Steerpike, Author at The Spectator

Tuesday

10 December 2019

Piers Corbyn: My brother Jeremy’s green policy is ‘nonsense’

Vote Corbyn, says Corbyn. That is the unsurprising message from the Labour leader's brother Piers in a video filmed at Speakers' Corner in London. But while Piers backed his sibling over accusations of anti-Semitism and Labour's position on Brexit, it wasn't an entirely ringing endorsement. Piers Corbyn, who has previously said 'man-made climate change does not exist', was asked about Corbyn's green manifesto pledges. It's safe to say he is not a fan: 'He wants to end carbon dioxide emissions.' Piers Corbyn: 'Yeah, well, that's nonsense. That's impossible.' 'Well, that's what your brother says, why are you supporting him then?' Oh dear. Mr S expects it could be a bit awkward at the Corbyn household this Christmas...

Steerpike

Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth caught revealing Corbyn security fears

Jonathan Ashworth has been caught out this morning after a leaked tape emerged of the shadow health secretary talking about his fears for Britain's national security if Jeremy Corbyn becomes PM. Ashworth said the civil service would need to 'pretty quickly move to safeguard security' if Labour wins on Thursday. Ashworth also gave his verdict on... ...Labour's election campaign: 'It’s dire' ...What voters make of Jeremy Corbyn: '...they can’t stand Corbyn and they think Labour’s blocked Brexit' ...and where the Labour party went wrong: '...we fucked it up in 2016 when we went too early. People like me were internally saying ‘this isn’t the right moment’ but I got kind of ignored.

Steerpike

Sturgeon rumbled on Scottish NHS figures

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon bagged the 8:10am slot on this morning's Today programme but it didn't go quite as she might have planned. Scotland's first minister was asked whether it was appropriate for her to be attacking the Conservatives on the NHS when her party's own record was so woeful. Responsibility for the health service was devolved to the Scottish Parliament back in 1999 and has been under the control of the SNP since 2007. Sturgeon was challenged on figures released by the government watchdog Audit Scotland, which said the SNP had missed six out of eight waiting time targets.

Steerpike

Tories ask Doncaster North to ‘send Ed packing’

Ed Miliband may have held his seat in Doncaster North for over 14 years, but the Conservatives seem to think the former Labour leader might be vulnerable this election campaign. In the 2016 Brexit referendum, 72 per cent of Doncaster North's residents voted Leave, which stands in stark contrast to Miliband's own pro-Remain Brexit stance, and his party's position of backing a second referendum. The Labour candidate clearly feels that his constituents might be annoyed, and even claimed in a leaflet this election campaign that he'd voted 'nine times in parliament' for a Brexit deal – when he actually voted against both Theresa May and Boris Johnson's Brexit proposals. Now the Conservatives have gone on the offensive.

Monday

9 December 2019

Steerpike

‘You’re destroying confidence’: John McDonnell taken to task by John Caudwell

Labour's election strategy has been to go on the attack against Britain's billionaires. Today one of them responded. Phones4U founder John Caudwell quizzed shadow chancellor John McDonnell on Labour's economic policy today and it's safe to say he wasn't impressed. Caudwell warned McDonnell that his party's plans could lead to an exodus of wealthy taxpayers from Britain. Here's what he told McDonnell: Caudwell: '...Some of the Labour rhetoric I accept. But the central ethos, when I hear phrases like nobody deserves to be a billionaire, it frightens the living daylights out of me. You know John, the thing is, if the Labour rhetoric was 'We admire billionaires and we'd like them to pay a bit more tax, be more charitable and admire their success', I would absolutely support that philosophy.

Friday

6 December 2019

Steerpike

Channel 4 apologises for Boris ‘people of colour’ video

Oh dear. Channel 4 News is in hot water this morning after posting a video clip of Boris Johnson speaking at a campaign rally. In the clip, the broadcaster added subtitles claiming Boris Johnson said: 'I'm in favour of having people of colour come to this country, but I think we should have it democratically controlled' Predictably, the subtitled video spread like wildfire on social media, with various left-wing pundits piling in to say it was incontrovertible evidence that Boris Johnson was beyond the pale. But when you listen to the clip, it is clear Boris says 'people of talent' not 'people of colour'. Which explains why Channel 4 pulled the video shortly afterwards and issued an apology: https://twitter.

Thursday

5 December 2019

Steerpike

Watch: Andrew Neil eviscerates Boris Johnson over interview no show

Boris Johnson has so far refused to take part in an election interview with Andrew Neil. Jeremy Corbyn, Jo Swinson, Nigel Farage and Nicola Sturgeon have all had their turns. But not the Prime Minister. At the end of his interview tonight with Farage, Andrew Neil sent a message to Boris Johnson: 'We have been asking him for weeks now to give us a date, a time, a venue. As of now, none has been forthcoming. No broadcaster can compel a political to be interviewed. But leaders’ interviews have been a key part of the BBC’s prime time election coverage for decades. We do them, on your behalf, to scrutinise and hold to account those who would govern us. That is democracy. We’ve always proceeded in good faith that the leaders would participate. And in every election they have.

Steerpike

The anti-Grieve Beaconsfield Brexit Blimp

One local in Beaconsfield has thought of a novel way to get back at his prospective MP, Dominic Grieve, who is standing as an independent this election. Ian Caldwell, who runs Timberstore in the area, has decided to launch a giant blimp which now hovers over Grieve's constituency, calling for the pro-Remain candidate to be ditched in the election. One side of the blimp says ‘Out with Grieve’, while the other reads ‘Brexit’, reports the Bucks Free Press. [caption id="attachment_10367688" align="alignnone" width="300"] 'Out with Grieve'[/caption] Caldwell came up with the idea after his signs in support of Brexit were damaged during the referendum campaign in 2016.

Steerpike

Boris Johnson’s Huawei selfie-own

The UK's relationship with the Chinese telecoms company Huawei has been under intense scrutiny this year, as a fierce debate has waged inside government over whether it should be able to build the UK's 5G infrastructure. Hawks inside government are said to be wary that the company could pose a security threat. Boris Johnson too appeared to have been moving away from the company this week, when he indicated at a Nato summit that the UK would be prepared to ban Huawei, to reassure our American allies about the security of the UK's intelligence systems. Boris seemed rather less concerned though when he appeared on television this morning, to be interviewed by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby. After the interview, the PM even posted a relaxed selfie of the trio on set.

Steerpike

Watch: Angela Rayner doubles down on Corbyn’s Queen’s Speech blunder

Jeremy Corbyn was caught out yesterday pretending he watches the Queen's Speech, only to be rumbled when he said he watches it in the morning (it's actually broadcast at 3pm). But while the Labour leader's blunder has made the front pages of today's newspapers, he does still have some loyal defenders. Step forward, Angela Rayner. The shadow education secretary did her best to help Corbyn out on Good Morning Britain. Unfortunately her explanation hardly helped matters. Rayner suggested Corbyn might watch the Queen's Speech hours before it is actually broadcast...on catch-up TV.

Steerpike

Is Mark Sedwill’s time as cabinet secretary coming to an end?

Could Sir Mark Sedwill's time as cabinet secretary be coming to an end? There were reports earlier this year that Sedwill might be in line to be replaced if Boris Johnson were to win the Tory leadership election. That proved to be unfounded and in the months since, the Prime Minister and Sedwill appear to have struck up a good working relationship. But now it seems the cabinet secretary really could be on his way out. Who might replace him if he goes? Mr S hears Antonia Romeo could be in line for a big promotion after the election. Currently permanent secretary at the department for international trade, Romeo is a career civil servant who has previously worked at the cabinet office during the Cameron years. If she replaces Sedwill, you heard it here first.

Wednesday

4 December 2019

Steerpike

Watch: Jeremy Corbyn’s Queen’s Speech blunder

'Do you sit down to watch the Queen's Speech, Mr Corbyn?' It's a simple question, but one the Labour leader appeared to struggle with during his interview on ITV. Corbyn responded by saying: 'It's on in the morning, usually we have it on some of the time.' The only problem? As Julie Etchingham pointed out, the Queen's Christmas Day address is broadcast at 3pm. Corbyn's response? 'Well...' 'You don't watch it, do you Mr Corbyn?' Etchingham asked the Labour leader. Oh dear. Another broadcast interview success for Corbyn...

Steerpike

Watch: Jo Swinson’s battle bus targeted by climate protesters

Jo Swinson's campaign ground to a halt this morning in Brixton after climate change activists dressed as bees stuck themselves to the front of the Lib Dem battle bus. The party has gone big in its manifesto on tackling what it calls the 'climate emergency', vowing to ensure Britain leads 'the world in tackling' the issue. But clearly this is not enough for the trio, reportedly from Extinction Rebellion, who are demanding 'a new form of democracy'. https://twitter.com/adampayne26/status/1202167281209561088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Swinson hopped out of the bus in a bid to convince the activists into ending their protest. But unfortunately her attempt to do so backfired when one of the protesters said it was 'patronising' to refer to their 'campaigning work'.

Steerpike

Labour tries to quietly edit its manifesto

During this year's general election campaign, Labour has attempted to repeat their 2017 strategy of costing each commitment made in their manifesto. Given the sums involved, it seems only fair expect the party to lay out - in detail - what they are planning to spend and how they are planning to pay for it. But perhaps this time, their so-called 'grey book' wasn't quite detailed enough. The party has been caught attempting to amend the costings document after its publication two weeks ago. In the original document, the shadow treasury team appear to have confused 'profit' with 'turnover'. Such a mistake will do nothing to allay the fears those who accuse the party of economic illiteracy.

Tuesday

3 December 2019

Steerpike

What really happens when Trump comes to town?

Air Force One touched down at Stansted Airport last night for the annual Nato summit, held just over a week before the British public go to the polls. So far, Donald Trump has avoided becoming embroiled in the campaign. He told reporters: 'I'll stay out of the election'. Spectator USA editor Freddy Gray took to the airwaves this morning to discuss the impact of a potential Trump intervention alongside BBC Radio 5 Live's Emma Barnett and Paul Harrison, the former Number 10 press secretary to Theresa May. During the discussion, Harrison told BBC Radio 5 Live about his experience of working with Trump.

Steerpike

The Lib Dems’ Hugh Grant endorsement backfires

The Lib Dems unveiled their secret weapon to revive their flagging election campaign this week. The party managed to win the backing of actor Hugh Grant, who joined Lib Dem candidates Luciana Berger and Chuka Umunna on the campaign trail to plug a so-called 'Remain Alliance' between several parties to keep the Tories out of power. Only it looks as though there might already be trouble in paradise. In a gloating post on social media, the Lib Dems showed off their celebrity backer this morning and wrote that 'only the Lib Dems can take seats off the Tories'.

Steerpike

‘Just say sorry’: Jeremy Corbyn confronted over anti-Semitism

Jeremy Corbyn has finally said sorry for anti-Semitism within the Labour party. The Labour leader was asked five times by This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield to apologise to worried Jewish people. Finally, he backed down and said he was 'obviously very sorry for everything that has happened': Schofield: 'Here is your opportunity now to apologise to the Jewish community for any anti-Semitism by labour members.' Corbyn: 'Look, our party...can I make it clear?' Schofield: 'Just say sorry' Corbyn: 'Can I make it clear? Wait a minute...' Schofield: 'No, just say sorry' Corbyn: 'Can I say something?' Schofield: 'I want you to say sorry' Better late than never...

Steerpike

Watch: Did Labour’s NHS trade leak come from Russia?

One of Labour's key messages throughout this election has been the future of the NHS. The party has used confidential US-UK trade documents to drive home their message that Boris Johnson wants to sell off parts of the health service to American businesses. But last night, social media experts told Reuters that the leak of these sensitive documents had the hallmarks of foreign interference. Jeremy Corbyn has used the leaked paperwork as a campaigning prop on multiple occasions, including on the ITV leader's debate last month. Having looked through the documents, Mr S has his own views on the veracity of Labour's claims...

Steerpike

Watch: Trump shoots down Corbyn over NHS ‘for sale’ attack

A big part of Jeremy Corbyn’s election pitch is claiming that the Tories want to flog the NHS to the United States. That’s nonsense, says Donald Trump. The president told reporters in London that even if the NHS was ‘handed to us on a silver platter, we want nothing to do with it’. He said: https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1201800566495752192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw ‘I have nothing to do with it, never even thought about it. We are going to have a great healthcare system…right now, we have made it very good. In this country, no, they have to work that up for themselves. We have absolutely…I don’t even know where that rumour started. We have absolutely nothing to do with it. And we wouldn’t want to.

Friday

29 November 2019

Steerpike

Labour’s cut and paste regional manifestos

Is the Labour party starting to panic? After a YouGov forecast this week suggested that the Tories could win scores of seats in the North of England, the Labour party appear to have made a rushed attempt to address regional inequality today. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell announced this morning that not only would his party have a manifesto for the whole of the UK, Labour would also launch a separate manifesto for every single region of England – to tackle the scourge of our country's regional disparities. According to Labour, the manifestos showed that the party is committed to 'delivering change' and 'will benefit every person and community in Britain.