The dastardly Mr. Deedes

■ Blackrock fell victim to an elaborate hoax after a spoof letter was sent to media outlets purporting to be from the firm’s mucho intenso boss, Larry Fink. It warned companies to take more action over climate change or risk being dropped by the sprawling investment giant. No word yet on who’s behind the hack. Crusty climate change campaigners remain high on the list of suspects.

■ re M&s, they’ve hired Britvic corporate affairs director Victoria McKenzieGould as new communications chief. she is well-versed in the art of slick communications. she was tony Blair’s deputy chief of staff for a time, if that’s any guide.

■ Like all wise investors, Wall Street hotshot Steve Eisman knows who to consult on the big issues of the day. He tells Radio 4 that not a single person in the UK had a clue what was going to happen over Brexit. ‘Not even the London taxi drivers I’ve spoken to seem to know,’ he remarks incredulously.

■ Hedge funder and perpetual prophet of doom Crispin Odey, whose fund gained 53pc last year after three years of misery, reckons the stock market is heading (quelle surprise) for an almighty crash. He informs Bloomberg darkly: ‘i had my recession. now it’s your turn.’ Delightful fellow, no?

■ Conservative MP Gillian Keegan expressed concern at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday at the rejection of Theresa May’s Brexit bill. She said: ‘Businesses up and down the country were very disappointed with last night’s results – with the possible exception of Wetherspoons.’ No possibles about it, Gillian. Wetherspoon’s Euro-hating boss Tim Martin was on BBC Breakfast yesterday. The mulleted rascal was cock-a-hoop.