Is Rishi Sunak’s Holocaust memorial promise another false dawn?

RISHI SUNAK promised yesterday at Prime Minister’s Questions that his Government would build a Holocaust memorial and learning centre “next to Parliament”. While the pledge is admirable, it will take more than words.

The idea of a memorial centre in Victoria Tower Gardens has been around for over a decade. David Cameron tried to build one but failed. Designs, pictured, were drawn up during Boris Johnson’s tenure, but rejected by local residents. Only last year the High Court overturned a planning permission decision.

To build the project, the Prime Minister will need to rush a bill through Parliament that overrules various public bodies and planning authorities. Whether NIMBY Tory backbenchers will support that principle remains to be seen. Is this a promise he can keep?

Harry P wilder than the Stones

Model Ella Richards’ grandpa, Keith, was probably the most debauched Rolling Stone, but she has calmer hobbies. Ella, who is next month’s Tatler cover star, says she’s obsessed with computer games, particularly Harry Potter spin-off Hogwarts Legacy, out next month. “I’m going to have to book a week off work,” she says. “My heart beats fast when there’s a scary moment or you have to creep up on someone. I love adrenaline.” Hard living, indeed.

Trolling the chairman

THE Tories are engulfed in a scandal about Nadhim Zahawi’s taxes, after it emerged the party chair had to pay a penalty to HMRC, having failed to cough up £3.7m. He says it was a “careless” mistake. Now a social media ad from HMRC warns those filling in tax returns: “Don’t get caught up in tax avoidance. Everyone can learn to spot the signs.” Are they trolling anyone?

The elephant in the room

Mr Johnson returned to 10 Downing Street this week. Not Boris, who has been busy in Ukraine, but his father Stanley. He was there with Save the Asian Elephants, a conservationist pressure group, handing in a petition for Rishi Sunak. Stanley, who claims that his son suffered “a squalid political assassination” and still has unfinished business in government, does not seem to have met with the Prime Minister.

Raise a glass to Rabbie

Londoner’s Diary 26th January 23

LONDON enjoyed Burns Night yesterday. Actor Ellie Bamber raised a glass for brand House of Barrie at Brunswick House. At London Edition hotel, model Josephine Jones was at Christopher Kane’s annual supper. Director M. Night Shyamalan and star Rupert Grint were in the West End for their film Knock at the Cabin. Dancers Charlotte Gooch and Kira Malou and Mark Labbett of The Chase were at the press night of Dirty Dancing at the Dominion Theatre. And Buffy actor Sarah Michelle Gellar plugged her new TV show Wolf Pack.