Boris is set to host his final party

Boris Johnson ought to be heartily sick of parties given the way they helped to bring down his administration. Since he resigned as Tory leader, he has held one get together at Checkers and attended his wedding party at Lord Bamfords pile. Now he is holding another bash tomorrow lunchtime at Checkers. Formal invitations to the reception were sent out on smart letterheaded paper some weeks ago. Guests can bring a plus one. One source says: It is a thank you to everybody for all they have done. It sounds more like a wake than a celebration to me.

Hinge joins imperial fight

Augusts edition of The Yardstick, the official journal of the British Weights and Measures Association, announces a new Honorary member Dr Evadne Hinge of Stackton Tressel in Suffolk, one half of a double act with Dame Hilda Bracket. Hinge and Bracket are particularly remembered for their Gala performances with Dr Hinge on the piano accompanying Dame Hilda singing, the Yardstick reminds me.

Hinge is in good company. Other honorary members include Alexander McCall Smith, Ian Botham, Clive Anderson, Jools Holland, Tim Rice, and, er, me. She was awarded her membership after a 1980s Hinge and Bracket sketch of her protesting about a garage selling petrol in litres not gallons came to light. Quite right too.

Starkey is back

David Starkey is back with a little help from grassroots Tories. The historian who had much of his distinguished career canceled for comments he made over the Black Lives Matter protests two years ago has been asked to speak to Westminster North Conservative Association.

Starkey says the Conservative Party is the only thing which stands between us and Armageddon and promises an honest assessment of the party’s prospects, informed by history. But the invitation for the 15 a head evening on September 22 comes with a sobering reminder of Starkeys changed circumstances. The location will be announced 24 hours before the event for security reasons, it says.

George Osborne returns to Corfu

Greece is the new Tuscany for top Tories after Boris Johnson and Michael Gove were spotted there. Now I see former chancellor George Osborne arrived in Corfu this week. The Greek island will hold mixed memories for him. He nearly torpedoed his political career when he was caught gossiping with Peter Mandelson on Russian Oleg Deripaskas yacht off the island in 2008.

But times have changed. Now a successful City banker, Osborne could almost afford to buy the oligarchs yacht himself.

Princess Annes bust under wraps

Another birthday came and went for Princess Anne this week and a new bronze bust of her by Frances Segelman, the sculptor wife of philanthropist Jack Petchey, remains under wraps.

Originally commissioned for her 70th birthday two years ago, the sculpture has been delivered to the charity UK Youth. But the Princess Royal has been struggling to find time to unveil it due to Covid and the Platinum Jubilee. Segelmans tells me: Her bust has little chance of being unveiled this year. Which seems a shame I quite like it.