On the Westminster grapevine…

‘Tis the season for Christmas receptions at Westminster, where the hacks like myself compare notes with people who know a lot more about life than we do. There’s a distinct lack of bubbly this year – funny how ministers take special care over that, while the government overspend is (literally) enough to fill every bath in England with Moet – but the chat’s been first class, especially at the Centre for Policy Studies bash last night.