ConservativeHome Diary Week 6: Who Are The Harlots of British Politics?
- 19 May 2013
Back in 2009 I published Nigel Farage’s autobiography. Not a single bookshop chain would stock it. Booksellers have always been of a leftish persuasion and they proved impossible to shift. In late 2011 we published an updated version, called Flying Free, which contained three...
The Swivel Eyed Loon Cameroon Should Be Named & Shamed But Our Journos Are Frit Because of Leveson
- 18 May 2013
The Times and Telegraph regale us with front page stories of a Cameron ally who has called Conservative Party activists ‘swivel-eyed loons’. This is how James Kirkup in the Telegraph reported it. Grassroots Conservative activists are “mad swivel-eyed loons” who are forcing...
It Shouldn't Happen to a Radio Presenter: No 8 - Interviewing at Short Notice: Tia Sharp's Grandmother
- 16 May 2013
“Can you get here in 30 minutes. You’re doing an interview with Tia Sharp’s Grandmother and stepdad.” This phone call from my LBC producer came the day after Stuart Hazell, Tia’s Grandmother’s ex-partner had been sent to prison for 38 years for Tia’s brutal murder. They hadn’t...
A New Way of Measuring Economic Activity - Full Station Car Parks!
- 15 May 2013
In October 2008 I wrote a blogpost where I suggested that the number of spaces free at Tonbrige Station car park of a morning was a decent indicator of economic activity. In the five years up to then, the car park had been full, or nearly full by 8.15 in the morning. But after...
Gongless at the Sonys
- 13 May 2013
I wish I could say I am a good loser. But I’m not. “Oh you’ve done so well to be nominated,” they kept saying. “You’ve only been doing radio for two years, it’s great to be shortlisted.” Well, yes. Up to a point, Lord Copper. It really was both a surprise and an honour to be s...
Memories of Margaret Thatcher: Esther Rantzen
- 13 May 2013
*This is an extract from my new book MEMORIES OF MARGARET THATCHER, which is published this week. A new extract will appear at 9am every day this week. The book contains 215 such essays by people from all walks of life who encountered the Iron Lady. You can order a signed copy...
Memories of Margaret Thatcher: Petronella Wyatt
- 12 May 2013
This is an extract from my new book MEMORIES OF MARGARET THATCHER, which is published this week. A new extract will appear at 9am every day this week. The book contains 215 such essays by people from all walks of life who encountered the Iron Lady. You can order a signed copy ...
Memories of Margaret Thatcher: Carol Thatcher
- 11 May 2013
This is an extract from my new book MEMORIES OF MARGARET THATCHER, which is published this week. A new extract will appear at 9am every day this week. The book contains 215 such essays by people from all walks of life who encountered the Iron Lady. You can order a signed copy ...
ConservativeHome Diary Week 5: Does Sir Alex Read Hansard?
- 10 May 2013
The Independent on Sunday “Diary columnist” Matthew Bell has come up with an interesting theory as to why I have bought a house in Norfolk. Apparently it’s got nothing to do with the scenery or the fact that Broadland is the most peaceful part of the whole country. No, it’s b...
Memories of Margaret Thatcher: Michael Cockerell
- 10 May 2013
This is an extract from my new book MEMORIES OF MARGARET THATCHER, which is published this week. A new extract will appear at 9am every day this week. The book contains 215 such essays by people from all walks of life who encountered the Iron Lady. You can order a signed copy ...
Memories of Margaret Thatcher: Dame Ann Leslie
- 9 May 2013
This is an extract from my new book MEMORIES OF MARGARET THATCHER, which is published this week. A new extract will appear at 9am every day this week. The book contains 215 such essays by people from all walks of life who encountered the Iron Lady. You can order a signed copy ...
Memories of Margaret Thatcher: Dr Liam Fox
- 8 May 2013
This is an extract from my new book MEMORIES OF MARGARET THATCHER, which is published today. A new extract will appear at 9am every day this week. The book contains 215 such essays by people from all walks of life who encountered the Iron Lady. You can order a signed copy of t...
My New Book on Margaret Thatcher is Published Tomorrow
- 7 May 2013
If you’ve ever had a book published you’ll know what it feels like to finally get your hands on a finished copy. Today I got my first copy of my new book MEMORIES OF MARGARET THATCHER – A PORTRAIT BY THOSE WHO KNEW HER BEST. Thirteen years ago I published Memories of Maggie. ...
'Vicious' It May Be, Funny It Ain't
- 7 May 2013
I have never been a great fan of Brian Sewell, but his review of ‘Vicious’ in today’s Evening Standard is spot on. I have only watched around 15 minutes of this abortion of a comedy, but it probably the unfunniest so-called ‘comedy’ to reach our TV screens this century. And t...
Clegg's Argument on EU Dependent Jobs is Total Bollocks
- 7 May 2013
So Nigel Lawson writes a rational and well argued letter to The Times suggesting that now is the time for Britain to withdraw from the EU. Those of us who remember his shadowing of the D-Mark and his obsession with the ERM might have a wry smile on our faces, but that’s politi...
Top Ten Ways 'Ten O'Clock Live' Could be Made More Watchable
- 5 May 2013
Teach Jimmy Carr the meaning of the word ‘funny’ Give Charlie Brooker a skinhead Put it on Channel 4 + 5456 Dub it into German For someone to explain what the point of Lauren Laverne actually is Replace the audience with a group of clapping chimps Put gaffer ta...
The UKIP Labour Phenomenon
- 5 May 2013
I was wandering down Green Street, E13, (outside West Ham’s stadium) when someone came up to me and said: “You’re Iain Dale, aren’t you?” After telling me he was an LBC listener he then told me he was a Labour voter, but liked my show. He then proceeded to tell me why, as a ha...
Want to Become the 5th Member of Abba?
- 4 May 2013
A very clever video advertising the new Abba museum in Stockholm.
ConservativeHome Diary Week 4: Some Well Meant Advice for John Hayes & Justine Greening
- 3 May 2013
So, with county council elections only five days away, it was good to see Croydon Conservatives spending last Saturday campaigning in neighbouring Surrey and helping their neighbouring Conservatives do as well as they possibly could. What’s that I hear you saying? They weren’t...
Interview: My Life!
- 2 May 2013
Here’s 30 minute interview I did yesterday with student journalist “Tommy Wathen”http://tommywathen.co.uk/. We talk about my education (!), how I got into politics and radio presenting, and also my love of West Ham. It was actually quite therapeutic!