Steerpike

With George Galloway predicted to have won roughly one per cent of the vote in the London mayoral election, his dream of becoming Mayor is fading fast. So, barring a drastic recount, the next question to ask is: what will become of his battle bus? [caption id="attachment_9472502" align="alignright" width="520"] (Credit: Camilla Swift)[/caption] Barely a day has gone by in the campaign when Galloway has not been spotted in the bright blue bus touring the streets of London. Happily, Steerpike understands that Londoners can expect to see more of the Respect politician and his vehicle. Rather than return the vehicle, Mr S hears that Galloway now owns the bus and plans to paint it as he requires for his various projects.

Although Charlotte Church is seen to be a die-hard Corbynista -- previously speaking at rallies to support the Labour leader -- it appears that the prosecco-socialist is beginning to have second thoughts about Jeremy Corbyn's Labour. Rather than vote for Corbyn's beloved Labour in today's Welsh Assembly elections, Church has tweeted to say that she is backing Leanne Wood's Plaid Cymru. https://twitter.com/charlottechurch/status/728146109676150784 She has since defended her decision not to support Welsh Labour's Carwyn Jones, claiming that those who describe this as a defection don't understand Welsh politics. https://twitter.

It's less than 48 hours until the polls open for the local elections and following last week's anti-Semitism media-storm, Corbyn needs all the friends he can get if he hopes to keep voters onside. Alas, some friends are more helpful than others. As Labour try and show that they do not condone anti-Semitism, Corbyn has reportedly received a declaration of support from... Hamas. Yes, following Corbyn's decision to reject calls to denounce the Islamist group -- whose armed wing is banned as a terrorist organisation in the UK --  Breitbart Jerusalem report that Taher A-Nunu, a senior Hamas official, has said that Corbyn’s willingness to engage with the Gaza-based group as a 'painful hit that the Zionist enemy received'.

Yes, Labour is in the worst kind of turmoil - but don't expect Zac Goldsmith to be able to turn it to his advantage. His overall problem is rather neatly exemplified by the above picture: will Londoners vote for a bloke who can't even hold a pint glass, let alone drink its contents? Fair enough, Zac may not be a beer man - Gordon Brown only ever drank wine or champagne - but in which case why do a photocall in a pub? With Boris Johnson? Yet more proof that, while Zac hired Lynton Crosby's firm, the Wizard from Oz hasn't been nearly involved enough.

If there’s one thing Jeremy Corbyn does not like, it’s being hassled by journalists. The Labour leader was filmed yesterday refusing to answer questions about Ken Livingstone’s remarks before he managed to give the camera crew the slip. He's also been filmed walking through Westminster keeping quiet whilst journalists try and persuade him to answer questions. And earlier this month, Corbyn did not take kindly to a reporter from LBC doorstepping him following the row over David Cameron's tax affairs. On all of those previous occasions, he's managed to make a quick exit. But his attempts to do the same earlier today were thwarted – by a locked door. The grouchy Labour leader tried to give a Sky News reporter short shrift, saying only ‘Goodbye’.

Although Ken Livingstone has done his best to steal Ed Balls's thunder today, it's important to take a moment and remember what April 28 is really all about. Today marks the 5th anniversary of Ed Balls day -- the day the former shadow chancellor accidentally tweeted his own name. Five years on and a lot has changed for Balls -- and Labour. Happily, now he is no longer an MP -- let alone a shadow Cabinet member -- Balls seems to have a lot more time on his hands, which would explain why he has made himself a cake to mark the occasion.