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

Friday

Steerpike

Who warrants a flag at half-mast? King Abdullah or Leon Brittan

From our UK edition

The Palace of Westminster’s flag is currently at half-mast, as is the flag on top of Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and the Treasury. But who could it all be for? Treasury flying flag at half mast for King Abdullah, as are flags across Government estate. Controversial pic.twitter.com/zSR6OPWCD1 — Jason Groves (@JasonGroves1) January 23, 2015 Could it be for King Abdullah, the Saudi Arabian monarch, who died yesterday? Under his reign, the country has seen a higher number of beheadings than those carried out by Isis. Or could it perhaps be for Leon Brittan, the former home secretary, who also died yesterday?

Steerpike

Louise Mensch blasts David Cameron for King Abdullah tribute

From our UK edition

Although Louise Mensch was once heralded as a 'Cameron Cutie,' the former Conservative MP's relationship with the Prime Minister has soured after he paid tribute to the late King Abdullah. The Saudi Arabia monarch's death was announced yesterday, with the cause of death thought to be a lung infection. Speaking following the news, Cameron gushed that he would be remembered for his 'commitment to peace and for strengthening understanding between faiths'. However, the fact that his reign in Saudi Arabia has seen a higher number of beheadings than those carried out by Isis appears to have not escaped Mensch's attention.

Thursday

Steerpike

The Economist beats the Guardian to appoint its first female editor

From our UK edition

With the Guardian still to name their new editor-in-chief, the Economist has thrown down the gauntlet by appointing their first female editor. Zanny Minton Beddoes will succeed John Micklethwait to be the magazine's next editor, making her the first female editor in its 172 year history. Formerly the publication's business affairs editor, Minton Beddoes interviewed for the post last Thursday, beating off competition from Tom Standage, the magazine's digital editor, and the foreign editor Ed Carr. It's thought that her wealth of knowledge about the US from her time working in Washington made her the favourite for the coveted role.

Steerpike

Here’s why nobody has been able to verify the ‘Green Surge’ membership numbers

From our UK edition

'The Green Surge’ has already become a fixed feature of the election campaign, but are we just reliving the giant damp squib of ‘Cleggmania’? According to Green Party officials, their membership stands at 45,558. Since Cameron declared they should be in the TV debates, thousands have supposedly signed on the dotted line. Apparently, of the 14,780 new members that have signed up since 1 Jan 2015, just 151 are renewals. But there has been zero independent verification of the numbers; they are asking us to take their word for it. A spokesman tells Steerpike that the party was not prepared for the influx of new members: ‘Our servers did become overwhelmed for short periods. This was due to the quantity of hits to the site.

Steerpike

Will Will.i.am come out in support of Prince Andrew?

From our UK edition

The Duke of York is expected to host a private reception tonight at the World Economic Forum, in what will be his first public appearance since he was accused of abusing an under-age 'sex slave'. One question that remains, however, is which of the movers and shakers at the summit will choose to attend the Duke of York's little soirée in light of the alleged scandal. Mr S hears that photographers in Davos have been tipped off that Will.i.am will be present at the do. The singer and judge on the BBC's The Voice is an old chum of the Prince, having worked closely together in the past on the Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award. The duo went so far as to host a tech party in London together last year. However, while Will.i.

Steerpike

Karen Danczuk gets closer to Ukip

From our UK edition

When Simon Danczuk met Nigel Farage for a pint in December, the Labour MP was accused of plotting a defection to Ukip. While Danczuk denied this at the time, his wife Karen appears to be warming to the idea herself. Karen, who announced that she will stand down as a Labour Councillor from her Kingsway ward, got better acquainted with Ukip members at a recent debate on the NHS. Quick photo with @DanJukes17 & @jackduffin UKIPs finest. KD pic.twitter.com/GLlfwbBHy9 — Cllr Karen Danczuk (@KarenDanczuk) January 19, 2015 Now, Mr S hears rumours that a photo of the selfie queen actually wearing a Ukip badge is currently doing the rounds for the right bidder. If published, it wouldn't be the first time a photograph has got Karen into hot water.

Wednesday

Steerpike

Will the US Embassy’s haggis virgin be tempted to lift the offal ban?

From our UK edition

It was the culmination of an elaborate lobbying operation. The scene was set, the piper poised and the whisky flowing. As the Haggis was piped in to Boisdale on Bishopgate last night for the launch of the ‘Campaign to Overturn the US Haggis Ban’, all eyes were on Mr Stan Phillips, the Councillor for Agricultural Affairs from the US Embassy; a haggis virgin. The suave, bespectacled gentleman let his cool demeanour slip ever so slightly as he was told ‘you’re about to put an illegal substance in your mouth’. As his fork cut through the offaly oats a hush fell upon the room, the wind draining from the pipes. ‘Yeah...’ came an intrepid response, ‘yeah, it’s alright.

Steerpike

Revealed: Michael Gove’s ‘female ballad’ ringtone

From our UK edition

After Michael Gove's mobile phone went off in a Cabinet meeting, everyone’s been trying to find out what the 'jazzy' ringtone is. As Mr S documented, even Charles Moore was thwarted in his attempts to catch the Chief Whip out by ringing his phone when they were both at dinner. Now his wife has revealed the woman behind the 'female ballad' ringtone in her Daily Mail column. 'Last week, during quite an important work meeting, an urgent email popped up in his inbox,' Sarah Vine writes. 'Not wishing to seem rude by looking at his phone, he instead turned to his latest gadget, a Pebble Smartwatch, which I bought him for Christmas.' The watch is a device of many talents, which include receiving emails and texts, checking the weather and playing music.

Tuesday

Steerpike

Does Harriet Harman love or loathe Obama? It’s becoming hard to tell…

From our UK edition

'Most people will feel that Obama does not really know what is going on in this country,' said a snappy Harriet Harman last night. The Labour deputy leader was sent out to bash the President after his glowing endorsement of David Cameron and tactical backing of the Tories for the May election. But Harriet has changed her tune. It seems like just yesterday that she was lavishing praise on Obama, suggesting that we apply his magic tonic to our country: 'Barack Obama's campaign challenged pessimism and defied defeatism and said "yes we can" - and he made this happen. That's what we need to do here as well.' Six years later and Obama thinks Cameron has done just that. No wonder she's angry.

Steerpike

Newsnight: Has Paxman just taken a shot at Ian Katz?

From our UK edition

Since Jeremy Paxman quit Newsnight last year, he has hardly been discreet with regards to his feelings about the BBC's flagship current affairs show, claiming it is run by 12-year-olds. Now, he tells this week's Radio Times what programmes he has been enjoying of late, and surprise, surprise, Newsnight isn't one of them. 'I'm watching Take Me Out and listening to the World Service, where there's still real news,' he says. Paxman's penchant for ITV's dating show aside, could he be alluding to the direction Newsnight has taken under Ian Katz? In an interview this summer, the Newsnight editor went so far as to admit Paxman found his ideas 'infantile'. 'He’s dyspeptic about pretty much everything.

Steerpike

Coffee Shots: Facebook HQ ‘sceptical’ of Ukip

From our UK edition

When Ukip officials arrived at Facebook HQ for a meet-and-greet, they were surprised to be led to a boardroom that went by the name of 'sceptical'. However, far from a tense affair, Steerpike's mole insists Facebook employees didn't mean anything by it. 'They swore it was entirely by chance,' a Ukip source tells Mr S. 'It was a fascinating meeting.

Steerpike

Exclusive: Russell Brand pays an unwelcome visit to Lord Rothermere’s home

From our UK edition

Russell Brand’s stints filming for his new documentary on the financial crisis have so far seen him storm RBS and upset a bank employee by causing his lunch to go cold. Now Mr S learns that the 39-year-old comedian’s forays haven’t stopped with capitalist banks. Brand recently made an unwelcome visit to the home of Lord Rothermere, the proprietor of the Daily Mail newspaper group. The comedian turned up unannounced at the London residence of the executive chairman of the Daily Mail and General Trust, traipsing through his front garden with a camera crew in tow. Unfortunately for Brand, both Lord Rothermere and his wife Claudia weren’t at the property at the time of his visit.

Monday

Steerpike

Now that the Sun has axed Page 3 girls, will Britain ever be the same?

From our UK edition

Word is that Friday's edition of The Sun was the last to have a topless woman on Page 3 - thereby closing a chapter of British cultural history. Immortalised, perhaps, in the following sketch from Yes, Prime Minister:- PM: Don't tell me about the press, I know exactly who reads the papers: The Daily Mirror is read by people who think they run the country; The Guardian is read by people who think they ought to run the country; The Times is read by people who actually do run the country; the Daily Mail is read by the wives of the people who run the country; the Financial Times is read by people who own the country; The Morning Star is read by people who think the country ought to be run by another country; and The Daily Telegraph is read by people who think it is.

Steerpike

Chuka his toys out of the pram

From our UK edition

Uh oh, looks like Chuka Umunna hasn't been doing his homework. The shadow business secretary walked out of a live television interview on Sky News after he was asked his opinion on a letter Eric Pickles sent to Muslim leaders. The Labour MP, who was invited onto the show to talk about the economy, appeared distressed to be questioned on the issue as he had not read the controversial letter in question. His response was to wave his arm around in a fury before walking off air, as Steerpike's gif helpfully demonstrates. While Mr S is all for playing fair, surely Chuka should be reading his party’s own detailed media briefing that it sends out every day, explaining what the story is and what frontbenchers should say if they’re cornered?

Steerpike

Green Party smash their own system

From our UK edition

Last week the Green Party announced that their membership has soared to 52,000, thanks to a little help from the free publicity awarded to them by the Prime Minister over the leaders' debate. However, Steerpike hears that all is not well at Green Party HQ, or their 'National Office' as the non-hierarchical collective delicately call it. 'Our systems have crashed,' Green peer Jenny Jones was heard loudly proclaiming at their press conference this morning. 'They can't cope with the numbers.' Well that's certainly one meaning to revolutionary cries of 'smash the system,' there was Mr S thinking that you couldn't go wrong with a carbon free pencil on a bit of recycled paper.

Steerpike

‘Blooming precious’ James Blunt vs ‘prejudiced wazzock’ Chris Bryant

From our UK edition

Chris Bryant's call for more diversity in British culture, has hit a nerve with James Blunt. After Bryant, the new shadow culture minister, remarked that 'we can’t just have a culture dominated by Eddie Redmayne and James Blunt and their ilk,' the You're Beautiful singer has responded in an open letter. Despite initially brushing off the comments on Twitter, Blunt writes that Bryant is a 'classist gimp'. Really? I thought we'd got rid of me years ago. RT @ianbirrell: James Blunt is 'dominating' UK culture, according to Labour arts spokesman — James Blunt (@JamesBlunt) January 18, 2015 The musician, who is married to Lord Wellesley's daughter Sofia, claims that his Harrow education did not help him launch his music career.

Steerpike

Will South Thanet care that Al Murray has a gig in Dartford on election night?

From our UK edition

On election night, Al Murray will not be in South Thanet as is the usual custom among candidate hopefuls. Instead, the 46-year-old comedian will be performing a gig in Dartford. Despite launching his campaign last week to run as a Free United Kingdom Party candidate in the same constituency Nigel Farage is vying for, Murray's comedy tour means he will be nowhere to be seen for the bulk of the night, though it's thought he will head there after his show. The Orchard Theatre's marketing manager Michelle May has confirmed that Murray is to go ahead with the gig. 'Al is 100 per cent committed to his spring One Man, One Guvnor Tour and will be going ahead with the Dartford show on May 7 and will travel onto South Thanet after,' May says.

Saturday

Steerpike

Burnham’s bill for hollow Hunt legal threat

From our UK edition

Ubiquitous Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham has had to admit that he 'spent' £25,000 in a disastrous and embarrassing threat to sue his counterpart Jeremy Hunt. Burnham has had to declare donations in kind of £16,665 worth of legal services offered by Steel & Shamash, the Labour Party's solicitors, and £8,250 from Gavin Millar QC, a barrister who specialises in defamation proceedings. Students of North London Labour Kremlinology will be aware that Millar is the brother of Fiona Millar, the left-wing agitator and partner of Alastair Campbell. He was last seen taking down Tory MP Andrew Mitchell in the High Court.

Friday

Steerpike

Charles Moore puts Michael Gove’s ‘jazzy’ ringtone to the test

From our UK edition

Ever since Michael Gove was scolded at Cabinet for bringing his noisy mobile phone into the room, everyone’s been trying to find out what the ringtone is. Cabinet sources various described it to The Times as a ‘female ballad’ and a ‘Jazz FM-style comedown music after a heavy night out’. But the Chief Whip is refusing to reveal what the tune is.Last night Gove spoke at a Westminster dinner, and started his speech by announcing he was putting his mobile phone on silent. He then said that the ringtone would remain secret until someone worked out how to use the Freedom of Information Act to secure its identity. But then the former Education Secretary looked rather confused, and clutched at his pocket.

Steerpike

That’s Dr Vince Cable to you…

From our UK edition

After Vince Cable was ditched last week as the Liberal Democrat’s main economic spokesman, Mr S is pleased to hear that he still has some titles left to his name. Word reaches Steerpike that a number of staff working with the Business Secretary, who has a PhD in Economics, have been advised to refer to him strictly as Dr Vince Cable in written correspondence. ‘We were a bit surprised that Vince Cable won't do as that's what we are used to but it apparently has to be Dr Vince,' a mole whispers. A Liberal Democrats source says that far from coming as a request from the business secretary himself it’s official guidance that in formal correspondence politicians are referred to by their full title.