The British blogosphere loses it's blogfather Iain Dale

Wow - I didn't see that one coming.  I am not one of Iain Dale's greatest fans, we had a small argument online years ago and ever since he does not flatter me or my blog with comments or links despite him then linking to someone else who covers my story after I do - but hey, life goes on.

I will despite this however miss Iain on the blogosphere and am relieved he will still be in the political arena, he has a lot to offer.

His reasons for giving up seem very sincere and certainly I can relate to many of them.  I was a little surprised that he didn't mention his partner in the long list, because the hours Iain is working must also have an impact on their relationship.

The fact Iain never made it into the House of Commons was also quite sad, and it appears that he has parked that ambition for now, but as he says on his blog today;

I'm running a very successful publishing company which is, I believe, on the brink of great success. I've achieved a lifetime's ambition of having my own daily radio talk show. I am not about to put either of those things at risk.

Iain explains in great detail why he has stopped blogging HERE.

So, goodbye for now Iain, we await your new website and the blog posts however intermittent they are.

William Hague's special adviser Christopher Myers quits

Guido Fawkes ran a story yesterday,  Exclusive: Hague Shared Night in Hotel Bedroom with SpAd on his blog just yesterday.

Hours later Guido then ran this follow up story, FCO Says Hague/Myers Relationship Professional.

Then first thing this morning Iain Dale posted this story on his blog, Guido Fawkes Should Cease & Desist.

I wasn't going to say anything about this for fear of breathing new life into the story, but I can't stay silent any longer. However, I'll keep it brief.

The campaign against William Hague on the Guido Fawkes blog is nothing short of reprehensible. The lies, smears and innuendo are pathetic.

Then this afternoon William Hague's Special Adviser, Christopher Myers resigned.

Hours later William Hague issued this very personal statement:

“I feel it is necessary to issue this personal statement in response to press and internet speculation over the last ten days. Earlier this year a Sunday newspaper began questioning whether my marriage to Ffion was in trouble, and last week another media outlet asked whether there was a statement about our supposed separation. This seemed to be linked to equally untrue speculation surrounding the appointment of Christopher Myers as a Special Adviser. Christopher Myers has demonstrated commitment and political talent over the last eighteen months. He is easily qualified for the job he holds. Any suggestion that his appointment was due to an improper relationship between us is utterly false, as is any suggestion that I have ever been involved in a relationship with any man.

This speculation seems to stem from the fact that whilst campaigning before the election we occasionally shared twin hotel rooms. Neither of us would have done so if we had thought that it in any way meant or implied something else. In hindsight I should have given greater consideration to what might have been made of that, but this is in itself no justification for allegations of this kind, which are untrue and deeply distressing to me, to Ffion and to Christopher.

He has now told me that, as a result of the pressure on his family from the untrue and malicious allegations made about him, he does not wish to continue in his position. It is a pity that a talented individual should feel that he needs to leave his job in this way. Ffion and I believe that everyone has a right to a private life.

However, we now feel it necessary to give some background to our marriage because we have had enough of this continued and hurtful speculation about us. I have made no secret of the fact that Ffion and I would love to start a family. For many years this has been our goal. Sadly this has proved more difficult for us than for most couples. We have encountered many difficulties and suffered multiple miscarriages, and indeed are still grieving for the loss of a pregnancy this summer. We are aware that the stress of infertility can often strain a marriage, but in our case, thankfully, it has only brought us closer together.

It has been an immensely traumatic and painful experience but our marriage is strong and we will face whatever the future brings together. Several years ago one Sunday paper reported that Ffion was three months pregnant, without ever checking the story with us. This made even more difficult the fact that we had only just experienced another disappointment. We have never made this information public because of the distress it would cause to our families and would not do so now were it not for the untrue rumours circulating which repeatedly call our marriage into question. We wish everyone to know that we are very happily married.

It is very regrettable to have to make this personal statement, but we have often said to each other ‘if only they knew the truth…’ Well, this is the straightforward truth. I will not be making any further comment on these matters.”

The final word then goes to Iain Dale who wrote this post - A Bleak Day For Political Blogging.

UPDATE 07:12am 2nd September
This morning I spotted on my blogroll a posting from Norfolk Blogger titled Stunning hypocrisy from William Hague?

"Now today William Hague has released a statement making clear that false allegations made against him are untrue and have no basis in fact. This must be very upsetting for William Hague. So why won't William Hague or his department do the same for Craig Murray and clear his name?"

Although William Hague isn't responsible for what happened to Craig Murray, he could actually have responded himself to Craig's letter and therefore ensure people are aware that Craig Murray has been cleared of all charges and draw a line under this episode of Craig's life, allowing him to move on.

UPDATE 07:34am 2nd September
A great post by Stephen Tall on Lib Dem Voice called Half a defence of Paul Staines (aka Guido Fawkes), this is seriously worth a read.  Some very good points put by Stephen that make you sit up and look again.

Total Politics Best Blog Poll 2010: vote now!

It's that time of year again, when Total Politics asks you to vote for your Top 10 favourite blogs. This is the fifth year of the poll. The votes will be compiled and included in the forthcoming book, the Total Politics Guide to Blogging 2010-11, which will be published in September. For the second year running, the poll is being promoted/sponsored by LabourList, LibDemVoice and Iain Dale's Diary.

The rules are simple.

1. You must vote for your ten favourite blogs and ranks them from 1 (your favourite) to 10 (your tenth favourite).

2. Your votes must be ranked from 1 to 10. Any votes which do not have rankings will not be counted.

3. You MUST include at least FIVE blogs in your list, but please list ten if you can. If you include fewer than five, your vote will not count.

4. Email your vote to toptenblogs@totalpolitics.com

5. Only vote once.

6. Only blogs based in the UK, run by UK residents or based on UK politics are eligible. No blog will be excluded from voting.

7. Anonymous votes left in the comments will not count. You must give a name

8. All votes must be received by midnight on 31 July 2010. Any votes received after that date will not count.

Now, I would be honoured if you chose to nominate my little blog as you did last year.

Nick Griffin claims BNP are more gay friendly but finds gays "creepy"

Over on Pink News, they are covering Iain Dale's interview with Nick Griffin for Total Politics (no it isn't an Iain Dale and Pink News love fest).

So, the new gay friendly BNP want to ban civil partnerships, only allow gay couples to adopt if the childrens homes are full and wants to ban the promotion of homosexuality in schools.

So, the BNP want to follow the Conservative lead and introduce it's own Section 28?

Nick Griffin said this of homosexuality itself;

"It's unfamiliar, it’s odd and I’m afraid it is creepy. Grown men kissing in public is creepy to most people. You don’t often see it but if you do see it, it’s not a matter of homophobia, it’s odd and you have to explain it to little kids and so on – that’s strange."

Everyone else manages to explain these things okay, you can just say they love each other, isn't that enough?

he said: "Marriage is only between a man and a women and ideally with kids."

He then went onto explain;

it was "better if two gay men are in a stable relationship rather than cottaging all over the place"

Oh Mr Griffin, if only.  Honestly, what a pathetic statement to make.

On gay adoption, he said that he would be "inclined to agree" with gay couples adopting, but only "if we reach the stage where there are so many children in children’s homes that you run out of would-be adopted ideal families".

So, that is Mr Griffin, leader of the right wing BNP party explaining how his party is gay friendly.

What a load of round shaped spheres, with brass tacks on.  Your party is as homophobic now as it ever has been.

Right wing homophobic newspaper strikes again

I am a Liberal Democrat, through and through not a Tory, never have been and never will be.

I have never met with Iain Dale but I do have some respect for him as a blogger, footie fan and a political campaigner.

I am gay though (and bloody proud of it), and when I see sheer open homophobic comments like this by Ephraim Hardcastle in the Daily Mail I get angry.

"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?"

Firstly, Iain Dale has pushed and advertised all three of the Tory primaries - Totnes, Bedford and now Bracknell. So Ephraim you are out of touch and bloody awful at research because a quick search on Iain's blog would have shown you that very answer.

Any candidate, of any party if like Iain are high profile and are asked to do an interview they are going to promote their candidacy. I also thought the line "overtly gay" really has nothing to do with him standing as the candidate for Bracknell.

When a job is advertised the candidates are then interviewed on their suitability for the job, not on what they do outside of work. So what the hell has Iain being gay got to do with the Bracknell primary which is seeking to select the Conservative candidate to fight the general election to become the MP?

I am gay but Ephraim sorry to disappoint but I won't be attending the Bracknell primary and guess what every gay person I know has their own mind and just because we read a line in a gay or other publication by a gay person doesn't mean we will act as lemmings and follow.

Total Politics - September edition

I've resisted the urge up to now to purchase a copy of Total Politics, but today not only did I give in but have been pleasantly surprised.

Not only did I learn that Hugh O'Donnell MSP has a love for Tai Chi, but that he also is a purple belt in karate.

There's a great article by Andrew Hawkins - illuminating a dark art - a piece on polls.

A good piece by Jon Craig whom I've now met at various by-elections, well worth reading.

Then the interview by Iain Dale of Ann Widdecombe, a well written piece but the sad line in it for me was this one - "I came into this place as a Member of Parliament, I leave it as an employee of the House of Commons."

If Ann really feels like that, then that's a massive shame if that's where we've ended up after all that's happened with the expenses scandal.

This is followed by an article on bullying and I'm appalled at this, I recall reading Emma Nicholson's book when she defected to the Liberal Democrats and thinking I hate this and want to help.

Not Emma, per se but that was the moment that I finally joined the Liberal Democrats rather than just helping.

But here we are 12 years on, and the bullying goes on - shame on those bullies.

Then, because I don't want to spoil all the fun a small summary of what else is covered; eateries of politicians, Menzies Campbell and the commemorative banner, election law, a blogger profile and the best of the blogs and much, much more.

I can't not comment on the article about the General Election in Scotland - a four way fight. Katy Gordon our Lib Dem candidate is described as a "face to watch", "Fred Mackintosh has a much better chance of taking Edinburgh South from Labour than the Tories do", "and they ; are not much further behind on the other side of the City at North and Leith" and "Last time the Lib Dems also finished just over 1000 votes behind Anne Begg in Aberdeen South."

Just one point they got wrong in the article, the Liberal Democrats have 12 MPs in Scotland, how could you forget Willie Rennie and the stunning by-election victory in Dunfermline and West Fife.

Overall a good read and worth picking up every month!

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Total Politics and Iain Dale - the top 30 blogging MPs

So, another day, another list from Total Politics, in association with Iain Dale.

Although I am hooked, and ready to order my copy of the Total Politics Guide to Political Blogging.

So, here is the list of the top 30 MPs blogs as voted for by more than 1,500 people who took part and voted in the Total Politics Annual blog poll.

Well done to Lynne Featherstone MP (8), Willie Rennie MP (11), John Hemming MP (15), Steve Webb MP (17), Nick Clegg MP (18), John Barrett MP (22) and Adrian Sanders MP (25) for all getting onto the list this year.

A big congratulations to Tom Harris MP for getting the number one slot.

Congratulations to Cllr Fraser MacPherson

In Scotland there aren't enough Lib Dem bloggers as of this point in time, however what we lack in quantity we well make up for in quality.

So, a well deserved congratulations goes to Councillor Fraser MacPherson of Dundee City Council who is the leading Liberal Democrat on the Total Politics/Iain Dale's list of the top 30 blogging Councillors in the UK.

Fraser held his own and maintained the honourable 16th place he first secured last year.

Fraser is about to start themed weeks on his blog, and it is well worth going and having a look.

Vote: Your top ten best political blogs

Email your ten favourite blogs (ranked from 1-10) to toptenblogs@totalpolitics.com

It's that time of year again, when Total Politics asks you to vote for your Top 10 favourite blogs. The votes will be compiled and included in the forthcoming book, the Total Politics Guide to Blogging 2009-10, which will be published in September. This year the poll is being promoted/sponsored by LabourList and LibDemVoice as well as Iain Dale.

The rules are simple.

1. You must vote for your ten favourite blogs and ranks them from 1 (your favourite) to 10 (your tenth favourite).
2. Your votes must be ranked from 1 to 10. Any votes which do not have rankings will not be counted.
3. You MUST include ten blogs. If you include fewer than ten your vote will not count.
2. Email your vote to toptenblogs@totalpolitics.com
3. Only vote once.
4. Only blogs based in the UK, run by UK residents are eligible or based on UK politics are eligible.
5. Anonymous votes left in the comments will not count. You must give a name
6. All votes must be received by midnight on 31 July 2009. Any votes received after that date will not count.

If you have your own blog, please do encourage your readers to take part. Last year, more than 80 blogs did so. We hope this year it will be far more than that. BUT, DO NOT list ten blogs you think your readers should vote for. Any duplicate voting of this nature will be disallowed.

If you do not wish for your blog to be voted for please email katy.scholes@totalpolitics.com.

There are many ways of measuring a blog's popularity. Wikio and Technorati have complicated logarithms which measure the importance of incoming links and traffic. Google Analytics does it by measuring how many people visit. But the TP poll gives blog readers the opportunity to vote for the ones they like and visit most often. It's not scientific. It's impossible to achieve 100% balance and no one pretends it's perfect.

The results of the poll will be published in the forthcoming book the TOTAL POLITICS GUIDE TO POLITICAL BLOGGING IN THE UK which will be published in mid September in association with APCO Worldwide.

So, go to it. Email your Top Ten Favourite Blogs to toptenblogs@totalpolitics.com

And feel free to nominate my blog, I really don't mind :-)

My blog makes it onto another stat chart

I never really thought my blog would get read by quite as many people as it does, not just politically but just the every day stuff.

So, I get quite excited when it makes it onto things like Iain Dale's top 40 Scottish blogs (in at number 36), and then when it gets a mention in the Scottish round up, but today I finally made it, when I made it onto Will Howells blog - No Geek is an Island - because if it wasn't for Will I wouldn't be blogging.

Will set my blog up - so Will, thank you and I can take my little bit of credit for those folk who go to Will's blog from mine.

Lloyds TSB bank charges - £60,000 per week

Iain Dale has reported a fantastic story today about Andy Hornby (former HBOS boss) who was giving evidence to the Treasury Select Committee.

He is now a consultant with Lloyds TSB, paid a mere £60,000 per week - yes per week!

Well done to Iain Dale for raising it.

Me, I am just one of the mugs that is a Lloyds TSB customer, why should I continue - anyone from Lloyds TSB want to advise me why?

Fame - again of a sort!

Iain Dale's Diary: Ten New Blogs#links

Blimey - I made it onto Iain Dale's Top 40

Okay, I know, it is only the top 40 Scottish blogs as voted for by real people.

http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2008/08/top-40-scottish-blogs.html#links

So, my own bit of fame, so I better get slightly more political again.