Bellydancer Ben Bradshaw is the king of spin but David Miliband finds it hard to stomach
Labour party members celebrated their new leader with bare-chested belly dancing into the night — even though Ed Miliband did not turn up.
The Diversity evening, hosted by Keith Vaz, is a favourite among shadow cabinet ministers with its free food and traditional Indian music. A host of former ministers, including Ed's defeated brother David, turned up at the party before Ben Bradshaw stole the show, dancing wildly with belly-dancers with his top off.
Mr Bradshaw, the former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, worked the floor with two belly-dancers before grabbing Sally Bercow, the wife of Commons Speaker John Bercow. Mrs Bercow said: "Ben Bradshaw is an unbelievable dancer. He is incredible, much better than John. Dancing isn't his kind of thing."
Mr Bradshaw said: "I like to dance. Nobody has ever warned me not to dance at these events. I don't know why they would. The only thing I worry about is having to give a speech."
MPs Diane Abbott, Caroline Flint and Sadiq Khan also appeared at the bash, and David Miliband attended with his wife Louise Shackleton. After making a rousing speech calling for "party unity", Mr Miliband declined to wear a flower garland on stage.
Referring to Mr Miliband's speech, Mr Vaz said: "You told us how much you love your brother — well let me tell you, we love you too." Before drawing the winner of the Diversity Night raffle, Mr Vaz turned to Mr Miliband's wife and said: "Louise, you are the most wonderful wife. If I wasn't married, I'd be married to you."
Mr Miliband was heard saying: "Stop talking. Please stop talking."
Former GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips was introduced on stage by Mr Vaz as the "GMTV presenter who has to wake up in a few hours" and was forced to tell the former chairman of the Home Affairs select committee that she quit the programme two years ago.
Towards the end of the night, shadow education secretary Ed Balls and former home secretary Alan Johnson appeared but refused the lure of Mr Vaz's team of dancers.
