Excited About Israel
- 26 Oct 2008
This afternoon I fly to Israel for a five day visit. It's being arranged by Conservative Friends of Israel (www.cfoi.co.uk) who every year take several groups of MPs, candidates and journalists there to learn more about the country's culture, politics and economy. I am immense...
Killing Time
- 26 Oct 2008
I'm writing this somewhere over the Croatian coast, essentially because I have nothing better to do. I had forgotten how much I hate flying. There's always that sense of excited anticipation but the reality is usually a disappointment. A bit like a one night stand. I have a lo...
Twelve Inches Save My Life
- 12 Oct 2008
Last night at around 10pm, I was driving on the M25 heading for the Sky News studios to do their paper review. There was very little traffic and I was in the fast lane (natch) on a section with no lighting just past Clacket Lane Services. Listening to Stephen Nolan on 5 Live m...
Off The Fence: Why I'm Declaring for Obama
- 10 Oct 2008
In my Telegraph column today I look at why so many Conservatives have decided to support Barack Obama rather than John McCain, and I briefly explain my decision to come off the fence and join them. I never thought the day would come when I would not support a Republican can...
In Conversation with Ken Livingstone
- 10 Oct 2008
ID: Do you think you lost the mayoralty, or did Boris win it? Because there is a difference, isn’t there? KL: You had two candidates with high positives, committed supporters but with high negatives from people who loathed them. London was fractured. There was a huge swing ...
Gordon Brown is Frit!
- 6 Oct 2008
Well, if Nick Robinson is right, Gordon Brown has bottled it. All summer he has wanted to call an election but at various stages he has chickened out at the last minute. I was told recently that he wanted to call an election in early September but in the end he decided not to....
Top 100 People on the Right 2008
- 1 Oct 2008
By Iain Dale & Brian Brivati If the top 100 lefties list reflected in its volume of changes in position and large number of new entries the volatility of re-arranging chairs on the titanic after the ice berg has hit, this list of top 100 Right Wingers reflects David Cam...
GQ Magazine: My Long Read Profile/Interview with the Miliband Brothers
- 1 Oct 2008
INTRO FROM 2010: I just re-read a profile of the Milibands I wrote for GQ Magazine nearly two years ago. I think it stands the test of time, and as the Labour leadership campaign nears its end I thought it was reposting on the blog. Having never written a piece like this befor...
My 2008 Conservative Conference Diary
- 30 Sep 2008
Conference Diary Sunday The trouble with party conferences is that it is very difficult to keep tabs with the media narrative. Most of the journalists I have met so far seem completely knackered and willing the party conference season to be over. I suspect that the big stor...
Enid Simmons 1933-2008
- 27 Sep 2008
I won't be blogging David Cameron's speech this afternoon, as I have driven home to Tunbridge Wells to support my partner John at the funeral of his beloved mother Enid, who died ten days ago. We're all really missing her, as she lived here with us and her husband Roland. S...
A Day With the Family
- 27 Sep 2008
It might seem a bizarre way to spend your golden wedding anniversary, but my parents didn't want a party. They just wanted their three grandchildren and three children at home. In the end we all went out for a pub lunch in Great Yeldham and then spent a couple of hours at the ...
Top 100 People on the Left 2008
- 26 Sep 2008
The top lefties list this year delivers a simple message: success is more stable than failure. The top 100 Lefties sees a significant set of changes from last year, including 43 new entries in the top 100 and 4 new entries in the top ten, to be revealed on Wednesday. The bott...
It's Wacaweek
- 21 Sep 2008
I thought the THIS WEEK sofa had plumbed the depths when Jade Goody's posterior was invited to grace it. I was wrong. I've just caught up with this week's show. I am still trying to recover from the fact that Timmy Mallett was a guest. Here's his opening piece of insightful an...
A Word from Aylesbury
- 19 Sep 2008
I much enjoyed my little sojourn in Aylesbury last night. Needless to say it took me far longer to get there than I imagined, mainly due to the fact that the Edgware Road was shut. This was far from a rubber chicken dinner. It took place in a catering college, which has opened...
Stuart Wheeler's Really Helpful Intervention
- 18 Sep 2008
I see "Conservative Party donor" Stuart Wheeler is at it again. This evening he will be making a really valuable contribution to a Conservative victory at the next election by making a speech urging people not to vote Conservative. Well done Stuart. Really well done. In the...
Top 50 Liberal Democrats 2008
- 17 Sep 2008
The words ‘influence’ and ‘power’ don’t sit comfortably with the notion of the Liberal Democrats, yet from time to time, the party and its senior politicians make a real impact on the body politic. If I had compiled this list three years ago, Nick Clegg would not have been on ...
On the Game with Ann Widdecombe
- 17 Sep 2008
From the show with Ann Widdecombe in Chelmsford last night... ID: So when ITV ask you to do these programmes, how do you judge whether to do them? AW: Well, when they asked me to do prostitution, I readily agreed... [cue audience collapsing with laughter] It real...
EDP Diary: When Maggie Visited Gordon
- 13 Sep 2008
What a lovely present our Prime Minister gave to the Trade Unions this week, following his speech to the ‘Brothers’ in Brighton. He decided to give them a further £2.8 million for the Trade Union ‘Modernisation Fund’. This is in addition to the £10 million of taxpayers’ money ...
I Like Driving in My Car
- 4 Sep 2008
Yesterday I took delivery of my new car, which I have been waiting nearly a year for. Boy was it worth the wait. I make no apology for loving cars. And I absolutely adore this one. If you could drive a multiple orgasm, you'd be steering an Audi S5. Perhaps driving it on its fi...
Theatre Review: Tory Boyz
- 18 Aug 2008
Two nights in a row at the theatre. There must be something in the water. Tonight I went to the opening night performance of TORY BOYZ, which is starting a four week run at the Soho Theatre. I wanted to be able to write a glowing review, I really did. But I'd be telling an ...