Blog
Speeding on the A20: Case Dismissed!
- 20 Jan 2025
On 29 January 2024 I was accused of speeding on the A20 dual carriageway heading out to the M25. It's a road I know well, and I am well acquainted with the speed limit. I also knew that in the earlier stretch the limit had been reduced 50 to 40, but was not aware that the stre...
Why Is Keir Starmer So Bad at Politics?
- 19 Jan 2025
This article first appeared in the the ipaper Feeling sorry for politicians is about the worst thing that can happen to them, but – and call me old-fashioned – even I have started to feel sorry for the flailing Keir Starmer. The poor chap has earnt the epithet “beleaguer...
My Predictions for 2025 (And Did I Get Many Right for 2024?)
- 2 Jan 2025
Here were my predictions for 2024.... 1. The general election will take place in November or early December WRONG 2. Labour will win a majority of between 30 and 60 seats WRONG 3. The LibDems more than double their seats RIGHT 4, Neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden ...
The Honours List is Full of Undeserving Failures
- 31 Dec 2024
This article first appeared in the iNewspaper Our honours system is one of our great British institutions, yet if it is to survive in a meaningful way it needs to retain the respect and interest of all of us. Unfortunately, it continues to be devalued by the award of hon...
Jimmy Carter: A Tribute by Lord Owen
- 29 Dec 2024
This is the essay David Owen wrote for THE PRESIDENTS in 2021. I thought it should have a wider audience after his death was announced at the age of 100. On 3 November 1976 Jimmy Carter beat President Gerald Ford in the electoral college by 57 votes and i...
2024 Was Not a Good Year For Me
- 24 Dec 2024
This article first appeared in the iNewpaper. Like many others, I won’t be looking back on 2024 as a year which was anything other than one to forget. Being a Cancerian I always like to evaluate whether a year has been good, bad or indifferent. For me, there are few cons...
Wishing Everyone a Happy Christmas
- 22 Dec 2024
I’m working all over Christmas at LBC. In fact I only have one day off next Saturday. So do join me all this week and Sunday from 10am-1pm. You can even listen on Christmas morning while you peel your sprouts! And if any of you fancy ringing in, do not resist temptati...
Memories of the 1979 General Election Campaign
- 22 Dec 2024
I stumbled across an old file from Total Politics days with recollections of various politicos of the 1979 general election campaign, which some of you might find of interest... Julia Langdon I spent most of the 1979 election campaign in a state of mild terror. The ...
What Does Nick Candy's Appointment as Treasurer Mean for Reform UK?
- 18 Dec 2024
This arrticle first appeared in the i Newspaper. To survive and thrive as a political party and ultimately to achieve power, you need four things: charismatic politicians, a professional party organisation, money and, of course, votes. At Reform UK’s party conferenc...
It's a Disgrace That Nigel Farage Has to Live in Fear
- 17 Dec 2024
This article first appeared in the iNewspaper. A justice system only works if it is respected by the people it affects and is seen to be fair. By and large, British justice is revered around the world and is free of the political interference we see in many other countri...
Can Angela Rayner Really Build Enough Houses?
- 8 Dec 2024
It seems hard to believe that Labour’s first five months in power have been so dispiriting. They came into government with bellows of goodwill behind them. Now not only have they resembled the shambles that preceded them, but the green shoots of economic growth have been st...
From 'THE DICTATORS: The Real Bashar Al Assad by Brooks Newmark
- 8 Dec 2024
Given current events in Syria, I thought it might be a good idea to post Brooks Newmark's essay from THE DICTATORS here. Brooks actually met Assad several times and has a unique insight into him. You can order a signed copy of THE DICTATORS here. Bashar al-Assad Sy...
Booking.com - Never Again
- 1 Dec 2024
You know how I like to tell you about my customer service experiences, both good and bad. On Thursday I was asked to stand in for Lewis Goodall this morning on LBC. I always like doing the Sunday morning slot, so I was happy to do it, but I explained that I was speaking in ...
Is the Church Really to Blame for our Obesity Crisis?
- 1 Dec 2024
There’s nothing like kicking a man when he’s down, is there? Having resigned as Archbishop of Canterbury for his handling of child abuse claims, Justin Welby (and other religious leaders) now stands accused of being responsible for Britain’s growing obesity epidemic. Yes, you ...
Some Reflections on Leaving Norfolk
- 24 Nov 2024
We’ve just spent our last night at our Norfolk house. I sit here in the rather bare vaulted sitting room typing this on the red sofa, with faithful Dude by my side. My friend Dan is on his way up in a huge can to collect the rest of our furniture and belongings. In a few hours...
The Story Behind my Gall Bladder Removal
- 23 Nov 2024
This is an interview I did for the Benenden Hospital website HERE. LBC Broadcaster and author Iain Dale had a gallbladder removal at Benenden Hospital on 6 September after using his private health cover to reduce his 18-week wait time. "As I speak now on 22 October, I fe...
Breakfast is the hardest show in radio – I understand why Zoe Ball has quit
- 22 Nov 2024
This article first appeared in the iNewspaper on Wednsday 20 November One of the miracles of the modern media world is that not only did the advent of TV and video not kill off radio, nor has the advent of the internet and podcasts. Yes, radio has changed, and what we used ...
I Understand Why Zoe Ball Has Quit
- 19 Nov 2024
This article first appeared in the iNewspaper One of the miracles of the modern media world is that not only did TV and video not kill off radio, nor has the advent of the internet and podcasts. Yes, radio has changed, and what we used to know as local radio has all but bee...
The Archbishop of Canterbury's Fatal Character Flaw
- 17 Nov 2024
This article first appeared in the iNewspaper. Watching a wounded animal in its death throes is never an edifying experience, and that is exactly how it’s felt observing the Archbishop of Canterbury failing to recognise, until now, that he was stipendiary toast, that his po...
How Not to Appeal to 'Working People'
- 1 Nov 2024
It’s almost as if on 5 July Labour strategists had sat down and discussed with each other how they could offend the largest number of people in the shortest possible time. First, it was the nine million pensioners who will be losing their winter fuel allowance, worth up to ...