You know a Prime Minister’s authority is shot when at an event a Cabinet Minister is speaking at, all the jokes from the platform are at the Prime Minister’s expense. James Purnell smiled wryly as they were cracked, but there was uproarious—not nervous—laughter. There was none of the frisson that would have accompanied such a moment a few months ago. No one now believes Brown is strong enough to respond.
Last night’s Demos party was revealing of the new contours of British politics. From the Labour side, the potential leadership dream ticket of Jon Cruddas and James Purnell were having, what Allegra Stratton aptly calls, a “very public date.” The Tories were there in force, revelling in their presence at the institution that so summed up the New Labour zeitgeist. Philip Blond, the Red Tory, had drawn many of the most thoughtful Tories to the bash—David Willetts, Cameron’s policy chief James O’Shaughnessy, Policy Exchange alumni and Tory candidates Nick Boles and Jesse Norman and the shadow Chancellor’s brains trust—Rupert Harrison, Eleanor Shawcross and Rohan Silva.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in