Londoner’s Diary: Priti Patel and Oliver Dowden’s chat at Goodwood

What could Priti Patel and Oliver Dowden have to talk about?

The Londoner hears Home Secretary Patel and ex- party chair Dowden were spotted in “deep conversation” at the Goodwood racing festival in Sussex at the weekend. Dowden resigned last week over two Tory by-election defeats. It was reported that PM Boris Johnson could shuffle Patel to replace him, due to bad press over her plans to send migrants to Rwanda.

Elsewhere, another former Tory Party chair has written for The House magazine that the Tory party is in danger if it doesn’t change leader. Patel and Dowden may have been discussing the same thing.

David Davis on public vs. private

Grammar school alumni David Davis gave an interesting insight into the attitudes of Conservatives towards contemporaries who didn’t attend public school at a public recording for podcast The Political Party last night. “I think I’m quite difficult to cope with if you’re a public schoolboy,” he said, adding that fellow politician Andrew Mitchell told him: “Etonians hate you because you’re just as cocky as they are but you didn’t pay for it.”

Manicured Andy Murray

ANDY Murray won his first match at this year’s Wimbledon last night. While most tennis stars are sponsored by jewellery and luxury watch brands, the two-time champion has put his name behind a limited edition nail art collection in collaboration with celebrity manicurist Michelle Humphrey. We watched closely, and don’t think Murray tried the fashion himself.

Wimbledon first day

Londoner’s Diary 28 06 22

WIMBLEDON started yesterday, where pregnant popstar Mollie King indulged in the hospitality suite of water sponsor Evian, along with former Saturdays bandmate Rochelle Humes and Humes’ husband Marvin. Over at the Champagne Lanson suite, presenters Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield and Stacey Dooley were joined by singer Rachel Stevens. In Mayfair, Freddie Fox was at the premiere of his film about artist Eric Ravi-lious.