The Prime Minister's Chanucah party has become an annual fixture in the Anglo-Jewish calendar and the great and good eagerly await their invitations.

But Chanucah's late arrival this year - it doesn't begin until the evening of December 20 - has posed a problem. I understand a date has been offered for this year's party in the week before, which would rule out any lighting of the menorah.

Still it shouldn't stop the guests taking out their dreidels - I am sure Downing Street is used to a little bit of spin.