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

Thursday

Steerpike

Coffee Shots: Labour go after the youth vote

From our UK edition

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

From our UK edition

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

From our UK edition

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

Steerpike

George Osborne fails to make the right impression

From our UK edition

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’

From our UK edition

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’

From our UK edition

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

From our UK edition

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

Steerpike

Crowdfunding campaign to bail out Greece fails to meet its target

From our UK edition

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

From our UK edition

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

From our UK edition

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

Steerpike

Is your barbecue racist? The Guardian would like to know

From our UK edition

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

From our UK edition

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

From our UK edition

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

Steerpike

Laurence Fox: I don’t like foxes

From our UK edition

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.

Steerpike

Lib Dems claw back power from the Tories

From our UK edition

When Vince Cable lost his seat to the Tories in the general election, it was a a victory that brought much entertainment to the Conservatives, with David Cameron's former head of strategy Steve Hilton making light of it at his book launch. Now, the Liberal Democrats finally have reason for cheer, and while it might not be the election they had hoped to win, they have finally beaten the Tories in one battle. After Tania Mathias, who won the Twickenham seat for the Tories in the election, gave up her council seat in Hampton Wick, a by-election took place yesterday. Despite the ward being a traditional Tory stronghold, the party failed to retain the seat, and Lib Dem candidate Geraldine Locke won it by just over 100 votes: https://twitter.

Thursday

Steerpike

Harriet Harman blasts George Osborne for distasteful PMQs joke

From our UK edition

When George Osborne covered for David Cameron at PMQs last month, it was seen as his chance to prove to his critics that he was prime ministerial material. Alas, his attempt at a joke about Labour's Bennites in answer to a question from Hilary Benn about suicide bombers has hit a particularly sour note with Labour.

Wednesday

Steerpike

Ed Miliband makes a return to frontline politics

From our UK edition

Ed Miliband was praised for his integrity by George Osborne after he returned to the Commons and gave a speech so soon after his election defeat. Although the Conservatives have been happy to pile on the praise towards their old foe, Mr S suspects their enthusiasm will begin to wear thin by the end of the week. The former Labour leader is to dip his toe back into frontline politics by leading a commons debate tomorrow on Hatfield Colliery, the Doncaster coal mine which is closing this week leading to the loss of 430 jobs. Judging by Miliband comments so far on the mine's early closure, the Tories will be in for a rough ride during the adjournment debate: https://twitter.com/Ed_Miliband/status/615761740081410049 https://twitter.

Steerpike

The Spectator summer party, in pictures

From our UK edition

With a Tory majority to celebrate, the Cabinet turned out in full force for this year's Spectator summer party. As David Cameron and George Osborne caught up with their old head of strategy Steve Hilton, Sajid Javid and Michael Fallon enjoyed the British heatwave. Harriet Harman was there on behalf of Labour, with the departing deputy leader sharing a tender moment with Boris Johnson in the garden. Johnson meanwhile was on fighting form over the Heathrow expansion recommendations. However, he also found time to say some kind words about his brother Jo Johnson's plan to change the current university grade system to put a stop to students who 'coast within the 2:1 band'. As the proud owner of a 2:1 degree from Oxford, did Boris think it was a fair comment from Jo?

Steerpike

Tory summer party auctions a photo of the Cabinet – for £200,000

From our UK edition

Despite the government planning £12bn worth of welfare cuts, it's still a case of no expense spared when it comes to Tory parties. Last night the Conservative Party Summer Party was held at the Hurlingham. The lavish bash saw the Tories celebrate their return to government with their rich donors, who in turn volunteered hundreds of thousands of pounds for a number of lots, including a copy of the EdStone: Although the event was supposed to be private, Mr S's colleague Fraser Nelson was on hand to report back on the lavish bash. He writes about the do in his diary in the forthcoming issue of The Spectator: 'Mind you, nothing much embarrasses the Conservatives nowadays.

Steerpike

Jo Johnson takes aim at those who ‘coast within the 2.1 band’

From our UK edition

This morning Jo Johnson gave a speech in which he outlined his recommendations for the way in which universities grade students. The new science and universities minister suggested that they rethink the current honours system and instead have a 'dual running' with regards degree classifications and grade point averages. If his idea does become a reality and there is less of a focus on degree classifications, Mr S suspects it will be music to the ears of Jo's siblings, Boris and Rachel. Jo was the only one of the three to achieve a first class degree from Oxford, an achievement which was reportedly a cause of envy for Boris, who along with his sister Rachel, only managed to achieve a 2.