Steerpike

Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

Saturday

Steerpike

Boris Johnson’s speech to DUP conference: ‘we are on the verge of making a historic mistake’

From our UK edition

On Friday evening, Philip Hammond headed to DUP conference in a bid to win over Arlene Foster’s party after they went on strike over the Irish backstop. With Foster telling the BBC that the DUP’s confidence and supply agreement could be over permanently if Theresa May’s deal is voted through, the future does not look bright when it comes to Tory/DUP relations. But could a new leader change all that? In recent weeks DUP politicians have been keen to stress that their agreement is not with Theresa May specifically – but with the Conservative party as a whole. So, it was an interesting move by Boris Johnson to speak at the conference this weekend. Attendees at the events report of Boris-mania sweeping the venue.

Steerpike

Revealed: Philip Hammond’s speech at DUP conference – Boris, Rees-Mogg and the backstop

From our UK edition

With the DUP currently refusing to vote with the Tories following grievances over the proposed Irish backstop, Theresa May's party is having to try out life as a minority government. Piling on the pressure, DUP leader Arlene Foster has told the BBC that her party would have to revisit its confidence and supply deal with the Tories permanently if May's Brexit deal passes through Parliament. So, spare a thought for Philip Hammond. Spreadsheet Phil was given the task of being sent to DUP conference to charm attendees on behalf of the government. Mr S's mole in the room reports that the Chancellor managed to crack a few jokes at the expense of his Tory colleagues. On recent cabinet resignations: 'I look around the room and I see some people I know. I see a lot of new faces.

Friday

Steerpike

Diane Abbott’s warning to second referendum supporters

From our UK edition

Diane Abbott has a stark warning for those clamouring for a second referendum: be careful what you wish for. The Labour MP's warning won't go down well with those from the 'People's Vote' campaign, who desperately need the support of the Labour party if their wish is to come true. On Nick Robinson's podcast, Abbott was asked what would happen if another vote took place. Here's what she said: 'My view is that if we had a second referendum tomorrow, Leave would win again. And not only would Leave win again, but Leave voters would say: what didn't you understand about Leave the first time?' Mr S thinks Abbott is talking sense...

Steerpike

Watch: Theresa May dodges Brexit deal question

From our UK edition

Theresa May is back on the radio flogging her Brexit deal to a sceptical public. Unsurprisingly, few of those who phoned in to BBC 5 Live seemed impressed by what the Prime Minister had to offer. One listener asked the PM to tell him, without any 'political waffle', whether her deal is better than staying in the EU. But May's bid to do just that didn't exactly work out to plan. At the end of May's minute-long answer, the host Emma Barnett asked for the caller's verdict: EB: 'Michael, did the PM answer your question?' Caller: 'No' Emma Barnett ended the interview by asking May how she and Philip would celebrate if the deal got through Parliament. The PM seemed momentarily stumped by the question before the Maybot kicked in with an answer: TM: 'If...well...er...I will...

Steerpike

The Corbynite with an eye on the crown

From our UK edition

Readers may be familiar with the ultra-Corbynite MP Chris Williamson for many reasons. They may have heard about his campaign to deselect his fellow MPs. Or his frequent appearances on Russia Today. Or his hostile reaction to any suggestion that Labour might have an anti-Semitism problem. But who knew that Williamson had a modest streak as well? While the MP came under fire from moderate Labour groups about his position on anti-Semitism yesterday, Mr S noticed that Williamson took the time to like this tweet from George Galloway bigging up his own leadership aspirations: And to think, an endorsement from George Galloway would normally be a career killer...

Steerpike

Listen: Nigel Farage calls for another leader to go

From our UK edition

Since Nigel Farage stepped down as the head of Ukip in 2016, the subsequent leaders have, to put it mildly, struggled to stay in power for very long. First there was Paul Nutall, who stepped down after nine months following a disastrous election showing - and some questionable claims about his involvement in the Hillsborough disaster. Then there was Henry Bolton, who barely got through five months before he was ousted due to his relationship with Jo Marney - a model who had sent racist texts. Current leader Gerard Batten replaced him in February, and has held on to power ever since. But could that be about to change? Former leader Nigel Farage was on the Today programme this morning, and called for Batten to go, after the party instated Tommy Robinson as a grooming advisor.

Steerpike

What’s in the small print of Theresa May’s “political declaration”?

From our UK edition

Granted, it's not another 40 horrors list but Mr Steerpike was struck by Paragraph 79 of the EU/UK Political Declaration: 'The future relationship must ensure open and fair competition. Provisions to ensure this should cover state aid, competition, social and employment standards, environmental standards, climate change, and relevant tax matters, building on the level playing field arrangements provided for in the Withdrawal Agreement and commensurate with the overall economic relationship.' That would suggest that the starting point for the supposedly final UK-EU trade deal relationship is… wait for it…. the backstop. The one that we're never supposed to use.

Thursday

Steerpike

Watch: Iain Duncan Smith slams May’s Brexit plan

From our UK edition

Theresa May is in the Commons attempting to convince MPs to back her Brexit plan. But it isn't going well. Iain Duncan Smith was particularly critical of the PM's backstop blueprint, telling May that while he appreciated her efforts it wasn't good enough. Here's what he said: 'For all of the effort and work, the reality is that this is not the withdrawal agreement, and the withdrawal agreement will make it very clear that, should we struggle with a negotiation for a free trade arrangement and not complete that process, we will fall into the Northern Ireland backstop as it exists at the moment. And that will mean we are bound by those restrictions which force Northern Ireland through a separate arrangement.

Steerpike

The top 40 horrors lurking in the small print of Theresa May’s Brexit deal

From our UK edition

This week, Theresa May's government teetered on the point of collapse over her proposed Brexit deal. The withdrawal agreement between the UK and Brussels led to Dominic Raab and Esther McVey resigning in protest. However, May's remaining ministers have since attempted to rally around her at least in the short term. Speaking on Friday, Liam Fox – the International Trade Secretary – gave a speech in which he declared 'a deal is better than no deal'. This is rather different to May's old claim that 'no deal is better than a bad deal'. So, is Fox right? Mr S thought it best to let readers decide for themselves. In theory, Britain is leaving the EU on 29 March 2019. But the legal small print, published by Brussels, shows what this means.

Wednesday

Steerpike

Michael Gove finds his Game of Thrones ‘soulmate’

From our UK edition

One of the least popular MPs in the Conservative Party at the moment has to be Michael Gove. As the attempt to oust the PM gained pace late last week, Gove disappeared for the day, annoying those who wished him to remain loyal to May, and then refused to resign, annoying those who wished to see her go. In short, angering everybody, and pleasing no one. Such unpopularity would undoubtably cause a bout of introspection in the environment secretary, which may explain why he took a quiz today to determine which character from the popular TV show Game of Thrones was his 'soulmate'. Less clear is why he shared the result on social media: https://twitter.

Tuesday

Steerpike

Watch: Clive Lewis misbehaves in the Commons

From our UK edition

Clive Lewis is no stranger to controversy. The Labour MP was forced to apologise last year after he was caught on camera telling someone to 'get on your knees b****'. Now, Lewis has surpassed himself, by appearing to pretend to shoot himself while sitting on the Labour frontbench in the House of Commons. The Corbynista MP vented his frustration after his party colleague Anneliese Dodds was interrupted by a Tory MP making an intervention during a debate. Mr S wonders whether another Clive Lewis apology might be on the cards...

Steerpike

Brexiteer plot flops: Anatomy of a failed coup

From our UK edition

Brexiteers are trying to put on a brave face over the lack of 48 letters needed to trigger a confidence vote in the Prime Minister. Having begun the week certain that they would trigger a vote, they now claim they are giving May time to reconsider and they may move in December. So, what's the truth - a kind gesture or a failed plot? In order to let readers decide for themselves what went wrong, Mr S has gathered a timeline of events: Thursday, 15th November Theresa May's deal is approved by Cabinet – minus a resignation or two. Henry Smith MP posts a photo of his no confidence letter on top of the withdrawal agreement (Mr Steerpike assumes this is a Brexiteer’s equivalent of a seductive selfie): https://twitter.

Steerpike

Nadine Dorries defends the Tories’ botched coup

From our UK edition

It's been a rough start to the week for Brexiteers in the ERG, as they failed to reach 48 no confidence letters over the weekend, and are now being forced to explain why their coup (sorry, 'democratic process within the Conservative party') against Theresa May has been such a disaster. It was Nadine Dorries' turn this afternoon to spin the unspinable, as she bravely attempted on Politics Live to portray the disastrous attempt as somehow positive. When presented with the Telegraph headline: 'Plotters fail to light the fuse', Dorries' reply that 'No, it's a burning fuse' was a little unconvincing.

Steerpike

Watch: Jacob Rees-Mogg rebukes reporter over Brexit ‘coup’

From our UK edition

The Brexit bunch's bid to oust Theresa May has fallen rather flat, at least for the time being. Having failed to muster enough letters to force a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister, the European Research Group now appears to be desperately backtracking. Jacob Rees-Mogg, who enjoyed the limelight at an impromptu press conference outside Parliament last week when a vote appeared to be imminent, seemed somewhat more shy this morning when he was asked about the attempt to bring down the PM – rebuking a reporter for calling it a 'coup': 'Coup is entirely the wrong word. Indeed it is a rather silly word. This overegged language is rather damaging to political debate.

Steerpike

Labour snatch defeat from the jaws of victory

From our UK edition

Oh dear. Theresa May's confidence and supply agreement with the DUP is on very thin ice – if not already dead – after the party's MPs abstained on a range of amendments to the finance bill and even voted en masse for a Labour amendment. This is in breach of the party's deal with the Conservatives – the row has been triggered by May's Brexit deal. However, it's not just May who has been caused a headache by last night's Commons antics. The DUP voted for a Labour amendment to the finance bill calling on the Treasury to produce impact assessments of the budget on inequality and child poverty. Yet somehow it didn't pass – the government still won by five votes. The reason? A number of Labour MPs were absent for the vote including one Jeremy Corbyn.

Monday

Steerpike

ERG plotters fail to meet the bar

From our UK edition

Speaking on the Today programme this morning, Simon Clarke – the Tory Brexiteer who has filed a letter of 'no confidence' in the Prime Minister – declared that 'this is the day we stand at the bar of history'. Clarke and his fellow Brexiteer plotters said that the full 48 letters required to trigger a confidence vote were imminent: 'this day must be the point at which ... action is taken'. Alas it seems today is not the day after all - the ERG plotters have failed to meet the bar. As Isabel reports on Coffee House, Tory Brexiteers are now briefing out that they are giving May time to consider – rather than firing off the final few letters. A kind reprieve from the ERG – or are they just saving face after several weeks of dodgy arithmetic?

Steerpike

May’s Brexit deal: 40 rebuttals to Downing Street’s 40 rebuttals

From our UK edition

Is a deal better than no deal? After Mr S attempted to answer that question over the weekend by publishing 40 horrors lurking in the small print of Theresa May’s Brexit deal, No. 10 got in touch with 40 rebuttals to Steerpike's 40 horrors. Still with us? Well, episode three of this series is finally here. Mr S thanks 10 Downing Street for conceding many of the 40 points on the Withdrawal Agreement, and for engaging in all of them. In the spirit of friendly discussion, here are all 40 of Steerpike's responses. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First, a note on ambiguity: In its rebuttals, No10 accepts ambiguity over how the document might be interpreted - which, in this case, is crucial.

Sunday

Steerpike

Watch: Graham Brady – I haven’t received 48 letters yet

From our UK edition

It's the question that's on everyone's lips in Westminster this week: how many letters of no confidence have been sent to the chairman of the 1922 committee, Graham Brady? Only Brady knows how many letters there are, and he's committed to not revealing to anybody (including his wife) what the running total is. This morning Brady did confirm, however, that there are not currently 48 letters in: https://twitter.com/kevfitz21/status/1064126944344715266 But it appears that it's not only Westminster hacks who are pestering Brady for information about the Brexit rebellion.

Steerpike

Watch: Corbyn’s Brexit befuddlement

From our UK edition

Since he became leader in 2015, Jeremy Corbyn has not exactly cultivated a sense that he's top of any political situation. But he reached new heights of incompetence when he was interviewed on Sky this morning. The Labour leader was asked by Sophy Ridge if he'd actually read the Prime Minister's draft Withdrawal Agreement which was released four days ago, and which he now says does not meet the needs of the country. Unsurprisingly, Corbyn had to admit that he had not found the time (no doubt he's been busy at the allotment), admitting: 'I've read a lot of it, not every last word' https://twitter.com/RidgeOnSunday/status/1064084581433905153 He was then asked an altogether simpler question: which way would he vote if there was a second Brexit referendum?

Steerpike

Til Brexit do us part

From our UK edition

Brexit is one of the most divisive issues in the UK – splitting friends, family and all the main political parties along Leave and Remain lines. But if you think you've had some bruising arguments about Brexit these past two years, spare a thought for one particularly political household. Chief Brexiteer Andrea Jenkyns has been a vocal supporter of (a) Standingup4Brexit (b) deposing Theresa May since July. The Conservative MP was among the first to openly call for May to go – using a memorable PMQs to accuse her of adopting a Remain strategy: https://twitter.com/andreajenkyns/status/1062804247362891776 At the other end of the spectrum is Jenkyn's husband Jack Lopresti – the pair have a son nicknamed Brexit Clifford.