The watering holes of SW1 were full last night, with MPs dissecting the day’s King’s Speech. But as attention turns to the Autumn Statement and the next big parliamentary set-piece occasion, a collection of Conservatives were mulling their next moves. For a 20-strong tax cutting group of Tories got together in Smith Square – onetime home of Conservative Central Office, where the great quartet of Thatcherite election victories were celebrated throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

With spirits low but taxes high, the group met over a glass of Scotch Whisky to discuss an issue close to Steerpike’s heart: the price of booze. With Chancellor Jeremy Hunt mulling yet another hike in spirits duty – the second in just six months – attendees feared that it was just one more example of the Tories losing their tax-cutting reputation. Signatories of Sir Jake Berry’s ‘tax pledge’ to not vote for any new tax rises were well-represented among invitees, with those in attendance agreeing that any rise to spirits duty would be included in this commitment.

Rum stuff for the Chancellor. Is he drinking what they’re drinking? Or will he be offering a sober analysis in two weeks’ time? Given the state of the polls, it could be a whisky business to hike duties further…