Ephraim Hardcastle

LABOUR peer Lord Adonis, 55, in a lather all summer over Europe, attacks Eurosceptic Tory MP Steve Baker, tweeting: ‘For those who haven’t heard of Steve Baker he is Mr (Jacob) Rees-Mogg’s amanuensis. He sharpens the quills, takes dictation & issues threats & curses in the name of his master.’ Baker responds: ‘More tinfoil, my Lord?’ CRESSIDA Dick, 57, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, supports the Pakistan cricket team. As a teenager she met then Pakistani cricketer (now the country’s PM) Imran Khan in Oxford. Afterwards she wrote to him. He wrote back calling her his ‘first fan’. Thus was sealed her love of cricket, Khan and the Pakistan team. CHANCELLOR of the Exchequer Philip Hammond visited the Prince of Wales’s 18th century Ayrshire mansion, Dumfries House, last week – the first time the Court Circular has recorded a private audience between them. What might have been on Charles’ mind? Like Hammond, he is believed to be a Remainer. He appreciates EU environment initiatives and subsidies. CARRY On star Liz Fraser, who has died aged 88, had to contend with the unwanted attentions of comedy star Peter Sellers, with whom she appeared in hit films I’m All Right Jack and Two Way Stretch. After inviting her to dine a deux, he unzipped his trousers. Ms Fraser, pictured with Sellers in Two Way Stretch, told him: ‘You can put that away!’ INTERVIEWING on BBC1 world famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma, 62, who, aged seven, performed for John and Jackie Kennedy at the White House – and for eight US presidents subsequently – Andrew Marr concluded: ‘Now among those who’re going to be listening to Yo-Yo Ma is the Home Secretary Sajid Javid.’ What greater distinction can come Yo-Yo’s way? WILL Germany build a nuclear bomb? ‘A German nuclear power would strengthen the security of the West,’ says political scientist Professor Christian Hacke. ‘Do we need the bomb?’ wonders Germany’s respected (conservative) newspaper Die Welt. Tin hats on! SCOTS-born actor Kenneth Cranham discusses (in The Oldie) working with Sir Harold Pinter ahead of the 10th anniversary of the playwright’s death. After parsing his lines for Pinter’s The Homecoming, Cranham, 73, says he told the great man: ‘I really like the rhythm of (saying) “You can f*** off out of it,” rather than “You can f*** off.” Can I say that?’ Harold said, “No, you f***ing can’t”.’ HAVING won 17 per cent of the vote – their highest share ever – the anti-EU Sweden Democrats held a big party at the Kristall nightclub in Stockholm. An unfortunate choice of venue considering their efforts to shake off accusations that they have Nazi supporters. Notoriously Kristallnacht – The Night of Broken Glass – November 9, 1938, was when Nazi paramilitaries destroyed 267 synagogues and 7,000 Jewish businesses.