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
Well, well, well. TfL Commissioner Andy Lord has been accused of lying about graffiti on the underground, after he made comments following a clean-up operation by Looking For Growth (LFG). After footage of volunteers wiping graffiti from tube carriage walls was published, Lord claimed at a Greater London Assembly meeting earlier this year, without mentioning
The grooming gang inquiry is becoming more chaotic by the day as people continue to step away from the process. Now pressure is mounting on safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, who has faced calls to resign over the whole palaver. Four child sex abuse survivors have dropped out of the victims’ advisory panel while the two
There is a spring in the step of some Tories these days. After the recent downfall of Angela Rayner and Peter Mandelson, the Conservative attack team seemingly has the bit between their teeth. So, it is perhaps no surprise then that Robert Jenrick – the XL Bully of Tory attack dogs – is playing his
To the Commons, where Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) has just wrapped up. The focus on Prince Andrew continues – and today Sir Keir Starmer agreed with Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey that the royal should be probed by MPs over the revelations about his Royal Lodge rent. Uh oh… Davey addressed the fact that
It’s been a funny old time for Nigel Farage in parliament. Elected to the House of Commons at his eighth attempt, the Reform leader has had to adapt to the weird and world of Westminster’s traditions. But in a parliament where you’re just five of the 650 MPs overall, getting barracked on all sides isn’t
Tomorrow marks a fortnight since Kemi Badenoch’s conference speech. After a difficult first year when the Conservatives have sometimes struggled to make much of an impact, party spinners were left delighted by the press reaction to her surprise stamp duty announcement. Tory MPs have been publicly boasting about a membership surge – though no figures
Well, well, well. Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide bill has made it to the House of Lords, where the legislation will be scrutinised by peers before receiving Royal Assent. The bill wracked up intense criticism as it made its way through the Commons – and it seems things will be no different in the Lords. Steerpike
The government is facing a rather strange dilemma: what to do about Prince Andrew. Last week the royal voluntarily gave up his titles after speaking with King Charles, following increasing scrutiny on his links to US paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir – published today – has brought her accusations of sexual assault against
Whisper it, but it appears Zack Polanski’s eco-populism strategy is working. After his election as the new leader of the Green party, support for the environmentalists has surged. The party’s membership has seen an 80 per cent increase since Polanski took the reins last month, according to the group, which claims it now has over
To veteran BBC documentary-maker, Louis Theroux. On The Louis Theroux Podcast, the longtime interviewer spoke to Bobby Vylan – one half of the punk-rap band Bob Vylan which led a chant of ‘death to the IDF’ at Glastonbury – in his first interview since the summer music festival. But it seems listeners have not been
Rishi Sunak was expected to set sail for the US after leaving No. 10, but it turns out his post-prime ministerial life is less Silicon Valley and more Sunday Times. The former Conservative party leader – who remains an MP for Richmond and Northallerton – will become a regular fixture in the august weekend paper,
Well, well, well. While the issue of drug decriminalisation has reared its head in recent months thanks to an intervention by London mayor Sadiq Khan, there aren’t all that many politicians who have advocated for the legalisation of illicit substances. That hasn’t put off the Economist which, in a leader titled ‘Brute force is no
Uh oh. There’s trouble in paradise as Reform UK has suspended four councillors on Kent county council after a leaked video revealed a rather lot of infighting in their ranks. Councillors were captured complaining about ‘backbiting’ and being ignored by leader Linden Kemkaran – formerly of this parish – who fumed that they should ‘f***ing
It’s a difficult time for Tory members. Down to barely 123,000 at the last count, the annual conference passed off well, given the circumstances. But while Kemi Badenoch’s speech received a thumbs up from the commentariat, those running local groups continue to complain of problems. For a leaked recording has revealed what senior members and
Ever fancied going stateside? Enjoy travel, hobnobbing and schmoozing Republicans? Well, now you can, thanks to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) latest posting. After Peter Mandelson’s unfortunate demise last month, London is looking for an ambitious, industrious type to go be our new man (or woman) in Washington D.C. The job advert has
Something of a nightmare is gripping the city of dreaming spires. Over at the Oxford Union – the supposed nursery of our nation’s leaders – the new Union president-elect is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Last month, George Abaraonye sparked outrage after appearing to celebrate the death of Charlie Kirk. Then, on Saturday
When stories first emerged about a new tell-all book on Keir Starmer’s ruthless rise to power, Corbynites got predictably excited. The work by Paul Holden – titled The Fraud – has not quite proved to be the thing which finally does for this besieged No. 10 team. But it does, however, contain some interesting details
They say that politics is showbiz for ugly people. But that has not stopped some of parliament’s finest swapping the Westminster jungle for the real thing. Over the years, a series of politicians have braved the Australian climate of ITV’s reality series I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! Among them are the ex-Scottish
As any good Spectator subscriber knows, Joan Collins is a national institution. The Hollywood star took centre stage at last night’s big Thatcher Centre bash to mark one hundred years since the Iron Lady’s birth. Boris Johnson reminisced about Collins’ diaries when he edited this august outlet some twenty years ago. But it was left
To the Guildhall where hundreds of Thatcherites last night met to pay tribute to the Iron Lady. On the centenary of her birth, a roll call of the great and the good was assembled by the eponymous centre named in her honour. Highlights of the evening included Jeffrey Archer’s auction, where he told the crowd