T seems US investigations into Julian Assange have reopened after London police made a call to a UK author’s house.
Writer Andrew O’Hagan had a visit from Met police to his Primrose Hill home last month when he was out. They left a letter saying they were there on behalf of the FBI, to ask about his work with Wikileaks founder Assange on a ghost-written book a decade ago. The book was never finished, and the pair fell out.
Despite their history, O’Hagan says he won’t answer police questions. “ I don’t support the efforts of governments to silence journalists, or to bring charges against writers, editors, or organisations for publishing the truth,” O’Hagan told us. “I’ve had my differences with Julian, but I don’t waver in my support of his work to hold governments to account. I would happily go to jail myself before helping the FBI.” O’Hagan added that it is “shameful” that the Met are helping the FBI.
Assange has been in Belmarsh prison for four years and is at risk of extradition to the US, in connection to leaking official files. He previously lived in the Ecuadorian embassy. The Met instructed us to contact the FBI on the story. The FBI did not reply to a request for comment.
Whips to become a TV series
Cleo Watson, ex-aide to Boris Johnson and author of the Westminster “bonkbuster” Whips, is hoping her raunchy novel will become a film. Lord of the Rings star Andy Serkis’s production company got the rights this week. It plans to turn the book about three young women in politics into a series. Stephen Frears, who has form directing political TV, was at Watson’s launch last week, but she’s keeping schtum about who she wants to play her sexed-up politicos.
Restaurants have gone to the dogs
A debate is raging over whether it’s OK to bring dogs into restaurants after food critic Jay Rayner slammed a Kentish Town eatery when a mutt got too intimate with him. James Chiaverini, who owns Kensington’s Il Portico, tells us dogs are allowed as long as owners warn him beforehand and are responsible, given “other diners may not be comfortable”. Gives a new meaning to sausage dog.
Philip Hammond remembers May and Truss
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss (left) and Prime Minister Theresa May congratulate Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond as he finishes making his Budget statement
/ PAEx-Chancellor Philip Hammond dished the dirt on ex-colleagues last night. At a recording of the Political Party podcast, he said former PM Theresa May “likes a glass of wine” and that this is “one of her redeeming features”. Faint praise. Hammond also said he knew Liz Truss, his junior at the Treasury, would be a “high risk” PM as she forced him to listen to ideas at monthly meetings. “She’d say ‘Let’s do so and so’ and I’d say ‘Hmm, no’,” he said.
Happy days at The Box
Londoner’s Diary 6th June 23
ROCK supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos played The Box in Soho last night. The group’s founder Shaun Ryder, of Happy Mondays fame, took a picture with his bandmates Bez, Andy Bell, the former Oasis guitarist, and Zak Starkey, son of Beatle Ringo Starr. TV chef Gizzi Erskine and DJ Mimi Xu seemed to enjoy the show. Over at Ronnie Scott’s, model India Rawsthorn saw jazz duo Domi and JD Beck. And in Mallorca, Love Island host Maya Jama headed to the new series set in an open-top car, dog in arm.
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