Iain has them all fired up. Dubbed “The Dot Cotton of Political Gossip”, he voices the views of many people who lack his punchy flair and wicked news sense. He says it as it is, adds some wit and sarcasm – and the rest is down to the reader. If you like it, you post a comment and pay a return visit, if not, then it’s goodbye and no hard feelings. If you are a hungry hack, you know you could be on to a winner, you know there might be some juicy gossip that would make a great splash. And Iain has not disappointed (only please do give him and other bloggers credit for your source of info). And don’t blame Iain if Labour gets upset about it.
His site is readable, savvy and fun, cruel, feared and damned, adored, feted and revered. Much against Labour’s wishes, he will not be silenced, he will always be a thorn in their side. The Prescott business has fired him up. I can imagine how his adrenalin is in overdrive, but that he is also determined to stick to what he knows is right. This is what Labour fears, they have no equivalent hard hitting blogger to get back at the Tories. Surely Guido and Iain would have been issued with writs had they defamed the Hon John Prescott.
Facing Paxman must feel like being thrown into the lion’s den, but Iain takes it all in his stride. The media acknowledge him as an authoritive voice and constantly book him for TV and radio appearances, as well as the printed media. So he must be doing something right.
He also has lots of high profile friends and political contacts, no wonder he always knows lots of juicy gossip, but I bet he keeps the best to himself. I’d love to see his contacts book listing the great and the good, the movers and shakers. However, he is still very down to earth and keeps his finger firmly on the pulse of what is happening in the street. It’s an unbeatable combination.
His blog puts a smile on my face every day. And just so he knows how much his influential diary is appreciated, I have listed 10 reasons why I love Iain’s blog.
1. It is authoritive and knowledgeable
2. Very fair too (remember how he stood up for Adam Rickitt and told everyone to lay off?)
3. Wickedly provocotive
4. Savvy and fun
5. Juicy source of stories for the sensational hungry media
6. Sets the agenda
7. Promotes lesser known bloggers like myself
8. He feels passionately about what he does
9. Very imaginiative – remember The Little Red Book of New Labour Sleaze produced with Guido and his loyal following
10. He has a nice smile
Keep up the good work Iain.
Update Saturday,8th July: I had a record day on my site yesterday as a result of making Iain blush and his link to this post. There were 1,022 unique visits and 174 returning visits.
great suck up job.
If you weren’t married and I was otherwise disposed I’d ask you to marry me… Or were you just looking for a link?!
By the way, I plugged you to Media Guardian today…! Without having seen this first!
I don’t need to suck up to Iain or anyone else. We simply both enjoy our freedom of expression.
Iain, I just say it as it is too, in my own style. And I’m sure a lot of others feel the same way. I think it’s good to be told, however prolific you are, and particularly now.
Thanks for the Guardian link, I still haven’t sorted out the other one you recommended.
And as I’ve said before, Iain is enough of a mensch to publish comments critical of him. How many of the rest of us would have called the bluff of all those Arsenal nuts a few weeks back?
And he gives us a great sandbox to play in.
I like Iain’s blog and I’m a labourite!!
Adele,
11. Iain has cross party appeal.
If I ever have to spend another hour looking up the word ‘condundra’ I’ll never read another post of his again. And I’m an edukated man.
Daily Pundit, I had to look up that word too, it is most irksome.
Good Grief – didn’t you lot study latin at school? What is the ejucashun system coming to?
referendum -> referenda
conundrum -> conundra
conjugated like the verb Bellum:
conundro
conundra
conundrat
conundramus
conundratis
conundrunt
….er, or sumfink like that..
Arcadian, you make Latin sound very easy, and it has a very feminine ring about it.
I guess this is your hot subject, I have written about it once before, local council staff are having lessons in their lunch hour.
http://elleeseymour.blogspot.com/2006/06/fenland-abounds-with-latin-lovers.html
[…] also shows your true personality, which is why I wrote this post back in 2006 about why I loved Iain’s blog – and the reasons remain as relevant […]