Miscellaneous

Hit-and-miss, heavy-handed, but a necessary use of justice to deter repetition. That was my summing-up, last year, of the Serious Fraud Office’s probe into the Libor and Euribor scandal, in which just nine low-ranking traders from four banks were convicted, despite evidence that rate-fixing malpractice had been endemic throughout the money markets for years. In the case of the SFO’s inquiry into the controversial capital–raising that enabled Barclays to escape a taxpayer bailout in 2008, the summary has to be ‘miss-and-miss, heavier-handed than ever’. But still I ask: was it worthwhile as a warning to others? The nub of the case was the payment to Qatari investors, to secure their

In Competition No. 3138 you were invited to submit a poem entitled ‘Lines on a Young Lady’s Instagram’. Thanks to David Jones, who suggested this challenge, a nod to Philip Larkin’s 1953 ‘Lines on a Young Lady’s Photograph Album’ from the collection The Less Deceived (‘My swivel eye hungers from pose to pose —/ In pigtails, clutching a reluctant cat;/ Or furred yourself, a sweet girl–graduate…’). There were echoes of Larkin-esque perviness in the entry, and stalkerish voyeurism, too, courtesy of Nick Syrett’s twist on Betjeman’s ‘A Subaltern’s Love Song’, which appears below. The witty and accomplished winners earn £25 each. At last your smart account accepted me,A newbie in

The unclued answers are all words inChambers, having their origin in Indonesia (clued by wordplay in the title). First prize Kailash Vernalls, Thame, OxonRunners-up Paul Davies, Reading, Berks; Mrs J. Smith, Beeston, Norfolk

Wednesday 11 March 2020 | 7 p.m. | £25 for subscribersEmmanuel Centre, 9-23 Marsham Street, London SW1P 3DW Budget 2020:What will Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s first Budget tell us about the future of this government – and the direction of conservatism? Join The Spectator’s Fraser Nelson, James Forsyth and Katy Balls, and Rachel Woolf, co-author of the Conservative party manifesto for the 2019 election, as they discuss the Budget just hours after it’s announced. We’re pleased to offer a special subscriber discount, saving you £10 off the ticket price. Recent events have sold out, so do book now to avoid disappointment.

Tuesday 24 March 2020 | 7 p.m. | £25 for subscribersEmmanuel Centre, 9-23 Marsham Street, London SW1P 3DW Join renowned chef and Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith as she chats about her career in food with her niece, pastry chef Peta Leith, and her nephew Sam Leith, The Spectator’s literary editor. We’re pleased to offer a special subscriber discount, saving you £10 off the ticket price. Recent events have sold out, so do book now to avoid disappointment.

Black to play, Kateryna Lagno–Ju Wenjun, February 2020. Material is approximately balanced, but White’s king is in serious danger. What was Ju’s next move, which prompted immediate resignation? Answers should be sent to ‘Chess’ at The Spectator by Tuesday 25 February 2020 or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer that is pulled out of a hat. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery. Last week’s solution 1 Ra5! (idea 1…Nxa5 2 Rc8+). Black tried 1…Qg4+ but resigned after 2 Kf1 Nd8 3 Ra8Last week’s winner Roderick Adams, Midlothian