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

Team Corbyn left red-faced over Berlin hostel Twitter ‘hack’

From our UK edition

Over the weekend a number of strange tweets were emitted from Jeremy Corbyn's Twitter account. The Labour leader appeared to be taking his call to attack the Tories -- and not other members of Labour -- to new heights when he tweeted 'Davey Cameron is a pie' along with 'Here we... here we... here we f---ing go!!!'. While the tweets were swiftly deleted and put down to the account being hacked, new information has now come to light surrounding the incident. The Times Red Box reports that the 'hack' occurred in a hostel in Germany. One of Corbyn's staff was enjoying a break in Berlin when the orders came to tweet from Jeremy Corbyn's account. To do this, they logged onto a hostel computer.

Government aide halts junior doctors interview: ‘where is Jeremy Hunt?’

From our UK edition

As junior doctors exercise their right to strike today over government plans to change their contracts, Jeremy Hunt has been keeping a surprisingly low profile. In fact the Health Secretary has declined interview requests, instead sending his senior clinical advisor Norman Williams to field questions from the media. Alas, there are some questions that are not appropriate to ask Williams. One such question is 'where is Jeremy Hunt?'. Sky's Darren McCaffrey found this out the hard way after he asked Williams why Hunt was refusing to take media requests. At which point an aide dived in to stop the interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWcSEw7LHrU 'Hang on a minute, we're not doing any of this nonsense.' Alas for Hunt and his team, the camera was already on record.

The Guardian puts ‘shed’ project on ice

From our UK edition

When Alan Rusbridger stepped down as Guardian editor-in-chief last year, he boasted of the 'good shape' he was leaving the paper in. Alas, for all his efforts it appears that some of Rusbridger's pet projects are now falling by the wayside. Back in 2014, the paper announced to much fanfare that they were taking the paper in a new direction. Forget multi-platform digital journalism, they were going boldly where no paper had gone before -- live: 'This is our vision: around the world, the Guardian will host and create the forums and opportunities that bring people together; to explore, debate and shape the vital intimate and global issues of our age.

Derren Brown tells Daily Mail hacks to commit suicide

From our UK edition

Last year Benedict Cumberbatch came under fire for giving an impromptu expletive-filled rant on the government's handling of the refugee crisis following a performance of Hamlet at the Barbican. While critics suggested that the theatre was not the right venue for the rant, at least Cumberbatch's airing happened after the show had finished. Alas the same cannot be said for Derren Brown. Steerpike understands that the illusionist has a regular slot in his Miracle show where he shares his views on journalists who work for the Daily Mail. Disgruntled audience members -- who have attended on different nights -- were surprised to hear Brown say that Daily Mail hacks should commit suicide.

Listen: newsreader announces death of Cameron instead of Bowie

From our UK edition

As the nation goes into mourning over the death of David Bowie today, one radio presenter appeared to be having trouble even taking the news in this morning. In fact when the newsreader Fiona Winchester's read the news for Heart FM in Scotland during a morning bulletin, she seemed to have a world exclusive on her hands. https://soundcloud.com/spectator1828/newsreader-accidentally-announces-death-of-david-cameron-instead-of-david-bowie 'David Cameron has died,' the Scottish presenter declared. However, the penny soon began to drop that she had not actually meant to say the Prime Minister's name.

Finally, some good news for the Miliband household

From our UK edition

Last year proved to be a testing year for the Miliband clan as Ed Miliband fought to be the next Prime Minister. While his wife Justine Thornton -- an environmental barrister -- found out firsthand how vicious the campaign can get when Sarah Vine compared her to 'Mr Spock' in a column for the Daily Mail, her husband went on to suffer the ultimate blow with a catastrophic defeat at the polls. Now there is happy news for the family: Justine has been appointed Queen's Counsel. She is one of three barristers at 39 Essex Chambers to be awarded the honour: https://twitter.com/JustineT/status/686523551176851457 With Ed now a contented backbencher, Mr S has no doubts that the former Labour leader will do his best to support his high-flying wife in her new appointment.

Jan Moir predicts a ch-ch-change to David Bowie’s peace of mind

From our UK edition

This morning the nation has gone into Twitter mourning after news broke that David Bowie had passed away following a battle with cancer. As hacks and fans rush out messages of sincere condolences, Jan Moir may well be regretting the timing of a feature she has had published in today's Mail. In the article -- entitled 'the bitterness of Mrs Bowie' -- Moir speaks to Bowie's first wife Angie. In the piece, Angie hits back at Bowie in 'viciously indiscreet style' -- leaving the ever-insightful Jan Moir to note: 'Dear old Angie has been quiet for years, but her painfully discreet ex-husband can expect some big ch-ch-changes to his peace of mind henceforth.' Well, at least Moir was right about something.

Jeremy Corbyn has his Twitter hacked: ‘Davey Cameron is a pie’

From our UK edition

Oh dear. It's safe to say that last week was not a great week for Jeremy Corbyn after the Labour leader found members of his party on the verge of revolt following his so-called 'revenge reshuffle'. His decision to sack members of his Shadow Cabinet led to resignations from Shadow Ministers as party members criticised his decision to move Emily Thornberry -- who is anti-Trident -- into the role of Shadow Defence Secretary. However despite this the Labour leader appears to be on fighting form.

The party’s not over yet for the BNP

From our UK edition

The British National Party found itself back in the news today after years in the wilderness. However, it was bad news once again for the beleaguered party -- the Electoral Commission had removed them from the register of political parties. While the decision was met with cheers by many, it hardly came as a surprise given the party's difficulties in recent months. In the general election, they fielded only eight candidates as their vote share dived by 99.7 per cent. Despite this, the celebrations may have been somewhat pre-emptive as the party have now hit back. They says that they are definitely not over. Instead, they simply encountered a 'small clerical error' which led to the party being knocked off the electoral register list.

Tory MP: ‘everyone should enjoy the benefits of a chauffeur’

From our UK edition

In the past the Conservative party has been accused of not being in tune with the British public. Matters have not been helped by a number of 'out of touch' gaffes including David Cameron's confession that he does not know the price of a loaf of bread because he prefers to use his £100 bread-maker. However, at least one Tory MP's heart is in the right place. Adam Afriyie, the MP for Windsor, has today shared his views on why it's time for driverless cars to come to Britain. Rather than the eco-benefits of the car-sharing options it could bring, Afriyie says Britain needs 'driverless cars' on the roads so everyone can 'enjoy the benefits of a chauffeur'.

Laura Kuenssberg gets Corbynistas in a spin over reshuffle scoop

From our UK edition

In recent months brains at the BBC have undertaken a number of steps to tackle 'anti-Corbyn bias' head on at the corporation. After the Beeb's former political editor Nick Robinson wrote to colleagues warning them against anti-Corbyn bias in the political coverage, the message was then picked up by the comedy department. Barry Humphries revealed this week that he was told he could not do a planned Corbyn joke on a BBC comedy show -- unless he also did one about David Cameron. Alas for all their efforts, it just isn't enough to keep the angry Corbynistas at bay.

News from Labour: Labour says Labour is pro-women

From our UK edition

It's safe to say this week hasn't been the best for Labour. As well as a never-ending reshuffle saga, Corbyn was accused of 'low-level non-violent misogyny' over the lack of women in the top roles in his Shadow Cabinet by Labour MP Jess Phillips. So with the cabinet officially reshuffled, brains at Labour HQ decided it was time for a very special announcement: they had increased the number of women in their Shadow Cabinet by one! A press release entitled 'NEWS FROM LABOUR: Following the reshuffle women now occupy 17 out of the 31 shadow cabinet positions' was sent around which included the number of women in both the shadow cabinet and the ministerial teams.

Watch: Ken Livingstone on Labour’s ‘disaffected uber-Blairites’

From our UK edition

After Diane Abbott falsely claimed that Labour MP Jonathan Reynolds was a former special adviser on last night's Newsnight, Reynolds hit back by describing her as a 'sell-out'. Now -- just when it seemed Labour's in-fighting couldn't get much worse -- Ken Livingstone has appeared on the Daily Politics to offer his take on the incident. Asked if Abbott was wrong to falsely claim that Reynolds used to be a spad, Livingstone wasn't so sure. It turns out that the former Mayor of London doesn't always think it is a bad thing to insult someone live on television with false information. Instead, the real problem here is of course Blairism: 'Diane is responding to this wave of backstabbing by this disaffected little group of old uber-Blairites.' https://twitter.

Jonathan Reynolds takes on Diane Abbott: ‘you’re a total sell-out’

From our UK edition

After a tough day yesterday for Corbyn's team following his chaotic reshuffle, there was only one thing left to do to save the day: send Diane Abbott onto the airwaves. The gaffe-prone shadow international development secretary appeared on Newsnight to wax lyrical about the state of Corbyn's slightly reshuffled Shadow Cabinet. When put to her that things might not be quite so rosy given that three shadow ministers had resigned in protest of Corbyn's reshuffle, she said it wasn't really a great loss given that they all use to be special advisers who lacked real life experience: https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/685011525803851776 Alas the MPs she was referring too were not going to take the comments lying down.

Knives out for Seumas Milne over reshuffle shambles

From our UK edition

Labour has found itself on the verge of a civil war today as a number of MPs have turned on their dear leader over his Shadow Cabinet reshuffle. After weeks of conflicting briefings in the media, it was Corbyn's decision to axe Pat McFadden which proved to be a particular sore point amongst Labour MPs as two shadow ministers resigned in protest. This was in large because McFadden claims he was sacked over his comments after the Paris terrorist attacks when he asked David Cameron to confirm that the actions of terrorists could not be dismissed as a reaction to the actions of those in the West. At the time, it was clear McFadden was referring to controversial comments from Stop the War which were later deleted.

Have relations between Emily Thornberry and the armed forces already soured?

From our UK edition

Jeremy Corbyn made his views on changing the Labour party's Trident policy pretty clear last night when he moved pro-Trident Maria Eagle out of the role of shadow defence secretary in favour of Emily Thornberry. Thornberry - who is anti-Trident - has been labelled as a controversial appointment by some given that – as well as having a penchant for white vans – she is in favour of nuclear disarmament. While this may make her job difficult when it comes to getting the armed forces on side, it won't be the only obstacle she will have to overcome. Back in December 2014, Thornberry declared in her register of interests a donation of £14,500 from Leigh Day & Co.

Jeremy Corbyn no longer ‘living with the enemy’

From our UK edition

This week Jeremy Corbyn has found himself battling with the media once again as he had to reprimand lobby journalists for loitering too close to his office during his Shadow Cabinet reshuffle deliberations. Happily he no longer has to deal with such proximity issues when he returns home this evening. Mr S revealed back in December that the Labour leader was officially 'living with the enemy' after his lodger Gian Volpicelli started doing shifts for Mail Online.

Jess Phillips: I am interested in being Labour leader

From our UK edition

In December, Julie Burchill had lunch with Jess Phillips MP, and decided in an article for Spectator Life that the gobby Brummie had the balls to drag the Labour party back from Korbyn’s Keystone Kommunism. It now seems that Phillips agrees. Speaking on Newsnight last night, she admitted - over a pint - that she was indeed interested in the role: 'Yes, absolutely I would consider doing it, a long time in the future. It’s not something I’m planning on doing any time soon but it’s absolutely something I would do in the future, yes.' https://www.youtube.com/watch?

Revealed: David Cameron’s ‘well watered’ election bouquet

From our UK edition

No doubt David Cameron looks back on his 2010 election victory with fond memories -- the excitement on the night, the subsequent celebrations and of course the gifts that followed. So Mr S is sorry to report that one election present may not have been quite what it seemed. Julian Sayarer's forthcoming book Messengers details his time as a delivery courier in London. In this, there is one intriguing entry regarding a delivery he undertook in May 2010 to Downing Street.

Labour MPs rally around their fallen attack dog

From our UK edition

Michael Dugher has today been fired by Jeremy Corbyn from his role as Shadow Culture Secretary after serving less than five months on Corbyn's frontline. https://twitter.com/MichaelDugher/status/684314268024573952 While the move will no doubt come as a blow to Dugher, the responses from his fellow MPs on Twitter suggest that his demotion could actually be the biggest loss to politics in recent history. Dugher's comrades have been releasing carefully worded tributes in honour of their fallen soldier: https://twitter.com/ChukaUmunna/status/684346831879434240 https://twitter.com/andyburnhammp/status/684331143907393536 https://twitter.com/lucianaberger/status/684324637157769216 https://twitter.com/JonAshworth/status/684321006295642112 https://twitter.