fate sparked furious

protests. As well as the posters

and kites that feature the faces

of the missing, there are panels

embroidered with messages, some

plaintive – “They sowed the seeds

of tomorrow’s struggle” – and ▲ A whole room and whose fate
is given over to sparked furious
some angry: “They took them the 43 student protests. The
teachers who kites feature
alive, we want them alive” and disappeared in the faces of
Mexico in 2014 the missing
“No forgiving, no forgetting”.

Another room uses drawings,

posters and photos to chronicle the

Sandinista revolution in Nicaragua

– and chart Daniel Ortega’s slide

into despotism.

“These are posters here that

are designed to be stuck on the

streets,” said Ana Longoni, one of

the coordinators for the Southern

Conceptualisms Network.

“But … when you put them in a

museum, they can also be a very

powerful sounding board for

what’s happening right now in

Latin America and in other parts

of the world.”

According to Manuel Borja-

Villel, the director of the Reina

Sofía, the project is about seeing



Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

31

F+5TS3E.51050 +A2ll9sh.a5r4e D+3ow32In.d0l 3 N+1ik1k2e.i72205 1£/.€1837 £1/.$2470

7518.35 4149.88 32555.45 26659.75 +0.0061 +0.0218

Twitter deal ‘cannot move’ individual users, who can buy fol- Mastercard to
without bot data, says Musk lowers, likes and retweets from bot let shoppers
sellers who control thousands or mil- pay bills with
Dan Milmo committed to completing the trans- deal might founder, were trading at lions of fake accounts. a smile or wave
Global technology editor action on the agreed price and terms $37.39 yesterday. of the hand
as promptly as practicable,” the com- Because they also inflate Twit-
Elon Musk has cast further doubt over pany said. Fake or spam accounts, known as ter’s daily user numbers – 229 million Kalyeena Makortoff
his $44bn (£35bn) takeover of Twitter bot accounts, are automated and not currently – they also pose a threat to Banking correspondent
after stating the deal “cannot move Musk announced last week that run by human users. They may use the company’s advertising revenue,
forward” until the social media com- the deal was “on hold” after he que- the reply function or direct messages which accounts for 90% of its income. Mastercard is rolling out a contro-
pany proves that less than 5% of its ried Twitter’s claim in SEC filings that to send adverts or scams to users, versial programme that will allow
users are fake or spam accounts. a small proportion of its users were or represent attempts to influence However, Twitter has consistently shoppers to pay at the till with a mere
fake or spam. public discourse by tweeting politi- made clear in its quarterly statements smile or wave of the hand, as it tries to
The Tesla chief executive used his cal propaganda. Other fake accounts since 2014 that it estimates its spam secure a slice of the $18bn (£14.4bn)
Twitter account to say the agreed deal The Twitter chief executive, exist purely to boost the metrics of account problem to represent less biometrics market.
would not progress until the busi- Parag Agrawal, attempted to address than 5% of its users.
ness showed proof that only a small Musk’s concerns in a lengthy tweet Musk responded While face recognition tech-
proportion of its users were fake. thread on Monday but his efforts to to Twitter’s CEO Agrawal’s Twitter thread on Mon- nology has long raised eyebrows
explain the problem “with the benefit with a poo emoji day said tackling automated spam among civil rights groups, the pay-
“My offer was based on Twitter’s of data, facts, and context” were met accounts was a “dynamic” process ments company said it was pushing
SEC filings being accurate. Yester- with a poo emoji from the world’s that required fighting “sophisticated ahead with a biometric checkout
day, Twitter’s CEO publicly refused richest person. and hard to catch” actors. programme it claimed would speed
to show proof of <5%. This deal can- up payments, cut queues and provide
not move forward until he does.” Musk’s latest tweet will add to “Many accounts which look fake more security than a standard credit
speculation that he is preparing to superficially are actually real peo- or debit card.
Twitter said within hours of walk away from the deal, which ple. And some of the spam accounts
Musk’s latest tweet that it remained could trigger a $1bn break fee paya- which are actually the most danger- “Once enrolled, there is no need
committed to the deal, as it filed new ble to Twitter, or to attempt to strike ous – and cause the most harm to our to slow down the checkout queue
details on the transaction with the US a new takeover agreement at a price users – can look totally legitimate on searching through their pockets or
financial regulator, the Securities and lower than the agreed $54.20 a share. the surface,” he wrote. bag,” Mastercard said. “Consumers
Exchange Commission. “Twitter is can simply check the bill and smile
Twitter shares, which have been Musk suggested he could seek to into a camera or wave their hand over
affected by speculation that the pay a lower price for Twitter because a reader to pay.”
of the fake accounts issue, telling a
Bonuses for top conference in Miami that reducing Mastercard also claimed the
earners rising his $54.20 a share offer would not be new payment system would be
fast, but the out of the question. more hygienic, tapping into health
low-paid are concerns that came to the fore dur-
falling behind However, legal experts said the ing the Covid pandemic.
terms of the takeover agreement with
Phillip Inman Twitter gave him only limited room The first pilots will launch in Brazil
for manoeuvre. at five St Marche supermarkets in São
Soaring bonuses for City bankers and Growth in real pay has lagged how the tight labour market is feed- Paulo this week, with shoppers able
high signing-on fees for construction behind the surge in inflation ing into faster wage growth.” ▲ Commuters cross London Bridge to register for biometric payments
and IT professionals pushed Brit- towards the City – a bonus culture in store or via an app with their local
ons’ average annual pay up by 7% in • Regular real pay • Inflation* Before the release today of annual is driving a wedge in pay PHOTOGRAPH: partner, Payface.
March, but most workers suffered inflation figures for April that are
a fifth consecutive month of falling 6% expected to show a jump of more than MATT WRITTLE/EVENING STANDARD/EYEVINE A spokesperson for Mastercard
living standards. 9%, the Institute for Fiscal Studies said a UK rollout was part of its “near-
4 (IFS) said the bonus culture adopted with a 15% national average earn- term plan”, and that the company
Without bonus payments, staff by employers was driving a bigger ings increase. She said the top 1% of was having “encouraging conversa-
were paid an average 4.2% wage 2001 2007 2012 2017 2 wedge between the higher paid and earners saw a sharp increase in pay tions with potential partners”. In the
increase in the three months to the 0 those on low incomes. between February and March this meantime it will focus on launching
end of March, well below the 7% infla- -2 year of 2.3% in cash terms, compared the technology in markets including
tion rate recorded in the same month, -4 Xiaowei Xu, a senior research with 0.5% for median earners and Latin America, the Middle East,
according to Office for National 2022 economist at the IFS, said earnings 0.1% for the bottom 10%. She said: Africa and Asia.
Statistics figures. in the finance sector were 25% higher “This exacerbates the trend towards
Source: ONS. Note: *Consumer Prices Index including than in December 2019, before tak- greater earnings inequality seen since The scheme is part of Master-
Analysts said the UK was suffering owner occupiers' housing costs ing account of inflation, compared the start of the pandemic.” card’s efforts to take a slice of the
a chronic shortage of workers after contactless biometrics technology
about 500,000 quit the labour market market, which is expected to be
during the Covid-19 pandemic and worth $18.6bn by 2026, according
many continental European work- to data by KBV Research. The pay-
ers left Britain following Brexit. The ments firm is competing with big tech
unemployment rate fell to 3.7%, the rivals such as Amazon, which has
lowest since 1974. used palm readers at its stores that
have attracted criticism from US pol-
Paul Dales, the chief City econ- iticians over data privacy concerns.
omist at the consultancy Capital
Economics, said: “Anecdotal evi- Mastercard pointed to research
dence suggests that businesses have suggesting that 74% of global con-
been raising bonuses to maintain sumers had a “positive attitude”
staff, so it is probably another sign of towards biometric technology,
though activists have long raised con-
cerns over data storage and tracking.

Suzie Miles, a partner at the law
firm Ashfords, said: “A password can
be changed. Your smile and wave can
not. If biometric data is hacked then
the risk of fraudulent activity could
be considerably higher than current
payment methods.”

• The Guardian Wednesday 18 May 2022

32 Financial

Business view sport – and Twitter’s board can
Nils Pratley probably be blamed for being
naive – but the simple principle at
Musk’s behaviour is disgraceful the heart of this saga is still worth
but Twitter can probably take defending. Bidders should honour
some blame for being naive their promises.

Y ou’re on the hook, however. Twitter’s board will find Slow going at Vodafone PHOTOGRAPH: Art of the intangible An interactive work by
Elon, so stop bleating itself with a choice of only two ELLIOTT FRANKS Andrea Bonaceto, an NFT (non-fungible token)
about bots and cease unattractive options if Musk says The sense that Vodafone is a artist and blockchain pioneer, at the Flannels
speculating about a he’s only prepared to proceed at big beast that moves terribly store on Oxford Street, London. AB Infinite 1
lower takeover price. a lower bid price. The first would slowly won’t shift as long as morphs as people respond to it on social media.
When we agreed be to refuse to play ball and ask the chief executive, Nick Read,
a bid at $54.20 a share, in cash, the courts to enforce the takeover offers end-of-year summaries Covid aid plans up its initial Covid response … These
you waived your right to conduct agreement. That path involves a as dull as this: “Our near-term left ‘open goal’ lessons should have been learned
due diligence. Look busy and use long battle and, almost certainly, operational and portfolio priorities to fraudsters, from the banking crisis … and could
your best efforts to get the deal another whack to a share price that remain unchanged from those says watchdog have been prepared [for] in the gov-
over the line, as you’re legally has already collapsed to its pre-bid communicated six months ago.” ernment’s pandemic exercises.”
obliged to do. level around the $37 mark. The Pulses did not race. Kalyeena Makortoff
second option would be to roll over The comments come amid frus-
That wasn’t exactly the and negotiate. To be fair to Read, the The business department’s han- tration over the extent of Covid
tone of the board of Twitter’s operational numbers within dling of Covid support schemes has fraud that has put billions of pounds
statement yesterday about how it The guess here is that Twitter’s Vodafone’s “adjusted” earnings left an “open goal” for fraudsters and worth of government cash at risk. Of
is “committed to completing the board would accept the humiliation of €15.2bn (£12.8bn) in the year to embezzlers that has added “billions £79.3bn in loans guaranteed by the
transaction on the agreed price of renegotiation, mutter a few the end of March, up 5%, were OK. to taxpayer woes”, parliament’s government to support businesses
and terms”, but it may as well words about market volatility Profit margins were the best since spending watchdog said. in the first year of the pandemic it is
have been. and dress up a U-turn as an act of 2009. In the UK the rate of churn estimated taxpayers will lose about
pragmatism. There would still be – the ratio of departing customers The public accounts committee – in £4.9bn to fraud and error, on top of
After days of diverting no guarantee of securing terms, – was the lowest ever. The only real a review of the business department’s a further £5.7bn estimated to have
comments by Elon Musk, Twitter of course. But, as Neil Campling, blemish was Germany, where the annual report – said it recognised the been lost with the furlough and self-
is trying to bring the script back to the head of technology research operation seems to have been slow government had offered businesses employment programmes.
basics. A $44bn (£35bn) deal has at Mirabaud, says, no new bidder to adapt to a regulatory tweak. crucial support at the height of the
been agreed and a bidder can’t is about to turn up to save the day pandemic. But efforts to identify The report accused the business
speculate about putting it “on and “Musk knows he holds all the But the investor focus these days fraud and error came too late given department of failing to sufficiently
hold” while he takes another look cards in this game of poker”. is concentrated on those “portfolio that by the time these were confirmed identify the potential risks from
under the bonnet. priorities”, meaning deal-making the money would have been spent organised economic crime.
One rather hopes, though, to make Vodafone’s empire simpler and trails “long ago gone cold”.
On the pure rights and wrongs that Twitter’s board tries to and to capitalise on the telecoms “Some of its eye-watering losses
of the standoff, sympathy lies tough it out. Musk’s tactics look consolidation wave in Europe. The committee’s chair, the Labour only represent the department’s best
entirely with Twitter. Once increasingly like a cynical ploy to On that front, Read reported MP Dame Meg Hillier, said: “[The estimates so far,” the public accounts
takeover terms have been agreed, enfeeble his target before moving “live opportunities in a number department] says it saw this risk committee said, noting there was also
it shouldn’t matter if the ratio of in for the kill. We can enjoy the of markets”, but investors had coming but it’s really not clear where limited information about the true
worthless bots – or fake accounts assumed as much. The challenge is government was looking when it set level of fraud relating to the £21.8bn
– on the social media site is under One rather hopes that landing an opportunity. worth of Covid grants distributed by
5% (as the company says) or a Twitter’s board tries local authorities. The department
multiple of that figure. to tough it out. Musk’s Competition regulators prowl had only estimated the fraud and
tactics look increasingly the corporate dancefloor so nobody error level relating to £11.5bn of those
Musk had his chance to like a cynical ploy can pretend deal-doing is easy, grants, putting it at about £1bn.
demand proof of 5% before he to enfeeble his target but Read must know he is under
entered a binding contract but pressure to deliver some form of A government spokesperson said:
didn’t take it. Since one of his big shake-up in the next 12 months. A “These schemes were implemented
pre-bid boasts was about how he combo with Three in the UK is an at unprecedented speed to protect
would weed out spam content obvious possibility, but the list runs millions of jobs and businesses.”
and restore Twitter to real users, through Spain, Italy, Portugal and
he can’t claim he was unaware of possibly the Netherlands.
the debate around the accuracy of
Twitter’s measurement system. The arrival of Emirates
His behaviour is disgraceful. Telecommunications Group
as a near-10% shareholder
It may also be effective, probably doesn’t turn up the heat
immediately since the UAE-
based group’s public position
(for now) is sweetly supportive.
But the other 90% of investors
also matter. They’ve bought
the thesis that there’s value to
be unlocked at Vodafone, but a
becalmed share price remained
stubbornly becalmed.

Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

Financial 33

▼ A farm in the Chernihiv area.
Without a solution, farmers may not
plant for winter PHOTOGRAPH: MAXYM

MARUSENKO/NURPHOTO/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK

Urgent
call to
unblock
Ukraine’s
exports
of grain
and seeds

Sarah Butler

One of Ukraine’s largest farming production around the world. He route is now cut off, creating a bot- truck and train to ports in Poland Production of wheat, sunflower
groups has called for an urgent solu- said the world could be looking at a tleneck as farmers prepare to harvest and Lithuania, and the company oil and other crops in Ukraine is
tion to unblock the country’s Black “cascade of export bans” following the summer crops. was processing more sunflower expected to be down by about 35%
Sea ports as exports of grain, sun- India’s block on the export of wheat seeds into oil within Ukraine, for this year as planting and harvests in
flower and rapeseed are being held up and Indonesia’s block on palm oil Efforts are being made to increase example, to help lower transport and east of the country have been affected
by the Russian naval blockade, driv- exports, raising the prospect that the pace of exports by increasing storage costs. by fighting.
ing inflation and shortages around “the whole concept of globalisation the use of trucks and improving rail
the world. in food production is dead”. capacity and links, which are ham- The blockade means grain silos are Rich said production in the rest of
pered by differing track gauges in full and farmers are struggling to find the country was good, with “grow-
G7 ministers have held urgent Exports from Ukraine, which pro- Ukraine and its neighbours. Rich storage for summer crops. Without ing conditions excellent”, and MHP’s
talks about trying to open up routes duces as much as half the world’s said road and rail could replace little a solution, he said, many would be farms had been able to secure enough
through Romanian and Baltic ports, sunflower seeds, 10% of wheat and more than a quarter of the capacity reluctant to plant for the winter. fertiliser and other inputs.
potentially with 10,000 trucks mak- up to 20% of barley and rapeseed, that once flowed through Ukraine’s
ing a five-day trip from Ukraine. have been severely interrupted by the ports and would take time to develop. ‘There is going to be a lot of soul- “We are in good shape, the sea-
closure of Ukraine’s ports following searching when it comes to winter son so far is going well,” he said,
John Rich, the chairman of MHP, Russia’s invasion. About 1m tonnes He said MHP was fairly confident 2022 and it is going to be all about although the long-range forecast for
which is listed on the London Stock of grain and seed were exported in its own crops could be sent out via logistics and storage,” Rich said. the region is that it will be unusually
Exchange, said: “If we had a UN April compared with more than 5m hot this year.
agreement in place it would solve an tonnes of grain and 700,000 tonnes 5.7m “We are in a real dilemma at pre-
enormous amount of issues.” But he of oil seed a month in a typical year. sent. There is a huge bottleneck and But he said production could be
said that without the war ending such Tonnes of grain and seed exported it is not easily solved, certainly not lower as it was not clear how many
a deal was unlikely, piling pressure Before the war, about 80% of per month by Ukraine before the in the next six or eight weeks. Unless small and medium-sized farms had
on prices for grain and seeds used for Ukraine’s grain and oil seeds were war, against 1m tonnes in April the Russian fleet is sunk I don’t see a been affected by shortages and price
cooking oil and ethanol around the exported via the Black Sea but that solution. I can’t see any solution to rises on diesel and fertiliser as well a
world into next year. this in a very, very long time.” concerns on storage.

“We are now in a vicious cycle,”
Rich said. “Normally what happens
is that farmers cure high prices as
[when prices go up] farmers produce
more and prices collapse. This time
it could be different.”

Rich pointed to a combination of
climate change, the Covid pandemic,
and the war in Ukraine, as well as fer-
tiliser shortages which are hitting

Diesel Why did prices soar demand but lockdowns have also So why are crude oil prices falling? other petrol retailers may be
and will they go higher? reduced refining capacity too.” Oil prices remain high compared making £7m a month in extra profit.
with a year ago when Covid Industry sources say the cut was
Alex Lawson their peaks in March. Here’s why Refining oil for petrol is lockdowns around the world hurt passed through, but the increase
Energy correspondent those falls are not feeding through historically more valuable for demand for fuel. But oil is well off in refining and logistics costs since
to the pumps. refineries, but Russia was a large the 10-year highs of $119 a barrel have put pressure on their margins.
diesel exporter meaning demand seen in March as Russia’s invasion
The invasion of Ukraine has Why is diesel soaring in price? for diesel refining elsewhere has of Ukraine shook markets. What can the government do?
upended already-turbulent energy “There are various factors at play,” pushed up the price from refineries The Conservative MP Robert
markets and now diesel has hit a says Craig Howie, an analyst at in other countries. The International Energy Halfon has called for a “pump-
record high of 180p a litre – 36% Shore Capital. “There’s been an Agency warned then that western watch regulator” to monitor prices,
up on January 2020, before the increase in trucking activities Are there enough oil refineries? sanctions on Russia would remove while the Liberal Democrat leader,
pandemic. EU diplomats are aiming stretching demand, concerns over The fall in the oil price due to Covid 3m barrels a day from the global oil Ed Davey, has called on Boris
to agree an approach to phasing out exports to Europe from Russia, hurt an industry that has struggled market. Now the agency says rising Johnson to haul petrol retailers into
Russian oil this month, threatening shutdowns in the US and lower to attract investment into facilities output from other oil-producing Downing Street to explain why the
further disruption that could refinery runs in China. amid increased environmental economies and slowing demand fuel duty cut has not been passed
push diesel and petrol prices even regulation and worries over peak growth could ease the situation. on to consumers.
higher. But against this backdrop “From an oil perspective oil demand.
oil prices have actually fallen from China has been a concern. Tough Are fuel retailers profiteering? The RAC argues that Rishi
restrictions on movement have hit Many refineries supplying The RAC has accused retailers Sunak should cut VAT to 15% from
Europe are based in Russia. There of taking 2p more in profit per 20%. “Drivers are still paying 27p
are six large refineries in the UK. litre than before the chancellor VAT on petrol and 29p on diesel,
In theory, the boom in refining announced a 5p cut in fuel duty which is just the same as before the
demand should have helped them, in March’s spring statement. It spring  statement,” says the RAC’s
though the oil price spike in March argues that supermarkets and Simon Williams.
will have inflated their input costs.

34 Classified The Guardian Wednesday 18 May 2022

Slip-resistant surfaces NOW WITH A
Integrated riser grab bar
15 YEAR
Stylish folding seat
WARRANTY*

The Guardian Wednesday 18 May 2022

Classified 35

• The Guardian Wednesday 18 May 2022
36

Weather
Wednesday 18 May 2022

UK and Ireland Noon today Forecast Around the UK

Sunny Mist Fog Low 10 High 18 London Precipitation Air pollution
Low
Sunny intervals Hazy Tomorrow Lows and highs Low
Mostly cloudy Low
Overcast/dull 1008 13 14 22 25% Low
Manchester Low
Sunny showers Low
18 Inverness Shetland 10 19 25% Low
Sunny and heavy showers 17 Edinburgh Low
Rough 17 Low
Light showers 14 Low
1012 Edinburgh Low 9 High 17 10 18 0%
Rain Sleet Light Glasgow Belfast 55%
snow 13 Friday
8 16
Snow showers Birmingham

Heavy snow Ice 16 Newcastle

Thundery rain Belfast 11 20 15%
Brighton
Thundery showers 17 Dublin 19 York Moderate
X
Liverpool 20 1020 12 17 10%
Temperature, Bristol 50%
ºC 35C Nottingham 19 Norwich Carbon 45%
30 Birmingham count 10 18 5%
Wind speed, Windy 25 Cardiff 40%
mph 20 15 22 Daily atmospheric CO2
15 20 readings from Mauna Loa, 10 19
10 London Hawaii (ppm): Newcastle
5
0 Cardiff 21 Latest 10 19
-5 Penzance
-10 Dover 16 May 2022 421.72
-15 11 16
-20 1016 Weekly average

08 May 2022 421.13

17 Plymouth 17 May 2021 418.34

17 May 2012 397.38

Slight 7 Pre-industrial base 280

Safe level 350

The Channel Islands Source: NOAA-ESRL

Atlantic front 1016 H Plantwatch Around the world

1008 1000 There are two plant species with
the most brutal flowers in the
L world, ones that deliberately kill
their insect pollinators. The flowers
1000 L 1008 of jack-in-the-pulpit, Arisaema Algiers 28 Lisbon 23
angustatum, and its close relative Ams’dam 22 Madrid 33
H 992 Arisaema peninsulae are hidden Athens 27 Malaga 27
L inside a bowl-shaped wrapper with Auckland 20 Melb’rne 15
L a narrow entrance, with a tall hood B Aires 15 Mexico C 28
1008 standing above. The floral dungeon Bangkok 31 Miami 32
984 1000 lures in male fungus gnats, possibly Barcelona 25 Milan 30
by imitating the sexy scent of Basra 40 Mombasa 30
1016 H female gnats to fool the males Beijing 31 Moscow 15
into finding a mate. And when the Berlin 23 Mumbai 32
H 1024 gnats slip down inside they are Bermuda 24 N Orleans 32
imprisoned. Brussels 26 Nairobi 25
L Budapest 20 New Delhi 41
When the plants are small they C’hagen 16 New York 22
Cold front H only develop male flowers, which Cairo 32 Oslo 16
Warm front cover the gnats in pollen. The Cape Town 20 Paris 28
Occluded front 1016 floral prison is too slippery for the Chicago 19 Perth 20
Trough gnats to climb out of, and their Corfu 27 Prague 21
Source: © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Times are local UK times Sun & Lighting only escape is through a tiny hole Dakar 28 Reykjavik 13
High tides Moon up in the chamber, before they can Dhaka 35 Rio de J 22
fly off and fall for the same trick Dublin 17 Rome 26
Aberdeen 0321 4.3m 1549 4.3m London Bridge 0356 7.4m 1621 6.9m Belfast 2129 to 0512 on another plant. But as the plants Florence 31 Shanghai 28
Avonmouth 0934 13.4m 2154 13.3m 4.1m 1419 4.1m grow larger, they develop female Gibraltar 24 Singapore 32
Barrow 0121 1348 Lossiemouth 0154 7.1m 2050 7.1m Birm’ham 2101 to 0505 flowers and the escape hole closes H Kong 26 Stockh’m 20
Belfast 0054 9.6m 1327 9.6m 7.0m 1941 7.0m and so gnats falling in now become Harare 22 Strasb’g 30
Cobh 0741 3.5m 2003 3.5m Milford Haven 0828 5.1m 1754 5.2m Brighton 2047 to 0506 well and truly imprisoned. As they Helsinki 18 Sydney 20
Cromer 0840 4.0m 2108 4.1m 3.9m 2011 3.9m desperately try to escape they Istanbul 21 Tel Aviv 25
Dover 0051 5.0m 1314 5.1m Newquay 0718 5.6m 1915 5.6m Bristol 2100 to 0514 smother the female flowers with Jo’burg 17 Tenerife 27
Dublin 0118 6.9m 1356 6.8m 5.4m 2028 5.5m pollen, but with no escape route K Lumpur 33 Tokyo 22
Galway 0724 4.1m 1943 4.1m North Shields 0527 4.9m 1342 4.8m Carlisle 2117 to 0457 and no food, the gnats eventually K’mandu 30 Toronto 16
Greenock 0231 5.2m 1449 5.3m 9.2m 1258 9.1m die – quite possibly the cruellest Kabul 27 Vancouv’r 13
Harwich 0142 3.5m 1407 3.5m Oban 0749 4.7m 2124 4.8m Cork 2125 to 0535 cross-pollination strategy of any Kingston 31 Vienna 21
Holyhead 0013 4.1m 1238 4.0m 1.4m 2038 1.5m known flower. Paul Simons Kolkata 35 Warsaw 18
Hull 0827 5.7m 2054 5.7m Penzance 0651 5.6m 1831 5.6m Sun rises 0504 Dublin 2124 to 0519 L Angeles 25 Wash’ton 24
Leith 0440 7.6m 1707 7.6m 3.5m 1346 3.5m Sun sets 2049 Lagos 31 Well’ton 18
Liverpool 0101 5.6m 1324 5.7m Plymouth 0811 8.5m 1346 8.4m Moon rises none Glasgow 2129 to 0459 Lima 20 Zurich 27
9.5m 9.4m Moon sets 0624
Portsmouth 0115 Last Quarter 22 May Harlech 2112 to 0513

Southport 0035 Inverness 2137 to 0447

Stornoway 0900 London 2049 to 0502

Weymouth 0819 M’chester 2107 to 0503

Whitby 0606 Newcastle 2113 to 0452

Wick 0118 Forecasts and Norwich 2050 to 0452
graphics provided by
Workington 0122 AccuWeather ©2022 Penzance 2106 to 0531

Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

Rugby union Football 37

Jones challenges Nobbs heartache
Arundell to stake as knee injury
World Cup claim ends Euros hopes

Page 38 Page 41

good”, his commitment to “tackling discrimination”

and how he has overseen an era of “record investment

in cricket” with “England Men and Women both

crowned World Champions”. It would have been an

embarrassingly fulsome statement to deliver to a

bathroom mirror, let alone to the world’s media.

Oddly, the statement doesn’t mention
the Hundred, even when it touches
on “the return of live cricket to
free-to-air TV with the BBC”. Strange
that a man who would lay claim to
so much, including those two World
Cups, would forget to mention his
signature achievement. It’s almost

as if he didn’t want to be associated with it. It was the

Hundred, and its cack-handed launch, that caused

English cricket’s ongoing culture wars. It split the sport

just as neatly as it did the County Championship, which

is now played largely in April, May and September.

The Hundred compromised English first-class

cricket and alienated a lot of people who love the

sport, all for the sake, Harrison says, of safeguarding

its future by making it less reliant on the TV revenues

generated by international cricket.

Curiously, it was his ability to make the most of

those very same TV revenues that got him the job in

2014. He was considered an outsider for the role when

Collier left but was a unanimous pick because the

panel believed his background at IMG Media and ESPN

Star Sports meant he would be in a good position to

negotiate their rights deals. They were right.

The ECB made £1.1bn from the last round of

negotiations in 2017. That was Harrison’s real

achievement. It doesn’t take 1,000 words to sum up

his tenure, but nine zeroes. That money benefited

everyone involved in the game, from the village

groundsman who got a grant for a new mower on up,

through the counties who live off what the ECB hands

▲ Tom Harrison was out to them, all the way to the England men’s and
brought in to maximise
the ECB’s income and women’s players on central contracts, some of them
he also introduced
the Hundred to the now being paid a retainer not to play for their country.
domestic game
A lot of people got fatter off the back of it. But it still
TOM JENKINS/THE GUARDIAN
feels as though the sport has somehow grown smaller,
Not so long ago someone put a plastic
turd in an envelope and posted it to poorer and more divided at the same time.
Tom Harrison at the England and
Wales Cricket Board. Think of it as Profits grew. Participation slumped. The latest
a parting gift from the disaffected
of English cricket, to go with figures show it dropped by 25% in the first five years
Harrison’s share of the £2.1m in
executive bonuses the ECB paid out Harrison was in the job. And that
this year. Harrison, who has a background in sales and
Over and out marketing, is someone who imagines he would be able Captains, was before the pandemic, when
Harrison brought to win anyone over if they would only sit down and it plummeted again. The interim
in the money but listen to him for 15 minutes one-on-one over a coffee. chairmen ECB chair, Martin Darlow, allowed
left cricket smaller, He seemed utterly nonplussed to discover there are
poorer and divided people beyond the four walls of ECB headquarters who and coaches himself to be quoted as saying
might feel differently about it. “when the pandemic struck it was
Andy Bull have Tom’s leadership that brought
The media release announcing Harrison’s farewell as
the ECB chief executive ran to just under 1,000 words come and the game together and saved us
and you can’t but wonder how much of it was his own
work. It was half as long again as the one issued when gone but from the worst financial crisis the
Joe Root stepped down as England captain last month Harrison sport has ever faced”. There you
after a record number of Tests. go, between the Yorkshire racism

If you were being kind you would say that’s a became a scandal, the DCMS select committee
reflection of the outsize role Harrison has taken on defining hearings, the aborted tour to
in the game in these past seven years. Captains, figure as he Pakistan and the abject form of the
chairmen and coaches have come and gone, Harrison clung on men’s Test team, the past year of
has clung on and somehow become one of the English cricket has felt like one long
defining figures of this era of English cricket. He has garbage fire. But the bottom line was
achieved a prominence entirely beyond that of his
predecessor, David Collier. fine, so it’s bonuses all round.

The statement talks about “Tom’s leadership” Harrison oversaw an era when English cricket knew
during the pandemic. It mentions “Inspiring
Generations”, “All Stars” and “Dynamos” and his the price of everything and the value of nothing. It
desire to make the game “an extraordinary force for
wasn’t his fault. That was exactly why they picked

him to begin with and he was well suited to it. In

2020, when the ECB laid off 62 people, including

19 development officers, their payroll costs went

up because they hired so many new people in the

marketing department.

As for Inspiring Generations, the 12-point plan for

tackling racism in the game and all the rest of the ECB’s

half-baked solutions to try to solve the problems that

had grown worse on his watch, he will be long gone by

the time it’s finally clear whether any of it made a real

difference. He’ll be replaced, you hope, by someone

with a very different way of thinking and talking about

the sport and the radical challenges facing it.

• The Guardian Wednesday 18 May 2022

38 Sport

“I talked it through with my family Rugby union

as well and they saw it as I did, that Rising star Arundell urged to
earn England World Cup spot
I’ve got more to give to the game.

Whether it’s for Lancashire or for

England, I’ve still got the ability

to take wickets and I want to keep

doing that.”

Any residual doubts – along with

Root’s stumps – were shattered on hard part comes, when they’ve got
to work really hard, they’ve got to
Sunday after Anderson delivered a Gerard Meagher not believe what’s being said about
them, that they’re not kid-wonder,
reminder that he is still capable of Eddie Jones has challenged Henry that they’ve got to apply themselves
Arundell to earn a spot in England’s to the task and that’s when the real
dismissing the world’s best batters. World Cup squad next year, revealing player comes through.
it took him five minutes to decide
It was a wonderful ball, pitched on a the 19-year-old full-back warranted “The test of a young player to
a first call-up. become a good Test player is their
good length around a fourth stump ability to work hard, their ability to
Arundell was among the eye- take knocks, their ability to keep
line before angling in with a hint of catching inclusions named yes- resilient physically and mentally and
terday in a 36-man training squad to have that mindset to keep improv-
reverse swing. Two splattered poles for a three-day camp, capping a ing. From what I know of him, and I
breakthrough season at London have met him once very briefly, he
Jimmy Anderson has served as a testament to Anderson’s Irish in which he has scored several has got good attributes. But we will
remarkable tries, including a length- only see that on the three days of
no plans to retire just enduring potency. of-the-field effort against Toulon training we have.”
this month.
yet: ‘I’ve got more to “Obviously, the player matters With 10 uncapped players in the
Jones compared him to Matt squad it has been picked with an eye
give to the game’ because he was their best player,” Giteau – the former Australia Test on the England v Barbarians match on
centurion who the England head 19 June – when Premiership finalists
Anderson says, resisting the temp- coach unearthed when in charge will be unavailable – and a number
of the Wallabies – and challenged of senior players including Henry
tation to insert greater meaning in Arundell to bolt into the World Cup Slade, Ben Youngs and Joe Marler
squad for France 2023 in the same have been rested. Sam Simmonds is
bowling the captain who left him out way Nehe Milner-Skudder did for injured and his club, Exeter, expect
the All Blacks in 2015. him also to miss the trip to Australia
of his final touring squad. “We’ve not
They are both examples he has ‘He has 12 months
ALLAN MCKENZIE/SWPIX.COM/SHUTTERSTOCK fallen out or anything. I spoke to him frequently used but it was telling ... where there is
to hear Jones reveal how quickly he smoke there is
before he announced that he was was convinced of Arundell’s poten- usually some fire’
tial, having watched Irish’s draw with
stepping down. There’s still a huge Wasps a few weeks ago in which he Eddie Jones
scored a dazzling try. Arundell is also
amount of respect between the two eligible for Wales and Scotland but as he requires surgery on his hip.
would be captured by England if he Notable selections include the prop
of us, so there’s no animosity.” makes his full debut on the summer Mako Vunipola who, as reported
tour of Australia. by the Guardian, is back in Jones’s
Anderson, though, has indulged thinking having been out of the
“He has 12 months to find his feet. picture all season.
in watching the replay back several Remember Nehe Milner-Skudder?
He came from nowhere in 2015 and Jones, meanwhile, conceded there
times. And why not? It’s been hard that is the sort of thing a young guy is pressure to win in Australia with
can do,” Jones said. the forthcoming camp drawing a line
work for bowlers in the Champion- under England’s disappointing Six
“The reason I have compared Nations performance. Jones took part
ship this season. Against dull balls Arundell [with Giteau] is a similar in a formal review, conducted by the
story. You get reports through on Rugby Football Union’s anonymous
and on flat pitches, sides have regis- young players, and where there is panel, and though he insisted it was a
smoke there is usually some fire. I productive process, there was a sense
tered 20 scores above 500, up from remember getting a report on Giteau, he has had more enjoyable experi-
what he could do, and then you go ences during his tenure. He is due to
Cricket 12 in the entire campaign last year. and watch him play. Within five leave the role after next year’s World
minutes you can generally work out Cup and all but confirmed reports he
I considered quitting Not that Anderson is complain- whether he’s got it or not, whether has been sounded out about joining
ing. He welcomes the challenge he’s got something special. Racing 92 in the French Top 14.
and believes tough graft will serve
“I gave you that example of “The support [from the RFU] has
Tests, admits Anderson Englandwellastheteam–currently Arundell [against Wasps]. And been first class, but my responsi-
bottom of the ICC Test Champion- Giteau was the same, I went to watch bility is to win,” Jones said. “In this
ship table – starts a new era under the him play half-back for his club, and job there’s always pressure, of course
stewardship of Brendon McCullum. within five minutes you could tell he there’s pressure to win in Australia.
had something about him. Then the It’s normal to be criticised, to be
“It’s really exciting,” Anderson under fire a little bit. I don’t think
▲ Henry Arundell has scored some you ever get used to it, to losing.
says of the New Zealander’s appoint- remarkable tries for London Irish It’s not a pleasant experience. But
you  take the positives out of the
Daniel Gallan New balls for counties ment as Test coach, unconcerned situation you have.”
with his lack of experience coaching
Of the link with Racing, he told Sky
a red-ball team. “He always wants the Sports: “Obviously people ask you
questions and if you reply it becomes
There was a moment during the A fresh batch of balls has been aggressive option. a huge story. Maybe there has been a
telephone conversation. Sometimes I
winter when Jimmy Anderson delivered to each county before “He certainly did when he played don’t handle those things, other peo-
ple handle it for you. I’m a rugby coach
considered his commitment to Test this week’s championship and when he captained. I’m sure and I love coaching, and I still feel like
I have plenty to contribute.”
cricket. It did not last long but, as fixtures after Dukes admitted he’ll bring that from his coaching

England’s leading wicket-taker there have been issues with some point of view as well. With him and

watched from afar while Joe Root’s of those used this season. The Ben [Stokes, England’s new captain],

team succumbed to a 1-0 series defeat Durham captain, Scott Borthwick, we’re never going to take a backward

in the West Indies, he wondered if his said the quality of balls he has step. [Stokes] is a natural leader and

19-year career had reached its end. seen had been “shocking” after the lads all look up to him in the dress-

“I definitely questioned it,” he there were seven unscheduled ball ing room. He’s the hardest trainer in

says. “But I think the longer time changes during his side’s victory the group and sets the example of

went on, the more I just, you know over Glamorgan, including five how to be an international cricketer.

… I was still with the [Lancashire] lads on a single day. Beyond going He’ll be great.”

doing pre-season training. I was still out of shape, the balls are said Stokes and Rob Key, the new direc-

doing the gym work and wasn’t bored to have skewed games in the tor of cricket, have spoken glow-

of it. I wanted to be there doing it. batters’ favour: in the entirety of ingly of Anderson and his perennial

Irrelevant of what was going to hap- the County Championship last partner Stuart Broad, who was also

pen in the summer I wanted to start season there were just 12 scores omitted from the tour to the Carib-

the season with Lancashire. above 500, while this season bean. With a long list of injured fast

“The [Test squad] has not been there have already been 13 in bowlers – including his Lancashire

picked yet. So we’re just waiting Division One. Dilip Jajodia, whose teammate Saqib Mahmood, as well

to see what happens with that. If I company British Cricket Balls Ltd as Mark Wood, Jofra Archer and Olly

get a Test call-up then brilliant, but produces the Dukes balls, said Stone – Anderson looks set for a recall

at the minute I’m really enjoying the problem has been addressed. for the first Test against New Zealand

playing cricket. Simon Burnton next month.

Harrison still for displaying “ethics that were as bad Harrison said: “The past two years
due to collect his as the optics”. And last November have been incredibly challenging,
share of £2.1m his performance in front of a digi- but we have pulled together to get
tal, culture, media and sport select through the pandemic, overcome
continued from back page committee investigating the game’s cricket’s biggest financial crisis, and
response to Azeem Rafiq’s allegations committed to tackling discrimination
pot, despite cutting 20% of the of racism at Yorkshire was sufficiently and continuing the journey towards
organisation’s workforce during the concerning for county executives to becoming the inclusive, welcoming
pandemic. Last month the Wisden discuss seeking his removal. sport we strive to be. I have put every-
Almanack criticised the bonus award thing into this role, but I believe now
“Harrison has overseen record is the right time to bring in fresh
levels of investment across the game energy to continue this work.”
at all levels,” the ECB said. “The ECB’s
annual revenue almost trebled dur- Andy Bull Page 37
ing Harrison’s tenure.”

Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

Sport 39

Golf But it’s just like any other sport. It’s Football Europa League final ▼ Rangers are in their first European
like tennis. You have to go out there final since the Uefa Cup in 2008
Woods takes and earn it. It’s just not guaranteed Rangers and Frankfurt
opposite view up front.” prepare for their biggest SUSANA VERA/REUTERS
to Mickelson on night in living memory
game’s future Mickelson is widely believed to clubs in bleaker times. There was the
have signed a lucrative deal with Jonathan Wilson disorder. Add in the aggressive repu- Frankfurt infiltration of Barcelona,
Ewan Murray the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invest- Seville tation of the Andalusian police and when as many as perhaps 30,000
Southern Hills ments, which will stage a $25m event the potential for trouble is clear. away fans were inside the Camp
in Hertfordshire next month. That A man in an orange shirt stumbled Nou to witness their 3-2 win in the
It was far from a full-on attack. None- Woods was choosing his words wisely down a narrow street in the Alfalfa “It’s not about the number,” said quarter-final, while the atmosphere
theless, Tiger Woods delivered more was made clear when he was asked district of Seville. It was just before the Rangers manager, Giovanni for Rangers’ 3-1 victory against
than enough veiled criticism of Phil about Mickelson’s non-appearance 11am, but the stench of booze pre- van Bronckhorst. “You can bring 50 RB Leipzig in the semi-final was one
Mickelson for onlookers to be left in at Southern Hills. “It’s always disap- ceded him. His eyes were half-closed people and it could give you chaos.” of the greatest in Ibrox’s history.
little doubt that the 15-time major pointing when the defending cham- and he looked as if he hadn’t slept for
champion has little sympathy for his pion is not here,” he said. a couple of days. Over his shoulders The flip side of those concerns is The legends are accumulating: the
old adversary’s predicament. Mick- he wore a placard bearing the mes- that this is a Europa League final that Römer, the city hall in Frankfurt, has
elson will miss this week’s US PGA “Phil has said some things that I sage, in English and Spanish, that he has captured the imagination like had to cancel nine weddings in case
Championship, where he was due to think a lot of us who are committed to was willing to pay €500 for a ticket few others. This is a reminder of the the venue is required for celebra-
appear as the defending champion, the Tour and committed to the legacy for the Europa League final tonight. excitement European finals can pro- tions; should Frankfurt win, you
as the fallout from comments relat- of the Tour have pushed back against. vide when the clubs who reach them suspect in a decade or two there will
ing to Saudi Arabia and a breakaway He has taken some personal time and He staggered up to a pair of are not used to such achievements; be as many couples insisting they
tour continue. we all understand that. I think that bemused French tourists. “I give Rangers and Frankfurt have won one had to move their ceremonies as
some of his views on how the Tour you 500,” he said in a Glaswegian major European trophy apiece, both people who claim to have seen the
Woods admitted he had not con- could be run, should be run, there has slur. “Cash. Dinero.” Seville police more than 40 years ago. Sex Pistols at the Lesser Free Trade
tacted Mickelson since the latter been a lot of disagreement there. But are anticipating as many as 100,000 Hall in Manchester in 1976.
stepped away from golf in late Feb- as we all know, as a professional, we fans from Scotland and 50,000 from There is an awareness this could
ruary. Comments by Woods in firm miss him being out here.” Germany for the meeting of Rangers be a once-in-a-lifetime event and Even in 2022, there is something
defence of golf’s existing ecosystem and Eintracht Frankfurt. that means fans want to be here, exotic about this great exodus
are in stark contrast to the approach Speaking before Woods, Rory McIl- even if their chances of getting into from northern Europe to southern
of Mickelson, who accused the PGA roy was candid about the significance Given how the city went into melt- the game are slim. “We’re the lucky Spain, where temperatures this
Tour of “obnoxious greed” and of the Saudi disruption plan. “Greg down in 2003 – a collapsed phone ones who get to play in the final,” the week have reached into the high
claimed he sought “leverage” via [Norman] and everyone behind it network, a dearth of taxis, streams Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack said. 30s. “It’s different from Glasgow,”
the Saudis. are very determined,” McIlroy said. of fans trudging back along the road “There’s 100,000 would like to be in Van Bronckhorst said. He brought
“I think we’re just going to have to from the Estadio Olimpico – when our positions.” his squad to Seville a day earlier than
“He has his opinion on where he see how it plays out. approximately 100,000 arrived for Frankfurt and, after taking a walk at
sees the game of golf going,” said the Uefa Cup final between Celtic Both teams have generated memo- kick-off time on Monday, they trained
Woods of Mickelson. “I have my “Guys are going to make deci- and Porto, that represents a daunt- ries that will be passed on through in the late afternoon yesterday.
viewpoint how I see the game of sions. Honestly it’s going to shape the ing challenge. At least this time the the generations and will sustain their
golf. I’ve supported the Tour and future of professional golf one way or final is being played in the Ramón Conditions could influence what
my foundation has run events on another.” McIlroy branded Mickel- Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, although James Tavernier looks to be the key clash, between
the Tour for a number of years. I just son’s US PGA no-show “unfortunate” the benefits of it being in the centre is the top scorer in the Rangers right wing-back, James
think that what Jack [Nicklaus] and and “sad”. of town are perhaps slightly offset by the competition Tavernier, top scorer in the competi-
Arnold [Palmer] have done in starting the fact that capacity is about 15,000 tion with seven goals, and the relent-
the Tour, breaking away from the PGA Woods and McIlroy will be in each smaller than the Olimpico. less Frankfurt left wing-back, Filip
of America and creating our tour in other’s company for rounds one and Kostic. “He’s a top player,” Tavernier
1968 … I just think there’s a legacy to two in Tulsa, which suggests the PGA “Even if 150,000 fans don’t come said. “I’ve got to bring best version
that. I still think that the Tour has so of America’s top brass are trying to, – if it’s half that number or less – we of myself and try to make him deal
much to offer, so much opportunity. even briefly, shift golf’s narrative. Jor- will have substantial issues,” said with me for the majority of the game.”
dan Spieth, who needs this major to Seville’s commissioner for citizen
“I understand different viewpoints complete a career grand slam, makes security, Juan Carlos Castro. Under- Beyond the tactics and conditions,
but I believe in legacies. I believe in up the threesome. lying his concerns, although he was this feels like a huge event, far big-
major championships. I believe in diplomatic, is the threat of violence. ger than anything most players on
big events, comparisons to historical ▲ Tiger Woods won the last time the either side has experienced. “It’s a
figures of the past. There’s plenty of US PGA was held at Southern Hills Eintracht Frankfurt ultras have big game, it comes with pressure,”
money out here. The Tour is growing. been involved in a number of inci- said Van Bronckhorst. “If you play
dents in their European adventure big games you get so much attention,
Cycling this season, and the two previous but we have to make sure we concen-
European finals Rangers reached, in trate on our game.”
Girmay claims landmark victory Barcelona in 1972 and Manchester
in 2008, culminated in widespread That responsibility extends to the
Ian Parker by well-wishers from the peloton, he fans whose enthusiasm helps create
said: “When I started the Giro we had that sense of anticipation. “I know
Biniam Girmay has become the first the possibility to win and make good we have a lot travelling with us,”
black African to win a Grand Tour results – this is also part of the success Van Bronckhorst said. “We have to
stage with victory in the Giro d’Italia. of our team, my family and every- enjoy the occasion, but make sure we
body. Every day comes new history are not causing any problems.”
Girmay had already made his- so I’m grateful and happy that I did it.”
tory this season, with victory at Probable teams
Gent-Wevelgem in March making Juan Pedro López retained the Eintracht Frankfurt Trapp; Tuta,
him the first African to win a Belgian leader’s pink jersey, 12 seconds Hinteregger, N’Dicka; Knauff, Sow, Rode,
cobbled classic, and the 22-year-old ahead of João Almeida, with Romain Kostic; Lindstrøm, Borré, Kamada.
rider added another landmark Bardet, Richard Carapaz, Jai Hindley, Rangers McGregor; Lundstram, Goldson,
moment on stage 10 of the Giro in Jesi. Guillaume Martin and Mikel Landa all Bassey; Tavernier, Jack, Kamara, Barisic;
within 30sec of the lead. PA Media Wright, Aribo, Kent.
A lumpy finish to the 196km stage
from Pescara had left the peloton ▲ Biniam Girmay was mobbed by
in pieces with Girmay and Mathieu well-wishers after his historic win
van der Poel the only real sprinters
left and, after Girmay launched his
move, Van der Poel gave up in his bid
to come around the Eritrean.

“It’s unbelievable,” Girmay said.
“I thank the team. We started the
race well, we controlled it.” After his
podium interview was interrupted

• The Guardian Wednesday 18 May 2022

40 Sport In News
Football Blackpool united in positivity …
with a generational divide Page 10

Finding a balance age – is brilliant. To know so early in ‘This means
Daniels will need good his life that he doesn’t want to live a huge amount
people around him as with a lie. It’s phenomenal to see to so many
he makes next steps the support he has had. people’

Thomas Hitzlsperger He’s at a stage of his career ▲ Blackpool’s head groundsman continued from back page
where he’s just signed a holds a rainbow corner flag
I’ve often been asked how long he needs support. Because coming professional contract, he’s played a PFA and the LGBTQ+ rights group
it would take for a current out is such a personal decision, a few minutes in the Championship in Robbie Rogers and Josh Cavallo, Stonewall. It was seen by those
English male professional life-changing experience, and you and will probably play more it happened in 2020 when Landon involved as a success and a model
footballer to come out as have to understand when is the next season. Now, everything is Donovan led his team off the field which can be repeated to help other
gay. Would it be a famous right moment. For Jake, it’s at the different. I’m curious to see how after a player was subjected to players. There is hope that Daniels
international player? Or age of 17; for me it was at 31, shortly his career will develop. Because homophobic abuse. There may be may be a harbinger of a new era.
someone at the very start of his after retiring. on the one hand he wants to be the incidents in the future and we have
professional career, such as Jake best footballer possible, but on the “I think there’s certainly a genera-
Daniels, who plays for Blackpool The idea of coming out while still other he wants to be a role model Lto be prepared for that. tional aspect to what is happening,”
in the Championship? That Jake playing went through my mind. I for the LGBTQ community and et’s not fool ourselves. Pound said. “When you look at the
is the first is a huge step forward, tried to prepare for it. I was curious finding that balance is not going to There will always be responses to Jake’s interview, a lot
but the fact it’s such big news is to find out how my teammates be easy. discrimination, in of the comments say: ‘Why is this
also something the media needs would react, how the fans and football and in society. a thing?’ Those of us who work in
to reflect on. We all play a big part media would react. But it just Hopefully, being open with That’s when you have diversity and equality have long
in that. wasn’t the right time. People tried everyone will make him an even to be strong. That’s talked about creating a ‘so what?’
to protect me and it worked. That’s better player. No secrets, nobody when you need to have confidence. culture and it appears there’s a lot
My immediate reaction was that why for Jake to be so clear – at his talking behind his back. But I hope Know how to separate the criticism of people out there who feel like
he’s got good people around him, that comes because you’ve done that now. But you can see from the
people who are also able to say no something wrong and the criticism reaction to Jake’s announcement
when the requests come in from all that comes because you’re part of that it means a huge amount to so
around the world. a minority. Some people are not many people.”
at the point of acceptance. Not
When I came out in 2014, I everyone will be clapping and Pound believes that this genera-
was happy to get so much praise cheering. That’s why you need to tion may also benefit from the years of
and positive feedback. It was explain to people, talk to people, work in bringing anti-discrimination
confirmation of what I thought help them to understand. to the fore in football.
would happen. With Jake, who
will be playing football in a I still feel that curiosity when it “When we talk about the possi-
stadium in a few months’ time, comes to gay issues in professional bility of abuse I feel strongly that
it’s a different matter. People football. I’m very happy to talk we have moved into an era where it
will be waiting for the reaction, about them, to help the cause of can be dealt with,” Pound said. “We
which I think will be positive. But fighting homophobia. But, at the have strong sanctions for in-stadium
maybe there’s a moment when same time, I have a career and want abuse and work closely with police.
a fan or one of the guys he plays to be known for being good at my Hopefully we can go further on social
against will abuse or insult him. It job. I’ve had a playing career, I’ve media protections, too.”
happened with other gay players worked in the media, I’ve worked
for a Bundesliga club. Finding that Daniels was lauded yesterday
 balance has worked quite well. for his bravery by Josh Cavallo, the
And when people recognise me in Australian player who came out
Hopefully, being open will the street, hardly anyone knows in October and was listed by the
make him an even better me as the “guy who came out”. Blackpool forward as one of the
player. No secrets, nobody Most of the time they say: “Oh, athletes who had inspired him along
talking behind his back you’re that footballer.” with the Thetford Town manager
Matt Morton and the Olympic diver
Jake Daniels is Jake said he had been Tom Daley.
at the beginning emboldened by the story of
of his football Cavallo, the Adelaide United player “I want to stop and take a moment
career but will who came out last year. I went to acknowledge Jake’s announce-
be a role model through a similar experience. ment and say how very proud I am
for the LGBTQ+ for his bravery,” said Cavallo, who
community It’s always other people who plays for Adelaide United. “It’s a
inspire you, who give you the wonderful feeling knowing that
PAUL DENNIS/TGS PHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK confidence until it’s your turn my story has helped guide Jake to
to do it. That’s why, to this day, be his true self.
we still need people to come out
publicly. You don’t just do it for “It’s touching to see the mil-
yourself. You go public because lions of people that my story has
you want to help so many other impacted and inspired around the
people out there who you don’t world, and to see it help evolve the
know, those who are still afraid to world game at all levels, is fantastic.
say what they feel. That’s why I will This world and the game of football
never regret coming out. And Jake has a place for everyone. Love will
won’t either. always win.”

• Thomas Hitzlsperger won 52 caps Gerard Piqué, Raphaël Varane
for Germany and played for clubs and Marcus Rashford congratulated
including Aston Villa, West Ham Cavallo last year, and there was no
and Everton over a 12-year career. shortage of big names lining up to
Most recently he was the sporting praise Daniels on Monday: Harry
director of Stuttgart. Kane, David de Gea, Gary Lineker and
Rio Ferdinand were among those to
offer support.

‘As for abuse I feel
we have moved
into an era where
it can be dealt with’

Simone Pound
Director at the PFA

Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

▼ John Fleck scores Sheffield Sport 41
United’s second goal to level the tie Football Championship play-off semi-final, second leg
featured for Manchester City since
ANNA GOWTHORPE/SHUTTERSTOCK Women’s football 23 January. Houghton, Fran Kirby
and Jill Scott face a race to prove
Houghton gets their  fitness after time out with
injury or illness.
England call but
Everton’s goalkeeper, Sandy
injured Nobbs MacIver, Manchester United’s Lucy
Staniforth and Manchester City’s
will miss Euros Chloe Kelly return after being absent
from recent camps primarily because
Suzanne Wrack of injuries.

Fleck forces Forest How Forest made them pay. Sam The Arsenal midfielder Jordan Nobbs “We have a settled squad and I
into extra time as Surridge looked up as he ran away will miss the European Championship know we have players in our team
Blades battle back down the left and crossed, good and with a knee injury after being omitted that will give everything to make it
early, for Johnson to stretch and from the 28-member provisional Eng- a summer to remember,” Wiegman
Nottingham Forest 1 of doughty stuff and, having adapted scythe the ball into the top corner. land squad for the home tournament, said. “It is important that the players
2 to playing with no recognised striker which kicks off in 49 days’ time. have the chance to get some rest now
Johnson 19 over the past five games, they took the People could not hear their neigh- after a very busy season before we get
game to the side with the immense bour speak as the noise level cranked Nobbs competed at the 2017 Euros back to our work. We then have a
Sheffield United home form. up to 11 and Surridge had a shot but has endured major tournament series of prep camps coming up and
blocked, Ryan Yates curled another heartbreak before, having missed it is important we use this time to
Gibbs-White 47, Fleck 75 Egan had already come steaming wide. Forest were on fire but tempers the 2019 World Cup because of an build an even closer connection on
in to head Jack Robinson’s long throw inflamed. When Paul Heckingbottom anterior cruciate ligament injury and and off the pitch.
Agg 3-3; score at 90 min just wide when Gibbs-White went shoved the ball into Djed Spence’s playing only one match at the 2015
scampering away down the inside- stomach as the Forest full-back went edition because of an injury. “We also look forward to wel-
Peter Lansley left channel. With an audacious flick, to reclaim in order to take a throw-in, coming those who have been working
City Ground United’s player of the year arced the there was a furious coming-together Steph Houghton is included in individually and with their clubs on
ball perfectly into the path of Iliman of all except three players, with both Sarina Wiegman’s provisional squad their fitness in the past few weeks.”
John Fleck has been at Sheffield Ndiaye: near enough the goalkeeper benches getting involved. although the former captain has not
United through the ups and downs of to tempt Brice Samba out but swerv- Wiegman will reduce the final
recent years but his goal 15 minutes ing back towards the Frenchman, As Michael Oliver went easy and Jordan Nobbs missed squad to 23 in mid-June with the dead-
from time of last night’s tumultuous hitherto a defensive midfielder, now showed a yellow card to Heckingbot- the 2019 World Cup in line being 10.59pm (BST) on 26 June.
Championship play-off enabled Paul reborn as a goalscoring target man tom, the City Ground responded by France with an injury Teams will be able to make unlimited
Heckingbottom’s team to battle back with four goals in six games since he telling the United manager he’s “just replacements before their first match
from 3-1 down on aggregate to take started deputising for Ollie McBurnie. a shit Neil Warnock”. That would Football in the event of serious injury or ill-
Nottingham Forest into extra-time. have made the former Notts County In brief ness, which includes testing positive
As the City Ground held its collec- manager laugh. for Covid-19 or coming into contact
Only Liverpool, in the FA Cup tive breath, Ndiaye shot low and pow- Manchester City Women with a positive case.
quarter-final, had previously beaten erfully but Samba saved, to his left, Steve Cooper kept his players on
Steve Cooper’s in-form side at the superbly. It felt like a huge moment, the pitch for a minute to let the visi- Stanway on her way England play three pre-tournament
City Ground this year but Fleck, a key the kind on which games, seasons, tors go down the tunnel on their own. to Bayern Munich friendlies. After facing Belgium at
member of the side who went from livelihoods pivot. While it was a good It was as enthralling as it was frenetic Molineux on 16 June, they take on
League One to the Premier League save, United should have been ahead. but the advantage, clearly, lay with The England midfielder Georgia the Netherlands, the reigning Euro-
under Chris Wilder, turned in George Forest. Stanway has joined Bayern Munich pean champions, at Elland Road on
Baldock’s cross from the right wing Morgan Gibbs-White on a three-year deal. The clubs 24 June before heading to Zurich to
to turn this tie on its head. gestures after scoring Not that United had any intention confirmed the move yesterday play Switzerland on 30 June.
the equaliser of lying down. Within two minutes shortly after Stanway, who was
Battling for the right to meet they were level on the night. Joe reaching the end of her contract The Lionesses kick off the finals
Huddersfield Town at Wembley on Worrall produced a perfect tackle with City, had posted a farewell tournament at a sold-out Old Trafford
May 29, Forest had led on the night to deny Ndiaye as he threatened to message to City on social media. on 6 July against Austria.
through Brennan Johnson’s goal only get in behind but the ball broke for “I’m so excited! It just feels right,”
for Morgan Gibbs-White to equalise Sander Berge. the 23-year-old said. “I can’t wait to guided Colchester from just above
shortly after half-time as United play for such a well-known club.” the relegation zone to 15th with
refuse to give up. It was the Norwegian’s stoppage- Stanway, who made her City debut a run of five wins from their final
time goal on Saturday that had lim- aged 16 in 2015, played 186 times eight games, Brown takes over on
The atmosphere at kick-off was ited the damage and now he weaved for the club, helping them win a full-time basis. “I feel honoured
red hot but that only intensified as to the byline to pull back the cross the Women’s Super League title and privileged to have been given
United spurned an ideal chance to from which Gibbs-White adroitly in 2016, three FA Cups and three the role on a permanent basis
level the scores on aggregate before turned in his 12th goal of an impres- League Cups. PA Media like this,” he said. Brown will
going behind to Johnson’s 19th goal sive season. continue to be assisted by Dave
of the season. Colchester Huzzey and Joe Dunne. “Dave and
Jack Robinson was booked for Joe bring different strengths to
There was a searing humidity hacking down Johnson but Forest had Brown honoured to this managerial team, which has
around the City Ground as Forest fans to find a way of staying calm while take over as manager worked really well in the 22 games
walking over the River Trent dared to matching United’s hostile intensity. we’ve had,” Brown said. “They’ve
dream of a first trip to the new Wemb- It proved beyond their capacity, at Colchester have appointed got the work ethic and work ethos
ley, maybe even of a first appearance least inside the 90 minutes. Wayne Brown as their permanent that I’ve got and it’s important
in the Premier League this century. manager. Brown was named that you get the balance right.
Nottingham Forest Sheffield United as Hayden Mullins’s interim Ultimately, we want to get success
Saturday’s 2-1 win at Bramall Lane 3-4-1-2 3-5-2 successor in January after the together and be singing off the
had set them up but United are made Samba; Worrall•, Cook, Foderingham; Basham, former West Ham midfielder same hymn sheet.” PA Media
McKenna•; Spence, Egan, Robinson•; was sacked after five successive
Yates, Garner, Colback; Baldock, Berge, Norwood, League Two defeats. Having Salford
Zinckernagel Fleck, Norrington-Davies;
(Lolley 71); Johnson, Gibbs-White, Ndiaye Bowyer sacked after
Surridge (Davis 75) Subs not used disappointing season
Subs not used A Davies, B Davies,
Horvath, Figueiredo, Osborn, Hourihane, Salford have sacked Gary Bowyer
Laryea, Mighten, Cafu Uremovic, Osula, Jebbison as manager. Bowyer was appointed
as Richie Wellens’s replacement on
Referee Michael Oliver an interim basis in March last year
before signing a two-year deal in
May after opting not to return to his
post as Derby’s Under-23s manager,
but he has parted company with
the League Two club following
a meeting yesterday. Salford
– whose shareholders include
David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan
Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary
and Phil Neville – finished 10th in
League Two, seven points adrift of
the playoff places. PA Media

• The Guardian Wednesday 18 May 2022

42 Sport Liverpool
Football Premier League show no
signs of
giving up

Diogo Jota
stretches
his arms in
celebration
as a header
from Joël
Matip (out of
picture) loops
into the net

JAMES MARSH/
SHUTTERSTOCK

Matip rises high to keep But they rocked Liverpool when they damage. Roberto Firmino thought
quadruple dream alive took an early lead. he had equalised with a header into
the far corner from a Kostas Tsimikas
Southampton 1 that they will attempt to complete although Joël Matip’s winner was Klopp fumed on the touchline free-kick only for the offside flag to go
2 the third leg of an unprecedented undercut by good fortune, it was because when Lyanco started the up late against him. Then Minamino
Redmond 13 quadruple. merited on the balance of play. move in the Southampton defen- did score.
Liverpool sive third, he appeared to go through
Liverpool 71% They will still need the league Klopp had been expected to make Diogo Jota to get to the ball. No foul, It was an explosive finish from the
5 leaders, Manchester City, to slip up changes but perhaps not to this said the referee, Martin Atkinson. The winger, lashed high into the near, top
Minamino 27, Matip 67 3 at home to Aston Villa on the final day extent. Trent Alexander-Arnold and home team worked it up the left to corner after a neat move that prised
and what a storyline that could be. Sadio Mané were given the night off; Redmond via Nathan Tella and it was Southampton apart. Joe Gomez’s
Possession City have injury problems in defence Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah plain what the winger had in mind. ball in from the right found Jota and
Southampton and one particular Liverpudlian will missed out with knocks. Cut inside and try the curler for the far his layoff ushered in Minamino. The
29% be keen to capitalise – the Villa man- corner. The shot got there, with the angle was tight and Minamino’s first
ager, Steven Gerrard. It was a balancing act for the aid of a deflection off James Milner. two touches took him wide. It was no
Shots on target manager, the calculation taking in problem. Alex McCarthy could only
2 Liverpool will have to beat Wolves the likelihood of City messing it up Southampton’s start was impres- feel the heat from the finish.
at home and hope that City draw or and the possibility of getting inju- sive. They were 5-4-1 without the ball,
Fouls lose but it will go to the wire after Jür- ries ahead of the Champions League Redmond dropping to left wing-back, The remainder of the first half was
6 gen Klopp’s team proved too strong final. In the absence of a crystal ball, Tella to left midfield, but both pushed all Liverpool. Milner radiated assur-
for Southampton. Klopp rotated he backed the strength of his squad. up quickly when they countered. ance from the base of the midfield
David Hytner heavily, retaining only Alisson and Armando Broja ran the channels. while Firmino was sharp and elusive
St Mary’s Ibrahima Konaté from the lineup that It was game No 61 of the season up front. Liverpool pushed higher,
had started the FA Cup final defeat for Liverpool, their third since 7 Liverpool set about repairing the squeezing Southampton, dominat-
Liverpool are going the distance. of Chelsea and, for the opening 20 May, when Southampton had last ing the ball. The home players could
And so is their pursuit of the Premier minutes, struggled for their bear- played. The physical strain has Takumi Minamino not find a way out, although they did
League title. It is a remarkable detail ings. Southampton were bright and been immense. It was about digging scores the equaliser largely keep their opponents at arm’s
of their season that they will play in led through Nathan Redmond. deeper, keeping on. Nothing else. length until the interval.
every game of the four main compe-
titions, with the Champions League But thereafter, it was an exercise What did Southampton have? It Milner worked McCarthy from
final against Real Madrid on Saturday in Liverpool reeling them in. Takumi had not been a great deal since March. distance and Firmino lashed a rising
week set to be the last one. Before Minamino got the equaliser and, They entered the game having taken drive high. In between times, Firmino
just five points from an available 30. got on to a deflected Harvey Elliott
cross but his attempted cut-back was
cleared by Lyanco.

Klopp lost Gomez to an injury and
he re-jigged for the second period;
Jordan Henderson on in defensive
midfield, Milner to right-back.

Wednesday 18 May 2022 The Guardian •

43

Arsenal’s striking mother of all clangers at Carrow Results
shortage laid bare Road on Sunday, Arsenal’s top-
as fourth slips away four quest will run aground on the Football
thinness of a squad not augmented
in January with one or two key PREMIER LEAGUE
signings to push them over the P W D L F A GD Pts
line. Injuries to Kieran Tierney
and Thomas Partey have exposed Manchester City 37 28 6 3 96 24 +72 90
a lack of backup quality in other
areas; their patchiness in attack Liverpool 37 27 8 2 91 25 +66 89
has been an enduring problem
over the season, though, and Chelsea 36 20 10 6 73 31 +42 70
will be the main area of focus for
Inefficiency in attack has spark but has been carrying knocks, Tottenham 37 21 5 11 64 40 +24 68
flitting in and out of their past Iany postmortem.
been a problem all season and four games when he can so often t will not be news to Arteta, Arsenal 37 21 3 13 56 47 +9 66
be depended upon to set the bar. who was relatively candid
looks set to cost the Gunners When he is out of tune, Arteta is when it was pointed out Manchester Utd 37 16 10 11 57 56 +1 58
forced to look at his other forwards in December that they had
a Champions League place more in hope than expectation. no reliable centre-forward West Ham 37 16 8 13 59 48 +11 56
option for the long-term.
Nick Ames Martinelli is a scintillating “We have a cloud and the cloud is Wolves 37 15 6 16 37 40 -3 51
talent and showed it again when there and, at the moment, we’re
Amid the hopelessness tormenting Leeds’s Luke Ayling not able to change it,” he said. Five Leicester 36 13 9 14 57 57 0 48
of Arsenal’s offering at into a red card 10 days ago; he months on it has still not shifted
Newcastle on Monday is also an emphatic finisher but and, in a crowded market that will Brighton 37 11 15 11 39 43 -4 48
there was a five- has scored once in his past 21 include the Saudi-funded arrivistes
minute spell midway appearances and there is a sense who showed them up on Monday, Brentford 37 13 7 17 47 54 -7 46
through the first half that, from his perch on the left, he Arsenal face a battle to land the top-
when it seemed they might, just is yet to find a balance between quality additions that are called for. Newcastle 37 12 10 15 42 61 -19 46
might, have come to their senses. penalty-area threat and wider
Unsurprisingly, Bukayo Saka was involvement. Lacazette earned They must win it and they must Crystal Palace 36 10 15 11 47 43 +4 45
behind it: a darting run on to a give- gushing reviews in December also fend off any attempts to turn
and-go with Martin Ødegaard was when showing the leadership Saka’s head. His contract expires Aston Villa 36 13 5 18 49 50 -1 44
straight out of his playbook but Dan Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had in two years and the last thing
Burn blocked the attempted finish; abdicated, if not the goal return of Arsenal need is a saga engulfing Southampton 37 9 13 15 42 63 -21 40
then there was a nip inside and a his friend, but that was a passing their prize asset, who was lost in
low shot that, although reasonably fancy and he will depart with little contemplation as he left the pitch Everton 36 10 6 20 39 59 -20 36
struck, did not overly trouble fanfare this summer. on Monday. Saka is as grounded
Martin Dubravka. as they come and would suck up Leeds 37 8 11 18 40 78 -38 35
Eddie Nketiah preys clinically a season in the Europa League,
Had Saka given Arsenal’s on opponents’ mistakes but is less especially as Arsenal’s progress Burnley 36 7 13 16 32 50 -18 34
Champions League hopes fresh effective when asked to bind a is obvious and tangible despite
life from one of those glimmers, it forward line from the middle. He the gripes; what he would feel Watford R 37 6 5 26 33 75 -42 23
would have been his 13th goal of was one of Arsenal’s more willing about the same in 12 months’ time,
the season in all competitions. He performers at St James’ Park but with the best years of his career Norwich R 37 5 7 25 23 79 -56 22
could yet add to his tally at home Callum Wilson showed him how approaching, is another question.
to Everton on Sunday but given it is done and, while the academy Southampton (1) 1 Liverpool (1) 2
he leads their goalscoring charts, product is understandably admired “I just can’t believe how we Redmond 13 Minamino 27
mental gymnastics are not required by the fanbase, they require better. performed today,” he said once he 31,588 Matip 67
to understand the problem. In A new contract is on the table but had gathered his thoughts; Arteta
peacetime football, only one of a fresh start will surely be his most must help him out by moulding a SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS
Arsenal’s top scorers, Brian Kidd in likely source of regular football. front line that he, let alone anyone Semi-final: Second leg
1975-76, has managed fewer than Pépé’s recent contributions as a else, can have faith in.
12; on the previous occasion, in substitute have been risible. Nottingham Forest (1) 1 Sheffield United (0) 2
1912-13, Charles Lewis scored four Johnson 19 Gibbs-White 47
and Arsenal were relegated. Unless Tottenham drop the Fleck 75
(score at 90min) (agg 3-3)
Nowadays, their concerns are There
loftier but a lack of potency is the has been Rugby union
primary issue for Mikel Arteta to an over-
address this summer. When he reliance PREMIERSHIP CUP
flung on Alexandre Lacazette and on Saka, Final London Irish L Worcester L
Nicolas Pépé after Ben White’s who has
own goal, having already deployed looked Cricket
Gabriel Martinelli from the bench, exhausted
it was hard to believe these were in recent FIRST TEST MATCH (third day of five)
changes that would tip the scales. weeks
Necessary surgery has been Chittagong Sri Lanka 397 (AD Mathews 199; LD Chandimal
performed on Arsenal’s defence Bukayo Saka has 66; BKG Mendis 54; Nayeem Hasan 6-105). Bangladesh
over the past two years but on scored 12 goals in all 318-3 (Tamim Iqbal 133; Mahmudul Hasan Joy 58; Liton
nights like Monday, when both competitions this season Das 54 no; Mushfiqur Rahim 53 no). Bangladesh trail Sri
centre-halves were hardly match Lanka by 79 runs with seven first-innings wickets remaining.
fit and Newcastle asked constant
questions, their inefficiency further Tennis
forward is laid bare.
ATP LYON OPEN (France)
A counter-argument to the
focus on a top scorer is that First round: M Guinard (Fr) bt H Gaston (Fr) 6-4 6-7 (5-7)
good teams share goals around. 6-2; F Coria (Arg) bt D Altmaier (Ger) 6-3 3-6 6-3.
Arsenal can claim to have done
that: Emile Smith Rowe, whose Second round: C Norrie (GB) bt F Cerundolo (Arg) 6-4 6-4;
drop in output has been among S Baez (Arg) bt O Otte (Ger) 5-7 6-4 6-2; Y Watanuki (Jpn)
their inconveniences, sits one bt Kwon SW (Kor) 6-3 6-4; A De Minaur (Aus) bt U Humbert
goal behind Saka and 14 players (Fr) 1-6 6-3 6-2
have scored in the league this
season. But only Wolves, of the ATP OPEN GENEVA (Switzerland)
division’s top nine, have managed
fewer in total and it inevitably First round: J Sousa (Por) bt P Andújar (Sp) 6-1 6-4;
means Arsenal must sweat for N Basilashvili (Geo) bt F Bagnis (Arg) 6-4 ret; J Nikles
their rewards. (Swi) bt L Riedi (Swi) 5-7 7-6 (7-3) 7-5; C O’Connell (Aus)
bt A Ramos Viñolas (Sp) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4; T Kokkinakis (Aus)
There has been an overreliance bt F Fognini (It) 6-4 6-3.
in general on Saka, who has looked
exhausted at times in recent weeks. Second round: R Gasquet (Fr) bt D Medvedev (Rus) 6-2
He provides so much of Arsenal’s 7-6 (7-5); K Majchrzak (Pol) bt M Cecchinato (It) 6-2 6-3

Jota wasted a decent chance when WTA INTERNATIONAUX DE STRASBOURG (France)
he took a cut-back from Tsimikas and
dragged wide of the far post and, First round: B Pera (US) bt E Ruse (Rom) 7-5 6-4;
with Firmino continuing to probe, A-L Friedsam (Ger) bt D Saville (Aus) 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5);
Liverpool hinted at the next goal. It F Ferro (Fr) bt A Gabueva (Rus) 6-3 6-4; E Makarova (Rus)
almost came when Firmino released bt S Cirstea (Rom) 1-6 6-3 6-2.
Elliott but the chipped finish hit the
side-netting. Second round: M Zanevska (Bel) bt H Tan (Fr) 4-6 7-5 6-1;
M Linette (Pol) bt H Watson (GB) 6-1 6-1
Klopp made an attacking move
when he introduced Divock Origi for Cycling
Elliott and Southampton remained
on the back foot. For them, the even- GIRO D’ITALIA
ing had become about resilience and,
when they cracked, it was galling for Stage ten (Santarcangelo di Romagna - Reggio Emilia
Ralph Hasenhüttl because Matip did 203km): 1 B Girmay (Eri) Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert 4hr
not seem to know an awful lot about 32min 07sec; 2 M van der Poel (Neth) Alpecin-Fenix;
his header. 3 V Albanese (It) EOLO-Kometa. Selected others:
24 H Carthy (GB) EF Education-EasyPost; 27 S Yates (GB)
Mohamed Elyounoussi had flicked BikeExchange-Jayco both at same time
on a Tsimikas corner and Kyle Walker-
Peters seemed to head against Matip, Overall standings: 1 JP López (Sp) Trek-Segafredo 42hr
who had his feet planted. The ball 24min 08sec; 2 J Almeida (Por) UAE Emirates +12; 3 R
looped into the far, top corner and it Bardet (Fr) DSM +14. Selected others: 15 H Carthy (GB) EF
is questionable whether Matip could Education-EasyPost +4:22; 24 S Yates (GB) BikeExchange-
have placed it any better. Jayco +11:11; 50 B Tulett (GB) INEOS Grenadiers +43:53

Fixtures

Football (7.45pm unless stated)
Uefa Europa League
Final Eintracht Frankfurt v Rangers (8pm)
Sky Bet League Two Playoffs
Semi-final: Second leg Northampton (1) v Mansfield (2)

Cricket
Charlotte Edwards Women’s T20 Cup
South East Stars v Central Sparks, Guildford (4pm);
Southern Vipers v Lightning, Ageas Bowl (6.30pm);
Sunrisers v Western Storm, Chelmsford (7pm);
Thunder v Northern Diamonds, Sale (1.30pm)

Greg Wood’s racing tips

Southampton Liverpool Ayr 1.00 Cosa Sara 1.35 Girl Magic 2.10 Stallone
4-4-2 4-3-3 2.45 Classy Al 3.20 Achelois 3.55 Kats Bob 4.25 Firebomb
McCarthy; Walker- Alisson; Gomez 4.58 Smart Connection
Peters, Lyanco, (Henderson ht), Matip,
Stephens•, Salisu; Konaté, Tsimikas; Elliott Yarmouth 1.25 Central City 2.00 Finn’s Charm
Elyounoussi, Diallo (Origi 65), Milner, Jones; 2.35 Al Qaasim 3.10 Diamond Cutter 3.45 Twelfth Knight
(Romeu 71), Ward- Minamino, Firmino 4.17 Verreaux Eagle (nb) 4.52 Eljaytee 5.22 Aletoile
Prowse, Redmond; Broja (Keïta 82), Jota
(Adams 82), Tella• Subs not used Warwick 2.20 Debece 2.55 Cadeau D’Or 3.30 Elham Valley
(S Armstrong 71) Kelleher, Thiago, Díaz, 4.05 I’m A Starman 4.40 Percy’s Word 5.10 Joke Dancer
Subs not used Oxlade-Chamberlain, 5.45 Hillview
Caballero, Long, Robertson, Williams
A Armstrong, Djenepo, Southwell 5.15 Via Dolorosa 5.50 Allavina
Bednarek, Valery 6.20 Tikk Tock Boom 6.50 Huntsman’s Call
7.20 Miss Chantelle 7.50 Kings Creek 8.20 Masterdream
Referee Martin Atkinson Attendance 31,588
Kempton 5.30 Two Tempting (nap) 6.00 Encouraged
6.30 Beauen Arrows 7.00 Mont Champs 7.30 Heart Of Soul
8.00 Wonder Elzaam 8.30 Savoy Brown

Silver lining • The Guardian
Rangers set Wednesday 18 May 2022
their sights on Test of will
Europa League Anderson
glory in Seville considered
retirement
after tour snub

Page 39 Page 38

Daniels
coming out
will have
‘domino effect’

Paul MacInnes

Match report Jake Daniels’s decision to come out as
David Hytner gay promises a domino effect that will
Page 42 allow more men in professional foot-
ball to be open about their sexuality,
Southampton Liverpool Fight to the finish ▲ Joël Matip according to a figure involved in the
Liverpool recover to celebrates process that led to the Blackpool
1 2 with Ibrahima player’s announcement.
take title race to wire Konaté having
Redmond 13 Minamino 27 scored the goal Simone Pound, who has worked for
Matip 67 that sealed all more than 20 years on issues of inclu-
three points sion in football, believes the moment
for Liverpool may finally have arrived when men’s
at St Mary’s football ends a historic taboo.

ANDREW POWELL/ Daniels is the UK’s first active male
GETTY IMAGES professional footballer to be open
about his homosexuality since Justin
Fashanu in 1990. The 17-year-old has
received widespread support from
the world of football and beyond after
he chose to come out on Monday,
saying he was “ready to tell my
story” and also to act as a role model
who could “help others come out” if
they wanted to.

Pound is also encouraged by the
decisions of Thomas Beattie, a former
Hull academy midfielder who played
in the US, Canada and Singapore, and
the Australian footballer Josh Cavallo
to come out in recent years.

“I do think there will be a domino
effect; it’s already started,” said
Pound, the director of equality, diver-
sity and inclusion at the Professional
Footballers’ Association.

“It began when Thomas Beattie
came out in 2020. Thomas, Josh
Cavallo and now Jake: one man has
come out every year since. So we can
see the positive impact it can have
when people come forward and
are visible.”

Daniels is set to take a brief holi-
day after an announcement that
was months in the planning. The
process, described as player-led,
involved a number of
stakeholders including the 40 

Harrison steps Ali Martin have removed or replaced their direc- of the Hundred, a new competition Thomas
down as ECB Simon Burnton tor of cricket, red-ball head coach, Hitzlsperger
continues to assistant coach and captain, while that was played for the first time in ‘I don’t regret
ring changes Tom Harrison, chief executive of the the ECB is yet to find a permanent coming out –
England and Wales Cricket Board, replacement for its chairman, Ian 2021 despite resistance from many Jake won’t
is to step down from the role next Watmore, who stood down last Octo- either’
month with Clare Connor, the former ber. Watmore’s interim replacement, within the game. The announcement
England captain and current mana- Barry O’Brien, himself resigned last Page 40
ging director of women’s cricket month because of ill health. of his departure was timed to avoid
and president of the MCC, lined up
as interim replacement as change at Harrison, who played five first- his position being the subject of
the top of English cricket continues. class games for Derbyshire in 1995,
has been a controversial figure since debate at the ECB’s annual general
This year the England men’s team his appointment in 2014, most nota-
bly driving through the introduction meeting today. Spencer Stuart, an

executive search firm, has been

appointed to identify a successor.

Ostensibly due to the Hundred’s

commercial success Harrison and a

group of executives are in 38 
line to share a £2.1m bonus

“I a“uplwIaglaootyt.bBseuattI
fightwboualcdkal!ways

fight back!

Wednesday 18/05/22 PReorseiez

on sexism, racism,
Botox and boxing

Regenerate!
Regenerate!
What’s going on
in the Tardis?
page 3

‘I need to climb’
Why pregnancy
can’t ground
Shauna Coxsey
page 4

• The Guardian
Wednesday 18 May 2022
2

A moment that changed me
I learned to love my leg hair

It took a pandemic
for Dhruti Shah
to realise she didn’t
have to hurt herself
by conforming to
beauty standards

I ‘My body was
have a passion for on furlough’ …
wolves. My friends joke: “If you Dhruti Shah
see something wolfy, then send
it to Dhruti.” But I also like them cases, cruel comments. Being a It’s protective – like the wolves One warm day, shave in early March 2020 gave PHOTOGRAPH: COURTESY OF DHRUTI SHAH
because no one would dare make hairy woman seemed to others I identified with, and I found I took off my way to long, fine hair. Two
fun of a wolf for the way it behaves to be an ultimate sin. It didn’t sanctuary in it. My legs, however, long socks and inches in some cases. At first the
or the way that it looks. A wolf just matter that Asian hair has a faster were different; if I had to go out let those dark growth was down to a lack of
does its thing. growth rate compared with that to work or any event, they hairs be seen. effort but soon it became a
of Caucasians. would be as cleanly shaven as It was liberating deliberate project. This was a
That love of wolves goes back they could be. time when my body was on
to reading Jack London’s White Did you know wolves have guard furlough from the pressures of
Fang – never underestimate the hairs? That’s the protective layer It was the pandemic that trying to adhere to conventional
power of reading as a child. But you can see, which gives the wolf made me finally accept that beauty standards.
it’s also as a child that you begin its colour. They are rather oily and even my leg hairs aren’t gross.
to realise your differences, have hollow shafts. Underneath is I was working from home and It got to the point where I was
especially when it comes to another layer – the undercoat – and for family reasons, this involved so comfortable that one warm
appearance. And you’ll latch on it’s all about insulation and keeping shielding. I stopped removing summer’s day that year, as I
to whatever you can to help figure the beast warm. my body hair. If I wasn’t going prepared to go on a walk to get
out your place in the world. out and few people would see some fresh air, I took off the long
I began to get more comfortable me, then why did I need to protect socks I had been planning to wear
I’m proud of my south Asian with my arm hairs by viewing myself from any disgusted under my dress. Instead, I allowed
heritage and of my brown skin. them as devices to signify how objections by projecting a those dark but ultra-soft leg hairs
But I also have a body that can cold I was getting. After all, when smooth image? to be seen and soak up some sun. It
seem more wolf than human. they would rise, I knew it was to was liberating. It wasn’t the longest
When puberty hit early, nature trap the heat and keep me warm. The stubble from my last leg walk – just around the corner and
offered up a significant portion back – but it was the first time in
of dark, wiry “terminal” hairs two decades my leg hair had been
across my body rather than the on show in public.
soft fine fuzz known as vellus that
practically everyone else I knew In 2021, I was shortlisted for a
was bestowed with. My arms and national award for my journalism
legs were particularly affected. and writing. This meant having to
dress glamorously for the awards
Shaving became a daily ritual, do in London, at a fancy hotel. Just
as did the cuts and blood and bits before the ceremony kicked off, I
of tissue paper that came along spoke to another journalist about
with it. The excess growth meant my beauty experiment while we
seeking out small Indian beauty touched up our makeup in front
shops in west London to find the of the mirrors in the restrooms.
least painful but most affordable I showed her my leg hair – still
threaders and waxers. I must untouched all this time. I found
have spent thousands over the that I was excited about having
years, trying to be as smooth as the confidence to come along to an
the women in magazine adverts. event, finally feeling comfortable
But that grooming didn’t make in my skin. It was then I knew I just
me attractive to the opposite didn’t care about others’ opinions
sex or even make me feel at all any more.
comfortable. In fact, my arms
started to become prone to scarring I don’t know how long I’ll stay
from ingrown hairs. au naturel, but the pandemic
certainly allowed me to embrace
In my 20s I tried laser surgery, and enjoy my hairy roots. I’ve
but still the follicles pushed forth. even adapted one of my favourite
The waiting period between quotes about my beloved White
sessions was also frustrating Fang to mark this new chapter
as going out in public meant of life.
acknowledging there would be
potential curiosity and, in some “Fear urged him to go back, but
growth drove him on.”

In this case, it was literal hair
growth.

•

The Guardian Pass notes 3
Wednesday 18 May 2022

Arwa
Mahdawi
Shireen Abu Aqleh’s Rightwingers
killing is devastating are united
for Palestinians over the cost
of living crisis

S chrödinger’s cat is old hat. Let me introduce a new Energy bills have gone through the № 4,409
thought experiment: Schrödinger’s Palestinian. As a roof, but that hasn’t curtailed the
Palestinian, you are told constantly that you may think British government’s enthusiasm Rose Tyler
you exist, but, really, you don’t. I am Palestinian (I used for gaslighting. Rather than take
to say half-Palestinian, through my father, but now I any responsibility for the cost of Age: 18.
refuse to slice myself in half) and have been told this living crisis (or, God forbid, try to Appearance: Yeah, about that …
several times. My favourite example was when a colleague informed solve it), Tory politicians seem to be What do you mean? Everyone knows what
in competition to see who can dole Rose looks like. You’re going to say she looks
me that, “semantically speaking”, there was no such thing as a out the most patronising advice. like Billie Piper, aren’t you?
Well, yes. Because Piper played Rose on
Palestinian and no such thing as Palestine. Well, there is no arguing The latest example of Doctor Who between 2005 and 2013?
Conservative condescension Yes. It’s sound logic, but I’m afraid you’re
with semantics, is there? I disappeared into a puff of air right then. comes via Rachel Maclean, the wrong. Rose, in fact, looks exactly like
safeguarding minister. Maclean Yasmin Finney from Netflix’s Heartstopper.
Palestinians don’t exist – except, of course, when we are militants told Sky news on Monday that No, she doesn’t. I just looked it up on the
anyone struggling with the cost internet and everything. You’re right in that
or gunmen or terrorists or Hamas. There is no disputing our of living crisis should consider Piper doesn’t look anything like Finney. Piper
working more hours or think about is a 39-year-old white woman, while Finney
existence then. There is no disputing our existence when we are getting a better-paying job. Thanks, is a black, trans 18-year-old. It would be hard
Rachel! I don’t know why everyone to confuse the two.
targets for condemnation. We exist when we are being criticised; doesn’t just become a CEO or an Good, so I’m right. Well, no, because Rose
investment banker. It is brilliant looks like Finney now.
we cease to exist when it comes to human rights. There is no peace ideas such as this that get you a Are you deliberately trying to melt my brain?
salary of £104,000 and allow you to It’s OK that you’re confused. When it comes
in Israel/Palestine because Palestinians are terrorists who don’t claim £218,000 in expenses on top to Doctor Who, it seems as if nobody really
of it, as Maclean did last year. knows what’s going on any more. First Ncuti
want peace, one pervasive narrative goes. But there is also no peace Gatwa was named as the new Doctor. But
Maclean isn’t the only Tory MP then, a couple of days later, it was announced
because Palestinians are imaginary and Palestine is made up. We offering helpful life hacks. Lee that David Tennant would also be playing
Anderson claimed last week that the Doctor again. And now it turns out that
exist, but we don’t. It’s complicated! food poverty isn’t a problem – the Finney is going to play Rose. But then again,
problem is the silly poor people: this is Doctor Who. Haven’t you heard of
Why am saying all this? Because it is difficult to understand just “They can’t cook a meal from regeneration?
scratch. They cannot budget.” Why is this happening? Russell T Davies
how devastating the killing of the journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh was Anderson also claimed that you can is back in charge and seems determined to
make a nice, nutritious meal for mix things up as much as possible, that’s
– the way it shook Palestinians to the core – without understanding 30p. Uh, maybe 30 years ago. why. Footage from the set released this week
revealed that Bernard Cribbins is making a
She was a what it is like to be Palestinian. Conservatives across the return to the show as well.
Being Palestinian means having the validity Atlantic, I should note, are equally As Wilf? That would be the logical answer,
condescending and out of touch. yes, so in reality we should probably brace
reminder that of your existence litigated every single day. It One classic came from Fox News’s ourselves to see him play a Dalek, or a
means constantly being gaslit, erased, talked Laura Ingraham. Earlier this year, Cyberman, or a sentient manifestation of the
she argued passionately against moon, or whatever.
we are human over, smeared. When I went to law school in the forgiveness of student loan I don’t like the sound of any of this? Why not?
London, I was subjected to “joke” after “joke” debt by saying her mum worked A black Doctor? A trans Rose? This is political
as a waitress until she was 73 to correctness gone mad. You’re right. There is
beings deserving about suicide bombers. Anti-Palestinian bigotry help pay off college loans. “Loan no way on earth that a shapeshifting ancient
is so normalised and widespread that, when forgiveness [is] just another insult alien god and an interdimensional explorer
strangers ask me where I am from, I am often to those who play by the rules,” trapped in a parallel dimension should
of dignity wary (and scared) of mentioning Palestine. she said. Sound like pretty terrible be played by anything other than a white
rules to me. British guy and the woman from I Hate Suzie
Shireen Abu Aqleh had no such qualms; respectively.
Still, rule-abiders take note: This isn’t the Doctor Who I am used to. But it
she was courage personified. The much-loved inflation is nothing to worry about is. The transgender actor Bethany Black had
as long as you work more hours, get a role on Doctor Who in 2015. In an episode
Al Jazeera correspondent was a fixture on TV a better-paid job, cook 30p recipes in 2006, Jack Harkness said that he had a
and get your mother to waitress trans co-worker. If you factor in the audio
screens for more than three decades, signing off until she is well into her 70s. episodes, you’ll find yourself inundated with
trans characters, actors and writers.
her broadcasts with: “I am Shireen Abu Aqleh, Fox News host Wait, so I’m the one who’s wrong? Exactly.
Laura Ingraham Stop watching. The rest of us will have a blast.
Jerusalem, occupied Palestine.” No mincing of Do say: “It’s great that Rose Tyler is being
played by a trans woman.”
words, no apologies for existing; just the truth. Don’t say: “Oh God, does this mean I have to
start watching Doctor Who again?”
Abu Aqleh was far more than a journalist,

far more than a household name. She was a

documentarian of displacement, a voice for

Palestinians, a symbol of Palestine. She was a

constant reminder that Palestinians are not an

abstract philosophical concept whose existence

is up for debate, but human beings deserving

of dignity. For diaspora Palestinians, she was a

lifeline. And now she is gone.

Abu Aqleh isn’t just dead; she has been

desecrated. Her memory was dishonoured by

fellow journalists who reported her death with

the passive voice, diluted her death with references to “clashes” and

gave more credence to constantly shifting narratives from the Israeli

government than eyewitness accounts. Her killing last week, during

an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, was

diminished by western politicians offering meaningless platitudes

rather than demanding real accountability. Her funeral was

disturbed by Israeli police who beat mourners and tried to snatch

the flag from her hearse. It wasn’t enough for the voice of Palestine

to be dead; the imagery of Palestine had to disappear, too.

The best way I can honour Abu Aqleh’s memory is to ask

you to consider this: if the violence that happened at a beloved

COVER: MIKAEL SHULTZ Palestinian’s funeral took place when the Israeli government knew

the world was watching, what do you think happens to ordinary

Palestinians the rest of the time? The violence documented at

Abu Aqleh’s funeral wasn’t an aberration; it was just another day

under occupation.

• The Guardian
Wednesday 18 May 2022
4

‘I’m a pregnant
woman making
choices’

With her baby keep climbing through pregnancy, ‘My comfort a competition climber. Her aim Competing in
due, the British but wants people to know that for zone has now is to be an elite-level rock the 2019 World
Olympic climber others, “it is possible. I think it’s changed climber. The UK’s most successful Championships
Shauna Coxsey important we share those positive throughout the competition climber, she has made in Japan
was still reaching stories, and we know that there is pregnancy’ … it on to the podium at the World
for the heights. a choice. It’s not the case that we Coxsey Cup 30 times, including 11 gold
She tells all have to go and sit on the sofa for medals, and won two world titles
nine months.” strap a watermelon to his stomach in bouldering.
Emine Saner so he can see what she has been
about ignoring Coxsey is, of course, not the dealing with. Getting to the Olympics meant
the ‘bullies’ first woman to climb while years of hard work, coping with
pregnant. The British climber She did not necessarily plan to injuries, several surgeries, and
T Alison Hargreaves scaled the north be climbing at this stage, “because then having to do rehab on herself
he week her face of the Eiger while nearly six a lot of my previous success and during lockdowns. All that, as
baby is due, Shauna Coxsey is, as months pregnant in 1988, and satisfaction has come from pushing well as a back injury, meant she
usual, at her local climbing centre other athletes, such as the French it to the limit and trying to be wasn’t in her best shape for the
in Sheffield. The British Olympic rock climber Caroline Ciavaldini, the best that I could be. So I was Games, where she came 10th, out
climber has scaled climbing have continued with the sport fascinated to know whether I would of 20 women who qualified. The
walls and rocks throughout her throughout pregnancy. “I have still find climbing as fun.” In fact, she run-up, she says, “wasn’t pleasant
pregnancy, and videos shared on friends who are pregnant that has regained her love of the sport. at times but I was so determined
her Instagram account show her are still climbing,” Coxsey says. to get there, and the fact that
making her way gracefully and “They’re climbing within their “There is so much more freedom we actually made it feels like
powerfully upwards, in control of comfort zone, and mitigating these and enjoyment in a very different a huge achievement”.
her body, as she switches holds to risks, and choosing to do something way. When you make your passion
accommodate her growing bump. that keeps them fit, active, healthy your job, it’s difficult to stay in love She had always wanted to be
and happy.” with that.” This stage, she says, a champion climber. At four, she
Her decision drew criticism – as “has brought it all back, fulfilled saw the French climber Catherine
she knew it would – and she was She has been able to brush off me again”.
forced to hit back at the online most of the negative comments,
“bullying”. For a start, she says, with she says, but it is “knowing that She had been training hard for
nearly 450,000 Instagram followers, other women face judgment the 2020 Olympics, which was
she knows social media “is a place which is hard. I hope that sharing held last year. It was the first time
where you’re going to get criticised, it empowers women to make their climbing had been included, but
regardless of what you say”. But own choices, and a small part of me Coxsey knew going into the Games
she had also seen the reaction other hopes maybe some of the people that it would be her last event as
women have faced. “One of my good who are judging might think twice
friends, who is incredibly strong about it next time.” She smiles.
and confident, stopped climbing “Maybe that’s naive.”
because she couldn’t be bothered
with the judgment and the funny Coxsey is grateful when other
looks she got in her late pregnancy,” people point out she is an Olympic
says Coxsey. “The idea that someone climber and knows how to climb
would stop doing something they safely, but she also thinks that is
absolutely love because of the not quite the right message. “I’m a
judgment; it’s so sad we’re in a pregnant woman making choices,”
position where that happens still.” she says, simply, when we speak
over Zoom. When we’re done, she
She knows not every climber can and her husband are going to take
to the climbing wall. Today, she
says with a laugh, they are going to

It’s not the case
that we all have
to go and sit on
the sofa for
nine months

•

The Guardian 5
Wednesday 18 May 2022

Destivelle on TV and knew that Let’s not suck the
was for her. Her father took her to joy out of writing
the local climbing centre and, “it
felt like what I was supposed to do. If we want children to express themselves,
I think climbing is such a natural
thing as human beings; it’s part we must rein in our obsession with
of how we used to survive. It’s a
fundamental skill. You see kids: Igrammar, says Michael Morpurgodidn’t love reading at all
they know how to climb; it’s when I was young. As
within us.” a teacher, I loved it, and
now as a reader, I love it.
Coxsey, 29, grew up in Runcorn, But I was put off the whole
Cheshire, mainly with her father cramped by anything I was trying ‘We were taught
(she has a large family, with five to teach them. that words were
older half-sisters and a half- not for fun’ ...
brother). And, as a child, she This is the opposite of how I was Michael
climbed everything. “My dad taught, at St Matthias primary Morpurgo at
would come to the park to shout school in London, which was very primary school
me in for dinner. I was swinging on
this rope swing and he was like: ‘Is idea of words very early on. punishment-driven. There was with “and”; I start huge numbers
it safe?’” Yes, she replied – Coxsey of sentences with “and”. I’m not
had climbed up the tree and along Some years ago, I was made to fear in the classroom, and grammar just trying to get back at some
the branch to check. She laughs. “It English teacher I had when I was
was a huge tree. I see it when I go do a key stage 2 (seven to 11 years and punctuation were part of 10. While I can see how you could
back home and I’m like: why did I overdo it, sometimes there’s a
climb up there?” old) English test. I don’t even that. It is now a wonderful school, really good reason for doing it.
And sometimes there’s a very
It’s not really about bravery, want to tell you how I did, but it where kindness and creativity go good reason for having a comma
she says. “I wouldn’t say I was the rather than a full stop. It’s a
bravest climber. I think it’s more wasn’t good. I find expressions hand in hand. matter of judgment, and not just
the ability to assess risk, which is rules. I think today’s rules are a
something that my dad ingrained such as “fronted adverbials” I came from quite a bookish misunderstanding of language.
within me.” An IT consultant, he Grammar, punctuation and spelling
also rode trials bikes. “He comes and “subordinate conjunctions” family. I was read to every night by are guidelines about how we frame
from a world of assessing risk and our language, and very important
pushing yourself, so he was always extraordinarily abstract and my mum, who was an actor. She in terms of communication,
very encouraging of me.” for accurately reflecting what
difficult to get my head around. was guided by the instinct that if it is we wish to say and how to
Although she was ambitious be understood. But they’re not
from the start – she started But we’re stuck in the Michael she loved a poem or a story, she supposed to tie us up in knots.
competing at the age of seven – she
didn’t know that it was possible to Gove era, in which children are wanted to tell me that story, or read It is important to keep our focus
be a professional climber until she on every child becoming a reader,
became one. It has been a male- trained in analysing language me that poem. So I was handed the and having the experience of falling
dominated sport, though less so in love with Philip Pullman and
now, she says (thanks, probably, in a way that seems to me to love of stories by my mother, but Jane Austen and Shakespeare. It
in part to Coxsey, who set up the is not about teaching something
Women’s Climbing Symposium to restrict and inhibit, rather than then went off to primary school, that’s then got to be tested. If you
encourage women in the sport). do that, what will happen – and
“It’s not just getting more women; to encourage creativity. So I was where I learned that words were what has always happened in our
it’s getting more people of all ages, system – is that those who succeed
all backgrounds, minorities, and glad to discover that someone has not for storytelling, or music or at that level are fine and go on
ensuring that people feel welcome their way towards university. And
in the space.” done some proper research on this fun. They were about spelling and those who don’t succeed begin to
feel that they’re failures and that
Coxsey has worked with part of Gove’s education reforms; punctuation, and if you got things language and books aren’t for them,
a specialist women’s health because they’re not enjoyable,
physiotherapist throughout her UCL and University of York have wrong, you were in trouble. because they keep getting bad
pregnancy. What might seem marks in tests. The problem with
risky to a casual onlooker is found that this emphasis on I didn’t want to go into testing is that there are winners and
well within her comfort zone. losers and we have an education
“And that comfort zone changes grammar in primary school does detention, but I did spend an awful system that divides people very
depending on how I feel that day, early on. More and more, what
and it’s changed throughout the not improve six- and seven-year- lot of time there because I found has been lacking in our primary
pregnancy, as I’ve changed.” schools is space in the curriculum
old children’s writing. the more red marks I got, the more for creativity, for exploring the
Her husband often accompanies potential of children in terms of the
her and might try out a route When I was a primary school I was scared. And when you’re way they use language.
first if she is unsure of a hold or
movement, then they’ll discuss it. teacher in the 1970s, in a village scared, you don’t do things very I often get letters from teachers
He might tell her it’s beyond what and children correcting the
she wants to do, or advise on a hold. called Wickhambreaux, just well at all. I knew I was pretty good grammar in my books, and they are
quite right. But people can be over-
There are climbs she can’t do, outside Canterbury, we were at telling lies, but I didn’t know obsessed by it. If you look at some
“like super-steep stuff – I don’t of our great writers and you start
want to put too much strain on free of such burdens. I was able I could be a storyteller until much analysing sentences, the poetry
my abs”. Leaning into a rock face is what counts, the sound, the
is hard with a bump in the way. to concentrate on encouraging later, when I was a teacher. meaning. The grammar is supposed
Pregnancy can make ligaments lax to be what serves that. It’s not what
and Coxsey knows women who children to find their own voices. On World Book Day this year, you start out with in the first place.
have had to stop climbing because Michael Morpurgo was talking to
it hurt their hands too much. That is what literacy is for – to a pupil asked me: “Do you ever Amy Fleming
“My hips are a little bit looser
but they still feel really strong,” express your thoughts, to discover make mistakes?” Of course I make
she says. She is not putting any
pressure on herself to rush back to the music in language, the joy mistakes. When I’m working on my
training and intense climbs after
the birth of their baby but – like of reading, and all the interest, own books, I often slip into a slack
climbing while pregnant – will
take it move by move. “If I don’t knowledge and understanding way of saying things, which is too
climb for a week, I really don’t feel
good. I need to climb, for my body we can gain through that. It is oral, if you like. I’m reminded about
and my mind.”
not the analysis of a sentence – it fairly firmly by good editors, and

that comes later. that’s fine – it’s a way of improving

As you read one story, they pick what’s already there, and refining

up a book by the same author or a it. My spelling isn’t that great,

similar book with a similar subject, either; I’m quite ashamed of that

and extend their reading on their sometimes. My grandson can spell

own. And I extended their writing things better than me. But that’s

by saying to them: “Look, Roald OK. It’s just a side of me that needs

Dahl was your age once. He sat improvement. At 78, I’ve got plenty

down and wrote his first story. Why of time left.

don’t we go and write our stories?” I grew up with people telling me:

I would never make them sit down never, never start any sentence

with a blank sheet of paper, and

then say: “Do it”, which is what

happens time and time again in

tests up and down the country to

this day. It’s an impossible task Literacy is for
to set a child. You have to inspire

them; you have to go out and expressing
trigger it somehow.

PHOTOGRAPHS: BAND OF BIRDS We would go for long walks thoughts
up to the nature reserve, look at

and enjoyingherons standing in the reeds, and

we would be quiet. Then we would
language –go back and write down what we

felt about what we had seen. Some
children would be descriptive;
most were very thoughtful. But not analysing

sentenceseach of them was beginning to find

their voice as a writer. They weren’t

• The Guardian
Wednesday 18 May 2022
6

‘I made it up on the fly’

Spike Lee championed her but she still

had to fight misogyny and racism

to get to the top. Rosie Perez tells

Steve Rose about her trailblazing career
R
osie Perez It was dancing that got her Perez: ‘I was baby. Her mother returned when tight-ass hoochie-mama minidress
apologises for sounding hoarse – it’s started. Lee spotted her at a always thinking: she was three, only to place her and a gang of makeup” as she put it
partly because of a cold, but mainly Los Angeles nightclub, where “I don’t belong in a strict Catholic convent school in her 2014 memoir, Handbook for
because she spent Saturday night at he was holding an unsavoury- here”’ in upstate New York, along with an Unpredictable Life. A producer
Madison Square Garden, screaming sounding “butt contest” to see several of her half-siblings. After for the TV show Soul Train spotted
for Amanda Serrano during her which Black woman had the written as a white character, Carla that, Perez moved between group her and hired her as a regular
historic bout against Katie Taylor. biggest butt. Perez disrupted in Peter Weir’s 1993 film drama foster homes, seeing her parents dancer. Then, one day a music
“I shouldn’a went to the fights, but the proceedings by dancing on Fearless. The movie was not a intermittently. Her mother (who had executive asked her to choreograph
I went to the fights,” she mutters a speaker. Lee gave her his card hit but Perez’s raw, emotional paranoid schizophrenia) and some his new solo artist. “I said, ‘I’m not
in that unmistakeable Brooklyn and said, “Tonight is fate,” to performance, as a plane-crash of the nuns physically abused her, a choreographer,’” Perez recalls.
accent. But how could she have which she responded, “You wish!” survivor who loses her baby, and she was sexually abused by her “He said: ‘I’ll pay you $1,600 a day,’
missed the biggest women’s boxing She thought he was hitting on her, earned her an Oscar nomination. half-brother. In 1999, her mother and I said, ‘I’ll be there Monday’.
match in history? “On one hand, but he was sizing her up for the She later revealed she had been died of an Aids-related illness. And that’s how it began. I made it
it’s gonna go down in the history role of Tina, the girlfriend of Lee’s drawing on a lifetime’s experience up on the fly.” The new solo artist
books as one of the best fights ever, character in Do the Right Thing. of depression, loss, betrayal and At least the nuns taught her was Bobby Brown.
and that’s saying a lot. And on the The part was originally written undiagnosed PTSD. dancing, she says, although they
other hand, I was really upset that for a Black actor but Perez (who might not have approved of how Suddenly, Perez had a career
Amanda didn’t get the win.” has been identified by others as If you were to make a film based she applied those skills. She began as a choreographer, touring with
“Afro-Latino” but rejects such on Perez’s childhood, it would studying biochemistry, but was early hip-hop acts including LL
Perez is no casual fan. distinctions and only describes seem excessively dramatic. She often to be found in nightclubs “in a Cool J and Heavy D & the Boyz,
Moviegoers know her as a herself as “Latina”) made it her was initially brought up by her
distinctive, expressive actor, own with her brassy, no bullshit aunt, who she believed was her
veteran of everything from 1989’s attitude. She has spoken of her mother. Her birth mother and father
Do the Right Thing to the current unhappiness with Lee over the were married to other people, and
HBO hit The Flight Attendant. movie’s nude scenes (for which virtually abandoned Perez as a
But, in other circles, Perez is she has since forgiven him), but he
better known as “the first lady was right about the “fate” part.
of boxing”. Around New York,
she is often to be found ringside, Yet, Perez still had a fight on her
not just at the big title fights but hands to establish herself in a film
the lower-tier prospect matches. industry that had little interest in
All the promoters know her, Latina actors. “I understood, right
and many of the boxers, too off the bat, the racism and stuff like
– including Serrano, a fellow that,” she says. “And so I just made
Puerto Rican from the same sure I had representation.” Jennifer
neighbourhood of Bushwick Grey, who co-starred with her on
in Brooklyn. her next movie, Criminal Justice,
introduced her to her agency, CAA.
While Perez boxes and trains “I remember first meeting with
regularly, she doesn’t fight. them and I said, ‘Get me in the
“I learned how to box because room where you get all the white
I used to get beat up a lot. And I girls in,’ and their mouths just
was scrappy. I would always fight dropped,” she laughs. “I said, ‘If I
back all the time, even though don’t get the role then that’s on me.
I would lose,” she says. “I was But if you don’t get me in the room,
that idiot that, like, after I’ve then that’s on you.’”
been pummelled to the ground,
I would get back up and be like, They got her in the room, and she
‘Is that all you got?’” got the roles, many of which were
written with white actors in mind.
The first time most people Like Gloria, Woody Harrelson’s
saw Perez, she was boxing and trivia-loving girlfriend in 1992’s
dancing through the opening basketball-hustle classic White
credits of Spike Lee’s Do the Right Men Can’t Jump. She, Harrelson
Thing. It set the tone for the movie, and Wesley Snipes reunited at this
and possibly for Perez’s own career. year’s Academy Awards, where
She has fought against incredible they shambolically presented
odds to get where she is, and she the best cinematographer Oscar.
has punched her way through a Harrelson and Snipes admitted
few Hollywood barriers, too. they had just done a bong hit in the
car. “I wasn’t pissed off at them; I
was more like, geez guys, really?
You couldn’t wait till after?” Was
it like that on set back in the day?
“No comment.”

The role that finally showed
Perez’s range was also originally