Steerpike

Sir Keir Starmer is known to detest leaks – but what about when it is the Prime Minister leaking himself? Watching Starmer's big speech this morning, Mr S was perplexed to see the Labour premier confirming reports that his Chancellor intends to hike the national bus fare cap on Wednesday from £2 to £3. Shurely shome mistake? Budget announcements are of course meant to be made in the House of Commons chamber, with Hugh Dalton famously resigning as Chancellor in 1947 after details were published in an evening newspaper before his speech. Indeed, it was just, er, three years ago that the Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, tore into Boris Johnson's government after details of the forthcoming Budget were leaked to the press.

After a miserable few days involving a diplomatic row about reparations at the Commonwealth summit in Samoa, Keir Starmer will have been hoping for a more positive start to this week ahead of the Budget on Wednesday. Alas, it appears not to be.  Tonight the Labour party announced the suspension of Mike Amesbury, after CCTV was published by the Daily Mail, appearing to show the Labour MP punching another man in the street, before continuing to strike him while he was on the ground.  Absolutely shocking footage from any old thug, let alone a sitting MP.https://t.co/m4eb5Jdlas pic.twitter.

It’s a big week for Labour ahead of the Budget on Wednesday. So it is somewhat sub-optimal then that a viral video threatens to derail their carefully calculated media grid. In footage shot by a member of the public early this morning, Labour MP for Runcorn and Helsby Mike Amesbury appeared to threaten a man who has been knocked onto the road in Frodsham, Cheshire.  Amesbury shouted at the floored man: ‘You won’t ever threaten me again, will you? You won’t ever threaten me again.’ After others pointed out that he’s the local MP, he responded: ‘Yes I am, and you won’t threaten the MP ever again, will you?

Oh dear. Sir Alan Duncan is at it again. Back in April the former Tory minister was investigated by the Tory party after claiming the Conservative Friends of Israel group was 'doing the bidding' of the Israeli prime minister. Amid accusations of antisemitism, he called for Lord Polak, CFI's former head, to be 'removed from the Lords because he is exercising the interest of another country not that of the Parliament in which he sits.' It prompted a stinging response from the Board of Deputies who said his 'disgraceful' words 'effectively accuse two Conservative peers, one of whom is Jewish, of dual loyalties.' Having survived that furore, it seems Duncan has learned nothing from the experience.

With just over a week until the victor of the Tory leadership race is announced, the contest is ramping up and endorsements are rolling in. Now the former Chancellor under David Cameron has offered his thoughts on who the next leader of the Conservative party should be on his Political Currency podcast today. Announcing his decision to podcast regulars, the ex-Evening Standard editor told listeners that he was throwing his weight behind Kemi Badenoch. 'I've ticked the box, and I'm about to post it after this podcast.' Going on, the Remainer blasted Robert Jenrick's policy plan, lamenting: I started the campaign thinking that Robert Jenrick was going to win. But he underperformed at the conference, and I can't get round this promise to leave the European Convention on Human Rights.

They say all publicity is good publicity – unless you're Meghan and Harry, that is. Despite their valiant efforts (including a search for a PR guru) the dynamic duo never quite manage to stay out of the spotlight for long. Now the Duchess of Sussex has found herself in the firing line after Tina Brown – the former Vanity Fair editor who penned The Diana Chronicles on Princess Diana's life – took to the Ankler podcast to blast the Montecito monarchs. Slamming Harry and Meghan's decision to step away from royal duties as a 'disaster', Brown went on to lament the 'bad choices' made by the couple – adding that had they not been 'hot-headed' they could have had a more positive relationship with Harry's family.

The second round of Labour's early prison release scheme saw around 1,100 inmates released on Tuesday – and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is insistent that she wants this emergency release to be the last. As Mr S wrote earlier, a rather interesting range of jailbirds were let out early today – including convicted drug dealers, violent assaulters and identity thieves. But, in a shocking turn of events, it transpires that a London criminal jailed for the kidnap and torture of a 16 year old boy has also been let out early under the scheme. Isaac Donkoh – a gang member and drill music artist also known as Young Dizz – was imprisoned in 2019 after enlisting four boys under the age of 18 to attack another 16 year old boy.