The Times - 11 12 2020

2020·50.52 MB·English

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Friday December 11 2020 | thetimes.co.uk | No 73340
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WWhat Brexit
wwill mean for
tthe housing
mmarket
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HMRC pays offshore firms to pursue pandemic victims
times investigation havens. Five companies working with using aggressive enforcement tactics struggling to pay bills during the pan- sending about 800 letters accusing
HMRC and local councils to collect during the pandemic. They have de- demic, accusing them of deliberately people of deliberately not repaying
Paul Morgan-Bentley debts have offshore owners, with bases scribed the department’s actions as choosing not to pay and threatening to debts. However, it is continuing to
Head of Investigations including the Channel Islands. “harmful”, “threatening” and “out of “take things you own and sell them”. threaten repossessions as a “last resort”
One has also been handed taxpayers’ the dark ages”. Hundreds of readers Those targeted include families on and to use private debt collectors to
HM Revenue & Customs is under sensitive financial data even though it is have also been in contact to describe low incomes, while millions of others help it recover funds.
mounting pressure over the way it owned by a family linked to a notorious their experiences of being pursued by have benefited from financial aid. In HMRC has passed on 4.5 million of
chases debts as a Times investigation payday loan company. debt collectors hired by the taxman. some cases, the supposed debts are the its cases to private debt collection firms
reveals that firms enforcing payments HMRC is facing growing anger from The Times revealed yesterday that result of HMRC errors. since 2014 without taxpayers’ specific
include some owned in offshore tax debt charities and campaigners for HMRC officials had written to families The Revenue has now apologised for Continued on page 2, col 3
Prepare for STEPHANE CARDINALE/CORBIS/GETTY IMAGES Health trust
blamed after
no deal, PM hundreds of
baby deaths
tells Britain
Kat Lay Health Editor
Charlie Parker
The deaths of hundreds of babies at an
NHS trust must result in an immediate
shake-up of maternity services across
England, a report into the scandal
Johnson raises prospect of Australia option
has said.
and says Brussels wants UK ‘locked in its orbit’ A review into maternity services at
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals
NHS Trust found repeated failures, and
Francis Elliott Political Editor while again insisting that the “Australia a “lack of compassion and kindness”
Bruno Waterfield Brussels option” offered “amazing possibilities”. from hospital staff.
Oliver Wright Policy Editor “What I’ve said to our negotiators is Some 13 mothers also died between
that we’ve got to keep going, and we’ll 2000 and 2019 at the trust, where
Boris Johnson told Britain to prepare go the extra mile, and we will,” Mr babies’ skulls were fractured and their
for the end of the Brexit transition Johnson said. “And I will go to Brussels, bones broken during “traumatic births”.
period without a deal as he stepped up I will go to Paris, I will go to Berlin, I will Donna Ockenden, the former mid-
the pressure on EU leaders before a go to wherever to try and get this home wife leading the review, said there was a
summit last night. and get a deal.” He added that he had need for “immediate and essential
The prime minister said he had the told the cabinet to “get on and make actions” in maternity services across
cabinet’s very strong backing in reject- preparations” for a no-deal outcome. England “so that the experiences
ing the “deal on the table” and warned Allies said that he had universal women and families have described to
it was vital that “everyone gets ready” backing for his stance from the cabinet, us are not replicated elsewhere”.
for the no-deal option. including from former Remainers. Experts said it must be a watershed
Asked if he thought leaving in three Senior government figures also moment for the health service.
weeks’ time without an agreement had voiced exasperation about Wednesday The NHS insisted that many im-
become the most likely outcome, he night’s dinner, saying the European provements were already under way,
said: “I do think we need to be very, very Commission had failed to engage with while Nadine Dorries, minister for
clear, there is now a strong possibility, potential solutions to the central diffi- patient safety and maternity, told MPs:
a strong possibility, that we will have a culties over regulatory alignment. “We will learn the lessons that must be
solution that is much more like an Aus- Mr Johnson and his chief negotiator, learnt so that the tragic stories found
tralian relationship with the EU than a Lord Frost, held a 45-minute meeting within these pages will never be
Canadian relationship with the EU.” with Mrs Von der Leyen, the commis- repeated again.”
Unlike Canada, Australia does not have sion president, and her senior aide The review was commissioned to
a trade deal with Europe. Stéphanie Riso, before a lengthy dinner look into 23 cases where babies had
In a sign of the worsening atmos- with a wider group that included the died or been harmed while in the care
phere after the previous night’s failed bloc’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier. of maternity services at the trust. The
dinner with Ursula von der Leyen, Mr British sources said that Mr Barnier cases were uncovered after a campaign
Johnson mocked claims that the bloc was stony-faced as Mr Johnson sought by two families whose children died
and the UK “were a bit like twins”, to lay out potential solutions. shortly after birth in 2009 and 2016.
which were said to have been made dur- EU leaders were due to discuss the However, the inquiry’s scope ex-
ing the event. “If the EU decides to have impasse in the talks over dinner in panded and now includes 1,862 cases,
a haircut then the UK is going to have Brussels last night, with Ireland calling most of which happened between 2000
a haircut or else face punishment,” he for both sides to compromise. and 2019.
said. “Or if the EU decides to buy an ex- Brussels officials said that they had Last night Richard Stanton, whose
pensive handbag then the UK has to been briefed about Mr Johnson’s state- Continued on page 5, col 4
buy an expensive handbag too or else ment so it had not come as a surprise.
face tariffs. Clearly that is not the sens- His analogy about twins had them
ible way to proceed and it’s unlike any scratching their heads. It is thought to
other free-trade deal.” be rooted in comparisons, made by
Mr Johnson issued an explicit chal- senior French officials, of France and
lenge to President Macron of France Britain being like sisters living in ad-
y(7HB7E2*OTSLPS( |||+\!"
and Angela Merkel, the German chan- joining houses who are jealous rivals. On song At 73, Jane Birkin has a new album out and has spoken frankly about
cellor, to intervene to salvage a deal Break the logjam, pages 8-9 the death of her daughter and her relationship with Serge Gainsbourg Times2
2 2GM Friday December 11 2020 | the times
News
Biggest arts groups get £165m
Today’s
highlights
to stage revival after pandemic
9.45am The former Woman’s Hour presenter Jenni Murray on why
she’s taking her clothes off on the telly
11.45am Gloria De Piero marks one year since the last general
election and talks to three MPs who lost their seats
4.30pm ‘The Ladder’ with the international David Sanderson Arts Correspondent £19.7 million, boosting its performance Bodyguard; London Theatre Company,
supermodel and activist Naomi Campbell, right Matthew Moore Media Correspondent restart programmes and providing which runs the Bridge theatre; and the
employment for staff and freelancers. Hairspray producer Mark Goucher
6.15pm The clean-air campaigner Leading arts institutions including the The Royal Albert Hall is borrowing Productions.
Rosamund Kissi-Debrah on her National Theatre, the Royal Shake- £20.7 million to stabilise its finances Senior arts figures welcomed the
daughter Ella’s death speare Company and the Royal Albert until it can return to a pre-coronavirus cash injection, saying that the money
Hall will share £165 million in govern- performance schedule. would help to address some of the
11.50pm Karam Singh, a British breakdancer
ment loans in the hope of saving them The package for arts and heritage immediate financial damage caused by
and 2024 Olympic medal hopeful
from financial collapse. bodies is the latest round of funding the coronavirus crisis.
Ministers said that they were acting from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Olivia Colman, who starred in Mos-
to protect the “crown jewels of UK Fund, announced in July. quitoes at the National, said: “Alongside
culture” for future generations after Oliver Dowden, the culture secretary, the grants to smaller theatres, it’s
they were hit hard by the pandemic. said: “This government promised it wonderful to hear that the National
The Royal Opera House and English would be here for culture and the Theatre’s future is being supported by
TODAY’S EDITION
National Opera are also among 11 orga- announcement is proof we’ve kept our this lifeline loan.”
nisations offered the repayable finan- word. The £1 billion invested so far Sir Nicholas Hytner, co-founder of
cial support, receiving £21.7 million and through the Culture Recovery Fund London Theatre Company, said: “We’re
Reinforcements Co-op cameras Daily tests for £8.5 million respectively. has protected tens of thousands of jobs determined to do all we can to generate
for court martial spot ‘thieves’ Covid contacts Historic Royal Palaces, the charity at cultural organisations across the UK, employment for the freelance commu-
that maintains sites such as the Tower with more support still to come through nity and joy for audiences.”
Civilians may be A supermarket chain is Daily coronavirus tests of London and Hampton Court Palace, a second round of applications. The remainder of the recovery fund
drafted in for the court putting face-recognition are being given to the will receive £40 million. The South- “We’re extending a huge helping will be available for organisations “who
martial of Major technology in its shops contacts of people with bank Centre will get £10.9 million to hand to the crown jewels of UK culture are at imminent risk of collapse before
General Nick Welch to spot customers who Covid-19, in a pilot replenish reserves and open its venues. so they can continue to inspire future the end of this financial year”.
because of a shortage have a record of theft scheme running in a The Department for Digital, Culture, generations all around the world.” Further investment for capital
of officers with a high or antisocial behaviour. number of schools, Media and Sport said that the RSC’s The other loan recipients are Pro- projects hit by the pandemic has also
enough rank to sit on The Southern Co-op businesses and £19.4 million loan would allow it to re- duction Park, an arts facility in West been given to 74 arts groups across the
the panel. He is the franchise said it was universities. If the test open full-scale productions in Stratford- Yorkshire; Michael Harrison Enter- country, including the Turner Contem-
most senior officer to responding to an gives a negative result upon-Avon and London in the spring. tainment, a West End producer known porary in Margate; the Factory in Man-
face such a hearing 80 per cent rise in then the person is free The National Theatre is in line for for musicals such as Gypsy and The chester; and Broadway in Nottingham.
since the Napoleonic violence against its to leave their home for
wars. Page 7 workers. Page 11 that day. Page 12 Season ticket rail journeys at record low
COMMENT
The EU mindset fails to appreciate that Britain Graeme Paton Transport Correspondent deserting the railway in unprecedented days a week, but their popularity had
numbers. It is being driven by the mas- already started to drop before the pan-
was serious about leaving in the first place The government was under growing sive shift to home working prompted by demic.
pressure to introduce new flexible rail the pandemic. In September Boris Johnson said the
JAMES FORSYTH, PAGE 31 season tickets yesterday as figures Separate research by the Rail Deliv- government was “working at pace”
showed a collapse in the number of ery Group, which represents train with rail companies to deliver flexible
people travelling by train. operators, suggested a permanent shift season tickets that can be used two or
Biden repays Airbnb shares Rugby facing A report published by the rail watch- in commuting patterns, with regular three days a week, appealing to workers
his oldest allies soar on debut lawsuit blitz dog showed that 134 million journeys travellers failing to return to the railway commuting on a part-time basis.
were made on the railway between July in the same numbers. However, The Times has been told
Joe Biden has Airbnb shares more Rugby players and September, a 70 per cent drop on Its study, based on a survey of 5,600 that the Treasury has since rowed back
appointed a group of than doubled in value diagnosed with the same period last year. people, found that regular rail commut- on the idea because of concerns over
long-standing allies to on a stunning Wall dementia who are According to the Office of Rail and ers expected to work from home for an costs. The government is underwriting
senior jobs, unsettling Street debut to value planning legal action Road, only 16 per cent of journeys taken average of 2.6 days a week in future, up private rail networks until March 2022
some Democrats who the company at against their governing over the three-month period were from 0.5 days previously. to keep services running. Some £4 bil-
fear that the incoming $100 billion, more bodies are in a “prime made using season tickets, a record low. The conclusions will put renewed lion was spent in the six months to
US president is than the combined position to sue”, It said that the proportion had never pressure on the government to intro- April, with billions more expected in
building an insular value of three of the according to the doctor previously dropped below 30 per cent. duce part-time season tickets to get rail the next 15 months. The government is
cabinet. It comes amid world’s biggest hotel leading research into The disclosure underlines the extent passengers back into town and city cen- considering a rise in rail fares in the new
a last-ditch legal groups: Marriott, the link between sport to which regular commuters, who often tres. Under existing fares regulations year, with prices expected to increase
challenge to the Intercontinental and and neurodegenerative travel to work using season tickets, are season tickets have to be usable seven by 1 per cent above inflation.
election result. Page 36 Hilton. Page 43 diseases. Page 78
continued from page 1
dal, whose husband, Gordon, describes more for government to do to bring
CARTOON 33 WORLD 36 SPORT 67 HMRC investigation himself as the Canadian parent com- public-sector debt collection out of the
LETTERS 34 BUSINESS 43 CROSSWORD 78 pany’s executive director. Mr Reykdal dark ages.”
LEADING ARTICLES 35 REGISTER 59 TV & RADIO TIMES2 consent. It has continued to do so this was also the majority owner and chief The debt collection agencies said
year but would not disclose the number executive of Cash Store Financial, a no- they are regulated by the Financial
FOLLOW US of cases, despite the release of equiva- torious firm in Canada that offered Conduct Authority, trained to help vul-
thetimes timesandsundaytimes thetimes lent figures for the previous six years. short-term loans with interest equiva- nerable customers and assess afforda-
One of the firms, which uses the lent to an annual rate of 59 per cent. bility and have offered additional
OFFER names 1st Locate and LCS, is majority- The companies chase debts relating support during the pandemic. They
owned by Andrew Barclay, a 55-year- to issues such as miscalculations on said they are subject to extensive
A digital subscription gives unlimited access
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across all devices, and the first month is free 2004-05 — the earliest full public ac- tax credits. In some cases, people on 1st Locate said it is unable to com-
counts available — it has reported turn- low incomes can be overpaid tax credits ment on “individual taxpayer matters”
THETIMES.CO.UK/SUBSCRIBE over of almost £76 million and profits of for months without realising before or “individual members of staff, includ-
£5 million, while paying £392,623 in tax being sent repayment demands for ing the directors”. BPO Collections
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THE WEATHER © TIMES NEWSPAPERS LIMITED, 2020. effectively a tax rate of 7.7 per cent, far Jane Tully, from the Money Advice continue to pass stringent due diligence
Published in print and all other derivative lower than the present rate of corpora- Trust, said: “Government debt collec- checks in order to conduct work on the
formats by Times Newspapers Ltd, 1 London
tion tax at 19 per cent. tion practices lag behind those of other HMRC portfolio.”
Bridge St, London, SE1 9GF, telephone [phone]
5000. Printed by: Newsprinters (Broxbourne) Those who are resident abroad for sectors, with the use of outdated tactics HMRC said the law allowed it to del-
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8DY; Newsprinters (Knowsley) Ltd, Kitling Rd, without paying capital gains tax, which mental and physical health. There and safeguards were in place to ensure
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Web, Morton 3 Esky Drive, Carn Industial to remain abroad for five consecutive Self-employed people have been par- dards” from debt collection agencies
Estate, Portadown, BT63 5YY; Smurfit Kappa tax years. They also do not pay UK tax ticularly badly hit by the pandemic. and they must “respect the letter and
8 News Press Ltd, Kells Industrial Estate, Virginia
on income from dividends, which is Aron Padley, founder of Excluded UK, the spirit of the UK’s tax rules”. A
9 8 RLad ,R Kueel lMs, aCrotuenl, tLya M Reuaet dhe, sIr Pelraensd T; rKaPdi Snger Evsicteast,e , usually taxed at a top rate of 38.1 per which represents those who have had spokesman said they “go through rigor-
7 St Saviour, Jersey, JE2 7QR. For permission to cent. British salaries and rental income no financial help from the government ous, ongoing commercial compliance
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information purposes contact Newspaper
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Wells, TN1 1WX, tel [phone], e-mail to a cap of £145,000 a year, after which opportunity to save themselves, once action on any that did not comply”.
[email protected]. For all other reproduction and income is taxed at 1 per cent. again they are let down.” Joe Shalam HMRC debt collectors linked to tax haven,
Rather cloudy with showers or licensing inquiries contact Licensing BPO Collections is owned by parent from the Centre for Social Justice, a pages 18-19
Department, 1 London Bridge St, London, SE1
spells of rain. Some sunny spells in 9GF, telephone [phone], companies in Iceland and Canada. It is think tank, said: “This Times investi- Antisocial contract, leading article,
the south later. Full forecast, page 66 e-mail [email protected] ultimately controlled by Carrie Reyk- gation shows clearly there is still much page 35
the times | Friday December 11 2020 1GM 3
News
Crown star hits back at minister
DES WILLIE/NETFLIX; PA
The actor portraying
Charles says that calls
for the show to carry a
disclaimer are absurd,
writes Matthew Moore
Josh O’Connor, who plays the Prince of
Wales in The Crown, has condemned
the culture secretary’s “outrageous”
call for the drama to carry a historical
disclaimer.
The actor accused the minister of
failing in his duty to stand up for the
creative industries, and of delivering a
“low blow” to the arts at a time of crisis.
Oliver Dowden wrote to Netflix last
week urging the US streaming giant to
make clear to viewers that the saga was
dramatic fiction, not historical fact.
Series four, which was released last
month, attracted widespread criticism
over inaccuracies and fabrications,
notably the tenor of Prince Charles’s
relationship with his beloved
great-uncle Earl Mountbatten of
Burma, who was assassinated in 1979.
Mr Dowden’s concerns were echoed
by Helena Bonham Carter, who plays
Princess Margaret. She said that the
Oliver Dowden,
the culture
secretary, wrote to
Netflix outlining
his concerns
show had a “moral responsibility” to
remind viewers that the programme
was not a dramatised documentary.
However, O’Connor, 30, has now
criticised Mr Dowden, suggesting that
it was not the minister’s job to interfere
with artistic decisions. “We were
slightly let down by our culture secre-
tary, whose job it is to encourage cul-
ture,” he told The Envelope podcast Josh O’Connor says that the Crown’s dramatisation of events such as the investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1969 do not need to be prefaced with fiction warnings
from The Los Angeles Times.
“In my opinion, it’s pretty outrageous Last weekend Netflix said that it all the pieces on the floor,” Morgan said.
When arts and politics collide
that he came out and said what he said. could see no need — and had no plans “I had a map for what I thought the sea-
Particularly in this time when he knows — to add a disclaimer at the beginning sons should be, and then I wrote it and
that the arts are struggling and they’re 6In 2002 Kim Howells, 6 The late Sir Peter 6Ministers were forced of episodes. Peter Morgan, the show’s now I’m stripping it to pieces again.”
on their knees, I think it’s a bit of a the Labour culture Maxwell Davies was to apologise in October lead writer and the man responsible for O’Connor, the son of a teacher and a
low blow.” secretary, said that all master of the Queen’s after an arts world its creative liberties, has declined press midwife, was raised in Cheltenham,
O’Connor, whose performance as four entries shortlisted music in 2007 when he revolt against a interviews, while conceding that key Gloucestershire, before training at the
Charles in series three earned him a for that year’s Turner described Tony Blair’s government advertising scenes and dialogue were “made up in Bristol Old Vic Theatre school. In addi-
Bafta nomination, said that viewers prize were “cold, government as “utterly campaign that my head”. Speaking to the latest epi- tion to The Crown, he is known for
were well aware that The Crown was a mechanical, conceptual philistine”. He berated suggested ballet sode of The Crown’s podcast, released playing Larry Durrell in ITV’s period
work of fiction, albeit one inspired by bullshit”. He added: “If the prime minister for a dancers should “reboot” yesterday, Morgan revealed that he was drama The Durrells and starring in the
real events. “My personal view is that this is the best British “platitudinous speech their careers during the “starting again” on the final two series, acclaimed 2017 British film God’s Own
audiences understand,” he said. “You artists can produce then about the health of the pandemic by retraining which takes the Queen’s life story into Country, about the relationship
have to show them the respect and British art is lost.” Art arts in Britain, when his in IT. Oliver Dowden, the the 21st century. between a young Yorkshire farmer and
understand that they’re intelligent figures suggested that own horizons are rock culture secretary, said Imelda Staunton takes over from an Eastern European migrant worker.
enough to see it for what it is, which is he stick to politics. and pop”. that the ad was “crass”. Olivia Colman as the Queen for series He has previously described himself as
pure fiction.” five, which is expected in 2022. “I’ve got a liberal leftwinger and a republican.
Tennis ace warns parents of dangers in child sport contracts
Hannah Mays his family had brought a “restraint of how exciting it may be when talented to winning a maiden grand slam in New
trade” claim in which they said that his children are offered contracts, always York in September. He has previously
In a cautionary tale for people who former agent Patricio Apey had taken seek advice.” ranked third in the world.
want their talented offspring to enter advantage of his talent by signing him Zverev said that he was glad the liti- Zverev said that he and his brother
the world of professional tennis as early at the age of 15 on a five-year contract. gation had ended. “This was very new Mischa, who was in court with him yes-
as possible, Alexander Zverev, the In response, Mr Apey pursued the for me,” he said. “This was a different terday, would offer advice to younger
German player ranked seventh in the recovery of up to £1 million of earnings kind of work. I am so happy it is over.” players on how to prevent them falling
world, has said that parents should first lost when Zverev broke off another Ace Group said: “Alexander Zverev into similar disputes with agents.
seek advice. five-year deal to join Roger Federer’s brought a claim against Ace alleging “We want to help the next generation
A judge at the High Court was told Team8 agency last year. our agreement was a ‘restraint of trade’. a bit,” Zverev told the Daily Mail. He
yesterday that Zverev had reached a Judge Andrew Hochhauser, QC, was Today his representatives agreed to said that he wanted to help the parents
settlement with Ace Group, his former due to begin considering evidence at drop that claim and meet his own costs of younger children look out for them-
management company, after a two- the High Court in London yesterday of bringing the claim. Each side will selves before managers could take ad-
year dispute. but Ms Proops told him a settlement meet their own costs as part of the vantage.
Zverev, 23, entered into a representa- had been reached. settlement.” “It’s an extreme sense of relief, we
tion agreement with Ace in 2012 when Outside court Ms Proops said that Lawyers for Zverev said that Ace had have been dealing with this for two
he was 15. His barrister Anya Proops, parents of promising young players agreed to pay the star’s substantial legal years now,” he added. “All the greats
QC, said that when Zverev had tried to should seek advice before signing deals. bills. Zverev’s move to Federer’s Team 8 have to go through some issues and I
terminate the relationship, Ace had Alexander Zverev says he will warn the “There are lessons people can learn coincided with average results but he hope that this will move me closer to
denied his “right to do so”. Zverev and next generation about signing deals from this case,” she said. “No matter bounced back this season, coming close where I want to go on the court.”
4 2GM Friday December 11 2020 | the times
NNeewwss Baby deaths
‘I wanted to lie down and
die, but they blamed me’
Kat Lay Health Editor quiries. Kate Stanton-Davies, the through talking to each other that there ask him to instigate an independent re-
daughter of Rhiannon Davies and her were such common themes between view, which he did. The point was we
A mother who fought for an investi- husband, Richard Stanton, died in 2009. what had happened to cause the avoid- knew we were not the only families and
gation into Shrewsbury and Telford Kayleigh and Colin Griffiths’s daugh- able deaths of our babies. when the number grew to 60, the hospi-
Hospitals NHS Trust after her baby ter Pippa died in 2016. They identified “We spent some time going through tal trust put out a public statement say-
died said that she felt sick yesterday 23 cases where babies had been harmed death records, inquest records and we ing that that was scaremongering.
while reading the report. at the trust. identified 23 cases which we put to “We are now at 1,862 incredibly brave
The review was prompted by two in- Mrs Davies said: “We identified Jeremy Hunt [the health secretary] to families that have chosen to come for-
ward and speak to the review.
“Yes, we did the initial groundwork
and it was hard, very hard. But it’s testi-
mony to all these other families who
have come forward and whose own
cases will enable positive change.”
Kate was born in March 2009, “pale
and floppy” at the Ludlow midwife-led
unit. Midwives had failed to classify the
pregnancy as high-risk after Mrs
Davies reported reduced foetal move-
ments. Heather Lort, the midwife, who
was banned from practising by regula-
tors in 2018, did not monitor Kate’s con-
dition or put her in an incubator when
it became clear one was needed.
There was a delay calling paramedics
when her condition worsened and staff
did not accompany her to another hos-
pital, where she died. Subsequent inves-
tigations found that midwives retro-
spectively changed records and failed
to follow guidelines.
Mrs Davies accused the trust of
“mother-blaming”. She said: “They
would find any reason to cast doubt on
what may have happened. In my case I
wanted to lie down and die to be quite
frank with you — and they blamed me. Rhiannon Davies hugs her daughter,
“Clearly this has happened to other
families and other mothers. I am sure in that had they checked me as soon as I
many, many cases, that’s what hap- arrived, Sophiya would have been born
pened. Families were so crushed.” with a heartbeat and that’s ultimately
Mr Stanton said it had been a “battle” what caused her passing,” she said. “It’s
to get to the truth. The hospital refused torture because living with a ‘what if’ is
to accept the inquest’s findings, so the horrible.”
couple went to the Parliamentary and Kelly Jones lost her twin daughters,
Health Service Ombudsman in 2013. Ella and Lola, in 2014. She began to feel
Pippa Griffiths was the other baby pain while pregnant but says staff at the
whose death prompted this review. Her Royal Shrewsbury Hospital ignored
parents were concerned about her her requests to be properly assessed.
feeding but midwives reassured them. The girls were stillborn in 2014. The
Pippa began to vomit and her condi- trust told her in a letter that the babies
tion worsened. She developed a purple had died because of “oxygen starvation
rash and stopped breathing. She was re- to the brain” contributed to by a delay in
suscitated but died on April 27, 2016. recognising deterioration in their heart
Although she had a group B strepto- rates and “missed opportunities for an
coccus infection, the family was not earlier delivery”.
given a leaflet on warning signs or given Hayley Matthews’s son Jack Burn
a midwife visit within 24 hours of birth. was born in March 2015 but died within
John Ellery, the Shropshire coroner, hours of group B streptococcus and
ruled that her death was preventable. hypoxia, a lack of oxygen.
Steph Hotchkiss’s daughter Sophiya When the review was widened in
died 32 hours after birth in 2014. She 2018, Ms Matthews said: “It makes you
said she waited 45 minutes in severe angry, all these parents going through
pain before staff checked her. She had a what I went through three years ago.
history of pregnancy complications They said changes have been made but
and went into labour ten weeks early. at the moment we’re failing to see any.
“I will never, ever get past the fact I was just another number on a bed.”
Rhiannon Davies and Richard Stanton raised concerns along with other families
the times | Friday December 11 2020 2GM 5
NNeewwss
Former bosses advise
others on healthcare
Charlie Parker, Kat Lay at five NHS trusts, including Shrews-
bury and Telford.
Two former chief executives of an NHS Neil Taylor, 57, was head of the Royal
trust at the centre of a maternity scan- Shrewsbury Hospital for four years
dal have been advising hospitals and before it merged with the Princess
working in the health sector despite Royal Hospital in Telford in 2003.
apparent failings during their tenures. When applying for the £112,000-a-
A report by an independent review year position as chief executive, he lied
into maternity services at Shrewsbury about having a first-class degree from
and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, Nottingham University. He had only
published yesterday, highlighted a list “one or two A-levels”.
of cases where babies or women died or He was caught out during a salary re-
were harmed under the trust’s care. view in 2004 after creating a home-
It was originally commissioned to made diploma for a BA in business ad-
investigate 23 such instances but the ministration and economics. He plead-
scope expanded to more than 1,800 ed guilty to obtaining a pecuniary
cases, mostly between 2000 and last advantage by deception and one of at-
year. This first report, which does not tempting to commit the same offence.
name any chief executives, follows a He was given a 12-month suspended
clinical review of 250 cases and com- prison sentence in 2005.
munication with a further 800 families. He runs a consultancy used by pri-
Simon Wright, 54, was appointed vate healthcare firms. One of them,
chief executive of the trust from 2015 MDT Health Consulting, advises Ser-
until he resigned last year after regula- velec, a digital healthcare provider that
tors criticised his leadership. During his supplies NHS trusts. Last October Mr
posting the trust was rated inadequate Taylor became principal shareholder of
and put into special measures over MDT, Companies House records show.
failures in A&E and maternity care. The report criticised the trust for
A report by NHS England said that having ten chief executive officers from
he tried to soften the conclusions of a 2000 to early 2020, eight of whom were
safety review about maternity services in post in the past ten years. It blamed
in 2017, noting: “It seems that the trust’s the “considerable board level turnover”
response at this stage was driven for a “loss of organisational memory”.
primarily by concerns about the impact Richard Stanton, whose daughter
of publishing the report in its current Kate died days after her birth at the
form. In particular, the trust was trust in March 2009, said that Mr
worried about the potential public and Wright had upheld “a toxic culture” of
media reaction.” failures by chief executives at the trust.
Mr Wright set up a company that “He’s appalling,” he said. “Anyone
coaches executive healthcare leaders. with his record shouldn’t be anywhere
On LinkedIn, he highlights training on near healthcare or advising healthcare
Kate, at the Ludlow midwife-led unit. The baby girl died six hours later after the midwife failed to put her in an incubator “turnaround and crisis management, professionals in any capacity at all.”
locking in wins and establishing a new After consulting lawyers Mr Taylor
normative behaviours”. said that he did not wish to comment
Catalogue of failings with tragic results His profile describes him as a “trans- until all inquiries conclude. “My deep-
formation consultant” for the Virginia est sympathies are with those families
Mason Institute, a hospital group that affected,” he added. The Times ap-
has a five-year contract with NHS En- proached Mr Wright and the Virginia
a lack of kindness and inappropriate use of oxytocin
gland to improve safety and leadership Mason Institute for comment.
compassion from some staff Past scandals led to babies getting stuck
The review found inappropriate The drug is commonly used to Review makes for difficult
language had been used “causing Do scandals in the NHS really lead to increase the frequency, strength
distress” and women being change? It is tempting to answer no and length of uterine contractions.
“blamed for their loss further — particularly when the warnings in It should not be used or should be reading, top doctor admits
compounded their grief”. Families Donna Ockenden’s review echo the stopped “in the presence of
raising concerns “were dismissed Morecambe Bay report five years excessive uterine contractions or
or not listened to at all”. ago (Kat Lay writes). foetal heart-rate concerns”. The
Bereavement care was in several But that is not entirely fair. review team found “many Continued from page 1 be an urgent national priority”, with
cases “either inadequate or non- Programmes to address issues in examples” of it being used daughter Kate Stanton-Davies died in those centres involved early in the
existent”. maternity services are under way. In “injudiciously”. 2009 and who pushed for the review, cases of pregnant women with complex
2017 the Commonwealth Fund think described the findings as “bittersweet”. medical issues. Women should be for-
high-risk women gave birth problems with foetal heart
tank praised the safety of NHS care, More than 80 families have brought mally risk assessed every time they are
in the wrong place rate monitoring
ranking it first out of 11 countries. claims against the trust since 2006-07, in contact with antenatal services, it
Families were not told how long it There has been a push towards There were “significant problems” with almost £50 million paid out in adds. The final national recommend-
would take to transfer them from a “no blame” learning when things go in the use of heart-rate monitoring compensation for the 52 cases settled to ation is that all maternity services must
standalone midwifery unit to a wrong. But things can fall through both in midwife-led units and on the end of last year. The report found a appoint a dedicated lead midwife and
hospital in case of complication. the gaps. Baroness Cumberlege has the labour ward, the review found. high turnover of senior management lead obstetrician with expertise in the
The decision on where to give called for the creation of a “patient In 2015 a baby was born with brain had led to a tendency to see problems as field of foetal monitoring.
birth was not reviewed when safety commissioner” to take an injuries caused by a lack of oxygen, “historical”. The initial report follows a Jeremy Hunt, who as health secre-
women changed from low to overview of the health system. She and died several months later. clinical review of 250 cases, with a full tary commissioned the review in 2017
higher risk categories. One baby has since described the Department Heart-rate abnormalities were not report to follow next year. and now chairs the health and social
died in 2016 after a delayed of Health’s response as woeful. picked up and staff later failed to Multiple midwives have been re- care select committee, said the report
transfer to the labour ward, being realise they were recording the ferred to their regulator, including one “must not be allowed to gather dust”.
“delivered in a very poor condition Morecambe Bay mother’s heart, rather than the involved in the care of Kate Stanton- He called on Matt Hancock, the health
having suffered a brain injury”. Eleven babies and one mother died foetal heart. Davies who was struck off. secretary, to address parliament on its
between 2004 and 2013. A Edward Morris, president of the findings “at the earliest opportunity”.
staff competence was not a desire to keep caesarean
dysfunctional maternity unit, with Royal College of Obstetricians and Gy- Aidan Fowler, NHS patient safety
up to scratch section rates low
bad relationships between staff, had naecologists, said: “This report makes director, said: “NHS Improvement
The review found midwives had a “lethal mix” of serious failings. Keeping caesarean section rates difficult reading for all of us working in welcomes this report and I would like to
failed to recognise cases that were low — the trust was consistently maternity services and should be a offer our deepest sympathies to those
a “deviation from the norm” and Harold Shipman between 8 and 12 per cent below watershed moment for the system.” parents and their families where
escalate them to senior staff The former GP was convicted of 15 the average for England — “was The report’s national recommenda- Shrewsbury and Telford maternity care
appropriately. murders but the true number is said perceived as the essence of good tions include for trusts to work together has fallen short, but I can assure them
Some women with high-risk to be at least 218. He gave patients maternity care in the unit”. to investigate serious incidents, and that we are already implementing the
pregnancies remained, lethal injections of diamorphine. The review said that in some share their findings regionally “in a national recommendations . . . we are
inappropriately, under midwife-led cases “earlier recourse to a timely manner”. Each trust should committed to making sure all women
care or were seen only by Mid Staffordshire caesarean delivery would have “create a senior advocate role which and their babies receive the safest care.”
obstetricians in training. There were at least 400 more avoided death and injury”. Women will represent women and family voices Specific recommendations for the
Midwives failed to bring in deaths than expected at the NHS suffered traumatic births, with to the trust’s board”. It calls for better Shrewsbury and Telford trust included
obstetricians when mothers’ trust between 2005 and 2008. An “evidence of repeated attempts at staff training and working together greater consultant oversight of mater-
conditions deteriorated, and junior inquiry said the trust was driven by vaginal delivery with forceps, across disciplines, with twice daily con- nity care. The trust said it would imple-
obstetricians failed to bring in targets rather than patient care. sometimes using excessive force; sultant-led ward rounds seven days a ment “all of the actions in this report”.
consultants. all with traumatic consequences”. week. Developing maternal medicine A culture in urgent need of change,
specialist centres for each region “must leading article, page 35
6 2GM Friday December 11 2020 | the times
News
MATT FACEY/SWNS
Quintagram® No 870
Solve all five clues using each
letter underneath once only
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4Strong cold wind of S France (7)
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5Victor Hugo character (9)
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Penguins given hope
A penguin sanctuary is being
created in the Antarctic Ocean
after companies that fish for krill
— on which the birds feed —
agreed to stay out of an area
covering 4,500 sq km. The area
around Hope Bay is home to the
largest Adélie penguin colony in
the northern Antarctic Peninsula.
Penguin populations in the area
have fallen by up to 38 per cent in
the past 18 years. Companies
from Norway, China, South
Santa oars Fifty-seven Father Christmases took to paddleboards and kayaks off Mevagissey, Cornwall, and raised £1,300, after a charity fun run had to be called off Korea and Chile have agreed to
stay away for at least four years.
Bottlenecks at ports could result Bashir ‘triggered events’
The broadcaster Andrew Neil has
suggested that Martin Bashir set
off a “series of events” that may
in Great British bakery shortage
have led to Princess Diana’s
death. Neil, 71, said the journalist
“fed her paranoia” which made
her shed her security. He told the
How To Change The World site
Andrew Ellson which lets drivers work two consecu- struggling to fulfil orders by Christmas. that had she still been with
Consumer Affairs Correspondent tive six-day weeks, will last until De- People wishing to buy Apple’s Airpod British security the fatal crash in
cember 30 and applies to goods travel- Max headphones will have to wait until Paris may not have happened.
Home bakers and DIY enthusiasts look ling between transport hubs, ware- at least January 11 for delivery, accord-
set to be the latest victims of the chaos houses and stores. ing to the company’s website. And Cur- Father killed children
at British ports as suppliers warned that The British Home Enhancement rys PC World, Argos and Amazon have
orders may not arrive for Christmas. Trade Association (BHETA) says its all sold out of PlayStation 5s. A shopworker who slit his two
Importers said customers who had members are reporting delays of up to The problems at British ports could children’s throats while his wife
ordered gifts such as baking accesso- three weeks in deliveries from China. get worse after a no-deal Brexit. The showered has been detained
ries, food preparation devices and elec- Will Jones, chief operating officer, House of Lords EU goods sub-commit- indefinitely in a secure hospital.
tronics, or people expecting popular said a boom in demand for DIY and tee warned the government that the At the Old Bailey Nadarajah
tools, might not see their goods until bakeware in the pandemic had reduced UK was not ready for the end of the Nithiyakumar, 41, admitted the
the new year after container ships were supplies that were not being replen- transition period. In a letter to Michael manslaughter by diminished
delayed or diverted to European ports. ished fast enough from the Far East. Gove, it said the necessary arrange- responsibility of his 19-month-old
The warning came as the govern- “It’s fair to say there will be dis- ments to avoid or mitigate significant daughter Pavinya and three-year-
ment tried to tackle the crisis by easing appointed people who won’t be getting disruption to the import and export of old son Nigish at his home in
working restrictions for lorry drivers so products in time for Christmas Day.” goods, were not in place. Ilford, east London, in April.
they can help clear ports of goods. Traders fear queues and delays at UK He added: “Shoppers will start to see Baroness Verma, who chairs the sub-
A surge in demand for imports ports may get worse in the new year consumer choice particularly restrict- committee, said: “We are very sceptical Banks failing on fraud
because of Christmas, companies ed in high volume products like kettles, that the necessary physical customs in-
stockpiling before Brexit and space at European ports and too few in Asia. toasters, coffee machines and kitchen frastructure, both at ports and inland, Banks are failing to protect
taken up by stockpiles of personal pro- The Department for Transport an- utensils. A lot of power tools are also will be ready. The government has not people from fraud as cases spiral
tective equipment (PPE), have caused nounced that it was temporarily relax- given as Christmas presents but I can prepared enough for the realities of during the pandemic, the
bottlenecks at British ports. ing rules limiting lorry drivers’ hours. see availability might be restricted. moving goods across the Channel. It industry regulator said. A review
The problems have been exacerbated But the change applies only to those “Delivery dates are being pushed has been too optimistic and this has of nine top banks by the Lending
by logistical issues in global shipping carrying food and medical supplies back to January, and some to February.” been reflected in weak and undevel- Standards Board found that some
that have led to many empty containers such as vaccines and PPE. The change, Some electronics retailers are also oped contingency plans at every level.” failed to put prominent warnings
on digital apps when customers
Royal Mail blames Christmas and coronavirus for delays were making payments to
suspected scammers. The report
did not name the worst offenders.
Hannah Mays Retailers including John Lewis, Boots was considering closing her business coronavirus-related measures we have Rowling claims support
and HMV have blamed Royal Mail for over Christmas because of the uncer- put in place in local mail centres. In
A surge in online Christmas shopping delays in delivery of their products. tainty of dispatching orders. Others, such cases, we always work hard to get JK Rowling has said that people
and coronavirus precautions are Several companies have brought for- however, spoke out for postal workers back to providing our usual level of trying to discuss transgender
causing disruption to the postal service, ward their last order date before Christ- facing unprecedented pressures. service as quickly as we can.” issues operate in fear because of
according to Royal Mail. mas in the hope of minimising the risk Royal Mail, which has 115,000 per- There are an estimated 200 million abuse by some activists. The
The company blamed “exceptional” that packages will not arrive in time. manent staff, told the BBC: “Despite more parcels in the postal and courier author caused controversy in
volumes of post for delivery delays, de- Customers have also been contacting our best efforts, exhaustive planning system this year because of a shift to June with a tweet about the
spite “exhaustive planning”, including Royal Mail about parcels failing to and significant investment in extra online shopping. Internet orders are importance of biological sex. She
the hiring of 33,000 temporary workers arrive promptly and complaining on resource, some customers may experi- expected to be up by more than 50 per told Good Housekeeping she had
to help with the seasonal increase in social media. One claimed that some ence longer delivery timescales. This is cent on last year, as festive shopping since received letters from people
demand. It added that virus-related orders sent by first class had taken two due to the exceptionally high volumes online overtakes the high street for the “afraid to speak up”, adding: “This
absences had also affected the service. weeks to arrive. Another said that she we are seeing, exacerbated by the first time. climate of fear serves nobody.”
the times | Friday December 11 2020 2GM 7
News
Rays of hope fade for brainiest fish wrongly prized as health cure
Ben Webster Environment Editor Trade in their body parts has soared in was suspected “in many parts of their trade seems to be impactiinngg mmeeddiiccine. She said that their
Asia over the past 20 years because of historical range”. the giant manta more thann ggiillll pplates were “not known
They are graceful and gentle giants claims that the gill plates they use to In areas where they still aggregate, other species of manta ttoo have any healing prop-
with the largest brain of any fish. But filter plankton from seawater can cure such as off Mozambique, Thailand, My- ray.” Andrea Marshall, eerrties” and that their
giant manta rays are endangered cancer, acne and other ailments. anmar, Indonesia, Japan, Brazil and co-founder of the foun- ppoor-quality meat was
because of discredited claims in China They have been listed as endangered Mexico, the local population was as low dation, said that the rays uused for animal feed.
that their gills have health benefits. on the red list of threatened species of as 42 individuals, it added. They swim had not traditionally The rays’ decline
The global population of the rays, the International Union for Conser- slowly and will approach divers out of been used in Chinese ccoould hit tourism in some
which have a wingspan of up to 29ft and vation of Nature, which said that the curiosity, making them easy to catch. ccoouuntries, the foundation
weigh as much as 2.4 tonnes, has fallen fish had been “rapidly depleted by tar- The Marine Megafauna Foundation The gills of giant manta aaddddeed. Many people travel
by up to 79 per cent since the 1930s. get fisheries”. It added that extinction said: “The relatively new Asian-based rays are sought in China tttoo ssnnoorrkel near them.
VICTORIA JONES//PA Cash offered
for knives
before ban
is widened
John Simpson Crime Correspondent
Owners of weapons including zombie
knives and knuckledusters will be
compensated for handing them in, as
MPs warned that lockdowns were
“masking the scale” of knife crime.
Lawful owners handing in weapons
worth £30 or more will be able to claim
the money back under a three-month
government scheme announced yes-
terday in conjunction with new laws
banning the weapons.
The news came as figures from the
Ministry of Justice showed that knife
crime had fallen by only 8 per cent in
the last quarter despite lockdown re-
strictions. The all-party parliamentary
group on knife crime said that the
figures were concerning.
“This drop in knife and offensive-
weapon offences should be something
to celebrate but this is not the case,” the
group said. “Instead the statistics serve
as a stark reminder that knife crime has
not stopped during the pandemic. If
anything, lockdowns may have masked
the scale of the problem.”
Take a bow-wow Turlough Mor, an Irish wolfhound, makes his debut for the 1st Battalion Irish Guards at Wellington Barracks, London, with his handler, Adam Walsh The figures, covering July to Septem-
ber, showed that offences of possession
or threatening with an offensive
Civilians face court martial call-up weapon or possession of an article with
a blade or point were down by 19 per
cent compared with the same period a
year before. They did not cover murder
or assault involving knives.
as general accused of fiddling fees
The MPs said that prior to the pan-
demic, knife crime offences had been at
the highest since 2010. “We are sadly
already beginning to see them rise
again.”
Will Humphries Legal battles Forum, Dorset. General Welch and his Items that will be outlawed next year
Southwest Correspondent wife, Charlotte, 53, live in an £800,000 by the Offensive Weapons Act can be
country home in nearby Shillingstone. surrendered under a three-month
Civilians may have to be drafted in for Major General Welch is charges but was found martial was Brigadier Judge Advocate General Alan Large government scheme launched yester-
the court martial of a general because the highest ranking guilty of abandoning his Charles Beardmore, of told the court: “It was my intention . . . to day in England and Wales.
of a shortage of high-ranking officers officer to face court guns and admonished. the Royal Army Medical get a board of military officers. We ha- The act also makes it unlawful to
who can sit on the panel hearing martial since Lieutenant The charge was later Corps, who was ven’t been able to do that.” He explained possess certain rapid-firing rifles, spe-
his case. General Sir John Murray dismissed but his charged with that they had almost reached the requi- cific types of knives and other offensive
Major General Nick Welch, 57, is the was convicted of reputation was hurt and breaching army rules site number but that some of the board weapons in private. The list includes
most senior officer to face a court abandoning his siege his petition to become a on claiming for his two members still needed further investi- zombie knives, cyclone knives, knuck-
martial since 1815, when a lieutenant guns without due cause member of the Order of sons’ school fees in gation. He said that if they were unable ledusters, death star knives, flick
general was convicted of abandoning in the Napoleonic Wars. the Bath was denied. He 2017. He was to find at least six officers, they may knives, gravity knives, batons, dis-
his siege guns in the Napoleonic Wars. Murray was tried at died in 1827. reprimanded, lost his instead be forced to use one or more guised knives, push daggers and other
The two-star general, who was Winchester. He was The last high-ranking seniority and was told civilians. However, the defence would offensive weapons.
second in command of British and US acquitted of most officer to face a court to repay £11,750. be allowed to make their own argu- A form available on the govern-
troops in Afghanistan but left the forces ments for, or against, that in due course. ment’s website values a knuckleduster
last year, is alleged to have illegally General Welch, who was awarded an at £2, a zombie knife at £10, a blowpipe
claimed an allowance to send one of his court in Wiltshire, lawyers revealed the dates had been drawn from across the OBE in 2006, was appointed chief of at £14 and a lever release .308 rifle at
children to a private school less difficulties they were having trying forces but problems were raised about staff of Nato’s Allied Rapid Reaction £5,105.
than ten miles from his home in to find a six or seven-person panel relationships with witnesses. As a Corps in 2014. In December the next Graham McNulty, deputy assistant
Dorset. Army regulations senior enough to hear the case. result, the court may draft in civilians, a year he was appointed assistant chief of commissioner of the Metropolitan
allow up to £23,480 a year Protocol dictates that the panel highly unusual step. the general staff, the highest-ranking Police and the National Police Chiefs’
towards school fees so families president be at least two ranks Sarah Jones, QC, for the defence, British Army officer working at the Council lead on knife crime, said:
can move around without dis- higher than the defendant, requir- compared the case to a celebrity trial Ministry of Defence in London. In that “Tackling knife crime and reducing
rupting their children’s education. ing a full general for this case. There and argued that simply because a board role he would have been earning about violence is a top priority for policing.
In a case management hear- are only four full generals serving, member may know of a person it did £120,000 a year. He left the army last “The surrender scheme will enable
ing at Bulford military including General Sir Mark not follow that they would be incapable year and took up a new role as chief us to remove dangerous weapons off
Carleton-Smith, the of judging them impartially. operating officer of the Bournemouth the streets and assist in keeping our
Major General Nick head of the army. It is understood that General Welch Arts University. communities safe.
Welch’s case was The court was told is accused of claiming thousands of He faces one charge of fraud. A “Every weapon removed is possibly a
likened to the trial that a “pool of poss- pounds so that his children could provisional three-week trial has been life saved and I urge people to please
of a celebrity ible” panel candi- attend Clayesmore School in Blandford scheduled for early next year. help us make our streets safer.”
8 2GM Friday December 11 2020 | the times
NNeewwss Brexit
Deal is 97% done
so don’t walk away
now, urges Ireland
Bruno Waterfield Brussels Q A
Oliver Wright Policy Editor WTO publishes a tariff important domestic
& schedule to make trade industry exists. Cars
Ireland urged the European Union last costs transparent. attract tariffs of 10 per
night to help to “break the logjam” in There is one cent, and for some food
Brexit negotiations and compromise significant exception to products tariffs are
to prevent Britain leaving the bloc with- What is the difference this rule. The WTO more than 30 per cent.
out a trade deal. between an Australian- allows groups of its
Speaking before a critical summit of style deal and no-deal? members to conclude Will the UK have to
EU leaders, Micheál Martin, the Irish None. It is simply the free trade agreements, charge the same tariffs
prime minister, said he believed that language the prime under which they may as the EU?
an agreement was “within reach” but minister uses when provide more No. This year the UK
warned that all sides would “lose out” if describing what leaving favourable treatment to published a tariff
the talks failed. without a trade deal each other than for schedule that differed
Ireland is the EU country most at risk would entail. The EU other most-favoured significantly from that
from Britain leaving on World Trade and Australia are nations. of the EU.
Organisation terms at the end of the negotiating a free trade However, these The broad principle
transition period and has been playing agreement but as yet agreements have to be was the same, though.
a prominent role behind the scenes in trade under WTO rules. comprehensive and Tariffs were imposed to
attempting to strike a compromise. cover the bulk of trade protect UK industries
Speaking in Brussels, Mr Martin said WTO rules? between the two such as ceramics from
that neither side should walk away These are terms set by parties. The EU’s deal outside competition,
when “97 per cent of a deal had been the World Trade with Canada would be but where there was no
agreed”. Organisation, based in an example. domestic industry to
“Dialogue is key and both teams have Geneva, to which 164 protect tariffs were in
given themselves a deadline of this countries have signed How would that some cases lowered
Sunday, and I think the key to unlock- up. The purpose is to apply to Brexit? from previous EU levels.
ing this is to stand back and look at the negotiate trade By dint of its EU
overall picture here,” he said. liberalisation and membership, the UK in Will leaving the EU
“Ninety-seven per cent of this is arbitrate disputes. But effect has a free trade push up prices
agreed. Are we saying we are going to in reference to Brexit deal with the EU and so for UK consumers?
lose out on a deal because of 3 per cent? WTO rules actually there are no tariffs or Yes, in some cases.
Notwithstanding the significance of refers to tariffs. quotas on British trade George Eustice, the
the issues, the bottom line is a lot of with the bloc. environment secretary,
work has been done, a lot of agreement What kind of tariffs? In a no-deal Brexit has said prices on
has been reached, so one final effort is Central to WTO rules is that situation would average would rise less
required.” the “most-favoured change. The EU would than 2 per cent as a
Ursula von der Leyen, the European nation” status. In effect then be required to result of tariffs,
Commission president, briefed countries cannot levy the same level of although he admitted Britons face ban on
Europe’s leaders over a summit dinner discriminate between tariffs on British exports that some items —
dominated by geopolitical strategy and trading partners that as for other WTO including pork and beef
discussion of how the EU would reset are WTO members. nations with which it — would be hit harder.
transatlantic relations after the defeat So if Britain allowed does not have a free Tesco has said prices travel to EU in weeks
of President Trump. imports of Indian steel trade agreement. could rise between
She described her three-hour dinner with a 5 per cent tariff, it Because the EU wants 3 per cent and 5 per
with Boris Johnson on Wednesday could not impose 10 per to protect its own cent on average, but
night as “long” but useful, even though cent on steel from interests, these tariffs “vastly more on some unless infections fall
their talks got nowhere on the EU’s another member. tend to be highest in selected items” such as
central demand of “level playing field” Every country in the areas where an imported brie.
fair competition rules.
“It was a good conversation but it is
difficult,” she said. “We are willing to said. “As far as I hear, there is no the commission to take a tougher Bruno Waterfield, Oliver Wright EEA countries, including Norway, have
grant access to the single market to our progress made in the recent days. We stance over so-called level playing field not adopted the EU policy and do not
British friends but the conditions have have always said that we are preparing provisions, leading to last week’s abrupt British travellers face being temporarily allow any arrivals. Officials in Brussels
to be fair. This fine balance of fairness for the worst, hoping for the best.” suspension of talks. Mrs Merkel is under- banned from European destinations have said there are no plans to add the
has not been achieved so far. Our EU leaders will be debriefed over a stood to be keener on a compromise but after January unless coronavirus cases UK to the list of safe nations.
negotiators are still working and we will dinner after discussions on European not at the expense of European unity. fall in the UK. The European Commission has set
take a decision on Sunday.” foreign policy, including the American In a sign of intensive preparations to Under EU rules designed to curb the out contingency plans for a no-deal
After talking to EU leaders and Mrs elections and possible new sanctions ratify a potential deal, the European spread of the infection, only travellers Brexit under which British airlines may
Von der Leyen as the summit began, against Turkey over repeated violations parliament said that MEPs were on from third countries deemed safe are be banned from flying to European des-
David Sassoli, the president of the of Cypriot coastal waters. stand-by to vote on an agreement allowed entry to the bloc for non-es- tinations if the UK diverges from Brus-
European parliament, said: “She was Charles Michel, the president of between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. sential reasons. Individual states can sels’ “level playing field” demands.
not really confident that all difficulties the European Council, will limit the David McAllister, a senior German relax the rules, although there is no The EU would insist that the UK
could be resolved.” discussion to “a brief report from the MEP and chairman of the parliament’s guarantee that this will happen. continue to follow European competi-
France is leading a camp of at least six European Commission”. UK co-ordination group, said the pref- At present these rules do not apply to tion laws as the price of allowing planes
hardline states who are successfully Clément Beaune, the French Brexit erence was for a vote on December 22 British travellers because the UK, dur- to fly or British lorries to continue to
resisting moves to soften EU demands. minister who repeatedly threatened a or 23. “We are ready to organise an ad- ing the transition period, remains a operate in the bloc for six months. It is
Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, French veto unless the government ditional extraordinary plenary session member of the European Economic also calling for the government to allow
will attempt to avoid a big debate in caved in, visited the Gare du Nord in between Christmas and new year if this Area (EEA). At the end of the year Brit- EU fishing boats into UK waters for a
order to steer clear of a summit row. Paris, where Eurostar trains arrive from would be necessary. Of all options, a ain will automatically leave the EEA year. All the measures would be unilat-
After publishing no-deal contingency London, to inspect customs prepara- no-deal Brexit would be the worst one and the European Council will have to eral and could be withdrawn instantly
plans yesterday, Mrs Von der Leyen will tions. “We are ready,” he said. “What- — it would have severe consequences decide whether to include it on a list of by the commission.
warn that negotiations are heading for ever happens, on January 1 we will be in for the EU but especially for the UK.” safe countries. Infection rates in the UK “A level playing field requires that,
failure without a climbdown by Mr a different world, whether or not there The British Retail Consortium has are significantly higher than in other even after the end of the transition
Johnson. is an agreement with the UK.” warned that supermarkets and their countries on the list. period, the UK continues to apply suffi-
Stefan Lofven, the Swedish prime EU leaders have so far declined to shoppers will be hit with a £3.1 billion Last night an aviation source warned ciently high and comparable standards
minister, who is a supporter of a smaller intervene directly in the negotiations, annual tariff bill on food and drink of the “real possibility” that Britons in the area of road freight and road pas-
bloc of less hardline countries including although Mrs Von der Leyen has held without a last-minute deal. would be denied entry once the transi- senger transport,” the plan reads.
Germany, said that the state of private talks with critical member states The EU has dangerously misread Britain, tion period ends on December 31. Only Travel industry bosses reacted with
negotiations was problematic and a such as France, Germany and Ireland James Forsyth, page 31 eight non-EU countries with very low dismay to the potential Covid-19 ban
“huge challenge”. and kept them abreast of the talks. Notebook, Ann Treneman, page 32 infection rates, including Australia and and called on member states to exercise
“I’m a bit more gloomy today,” he In recent weeks France has pushed Letters, page 34 New Zealand, are deemed safe. Some their right to allow UK arrivals.
the times | Friday December 11 2020 2GM 9
NNeewwss
OLIVIER MATTHYS/REUTERS; ANDREW PARSONS/NO10 DOWNING ST; ANADOLU AGENCY VIA GETTY IMAGES
Quentin Letts
Restless native can’t
sink HMS Mordaunt
Political Sketch and we are now just 21 days away
from a likely no-deal that will
bring chaos, disruption and
RRRRUIN.” A further paragraph
of Wishartian apoplexy was
delivered in a splutter. His Zoom
connection will soon need
A
nother day of distant windscreen wipers and he kept
thunder from Brussels, edging ever closer, like a man
another Commons checking in his shaving mirror for
urgent question about the last tricky sprouts of whisker.
Brexit. It’s all becoming Miss Mordaunt, a credit to the
too much for the Scots Nats’ imperious tradition of Lady Rough
trenchantly pro-EU frontbencher Diamonds confronting mutinous
Boris Johnson gave a statement from Pete Wishart. As I have possibly sepoys, barely blinked.
Downing Street yesterday on the Brexit mentioned before, Mr Wishart is a If EU tacticians were watching,
talks as European leaders, including peppery lad who makes his they may have clocked that the
President Macron, Ursula von der Leyen contributions from stumpy exile. opposition benches were starting to
and Angela Merkel, met in Brussels Using the virtual feed, he shouts in sweat a bit at the talk of no-deal.
his remarks from what we can Rachel Reeves, for Labour, asked
imagine is some Perthshire hill “how has it come to this?” Er, a
fort with turf fires and prowling referendum and two general
lurchers. The woad warrior. elections, your worship. She said
With each Brexit-related debate, the government was “undermining”
his agitation only increases. His national security. Miss Mordaunt
rhetoric becomes wilder, his stare said any undermining was being
bulgier. If we do sail off without a done by Labour and that anyone
deal, the old boy may have an ictus. who criticised the government was
Mr Wishart, 58, started last year basically an EU fifth columnist.
with a decent head of hair, Barry Sheerman (Lab,
workable gnashers and a wardrobe Huddersfield) reckoned things had
full of suits. Over the months, started to go wrong “as soon as the
things have started to disintegrate. prime minister got his sweaty
His spectacles have become fogged hands on the issue”.
and are starting to lean at an The Ulster Unionists and the
angle. Some of the teeth have Conservative benches were more
vanished, either stolen by ivory Zen. Jacob Young (C, Redcar)
hunters or sacrificed to opening signalled his sympathies by
bottles of McEwan’s with his entering the chamber in a Union
mouth. He has appeared to have Jack mask. It was not just Red
started using the same tailor as Wall Brexiteers such as him, Lia
Beckett’s Vladimir and Estragon. Nici (C, Great Grimsby) and
Yesterday’s exchanges were Jonathan Gullis (C, Stoke North)
about the trade-deal negotiations. who were solidly behind Boris
The government’s position — quite Johnson’s apparently firm stand.
Any move by the EU to exclude UK defiant — had been put by the James Sunderland (C, Bracknell)
travellers would be economically dam- Brussels fears the prospect paymaster-general, Penny said that most of his constituents
aging to member states that rely heavi- Mordaunt. Miss Mordaunt is a would be hoping for a deal but
ly on UK tourism. The European drawling, unflappable daughter of “given the ongoing inability of the
of a Singapore on Thames
Council will be under pressure to in- the southern English shires. She bully boys in Brussels to accept
clude Britain in the list of safe countries was named after a battleship and that we are now a sovereign
even with its high case rates. steams through the choppiest sea nation”, it really might have to be
Gloria Guevara, president and chief Analysis companies.” She was referring to at a stately pace. Faultlessly “a clean break”, and for different
executive of the World Travel and the ratchet clause, through which correct, with just a hint of frost on talks to begin next year.
A
Tourism Council, said: “With lower in- nxiety in Brussels that the EU is seeking to commit her upper decks, she is quite the HMS Mordaunt felt there was
fection rates than much of the EU, Britain might turn into Britain to upgrade in sync with the opposite of Pete the Pict. still time for a deal yet Peter Bone
there are compelling reasons why the a buccaneering, low- EU its workplace, social and Having heard her say that a deal (C, Wellingborough) hoped Sunday
UK should be added to the EU’s ‘safe cost, rules-lite, subsidy- environmental standards, as well was proving elusive, Mr Wishart would be “the absolute deadline”.
travel’ list, to enable international trav- wielding threat to EU as rules on subsidies for some yowled down the telegraph wires The minister started by offering
el to continue. British travellers are a companies explains, at least in industries. “Dynamic realignment” from his distant stockade. “Here “greater reassurance than that” but
major contributor to European eco- part, the difficulty of reaching a in perpetuity is unacceptable to we go again! Yet another deadline! ended by saying “Sunday may well
nomies, and vice versa.” trade deal (Patrick Hosking and Boris Johnson, for whom the The easiest deal in history now has be that deadline”. “May well be” is
Essential travel, including for people Katherine Griffiths write). freedom to diverge on standards is more cliffhangers than EastEnders not quite the same as “absolute”.
with “imperative family reasons”, will It was Philip Hammond who, as part of what sovereignty means.
still be permitted. Britons living in the chancellor three years ago, coined It is not clear where the EU fears
EU will also be allowed entry. the notion of Britain as “Singapore that UK business might gain an Walloons could burst balloon
The warning is the latest blow for on Thames”. Such rhetoric has unfair advantage, however. One
holidaymakers planning trips for the made EU leaders more determined big concern is state aid. The UK
new year. The EU has warned that Brit- to tie Britain into common pledge to reach net-zero emissions Bruno Waterfield the Walloon parliament has the right to
ish planes could be grounded in the standards before agreeing on free by 2050 is likely to require massive veto trade deals if agreements have
event of a no-deal Brexit. trade. Singapore is twice as subsidies to such things as electric The Walloons are threatening to veto been applied provisionally.
Travel is set to become considerably productive per head as Britain. cars and wind turbines. Singapore- any potential Brexit trade deal unless Elio di Rupo, Wallonia’s Socialist
more complicated once the transition That we might come near such style subsidies to attract high-tech Boris Johnson signs up to the European leader and the former prime minister of
ends with new rules on passport validi- efficiency and wealth seems entrepreneurs might also be on the Union’s demands on regulatory Belgium, said: “We’ve been living
ty and driving on the Continent. Unless unlikely given our recent record. UK agenda. The secret deal struck alignment. according to Boris Johnson’s moods. I
an agreement is reached, Britons will But in European capitals it is by Greg Clark, as business Four years ago, the region of will not hesitate to ask my parliament to
not be able to access free or subsidised feared that the UK could pose secretary, to keep Nissan in Wallonia in Belgium blocked the EU- use its right of veto, as it did for Ceta, if
health care in the EU, which is likely to more of a competitive threat if its Sunderland raised suspicions in Canada deal, known as Ceta, until a future trade deal with the UK crosses
increase insurance premiums. rules on state aid, employment, the the EU. The Conservatives’ “buy “level playing field” guarantees on the the red lines set by my government.”
Experts have warned that more than environment and safety diverged British” policy for public environment and social rights were The uncertainty arising from the UK
2.5 million people will need to renew from the Continent’s. Angela procurement in its manifesto last inserted. Now the same region, situation had become “an economic
their passport early in order to travel to Merkel, the German chancellor, year also raised eyebrows. dominated by the Socialists, has and psychological poison”, he added.
the EU. Under the new rules, the docu- said on Wednesday: “We must On manufactured goods, the threatened a repeat veto. The Wallonia’s parliament, one of six
ment will need more than six months’ have a level playing field, not just worry is that if the UK were to do development puts further pressure on Belgian regional legislatures, vetoed
validity for access to be granted. for today but for tomorrow and away with the minimum wage or Lord Frost, the chief British negotiator, Ceta in October 2016, triggering a
Rory Boland, the editor of Which? beyond . . . Otherwise, unfair loosen labour laws, it would as the EU pushes for the UK to be crisis. And five years ago, the left-wing
Travel, said: “People could end up being competition conditions arise to produce cars more cheaply and aligned with environment, workplace assembly said it would veto David
left thousands of pounds out of pocket which we cannot subject our hurt continental carmakers. and safety standards. Cameron’s new settlement between
because of new red tape.” Under Belgium’s federal constitution, Britain and the EU.