Steerpike

Although Moggmentum has been building for some time among the Tory grassroots, conventional wisdom dictates that Jacob Rees-Mogg is still very unlikely to make it to No 10 – no matter how enthusiastic the members – thanks to the fact that he doesn't have the support of enough Tory MPs to get onto the ballot paper in the first place. However, is a change a coming? Mr S only asks after Theresa May's soft Brexit proposal appeared to get a number of Tory MPs wondering who would do a better job. Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Andrew Bridgen – the outspoken Brexiteer and member of the European Research Group – says that the Chequers meeting saw Cabinet Brexiteers sell out.

Theresa May has come under some pressure these last few weeks over her plan for Britain's post Brexit trade relationship. Both wings of her party have aggressively pitched their preferred version. Today it's crunch time as the Cabinet head to Chequers to thrash out a position. But has the most convincing argument for the Brexiteer side only just aired? With rumours circling that May is to pitch a soft Brexit, Nigel Farage has threatened a comeback. The former Ukip leader has warned that he will have 'no choice' but to return to frontline politics if Brexit is delayed past March 2019. https://twitter.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1014591285926166528 Will the threat of a Brexit betrayal party be enough to sway Theresa May against a soft Brexit?

With just two days to go until Theresa May's big Chequers away day, the Cabinet headed to 22 Old Queen for a pre-sesh. Theresa May held court in the garden while Michael Gove charmed guests on the merits of getting rid of tusk – ivory, not the EU leader naturally. Given that this was no normal Spectator summer party – instead the Spectator's 190th birthday party – guests were in such a merry mood that even the odd speck of rain failed to dampen proceedings. Here are a range of photos from the bash, courtesy of Alan Davidson and Anne Schwarz: [caption id="attachment_10115402" align="alignnone" width="520"] Jess Phillips.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_10115392" align="alignnone" width="520"] Michael Gove.

Tonight England faces Colombia in a crunch World Cup match that could see Harry Kane's team put on the path to success – or cruelly eliminated from the tournament. So, to get viewers in the mood, Mr S thought it was time to announce the winners of Steerpike's Brexit football chant competition. After sifting through the entries, here are the three top entries – from across the spectrum of Brexit sentiments. Don't forget to chant them tonight: Mine eyes have seen the glory of a life that's Euro-free, No more rules and regulations, no more siege mentality. We've finally blown the whistle on the Brussells referee And this is why we sing, We're not in Europe, We are England. We're not in Europe, We are England.

To the American ambassador's (early) independence day party. Despite the ambassador now possessing a shiny new embassy in south London – an off-location according to one @realDonaldTrump – guests were invited to Woody Johnson's personal residence Winfield House, north west London. Gavin Williamson and Liz Truss were both in attendance though Mr S understands that the tricky topic of the government spending review did not come up as party chat. Other politicians there included Greg Clark, Tobias Elwood and Thérèse Coffey. In his speech to guests – who munched on hot dogs and Krispy Kreme doughnuts – Johnson said the special relationship was 'alive and well'.

England may have lost their World Cup match to Belgium but happily some Thursday night entertainment was found in ITV's Good Evening Britain. Danny Dyer – the EastEnders actor – hit out at David Cameron, also known as 't--–', over Brexit: 'This whole Brexit thing when you're judging them. Who knows what Brexit is. You watch Question Time and it's comedy. No-one knows what it is it's like this mad riddle. What's happened to that t--- David Cameron that called this on. How come he can scuttle off? He called all this on. Where is he? He's in Europe, in Nice, with his trotters up. Where is the geezer? He should be held to account for it.' https://twitter.