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.

Nick Robinson hacked in crypto-scam

11 February 2025 9:11 am

Just what is going on at the BBC? It was only a fortnight ago that Laura Kuenssberg was ‘hacked‘ ahead…

Second WhatsApp scandal MP suspended

11 February 2025 3:49 am

Another day, another Labour drama. Now a second parliamentarian involved in a rather distasteful WhatsApp group has been suspended after…

The Labour lawyer love-in with the ECHR

11 February 2025 2:04 am

With Sue Gray gone, one might have expected the Labour government’s infighting to have subsided. But there is a new…

Keir Starmer’s one-line whip wonders

11 February 2025 12:12 am

Is Labour on a legislative go-slow? In recent weeks, Mr S has noticed a theme from conversations in the corridors…

New Labour minister believes people can identify as llamas

10 February 2025 11:24 pm

Dear oh dear. In the last hour, Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Ashley Dalton MP to replace Andrew Gwynne as…

Labour minister sacked for vile WhatsApps

9 February 2025 5:27 am

Congratulations to Andrew Gwynne who wins the ministerial sack race of 2025. The Labour MP for Gorton & Denton was…

Labour dodges scrutiny on efficiency savings

8 February 2025 5:30 pm

Well, well, well. Rachel Reeves has spent much of her seven months in power banging on about budget blackholes and…

Sturgeon passes SNP election vetting

8 February 2025 1:13 am

To Scotland, where the SNP is hard at work vetting its candidates for the 2026 Holyrood poll. But in typical…

Ed Miliband’s growth U-turn

7 February 2025 10:13 pm

Another day, another Labour U-turn. Now it’s Ed Miliband in the spotlight, after the Energy Secretary appeared to row back…

Watch: Tory MP blasts ‘secretive’ assisted dying process

7 February 2025 1:44 am

Back to the assisted dying bill, which has been at the centre of controversy since it came into being. As…

Ed Miliband rapped for his rudeness

6 February 2025 10:51 pm

Oh dear. It seems that the new Labour government is rapidly developing a reputation for rudeness. Whether it’s Bridget Phillipson’s…

Labour lose a member every ten minutes in exodus

6 February 2025 10:47 pm

When it rains for the Labour lot, it pours. It has emerged that Sir Keir Starmer’s party has become so…

Jolyon Maugham reaches new level of desperation

6 February 2025 4:23 am

Well, well, well. It seems the Good Law Project, founded by Jolyon Maugham of fox-killing infamy, may be rather struggling…

Starmer snubs left-wing rebels as only four readmitted

6 February 2025 2:51 am

Well, well, well. It transpires that four MPs suspended by Sir Keir Starmer for rebelling over the two child benefit…

Starmer hits out at Mauritian PM over Chagos comments

6 February 2025 1:38 am

Uh oh. There’s trouble in paradise as it appears the relationship between Sir Keir Starmer and Navin Ramgoolam is becoming…

Watch: Starmer ducks PMQ on Covid rule-breaking

5 February 2025 11:49 pm

To Westminster, where Prime Minister’s Questions is in full swing. Sir Keir Starmer has delivered yet another tutorial in how…

Labour MPs form anti-Reform pressure group

5 February 2025 10:29 pm

Sir Keir Starmer’s party may have only been in power for seven months but in that time the Prime Minister…

Watch: Kay Burley retires from Sky on air

5 February 2025 9:30 pm

So. Farewell then Kay Burley. After 36 years, the Sky star has announced she is retiring from the channel. In…

Eleven lowlights from the assisted dying evidence session

5 February 2025 2:59 am

To Westminster, where last week Kim Leadbeater’s Assisted Dying bill began the evidence session of committee stage. But rather than…

Starmer set to close Chagos deal in ‘coming weeks’

5 February 2025 2:48 am

Is Sir Keir Starmer determined to make himself more unpopular with the British public? The news of his latest Chagos…

Burnham’s night czar eviscerates Reeves

5 February 2025 1:07 am

Oh dear. It’s a day ending in ‘y’ – so that means more bad news for Rachel Reeves. Today, the…

Foreign Office struggles to mind its Mandarin

4 February 2025 2:58 am

The Foreign Office was once described as a ‘palace of dreams’, yet these days it seems increasingly like a graveyard…

Did Starmer breach Covid rules?

4 February 2025 2:18 am

Oh dear. It seems No. 10 aren’t keen to go anywhere near suggestions that Sir Keir Starmer might have broken…

SNP mull ban on household cats

3 February 2025 11:10 pm

Here’s one to make you paws for thought: SNP ministers are considering a ban on pet cats, in a bid…

Channel 4’s diversity hypocrisy

1 February 2025 2:24 am

Some good news for the BBC: for once it’s not them causing bad headlines. Today’s latest shining example in public…