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
From our UK edition
Although the Conservatives can celebrate an impressive victory in Copeland last night, over in Stoke things look less rosy for the party. Despite Theresa May’s visit to Stoke-on-Trent this week, the Tory candidate Jack Brereton finished third, 79 votes behind Paul Nuttall. To make matters worse for Brereton, he appears to have made little impression
From our UK edition
Tom Watson and Jeremy Corbyn haven’t always been the best of pals but Mr S is pleased to see that Labour’s deputy leader was fully behind Corbyn at PMQs today. In fact, Watson seemed so supportive of his boss for a change that he applauded Corbyn’s questioning of the Prime Minister with a ‘dab’. The
From our UK edition
In today’s world of left wing politics, many Labour supporters find themselves classed as Tories and Zionists. In fact, even Owen Jones – the one time poster boy for the Left – has found himself on the receiving end. After the Guardian journalist was revealed to be speaking at a Jewish Labour Movement memorial event, Jones
From our UK edition
As part of Labour’s last-ditch effort to hold onto Stoke-on-Trent Central in Thursday’s by-election, Ed Miliband headed north on Monday to help the party’s candidate Gareth Snell campaign. Although Snell has made a number of questionable comments about women on Twitter, the former Labour leader didn’t seem to mind as he posed for pictures on the
From our UK edition
After John Bercow announced in the House of Commons that he would block any calls for President Trump to speak in Westminster Hall on his forthcoming state visit, there was an outcry from Conservative MPs who accused the Speaker of grandstanding. Given that Bercow failed to consult the Speaker of the Lords and President Trump has never
From our UK edition
Although Owen Jones, Derek Hatton and Glenda Jackson are just a few of the Labour left to turn on Jeremy Corbyn of late, the Labour leader can always rely on comrade Seumas Milne. Corbyn’s director of strategy and communications has stuck by Jeremy through thick and thin, even ending his leave with the Guardian to
From our UK edition
As the House of Lords begins to debate the government’s Article 50 bill, Baroness Chakrabarti appears to have used the week before to relax and recharge. Eye Spy MP reports that Shami was spied in the Grosvenor Hotel with a glass of fizz. Shami, keeping champagne socialism alive, at the Grosvenor Hotel, Victoria. pic.twitter.com/34DKX1tdLB —
From our UK edition
Given the frequency of shadow cabinet reshuffles under Jeremy Corbyn, even the most eagle-eyed Westminster residents now have difficulty identifying who makes up Labour’s frontbench. However, up until now Mr S had thought that the party at least knew. Alas not. Steerpike has been passed an internal Labour party email sent on Friday which details
From our UK edition
When Tristram Hunt resigned as the MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central last month to take up a job as director of the V&A, he insisted the decision was driven by the offer of a job that combined his ‘lifetime passions’ rather than ill feeling over the direction Labour had taken under Jeremy Corbyn. So, with polling
From our UK edition
Oh dear. Yesterday Peter Mandelson appeared on the Andrew Marr Show to warn of the dangers of Brexit. The New Labour grandee used the primetime slot to criticise the government’s handling of Brexit and call for an Article 50 rebellion in the Lords. While Mandy managed to refrain from attacking Jeremy Corbyn, Mr S understands
From our UK edition
Although Paul Nuttall made a quick escape from today’s Ukip Spring Conference in order to avoid the pesky press, compared with Douglas Carswell it was an admirable effort. Mr S understands that Ukip’s only MP has deigned not to bother turning up today. While there are over 25 Ukip politicians speaking at the event, Carswell
From our UK edition
As the government considers plans to raise an extra £1billion next year through a revaluation of business rates, there has been much concern on the backbench that the move would see high street shops priced out of existence. Mark Field — vice-chairman of the Conservative party — has called on Philip Hammond to back down from the ‘looming nightmare’ of higher
From our UK edition
Ken Loach has carved out a name as something of a Corbynista luvvie. The director put together a droning, hour-long promotional film for the Labour leader last year. And Corbyn returned in kind by offering a glowing review of his pal’s recent I, Daniel Blake movie, which he urged people to go and see. This
From our UK edition
Pencils are being sharpened in the literary world as the row over cultural appropriation rumbles on. Last year Lionel Shriver found herself in the eye of a storm after she used her keynote speech at the Brisbane writers’ festival to complain that fear of ‘cultural appropriation’ was inhibiting both fiction writers who wish to write from
From our UK edition
Oh dear. As Theresa May avoids questions about the NHS up in Copeland ahead of this month’s by-election, brains at No 10 decided a trip to Captain Shaw’s Primary School in Bootle would make for a safe photo opp. Alas things didn’t go quite to plan when the Prime Minister struggled to raise a smile in
From our UK edition
As Paul Nuttall receives flak today over his admission that the claim on his website that he lost ‘close personal’ friends in the Hillsborough disaster is false, his press officer appears to have fallen on her sword. Lynda Roughley says she made the mistake and has offered to resign. Roughley adds that she feels ‘absolutely terrible’ as
From our UK edition
Just in case tensions between Brexiteers and Remain-ers were beginning to die down now that MPs have voted for Article 50, television producers are at the ready to whip up more drama between the two camps. Channel 4 is bringing back Wife Swap for a Brexit special. While it has been touted as a one-off special,
From our UK edition
Oh dear. It’s safe to say that Labour’s candidate for the Stoke-on-Central by-election has not had a good day. After Guido published tweets in which Gareth Snell called a variety of women ‘sour-faced’ and ‘annoying’, the Sun revealed that he had said Deirdre from Coronation Street deserved a slap. Meanwhile, Mr S notes that Snell also found
From our UK edition
Relations between Theresa May and Nicky Morgan took a turn for the worse last year after the former education secretary criticised the Prime Minister for wearing a £995 pair of trousers while claiming that she wanted to help those who are ‘just about managing’. While the pair have since made — uneasy — peace, the woman
From our UK edition
Last month, Tim Farron ruled out any electoral pact between the Liberal Democrats and Labour — branding Jeremy Corbyn ‘toxic’. With Labour mourning the loss of over 7,000 members in January, it seems Farron may be on to something. In contrast to Labour, the Liberal Democrats were buoyed by 4,000 new members last month. And just how
