The dastardly Mr Deedes

Unfair practices in the energy market affect us all, even impeccably mannered Tory MP and wealthy stockbroker, Jacob Rees-Mogg, who complains: ‘I had Scottish Power writing to me to say that it would send in the bailiffs when it had sent me a bill that was nearly 15 times what it was meant to be.’ The mere thought of hulking bailiffs squaring up to tweedy Jacob at the gates of his sumptuous grade II listed Somerset manor house is too delicious to contemplate.

Microsoft barred journalists from covering a discussion it hosted yesterday with ex-Spice Girl Victoria Beckham at its UK Business Forward event in London. What spoilsports. Posh’s insights on the finer points of business strategy and development surely merit a wider airing.

Silicon Valley analysts were touting an unusual rumour yesterday that Barack Obama will be the next chief executive of Uber, following abrasive founder Travis Kalanick’s undignified departure. Sceptics point to the former president’s total lack of experience, but then that hardly precluded him becoming leader of the free world did it?

It’s been a rotten week for ex-Barclays bankers, what with John Varley and Roger Jenkins being charged by the Serious Fraud Office. One former executive was still grinning though. Bob Diamond’s £44m-a-year wingman Rich Ricci pocketed £60,000 after his horse Thomas Hobson romped home in the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot. By the by, there are whispers around the paddock this week that reinvented country squire Ricci, 52, is just itching to get back into finance.

British Petroleum’s suave chief economist Spencer Dale, 50, a former Bank of England stalwart, is not without a wry sense of humour. While delivering his recent energy market review in BP’s Piccadilly offices, perched upon his desk was a wooden doll crafted in the image of JR Ewing, the diabolical, cigar-chomping oil baron from 80s TV show Dallas.