Ephraim Hardcastle
President George H W Bush was a favourite of the Queen, possibly because they were both born in the 1920s and lived through a war. (It might also have been because she’s not keen on broccoli; neither was the 41st Us President.) In 1993, Bush was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, which comes with a collar made of gold – and a note requiring its return after the recipient’s death. Whoever attends the funeral on the Queen’s behalf (Charles, William?) might have to bring it home. OUR official dignitaries at the weekend’s inauguration of the new Mexican president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, were social care minister Caroline Dinenage, pictured, and defence minister Mark Lancaster, who happen to be married. A delightful freebie for them. No doubt first-class seats were provided as well as luxurious accommodation. Isn’t (political) life grand? as Mr Bush’s body lies in state at the Us Capitol, whither ex-President Bill Clinton, who denied him a second term in 1992? With wife Hillary he has been speaking to a half-empty toronto stadium. a local commentator says: ‘On the day of the event some unsold £150 tickets are slashed to single digits. What is the point? It’s not inspirational. It’s not for charity. they’re not raising awareness about a cause. Do they want to swim in their cash like [Walt Disney character] scrooge McDuck?’ LABOUR bigwig Dame Margaret Hodge says women over 35 should procreate ‘as soon as possible’, remarking at the Spectator’s Parliamentarian of the Year Awards: ‘Women should just have children before it’s too late. Just have kids using a turkey baster. One of my daughters got to 35 and was single. [Labour MP] Stephen Twigg, who worked in my office, was really gorgeous-looking. I said to her, “we’ll use his sperm and you can have lots of kids”.’ Tv presenter Kirstie allsopp, 47, who enjoyed the attention of admiring builders while filming in stirling – they held up a sign saying ‘Kirsty [sic] We Love You’ – hasn’t always been received warmly in the North. after she fronted a programme saying Hull was the ‘worst’ city to live in, local resident and former deputy prime minister (Lord) John Prescott called her ‘that stupid cow who does that programme’. COMMENTING on stories of a feud between the Duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex, a Kensington Palace spokesman is quoted as saying: ‘This never happened.’ My source says: ‘This is taken by some to mean that it did.’ Huffington Post announces that they’ve deleted an earlier version of a video ‘that incorrectly described sir David attenborough as a naturist’, adding: ‘We of course meant to describe him as a naturalist.’ Of course.