Street party with a nostalgic touch for architects of the big society - and Barbara Windsor
Perhaps because of the oppressive policing of the event, Dave's Downing Street rave never felt like it was going to spiral out of control.
There was bunting draping the walls of No 10, some flat-capped, amiable pensioners from central casting, a five-piece brass band, and face-painted children from the local St Pimlico academy. The 90 or so guests at the official No 10 street party sat around two long tables with chairs that looked like they had been nicked out of the cabinet room. The tables groaned with egg sandwiches and red jelly. Tea was poured from stainless steel teapots into white china cups. Orange juice flowed, but not alcohol, as the guests nibbled at the cup cakes made by Samantha. A trio sang some Andrews Sisters swing. The children played hopscotch.
All that was missing from the set was a returning war hero.
The retro feel was confirmed by the arrival of Barbara Windsor, fresh from the fire in Albert Square, babbling cockney as she does, and worrying about her lack of high heels. Boris Johnson had asked her to be London's street party tsar after she finished on the set of EastEnders. She must have thought she had turned up at the set of a rival soap called DowningStreeters.
On the steps of No 11, some of the architects of the big society, such as Ed Llewellyn, the PM's chief of staff, and Jeremy Heywood, the No 10 permanent secretary, looked out on their modernist vision of what all of Britain will be like in 10 years. Lib Dems were conspicuous by their absence, even during a tug of war. Hostess of the event was Lady Warsi, the Tory chairwoman, wearing a union flag-sequined sari made for the occasion. For some reason Chris Huhne, the energy secretary, did not make the guest list.
Just after four o'clock, the happy couple finally arrived: Dave and Sam, radiant in their wedding gear, and followed by a detective in morning suit, waved on the steps of No 10 to applause. Would they kiss? One of the pensioners stood up and saluted as Dave worked the tables in front of the cameras.
By the end of his fifth journalist question, Cameron's patriotism was hyperventilating. "There is something special about singing Jerusalem in Westminster Abbey with the orchestra behind you. You think the roof is going to lift off and there is no better place and no better country to be in. Just wonderful." Calm down dear, calm down.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/apr/29/downing-street-party-royal-wedding
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