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
Is a deal better than no deal? After Mr S attempted to answer that question over the weekend by publishing 40 horrors lurking in the small print of Theresa May’s Brexit deal, No. 10 got in touch with 40 rebuttals to Steerpike’s 40 horrors. Still with us? Well, episode three of this series is finally
It’s the question that’s on everyone’s lips in Westminster this week: how many letters of no confidence have been sent to the chairman of the 1922 committee, Graham Brady? Only Brady knows how many letters there are, and he’s committed to not revealing to anybody (including his wife) what the running total is. This morning
Since he became leader in 2015, Jeremy Corbyn has not exactly cultivated a sense that he’s top of any political situation. But he reached new heights of incompetence when he was interviewed on Sky this morning. The Labour leader was asked by Sophy Ridge if he’d actually read the Prime Minister’s draft Withdrawal Agreement which was
Brexit is one of the most divisive issues in the UK – splitting friends, family and all the main political parties along Leave and Remain lines. But if you think you’ve had some bruising arguments about Brexit these past two years, spare a thought for one particularly political household. Chief Brexiteer Andrea Jenkyns has been
This week, Theresa May’s government teetered on the point of collapse over her proposed Brexit deal. The withdrawal agreement between the UK and Brussels led to Dominic Raab and Esther McVey resigning in protest. However, May’s remaining ministers have since attempted to rally around her at least in the short term. Speaking on Friday, Liam
Theresa May has just been doing her best to sell her Brexit plan to voters. But the Prime Minister’s pitch didn’t go down well with those calling into LBC. The PM’s first call came from a Tory councillor who urged her to stand down and let someone else negotiate with the European Union. And she
Nigel Farage was back on the airwaves today, and somewhat unsurprisingly, he was not a fan of Theresa May’s Brexit proposal. So much does he hate it in fact, that he told viewers: ‘There’s only one thing to do, when this, the worst deal in history, and that is to put it in the bin.
Rory Stewart has already been caught out claiming wrongly that 80 per cent of the public back Theresa May’s Brexit plan. Now another of the Prime Minister’s defenders has come unstuck while trying to support May’s withdrawal deal. Alan Duncan was asked whether the government had a problem if the majority of the public don’t
Theresa May’s supporters are resorting to some desperate measures to try and salvage the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal. Step forward, Rory Stewart. The prisons minister claimed just now on BBC 5 Live that 80 per cent of the British public support the deal. The only problem? He was making that number up. Stewart was quickly
My my. Tensions are flaring across this Conservative Party this morning, as the Tories tears themselves apart over Theresa May’s Brexit deal with the European Union. Scottish secretary David Mundell, who has come out in support of Theresa May’s deal, was being interviewed on ITV news this afternoon, and didn’t exactly pull his punches when
Only a handful of MPs have spoken up in support of Theresa May’s Brexit deal in the Commons. But the criticism from a certain Tory backbencher will worry her more than most. Jacob Rees-Mogg took to his feet in the Commons to ask why he shouldn’t now hand in a letter of no confidence in
If you think performing stand-up sounds like your worst nightmare, imagine standing in front of several hundred hostile MPs while your government falls apart. Such is Theresa May’s lot as she currently gives a statement to parliament about her Brexit deal. Fortunately for the PM, her speech provided no short of laughs, especially with this
It’s been a busy morning in Westminster, with ministers fleeing from Theresa May’s government like rats from a sinking ship. Fear not though, Mr S is on hand to help keep you keep track. Keep an eye on this post, it will be updated throughout the day as the resignations keep on rolling in. These
To the surprise of some Brexiteers, today’s front pages have been broadly sympathetic to Theresa May and her troubled deal. In fact, it’s today’s Evening Standard which appears to play to the Brexiteer cause most strongly. The paper’s editor George Osborne – May’s old nemesis – has tweeted out the front page which reads ‘EU
If Theresa May’s deal collapses today, the country could well be heading for another general election (sorry Brenda). So it will no doubt reassure readers that there is a competent opposition ready to take over if she goes. Or maybe not. The former head of the civil service Lord Kerslake, who has been advising Labour
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
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’
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
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
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