If the incoming Labour government in 1997 had any preconceptions of the City being a land of excess, the governor of the Bank of England swiftly confirmed them in his first meeting with Gordon Brown’s team. Ed Balls, the chancellor’s adviser, recalled their first trip to Threadneedle Street, where Eddie George showed how wonderful capitalism could be. “The governor had a full Martini before lunch,” Balls told a Strand Group discussion about food in politics.
This was followed by a mound of roast beef without vegetables, some superb claret and finally a box of untipped cigarettes. Puritan Brown was unimpressed by how eagerly Balls and Nick Macpherson, his private secretary, tucked in. “It’s for the sake of Treasury-Bank relations,” Balls insisted. How noble.
Soaring inflation has reached Christmas puddings. Balls has made one for his family and was asked by Angela Hartnett, the chef, if he had added the traditional sixpence. “I put in three pound coins,” said Balls. Altogether now: “And we all like quiddy pudding, we all like…”
Not so deadly sin
Sins ain’t what they used to be. The Pope has ruled that lust is not as serious a defect as wrath or pride while discussing the fleshly frailty of a French archbishop. Who knew there was a pecking order? Does the Vatican’s Deadly Seven league table permit relegation, so that gluttony, say, can be replaced by pedantry? Vladimir Nabokov certainly thought some sins were excusable, writing that “without three of them — pride, lust and sloth — poetry might never have been born”.
Candid camera
Jeremy Hunt feels Matt Hancock was unlucky to have his office hanky-panky caught on tape last summer. Hunt used to occupy the health secretary’s office and was surprised to learn there was a camera pointing at the door to capture fumblings. “From poor Matt’s point of view it was very bad luck,” Hunt told the Political Party. “If it was trying to catch him doing some mischief, that camera should have been pointing at the sofa.”
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As some MPs reluctantly relinquish their side earnings, one Tory is openly touting for a second job if someone will show him the ropes. Chris Loder, MP for West Dorset, writes in his local paper that he is a competent bellringer and happy to step in over Christmas if any parish is shorthanded. It makes a change from the usual Westminster ding dong.
Labour by nature
For 24 years Earl Attlee, grandson of the Labour prime minister, has sat as a Tory peer. Maybe that is about to change. Attlee remarked in a debate that under his party’s current leadership “I read my whip only out of curiosity” and said he might have represented Labour if only Tony Blair had asked. “He’s so charming, he could have convinced me,” he said.
If defection is on the cards, Attlee reassured Labour that he is a horny-handed son of toil. “I can operate a lathe,” he said. “I can weld by several different processes and I am a qualified HGV instructor. There is no one in either House who can match that experience.” He’ll be whistling The Red Flag next.
