Labour peer Ann Limb faces mutiny over new role

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She sparked anger at the Athenaeum, a prestigious club in St James’s where she used to be chairman, by falsely claiming to have a PhD. As I previously revealed, she is no longer a member.

Honestly, the recent attention on a Labour donor, Dame Ann Limb, goes beyond just the political headlines. She’s a prominent figure in Buckinghamshire, having served as a Deputy Lieutenant for over a decade and recently completed a term as High Sheriff. Now, she’s facing quite a bit of local scrutiny, and it feels like that community response is becoming the bigger story.

The controversy is now also affecting Countess Howe. As Buckinghamshire’s Lord Lieutenant – the King’s main representative in the county – she leads a charity that recently named Limb as her replacement, a decision that has drawn strong criticism.

Leading the charge is local councillor Shery Delfani.

Having a PhD myself, I was deeply upset and disheartened to see someone falsely claim to have one without facing any repercussions, as she explained to me.

Earning a doctorate isn’t about prestige; it requires a significant commitment – typically ten years or more – of hard work, financial hardship, personal sacrifice, and focused study. Many researchers prioritize contributing valuable new knowledge to the world, even if it means impacting their health, delaying personal goals, and forgoing stability.

Claiming to have a PhD you didn’t earn isn’t just a simple mistake. It’s a conscious act of dishonesty that gives you undeserved recognition and an unfair edge in your career. It’s a clear case of academic fraud.

Alderman Paul Bartlett shares the same strong disapproval. He called Limb’s appointment as President of Milton Keynes Community Foundation ‘disgraceful’.

According to Bartlett, Countess Howe and its trustees are, or should be, familiar with the Seven Principles of Public Life – often called the Nolan Principles – which emphasize values like honesty, integrity, and transparency.

Tony Limb, age 72, has given £50,000 to the Labour Party but has refused to make a statement. This silence, according to Delfani, is ‘deeply upsetting and wrong’.

Dame Ann Limb hasn’t apologized or stepped down from her position. Surprisingly, she’s actually been given a more prominent leadership role.

This suggests a troubling idea: that being truthful isn’t important, having strong principles isn’t necessary, and people who are honest and fair are simply taken advantage of.

 

Harry Hill, 61, recently brought back his popular comedy show as a video podcast, and he explains his decision is partly inspired by his three daughters’ artistic careers. He jokes that because they’re all pursuing creative paths – one paints, one makes ceramics, and the other works with textiles – he needs to keep earning money. He playfully suggests that a regular 9-to-5 job isn’t a bad idea, and even recommends getting a travel card for commuting.

 

Richard E. Grant’s ‘toxic’ betrayal

Richard E. Grant, known for his role in ‘Saltburn,’ is deeply hurt after a friend of almost thirty years broke his trust.

‘I thought [she] was one of the five best friends of my life,’ admits the actor, 68.

She mistakenly included Grant on an email to a friend where she harshly criticized his work.

He describes a particularly harsh critique – a complete dismantling – of his deeply personal, autobiographical script.

I was heartbroken, so I simply copied their message and sent it back, questioning our twenty-nine years of friendship.

My daughter, Olivia, asked me if I hadn’t secretly known all along about this person. When I hesitated, she said she thought my silence meant I had known the whole time.

I’ve not seen that person since.’

 
 

Anais Gallagher: Where’s the next One Direction?

Noel Gallagher’s daughter, Anais, is concerned that there aren’t enough exciting new pop stars emerging who can inspire the next generation of music lovers.

Anais, 26, who is dating actor Callum Scott Howells, jokingly wonders why her boyfriend’s twelve-year-old niece isn’t obsessed with boy bands. She says, ‘I expected to see some One Direction or Justin Bieber posters! It’s funny, because for kids these days, Harry Styles is the pop star.’

 

All drama, no fun for Ruth

The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama has launched the careers of famous actors like Sir Anthony Hopkins, Rob Brydon, and Dougray Scott. However, for Ruth Jones of Gavin & Stacey, her time there wasn’t entirely smooth sailing.

The actress and writer explains that she’s always seen acting as a source of enjoyment, and she sometimes found drama school overly intense. She simply wanted to have fun, which she felt was seen as a drawback.

 

World rugby champ Megan gets engaged 

What a start it’s been to 2026 for England rugby star Megan Jones.

Okay, so you will NOT believe this! Our Megan – yes, the Megan who got an MBE and met Princess Kate after the England rugby win – she’s ENGAGED! I’m seriously losing it. She proposed to Celia Quansah, who is also an amazing player, and shared the cutest photos from the Peak District where it happened. Apparently, she got down on one knee there! I knew they were perfect together, and I’m just so incredibly happy for them both. Born in Cardiff, she’s always been a star, but this? This is everything!

Megan, 29, jokingly says she can’t believe her best friend is stuck with her for life. She adds that after everything they’ve been through together, her friend must really care about her to still be around.

Megan’s parents died within four months of each other in 2024.

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2026-01-28 05:34