Steerpike

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 of Commons broke with parliamentary convention following a question from Tulip Siddiq. After the Labour MP asked when Vote Leave's promise of £350m a week for the NHS would come to fruition, she accused the Foreign Secretary of 'smirking' on the front-bench. After some heckling, Bercow intervened and announced that: 'Boris is sitting perfectly comfortably'. Referring to a member of Parliament by their first name is frowned upon.

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 Cherry, the MP for Edinburgh South West, heckled the Prime Minister a bit too vigorously: 'Miss Cherry. This is very unseemly heckling. You are a distinguished QC, you wouldn't behave like that in the Scottish courts -- you'd be chucked out!' With Phil Boswell going on to receive a ticking off for heckling, it seems the SNP have no time for Westminster convention now their minds are on 'IndyRef2'.

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 Clare Foges. Yes, David Cameron's former SpAd and speechwriter -- who earned the affectionate nickname ‘the Prime Minister’s Larynx’ -- has joined... the Labour party. Writing in the Times, Foges says that she is as surprised as anyone by her decision: 'I tapped out the words somewhat guiltily, late at night.

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 was Tim Farron, who said it was important Leavers and Remainers unite for a final say on the Brexit deal. The Lib Dem leader received applause as he claimed that neither Theresa May not David Davis have a clue what the final Brexit deal will look like: 'We do not believe for one minute they signed up to that narrow world view Theresa May has chosen. She does not speak for the 52 per cent - she barely speaks for the five per cent.

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? Mr S only asks after Lord Bell -- the Tory grandee -- let slip, at his Glass Half Full party, what Liam Fox told him Nicola Sturgeon's nickname was when she was a student at the University of Glasgow. The Evening Standard reports that Bell revealed that the International Trade secretary said they called the First Minister 'seaweed'. The reason? 'Not even the tide would take her out.

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 gathered in the Barley Mow to celebrate the UK's impending departure from the EU. Leading the celebrations was arch-Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg, who used his speech to rebuff suggestions that Leave supporters lack answers; 'we know the road -- and it's a good road, it's a high road. It's a high road that we built before -- and now we are re-tarmacing': 'Leaving the European Union is a rebirth for our nation.

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 interview, May insists Donald Trump was just 'being a gentleman' when he held her hand during her US visit: 'We were about to walk down a ramp, and he said it might be a bit awkward'. After her last photoshoot in the Sunday Times sparked a row over the PM's decision to wear a pair of leather trousers costing £1,000, Mr S notes that the PM has tightened the purse strings this time around.

Spare a thought for Boris Johnson. Ever since the Brexit vote, the Foreign Secretary has struggled with the often hostile reception he now receives in London from angry remain-ers. Now it seems things have got so bad that he can't even enjoy a quiet night out at the theatre. Thandie Newton -- the Crash actress -- tells the Sunday Times that her teenage daughter, Ripley, spotted Johnson in the audience on a recent trip to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre. Alas Ripley doesn't hold such a high opinion of the Conservative politician and she proceeded to seek him out to alert him to this fact: 'She went over to say: “Hello, Mr Johnson, my name is Ripley Parker and I just wanted to tell you you’re a c---. I hope you enjoy the show.

Lesson No.1: Never ask George - 'six jobs' - Osborne for career advice. Or at least, never ask the former chancellor for career advice if you think it's a job he could be tempted by. On the Today programme this morning, Rohan Silva -- the former No 10 SpAd -- took to the airwaves to try and defend his one-time boss's decision to take on the role of Evening Standard editor while also continuing as the MP for Tatton and as a £650k per annum advisor to BlackRock. Alas, despite his best efforts, Mr S suspects that Silva may have actually made the situation worse.

Following the announcement that George Osborne is the new editor of the Evening Standard, the BBC's media editor Amol Rajan was quick to brand the appointment 'a remarkable move that will dazzle the worlds of politics and media'. But -- as dazzling as it may or may not be -- did Evgeny Lebedev only turn to George Osborne after the editor of London's rival free sheet rebuffed his advances? Word reaches Steerpike that it was City AM's Christian May who was first approached -- but decided to stay put in his current role rather than jump ship. While May has not responded to Mr S's request for comment -- should Osborne need any advice on his new role, Steerpike hopes he will prove more forthcoming.