It is a wonder that Brian Coleman has time to balance his high-profile political roles on Barnet Council and the London Assembly with his hectic social life.

The latest of his fortnightly blogs for the New Statesman magazine's website sees him recall a number of dinner parties he has attended in recent weeks.

His favourite appears to have been a very pleasant evening' laid on by Raine, Countess Spencer, daughter of Dame Barbara Cartland and stepmother to Diana, Princess of Wales. Among the other guests were the Italian Ambassador to Britain, Giancarlo Aragona, and Oscar-winning actor Julian Fellowes.

Post-dinner topics of conversation included the legacies of Tony Blair and Harold Wilson, and possible replacements for Mayor of London Ken Livingstone.

Mr Coleman wrote: "Julian assured the ambassador that David Cameron would win the next General Election and was doing a marvellous job, however it was a shame that even Mr Cameron could not muster a decent candidate to run for Mayor of London. I managed to brush off Raine's suggestion that I should run." How very noble.

His ramblings are clearly not popular with everyone. One reader added the comment: "This is hilarious - Coleman's blog is just a list of the posh dinners he goes to and the names he likes to drop. It's utterly pompous. Going over all those road humps in the back of a taxi must have dislodged something in this leading' Tory's brain."

Between the Lines would take great pleasure in seeing Mr Coleman and his old adversary Ken going head-to-head for the big chair at City Hall.