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

Watch: Dennis Skinner ejected from Commons over ‘dodgy Dave’ insult

This afternoon David Cameron has had to face the music in the Commons over his shares in his father's offshore fund. While he received a lukewarm response from his own party, the most hostile response came from the Beast of Bolsover. After Cameron gave an address on his tax affairs, Dennis Skinner angrily responded by calling the Prime Minister 'dodgy Dave': 'At the time when he was dividing the nation between striders and scroungers, I asked him a very important question about the windfall he received when he wrote off the mortgage of the premises in Notting Hill, and I said he didn't write off the mortgage of the one the taxpayers were helping to pay for at Oxford. I didn't receive a proper answer then. Maybe dodgy Dave will answer it now.

Has Jeremy Corbyn lost his tax return?

Oh dear. Although Jeremy Corbyn spent the best part of last week calling on David Cameron to publish his tax return, the Labour leader appears to be struggling to follow his own advice. Despite Corbyn promising to publish his tax return last Tuesday, the document is yet to see the light of day. Rather than a tax evasion conspiracy, it's thought that Corbyn simply can't find it; with some outlets reporting that he has had to ask HMRC to send him a copy.  However, the Leader's Office dispute this -- they insist that it will be published soon.

Liz Kendall hits out at ‘old-fashioned misogyny’ on the hard left

Although Liz Kendall insists that she gets on well with her former Labour leadership rival Jeremy Corbyn on a personal level, she is less fond of some of his supporters. While it's well known that Kendall is on the opposite end of the spectrum to Corbyn when it comes to their political views within Labour, the Blairite says that it is the  'old-fashioned misogyny' of the hard left that she takes issue with. In an interview with the Sunday Times, Kendall says that many members of the hard left targeted her with misogynistic abuse just because she held opposing political views: 'There's a lot of old-fashioned misogyny on the hard left; you've only got to look at the comments about me during the leadership campaign.

Polly Toynbee forgets to check her privilege on Marr

With the Sunday papers filled with the details of David Cameron's past tax returns, the subject of his family's wealth remains high on the news agenda. Happily Guardian heavyweight Polly Toynbee was on hand to offer her take on the row during the Andrew Marr show paper review. Toynbee argued that the real story was not any supposed wrongdoing on Cameron's part when it comes to paying tax, but instead his personal wealth is the problem.

Lily Allen in a spin over David Cameron’s offshore trust stake

Oh dear. David Cameron's bad day just got worse. After he admitted to previously owning shares in his father's offshore fund, he has faced calls to resign. Now Lily Allen has promised to pay him a visit. The Smile singer says she will be heading to No.10  tomorrow to take part in a protest calling for Cameron to resign. The news will no doubt come as a blow to the Prime Minister given that he previously claimed Allen's music was unsuitable listening material for his children. Making clear her opposition to Cameron, Allen claimed on Twitter that he has been 'stealing' from the public and needs to resign: https://twitter.com/lilyallen/status/718349311692709889 Alas Allen has failed to offer up any evidence to back up her claim.

Labour’s war on the media rumbles on: Corbyn tells off hacks outside his home

As David Cameron finds himself in hot water over his admission that he once owned shares in an offshore fund, today ought to be a walk in the park for Labour. In fact, all Jeremy Corbyn need do is give the press a few soundbites on the Tories' troubles and then sit back and relax. Alas this is Corbyn we're talking about so things were never going to be that simple. Instead the Labour leader has managed to become the story after he was filmed scolding an LBC journalist outside his home after she attempted to ask for his thoughts on Cameron's admission. Rather than answer, Corbyn told her that he would never give an interview outside his house, before physically pushing her dictaphone away from him: 'Good morning everybody. Thank you for coming here.

Irvine Welsh has a taxing time on Question Time

Last night's Question Time saw David Dimbleby joined by Anna Soubry, Chris Bryant, Douglas Carswell, economist Ruth Lea and Irvine Welsh. As Soubry, Bryant and Carswell all bickered about the government's use of £9m of taxpayers' money for EU leaflets, Welsh -- who lives in Chicago -- said that even if he had a vote, he probably wouldn't use it. While the Trainspotting author leans towards Brexit, he says the choice is a 'spurious' one as either way the economic system will not work to the advantage of the masses: 'It's a spurious choice, life goes on very much in the same way and we've seen how the world economy operates. How the global economy operates and how it operates to the advantage of very few people and the disadvantage of many people.

David Cameron claims he watches Glastonbury at home by a warm fire… in June

Today David Cameron is trying to win the youth vote in the upcoming EU referendum. To do this, he has given a speech to students at Exeter University -- claiming that young people will be be hit hardest in the event of Brexit. Taking questions from the audience after his speech, one student pointed out that it may be difficult for many youngsters to vote given that the referendum clashes with Glastonbury. Answering the question, Cameron attempted to get the crowd on side by confessing that he too loves the music festival. However, rather than attend the lively festivities, he makes sure he watches it 'at home in front of a warm fire'. However, Mr S is slightly suspicious of Cameron's claim. After all, Glastonbury takes place in the summer.

Labour secures the full fruits of Clause IV

During the Labour leadership election, Jeremy Corbyn found himself in hot water after he appeared to claim in an interview with the Independent on Sunday that he wanted to reinstate clause IV of the Labour party constitution. The clause -- which Tony Blair scrapped -- commits the party to nationalising industry: 'To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange, and the best obtainable system of popular administration and control of each industry or service.

Boris Johnson blasts government’s £9m EU leaflets: ‘it’s a complete waste of money’

The news today that the government are to spend over £9m of taxpayers' money on leaflets for the pro-EU campaign has gone down like a lead balloon in the Brexit camp. In an interview with ITV News, Boris Johnson has blasted the leaflets as 'a complete waste of money': 'I think it's a complete waste of money. It's crazy to use quite so much taxpayers' money on stuff that is basically intended to scare people and to stampede people in one direction.' https://twitter.com/itvnews/status/717786775523954688 Another nail in the coffin when it comes to Johnson's relationship with the Prime Minister.

Green Party MEP accuses BBC of bias over party broadcast

These days the BBC can't seem to get anything right. On top of regularly riling Brexit-ers with 'EU bias', the corporation has been accused by some -- including former BBC pol ed Nick Robinson -- of showing anti-Corbyn bias. Now they can add a new one to their list; anti-Green Party bias. Yes, Green Party MEP Molly Scott Cato has made the peculiar claim after the BBC failed to publish an article on her party's new video broadcast: The video features young children pretending to be today's politicians -- arguing that while other parties are childish, the Green Party are not. As amusing as the video may be, Cato appears to barking up the wrong tree.

Watch: Zac Goldsmith’s awkward TfL interview – ‘I’m going to stop you there’

Oh dear. With Sadiq Khan leading the polls ahead of the upcoming London mayoral election, Zac Goldsmith has his work cut out when it comes to convincing swing voters to vote blue. As part of this, the Old Etonian needs to show that he has a firm understanding of Londoners' needs. Alas, his efforts hit a bump in the road today thanks to an awkward BBC interview. The Conservative mayoral candidate was quizzed by Norman Smith in the back of a cab for the Victoria Derbyshire show. Goldsmith was quick to make the point that he -- like the majority of Londoners -- regularly uses the tube. However, when Smith proceeded to quiz him on London tube stops, Goldsmith began to sound a lot less convincing: NS: Do you use the tube? ZG: Yeah...

Sadiq Khan fails his own transport test

As the London mayoral race heats up, Sadiq Khan has gone on the offensive when it comes to the cost of public transport under the Tories. The Labour candidate -- who promises a four-year fares freeze if elected -- says that when it comes to value for money, things have got so bad that a luxury transatlantic Virgin flight from London to New York now works out more cost effective than a short trip from South Kensington to Heathrow on the Piccadilly line. While the flight comes to 32p a mile, the tube journey is more, at 42p a mile. So, with Khan focussed on making sure members of the public don't have to pay sky-high prices for transport, Mr S thought it wise to check whether Khan practises what he preaches.

Revealed: Zac Goldsmith’s record of failure

In March, Zac Goldsmith was named the most 'pro-business' London mayoral candidate in a ComRes poll. According to the survey, 65 per cent of Londoners think Goldsmith is pro-business, compared with 39 per cent for Sadiq Khan. However, despite this vote of confidence in Goldsmith's approach to business, a closer look at the Conservative mayoral candidate's CV suggests that he may actually be lacking in business acumen on a personal level. Despite several attempts at running businesses, few of his ventures have taken off. In fact, of eight companies he has been involved with, six have dissolved and one is losing money. One of Goldsmith's first attempts at business was as a director of Ecologist Consultants Limited.

Labour’s ‘prince across the water’ hints at a return to Blighty

During Ed Miliband's time as Labour leader, he was subject to opposition from MPs in his own party as those in other parties. In fact, Miliband couldn't even rely on his own family for unconditional support, with his brother David -- who had lost out to Ed in the Labour leadership election -- seldom praising his performance. Still, at least Ed can take heart that he's not the only Labour leader that his brother has little positive to say about. In an interview with ES Magazine, the former Foreign Secretary -- who quit UK politics to head up International Rescue in New York -- is scant on praise for Jeremy Corbyn: 'He’s won his majority and the proof of the pudding is in the eating: how does he lead? Does he lead us into government?

A London for all! George Galloway to speak at £1400 private members’ club

George Galloway's London mayoral campaign carries a key message: 'A London for all, not just for those dripping with gold.' The Respect politician promises to make London a fairer, more equal society. But after Nick Cohen mentioned in The Spectator earlier this week that Galloway hadn't been seen at a number of mayoral hustings, Mr S wondered where he might be hanging out these days. Shoreditch House, it would seem. According to an email sent to all Soho House members, Galloway is scheduled to give a talk to the Shoreditch branch of the private members' club on 13 April: Given that membership at the club costs £1,400, Mr S imagines there will be a few champagne socialists in attendance, perhaps some even dripping with gold.

Zac Goldsmith wins an endorsement… from his ex-brother-in-law

Zac Goldsmith's mayoral campaign hit a bum note this month when his attempts to reach out to the Indian community backfired. The Conservative MP found himself accused of 'racially profiling' voters who have Indian sounding names with patronising leaflets. Happily he appears to have a different plan in place when it comes to winning over the Pakistani vote. Step forward Imran Khan. The Pakistani politician, and former cricketer, has endorsed Goldsmith's mayoral bid. Khan says Goldsmith has the 'leadership capabilities to make a great mayor': https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/712618962262089728 https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/712620102718529536 So, what exactly is it about Zac's campaign that has attracted the attention of a prominent Pakistani politician?

Vote Leave exec accuses Alan Duncan of asking for a board position before backing Remain

This week Sir Alan Duncan penned a piece for the Telegraph entitled 'why this lifelong Eurosceptic is now voting to stay in'. In this, the Conservative MP explained the reasons he is backing Remain. To show how torn he had been over the decision, Duncan revealed that he had even met with Vote Leave ahead of opting to join the In camp: 'I am one of those who many expected in the referendum campaign to be a fervent advocate of leaving. Until recently I also expected it of myself – even going so far as to speak to the Leave organisers at their HQ.' However, Vote Leave's Matthew Elliott has put forward a different version of events. He claims that Duncan actually went a step further than just visiting their offices.

Jeremy Corbyn’s brother backs Brexit: ‘the EU is the tool of big corporations and asset strippers’

The upcoming EU referendum has proved to be a divisive issue for families as well as politicians. With Boris Johnson the lone Out-er among his siblings, another famous family are now to take different sides in the great debate. Although Jeremy Corbyn is known to have held Eurosceptic views in the past -- recently deleting articles scathing of Brussels from his website, the Labour leader insists that he is backing Remain. However, Mr S understands that his brother Piers is to get behind the Leave campaign.

Did a Momentum activist suggest Chuka Umunna wasn’t ‘politically black’?

It's been a bad week for the Tories, but it hasn't exactly been a great week for Labour. After a list categorising Labour MPs as 'supportive' or 'hostile' towards Jeremy Corbyn was leaked, things seem to have taken a turn for the worse, because it appears that Corbynistas are now ranking MPs in terms of how 'politically black' they are. The Evening Standard reports that during a speech given by Marlene Ellis - a Momentum activist and member of Chuka Umunna’s local party - she claims that her local Labour party branch in Lambeth is 'very, very right-wing'.