Iain Dale's latest
Telegraph article follows a similar theme to
a post I wrote in March this year (however, Iain is a better writer than I). Both our stories lament the Conservative party's failure to take advantage of what could be a massive promotional tool - Tory blogs. Iain writes:
There are two or three hundred bloggers who define themselves as Conservative or Right-of-centre. Together, they have a daily readership higher than that of the Independent newspaper.
Unlike newspaper readership, blog readership is increasing by between 30 per cent and 50 per cent each year, yet British political parties generally view them as threats rather than opportunities. Why? Because they are impossible to control.
They may be Conservative but they won't trot out the party line like a robot. So CCHQ views them with suspicion, so much so that they have now deleted any links to Conservative blogs (apart from ConservativeHome and those written by Tory MPs and councillors) on their website. How very short-sighted.
Bloggers could form the so-called Army of Davids who, come an election, can spread a message. They can motivate activists and raise money. At the moment, they can be forgiven for thinking they are seen at best as an irrelevance and at worse a hindrance.
You can read the rest of Iain's excellent article by clicking
HERE.
7 comments:
right, I'll donate 20 quid to the conservatives if Cameron can force Brown to say"England" at question time.
Tally,
So will I. Though I don't think Brown is capable of pronouncing it.
I don't think Cameron can either. I hope that when the time comes the voters of England will be reminded that Grooovey Dave blames the inevitable end of the 'union' on their 'ignorance' of Sc*tland and does not wish to be their Prime Minister.
The Conservatives appear to need another bloody good thrashing at the polls to bring them to the realisation that England is their natural constituency and they should serve the interests of the people of England first, rather than insulting them.
well I suppose Cameron gave us a back handed acknowledment when he called us "sour little Englanders".
Ian can you please ring up Boris and find out if there will be any acknowledment of English athletes at the olympics please?The Welsh and Scots athletes have been lauded and applauded with much waving of saltires and dragons, any chance of being able to show English appreciation?
Mr Gruff,
I think he does want to be our Prime Minister. I think that when you are a bit posh (ok a lot) like Dave, then the word "ignorance" is not an insult. He probably doesn't grasp the fact that being called ignorant is seen as an insult.
David Cameron said:
"Now, there are some would simply blame constitutional and economic arrangements between England and Scotland. 'Sort out West Lothian, renegotiate Barnett, and everything will be fine' they say. Sorry, I don't think that's an adequate explanation for the separatism we're seeing today.
"The West Lothian question and Barnett Formula have been around and been debated for decades - don't tell me it's only now that they've lit the separatist touchpaper. Of course, that doesn't mean we should ignore them. It's essential that we find answers to any unfairness in the Union - and to questions of accountability, justice and democracy. And unlike Labour - who sweep it under the carpet and hope it goes away - we will take those questions seriously. I am confident it will be possible to develop an arrangement whereby, when the House of Commons considers matters that affect only English constituencies, it is English MPs who have the decisive say."
I can't see Brown saying that, can you?
It's the fact that blogging doesn't work like Oborne's client media.
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