Steerpike

Steerpike

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

Thursday

Steerpike

Is Piers Morgan angling for a job in Donald Trump’s press team?

From our UK edition

During the US presidential campaign, Donald Trump's UK supporters were few and far between. In fact, aside from Nigel Farage, it fell on his old friend Piers Morgan to be his main cheerleader. The former Mirror editor wrote several supportive columns -- praising Trump for saying what most people really think. It seems his show of loyalty has now paid off. Morgan has taken to Twitter to announce that he has just shared a 15 minute phone conversation with the president-elect. https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/799254494542381056 With Morgan telling friends over the summer that he would be keen for a job as a spinner should Trump be elected POTUS, watch this space...

Steerpike

Revealed: the Institute for Government’s Europhile links

From our UK edition

This week the Times splashed on a report by the Institute for Government branding Theresa May's Brexit plans 'chaotic and dysfunctional'. The research group claimed that Whitehall is overwhelmed by the size of the task ahead and expressed concerns about its feasibility. However, while many Bremoaners have leapt on its findings as proof that the government's Brexit approach is shambolic, Mr S suggests they take a close look at the group behind it. With a board composed of the likes of Neil Kinnock's former Chief of Staff at the European Commission, Sir Andrew Cahn, and a range of Labour MPs and peers, it can't be considered the most neutral outlet. What's more, the Institute for Government received a core grant of £3.

Wednesday

Steerpike

Watch: Theresa May on the SNP’s hypocrisy over Brexit

From our UK edition

Oh dear. Although the SNP like to pride themselves on being the 'real opposition', they tend to struggle when on the receiving end of criticism. And so it was the case today at PMQs as Theresa May responded to a question from Angus Robertson over the government's Brexit plans: AR: Will the Prime Minister confirm today to the country whether the UK is likely to leave the EU customs union post-Brexit, yes or no? TM: The right honourable gentleman doesn't seem to understand that the customs union is not just a binary decision. But let's put that aside, let's look at what we need to do which is to get the best deal for access to for trading with and for operating within the single market.

Tuesday

Steerpike

Liam Fox throws the book at civil servants

From our UK edition

Although Theresa May is adamant that she will trigger Article 50 come what March, today's Times splash suggests otherwise. A 'leaked' memo from Deloitte to the paper claims that the government is behind schedule with Brexit preparations and is heavily short-staffed -- requiring another 30,000 civil servants in order to get the job done. So, what are the current batch of civil servants getting up to? Well, over in the Department for International Trade, Mr S understands that reading is high on the agenda. Word reaches Steerpike that Liam Fox has instructed his civil servants to read Rising Tides: Facing the Challenges of a New Era -- a book that aims to explain 'how to meet the challenge of the new global reality'.

Monday

Steerpike

Watch: Philip Davies and Tristram Hunt go to war over the white working class

From our UK edition

Once upon a time Labour was seen to be the party of the working class while the Conservatives that of the Old Etonians. However, in recent years the Labour party has been accused of losing touch with its working class voters. So, Mr S was intrigued to see Philip Davies and Tristram Hunt debate one another on the Victoria Derbyshire show. Although the pair were set to talk about Trump's victory, it soon turned into a class war as Davies accused the Labour MP of being a member of the metropolitan elite. While Hunt claimed Trump was a 'dangerous character' who was 'dangerous to trade because of his views on trade', Davies responded that he was actually most dangerous to the metropolitan elite.

Steerpike

Theresa May’s bad night at the Standard theatre awards

From our UK edition

It's probably for the best that Theresa May wasn't present at last night's Evening Standard theatre awards. Mr S understands that the Prime Minister found herself in the firing line twice, with both Patrick Stewart and Lord Lloyd Webber using their stage time to take aim. First Stewart -- the Star Trek actor -- attacked May over her grammar school proposals. Then Andrew Lloyd Webber -- the Tory peer who flew from New York to vote against the tax credits Lords rebellion  -- criticised the PM over cuts to art funding. At least May can take heart that luvvies aren't known for being on side.

Sunday

Steerpike

Donald Trump finds time for Nigel Farage

From our UK edition

This week reports emerged that Nigel Farage was being lined up to act as a go-between for the government and Donald Trump. However, Downing Street sources were quick to deny the claims, suggesting that Ukip's interim leader was an 'irrelevance' to the UK's relationship with the US. However, it appears that keeping Ukip's interim leader on side might not be such a bad idea after all. On Saturday night, Farage -- who shared a platform with Trump during his presidential campaign -- visited Trump Tower to talk 'freedom and winning' with the president-elect. Farage used the opportunity to suggest a bust of Sir Winston Churchill should be put 'back in [the] Oval Office'.

Saturday

Steerpike

Lord Ashcroft reveals his next target

From our UK edition

As the US election results rolled in on Tuesday, guests flocked to CNN's results bash in Marylebone where the majority hoped to see Hillary Clinton elected president. While they didn't have their wish granted, across town a more Trump-happy crowd gathered for Lord Ashcroft's book launch. Nigel Farage was among guests at the Devonshire Club, in Liverpool Street, for the launch of Ashcroft’s book, Victoria Cross Heroes. Comparing the tome with his previous effort Call Me Dave, Ashcroft noted that 'one was championing bravery' -- adding that he would let attendees figure out what the other was about. So, what's next? Ashcroft revealed his next book will be a review of the UK’s modern defence capacity.

Friday

Steerpike

US election fallout – celebrity edition

From our UK edition

Not yet 72 hours into Donald Trump’s victory, and already the finest promises of the campaign are slipping away. Namely, the celebrities #WithHer who had vowed to leave the US are now backing down. As if Americans haven’t been through enough, it seems they’re stuck with Amy Schumer for another four years. ‘The interview where I said I would move was in London and was said in jest,’ Schumer snapped on Instagram, referring to her September chat with Newsnight in which she floated a relocation to Spain. Ditto Samuel L. Jackson, who was quick to disavow his earlier declaration on a late-night sketch show that he would move to South Africa if Trump won.

Steerpike

Louise Mensch adds one more Twitter gaffe to her list

From our UK edition

Here we go again. As the world mourns the death of Leonard Cohen -- the great songwriter -- at the age of 82, Louise Mensch has managed to add yet another Twitter gaffe to her ever-growing list. On hearing the news, the former Tory MP took to her social media to hail it as proof of America's 'enduring greatness' unlike... Russia, which by comparison is 'joyless': Alas there is a snag with her latest piece of Putin-bashing -- Leonard Cohen is actually Canadian. This is just one in a series of social media blunders: 2. Last year she attempted to demonstrate the 'sewer that is Jeremy Corbyn's support' by pointing out that Twitter's autocomplete function showed that the most common search words to appear by Liz Kendall's name were 'Nazi', 'Zionist' and 'Jews'.

Steerpike

Friday caption contest: enemies reunited

From our UK edition

On Thursday, Barack Obama welcomed Donald Trump to the White House to begin transition talks. While the President Elect described Obama as 'a very good man' after the hour-long meeting, the pictures tell a different story. Mr S welcomes your caption suggestions. The winner will be announced on Monday.

Thursday

Steerpike

Newsweek in a bind over Madam President

From our UK edition

With experts, pollsters and members of the metropolitan elite all taken by surprise over Hillary Clinton's defeat, many are struggling to come to terms with a Donald Trump presidency. None more so than the brains at Newsweek. Hacks at the current affairs magazine in America were so sure that Clinton would be victorious that they sent their 'Madam President' cover to print before... the results were in: They have now had to recall all copies. However, those still keen to live in a parallel universe where Hillary Clinton is president can turn to ebay at this difficult time.

Steerpike

Listen: Nigel Farage jokes about Trump touching May

From our UK edition

With Theresa May still hanging on the telephone for Donald Trump, the Prime Minister may soon be turning to Nigel Farage for a helping hand. The interim Ukip leader has forged a friendly relationship with the new President -- joining him on the campaign trail. Now Farage has given an interview in which he volunteeers to take on a diplomatic role -- helping the UK build ties with the US. What's more, Farage even says he will suggest to Trump that he should keep his hands off May -- and can step in as the 'responsible adult' if it looks as though the President might get hands-on with the PM: 'I will be encouraging him to make the UK his priority. I am now going to become a diplomat: "Come and schmooze Theresa, don't touch her for goodness sake".

Steerpike

Stuart Rose on his blunder-ridden Remain campaign: ‘businessmen should stick to business’

From our UK edition

During the EU referendum campaign, Stuart Rose built a reputation for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. In fact, his blunders became so regular that the chair of Britain Stronger in Europe had all but disappeared from public as polling day neared -- with Mr S even issuing several appeals into the retail supremo's whereabouts. Now with Britain on its way out of the EU, Rose has surfaced and given an interview to City AM about the difficulties he encountered. He says that while he doesn't regret getting involved, his 'first, second and third instinct was to turn it down' and that he thinks -- if being honest -- 'businessmen should stick to business and politicians to politics'.

Tuesday

Steerpike

Caption contest: Who’s ‘X’?

From our UK edition

Spare a thought for Donald Trump. For weeks now, the Republican candidate has been suggesting the US voting system is rigged. Now it seems his trust issues have spread to those closest to him. In a photo from Trump's visit to the polling station today, the presidential hopeful appears to be taking a peek at his wife Melania's ballot slip. Given that Melania has been accused of plagiarising Michelle Obama's speeches in the course of the campaign, could Trump be worried she is a secret Democrat? Mr S welcomes your caption suggestions -- the winner will be revealed on Thursday. Update: The winner is 'DaHitman' with the caption 'Who's "X"?

Steerpike

Clinton on Corbyn: ‘the maddest person in the room’

From our UK edition

Although Jeremy Corbyn's brother Piers is rooting for Donald Trump tonight, it's widely thought that -- out of the two -- the Labour leader is Team Hillary. Alas in the event of a Hillary Clinton presidency, the future for UK Labour and the US doesn't look so bright. Wikileaks have leaked a transcript of a speech by Bill Clinton in which the former American president takes aim at Corbyn. In the aftermath of Ed Miliband's general election defeat, Hillary's husband says Labour 'practically got a guy off the street' to replace him. 'If you look all over the world – the British Labour Party disposed of its most [inaudible] leader, David Miliband, because they were mad at him for being part of Tony Blair’s government in the Iraq War.

Steerpike

George Osborne turns his attention to the special relationship

From our UK edition

Although George Osborne is now a backbencher, the former Chancellor still harbours leadership ambitions. On that note, it's not gone unnoticed that since his sacking, Osborne has been doing his bit to keep close ties with America -- joining Tina Brown for a Manhattan soiree to show that -- despite the Leave vote -- there was still hope for Britain and the US. Now he's back again. Steerpike has been passed a photo of Osborne strolling in San Francisco. When asked what he was doing across the pond, he said he was there for the election. Given that Osborne has pledged his support for Hillary Clinton -- suggesting Trump was 'odd' -- Mr S suspects it's for the best that he is taking the results in in California -- a state expected to back Clinton.

Steerpike

Jeremy Corbyn’s brother gets behind Tommy Robinson and Donald Trump

From our UK edition

With the US presidential result now less than 24 hours away, tensions are high both across the pond and in the UK. So, perhaps that's why Jeremy Corbyn's brother Piers has stepped his campaign against Hillary Clinton up a notch this morning. Although Piers has previously insisted he is not endorsing Donald Trump despite his condemnation of Clinton, his Twitter feed this morning suggests otherwise. In one entry, Corbyn has retweeted none other than Tommy Robinson -- the former English Defence League leader and former BNP member: Alas Mr S suspects Pier's brother won't be so impressed at his antics -- with Jezza previously not taking Robinson up on an offer to send him to Syria for tea with Isis. https://twitter.

Monday

Steerpike

Donald Trump finds a Hollywood backer

From our UK edition

It's safe to say that when it comes to the US presidential election, it's Hillary Clinton who has Hollywood on side. The Democrat candidate has been endorsed by everyone from Madonna to Meryl Streep to Katy Perry, while a multitude of luvvies have spoken out against her Republican rival. However, Donald Trump can take heart that at least one Tinseltown great is getting behind his campaign. As polling day draws near across the pond, Tippi Hedren has come out in support of the Republican candidate. Confessing her love for Trump in the Sunday Times, the Birds actress, 86, says she adores him and thinks he would do a 'great job': 'Elections are such a folly. I adore Trump. I hope he wins and think he would do a great job. Other Republicans might be against him, that’s their problem.

Sunday

Steerpike

Labour’s war with the media rattles on

From our UK edition

Once upon a time, ITV was the darling of the Corbynistas. In fact, it was Mr S who disclosed that Seumas Milne -- Corbyn's director of communications -- had been overheard discussing the pros of the broadcaster over the Beeb, back in January. Alas, things have since taken a turn for the worse. The problem? An ITV reporter dared to ask the Labour leader whether he would be happy if Theresa May called an early election. After Libby Wiener asked the question at a conference organised by Class, Corbyn claimed he was being 'harassed'. https://twitter.com/itvnews/status/794876532799848448 Now Richard Burgon -- the shadow justice secretary -- has described the incident as 'a bit of pre-prepared false controversy'.