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.

Labour ministers lose it with Badenoch after PMQs

24 June 2026 11:52 pm

? WATCH: Kemi Badenoch calls Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson a “spiteful class warrior” full of “incompetence” Starmer: “She grew up…

Watch: New SNP MP mocks swearing-in

24 June 2026 7:37 pm

Today, I was officially sworn in at Parliament. I took this Oath in order to serve the people of Arbroath…

Watch: Andy Burnham sworn in

23 June 2026 1:59 am

Andy Burnham sworn in as new Labour MP for Makerfield Follow live updates and analysis: https://t.co/SkfgqT7YpV pic.twitter.com/bwrKGBjWHg — BBC Politics…

Wes Streeting: I’m backing Burnham

22 June 2026 10:25 pm

pic.twitter.com/ZVX6vS6Tl2 — Wes Streeting (@wesstreeting) June 22, 2026 Well, well, well. After weeks of insisting he ‘has the numbers’ and…

Sir Keir Starmer: I quit

22 June 2026 8:03 pm

BREAKING: Sir Keir Starmer has announced a timetable for his resignation as prime minister. Live updates: https://t.co/0NZcBgSmUq pic.twitter.com/awlsBDQYLK — Sky…

‘Oh my God!’ Reform MP and Labour peer clash at Makerfield count

19 June 2026 3:54 pm

It’s all kicking off in Makerfield, where Andy Burnham has romped to victory in the by-election. Burnham, Labour’s newest MP…

Watch: Reform MP’s bizarre domestic violence football message

19 June 2026 1:00 am

For the sake of women’s safety we need England to keep winning ??????? pic.twitter.com/Art8B5gzaf — Sarah Pochin MP (@SarahForRuncorn) June…

Civil service grifting hits new heights

18 June 2026 1:50 am

Violence, shooting and driving fast cars are not usually the first things that spring to mind when Whitehall talks about…

Watch: Lowe aide silences Restore’s by-election candidate

17 June 2026 9:40 pm

“We’re not doing any interviews” “You’ll have to speak to the management sorry” “Alistair can Rebecca do one interview or…

Reform poach think tank star

17 June 2026 3:35 am

In the battle for the right, all eyes are on who moves where. A handful of Tory MPs made the…

Wes Streeting: Starmer must resign after Makerfield

17 June 2026 1:41 am

Labour leadership hopeful Wes Streeting today demanded that Sir Keir Starmer quit the top job once the Makerfield by-election concludes.…

Kemi Badenoch: Starmer must stop pony slaughter

16 June 2026 11:33 pm

Kemi Badenoch today demanded that Sir Keir Starmer step in to stop the ‘mass slaughter’ of Dartmoor ponies by bureaucrats…

Watch: Remaining defence minister admonishes Starmer

16 June 2026 2:08 am

Luke Pollard tells MPs he is only still in the job because John Healey asked him to stay. In a…

Reform pledges new migrant worker levy

15 June 2026 10:09 pm

British workers will come first every time under a Reform UK government. ✅ pic.twitter.com/ko8cEAPdW6 — Reform UK (@reformparty_uk) June 15,…

Starmer bans social media for under-16s

15 June 2026 6:47 pm

BREAKING: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced a social media ban for under-16s. Live updates: https://t.co/Jxi67uC5Qk pic.twitter.com/VnIFMyjAhs — Sky…

Starmer vows to fight on (again)

12 June 2026 11:58 pm

Not even the resignation of a respected defence secretary will stop one Sir Keir Starmer from ploughing ahead with his…

Watch: Emma Thompson backs Labour’s ‘summer of sex’

11 June 2026 8:46 pm

It’s not every day you get to spend the day with a living legend. And she is just as lovely…

Watch: Hilary Benn’s Belfast evasion

10 June 2026 6:57 pm

Jim Allister: “What will be done to stop the importation of an alien culture that thinks it’s appropriate to try…

Reform demands answers on grooming gangs

10 June 2026 6:07 pm

The public is rightly focused on the violent attack that unfolded in Belfast on Monday. But today, Reform is keen…

Zia Yusuf to address MAGAworld

10 June 2026 6:34 am

With the weather improving, small boat arrivals look set to increase in the coming weeks. So what better time for…

Sudanese knife attack suspect ‘had leave to remain’

10 June 2026 4:07 am

The Sudanese man arrested over a horrific knife attack in Belfast yesterday was granted leave to remain for five years…

Kemi Badenoch: James Bond must not be woke

9 June 2026 10:32 pm

Kemi Badenoch today threw her weight behind Idris Elba’s call for casting directors to avoid a ‘woke’ choice for the…

Watch: Labour MPs squabble over Makerfield

9 June 2026 5:48 pm

“Have you been [to Makerfield], Clive?” “I’m going up tomorrow” “Come up, I’ll happily take you for a pint” Culture…

Parliament’s artificial scrutiny

9 June 2026 2:49 am

AI has taken the world by storm, and few workplaces have been immune to its impact. In the House of…

Polanski pushes price hikes

9 June 2026 2:37 am

When he’s not ranting about Gaza, Zack Polanski is mostly to be found despairing about the cost of living. And…