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Who's in and who's out
Gideon Spanier, Evening Standard10.03.08
The energy of London is nowhere more reflected than in the shifting balance of power among its thoughtmakers, trendsetters and leaders. Every week, Gideon Spanier looks at who's in and who's out.
MAKING MOVES
FASHION
AGYNESS DEYN, 22
MODEL
Hailed as the best-dressed woman in Britain by Tatler, Deyn makes the thirtysomething Kate Moss generation look their age. Aggy, as she is known to friends, was born Laura Hollins in Lancashire. With an indie rock musician boyfriend, Josh Hubbard of The Paddingtons, Deyn is becoming a regular fixture on the London party circuit as well as the catwalk.
SPORT
MIKE LEE, 50
CONSULTANT
The former director of communications for London 2012 has scored another success with his new sports consultancy Vero. Lee drew up the blueprint for Singapore's successful bid to stage the inaugural Youth Olympics in 2010 - a pet project of International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge. Lee borrowed from the successful formula he used to clinch victory for London.
WOBBLERS
POLITICS
NICK CLEGG, 41
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT LEADER
Failed to keep his party together over the EU treaty referendum vote in the Commons, resulting in a rebellion and string of resignations. Clegg has been an MP for less than three years and arguably his inexperience is showing. No wonder some Lib-Dems whisper that wise-cracking veteran Vince Cable should be in charge. Westminster-educated Clegg, who is married to a Spanish-born lawyer, needs to go on a charm offensive.
FOOD
GORDON RAMSAY, 41
RESTAURATEUR
Brilliant chef and TV star has been forced to close one of his Michelin-starred restaurants, La Noisette in Knightsbridge, less than two years after it opened. His swanky pub makeover, The Warrington in Maida Vale, has also had lacklustre reviews. Some say Ramsay is spreading himself too thinly with nearly 20 restaurants and is being distracted by transatlantic success. But he remains a formidable and well-connected businessman, backed by foodie wife Tana.
UP AND COMING
TV & RADIO
ASHLEY TABOR, 30
Global Radio Son of former bookmaker Michael Tabor has risen almost without trace to run Heart FM, which Global bought last summer. Now Tabor junior and his chairman, ex-ITV boss Charles Allen, are in talks to buy GCap, owner of Classic FM and Capital Radio. If Ashley can pull it off, it will be a coup for the former pop promoter who began his career as a runner for Capital as a teenager. He is backed by his father and Irish tycoons John Magnier and JP McManus, who will be plotting the next move with GCap over the racing at Cheltenham this week.
GROWING IMPACT
SOCIETY
CAMILA BATMANGHELIDJH, 45
The founder of Kids Company, who twice remortgaged her flat to keep the charity afloat, has won a last-minute battle to keep it going by securing a £12.7 million grant from Education Secretary Ed Balls. The Iranian-born psychotherapist has campaigned tirelessly for south London's youths and helped thousands to avoid crime, violence and drugs.
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