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

Wednesday

Steerpike

Watch: Scottish Conservatives vs SNP

From our UK edition

It's Opposition day and the SNP's motion calling for improved transitional measures for the 'waspi' women has been the cause of much commotion in the Chamber this afternoon. Although both sides intended to make important points on a pressing issue, it soon descended into a shouting match between the SNP's Mhairi Black and the new Scottish Conservative MPs: https://twitter.com/estwebber/status/935920519882461185 Just as well it was Rosie Winterton not John Bercow in the Speaker's chair...

Steerpike

Watch: Damian Green makes a lemon of himself at PMQs

From our UK edition

Theresa May left it to Damian Green to fill in for her at PMQs today and it’s fair to say that things didn’t go entirely smoothly. The deputy PM remains the subject of a Cabinet Office investigation into his behaviour and there was silence in the Commons when he was asked by Labour MP John Mann to apologise to victims of sexual harassment on behalf of the government. Green stopped short of issuing an apology but it wasn’t only what Green didn’t say that makes his stand-in performance memorable. Speaking about the plight of the people of Yemen, the deputy PM appeared to refer to the country as ‘lemon’.

Steerpike

Andrew Bridgen’s bad day at the office

From our UK edition

Oh dear. You can tell a meeting has gone badly if you leave £15,000 poorer then you were when you went in. So, spare a thought for Andrew Bridgen at yesterday's meeting of the Regulatory Reform Select Committee on Tuesday. Bridgen is chair of the committee – with select committee chairs earning an extra income of £15,025 – and thought he would continue to be chair for the foreseeable. Only his fellow MPs had other ideas. The MP for North West Leicestershire walked in to find there would be a vote for the chairmanship. Rather than re-elect him, the committee voted to elect his fellow Tory Stephen McPartland. Observers say Bridgen was none too pleased and now two theories as to what happened are doing the rounds.

Tuesday

Steerpike

Watch: Tulip Siddiq asked by Channel 4 to help abducted barrister

From our UK edition

The case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British mother jailed in Iran, has attracted cross party support after Boris Johnson's comments at a select committee led to the Iran government re-examining her sentence. Of all the MPs to call on the Foreign Secretary to do more to help improve her situation, few have been as vocal as Tulip Siddiq. Only the the Hampstead MP appears to be less forthcoming on other issues. On Tuesday night, Channel 4 news aired a segment in which they asked her to use her influence to free another person who campaigners say has been locked up illegally – a British-trained barrister in Bangladesh who was abducted by men thought to be working for the government.

Steerpike

Will Labour practise what they preach on commercial confidentiality?

From our UK edition

Today MPs are working themselves into a bother over the government's Brexit impact reports. Although David Davis has handed them to the Brexit select committee – as ordered by the Speaker – MPs have been left disappointed given that the document in question is rather sparse on details as it does not include anything the government has deemed market sensitive or damaging to the UK’s negotiations with the EU27. With Keir Starmer to ask an Urgent Question on the issue, Labour is expected to criticise the government for keeping out relevant information. However, Mr S suspects the Labour party ought to tread with caution before going on the offensive.

Monday

Steerpike

Priti Patel: I would have told the EU to sod off

From our UK edition

After Priti Patel had to resign as International Development Secretary over unofficial meetings with Israelis ministers, the MP promised to continue to be 'a strong voice for Witham and Britain'. At tonight's Spectator panel discussion 'What is the future of the Tory party?' at the Emmanuel Centre, she certainly seemed intent on doing the latter. Now able to speak freely from the backbench, Patel pulled no punches. The Brexiteer MP appeared to criticise Theresa May's Brexit strategy – claiming the government lacked 'conviction and clarity in terms of our end state'. And she did not stop there.

Steerpike

The politics of Meghan Markle

From our UK edition

After Kensington Palace announced Prince Harry's engagement to Meghan Markle, the rumour mill has gone into overdrive into what the Suits actress will mean for the monarchy - with some even suggesting the union is good news for the special relationship. Although the royal family is meant to stay strictly neutral with respect to political matters, Markle's time as a public figure in the acting world means that several of her political views are already known.  First off, Markle is a Cameroon – previously praising David Cameron on social media for being a 'class act': https://twitter.

Steerpike

Kensington MP picks on a woman over her appearance

From our UK edition

Dawn Butler caused a stir at the weekend when she claimed to John Pienaar that Theresa May is 'no friend of women'. That came as news to the female Conservative MPs who were helped to get where they are today through Women2Win, the campaign group May co-founded. Still, if Butler is really going to focus in on which women are and aren't 'friends' to women, Mr S advises her to look at the most recent social media activity of her Labour comrade Emma Dent Coad. The MP for Kensington – who has been in the news for a series of comments on 'ghetto boys' – took to Twitter last night to share a meme of a flattering picture of Jeremy Corbyn and an unflattering picture of Theresa May.

Steerpike

Johnson becomes PM

From our UK edition

It's no secret that the Johnson family is an ambitious one – particularly when it comes to politics. So, with two Johnsons currently in government – Boris and Jo – it was only a matter of time until one became Prime Minister. Step forward Stanley Johnson. Boris Johnson's father Stanley has been elected Prime Minister. Unfortunately for him, it's not Prime Minister of the UK (yet), but Prime Minister of the I'm a celebrity... get me out of here camp in Australia, where the Johnson patriarch is competing against the likes of Kezia Dugdale and Amir Khan to be crowned king of the jungle. The segment led Khan – the Olympic champion boxer – to ask: 'Has there ever been a woman Prime Minister?' Should someone tell him?

Steerpike

Old Radleian appears in school’s magazine… on the ‘hidden emotional trauma of boarding school’

From our UK edition

Oh dear. With the private school sector a crowded market, each school must find ways to distinguish itself from the competition. Happily, many publish magazines – which provide a chance to highlight the many achievements of their alumni. However, Mr S suspects brains at Radley College – the £12,300-per-team boarding school in Oxfordshire – had mixed feelings about including a former pupil's most recent achievement in the latest edition of The Old Radleian. In a section on new books by Old Radleians, Nick Duffell's 'Trauma, Abandonment and Privilege' is listed.

Thursday

Steerpike

David Gauke taunts John McDonnell over Russia Today

From our UK edition

Alex Salmond has been in the firing line of late over his decision to host a chat show on Russia Today. The former First Minister of Scotland has come under difficulty as numerous politicians have declined an invitation to appear on the channel. However, Mr S suggests he give John McDonnell a call. David Gauke has had much fun today on Twitter, where the Cabinet minister recalled an incident that occurred on College Green on Wednesday: 'Yesterday, on College Green, RT reporter and camera crew came up to me asking questions. ME: I don't do interviews with RT. INTERVIEWER: Why not? ME: You're a propaganda station. Reputable politicians don't do interviews with RT. INTERVIEWER: We've just had John McDonnell on.' Helpfully RT have shared the video of the incident online: https://twitter.

Steerpike

Listen: John McDonnell fails the numbers test

From our UK edition

It’s something of a terrifying thought, but if Labour defeat the Tories at the next election, John McDonnell will be the new occupant of No.11 Downing Street. One of his main roles as chancellor will be to have a grasp of the numbers that matter. But it seems that may be too much to ask from McDonnell. On the Today programme, he was quizzed on the amount it costs Britain to service its debt. Given that Labour wants to up borrowing, this seems like a particularly important thing for the shadow chancellor to know. Unfortunately, it would seem he doesn't have a clue. McDonnell initially tried to bat the question away by saying that being asked that was a 'trite form of journalism'. 'That's why we have iPads and that's why we have advisers etc', he added.

Wednesday

Steerpike

Watch: John McDonnell’s BBC asset manager barney

From our UK edition

As Jeremy Corbyn worked himself into a bother over Philip Hammond's Budget in the Chamber, Labour's shadow chancellor busied himself on the airwaves. Keen to show there was a better – more socialist – way, John McDonnell tried to explain to Andrew Neil why Labour had a more credible grip on the economy than the Conservatives. In order to try and make this point, McDonnell claimed many asset managers were impressed by his proposals – which include plans to invest through nationalisation.

Steerpike

Revealed: Universal Credit director wins award for… project management

From our UK edition

You don't have to be a member of Her Majesty's Opposition to conclude that something has gone wrong with the Universal Credit rollout. After a series of issues including a six week wait for first payment and an expensive helpline to supposedly deal with said issues, the government is under pressure to put the scheme on pause. Matters weren't helped in recent weeks when Neil Couling – the man in charge of the Universal Credit programme – tweeted pictures of cakes celebrating the scheme at a time when some claimants on are said to be living on the breadline as a result of the bungled rollout. So, Mr S was curious to learn that Couling won a gong at this week's Association for Project Management awards.

Tuesday

Steerpike

Watch: David Davis crashes out

From our UK edition

David Davis has just given a speech on the Brexit transition period – intended to prevent Britain from crashing out of the EU in a disorderly manner. But at the end of his address, it seems that he was personally advocating a different type of transition. As Davis said his goodbyes, he took a tumble. Mr S hopes it's not a sign of things to come...

Steerpike

The tin-eared chancellor: Philip Hammond’s ten worst gaffes

From our UK edition

Tomorrow is D-day for Philip Hammond. As the Chancellor puts the finishing touches to his Budget, Tory MPs wait nervously – hoping it will be a day free of gaffes. Unfortunately, history suggests that this is unlikely. Over the years Hammond has earned a reputation for being tin-eared and ham-fisted. To get readers in the mood for his Budget, Mr S has compiled a list of the Chancellor's worst gaffes: 1. There are no unemployed people Just this weekend, Hammond proved why he makes his colleagues nervous. Appearing on the Andrew Marr show, the Chancellor managed to turn one of his party’s top achievements into a toxic issue. Asked about unemployment – which is at a 42-year low – Hammond claimed that ‘there are no unemployed people’.

Steerpike

Sarah Olney causes a stir at Lib Dem HQ

From our UK edition

Oh dear. Trouble is brewing at Lib Dem HQ over Sarah Olney. After losing her seat by 45 votes in the snap election, Olney was quickly appointed as Vince Cable’s Chief of Staff – beating several more conventional candidates (i.e. trained press officers) to the coveted job. At the time, Olney made a verbal agreement with Cable that she would not stand as a Parliamentary candidate – given that this would mean she would be unable to continue as Chief of Staff. So there was much surprise this month when Olney stepped down from the role so she could campaign to retake her old seat.

Monday

Steerpike

Conservative MP resigns from board that doesn’t exist

From our UK edition

Oh dear. As resignations go, there has been some tough competition for the most newsworthy in recent years – from Nigel Farage's unresignation to the entire Labour shadow cabinet's to Priti Patel's last week. However, up until now, Mr S had yet to come across a resignation from a job that it is unclear they still held. Step forward George Freeman. This afternoon Labour have gone on the attack over the news that Freeman – as he himself announced in a ConHome blog this morning – has 'stood down' from his role in No 10.

Steerpike

Scottish Labour leader: If it’s England vs Scotland, I support England

From our UK edition

This weekend, Richard Leonard proved that an Englishman can succeed in Scottish politics. The Corbyn ally – who hails from Yorkshire – beat Anas Sarwar to be crowned the leader of Scottish Labour. However, it remains to be seen whether an Englishman can ever be First Minister. While Scottish Labour members may be over to get over their leader having an English accent, Mr S wonders if the latest confession by Leonard will prove a step too far when it comes to the general public. With England and Scotland enjoying a fierce rivalry in sport, Leonard was asked today, on Radio 5live, what side he was on when it comes to football and rugby: 'If it's England vs Scotland, I do support England. Every other game I'll support either Scotland or England.

Steerpike

Philip Hammond’s driverless car U-turn

From our UK edition

On Sunday, Philip Hammond took both No 10 and No 11 by surprise with his interview on the Andrew Marr show. As well as announcing that there are 'no unemployed people', he promised to launch Budget week by posing in a driverless car, on a visit to the West Midlands today. Given that it doesn't take much to work out that a beleaguered Chancellor about to deliver his budget pictured in a driverless car is not a metaphor for success, people soon took to social media to ask who had approved such an idea. It turns out no-one. As the Times reports today, aides had explicitly ruled out such a stunt. There was a plan for the chancellor to see a driverless car today but not for him to sit in one.