Steerpike

With Westminster seemingly awash with coronavirus, the number of MPs and government aides in self-isolation increases by the day. This has led to chatter within government over who ought to step in should Boris Johnson find himself out of action for two weeks with a case of Covid-19. As first secretary of state, Dominic Raab is the minister No. 10 plan to draft in should Johnson fall ill – reportedly to the disappointment of Michael Gove and Matt Hancock. So, what about Labour? Given that the leadership contest doesn't end til next month, the stand-in leader would have to come from the current shadow cabinet.

For those wondering how coronavirus will affect the Brexit negotiations, one immediate issue has arisen today: Michel Barnier has contracted the disease. The EU's chief negotiator revealed the diagnosis on social media this morning, and said that ‘I am doing well and in good spirits. I am following all the necessary instructions, as is my team.’ https://twitter.com/MichelBarnier/status/1240583782643773440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw So far, the UK and EU have continued with the Brexit negotiations, even as the virus spreads across the continent. But now that the EU’s chief negotiator and team are presumably in quarantine, the chances of a deal being reached by the end of the year are looking increasingly slim.

A slanging match has broken out between Nadine Dorries and the wife of a Tory MP. Dorries, who was diagnosed with coronavirus earlier this week, was criticised by Nevena Bridgen, the opera singer wife of Andrew Bridgen, who is currently in self isolation. Nevena Bridgen accused the health minister of putting her family at risk: ‘He can’t get the test now! I have the baby and a 75 years old mother jeopardised. You were treated but no one is coming to help us!’ https://twitter.com/NevenaBridgen/status/1238394617369956352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Dorries then hit back, saying that while the pair were in the same room, they were not close or even on the same table: https://twitter.com/NadineDorries/status/1238421678411128832?

Rory Stewart announced at a meeting today that he won’t be holding any more meetings as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. https://twitter.com/BoardofDeputies/status/1238017187840954371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw He is also cancelling all of his door-knocking and canvassing, putting a swift end to his sofa-surfing escapade. https://twitter.com/RoryStewartUK/status/1238056786294460416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Mr S. thinks that this meeting really should have been an email.

Oh dear. Michael Gove, the minister entrusted to head up the British civil service, seems to have developed a problem with multitasking. The key government minister was giving evidence this morning to the Committee on the Future Relationship with the EU when he made an unfortunate mistake.  So engrossed was Gove in the point that he was making that he managed to pour the contents of his water jug all over his phone and papers - just as Hillary Benn was pouring cold water all over his evidence. Let's hope that Gove is more effective at juggling his various briefs... https://twitter.com/Alain_Tolhurst/status/1237700971553263619?

How far the Tories have come. Once, the former chancellor was unassailable, bestowing his patronage on those who knew the true value of loyalty. Now, MPs from northern working-class constituencies openly mock George Osborne on the floor of the House of Commons.  Jacob Young, the new Conservative MP for Redcar, used his maiden speech to poke fun at the elitist tendencies of the mastermind behind the Northern Powerhouse. He told fellow his fellow parliamentarians: 'Most people down here think PPE is a degree course but where I come from it's what you wear to work. Indeed, Mr Deputy Speaker, to the envy of George Osborne, I believe I am the first MP to be wearing a hard hat on his parliamentary pass.

On Boxing day last year the lawyer and Remain-supporting campaigner, Jolyon Maugham, made probably the most unwise decision of his life. He decided, after having an altercation with an animal in his garden that morning, to recount his experience on social media.  At 8am, the campaigner and QC revealed that:  'Already this morning I have killed a fox with a baseball bat. How's your Boxing day going?' In subsequent messages, Maugham explained that the unlucky fox had become trapped in his chicken coop and, to complete the picture, that he had been wearing his wife's kimono as he dispatched the desperate animal.

Nothing brings people together quite like a late night kebab. That was certainly the lesson that Mr Steerpike learnt on Tuesday evening when the Westminster Village descended on the British Kebab Awards. The annual meat-based bash saw politicians, hacks and restauranteurs rub shoulders at the Park Plaza hotel in Waterloo.  But Mr S wasn't the only one who felt a sense of gastronomic geniality. Jeremy Corbyn, the outgoing Labour leader, was spotted snapping a selfie with his new Tory colleague Dehenna Davison. Mr Corbyn seemed unaware of the fact that the new MP was one of the so-called 'Red Wall' Tories. Davison managed to deprived the Islington socialist of the traditional North East Labour stronghold of Bishop Auckland at last year's general election.

There’s much speculation (and conspiracy theory) about why Boris Johnson chose today to announce that he’s becoming a father for the sixth time. Was it to get the resignation of Sir Philip Rutnam off the front pages? But to many in Westminster, the real question is how they have kept it quiet for so long. Rumours have been circulating for some time fuelled by Carrie Symonds’s reduced profile and a series of clues for those who were looking. When the couple chose to take in the recess week from the more discreet Chevening rather than Chequers, it was read in some quarters as a pregnancy-related decision.

In recent days, the UK government has been criticised for not doing enough to update the public on the potential for a coronavirus outbreak. No. 10’s boycott of the Today programme meant that it was former health secretary Jeremy Hunt who was left to take the slot on Friday rather than a minister. However, Mr S wonders if there is something to be said for the silent approach after all. Recently elected MP for Cities of London and Westminster Nickie Aiken has spoken to Bloomberg about the prospect of a coronavirus outbreak in the UK. She said that contingency plans were in place to open a morgue in Hyde Park: ‘We have contingency plans to open up a morgue in Hyde Park, in tents. We would run the morgue for most of central London.

Oh dear. Failure comes in many forms but it usually stings a little more when it also involves large sums of money. That’s the situation the Liberal Democrats are in following their disappointing election result in which they failed to make overall gains – and then party leader Jo Swinson lost her seat. This morning the Electoral Commission has released new figures of donations received by the main parties during the final quarter of 2019. The Conservatives led in donations with a total of £37.7m. When it comes to the other parties, the Liberal Democrats actually overtook Labour – accepting £13.6m in donations to Labour’s £10.6m.

You've got to hand it to Richard Burgon, the man's not short on ideas (whether or not they're good ideas is another matter). First, it was his plan to give Labour's left-wing members a veto on UK military action. Now he's promised to set up the 'Tony Benn School of Political Education'. And what would Labour members benefit from learning according to Burgon? That's right, 'alternative economics'. No doubt the Leeds East MP will take advantage of some 'alternative facts' to teach that particular course. https://twitter.com/RichardBurgon/status/1232391288231727112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw In an interview with LabourList announcing the 'university', Burgon praised the failed Labour Live concert - and also a festival organised by the French Communist Party newspaper.

James Grundy became the Conservative MP for Leigh last December after managing to overturn a 10,000 vote majority and 97 years of Labour dominance. Less impressive, however, is a recording of Grundy obtained by LBC which appears to show the MP flashing in a pub back in 2007. Grundy, who went on to become a Tory councillor in Wigan shortly after the video was filmed, has responded to the clip saying 'I apologise for my actions and for any offence caused'.