Politics
Have cameras ruined the Commons?
How do you solve the problem of following Henry Hill’s final ToryDiary? You probably can’t (it was a fantastic read). But you can at least pick at a theme he touched on in his piece yesterday: the hollowing out of politics by short-termism, performance and the absence of a governing project. So I’ll give it a go.
Let’s start with a small but telling statistic. In 1938, a speech in Parliament typically ran to almost 1,000 words. As late as 1970, the average was still close to 900. In 2024 it was only 460. The most dramatic decline came after 2015 – the year video arrived on Westminster’s favourite app, Twitter (now X). Draw your own conclusions.
The academic evidence is not exhaustive, but what exists points the same way. In the United States, studies of state legislatures suggest that the arrival of television cameras coincided with greater polarisation. In Turkey, when their parliament switched cameras on for certain sittings, MPs behaved differently on broadcast days. It would be peculiar if Westminster were immune to incentives that operate everywhere else.
The problem today is not just that speeches are shorter in the Commons. It is that they are trending to be thinner, unquestioning, uncurious and unreflective. A changed audience on social media (one for clips, a question that may not even contain the answer) has changed the output (designed with that target in mind rather than engaging with a person or policy area).
We have seen what a tendency to these qualities does in government. Labour has been providing a clear example of what it is like when you are unable to articulate a clear mission or purpose – having been uncurious and unreflective – drifting in intention and chucking legislation in the bin as it goes. Is it any wonder we saw Sir Keir Starmer’s 14th U-turn at the beginning of the week restoring local elections and are now potentially looking at his 15th at the end of the week with Chagos?
But this is a wider problem, affecting more than just those in No.10. That temptation for ease and short-termism, without taking the time to think, build and reflect, is something that has seeped into our politics. It has actually become inbuilt, with structural incentives for this decline, which brings me to a controversial opinion: the cameras in Parliament should go.
Hansard is essential. Audio recording is fine. Photographers should remain. But the live video feed, paired with social media, has transformed the Commons into a personal broadcast studio. Interventions are less calibrated for the colleague opposite than they are for the constituency Facebook page. There is a lack of engagement and persuasion in the chamber than there is video harvesting.
It leads to ‘debates’ on contentious issues where there have been, in truth, almost no debate at all. One after another, MPs asking almost exactly the same question that you know is for their social media accounts – no engagement with the previous speaker, no attempt to grapple with the counter-argument. Barely anyone listening. The chamber half-empty, those present glued to their phones, perhaps watching their previous efforts that have just been posted on X. It can be a depressing watch, to see distraction overtake discussion.
“Think in ink” was the phrase that Michael Gove claims to have lived by in government. The idea that by writing a speech down, it forces you to be logical; makes you assess exactly what you are about to say and the beliefs behind it. In essence, not directing yourself for a quick social media hit.
There is an awful lot going on in this country that requires that kind of real reflection, and we are not getting it. Henry’s point was that without a proper governing project there is nothing to counteract the pull to that easy, short-term decision – and he is right.
I would say the Tories have recently benefited from the beginning of their rethink or ‘renewal’ as Badenoch would put it; actually taking some time to work out their own thesis and drawing some sensible policy interventions from it. MPs more generally would benefit from doing the same, but we could help them by removing the reward for a quick hit over a considered argument, and getting rid of the temptation to perform for the camera.
Removing cameras would not magically restore golden-age oratory, where MPs didn’t read from notes, let alone their phone or iPad. But it might change the incentive. If an MP knew their words would be heard, transcribed and reported – but not instantly packaged for personal distribution – they might speak differently, listen differently, even prepare, reflect and think differently.
It might make the Commons a place for thoughtful, logical contributions, rather than clickable ones.
Reform UK has been accused of “extraordinary hypocrisy” after Zia Yusuf criticised the government for a lack of deportations – while using Home Office footage of its recent deportations.
Yusuf, who calls himself “Reform’s Shadow Home Secretary” but is actually the party’s Home Office spokesperson, released a social media video on his “promise to the country” this week.
While emotive music played in the background, Yusuf can be seen pacing around the British countryside while claiming Britain has been “overwhelmed by immigration, both legal and illegal”.
At one point, Yusuf – who is not currently an MP – pledges that a government under Reform would “stop the boats” and embark on a “mass deportation programme”.
The video then switches to footage of “illegal” migrants being deported.
The only problem is that footage was released by the Home Office last year when the government announced it had sent 19,000 people back to their origin countries in a crackdown on irregular migration.
Anna Turley, chair of the Labour Party, denounced the use of the government’s own clips.
She said: “This is extraordinary hypocrisy from Zia Yusuf.
“He has spent months throwing stones at the government over illegal migration, yet is now using footage of us taking tough action to remove people, for his campaign video.
“You can’t claim the government is doing nothing while broadcasting clear proof that we are. Unlike Reform, this Labour government is getting on with the job of securing our borders – and the footage he’s chosen to use proves it.”
This is not the first time Reform has come under fire for its immigration pledges.
The right-wing party has taken a hardline approach, vowing to abolish indefinite leave to remain, meaning immigrants could potentially have to renew their immigration status every five years, indefinitely.
Yusuf has previously claimed indefinite leave to remain could be “rescinded retrospectively” too, meaning those previously granted it could be deported.
Even if they are allowed to stay in the UK, they would no longer be allowed to claim any benefits.
An estimated 430,000 people had ILR status at the end of 2024.
National secretary of the GMB union, Rachel Harrison, said last year that the plans are “morally repugnant”.
She said: “Our public services – especially the NHS – and our care sector are utterly reliant on migrant workers. Without them our care and health sectors would collapse.
“This is yet more performative politics from a bunch of millionaires and their pals who do not live in the real world.”
On Question Time last night Reform’s Shadow Chancellor confronted centrist dad Sopel over his gushing support for a) Peter Mandelson’s initial appointment and b) Huw Edwards. Sopel was not pleased…
Patrick Dempsey has paid an emotional tribute to his former Grey’s Anatomy co-star Eric Dane.
During an interview on Friday’s edition of The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio UK, Patrick shared his memories of working with Eric, who died on Thursday around one year after sharing that he’d been diagnosed with ALS.
“I just woke up this morning and it was very sad to read the news,” he began. “It’s hard to put into words. I feel really so sad for his children.”
Patrick continued: “He was the funniest man – he was such a joy to work with and I want to just remember him in that spirit because any time he was on set, he brought so much fun to it. He had a great sense of humour.
“He was easy to work with, we got along instantly. [His] first scene was him, you know, in all his glory, coming out of the bathroom with the towel on looking amazing, making you feel completely out of shape and insignificant…”
“We hit it off because [there] was never really any competition,” Patrick added. “There was just this wonderful mutual respect. [He was] wickedly intelligent and I’m always going to remember those moments of fun that we had together and celebrate the joy that he did bring to people’s lives and the real loss is for us who don’t have them anymore.
“He did an incredible job at bringing awareness to this horrible disease and those remaining days and it just reminds us that we all have to celebrate every day like it’s our last day…
“It’s something that we have to remember and certainly in a world where there is just so much crisis and there is so much tragedy that we really need to be grateful for every moment that we have, spend time with our families, do things that are better, that benefit of other people to be of service to be kind, to be loving.
Patrick then lamented: “With our leadership, unfortunately that we’re seeing around the world – and certainly in America with this horrible, you know, corrupt government that is currently running America – we have to remember to treat our neighbours and our friends with the right values.”
Other members of the Grey’s Anatomy cast have also been paying tribute to Eric since the news of his death broke in the early hours of Friday morning.
In addition to his work in Grey’s Anatomy, Eric played Jason Dean in Charmed, and Jacob Elordi’s on-screen dad Cal Jacobs in Euphoria.
Andrew arrested – and it’s revealed Mandelson pushed for him to be trade envoy against King’s wishes
“Lord Mandelson helped secure the job of UK trade envoy for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor against the wishes of the King. The then Prince Charles expressed concerns about his brother’s suitability for the role, but the late Queen Elizabeth II overruled him with backing from the former trade secretary. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor succeeded the Duke of Kent, his second cousin, as special representative for international trade and investment in 2001. The move was highly controversial because the former prince already had a reputation for using his status to travel the world playing golf and was considered an unreliable playboy by many critics. One newspaper headline at the time described the appointment as “another royal accident waiting to happen”. Lord Mandelson, though, intervened, saying the then duke was “well qualified” for the role. The two men knew each other by then, having both worked on an NSPCC campaign. Both of them also knew Ghislaine Maxwell and were friends with Evelyn de Rothschild, the City financier, and his wife Lynn, who in turn were friends with Epstein. Maxwell, who is serving a jail sentence for child sex trafficking for Epstein, was photographed with Mr Mountbatten-Windsor at a “hookers and pimps” Halloween party in New York before he was given the trade role. She was also friends with Lord Mandelson, who had worked as a consultant for her father Robert, the one time owner of the Daily Mirror.” – Daily Telegraph
- Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested for misconduct in public office – The Times
- Andrew’s top aide struck secret deal with Chinese state – Daily Telegraph
- Former PM Gordon Brown submits ‘new and additional info’ to police – Sky News
- Police search of Royal Lodge continues as Andrew released under investigation – The Guardian
Comment:
- Whatever the outcome of Andrew’s arrest, the whole monarchy is in the dock – and British people are both judge and jury – Julia Hartley-Brewer, The Sun
- As Andrew sits alone in a police cell, Charles and William will be secretly relieved – Jennie Bond, The i
- A grave threat that the Monarchy must survive – Daily Mail Comment
- Wider wall of royal secrecy must come down in wake of Andrew arrest – The Times View
> Yesterday:
Starmer’s Chagos deal in crisis
“A dramatic late intervention by a judge has thrown Sir Keir Starmer’s beleaguered plans to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius further into chaos. Justice James Lewis ruled from a flight at around 25,000ft in the air on Thursday to temporarily block an order removing the islanders, who had landed earlier this week. The decision adds to the prime minister’s growing nightmare over the islands after US president Donald Trump declared this week that he was opposed to the deal in a move which could veto Sir Keir’s plans. The judgment comes after four Chagos islanders landed on one of the Indian Ocean archipelago’s islands on Tuesday to establish what they say will be a permanent settlement, in a move they hope will complicate a British plan to transfer the territory to Mauritius. The “advance party” was led by Misley Mandarin, the elected Chagossian first minister who has pledged to establish a permanent resettlement on Île du Coin, part of the coral atoll of Peros Banhos. “We, the people of the Chagos Islands, stand today on the soil of our homeland,” the party announced in a “Declaration of Return”, adding: “We are the advance party. Hundreds more are following. We have come home.”” – The Independent
- Why is the island of Diego Garcia important? – The Times
- Chagossians now CANNOT be evicted from homeland as vital last-minute intervention hands Keir Starmer crushing blow – GBNews
- Chagos Islanders fear British patrol boats will block vital supplies – Daily Telegraph
- Trump anger as UK blocks raid on Iran: President ‘may sink Chagos deal’ as PM refuses use of our airbases – Daily Mail
- UK blocking Trump from using RAF bases for strikes on Iran – The Times
Comment:
- Why has the most vacillating PM in a lifetime decided that the ‘Chagos Surrender’ is the one policy he won’t U-turn on? – Mark Almond, Daily Mail
- Trump’s opposition to misguided Chagos deal should kill it – The Times View
- The Prime Minister’s legalistic Chagossian mistakes – Telegraph View
> Today:
Benefits anger as migrant households pocket ‘more than £15billion in benefits’ in just 18 months
“Migrant households have pocketed more than £15billion in benefits in just 18 months, according to a new study. Homes containing at least one unemployed foreign national accounted for 70 per cent of that staggering bill, the research suggests. The Centre for Migration Control think tank, which obtained the data, claimed hardworking Brits are being “walloped with tax rises” to fund billions in welfare handed to households with foreign-born claimants. Its research director Robert Bates said: “t is a no-brainer that we should be ending benefit payments to foreign nationals, especially those who are unemployed.” The FOI documents show £9.5bn of Universal Credit was paid out in 2024, with another £5.6bn in the first half of 2025. But the figures are household-level, meaning some of the cash can go to British partners or children, and that some foreign-national claimants listed as unemployed may actually be self-employed with low or irregular earnings. Of the 2024 total, £6.7bn went to households where the foreign-national claimant was not in work. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has pledged that migrants will only qualify for benefits and social housing once they become British citizens, while the Tories and Reform UK want even tougher limits.” – The Sun
- Jobless-migrant households receive more than £10bn in benefits – Daily Telegraph
- Fury as jobless-migrant households receive benefits worth £10bn – ‘we need to end this’ – Daily Express
- Benefits bill balloons as over £15BILLION handed to migrant households in 18 months, according to DWP figures – GB News
Comment:
- Labour has learnt nothing from Denmark’s immigration success – but neither has Reform – Sherelle Jacobs, Daily Telegraph
- Nigel Farage and I will defuse the benefits bomb that could bankrupt Britain – Robert Jenrick, Daily Telegraph
News in brief:
- Death by lawyers: How excessive legalism can ruin a political system – Daniel Eloff, The Critic
- Why Starmer must raise defence spending fast – Eliot Wilson, The Spectator
- How to fix student loans – Shimeon Lee, CapX
- Don’t abolish the OBR – George Eaton, The New Statesman
If you’ve still not checked out Netflix’s hit thriller The Night Agent, reviews for its recently-released third season might make you reconsider.
While the hit spy series – led by Gabriel Basso as FBI agent Peter Sutherland – doesn’t quite have the profile of Netflix originals like Stranger Things, Squid Game or Wednesday, its first season remains one of the most-watched in the platform’s history, so the following is clearly there.
On Thursday, The Night Agent returned for its third outing, and impressively, the reviews at the time of writing are unanimously positive, with a rare 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
When we last caught up with Peter Sutherland, he was being given a new mission to act as a double agent to crime boss Jacob Monroe, with the new season picking up one year on.
Here’s a quick snapshot of what critics have been saying about the new batch of episodes so far…
“The Night Agent takes a big gamble with season three – and it mostly pays off […] Brasso still pulls his weight in the fight scenes, which feel refreshingly brutal and grounded. As unrealistic as they can be sometimes, they’re still more visceral than most, committed to showing the toll of this line of work. The emotional toll takes precedence though, and therein lies the key to making this series work.”
CHRISTOPHER SAUNDERS/NETFLIX
“The Night Agent doesn’t break new ground, but not every show needs to do that. If The Pitt has taught us anything, it’s that there’s an appetite for old-fashioned dramatic structures that are done well. This one doesn’t rise to the levels of that HBO hit, but it does what it sets out to do remarkably well. It values escapist entertainment above all else.”
“The Night Agent season three is the show’s best instalment yet, thanks to a tighter narrative, compelling characters, solid action, and great twists […] For a while, the show knew what it was: a Netflix thriller that did not need to be much more than what it promised to be, which is fun and binge-worthy. As of The Night Agent season three’s ending, the show still isn’t on the level of other quality TV shows, but it certainly keeps improving [and] season three is the best of the bunch.”
“While there were certainly solid moments in Season 2, it sometimes felt overpacked, juggling so many moving pieces that the plot grew convoluted and the emotional throughline occasionally got lost. With its return, however, The Night Agent returns to its roots, delivering a tighter, more focused season that feels completely sure of itself — and easily the strongest the series has produced so far.”
“Is season three The Night Agent’s best outing, then? I think you could make a case, certainly. It has tighter storytelling and a strong sense of character, and there’s no sign of things neatly wrapping up any time soon.
“That desire to keep the show going may prove its undoing down the line, but for now, at least, I don’t think we’ve exhausted everything it has to offer just yet.”
“One of the biggest changes for the third season of Netflix’s The Night Agent is that Luciane Buchanan’s character Rose Larkin isn’t a part of it.
“Both Buchanan and creator Shawn Ryan are on record saying [this absence] was only because the story that Ryan and his writers broke for season three didn’t include Rose, and that she could come back in future seasons. Still, it’s a big loss for the show, and that loss is evident in the first episode of season three […] The Night Agent is still perfectly good ‘watch while doing laundry’ TV but it feels like the third season is even more lunkheaded than the first two, and the absence of Buchanan is huge.”
All three seasons of The Night Agent are now streaming on Netflix. Watch the trailer for season three below:
Richard Holden accused ex-Conservative Robert Jenrick of “jumping into bed with the first people who would have him” in a scathing BBC Question Time takedown.
Jenrick was kicked out of the Conservative shadow cabinet in January after leader Kemi Badenoch unearthed his plans to defect.
Hours later, Reform leader Nigel Farage announced that his party had acquired yet another ex-Conservative.
Jenrick was announced as Reform’s “shadow chancellor” – or Treasury spokesperson – this week.
On BBC Question Time, the Newark MP tried to justify his decision by slating the Conservatives.
Despite serving as the cabinet-attending immigration minister under Rishi Sunak, health minister under Liz Truss and housing secretary under Boris Johnson, Jenrick said: “I want to have a good government running this country for once, which we haven’t had for along time.”
“Obviously, that is a government you were a part of,” host Fiona Bruce pointed out.
“Yeah and I resigned from that government,” he insisted. “In the last parliament, I was the only person to resign on a matter of principle.”
Jenrick resigned from Sunak’s cabinet after complaining the Rwanda deportation scheme did not go far enough.
He claimed: “It was failing on immigration. It was making promises and consistently breaking them.”
Bruce then pivoted to Holden, who currently sits as Tory shadow transport secretary – and who was supposedly “sighing” a lot while Jenrick talked.
Holden said: “Look, Robert says it was a principled decision. Robert got kicked out of the Conservative Party. That’s what actually happened.
“People remember what happened when Kemi got rid of him.”
He continued: “I supported Robert in the leadership election so to see him go was a really tough thing for me. Robert and I have known each other for a very long period of time and I’d like to think that there was a friendship there as well.
“A lot of those decisions Robert painted as about the good of the country, and things like that. I’m not convinced of that.
“I think he got kicked out and then he jumped into bed with the first people who would have him – Nigel Farage and co.”
When reminded that Jenrick was only kicked out because of his plans to join Reform, Holden said: “Well, Nigel Farage didn’t seem to think that on the day.”
Jenrick insisted: “I was obviously about to do this, I made it my decision and I was convinced it was the right one.”
He claimed Holden was “pretending everything was sweetness and light” in the Tory Party right now, but claimed his former colleague shares Jenrick’s concerns over its “massive mistakes” in the past.
US president Donald Trump isn’t too happy about former President Barack Obama’s recent comments about the existence of extraterrestrials.
In fact, he says the former president’s assertion on a podcast that aliens from outer space are “real” was a “big mistake.”
Obama recently told podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen that ETs are “real, but I haven’t seen them, and they’re not being kept in Area 51. There’s no underground facility unless there’s this enormous conspiracy, and they hid it from the president of the United States.”
In addition, presidential daughter-in-law Lara Trump claimed Trump already has a speech about the existence of extraterrestrials ready to engage during a podcast interview on Wednesday.
But White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the same day that “a speech on aliens would be news to me,” while admitting it “sounds very exciting, though.”
Donald Trump didn’t seem very interested in discussing ETs when reporters questioned him on the topic Thursday.
In fact, he turned a question by Fox News’ Steve Doocy about Obama’s alienating remarks into an attack on the former president.
After Doocy asked, “Barack Obama said that aliens are real. Have you seen any evidence of non-human visitors to earth?” Trump fired back, “Well, he gave classified information. He’s not supposed to be doing that.”
Doocy then asked the obvious follow-up question, “So aliens are real?” but Trump did not address the question directly.
“I don’t know if they’re real or not,” Trump said. ”[Obama] made a big mistake.”
Trump’s seeming lack of interest in extraterrestrials sets him apart from other presidents.
Bill Clinton reportedly tried to get answers about Area 51 when he was in office, while Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan both reported actually seeing UFOs, according to Politico.
Lacerda reacted to the arrest with bittersweet comments during an appearance on CNN.
“It’s amazing,” the survivor told News Central host John Berman. “And it’s really, really something that all the survivors have been looking forward and working towards. And I have to say, Virginia’s brother and sister must be thrilled right now.”
She added, “I just look at it, it’s insane how everyone’s taking action and we are doing nothing in the United States. I’m right here in Norway right now, we have Princess Märtha answering to questions, and it’s just really sad that United States is not taking any action.”
The latest tranche of files appears to suggest Andrew gave Epstein confidential information in 2010 and 2011 as the official UK trade envoy — including a brief about some profitable investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Afghanistan’s Helmand Province.
Lacerda has never accused Andrew of sexual misconduct herself, and while the disgraced royal wasn’t arrested on such charges on Thursday and has always denied wrongdoing, he settled with Giuffre for an undisclosed sum a few years before she died.
“I’m very, very happy that … we’re making history here,” Lacerda said. “So this is big.”
President Donald Trump on Thursday said the US will contribute $10 billion to the Board of Peace during a bizarre address at his club of world leaders’ first meeting.
Trump made the announcement toward the end of a long, rambling speech as the board — which critics fear will undermine the United Nations and is largely made up of countries run by oppressive and authoritarian leaders — convened in Washington, D.C.
The president gave no further details on the funding, such as where the money is coming from and the scope of what it can be spent on.
The initial remit of the board, first proposed last September, was to implement Trump’s vision for the reconstruction of Gaza following the Hamas-Israel war.
But Trump later made clear his intention for the board is to tackle other conflicts worldwide.
“The Board of Peace is showing how a better future can be built, starting right here in this room,” Trump said at the Donald J. Trump US Institute of Peace, a building the president recently renamed for himself.
“And I want to let you know that the United States is going to make a contribution of $10 billion to the Board of Peace, and we’ve got great support for that number.”
Trump also said Board of Peace contributing nations had raised $7 billion as an initial down payment for Gaza’s regeneration.
HuffPost has contacted the White House for more details on the US contribution.
More than 20 countries have joined Trump’s board, with member nations mandated to contribute $1 billion to secure a permanent board seat.
Argentina, Hungary and Saudi Arabia are among the first recruits, while major Western countries — including the UK, France and Germany — have snubbed Trump’s offer.
The president revoked Canada’s invitation after the country’s prime minister, Mark Carney, appeared to reference Trump in a speech condemning “authoritarianism and exclusion.”
In the address to the inaugural meeting of his creation, Trump said that those who haven’t accepted are “playing a little cute.” “You can’t play cute with me,” he warned.
He later attempted to ease concerns about his organisation jeopardising the UN’s role as the world’s main peacekeeper, saying: “We’re going to strengthen up the United Nations.”
The summit came as Trump threatens war against Iran. He used the meeting to reveal that he’ll decide whether to attack the county within the next 10 days amid attempts to get a deal limiting Iran’s nuclear program.
War and peace weren’t the only things on Trump’s mind as he lurched from one random subject to another.
Pivoting to party politics, Trump fixated on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and her comments at last week’s Munich Security Conference.
He called Ocasio-Cortez an “attractive woman” who was “unable to answer questions,” a reference to apparent errors the congresswoman made that have become a media talking point.
He went on to say one of Ocasio-Cortez’s answers could be “career-ending” but failed to specify which one he was referring to.
Some billed Ocasio-Cortez’s appearance at the foreign policy talking shop as a step toward a potential presidential run in 2028, a characterization the 36-year-old told The New York Times was “out of touch and missing the point.”
Trump also jabbed at California Gov. Gavin Newsom, another potential Democratic Party presidential candidate.
In another deviation where he seized on someone’s appearance, Trump praised the looks of the Paraguayan president while mispronouncing his name and then backpedaled, apparently fearing people might think he was attracted to men.
“President Pena of Paraguay is here,” Trump said, mispronouncing Peña. “President?” he asked, looking around the room to find Peña. “President, thank you very much.”
“Young, handsome guy. It’s always nice to be young and handsome. Doesn’t mean we have to like you. I don’t like young, handsome men. Women I like. Men… no, I don’t have any interest.”
The platform also gave him the chance to again air his grievance about missing out on the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize.
Thanking FIFA President Gianni Infantino, present at the meeting, for the peace prize that his soccer team awarded to him, Trump said: “I got screwed by Norway.”
Gordon Ramsay has said he believes the Beckhams are “too close” not to get their relationship back on track amid the very public fall-out the family has been embroiled in over the last few weeks.
The Kitchen Nightmares star has been a close friend of Sir David Beckham and his family for more than 25 years, and recently shared his take on the feud headlines surrounding them.
During a new interview with HuffPost UK to promote his Netflix documentary Being Gordon Ramsay, he insisted he doesn’t think the rift between the former England striker and his eldest son Brooklyn Peltz Beckham will be a permanent one.
“They’re loving parents,” he said of Sir David and his wife Victoria Beckham. “Those kids are gorgeous.”
He continued: “That bond with your son is one of the most important bonds you’ll have in your life. So, I’m confident they’ll get back [to where they were].
“[Families] do fall out – I fell out with my parents and I fell out with my kids. [The Beckhams] are too close not to get this back on track. And I’m confident that they will get it back on track.”
Opening up more about the relationship between his own family and the Beckhams, Gordon then explained: “All the kids grew up together. The Ramsays and the Beckhams would spend incredible summers together, and then the kids, Jack and Brooklyn, would go surfing, Romeo would go surfing, and they just had the most amazing time.
“Then come Christmas, we’d go off to some beautiful places like the Maldives together, so yeah, the closeness was unique – and the bond.”
Reflecting on his friendship with Sir David, Gordon noted: “It takes years to really know a proper friend. We’ve been mates now for 25 years, we saw each other yesterday for coffee, and I love him.”
“It’s just so nice when you’ve got such lovely friends that enjoy great food, great wine and we do crazy shit together,” he added. “Sporadic days here, there and everywhere, where we’ll just go off with Tana and Victoria, and just have the most amazing time in private. That’s the hallmark of a great friend.”
After months of rumours suggesting he was no longer speaking to his famous parents, Brooklyn set the record straight last month, confirming that he is estranged from his family for several reasons and has no intention of reconciling.
Last week, Gordon told The Sun: “It’s a very difficult situation. Victoria is upset, and I know 24/7, seven days a week, just how much David loves Brooklyn.
“Brooklyn and I have messaged a little bit, our relationship is solid. I love him – his heart is incredible. But it’s hard, isn’t it, when you’re infatuated? Love is blind. It’s easy to get up on that rollercoaster, and get carried away. But it will come back.”
Since then, it’s been pointed out that Brooklyn appears to have unfollowed – but not blocked – Gordon on Instagram, with reports claiming he’s also done the same to two of the chef’s children.
Being Gordon Ramsay is now streaming on Netflix. Watch the trailer below:
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