Roger Bird Could Be UKIP's Olly Grender
- 23 Dec 2014
I feel very sorry for Roger Bird. Despite being found innocent of any wrongdoing in the UKIP inquiry, he’s had his character traduced in the media by someone who has clearly displayed fantasist tendencies. And even though he has been found innocent he and UKIP have mutually a...
General Election Predictions 5: Hertfordshire
- 23 Dec 2014
This is the fifth in a series of blogposts (scroll down for the others) which will seek to predict the outcome of every seat in the run-up to the next general election. The notion of a universal swing in May 2015 can be totally discounted. Each seat has to be treated on its me...
I Really Wanted to Like the US 'House of Cards' But I Don't
- 22 Dec 2014
Ok, I’m late to the party. I meant to watch House of Cards when it was shown on Sky Atlantic, but somehow didn’t. I’ve had the DVD on my shelf for two years but somehow it’s always been overtaken by something else – Covert Affairs, 24 and others. Anyway, a couple of nights ag...
General Election Predictions 4: Cambridgeshire
- 22 Dec 2014
This is the fourth in a series of blogposts (scroll down for the others) which will seek to predict the outcome of every seat in the run-up to the next general election. The notion of a universal swing in May 2015 can be totally discounted. Each seat has to be treated on its m...
General Election Predictions 3: Suffolk
- 21 Dec 2014
This is the third in a series of blogposts which will seek to predict the outcome of every seat in the run-up to the next general election. The notion of a universal swing in May 2015 can be totally discounted. Each seat has to be treated on its merits. I’m starting off by try...
My 100 Favourite Tweeters of 2014
- 21 Dec 2014
Each new year I do a list of people whose tweets I have most enjoyed during the previous 12 months. I follow about 1600 people on Twitter but these are the ones who have entertained, informed, educated, annoyed and, most of all, made me laugh most this year. So here are my Top...
Kerry Smith Speaks Out - UKIP Candidate Unrepentant About 'Chinky' Comments
- 20 Dec 2014
Yesterday evening I was conducting a phonein on whether women should be able to serve on the frontline in the infantry when I was told that after the 5.15 news and travel I’d be interviewing Kerry Smith, the former UKIP candidate for South Basildon & East Thurrock. Earlier...
Knackered, Unfit & Overweight - Something Needs to Change in 2015
- 19 Dec 2014
Another year’s work complete. Now for two weeks off, and I can’t pretend I don’t need them. Basically, I’m knackered. I remember last Christmas, it wasn’t until I went back on the radio in the new year that I realised how tired I had got in the runup to Christmas. I have tried...
Why I am Jealous of Mehdi Hasan
- 19 Dec 2014
Mehdi Hasan is someone who most people on the right love to hate. Opinionated, clever, robust and on the left, he has moved from being a talented writer to a brilliant broadcaster on Al Jazeera. It has just been announced that he is leaving the Huffington Post to take up a ful...
Rory Bremner is the New Host of the Political Book Awards
- 19 Dec 2014
Choosing a host for the next year’s Political Book Awards has been a very tortuous process. For the first two years of this event, which takes place at the IMAX on the South Bank each year, we have used the wonderful Gyles Brandreth, and he has been superb. He’s funny, risqué ...
What Do You Give Jacqui Smith For Christmas?
- 18 Dec 2014
On Wednesday I did my fortnightly Sky News paper review with Jacqui Smith. A couple of Christmases ago, live on TV, I pulled out a sprig of mistletoe and gave her a smacker. (The evidence is here. Well it’s best not to revisit the scene of a crime so this year I thought I’d g...
General Election Predictions 2: Norfolk
- 15 Dec 2014
This is the second in a series of blogposts which will seek to predict the outcome of every seat in the run-up to the next general election. The notion of a universal swing in May 2015 can be totally discounted. Each seat has to be treated on its merits. I’m starting off by tr...
General Election Predictions 1: Essex
- 14 Dec 2014
This is the first in a series of blogposts which will seek to predict the outcome of every seat in the run-up to the next general election. The notion of a universal swing in May 2015 can be totally discounted. Each seat has to be treated on its merits. I’m starting off by try...
Keir Starmer Will Be a Good Addition to Labour's Ranks
- 14 Dec 2014
The selection of Keir Starmer as Labour’s candidate to succeed Frank Dobson in Holborn & St Pancras is perhaps the least surprising choice since Caligula chose his horse to be a senator (Or is that the other way around?). He pulled through despite being up against some ve...
EXCLUSIVE: Paul Sykes to Cease Funding UKIP
- 12 Dec 2014
I understand that millionaire UKIP donor Paul Sykes has ceased his funding of the party. A source close to the Yorkshire based businessman says that Mr Sykes doesn’t feel it right that the so-called “people’s party” is funded by a couple of millionaires. Mr Sykes paid for UKI...
ConHome Diary: Why is Shagging So Popular In Politics?
- 12 Dec 2014
I’ve never quite worked out why it is that people in politics tend to indulge in inter-political shagging in a way that just doesn’t happen in other sectors. At least, I don’t think it does. Certainly publishing and radio are chaste by comparison. Or maybe it’s just that I’m i...
In Praise of Alistair Griffin
- 10 Dec 2014
Alistair Griffin ought to be a household name if singing and songwriting talented counted for anything in today’s music business. He first came to national attention when he came second to Alex Parks in the second series of ‘Fame Academy’. More recently his song ‘Just Drive’ w...
Goodbye 'Gobby'!
- 7 Dec 2014
As Paul Lambert leaves the BBC to become Nigel Farage’s Director of Communications, here’s why he got the nickname ‘Gobby’. Follow him on Twitter at @westminstergoby.
ConHome Diary: The Extradordinary Vince Cable & Snubbing Russell Brand
- 5 Dec 2014
Appearing on The Andrew Marr Show is always fun, and so it was last Sunday. The previous time I reviewed the papers on it, earlier in the year, my co-reviewer was the actress Sheila Hancock. Suffice it to says that we didn’t get on. Last Sunday, my paper reviewing partner was...
Mango Groove Coming to London!
- 30 Nov 2014
I had some brilliant news yesterday. Mango Groove are coming to London to play a concert at the Hammersmith Apollo on Saturday 7 March 2015. So who are Mango Groove, I hear you asking. Well, they are probably the best band South Africa has ever produced. I first got to know t...