Steerpike

Another day, another cock up from Nicky Morgan. The Department for Education's official Twitter feed has hastily deleted a message stating:- Doh! As plenty of social media users were quick to point out, equal rights for all people - regardless of who they bed - should probably be covered by 'British values', not least in the eyes of the British government. Cue another hasty backpedal. It gave some ammo to the Liberal Democrats:- Tolerance & enlightenment are key parts of our education system. That @educationgovuk tweet is unacceptable. Will be raising with ministers — Tim Farron (@timfarron) November 2, 2014 Morgan has tried to keep a low profile so far - but it's not low enough. It's now clear to everyone (Mr S suspects to her especially) that she is hopelessly miscast.

Even the po-faced Associated Press (video above) couldn't but describe as 'toe-curling' Ed Miliband's encounter with a homeless hijabi. Pundits agree that Ed appeared 'terrified' of the beggar in Manchester. Mr S was there, however - on unrelated business, of course - and can confirm that the opposition leader really did only have 2p in his pocket at the time. (Why on earth would he carry more?) Your correspondent was otherwise engaged, however (in discussion with my equine consultant) in the moment this photo was snapped: [caption id="attachment_8909992" align="alignnone" width="506"] Manchester, 31 October 2014 (Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty)[/caption] What could have been on his mind?

While watching Scottish Labour leader frontrunner Jim Murphy launch his campaign today, you might be forgiven for thinking the teetotaller has been hitting the bottle. The bottle of hair dye, that is. There is a noticeable change in tone from when Murphy was a minister in the last Labour government. Mr S doubts that will be the only thing the former right-wing Blairite will be lightening in the coming weeks too.

The news that Westminster lunch ‘institution’ Shepherd's is to reopen its doors after closing them eighteen months ago has been greeted with enthusiasm, not least by the cheese soufflé devotees of SW1. But should it actually stick in the throat? According to Public Affairs News the Tory lobbyist Lionel Zetter is the man behind the resurrection, and he has bought both the brand and the lease of the Marsham Street joint. Who is this mysterious restaurateur? Well, he's Director of the European Azerbaijan Society, and that makes him a frontman for the Azeri regime, according to Foreign Policy magazine: ‘A 2010 U.S.

It’s that time of year again – sandwiched between conference season and the Autumn statement – when the nation’s political pooches (and their owners) descend on Westminster. Yes, yesterday saw the Westminster Dog of the Year show, 2014. [caption id="attachment_8903972" align="alignleft" width="250"] Noodle and Alan Duncan announce the winners[/caption] Last year’s winner, Noodle the cockerpoo (and her owner, Alan Duncan) had been promoted to the judging panel after her success, and seemed keen to be back on the podium. She wasn’t the only one, either. David Burrowes’ Cholmeley (who came third last year, and second in 2012), also seemed very attached to the winner’s platform, and posed nicely alongside it.

If you're going to sell out to the establishment, you might as well do so on an industrial scale. As the PM told the Guido Fawkes blog's ten -ear anniversary party at the Institute of Directors last night, via video link, 'what better way' to celebrate 'rejecting' the cosy political classes than a posh dinner of caviar and champagne in the heart of Westminster. Guy Fawkes would have been turning in his grave, as cabinet ministers including Francis Maude and Liz Truss, and mysterious billionaires such as Michael Hintze and Lord Ashcroft, along with 200 of Westminster's finest, came to pay homage to a decade of sniping from waspish troublemakers. The Mayor of London, the star turn, was in usual form, conceding that eventually all politicians end up talking to terrorists.

Phillip Blond, sporting tinted specs for this morning's devolution debate, is famed in the wonkier side of Westminster for his unique style. The self-styled 'Red Tory', who split with the Cameroons in favour of 'a new Tory economics that distributed property, market access and educational excellence to all', has his shirts and jackets handmade, adding a splash of colour to the somewhat drab think-tank world. There is even a musical tribute to the 'intellectual curio of the Conservative Party' and his clothes: Though Mr S thought it only kind to point out that you're meant to give those glasses back at the end of the film, Phillip.

Al Gore is an unlikely source of inspiration for Ukip - in fact the party once pledged to ban the former Vice President's controversial climate change documentary from schools, calling it dangerous global warming 'propaganda'. But might they have more in common than either of them would care to admit? During the count for the Heywood and Middleton by-election last night, Nigel Farage conceded defeat in the race early in the night, only to demand a recount hours later once it started looking very tight; just as Al Gore did in the 2000 US election. Not that it did either of them much good.