Londoner's Diary
Chancellors no longer take a stiff drink at the Commons despatch box when delivering a fiscal statement — the last to do so was Ken Clarke in 1996 — but that doesn’t mean they’ve gone teetotal. Jeremy Hunt, for example, sipped water throughout his autumn statement yesterday but slipped off to the pub afterwards. He was spotted yesterday evening at the Two Chairmen pub in Westminster, carousing with wonks, spads and civil servants, some of whom went on drinking into the early hours at Players Bar, a piano venue in Charing Cross.
The Two Chairmen has become something of a cursed spot for chancellors of late. Liz Truss’s chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng knocked back celebratory pints outside the pub after delivering his mini-Budget in September last year. Within a few days it was falling apart and he was soon sacked. Under parliamentary rules, alcohol is usually banned in the House of Commons chamber. Since the 19th century, an exception has been made for the chancellor during fiscal events. William Gladstone opted for sherry and beaten egg, Nigel Lawson enjoyed a spritzer, while Clarke sipped whisky.
Claws out for Booker’s fishy menu
The London literati might be feeling a bit crabby at the sight of the Booker Prize party food on Sunday. Guests received a set menu in advance of the ceremony, where this year’s winner will be announced. It gives an illusion of choice. The four main course options are Cromer crab, crab linguine, crab tagliolini and Singapore crab. And don’t get us started on the starters. It’s a toss-up between prawn cocktail or Pizza Express dough balls. Six authors have been shortlisted for the prize. Our money is on Paul Murray for The Bee Sting. Other contenders include Chetna Maroo, Paul Lynch and Paul Harding. The winner of the Booker can expect to take home £50,000.
Jagger helps homeless and actors choose love
Last night Sir Mick Jagger and daughter Jade delighted guests at a screening of I’m Still Here, a documentary about rough sleepers in London during lockdown. The event, at Thirteen LDN in Soho, supported charity Under One Sky. Over in Carnaby Street, actors Jamie Dornan, Olivia Colman, Lily James and T’Nia Miller were out in force at the Choose Love pop-up for Help Refugees. Nearby, pop star and director couple Rita Ora and Taika Waititi brought glamour to the red carpet for the preview of Next Goal Wins at the Ham Yard Hotel. Across town, actress Hannah Waddingham hosted Home For Christmas at Everyman Borough Yards.
