Lembit waits for Ming to make an offer he can't refuse

* Ten weeks ago, I wrote that the Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik was touting himself about as the party's candidate to be mayor of London, telling friends that he was "genuinely tempted". Let's say Lembit did nothing to dampen the story when I spoke to him, saying on the record: "I've got no comment on whether I will be standing for Mayor of London."

So you can imagine my surprise when, in the Welsh press the next day, Lembit denied the story and called Pandora "some joker in the media". Ow! Surely some mistake?

Yesterday, a chap called Ed Davey, chief of staff to the ancient chinaman Ming Campbell, seemed to endorse a Lembit candidacy: "If he decided to run he would certainly make one of the most interesting candidates in the race." Davey, a former pork pie maker, is spoken of in hushed tones as future leadership material.

Lembit, pictured with his Romanian canvassers, tells me now that he has had a wobble: "Ed has said some very persuasive things. If I was a London MP I would stand like a shot. But the problem is it's 205 miles from my constituency and the people there have to come first. It would be a wonderful campaign with Boris, Ken and myself - serious politics with a smile. But I must courteously decline. I'm sure that won't stop the speculation, though."

If the member for Montgomeryshire were to enter the race now, he would appear indecisive and even disingenuous. Boris will hope Lembit does not declare, as he could split the pro-buffoon vote.

* Russian society girl Daria Zhukova has made red-top headlines for the "close friendship" she enjoys with Roman Abramovich.

Understandably, since the Rusky oil billionaire, 40, was embroiled in high-stakes divorce talks with his wife Irina (now resolved for a reported £155m), the 24-year-old "Dasha" has chosen to remain schtum.

Zhukova, once belle to tennis player Marat Safin, breaks cover in an interview with Russian Vogue - although, disappointingly, the publication allows her to warble on for several pages about her clothing line rather than the lowdown on her love life.

All she will be quoted on Abramovich is: "What do you say when people ask you about your relationship? Nothing, except 'No comment'."

The paparazzi have been searching for her for months, so may be interested to know that she has been hanging out in London in the library at the V&A Museum.

* Peaches Geldof's rosy cheeks are not out of the gossip pages for long these days, but her minor celebrity status doesn't open every door.

Ms Geldof, Sir Bob's party-loving 18-year-old daughter, was seen in Chiswick's "Total" petrol station trying to buy cigarettes. Unfortunately, the checkout attendant - oblivious to her identity - was unwilling to co-operate. Peaches flounced out.

The two garage staff were cackling away: "That girl wanted to buy cigarettes but she didn't look 16, she only looked about 15. She said she was 18 but we didn't believe her.

"It's company policy to ask anyone who looks underage for ID so I couldn't serve her."

Says my spy: "Peaches was rather huffy about it. She should take it as a compliment."

* Pandora: friend of the ambassadors. Following my procurement, in a recent column, of an invitation to the German ambassador's summer garden party, I am delighted to announce that the differences between London's Embajada de Colombia and two of its former staff have been resolved.

Last October the embassy said that Vanessa Pretelt and Adrianne Foglia had "disappeared" and gone awol in our capital. Pretelt is the daughter of Colombia's former minister of the interior and justice, while Foglia is a government public relations shooter.

His Excellency Carlos Medellin, the embassy's newish incumbent, says that a government investigation has cleared the ladies of any wrongdoing and the embassy "wishes to withdraw the previous statement". Aguardiente ("burning water") all around!

I look forward to an invitational "stiffie" from Mr Medellin inviting me to discuss the matter further at his private residence.

* As aides reapply foundation to his flustered cheeks after the handbags with Ali Miraj, David Cameron must face the reality that he has not only lost an "A-list" candidate, but also one of his grooviest disciples.

When he's not handing out leaflets, Miraj - suspended from the Tory candidate list on Tuesday for accusing his leader of being "obsessed" with image - moonlights as a trendy nightclub DJ. Party bigwigs brought Miraj in to entertain velvet-jacketed "yoof" supporters at fundraisers, after they realised that no one under 35 had heard of Tony Hadley. The manager of Watford's "Area" fleshpot could not be reached to comment on whether or not he will now re-employ Miraj to run the establishment's "funky house" nights.

pandora@independent.co.uk