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

Dr Éoin Clarke’s ‘massive’ Tory spending revelations fail to go nuclear

From our UK edition

If only Dr Éoin Clarke could learn from his mistakes. Earlier this month Clarke was left red-faced after his prediction of a shadow cabinet reshuffle failed to materialise. Not to be put off, the clip art-loving Labour activist — who has a PhD in Irish feminism — has been promising a ‘nuclear’ revelation regarding the Tory expenses row for some

David Cameron’s new enterprise tsar proves to be a problematic hire

From our UK edition

Oh dear. Today at PMQs, George Osborne could not resist boasting about the government’s new enterprise tsar, Sir Alan Sugar. When asked whether he could confirm reports that The Apprentice star would be assisting the government, the Chancellor replied that this was the case — after Sugar had recently told Labour they were ‘fired’. However, for

Introducing Jeremy Corbyn’s new spokesman: the ex-Labour aide who called the Queen a ‘scrounger’

From our UK edition

Although Jeremy Corbyn managed to survive the Queen’s Speech relatively unscathed last week, his republican beliefs are likely to be called into question once again thanks to a new appointment to his press team. Steerpike understands that Matt Zarb-Cousin has been chosen as the winning candidate to fill the ‘leader’s office media spokesperson’ vacancy first advertised

George Osborne ‘uncorks the Gauke’ once again

From our UK edition

At last month’s Westminster Correspondents’ dinner, George Osborne made light of his behaviour during his budget U-turn. Joshing about his decision to send his Financial Secretary David Gauke to field questions from angry MPs: ‘A big speech in parliament, the pressure is on, you lot are baying for blood. My answer? Uncork the Gauke.’ So,

Where have the In campaign been hiding Stuart Rose?

From our UK edition

This week Eddie Izzard has embarked on a a 31-city tour to try and persuade young people to vote in the EU referendum. While this is just one of the genius strategies put forward by Britain Stronger in Europe as they notch up their campaign efforts, Mr S can’t help but notice that one of their most

Watch: John Bercow takes Bernard Jenkin to task in the Commons

From our UK edition

Although Bernard Jenkin tabled an urgent question today, the Conservative politician didn’t seem to feel any sense of urgency when it came to arriving in time to read it. As John Bercow called Jenkin’s name, the Eurosceptic MP was nowhere to be seen — leading MPs to joke that he was busy in Brussels. ‘I find it very

David Cameron’s former adviser Steve Hilton backs Brexit

From our UK edition

Although David Cameron is keen to suggest of late that the dubious bunch backing Brexit includes Vladimir Putin and Isis, he may have more trouble brushing aside the latest figure to support Leave. The Prime Ministers former director of strategy Steve Hilton has penned an article for the Daily Mail in which he reveals why Britain ‘must’ quit

Watch: Paul Mason puts number of immigrants in Toxteth down to the slave trade

From our UK edition

Yesterday Pat Glass came under fire after she described a voter — who expressed concerns about a ‘scrounging’ Polish family — as a ‘horrible racist’. With the Labour MP since criticised for refusing to listen to voter concerns about immigration, the topic was at least up for discussion on last night’s Question Time. As David Dimbleby chaired a panel —

Grim up north? Only if you’re Andy Burnham, say MPs

From our UK edition

It’s tough up north. Just ask Andy Burnham. The class warrior has today kicked off his Manchester mayoral campaign with some ‘home truths’ about what it is like to grow up in the north. Burnham says that if you live in the north and consider becoming a doctor, people will laugh at you: ‘It’s hard

Lady Nugee turns the air blue in the Queen’s Speech debate

From our UK edition

Labour’s high command are not showing themselves to be the most statesman-like of figures today. After Jeremy Corbyn was caught on camera ignoring David Cameron’s attempts at conversation, his shadow Defence Secretary struggled to control herself in today’s Queen’s Speech debate. Emily Thornberry took offence after Cameron described her as a ‘shadow defence secretary who

Journalist caught in SNP love triangle admits she is a ‘nut magnet’

From our UK edition

When the SNP 56 were elected to Parliament, they were heralded as a breath of fresh air in an otherwise archaic institution. The nationalists made clear that they were unhappy to be moved to Westminster, let alone indulge in its pleasures. Despite this, they appear to have grown accustomed to their surroundings over time, with reports surfacing of their taste

Tory MPs get physical over the EU referendum

From our UK edition

Although it was already evident to many that relations in the Tory party are far from rosy thanks to the upcoming EU referendum, it seems tensions are higher than anyone first anticipated. In today’s edition of The Times, Rachel Sylvester’s column — titled ‘The Tories need a new breed of modernisers’ — includes a curious

Did The Times get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?

From our UK edition

Oh dear. While Mr S is not himself immune to the pitfalls of journalism in the digital age, today’s Times Red Box email really does take the biscuit. Although today’s morning briefing promised an exclusive poll proving that Corbyn is going nowhere, a lot of subscribers received something quite different: Fear not, however. If you fell victim

Oxford’s Rhodes Must Fall co-founder hits back over waitress altercation: ‘even if she’s working class, she is linked to whiteness’

From our UK edition

Last month Oxford’s Rhodes Must Fall co-founder Ntokozo Qwabe made the news after he revelled in making a waitress shed ‘white tears‘ at a restaurant in Cape Town. The incident occurred after his friend wrote a note to the waitress explaining they would only tip her when she ‘returned the land’. Since then, a crowdfunder has been