Guardian Column: Has the Conservative Party Changed?
- 29 Sep 2006
I’ve been attending Tory Conferences since the mid 1980s. Until last year I had enjoyed every one of them, to one degree or another. If I tell you that at last year’s conference I was working as Chief of Staff to David Davis, you may get an inkling as to why it wasn’t exactly ...
Why I Hated (But Now Love) Vodafone
- 28 Sep 2006
[rant] Today I realised why I hate companies like Vodafone. I have been waiting to upgrade my Sony Ericsson P910 phone to the new P990i since March. Every month I've been into a Vodafone shop asking when it will arrive. "Oh, we're expecting it in a couple of weeks," comes the ...
First 18 Doughty Street Show in the Can
- 26 Sep 2006
I recorded my first pre-recorded programme for 18 DoughtyStreet Talk TV today. The interview was with Rodney Hide, the leader of ACT (the New Zealand Liberal Party) and his deputy, Heather Roy. ACT split from the NZ Labour Party in the early 1990s to pursue their own brand of...
Observer: Why MPs Need to Stop Spinning & Start Blogging
- 24 Sep 2006
Blogs are a spin doctor's worst nightmare come true - and then some. It would be understandable if political parties regarded them as uncontrolled, uncontrollable and sometimes downright troublesome. But if they did, they would be missing a huge opportunity to market their mes...
New Political Internet TV Station To Be Launched
- 22 Sep 2006
18 DOUGHTY STREET TALK TV - POLITICS FOR ADULTS - GROUNDBREAKING NEW CURRENT AFFAIRS TV CHANNEL TO BE LAUNCHED ON THE INTERNET 10th October will see the launch of Britain’s first political Internet TV Channel. 18DoughtyStreet Talk TV will broadcast for four hours a...
EDP Diary: The Ugly Face of Football
- 22 Sep 2006
I watched the Panorama expose of shady dealings in the world of British football with a mounting sense of anger. To be honest I expected the whole thing to be a bit of a damp squib, but not a bit of it. It leaves Bolton manager Sam Allardyce with a lot of questions to answer. ...
Harriman House Buys Politicos.co.uk
- 21 Sep 2006
Some of you will have already picked this up from a Politico's email, but this is the press release being sent out today... HARRIMAN HOUSE TAKES OVER POLITICOS.CO.UK Harriman House and Politicos.co.uk announce today that Harriman House has taken over the online bookshop ...
Independent: If You Go Down to Notting Hill Today
- 18 Sep 2006
If you go down to Notting Hill today, you’re sure of a big surprise. It’s slowly but surely being taken over by a group of chi chi young Tories who have more in common with American preppies than the Notting Hill carnival. You’re more likely to see a Pringle sweater wi...
CWF Article on Political Blogging
- 12 Sep 2006
Written for Forward! The Conservative Way Forward magazine. 1 Conservative Home http://www.conservativehome.com 2 Iain Dale http://iaindale.blogspot.com ...
Margaret Thatcher & South Africa
- 3 Sep 2006
Former South African Foreign Minister Pik Botha has rounded on David Cameron for criticising Margaret Thatcher's policy towards South Africa. "She did more to change apartheid than the Labour Party or any other party in Britain... In private conversations, as well as in let...
Independent Media Diary: Those Lefties at the BBC
- 3 Sep 2006
Some years ago Tony Blair was overheard referring to the Scottish Press as "unreconstructed wankers". On Friday they had a chance to get their own back as Blair faced the Tartan Press hordes at an Edinburgh Hotel. Well, sort of. Blair's spin doctors have told the hacks that th...
Ten Things Not to Say When Caught Speeding
- 1 Sep 2006
PC Bloggs, in her ever helpful way, tells us about the top ten remarks that will guarantee you a ticket... 1. I pay your salary. 2. Haven't you got anything better to do? 3. I'm going to miss my flight now. 4. Please don't - I've already got 9 points. 5. I've got three ...
The Book Meme
- 1 Sep 2006
1. Name one book that changed your life. I can't say that a book ever has. I guess Animal Farm had an effect on me as a teenager whenI read it at school, as it confirmed all my gut instincts about socialism. Latterly, In the Arena by Richard Nixon was an inspiration to me. Be...
West Ham Enter the Big Time
- 31 Aug 2006
I have spent the whole day in a state of nervous exhaustion, constantly refreshing the West Ham Website Homepage to see if it really could be true that the two best footballers in South America had really signed for us. Other Hammers fans will know the meaning of the words 'ju...
Guardian: Cameron, Segolene and the 'It' Crowd
- 29 Aug 2006
The It crowd It may seem an unlikely comparison, but David Cameron and Ségolène Royal have more in common than you'd think. You wouldn't think a French Socialist and a British Conservative could have much in common, but you'd be wrong. Take Lionel Jospin and Michael Howa...
Memories of Sir Alfred Sherman
- 28 Aug 2006
The Godfather of Thatcherism, Sir Alfred Sherman has died. You can read his full obituary HEREin the Daily Telegraph, but I wanted to add a few thoughts and memories of my own of Sir Alfred. I first met him in the late 1980s at a time when he had been despatched from the Th...
EXCLUSIVE: Anschutz Company Leaked Emails Show AEG Spinning Out of Control
- 28 Aug 2006
John Prescott's best mate Philip Anschutz has been up to his old tricks again. Anschutz, you will recall, owns the ranch which Prescott famously visited to discuss AEG's Casino bids the Slave Trade but didn't register the trip with the House of Commons authorities. Anshutz's c...
Independent Media Diary: Unreconstructed Wankers
- 28 Aug 2006
Some years ago Tony Blair was overheard referring to the Scottish Press as "unreconstructed wankers". On Friday they had a chance to get their own back as Blair faced the Tartan Press hordes at an Edinburgh Hotel. Well, sort of. Blair's spin doctors have told the hacks that th...
Independent on Sunday Diary Column: All Change at ITV Politics
- 27 Aug 2006
The news that two of the finest heads of hair in journalism are to take over ITV’s Sunday political show, has opened up a new career opportunity for ITN newscaster Alastair Stewart. As Andrea Catherwood moves from Mark Austin’s deputy on the News at When to join Andrew Rawnsle...
Political Programmes You'll Never See on the BBC
- 23 Aug 2006
8am The Big Breakfast with Eric Pickles 10.30am This Morning with Ann & Nick Winterton 11.30am Grumpy Old Tories with Sir Peter & Sir Patrick 1.00pm Fox News with Liam and Jesme 1.30pm Keith & Mrs Simpson 2.00pm The Darling Buds of Theresa May 2.30pm Just Wil...