Partying like a Lib Dem

Danny Alexander was the star guest at Policy Exchange’s party on Sunday night. He was clearly so excited that he arrived before anyone else, and found himself standing at the bar looking a little bit forlorn. Still, when it came to the speeches, he found there was plenty of thoughtful advice in the offing. Tim Hames, director of policy at BVCA, said a few words before the chief secretary to the Treasury strode up, advising Alexander to avenge Harriet Harman’s ‘ginger rodent’ comments from a while back by calling her a ‘cow’. Danny pointed out that he’d be seeing her this week on Question Time, and that he might decline that advice.

It was a good week for Danny: his face appeared on a series of extremely tasty cupcakes at Sky’s party on Monday night, along with Nick Clegg and a brooding Vince Cable. Vince was the nibble of choice among guests.

But the man who stole the show at the infamous Glee Club last night was Simon Hughes. He has a series of songs about him, ranging from a slightly strange one recalling him defeating Peter Tatchell in the Bermondsey by-election to an adaptation of ‘Postman Pat’, where activists joyfully sing about ‘Simon Hughes, Simon Hughes and his black-and-white cab’. So the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats spent quite some time on the stage: much longer than Nick Robinson, who was dragged up on to the stage during one song by chief spinner Olly Grender.

There are now two songs about the party’s love of a land value tax, and an old favourite, which seems to involve activists repeatedly shouting that Tony Blair should f*** off, was dug out once again. The room was packed. During a rendition of Jerusalem, Lib Dem chief whip Alistair Carmichael was heard muttering ‘this is dreadful, isn’t it?’