The Spectator summer party, in pictures | 6 July 2016

In recent weeks, Westminster politicians have found themselves compared to the characters of House of Cards and Game of Thrones over their post-referendum antics. Happily, parliamentarians were able to put such differences aside on Wednesday night as they took a well-deserved break from work at The Spectator summer party.

As Labour's Rachel Reeves and Liz Kendall caught up with Liz Truss, Laurence Fox -- the Lewis actor -- put on a passionate display for the cameras with his male companion for the evening. Meanwhile with a Tory leadership contest underway, Theresa May made sure to do the rounds and rally support for her campaign at the champagne-fuelled bash. Her efforts did not go unrewarded, with Fox confiding to Steerpike that she was his preferred choice.

As for the Ukip leadership race? Douglas Carswell confessed that he remained 'inconsolable' over Nigel Farage's resignation, while Christine Hamilton assured Mr S that her husband Neil Hamilton would not be running to be Farage's successor; 'it's just not happening, he's far too busy in Wales'.

Here are a selection of photos from the event, courtesy of Alan Davidson:

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Fraser Nelson and Matt Hancock[/caption]

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Toby Young and Taki[/caption]

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Tristram Hunt and Matt Hancock[/caption]

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Penny Mourdant[/caption]

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Rachel Johnson and Ben Wallace[/caption]

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Liz Truss, Tim Montgomerie and Justine Greening[/caption]

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Liz Truss, John Woodcock, Tim Montgomerie and Justine Greening[/caption]

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Liz Truss, Rachel Reeves and Liz Kendall[/caption]

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Chris Grayling and Allegra Stratton[/caption]

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Piers Morgan and Emily Maitlis[/caption]

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Rachel Reeves, Matt Hancock and Andrew Neil[/caption]

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Laurence Fox[/caption]

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Sajid Javid[/caption]

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Jacob and Helena Rees-Mogg[/caption]

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Thea Rogers[/caption]

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Theresa May and David Gauke[/caption]

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Anne McElvoy and Andrew Neil[/caption]

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Julia Hartley-Brewer and Chris Grayling[/caption]

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Liz Kendall and Nick Cohen[/caption]

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Theresa Villiers, Liz Truss, Theresa May and Justine Greening[/caption]

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Robert Peston and Emily Maitlis[/caption]

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Jo Coburn, Rachel Reeves and Sajid Javid[/caption]

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Laurence Fox[/caption]

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Douglas Carswell[/caption]

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Susan Nilsson[/caption]

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Taki and Andrew Neil[/caption]

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Helen Lederer[/caption]

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Francis Maude[/caption]

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Sebastian Shakespeare and Katy Balls[/caption]

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Nicky Morgan[/caption]

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Richard Eden and Gisela Stuart[/caption]

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Leah Herlihy, Melissa McAdams, Danielle Wall and Sophie Ryan[/caption]