Steerpike

This summer, MPs have had to grapple with one of the big issues of our time. No, not Brexit – the planned closure of Big Ben. With the Great Bell to be silenced for four years while renovation work takes place, some politicians have expressed upset at the plans. Jacob Rees-Mogg argues that it would be 'symbolically uplifting' for Big Ben's chimes to bong Britain out of the European Union. Meanwhile, one MP suffering from a particularly bad case of Big Ben blues has called for like-minded traditionalists to gather outside Parliament tomorrow at midday to witness his final bongs. Alas not everyone is entertained. Today Chris Bryant went on the offensive.

Although Theresa May has returned from her summer holidays to find her job safe, it's only a temporary fix to the Conservative party's woes. MPs plan to keep May as Prime Minister until the end of the Brexit negotiations – by which point they hope to be able to have a Tory leadership contest which won't descend into a bloodbath. So, who will May's successor be? In the new issue of The Spectator, Katy Balls reports that while Amber Rudd is proving a popular choice with MPs – her wafer-thin majority of 346 in Hastings and Rye remains a cause of concern.

In the wake of the referendum and a series of messy leadership battles, Ukip is a party without a plan. But a lack of direction isn't the only thing troubling the Kippers. The party's interim leader Steve Crowther has issued a press release calling the former EU President Martin Schulz a 'complete idiot'. The strong sentiment might not come as much as a surprise. Yet the insult was undermined somewhat by Crowther managing to repeatedly misspell the name of the man he was calling an idiot: Mr S thinks the next time Ukip's stand-in leader spouts off, he might want to run a spell checker first...

A brief trawl of the Foreign Office's travel advice for Brits thinking of paying a visit to Sudan will tell you that's it's not the best idea – with cholera, the threat of terrorism and clashes between government forces and rebel groups on the menu. What's more, the British Embassy no longer registers UK nationals in Sudan so help in times of crisis may be limited. However, for Levison Wood, it sure sounds a lot better than living in the UK under a Corbyn government. In an interview with the Telegraph, the Channel 4 adventurer says that if Jeremy Corbyn becomes Prime Minister, he would leave the country and... walk to Sudan: 'For the record, Wood says he would “definitely walk back to the Sudan” if Jeremy Corbyn ever becomes prime minister.

Would a Labour government take Britain out of the customs union after Brexit? It’s a simple enough question - but not it seems if you’re the shadow international trade minister, Bill Esterson. The Labour MP has been busy touring the airwaves this morning, criticising the government for its Brexit transition period plans. While Esterson is quick to find fault with the Tory approach, he is less keen to answer questions on what the plan would be if Jeremy Corbyn made it to Downing Street. On the Today programme, he refused repeatedly to say where Labour stood on the issue: Justin Webb: ...does that mean being in the customs union or out? Bill Esterson: Well I think lurid headlines in tabloids don’t really deal with substance.

The one positive to the snap election for the Tories was the resurgence of Scottish Conservatism. As the SNP suffered big losses, the Tories came home and dry with 12 new MPs. So, it follows that this year's Edinburgh Fringe is proving a more joyful occasion than it has in recent years – with the SNP now also on the receiving end. Speaking at the Scotland Office's festival reception, David Mundell certainly cut a jolly figure. The Scottish Secretary lamented that he could not put on a one-man-show even if he wanted to – thanks to him no longer being the only Conservative MP in Scotland. As for those who are taking to the stage at the Fringe? 'The former First Minister will charge £25 or you can see me tonight for free.

After Glastonbury was certified as a leftie, middle-class Labour lovefest, best spent listening to the musical legend that is Jeremy Corbyn, where Channel 4 presenters chant: 'f--- the Tories', it seems safe spaces for music-loving Conservatives are in short supply. So, where ought a Tory find their festival fix? As Labour politicians – including Tom Watson, Louise Haigh, and of course, Ed Balls – takeover Somerset, Mr S hears that Ed Vaizey has managed to find a safe haven for Conservatives closer to home. According to the latest register of interests, the former minister recently enjoyed a trip to the Capital FM Summertime Ball in London, receiving four hospitality tickets worth £1,000.

David Cameron is making the most of life after Downing Street. Having recently been photographed enjoying the high life in the Royal Box at Wimbledon, the chillaxing former Prime Minister has now been seen letting his hair down at another posh venue: Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire. Glass of wine in one hand and cigarette in the other, Cameron is clearly enjoying himself. But Dave got more than he bargained for on his latest outing. After being asked to pose for a snap with a fellow festival-goer, what he didn’t realise was that the women’s outfit had the Labour leader’s surname - ‘Corbyn’ - emblazoned within a heart on her back.

Theresa May made herself something of a laughing stock during the general election when she was asked what was the naughtiest thing she had ever done. The Prime Minister said her defining act of mischief was running through a field of wheat. Her answer earned her plenty of stick, not least from her political opponents. Now, it's her allies who are pointing and laughing. With the PM on holiday in Switzerland, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has ridiculed Theresa May by running through a field of wheat herself: https://twitter.com/RuthDavidsonMSP/status/892700819258257410 Mr S thinks that with friends like that, who needs enemies?

Ken Livingstone caused a stir this week when he blamed Venezuela's problems on the United States. Now, the former Mayor of London has a new reason for the country's desperate state - and it isn't the fault of the leader Nicolas Maduro. Instead, Red Ken said one of the explanations for Venezuela's woes is simple: they failed to listen to his pearls of wisdom. During an interview this morning on Talk Radio, Livingstone said that he had offered economic advice to the country's minister of finance back in 2008. But instead of taking his suggestions on board, Ken said his wise words were brushed aside - and now the country is reaping the consequences. Here's what he said: 'When I was in Venezuela, I advised their minister of finance...he ignored my advice.

Well, this is going well. As chaos reigns in Venezuela with at least 100 protesters dead in recent months and opposition leaders under arrest, Jeremy Corbyn has come under pressure to speak out against the socialist regime he previously claimed showed a 'better way of doing things'. While the Labour appears to have taken a vow of silence, his shadow cabinet are at least proving more forthcoming. This evening top Corbyn ally Chris Williamson appearing on Newsnight, alongside former Labour MP Tom Harris, to discuss recent events. However, rather than just condemn Maduro's regime, the shadow minister went on the offensive about America. Asked about the political turmoil in Venezuela, Williamson was quick to blame the USA before going on to blame the pesky media: http://www.

Oh dear. We're one day into August – also known as 'silly season' – and Cat Smith has stepped up to the plate so journalists don't have to. The shadow minister for voter engagement and youth affairs has penned a blog for the Huffington Post in which she makes the case for lowering the voting age to sixteen. Her argument? If you're 16-years-old you can have sexual intercourse with your MP... but you can't vote for them: https://twitter.com/CatSmithMP/status/892088118219812864 Putting aside whether this is the best message to be putting out at a time when female MPs have raised concern over abuse, Mr S doubts her claim regarding this great injustice even adds up.