Londoner's Diary: Brexit red light for the world’s oldest profession?

First there was Brexit. Now Sexit? The sex workers of London are particularly worried over what will happen when we leave the European Union. The English Collective of Prostitutes note that the majority of those working in London are from abroad, in particular from the former Eastern Europe.

Prostitution is legal in the UK but the problem is, with Brexit, whether the Home Office decides to classify it as a legitimate trade for foreign workers to pursue in this country. Thousands of women work in off-street prostitution, such as brothels, saunas and escorting. (We might add that their services may be missed among particular sectors of the high-rolling financiers but, then again, they might be leaving too.) The Home Office is promising to release a document on immigration in the autumn. However, those Europeans currently working in London may also have a hard time getting together their paperwork to prove they’ve been in employment to date. Niki Adams, a spokeswoman for the ECP, pictured, already says that there is a “deliberate policy of deportation” for immigrants.

“EU law recognises sex work for the purposes of being a ‘worker’, but it’s hard to provide evidence for it and therefore to show that you have exercisable rights,” says Adams. “It’s difficult to show employment records.”

The Home Office meanwhile is not revealing anything. A spokesperson said: “We would not comment on how Brexit would impact on sex workers from the EU, but in terms of EU citizens’ rights post-Brexit, we have previously stated that we will set out our immigration policy this autumn.”

On the upside, this will be a boon for Brits wishing to enter the world’s oldest profession.

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It’s not just Colin Firth with a fondness for another country. Now Anna Somers Cocks, founder of the Art newspaper, is also off. “Don’t expect it to go viral like Colin Firth’s decision but I’m becoming Italian too because I want to be European,” she tweeted. Like Firth, Somers Cocks has a long association with Italy. She used to chair the Venice in Peril Fund and was a UK trustee for the Italian national trust. Will the last person in Britain spegnere le luci?

How Sir Peter flew the flag for London

SIMON Callow yesterday spoke ahead of a debate hosted by American Express about the world’s most exciting cities. Flying the flag for London, the actor spoke warmly of the capital, especially the theatre scene, sharing a lovely story about the late Sir Peter Hall. “I knew him particularly well at the time when we did Amadeus,” he told us. “He was sort of heroic. When we moved into the National Theatre, there were strikes across the business. The theatre was not complete and then the technicians went on strike and so Peter, with extraordinary chutzpah, decided to put on the play on the terrace of the National Theatre. So we had this amazing phenomenon where you crossed Waterloo Bridge and saw Albert Finney performing outside on the terrace! You know London is all about not giving in — and Peter never did.”

Quote of the day

“We didn’t win the general election but we didn’t lose the general election either”

Labour MP for Lancaster & FleetwoodCat Smith proves she’s not one to be a stickler for definitions

Prince of Soho gets a star-studded farewell​

WHAT a farewell for Bernie Katz, whose funeral processed through the streets of Soho, led by two black horses and with a New Orleans-style brass brand. Katz, dubbed the Prince of Soho, had been a long-time host at the Groucho Club and made many friends along the way. Actors, comedians and musicians turned out alongside Soho locals on Friday afternoon. Faces in the crowd included Sienna Miller, Sadie Frost, Noel Fielding and Alfie Allen. Bernie would have been proud of the post-funeral party at the Groucho — with Fat Tony on the decks, the party went on till the small hours.

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BOY GEORGE is starting to show his age, as the usually fashion-forward icon has been moaning about his boredom of seeing singers wearing “ripped jeans”. After receiving backlash from a Twitter user for not being up with the times, he tweeted: “I love to see a bit of leg but my point was not against all ripped jeans, but just how they have become a uniform. I decide what’s in fashion!” Sure you do George!

Robbie’s rehab musical?

IS ROBBIE Williams about to dust down his jazz shoes? Rehab, written by Murray Lachlan Young, is a satirical musical based on the ups and downs of celebrities in the Nineties.

Loosely satirising celeb goings-on in The Priory, the show has just had readings at the Union Theatre in Southwark. It is about Kid Pop who becomes a pop star but ends up in The Glade, a rehab centre, “with cross-dressing roommates, tanning addicts, group therapy and terrible food”, says Lachlan Young.The playwright says there is a possibility of Robbie Williams appearing in the show as Barry Bronze, a Northern tanning addict who finds himself an inmate at The Glade. Lachlan Young told The Londoner: “Williams has been in talks with the producer and is keen on the role of Barry Bronze.”However, if Williams can’t be persuaded to play the tanning addict, there are several other roles.“To be honest, we’ve got the lot: oligarchs, cheese addicts, and someone entranced by Shirley Bassey’s shoes,” Lachlan Young added.

Tweet of the Day:

“The first move in American Football this Brit ever understood. #TakeaKnee”

Author and adventurer Danny Bent joins the army of “take a knee” tweeters against DonaldTrump’s calls for a NFL boycott.

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Bad trip of the day: a group of hikers had to be rescued from Scafell Pike in Cumbria as they were too stoned to get down. It’s England’s highest mountain, man.

Labour shows its fondness for memes

IT’S MORE than just the red flag flying high at this year’s Labour conference. The party’s Momentum wing has a wall dedicated to their favourite memes. The Telegraph’s Michael Deacon was taken with this update to a Soviet poster for the internet age. Who needs an hammer and sickle when you can point and click?