Steerpike

In ten days’ time, Ken Livingstone will have been suspended by the Labour party for two years for his comments about Hitler. For one Labour MP, enough is enough. During a debate in the Commons on anti-Semitism, Ian Austin called on Labour to finally boot Ken out of the party immediately: 'Let’s be really clear about this. Ken Livingstone claiming that Hitler was a zionist, this is anti-semitism pure and simple. It happened more than two years ago. There has been ample time to deal with it. It is a disgrace it hasn't been dealt with. Kick him out immediately.' Oh dear. Mr S isn't optimistic the Labour party will spring into action any time soon...

After Theresa May authorised targeted military strikes in Syria without seeking Parliament's approval, the Prime Minister has received a mixed response. One group particularly angry about recent events are Stop the War. The anti-war campaign group – of which Jeremy Corbyn is a supporter – gathered this evening to demonstrate against the government response. Only Mr S isn't sure the demonstration will win everyone round to their way of thinking. In an interview with Paul Brand for ITV news, one attendee explains why Assad – whose regime is thought to be behind the chemical attack which sparked the recent turn of events – is a good man. After all, he is a doctor: PB: You believe Assad over Theresa May?

At times it has seemed as though Labour under Jeremy Corbyn has not seen winning power as a top priority. Now it seems that winning the Labour leadership contest wasn't even Corbyn's desired result in the beginning. In an interview with Owen Jones, Corbyn ally Jon Lansman reveals what Corbyn said when he made it onto the ballot paper: OJ: Do you remember what Jeremy Corbyn said when he got on the ballot paper? JL: He said 'you'd better'... am I allowed to say 'f--cking' OJ: Yes JL: He said 'you'd better make f---ing sure I don't get elected'. Mr S suspects Corbyn has since changed his tune...

There are many figures in the Labour party who wish that Jeremy Corbyn would stay schtum on foreign policy. Whether it's his anti-West views, warm feeling towards his 'friends' Hamas or complicated relationship with Russia, when the Labour leader turns to international affairs, many of his MPs look on in despair. But up until now Mr S had thought that the shadow cabinet were at least on his side. Perhaps not. In an interview with the House magazine, Kate Osamor - the shadow  international development secretary – suggests Corbyn should stop commenting on foreign policy and ‘just let his spokesperson speak'.

This week Tony Blair managed to say something surprising. In a rare sighting of modesty, the former prime minister said that he was not the man to lead a new centre party. But could another Blair be the man for the job? Mr S only asks after the Guardian reported that the new centre party in the works – linked to LoveFilm's Simon Franks and £50m of potential funding – has links to Blair's son Euan: 'One person who was approached to join the fledgling organisation was told Euan Blair was on its board, and his father, the former Labour prime minister, had been helpful in recommending potential donors. Other sources confirmed Euan Blair’s name had been associated with the project.

This afternoon Jeremy Corbyn received the news that Israel’s Labour party are to suspend relations with him – accusing the Labour leader of sanctioning anti-Semitism. However, Corbyn can at least end the day even – having won a surprise endorsement. Former BNP leader Nick Griffin has taken to social media to say that he plans to vote for Labour for the first time – on the condition that Corbyn 'sticks to his guns' and 'refuses to blame Assad' for the suspected chemical attack in Syria: https://twitter.com/NickGriffinBU/status/983356106020880385 Still, even if it does work out, Mr S suspects Griffin won't be invited on to a Labour party broadcast anytime soon.

As shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott has earned a reputation for getting her numbers in a muddle. Now it seems that there is also an issue on the government side. Appearing on LBC, Victoria Atkins came up short when asked how many police offices are in the country. The Home Office minister responded by telling Nick Ferrari how many there are in London – before having to admit she didn't have the figure he was looking for: NF: But the whole of the country. You'll be aware of the figure, won't you Minister? VA: You're testing me, Nick. I'm not going to hazard a guess, I'm just going to front up and say I'm so sorry. That number's slipped my mind. NF: You are a Home Office Minister, Minister. Wouldn't it be a good idea to have the figures? VA: It would be.

The UN Security Council will meet on Monday to discuss a suspected chemical attack in Syria on the rebel-held town of Douma. With dozens of people killed, today there has been widespread outrage, with President Trump one of many to criticise Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies Russia and Iran – saying there will be a 'big price to pay'. However, over in Labour HQ a more vague response is underway. The Labour press office have today issued a statement which is so bold as to suggest that 'anyone found responsible' for using chemical weapons should be 'brought to justice'. It goes on to criticise the atrocities of this war 'whether committed by the Assad regime' or the 'Jihadist militias'.

Here we go again. Although John McDonnell advised his Labour comrades to boycott Russia Today following the Salisbury poisoning, not everyone is willing to take heed of his advice. On Thursday, Chris Williamson – a key Corbyn ally – took to the airwaves of the Kremlin-funded broadcaster to cast doubt on the government's handling of the nerve agent attack on a former Russian double agent. With Moscow claiming it has nothing to with them, the Labour MP said that it was diplomatic row with Russia was 'very convenient for the Government' and had been used 'not so much as a smoking gun but as a smoke screen' to divert attention from Brexit and austerity.

David Lammy has just popped up on BBC News to complain about the lack of police on Britain’s streets. Unfortunately for the Labour MP, as he was doing so Mr S couldn’t help but notice who was standing behind him: a police officer. Lammy told the BBC: 'We haven’t seen a police while I’ve been here and I’ve been here for a little while.

Oh dear. On Bank Holiday Monday, Stella Creasy took to the airwaves to promote the #PayMeToo campaign launched to close the gender pay gap. The campaign claims to give working women advice on how to tackle the gender pay where they work. Alas, the Labour MP appeared to be taken by surprise to find the Institute of Economic Affair's Kate Andrew not only take issue with the campaign – and its close name association to the #MeToo campaign on sexual harassment – but also with Creasy's use of data. Mr S will leave readers to decide who won this tussle...