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
On Thursday, Barack Obama welcomed Donald Trump to the White House to begin transition talks. While the President Elect described Obama as ‘a very good man’ after the hour-long meeting, the pictures tell a different story. Mr S welcomes your caption suggestions. The winner will be announced on Monday.
With experts, pollsters and members of the metropolitan elite all taken by surprise over Hillary Clinton’s defeat, many are struggling to come to terms with a Donald Trump presidency. None more so than the brains at Newsweek. Hacks at the current affairs magazine in America were so sure that Clinton would be victorious that they
With Theresa May still hanging on the telephone for Donald Trump, the Prime Minister may soon be turning to Nigel Farage for a helping hand. The interim Ukip leader has forged a friendly relationship with the new President — joining him on the campaign trail. Now Farage has given an interview in which he volunteeers
During the EU referendum campaign, Stuart Rose built a reputation for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. In fact, his blunders became so regular that the chair of Britain Stronger in Europe had all but disappeared from public as polling day neared — with Mr S even issuing several appeals into the retail supremo’s
Spare a thought for Donald Trump. For weeks now, the Republican candidate has been suggesting the US voting system is rigged. Now it seems his trust issues have spread to those closest to him. In a photo from Trump’s visit to the polling station today, the presidential hopeful appears to be taking a peek at
Although Jeremy Corbyn’s brother Piers is rooting for Donald Trump tonight, it’s widely thought that — out of the two — the Labour leader is Team Hillary. Alas in the event of a Hillary Clinton presidency, the future for UK Labour and the US doesn’t look so bright. Wikileaks have leaked a transcript of a speech
Although George Osborne is now a backbencher, the former Chancellor still harbours leadership ambitions. On that note, it’s not gone unnoticed that since his sacking, Osborne has been doing his bit to keep close ties with America — joining Tina Brown for a Manhattan soiree to show that — despite the Leave vote — there
With the US presidential result now less than 24 hours away, tensions are high both across the pond and in the UK. So, perhaps that’s why Jeremy Corbyn’s brother Piers has stepped his campaign against Hillary Clinton up a notch this morning. Although Piers has previously insisted he is not endorsing Donald Trump despite his condemnation of
It’s safe to say that when it comes to the US presidential election, it’s Hillary Clinton who has Hollywood on side. The Democrat candidate has been endorsed by everyone from Madonna to Meryl Streep to Katy Perry, while a multitude of luvvies have spoken out against her Republican rival. However, Donald Trump can take heart
Once upon a time, ITV was the darling of the Corbynistas. In fact, it was Mr S who disclosed that Seumas Milne — Corbyn’s director of communications — had been overheard discussing the pros of the broadcaster over the Beeb, back in January. Alas, things have since taken a turn for the worse. The problem?
Things are looking up for George Osborne. Not only have bookies slashed his odds of making a political comeback, the former Chancellor is adapting nicely to life on the backbench. According to the latest register of interests, Osborne has managed to trouser almost £100,000 from giving just three speeches across the pond. So, what did
Given the number of people Theresa May managed to offend at last night’s Parliamentarian of the Year awards, the Prime Minister’s decision to accept her gong from George Osborne wearing the former chancellor’s hard hat and high-vis jacket was pretty low-ranking. Nevertheless not one to be easily outdone, George Osborne has hit back today. The MP
This year’s Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year awards, sponsored by Benenden, saw Theresa May reunited with her former Cabinet colleague George Osborne — and Boris Johnson declare that Brexit will be a Titanic success. Here are a selection of photos from the event, courtesy of Alan Davidson:
This morning, many politicians will be waking up with a sore head following a well-hydrated night at the Spectator’s Parliamentarian of the Year awards. While the event proved to be a rather lively affair thanks to some choice words from both Theresa May and George Osborne, it’s Boris Johnson who may be wishing he could
Oh dear. Paul Mason has spent the past few months telling anyone who will listen that Jeremy Corbyn can — and will — win an election. Discussing the Labour coup, he claimed that the ‘guardians of elite power inside the Labour party’ were so scared by Corbyn’s electability that they text each other and arranged a coup
This time last year, George Osborne was the Chancellor of the Exchequer and tipped to be the next Prime Minister. One year on and — in the aftermath of the Brexit result — the MP for Tatton is now a backbencher. Happily, Osborne had a chance to reunite with his old Cabinet friends, aka ‘besties’
Poor old Theresa May. The Prime Minister did her best to try and share some good feeling with those on the opposite benches by congratulating Jeremy Corbyn on the birth of his grandchild. Although it seemed like a rare moment of kindness at PMQs, there was a problem: Corbyn isn’t a granddad. Instead, it was Conor
To the Policy Exchange for the launch of All Out War, Tim Shipman’s tome on the EU referendum. As the Sunday Times political editor welcomed ‘Bremoaners, Brexiteers, esteemed guests and members of David Cameron’s honours list’ to the launch, he spoke of his relief that there were people present who hated each other more than they hated
What did Will Straw do to deserve his gong? It’s a mystery which has baffled many – including Mr. S – ever since Straw was handed a CBE for leading the ‘Stronger In’ campaign to a resounding defeat in the referendum. Straw’s inclusion on David Cameron’s resignation honours list was labelled a ‘joke’, while others said it was a clear
As the government considers a ban on unpaid internships, Theresa May has been accused of pursuing a ‘purge of the posh’. Today Alec Shelbrooke appeared on Daily Politics to put forward the case for the ban. Alas, things took a questionable turn when the Tory backbencher decided that there was an apt and fair comparison to be