Kwasi Kwarteng
(Picture: Jeff Overs/BBC/PA Wire)It seems Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng is feeling content with his lot in life. After a meteoric rise, he is widely expected to be appointed chancellor next week if Liz Truss becomes prime minister.
On Thursday evening, The Londoner spotted the minister toasting his success with friends at White’s in St James’s. The private members’ club, which only admits men, is a favourite haunt of Tory grandees. Kwarteng drew the attention of club members with his distinctive booming laugh, described as “infectious” by friends. But his jubilant mood seems a little ill-timed.
The next morning energy regulator Ofgem, which Kwarteng oversees as Business Secretary, announced an almost three-fold rise in the energy price cap. But the airwaves were noticeably silent, with no ministers taking to TV or radio to reassure the public. Perhaps he was feeling a little worse for wear.
Princess Diana’s wardrobe
Her wardrobe was legendary, but Princess Diana didn’t get attached. Weeks before her death, 25 years ago tomorrow, she asked Christie’s to flog her dresses for charity. Christopher Balfour, chair of the auction house at the time, responded: “I’d have to check with my fellow directors, ma’am — I’m not sure we do clothes.” “It’s a bit better than second-hand clothes!” Diana quipped back.
The dresses went on to raise millions. When Diana died, Balfour tells The Oldie, “I jumped out of bed. I rang up the night security at Christie’s. We were the first people to have our flag at half-mast.”
Another headache for the British Museum
For years the British Museum has been in a tussle with Greece over the return of the Parthenon Marbles, and with Nigeria, which wants the Benin Bronzes back. Now Egypt has joined the scrum. Zahi Hawass, a prominent Egyptian politician and archaeologist, says the museum should give back the Rosetta Stone because it “has no right to show this artefact to the public”. But despite this, the museum authorities led by chairman George Osborne seem unlikely to drop their stoney-faced refusals.
Carnival brings out London celebs
As Carnival returned with a bang after three years, newly-wed Rita Ora delighted her fans when she came down from a friend’s balcony and joined the crowd. Her pal, DJ Benji B, hit the decks in Ladbroke Grove. Society beauty Lady Lola Bute turned up for a photo op with Vogue cover girl Adwoa Aboah. Meanwhile, model Indiyah Polack partied with DJ Henrie, together with Jordan Stephens of Rizzle Kicks.
Sturgeon’s strange request
Nicola Sturgeon had an odd request for Succession star Brian Cox at an Edinburgh Book Festival talk last night. She was keen to hear his character Logan Roy’s expletive two-word catchphrase. “Go on, tell us”, she said. “To f*** off? I now get paid to tell people to f*** off,” Cox laughed. “So you won’t do it for free any more?” Sturgeon asked, disappointed.
