Steerpike

Although Theresa May's speech revealing her plan for a global Britain was well-received by her party and much of the media yesterday, the SNP found much cause for concern. While Nicola Sturgeon has said May's announcement that the UK will leave the single market makes a second independence referendum more likely, Paul Monaghan has a different interpretation. The SNP MP has tweeted out what Theresa May has said 'in her own words' a hard Brexit would mean. It comes with a quote -- attributed to May -- claiming: 'Yes, things will cost more. Yes, you'll have to retire later. Yes, our standing in the world will decline.' Only May said no such thing. The quote is -- quite clearly -- made-up.

Today Theresa May revealed her plan for 'a global Britain' in a speech at Lancaster House. While her words were well-received by her party and the media, not everyone is so convinced. Step forward Lily Allen. Yes, the pop singer -- who last year apologised 'on behalf of my country' on a visit to the Calais 'jungle' camp -- has taken to Twitter to offer her two cents' worth on May's proposals. Alas it's not good news. Allen says although a global Britain 'could b good' it might not happen as the 'world still hates us' because of... slavery. While many Europhiles and EU officials no doubt have plenty of reservations as to why Britain ought not to be a global player, Mr S suspects slavery is not on the list...

As Michael Gove does his bit for US-UK relations in The Times today with a Donald Trump interview on the positives of a quick trade deal, his former staff, too, are on manoeuvres to boost post-Brexit business. Mr S understands that Gove's former SpAd -- and Vote Leave adviser -- Henry Cook has joined Portland Communications as the PR firm's new Associate Director. Cook joins Victoria Dean's Brexit unit to offer advice to businesses on the opportunities the Leave vote presents. Given that Portland was once the home of New Labour -- and remains the scourge of the Corbynistas -- his arrival shows just how much the political landscape has changed.

With the deadline for the government's public consultation on press regulation now passed, Karen Bradley must decide whether or not to trigger Leveson 2. Should section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act be activated, any publication not signed up to Impress — the press regulator largely funded by Max Mosley — would have to pay all the costs in a libel case even if it successfully defends the claim. So, with that in mind, Mosley appeared on the Sunday Politics this morning to put forward the case for Impress. Alas things didn't get off to the best start when Andrew Neil began by asking where Impress's funding comes from.

When Heidi Allen announced that she would stand to be the new mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough -- while continuing her work as an MP -- the decision was reported to have gone down like a cup of cold sick with local Tories. The backbench rebel's decision to seek the Tory nomination ruffled feathers, with Conservative councillors suggesting Allen was on a mission to have her cake and eat it. Alas Mr S can disclose that Allen's hopes have now been dashed. The Tory MP has been eliminated from the Cambridgeshire Conservative Mayoral selections. After securing only four votes, Allen has failed to make it into the top three -- comprised of James Palmer, Steve Count and Roger Harrison, who have all progressed to the final round.

With Tristram Hunt stepping down as Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, Jeremy Corbyn has issued a statement wishing his old foe the best. Alas, not every comrade is on the same page. Paul Flynn -- a former member of Corbyn's shadow cabinet -- has had to delete a tweet in which he suggests Hunt quit as he was 'baffled' by the 'vulgar alien world of politics': https://twitter.com/Alain_Tolhurst/status/819868419432583168 Mr S suspects Flynn's insult would have had more impact had he managed to correctly spell either Tristram's name or academia...

This week John Bercow suggested a Labour MP was in need of an ASBO after she jeered Theresa May a little too enthusiastically during PMQs. Now, the Speaker has encountered another issue with unruly Labour MPs in the Chamber. Today Chris Bryant left the Speaker lost for words when he wished Bercow a 'happy kiss a ginger day'. Bercow had to take a break to discover what this day was about -- before letting Byrant down gently: 'This kiss a ginger activity is probably perfectly lawful but I've got no plans to partake in it myself. I have not the slightest idea what the honourable gentleman was suggesting so the matter had to be googled for me.' Still given that Bercow's wife Sally has an auburn tint to her locks, there may be hope for the Speaker yet...

It's tradition that the Prime Minister kicks off the new year by giving a broadcast interview to the Andrew Marr show. However, this year Theresa May has decided to mix things up and snub the BBC in favour of Sky News. On Sunday, May will instead be interviewed by Sophy Ridge to kickstart Ridge's new morning show: https://twitter.com/SophyRidgeSky/status/816768482188599296 This means that Marr now has to settle for Justine Greening and Nicola Sturgeon. Mr S's BBC mole says the decision has gone down 'like a cup of cold sick' with the upper echelon of the Beeb.