Leisurewear is an alien import on the British political scene but one man has used it as armoury throughout 2020.
Prepping for the ruling Conservative party conference speech last week, Rishi Sunak posted on Instagram a picture of himself stood at the lectern while wearing grey joggers. Chic as the sweatpants were, I doubt that any other Conservative frontline politico would do that in public.
Mr Sunak's has been a meteoric success in a year filled with dying stars crashing to Earth. His Indian-born parents arrived in Britain, built a business and their bright son managed to go to Winchester School, one of the world’s oldest, on a scholarship.
Today, the fate of the British economy rests on his slender shoulders. The Covid-19 infection rate does not fall in his purview, so Mr Sunak has sought to shape the economic response with his own fresh personal touches.
Early in the crisis when Prime Minister Boris Johnson was hospitalised with Covid-19, Mr Sunak posted the first of the hoodie pictures wishing his leader back to health.
Ever since, clothing has sent signals.
Few would have picked a slim man on "the Tube", London's underground rail network, as the holder of the UK's purse strings in early September. He was wearing a face mask, unusual at the time in London when it was not compulsory on public transport. An hour later, he was at an event wearing a custom-made hoodie to launch the Kickstart jobs retraining scheme to respond to the pandemic.
Rarely has a politician made such a big impression with the public in such a short period of time.
Mr Sunak pitched into the job, which involves living in No 11 Downing St next to the boss, in February. Now 40, he married Akshata Murthy in 2009 after they met at Stanford University. She is the daughter of a legend of Indian business, Narayana Murthy, who is co-founder of Infosys, an IT company.
The Covid-19 crisis is nowhere near a turning point. Having pursued a lockdown and then allowed a social-focused reopening that neglected clear guidance on the workplace, the British government presides over an economy that remains almost 10 per cent smaller than it was in February.
As Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Sunak has not attracted opprobrium but, instead, has zoomed to the top of the confidence charts in public polling.
The MBA graduate has sought to maintain confidence that recovery is still in touch. Yet, he also commits to strong public finances and warns of "hard choices". "This doesn't mean a horror show of tax rises with no end in sight," he told the party conference when he appeared at the event in sober dark blue suit. "But it does mean treating the British people with respect, being honest about the challenges and showing them how we plan to correct our public finances."
Mobilising the power of the English language has been a key tenet of his work. Schemes such as the Kickstart training programme have been presented with pinpoint sharpness. A drive to ensure that people emerged from the lockdown confident about social interaction was brilliantly packaged.
More than 100 million meals were claimed through the government’s dining discount programme. Reuters
The Eat Out to Help Out scheme picked up half the food bills for meals on Monday-Wednesday and was a shot in the arm for hospitality. On Friday, he announced a Winter Economic Plan to withstand the rolling shutdown under way as infections grow.
For those with a dystopian view of the world, the pandemic can sometimes seem like branding exercise. But Mr Sunak’s efforts are far more accessible and encouraging than the government’s overall social distancing and public health slogans.
Beyond the words, Mr Sunak has also proven a savvy operator in how to mobilise the government machine. One former senior ambassador told a meeting last week that there was no coincidence that Mr Sunak’s high poll numbers came after he established a good relationship with his officials.
William Hague pointed out that Rishi Sunak was a model for the type of talented cabinet minister that Mr Johnson needed around him
The Treasury department is the undeniable gorilla in the British government machine. It not only raises taxes but expects other departments to justify how the funds are spent. While there is resistance from other departments – known to insiders as "consent and evade", or knowing to quietly disavow what is agreed upon – it is generally true that Treasury rules prevail.
A well-liked minister who is not at war with his officials draws dividends from a smooth functioning machine behind his every move. William Hague, the former foreign secretary and a sage observer of the Conservative party, last week made a comment on Mr Sunak, who followed in his footsteps by winning the very safe House of Commons seat of Richmond in Yorkshire.
Mr Hague pointed out that Mr Sunak was a model for the type of talented cabinet minister that Mr Johnson needed around him. “The government needs more Rishi Sunaks,” he said. “It needs to look in a couple of years like it’s a team of brilliant ministers directing hard-working advisers.”
As for the man himself, Mr Sunak was definite last week that he did not want to move on the top job. "God, no. Definitely not."
Damien McElroy is the London bureau chief of The National
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally • Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered • Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity • Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Key facilities
Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Starring:Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
PRIMERA LIGA FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Atletico Madrid v Sevilla (3pm)
Alaves v Real Madrid (6.15pm)
Malaga v Athletic Bilbao (8.30pm)
Girona v Barcelona (10.45pm)
Sunday
Espanyol v Deportivo la Coruna (2pm)
Getafe v Villarreal (6.15pm)
Eibar v Celta Vigo (8.30pm)
Las Palmas v Leganes (8.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Valencia (10.45pm)
Monday
Real Betis v Levante (11.pm)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
