Reform’s plan to save the pub says nothing about smoking
Simon Clark Simon Clark

Reform’s plan to save the pub says nothing about smoking

I watched the launch of Reform UK’s Save Our Pubs campaign yesterday.

Announced by Lee Anderson MP, who ran through the ‘fiscally neutral’ five-point plan as if he had a train to catch, the MP for Ashfield then handed over to party leader Nigel Farage who took questions from journalists in his usual ebullient style.

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Donald Douglas, 1933-2026
Simon Clark Simon Clark

Donald Douglas, 1933-2026

Sorry to hear that actor Donald Douglas has died, aged 92.

You may not have heard of the former Poldark star but for 18 months in the mid Eighties I was his tenant and he was my landlord.

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Another afternoon at The Bridge
Simon Clark Simon Clark

Another afternoon at The Bridge

Went to Stamford Bridge yesterday to watch Chelsea Women play Arsenal.

Chelsea lost 2-0, which was disappointing, but the official attendance was 30,000 including 3,000 away fans who were in good voice throughout. At one point my wife turned to me and said, “Have Arsenal brought a choir?”, which wasn’t as silly as it sounds.

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A normal day at the office
Simon Clark Simon Clark

A normal day at the office

I had lunch with Ranald Macdonald, MD of Boisdale Restaurants, this week.

The Macdonald restaurant at Boisdale of Belgravia was pretty much full, which I didn’t expect because January is normally the quietest month of the year for restaurants.

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The passenger
Simon Clark Simon Clark

The passenger

I’m not sure how much of the following story I should reveal but since I’m not bound by the Official Secrets Act here’s an edited version.

A couple of months ago I was asked if I would drive a former head of MI6 to a meeting followed by dinner at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire.

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Another day, another defection
Simon Clark Simon Clark

Another day, another defection

I was delighted when Robert Jenrick defected to Reform last week.

“What a ****” I thought., “The Conservatives are better off without him.”

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Speaker’s corner
Simon Clark Simon Clark

Speaker’s corner

Congratulations to Lord Forsyth of Drumlean who is the new Speaker of the House of Lords.

If you’ve been paying attention to my musings (and name dropping) over the years you will know that Michael Forsyth gave me my first job after I left university in 1980.

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