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Guests arrive at the Tory Winter Ball. PA
Lucy Frazer, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, arrives at the Tory Winter Ball at Raffles at the Old War Office on Whitehall, central London. PA
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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives at the Tory Winter Ball. PA
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Health Secretary Victoria Atkins arrives. PA
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Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron arrives. PA
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Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan leaves the Tory Winter Ball. PA
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Susan Hall, left, arrives. PA
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Defence Secretary Grant Shapps arrives. PA
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Guests arrive at the Tory Winter Ball. PA
Lucy Frazer, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, arrives at the Tory Winter Ball at Raffles at the Old War Office on Whitehall, central London. PA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4NDVLGUZXN6H7ZMF766OYX3F3Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=3c6c96fd2f78443ddea0a4c6d41b2221b35525cdf736292b2061a2324a7d5bb7&width=400&height=225)
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives at the Tory Winter Ball. PA
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Health Secretary Victoria Atkins arrives. PA
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Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron arrives. PA
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Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan leaves the Tory Winter Ball. PA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BNE3M3WB3AJPOP4EL5IJCRJ44M.jpg?smart=true&auth=3dba0276c1172fec1dd43fc4b8e9a82593b08d944573934aba28b8c077bb6f56&width=400&height=225)
Susan Hall, left, arrives. PA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LJN2YGHO52HTA6VSYX77HXMXLU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a4101f683d6465ffd8243c4359fc09f3948421ae6518492b7cd630c3544a4adc&width=400&height=225)
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps arrives. PA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XDNRX253N42PZSAAANWOKQOCMY.jpg?smart=true&auth=28f8625558432b324943f9907db28fe149ff14903fd12a16dda168ea75031a21&width=400&height=225)
Guests arrive at the Tory Winter Ball. PA
Access to the top is a constant quest and an abiding flaw in UK politics
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic
Chris Blackhurst is a former editor of The Independent, based in London
05 March, 2024