Tory reveals 'fraternal bond' with GB News star and reignites Reform row at Celebrate Britain party

“Where is Patrick Christys?” a pumped-up Chris Philp asked as GB News’s Celebrate Britain party got into full swing.

The Shadow Home Secretary was given a firm answer. “He’s on the air,” came the reply from a gaggle of GB News staff.

But it was not professional curiosity that prompted Mr Philp’s question. The Shadow Home Secretary instead had a confession.

“I now feel a fraternal bond with Patrick because we have both been harassed by illegal immigrants in northern France,” Mr Philp said.

“He was obviously attacked, and I was in the water getting ignored by the French as they allowed illegal immigrants to take off from knee-deep water. That’s absolutely disgraceful.”

The Botanist in the heart of Birmingham was packed out, with the bar heaving and its smoking areas full to bursting.

Just a stone’s throw from the ICC, card-carrying Conservatives, think tank wonks and lobby hacks had descended on the pub to let their hair down after a day of conference politics.

Prosecco was pouring, Guinness was being guzzled and lager was being lapped up as the Tory faithful made the most of their evening.

Live music also came courtesy of Bell and Spurling, who belted out My Girl — a hat tip given to one GB News star.

Some even argued that GB News had trumped Reform UK’s Boney M and Labour’s Sugababes performances. Sweet Caroline certainly got the crowd going before a curtain-closing rendition of Land of Hope and Glory.

While the rest of the GB News team appeared firmly in party mode, Patrick was speaking to the nation as his colleagues raised their glasses in Birmingham.

After handing out compliments to GB News’s top political trio of Christopher Hope, Camilla Tominey and Tom Harwood, Mr Philp was searching for a new target – and he did not have to look far.

“We’re supposed to be showcasing our teamwork at party conference, and I’m now working very closely with Nick Timothy, the new Shadow Justice Secretary,” Mr Philp explained.

“Now, Nick and I get on very well, and he’s easy to work with.

“There are no unseemly temper tantrums, there are no hostile briefings, and there is no fragile egomania. He is a big improvement on his predecessor.”

The Shadow Justice Secretary role was previously held by Robert Jenrick before his shock defection in January.

And to make the dig even more obvious, Mr Jenrick had delivered the keynote speech to GB News party attendees at last year’s Conservative Party Conference.

But Mr Philp’s quips about the Tory switchers to Reform did not stop there.

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“I’m afraid to tell you that this year I have acquired an online stalker. He’s a rather strange man,” the Shadow Home Secretary chuckled.

“His name is Zia [Yusuf], and he spends his entire day on Twitter pretending to be the Shadow Home Secretary.

“Now, all I can say is anybody who spends all their time fantasising about being me urgently needs to see a psychiatrist.”

And Mr Philp could not resist taking a dig at Mr Yusuf’s fractious relationship with Mr Jenrick.

“They [Robert Jenrick and Zia Yusuf] started off pretending to be friends,” Mr Philp said.

“Then they had a massive falling-out on social media, and it all ended with handbags at dawn.

“They are the Colleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy of politics.”

But the two-tiered buffet on offer to attendees clearly managed to attract a star-studded guest list of Tory grandees.

GB News’s very own Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg was joined by Sir Gavin Williamson for those curious about Tories with knighthoods.

Damian Hinds, Wendy Morton, Mark Francois and Keiran Mullan were also spotted in the Conservative crowd.

Meanwhile, there was a strong contingent of former MPs hoping to get back on the candidates’ list.

While more than 20 have already defected to Reform UK, it was clear Tobias Ellwood, Anna Firth and Jill Mortimer were not going to cross the floor any time soon.

And some harbour ambitions to return to the House of Commons at the next general election.

“It is definitely something I want to do,” one told GB News.

However, for all the cocksure confidence in Birmingham, one former Tory aide was not so sure.

“I think this conference has been rather dull,” they said. “If they think they're going to beat Reform as they are today, they have a long way to go.”

And it was not just sceptical ex-insiders who were clearly conscious of the atmosphere.

Ex-Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson was considered a major Conservative coup following his appearance on the main stage.

However, the wry farmer could not help but take a dig at his newfound friends.

“A lot of people have come dressed as seats up there,” he said.

Perhaps more wished they had gone as empty seats to Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith’s speech a few hours later.

While more than 20 have already defected to Reform UK, it was clear Tobias Ellwood, Anna First and Jill Mortimer were not going to cross the floor any time soon.

And some harbour ambitions to return to the House of Commons at the next general election.

"It is definitely something I want to do," one told GB News.

However, for all the cocksure confidence in Birmingham, one former Tory aide was not so sure.

"I think this conference has been rather dull," they said.

"If they think Reform UK is finished, they have a long way to go."

And it was not just sceptical ex-insiders who were clearly conscious of the atmosphere.

Ex-Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson was considered a major Conservative coup following his appearance on the main stage.

However, the wry farmer could not help but take a dig at his newfound friends.

"A lot of people have come dressed as seats up there," he said.

And that was before Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith made his conference debut in his new post.