Steerpike

Steerpike

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

Commons blow Lords away in shooting cup

The big guns of parliament were out in force this morning. The annual cross-party Commons v Lords shooting match has long been a fixture in the annual political calendar. After last year’s contest was dominated by the shadow of the general election, this year was a much more relaxed affair. Peers and MPs descended on

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Jenrick accuses Yusuf of ‘bulls**t’ over Twitter post

Never mind uniting the right, there’s more talk of fighting the right today as the feud between Tory MP Robert Jenrick and Reform’s Zia Yusuf ramps up. Yusuf has spent this week pointing blame at Jenrick over the Ministry of Defence leak – but now Reform’s head of DOGE is under fire after being caught

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Shapps accused of trying to ‘rewrite history’ over MoD leak

To the Ministry of Defence leak, which has created a flurry of news this week after journalists were eventually allowed to report on the scandal following the lifting of a super-injunction on Tuesday. A number of politicians have found themselves in the firing line over the issue, with former defence secretary Grant Shapps the latest

Ex-Tory MPs denied special treatment for 2029 election

The 2024 election was something of a disaster for the Tories. Two in every three MPs departed the Commons last July, with many cut down while only in their thirties and forties. Consequently, a disproportionate number are keen to return to parliament next time. But, it seems that their hopes have been dashed, according to

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Rayner’s youth blunder

Oh dear. After the government announced that 16- and 17-year-olds will be allowed to vote in time for the next general election – in a move Reform’s Nigel Farage has slammed as ‘an attempt to rig the political system’ – the Deputy Prime Minister penned an op-ed for the Times to praise the policy. But

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Lefty MPs accept Glastonbury tickets in freebie U-turn

Well, well, well. It transpires that a number of left-wing MPs enjoyed some time away from their constituencies at this year’s Glastonbury festival, soaking up the sun, music and, of course, the pleasure of being there for free. Former Labour MP Zarah Sultana – who may or may not have patched things up with Jeremy

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NHS diversity officer: I don’t know my own sex

The Sandie Peggie case against NHS Fife is only getting stranger. The tribunal resumed on Wednesday morning, after first being heard in February after nurse Peggie lodged a complaint of harassment related to a protected belief under the 2010 Equality Act after being suspended for complaining about sharing a changing room with a transgender doctor.

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Rael Braverman quits Reform after attacks on Suella

A day is a long time in politics. Just 24 hours ago, the husband of former Tory Home Secretary Suella Braverman was a signed-up member of Reform UK. This morning, however, Rael Braverman announced that he has left Nigel Farage’s party – ‘effective immediately’. Life comes at you fast, eh? It comes after the party

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Sandie Peggie cleared of NHS misconduct

To Scotland, where the nurse at the centre of a trans tribunal against NHS Fife has been cleared of all gross misconduct allegations. On Tuesday night, Sandie Peggie’s lawyer said that the health board had cleared the nurse of four gross misconduct allegations – following Peggie’s suspension in January 2024 after complaining about sharing a

Watchdog: most aid now spent on migrant hotels

Immigration is never off the news agenda these days, as Brits remain concerned about the influx of people to the country while the cost of living crisis and housing pressures only seem to worsen. Last week Sir Keir Starmer sealed a ‘one in, one out’ migrant returns deal with France’s President Emmanuel Macron which some

Layla Moran’s nimbyism backfires

Oh dear. It seems that Layla Moran – the oracle of Oxfordshire – has been left with egg on her face once again. Since her election in 2017, the pansexual pioneer has distinguished herself in two ways. First, her consistent embrace of every passing progressive cause. And second, her determined commitment to oppose any new

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Gaza documentary report finds BBC misled viewers

Back to the BBC, which is better at making the news than breaking it these days. This afternoon a report has found that the Beeb’s Gaza documentary that was narrated by the son of a Hamas official breached editorial guidelines and misled audiences. The review adds that viewers ‘should have been informed’ about the identity

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Who are working people? All Labour’s definitions

The Labour party has long been dubbed the party of working people – but despite the term being integral to the group’s existence, Sir Keir Starmer’s army have so far demonstrated an extraordinary degree of ineptness when pushed on its definition. After new transport minister Heidi Alexander caused a flurry of excitement at the weekend

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Wallace’s BBC return ‘untenable’ after complaints upheld

Another week, another bit of bad news for ex-Beeb star Gregg Wallace. A report into the former MasterChef presenter has substantiated a whopping 45 complaints against the TV personality – making any return to the public service broadcaster ‘untenable’. A seven-month inquiry by legal firm Lewis Silkin was carried out on behalf of the programme’s

Thatcher hit job piece backfires

It is a century this year since the Iron Lady’s birth – and conservatives are determined to mark it in style. Amid a whole host of dinners and seminars, the Margaret Thatcher Centre held a symposium on Monday to debate the legacy of the former Prime Minister. Among the likes of Lord Lilley, Sir Anthony

Rupert Lowe cleared by standards watchdog

Well, well, well. It transpires that Independent MP Rupert Lowe – formerly of Reform UK – has now been cleared by parliament’s standards commissioner after he was probed over funds for his independent ‘Rape Gang Inquiry’. Lowe was investigated after allegedly failing to register hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations for his project, with

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Rachel Reeves’s GDP hypocrisy

Well, well, well. Today the Office for National Statistics released its estimate for May’s GDP. It showed a contraction of 0.1 per cent, following a fall of 0.3 per cent the previous month. The trend is not a positive one for Rachel Reeves – but she doesn’t seem to be outwardly panicking – which is

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Unite suspends Rayner over Birmingham bin strikes

Uh oh. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has been suspended by Unite the Union over the Birmingham bin strike – and the union has announced it is reviewing its relationship with the Labour party. It’s yet another blow for Sir Keir Starmer’s army as the union is one of the party’s biggest financial backers. Talk