Steerpike

Oh dear. With North Korea threatening to detonate a nuclear bomb in the Pacific Ocean, world leaders are left scratching their heads over what to do about the rogue state's penchant for nuclear weapons. But has North Korea actually just done the world a favour by threatening to bomb Japan, South Korea and the US? That's the claim Paul Mason tried to peddle on last night's episode of Question Time. The journalist-turned-left-wing-revolutionary argued that Kim Jong-un has 'done the world a favour' by putting Donald Trump 'on the back foot' through his nuclear game plan: 'In a way, Kim Jong-Un has done - only in this metaphorical way - the world a favour because he has put Donald Trump on the back foot. Trump has all his life fantasised about using nuclear weapons.

Sarah Champion could hardly be blamed for bearing a grudge against Jeremy Corbyn. The Labour MP was among those who nominated Corbyn in his original bid to become Labour leader. Yet it’s likely that she regretted that decision when she was forced out of the shadow cabinet for her comments on Pakistani grooming gangs. Now, it seems, support for Champion’s decision to nominate Corbyn is being quietly deleted from Twitter. A message retweeted by Sarah Champion during Corbyn's 2015 leadership bid was taken down this morning. Here’s what it said: @SarahChampionMP top move nominating @Corbyn4Leader … you’ve done democracy a service, much love Is Sarah Champion regretting nominating Jeremy Corbyn?

The Conservatives have had a difficult few days. After Boris Johnson published his 4,000 word Brexit blueprint in the Telegraph, the Cabinet is feuding, Theresa May's authority is under strain and backbenchers have taken to the airwaves to call for the Foreign Secretary to be sacked. But fear not, help is on its way. Tomorrow Tory MPs are upping sticks and heading onto the M4 to make their way to Tory Glastonbury. Officially called the 'Festival of Ideas', Conservatives are expected to do some soul-searching – on everything from helping the young to boosting productivity – at the one-day event organised by George Freeman.

Oh dear. It was a case of bad timing for George Osborne last week when the day after the paper he edits offered Theresa May an olive branch, a profile appeared in Esquire magazine claiming the former Chancellor had told hacks he would not rest until the Prime Minister was chopped up in bits in his freezer. Since then Osborne has been widely condemned by both Tory MPs and women's action groups against violence. So, it was only a matter of time until an apology came. This apology appears to be lurking in a leader in today's Evening Standard.

Oh dear. Since Jeremy Corbyn became Labour leader, he has had an at times difficult relationship with the 'Mainstream Media'. From hacks being booed at press conferences to Corbyn avoiding questions, it's safe to say that the media feel a little bit unloved. Now, it seems Labour's high command is keen, too, that party members have limited interaction with the MSM. At this year's party conference in Brighton, the press will not be granted access to the floor. Instead journalists will have to watch proceedings from the balcony. This means that the media will be away from the action - and unable to interact with delegates on the floor.

Okay, it’s a rainy Sunday, but surely the new chief of the UK Statistics Authority has better things to do than send angry tweets to the Foreign Secretary? Alas not. Today Sir David Norgrove, the newish chairman of the UK Statistics Agency, tweeted out a letter declaring himself 'surprised and disappointed' that BoJo has 'chosen to repeat the figure of £350 million per week, in connection with the amount that might be available for extra public spending when we leave the European Union'. He says that this 'confuses gross and net contributions…. It is a clear misuse of official statistics'. https://twitter.

In the last Parliament, Philip Davies received a lot of flak after he was elected on to the Women and Equalities Committee. As Davies has vigorously campaigned for men’s rights to be given a better hearing and raised doubts about the intentions of some feminists, some questioned his intention. However, at least Davies remains committed to the committee – which is more than can be said for most Conservative MPs. Davies has the dubious honour of being one of only two Tory MPs (the other being Kirstene Hair) to put their name down for the committee. This means there is no contest and there remains two Tory vacancies for the committee.

Trouble in paradise? After the DUP voted with the government last night to ensure they won a crucial vote that gives the Tories a majority on key committees which scrutinise legislation, today the Conservatives got a taste of what it's like to really be in the minority. In the opposition day debate on NHS pay, the DUP boldly backed a Labour motion demanding the Government give public health workers a 'fair pay rise'. The Tories, aware that they didn't have the numbers to win this vote, abstained. While it's slightly embarrassing for the government to lose a vote, the motion was not binding – and it did not breach the £1bn Tory-DUP deal.

Since taking on the editorship of the Evening Standard, George Osborne has discovered that revenge is a dish best served daily – rarely missing an opportunity to attack Theresa May and her government. So, Mr S was surprised to see that today's edition of the paper, not only doesn't attack the Prime Minister – but actually praises her work. It appears that the paper's proprietor Evgeny Lebedev is keen to find common ground with May. He has tweeted out today's front page – which reveals the paper's annual special investigation is focussed on modern slavery – an issue May has led the way on: https://twitter.

Although the Labour party has managed to put on a more united front since the snap election, there have been signs to suggest Corbyn's allies aren't yet ready to forgive the moderates who tried to oust their dear leader just last year. From refusing to let the Mayor of London have a speaking slot at Labour conference to flirting with the idea of mandatory re-selection, moderates worry they are being left out in the cold. Appearing on Pienaar's Politics on Sunday, Len McCluskey attempted to put an end to such reports. Corbyn's close ally insisted that forgiveness was on the menu for anyone – so long as they now get behind Corbyn. However, does that offer of forgiveness apply to his old flatmate Tom Watson? Perhaps not.

Before David Cameron became Prime Minister in the 2010 election, he was dealt a setback when his old chum Ed Vaizey suggested that Cameron's wife Samantha might be voting Labour. Although Cameron's team were quick to pour cold water on the suggestion – and Vaizey in turn backtracked – the rumour persisted over the years. Now that the pair are out of No 10, Sam Cam has finally set the record straight in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph. The fashion designer tells the paper that she never went so far as to vote Labour – but she did sometimes vote Green: 'But I didn’t always vote Conservative – sometimes I went Green.

Keith Vaz kept a low profile at last year’s Labour party conference. In the wake of allegations surrounding a pair of rent boys, Vaz had to call off his annual ‘diversity’ shindig. Now, a year on he is returning to the limelight – and his ‘Diversity Nite’ is back on.

Although Jacob Rees-Mogg recently topped a ConHome poll as the number one choice to be the next Tory leader, few believe he has the mainstream appeal to lead the party to victory in a general election. However, Rees-Mogg can take heart that he has just secured enough votes to win a prestigious place on the Brexit select committee. With 14 Tories vying for the 10 available seats on the Exiting the EU Committee, the Brexit bunch have proved triumphant: Peter Bone Chris Chope Stephen Crabb Jonathan Djanogly Richard Graham Andrea Jenkyns Jeremy Lefroy Craig Mackinlay Jacob Rees-Mogg John Whittingdale Alas Anna Soubry hasn't been so successful – the Remain MP missed out on a place, again.

During the snap election, Boris Johnson was given reason to blush when his sister Rachel came out for the Liberal Democrats. Despite having always voted Conservative previously, the Mail on Sunday columnist said the party's Brexit stance had meant she had no choice but to defect. Since then, Johnson has written in The Spectator of the need for a new centrist party – ideally headed up by Gary Lineker, the people's snowflake. However, is Johnson actually considering another political defection? Mr S only asks after his mole reports a curious exchange between Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn at last night's GQ Men of the Year awards. At the champagne-fuelled bash at the Tate Modern, Johnson made a b-line for Corbyn – who was there to present an award to Stormzy, the grime artist.

Although Jacob Rees-Mogg likes to insist that he is an unsuitable candidate for the role of Prime Minister, he still manages to fit in an impressive number of media appearances, public speaking engagements and constituency visits for your average backbencher. Tonight Rees-Mogg descended on the Boothroyd room in Portcullis House for a Conservative Voice event to share his thoughts on the state of his party. He criticised CCHQ for taking power away from local associations, praised the work of volunteers in the election campaign and called for a manifesto at the next election that would not be met with surprise by Tory members.