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
Anyone reading the news of late would be forgiven for thinking that Labour is far from election ready. In fact, the party’s poor polling led Unite’s Len McCluskey — a key Jeremy Corbyn ally — to yesterday declare that if the polls are ‘still awful’ come 2019, Corbyn could have to stand down. However, fear not. It turns out
During the Scottish independence referendum, BBC Scotland was regularly accused of showing bias against the SNP. The Beeb’s supposed pro-Union slant led Alex Salmond to brand its coverage ‘a disgrace’. However, now it seems brains at the BBC are keen to get the Nats back on side. Donalda MacKinnon, BBC Scotland’s new director, has given an exclusive interview
On Thursday, Barack Obama announced the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats in retaliation for Russian attempts to interfere with the US presidential election. While Theresa May is yet to comment on the unfolding events, the SNP are proving more forthcoming. Paul Monaghan, the MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, has taken to Twitter to say the decision
This week, Theresa May’s sincerity was called into question when party members — including Ed Vaizey — received a Christmas greeting from the Prime Minister in which they were addressed by their surname. With brains at CCHQ quick to clock the problem, Alan Mabbutt — the Director General of the Conservatives — has sent out an
Oh dear. Since David Cameron stepped down as Prime Minister, his university chum Ed Vaizey has had to get used to life on the outside. After he was axed as culture minister, Vaizey admitted he didn’t have a close relationship with Theresa May and was no longer able to ‘pick up the phone and get an answer’ from No.10.
During the EU referendum, the Sun ran a front page with the headline ‘the Queen backs Brexit’. The paper reported that the Queen clashed with Nick Clegg, who was then Deputy Prime Minister, over Europe at a lunch in 2011 — at which she declared the EU was ‘heading in the wrong direction’. In the days and weeks
Following Fidel Castro’s death, the BBC were accused of giving too much airtime to tributes to the Cuban dictator. When it came to print, BBC News described him as ‘one of the world’s longest-serving and most iconic leaders’ only mentioning in the fourth paragraph that ‘critics saw him as a dictator’. So, Mr S was curious to learn
As Richard Burgon goes on the attack over G4S prisons following the Birmingham prison riot, the shadow justice secretary was caused some embarrassment yesterday when it was revealed that he had recently accepted hospitality from the firm. Guido reports that Burgon attended a G4S bash with an unnamed female companion at the Southbank Centre in November
Ahead of the Autumn Statement, there were reports that Theresa May was concerned that Philip Hammond was not doing enough to help the ‘just about managing’ families — aka JAMs. While he did oblige with a fuel duty freeze, May’s government has since faced questions over its commitment to the JAMs — with matters not helped by
As part of Sadiq Khan’s ongoing efforts to prove London is ‘united and open for business, and to the world’ in the aftermath of the Brexit vote, the Mayor of London has released a series of videos of late to try to get the message across. In one such film, David Walliams narrates as a host
Even when Ed Miliband was Labour leader, it was his brother who made the greatest impression across the pond. While Hillary Clinton waxed lyrical about David Miliband, Ed was never able to make waves in America. So, there’s good news at last for the former Labour leader. Miliband won a primetime spot during a news
When news spread last week that Philip Davies had been elected onto the women and equalities committee, there was an outcry from several female Parliamentarians. Concerned that Davies was more interested in men’s rights than women’s, Caroline Lucas brought up that he was an ‘anglo-saxon white male’ by way of objection. While Davies has since said he hopes
Oh dear. Since Jeremy Corbyn first announced he would run to be Labour leader, Charlotte Church has been one of his loudest cheerleaders. The self-proclaimed ‘prosecco socialist‘ has regularly praised the ‘inherently virtuous’ politician — even taking to the streets to protest at Tory conference. However, times are now a’changin. Over a year on from Corbyn’s election and with
Although the trouser-gate row between Theresa May and Nicky Morgan looked as though it was beginning to die down, the feud has been given fresh life thanks to brains at the BBC. After the Prime Minister banned Morgan from Downing Streeet for criticising her £1,000 trousers, the former education secretary dropped out of a planned
As commuters turn on Chris Grayling over the ongoing Southern rail chaos, the Transport Secretary has now managed to clash with cyclists too. The Guardian has published video footage that appears to show Grayling knocking over a cyclist — as they approached a cycling lane — by opening the door of the car he is
Theresa May is already not invited to the European Council summit dinner, and now it seems she’s not that welcome at the day activities either. Yes, the Prime Minister appears to have been given the cold shoulder this morning at the event — which sees the 28 leaders gather in Brussels to talk migrants, Turkey, Russia
Oh dear. Just in case there weren’t enough novelty Christmas songs out there, brains at Labour have decided it is time to offer up one of their own. Siobhain McDonagh, the MP for Mitcham and Morden, has rallied the troops to record ‘National Living Rage’. The track — which takes inspiration from Band Aid 20’s ‘do
On Tuesday, there was surprising news in Parliament as it emerged that Philip Davies had been elected onto the women and equalities committee. Given that Davies has vigorously campaigned for men’s rights to be given a better hearing and raised doubts about the intentions of some feminists, even an outsider could hazard a guess that
In the old days, Tom Watson used to attend Jeremy Corbyn’s Christmas drinks for hacks — and even offer a speech of his own. However, in a sign that relations between the Labour leader and his deputy may not be so tickety-boo, the pair held separate bashes this year. As Watson thanked hacks for their
It’s been ‘one hell of a year’ started Tom Parker Bowles in his opening address at this year’s Snow Queen Cigar Smoker of the Year Awards Dinner. The glitterati were out in full force as Americans and Brits came together to pay tribute to the best cigar smokers of 2016, as Kelsey Grammer was crowned