Truss defies her critics – again
Former PM turned writer Liz Truss can thumb her nose at her critics, now that her memoir is already being reprinted. “It sold out the day before it was published,” she tells me. Truss gave a hint at her good news at the book’s launch at the offices of The Spectator. “Ten Years To Save The West has overtaken an air fryer cookbook on the Amazon league tables,” Truss trilled. The only way is up, Liz!
Fag ban benefits
Teen children of leading Tory politicians are busily working out how they can make a buck out of Rishi Sunak’s decision to ban anyone currently under the age of 15 from ever buying cigarettes. At the launch of Liz Truss’s new book, her daughter Liberty, 15, told cheering guests: “I personally am so glad this smoking ban has been passed because, being born in November 2008, I can finally flog over-priced cigarettes to my friends.”
The offspring of former business secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg have been having similar conversations. He told GB News: “In my own family, my 16-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter will be able to trade cigarettes to their younger siblings, on a modest commission.” Rees-Mogg tells me: “Peter and Mary are old enough that the ban will not apply to them; Thomas, Anselm, Alfred and Sixtus will all be banned.” Perhaps capitalism is not dead after all.
RAF whips up a storm
The Ministry of Defence has just published a new contract with US defence firm Lockheed Martin to develop technology that allows RAF jets to share targeting data without facing enemy fire. The project is named “Project Deimos”, after the Greek god of terror. An apt title, but unfortunately the MoD does not own the full rights. Visitors to projectdeimos.com will find a website for erotic performers run by professional dominatrix Chloe Mars. “ ‘Project Deimos’ symbolizes the satellite relationship between design and domination, or more broadly, solicitation and sex work,” says Mars.
Chocks away!
Text-speak for the over-50s
The young have their own shorthand for text messaging like LOL – Laugh Out Loud – and OMG – Oh My Gosh. So, former Tory MEP David Campbell-Bannerman, known as DCB, has posted some timely textspeak for the busy over-50s. ATD is sent by someone At The Doctor; BFF means they are at their Best Friend’s Funeral; while BTW is a request to Bring the Wheelchair. FWIW is Forgot Where I Was, GGPBL is Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low, and TFT is Texting From Toilet. NAW – Need A Wee – is also popular. I think it is time to PKO (Put Kettle On). Do Peterborough readers have any better ones?
Don’t get Carter!
Downton actor Jim Carter told an audience in Brighton last week how he was playing a baddie called Blackie in the 1985 Spanish western Rustlers’ Rhapsody when he had to barge into a saloon bar, engage in a “moody dialogue” with the hero before pulling out a gun and shooting him.
“Jim, are you okay with a gun?” the director asked. Carter said he was. The moment came. Carter pointed the gun and exclaimed: “Boom, psssshhh!”
The director stopped filming. “Jim, the gun makes the noise!” An embarrassed Carter said: “I’d never shot a gun in my life ... If you’re from Harrogate it’s hard to shoot a gun without going ‘Boom, psssshhh!’ ”
Stirling Moss’s last race
Climate activists have not yet completely captured one of the oldest parts of the Church of England. Westminster Abbey will next month hold a service celebrating the exuberantly oil-smeared life and career of the racing driver Sir Stirling Moss. The May 8 service will be taken by the Dean of Westminster, David Hoyle, and the congregation will include hundreds of Formula One enthusiasts including another British racing great, Sir Jackie Stewart. I hear that congregants arriving for the service will find a parade of gleaming old roadsters parked outside the abbey’s west door. Just Stop Oil can stay out of it.
Send a St George’s Day card!
Another tip on how to mark St George’s Day next Tuesday, after I revealed that the Government is refusing to make it a Bank Holiday: send a card. Peterborough reader Bob Boad has taken to sending St George’s Day cards to his friends to counter the day’s “sad neglect”.
He tells me: “There are some splendid examples available through online suppliers. I am pleased to report that they have been gratefully received so please encourage your readers to send such cards in addition to wearing a red rose on 23 April.”
Peterborough, published every Friday at 7pm, is edited by Christopher Hope. You can reach him at peterborough@telegraph.co.uk
