Steerpike, Author at The Spectator

Monday

13 July 2015

Stella Creasy’s deputy leadership campaign is hit by online glitch

Given that Labour's next deputy leader will need to take on a pivotal role when it comes to both campaigning and communicating on behalf of the party, Stella Creasy's campaign took a hit over the weekend. A message about a conference call taking place today was sent to a number of Labour supporters who had no involvement - or interest - in a telephone campaign meeting. Creasy hastily sent an email apology: 'Of course, I would love to have a conference call with each and everyone of you!' the Labour MP told disgruntled recipients. If only the feeling was mutual.

Friday

10 July 2015

Steerpike

Place your bets! Bookies reveal favourites to be next BBC political editor

Yesterday Nick Robinson confirmed reports that he is leaving his role as the BBC's political editor to join the Today programme. Now the race is on to find a worthy successor. Helpfully Ladbrokes have released a rather intriguing list of favourites for the job. Robinson's deputy political editor James Landale is the favourite for the role at 5/2. David Cameron's revelation to Landale that he wouldn't 'serve a third term' if re-elected became one of the big stories of the elections. While this ought to win him favour upstairs, Landale has two problems: (a) he is not a woman (b) he is an Old Etonian. It's thought that -- in the interests of equality and diversity -- Tony Hall is keen that a woman is given the plum job.

Steerpike

Coffee Shots: Theresa May vs Tim Farron

With Tim Farron the favourite to be the next leader of the Liberal Democrats and Theresa May still hopeful that she can succeed David Cameron in No.10, the pair may soon get to relive the 1992 election. Nick Forbes, the Labour Leader of Newcastle CC, has revealed an old article from the election which saw Tim Farron, Theresa May and Hilary Armstrong compete for the seat of North West Durham. https://twitter.com/nick_forbes/status/619462693897027584 Although Hilary Armstrong won at the time, the other two may eventually have the last laugh. Meanwhile, Mr S is glad to see that the Home Secretary has always had such a sharp sense of style.

Steerpike

Andy Burnham talks equality at £1400 private members’ club

Throughout his career, Andy Burnham has been keen to point out that he is not one of the 'metropolitan elite'. The Labour leadership hopeful says that 'for too long there has been a sense of a metropolitan elite at the top of the Labour party'. So Mr S was curious to learn the venue for a talk he is giving next week. Burnham will appear at the Soho House private members' club on Tuesday to read 'a short story about equality and justice'. While Steerpike is sure Burnham's words will be sincere, he worries that the venue - which is popular with Hugh Grant, Madonna and Kirsty Young - may distract from the message.

Thursday

9 July 2015

Steerpike

Iain Duncan Smith: I did not take Viagra on Budget day

Although George Osborne was on the front page of every paper this morning following his Budget announcement, it was Iain Duncan Smith who came the closest to breaking the internet yesterday. The Work and Pensions Secretary became the subject of ridicule after he was filmed in the Commons vigorously fist-pumping following Osborne's National Living Wage announcement. So when IDS appeared on LBC this afternoon to speak to Iain Dale, the host couldn't help but ask a question George Osborne had avoided in an interview this morning: Was Viagra to blame for Iain Duncan Smith's excitable appearance in the chamber? The Conservative politician replied that not only had he not taken it, he has never taken it: 'I didn’t no.

Steerpike

Revealed: Top secret Treasury plan

Budget day may have been and gone, but that doesn't mean the Treasury team have been taking it easy. Mr S has got wind of a very important top secret Treasury email sent by an official to lobby journalists this afternoon: Good to know they're hard at work. Update: So it turns out that the Treasury did not actually mean to reveal this intel to the lobby. Since Mr S's disclosure, a new email has done the rounds trying to do some damage limitation.

Steerpike

Coffee Shots: Labour go after the youth vote

With the under-25s seen to be the losers in George Osborne's Budget yesterday, it seems Labour have found an audience they might actually be able to win over. Bring on the youth. Ed Miliband tried to relive his glory days in Parliament this lunchtime as he met with a throng of school girls representing the Milifandom: https://twitter.com/eyespymp/status/619128481738305536 https://twitter.com/eyespymp/status/619130561148358657 Not wanting to be outdone, future Labour leader hopeful Liz Kendall appeared to try and amass her own fandom as she boarded the tube. Here she is trying to look down with the kids: https://twitter.com/eyespymp/status/619134820615081984 If only they were old enough to vote.

Steerpike

SNP MP makes ‘depravity’ gaffe in maiden speech

After the newly elected SNP MP Phil Boswell gave his first speech in Parliament yesterday, he won praise from Henry Bellingham for a 'superb maiden speech'. Still, Mr S suspects there is room for improvement. With rumours abound that an SNP MP made a faux pas in their maiden speech yesterday, Mr S thought Boswell's effort merited further examination: https://twitter.

Steerpike

Harriet Harman struggles to get her point across

On all counts, yesterday's Budget was not a great day for Labour. The party found themselves in an awkward position as they struggled to decide how best to respond to a Budget which in part used policies they had endorsed ahead of the election. To make matters worse, Steerpike understands that Harriet Harman failed to get her message across to many of her colleagues. An unfortunately timed fire alarm at Portcullis House meant MPs and Parliamentary researchers were evacuated from the premises just as George Osborne was nearing the end of his Budget announcement. By the time they got back in the building, they only managed to catch the very tail end of Harman's reply. 'You could call it a blessing in disguise,' whispers one disgruntled staffer.

Wednesday

8 July 2015

Steerpike

George Osborne fails to make the right impression

After George Osborne delivered today's budget, Harriet Harman responded by telling the Chancellor of the Exchequer that he should focus less on his own Prime Ministerial ambitions and more on the good of the country. However, if Osborne had hoped today's performance would boost his chance of being the next leader of the Conservative party, it appears that he still has some way to go. As online users discussed the budget on Twitter, it was the wrong name that trended, with many tweeters taking his surname to be Osbourne, rather than Osborne: Perhaps it's time the Chancellor reconsidered his education budget.

Steerpike

Nicky Morgan takes photographer to task for calling her a ‘girl’

With the press pack out in full force today to cover George Osborne's budget, one photographer's day has got off to a bad start. As Cabinet ministers Nicky Morgan and Amber Rudd left a pre-Budget Cabinet meeting this morning, they were greeted by a photographer who shouted 'morning girls'. While the snapper managed to win the 42-year-old Education Secretary's attention he may wish he hadn't. Morgan replied incredulously: 'Girls?! Girls?!,' before wagging her finger at him. [caption id="attachment_9183352" align="alignright" width="510"] (Credit: ITV News)[/caption] Next time Mr S suggests it's best to address the ladies by their names.

Steerpike

Paul Mason calls Syriza critic a ‘Nazi collaborator’

Covering the Greece crisis appears to be beginning to take its toll on Paul Mason. Channel 4's economics editor became embroiled in a bizarre Twitter rant last night during which he accused an anonymous blogger of being a 'Nazi supporter' over their criticism of the Syriza government. The comments were made during a heated discussion between Mason and the blogger @GreekAnalyst. A tweet criticising the Syriza government's strategy appeared to rattle Mason, who appears to be unimpressed by Germany's negotiations with Greece following the referendum. Mason expressed his frustration by using a Greek word to insult the user, who runs an anonymous blog strongly opposing the Syriza government: https://twitter.

Steerpike

Philip Davies moves on from Esther McVey

When Esther McVey moved into Philip Davies' flat in 2013, the pair were quick to dispel rumours that they were anything more than good friends. Davies - who had separated from his wife at the time - went so far as to gush of his glamorous friend that he was 'flattered anyone could think I am dating her'. Now the platonic pair's living arrangements have come to an end, with McVey - who lost her seat to Labour in the election - recently moving out of Davies' London flat. Happily, the Tory backbencher won't be short of company, as Davies tells Mr S he has already found a new housemate: 'I have a new housemate, he's a man but I won't say who he is as I'm not sure he would want it to be public knowledge.

Tuesday

7 July 2015

Steerpike

Crowdfunding campaign to bail out Greece fails to meet its target

After the people of Greece voted against the bailout terms on offer in Sunday's referendum, the likelihood of the country staying in the Euro is beginning to diminish. Now, they have received yet another blow. A crowdfunder campaign, started by Londoner Thom Feeney to raise the full €1,600,000,000 needed, has been closed down after failing to meet its target. The IndieGoGo fundraiser claimed that since 'all this dithering over Greece is getting boring' it was time to forget the European ministers working on deals and instead let 'the people just sort it instead'. Alas, it seems out of the 503 million people across Europe, only a small percentage wanted to take part. The campaign managed to muster €1,930,577, a fraction of the funds needed.

Steerpike

Tory MP appears topless in new commercial

As one of the new intake of MPs in this Parliament, Johnny Mercer will be full of ambition for the five years ahead. However, judging by a video he appeared in ahead of the election, one of his aims appears to be achieving a high ranking on the Sexy MP website. Mercer has a starring role in a Dove Men shower gel advert which is currently being broadcast in America. While the video includes a scene in which he appears topless in the shower, the film is family friendly with the MP for Plymouth Moor View's six-year-old daughter also appearing on camera. Mercer is taking his new found fame in his stride. 'When they asked me, I thought "Why not, it will be a laugh",' he told the Plymouth Herald. 'It was really fun. They sent me and the girls to London for three days.

Steerpike

BBC performs U-turn over Wimbledon 2Day

Last night Clare Balding greeted viewers of the BBC's much lampooned Wimbledon 2Day with the news that they had relocated from the Gatsby private members' club to a new show venue for the final week of the tournament: 'We're at the business end of the tournament and because of that we've been posted to the centre of the action here on the edge of centre court, that's where we are up on that balcony.' All very well, only Mr S suspects Balding was being somewhat selective with the truth. Did the BBC in fact decide to cease filming in the purpose-built members' club because of audience criticism?

Monday

6 July 2015

Steerpike

Is your barbecue racist? The Guardian would like to know

Earlier this year the Guardian vetoed HP sauce for its readers on the grounds that it is the sauce of the establishment. In May, the newspaper then went on to criticise tea drinkers, who exhibit ‘the worst possible English trait, up there with colonialism and the class system’. Now, it's time to step away from the fire lighters, put the skewers down and ignore the impulse to put HP sauce on your charcoal grilled meats, as barbecues are now facing the heat. According to the Guardian, the barbecue 'has its roots in the cooperation between black and indigenous peoples struggling to get or keep their freedom from colonialists'.

Steerpike

Anna Soubry and Alex Salmond bury the hatchet following sexism row

Only last month, Alex Salmond found himself at the centre of a sexism row after he told Anna Soubry to 'behave yourself woman' during a Commons debate. The chippy Cabinet minister went on to criticise the former SNP leader for his comments, claiming he had a 19th century attitude to women, by which they 'should be seen, and not heard'. Happily, the pair now appear to have put their differences behind them during a trip to Aberdeen. Soubry reports that Salmond provided great entertainment on their flight from Aberdeen back to London. The feeling is mutual, with Salmond boasting that Soubry behaved 'impeccably' this time around. She even gave him a lift to the House of Commons after: https://twitter.com/Anna_Soubry/status/618041886872354816 https://twitter.

Steerpike

Exclusive: top Scottish academic speaks out over Mhairi Black ‘slut’ tweet

After Scottish Labour compiled a dossier of online abuse by cybernats, Scottish nationalists were quick to respond that supporters of other parties are just as bad. Step forward Jill Stephenson, Professor Emeritus of Modern German History at the University of Edinburgh. The retired academic is in the firing line over tweets she sent ahead of the election calling SNP MP Mhairi Black a 'foul-mouthed slut'.

Friday

3 July 2015

Steerpike

Laurence Fox: I don’t like foxes

Last night Brian May claimed that foxes are not vermin when he appeared on This Week to criticise government plans to repeal the ban on fox-hunting. The Queen guitarist argued that classing the furry creatures as 'vermin' was simply a ploy to justify killing them. However, vermin or not, Steerpike may have found an unlikely candidate to face off May on the issue. When Mr S caught up with Laurence Fox at the Spectator summer party, the Lewis actor – who used to go hunting in his youth when it was legal – had little time for his namesakes: 'I love the Countryside Alliance. Anyone who has had chickens loves fox hunting. I mean I had chickens, I don't like foxes.