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.

Louise Haigh’s officials lose two phones a week

16 April 2025 1:54 am

Just what is it with the Department for Transport and phones? Back in November, Louise Haigh was forced to quit…

Reform UK split on new youth wing

15 April 2025 11:58 pm

There was great excitement at the end of last year when it was reported that Reform UK was considering launching…

Could Labour hand British Steel to another Chinese owner?

15 April 2025 9:45 pm

The Labour government has a British Steel-sized problem that doesn’t look to be going away anytime soon. Sir Keir Starmer’s…

SNP backbencher blasts Nats over £20k pay rise

15 April 2025 1:05 am

The cost of living crisis continues to afflict Brits across the country – but it would appear that Scottish government…

Ex-Tory MP charged with gambling offences

14 April 2025 9:30 pm

The 2024 general election may feel like a lifetime ago, but the Gambling Commission has certainly not forgotten about it.…

Siddiq hit with arrest warrant by Bangladesh court

14 April 2025 9:05 pm

Back to the curious case of Labour MP Tulip Siddiq, who has now had an arrest warrant issued against her…

Transport Minister admits texting while driving double-decker bus

13 April 2025 4:42 am

Just what is it with Labour and transport? Less than five months after Louise Haigh was forced to resign as…

Greens grab victory in Lammy’s backyard

12 April 2025 8:14 pm

Westminster has a new tradition on Friday mornings: analysing council by-election results. These days, such contests rarely make for good…

Full list: Sunak’s resignation honours

12 April 2025 2:20 am

And here it is. Former prime minister Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours have been published this afternoon with a number of…

Scots charged over £150 to see Sturgeon live

11 April 2025 11:09 pm

You’d think if your political leadership had led to the fracturing of your party with key figures investigated as part…

Hamas appeals against ‘terrorist’ label

11 April 2025 12:53 am

Does partaking in mass killing, raping and hostage-taking make one a terrorist? Hamas isn’t so sure. In a mind-boggling development,…

Labour MP ditched Birmingham bin strikes for Japan

11 April 2025 12:18 am

Dear oh dear. As the Birmingham bin strikes rumble on and rubbish continues to pile high on the city’s streets,…

Watch: Badenoch blasts Beeb over Adolescence questions

10 April 2025 9:23 pm

The progressive class’s obsession with Adolescence continues – and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch is having none of it. When Badenoch…

Lib Dems double down on Gail’s strategy

9 April 2025 11:50 pm

To Sir Ed Davey’s Liberal Democrats. The fun-loving party made headlines during the general election campaign after its party leader…

Watch: Nandy changes her tune on Trump trade deal

9 April 2025 9:50 pm

Hypocrisy is in the air this morning! As the tariff war between China and the US rages on, Sir Keir…

Musk blasts Trump’s ‘moron’ trade adviser

9 April 2025 3:58 am

Elon Musk strikes again! The tech billionaire and co-leader of Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency has lashed out for…

Starmer takes a pop at OBR over welfare forecast

9 April 2025 2:11 am

To the Commons, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer is speaking to the Liaison Committee before the House rises for Easter…

Prince Harry: I was ‘singled out’ in security row

8 April 2025 10:41 pm

The monarch of Montecito is, er, back in the UK. Prince Harry has returned to Britain for a two-day hearing…

Tories lose major donor prompting HQ closure fears

8 April 2025 8:42 pm

Just as the House of Commons is about to rise for Easter recess, Her Majesty’s Official Opposition has been hit…

Trump hits back at China’s retaliatory tariffs

8 April 2025 4:00 am

Stock markets around the world continue to plummet but Donald Trump has his mind on other matters: his tariff war…

Has Musk broken ranks with Trump over tariffs?

7 April 2025 10:14 pm

Uh oh. There’s trouble in Trumpland. Leader of the President’s Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk has taken to his…

Lammy and Badenoch in row over Israel’s MP ban

7 April 2025 7:25 pm

Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch are not known to be especially chummy at the best…

Labour MP arrested on suspicion of rape

6 April 2025 5:01 am

A former Labour minister was arrested on Friday on suspicion of rape and child sex offences. The Sun on Sunday tonight reports…

Ex-Tory MSP joins the Lib Dems

5 April 2025 2:59 am

The Scottish Liberal Democrats aren’t best known for their ability to grab headlines – but today the spotlight is on…

Starmer’s skills adviser founded failing school

5 April 2025 12:12 am

There’s a new man about Whitehall. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appointed Oli de Botton – ex-adviser to David Miliband…