While Boris Johnson may spout off the cuff lies while giving TV interviews, when it comes to any formal document or statement – in parliament, the Security Council, NATO and now the EU – the British government always reverts to this precise formulation "of a type developed by Russia" which attempts to disguise the fact that they have no evidence the material is made in Russia. Many laboratories can produce "novichoks".
The EU statement very obviously eschews the British government line that Russia is evidently to blame. "The European Union takes extremely seriously the UK government's assessment" is a double edged statement. Of course such a profound accusation must be taken seriously – whether the accusation redounds eventually to the discredit of the accused and accuser is a different question. There is something patronising about the "takes extremely seriously" line.
As in "we take the views of our customers extremely seriously. Unfortunately none of our agents is available right now, please continue to hold…" followed by thirty minutes of jingle then cuts off. I am told the French text sounds still more disdainful.
Apparently the BBC's Eddie Mair on the PM programme on BBC Radio 4 today did take up the subject of the peculiar wording "of a type developed by Russia", though without reaching any conclusion. He mentioned me by name. Now both the UK's main political radio programmes – PM and Today – have mentioned me by name and discussed my ideas, but neither has given me a chance to reply. Mair is interesting – he first interviewed me on Radio Tay in 1984. He was then a brilliant young school-leaver who looked 12 years old, and came from the Whitfield housing scheme in Dundee, then one of the most deprived and toughest estates in the entire UK. It is a shame that his talent and energy have been wasted in the BBC, but his background does perhaps lead him to go outside the Establishment consensus sometimes.
As it is, here I am on some "fringe" media outlets today, which there are increasing calls from MPs of all major parties to close down, so that non-Establishment views can be completely suppressed.


In her Dalston bedroom, Hamzaa keeps a small white board on which she writes her goals for the year. It has a lot of ticks on it.
Not a bad strike rate, anyway. Still just a few days from her 20th birthday, and still without a record deal, things have been moving quickly for the London-born soul singer. Having auditioned for and been accepted onto The Voice, she changed her mind and dropped out before filming began. A connection she made through that process got her a management team last year. Last month she was invited to perform on the same bill as rock giants Muse on the more credible Later… With Jools Holland, at a point when she had only released two songs. Those streaming numbers picked up considerably after that and a bigger London show was announced for January.
"The person who books Jools had heard the song on DJ Target's show on Radio 1Xtra. We suggested some dates for me to go on next year but they said, 'No, let's get it done now,'" she explains, still giddy from the experience. She sang her jazzy, uplifting slowie You with an acoustic guitarist and three backing singers, not just for the beauty of the intimate delivery but because she didn't yet have her own band. She only met her musicians for the first time earlier this week, ahead of that debut show in St Pancras Old Church this evening.
Not that she's an inexperienced performer. Having played the piano since the age of five ("My mum bought me my own upright for my 13th birthday. I cried. I don't think she's topped that present since.") she attended classes at Helen O'Grady Drama Academy, City Dance Academy and Stagecoach Performing Arts School as a young child, and was a regular in her teens on Hackney Empire's Artist Development Programme, a two-week summer project that involves creating a musical from scratch.
We meet in her favourite Turkish restaurant, yards from the home where she grew up, where she's remarkably relaxed and open for someone giving their first big interview. She's got a close peroxide crop, a heavy leather jacket and a plunging top which, by the end of our conversation, she is certain has rice somewhere inside it. I'd been told she's a fan of the Australian singer Sia, so when I notice the three-letter tattoo below her collarbone I think, wow, she must REALLY like her. It turns out it says "SJA", the initials of her best friend.
Her real first name is Malika. She took the stage name Hamzaa from her stepfather's surname. She has six half-siblings but grew up as an only child with her mother, a project manager for various HIV charities. Ambitious for her daughter's eduction, mum helped her to get music and drama scholarships to two different boarding schools, one in West Sussex and one in Surrey, but Hamzaa struggled in the latter. She found the International Baccalaureate "too intense", then dropped out of A-levels in Business, English and History too. In her post-school career, she may have taken your coat for you in Brixton Academy's cloakroom.
She's doing exactly that – another tick for the whiteboard. No doubt her list for 2019 is going to look a lot more ambitious.
Hamzaa's First Signs of Me EP is out now on Renowned.


Mr. Ravi Ghai is Executive Non-Independent Chairman of the Board, Managing Director of Graviss Hospitality Ltd. He is known as one of the pioneers in the hotel industry in India. Mr. Ravi Ghai was appointed on the Board of Company in the year 1977 and is serving as Chairman and Managing Director since the last 2 decades. He is well-respected for his varied experience in the field of Hospitality business. Mr. Ravi Ghai has played a lead role in formulating the Company's strategy and has also been actively involved in international collaborations.
Mr. Gaurav Ghai is Joint Managing Director, Executive Non-Independent Director of Graviss Hospitality Limited., Effective from May 11, 2007.
Mrs. Tina Pardal serves as Non-Executive Non-Independent Woman Director of the Company. Mrs. Tina Pardal has done her Bachelor of Arts and has over two decades of experience as a Designer and Executor of wedding décor and as an event planner. She is not related to any of the Directors of the Company.
Mr. Dalip Sahgal is Non-Executive Non-Independent Director of Graviss Hospitality Limited., Since October 21. 2011.
Shri. Arun L. Todarwal is Non-Executive Non-Independent Director of Graviss Hospitality Ltd. Mr. Arun Todarwal is a Chartered Accountant and representative of Dunearn Investment (Mauritius) Pte Ltd. During the year under review, he was appointed additional by the Board as an director. He is also a member of the Audit Committee of the Company and holds other directorship of the following companies: The Madras Aluminium Co. Ltd., Sterlite technologies Ltd., Welspun India Ltd., Anuh Farma Ltd., Sterlite shipping ventures Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. Gulshan Bijlani is Non-Executive Independent Director of Graviss Hospitality Ltd. He has over 20 years of management experience and has background of production of motion pictures and is associated with film production industry. Mr. Bijlani has no directorship other the company.
Shri. Mahendra V. Doshi is Non-Executive Independent Director of Graviss Hospitality Ltd. He completed his Masters in Business Administration (MBA). He has over 25 years experience in the field of finance, capital market, business administration. He is the Chairman of LKP Group of Companies, comprising of : (1) LKP Merchant Financing Limited, (2) LKP Forex Limited, (3) LKP Securities Limited. The above Companies are actively involved in financial services namely Stock and commodity Broking, IPO distribution, Merger and Acquisitions etc. Mr. Doshi has also handled many local and international transactions, wherein the company have acted as advisors and Investment Bankers. Mr. Doshi is also on the Board of Directors of several companies.
Mr. Harindra Singh is Non-Executive Independent Director of Graviss Hospitality Ltd. He has Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Diploma in Hotel Management and Diploma in Advertising and Public relations. He has over 25 years experience in the field of Marketing comminucation business solutions and event and Sport Marketing Management. He is promoter and managing Director of Percept Adverting Limited and is on the Board of other companies comprising of : (a) Percept D'mark Private Limited (b) Percept Profle Pvt Limited (c) Media House (India) Pvt Limited (d) Infinity Communications Pvt Limited (e) Hakuhodo Percepts PVt Limited (f) Web Percept Private Limited.