Much is made of the power of a blogger.

Some feel bloggers have undue influence on the political scene…others discount bloggers with contempt as a niche group of over opinionated zealous Party hacks with grandiose personal ambitions!

It is interesting to look at both sides of the story.  Some bloggers do yield  ‘power & influence’.  No-one can doubt the ’power’ that Guido and Order-Order.com yields, with, at times, the ability to shape the news agenda.  Effectively removing one of the PM’s most trusted and closest aides in Damien McBride was a real success for the bloggersphere.  The story dominated ‘Fleet street’ for weeks to come.  Guido certainly ups the paranoia factor in Westminster.  When he says a news story is about to break….MP’s look over their shoulder and quake.

Iain Dale is another great example.  Iain, in many ways does not shape the news agenda as much as a Guido exclusive does, but his grasp of PR and perceptive commentary on an issue for the media is nonetheless mightily impressive.  Iain is a trusted authority, whether on NewsNight or Sky News and is a talisman for the blogging community on how to master gaining media coverage, (sometimes he does not get the credit he deserves for his achievements in moving blogging forward).  Others now are starting to follow in his media shes, Shane Greer is a classic example and of course the up & coming Tory Bear himself.

However, not every blogger is a Guido or an Iain Dale. 

Getting to the crux of the question, will bloggers win the next election?  Nope is the clear answer if you are looking at their readership.  Let’s be honest, blogs are generally read by ‘politico’s', those in the Westminster village, eager party supporters.  A blog reader will either be a supporter ie Conservative reading a Conservative blog, or a mischief maker, eg Labour supporters commenting on a Tory blog to torpedo any argument / have a little fun.  However, this does not sway or change votes.  Blog readers I would guess have 99% made up their mind on their voting intention, hence blogs generally don’t reach new readers and sway mass opinion.  Hence blogs wont sway an election…..not by their current readership…..how can they make an effect then and can they impact an election campaign?

Key here is that a blog story can quickly be picked up in the media and escalate into a national news story, hence then reaching the ears of the wider electorate. Therefore the job of bloggers is to help find and highlight those issues which deserve national news coverage.  Hence when Gordon Brown makes any claim in the forthcoming campaign, it will be the Tory bloggers, more so than the media, who will research the facts, check for previous policy quotes/soundbites and then publish that.  From there, an Iain Dale, Guido, CCHQ escalates up.  That is what will impact upon an election campaign…..what will be interesting in this forthcoming campaign is which bloggers, Left or Right, will generate stories that will reach national media coverage….and impact on the election campaign….maybe influence the result!

So there is much chatter that Gordon Brown will announce this weekend the date of the General Election….and he wants it sooner rather than later. Iain Dale is getting quite excited by it.

Are we really witnessing the final days of Gordon Brown’s Government…….we can but hope…….

Reading through the Daily Mail today, I was rather perturbed to read the Ephraim Hardcastle column and this entry:

“Overtly gay Tory blogger Iain Dale has reached the final stage of parliamentary selection for Bracknell, telling PinkNews: ‘I hope any PinkNews readers who live in Bracknell will come to the open primary on October 17 to select their new candidate.  You don’t even have to be a Conservative to attend.’  Isn’t it charming how homosexuals rally like-minded chaps to their cause?”

Any way which you cut this, it is a deeply offensive slur on Iain Dale and is homophobic.  Why do some journalists feel compelled to have to raise Iain’s sexuality when they discuss him.  It gets tiresome and I for one am sick of pathetic homophobic jibes.

The language is poor.  What makes Iain ‘overtly gay’.  What does that mean?  Vile.  The last phrase is the poorest and for any journalist to write, ‘isn’t it charming how homosexuals rally like-minded chaps to their cause?’ , is plunging journalism to new depths.

Iain gives his views here.  The strength of feeling shows with over 185 comments to his blog.  Iain has written to the Press Complaints Commission.

Let’s hope the Daily Mail apologises to Iain and never again repeats this homophobic language.  Poor show.  It is offensive to all in society to read such base journalism.

I have a lot of time for Iain.  It is obvious he is highly respected in the Westminster village, from all sides of the House.  His passion for politics is infectious.  I visit his blog daily, on a frequent basis and am impressed by his perception and how he makes politics interesting for all.

I sincerely wish him all the best in Bracknell.  I don’t know the other candidates, have only heard good things about the quality of the shortlist, but one things for certain, as I have said before, the House of Commons needs thinkers like Iain Dale.

John Prescott has just posted this image for his Facebook fans.  It is a response to Eric Pickles Tory T-Shirt Competition.    As you can see it features Iain Dale, (looking trim and tanned there Iain!), with the t-shirt slogan, ‘I’m with Stupid’, with a road sign arrow pointing up at Iain’s face.

This really demonstrates to me that we are in for one hell of a negative campaign from Labour.  This is a former Deputy Prime Minister delving into the gutter to gain cheap laughs by rude,  juventile attacks on a much loved blogger.  This was a personal attack and offensive to modern politics. 

Prescott should be shamed at such smear tactics.

Even one of his supporters, wrote on Prescott’s Facebook page:  James Delargy:  ‘JP – it’s funny – but childish and negative! Go forth should be a positive debate … look up my surname you’ll see my family of MPs and councillors are as red as red can be! Mud slinging isn’t the answer to getting votes, mate! Remember the Tory’s devil eyes campaign? That disgusted me beyond words – please stick to what you’re going to do and leave the infantile stuff to the others’!

Iain, if you are reading this, at least that Prescott sees you as a threat.

McBride and Draper may be gone but the principles of smear and gutter politics remain in the veins of the Labour Leadership and grandees.  Disgusting!

Boris marches at London Gay Pride

This years Conservative Party Conference in October, will for the first time, include a ‘gay pride’ social event, hosted by Iain Dale called ‘Conservative Pride’  This is absolutely terrific news.

I am so pleased that this party has been set up as it really demonstrates the Conservative Party becoming more inclusive.  Gay activists/candidates/supporters and Gay voters should have a natural home within the Conservative Party.  As a Party that cherishes individual liberty, old guard Tories perceptions are being replaced by younger Conservatives who embrace an open society where people are left to do what they choose.   Some of the old guard’s views have been a source of an embarrassment for years for the majority in the Party.  Good for David Cameron now championing gay rights.  There is lots to do to end prejudices in society but the needle is heading in the right direction and Conservatives should lead the way.

For those attending the Conference I suggest that you get a ticket as this sounds like THE Party to be at on Tuesday!

‘Conservative Pride’ will take place at Spirit Bar (Canal Street) situated in the heart of the world famous Manchester Gay Village.  The event is on Tuesday 6 October from 21.30 to 03.30.

Conservatives’ web site states:  ‘This high profile event is expected to draw over 700 guests who’ll party the night away with surprise special guests and a senior Shadow Cabinet member speaking at the event’.

The Night:

• Angie Brown performing live
• Co-hosted by Iain Dale and Margot James
• Cocktails on arrival
• Funky house floor
• Pop floor
• Celebrity hosts and auction sponsored by Harvey Nichols and others

Ticket Sales: £15.00 admission.

To book your tickets to this exciting new event please complete the Conference Pride Ticket Form.

Tory Gay Pride Logo

The Conservative Conference this year promises to be a great one.  Hope to see you all there.

The Daily Telegraph screamed this morning, ‘Cameron to bring back Tory old guard’.  (Read the article here: http://tiny.cc/qZTtJ).  The Telegraph claims that Cameron wants to ensure that the Conservative Party, if it wins the next election, has plenty of experience to help the new Government hit the ground running.  As part of this Cameron is allegedly offering an olive branch to the party’s old guard after the turmoil of the expenses scandal, (some of the old guard were deemed to have been treated harsher than some of the front bench / new MP’s).

Now we come to the interesting part.  Names so far touted include for a return to a Senior Government role include….Peter Lilley, Stephen Dorrell, James Arbuthnot and George Young.

Iain Dale in his review of the big beasts of the jungle returning, throws up the name of David Davis and asks whether he would get a role on the Front Bench.  http://tiny.cc/IIlnB

The one man that needs to be in the frame is that of John Redwood.  After the next election Conservatives will be facing one hell of an economic mess.  An obscene public deficit, hard decision to take on public spending, unemployment above 3 million, falling GDP … and so on.  Key to tackling this economic misery will be calm, clear and experienced heads.  Osborne has laid a clear path forward but he will need the support of wise thinkers who know the delaying tactics that the Civil Service employs in launching new policy initiatives and making changes.  John Redwood has been there, done that and signed the t-shirt.  Cutting spending and getting value will be critical in the next Parliament and Redwood demonstrated his skills in this area in 1995 when he returned £100,000,000 of Wales’ block grant to the UK treasury unspent following efficiency savings and cost-cutting measures.  Unheard of…and something a Labour Minister would never do.  We need that skill and leadership in seeking efficiencies urgently today. 

Redwood has that fine quality of being a respected thinker and someone who can be trusted to deliver, (he was Head of Margaret Thatcher’s Policy Unity in the early to mid 1980’s).  Whilst we talk of the experience of the names above, like Iain Dale, I thought Stephen Dorrell had stood down from Parliament.  Dorrell has added no value to the Party in the past Parliament and has spoken very rarely.  Redwood on the other hand is a ferocious contributor to Parliamentary life, be it speaking in the Chamber, Chairing the Conservative Party’s Policy Review Group on Economic Competitiveness and as we know sharing his views and new ideas via his daily diary. 

If we talk experience, Redwood has held Cabinet rank as a former Secretary of State for Wales, (1993 – 1995).  His Ministerial experience includes time as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Corporate Affairs at the DTI in 1989, the following year he was promoted to Minister of State.  Redwood became Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities after the 1992 General Election where he successfully saw through the abolition of the then called ‘Poll Tax’ aka the Community Charge.  In Opposition he has been Shadow Secretary of State for Trade & Industry, Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport & the Regions and Spokesperson on Deregulation.  That experience is precious.

When we look the create the strongest team for the Conservatives, don’t ignore the man Redwood, the nation needs his experience & vision.

John Redwood is a gifted politician.  Far more gifted than many of his peers who surround him on the Green benches of the House of Commons.  In many ways, if John possessed sharper powers of oratory and was able to project a ‘warmer’ more ‘media friendly’ personable character, he would have no doubt been a leader of the Conservative Party.  Absolutely no doubt.  He has one of the finest minds in world of politics and those who read his blog each day will attest to his brilliance and ability to innovate with sharp, astute, new political ideas and agendas.

With the news today that John Blundell, the IEA’s Director General and Ralph Harris Fellow will as of 31st December 2009 resign both positions to become the Institute’s Distinguished Senior Fellow, there is a vacant position.  Iain Dale broke the story earlier today.  http://tinyurl.com/mf4nwm (take a look).  Iain Dale stated, (and was quoted on the IEA site), ‘The IEA is an integral part of the right of centre think tank world and Blundell’s successor will need to be chosen very carefully indeed. The think tank is absolutely crucial in promulgating the ideas of free markets in a liberal society. John Blundell has made a huge contribution to the rise of the intellectual right over the years and I wish him well in his future writing’.  (Hat tip to Iain Dale).

Given the choice of candidates, of which there are many, one stands out head and shoulders…..John Redwood.  He has the intellectual ability to ensure that the IEA remains on the cutting edge and he also has a keen political antenna, that will ensure the IEA remains political acute to the needs of the people who want to be free and left to get on with their lives in a free society that encourages entrepreneurs, not inhibits them.  TBB has no doubts that Redwood would restore the glory days back to the IEA, so much so I felt compelled to write to John tonight…….

I have sent John the following email tonight………..I will let you know what response is forthcoming……

Hello John

I hope that you take time out of your busy schedule to consider leading the IEA.

Many of us Conservatives would value your steer at the helm of the leading right-wing think tank.

Best regards

TrueBlueBlood

UPDATE: 

John Redwood replied last night, (very speedy response), and was grateful for the kind words, expressed his thanks but he could not see how he could fit in the role of Director General for the IEA with his main role of MP for Wokingham.