Arise, Baron Bailey of Paddington and Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge. Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list has gone through, meaning the youngest member of the House of Lords has formally taken her seat.
Charlotte Owen, a former Spad, was born in 1993, and fully joined the upper chamber this week. Her title refers to her home village in Cheshire. Former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey has become Baron for Paddington.
He was caught up in a partygate scandal last month leading to calls for him not to take his seat. Mr Johnson’s resignation honours included seven peers, including his former aide Ross Kempsell and Dan Rosenfield, ex-Downing Street chief of staff. Neither of them have a title with their name.
In total, 13 new members of the Lords have joined this week. Edward Young, formerly Private Secretary to Elizabeth II, has become Baron Young of Old Windsor, after he was made a peer by King Charles in May.
Labour’s Keir Starmer has said he would like to axe the Lords if he becomes PM but also plans to appoint several himself.
Leo’s star turn on Vogue dance floor
It was by some way the party of the week. Singers Katy Perry and Rita Ora and model Neelam Gill were at the Vogue X Self-Portrait summer bash last night at the Chiltern Firehouse. Our spy tells us Leonardo DiCaprio was seen on the dance floor with Shakira and Perry, while a video shows the crowd singing Shakira’s Hips Don’t Lie to her. It’s one of well-connected Edward Enninful’s last parties as Vogue boss, as he’s leaving the role from next year.
Oppenheimer party, then it’s curtains
The A-listers were out in force last night, at least temporarily, as the Oppenheimer cast descended on the Leicester Square Odeon for the film’s premiere. They then all walked out as part of an actors’ strike, as thesps are seeking better payment and protection from AI. Florence Pugh and Robert Downey Jr laughed with Rami Malek, Kenneth Branagh and Matt Damon. Emily Blunt clarified she’s not quitting acting, simply taking some time with her kids, while Cillian Murphy looked like he might be in the nearby Magic Mike show, donning a striking mesh shirt.
Gregg and Liam: separated at birth
Who is this handsome young man? Believe it or not it’s a young Gregg Wallace, looking very like One Direction star Liam Payne in a youthful snap he put online, according to fans. We bumped into the MasterChef judge at the Boisdale Life Editors Lunch & Awards this week, and he told us he didn’t know who Payne was, but had looked him up. “He’s a good looking boy isn’t he? I was very flattered,” said Gregg, who joked: “He might have more hair than me, but I bet he can’t cook.”
Election footing over policy at No 10?
Is Rishi Sunak giving up on new laws and getting ready for next year’s election already? The Londoner hears that last week a number of policy experts tasked with helping Downing Street come up with new ideas were let go. They were told that No10 is on election footing, so isn’t prioritising thinking of so many new policies. Mr Sunak has to hold a general election by January 2025, but there have been whispers that he could hold a vote as soon as next spring.
