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

Tuesday

Steerpike

Corbynista MP: Media bias is the real story in Venezuela

From our UK edition

Despite admitting in an interview in this morning's edition of the Morning Star that he was ‘no bloody expert on Venezuela’, Chris Williamson, the Labour MP for Derby North, made it quite clear this afternoon who he believes is to blame for the socialist country's problems – and it most certainly isn't Maduro's socialist government. Speaking at a Solidarity with Venezuela fringe event at Labour conference, Williamson described how the country – a place where women now exchange sex for nappies for their babies and where the capital city is the most murderous city on earth – was undoubtedly witnessing ‘difficult and tough times’ and that ‘mistakes had been made’.

Steerpike

Chris Williamson blasts fellow Labour MPs over Venezuela

From our UK edition

Venezuela’s crisis shows no sign of stopping: protesters have been gunned down, opposition leaders rounded up – and the country recently unveiled a plan to combat food shortages by telling people to eat their rabbits. The country’s situation ‘ain’t perfect’, admits Labour’s Chris Williamson. In an interview with the Morning Star - where else? - the Corbyn ally is still keen to look on the bright side though: ‘I accept that Venezuela has its problems still...But look at where they’ve come from and where they’ve got to’ Admittedly, Williamson is angry at the ongoing situation.

Steerpike

Listen: ‘Disgruntled Blairites’ blamed for Labour anti-Semitism accusations

From our UK edition

Labour’s anti-Semitism row spills on to the front pages of today's papers. ‘Labour is the real nasty party’, says the Daily Mail, following up remarks made at an event on the fringes of Labour conference. The party votes today on rule changes aimed at sending out a message that Labour will not tolerate anti-Semitism. But at another event at Labour’s conference last night, a speaker suggested that many of the charges of anti-Semitism levelled at the party were simply ‘politically motivated’. Speaking at the launch of Jewish Voices for Labour, Oxford Professor Avi Shlaim told the audience that: ‘I shall argue that many of the charges of anti-Semitism that have been bandied about during this period (the last two years) are politically motivated.

Steerpike

Watch: Stop the War blames America – not North Korea

From our UK edition

In recent months, North Korea have fired missiles over Japan, tested a hydrogen bomb and boasted of expanding their nuclear programme to the extent that they could destroy parts of America. So, with that in mind, Mr S was grateful for the chance to hear the sound figures at Stop the War discuss ethical foreign policy at a fringe event on Monday night. Andrew Murray – Corbyn's close ally and Unite official – spoke (in a strictly personal capacity) at the event. he used his appearance to blast a leader who 'could plunge the world into unimaginable catastrophe'. Only he wasn't talking about Kim Jong-Un.

Monday

Steerpike

Watch: Corbyn joins Keith Vaz to celebrate ‘Diversity Nite’ comeback

From our UK edition

After a conspicuous one year absence, Keith Vaz’s 'Diversity Nite' has made a comeback at Labour’s conference. Vaz kept a low profile at last year’s party gathering in the wake of allegations surrounding a pair of rent boys. This year, Vaz's big conference bash - which involves members of the shadow cabinet dancing while Vaz presides on stage - made a return. Behind Vaz flashed up pictures of the likes of Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Rosa Parks, as guests munched on Leicester's finest Biryanis. On stage, Jeremy Corbyn was presented as the guest of honour by Vaz to chants of 'Oh, Jeremy Corbyn' from the crowd. Here’s a video of Jez’s arrival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPcp2E1qNyM Diane Abbott also joined in the fun.

Steerpike

Big business struggles to make friends at Labour’s conference

From our UK edition

Big business is back with a vengeance at this year’s Labour conference. Twelve months ago, in the wake of Jeremy Corbyn’s re-election as Labour leader, the party’s gathering was largely shunned by corporate firms. The likes of Google - who had exhibited in 2015 - stayed well away. But in the wake of the party’s relative success at the general election - and with no sign of Corbyn going away any time soon - the companies are back. Google are among those exhibiting at the conference. Microsoft are here, too. And so are BP. But it seems like their efforts might have been in vain.

Steerpike

Labour MP: ‘It’s a pleasure to be here in Bristol… Brighton’

From our UK edition

Labour is gathering in Brighton but it seems that simple fact is news to some of those taking to the stage at the party's conference. Shadow Scottish Secretary Lesley Laird kicked off her speech by doing her best to endear herself to those in the audience. The only problem? She told those in the Brighton centre that it was a 'pleasure to be here in Bristol'. She then attempted an exercise in damage limitation: Only 200 miles out...

Steerpike

Corbynistas fail to practise what they preach

From our UK edition

TFL's decision not to renew Uber's licence in the capital has gone down like a cup of cold sick with many Londoners – including a good chunk of the 40,000 drivers who will soon be out of work. However, over at Labour conference in Brighton, the decision has proved very popular. It's been praised at the fringe events, by Labour politicians and just today Tim Roache –  the General Secretary of GMB – has spoken at conference where he called on all Labour members to boycott the taxi firm. Alas Mr S thinks his words may have fallen on deaf ears. So far, several conference attendees trying to get an Uber to or around the centre have found themselves hit by a surge charge.

Steerpike

The Beast of Bolsover takes centre stage at conference

From our UK edition

Sadiq Khan had to fight for his speaking slot at this year's Labour’s conference. But while it was apparently difficult to squeeze in a politician with one of the largest personal mandates in Europe, making room for the Beast of Bolsover was not so tricky, it seems. Dennis Skinner was on familiar territory in his speech: bashing the Tories and talking of abolishing zero-hour contracts. He also returned to another favourite subject: the Queen. ‘It really gets to me when they talk about the Queen’s head being privatised,’ he joked. Skinner also had a revelation for the audience on how Labour would fund its plans if it ever made it into government. There has been much talk of the Tories’ magic money tree funding their own pact with the DUP.

Steerpike

Emily Thornberry’s low blow over Boris

From our UK edition

Oh dear. As the speeches get underway on day two of Labour conference, Emily Thornberry has kicked off proceedings with a low blow aimed at the Foreign Secretary. Rather than attack her opposite number for his policies alone, the shadow foreign secretary appeared to try and make a jibe about Boris Johnson's personal life as she went on the offensive over Brexit: 'Let’s all take a second to sympathise with poor old Boris. Come on, just a second. He’s not been happy lately. Apparently he’s sick of being blamed for the way that Brexit is going, and all the broken promises of the leave campaign. I’m sorry, what? Like, what? Who does he think made all those promises? Who does he think was in charge of the leave campaign?

Steerpike

Watch: John Prescott turns nasty when asked about his expenses

From our UK edition

Piers Morgan seemed to hit a nerve during his interview with John Prescott this morning. Two Jags popped up on Good Morning Britain to talk about party unity. Prescott - something of a recent convert to the Corbyn cause, having criticised the Labour leader in the run-up to the election - was feeling positive about Labour’s chances. Yet when he was asked about matters closer to home - his expenses as a peer in the House of Lords - he changed his tune somewhat: PM: How much are you earning in the House of Lords these days? JP: I get £300. £150 goes to my secretary and £150 goes to a hotel. Do you do that? Do you spend all your bloody expenses? No you don’t. You’re coining it in and asking me about £300.

Steerpike

Sadiq Khan speaks

From our UK edition

This year's Labour party conference line-up has been as much about who's not speaking than who is. After Sadiq Khan was denied a speaking slot, a tussle broke out between the unions, Labour HQ and the Leader's Office over whether the London mayor should be allowed to speak. As things stand, he is now expected to be granted a platform in the hall this afternoon. However, given that just yesterday one Labour member took to the stage to call for Khan to be blocked from speaking as they see him on TV 'all the time', nothing is guaranteed.

Sunday

Steerpike

Labour conference, in pictures

From our UK edition

It's that time of the year again. As Labour conference kicks off in Brighton, the annual event has managed to attract a range of interesting characters – all with a common aim: true socialism. With Labour leading in the polls, Mr S has been touring the conference centre and World Transformed festival to get a glimpse of what life would be like under Corbyn: [caption id="attachment_9940392" align="aligncentre" width="520"] Bye bye Sun[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9940542" align="aligncentre" width="520"] (Credit: Lucy Fisher)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9940342" align="aligncentre" width="620"] A World Transformed display[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9940402" align="aligncentre" width="520"] Labour – a party for workers?

Steerpike

Watch: Clive Lewis vs Caroline Flint on racism and migration

From our UK edition

Labour’s conference only started a few hours ago but already the cracks are starting to show. While the Tories are doing a good job of tearing themselves apart over Brexit, Labour is determined not to be outdone. Clive Lewis and Caroline Flint don’t see eye-to-eye on many issues - and the question of freedom of movement is no different. On Sky’s Sunday with Paterson, the pair debated the question of whether opposition to immigration was a matter of racism. It's fair to say their exchange summed up why Labour's still has some work to do on its Brexit stance... Does opposition to immigration come down to racism? pic.twitter.

Steerpike

Jeremy Corbyn’s Uber memory lapse

From our UK edition

The Uber ban presents something of a dilemma for the Labour party. The decision by Transport for London not to renew the taxi company’s licence has angered the party’s young voters. Yet Labour politicians are inclined to side with the unions rather than those affected by the ban. But when Jeremy Corbyn was put on the spot on the Andrew Marr show today about whether he has ever used an Uber, he found the perfect way of dodging the question: AM: Have you ever taken an Uber? JC: ….I don’t think so. AM: You don’t think so? JC: I’m not sure but I don’t think so If Jeremy ever does remember, Mr S would be interested to know the answer...

Saturday

Steerpike

Jacob Rees-Mogg sees red

From our UK edition

Although Theresa May did manage to prevent a revolt breaking out after her speech in Florence yesterday, that's not to say anyone in Cabinet is particularly pleased by her words. The Prime Minister did buy herself more time – but failed to clearly say where she what direction she was planning to go in that period. On the backbenches, Conservative MPs have less reason to hold their tongue over such concerns – as Jacob Rees-Mogg demonstrated on Newsnight.

Friday

Steerpike

The new test for true Corbynistas: do you support the Uber ban?

From our UK edition

Forget power to the people, today it's power to black cab drivers! Transport for London has announced that Uber will not be issued a new private hire licence, with London mayor Sadiq Khan 'welcoming' the decision. This means no more Uber in London – though the decision will be challenged in the courts. So, as 40,000 drivers worry about their income and 3.5 million Uber customers consider the effect on both their finances and travel plans, take heart that true socialists will at least be happy. Earlier this year, Labour's Rebecca Long-Bailey said using Uber isn’t morally acceptable – and today Paul Mason has crowned the decision a 'brilliant victory' for the Labour movement: https://twitter.

Steerpike

Watch: Paul Mason says Kim Jong-un has ‘done the world a favour’

From our UK edition

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.

Thursday

Steerpike

Is Sarah Champion regretting nominating Jeremy Corbyn?

From our UK edition

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?

Steerpike

Caption contest: Cabinet unity

From our UK edition

A week is a long time in politics. After Boris Johnson kicked off his working week with a 4,000 word Brexit essay for the Telegraph, the Foreign Secretary has been dogged by resignation rumours. Now, however, the Cabinet is all smiles. Although Johnson and Philip Hammond are reported to be on a collision course over their vision for Brexit, the pair were put on a friendly display as they exited today's Cabinet meeting, ahead of Theresa May's big Florence speech. Captions in the comments.