Miscellaneous

Education researchers rarely agree. But on one thing, at least, they are unanimous: the pandemic has widened the gulf in educational attainment between disadvantaged pupils and their privileged classmates and exposed deep inequalities in our education system. A study by University College London’s Institute of Education found that during the first lockdown, while a fifth of pupils did less than an hour of schoolwork at home a day, just under a fifth regularly put in more than four hours. The study showed ‘substantial inequality’ between both regions and social groups. All children need these skills for their future wellbeing and disadvantaged children will have least access to them without the

Swiss banks are hardly exciting places. Family names adorn old buildings on alpine lakesides where most of the world’s wealthiest deposit their money. But take a look at what has been going on in Swiss courts this year and you might think again. In late January, two Swiss banking executives were reprimanded in a case of serious money laundering. FINMA, the Swiss regulator, had uncovered CHF9 billion ($10 billion) of embezzled funds from Venezuelan oil company PDVSA stashed in 30 Swiss banks. Swiss newspaper Le Matin Dimanche called it ‘the largest source of suspicious funds in Swiss banks’. In a country whose banking sector is still recovering from the reputational damage

It is wonderful to have pupils back in school. However, we have not returned to life exactly as it was before the pandemic – nor should we yearn to. Schools have been forced to adapt swiftly during this past year and in some areas of school life, this has led to improvements that we will want to retain. Having seen the advantages that remote teaching can bring, why would we pack up these skills and file them away as having been some peculiar quirk of 2020-21? Remote learning and communication are here to stay in some capacity. Not as a permanent replacement, obviously; nothing compares with face-to-face learning in a

Sustainable investing has entered into the mainstream. With issues such as climate change and plastic pollution dominating the headlines, many investors are now much more aware of how their money is being put to use and want to align this with their values. But when it comes actually to investing sustainably, it can be difficult to know where to start. The problem is made worse by the multitude of funds now proclaiming sustainability credentials — the so-called ‘greenwashing’ effect. Fortunately, legislation coming soon should bring greater clarity for investors on this issue, but we believe there are some other, simple steps to help gauge a fund’s commitment to sustainability: Sustainability

White to play and win. E. Pogosjants, Shakhmaty v SSSR 1976. Promoting the a-pawn allows Black a perpetual check. Which move wins the game? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 30 December. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery. Last week’s solution 1 Qa8! If 1…Ra1 2 Qxa1#, while any knight moves are met with Ne2# or Nd3#. Last week’s winner Mark Snell, Hove, Sussex

What seems like an age ago, the Conservatives swept to victory with a stonking majority on a wave of Red Wall seats turning blue, backed by the promise to level up the country. Less than a year on, questions are being asked about whether those promises — like reopening rail lines closed by Dr Beeching — are affordable when Covid-19 has forced public borrowing through the roof. The answers lie in prioritising investments on the basis of how well they level up Britain, and in cutting red tape and enabling private financing to deliver more for less. That way we can stimulate the jobs and post-Brexit growth which will power

In March, the rhinos, gorillas and other exotic animals at the Aspinall Foundation’s wildlife parks were looking forward to thousands of people visiting them during the Easter holidays and summer months. Instead, Covid-19 forced the parks to close, leaving the owners with more than 1,300 animals to feed and care for, but no income with which to do so. Fortunately, the Aspinall Foundation was able to turn to their Relationship Director at Barclays, who understood their business and approved a £2 million loan through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) to help them through this very difficult period. Hundreds of thousands of UK businesses found themselves in similar situations,

As I write, the UK has spent more than six months battling a virus which has led to the greatest upheaval and disruption to our daily lives in modern times. Its course and longevity remains unpredictable, and ominously the full impact on our societies and economy is unknown. Managing extraordinary events does inevitably force new and innovative thinking, accelerates novel technologies and helps us realise our strengths. In this environment, decisions made now could set the path for the UK’s place in the world and our prosperity for decades to come. We need to think carefully about how best to future-proof and grow our economy for the long-term. As we

In June 2020, which 85 year-old woman became British Vogue magazine’s oldest-ever cover star? – Dame Judi Dench The first world leader Donald Trump spoke to after being elected US President was the President of Egypt. Trump informed Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi of his love of which pop group? – The Bangles. Trump said: ‘I love the Bangles – you know that song, “Walk Like An Egyptian”?’ Which name was given to 118 female babies in England and Wales in 2019, down from 301 the year before? The fall may have been due to technological reasons. – Alexa In January 2020, which footballer became the highest overseas (as opposed to British) goalscorer in the

As the UK government carefully considers measures to assist a programme of economic recovery from the impact of Covid-19, BAE Systems and companies across the UK’s combat air sector are continuing to recruit and train staff and develop leading-edge technologies in collaboration with our boldest and brightest minds across industry and universities. This is in support of Tempest – our vision to deliver the most ambitious combat air programme in living memory. The UK’s combat air sector is a vital element of our economy. It has a turnover in excess of £6 billion a year and accounts for more than 80 per cent of defence exports over the past decade.

Exclusively available to Spectator subscribers throughout June & July (or until stocks last) is this mixed box containing three bottles of Chapel Down Brut NV and three bottles of 2019 Chapel Down Sparkling Bacchus at £120 including delivery (usually retailing at £132).

Forman and Field are offering our subscribers an extra 10% discount on their two delightful Father’s Day Hampers – one includes beer, a Pork Pie, Picallili and dried snacks while the other is their ‘Triple Smoke Hamper’ and includes their London Cure Smoked Salmon, James Eadie Whisky and smoked water. Use the code spectator10 at checkout.