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.

Prince Harry presiding over ‘toxic boys’ club,’ former employees claim

28 July 2022 5:28 pm

Steerpike is fond of a periodical check-in with modern Renaissance men. And they don’t come much more multi-talented than Prince…

Truss gambit outflanks Sunak on China

28 July 2022 7:30 am

Talk about a tale of two campaigns. China has been one of the dominant themes this week in the Tory…

Labour MPs cheer 'drag story hour'

28 July 2022 12:58 am

Summer recess is here and MPs are competing for the Tory leadership or jetting off on their hols. For some,…

Liz Truss's failed Lib Dem bid revealed

27 July 2022 10:30 pm

She is the current favourite to be our next Prime Minister but Liz Truss hasn’t always been such a staunch…

Allison Bailey wins case against her chambers

27 July 2022 9:28 pm

Away from the Truss/Sunak ding-dong, another long-running drama has come to an end. Barrister Allison Bailey, a friend of JK…

Remainers tool up for Boris's departure

27 July 2022 9:10 pm

Boris Johnson’s imminent departure has been greeted with enthusiasm by all the usual suspects: millionaire celebs, Labour MPs, Tory wets…

HSBC's virtue-signalling hypocrisy

26 July 2022 9:55 pm

Ah, HSBC. The Asian banking giant has raised some eyebrows in recent years with their endless antics to appear oh…

Why should anyone trust Keir Starmer?

26 July 2022 7:00 pm

The last few months have been a godsend for the Labour party. Ten points ahead in the polls, with the…

Did Meghan Markle terrorise a three-year-old?

26 July 2022 5:31 pm

When it comes to bullying allegations, Meghan Markle is well versed. But in Tom Bower’s latest book, Revenge, the claims are…

Boris 'wants to carry on' as PM

26 July 2022 4:26 am

Faced with the choice of Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss, some Tories are experiencing something close to sellers’ remorse. Was…

Will Liz Truss dare to face Andrew Neil?

25 July 2022 9:39 pm

It’s six weeks to go until voting closes for the Tory leadership and polls suggest that Liz Truss is the…

Will Boris be back?

25 July 2022 5:05 pm

‘Hasta la vista, baby’ Boris Johnson told the Commons at his final PMQs. But could the fallen leader be seeking…

Priti and Truss back MPs over Beijing’s threats

23 July 2022 1:40 am

Most Tories are focusing on the leadership race but for some there are other concerns. Take the five MPs who…

British Museum keeps the Chinese golden era alive

21 July 2022 11:35 pm

It’s been a bit of a bad week for the British Museum. High temperatures forced staff to close the site…

Biden in 'I have cancer' gaffe

21 July 2022 5:12 pm

You’re the American president on a visit to former coal plant in Massachusetts. You’re ostensibly there to deliver remarks about climate…

Tobias Ellwood stripped of the whip

19 July 2022 7:11 pm

Oh dear. It seems that not all Tory MPs got the memo about last night’s no-confidence vote. Tobias Ellwood, a…

Parly staff make a mess of their House

19 July 2022 2:10 am

It’s not just the Tory party that’s in a bit of a mess. Fresh off the back of Partygate –…

Revealed: Penny Mordaunt's hidden equalities agenda

18 July 2022 2:35 am

The bookies’ favourite to win the Tory leadership race, Penny Mordaunt, has had a difficult few days. She’s facing questions…

Glyndebourne goes gender neutral

16 July 2022 7:21 pm

Angela Rayner caused a bit of a stir a few weeks ago when she rocked up at the Glyndebourne opera…

Watch: Biden puts his foot in it (again)

15 July 2022 10:07 pm

Oh dear. It seems bumbling ‘Uncle Joe’ has done it again. Fresh from his Holocaust gaffe, President Biden has now…

Theresa revels in Boris's downfall

14 July 2022 9:43 pm

Of all those revelling in Boris Johnson’s downfall last week, few probably enjoyed it more than Theresa May. It would…

Berkeley law professor: ‘Your line of questioning is transphobic’

13 July 2022 8:10 pm

Britain isn’t America. But that doesn’t stop us letting out a collective groan when we see the same loopy opinions…

Jamie Wallis fled car crash in heels and leather mini skirt

12 July 2022 2:27 am

Just because Boris Johnson has gone, don’t expect the legal fines for Tories to go away. Jamie Wallis, the Member…

Full text: leaked Tory memo attacking Sunak

11 July 2022 2:25 am

The Telegraph has got hold of a zinger of a private memo currently doing the rounds on Tory MPs’ WhatsApp groups. The…

Penny Mordaunt changes tack on trans rights

10 July 2022 5:53 pm

Penny Mordaunt has had a good start to the leadership race, storming into second place with 16 names, even though…