BOULTON, CAMPBELL IN BUST UP OF THE YEAR
IF ANY readers were holed up behind a desk yesterday evening without access to a television, it’s time to indulge yourselves with a quick internet search, pronto.
Yesterday’s Sky News coverage of Gordon Brown’s resignation as Prime Minister contained one of the best live TV snippets in years, as the channel’s political editor Adam Boulton and ex-Labour spin doctor Alistair Campbell came very close to blows.
The pair had already laid down the foundations of their simmering animosity before the weekend, when they exchanged heated words on screen over claims by Campbell that Sky’s coverage of the election campaign had been biased towards David Cameron. (Cue much huffing and puffing from Boulton and barbed jibes from his rival, who taunted him with comments such as “Get off your high horse” and “I always knew you took yourself terribly seriously”.)
Fast forward to yesterday’s even more heated spat, and we had a furious diatribe from Boulton over Brown’s legacy and the timing of the resignation announcement.
“I’m fed up with you telling me what I think,” spat an almost purple Boulton, furiously jabbing a sneering Campbell in the chest. Meanwhile, his poor co-presenter, the perma-tanned Jeremy Thompson, attempted to intervene before things took an even more intense turn, interjecting feebly with an embarrassed: “Gentlemen, gentlemen…”
A clip destined for greatness in the YouTube hall of fame, I’m sure you’ll agree.
FULL STEAM AHEAD
Speaking of politics, a whistleblower emails The Capitalist with an interesting little snippet about Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, who popped back to his Cowley Street HQ for a quick freshen-up before his meeting with Gordon Brown at the weekend.
“All the while he was in there, about 20 minutes, he left his car outside with the engine running,” puffs our eagle-eyed spy, indignantly. “Funny that, when his party spend so much time barking on about climate change and CO2 emissions…”
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Next time you’re wondering where to take your most impressionable clients for a slap-up business lunch, look no further than Galvin La Chapelle, the latest offering from restaurateur brothers Chris and Jeff Galvin, just on the fringes of the City in Spital Square.
La Chapelle last night earned its rightful place among London’s finest eateries, taking home the coveted restaurant of the year gong at the annual Tatler magazine restaurant awards do at The Langham hotel. Not cheap, but certainly big on brownie points.
SHOOT ‘EM UP
A sterling effort from the hotshots of the business and racing worlds last Friday, as they descended on Highclere Castle in Newbury for a charity clay pigeon shooting day, sponsored by rifle and shotgun firm Ray Ward.
I hear the shooting competition on the day was won by Ray Ward’s boss Jim Hay, who’d been savvy enough to get a several-times British champion on his side. Other business types who made the journey on the day included Dial Partners chairman Andrew Taee, the chairman of the committee; Weatherbys Bank chief executive Roger Weatherby and Edward Charlton, who left HSBC Private Bank earlier this year.
A staggering total of £275,000 was raised on the day for the Great Ormond Street Hospital and Racing Welfare charities by the guests, who were also treated to an air display by the Blades and a private performance from the cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera.
IT’S A DOG’S LIFE
Extravagance is officially back in vogue, ladies and gents, and the first step is treating your pet to life in the lap of luxury. A piece of puffery drops into my inbox from CDPOM World (“Cats, Dogs and Peace of Mind”, in case you were wondering), which claims to be the first New York-style dog crèche in London – and it’s conveniently situated between the City and Canary Wharf to entice busy financial sector workers.
For your hard-earned cash, the firm provides pampered pooches with a dog gym, a treadmill, a flat screen TV and a personal pianist who plays soothing music for the animals at relaxation times.
Wonders will never cease.
FOOTBALL MAD
Recent events must have been a dream come true for Brunswick partner Michael Harrison. Brought in from the world of journalism two years ago for his renowned contacts within British industry, Harrison has recently been involved in brokering high-level talks between the chairman and manager of his beloved football club, Liverpool FC.
Brunswick is acting for Martin Broughton, the British Airways chairman who recently took the chair at Liverpool – and Harrison is firmly on the case. The lucky chap must have been positively star-struck when under-fire Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez spent last week hopping in and out of Brunswick’s London offices.
OBITUARY
Finally, some very sad news for those in the oil industry, many of whom would have known Greg McLelland, who worked for consultancy group Wood Mackenzie.
Tragically, McLelland – who was only in his thirties – passed away on Saturday after sustaining a head injury in a fall three weeks ago. A warm and genuine man, a lover of football and a Scot through and through, he will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
“We’ve all lost a very dear friend; he will leave a huge gap,” said his Wood Mackenzie colleagues in a statement.