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

DUP: our deal is with the Conservatives, not Theresa May

It’s not been a great start for the Prime Minister this morning, as the ERG and DUP have loudly voiced their concerns about her proposed Brexit deal, before she presents it to her Cabinet later today. The PM will not be reassured by an interview with DUP spokesman, Sammy Wilson, this morning though. The unionist

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Jacob Rees-Mogg considers writing a letter

Oh dear. The bulk of MPs haven’t even see Theresa May’s proposed deal yet but already suspicion is growing that it’s a stinker. In that vein, Jacob Rees-Mogg appeared on Newsnight on Tuesday evening where – in a significant change in tone – he appeared to suggest he could write a letter of ‘no confidence’

Trump vs Macron: the end of the bromance

In all great love stories, there are several common elements. There is the exciting encounter, the whirlwind romance, a fight, and then either break-up or happily-ever-after. Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron’s relationship has charted a very similar path since they first met in April. But unfortunately for French-American relations, it is increasingly looking like their great

What’s the expiry-date of a Westminster scandal?

The House of Lords privileges and conduct committee recommended today that the former Lib Dem peer, Lord Lester, be suspended from the chamber until 2022, after he was accused of offering ‘sexual inducements’ and sexually harassing a complainant – which he strenuously denies. If the House of Lords agrees with the recommendation (which it will

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Labour U-turn: ‘Brexit can be stopped’

With Theresa May’s government seemingly on the brink of collapse over the backstop agreement, the Prime Minister can take heart that the Opposition are also experiencing Brexit turbulence. Over the weekend, Jeremy Corbyn set the cat among the pigeons by telling a German newspaper that Brexit cannot be stopped. The Labour leader’s comments dismayed a

Another day, another Johnson calls for a second referendum

After Jo Johnson resigned on Friday over the government’s Brexit position, his brother Boris was quick to take to social media to commend Jo for taking a brave stand – by calling out the flaws with the proposed Brexit deal. However, the former foreign secretary stopped short of backing his brother’s call for a second

The BBC blames school attack on… Brexit

Today, the BBC news channel ran a short piece on the increase of hate crime incidents against disabled children – which have tripled in four years. As part of the report, the BBC visited a school which catered for disabled children in Newcastle, which had recently been broken into and vandalised by thugs who destroyed

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Weinstein’s former assistant comes to the defence of Peter Hain

When Peter Hain used his parliamentary privilege to name Philip Green as the businessman accused of harassing and bullying several women, it’s fair to say he received a mixed reception. While initially praised for breaking the court ordered injunction, criticism began to mount that he had abused his parliamentary powers. Hain will be glad to

Momentum’s membership splits with Corbyn over Brexit

At Labour conference this summer, the party’s leadership were clearly spooked when its previously loyal members demanded the party support a second Brexit referendum. With this in mind, and ever keen to ensure that the rank-and-file are in step with Jeremy Corbyn, the left-wing campaign group Momentum recently decided to survey its supporters to see

Should taxpayers pay for Chuka’s Brexit jaunt to Paris?

Chuka Umunna loves to talk Brexit, telling anyone who will listen what a disaster Britain’s departure from the EU will be. The MP for Streatham has even made several hops across the Channel to discuss the subject with European politicians. But who paid for Chuka’s recent jolly to Paris to talk Brexit? Mr S can

All the ministers who’ve resigned from Theresa May’s government

Another one bites the dust. Sports Minister Tracey Crouch became the latest minister to resign from the government this evening, in protest at Theresa May and Philip Hammond’s decision to delay the introduction of a £2 maximum stake on fixed-odd betting terminals. Crouch’s resignation puts her in the growing group of Conservative MPs who have

John Bercow’s plan to ‘Modernise Parliament’

It’s not been an easy month for Speaker John Bercow. Dogged by allegations of bullying and intolerant behaviour, he’s so far only managed to cling on to his job by promising to resign in the summer of 2019. Yet his imminent departure from political life has not stopped the indefatigable Speaker from giving his own

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What does Kanye West see in Caroline Lucas?

Kanye West’s association with Donald Trump is well known. But there is another politician that the rapper-turned-political-activist likes to pay attention to this side of the pond: Caroline Lucas. While Kanye has nearly 30 million followers on Twitter, the list of those he follows is far more exclusive – numbering just 120. So imagine Mr

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Will Cameron take his revenge on Merkel?

As James Kirkup writes on Coffee House, David Cameron’s misreading of Angela Merkel contributed to Brexit. The then Prime Minister and his team believed that Cameron’s personal relationship with Merkel – who apparently saw him as a ‘naughty nephew’ – would be enough to secure some important compromises in the renegotiation. Those compromises never came but Mr S

Watch: Yvette Cooper clashes with Caroline Nokes

Yvette Cooper got more than she bargained for when she had a go at immigration minister Caroline Nokes at today’s home affairs committee. The Labour MP rebuked Nokes after she complained about the meeting overrunning, telling her: You have been incredibly generous with your time and we really appreciate it. I would also say, however, we have

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Ken Clarke: the British are not very good at being enterprising

Last night was the Spectator’s ‘Deal or No Deal’ event, where six panellists convened to discuss all things Brexit, and say whether they thought Britain would ‘crash out’ of the EU or thrive on WTO terms. Nobly representing the Remain side was parliamentary titan, and Father of the House, Ken Clarke. And while Ken was

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Tom Watson’s flirtation with LBC

How far the mighty have fallen. While he was once known as the decisive fixer, who was able to get things done inside Labour, deputy leader Tom Watson has largely been sidelined by the Corbyn crew. Rumour has it that the MP is now so sick of being the perennial outsider, he is even considering other

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John McDonnell vs Momentum

Oh dear. John McDonnell has found himself in hot water this morning after he declared that Labour would support Philip Hammond’s budget tax cuts. Given that the Resolution Foundation claims that the tax cuts will benefit the better off, it doesn’t seem like the most obvious move for anti-austerity Labour. Labour politicians have been quick to