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
Oh dear. With nominations for the next Labour leader set to open in a matter of hours, now is not the best time for either leadership hopeful to suffer a PR disaster. Alas, this is exactly what has happened to Owen Smith thanks to an interview he gave to Sky News. In the interview, Smith appears to claim
From our UK edition
As Jeremy Corbyn is forced to fight for the Labour leadership, one of the main criticisms from his opponents is that he is more interested in turning Labour into a protest group, than a party that can win an election. This sentiment has not been helped by his Momentum comrade Jon Lansman recently claiming that ‘winning’ was for
From our UK edition
With Labour in turmoil, Owen Smith and Angela Eagle have both spent their Sunday explaining why they should be the one to challenge Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership. So with a leadership contest looming, how has Corbyn spent the weekend? Catching Pokémon, it turns out. In a short film for the BBC, the beleaguered Labour leader
From our UK edition
This week, Mr S made his way to Boisdale to watch his Spectator comrade Rod Liddle give the key address at the fifth annual Freedom Dinner. Hosted by Forest, Liddle stayed on-message at the libertarian bash — speaking freely on a range of topics from his Labour suspension to the Guardian‘s Comment is Free section. Here is the speech
From our UK edition
It’s not a great day to be an ambitious Tory who attended a private school — let alone Eton. After Theresa May promised to work to build a society with a focus on helping the working class rather than the rich, she has started by implementing this approach in her Cabinet. George Osborne, Nicky Morgan, Theresa Villiers
From our UK edition
During John Whittingdale’s tenure as Culture Secretary, the Tory MP has proved to be the thorn in the BBC’s side. So, it’s safe to say that some Beeb employees will be breathing a sigh of relief that Whitto has today been sacked from the Cabinet. However, it appears that staff at the Beeb have actually gone a bit further than
From our UK edition
While today’s political climate might not be great for the country, the watering holes of Westminster are certainly doing okay out of the tumult. Mr S hears that Liam Fox was in a celebratory mood on Wednesday night after being appointed Secretary of State for International Trade. Steerpike is informed that the MP stayed close to
From our UK edition
In his interview on the Today programme this morning, Philip Hammond said nothing memorable – which Mr S finds a relief. It’s about time that this job went back to being that of a finance minister, not a poseur itching to move to No10. The Today programme is listened to by six million people; by
From our UK edition
What will be David Cameron’s legacy? The former Prime Minister is keen to be remembered for his social justice reform, but it’s more likely he’ll be remembered for taking Britain out of the EU. However, it’s some of his financial decisions that continue to trouble Mr S. Take, for example, the £200,000 of taxpayers’ money
From our UK edition
Today’s PMQs have proved to be a lively affair as David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn traded jibes at the despatch box for the last time. While the Labour leader found time to praise the Prime Minister’s time in power, Cameron was less obliging when it came to Corbyn. As well as ridiculing Labour for its ongoing row
From our UK edition
As Theresa May prepares to move into No.10 today, Britain’s next Prime Minister has a united party behind her. Since Andrea Leadsom dropped out on Monday, Conservative MPs have done their best to put any differences behind them and rally behind their new leader. However with a Cabinet reshuffle looming, that could all change very quickly
From our UK edition
After Tuesday’s vote of Labour’s National Executive Committee, Jeremy Corbyn is automatically on the ballot in any leadership contest. So, with the prospect of a Corbyn-led Labour for the rest of eternity (or until he retires) now looking likely, it’s little wonder his team were in the mood to celebrate last night. In fact there was only one
From our UK edition
News of Theresa May’s coronation as the next Prime Minister is – as you’d expect – emblazoned on the front page of every newspaper today. However, the Daily Mail has gone one step further than its rivals — claiming, pretty much, that it enstooled May itself. And judging by its jubilations, if seems that Paul
From our UK edition
Today the Eagle has landed. After touring television studios yesterday with talk that she would run to be the next Labour leader, Angela Eagle officially launched her campaign this morning. Alas there was a problem. As the launch neared its end, Andrea Leadsom managed to upstage her by putting on a rival press conference to announce
From our UK edition
At the march against democracy last weekend, tens of thousands of people wandered the streets of London, desperately trying to work out what democracy meant as they tried to call for the result of the referendum to be overturned. Now the Brexiteers are fighting back. However, instead of marching for democracy, the 20 or so
From our UK edition
Oh dear. Today Jeremy Corbyn fuelled concerns that he isn’t interested in winning power when he failed to say that winning a general election was a priority, during an appearance on the Andrew Marr Show. Now Jon Lansman, the Momentum chief, has waded into the ‘should winning matter to a major political party?’ debate. After tweeting
From our UK edition
Although John McDonnell has been busy of late helping fight off the Labour coup, he was able to find time this week to mark the 30th anniversary of the rate-capping rebellion of the eighties. The Shadow Chancellor joined forces with Ted Knight — the former leader of Lambeth council who once warned ‘no compromise with the electorate’
From our UK edition
Since Andrea Leadsom announced her leadership bid, the Conservative candidate has been dogged by allegations that she lacks the experience and knowledge to lead her party — let alone the country. Reports this week from Leadsom’s former colleagues claiming she exaggerated her banking credentials on her CV have only fuelled concerns that she could be out
From our UK edition
After Michael Gove was knocked out of the Tory leadership race in today’s vote, Theresa May will go head-to-head with Andrea Leadsom in the race to be the next Prime Minister. So, with a prospect of a Leadsom-led government now looming, what would Leadsom’s Britain look like? Thanks to an old blog dating back to
From our UK edition
After Michael Gove turned on his one-time ally Boris Johnson to pursue his own leadership ambitions, the Justice Secretary was accused of treachery and betrayal by BoJo’s many allies. So, the news that Gove has been knocked out of the Tory leadership contest today will no doubt come as some comfort to those in the Johnson camp. In