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

Starmer’s top five charmers released from prison

The second round of prison inmate releases is taking place today, with over one thousand people walking free from their institutions early. The jailbirds have been warned to be on their best behaviour this time – after the first release resulted in gleeful criminals popping champagne corks over freedom day coming early. But despite warnings

Steerpike

The five worst takes on the Chris Kaba case

Yesterday brought the news that the police officer accused of murdering Chris Kaba in 2022 had been acquitted. Racial justice groups have long criticised the Met police over the matter and on Monday evening, protestors once again took to the streets outside the Old Bailey to demand justice for the 24-year-old. But protestations about the

Steerpike

The Plot: Nadine backs Jenrick

With just over a week left until the Tory leadership race concludes, the endorsements are rolling in. While a selection of new backers have rowed in behind Kemi Badenoch in recent days, Robert Jenrick’s campaign has not been devoid of last minute supporters. His former boss Suella Braverman has today announced she will be supporting

Steerpike

Badenoch beats Jenrick in Mumsnet ratings

The Tory leadership contest will wrap up in less than two weeks and members have been busy casting their votes over the last few days. While there is frustration across the party about the lack of membership polling data available, Mr S is rather intrigued by what attentive users on Mumsnet think of Robert Jenrick

Khan takes a pop at Kuenssberg over election tweet

To City Hall, where tonight Sadiq Khan welcomed journalists from across the city to a Diageo-sponsored drinks reception. The London mayor took to the podium to laud the efforts of his diligent and dutiful staffers, taking time to praise his comms team for their relentless work trying to defend his decision-making. Yet about certain journalists,

Steerpike

New SNP chief under scrutiny over controversial comments

The SNP has fired through multiple leaders in recent months, and it now looks to be doing the same with CEOs. After former Daily Record editor Murray Foote announced his resignation last week, the Nats have appointed a new interim chief executive – who has already managed to cause quite a stir… Carol Beattie was

Steerpike

Watch: King Charles heckled by Australian protestor

To Australia’s Parliament House, where King Charles gave his landmark address today. But it wasn’t all plain sailing for the British monarch who, just before he came to the end of his keynote speech, was rather rudely interrupted by a protestor. The heckler — an indigenous senator — began to approach the stage, shouting at

London academic pines for Hamas leader

Well, well, well. On Thursday it emerged that Israeli forces had killed Hamas’s leader Yahya Sinwar in a ‘chance’ hit, according to Israel’s Kan Radio, after the IDF opened fire on a group of men running into a building. The leader was behind the horrific 7 October attack last year, in which over 1000 people

Steerpike

Farage attacks Labour activists canvassing for Kamala

Another day, another drama. Nigel Farage has lashed out at the Labour lot today after it transpired that a number of activists from Sir Keir Starmer’s party are jetting off to the US to canvas for Kamala Harris. The Reform UK leader has blasted Starmer’s army over the revelation – even accusing Labour of ‘direct

Steerpike

SNP chief executive resigns

The Scottish National party has had a high turnover of leaders lately – and it appears to be facing the same problem with its chief executives. Now Murray Foote has resigned from the post after just 14 months in the role, taking to Twitter/X today to announce his departure. The former Daily Record editor who

Tory councillor’s wife jailed over social media riot post

The wife of a Tory councillor has been jailed for 31 months over a social media post during the riots. Lucy Connolly, married to Raymond Connolly on the West Northamptonshire Council, took to social media in July with some rather controversial words in the wake of the killing of three children in Southport. In her

Steerpike

Watch: Jenrick backer suggests Badenoch ‘preoccupied with children’

As the two finalists for the Tory leadership race are preparing to go head-to-head in tonight’s GB News special, more Tory MPs are speaking up for their favoured candidates. In an interesting interview, veteran politician Sir Christopher Chope has revealed who he is backing – and for rather curious reasons. The Christchurch MP told ITV

Steerpike

Badenoch: I’d give JK Rowling a peerage

The Tory leadership contest is heating up and, from today, members can vote for their favoured candidate. Just hours before her appearance on tonight’s GB News leadership show, Kemi Badenoch has sparked discussion by declaring that she would give renowned writer and women’s rights campaigner JK Rowling a peerage. Praising the Harry Potter author, Badenoch

Science Secretary failed to declare Taylor Swift tickets on time

Dear oh dear. Science Secretary Peter Kyle has certainly had better days in office. Despite Kyle insisting in the Commons today that his party ‘raises standards in public life’, it has now emerged that the Science Secretary, er, failed to declare his own gifted Taylor Swift tickets in time. Talk about hypocrisy… Members of parliament

Steerpike

Watch: Jenrick drops the ball over England manager hire

To the Tory leadership race, which is picking up pace with only three weeks to go. The two finalists are set to take part in a GB News TV debate on Thursday, and have today been busy prepping viewers with their visions for the party. Kemi Badenoch featured in today’s Telegraph while Robert Jenrick hosted

Steerpike

Watch: Science Secretary grilled over latest cronyism row

Labour’s cronyism row has reared its head once again. It now transpires that Sir Keir Starmer’s government failed to disclose an official’s links with the Labour lot when trying to nab her a civil service job – omitting to add the rather significant detail on important transparency forms. As Mr S wrote in August, the

Steerpike

Jenrick takes aim at Khan over house-building

The Tory leadership contest is gathering pace with voting due to open up to the membership in less than 24 hours. Kemi Badenoch was quick to secure a top slot in Wednesday’s Telegraph, while rival Robert Jenrick gathered supporters together in the heart of Westminster for yet another campaign event today. The ex-housing secretary went

Steerpike

Sir Keir faces scrutiny over Taylor Swift policing fiasco

Dear oh dear. The Home Secretary, the London mayor and even Sir Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff have all been in the firing line over the Taylor Swift security row – and now the Prime Minister is under the microscope. It transpires that after Labour figures pushed police to give special protection to the