Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from London and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk.

Road rage in the Foreign Office

1 July 2026 2:35 am

With Sir Keir Starmer straggling on as PMINO – Prime Minister in Name Only – ministers have truly gone feral.…

Left-wing politicians rail against Mahmood’s ‘refugee tax’

1 July 2026 1:51 am

Britain’s dimmest left-wing MPs are up in arms today. No, not about the lack of cash announced in the Defence…

‘Insane’ Treasury diversity plan attacked by MPs

1 July 2026 12:01 am

It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the Treasury is riddled with idiots who struggle to count and…

Farage finds his Queen of the North

29 June 2026 10:13 pm

Reform UK is delighted to announce Sian Astley as our candidate for Mayor of Greater Manchester. Sian has pledged to scrutinise contracts previously…

Badenoch: Ed Miliband is a ‘Nigerian dictator’

29 June 2026 9:48 pm

Kemi Badenoch spared no prisoners this morning as she delivered her first attack speech dedicated to Andy Burnham and his…

Tapped out of government

26 June 2026 6:35 pm

Labour’s never-ending psychodrama took yet another magnificent twist today. It looks as if Sir Keir Starmer won’t be alone in…

A surgeon for Burnham’s Cabinet?

26 June 2026 3:59 am

With just weeks until he is set to waltz into No. 10, Andy Burnham has been quick out of the…

Lowe and behold: Restore turns on its leader

26 June 2026 1:37 am

Oh dear. It looks as though Rupert Lowe’s merry gang of ethnonationalists are in a spot of trouble. Prominent Restore…

Labour ministers lose it with Badenoch after PMQs

24 June 2026 11:52 pm

? WATCH: Kemi Badenoch calls Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson a “spiteful class warrior” full of “incompetence” Starmer: “She grew up…

Watch: New SNP MP mocks swearing-in

24 June 2026 7:37 pm

Today, I was officially sworn in at Parliament. I took this Oath in order to serve the people of Arbroath…

Watch: Andy Burnham sworn in

23 June 2026 1:59 am

Andy Burnham sworn in as new Labour MP for Makerfield Follow live updates and analysis: https://t.co/SkfgqT7YpV pic.twitter.com/bwrKGBjWHg — BBC Politics…

Wes Streeting: I’m backing Burnham

22 June 2026 10:25 pm

pic.twitter.com/ZVX6vS6Tl2 — Wes Streeting (@wesstreeting) June 22, 2026 Well, well, well. After weeks of insisting he ‘has the numbers’ and…

Sir Keir Starmer: I quit

22 June 2026 8:03 pm

BREAKING: Sir Keir Starmer has announced a timetable for his resignation as prime minister. Live updates: https://t.co/0NZcBgSmUq pic.twitter.com/awlsBDQYLK — Sky…

‘Oh my God!’ Reform MP and Labour peer clash at Makerfield count

19 June 2026 3:54 pm

It’s all kicking off in Makerfield, where Andy Burnham has romped to victory in the by-election. Burnham, Labour’s newest MP…

Watch: Reform MP’s bizarre domestic violence football message

19 June 2026 1:00 am

For the sake of women’s safety we need England to keep winning ??????? pic.twitter.com/Art8B5gzaf — Sarah Pochin MP (@SarahForRuncorn) June…

Civil service grifting hits new heights

18 June 2026 1:50 am

Violence, shooting and driving fast cars are not usually the first things that spring to mind when Whitehall talks about…

Watch: Lowe aide silences Restore’s by-election candidate

17 June 2026 9:40 pm

“We’re not doing any interviews” “You’ll have to speak to the management sorry” “Alistair can Rebecca do one interview or…

Reform poach think tank star

17 June 2026 3:35 am

In the battle for the right, all eyes are on who moves where. A handful of Tory MPs made the…

Wes Streeting: Starmer must resign after Makerfield

17 June 2026 1:41 am

Labour leadership hopeful Wes Streeting today demanded that Sir Keir Starmer quit the top job once the Makerfield by-election concludes.…

Kemi Badenoch: Starmer must stop pony slaughter

16 June 2026 11:33 pm

Kemi Badenoch today demanded that Sir Keir Starmer step in to stop the ‘mass slaughter’ of Dartmoor ponies by bureaucrats…

Watch: Remaining defence minister admonishes Starmer

16 June 2026 2:08 am

Luke Pollard tells MPs he is only still in the job because John Healey asked him to stay. In a…

Reform pledges new migrant worker levy

15 June 2026 10:09 pm

British workers will come first every time under a Reform UK government. ✅ pic.twitter.com/ko8cEAPdW6 — Reform UK (@reformparty_uk) June 15,…

Starmer bans social media for under-16s

15 June 2026 6:47 pm

BREAKING: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced a social media ban for under-16s. Live updates: https://t.co/Jxi67uC5Qk pic.twitter.com/VnIFMyjAhs — Sky…

Starmer vows to fight on (again)

12 June 2026 11:58 pm

Not even the resignation of a respected defence secretary will stop one Sir Keir Starmer from ploughing ahead with his…

Watch: Emma Thompson backs Labour’s ‘summer of sex’

11 June 2026 8:46 pm

It’s not every day you get to spend the day with a living legend. And she is just as lovely…