Steerpike

The wine waiters at Claridges are taking a keen interest in the investigation into malpractice in Falkirk. And they’re hoping that Unite will be fully exonerated. Len McCluskey likes to celebrate political victories at the hotel bar with a glass of pink champagne. His most recent visit was in July 2011 after Rupert Murdoch’s ‘humblest day of my life’ admission before a Commons select committee. McCluskey toasted the press mogul’s self-lacerating words by downing a bottle of pink fizz with his old mucker Tom Watson. As they say, nothing’s too good for the workers to subsidise.

National treasure June Whitfield has a ruthless streak. She wants her rivals to drop like flies. ‘I live in delight,’ said the 87-year-old when asked about her employment prospects, ‘as there are so many in the business dying, which means more for me.’