EDP Column: Why Do Politicians Write Autobiographies?
- 8 Oct 2006
The publication of David Blunkett’s diaries is likely to yield great disappointment for his publishers, Hodder. The reason why this book will rise quickly to that ever growing ‘remainder heaven’ in the sky is that we all believe we know quite enough about David Blunk...
EDP Diary: I'm Sorry, That's All We've Got Time For
- 7 Oct 2006
What is it with British seaside resort hotels? In my experience they seem to delight in making life as difficult and as expensive for anyone who visits them. I’ve just returned from four days in Bournemouth which cost me more than it would have done to spend a fortnight in Maj...
BBC Online Reviews 18 Doughty Street
- 6 Oct 2006
Unlike newspapers, radio and TV broadcasters in Britain are bound by strict rules on balance and impartiality. But next week, a political channel threatens to turn these sacred codes on their head. How? By broadcasting on the net. When did you last watch a rough and tumble ...
Sunday Times: 18 Doughty Street Launches
- 4 Oct 2006
By Iain Dale is Presenter of Vox Politix on 18DoughtyStreet Talk TV Political television in this country is on the decline. The BBC appears to think that it can only get ratings for political programmes if it invites comedians and celebrities to pontificate on gre...
Guardian: Taxing Times
- 1 Oct 2006
Taxing times Tories want a mature debate about taxation, but the media is determined to present differing opinions as a split. As usual, the conference experienced by the representatives here in Bournemouth seems a little different to the subjects the media are obsessed ...
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...