Steerpike

It's that time of year again. After Rod Liddle used the key address at the fifth annual Freedom Dinner to turn his attention to Labour’s Jew-bashing, the anti-Brexit mob and Tim Farron, he was invited back by popular demand to speak at the event this week. At the annual libertarian bash, hosted by Forest, Liddle spoke frankly on a range of topics – calling out the 'double think' among the 'metro-liberal left', namely Diane Abbott and Emily Thornberry: 'Double think, as Orwell put it, is kind of unique to our metro-liberal left. It’s kind of how they live their lives. Take Diane Abbott, for years Diane railed and railed against the institution of private schools, but then she sent her brat to one, and admitted that it is unforgivable.

Oh dear. Heidi Allen is fast establishing herself as one of the most rebellious MPs in the Conservative party. The Tory MP has spoken out against her party on issues like tax credits as well making her personal grievances with both George Osborne and Theresa May public. In today's Queen's Speech debate, Allen added her party's £1bn deal with the DUP to the list. Ahead of the crucial vote on the speech, she said she could barely put into words her anger at 'the use of public funds to garner political control': 'I can barely put into words my anger at the deal my party has done with the DUP. We didn't need to do it. I cannot fault the DUP for wanting to achieve the very best for their residents in Ireland, nor for their tough negotiating skills.

With austerity so last election, voters no longer seem too fussed by the deficit. It may be that they no longer think it's a problem, with polls showing that the average voter thinks that debt is going down. Why? Because they keep being given that impression by broadcasters who talk about ‘deficit reduction’ while wrongly thinking that people know what this means. ‘Deficit’ is a Westminster wonk word, used nowhere outside of politics. Reducing the deficit means cutting down the annual government overspend, but you won’t hear the state-funded BBC using phrases like that. The BBC might be state-financed but this is not a conspiracy.

Of late, Channel 4 appears to be on a mission to rebrand itself as home of the Corbynista, with the broadcaster angling much of its coverage at those who backed the Labour leader in the snap election. But has Jon Snow taken things a step too far? Mr S only asks after coming across the Twitter account of a Glastonbury reveller by the name of Daniel. Daniel has posted a picture of himself with the Channel 4 presenter. He says that he had a 'boss' time at Glastonbury – helped by the fact he got to have a dance with Snow, who Daniel alleges shouted 'f--- the Tories'. Alas Jon Snow can neither confirm or deny this version of events.

Well, that didn't last long. The uneasy peace between the Blairites and the Corbynites since the snap election has come to an abrupt end. At today's Progress conference, Paul Mason sat on a panel chaired by Progress's Richard Angell, alongside fellow Corbynite Emily Thornberry and centrist MPs Wes Streeting and Liz Kendall. The guests attempted to discuss – in a comradely manner – how best to build on Labour's snap election result and win the next election. However, things soon struck a sour note when an audience member challenged Mason over a tweet he had sent claiming Labour could have won if it wasn't for the moderates running a defensive campaign.

One of the biggest criticisms of the Conservative snap election campaign is that it failed to make the most of the Tories' economic record. Since then, former minister Rob Halfon has said the party ought to correct this by rebranding as 'the Workers Party'. But is Theresa May actually putting people out of work? Mr S only asks after bumping into Rory Bremner at the inaugural fundraising dinner of the Petra Stunt Foundation – in aid of PS Place – this week. After a tumultuous few weeks with little reason for cheer, the impressionist lamented that May's recent antics meant that it was harder than ever to come up with original material: 'So, here's the thing, part of my job is to make politicians more ridiculous than they really are.

Following the disappointing snap election result, Theresa May has had to relax her approach to government – gone are the days when Cabinet members are kept off the airwaves. As a result of the new regime, lobby hacks today finally had a member of the government speak at a press gallery lunch. Doing the honours was David Gauke, the new Work and Pensions Secretary. The former 'tax personality of the year' set the cat among the pigeons as he hinted that the pensions triple lock could be scrapped in ten years. However, it was Gauke's jokes that caught Mr S's attention. During his time in the Treasury, George Osborne – then Chancellor – regularly opted to 'uncork the Gauke' when he found himself in a sticky situation.

Oh dear. Although Theresa May has managed to make it through the Queen's Speech today, the real test will come next week when MPs vote on it. With the Prime Minister's authority already weak, talk has turned to who will be her eventual successor. So, it was a helpful coincidence that the frontrunner to be the next Tory leader just so happened to be doing the press rounds today. Boris Johnson appeared on Radio 4, where he was interviewed by Eddie Mair on his party's sparse legislative plans for the next two years. Unfortunately for Johnson, the interview did not go to plan. Asked how his party's plan would help deal with the 'burning injustices' in the UK, the Foreign Secretary bumbled and blustered.

The new BBC documentary Brexit Means Brexit: The Unofficial Version lifts the lid on what has gone on behind the scenes since EU referendum result last year. While a host of Westminster stalwarts – including Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Anna Soubry – have contributed to the programme, it's Alan Duncan's appearance that has caught Mr S off guard. The Foreign Office minister appears to have forgotten what discretion means – opting to dish the dirt on everything from his direct boss to the government in general. Proving Theresa May's decision to put Duncan in the Foreign Office – even though he does not get on with Boris Johnson – was not a great idea, the minister takes the opportunity to needle his boss.

Although it's been said that revenge is a dish best served cold, George Osborne seems to take the approach that it is best served daily. Since the former Chancellor left politics to edit the Evening Standard, he has taken great joy in making Theresa May's day a little bit worse with each issue. Today is no exception. Osborne has taken it upon himself to personally tweet out Tim Montgomerie's Standard op-ed calling for Theresa May to go. https://twitter.com/George_Osborne/status/876780242613882880 It's clear that Osborne would like May – the woman who sacked him – to be shown the door. In fact, Tory sources say Osborne is set on her demise. The problem comes when conversation turns to who ought to replace her. The former MP for Tatton is anti-Boris.