Steerpike, Author at The Spectator

Thursday

4 October 2018

Ken Loach’s McDonalds hypocrisy

Anyone lusting after a McChicken sandwich will be left disappointed today, as McDonald's employees go on strike to protest against low pay. As they man the McBarricades, they will be heartened to see veteran filmmaker and Corbyn devotee Ken Loach’s film team, Sixteen Films, come out strongly in favour of the strike. They urged Loach’s followers on social media to watch a video about the protest and retweeted several messages of solidarity and support. Mr S wonders though if they know about their own boss’s chequered past when it comes to McDonald's. After all, the director has been happy to take money from the fast food giant when it suits.

Steerpike

Watch: Theresa May’s Leader of the Commons isn’t sure she’ll last the week

After a successful and well-received conference speech, you would think the Prime Minister would at least get a week or two to bask in her cabinet’s support. Alas, not so. Andrea Leadsom, the PM’s Leader of the Commons was on Peston last night, and had a damning lack of confidence in her boss. Asked by Peston ‘Would you back her leading the party into the next election?’ Leadsom responded: ‘I just think politics is a short term game, a week changes a lot, I think she’s had a fantastic day today.’ https://twitter.com/itvpeston/status/1047567847684108288 With friends like these, who needs enemies?

Steerpike

Are the Tories embarrassed by Jeremy Hunt’s speech?

Every family across the UK knows the familiar dread of hosting a party, attended by an infamous uncle who can always be relied on to say something outrageous and offend unfamiliar guests. When it comes to Theresa May’s cabinet, there could be a few contenders for the title of ‘embarrassing uncle,’ but this week, it appears to be the Prime Minister’s Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt. Mr S couldn't help but note that while the Conservatives have posted transcripts of every minister of state’s conference speech on their press website (with the notable exception of the dull Greg Clark), Jeremy Hunt’s speech is conspicuously absent. Why the cold shoulder for Hunt?

Wednesday

3 October 2018

Steerpike

Watch: Geoffrey ‘Mufasa’ Cox brings the house down

Choosing a warm-up act to introduce a big speech is a delicate balancing act. Pick someone too woeful and the crowd is deflated before you’ve even begun. But pick someone too impressive, and your own efforts begin to pale in comparison. Theresa May came perilously close to the latter this afternoon, when she asked her Attorney General Geoffrey Cox QC to introduce her conference speech. Conservative members, the cabinet and watching hacks were left agape as Cox’s booming baritone voice echoed across the hall in a robust defence of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union. Cox was quickly dubbed ‘Mufasa’ and ‘Gandalf’ by those watching. Mr S thinks the video speaks for itself though: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

Steerpike

Watch: Matt Hancock admits to not understanding May’s Brexit strategy

In a successful conference speech, Theresa May finally laid out to members and the public the direction she wanted to take the country. But did she make the most difficult part of premiership, her Brexit plan, any clearer? Judging by how well her cabinet understands her Chequers strategy, Mr Steerpike doesn’t think so. After her speech concluded, Stewart Jackson, former chief of staff to David Davis, nobly attempted to define what May's next steps were in the Brexit negotiations. After he concluded his explanation, presenter Jo Coburn asked Health Secretary Matt Hancock if 'Stewart assessed that correctly?’ Hancock responded: He gives every impression of knowing more than I do, so I don’t know. I think that’s his supposition.

Steerpike

Watch: Theresa May dances on to the stage at Tory conference

Theresa May has made quite an entrance ahead of her big speech at Tory party conference. The Prime Minister danced on to the stage to the tune of Dancing Queen: https://twitter.com/itvnews/status/1047440571025879040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Mr S. wonders whether the PM will still be in the mood for dancing by the end of her speech...

Steerpike

Tory MP drops a bombshell ahead of Theresa May’s big speech

Poor old Theresa May. The Prime Minister hasn't even got on stage to deliver her speech at Tory party conference and already things are not going quite to plan. Tory MP James Duddridge has announced this morning that he thinks it is time for Theresa May to step down – and that Boris's speech was a turning point in his decision. He said that he had sent his letter to the 1922 committee urging the PM to go: 'I felt the time has come for her to go. I don't think she has performed well, I don't think she is leading us into a strong Brexit and increasing number of colleagues are of that same view' Oh dear...

Tuesday

2 October 2018

Steerpike

What did Tory members make of Boris Johnson’s speech?

Boris Johnson’s speech attracted the largest crowd of any conference fringe event. But does Boris have the backing of party members? Mr Steerpike spoke to some activists to see what they made of the speech: Phoebe McCullough, 21, from Twickenham, a student at Sterling university, had this to say: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGmUZHsbnV0 John Bennet, 23, from Sterling, said he thought Boris's speech was the highlight of Tory party conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmVY7BifwgM Adrian Hutson, from Belfast, said he thought Boris had fluffed some of his lines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmp4sxFxOG8 But while many were supportive of Boris, not everyone was convinced by his calls to unite behind the Prime Minister.

Steerpike

Anna Soubry turns on young Tories

The Tory tradition of blue-on-blue attacks at the party's conference continues. Today, it's the turn of Anna Soubry to mock young Tory activists. When Telegraph journalist Christopher Hope said that the pictures of empty seats in the main conference hall didn't tell the full story of what is happening in Birmingham and that many fringe meetings were buzzing with young activists, Soubry replied with the following: Mr S isn't sure that's quite the right way to encourage the next generation...

Steerpike

Jo Jo’s no show at Boris’s conference speech

Boris Johnson’s fringe speech certainly went down well with members today, when a packed auditorium erupted in cheers as he rallied against the Chequers deal. But it looks like one person was less keen on Boris's attempt to pitch his leadership. As the Sun’s Harry Cole pointed out, Boris’s brother Jo Johnson did not attend his older brother's conference speech, despite being on the VIP guest list and having a seat reserved from him on the front row. Mr S didn't see Boris's sister Rachel there either, who was also on the guest list. https://twitter.com/paulwaugh/status/1047082792998322176 As a minister in the transport department, it would have been a little awkward for Jo to attend a broadside against his boss, the Prime Minister.

Steerpike

Watch: Sajid Javid’s speech gaffe

Poor old Sajid Javid. While a huge queue of Tory activists were waiting to hear from Boris Johnson, there were empty seats in the main hall as the Home Secretary gave his speech. Things went from bad to worse for Sajid when he tripped over his words: 'We will fight hope... hate... fight against hate, with hope' https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1047086334555377664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Oh dear...

Steerpike

Conservative conference 2018, in pictures

It's been a rather dry affair inside the main hall at Conservative conference this year, as ministers struggle to come up with new policies and a vision for the country that can unite and inspire voters. Fortunately, things are much more fun outside the main hall. At the conference's various fringe events, activists and members have met for lively discussion, and shown there is some life in the party after all. Mr S has been spending the past few days in and around the conference in Birmingham to see what's going on. (Mr S will update this post with new pictures as the conference continues.) https://twitter.

Steerpike

Boris fever hits Tory party conference

Boris Johnson has arrived at Tory party conference and excitement among activists is building ahead of his big speech at 1pm. Already a queue of party members is snaking through the conference centre – nearly three hours before Boris is due to take to the stage. Here's Mr Steerpike's video of those waiting in line to hear Boris speak: And here's the moment Boris arrived... Mr S suspects the queue for the main conference hall won't be quite so long. Meanwhile, for the lucky few that have made it inside, excitement is building...

Steerpike

Scottish Tories launch ‘Operation Stop Boris’

As Boris Johnson and the accompanying media circus descend on conference today, pundits have been asking - is he the Heineken statesman of old, or more of a Marmite politician? Judging by his popularity among his Scottish colleagues in parliament, Mr S can confidently say he’s not an Irn Bru political figure. The deep loathing Scottish Tory MPs have for Johnson was bared for all to see this morning, when the Daily Record revealed that they have hatched a plan to stop him from seizing power. The name of their scheme? ‘Operation Stop Arse'. According to the paper, they came up with the title ‘so we’d all be clear who we were talking about.

Steerpike

Ministers leave plenty of empty seats at Conservative party conference

There was a time, back in the day, when cabinet ministers were the star attraction of the Conservative conference show. Attendees would queue round the block to hear from famous faces in the party and hear how they were going to tackle the biggest issues of the day. But those days are no more. Instead, at this year's conference, Mr S has noticed that turnout in the main hall has been remarkably low. In fact, even the most recognisable members of cabinet have failed to fill up the main conference hall. So, Mr S has cast his eye round the ICC in Birmingham to find out where Conservative members have gone: UPDATE: Despite coming to conference with a big policy announcement on drugs, it looks like Sajid Javid has drawn the short straw and is speaking at the same time as Boris Johnson.

Monday

1 October 2018

Steerpike

Watch: ‘Sack the woman’ – Jacob Rees-Mogg heckled at Brexit rally

It's safe to say that Jacob Rees-Mogg isn't keen on the Prime Minister's Chequers plan. But Rees-Mogg has still stopped short of calling for Theresa May to go. Some other Brexit supporters don't agree and think it is time for Tory Brexiteers to call an end to May's time in office. One such activist made their feelings knows at a 'Leave means Leave' rally on the fringes of Tory conference this evening: Rees-Mogg: 'This is exactly what the Prime Minister said she would not do at Lancaster House.' Heckler: 'Sack the woman!' RM: 'No, no.' Heckler: 'Sack her now – get your letter in.' RM: 'Certainly not! But thank you – I always like a bit of robust heckling, it is very British.' Mr S is sure that the Prime Minister is grateful for Rees-Mogg's support...

Steerpike

Damian Green lashes out at Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson continues to be the target of attacks from fellow Tory MPs at the party's conference in Birmingham, even though he’s not yet even arrived in town. Yesterday, it was Digby Jones and Philip Hammond who took a swipe at him. Today, it’s former deputy PM Damian Green. At a Spectator fringe event, Green was asked whether it is good news that Boris was ready to sing about the Tories' achievements at party conference tomorrow: ‘I don’t think Boris is waiting in the wings. I don’t think Boris waits for anything...and tomorrow we will be having the annual Boris performance. Unfortunately, I won’t be there, as, um, I’ll be washing my hair.

Steerpike

Watch: Liam Fox blasts ‘crazy’ Lib Dems

Liam Fox was once a minister in a Tory-Lib Dem government. But seven years is a long time in politics. Now, Fox has changed his mind about his former coalition partners, branding the Lib Dems 'crazy': 'When we leave the European Union, people will no longer regard themselves as leavers or remainers, a few, mostly crazy Liberal Democrats – is there any other sort? They will be the rejoiners. But in the mainstream of our politics, there will not be many rejoiners.' Fox's comments on the Tory conference fringe seemed to go down well with activists. But given that Dominic Raab has used his speech today to call for 'tolerance' in the Brexit debate, Mr S wonders whether it might be worth Raab having a quick word with his cabinet colleague...

Steerpike

Boris Johnson’s fake field of wheat

Mr S was intrigued by reports that the former foreign secretary had been photographed running through a field of wheat this morning. Was it trolling Theresa May for her infamous “fields of wheat” comments during the snap election? https://twitter.com/danbloom1/status/1046685446145740800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw But on closer inspection, Boris isn’t running through a field of wheat. Indeed, the harvest has been gathered. This looks like either scrubland or a fallow field, on the basis of the plants surrounding him as he trundles along. There are the seedheads of umbellifers such as hogweed, the leaves of what looks like Field bindweed, and the seedheads of grasses, not wheat. What can all this mean?

Steerpike

Listen: Liz Truss lays into ‘Miliband-esque’ Tory policies

There’s been no short of soul-searching in Birmingham this week, as Conservatives wonder how they can challenge an increasingly threatening looking Labour party. In a speech at an Institute for Economic Affairs bash last night, Treasury minister Liz Truss thought she was able to identify the problem: ‘There are some people in Britain who say we can’t change the political weather. That Britain has become a more tax and spend country, that somehow we have to accept the inevitability of becoming a Miliband-esque, Jeremy Corbyn-esque fudge of a party, and I don’t believe in that for one minute.’ https://soundcloud.