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.

Elon Musk slams Starmer over Facebook hate charge

7 August 2024 12:41 am

The first person in the UK to be charged with stirring up racial hatred on Facebook during the riots is…

Tory leadership hopefuls read Farage the riot act

6 August 2024 11:45 pm

As the country saw more violent riots last night, Tory leadership hopefuls have taken to the airwaves to condemn, er,…

John Swinney faces yet another exam result blunder

6 August 2024 8:47 pm

Dear oh dear. Scotland’s secondary school results are in – and it’s not looking good for John Swinney’s SNP government.…

Jess Phillips accused of ‘making excuses’ for masked mob

6 August 2024 7:54 pm

Another day, another report of violent disorder. Protests broke out in Labour MP Jess Phillips’ Birmingham constituency on Monday night.…

SNP under fire over handling of sex scandal complaints

6 August 2024 1:00 am

To Scotland, where the Nats are facing accusations of not dealing with sex offender complaints properly. Cameron Downing, former SNP…

Watch: Met Police boss grabs mic after ‘two-tier policing’ question

5 August 2024 11:22 pm

As Britain braces itself for further outbreaks of violence, questions are being asked about the UK’s police response and how…

Watch: Ed Balls interviews his Home Secretary wife on ITV

5 August 2024 10:37 pm

Good heavens. Now it’s ITV under fire after the broadcaster was accused of bias for allowing ex-politician-turned-presenter Ed Balls to…

Trump’s son blasts Lammy for ‘clickbait’ comments

5 August 2024 9:47 pm

Donald Trump’s second son Eric made a visit to Scotland this weekend, for a round of golf and a rather…

Violent mob comes to Rotherham

5 August 2024 1:29 am

Protests are spreading across the UK. In Hull, protesters gathered outside a hotel housing asylum seekers and chanted ‘stop the…

Watch: ITV snubs Truss at races

2 August 2024 11:40 pm

To West Sussex, where spectators are enjoying the sun at the Goodwood Racecourse. But it hasn’t necessarily been the most…

Scottish Tory leadership race ramps up

2 August 2024 9:48 pm

Back to Scotland, where the third official candidate in the Scottish Tory leadership contest has been announced. Meghan Gallacher, the…

JK Rowling hits out at Olympic bosses over boxing controversy

2 August 2024 1:21 am

To the Olympics, where a rather contentious boxing match has come to an abrupt end. The sport came under the…

Beeb faces questions after Huw Edwards’ guilty plea

1 August 2024 9:38 pm

After Wednesday’s news that BBC veteran Huw Edwards pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children, the Beeb is facing…

How many stars got the Huw Edwards case wrong?

1 August 2024 3:04 am

Dear oh dear. The news that ex-BBC presenter Huw Edwards has pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children has…

Listen: BBC say Haniyeh considered a ‘moderate’ Hamas leader

31 July 2024 10:45 pm

Uh oh. The BBC has come under fire once again after listeners took umbrage with Radio 4’s news reporting this…

Huw Edwards pleads guilty to making indecent images of children

31 July 2024 8:51 pm

Ex-BBC presenter Huw Edwards has pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. The former TV star…

Kemi Badenoch hits back at the Guardian

31 July 2024 4:44 am

Ding ding ding! The Tory leadership race is heating up, with the final six candidates now declared. But with Kemi Badenoch…

Labour’s war on beautiful housing

31 July 2024 1:43 am

Another day, another drama – and this time Sir Keir’s government is in the spotlight. In the National Planning Policy…

Starmer’s special advisers: a complete guide

30 July 2024 10:01 pm

Keir Starmer wasted no time on entering 10 Downing Street in appointing his cabinet that same day. But taking longer…

Watch: Just Stop Oil stage another failed protest

30 July 2024 9:08 pm

Uh oh. After Just Stop Oil’s failed attempt to disrupt travellers at Gatwick Airport on Monday, the eco-activist group are…

How Labour U-turned on scrapping winter fuel payments

30 July 2024 5:34 pm

Keir Starmer’s party has only been in government for three weeks – and already they’re spinning like a top. Rachel…

‘Yellow card’ system to stop Tory leadership turmoil

30 July 2024 1:38 am

Nominations for the Tory leadership race have this afternoon closed – and the competition now has six official candidates. Kemi…

Watch: Just Stop Oil tries – and fails – to cause chaos at Gatwick

29 July 2024 9:20 pm

Just Stop Oil eco-activists took to Gatwick Airport this morning – but their attempt to disrupt summer holiday travellers appears…

Suella Braverman bows out with a blast

29 July 2024 8:05 am

The Tory leadership race is hotting up and there’s lots of familiar faces featuring this time around. Kemi Badenoch, Priti…

Keir cracks the whip on his Starmtroopers

27 July 2024 2:08 am

As the third week of Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government comes to an end, there’s certainly been a lot of…