Londoner’s Diary
In Labour-land the New Statesman held its party at the National Liberal Club, where before the exit poll dropped David Lammy delivered a cautious speech: “The truth is most of us who have been at this for a while are a little nervous until the numbers and the seats are there.”
Later, Mayor Sadiq Khan went in another direction, predicting the downfall of his enemies. “Enjoy those words,” he crowed, “Jeremy Hunt has lost his seat.” But Mr Hunt clung on. Also at the party was Marina Wheeler, human rights barrister and ex-wife of Boris Johnson.
Wheeler revealed she voted Labour after years as a Tory and said of the result: “The Tories are at least alive, barely alive, as alive as they deserve to be right now.”
Of Rishi Sunak’s next steps, she said: “Why wouldn’t Rishi go to California? I wouldn’t blame him if he did,” before cycling off into the night.
Tate the edge off
The election night party scene climaxed on the South Bank of the Thames where Labour threw its official jamboree, strictly invitation-only. It was so loud that rail workers at nearby Blackfriars station could hear cheers and music in the otherwise still morning. Sir Keir Starmer rocked up before 5am to give a speech, then played follow-the-leader, leaving with his wife Victoria as a crowd of revellers spilled out with him into the new dawn.
Not Unherd of
Unherd threw the party with the best booze at their HQ on Old Queen Street. Reactions to the exit poll at the Right-leaning publication were mixed, with disappointment at Labour’s win mingled with purrs at Reform’s good result. At one point, a band of young hacks hopped over to the New Statesman party and stole their life-size cutout of Sunak. The most sentimental party was hosted by Dame Helena Kennedy QC at Doughty Street Chambers, where Starmer was a young lawyer. Former colleagues (and Sandi Toksvig) watched their pal slowly but surely become the next prime minister.
