60th birthday gift idea

Blairs turn out for Lord Levy's surprise 60th birthday party

A SURPRISE 60th birthday party last night for Lord Levy, the Prime Minister's Middle East envoy and chief fundraiser, brought out the full Blairite A-team at the Banqueting House.

Among the guests were Tony and Cherie Blair, Jack Straw, Charles Clarke, Baroness Jay, chief whip Hilary Armstrong, Stephen Byers, Geoff Hoon, Margaret Jay and the entire Number 10 corps including Sally Morgan and Jonathan Powell. Other partygoers included Philip Green ( looking sheepish) and German ambassador Thomas Matussek.

Messages were read out from the Israelis and the Palestinian chief negotiator.

Guests remarked how the loyalists looked very confident despite worries about the looming Butler report. Labour gossips also note that it was a "fitting social response" to Gordon Brown's gathering of his own supporters at his summer party in Scotland last weekend. "We're definitely winning the party wars," boasted one guest.

Blair gave a glowing appreciation of Levy's efforts in the Middle East and teased his former tennis partner as "a man devoid of ego".

The hyperactive Lord Levy was described by an old school friend as a man "who, when relaxed, resembles most people's idea of a nervous breakdown".

Wooden spoon of the evening went to Commons leader Peter Hain who, on reading out the inscriptions on a gift, said: "I can't read this next bit - it says something in Jewish."

Hebrew, Peter. You'd have thought they'd have taught him the difference as a former foreign office minister.

"You can't take him anywhere," sighed an urbane former Cabinet colleague.

The evening ended with Pete Waterman giving a tribute and a band playing one of Levy's hits from his record mogul days - "There's a whole lot of loving"by Guys and Dolls.

At which point, the room emptied rapidly.