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’s freebie scandal rears its head

8 August 2025 2:39 am

It wouldn’t be recess without a sleaze scandal, eh? Now Sir Keir Starmer’s wife is in the limelight, after it…

Josef Fritzl caused Badenoch to lose faith

7 August 2025 4:00 pm

‘The testing of your faith produces perseverance’ – James 1:2-3. That may be the case, but too much testing can…

Lineker to move to ITV after BBC antisemitism row

6 August 2025 11:19 pm

Well, well, well. After quitting the Beeb amid an antisemitism storm, it transpires that Gary Lineker has been picked up…

Prince Harry loses control of charity after bullying row probe

6 August 2025 10:36 pm

Back to the monarchs of Montecito, who are not have a good time of it at the moment. It transpires…

More Brits worried about immigration than health

6 August 2025 3:03 am

Another day, another poll. This time YouGov has found that almost six in ten Brits say that immigration is one…

Labour voters: Kyle’s Savile comment was ‘inappropriate’

6 August 2025 12:49 am

Back to the Online Safety Act which, since it came into force just over a week ago, has sparked outrage…

Farage clarifies Reform’s female prisons stance

5 August 2025 10:33 pm

To Reform UK, which is in its third week of its crime crackdown campaign which looks to tackle ‘Lawless Britain’.…

Truss takes a pop at Badenoch over Tory record

5 August 2025 12:59 am

Uh oh. As if Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch didn’t have enough on her plate with the rise of Reform eating…

Edinburgh Fringe venue under fire over mixed-sex toilets

4 August 2025 11:51 pm

While the Supreme Court in April backed the biological definition of a woman, it would appear that in Scotland the…

Why the Valuation Office Agency isn’t value for money

1 August 2025 11:25 pm

Another day, another dispiriting quangocracy revelation. This time the spotlight is on the Valuation Office Agency, whose performance has been…

Labour accused of ‘social engineering’ over working class internships

1 August 2025 8:51 pm

Well, well, well. It transpires that in plans to make Whitehall more working class, civil service internships will only be…

No babies called ‘Keir’ after Starmer took office

31 July 2025 10:54 pm

There are a number of ways to measure the public’s dissatisfaction with their politicians: party polling figures, favourability ratings and,…

Should the Prime Minister take a summer holiday?

31 July 2025 9:53 pm

Silly season is upon us, as MPs jet off on holiday (or back to their constituencies) to get a well-needed…

Trump suggests he could become Scotland’s next First Minister

30 July 2025 9:28 pm

Watch out, John Swinney – Donald Trump is, it seems, eyeing up your job. During the US President’s trip up…

Watch: Gary Neville turns his guns on Starmer

30 July 2025 8:48 pm

Back to Gary Neville, the left-wing right-back who has never met a camera he didn’t like. Just when we thought he’d…

Few Brits believe minor crimes are properly policed

30 July 2025 7:49 pm

It’s the second week of Reform’s six-week ‘Lawless Britain’ campaign and there has been some back and forth about whether…

Corbyn and Sultana use same crowdfunder as Tommy Robinson

29 July 2025 9:06 pm

You’d think two botched party launches would have chastened Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn somewhat. Not so. The duo continue…

Minister: Farage is on Jimmy Savile’s side

29 July 2025 6:05 pm

An extraordinary exchange on Sky News this morning. Peter Kyle was invited on to discuss the reaction to the implementation…

Watch: Trump slams Sadiq Khan as ‘nasty person’

29 July 2025 1:47 am

While relations between Sir Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump have been lauded as ‘unparalleled’ by the President himself,…

Corbyn and Sultana botch their party launch. Again

24 July 2025 10:27 pm

After a rather botched party launch attempt in which Zarah Sultana appeared to force Jeremy Corbyn into letting her co-lead…

BBC apologises to Rupert Lowe over Rape Gang Inquiry report

24 July 2025 10:06 pm

Another day, another drama over at the Beeb. The BBC has apologised to ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe and his Rape…

Watch: Green party leader struggles to say he likes rival

24 July 2025 9:53 pm

All is not well in the Green party. Adrian Ramsay is standing for re-election in the party’s leadership contest this…

Migrant relocation rumours spark Canary Wharf protest

24 July 2025 12:55 am

Uh oh. Protests have broken out outside an empty Canary Wharf hotel after claims began to circulate that migrants were…

Cleverly refuses to back Badenoch on ECHR

23 July 2025 10:05 pm

Kemi Badenoch might have reached an agreement with James Cleverly about his new role in the shadow cabinet, but it…

Cabinet ministers urge Starmer to recognise Palestine

23 July 2025 9:45 pm

Parliament may have risen for recess but that doesn’t mean that Sir Keir Starmer is getting much of a break.…