Londoner's Diary: Sadiq Khan tries to get the fashion vote sewn up

Charmer: mayoral hopeful Sadiq Khan
Justin Tallis / Getty
24 February 2016

Sadiq Khan really wants to be in Vogue. On Sunday the mayoral hopeful slipped into the London Fashion Week Paul Smith show almost unnoticed — the crowd of photographers (and tweeting audience) were far more interested in fellow guests Bianca Jagger and Jessica Brown Findlay.

Khan, however, knows how to work a room. He charmed the most important front rowers with promises of extending London’s cultural and creative output and chit-chat about the colourful sartorial heritage of Pakistan.

Alexandra Shulman, editor-in-chief of British Vogue, was impressed. As the closest thing the fashion industry has to a reigning monarch, Shulman’s approval is make-or-break for designers and fashion folk to the point at which she remains self-consciously removed from any kind of outspoken preference.

Imagine The Londoner’s surprise then, when Shulman gave Khan the fashion equivalent of a royal warrant. With a firm handshake, she spoke the unspeakable: “Well, you have my vote.” Could it be that red is the new blue? Is Zac Goldsmith already last season’s news? And how will this play out Shulman’s longstanding friendship with Zac’s former missus and well-known Voguette, Sheherazade Goldsmith, who is still good friends with her ex?

If Khan’s clinching of the Vogue vote is indeed a sure thing, it may be time for Zac to talk the talk and walk the catwalk: he can surely depend on his ever-stylish sister Jemima, née Khan. Or perhaps Shererazade can have a word?

***

Boden, the British clothing brand, has considered David Cameron an unofficial ambassador since he wore a pair of its swimming shorts in 2008, but owner Johnnie Boden is now after new clientele. “Politically I’m an Outer, economically I’m an Inner,” he said at the Old Etonian Association lecture at the Royal Geographical Society last night. But on personalities, he said, “I’m definitely with Boris.” Not surprising, considering Boden’s slogan is “New British”.

Rees-Moggs go for the obvious baby name

Our warmest congratulations to Jacob and Helena Rees-Mogg on the birth of their fifth child. An announcement in today’s Telegraph welcomed the arrival of Alfred Wulfric Leyson Pius into the family of the Tory MP and his wife.

Given that their youngest until then was Anselm Charles Fitzwilliam, the names shouldn’t come as a shock. The choices, too, are mostly obvious: Alfred the Great was famous for fighting off the Vikings, Wulfric of Haselbury is a Catholic saint, and 12 popes have been called Pius. Leyson, however, remains a mystery. The Londoner also wonders if Jacob is a secret Potterhead: Wulfric is one of Dumbledore’s middle names.

Martine and Terry toast Hugh

Last night the British Film Institute honoured Hugh Grant, inset, for spinning two acting styles — loveable British fop and loveable British cad — into a 20-year career, honouring him with a special fellowship and a dinner at the Corinthia Hotel. The perfect moment, then, for actress Martine McCutcheon and director Terry Gilliam to show support for their old friend.

McCutcheon starred alongside Grant in romcom classic Love Actually, playing the tea lady who falls in love with Grant’s bachelor Prime Minister. We do hope she brought him a few choccy biccies as a congratulatory treat.

Brexit blah at Bob's book launch

To the library of the Carmelite Chambers in Blackfriars last night, where The Londoner toasted the launch of new book Camille and the Lost Diaries of Samuel Pepys, Camille being the Frenchwoman who discovers the buried notebooks of the diarist after the Great Fire of London.

Written by Bob Marshall-Andrews QC, pictured, the book’s status as non-fiction has been questioned but Marshall-Andrews is unmoveable. “Some say this is fiction,” he said, bemoaning the “sniffers after verisimilitude”.

Also there were broadcasters Jon Craig and Jim Naughtie, both of whom have accidentally used an obscene word when naming Jeremy Hunt on air, but the hot topic of the evening was, inevitably, Brexit. Historian Peter Hennessy explained that the discussion is still a whisper in Parliament. “It’s not that loud,” he said, “but the electricity is crackling.”

Stanley Johnson, who stands in the opposite camp from his son Boris’s, explained that even he can’t say which way his daughter Rachel, the only undeclared member of the family, will fall. “No idea,” he smiled.

MP David Davis was more interested in love, suggesting that his pal Marshall-Andrews may be enamoured with the book’s heroine. Is she based on his wife, The Londoner inquired. “Not unless she’s an expert swordswoman, actress and cross-dresser,” Davis laughed.

***

Forget being on the right hand of God. Joseph Stiglitz, chairman of the US Council of Economic Advisers under Bill Clinton, is interviewed by Monocle's podcast and explains that his influence came down to a smart seating choice. “He doesn’t turn his eyes left or right that much. You’re more likely to catch his eye if you’re sitting across from him.”

How to get ahead in business without really trying.

Janet's part of the union

Earlier this week The Londoner dug up a 1975 European election poster from the In campaign, with nine luminaries, including J B Priestley and Henry Moore urging voters: “People of Britain: join us”.

Of those pictured, four are still with us. Yesterday we tracked down photographer David Bailey, who said he’s now changed his mind.

But his fellow Seventies campaigner, actress Janet Suzman is made of sterner stuff. “I would still vote to stay in,” said Janet, star of several films, as well as treading the boards in many a Shakespeare play. “I don’t perceive a particular genius at work for conducting our island history outside the EU were we to leave. We should stay in and use our experience to forward all nations, not just our own. The selfish ideal does not appeal.”

They should put that on a poster.

Cheeky manoeuvre of the day: just as our referendum debate starts, Frankfurt’s Deutsche Börse launches a takeover bid for...the London Stock Exchange.

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