If you ever needed a sign that politics is unpredictable then tonight’s Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year awards offered it. Theresa May had to pull out at the last minute after the unfolding Westminster sleaze scandal claimed a member of her Cabinet, Michael Fallon.
Happily another Michael was on hand to step in at the last minute. Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, relished his one and only chance to play Prime Minister; ‘I fought for the leadership of the Conservative party and the Conservative party fought back’.
His joke about Diane Abbott’s schooling decisions for her son entertained the room – even if the shadow home secretary wasn’t laughing. As for the gongs, Jacob Rees-Mogg proved that even an Old Etonian can be an anti-establishment figure nowadays – with the Moggster taking home insurgent of the year.
A selection of photos can be found below, courtesy of Alan Davidson:

Matt Hancock and Jacob Rees-Mogg

Justine Greening

Michael Gove and Rachel Johnson

Rachel Johnson and Amber Rudd

Jacob Rees-Mogg, Sarah Vine and Andrew Neil

Michael Gove, Tim Shipman and Matt Hancock

Andrew Neil, Paul Staines and Therese Coffey

Jess Phillips and Stella Creasy

Michael Gove

Paul Staines, Adam Boulton and Fraser Nelson

The winners

David Gauke

Lara Prendergast, Kemi Badenoch and Katy Balls
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