EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Could Angela Rayner’s demolition of Grenfell Tower put her on a collision course with Meghan Markle?
Could Angela Rayner’s demolition of Grenfell Tower put her on a collision course with the Duchess of Sussex?
Until she and Harry went into voluntary exile, the tower had been very much Meghan’s project, which saw her making secret visits to survivors, working in the community kitchen and collaborating on a charity cookbook.
She even took her mum Doria to visit. Meghan has, apparently, kept in touch with some of the Grenfell campaigners who are threatening to rope her in to champion their bid to have Rayner’s decision reversed.
But does Meghan believe the burnt-out tower should be retained?
The west London tower, where 72 people died in an horrific 2017 fire, will be ‘carefully’ demolished in a process likely to take two years, it has been confirmed. Pictured: Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Angela Rayner
Meghan Markle cookooks with women in the Hubb Community Kitchen in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire
The tower will be brought down to ground level, with some parts returned where possible to be included in a memorial ‘if the community wishes’
Among the rose petals sprinkled on the 50th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher’s accession as Tory leader lurks a thorn in the shape of Norman Wright, editor of Pre-Retirement Choice magazine.
He recalls her 1975 interview in which she refused to back down when criticised for saying she bought tinned food.
It was seen as crucial to her defeat of leader Ted Heath. ‘In fact, she, or at least her press secretary [Bernard Ingham], tried to suppress the article before publication, realising that she could be accused of hoarding,’ says Wright, now editor of choicemag.co.uk.
‘[Bernard] issued all sorts of dire warnings. He withdrew, we published and the magazine played a part in Thatcher’s launchpad.’
Welsh Rugby patron Prince William who has made no secret of his frustration with the team’s performance, hasn’t reacted to Warren Gatland’s departure as their coach after a record 14 successive defeats.
William enjoyed a rapport with Gatland, not least during the New Zealander’s first successful time in the job from 2007 to 2019 (he also handed Gatland his OBE in 2014).
The prince hasn’t been happy of late with ex-Wales star Dan Biggar recalling a recent meeting. ‘[William] is very passionate about the game in the country,’ Biggar wrote.
‘He asked about Warren’s position as head coach… and we agreed he’s in a difficult position going into this Six Nations.’
Welsh Rugby patron Prince William has made no secret of his frustration with the team’s performance
Tasked with slashing government waste, Lord Agnew recalls his first day as minister for efficiency and transformation in 2020.
‘It was like turning up to a blazing building with a seaside bucket,’ he says, remembering his request to the then Treasury Secretary Tom Scholar to find him an office.
‘He never did,’ Agnew tells The Spectator. ‘He was given the boot by Liz Truss. His golden goodbye consisted of a £457,000 pay-off and being awarded a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.’
Nice work if you can get it.
In the 2006 Doctor Who episode Fear Her, BBC newscaster Huw Edwards narrates a scene in which 80,000 sports spectators suddenly disappear.
‘My God, what’s going on here?’ he asks. ‘The crowd has just vanished, right in front of my eyes.’
Well Huw has now vanished, with his voice replaced in the episode on iPlayer by actress Becky Wright. Disgraced Huw doesn’t even get to say: ‘And now for a look at the weather.’
