The interns were the real stars of the Spectator summer party

It was The Spectator’s summer party last night, the high point of Westminster’s social calendar. We had the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary – and Lady Nugee (aka Emily Thornberry) apparently walking away in a fury when told her friend could not come in just because he had a peerage. We had a High Life bar, in honour of Taki, and a Low Life one, named for Jeremy Clarke. But the stars were a group of young people from the Social Mobility Foundation, and I thought I’d say a little more about them.

We at The Spectator have worked with the SMF for years. Typically, they are straight-A students from disadvantaged backgrounds: bright, hard-working and hugely appreciative of advice and opportunities. They learn a little about how a magazine is put together, and enough about journalism to put them off it as a career when they find out what it pays. But this year we thought we’d add a dimension to work experience and invite a dozen or so to our summer party so they can learn a bit more about these events – and how to network.