The great and the good of the Conservative party turned out last night to mark the opening of the new building for Tory high command. For nearly two decades, the Conservatives have lacked a permanent home, ever since Smith Square – the site of Mrs Thatcher’s three election victories –had to be sold off in 2007. Since then, they have rented offices in, first, Milbank Tower and currently, Matthew Parker Street. But now the Tories boast a new address: 1 Castle Lane in Victoria, just a ten minute stroll from their current base. The building was bought by the Conservative Foundation, thanks to a generous legacy from the late Lord Sainsbury, to ensure that no party leader is flogged to sell the base at the behest of bean-counters in future.

Parliamentarians, donors and various apparatchiks crammed in last night to hear a succession of speeches celebrating the party’s future. Lord Spencer, the Chairman of the Foundation, gave the introduction. ‘This party, as you all know, has had 200 years of history behind us, and there is no reason we cannot have 200 years ahead of us too.’ Of the building’s five floors, two and a half will be........

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