Why I'd Like to be MP for Bracknell
- 30 Sep 2009
Some of you may have seen on various sites over the last two days that I am in the final round of the parliamentary selection for Bracknell. I didn't want to say anything here until the shortlist was officially announced by the local party. There are seven of us in the...
Fun with the Fabians
- 27 Sep 2009
Earlier this evening I was part of a Question Time style panel at a Fabian Society fringe meeting titled CAN LABOUR WIN? Chaired the the Observer's Gaby Hinsliff, the meeting also heard from Ed Balls, Caroline Flint, Caroline Lucas and Sunder Katwala, the director of the Fabia...
Top 100 People on the Left 2009
- 25 Sep 2009
1. (+80) PETER MANDELSON First Secretary of State, Lord President of the Council and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills When he returned to the Cabinet in October 2008 he also returned to the heart of the government, after the reshuffle in June 2...
Behind the Scenes at LBC
- 23 Sep 2009
Sorry for the lack of posting since lunchtime. When you get a call to say "can you present our evening show tonight?" from a nationally renowned broadcaster it kind of throws your schedule. A few weeks ago I did a tryout for LBC to present a show with Yasmin Alibhai-Brown. ...
The Very Worst Kind of Gesture Politics
- 22 Sep 2009
I've just got home from the LibDems to read of the row that has been developing of the purchase of 57% of ConservativeHome and PoliticsHome by Lord Ashcroft. Let's start with a declaration of interest. Lord Ashcroft owns 25% of my company Biteback Media, which publishes Total ...
Book Review: Paddy Ashdown's Autobiography
- 20 Sep 2009
I don't know about you, but I find nowadays that it takes me three months to read a book, as the only time I have to read is just before I go to sleep. And within three pages my eyes have closed. Indeed, sometimes I wake up at 5am with the light still on and with me still hold...
Top 50 Liberal Democrats 2009
- 18 Sep 2009
(+1) Vince Cable LibDem Treasury Spokesman There’s no doubt that Cable is the most respected LibDem politician in the country – not just in his own party, either. He bitterly regretted not standing for the leadership and if anything happened to Clegg, he would surel...
An Evening with Sir Les & Dame Edna
- 16 Sep 2009
Last night I went to see Sir Les Patterson and Dame Edna Everage at the Royal Albert Hall. What a disappointment. I last saw them on stage about 15 years ago. I remember leaving the theatre with my cheekbones hurting because I had laughed so much. It was rather different last ...
Behind the Scenes at the Bedford Open Primary
- 15 Sep 2009
If I had been paid a fee for chairing last night's mayoral Open Primary in Bedford, I reckon I would have been worth every penny. Why? Because there were so many people registering to attend, the start time had to be delayed from 7.30 until 8.50. Imagine it. You have a hall...
If Brown Is Ill He Deserves Our Compassion, Not Our Insults
- 12 Sep 2009
Last week I began to write a blogpost about an allegation that the Prime Minister was alleged to be taking powerful anti depressants. The story had appeared on a blog run by John Ward. In the end I didn't run it as it was impossible to stand up. However, since then it's become...
It All Comes Down to Trust
- 11 Sep 2009
From time to time I am invited to give talks in schools about politics. If I understand it correctly, if I am to continue doing this in the future I will have to register on a new government anti-paedophile database, so that people can be reassured I am not likely to interfere...
My Trip to Armenia
- 8 Sep 2009
Today has been a whirlwind. Three very different TV interviews in Yerevan, a visit to the Genocide museum & memorial, a trip outside the capital to see a 1st century AD pagan temple and a monastry, a meeting with a dozen Armenian political bloggers, drinks with an organisa...
Meeting the Armenian Margaret Thatcher
- 7 Sep 2009
Having only had four hours sleep, today got a bit of getting through. Eyelids were drooping at one stage. This morning was spent in meetings with the British Council here in Yerevan and then meeting the British Ambassador to Armenia, Charles Lonsdale (pic) at the embassy. We t...
In Defence of Lord McColl
- 19 Aug 2009
It's stories like THIS in today's Times, which make me despair about the quality of some of our political journalism. Full of innuendo, attempts to smear, but backed up by very little. Lord McColl is a junior Tory health spokesman. Heard of him? No, me neither. In real life...
Killing Speed
- 14 Aug 2009
This morning I attended a two and a half hour long speed awareness course, having been caught doing 37 mph in a 30 limit in Brixton at 3am one morning in early June. I will admit to being slightly sceptical of what it would entail, but I have to say I found the whole thing ver...
Where are the Female Right Wing Pundits?
- 14 Aug 2009
Tim Montgomerie has an interesting post headlined "Which is more influential, Newsnight or Today"? He says he never turns down a slot on the Today Programme because of its influential audience. He also reckons it has an audience of 5-7 million at any one time. I don't think he...
We Should Obsess About the Nation's Health, not the NHS
- 14 Aug 2009
The campaign via Twitter to force people to declare their "love" for the NHS is not one I shall be participating in. I do not "love" the NHS any more than I "love" other major national institutions like the Police or the armed forced. These institutions are not there to be "lo...
Upon Reflection
- 13 Aug 2009
The great thing about having a blog and a Twitter feed is the ability to judge whether you have hit the right note. Or not. Readers are not slow in coming forward to give their views and they cannot be ignored. OK, there are always some people who if I said the sun was hot, wo...
What United Roger Helmer and Me
- 11 Aug 2009
There's much spluttering on some left wing blogs today about a blogpost by Conservative MEP Roger Helmer in which he says he is against gay marriage and questions whether homophobia exists. Having failed to "get" Michael Kaminski, they are now turning their attention to Helmer...
Funny Interview Stories No 94
- 5 Aug 2009
Earlier on today I twittered "A sentence not often heard in a job interview: "I'm between bands right now." This was said by a candidate for the job of Total Politics Political Correspondent, for which we are interviewing today. I thought it was quite hilarious and ...