Steerpike

‘I was in two minds about accepting this acknowledgment,’ says the now Dame Jacinda Ardern, reflecting on how ‘humbled’ she feels today to receive the Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. ‘For me this is a way to say thank you – to my family, to my colleagues, and to the people who supported me to take on the most challenging and rewarding role of my life.’ Rewarding, eh? Note Dame J’s use of the world ‘acknowledgment’ – rather than, say, honour – a deft nod to her republicanism. It also, with less subtlety, reveals a certain arrogance. Is it really ‘humbling’ to be merely ‘acknowledged’? Mr S thinks not.  Ardern has come a long way.

Oh dear. The long-running feud between Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham has blown up again this weekend, this time over a row about the decision to block a sitting mayor from standing for a new role in the North East. Jamie Driscoll, the serving North of Tyne mayor, revealed on Friday that he has been 'barred' by the Starmer army from running as the Labour candidate to contest the North East mayoralty but that 'no explanation has been given'. Talk about bad manners... Driscoll, who has been described as the 'last Corbynista in power', was not included on a long list to be the next North East mayor – a new role that was created as part of a £1.4 billion devolution deal for the region.

Labour has been clapping themselves on the back today after suspending backbencher Geraint Davies following claims of 'completely unacceptable behaviour.' It followed a report by Politico, which claimed the Swansea West MP had subjected younger colleagues to unwanted sexual attention. Politico said it had spoken to more than 20 people who worked with Davies in Parliament, including serving MPs and current and former Labour party staff. Labour's line is that the claims are 'incredibly serious' and that it acts swiftly and decisively when it comes to sexual misconduct. But how true a picture is this? Sky News is reporting that it has seen conclusive evidence that the whips office – which partly oversees standards and behaviour – was aware of these allegations many months ago.

Talk about going down to the wire. With today’s deadline fast approaching, the SNP Westminster group has made, at the eleventh hour, a significant announcement: they have finally submitted their audited accounts. Had the group been unable to do so, they would have missed out on £1.2 million of public funds, so-called ‘Short money’, making it a little more difficult for them to carry out parliamentary work. Now, at least one SNP crisis has been averted and the Westminster group’s treasurer, Peter Grant MP, couldn’t sound more relieved: I’m pleased to confirm that the annual return for the SNP Westminster Group’s ‘Short money’ for 2022/23 has received a clean audit certificate and has been submitted, on time, to the parliamentary authorities.

Oh dear. It seems the dreaming spires are having a nightmare. Professor Kathleen Stock is addressing the Oxford Union tonight, but not all students approve. One trans activist, Riz Possnett, glued themselves to the floor of the Union in protest before Stock even began speaking.  Wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the words ‘No More Dead Trans Kids’, Possnett refused to move despite boos from members of the audience.  One attendee called for ‘free speech’ and another urged attendees to ‘listen to Kathleen Stock’. Free speech at a university? It’s a novel thought…  Outside, hundreds of trans activists reportedly began a march on the, chanting ‘cut your system, fuck your hate, we are not open for debate.’ With logic like that, who is Mr S to disagree?

Saturday saw Celtic lift the Scottish Premiership trophy after a 5-0 victory over Aberdeen. Fans crammed into Parkhead, in Glasgow’s east end, to watch goals from Kyogo Furuhashi, Hyeon-Gyu Oh and Carl Starfelt. By way of celebration, Hoops supporters painted the town green — and then some.  Ten people were arrested on suspicion of assault, police assault and public order offences. Three men were hospitalised after being ‘seriously assaulted’. Video footage shows a firework being set off among a crowd of fans while a viral clip has captured the scale of the clean-up operation faced by Glasgow City Council after supporters dumped litter throughout the city’s streets.

Much has been made about the BBC's new Verify service, launched last week. According to the Corporation's glutinous press release, the 60-strong team represents a 'new brand to address the growing threat of disinformation and build trust with audiences by transparently showing how BBC journalists know the information they are reporting.' But does such diligent fact-checking need to start at home? Steerpike couldn't help noticing some rather odd editing by BBC Breakfast today in their segment on the tragic deaths of two teenagers in Cardiff. The footage aired by Sky News shows an electric bike caught on CCTV whizzing through the streets of the Welsh capital, followed 15 seconds later by a police van.

And so the extraordinary Phillip Schofield row rumbles on. Earlier this week it was announced that Schofield was steeping down from the TV show This Morning, amid reports that his relationship with his co-host Holly Willoughby had collapsed.  Now Schofield has admitted that he had an affair with a ‘younger male colleague’ and has resigned from ITV with immediate effect. After his departure from This Morning, Schofield was still scheduled to host the British Soap Awards next weekend. He has now confirmed that he will no longer take part in the event. Schofield has also been dropped by his agent of 35 years.

There was drama in Whitehall this afternoon after a car smashed into the gates of Downing Street, prompting the closure of half of SW1. Police cordoned off the area after a small hatchback was seen at the entrance to the famous street, besides the great iron gates erected during Margaret Thatcher's era. The Met Police subsequently confirmed that: At around 16:20hrs a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. There are no reports of any injuries. Enquiries are ongoing. Good luck getting home from Westminster tonight... https://twitter.