Spare a thought for David Cameron as Brexit is dragged on endlessly. I hear that the former prime minister, who resigned after losing the EU referendum in 2016, had planned to begin promoting his long-awaited memoirs this month. However, he is said to have given his successor, Theresa May, a private understanding that he would not publish the autobiography until after Britain had left the European Union so as ‘not to rock the boat’. David Cameron, who resigned after losing the EU referendum in 2016, had planned to begin promoting his long-awaited memoirs this month. His publisher had planned a nationwide tour Now, publication is on hold with no date set for when the book will see the light of day. Cameron has told friends that his publisher, William Collins, can’t even give him a launch date, so he is unable to make any long-term plans. ‘I honestly don’t know when it’s coming out,’ he tells me. Britain was, of course, due to leave the EU on March 29 and Cameron’s office is said to have set aside the first three weeks in April for him to start publicising his long-awaited memoirs. Cameron signed an £800,000 book deal with William Collins in October 2016 after a bidding war among publishers. Cameron is pictured with Theresa May back in 2010 His publisher had planned a nationwide tour, plus a number of dates in America, where Cameron has been making a succession of lucrative speeches recently. ‘It’s frustrating because David finished writing the book three months ago,’ one of his friends tells me. To complicate matters, the publisher is thought to be demanding a 100,000 word cut to the manuscript. There is, however, likely to be little sympathy from Remainers, who blame him for calling a referendum which he then lost. Many Brexiteers have also criticised him for resigning rather than taking us out of the EU. It had been expected that the book would be published in September to coincide with the Conservative Party conference. Cameron signed an £800,000 book deal with William Collins in October 2016 after a bidding war among publishers. Last night, the publisher’s spokesman said it still intended to bring the book out this autumn. Dave famously bought a £25,000 shepherd’s hut to provide him with a peaceful spot in his Oxfordshire garden to write the book. Perhaps he could return to the hut to pen a new chapter on how he would get us out of this mess? Or will it be a case of je ne regrette rien? Can’t cook, won’t cook, says Lady Alice... Lady Alice Manners revealed her culinary shortcomings at a Mayfair dinner The Duke of Rutland’s model daughter Lady Alice Manners admits cooking was not among the skills she acquired, growing up in the magnificent Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire. The 23-year-old, who is going out with Otis Ferry (pictured with her below), son of Roxy Music legend Bryan, revealed her culinary shortcomings at a Mayfair dinner hosted by Gymkhana and Penhaligon’s. ‘I’m a really awful cook so I just let Otis take the reins in the kitchen,’ a black-clad Lady Alice tells me. ‘I’m hoping that he can pick up some tips tonight so he can be inspired with more cooking ideas.’ The 23-year-old is going out with Otis Ferry (pictured with her above), son of Roxy Music legend Bryan Publishing queen Tina vents over ‘lean in’ Sheryl Tina Brown doesn’t seem to be a fan of Tina Brown doesn’t seem to be a fan of Sheryl Sandberg's rhetorical style Facebook bigwig Sheryl Sandberg is a feminist figurehead after starting the ‘Lean In’ movement that encourages women to take on leadership roles, but publishing queen Tina Brown doesn’t seem to be a fan of her rhetorical style. ‘We don’t do the bloviations about “lean in” and how to get to the corner office and what I call “empowerment venting”,’ Bucks girl and former Vanity Fair editor Tina declares. ‘What I’m interested in is hearing from women who have genuinely done extraordinary things.’ This might make uncomfortable reading for Tory leadership hopeful Penny Mordaunt, whose political mantra is ‘Lean In’. Indeed, the phrase was one of many ghastly Americanisms Mordaunt used in Parliament this week. Facebook bigwig Sheryl Sandberg is a feminist figurehead after starting the ‘Lean In’ movement that encourages women to take on leadership roles Nigella dries Nigel’s tears at play time It was a date that ended in tears for near identically named foodie writers Nigel Slater and Nigella Lawson. The pair popped out for the opening of Toast, Slater’s play based on the story of his childhood, in London. And Nigella was on hand when he had an unexpected reaction to his stage mum’s death. ‘I know the play inside out, and I said to myself: “I’m not going to cry,” ’ Nigel said. ‘I really lost it, I had Nigella next to me and she held me. It was so sweet. It was so comforting.’ Not as comforting as a slice of Nigella’s chocolate Guinness cake, I’d wager . . . Foodie writers Nigel Slater and Nigella Lawson popped out for the opening of Toast, Slater’s play based on the story of his childhood, in London Who needs bonuses? Cabinet minister James Brokenshire is trying to encourage his civil servants by giving them fizzy drinks. If mandarins in his housing ministry carry out what he considers exceptional work, they’re given a ‘Brokey Cokey’ award. It consists of a can of Coca-Cola and a certificate. So jealous are Home Office officials of the Brokenshire largesse that Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes has instituted her own ‘Nokey Cokeys’ copycat scheme. And there I was thinking the Government wanted us to drink less fizzy pop. Having put several noses out of joint since she arrived on Call The Midwife, Miriam Margolyes hopes her character, Sister Mildred, will cause more disquiet in the next series. ‘I’m looking forward to a bit of an argy-bargy,’ she tells me at the Churchill Awards at Claridge’s. Referring to the hit BBC drama’s scriptwriter Heidi Thomas, Margolyes adds: ‘I think she’s got some thoughts on how she’s going to spice things up for my character.’ Hold on to your wimples! Countess launches £60 ‘Eau de Downton’ scents Sometimes it seems there’s scarcely a showbusiness personality left who hasn’t launched their own fragrance. So how enterprising of the Countess of Carnarvon to come up with a scent that friends have christened ‘eau de Downton Abbey’. Fiona, whose husband, the Earl of Carnarvon, owns Highclere Castle in Berkshire, where Downton is filmed, has started selling two signature fragrances to the thousands of visiting fans of ITV’s hit period drama. The first is called 1793, in a reference to the date the Carnarvon title was created, while the other, Lorato, ‘is summer in a bottle’. At £60, the price tag is not to be sniffed at. Lara Logan, the former GMTV correspondent who found fame embedding herself with the troops in Afghanistan, is fast becoming Donald Trump’s favourite journalist. Lara became a U.S. star, reporting from war-torn spots on CBS News. But she quit after defending Trump and accusing the media of Left-wing bias. Now, she is joining conservative-leaning Sinclair Broadcasting Group, where she will cover the fraught U.S.-Mexico border. How long before she’s invited to the White House for a one-to-one with the President?All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility