The British Conservative politician Norman Tebbit, who served in Margaret Thatcher’s Cabinet from 1981 to 1987, has died aged 94. Gruesomely, his life is best remembered for a near-death experience. He was pulled from the debris of Brighton’s Grand Hotel in 1984 after an IRA bomb tore through a wing of the building. His wife, Margaret, was paralysed from the neck down as a result of the attack.
Never one to shy away from voicing divisive opinions, Tebbit forged a reputation as a gritty right-winger and was known to his critics, somewhat unflatteringly, as "the Chingford skinhead" (he was also once described as "the great political street-fighter of his generation"). He was made UK employment secretary in 1981 at a time when more than 2.5 million people were jobless, with claims that 6,000 were joining the dole queue daily. Trade unions organised marches to call attention to the issue and, in reference to some of those rallies turning ugly, Tebbit countered with the famous quote about his grandfather: “He didn’t riot. He got on his bike and looked for work."
He incurred more flak with his proposed "cricket test", a scheme to determine how well an immigrant or their descendants had been assimilated on account of which national cricket team they supported – whether it was England or their “heritage team” – which could then serve as a barometer of Britishness. Tebbit expanded on the idea, saying: “A large proportion of Britain's Asian population fail to pass the cricket test. Which side do they cheer for? It's an interesting test. Are you still harking back to where you came from or where you are?" The much-ridiculed cricket test never got off the ground.
Only months after the Brexit referendum in 2016, Tebbit wrote in the Daily Telegraph that UK law was facing challenges from a “rival legal system with its own courts, such as that now represented by the network of Sharia”, and that “Islam challenges our way of life in our own country”. It was difficult to grasp precisely what he was referring to, as the unofficial Sharia councils in Britain had no legal power. But Tebbit was peddling a myth widely held within Conservative circles, to the extent that the prime minister at the time, Theresa May, set up an inquiry into Sharia in Britain.
Tebbit's hopeless misunderstanding of Islam became apparent through several crass public comments. Not content with describing the veil as a means of shying away from the rest of the community and "thoroughly rejecting our culture", he also claimed the religion had been "so unreformed since it was created that nowhere in the Muslim world has there been any real advance in science, or art or literature, or technology in the last 500 years".
Norman Beresford Tebbit was born on March 29, 1931, in Enfield, north London. His working-class childhood was suffused with a strong academic performance, earning him a place at Edmonton Grammar School. Tebbit was a pilot in the military and the commercial sector, and was also a trade union official. But it was in politics that he was to make his name. In 1970, he was elected to represent Epping then, four years later, Chingford, the Essex seat he would hold for more than 20 years.
I am one of those who have it on my conscience that I allowed Mr Blair to become Prime Minister
Despite, or perhaps because of, his grounding, Tebbit, with Thatcher’s guidance, sought with the 1982 Trade Union Act to further diminish union power. In days when strikes were rife, the legislation made unions liable for damages stemming from what was deemed illegal protest action. The role of trade and industry secretary beckoned for Tebbit, and subsidies to already struggling industries were cut.
Tebbit was nearly killed by the IRA bomb, an attack on numerous Conservative members staying in The Grand Hotel on the Brighton seafront for the 1984 party conference. The horror of his brush with death was captured by photographers and the appalling image of Tebbit in his pyjamas being carried from the scene on a stretcher is an enduring one.
He recovered well, however, becoming Conservative Party chairman and chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. But reports circulated that relations with Thatcher, to whom he had been very close, had started to fray, not least because he was identified in some quarters as her potential successor as prime minister. These suspicions were scotched, though. Having helped to orchestrate another general election victory in 1987, Tebbit quit the government on a promise to his wife that he would earn enough money from businesses outside the political sphere to help pay for her care, a pledge he duly honoured.
The Thatcher-Tebbit fulcrum became evident once more when she offered him the post of education secretary, which he rejected. Still, in 1990, Tebbit showed undaunted support for his prime minister as she faced a leadership challenge, which he refrained from joining, although he later apparently aligned himself with her successor, John Major.
Tebbit left the House of Commons for the Lords in 1992, where he was guided by the hidden hand of Thatcher once more, the pair this time reunited in their objection to the Maastricht Treaty that established the EU, the ratification of which they saw as “treason”. Beginning to voice more and more scepticism of Major, Tebbit hinted he had not pursued the party leadership because he mistakenly believed Major espoused right-wing values – he once said Major had "the mulishness of a weak man with stupidity". The party sank gradually and Tony Blair’s "New" Labour took office in 1997. Tebbit’s own decision-making subsequently appeared to rankle, as he later explained: "When I look at what happened to the party, I tell myself that perhaps I failed in a duty. I suppose I am one of those who have it on my conscience that I allowed Mr Blair to become prime minister."
In the House of Lords, Tebbit, who was made a life peer, remained an entrenched supporter of Thatcherism and disavowed some of the centrist policies of the party with David Cameron at the helm. Tebbit’s politics can be rather well summed up by his assertion: “It is certainly safe, in view of the movement to the right of intellectuals and political thinkers, to pronounce the brain death of socialism.” He retired from the Lords in March 2022.
He spent much of his time caring for his wife who, as a wheelchair user, was a vigorous campaigner for access for disabled people. He condensed their highs and lows into an entertaining memoir Upwardly Mobile, in which he expressed deep admiration for his wife and the fortitude she had shown following the Brighton blast, after which she spent two years in hospital. A tiresome theme of Tebbit’s book, however, was his bleating about the penury that marred his working life. Tebbit could hardly be said to have been short of money, yet by his own measure apparently he was. He went on to write several more books, with varied success. Margaret Tebbit died in December 2020. The couple had three children, William, John and Alison, all of whom survive their parents.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
The specs: 2018 Kia Picanto
Price: From Dh39,500
Engine: 1.2L inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed auto
Power: 86hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 122Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0L / 100km
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The Matrix Resurrections
Director: Lana Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick
Rating:****
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm
Torque: 637Nm at 5,150rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh317,671
On sale: now
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
LOS ANGELES GALAXY 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 5
Galaxy: Dos Santos (79', 88')
United: Rashford (2', 20'), Fellaini (26'), Mkhitaryan (67'), Martial (72')
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
TOP 5 DRIVERS 2019
1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 10 wins 387 points
2 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 4 wins, 314 points
3 Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 3 wins, 260 points
4 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 2 wins, 249 points
5 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 1 win, 230 points
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 0
Liverpool 2 (Mane 50', 54')
Red card: Andreas Christensen (Chelsea)
Man of the match: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
England XI for second Test
Rory Burns, Keaton Jennings, Ben Stokes, Joe Root (c), Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes (wk), Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Jack Leach, James Anderson
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Huddersfield Town permanent signings:
- Steve Mounie (striker): signed from Montpellier for £11 million
- Tom Ince (winger): signed from Derby County for £7.7m
- Aaron Mooy (midfielder): signed from Manchester City for £7.7m
- Laurent Depoitre (striker): signed from Porto for £3.4m
- Scott Malone (defender): signed from Fulham for £3.3m
- Zanka (defender): signed from Copenhagen for £2.3m
- Elias Kachunga (winger): signed for Ingolstadt for £1.1m
- Danny WIlliams (midfielder): signed from Reading on a free transfer
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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Fight Night
FIGHT NIGHT
Four title fights:
Amir Khan v Billy Dib - WBC International title
Hughie Fury v Samuel Peter - Heavyweight co-main event
Dave Penalosa v Lerato Dlamini - WBC Silver title
Prince Patel v Michell Banquiz - IBO World title
Six undercard bouts:
Michael Hennessy Jr v Abdul Julaidan Fatah
Amandeep Singh v Shakhobidin Zoirov
Zuhayr Al Qahtani v Farhad Hazratzada
Lolito Sonsona v Isack Junior
Rodrigo Caraballo v Sajid Abid
Ali Kiydin v Hemi Ahio
The%20specs
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