Revealed: Michelle Mone’s effort to rescue image following PPE affair

Baroness Mone, the Conservative peer and TV businesswoman who once starred in The Apprentice, has been fighting to rehabilitate her public image. Mone recently enlisted the services of Borkowski, a PR agency that specialises in reputation and crisis management. The agency’s founder, Mark Borkowski, has said “it is possible to ‘uncancel’ a person”.

In December, Mone withdrew from the House of Lords in order to “clear her name” after questions were raised about her links with PPE MedPro. The firm provided personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic that was later deemed unfit for purpose by the Government, which PPE MedPro vigorously denies. Mone says she referred the firm to the Government’s VIP lane, but denies any further association.

Borkowski and Mone have now parted ways. The Londoner understands that Borkowski decided to end their relationship with Mone.

Idris Elba says he’ll never be Bond

Idris Elba has been touted as “the next Bond” for years, but no longer. “It’s safe to say that I’m never going to be Bond. It’s time to stop asking now,” he says. Why? “Nobody starts playing Bond when they’re 50.” Bond producers agree on the age question: they say the next man will be a largely unknown actor in his thirties. Nevertheless, Elba, known for playing TV detective Luther, still says his character would plaster 007 in a fight: “I’m always going to back Luther.”

Satirist says Streeting’s a startled bird

Elusive satirist Chris Morris, of Brass Eye fame, has re-emerged. In a rare public appearance, Morris, a child of GPs, spoke to a conference of doctors this month where he mocked Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting for his “startled bird face” and the “little USB port in the side of his neck where people jam in flash drives to make him say stuff”. What’s got him so peeved?

Artist blames Brexit for art world crisis

Veteran artist Joe Tilson, 94, was “not pleased” when he found out Boris and Carrie Johnson displayed his Nine Muses prints in their Number 10 flat because, he says, “Brexit has plunged the art world into deep s**t.” Tilson lives in Italy and is exhibiting in London in June. “It now takes three months for work to go from Verona to London,” he says. “My relationship with the art world has been destroyed.”

Machine Gun Kelly blows up at Bomb Factory

Last night dad and daughter actors Ray and Jaime Winstone had a cuddle at Sophie’s Soho to celebrate another cast change for spooky play 2:22 while singer Machine Gun Kelly joined jeweller Stephen Webster to launch their new ring collection at The Bomb Factory. Ronan Keating and wife Storm turned out. Actor Florence Pugh was at Spurs’ stadium to see Beyoncé while actors Lucy Boynton and Kelvin Harrison Jr enjoyed a red carpet screening of Chevalier at Everyman Borough Yards.