The dastardly Mr Deedes
Toadying PR man and vociferous Remoaner, Roland Rudd, appears to endorse the Lib Dems in June’s General Election, retweeting a plea to voters by party leader Tim Farron. Despite close relations to both New Labour and David Cameron, a much-craved peerage eludes Rudd, 55. Is cosying up to Farron and his flock of unfit-to-govern weirdos one last desperate throw of the dice?
Why is the Institute of Economic Affairs so supportive of minicab firm Uber? Mischievous sorts point to the thinktank’s close ties to Rachel Whetstone, 49, who until last week served as Uber’s head of communications. Her grandfather, battery hen tycoon Sir Antony Fisher, founded the IEA in 1955. Her redoubtable mother, Linda, 74, sits on the board. But any connection is surely fanciful.
Two surprising details following the sacking of up to 200 Burberry staff. First, the bad news was delivered in person by outgoing boss and creative supremo, Christopher Bailey. Second was the jaunty northerner’s strangely upbeat manner. Complains one: ‘It was totally inappropriate.’ Bailey, 45, relinquishes chief executive duties in July, but clings on to his £1.1m a year base salary.
Tony Bloom, whose football club Brighton will play in the Premiership next season, sounds an intriguing character. The former City trader, 47, heads up a millionaires-only betting syndicate reckoned to have made him a billionaire. Chirpy, passionate, he’s known in gambling circles as ‘The Lizard’ for his eerie sangfroid at the poker table. A welcome tonic to the faceless foreign goons who’ve hijacked our national game. The Financial Conduct Authority’s brainbox boss Andrew Bailey outlined the regulator’s mission to journalists in Canary Wharf yesterday. With strong claims on being the next governor of the Bank of England, this was a chance to appear statesman-like. So what a blow that, just as he began, Prime Minister Theresa May should announce her snap General Election. Bailey’s sage ruminations were soon drowning amidst a cacophony of whirring smartphones.