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

Baroness Chakrabarti, the champagne socialist

As the House of Lords begins to debate the government’s Article 50 bill, Baroness Chakrabarti appears to have used the week before to relax and recharge. Eye Spy MP reports that Shami was spied in the Grosvenor Hotel with a glass of fizz. Shami, keeping champagne socialism alive, at the Grosvenor Hotel, Victoria. pic.twitter.com/34DKX1tdLB —

Steerpike

Labour’s shadow cabinet fail

Given the frequency of shadow cabinet reshuffles under Jeremy Corbyn, even the most eagle-eyed Westminster residents now have difficulty identifying who makes up Labour’s frontbench. However, up until now Mr S had thought that the party at least knew. Alas not. Steerpike has been passed an internal Labour party email sent on Friday which details

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What by-election? Tristram Hunt starts his new job

When Tristram Hunt resigned as the MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central last month to take up a job as director of the V&A, he insisted the decision was driven by the offer of a job that combined his ‘lifetime passions’ rather than ill feeling over the direction Labour had taken under Jeremy Corbyn. So, with polling

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Mandy’s BBC interview riles the Corbynites

Oh dear. Yesterday Peter Mandelson appeared on the Andrew Marr Show to warn of the dangers of Brexit. The New Labour grandee used the primetime slot to criticise the government’s handling of Brexit and call for an Article 50 rebellion in the Lords. While Mandy managed to refrain from attacking Jeremy Corbyn, Mr S understands

Ukip’s only MP gives Ukip conference a miss

Although Paul Nuttall made a quick escape from today’s Ukip Spring Conference in order to avoid the pesky press, compared with Douglas Carswell it was an admirable effort. Mr S understands that Ukip’s only MP has deigned not to bother turning up today. While there are over 25 Ukip politicians speaking at the event, Carswell

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DWP secretary’s business rates rebellion

As the government considers plans to raise an extra £1billion next year through a revaluation of business rates, there has been much concern on the backbench that the move would see high street shops priced out of existence. Mark Field — vice-chairman of the Conservative party — has called on Philip Hammond to back down from the ‘looming nightmare’ of higher

Ken Loach discovers how the other half live

Ken Loach has carved out a name as something of a Corbynista luvvie. The director put together a droning, hour-long promotional film for the Labour leader last year. And Corbyn returned in kind by offering a glowing review of his pal’s recent I, Daniel Blake movie, which he urged people to go and see. This

Caption contest: Theresa May’s Copeland charm offensive

Oh dear. As Theresa May avoids questions about the NHS up in Copeland ahead of this month’s by-election, brains at No 10 decided a trip to Captain Shaw’s Primary School in Bootle would make for a safe photo opp. Alas things didn’t go quite to plan when the Prime Minister struggled to raise a smile in

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Paul Nuttall’s ‘press officer’ does it again

As Paul Nuttall receives flak today over his admission that the claim on his website that he lost ‘close personal’ friends in the Hillsborough disaster is false, his press officer appears to have fallen on her sword. Lynda Roughley says she made the mistake and has offered to resign. Roughley adds that she feels ‘absolutely terrible’ as

Wanted: Brexiteers for Wife Swap

Just in case tensions between Brexiteers and Remain-ers were beginning to die down now that MPs have voted for Article 50, television producers are at the ready to whip up more drama between the two camps. Channel 4 is bringing back Wife Swap for a Brexit special. While it has been touted as a one-off special,

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Trousergate designer: Nicky Morgan broke my heart

Relations between Theresa May and Nicky Morgan took a turn for the worse last year after the former education secretary criticised the Prime Minister for wearing a £995 pair of trousers while claiming that she wanted to help those who are ‘just about managing’. While the pair have since made — uneasy — peace, the woman

The Corbyn effect | 11 February 2017

Last month, Tim Farron ruled out any electoral pact between the Liberal Democrats and Labour — branding Jeremy Corbyn ‘toxic’. With Labour mourning the loss of over 7,000 members in January, it seems Farron may be on to something. In contrast to Labour, the Liberal Democrats were buoyed by 4,000 new members last month. And just how

Watch: BBC gives John Bercow a lesson in virtue signalling

Yesterday James Duddridge, the Tory backbencher, tabled a motion of no confidence in the Speaker. It comes after John Bercow took the government by surprise on Monday by declaring that President Trump was not welcome to address Parliament on his upcoming state visit. Given that Trump had expressed no desire to do so and several world leaders with

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Richard Burgon to the rescue

With Labour lagging behind the Tories in the polls and the party divided over Brexit, there has been much speculation of late over Jeremy Corbyn’s future as Labour leader. While Clive Lewis is rumoured to be considering a leadership challenge, Corbyn appeared to pave the way for a more Corbyn-friendly successor yesterday when he appointed Rebecca Long-Bailey as

Corbyn’s war with the BBC rages on

There’s little love lost between the BBC and the Leader’s Office. Jeremy Corbyn’s team have regularly accused the Beeb of anti-Corbyn bias, with the BBC trust recently concluding that its political editor Laura Kuenssberg inaccurately reported the Labour leader’s views about shoot-to-kill policies in the aftermath of the terror attacks in Paris. Today, the battle took

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Diane Abbott spurns David Davis in Strangers’ Bar

After the government’s Brexit Bill passed through the Commons unamended, whips, government ministers and Brexiteers were in the mood to celebrate. Alas, not everyone was on the same page. Although Diane Abbott was well enough to vote for Article 50 today, the shadow home secretary is far from happy about the government’s plans for a ‘Tory Brexit’. So, it was unfortunate timing

Knives out for Bercow

This week John Bercow was accused of double standards after he announced that he would not allow President Trump to address both Houses of Parliament. Putting aside the times world leaders with questionable human rights records have (a) addressed the House, and (b) shared tea with the Speaker, Bercow said Trump’s policies meant he was unworthy of

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George Osborne continues to cash in from the backbench

Another month, another declaration of extra-income from the former Chancellor of the Exchequer. According to the latest register of interests, George Osborne brought in over £90,000 last month for just five hours work. This means that Osborne managed to out earn his annual MP’s salary of £74,962 in less than a day. Mr S praises the