There’s no real break from politics some might say, and no rest for the politically weary — from Westminster to Washington. That certainly could be the case in DC where Senate Majority Leader John Thune threatened to cancel the Senate’s entire August recess to address the politically partisan-driven backlog of President Donald Trump’s nominees. As I write from a hotel in DC before attending a Congressional Hearing in late July, not a single nomination has been voted through. But in Westminster there is a lull just before the July recess when London’s political and lobby classes drink away any pressures – and try to forget any feuds – with the help of copious glasses of Pimm’s, whisky, pints and Pol Roger over the peak politico summer party season. This Westminster Season now stretches well into later July until Parliament packs up. This alcohol-fuelled Westminster May Week ensures that a long hot summer of strife – on both domestic and international fronts – continues even as legislatures hit the official pause button. As summertime social unrest spiked over migration and taxpayers footing the bill for luxury hotels for a second year running, Labour have been keen to deflect to successes on the world stage while President Trump – who only drinks Diet Coca-Cola – keeps his officials working overtime to land his own spate of trade deals well into August. Back in SW1, politicians who wouldn’t normally be caught dead in a room together were mingling at the sweatiest of summer shindigs. The Mace’s Diarist caught up with several at The Spectator’s annual garden party, behind Old Queen Street, where Westminster’s A-listers – from all party benches, along with think-tanks and lobby media – were packed in like locusts to ensure their tick on the politico circuit’s must-attend event list. New proprietor Sir Paul Marshall – who paid £100 million for the honour of hosting the party – must have enjoyed knowing that he wasn’t going to have any trouble at the door after his former falling out with former chairman Andrew Neil due to their combative ‘history’ over GB News. Indeed, the party has become such a hot political ticket that The Spectator now hosts a separate ‘Writers’ Party’ in the autumn to placate the magazine’s (many) contributors who don’t make the cut. The Speccie may be owned now by former Tory education policy advisor Sir Paul Marshall, but a good smattering of Labour’s top team was noticeable – including Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Environment Secretary Steve Reed. This was a far cry from years past when the now-beleaguered Home Office Minister Jess Phillips was holding down the fort for the left and hilariously holding court in The Spectator’s back garden. Such was the temperature that both Michael Gove and Sir Paul, along with George Osborne, wore open collars. As ever, being hosted on the first Thursday in July, it coincided with some nicely timed political drama: Labour’s U-turn on winter fuel payments and Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s lachrymal moment in the Commons. Emboldened by Pol Roger, your diarist bounced between catch-ups with her former boss, the besieged Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch, and talking steel with her Business and Trade Secretary Labour successor Jonny Reynolds, who felt assured that a resolution with Washington was in sight. Just a matter of when, then. Kemi’s bête noire Nigel Farage was in ebullient form, surrounded by an adoring gaggle as when I last caught up with him at the Speaker’s St George’s Day reception in the House of Commons. Nigel’s deputy Richard Tice was also in good spirits, full of invective and ideas on Reform’s plans for local government pension schemes – watch this space. Reform were well represented at the bash, including former chairman Zia Yusuf, Ed Sumner and John Gill from the comms team, and Nigel’s spokesman and spin master Dan Jukes. In fact, they had more senior staffers packed into the garden than they have total MPs in the Chamber now (Chief Whip Lee Anderson was also there, glass in hand). One’s pride was only mildly wounded when knocking a glass of Pol Roger’s best onto the suit of ever-charming Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, who graciously declared it ‘hardly the worst thing to be showered with’. Former Tory Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi was one of the few sporting a tie – navy blue, of course. He was deep in conversation with political journalist and author Isabel Oakeshott, girlfriend of Richard Tice. Whispers abounded over whether the former Honourable Member for the 18th Century might defect further right, though perhaps he put it best that Reform is a conservative party but not the Conservative Party. All eyes thus peeled for a pact that stands down a Reform candidate when Sir Jacob contests his next election....