The Londoner: Will Europe save Vote Leave chief?

Could Dominic Cummings be imprisoned for refusing to appear before a parliamentary select committee? A Commons deadline for the former Vote Leave campaign director’s appearance expires today and parliamentary authorities may have to invoke an ancient right in order to stop the system of select committee witnesses falling apart.

The Commons recently approved a motion “ordering Mr Dominic Cummings to give an undertaking no later than 11 June… to appear on or before 20 June”. Damian Collins, the DCMS Committee chair, has repeatedly requested Cummings give evidence to his Committee’s inquiry into fake news. Cummings, who campaigned for “taking back control” of parliamentary sovereignty may help Parliament lose control of its vital select committee system if other witnesses feel the custom of attending without obligation is broken.

But an obscure procedure could help: the Serjeant-at-Arms, Kamal El-Hajji, has the power to imprison those found in contempt of Parliament. There is a cell directly beneath Big Ben where Cummings could languish: though the “Prison Room” hasn’t been used since the 1880s.

In 2016 MPs pondered whether they would have to use the same powers to force Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley to appear before the Business Committee. A spokesman for the committee acknowledged at the time that “the power to imprison has been untested in modern times”.

A Commons spokesperson told us today: “Should Mr Cummings refuse to abide by this order, the House could take further steps such as referring the matter to the Committee on Privilege who can recommend any sanction/punishment which the House can impose.”

In a further twist, if Cummings were found in contempt of Parliament he could appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. Though the Brexiteer is not a fan: in March he wrote, “If I get involved in politics again, then a referendum on the ECHR should be high on the agenda.” We asked those at the ECHR whether they’d heard from Cummings. They said: “To date the European Court of Human Rights has not received any such application.”

Question for Eton as Gentleman wins

“As they say at Labour Live, there are thousands of you here tonight and you’ve all paid full price to be here,” Private Eye editor Ian Hislop said at the Paul Foot Awards last night. The event recognises investigative reporting and Amelia Gentleman won for her Windrush investigation. But Hislop also tipped his hat to recent Jeremy Thorpe drama A Very English Scandal. “These were different times,” he said. “Can you imagine an old Etonian threatening to beat up someone, on the phone? I can’t think of anyone... whose name begins with a B.” Maybe Amelia knows.

---

French media reports the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will visit Amiens in August. They may avoid Hôtel Marotte, fully booked when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited two years ago. “We could not tell people who have booked, ‘Sorry, but the royal family is coming, we will have to cancel,’” the manager said. Vive la République.

---

LBC’s James O’Brien rules himself out of the running for Question Time host. “I don’t want the job,” he says. “All the people suggesting I should get it are doing so because they believe... I’d rigorously police the difference between opinion and fact. The BBC’s prioritisation of heat over light makes me an appalling candidate.”

What’s the craic, Ed? Singer makes a six-string donation at Irish fundraiser

THE jig was up at the London Irish Centre last night as Ed Sheeran performed a set much more intimate than his ongoing sell-out tour. The Shape of You strummer even donated the guitar he’d used while playing at Wembley. Sheeran told the crowd: “My Irish heritage was always something I was proud of, so this concert felt like a natural fit.” Sheeran was joined by presenter and host for the evening Dermot O’Leary. The X-Factor presenter seemed unfazed after he was criticised for “mumbling” and “not sitting straight” during his royal wedding reporting with Kirsty Young. Annie Mac and singer Lisa Hannigan were also part of the line-up of Irish talent, while Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Friends actor Courteney Cox in the audience. The concert, held as part of the London Irish Centre’s funding campaign, will help the refurbishment of its Camden Square building.

SW1A

Harriet Harman (below), former deputy Labour leader, calls for a “clear code of conduct, complainant anonymity, independent investigation, and independent adjudication” on sexual harrassment after reports emerged that Labour had “hidden” the findings of their internal inquiry. Harman, MP for Camberwell and Peckham, speaking of her stipulations, added: “That’s what we’re calling for in @UKParliament as well. #MeToo is moment to make change.”

---

An argument to retain the Lords? “I do not think I have anything very informative to say,” Viscount Falkland announced in a debate on bees last night. “I am too old. But, since I can ride a motorbike, surely I can get up in the House and talk about something from time to time.”

---

Love Island’s Alex is a descendant of David Lloyd George. The promiscuous former PM may have fared better in Majorca.

Quote of the day

‘I tried it once. In my mad twenties. But it did nothing for me, so I stopped. Now I warn others of the dangers.’ Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson says that she hasn’t run through a field of wheat in years

Focus on Jeremy

Forget upskirting; Jeremy Vine has much bigger fish to fry. The broadcaster, who is replacing Matthew Wright on Channel 5’s daytime current affairs host, was caught in the buff while on a Sidmouth beach. “I tried to get [my] trunks off and shorts back on under a towel. The material was very small. It was not much larger than a tea towel. And as it slipped at the worst moment, I felt sure a person by the cliffs 50 yards away faced me with a raised smartphone.” “If it was you,” he appeals to readers of Waitrose Weekend, “I will pay money to have those photos destroyed.” Fifty yards away?

---

Before he hit the Serpentine party last night, Vogue editor Edward Enninful posed for a selfie at the Cannes Lions Festival with, from left, model Naomi Campbell, make-up artist Kay Montano, actor Thandie Newton and publisher Vanessa Kingori.