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

Mr Brexit meets… Mr Brexit

Last week Donald Trump managed to leave hacks and commentariats confused when he took to Twitter to declare that he would soon be referred to as 'MR BREXIT!'. While many interpreted this to mean that he would win an election against the odds -- just as the Leave vote did in the referendum -- Mr S was curious to learn that Trump is set to share a platform with the UK's very own Mr Brexit. Nigel Farage has told Sky News that he will be appear on stage with Donald Trump in Mississippi tonight to discuss 'The Brexit Story'. Given that Trump has regulary praised Britain's decision to leave the EU, no doubt Farage can offer him some campaign advice for his own presidential bid.

It’s been a year, Nicola Sturgeon. Where are your refugees?

This time last year, as images of refugees fleeing Syria dominated the news, a host of charitable figures offered to do their bit and take refugees into their home. Exasperated that David Cameron was not allowing enough refugees into Britain, Sir Bob Geldof, Yvette Cooper and Nicola Sturgeon were among those who publicly vowed to lead by example. Since then, things appear to have hit a few stumbling blocks. For one, Yvette Cooper claimed -- in an interview with Nick Ferrari -- that we should listen to the Tory government as they have said that 'they don’t want people to take them into their home'. Happily times may now be a'changing.

Jeremy Corbyn’s CCTV concerns are put to bed

As the internet goes into meltdown over the news that Jeremy Corbyn may have had a seat after all when he filmed a video claiming he did not, it appears that the Labour leader hasn't done much to help his cause. While his campaign team claim that Virgin Train's CCTV footage is a 'lie', Corbyn can at least take heart that the cameras appear to have been working.

Virgin accuses Corbyn of telling porkies in train video

Last week, a video of Jeremy Corbyn sitting in the hallway of a crowded train on the his way to a leadership debate went viral. The footage appeared to show the Labour leader sat on the floor for an entire three-hour train journey after he valiantly declared that it would be unfair for him to upgrade his ticket to first class -- where there were seats -- when others 'might not be able to afford such a luxury'. He went on to conclude that 'this is a problem that many passengers face every day, commuters and long-distance travellers'. However, not all passengers appear to face the problem every day -- Jeremy Corbyn for one.

David Cameron’s larynx comes to his defence on childhood obesity

Theresa May was once seen as the continuity candidate to succeed David Cameron. However, since becoming Prime Minister she has gone on to sideline or backtrack many of Cameron and George Osborne's pet projects. As well as delaying Hinkley Point and leaving the Northern Powerhouse's future up in the air, she has provoked anger this week over the Government's childhood obesity strategy. While Cameron made clear that childhood obesity would be a flagship issue for his government -- with Jeremy Hunt even promising to take draconian measures -- May appears to take a different approach. In the report -- pushed out in recess -- May has scrapped plans to curb junk food advertising and created confusion over Osborne's sugar tax now that it will no longer be a tax on consumers.

Jeremy Clarkson’s half-hearted apology to Gordon Brown

Although Jeremy Clarkson had to leave the Beeb last year following a 'fracas' with a producer over a cold meat platter, in his time there he had already developed a reputation for getting himself into tight scrapes. In one such incident, the former Top Gear presenter caused a furore after he called the then prime minister Gordon Brown a 'one-eyed Scottish idiot' -- among other things -- at a press conference in Australia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1lG1nxAvkI Recalling the fallout at the time, Mark Thompson, then BBC director-general, says he received a call from Clarkson before he even heard about the row. 'Jeremy Clarkson phoned up out of the blue when I was on a day off,' the former BBC director-general tells the Sunday Times.

Sorry, what? European Parliament claims the EU topped Olympic medal table

After Britain ended the Rio Olympics in an impressive second place in the olympic medal table, many Brexiteers claimed the result was a good omen for the country as it prepares to branch out alone. However, not everyone appears to have got the memo. Today the European Parliament Twitter account has released a graphic showing that it was actually the European Union that was the top medal winner! This meant that the United States came a distant second, and China in third. Happily by Tokyo 2020 they should be unable to try and lay claim to any British medals in their subsequent EU propaganda.

Listen: Liam Fox boasts of Foreign Office land grab

For weeks there have been reports of simmering tensions between Theresa May's three Brexiteers. After the Prime Minister appointed David Davis as the Brexit Secretary, Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary and Liam Fox as the International Trade Secretary, the group have developed a rivalry over who does what. In particular, Fox is thought to be butting heads with Johnson. After he sent a letter to Johnson demanding that the Foreign Office be broken up and hand certain responsibilities to his department he was accused of attempting a 'land grab'. While that bid failed, another land grab appears to have found greater success.

Sadiq Khan booed by Corbynistas at rally

After Sadiq Khan declared that he would not get involved in the Labour leadership contest, the Mayor of London had a change of heart over the weekend and penned a piece for the Observer endorsing Owen Smith. Corbyn's supporters have not taken this well -- even re-circulating Mr S's story about Khan attending Rupert Murdoch's summer drinks party to suggest that he is a wrong'un. Meanwhile at a pro-Corbyn rally in London last night, thousands of supporters took things up a gear as they let their new-found feelings on the Muslim son of a bus driver be known. Despite Khan's recent election as mayor, attendees started booing at the very mention of his name: https://twitter.com/georgeeaton/status/767443058682101760 https://twitter.

Watch: Jack Dromey’s U-turn over Corbyn

It's tough being a part of the Labour coup. Even though you've plotted behind the party leader's back and are now supporting a challenger, it's important to remain on civil terms. That must be why Jack Dromey cut an interview short about the need to replace Jeremy Corbyn to... greet Jeremy Corbyn. https://twitter.com/Alison1mackITV/status/766330487854010369 The smiling pair enjoyed a friendly chat, with Corbyn welcoming Dromey with open arms. Mr S suspects the Corbynistas may have a point when it comes to today's politicians lacking integrity.

Jeremy Corbyn’s PMQs conundrum

With Labour's list of all-male mayoral candidates announced last week, there has been some speculation that the potential loss of Andy Burnham to Manchester and Steve Rotheram to Liverpool will spell disaster for the Commons football team. While this of course hinges on both MPs being successful in their efforts, Mr S understands that should victory beckon Corbyn will have a far more pressing matter on his hands. As well as losing the shadow Home Secretary, the Labour leader would have to go without the man who preps him for PMQs.

Wanted: a British bulldog for the Brexit department

In recent months, Downing St has played court to a turf war between No.10's chief mouser Larry and Palmerston, the Foreign Office's top cat. Things are only set to get more complicated now that the Treasury has also welcomed a feline -- by the name of Gladstone -- and the Cabinet Office are in talks to do the same. Unsurprisingly this new wave of pets has left some departments feeling rather left out. In fact, those in the newly formed Department for Brexit are now keen for their own pet. However, rather than a mere cat they are after a... British bulldog. The thinking is that the pooch -- widely seen as a symbol for plucky Brits -- would send a clear signal to the rest of Westminster and the world that they mean business.

Sarah Vine lifts the lid on Michael Gove’s beard

There has been much speculation this week regarding rumours that Michael Gove has a beard. The former Justice Secretary was spotted on Tuesday in the Palace of Westminster with what appeared to be a new bout of facial hair. Today photos have emerged of Gove's whiskers, as his wife Sarah Vine confirmed the news in Wednesday's Daily Mail. Alas, she has given the beard a lukewarm verdict. Vine says that although Gove is 'enjoying his new hipster look', she's growing tired of men getting to let their 'facial hair grow wild and free as they relax their regimes' in summer.

What was Nigel Farage doing at the German embassy?

After Nigel Farage achieved his aim of taking Britain out of the EU, he announced that he would be stepping down as leader of Ukip. However, with the subsequent leadership race since facing several setbacks -- with Steven Woolfe ruled ineligible and Bill Etheridge now caught up in a viagra row -- many kippers are already missing the days of Farage. While Farage has promised to stay closely involved with his party, could he be planning a German getaway?

Ed Vaizey is left out in the cold

As Theresa May's recently re-shuffled Cabinet get underway with the big task at hand, spare a thought for those who are having to get used to being on the sidelines. There was a cross-party outcry when Ed Vaizey was axed as culture minister with MPs from both Labour and the SNP praising his work in the role. Alas it seems that Vaizey is finding it difficult to adjust to a return to the backbench.

Happy news at last in the Remain camp

This autumn, Sir Craig Oliver will publish his book Unleashing Demons: The Inside Story of the EU Referendum. The tome promises to lift the lid on No.10's failed efforts to keep the United Kingdom in the EU, with details of private conversations with everyone from Jeremy Corbyn to Barack Obama. However while the book is unlikely to make for an uplifting read -- given Oliver described the end result as 'walking across a path that appeared to be safety and then walking into quicksand' -- Mr S has reason to believe that the campaign wasn't all pain and suffering for Cameron's former director of communications. As well as being awarded a knighthood in the Prime Minister's resignation honours, Oliver is said to have found a like-minded confidante in the Remain camp.

Clean-eating emergency: the Guardian turns on avocados

Oh dear. First the Guardian declared tea drinkers to possess ‘the worst possible English trait, up there with colonialism‘ and HP sauce to be the condiment of the establishment. Then the paper's food section took things up a gear by describing barbecues as simply borderline-racist and street parties to be ‘a front for a middle-class nationalism that celebrates austerity’. Now they have turned on their own. Yes, just as French scribe Jacques Mallet du Pan said, the revolution has devoured its children. In the latest bit of food advice from the Grauniad, the paper calls out hipsters for eating avocado toast, the trendy brunch staple. In a piece -- titled 'Can hipsters stomach the unpalatable truth about avocado toast?

Friday caption contest: Farage’s new look

Now that Nigel Farage is stepping away from frontline politics, he has more time to focus on his family, television career and... appearance. In an interview for Russia Today (natch) with Sam Delaney, Farage has unveiled his new facial hair. With the look so far receiving a mixed reception online -- with some likening it to that of an American daytime television host -- Mr S welcomes your caption suggestions. The winner will be announced on Monday. Update: … and the winner is K G Barrett for coming up with a solution to Ukip's troubles in their leadership contest -- with the caption: ‘Nigel Farage? I'm sorry, I have never heard of him. My name is John Bull, and I'm standing for leadership of Ukip’.

Newsnight feels the heat over Emma Thompson’s ‘inaccurate’ climate claims

Oh dear. Although BBC presenters tend to shrug off most accusations of bias as nonsense, staff at Newsnight are going to have to rethink their approach when it comes to reporting on climate change. A paper by the BBC Trust has urged the corporation to ensure that 'presenters are able to confidently challenge misleading/ inaccurate statistical claims made by interviewees'. They go on to cite Emma Thompson's appearance on Newsnight as an example of when not enough was done to challenge faulty views. In an interview with Emily Maitlis, the Oscar-winning luvvie made statements about climate change: 'If they [oil companies] take out of the earth all the oil they want to take out, you look at the science.

Theresa May attempts a Swiss getaway

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister set off for a two week holiday in Switzerland. A favourite destination of both Theresa May and her husband Philip, the pair are expected to enjoy the fresh mountain air and go walking. However, being Prime Minister ahead of an EU negotiation can make even the most neutral of destination a complicated choice. During the referendum campaign, Switzerland was often cited as an example of a country that has got the best deal from being outside the EU. What's more reports are circulating that Brussels will get even tougher on Switzerland’s trade deals in order to set a precedent for the UK’s ahead of its negotiation.