CITY DIARY: Ex-Aquascutum boss Harold Tillman strikes up a platonic friendship with supermodel Naomi Campbell

Avuncular ex-Aquascutum boss and British Fashion Council chairman Harold Tillman (why not Sir Harold?) tells pals that he has struck up a platonic friendship with fiery supermodel Naomi Campbell. 

The always immaculately tailored Tillman, 70, who sold Jaeger to private equity shark Jon Moulton in 2012 for £20million, recently got chatting to Campbell, 45, at a cocktail party she held in London when he reminded her that they both grew up on the same street, Drewstead Road in Streatham. 

How touching. 

Wonder if jet-setting Naomi, 45, cared for being reminded of her ‘umble ‘Sarf London’ roots?

Should the Brexit campaign be weaponising Formula One billionaire Bernie Ecclestone ahead of June’s referendum? 

During a discussion with combative WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell, 71, organised by Advertising Week Europe, he described himself as a ‘100 per cent outer’ and said there was ‘no economic benefit at all’ of remaining in Europe. 

He then added alarmingly: ‘Putin should be running Europe. We should get rid of Brussels and he should just be in charge. 

'He does what he says he’s going to do and gets the job done.’ 

On second thoughts, it might be better to keep the irascible cockney hobbit, 85, bound and gagged until after polling day.

Time was when the Duke of York regularly rubbed shoulders with mega-rich plutocrats as Britain’s trade envoy. 

His audience was much sought at the World Economic Conference in Davos. That was until the Government relinquished his globetrotting role, no doubt spooked by his links to US paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. 

On Tuesday, Andrew was tasked with cutting the ribbon at the opening of accountancy firm KPMG’s new regional offices in central Leeds. They are not long those days of wine and roses…

The world’s biggest asset manager, Blackrock, is revealed to have spent £10million hiring political lobbyists to get its own way in Washington. 

Thanks to its investment, senior executives are now said to be on a first-name basis with the US Treasury secretary. 

Blackrock’s London office has cheaper – and more direct – access to Britain’s financial levers of power. 

Since last year, it employs Rupert Harrison, 37, ex-chief of staff to George Osborne, as a £150,000 a year strategist. 

Cleverclogs Old Etonian Harrison (he was head boy), spent nine years as the Chancellor’s most trusted adviser. He’s known to Treasury wonks as ‘Osborne’s brain’.

Most hideous use of financial jargon this week goes to US credit agency Moody’s, which has published in-depth research on Transport for London’s revenues. 

It predicts a fast increase of ‘ridership’ (i.e. passengers) on London’s creaking transport networks over the next five years. Me no like.

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