Another round of personality recreation began with former Prime Minister David Cameron making a surprise walk down Downing Street and entering No.10. His emergence as Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton and the new Foreign Secretary took the blind-sided media totally by surprise, with commentators spluttering with frustration.
It was like Dallas’s Bobby Ewing emerging from the long dream to resurrect the script – certainly a future opportunity for volume two of Cameron’s memoir ‘For The Record’, a copy of which he recently presented to Boris Johnson’s Downing Street library.
Cameron’s political and diplomatic experience may mean Rishi sees him as a real vote winner at next year’s election..
Possibly a less influential move was made Nigel Farage to take part in ‘I’m a Celebrity Get me out of Here’. Recent wide publicity about him being de-banked by Coutts, gave the come-back kid another chance to be the people’s champion. Lucrative litigation already commenced. The modest £1.5 million paid for him to go to the jungle means, he says ‘In the jungle you’re going to find the real me. I’m a hero to some people and an absolute villain to millions’ – well, there’s a challenging election slogan! As he said ‘I dealt with snakes in the European Parliament, I can cope with this too’.
Now for eating bugs and kangaroo genitalia!
Having been relieved of her position as Home Secretary for forthright verbalisation of the views of the right of the Conservative Party, Suella Braverman may not be seen rushing into a new rôle but prefer to keep her powder dry for a future leadership bid. Or perhaps a Kuenssberg with GB News or a column in Private Eye of Metropolitan Police Monthly. What will she make of the Chancellor’s Autumn statement?
Ridley Scott’s much awaited Napoleon biopic has been released to critical acclaim – too long, Joaquin Phoenix too tall and too old; and allegedly too many historical inaccuracies. None of these should destroy the romantic spectacle of the Little Corporal whose exploits on battle field and in bed are legendary, with unending debate about the Napoleon Complex.
As for the length of the film, remember the 1927 black and white version by Abel Gance. It lasted eight hours and was planned as the first of six films about Boney. Let’s count the Oscars.
By way of contrast Klimt and The Kiss is an engaging film exploring the beauty and significance of the iconic painting bu Gustav Klimt. It is the embodiment perhaps a self portrait of the artist and his partner Emilie Flöbge – but at the time of its first display regarded as shockIng as society was not used to seeing physical intimacy showcased in public.
The Kiss is a profound expression of love, sensuality and the human spirit. The film explores Klimt’s scandalous lifestyle and of this painting expressive of the decadent art nouveau movement.
Whilst efforts continue to secure the release of the hostages seized in Israel on 7th October, there is despair at the loss of moral compass; no call for the Red Cross to have access to the hostages, little concern outside for their welfare, calls for peace when Hamas opposes peace and threatens to repeat the massacres again and again, the Palestinian Authority held up by some as a responsible alternative, openly celebrating the massacres in Israel and calling for its obliteration and having no wish to live in peace.
Many countries and universities in the West refuse to take any action about incitement, intimidation and racial hatred. There is shocking support for or indifference towards genocidal chants against Israel and Jews on the streets of London and other cities. For too many the horrors of 7th October are ignored.
barryspeker@hotmail.com