Steerpike

Julian Smith has his work cut out as Chief Whip. As well as trying to stop Tory MPs firing off letters to 1922 Committee chairman Graham Brady, Smith must try and keep both Tory Remainers and Tory Brexiteers in line. In a bid to do this, Smith met with the European Research Group – the all-powerful Brexit wing of the Conservative party – this week to try and ease concerns that the government is about to water down the version of Brexit it is seeking. Now Jacob Rees-Mogg is chair of the ERG, the group is seen to have greater potential for trouble. So, what was his strategy? Serving cake. A Victoria sponge cake was brought out to keep the rebels at bay – reports that the cake was homemade are yet to be confirmed or denied.

Oh dear. Theresa May's bad week just got worse. On top of Tory MPs taking to social media, the airwaves and the papers to criticise her, it now seems that Conservative peers are going public with their grievances. In the new issue of Tatler magazine, Baroness Trumpington – who retired from the Lords last year – offers a rather frank assessment of the Prime Minister. When asked about May, the 95-year-old Lords stalwart and former land girl offers a trade mark V-sign to the interviewer: 'As I ask a question about Theresa May, Lady Trumpington flicks her fingers at me from across the table in her Chelsea care home, making the V-sign. She does it again, as if to make sure I’ve got the message.

Since Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo won I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, the Conservatives have been left with a dilemma over whether to utilise their celebrity supporter. A proud Conservative, Toff kindly volunteered to utilise her million followers for the party only for brains at CCHQ to block any such move over concerns she’s ‘too posh to win over Labour supporters’. Although the Conservative consensus has since changed in favour of bringing her into the tent, it seems it may be a case of too little, too late. In an interview with Sunday Times Style magazine, Toff comes across a little bit disgruntled about her recent interactions with the Tories.

Amber Rudd is frequently touted as a frontrunner in any Tory leadership race, but the Home Secretary has kept schtum on whether or not she actually fancies her chances. So, is Rudd secretly readying herself for a shot at getting the top job when May steps down? Mr S. only asks because Rudd lists a donation towards a ‘fighting fund’ in the latest MPs' register of interests: Of course, the money is probably going towards ensuring that Rudd actually manages to cling on in her marginal constituency of Hastings and Rye. She narrowly avoided being ousted from the seat at last year’s snap election, beating her Labour rival by just 346 votes.

We've all been there. You go to Davos to hang out with the global elite and drum up business for Brexit Britain in the ritzy resort – but then you decide that actually all you want is a fondue in peace. So, spare a thought for the Prime Minister. In today's Times, Theresa May's former advisor Katie Perrior recalls what went on the last time the Prime Minister went to Davos. Rather than meet with one of China's richest men, May opted to have a fondue: 'For instance, Jack Ma is a business figure of global importance. But when one of China’s richest men sought a meeting with Mrs May in Davos last year, he was told that she was too busy.

George Osborne has returned to his old ways this week – flying to Davos as part of a contingent of Citizens of Nowhere who have made the luxury Swiss resort their home for the week. Only this year the global elite have been joined by some guests who could not be described as your typical attendee. Happily, Osborne welcomes the newfound interest in the event. the former Writing the diary in the new issue of The Spectator, the Evening Standard editor says 'Davos Man understands that the struggle takes many forms'. 'Shadow chancellor John McDonnell is braving the Glühwein to lecture us on Marxism,' he writes. 'Donald Trump is swapping cheeseburgers for Swiss fondue on his mission to put America first.