The post-election parties are still in full swing. While it’s great to celebrate a victory, our unsuccessful parliamentary candidates are also showing their appreciation to those who supported them in the gruelling run-up to May’s general election.

Last night I joined fellow Tories to share a Pimm’s with Cambridge’s Conservative candidate Nick Hillman who had an astounding result, even though he didn’t win the seat, gaining the biggest Tory swing in the university city for the last three decades. Despite his loss, he is, nevertheless, excited about his work as special advisor to David Willetts, Secretary of State for Universities and Science, a role which faces the biggest coalition challenges over the differing views of Conservatives and Lib Dems about university tuition fees. He and his wife Lara are also expecting their first child next month.

Nick reminded us of the exhausting round of 40 hustings which were held in Cambridge; surely this must be an election record. He deserves a medal for stamina alone for taking part in all these live debates, followed by miles of walking and door knocking around the constituency.

It’s a testament to Nick’s good nature and the high regard he is held in that Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, who also supported Nick during the election campaign, joined his party for drinks and brought his lovely wife Sally too. He stayed for a good hour chatting to many guests, as well as speaking about the essential cutbacks he is making to the NHS management, and warning us about the unavoidable toughness of tomorrow’s budget, before leaving “to do my homework”.

I’m sorry I won’t be able to join Nigel Huddleston at his post-election party in Luton at the weekend. Nigel, like Nick, has been a very gracious loser. They are both very immensely talented, genuine guys who can hold their heads high in the knowledge that they couldn’t have done any more, and that they won considerable admiration for the professional and decent way in which they delivered their campaigns.

Although the saying states that we all love a good loser, that will certainly not be the case if England’s lack lustre football team does not improve its performance on Wednesday when it plays against Slovenia. Unlike our Conservative parliamentary candidates, there will be no post-match parties they can share with their supporters in defeat ……..