The manners of the establishment are always worth keeping an eye on. The political commentator Peter Oborne has just published an important social text called The Triumph of the Political Class (Simon & Schuster). It describes a New Labour establishment that is metropolitan, liberal and heavily represented in politics, the media and PR. It signals itself through its dress, which is purposeful, studiedly unstuffy and without any hint of playfulness. Gordon Brown famously refused to dress up for his first Mansion House speech in June 1997, describing the black-tie tradition as “ridiculous”, and declined to don goofy casuals for George Bush.

I tested Oborne’s dress theory at two events attended by prominent members of this establishment. At the Last Night of the Proms, the prommer patriots in the pit wore Union Jack face paint or black tie and ball gowns. In the boxes, the media and political establishment leaders, invited as guests, had dressed down. I had advised my companion to wear a dinner jacket and was rewarded by the sight of a young triumphalist from Ken Livingstone’s office in open-neck shirt trying to hide his smile.