Calm Down, It's an April Fool!
- 1 Apr 2008
I've just been told that the Government Media Monitoring Unit just sent out the text of my April Fool blogpost below to their full list, including Gus O Donnell etc... And the Ministry of Justice press office are getting calls from national newspapers... And the Electo...
The 'People Like Us' Phenomenon
- 16 Mar 2008
Last night on Sky News we briefly discussed why the media gave a much higher profile to the Madeleine McCann case than the Shannon Matthews disappearance. There are, I'm sure lots of factors, but one was the fact that for the media, the McCanns were very much "people like us",...
Top Ten Lines Not in Alistair Darling's Budget
- 11 Mar 2008
10. Tax Cuts, you want tax cuts? I'll show you tax cuts. 9. Let them eat cake. 8. You know last year's budget? We made it up. 7. And for my fifth reannouncement... 6. Iain Dale's new Audi will be exempt from the new £1,000 band of road tax. 5. And this year the real rate ...
EDP Diary: A Minor Operation
- 8 Mar 2008
In forty five years I have never had to go into hospital or have an operation – until this week, when I had to have a very minor operation. It was entirely successful and has the added bonus that I now have to spent two weeks resting. The one thing that sticks with me is the f...
I Wonder What Dr Ruth Would Say?
- 3 Mar 2008
I've been reflecting further on the post BELOW on my blood-sugar machine. Oscar Wilde once said that a cynic is someone "who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing". We in Britain take for granted that our healthcare is provided free at the point of delivery. W...
The Guardian: The Politics of Publishing a Must-read Magazine
- 3 Mar 2008
Free distribution has made men's weekly magazine Shortlist a success - even as the glossies falter. Can it do the same for blogger Iain Dales's new political title? James Silver investigates... In the cut-throat political magazine sector, new readers are hard to come by and...
We've Just Been Burgled, But Where are the Police?
- 1 Mar 2008
Today has got worse. It started off well as I enjoyed my time with Suffolk Coastal Tories. We had a lively debate on the English Question, but I had to leave at 12.15 to get to Upton Park in time to watch West Ham play Chelsea. After 25 minutes I really wished I hadn't bothere...
Fayed: The Most Odious Man in Britain
- 18 Feb 2008
I'm sitting on the train back to RTW (that's Royal Tunbridge Wells for the uninitiated!), feeling disgusted. If you have read the Evening Standard's report of the Phoney Pharoah's so-called 'evidence' to the Diana coroner's hearing, you will understand why. If there is a more ...
Sir Ralph Howell: A One Off
- 18 Feb 2008
The death of Sir Ralph Howell has robbed Norfolk of one of its more colourful political characters. During my time as Conservative candidate in North Norfolk in the runup to the 2005 election Ralph was unfailingly courteous and helpful to me. He was anxious not to interfere bu...
Should Assisted Suicide be Shown on TV?
- 16 Feb 2008
The Daily Mail is in full hypocrisy mode this morning, berating Sky for broadcasting a documentary on assistaed suicide and showing the moment of death - and then apologising to its readers for showing photos from the programme. It devotes its entire front page to the story. ...
How do I Explain Fisking in Russian?
- 16 Feb 2008
This morning I delivered a 45 minute talk to 100 or so Russian journalists and politicians about the role of blogging in politics and the media. It all seemed to go off OK, although I don't mind admitting that it was a bit odd having simultaneous translation. Anyone who has se...
My Evening in the West Wing
- 9 Feb 2008
I'm at Dulles airport waiting for my flight back to the UK - thank God, I hear you chorus, no more American politics! Well, indulge me one final time as I tell you about yesterday evening and my rather disastrous day today. At 8.30pm yesterday evening a group of five of us ...
Midnight at the Lincoln Memorial
- 8 Feb 2008
It's nearly midnight on my last night in Washington. Whenever I come here I always make a noctural visit to the Lincoln Memorial. It's a great place to sit and think - to contemplate the meaning of life, if you like. That' where I am now - sitting on the steps leading up to on...
Derek Conway To Stand Down
- 30 Jan 2008
Derek Conway has just announced he will not be standing at the next election. Here's his statement... I have had tremendous support from my local party, my family and friends but have concluded that it is time to step down. I stand by what I have said in relation to the r...
My Most Embarrassing Moment
- 29 Jan 2008
In January 1983 (I cannot BELIEVE it is 25 years ago!) I was invited to a reception at 10 Downing Street by Margaret Thatcher, along with other chairman of univesity Conservative Associations. In those days I didn't even own a suit. That soon had to be rectified. I can remembe...
My Friend Derek Conway
- 29 Jan 2008
To all those "courageous" anonymous commenters who have been baying for a comment from me on Derek Conway (not a single person put their name to their posts, which says a lot), let me say this. I believe in friendship. I believe that true friends don't abandon each other in...
American Primaries: I Want to be Inspired
- 29 Jan 2008
Now that Rudy Giuliani has effectively been eliminated as a serious contender for the Republican nomination I feel as though I have no home to go to in the US Presidential election. With John Edwards withdrawing this afternoon, Giuliani surely won't be too far behind. So...
Being Diagnosed with Diabetes
- 18 Jan 2008
I got a bit of bad news on Wednesday, when I was told I had been diagnosed with diabetes. It wasn't a shock as - using my enormous medical expertise :) - I had already diagnosed myself. For some time I have had an unquenchable thirst and other symptoms. Luckily it is Type 2, s...
Snogging Simon Heffer
- 15 Jan 2008
Well, we recorded the first edition of Confronting Heffer, which you will be able to see on Thursday. Simon had a raving cold, which was rather a shame as the Telegraph photographer kept urging us to get closer and closer until our noses were literally an inch apart. "You're n...
The Jobsworths at TV Licensing
- 15 Jan 2008
Readers of Charles Moore's Spectator column will be familiar with the TV Licencing authorities. He will be glad to know that he has just recruited someone else to the cause. Me. Just before Christmas I bought a new TV for my bedroom, which also doubles as my office. A few days...