Conservative Member of Parliament James Cleverly responded humorously on social media this week after a former newspaper editor, David Yelland, mistakenly referred to him as former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng while discussing Cleverly's potential run for London mayor.
Yelland, who previously edited The Sun, made the gaffe, leading Cleverly to reply, "David, I’m the other black one." Yelland, 63, reportedly commented that making an error and apologizing does not constitute buffoonery.
Dominic Mohan, in his new book "1996: My BackStage Pass To The Wildest Year Of Britain’s Wildest Decade," recounts an anecdote from Yelland's time as editor of The Sun. Mohan recalls an instance where Yelland, having apparently "stumbled in" to a party without an invitation, sought to be introduced to Noel Gallagher of the band Oasis. Yelland claimed to be a fan and to have seen Oasis perform at Madison Square Garden. When pressed by Gallagher on what the band opened their set with, Yelland could not recall. Gallagher then reportedly slapped Yelland.
In other political news, Michael Jopling, a former government chief whip and member of Margaret Thatcher's cabinet, has retired from the House of Lords at the age of 95. Jopling, who served as chief whip in 1979, was known for his observations on parliamentary colleagues.
Separately, historian Andrew Roberts' son, Henry Roberts, 29, is engaged to Annabel Grant, also 29. The couple met at Bristol University. Henry Roberts, who works at Civic Future, shared that he ran 1,000 kilometers in 22 days on a road in the Australian Outback and hopes to run across America with Grant after they are married.