Toby Young: Tristram Hunt, the Spectator’s ‘Newcomer of the Year’?

I love The Spectator’s Parliamentarian of the Year Awards. On the face of it, they’re a great advertisement for just how broadminded and sophisticated the editors of this magazine are. We’re able to rise above the political fray and generously acknowledge MPs on both sides of the House, regardless of which party they belong to. But at the same time, it’s also a way of drawing attention to the fact that we Tories aren’t as parti pris as our lefty opponents. Unlike us, they’re far too bogged down in the petty bickering of daily politics to pay tribute to their enemies. And in this way we’re able to score a few cheap political points.

Having said that, I was slightly taken aback when Tristram Hunt won ‘Newcomer of the Year’. Surely this was taking the spirit of bipartisanship too far? Hunt is Michael Gove’s shadow. His job is to oppose the education reforms that nearly all of us at this magazine passionately support.