Gyles Brandreth, the one-time Conservative MP and notorious wearer of loud coloured jumpers, impressed the great and good of the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (Cila) at its annual lunch last week.
Among the Cila crests and insignia, Brandreth apologised that he thought the Cila dinner was in honour of his friend Cilla Black and now could no longer use his surprise, surprise jokes.
He also mischievously noted that Cila was similar to a secret society, while giving Insurance Times a favourable mention (is he a reader?).
Brandreth concluded that Cila members were the “Cinderella of the insurance industry”.
Members took this as a huge compliment, proving he was the belle of the ball.
