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Inside Dawn Butler’s Jamaica party

Sunday at Labour conference was a trying affair. Beset by questions about whether Tory voters were ‘scum’ or not, many leading left-wing politicians sought out the fleshpots of Brighton to drown their sorrows. And where better to do that then at Dawn Butler’s legendary Jamaica night, held this year in the gratifyingly sticky confines of Brighton’s much-loved Pryzm nightclub?

Just like party infighting and Piers Corbyn, Butler’s Kingston knees-up has become a mainstay of recent conference shindigs. Activists, MPs, hacks and various hangers-ons all endured the half-an-hour wait to enter the bowels of Pryzm, accompanied by the rhythmic beats of a steelpan band. For £5 a head attendees were treated to complimentary rum punch and a hand stamp which bore the imprint ‘Dawn Butler Jamaica party’ – replete with an imprint of Labour’s red rose. Under new management indeed.

The night began slowly but swiftly filled up, fuelled no doubt by various house tunes remixed with John Bercow’s ‘Order!’ cries. Labour’s

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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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