The Labour conference is so short of space when it comes to Brighton that some delegates have to stay as far away as Eastbourne.

As most of them want to be in Brighton, mooring a boat offshore as a conference hotel is not a bad idea.

And who better to serve the drinks than Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who spent several years working on big liners.

As Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames occasionally booms across the floor of the Commons: "Another G and T, please, Giovanni."