Ephraim Hardcastle
LORD Powell, a former Margaret Thatcher adviser, tells Radio 4 that the Iron Lady ‘never once raised our possibility of leaving Europe’. Really? The late Lady T’s official biographer, Charles Moore, points out that from the time of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 she thought we should exit the Eu. However, she felt she couldn’t make this public – putting pressure on her successors – having stood down as PM in 1990.
LONG overshadowed by his older sibling, fellow musician Chris Jagger says of Sir Mick’s heart scare: ‘Maybe he’ll slow down.’ He adds (somewhat tartly): ‘At least he’s not got to wait in line for the NHS.’
KEIRA Knightley, pictured, on The Aftermath, her film about a love triangle in newly defeated Nazi Germany: ‘It’s a film about hope, redemption, forgiveness and, yes, some terrific evening clothes.’
GLENDA Jackson’s portrayal of a transgender King Lear on Broadway is likened by a critic to ‘a sharp and gleaming scythe slashing through an overgrown field’. Isn’t it a pity the ex-Labour MP isn’t able to take her gleaming scythe to Westminster’s over-grown Brexit thicket?
MEMBERS of The Order of the Thistle – Scotland’s equivalent of the Garter – meet every two years. Organisers are relieved 2019 isn’t one of them. Why so? A cloud hangs over one of the Knights, former Liberal leader David Steel. He admitted to the Child Sexual Abuse Inquiry that he spoke to party colleague Cyril Smith about child sex allegations and the latter didn’t deny them. But Steel subsequently did nothing about it. My source suggests: ‘Having Steel in his Thistle finery parade before the Queen this year would have been awkward. Everyone is hoping things will blow over by next year.’
EXPELLED from Labour in 2003 and ousted as Respect MP for Bradford West in 2015, George Galloway announces: ‘I’m running in the European elections in the North West England constituency on a platform of helping secure the full implementation of the British people’s decision to leave the EU.’ No doubt the Leave campaign will savour the support of ‘Gorgeous George’.
CHEEKY former royal butler Paul Burrell, 60, has been lurking near Sandringham House, confiding in a new, self-publicising video: ‘For over ten years I spent New year here with Her Majesty and her family.’ He says he advised Princess Diana on how to ‘get the Queen’s ear’ during festive gatherings in Norfolk, recalling: ‘Before and after dinner, she will sit and play bridge or canasta. That’s your chance to tell the monarch what you’re thinking and feeling.’ Much good it did Diana, sadly.
MODEST Jeffrey Archer describes his writing talent as ‘a God-given gift’, but counsels would-be rivals: ‘You cannot all be the number one in the bestsellers’ list. My latest book is a number one bestseller for ten weeks.’ Success isn’t enough for Jeffrey. Others must fail. He’s irrepressible.