Steerpike

Another day, another piece of embarrassing data for those who predicted that the Brexit vote would trigger an immediate recession. Their foundation was based on the belief that confidence would plunge. As things turn out the Deloitte Consumer tracker has hit an all-time high. It has only been running for five years, so the real story could be even more impressive. And while George Osborne was talking about half a million jobs going as a result of the Brexit vote, the Deloitte survey found a strong increase in confidence of job security, up from -10 per cent to -4 per cent. [caption id="attachment_9651592" align="alignnone" width="560"] Source: Deloitte[/caption] And how does this compare with what was being said about consumer confidence before the vote?

Emily Thornberry put in a memorable performance on Question Time last night. Unfortunately for the shadow foreign secretary, it was an appearance that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Thornberry was heckled after sucking up to Corbyn, and she managed to make the audience groan when she claimed what united Labour was ‘so much more than what divides us’ (Mr S suspects there are many Labour MPs who might disagree with that view). Thornberry also tried to claim Labour were more grown-up than the Tories, saying her party fought ‘in the press’ rather than ‘in closed rooms’. But she saved her biggest clanger for when she was talking about Brexit.

With Seumas Milne on the way out as Jeremy Corbyn's director of communications, he is widely expected to return to the Grauniad. The columnist and associate editor has been 'on leave' from the paper since he moved to the Leader's Office last October. However, Mr S hears there is a slight hiccup delaying his much anticipated return. While bosses at the top of the paper are keen for Milne to return as a columnist -- complete with inside knowledge of the Corbyn regime that would make for essential reading --  some have reservations over Milne coming back as an 'associate editor'. They feel that if Milne were to take on a role overseeing the the editorial line of the paper this could lead to 'complications'.

Since the -- fast depleting -- SNP 56 descended on Parliament last year, there have been a number of incidents -- from clapping in the Chamber to trespassing through the Chancellor's office -- that suggest the majority are not taking to Westminster etiquette like ducks to water. However, could it be one of the SNP's longest standing MPs who has the most to learn? Today Angus MacNeil -- the MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar since 2005 -- was taken to task in the chamber by the speaker over his unstatesman-like behaviour. Bercow accused MacNeil of chewing gum while contributing to the Brexit debate: 'Mr MacNeil, you are an exceptionally boisterous fellow and in the course of your boisterous behaviour you appear to be chewing some sort of gum.

With the latest ICM poll putting the Tories on a 17-point lead over Labour, it seems as though Jeremy Corbyn's beleaguered party are in a bit of a jam. But fret not -- they have a plan. Today Momentum have released details of its new initiative 'Concerts for Corbyn'. The plan is to inspire the nation to vote for Labour with music. What's more Paul Weller will play at the first of these concerts. Explaining his decision, the rocker said he agreed to perform as he likes 'what Corbyn says and stands for'. So, is this a sign of the swing voter finally being wooed back by Labour? Alas not. It turns out that Weller actually abstained from voting in the general election -- voicing his disappointment at the time that he wasn't able to vote for...

Oh dear. After the Guardian ran a story claiming Jeremy Corbyn was unable to find a seat on a Virgin train journey, a media storm shortly ensued when the train company responded by releasing CCTV footage to the contrary. Since then, it's been revealed that the freelancer behind the story was actually a campaigning Corbynista who wasn't even present on the train journey. So, why did the Grauniad publish the story in the first place? Happily -- if a tad too late -- hacks at the paper have been asking themselves just this of late. Following an investigation into the error, the paper has published its findings -- and they don't make for pretty reading.

As Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet reshuffle rattles on, it seems all that power is going to his head. The Labour leader has taken to Twitter to congratulate himself on appointing Diane Abbott and Emily Thornberry to the roles of shadow home secretary and shadow foreign secretary. Corbyn concludes that he is 'proud' that two of the three 'great offices of state are, for the first time ever, filled by women'. However, Mr S suspects that Corbyn would do well to rephrase. After all, a shadow position cannot be called a 'great office of state'. Meanwhile the Conservatives continue to come out on top in the gender equality battle with a woman not only home secretary but also Prime Minister -- the greatest office of state.

It's not been a great conference for the Cameroons. After George Osborne and Michael Gove decided to give the event a miss, Nicky Morgan was left alone to face the flak as the whips kept a close eye on her at fringe events. Now it seems the Chipping Norton set has, too, been left in the cold by the new regime. Once the place of power with David Cameron, Jeremy Clarkson, Matthew Freud and Rebekah Brooks all residents, the village has been cut out of Theresa May's government's plans. Just as the Prime Minister's speech kicked off in the conference hall in Birmingham and was aired across the country, a power cut hit Chipping Norton: With Cameron gone, Mr S suspects it's for the best residents get used to no longer being the first in the know.

Brexit means Brexit. But for some, remembering that definition can be a challenge. For Welsh Tory leader Andrew Davies, it seems Brexit means something else altogether. Davies took to the stage at the Conservative party conference and proudly declared that: 'Mark my words, we will make breakfast..Brexit a success' Davies said after his gaffe that he would 'have a word' with the autocue. But Mr S is glad to see that in spite of his blunder, he still managed to see the funny side: https://twitter.