Steerpike

Given that the general election proved disastrous for the Liberal Democrats, it's surprising how many party members seem keen to revisit the experience. With Vince Cable and Norman Baker both bringing out books just in time for this year's Lib Dem conference, reports have surfaced claiming that Nick Clegg has finally agreed to write a book. Although this is expected to be a serious tome looking into the last government rather than a salacious kiss and tell, this hasn't stopped users frantically brainstorming ideas online for the title of the book: https://twitter.com/psmith/status/636867595921158144 https://twitter.com/jamesinlimbo/status/636871674105888768 https://twitter.

With reports starting to claim that the next global financial crisis is on the horizon, one could be forgiven for thinking it's all doom and gloom. So Steerpike was cheered to see that Labour's former king of spin Damian McBride is on hand to put everyone's minds at rest. McBride says that he has been preparing for the day for a while now: https://twitter.com/DPMcBride/status/635693335055876096 As a result, he's perfectly placed to offer a three-point guide on how to respond to the nascent crash. He says it's time to get cash out from your bank, stock up on bottled water and work out a safe meeting point among your friends and family: https://twitter.com/DPMcBride/status/635789840316022784 https://twitter.com/DPMcBride/status/635790013331079168 https://twitter.

Louise Mensch has once again become the subject of much ridicule online over something she has tweeted. The incident occurred last night after the former Tory MP claimed Jeremy Corbyn's supporters — who have recently been accused of being anti-semitic — were insulting Corbyn's Labour leadership rival Liz Kendall. Mensch claimed that Twitter's autocomplete function showed that the most common search words to appear by Liz Kendall's name were 'Nazi', 'Zionist' and 'Jews'. To prove this Mensch even offered a photo of the 'auto searches' to demonstrate the 'sewer that is Jeremy Corbyn's support'. Alas there was a catch.

Although Tatler received a boost to its readership following the BBC's 'Posh People: Inside Tatler', a fly-on-the-wall documentary about the magazine, for some 'posh people' the society bible has long been essential reading. One such man who fits this description is none other than the current Chancellor of the Exchequer. Thanks to Tatler's Bystander archive, Mr S has been granted a glimpse into the 21st birthday celebrations of a young Gideon Osborne. https://twitter.com/sophiamcoutts/status/634681872321265664 His party was covered by the magazine back in 1992, and shows that Osborne enjoyed a bash at the trendy Groucho club where guests toasted him 'endlessly' with champagne.

Oh dear. Andy Burnham's efforts of late to appeal to Jeremy Corbyn's left-wing voters may have gone to waste after an email blip this morning. Steerpike understands that he has risked the wrath of one of the unions after an official looking email was circulated to members of Unite, the trade union, urging them to vote for Burnham. With Unite backing Corbyn, members were surprised to receive the email, from Joyce Still and Steve Hibbert of the union’s executive council, asking them to support Burnham in the leadership race: https://twitter.com/Disabled_Carer/status/634271590520332289 https://twitter.com/unitetheunion/status/634307384710668288 Unite has been quick to distance itself from both the emails and Burnham.

Jeremy Corbyn has been having a difficult time of late. The Labour leadership favourite has become increasingly tetchy with the media after facing questions about his links to a Holocaust denier, as well as being the subject of criticism from a host of former Labour bigwigs. However, there is one man who he can rely on to fight his corner; step forward Russell Brand. Although Ed Miliband had to pay a late night visit to the comedian-turned-revolutionary's £2 million apartment in order to win his endorsement during the general election, Brand has come out for Corbyn all on his own accord.

In an interview with Labour Uncut, Andy Burnham admitted a dark secret: that throughout the 90s he lived in fear that his early-career journalism gigs -- from his time working for B2B magazines -- would wind their way onto Have I Got News for You. He recently repeated his reason for not going on the programme in an interview with GQ: 'Have I Got News for You bid for me almost ten times a year and the reason they do it, I am certain, is they have some of my old articles - so I refuse it every time.' While Mr S can't vouch for the Beeb, Steerpike has at least managed to track down a copy of one of Burnham's early journalism efforts; Passenger Rail Management: Vol. 1, Issue 1, from May/June 1993.

With the registration period now closed, Labour members are sitting tight, waiting for their ballot papers to arrive. A period of quiet, sober reflection now begins, as members decide who they want to see face off the Tories. But not everyone is seeing it that way. The Scottish Labour Young Socialists - who say they are 'fighting for a new, subversive politics' - are holding an event in honour of comrade Corbyn. https://twitter.com/SLYSocialists/status/631554048479461376 Forget champagne socialism; for young Corbynites, the tipple of choice is a cocktail. Marxtini anyone?

It's safe to say that today has not been a great day for the Corbyn campaign. After Yvette Cooper gave a speech claiming her Labour leadership rival's policies are neither original nor credible, Corbyn's good friend Paul Flynn has come out against him. Despite being tipped for a plum role in Corbyn's shadow cabinet should he be elected, Flynn -- who endorsed Liz Kendall before he knew Corbyn was entering the race -- says that he cannot support his like-minded colleague's leadership bid: 'My caller today asked why I have not declared support for Jeremy Corbyn. He is my closest friend among the candidates. I have spoken on more public platforms with him in recent years than any other MP.