Roger Lewis: "Lezzos all have big chins ... And Iain Dale is a C**t"
- 21 Aug 2014
Remember THIS blogpost from a week ago when I revealed I had decided to withdraw a book publishing contract from a man called Roger Lewis because of a homophobic review he had written for The Spectator? Just to remind you what he wrote in a review of a biography of Dusty Spri...
Attitude Column: Vanity, Vanity, All Is Vanity
- 20 Aug 2014
OK, I admit it. I am as vain as the next man. And let’s face it, nowadays men are probably just as vain as women, and in many cases even more so. Whether it’s about our hair, skin, beard trim, or the way our pubes look, we care. Not just care, but care obsessively in many case...
The BBC's 'Ting Tong' Hypocrisy - I Won't Defend Janice Atkinson But the BBC Need to Answer Questions
- 19 Aug 2014
Well I never thought I’d see the day when I’d feel sorry for Janice Atkinson. And it still hasn’t happened. However, the hypocrisy of the BBC never ceases to amaze. Yesterday BBC South East were outraged, outraged I tell you, by UKIP MEP Janice Atkinson calling the Thai wif...
This Is What I Wrote About Julian Assange 4 Years Ago ... Every Word Of it Remains True Today
- 18 Aug 2014
Four 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. An...
ConHome Diary: Shazbot & Why Mark Simmonds is a Moron
- 15 Aug 2014
Every summer it’s the same. David Cameron disappears on holiday and Nick Clegg then does the same. Do their diary secretaries not talk to each other? The clue is in Clegg’s job title of Deputy Prime Minister. When the PM is away he should deputise. But he never does, because h...
Biteback withdraws book offer to author following 'homophobic' review
- 14 Aug 2014
From Bookbrunch by Liz Thomson Biteback has withdrawn the offer of a book contract to Roger Lewis following a homophobic review of a Robson Press [Biteback’s sister imprint] title on the late Dusty Springfield. Writing in the Spectator, Lewis began: “Call me a crazy old ph...
A Tribute to Katy Scholes
- 9 Aug 2014
No, she hasn’t died, but she has left Biteback after five years, and we are all very sad. However, she has got a brilliant new job on Adam Boulton’s programme at Sky News and we all wish her well. I am convinced that within five years I will hear the phrase “This is Katy Schol...
ConHome Diary: I am Proud to Be a Zionist (If It Means What I Think It Means)
- 8 Aug 2014
I’ve spent much of the last month being accused on my radio show of being pro-Zionist. It seems there are as many definitions of that word as there are types of baked bean. If it means supporting the right of Israel to exist and defend itself, then I happily plead guilty. The ...
ConHome Diary: Call Ed Miliband!
- 1 Aug 2014
On Monday night Newsnight had an interesting report from their Policy Editor Christopher Cook about an idea from David Willetts to allow universities to take over the student loan book of their students. David Willetts then appeared in the studio and was grilled by Kirsty Wark...
ConHome Diary: Clegg Has the Leadership Style of a Jellyfish
- 25 Jul 2014
The appointment of Chris Wilkins as special advisor to Nicky Morgan is a very welcome one. I worked with Chris for six months when David Davis was running for Tory leader in 2005 and have huge respect for him. He’s quiet, measured, thoughtful and full of wise advice. It’s almo...
ConHome Diary: There is another story I could have written, isn’t there Prime Minister?!
- 20 Jul 2014
Yesterday’s Times Diary carried a bit of a bombshell. According to them Lord Ashcroft is keen for me to stand for London Mayor in 2016. So keen in fact that he has never mentioned it to me. Boris says being London mayor is the best job in British politics, so good in fact that...
Iain Dale For, Er, Mayor of London! You've Got to Laugh...
- 17 Jul 2014
One mention in the Times Diary might normally be enough, but two in one day? That normally spells trouble… And so this is what they printed this morning under the headline TIPSTERS HAVE RESHUFFLE BLUES… Political prediction is a dangerous business (Lord knows I’ve made lot...
My Reshuffle Analysis Part 1 - Night of the Wrong Knives?
- 15 Jul 2014
“Well if it doesn’t happen, no one will ever remember we predicted it would.” Those were the words with which I signed off an interview on LBC on Friday after I had put to Sam my prediction that William Hague would leave the Cabinet in the reshuffle. And so it came to pass. I ...
Twenty Random Reshuffle Predictions & Completely Baseless Tips
- 14 Jul 2014
I’ve seen so much baseless reshuffle speculation in the papers over the last few days that I thought I would add to it. Much of it is based on nothing more than sniffing the political wind, but some people are better sniffers than others. If I get half of these right, I will b...
Keith Simpson's Summer 2014 Reading List
- 13 Jul 2014
Another nine months before the General Election and, probably, barring accidents, no more ministerial reshuffles following this summer. Historically, July, August, September have been months of crisis in international affairs, and this summer we commemorate the centenary of th...
ConHome Diary: My Weird Dream About Bill Cash & Ann Widdecombe
- 11 Jul 2014
The reshuffle, it seems, is pencilled in for Monday, although if last year is anything to go by that could change at least three times before then. David Cameron is a reluctant reshuffler and hates the experience. He also conducts them very differently to other party leaders. ...
A Letter to Your Local School
- 10 Jul 2014
My friend Jonathan Sheppard has composed this rather hilarious letter for you to send to your local school! Dear (insert name of head teacher), Today some of your teachers took part in industrial action yet again. This is now the (insert number) time that my child has m...
My Memory of 7/7
- 7 Jul 2014
I don’t know if you remember where you were on the morning of the 7th July 2005 when you heard the news of the terrorist bombings in London. I was sitting at my desk in the House of Commons (for the uninitiated, I was working for David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary) and a c...
UPDATED SEAT BY SEAT FORECAST: Why the LibDems Will Win Fewer Than 30 Seats At The Next Election
- 6 Jul 2014
A few months ago I posted a prediction that the LibDems would win 30-35 seats at the next election. I went through each LibDem seat and predicted what would happen to it. Click HERE to read the original predictions. Clearly any such exercise is fraught with difficulty, and I ...