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.

Boris and Liz in Chagos Islands’ blame game

4 October 2024 4:37 pm

Mauritius is getting the Chagos Islands – and a lot of Tories ain’t happy. Tom Tugendhat calls it a ‘shameful…

Starmer’s friend revealed as Mauritius’ chief legal adviser

4 October 2024 3:51 am

There was national outrage this morning at the news that Sir Keir’s Labour has decided to cede sovereignty of the…

Police Scotland slammed over leaked Isla Bryson memo

4 October 2024 2:06 am

The end of Nicola Sturgeon’s premiership was mired in controversy over her plans for trans rights, her botched gender reform…

Why is the police probe into Nicola Sturgeon taking so long?

3 October 2024 11:13 pm

As Scots look ahead to the 2026 Holyrood election, support for the Scottish National Party continues to plummet. One scandal…

Sir Keir pays back £6,000 worth of gifts

3 October 2024 8:46 pm

To the latest development in Labour’s freebie fiasco, as it transpires that Sir Keir Starmer has paid back over £6,000…

Lord Alli under investigation for donations

3 October 2024 5:44 am

Dear oh dear. It now transpires that Lord Alli is under investigation by the Lords Commissioner – with the millionaire…

London’s failed night czar resigns

3 October 2024 3:11 am

At long last, and not a day too soon, it transpires that London’s ‘night czar’ is standing down. Amy Lamé…

Labour under scrutiny over gambling gifts

2 October 2024 10:40 pm

Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour lot have had a tough time of it lately with the freebie fiasco – and it’s…

Why hasn’t Trump congratulated J.D. Vance?

2 October 2024 9:28 pm

Even the most ardent Trump-loathers are admitting that, last night, the Republican vice-presidential nominee J.D. Vance easily won his debate…

Watch: Tugendhat jibes at Jenrick over special forces

2 October 2024 7:46 am

Uh oh. There’s trouble in Tory paradise after leadership candidate Robert Jenrick made some rather questionable remarks about the armed…

Dorries: Kemi should be ‘disqualified’ from leadership race

2 October 2024 6:33 am

This year’s Tory conference has seen a number of old faces as well as new – and the appearance of…

Tugendhat: My Roger Scruton row comments were ‘twisted’

2 October 2024 5:20 am

It’s the final night of Tory party conference and tempers are fraying. Three of the four leadership candidates have ended…

Badenoch’s feud with Farage continues

2 October 2024 1:57 am

The Tory leadership race is ramping up — and so is Kemi Badenoch’s anti-Reform rhetoric. The contender for the top…

Jenrick reveals daughter’s middle name is Thatcher

2 October 2024 12:50 am

It’s the second day of the big Tory leadership interviews at party conference and Robert Jenrick is on the main…

Rees-Mogg takes aim at Badenoch over Reform remarks

1 October 2024 10:43 pm

It’s day three of the Conservative party conference, and so far the blue-on-blue has been kept to a minimum —…

Sunak’s government more popular than Labour, poll reveals

1 October 2024 8:34 pm

As the Tory leadership hustings continue, there’s a bit of good news for outgoing boss Rishi Sunak. It now transpires…

Simon Case hands in resignation letter

1 October 2024 2:16 am

While the Conservative party conference is in full swing in Birmingham, back in Whitehall there have been some major developments.…

Tugendhat’s ‘disgusting and yellow’ Lib Dem jibe

1 October 2024 1:19 am

The first of the official Tory leadership hustings kicked off today with Tom Tugendhat in the hotseat. The former security…

Jenrick mocks Starmer’s ‘unserious’ government

30 September 2024 10:20 pm

To Birmingham, where the Conservative party conference is in full swing. As well as the formal leadership hustings taking place…

JK Rowling defends Duffield against ‘numbskulls’

30 September 2024 8:27 pm

All is not well in the Labour party. Not only is Sir Keir still dealing with the freebie fiasco, Starmer…

Poll: young ex-Tories won’t return to party in 2029

30 September 2024 7:28 pm

There’s an oddly upbeat mood here at Tory party conference in Birmingham. You might have thought that with just 121…

Labour points finger at Tories over donations

30 September 2024 9:20 am

Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour party’s conference was mired in his freebie fiasco scandal after revelations about clothing donations and trips…

‘Absolute chancer’: new Scottish Tory leader blasts Farage

30 September 2024 3:53 am

While one Tory leadership contest rumbles on, another has come to a close. Russell Findlay was made the new leader…

Which Tory contender has the best conference stall?

29 September 2024 8:11 pm

Welcome to Tory conference 2024. For the next four days, the final quartet of contenders will battle it out, Hunger…

Watch: BBC is forced to fact check itself

28 September 2024 7:39 pm

Amid a wave of BBC cutbacks, the Corporation has made much of its new ‘Verify’ service. Bosses have trumpeted its…