Today brought the memorial service for Cecil Parkinson, the former Thatcher confidant and Party Chairman who was possibly one of the best Prime Ministers we never had. It was noted by many attendees that the PM did not show his face – it was held in St Margarets, Westminster Abbey, a 2 minute walk from Downing Street. He did turn up last month for the service for Geoffrey Howe and was expected today. Apparently Lord Feldman and Baroness Stowell represented the PM in his place. Was the PM too busy wasting his time at the Savoy or was it because Cecil was a Eurosceptic?

The former Tory minister and party chairman has died from cancer aged 84.