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
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
Oh dear. It seems Michael Heseltine ought to prepare for a visit from the RSPCA in the next week or so. The former Deputy Prime Minister has admitted to a crime, in an interview in this month’s Tatler. The 83-year-old conservative makes the confession that he strangled his mother’s pet dog, by the name of Kim.
Although Jeremy Clarkson has now moved to Amazon Prime to host a new car show, it appears that the BBC is never far from the former Top Gear host’s mind. In an interview with the Sunday Times over the weekend, Clarkson couldn’t resist revisiting his ongoing feud with Danny Cohen, the former director of television
Michael Gove has been keeping himself busy this week with his non-apology apology tour. He came close to saying sorry to Boris Johnson and admitted he made mistakes during the party’s summer leadership contest. But he has saved his biggest about-turn for this morning. In his column in The Times today, the Brexit backer has admitted
Spare a thought for John McDonnell. The shadow chancellor was up and about early this morning to criticise Theresa May on the airwaves for her stance on Brexit. But while McDonnell was eager to get his message across, Mr S wonders whether he might have forgotten something before he left the house. It seems by the time
Poor old David Cameron. His defeat in the referendum campaign left critics saying he was the worst Prime Minister ever. Now, it seems, it’s not only his legacy which falls short of some of his predecessors. Having quit Parliament, Dave was planning to use the next year to cash in on his memoirs. When his
Just when you thought it was confined to political folklore, the EdStone returns again to haunt Labour. Mr S was interested to learn this morning that the Electoral Commission has fined the party £20,000 for failing to declare the money spent on the doomed eight-foot tombstone. Labour failed to declare £7,614 worth of receipts for the stone plinth,
