The 22nd annual Threadneedle/ Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year lunch took place last Thursday at Claridge’s and the prizes were presented by the Rt Hon. Charles Kennedy, leader of the Liberal Democrats. Welcoming Mr Kennedy, the editor of The Spectator, Boris Johnson, recalled the tumultuous events at last year’s luncheon. He said that among the advantages of having Mr Kennedy as guest of honour were not only his general geniality but also that he was not a Conservative and therefore unlikely to launch an unprovoked satirical attack on another Conservative. Nor had he faced the Sisyphean task — borne by last year’s guest of honour — of making the policy of Her Majesty’s official opposition cohere with the official policy of The Spectator.
Parliamentarian of the Year
Dominic Grieve, MP
It was the view of the Committee that this was an audacious choice, given that the winner is not yet at the forefront of either the Cabinet or the shadow Cabinet.
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