She became known in Westminster as the Minister for Instagram after posting elaborate photo opportunities on social media. But Liz Truss’s PR antics are being dialled down in favour of more “natural” shots. Spies in the Foreign Office and Downing Street, where some of her pictures had raised eyebrows, tell me there has been a deliberate shift in her communications strategy.

“They’re aiming to have more photos of her working with people,” says one mole. This was triggered in particular by a photo of the Foreign Secretary astride a Triumph motorbike in Thailand, one of the more egregious examples of Ms Truss enthusiastically emulating Mrs Thatcher.

Monty’s dog

Viewers of Gardeners’ World were devastated last year when Nigel, presenter Monty Don’s beloved golden retriever and a regular screen presence, died. There were then worries when Patti the Yorkshire Terrier, Nigel’s replacement, went missing from the show earlier this year, with many concerned that Monty had been doubly bereaved.

I am delighted to reveal that the story has a happy ending. Patti was spooked when one of the camera rigs nearly fell on her during filming and refused to go anywhere near them (unless being cuddled by Monty) since. Despite the fright, and presumably the reduction in appearance fees, she is alive and well.

Who could she mean?

The countdown is on for the arrival of a new Jilly Cooper-style “bonkbuster” set in Westminster that is sure to get tongues wagging. Cleo Watson, once a senior aide in Boris Johnson’s Downing Street, said goodbye to Government earlier this year and is focusing on completing her erotic political thriller.

A mole tells me that Ms Watson, an ally of Dominic Cummings, is writing the novel from her Islington bolthole. In the morning she works on the dialogue before waiting for the evening, and the consumption of a strong martini, before turning her attention to the more amorous sections.

The book follows three young protagonists as they enter the world of politics. But also featuring in the story is a charismatic, middle aged MP who has risen to the top of the political pile and does not always stay on the straight and narrow. Who ever could have been the inspiration?

Old boys’ network

It was revealed this week that Rishi Sunak handed £100,000 to Winchester College, his old school. But the Chancellor isn’t the only Westminster figure to be supporting his alma mater.

The former culture minister Lord Vaizey – who went to London’s £40,000-a-year St Paul’s School – tells me he remains proud of his old school links, serving as president of the Old Paulines and donating to its coffers. Intriguingly, he also suggests that George Osborne, another alumnus, is a supporter … though he won’t say how much he gives. Osbo is remaining tightlipped, too.

C4’s Green New Deal

Nadine Dorries said this week that she hopes selling off Channel 4 will mean it can compete with the streaming giants. But does the broadcaster have an edgier business proposition in mind? Its venture capital arm has investments in Cannaray, a British cannabis firm. Industry sources now tell me that they hope that privatisation will see Channel 4 expand its involvement, possibly opening the door to advertising on the network. Would a tie-up be enough to lure trendy young urbanites back to the channel?

Sacked

A wave of anti-Sackler iconoclasm continues to sweep London. Peterborough reported last month that Roland Rudd, chair of the Tate Britain and Tate Modern, had removed all reference to the family, who founded a pharmaceutical firm accused of worsening the US opioid crisis. Now I hear similar rumblings from the London Library in St James’s – founded by Thomas Carlyle in 1841 and frequented by the likes of Dickens, Gladstone and Churchill. Members in its private reading rooms might now spot Simon Schama, Andrew Marr or Stephen Fry lurking among the stacks.

“Following a decision by the Board of Trustees, we shall be removing the Sackler name from our small reading room currently known as the Sackler Study,” said an email to members this week. “This room will now be referred to as The Study.” Catchy.

Peterborough, published every Friday at 7pm, is edited by Christopher Hope, the Telegraph’s chief political correspondent and the author of the daily Chopper’s Politics newsletter. You can reach him at peterborough@telegraph.co.uk