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.

Farage to upstage PMQs with gallery stunt

22 October 2025 10:54 pm

It’s been a funny old time for Nigel Farage in parliament. Elected to the House of Commons at his eighth…

Tories raise £500k post Kemi speech

22 October 2025 6:28 am

Tomorrow marks a fortnight since Kemi Badenoch’s conference speech. After a difficult first year when the Conservatives have sometimes struggled…

Backlash after Lords restrict assisted suicide evidence

22 October 2025 5:59 am

Well, well, well. Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide bill has made it to the House of Lords, where the legislation will…

Full list: MPs attacking Prince Andrew

22 October 2025 12:53 am

The government is facing a rather strange dilemma: what to do about Prince Andrew. Last week the royal voluntarily gave…

YouGov: Green support surges to record high

21 October 2025 11:58 pm

Whisper it, but it appears Zack Polanski’s eco-populism strategy is working. After his election as the new leader of the…

Louis Theroux’s bizarre Bob Vylan interview

21 October 2025 11:30 pm

To veteran BBC documentary-maker, Louis Theroux. On The Louis Theroux Podcast, the longtime interviewer spoke to Bobby Vylan – one…

Sunak bags new gig as Sunday Times columnist

21 October 2025 9:41 pm

Rishi Sunak was expected to set sail for the US after leaving No. 10, but it turns out his post-prime…

The Economist: legalise cocaine

21 October 2025 3:36 am

Well, well, well. While the issue of drug decriminalisation has reared its head in recent months thanks to an intervention…

Reform suspends four councillors after leaked infighting clip

20 October 2025 10:32 pm

Uh oh. There’s trouble in paradise as Reform UK has suspended four councillors on Kent county council after a leaked…

Tory councillors attack their own party

20 October 2025 1:27 am

It’s a difficult time for Tory members. Down to barely 123,000 at the last count, the annual conference passed off…

Wanted: a new man in Washington

20 October 2025 12:27 am

Ever fancied going stateside? Enjoy travel, hobnobbing and schmoozing Republicans? Well, now you can, thanks to the Foreign, Commonwealth and…

Oxford Union president-elect’s latest own goal

16 October 2025 3:56 am

Something of a nightmare is gripping the city of dreaming spires. Over at the Oxford Union – the supposed nursery…

How close is Labour to ‘kill Musk’s Twitter’ group?

15 October 2025 10:51 pm

When stories first emerged about a new tell-all book on Keir Starmer’s ruthless rise to power, Corbynites got predictably excited.…

Rayner set to miss I’m a Celebrity

15 October 2025 8:52 am

They say that showbiz is politics for ugly people. But that has not stopped some of parliament’s finest swapping the…

Joan Collins hailed at conservative shindig

15 October 2025 12:01 am

As any good Spectator subscriber knows, Joan Collins is a national institution. The Hollywood star took centre stage at last…

Boris blasts Farage at Thatcher dinner

14 October 2025 7:09 pm

To the Guildhall where hundreds of Thatcherites last night met to pay tribute to the Iron Lady. On the centenary…

Streeting: I’m glad we can accept Brexit is a problem

14 October 2025 4:14 am

To the Cliveden Literary Festival, where Health Secretary Wes Streeting has offered up his support for Sir Keir Starmer’s Brexit…

Farage blames Starmer after Reform councillor attacked

13 October 2025 10:52 pm

Reform UK’s Nigel Farage has hit out at Prime Minister Keir Starmer after the party’s youngest council leader was attacked…

Watch: Activist blasts SNP for ‘mistrust’ in party

12 October 2025 2:05 am

Well, well, well. SNP conference has gotten off to a rather, er, interesting start. As one might expect, the subject…

Stephen Flynn attacks Farage over Russia

11 October 2025 10:31 pm

To the north of Scotland, where in Aberdeen the SNP conference has begun. Activists are gathering, once again, to try…

SNP conference to vote on provisional parliament

10 October 2025 10:53 pm

It’s the SNP’s big weekend out as party members and politicians make the painstaking journey to Aberdeen for the nationalists’…

Zack Polanski’s humiliating breast hypnosis climbdown

10 October 2025 10:00 pm

To BBC Question Time, where new leader of the Greens Zack Polanski spent much of the evening sparring with Reform…

Starmer: ‘no ministers’ involved in China case collapse

10 October 2025 4:18 am

To India, where Keir Starmer has met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the UK-India trade deal and learn…

Yousaf: it is ‘difficult’ to accept Trump as peacemaker

10 October 2025 12:13 am

After two years of war, both Hamas and the Israeli government have agreed to a ceasefire deal brokered by US…

Tice: Boris’s brand is toxic

8 October 2025 6:30 am

The Conservative party conference may be in full swing in Manchester but Reform UK’s politicians are still creating headlines. Deputy…