So, off to the Spectator summer bash, with my brolly folded neatly in case of rain. And for the first time there was heavy security because of the presence of the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown who walked over to the party from No 10, where he now lives. As one guest harrumphed: “It was less Bohemian than in previous years, with no gate-crashers.â€
At first glance it appeared there were more Labour than Tory types there. Another guest told me that many of Andrew Neil’s “lovelies†had been called in for the night to tick people’s names off the list at the entrance.
The PM spent most of the evening talking to Speccie editor Matthew D’Ancona, which led to Charles Moore, who once occupied The Spectator editor’s chair, to chortle: “This must surely be a first: a Labour PM coming to a Spectator party!â€
Among others in attendance were David Miliband, John Hutton, Tessa Jowell and John Reid. One can only assume that Miliband’s special adviser, Sarah Schaefer, former Independent political hackette, had something to do with it.
She is after all married to the current editor of The Spectator.
As he left, Neil gave would-be London mayor Boris Johnson a big bear hug, even though the two have not exactly been close chums. But Boris for mayor? I doubt he’d give up all his lucrative speaking and writing engagements, but let’s wait and see.
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