ENGLAND cricket star Jonny Bairstow has won the admiration of Rishi Sunak for carrying a Just Stop Oil protester off the field during the second Ashes Test at Lord’s yesterday.
“I thought Bairstow was brilliant,” the cricket-loving PM told us at a Bloomberg party in the National Portrait Gallery last night. “I didn’t see it live, but I’ve seen it subsequently. I absolutely support it. He was great, it was a shame about the rest of the game though.” England played badly, allowing Australia to rack up the runs.
The PM, unguarded by Spads, circled the gallery, with wife Akshata Murty at his side. “She has such a good ‘f*** off’ stare,” noted one MP.
Billionaire host Michael Bloomberg invited guests to browse a show of his New York neighbour Paul McCartney’s photos. Bloomberg says that when he first saw The Beatles he thought “those poor guys need a haircut”, but later found, watching them live, that “you get your money’s worth”.
The lobby was a revolving door of famous faces who came to toast Bloomberg News UK’s first anniversary, including former chancellor George Osborne. Osborne’s old rival Ed Balls, who he is launching a podcast with, turned up late with his wife Yvette Cooper, the shadow Home Secretary. Cooper said she was sad the doors to the McCartney exhibition closed before she had a chance to look in.
Journalist Emily Maitlis was also there with some podcast colleagues, while singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor and her husband Richard Jones looked after music. Sunak’s media guru Cass Horowitz, who is famous for his branding, was sporting a Union Jack Number 10 pin badge. Will they be on sale soon?
The big dogs are still fighting it out
Sunak had a busy evening, speaking at Policy Exchange’s summer party of his pride that the Tories gave us our first non-white Prime Minister. He also referenced a spectre from his past. “As some of you may know I have a former boss who is still present in my life... he keeps texting me saying he wants to have a catch-up,” Sunak said. “He has a small energetic dog that barks a lot and I have a slightly more well-behaved Labrador”.
As the crowd thought of a certain Mr Johnson, Sunak added: “All there is to say about my former boss is this: Dean, it’s a pleasure to be here”. He meant Policy Exchange’s Dean Godson, who was his employer before he became an MP.
I haven’t given up on London, says Tory mayoral hopeful Scully
Paul Scully, the Minister for London who was snubbed in the Tory race to run for mayor, tells us he’s angry about the chaotic selection process and is still interested in being a candidate. Yesterday, Daniel Korski withdrew after being accused of groping, leaving the search for a name to take on Sadiq Khan next year in disarray.
When we met at the National Portrait Gallery last night, Scully had just finished reading yesterday’s Standard, which asked: “Have the Tories Given Up On London?”. “Some have given up on London, I haven’t,” he said. “There has been some rallying from London MPs to get me on the shortlist.” Up at the US Ambassador’s residence in Regent’s Park, Korski was seen among guests at an Independence Day garden party. Drowning his sorrows?
Van the man still angry about partygate
Van Morrison played the Royal Albert Hall last night, and was joined on stage by Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and rocker Joe Brown. The veterans took this snap backstage, Van for once not wearing his trademark hat and shades. During the pandemic, Morrison recorded an anti-lockdown album, which got poor reviews. Last night he stuck to standards, but he’s still angry. Just as Wood came on stage, the crooner promised not to swear, but said: “While they were telling you and me to stay at home, they were doing Partygate, spitting on each other, and throwing up”. Then he started singing again.
