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.

Is Humza Yousaf picking a fight with GB News?

11 December 2024 11:14 pm

Back to Scotland, where it appears hapless Humza Yousaf is still trying to stay relevant by going after, er, GB…

Watch: Independent MP opposes first cousin marriage ban

11 December 2024 1:51 am

To the Commons, where this afternoon a rather odd intervention took place. The Westminster rumour mill was in overdrive today…

Liz Truss tells Starmer how to beat ‘the blob’

11 December 2024 1:24 am

Poor old Keir Starmer. He has scarcely been in power for four months and yet is already wailing about ‘many…

Ex-Tory donor becomes Reform’s chief fundraiser

10 December 2024 10:24 pm

As the government’s fortunes continue to worsen, Reform UK only seems to be on the up. It now transpires that…

David Lammy’s geography gaffe

10 December 2024 7:58 pm

It’s a gaffe a day with Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour lot – and this time David Lammy is in the…

Mandarins shell out £130k for Starmer army’s offices

9 December 2024 10:55 pm

With a change of government, you might have thought 4 July would see a lot of new brooms in Whitehall.…

Revealed: the 53 peers silent for five years

9 December 2024 9:47 pm

The wind of change is sweeping through the Upper House. What with Labour’s plans to expel the last hereditaries and…

Suella Braverman’s husband joins Reform

9 December 2024 5:30 pm

Well, well, well. In a rather curious turn of events, it now transpires that Rael Braverman – husband of former…

Justin Welby apologises after causing ‘hurt’ in farewell speech

7 December 2024 4:43 am

Justin Welby can’t seem to get anything right these days – not even his own leaving speech. Now the outgoing…

Why is Sadiq Khan in line for a knighthood?

6 December 2024 10:47 pm

Welcome to Labour’s Britain, where failure is lauded and incompetence rewarded. According to reports in the Financial Times, it appears…

40% of Keir’s No. 10 staff appointed uncontested

6 December 2024 4:28 am

It’s not been a good week for Sir Keir’s lefty lot. In the last few days alone, Starmer’s army has…

MoJ fail to stop theft on their own doorstep

6 December 2024 3:20 am

‘More bobbies on the beat’, cried Keir Starmer in his definitely-not-a-reset speech earlier today. But even when there are coppers…

How much will the Chagos deal cost?

6 December 2024 2:24 am

It’s a simple question: how much is the Chagos Islands’ handover going to cost British taxpayers? Yet for weeks now,…

Reform polls ahead of Labour for first time

6 December 2024 1:56 am

When it rains for Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour lot, it pours. In the same week an Ipsos poll revealed that…

Prevent data reveals ‘Islamist’ referrals on the rise

5 December 2024 11:59 pm

While all eyes were on the Prime Minister’s big ‘plan for change’ announcement today, the government also chose this morning…

Are we in for a ‘Nigel’ revival?

5 December 2024 10:45 pm

Once the popularity of politicians was judged by how many babies they were asked to kiss – now it’s by…

Half of Brits disappointed by Labour so far

5 December 2024 10:23 pm

Another day, another round of bad news for Sir Keir Starmer’s government. Now a new Ipsos poll has revealed that…

BBC presenter under fire over failure to declare extra work

5 December 2024 1:59 am

Another day, another drama at the BBC. Now it transpires that one of the corporation’s top newsreaders Clive Myrie failed…

Will Sue Gray get a peerage?

4 December 2024 11:07 pm

Sue Gray may no longer be Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff but that doesn’t mean she isn’t still making…

Poll: public back NFU over Reeves

4 December 2024 5:22 am

When you’re in a hole, stop digging. These words of wisdom are yet to be heeded by the bright young…

Conservative Home founder joins Reform

4 December 2024 4:32 am

The ravens really are leaving the Tower. Last week, it was Andrea Jenkyns quitting the Tories; this week it is…

Commons back proportional representation bill

4 December 2024 3:19 am

There have been a lot of political firsts this year: Labour’s supermajority, Reform UK’s Westminster seats and the incorporation of…

Public trust in SNP government collapses

3 December 2024 11:13 pm

When it rains for Scotland’s Nats, it pours. It now transpires – according to the Scottish government’s very own survey…

Will Louise Haigh receive a golden goodbye?

3 December 2024 9:57 pm

Well, well, well. Before Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour lot got into government, Starmer’s army was quite happy to commit to…

Joe Biden pardons his son Hunter

2 December 2024 6:38 pm

There are less than 50 days until Donald Trump takes back the White House – so the Democrats are now…