Who Will The Next Tory Leader Be?
- 25 Jun 2017
This is an extended (and unedited) version of an article I wrote for today’s Sunday Telegraph. And they say election campaigns don’t change anything… Only two months ago Theresa May was mistress of all she surveyed – respected by most, liked by many, getting on with the job s...
WATCH: This Week's CNNTalk on Brexit & Trump
- 24 Jun 2017
CNN Talk is thirty minutes of chat about the big events of the week with me, Ayesha Hazaria, Liam Halligan and Max Foster. This week we cover Brexit and Trump. Delighted to say the show’s initial success has meant that we’re now going to a permanent fixture on CNN, every Fri...
ConHome Diary: Remainers Triumph in the Conservative Reshuffle
- 16 Jun 2017
I write this in light of what has happened at Grenfell Tower in West London and I am fully aware that picking apart a reshuffle after so many people have tragically died, makes the ‘game of politics’ seem rather petty. But writing about politics is what I do, so here goes. ...
It Shouldn't Happen to a Radio Presenter 54: Knowing When Not to Interrupt an Epic Listener Rant
- 12 Jun 2017
On the day after the election, Mark phoned the show. Normally, if a caller gets three minutes on my show, they’re doing well. It’s Drivetime and it has to be fast paced. But every now and then you get a caller when you think, just let them go, no need to interrupt. Mark...
Watch: The LBC Election Night Show with Iain Dale & Shelagh Fogarty - All 7 Hours Of It!
- 9 Jun 2017
As well as on the radio we broadcast LBC’s Election Night Results Show on Facebook Live. The viewing figures were incredible. If watching radio is your thing – and it seems to be for a lot of people – you should love this! If you prefer just to listen, rather than watch, ...
General Election Seat by Seat: My Final Predictions - A Tory Landslide Is Still On
- 5 Jun 2017
On the day the election was called, I predicted a Conservative majority of 74, but I decided to test this out by going through all 650 seats individually. Back in early May I completed my Seat by Seat predictions and ended up predicting a Conservative majority of 134. This wa...
If You Think Labour's Manifesto Is Fully Costed, Read On...
- 5 Jun 2017
Margaret Thatcher once said: “The trouble with socialism is that you always end up running out of other people’s money.” The Labour Party manifesto is proof of this – well, it would be if it were ever implemented. I came across this little tale on one of my friend’s Facebook p...
Iain Dale & Shelagh Fogarty to Present LBC's Live Election Night Show
- 4 Jun 2017
LBC TO BROADCAST 12-HOUR ELECTION RESULTS SPECIAL THURSDAY 8 JUNE FROM 10PM TO FRIDAY 9 JUNE • Iain Dale and Shelagh Fogarty reunite to anchor election night programme • Nick Ferrari presents extended breakfast show from 5am • James O’Brien gives his verdict and opens the l...
ConHome Diary: Who Will Theresa May Reshuffle? Brandon Lewis Is My Tip To Replace Lizz Truss & Other Stories
- 2 Jun 2017
So it’s the midday on Friday June 9th. The results are in and it may not be quite the landslide she had hoped for but Theresa May is back in Downing Street and sitting down to form her new Cabinet. Reshuffling a cabinet after barely eleven months poses several dilemmas. If you...
New European Election Diary: The Perils of Twitter Polls
- 2 Jun 2017
I’ve come to the conclusion that the “Left” have conquered Twitter. Last weekend, my LBC Radio colleague Maajid Nawaz conducted a Twitter poll, which asked ‘who do you trust more on national security issues – Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn’? Now I’m not being funny, but in any n...
What Should the Tories Do to Get their Campaign Back on Track? Answer: Let Lynton be Lynton & (Maybe) Ditch the Social Care Policy Altogether
- 28 May 2017
There’s nothing the Conservative Party seems to enjoy more than a midcampaign wobble. It usually lasts a couple of days before things get back on an even keel. This one has lasted more than ten days. Election campaign wobbles often happen when the chain of command isn’t clear ...
ConHome Diary: Diane Abbott's New Nickname & Credit To Donald Trump (Yes, Really)
- 26 May 2017
Let’s give credit where credit is due. Donald Trump’s first trip broad as President was tipped by everyone to be a disaster. People assumed there would be gaffe and gaffe and he would embarrass himself, his country and his hosts. Well it hasn’t happened, has it? Even his speec...
Number of Gay MPs Likely to Increase to 41 - The Most of Any Parliament in the World
- 21 May 2017
Last week I posted a blog on the number of female MPs there are likely to be in the new House of Commons. Today, I’m turning my attention towards the number of gay MPs there will be. I am grateful to Tim Carr for providing much of the information. At the date of the dissoluti...
Watch: This Week's CNNTalk
- 20 May 2017
Every Friday at Noon, I appear on a new CNN show called CNNTalk. This is week 3 and we discuss Trump and the UK election. Presented by Max Foster, the other two guests are Ayesha Hazirika and Liam Halligan. If you like it, do watch it live on CNN next Friday at 12 noon. It’s...
Assange Remains the Sleazebag He Always Was, And Must Be Put On Trial In This Country For Jumping Bail
- 19 May 2017
Six and a half years ago, in December 2010, I was asked by the Mail on Sunday to write a column on Julian Assange. When it appeared I was traduced and slagged off by his many supporters. How could I not understand what a hero he is, I was asked? Very easily, as it happens. Any...
ConHome Diary: Why the PM Needs Another PPS (or Two) & When Will The Speaker Go?
- 19 May 2017
If there is a Conservative landslide of anything like the scale most pundits seem to expect I think the Prime Minister will need to think very carefully about her relationship with Tory backbenchers. Dealing with 390 or 400 MPs is very different to dealing with 330. May I make...
New European Diary: Meat Loaf Tattoos & Emily Thornberry's Panzer
- 17 May 2017
It was a wonderful sight to behold – Emily Thornberry in full Panzer mode on Marr telling Michael Fallon he was talking ‘bollocks’. Andrew Marr was so shocked he remained mute. Michael Fallon didn’t quite know what to say. The rest of us watching just roared with laughter. I’v...
In the New House of Commons The Number of Women MPs Is Unlikely To Rise Much - But There Will be 24 More Female Tories...
- 14 May 2017
Over the last few days I have been burnishing my credentials as a political geek and been carrying out some research about the likely makeup of the next House of Commons. In particular the likely number of women MPs. I’ve used my Seat by Seat predictions to analyse how many fe...
The 85 Seats That Will Change Hands on June 8th ... (Probably)
- 13 May 2017
I’ve been tinkering with my seat by seat predictions today, mainly in the light of the fact that UKIP aren’t standing in 243 seats including one or two key marginals. It hasn’t changed my predictions too much though. The main change is that I think it may mean Norman Lamb migh...
ConHome Diary: The Electoral Commission Should Be Wound Up
- 13 May 2017
And so the CPS decided to take no further action against the 14 MPs the Electoral Commission fingered for allegedly filing inaccurate election expenses after the 2015 election. They’ve left Craig Mackinlay swinging in the wind, but I suspect he’ll be OK. I cannot imagine the C...