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.

Covid kids’ book pulped after China complains

10 March 2021 12:02 am

World Book Day was last Thursday and now a leading German publisher has belatedly marked the occasion by pulping copies…

Fact check: did Harry and Meghan have a secret wedding?

9 March 2021 4:05 am

Oh dear. Not content with having claimed that baby Archie was denied his rightful title, last night’s interview with the…

Minister's Sussex snub

9 March 2021 3:06 am

What does No. 10 think about Harry and Meghan’s Palace intrigue? Perhaps we can glean some insight from the comments…

Seven bombshell claims – Meghan and Harry's interview

8 March 2021 6:26 pm

The Royal Family is waking up to a series of allegations set to rock the monarchy following Prince Harry and…

Taxpayers stump up £18,000 for slavery audit

3 March 2021 5:10 am

It seems it’s a costly business putting together a historical report. In fact, it took two researchers and a grand…

EU leaders’ vaccine sniping backfires

2 March 2021 5:13 am

The eyes of the world have been on Britain’s vaccination programme in recent months, as the UK government embarked on…

Watch: Boris on the problem with journalists

24 February 2021 12:02 am

What’s the phrase? Poacher turned gamekeeper? Boris Johnson was once the arch poacher — a journalist at the Telegraph before taking on the editorship…

Macron eyes up a new career

11 February 2021 9:10 am

How is France dealing with its latest Covid wave? Not particularly well, if you listen to the director of epidemiological research…

Von der Leyen gets that sinking feeling

6 February 2021 1:02 am

HMS Britain seems to be a nippier beast after her Brexit refit. That is, at least, according to EU Commission…

Did Boris's bike ride breach lockdown rules?

12 January 2021 5:14 am

Exercise is a dangerous game these days. As two women recently discovered, drive five miles for a walk at a beauty…

Brexit causes food shortages – in France

6 January 2021 4:14 am

Since leaving the EU on 31 December, Britain seems to have somehow avoided the apocalyptic scenarios outlined by those most…

Will Macron start an EU Covid chain reaction?

17 December 2020 9:43 pm

The Elysée palace has just confirmed that French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for Covid-19, after developing symptoms this…

Watch: Barnsley woman rebels against lockdown

22 October 2020 4:00 pm

It was announced yesterday that South Yorkshire would be the latest area to move into Tier 3 of the coronavirus…

Covid second wave sparks European parliament bust-up

16 October 2020 1:50 am

The Covid second wave is hitting Europe, so the European parliament has decided not to up sticks from Brussels and decamp…

BBC threatens to remove stars from social media

29 September 2020 8:15 pm

Tim Davie has this month taken on the role of BBC director-general in spectacular fashion, announcing plans today for auntie to be…

Charles Moore on BBC reform

28 September 2020 1:00 am

Former editor of The Spectator and Daily Telegraph Charles Moore is tipped to become chairman of the BBC. Despite being…

Paul Dacre and Boris Johnson: 'the Boston strangler' and the 'alley cat'

27 September 2020 7:28 am

Paul Dacre, the former editor of the Daily Mail, has reportedly been asked by the Prime Minister to chair the…

Amal Clooney’s curious resignation

19 September 2020 3:06 am

This afternoon, leading human-rights lawyer Amal Clooney (and wife of George) handed in her resignation to the government. Clooney has…

The Covid cancelling of Van Morrison

18 September 2020 11:03 pm

Cancel culture has come for Belfast’s finest son. Ulster singer-songwriter Van Morrison, consociationally worshipped god of Norn Irn dad rock,…

Why is Sky UK's Kay Burley so obsessed with Tony Abbott?

17 September 2020 5:10 am

Robert Buckland was touring the Westminster studios this morning, batting away questions over the Internal Market Bill and touting his…

Geoffrey Cox: I’m a Brexiteer to my core but can’t support Boris’s Bill.

14 September 2020 7:58 am

When Geoffrey Cox was Theresa May’s Attorney General it was his refusal to go give his blessing to her Brexit…

Want to 'save the Earth'? Buy the Guardian

11 September 2020 8:58 pm

Nothing like a bit of alarmism to flog a few newspapers. In an apparent bid to capitalise off the Extinction…

Kay Burley's bizarre takedown

4 September 2020 6:01 pm

What a scandalous idea, drinking with someone you might disagree with. Rather than grilling the transport secretary over his own…

Is Extinction Rebellion extinct?

3 September 2020 11:12 pm

When Extinction Rebellion took over the streets of London last year, even some of those who disagreed with the aims of…

Justin Trudeau’s prorogation memory loss

20 August 2020 10:05 pm

A prime minister better known for his charisma than his policy achievements proroguing parliament to ride out a political storm.…