ITV journalist Allegra Stratton
(Picture: PA)After an unplanned six-month hiatus, Boris Johnson’s former press secretary Allegra Stratton, right, now has a new job. Stratton is joining Bloomberg News as UK contributing editor, writing an afternoon newsletter called Readout.
Stratton was the only member of Number 10 to resign over Partygate, when she was caught joking about lockdown parties on camera during a mock press conference last December.
Stratton joins Alex Wickham, who recently left Politico, and is reportedly the godfather of Boris and Carrie Johnson’s son, Wilfred. Stratton was formerly political editor of Newsnight and national editor for ITV News. She left to work for Rishi Sunak, before signing up with the PM. Has she any secrets to reveal?
Love Island ‘therapy’
Former Love Island winner Amber Gill told us the show changes contestants’ lives “every single way you can imagine” at Youtubter Murad Merali’s viewing party for the new series at Limin’ Beach Club last night. Gill also praised the show for giving her a 16-week therapy course after filming to help her mental health. Gill said if she was PM for a day she’d tackle “people’s poor housing situation” and not offer “free blowdries for everyone”, like some might expect. Worth throwing her hat in the ring?
Waiting for the end of Boris at the Red Lion
The Londoner went down to the Red Lion pub in Westminster last night as Tories voted on the Boris Johnson no confidence vote. Noting the £7 plus cost of one pint, some wondered if the PM could grab support by promising to lower prices. The tube strike and rain meant the atmosphere was muted, with no one sure “what is going to happen next”. Some monitoring social media noticed that while Rishi Sunak, Michael Gove and Liz Truss had tweeted in support of the PM, Priti Patel had not. Outside, Chelsea and Fulham MP Greg Hands noticed the buses echoing the vote for and against Johnson: 211 and 148. But as one wag quipped: “At least the buses know when it’s time to leave”.
The Parliament Square bus stop had the result long before anyone else did. pic.twitter.com/pzg7z1PzZg
— Greg Hands (@GregHands) June 6, 2022
Lilibet birthday party
Meghan Markle and baby Lilibet posed for snaps by photographer Misan Harriman. They were joined by Harriman’s wife Camilla and kids for a picnic at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. Claire Ptak, who made Meghan and Harry’s wedding cake, baked for the party. Lilibet met the Queen last week.
Elsewhere, comedian Katherine Ryan launched her Amazon show, Stacey Dooley and Big Zuu launched their BBC cooking show, and Sherwood actors David Morrissey and Joanne Froggatt went to a premiere. Actor Nicola Coughlan celebrated Tiffany & Co’s birthday at Harrods by turning the shop’s lights blue.
