Londoner’s Diary
We are finally getting a behind-the-scenes look at the man who might be prime minister by the end of the year. Keir Starmer: The Biography by journalist Tom Baldwin is out on February 29 and extracts have appeared over the weekend. It will be a must-read for politicos, with new details of Starmer’s life, including his tough relationship with his father and his mother’s illness.
But the path to the book was rocky. It began with a press release in 2022 that said Starmer was writing his own political manifesto, which would “make a fierce argument... as he sets out his vision for Britain’s future”. Early 2023 was marked up as a release date and missed (the Labour leader is a busy man). Baldwin, a journalist and former advisor to Ed Miliband, was enlisted as a ghostwriter.
But then they decided to turn Starmer’s “fierce” vision into a biography. Starmer returned his £18,000 advance to the publisher. With record broken pledges, Starmer has been accused by critics on right and left of lacking convictions. So, did the Labour leader decide it would be easier to talk about his private life than his political principles?
Greta surprises students in Glasgow
Greta Thunberg’s tour of the UK continues after a court battle this month. On Friday, Glasgow University students at a ceilidh were surprised to see the Swedish climate activist, 21, left, queuing for a drink. Her trip to Glasgow coincides with the Scottish Labour conference, where she joined a Gaza ceasefire march.
Oppenheimer stars celebrate at BAFTA after party
There were four Bafta after-parties last night. We crashed Universal’s at the NoMad, as it was the chosen spot for the reigning Oppenheimer champions, who won seven awards. Best actor Cillian Murphy, his on-screen wife Emily Blunt, director Christopher Nolan and his producer partner Emma Thomas, with their teenage son in tow, were the soul of the party. Robert Downey Jr, who scooped a supporting actor gong for the film, turned up in a smart casual outfit change and Florence Pugh, who also had a prominent role in the film, arrived with a large entourage.
Checking in... our party at The Savoy
Our colleagues at ES Magazine kicked off London Fashion Week proceedings the right way — with a decadent party at The Savoy on Friday night. Saltburn’s Archie Madekwe, BBC radio DJ Clara Amfo, actor Jaime Winstone, writer Jack Guinness and model Ikram Adbi Omar were among the guests who enjoyed music from Bestley, Horse Meat Disco and Lou Hayter till late.
