The Londoner: Cara Delevingne roars back after lion tragedy

Cara Delevingne is back on the walls at a Westbourne Grove gallery, seven months after the death of a woman led to the exhibition being cancelled.

In March, Delevingne unveiled an advertising campaign shot in December by photographer David Yarrow, as part of a campaign for luxury watch brand Tag Heuer.

The shoot took place at Dinokeng Game Reserve in South Africa, and involved Delevingne posing with lions. The striking shots from this collection were due to be shown at Maddox Gallery in west London, kicked off with a VIP reception, but tragedy struck: days before the event, a woman was mauled and killed by lions at the same reserve. At the time, the brand released this statement: “Due to the deeply sad and shocking death at a reserve, which was used as a backdrop to the campaign, we have decided to cancel out of respect for the family of the deceased.”

A source added that “the relatives of the woman, rather than business, are our primary concern”.

Seven months later, a source says, it was decided that it was felt it was time to exhibit the images. the gallery has hung images from the shoot as part of an exhibition of black and white wildlife images, which include Delevingne posing topless with a lion, and another of her wandering through the undergrowth. “It has long been a dream of mine to get the chance to work with wild animals, and particularly with a lion!” Delevingne said at the time. Indeed, she feels such an affinity with the creatures that she has a tattoo of one on her hand.

"We took the decision seven months ago out of respect for family", a representative of Tag Heuer said this morning. "We are auctioning one of the pictures for charity."

A spokesperson for the Maddox Gallery told us "The photographs of Cara that have been part of the TAG Heuer advertising campaign this year are included as part of a wider exhibition of David Yarrow’s work titled 'It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere' that opens at Maddox Gallery next week."

Windrush scandal is too close to home

David Lammy has revealed how he had to make a last-minute alteration to his speech for an Urgent Question on the Windrush scandal to avoid being “overwhelmed by emotion”.

“I knew that if I started with my parents I would likely well up in tears,” he writes in Mother Country, a new book on the Windrush generation. The MP for Tottenham, who also discloses that his father came to Britain to “become a taxidermist” had to pivot his Commons speech: “I began by rooting the story in slavery.”

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Despite the bullying row, Speaker John Bercow insists he will stay in the post until next summer. Some MPs aren’t exactly looking forward to a year of quiet campaigning for the coveted role. The Londoner hears that Labour’s Chris Bryant is first out of the traps: he has suddenly become very friendly with Tory MPs.

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After the Tories’ Instagram debacle last year — their account showed awkward photos of Cabinet ministers in corridors — their social-media game has been stepped up. But it comes at the cost of their grammar. “Wages are rising fastest in a decade,” trumpets their latest online slogan. One Tory staffer texts over a hand-on-head emoji.

Counting sheep and warding off trouble

Maria Caulfield, Tory MP for Lewes, has a sideline as an urban shepherd: “I got into it when I was a local councillor. It’s quite nice to get out and just have half an hour to get away from it all and check the sheep.” Caulfield is also an ex-nurse, and tells Core Politics that she just can’t stay away and regularly works at hospitals. “I really, really enjoy doing my NHS shifts,” she says. “It’s quite nice to go somewhere where people are pleased to see you.”

Fortnums flourish for festive feasts

The Duchess of Cornwall was at Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly last night for the launch of its new cookbook, Christmas & Other Winter Feasts. The book was written by her son, Tom Parker Bowles, but the Duchess made a beeline for someone else: actor Stanley Tucci. One event they would not have discussed was Princess Eugenie’s wedding: the Duchess did not attend. Fortnums has been extending its reach this week — to Australia. The Duchess of Sussex visited a family in Dubbo, New South Wales, and brought a tin of its Royal Blend tea and some homemade banana bread. Other guests at last night’s event included actors Alexander Armstrong and presenter Richard Bacon, who wore his Blue Peter badge. He was stripped of the accessory when he was fired from the programme in 1998, but was welcomed back into the fold this week as part of its 60th-anniversary celebrations.

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Also last night, MSFF toasted its tenth anniversary with a party at Somerset House. The foundation funds global charities and social enterprises, with one project focused on encouraging women to go to film school. Film director Lord David Puttnam hot-footed it over from a marathon debate in Parliament t to make a speech at the event at Somerset House about why its so important for the voice of women to be heard in film – watched by Amanda Nevill, BFI CEO, who worked to ensure this year's London Film Festival had a 38% female presence.

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Actor Kitt Sullivan and Anaïs Gallagher — the model and daughter of Oasis guitarist Noel — were at The Scotch of St James last night for the launch of the Miss Selfridge Christmas Collection. Only 68 more sleeps.

SW1A

Liz Truss has defended attending Andrea Leadsom’s clandestine pizza party earlier this week. Speaking at Politico’s Women Rule event last night, she called politics “a people business. I think it is right that I spend time talking to my colleagues and discussing ideas. It is perfectly proper for Cabinet ministers to meet each other.” No word on topping choices, as yet.

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Does David Willetts, who left the Commons in 2014 and was ennobled in 2015, ever consider a return to the coalface of politics? “There’s no better way to avoid frontline politics than being in the House of Lords,” he tells us.

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Another referendum — and this time a Remain vote. Westminster types, including MP Oliver Letwin, last night voted with their stomachs at the politicos’ favourite curry house, the Kennington Tandoori. They plumped for the new menu, despite worries its street-food inspiration would be a dud.

Quote of the Day

‘I have no intention to go back to work. If I do something, I want to be really there.’ The Crown actor Claire Foy announces a break from acting.