46 The Times Magazine
SEPTEMBER
10.09 Pushback
“This shows Priti
Patel in the callous
light she deserves
for her policy of
‘pushback’. She had
ordered officials to
rewrite maritime law
to allow boats
carrying migrants to
be intercepted in the
Channel. Border
Force officers were
to be trained in
new tactics to turn
around the rubber
dinghies carrying
migrants. It was so
obvious they would
get overturned and
people would drown.”
15.09 Saved
by the halo
“Lewis Hamilton had
come close to death
at the weekend after
a crash with Max
Verstappen during
the Italian Grand
Prix. Verstappen’s
Red Bull had landed
on top of Hamilton’s
Mercedes, with
the rear right tyre
striking the world
champion on his
helmet – he credited
the halo head
protection device
with saving his
life. It worked as
a metaphor for Rishi
Sunak with Johnson’s
cabinet reshuffle
looming. Of course
the chancellor would
get off scot-free.”