Rishi Sunak and Rachel Reeves at Tate Modern
(Picture: Ailbhe Rea / Twitter)The “anti-growth coalition” were out in force at a Bloomberg party at the Tate Modern last night. PM Liz Truss named the AGC last week as enemies of her vision for change.
Rishi Sunak, once Truss’s rival in the race for No 10, was the star. He had a hug and a chat with Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, as snapped by Politico’s Ailbhe Rea. Onlookers wondered what they could be discussing.
Also there was Antonia Romeo, a civil servant tipped for a top Treasury job but reportedly blocked by Truss over the weekend. Consultant Isaac Levido, who helped the Tories win the 2019 election but who has now also been sidelined, went too.
Former Boris Johnson and Sunak aide Allegra Stratton, who now works for Bloomberg, made a speech about the volatile political and economic climate since she started her new job. She quipped: “not since the time of the ancient Mesopotamians has the humble abacus taken such a kicking”, adding “If you want to beat the market you really do need to know what you are talking about”.
Her boss Michael Bloomberg spoke too, saying the UK faces “many challenges”, but at least the streets are cleaner than New York. Well that’s something.
Why Bill Nighy doesn’t like Shakespeare
Bill Nighy prefers modern drama, saying he has “no enthusiasm” for acting in classical plays like Shakespeare. The thesp, who likes a well-tailored suit, says it’s the costumes that bother him. When directors ask why, suave Bill explains: “Because I can’t operate in those kind of trousers.” He told a London Film Festival event yesterday: “If I’m going to appear in public, I’d like to look at my best.” Us too.
Martin Lewis’s “new book”
Money man Martin Lewis is keeping busy. Earlier this week the money saving expert gave up his OBE and upgraded it for a CBE. Now he’s throwing his weight behind a scheme to turn public buildings into warm spaces over the winter. He’s created A Warm Welcome, a free guidebook on setting up warm banks, which he thinks will be “crucial” to help the vulnerable. A £15 million public information campaign on how to save energy was reportedly shelved by No 10.
Not just a pretty face
London-born acting icon Angela Lansbury sadly died at the age of 96 yesterday. She had political links: her grandfather George Lansbury was Labour leader in the 1930s, while Tory MP Penny Mordaunt is a distant cousin. In a video released by the New York Times after her death, Lansbury explains why she got meaty roles rather than being a pin-up. “I was too good an actress”, and not just a “pretty face” she said.
Last night in town
Brand Veronica Beard hosted models Lady Mary Charteris, Poppy Delevingne and Emilia Boateng for a dinner to celebrate their new Mayfair store last night. Elsewhere, Stranger Things actor Joseph Quinn was at the film festival, while Frieze art fair parties buzzed. Singer Shane MacGowan was with Kate Moss and wife Victoria at his preview, while Madonna’s son Rocco was out in Soho. Singer James Blunt and wife Sofia were at the White Cube bash at Chiltern Firehouse, but told us they just wanted to party. “I don’t even like art,” he joked. “I don’t even like music”.
