Pandora: Westwood lashes out at ministers

No longer quite the anarchistic firebrand she was in the 1970s, Dame Vivienne Westwood seemed, for a while, to be mellowing with age.

However, any illusions of her passivity were shattered on Monday night, when the eccentric fashion designer collected a medal at the Walpole awards, which honour those who exemplify British excellence in design, craftsmanship, sport, business and culture. Taking to the stage, Westwood thanked the organisers before launching into a prolonged attack on Britain's "uncultured" government ministers. "Ministers of the past had a great deal of culture ," she railed. "The ones we've got today have none. We are in great danger as today they don't know how to deal with the world. They are too short-sighted."

No doubt the outburst will prove gratifying to her son Ben, who recently made similar claims about the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith. Westwood Jnr, a photographer, argues that the new Criminal Justice and Immigration Act will inhibit artistic freedom by prohibiting so-called "extreme pornography".

Welsh rugby kicks Jenkins into touch

The revelations of Katherine Jenkins's wild child past no doubt came as quite a shock to fans of the traditionally clean-cut opera star. The mezzo-soprano, 28, confessed this month to having experimented with cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis when she was a student at the Royal Academy of Music, with videos of her party-going leaked on the internet.

Now there is further disappointment for her army of admirers: I'm told that the Neath-born singer will not be invited back to serenade her country's rugby team at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium this season.

The decision is surprising, since Jenkins has been a regular guest at Wales matches for several years, belting out the national anthem, "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau", before kick-off. But the Welsh Rugby Union has decided it can do without her for the foreseeable future, preferring to hire various choirs instead. "We won't be having her this season," said a spokesman. "We are going back to more traditional singing. We are going back to a mass choral voice."

When Wales play New Zealand at home this Saturday, the musical duties will be handled by the Pontarddulais Male Choir, while the Cardiff-based Only Men Aloud! – the winners of the BBC1 series Last Choir Standing in August – will perform before the Australia match a week later.

Prince Charles's biggest fan?

Patriotic words from Richard Griffiths in the wake of Prince Charles's 60th birthday celebrations.

Pandora's US correspondent spotted the cuddly British actor at the New York premiere of the film Frost/Nixon, sporting a tie decorated with what appeared to be the Prince of Wales's heraldic coat of arms. "Yes! It's for Prince Charles – I'm a huge fan," he confirmed. "I am sure the Prince of Wales wants to speak out more because it's his instinct. I wish him all the luck in the world with it because he is on to a lot of good things. Although as far as Charleses go, I'm more of a fan of Charles II. Charles I was a bit dodgy as far as I'm concerned."

TV licences: the (ex) editor's cut

Dear, dear. It looks as if Charles Moore may soon be grappling with the long arm of the law. Following in Noel Edmonds's footsteps, The Daily Telegraph's former editor has claimed he will no longer pay his TV licence. "It is an unfair taxation," he says. Efforts to prosecute Edmonds fell flat after it transpired that the presenter had been paying it all along, but it seems things will be different this time. With Moore insisting that he will not renew his permit, officials are adamant that they will prosecute. "We won't shy away," says a TV Licensing spokesman.

Holiday from hell for Stringfellow

Spare a thought for Peter Stringfellow, whose recent trip to the Bahamas was not quite the break he expected. Pandora's mole spotted the club baron moping around his resort with a long face despite the scorching sun. The cause of his discontent? I'm told his girlfriend spent much of the holiday down with the flu, complaining that she'd rather go home than spend her time sitting on a beach. Charming!

Dig deeper for an Osborne story

News of George Osborne's voice-coaching has been met with guffaws in Westminster – the shadow Chancellor is reportedly being helped by therapist Valerie Lowe to deepen his voice – although his battle to improve his vocal cords is a long-term one. Pandora first revealed that he was having coaching more than two years ago. If at first you don't succeed...

pandora@independent.co.uk