2 days ago
How Lord Mandelson made Nigel Farage laugh
Nigel Farage seemed tickled by a remark from British ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson at the 4th July celebration put on by the US embassy at Winfield House, the residence of US ambassador Warren Stephens. 'Mandelson had just said that he had been telling the [Trump] administration that Reform has peaked too soon,' explained the party's leader. Farage clearly found this hilarious. But it won't be as funny as if Farage becomes the next prime minister and he is Mandelson's boss.
Softer bread, please
Lord Kilclooney is not happy. 'Cheese and ham sandwiches in the Lords are too thick – so difficult to chew!' the 87- year-old peer posted on social media this week. When someone asked if his teeth were the problem, Kilclooney – a former deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party – replied that he had lost 'most of my teeth over 50 years ago'. Are sandwiches getting ageist?
Major's Trumpian eruption
Former Conservative prime minister Sir John Major has had enough of US president Donald Trump. 'If someone has their foot on your neck, you may comply with their wishes but you will never forget the foot,' he said in the Edward Heath Lecture at Salisbury Cathedral. 'For every action there is a reaction. When President Trump speaks, he does not do so in a vacuum. His voice echoes around the world. Putin is delighted. So is President Xi.' Major also admitted he does not have a laptop or phone. Wait until he sees Trump's outpourings on Truth Social.
Rees-Mogg keeps his head
Rarely known to have appeared tieless since teenage years, when asked about his image on the 20 Questions podcast, GB News host Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg cheerfully responds: 'It's just what I am and how I am. I'm also convinced that if I don't wear a tie, my head will fall off. So I keep it on for safety's sake.'
A bit extra, Amber
Former Conservative home secretary Amber Rudd has been recalling upsetting actors' union Equity when hiring pals and relations as extras for the1994 rom-com Four Weddings and a Funeral when she was the film's 'aristocracy co-ordinator'. She told the Full Disclosure podcast: 'Half my friends, and indeed my parents were in the churches for those things and friends of friends. Word got round: 'You get £100 with Amber – dress up nicely.' Equity weren't very happy.'
Stephanie's class endures
Stephanie Beacham cheerfully reports that her role as Sable Colby in Dynasty spin-off The Colbys still brings its perks 40 years after the show aired. She tells Best magazine 'The other day I was boarding a train when one of the girls at the station said: 'You can't possibly travel anything but First Class,' and gave me a note to show the conductor! So I did exactly that.' Beacham didn't have to pay the upgrade.
Fenced-in peers
Peers are up in arms over a £2 million steel 10ft security fence that has been erected around the House of Lords. Tory treasurer Lord Leigh of Hurley says Palace of Westminster architect Charles Barry would be 'spinning in his grave'. He adds: 'We are all up in arms. It apparently costs £2 million – totally ridiculous. Maybe the whips approve, as it will keep some from escaping?'
House of Cards author Lord Dobbs says police have told him the fence 'is dangerous, as it cuts off sightlines' to spot undesirables. A Lords spokesman says the fence will 'help to prevent unlawful incursion', adding that 'its neutral colour scheme is in keeping with other recent fences in the area'. The design was signed off a committee comprising the Metropolitan Police, the National Protective Security Authority, Westminster Council and Historic England, an unwieldy ensemble which probably explains how it looks.
Fry's AI Potter boost
Actor Sir Stephen Fry might have fallen out with J K Rowling, but he has the Harry Potter author to thank for an upside from AI. He told an audience at The Two Brewers pub in south London: 'A year before ChatGPT came out someone sent me a piece of film I narrated about the German occupation of The Netherlands during the Second World War.' Fry did not remember doing it. He then got an email saying 'You won't remember doing this because you didn't do it. This is done by our AI system.' ChatGPT had used Fry's voice from the Harry Potter audiobooks for the documentary. Fry says: 'I was told 'You will get the money as we will licence it'.' Nice work if you can get it.
Peterborough, published every Friday at 7pm, is edited by Christopher Hope. You can reach him at peterborough@
