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

Tuesday

Steerpike

MPs hail benefits of ‘Swiftonomics’

Taylor Swift's 'Eras' tour took the country by storm and it seems Swiftmania has also taken a firm hold of UK politicians. So much so that, barely a day into the return of parliament from recess, an early day motion was tabled to, er, hail the impact of 'Swiftonomics' in Britain. Crikey. You couldn't make it up... The rather curious entry on the parliament website came to Mr S's attention after new Lib Dem MP Tom Gordon took it upon himself to heap praise on the 'economic impact of Taylor Swift's Eras tour'. The secret Swiftie has lauded the 'estimated boost of nearly £1bn' to the UK economy, gushing that: The concept of Swiftonomics [is] a demonstration of how cultural events can drive significant economic activity across multiple sectors...

Steerpike

Lib Dem MP’s bizarre motion on the Wiggles

One might expect politics to showcase quality over quantity but this isn't always necessarily the case. Take the curious example of Liberal Democrat politician Max Wilkinson, who was one of the party’s 72 MPs voted into parliament in July’s national poll. In a notable move, the new MP for Cheltenham ousted Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk in the general election – removing the former justice secretary from his seat by 7,200 votes. But is Wilkinson living up to his constituents’ expectations? Possibly – if they happen to find themselves particularly concerned with, um, the Wiggles.

Steerpike

Boris blasts Lammy for ‘abandoning’ Israel

It's certainly not been a quiet return to parliament. On Monday afternoon, Labour's David Lammy announced that Britain would be suspending 30 of 350 arms export licenses to Israel – after concluding there was a 'clear risk' of a number of weapons being used to violate international humanitarian law. But while the Foreign Secretary has insisted that 'this is not an arms embargo', it seems not everyone is entirely convinced by the move... One former prime minister has this morning taken to Twitter to blast Lammy's decision. Boris Johnson popped up on social media to rage that: 'Hamas is still holding many innocent Jewish hostages while Israel tries to prevent a repeat of the 7th October massacre. Why are Lammy and Starmer abandoning Israel? Do they want Hamas to win?' Oo er.

Monday

Steerpike

Starmer faces more backlash over winter fuel payment cuts

It's the first day back in parliament after recess and already Labour splits are starting to emerge. Now it transpires that the party's MP for Poole, Neil Duncan-Jordan, has tabled an early day motion to delay the changes to the winter fuel allowance – which his government controversially plans to means test. In order to plug the £22bn blackhole in the UK's finances, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said that 'incredibly tough choices' will have to be made – yet the prospect of 10 million pensioners missing out on the winter payment has ruffled feathers, given Sir Keir's lefty lot curiously managed to find enough cash to fund public sector pay rises...

Steerpike

What does Starmer hang on his wall?

Political artwork has rather dominated the headlines of late. After Sir Keir’s peculiar opposition to the ‘unsettling’ painting of his predecessor Margaret Thatcher, Mr S has been interested in learning more about what artwork is deemed acceptable to the Labour lot. Via a Freedom of Information request, Steerpike can now reveal which Parliamentary Art Collection works adorn the walls of Britain's top politicians. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Starmer is surrounded by the portraits of his prime ministerial predecessors – including Winston Churchill, Pitt the Younger, Robert Peel and Benjamin Disraeli. Curiously, no former female PMs make the cut – with the Iron Lady already having been moved from the No. 10 study to Downing Street’s first-floor meeting room.

Steerpike

Will the SNP team up with ‘awful’ Alba?

The SNP's 90th party conference has finally wrapped up in Scotland, after the Nats spent a long weekend discussing their flailing party's fortunes. Support for the party has been on the decline since the pandemic, with its latest leader John Swinney presiding over a rather disastrous general election result that saw his party left with just nine seats. And now, in a bid to stop the 'fragmentation' of the nationalist movement, some in his group have even suggested breaking bread with their rivals... Pete Wishart, the SNP's longest-serving MP and former Runrig band member, made the rather curious suggestion at the weekend that his group should work with former first minister Alex Salmond's Alba party – despite it saying 'really awful' things.

Steerpike

Starmer rehomes ‘unsettling’ Thatcher painting

To Downing Street, where a painting of a former prime minister has been causing quite a stir lately. Sir Keir Starmer found himself at loggerheads with a number of Conservative politicians last week when it transpired the Labour PM had removed a portrait of Margaret Thatcher from the former No. 10 study – after he'd agreed the Gordon Brown-commissioned painting was 'a bit unsettling'. While Starmer was slammed for his 'petty approach' by Tory politicians, it now turns out that the portrait has found a new home – in a first floor visitor meeting room. Talk about a downgrade... The revelation – which emerged during an interview with Starmer's biographer Tom Baldwin at Glasgow's Aye Write book festival – has continued to attract criticism from Sir Keir's rivals, however.

Friday

Steerpike

Police probe senior civil servant over Salmond inquiry

As the SNP conference weekend kicks off, another Scottish story is starting to take shape. It has emerged that detectives north of the border are now investigating allegations that a senior civil servant gave a false statement under oath to an inquiry into sexual misconduct allegations involving Alex Salmond. Edinburgh's Court of Session was informed today that Police Scotland is now looking into the Scottish government's head of cabinet, parliament and governance, James Hynd, as part of the investigation entitled Operation Broadcroft. Good heavens... Ex-SNP leader Salmond is taking legal action agains the Scottish government – with the former FM alleging 'malfeasance' by civil servants and seeking 'significant damages'.

Steerpike

Jess Phillips: I got better NHS treatment because of my Gaza stance

To the new Labour government, where the spotlight is on Jess Phillips and her rather extraordinary revelation. It transpires that in a recent ‘in conversation’ event, Phillips rather overshared – admitting to skipping a choc-a-bloc NHS queue because of, er, how she voted on a Gaza ceasefire. When that became a secret hack to better healthcare, Mr S can’t quite recall… The MP for Birmingham Yardley, recounting her special treatment at London’s Kiln Theatre, told an enraptured audience of a distressing incident in which she had trouble breathing. Rushed to hospital, Phillips described scenes of chaos in the emergency department, claiming: ‘I have genuinely seen better facilities, health facilities, in war zones, in developing countries around the world.’ Crikey.

Steerpike

Sue Gray at centre of yet another civil service job row

Another day, another Sue Gray-related drama. Now Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff has come under fire over yet another prospective government appointment. It transpires that Gray is reportedly in favour of making Daniel Gieve, a senior civil servant who worked alongside her at the Cabinet Office, Starmer's principal private secretary – a top job second only in constitutional importance to that of the Cabinet Secretary. Handy having friends in high places, eh? But throwing Gieve's name into the mix has caused unease in Downing Street. Some have suggested Gray is set on imposing her favourite candidate, while others worry about the civil servant's close ties to senior Tories.

Thursday

Steerpike

Starmer’s special advisers: a complete guide

Keir Starmer wasted no time on entering 10 Downing Street in appointing his cabinet that same day. But taking longer are the junior ministerial posts – some still vacant – and the appointment of special advisers. Such aides often get a bad rep around Westminster, thanks, in part to the mythology of The Thick Of It. But they play a key role in government, with some even wielding more power than the average minister. As is often the case with plum jobs, demand outweighs supply, with too few posts to share around the Starmtroopers. Here are the appointments so far: Sue Gray – Chief of Staff. Keir’s all powerful pick from the civil service was nailed on for this job.

Steerpike

Starmer’s ratings hit record low as cronyism row continues

To Downing Street, where it appears the new Prime Minister isn't having the most pleasant of premierships. Sir Keir Starmer has been in the top job for less than two months – and yet he's already facing a cronyism row that doesn't appear to be disappearing. Despite the resignation of Labour donor Ian Corfield from a senior civil service role in the Treasury it appears that, amid all the scrutiny, public goodwill towards the PM is waning. Starmer's personal approval rating has bombed to record lows while approval for his government is worse than that of previous administrations at the same point. Talk about buyer's remorse, eh?

Steerpike

Starmer snubs No. 10 Thatcher painting

Well, well, well. It seems Sir Keir Starmer wasn't exaggerating about his 'change' agenda. It now transpires that the new Prime Minister has taken it upon himself to redecorate parts of No. 10 – and has reportedly gone so far as to remove a portrait of Margaret Thatcher from Downing Street. Talk about a Labour takeover... The rather curious report comes after Sir Keir's biographer Tom Baldwin was interviewed in Scotland, at Glasgow's Aye Write summer book festival. The Gordon Brown-commissioned picture, funded by an anonymous donation that covered its £100,000 price tag, is the first painting of an ex-PM ever to be requested by No. 10 – yet despite its links to the last Labour prime minister, it seems Starmer wasn't overly impressed.

Steerpike

Labour mulls outdoor smoking ban

It looks like there could be bad news again for smokers ahead of the return of parliament in September. Already Starmer’s stubbers have committed to resurrecting the last government’s pledge to ban smoking completely for those born after 2009, as part of a phased roll-out which would see ordinary members of the public ID’d at the shop till well into their 80s.  Now though it seems the new Labour administration wants to go even further. According to the Sun, leaked Whitehall papers show that ministers are considering an assault on the right to smoke outdoors as well, with the government looking to ban smoking entirely in beer gardens, restaurant terraces, shisha bars, children’s play areas and small parks.

Tuesday

Steerpike

Tories fire starting gun on voluntary chair race

It's the Tory race on everyone's lips. No, not the battle to be the next party leader but rather the contest to chair the Conservatives' National Convention. The body effectively serves as the parliament of the voluntary party and is contested annually, with chairmen elected for three year terms and subject to re-selection every year. Some 850-odd association chairmen and various bigwigs vote to decide which of their number takes the prize. But with voting opening tomorrow, this time there is actually something of a contest for the role. Former Hackney candidate Joanna Reeves has thrown her hat in the ring, pitching herself as an outsider railing against the 'failed' status quo. She is up against Julian Ellacott, one of the incumbent Vice Presidents of the National Convention.

Steerpike

Watch: Labour minister squirms on ‘passes for glasses’

At long last, it's finally here. After five days of media trails, Keir Starmer's equivalent of the Gettysburg Address will be made later today. The scintillating socialist will be doing a press conference in the Downing Street garden, with his address expected to feature such hard-hitting lines as – gasp – he will people 'at the heart' of his government and – stop the presses – under Labour it will no longer 'be business as usual'. Riveting stuff. But before we are treated to the oratorical prowess of our Dear Leader, there comes the morning round: the much-fabled media ritual in which a hapless frontbencher is savaged by various broadcasters.

Sunday

Steerpike

Lorraine Kelly’s Brexit holiday shame

Congratulations to the artist formerly known as Lorraine Kelly, for taking the gong for this weekend's most tasteless media appearance. Having repeatedly failed to turn up to host her own show on ITV, the self-styled 'chatty persona' decided to take a turn on a rival channel, pitching up to Times Radio on Saturday for an interview on – what else? – her travel plans. The Scottish sage moaned to host Hugo Rifkind about the 'awful' post-Brexit queues, declaring that 'people were lied to' and 'didn't know' what they voted for in the 2016 EU referendum. 'I'm fed up with going away to Europe and kind of apologising, you feel embarrassed' she added. But it was what followed which really distinguished Kelly from the standard Remainer fare.

Steerpike

Labour U-turns on No. 10 donor pass

It's just 50 days since Keir Starmer took office – so it's impressive he's already embroiled in a sleaze row. Amid the growing number of controversies about political appointees, the Sunday Times today features an intriguing story as its front page splash. 'No. 10 pass for Labour donor who gave £500k' screams the headline, which adds, in the sub-deck 'As Starmer crony allegations swirl, millionaire TV mogul gains access to the heart of power.' Oh dear... It transpires that Waheed Alli, a former investment banker who led Labour’s fundraising for the general election, was subsequently given unrestricted access to Starmer's No. 10. Alli also organised a post-election reception in the Downing Street garden with others who helped to bankroll its campaign.

Friday

Steerpike

Tugendhat’s non-existent Scottish backer

Oh dear. Tory leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat has been rather excited about all the support he's received from his counterparts north of the border. So far almost a third of the 31 Scottish Conservative MSPs have backed Tugendhat – and in his excitement to announce his latest supporters, the Tory contender's team accidentally, um, fabricated one. Details, details... Tugendhat's lot put out a press release this morning celebrating two of his newest endorsements, only it quickly transpired that one of the politicians in question didn't actually exist. Alexander Brown is not actually a serving MSP – despite multiple references to the unknown politician.

Steerpike

Pro-indy paper clashes with BBC over ‘propaganda’ claims 

The Beeb is no stranger to controversy, and now pro-independence Scottish newspaper the National is on the warpath. The editor of the secessionist journal has taken to Twitter to fume after the BBC’s business editor described her august paper as ‘propaganda’ multiple times on one of the broadcaster’s own podcasts. Talk about saying the quiet part aloud, eh? The podcast in question is the BBC’s Media Show, featuring an interview with BBC Scotland business editor Douglas Fraser. The offending clip first features discussions of the 2014 indyref’s tenth anniversary before considering the impact of the independence debate on newspaper subscriptions.