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
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Last year, Baroness Ruth Deech warned that Britain’s leading universities are becoming no-go zones for Jewish students because anti-Semitism is so rife. With a survey out today reporting that two-thirds of Jewish students say the National Union of Students does not respond appropriately to allegations of antisemitism, there is clearly work to do tackling discrimination on campus.
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When Theresa May was snapped shopping in Waitrose last year, the Prime Minister was praised by the Telegraph for putting the politics of envy to one side by unapologetically shopping in the high-end supermarket. But is the real story that she was in a supermarket to begin with? Mr S only asks after Richard Burgon —
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On last night’s Question Time, David Dimbleby chaired a panel — comprised of Ruth Davidson, Lisa Nandy, Paul Nuttall, Len McCluskey and the IEA’s Kate Andrews — from Carlisle. With the Unite election underway, McCluskey — who is standing for re-election — tried to use his appearance to defend Labour’s bad polling under Jeremy Corbyn, Explaining
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After George Osborne was announced as the new editor of the Evening Standard, there was outrage across the House as many asked: how can Osborne serve as an MP, financial advisor and daily newspaper editor all at the same time? Alan Rusbridger has now graced us with his take on the situation. In an editorial for the
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Ken Livingstone will find out in a few hours’ time whether he’s been permanently booted out of the Labour party for mouthing off about Hitler. So, how is he spending the hours before the verdict is in? Well, by mouthing off about Hitler – obviously. Outside the hearing where he will discover his fate, the former Mayor
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In the excitement of the Prime Minister’s Article 50 statement — and the subsequent SNP row over heckling — yesterday, much of the drama of PMQs was forgotten. While Jeremy Corbyn once again failed to land any serious blows against Theresa May, it’s John Bercow’s conduct that disappointed Mr S. The Speaker of the House
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Ever since the (fast depleting) SNP 56 descended on Parliament in 2015, they have been frequently criticised for failing to grasp Westminster etiquette. There have been a number of incidents — from Angus MacNeil chewing gum in the Chamber to the SNP clapping en masse. Today was no exception. During PMQs, the Speaker had to intervene after Joanna
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As Ken Livingstone faces a two-day disciplinary hearing from Labour into his claim that Adolf Hitler was a Zionist ‘before he went mad and murdered six million Jews’, the former Mayor of London has submitted a 17-page defence of himself to Labour’s National Constitutional Committee. In the hefty document, he describes the accusations against him as ‘essentially a political charge’
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Given that Owen Jones, Glenda Jackson and Derek Hatton are just a handful of the figures to recently turn on Jeremy Corbyn, one could be forgiven for thinking that the Labour leader is turning people off Labour. So, Mr S was surprised to learn of Labour’s latest recruit, in today’s issue of the Times. Step forward
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Today Theresa May travelled to Scotland to give a speech in which she claimed that Brexit will make the UK more united. In an attempt to counter calls from the SNP for ‘IndyRef2’, May said Britain’s exit from the EU creates an opportunity to strengthen the ties between the nations of the United Kingdom. All very well. Only
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With Theresa May on track to trigger Article 50 on Wednesday and thereby begin Britain’s formal exit from the European Union, Remainers took to the streets of London on Saturday for one final hurrah. Tens of thousands of people joined the Unite for Europe march — calling on Britain to remain in the EU. Leading the protests
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Ever since the 56 SNP MPs descended on Westminster following the 2015 general election, they have been criticised for failing to master Westminster etiquette — from clapping in the Chamber to taking shortcuts through the Chancellor’s office. However, is it really the Conservative MPs that are the ones in need of a lesson in good manners?
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Despite David Cameron’s best efforts to keep his party together during the course of the EU referendum campaign, his personal friendships with Brexiteers did suffer. However, while both Michael Gove and Boris Johnson found themselves left out in the cold by the former prime minister, the Foreign Secretary at least is making inroads once more.
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After a testing week which saw four fatalities and 40 injured following a terrorist incident in Westminster, ‘PrayForLondon‘ has been doing the rounds on social media. Happily, the BBC offered its own striking tribute to Keith Palmer — the police officer murdered in the attack — last night. "Yes, you have the power to hurt us.
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Oh dear. With Scotland Yard treating today’s attack in Westminster this afternoon ‘as a terrorist incident’, hacks have spent the day trying to establish more details about the situation that has so far claimed four casualties. However, has a thirst for news meant some are a bit too eager to publish before properly checking the facts? Mr S only
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In an appearance on the Today programme on Monday, Ken Livingstone silenced his critics by managing to refrain from mentioning Hitler once during the course of the interview. Alas, his good behaviour wasn’t to last. Speaking on Radio 5 Live this morning, the former Mayor of London — who is currently suspended from Labour after he argued that Hitler
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Was it a case of fate or a helpful tip off from No 10 that meant Brexit Central‘s Brexit party fell on the same day Theresa May announced the date she would trigger Article 50? Either way, it made for a joyful atmosphere as the likes of Vote Leave’s Matthew Elliot, Nigel Evans and James Cleverly
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Scottish nationalists may want to get the champagne at the ready. Word reaches Steerpike that Andrew ‘Calamity’ Cooper – the serial bungler whose last project was the EU Remain campaign – is being sounded out to lend his expertise to Scots trying to save the union. The SNP want a referendum within two years; Theresa May
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Brexit and Budget ‘omNICshambles’ are enough to keep any Prime Minister busy. But even with her bulging in-tray, the Prime Minister has still made time for a vital appointment: her photoshoot with US Vogue magazine. Theresa May is pictured relaxing at Chequers and is also photographed on a well-dressed stroll with her husband Philip. In the accompanying
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This morning, Tom Watson kicked off the day with an appearance on Sky News, where he complained that the hard left are behind a secret Momentum plot to ‘take over the Labour party’ and secure a Corbynite as Jeremy Corbyn’s successor. The comments have provoked a bout of civil war in the shadow cabinet, with John McDonnell accusing Watson