Call from North Norfolk Tory to Norman Lamb to Defect
- 25 Jan 2006
When you're a Parliamentary Candidate you expend quite a lot of effort urging your supporters to write letters to the local newspaper either supporting your candidacy or to criticse the incumbent. One of the more regular correspondents of the Eastern Daily Press is a Conservat...
Dream, Dream, Dream, When I Was Young
- 12 Jan 2006
I don't know abou you, but I very rarely remember details dreams. Last night, however, I had a very vivid dream which I can remember virtually every detail of. Before your imagination runs away with you, let me explain. Fifteen years ago a very dear friend of the family died ...
Charles Kennedy Quits
- 6 Jan 2006
Daisy McAndrew (nee Sampson) joined ITN a few months ago from the BBC, where she had been hosting the Daily Politics Show with Andrew Neil. Before that she spent a couple of years as Charles Kennedy's Press Secretary. Today, Daisy McAndrew wielded the knife. She handed his pri...
My Predictions for 2006
- 31 Dec 2005
JANUARY Conservative leader David Cameron asks Paul Gascoigne to be a consultant to a new Tory Commission on Alcohol policy. Gascoigne agrees that "we're all in this togethah, wy, aye man". FEBRUARY LibDem leader Charles Kennedy announces his resignation on the grassy...
My 2005 Political Awards
- 30 Dec 2005
Well for lack of anything better to do this evening (I should be at Upton Park watching the Hammers v Wigan but the roads are very icy here...) I thought I'd do my annual political awards... POLITICIAN OF THE YEAR David Cameron - need I say more?! And this is not just a ...
A Runout on Newsnight
- 29 Dec 2005
I have just got back from appearing on Newsnight to talk about the David Blunkett situation. I was on with Labour MP Clive Betts, with whom I had done a News 24 interview earlier this evening. Clive is a nice guy but does rant a bit. So in contrast I seemed to be the voice of ...
John Redwood's Christmas Puddings
- 26 Dec 2005
It's nearly midnight and I am typing this in my sitting room in Swanton Abbott in front of the first log fire of the year. Sometimes life is just perfect. Today hasn't been bad either. Up at 7 to collect John Redwood to visit Holt WI Market. Anglia TV and the EDP were there. W...
Hard Drives & Celluloid
- 11 Dec 2005
The fire's alight. The Christmas tree is up. God is in his heaven. And friends are about to come round for dinner. Life's good sometimes, isn't it? Today I have been in Holt and Sheringham. Sheringham this afternoon was especially rewarding. We got more Conservative pledge...
Independent Diary: Does Michael Howard Know How to Vote?
- 10 Dec 2005
Having fought eleven general elections you might be forgiven for thinking that Michael Howard would be familiar with putting a cross in a box on a ballot paper. But my spies in the 1922 Committee tell me that he almost managed to spoil his ballot paper in the Tory leadership e...
Saturday Night in North Walsham
- 5 Dec 2005
On Saturday I spent the evening on patrol with North Walsham Police. There are clearly some very serious anti-social behaviour problems in North Walsham. While a zero tolerance approach appears to have reaped huge rewards in Sheringham, we now need to see those same measures i...
A Day of Varieties
- 21 Nov 2005
Just finished going through my surveys - must have looked at about 2,000 today. Especially liked the person who answered Communism to the question What single thing would you suggest to improve the quality of life in your area?. Turned out to be a UKIP voter. Hmmm. But the win...
And So to Bed
- 28 May 2005
Started the day in North Walsham as it is market day. Moved from there to Mundesley, where we found a lot of new support. Had quite a large team out with me today and we had a break for lunch at them Hunworth Bell before moving on to Fakenham and then Sheringham. Tonight was t...
Blogging Pause
- 25 May 2005
As some of you will have gathered by now, I have a new job. On Tuesday I start work as Chief of Staff to David Davis. I have therefore regretfully decided that I have to close down this Blog. I am sure you will all understand the reasons. It's my decision and my decision alone...
New Statesman: Did I Lose North Norfolk Because I am Gay?
- 23 May 2005
Politics - Iain Dale has no problem being an openly gay Tory Far from being the preserve of Colonel Blimps, it was the Tory party that stood the most gay and black candidates The past two weeks have been like attending my own funeral. I've had 400 e-mails and letters of ...
Saying Goodbye to my North Norfolk Campaign Workers
- 21 May 2005
This lunchtime I held a thank you lunch for 60 of my campaign team who did so much for my election campaign. It was held in Roughton at the home of two people who have become very close friends, Bert & Sylvia. The weather held off and I think everyone enjoyed it. I said a ...
Ready for the Weekend, Sir?
- 21 May 2005
Just arrived in Swanton Abbott for the weekend after a tortuous journey. Because of the ridiculous roadworks on the A11 I drove up the A12 and A140. The DD bandwagon gathers pace as Julie Kirkbride and Ian Taylor both declared themselves today. Julie had supported Portillo ...
Starring on the News Quiz
- 14 May 2005
It seems one of my election anecdotes graced the airwaves of Radio 4's Newsquiz yesterday. They rehashed the Atticus story which read... "A surprise on the campaign trail for gay Tory candidate Iain Dale. Knocking on doors in the North Norfolk seat, he met an elderly lady w...
Touched
- 7 May 2005
Over the last twenty four hours I have received more than 250 emails, as well as dozens of phone calls from friends, colleagues and many people I have never met expressing their sympathy. I have to say it's a bit like being present at your own funeral, but they have certainly ...
Shame on You, Simon Heffer
- 7 May 2005
Simon Heffer has written a poisonous piece in the Daily Mail today about the fact that Nick Boles and I lost both our seats - he blames it on the fact that we are gay and that people outside London don't like that sort of thing. Strange how he doesn't mention the fact that Nic...
Morning After the Night Before
- 6 May 2005
This is obviously something I hoped I wouldn't have to post. Last night's result was devastating for me personally and for the local Conservative Party. I have put body and soul into my campaign over the last eighteen months so to lose by such a margin was a bitter pill to hav...