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Warning from head of CBI comes as Labour set to unveil moves to ‘get Britain working’
Tax increases in the budget have made it harder for businesses to “take a chance” on hiring people, the head of the CBI says as the government prepares to announce big welfare reforms that aim to “get Britain working”. Rain Newton-Smith will tell business leaders on Monday that measures announced...Tax increases in the budget have made it harder for businesses to “take a chance” on hiring people, the head of the CBI says as the government prepares to announce big welfare reforms that aim to “get Britain working”. Rain Newton-Smith will tell business leaders on Monday that measures announced...Tax increases in the budget have made it harder for businesses to “take a chance” on hiring people, the head of the CBI says as...
Donald Trump is planning an executive order that would lead to the removal of all transgender members of the US military, defence sources say. The order could come on his first day back in the White House, January 20. There are believed to be about 15,000 active service personnel who are transgender. They would be medically discharged...Donald Trump is planning an executive order that would lead to the removal of all transgender members of the US military, defence sources say. The order could come on his first day back in the White House, January 20. There are believed to be about 15,000 active service personnel who are transgender. They would be medically discharged...Donald Trump is planning an executive order that would lead to the removal of all transgender members of the US military...
Dozens of councils will be abolished in the biggest overhaul of local government in more than 50 years under plans being drawn up by ministers. Essex, Kent, Surrey and Hertfordshire will be among the counties set for radical changes to the way they are run, with the promise of more powers and money from Whitehall.Dozens of councils will be abolished in the biggest overhaul of local government in more than 50...Dozens of councils will be abolished in the biggest overhaul of local government in more than 50...
Every teenager who has made the predictable expedition to “find themselves” on a trail of whisky buckets, full-moon...Every teenager who has made the predictable expedition to “find themselves” on a trail of whisky...Every teenager who has made the predictable expedition to “find themselves” on a trail of whisky...
KEVIN MAHER
Another day another spurious round of volleys in an increasingly pointless and poisonous gender war. This time it’s...Another day another spurious round of volleys in an increasingly pointless and poisonous gender war.Another day another spurious round of volleys in an increasingly pointless and poisonous gender war.
The Serious Fraud Office spent more than a decade investigating Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation but the case was dropped in 2023
Times Health Commission
NHS bosses will be sacked if they dismiss the concerns of whistleblowers under government plans to end a “culture of...NHS bosses will be sacked if they dismiss the concerns of whistleblowers under government plans...NHS bosses will be sacked if they dismiss the concerns of whistleblowers under government plans...
Families with a rare and painful genetic disease that causes rickets are set to receive a “life-changing” drug on the...Families with a rare and painful genetic disease that causes rickets are set to receive a...Families with a rare and painful genetic disease that causes rickets are set to receive a...
Forget sun, sand and sangria. Holidaymakers are swapping sunny destinations for “noctourism” — short for nocturnal tourism — inside the Arctic Circle. Booking.com has reported a surge in demand for trips to Tromso, with searches for places to stay...Forget sun, sand and sangria. Holidaymakers are swapping sunny destinations for “noctourism” —...Forget sun, sand and sangria. Holidaymakers are swapping sunny destinations for “noctourism” —...
video
A deal by richer nations to pay poorer countries hundreds of billions of dollars a year to tackle climate change is in Britain’s interest, the energy secretary has insisted. Ed Miliband spoke after returning from Cop29 in Baku, where a climate finance goal was eventually reached despite representatives of the world’s poorest countries storming out of the conference.A deal by richer nations to pay poorer countries hundreds of billions of dollars a year to tackle...A deal by richer nations to pay poorer countries hundreds of billions of dollars a year to tackle...
A more powerful form of stop and search is “overwhelmingly ineffective” in preventing crime and should be scrapped, a...A more powerful form of stop and search is “overwhelmingly ineffective” in preventing crime and should be scrapped, a report has said. The Section 60 stop and search policy, which enables the police to conduct searches of people without needing reasonable grounds, was introduced 30 years ago in the Criminal Justice...A more powerful form of stop and search is “overwhelmingly ineffective” in preventing crime and should be scrapped, a report...
A Greek-style financial meltdown could be Marine Le Pen’s Christmas gift to France if the hard-right leader carries out her threat to bring down its fragile minority government. Maud Bregeon, a cabinet member, gave the warning on Sunday as Michel Barnier, the prime minister, sought to save his...A Greek-style financial meltdown could be Marine Le Pen’s Christmas gift to France if the hard-right leader carries out her threat to bring down its fragile minority government. Maud Bregeon, a cabinet member, gave the warning on Sunday as Michel Barnier, the prime minister, sought to save his...A Greek-style financial meltdown could be Marine Le Pen’s Christmas gift to France if the hard-right leader carries out her...
INTERVIEW
Whenever the Ethiopian prime minister hears the charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas? an urge overtakes him. He would like to point out that his country was celebrating the birth of Christ centuries before most of the Christian world. In 1984 a famine in Ethiopia inspired the all-star Band Aid to record the fundraising hit and it has...Whenever the Ethiopian prime minister hears the charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas? an urge overtakes him. He would like to point out that his country was celebrating the birth of Christ centuries before most of the Christian world. In 1984 a famine in Ethiopia inspired the all-star Band Aid to record the fundraising hit and it has...Whenever the Ethiopian prime minister hears the charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas? an urge overtakes him. He would...
interview
Angela Merkel’s party has learnt from the “failures” of the past on immigration and other issues, one of her former cabinet ministers has told The Times. Julia Klöckner, 51, one of the few CDU politicians to have retained positions of influence under both Merkel and the party’s current leader, said that Germany had...Angela Merkel’s party has learnt from the “failures” of the past on immigration and other issues...Angela Merkel’s party has learnt from the “failures” of the past on immigration and other issues...
dispatch FROM BNEI BRAK
A doctor has described his frantic efforts to save the life of one of the young backpackers killed by poisoned alcohol in Laos. Dr Yaher, of the district hospital in the tourist town of Vang Vieng, was the first to treat the 19-year-old Australian...A doctor has described his frantic efforts to save the life of one of the young backpackers...A doctor has described his frantic efforts to save the life of one of the young backpackers...
DISPATCH FROM KYIV
An education official who demanded pupils watch a video of him praying for Donald Trump has threatened to close down...An education official who demanded pupils watch a video of him praying for Donald Trump has...An education official who demanded pupils watch a video of him praying for Donald Trump has...
At the entrance to Johnny Depp’s art exhibition in New York are red velvet curtains. A tall handsome man in denim...At the entrance to Johnny Depp’s art exhibition in New York are red velvet curtains. A tall...At the entrance to Johnny Depp’s art exhibition in New York are red velvet curtains. A tall...
Financial Conduct Authority is slow to admit mistakes, says report
The City regulator is opaque and unaccountable and “widely seen as incompetent”, according to a report due to be revealed in parliament on Tuesday. A study of views on the Financial Conduct Authority, which includes the opinions of some current and former staff, is due to report claims that the...The City regulator is opaque and unaccountable and “widely seen as incompetent”, according to a report due to be revealed in parliament on Tuesday. A study of views on the Financial Conduct Authority, which includes the opinions of some current and former staff, is due to report claims that the...The City regulator is opaque and unaccountable and “widely seen as incompetent”, according to a report due to be revealed in...
Britain’s 500 biggest companies paid a record £1.45 billion in audit fees this year, as accounting firms raised their prices to cover the extra work staff are having to put in. HSBC remains the most lucrative audit contract in the UK, with the bank paying £88 million to PwC, up from £78 million in 2023. Shell and BP, the two oil majors, are...Britain’s 500 biggest companies paid a record £1.45 billion in audit fees this year, as accounting firms raised their prices to cover the extra work staff are having to put in. HSBC remains the most lucrative audit contract in the UK, with the bank paying £88 million to PwC, up from £78 million in 2023. Shell and BP, the two oil majors, are...Britain’s 500 biggest companies paid a record £1.45 billion in audit fees this year, as accounting firms raised their prices to...
Christmas hiring is starting to breathe life back into Britain’s job market, as annual salaries rise at the fastest rate in three years, figures suggest. The average advertised salary stood at £39,234 last month, up 6 per cent compared with last year and the highest increase since April 2021. Salary growth comes as...Christmas hiring is starting to breathe life back into Britain’s job market, as annual salaries...Christmas hiring is starting to breathe life back into Britain’s job market, as annual salaries...
paul johnson
Son number two is 24 years old. He has just had an offer accepted on a house in London. Yes, that’s right. 24. Buying...Son number two is 24 years old. He has just had an offer accepted on a house in London. Yes...Son number two is 24 years old. He has just had an offer accepted on a house in London. Yes...
A former boss of BP who left the oil company amid scandal a little more than a year ago is attempting to revive his...A former boss of BP who left the oil company amid scandal a little more than a year ago is...A former boss of BP who left the oil company amid scandal a little more than a year ago is...
The large shareholding of Sir Pascal Soriot in AstraZeneca has been hit by about £10 million by investigations in China.The large shareholding of Sir Pascal Soriot in AstraZeneca has been hit by about £10 million by...The large shareholding of Sir Pascal Soriot in AstraZeneca has been hit by about £10 million by...
The Paris fund manager trying to block the flotation of Canal+ on the London stock market next month has argued that...The Paris fund manager trying to block the flotation of Canal+ on the London stock market next...The Paris fund manager trying to block the flotation of Canal+ on the London stock market next...
Travel
Lighthouse, a software company that helps hotels set room prices, has become a unicorn with a $1 billion valuation
technology
Most European tech start-ups using AI tools say they will hire more people, not fewer
RECRUITMENT
A career path once meant working for the same firm for 40 years, then proudly collecting a carriage clock and hefty pension on retirement. Those days are long gone and Gen Zs entering the workforce now expect to have six different careers across their working lives. But what of the generations stuck between the Baby Boomers and upcoming “freelance first” Gen Alphas? For...A career path once meant working for the same firm for 40 years, then proudly collecting a...A career path once meant working for the same firm for 40 years, then proudly collecting a...
recruitment | SIX FROM THE BEST
As a student, Peter Jelkeby started working in Ikea’s Gothenburg store before climbing the company’s ranks. With 35...As a student, Peter Jelkeby started working in Ikea’s Gothenburg store before climbing the company’s ranks. With 35 years’ experience in the retail industry, he is now the firm’s UK & Ireland chief executive. Less complicated than a flatpack manual, here are his tips to build your career. 1 Stay humble and have big...As a student, Peter Jelkeby started working in Ikea’s Gothenburg store before climbing the company’s ranks. With 35 years’...
martin samuel
As the minutes ticked by, on occasions, Rúben Amorim would allow his attention to be diverted from the pitch. His chin would drop to his chest, his gaze would fall to the floor. One imagines, if the noise inside Portman Road permitted, the smallest sigh would have been audible too. Those who know...As the minutes ticked by, on occasions, Rúben Amorim would allow his attention to be diverted from the pitch. His chin would drop to his chest, his gaze would fall to the floor. One imagines, if the noise inside Portman Road permitted, the smallest sigh would have been audible too. Those who know...As the minutes ticked by, on occasions, Rúben Amorim would allow his attention to be diverted from the pitch. His chin would...
Eddie Jones mocked Danny Care, who claimed in his recent book he was a “dictator” who “ruled by fear”, after England beat his Japan side 59-14 at Twickenham. Jones also claimed he was abused by a fan at Twickenham at half-time. The Australian, 64, had avoided doing any media appearances before his return to Twickenham for “health reasons”...Eddie Jones mocked Danny Care, who claimed in his recent book he was a “dictator” who “ruled by fear”, after England beat his Japan side 59-14 at Twickenham. Jones also claimed he was abused by a fan at Twickenham at half-time. The Australian, 64, had avoided doing any media appearances before his return to Twickenham for “health reasons”...Eddie Jones mocked Danny Care, who claimed in his recent book he was a “dictator” who “ruled by fear”, after England beat his...
alex lowe
England gorged themselves on points like a youngster with a bag of sweets, delivering a temporary high to the Twickenham crowd with nine tries and some fluid attacking rugby. It was a welcome saccharine hit at the end of a disappointing year, with 59 points amounting to the second-biggest win of the Steve Borthwick...England gorged themselves on points like a youngster with a bag of sweets, delivering a temporary...England gorged themselves on points like a youngster with a bag of sweets, delivering a temporary...
Owen SLot
With their courageous last-ditch defensive efforts, their bodies on the line and a strict “they shall not pass” ethic...With their courageous last-ditch defensive efforts, their bodies on the line and a strict “they...With their courageous last-ditch defensive efforts, their bodies on the line and a strict “they...
JAMIE DELGADO
I was very surprised when it was announced on Saturday that Andy Murray is returning to the tour as a coach so soon...I was very surprised when it was announced on Saturday that Andy Murray is returning to the tour...I was very surprised when it was announced on Saturday that Andy Murray is returning to the tour...
CHARLOTTE DUNCKER
tony cascarino
It felt like an exaggeration when people pinned Arsenal’s hopes of success on Martin Odegaard. It seemed to me like a disservice to a team packed full of talent and internationals. I felt Odegaard was a very good player but maybe not as important...It felt like an exaggeration when people pinned Arsenal’s hopes of success on Martin Odegaard. It...It felt like an exaggeration when people pinned Arsenal’s hopes of success on Martin Odegaard. It...
STEVE JAMES
There were more than 35 long and barren minutes on the clock when Wales had their first attacking sortie into South...There were more than 35 long and barren minutes on the clock when Wales had their first attacking...There were more than 35 long and barren minutes on the clock when Wales had their first attacking...
Jofra Archer has secured an Indian Premier League deal worth about £1.2million as a late entry in the player auction...Jofra Archer has secured an Indian Premier League deal worth about £1.2million as a late entry in...Jofra Archer has secured an Indian Premier League deal worth about £1.2million as a late entry in...
formula one | molly hudson
In the seconds after Max Verstappen crossed the finish line in fifth at the Las Vegas Grand Prix to seal his fourth-straight world title, he put his head in his hands and in an emotional message to his team, admitted even he did not think this was possible. A rollercoaster of emotions were understandable for the 27-year-old, who has navigated on-and-off track drama to...In the seconds after Max Verstappen crossed the finish line in fifth at the Las Vegas Grand Prix...In the seconds after Max Verstappen crossed the finish line in fifth at the Las Vegas Grand Prix...
Charles Leclerc delivered an expletive-laden message to Ferrari after his team-mate Carlos Sainz beat him to a podium...Charles Leclerc delivered an expletive-laden message to Ferrari after his team-mate Carlos Sainz beat him to a podium finish in Las Vegas, having appeared to defy team orders. Leclerc started in fourth, with his team-mate second, but a brave move down the inside meant he gained two places on the first lap. The pair...Charles Leclerc delivered an expletive-laden message to Ferrari after his team-mate Carlos Sainz beat him to a podium finish in...
At 19, I was offered the job in return for unlimited food and drink. As the weeks passed, things got increasingly sinister. It ended with me spending a night in jail. By Alasdair Gill
INTERVIEW
Processed food is almost impossible to avoid — and it’s making us sick, says Dr Chris van Tulleken. It’s time for a revolution
Sophie was so terrified, she barely moved from behind the sofa. So Rory Cellan-Jones took drastic action
Guirong Wei’s bijou eateries in London were an insider secret — then Netflix came calling. By Hannah Evans
ASK PROFESSOR TANYA BYRON
Q. My grandson, who is two years old, seems very insecure following the recent birth of his sibling. Since then he...Q. My grandson, who is two years old, seems very insecure following the recent birth of his sibling....Q. My grandson, who is two years old, seems very insecure following the recent birth of his sibling....
The Lowdown
What do James Norton and Joe Alwyn have in common?
Aside from the floppy hair? I wasn’t referring to their...What do James Norton and Joe Alwyn have in common?
Aside from the floppy hair? I wasn’t...What do James Norton and Joe Alwyn have in common?
Aside from the floppy hair? I wasn’t...
FIRST NIGHT REVIEW
FIRST NIGHT REVIEW
FIRST NIGHT REVIEW
FIRST NIGHT REVIEW
Ask the experts
MindGames
1 The Bristol-based Roustabout Theatre created Luna (2019) to mark the 50th anniversary of which landing? 2 Margaret...1 The Bristol-based Roustabout Theatre created Luna (2019) to mark the 50th anniversary of which...1 The Bristol-based Roustabout Theatre created Luna (2019) to mark the 50th anniversary of which...
tELEVISION | STREAMING GUIDE
TELEVISION
TELEVISION
TELEVISION
TELEVISION
Television
TELEVISION
a life in the day
Their gas boiler broke down in May. It was too old to fix, a plumber told James McGrane and his young family. “So it...Their gas boiler broke down in May. It was too old to fix, a plumber told James McGrane and his...Their gas boiler broke down in May. It was too old to fix, a plumber told James McGrane and his...
first person
Are you demisexual? I hadn’t heard the term before it came up in the Australian jungle on I’m a Celebrity.Are you demisexual? I hadn’t heard the term before it came up in the Australian jungle on I’m a...Are you demisexual? I hadn’t heard the term before it came up in the Australian jungle on I’m a...
He has a cult following of collectors who shed tears of joy when they finally get their hands on one of his inventive pieces
A tinselled tree in your suite, bulging stockings on the mantelpiece, and a carriage ride around Mayfair. These the best luxury hotels in London for a festive break. By Hannah Skelley
Everrati Automotive are making old-school roadsters eco-friendly with such care and technical prowess that the only difference is the sound
The centuries-old champagne producer has installed 110 works of art by 36 artists across its new mega garden. Fiona McCarthy reports
Opening on November 27 at the David Gill Gallery in London, the exhibition Promenades will mark the debut solo show of acclaimed French jeweller Emmanuel Tarpin. Comprising of approximately 20 pieces, the exhibition promises to be a tantalising...Opening on November 27 at the David Gill Gallery in London, the exhibition Promenades will mark...Opening on November 27 at the David Gill Gallery in London, the exhibition Promenades will mark...
Wraparound balconies, mattresses that cost the price of a flat, in-room caviar service and art by Picasso — these are the ultra-luxe cabins you’ll never want to leave
Craft workshops, (almost) no queues and magnificent sunsets — on a winter break in La Serenissima, Laura Jackson finally falls for the Italian city
See the country’s north, catch the northern lights and make new friends on a small group adventure that takes you — and your sled — from hut to hut
In Ardnamurchan on the west coast, a pair of Scandi-Hebridean-style cabins provide a cosy base for outdoor adventuring. But beware — you might just love it too much
Otherworldly landscapes, adrenaline-fuelled fun and new friends: this beautiful, hair-raising road trip was the highlight of a two-month tour of southeast Asia
Travel Editor’s Take
Letting loose on holiday with friends and free shots is a rite of passage. That this had fatal consequences in Laos...Letting loose on holiday with friends and free shots is a rite of passage. That this had fatal...Letting loose on holiday with friends and free shots is a rite of passage. That this had fatal...
comment
We’ve all been there: the squirming awkwardness of glancing across at your plane seat mate’s TV screen to find...We’ve all been there: the squirming awkwardness of glancing across at your plane seat mate’s TV...We’ve all been there: the squirming awkwardness of glancing across at your plane seat mate’s TV...
WHERE WAS I? COMPETITION
video
It might be blisteringly cold here in the Northern hemisphere, but over on the other side of the world another long, hot summer is about to start. Our winter is the best time to visit Australia, a continent that has everything you could want from...It might be blisteringly cold here in the Northern hemisphere, but over on the other side of the...It might be blisteringly cold here in the Northern hemisphere, but over on the other side of the...
OBITUARY
One half of a musical duo whose frothy hits belied a deeper intellect
OBITUARY
Popular parliamentarian who, against the odds, retained his Woolwich seat after quitting the Labour Party
video
The Times has been publishing life stories of the great and the good (and the not so good) for more than 170 years. Now the obituary is also becoming a podcast, explains Anna Temkin
The night sky
Weather eye
Storms can on rare occasions inspire great things, and 140 years ago a furious gale in the North Sea led to a famous...Storms can on rare occasions inspire great things, and 140 years ago a furious gale in the North...Storms can on rare occasions inspire great things, and 140 years ago a furious gale in the North...
BRING the full amount of your tithes to the Temple, so that there will be plenty of food there. Put me to the test...BRING the full amount of your tithes to the Temple, so that there will be plenty of food there.BRING the full amount of your tithes to the Temple, so that there will be plenty of food there.
MindGames and Brain Boost puzzles to print and solve at your leisure
SNP ministers will have about £300 million added to their budget in UK government funding to cover national insurance rises for the public sector. Treasury officials last week shared with Scottish civil servants the estimate of how much money would be made available to Holyrood through the policy.SNP ministers will have about £300 million added to their budget in UK government funding to cover national insurance rises for the public sector. Treasury officials last week shared with Scottish civil servants the estimate of how much money would be made available to Holyrood through the policy.SNP ministers will have about £300 million added to their budget in UK government funding to cover national insurance rises for...
Leading Article
For years, ministers in successive Scottish governments have complained that their hands are tied. However much they might sympathise with opposition demands for more funds for any given programme, the simple reality is that the government’s ability to act has been constricted by a series of parsimonious financial settlements imposed on...For years, ministers in successive Scottish governments have complained that their hands are tied. However much they might sympathise with opposition demands for more funds for any given programme, the simple reality is that the government’s ability to act has been constricted by a series of parsimonious financial settlements imposed on...For years, ministers in successive Scottish governments have complained that their hands are tied. However much they might...
Nearly half of Scots say they are worse off than a year ago, with almost two thirds believing the country’s economic conditions will continue to decline. The latest quarterly survey for the David Hume Institute, an independent think tank, and the pollster Diffley Partnership has found a bleak public outlook on the...Nearly half of Scots say they are worse off than a year ago, with almost two thirds believing the...Nearly half of Scots say they are worse off than a year ago, with almost two thirds believing the...
IAN MACWHIRTER
Opinions are divided on the use of the term “woke”. Many who are critical of the excesses of identity politics are...Opinions are divided on the use of the term “woke”. Many who are critical of the excesses of...Opinions are divided on the use of the term “woke”. Many who are critical of the excesses of...
IAIN HARDIE
Securing the future of Scotland’s manufacturing base will require a significantly more intelligent, fact-based and...Securing the future of Scotland’s manufacturing base will require a significantly more...Securing the future of Scotland’s manufacturing base will require a significantly more...
Comment
Pelicot trial may deter other justice seekers
Jenni Russell
Courageous wife’s court ordeal sends message to women about how harshly even a perfect rape victim can be treated
Libby Purves
Charities need to regain trust or risk demise
Tomiwa Owolade
‘Relatable’ curriculums smother aspiration
Juliet Samuel | Notebook
Patience is a virtue for farmers — but it’s running out
Tina Stowell
A ‘two-tier’ media environment would erode democracy
Leading Articles
Curriculum Vitality
The government must seize the chance to reform an out-of-date education system and redesign the curriculum to meet the needs of employers today
Borrowed Time
Labour’s approach is putting renewed pressure on the public finances
Food, Glorious Food
Why do artists’ oil palettes nowadays focus so much on our palates?
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Providing funds and manpower for defence
Write to letters@thetimes.co.uk Sir, Politicians always claim that their prime obligation is to defend our nation. However, as Max Hastings confirms (“It’s scary what we need to spend on defence”, Nov 23), they have singularly failed to...Write to letters@thetimes.co.uk Sir, Politicians always claim that their prime obligation is to...Write to letters@thetimes.co.uk Sir, Politicians always claim that their prime obligation is to...
Daily Universal Register
Briefing
UK: Confederation of British Industry annual conference, London; White Ribbon Day, a campaign to encourage men and boys to end violence against women and girls; Energy Intelligence Forum, an annual gathering for business and political leaders on the energy industry and sustainability.
On this day
In 1542 Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, abolished slavery by decree in his Leyes Nuevas. However, slavery persisted in Spain’s Puerto Rica and Cuba colonies (until 1873 and 1886); in 1882 the opening night of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe was staged at the Savoy Theatre, London; in 1940 Woody Woodpecker made his first appearance in the animated short Knock Knock, part of the Andy Panda series; in 1952 Agatha Christie’s murder mystery, The Mousetrap, opened at the Ambassadors Theatre, London, starring Richard Attenborough and his wife, Sheila Sim; in 2018 the European Union endorsed the Brexit withdrawal agreement. The House of Commons rejected the agreement on three occasions, leading to Theresa May’s resignation on July 24, 2019.
Nature Notes
Dodder is an extremely strange plant. A parasite, it draws nutrients from other plants; this means it has no need to photosynthesise and therefore has no need for chlorophyll. Instead it produces large skeins of thin, threadlike, pinkish stems that simply drape themselves over their host species, with small clusters of white flowers at intervals amid the tangle. Once it was a troublesome crop pest of cereals and clovers, but it has been all but eradicated from modern farmland and is now largely confined to undisturbed areas of heathland where it parasitises heather and gorse. Also known as “devil’s guts”, it attaches itself to its host by means of tiny pads through which it draws their energy-rich sap. Melissa Harrison
Melissa Harrison
Birthdays today
Stuart Andrew, Conservative MP for Daventry, shadow secretary for culture, media and sport, 53; Dominic Cummings, political strategist, chief adviser to Boris Johnson (2019-20), 53; Blythe Duff, actress, Taggart (1990-2010), 62; Michael Feast, actor, Velvet Goldmine (1998), 78; Carole Hersee, costume designer, featured in the BBC’s Test Card F (1967-98), 66; Brent Hoberman, entrepreneur, co-founder of Lastminute.com (1998) and Made.com (2010), 56; Yvonne Kenny, opera singer, 74; Terry Kilburn, actor, Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol (1938), 98; Eilish McColgan, middle and long-distance runner, gold medallist, Commonwealth Games 10,000m (2022), 34; Alessandro Michele, fashion designer, creative director at Valentino, Gucci (2015-22), 52; Steve Morgan, founder (1974) and chairman (2009-19), Redrow, and chairman, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (2007-15), 72; Lord (Paul) Murphy of Torfaen, Labour MP (1987-2015), secretary of state for Northern Ireland (2002-05) and Wales (1999-2002, 2008-09), 76; Lord Naseby (Michael Morris), Conservative MP (1974-97), chairman of Ways and Means and deputy speaker (1992-97), 88; Donald Sassoon, emeritus professor of comparative European history at Queen Mary University of London, The Anxious Triumph: A Global History of Capitalism (1860-1914) (2019), 78; Dougray Scott, actor, Mission: Impossible II (2000), 59; Gerald Seymour, thriller writer, Harry’s Game (1975), 83; Ben Stein, economist, actor and speechwriter for US presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, 80; John Taylor, inventor who developed thermostats for use in electric kettles, 88; Bruno Tonioli, choreographer, judge, Strictly Come Dancing (2004-20), 69, Sir Peter Wright, director laureate, Birmingham Royal Ballet, 98.