Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Guess Whose Blog Labour MPs Read Most?

ComRes have done a poll of MPs to find out which journalists and which bloggers they most respect. You'll love this one. Guess who is the favourite blogger of Labour MPs? Got it in one.

If ever there were starker proof that the Labour blogosphere has a long way to go I'd like to see it. There is actually only one Labour blog in the Top 5. No LabourList, no LabourHome.

I am less impressed with those on my own side, however! A disgrace! Recount!



And the only conclusion you can draw from the LibDem MP poll is...

...that they don't read many blogs.

Methodology: ComRes surveyed 151 MPs 22nd April and 14th May 2009. Data were weighted to the exact composition of the House of Commons in terms of party and constitutuency regions.

39 comments:

Jonforest said...

Surely Nick Robinson's is a Labour blog.
He works for the BBC doesn't he? You know, the broadcast arm of Nu-Liebour.
The fact that Toynbee is the number one read of Labour MPs is unsurprising but nevertheless tells us something about what has gone wrong in this country over the past 12 years.

Sean said...

Hmmm. What happened to Liberal Conspiracy which claims to be "Liberal Conspiracy is the UK's most popular left-of-centre politics blog"? Don't LibDems read it?

Newmania said...

Its fairly disgraceful that Andrew Marr the lead on Politics for the State Broadcaster is alongside his old friend Polly Toynbee as the dish of the day for the left. he was the editor of the Indepdedent tduring its right -on ultra left period and is a Labour supporter.
He habitually gives Labour MP`s an easy ride and .

Anonymous said...

Congratulations. Well done.

If they also read the comments, then please let them read this -

Gordon Browns legacy to the UK - the English are retaliating and the yearning for indepenence for England is growing. Never again, will a Scot be allowed to govern England and the SNP will wipe the floor with them in Scotland.

Labour are finished forever, unless they form an English Labour Party, which goes against their Scottish grain.

Bye, bye, Labour!

pablopatito said...

"If ever there were starker proof that the Labour blogosphere has a long way to go I'd like to see it."

I'd say if there was starker proof that MPs are idiots, I'd like to see it.

Trend Shed said...

Andrew Marr as Labour's favourite broadcast journalist......... now there is a surprise............

The BBC should hire Andrew Neil to co-present the Sunday morning political program. Marr on his own is way too biased.

Given Gordon Brown has refused to be interviewed by Andrew Neil for 5 years, Andrew Neil provides sufficient balance as far as I'm concerned.

no longer anonymous said...

Liberal Conspiracy is a loony left blog. I don't think even the Lib Dems would endorse much of the stuff that appears on there. Not to mention quite a few of the posters are smug condescending twats.

Elby the Beserk said...

Toynbee. That's hilarious. Her article in the Gunduria today, alongside Ashley's yesterday clearly indicate that both have been driven clinically insane by the vast gap between their perception of the glory that is New Labour (the best government in my liftime, trills Poll), and the reality, which os that they are a shower of incompetent, self-regarding, self-seeking twats.

Chris Paul said...

This research is (a) allegedly many months old - April/May FFS and (b) not evident on the ComRes site. Which incidentally needs a better link than the one you've provided, with www in, like this www.comres.co.uk. But the only result for MPs and blogs is the Hansard Society/Microsoft survey of MP email and blog use.

Is someone pulling your leg etc?

I went looking for the details as I'd be interested to see the split of MPs from various parties in the sample of 150 ish.

The Hansard Society report showed very few MPs using blogs and although that has changed in just a few months that was also a relatively small sample (about 160) and by the look of it the old 'uns rather than the young guns.

The LP nominations in all three categories look like stating the obvious names pulled out of the air. Which isn't all bad Iain as it means you are synonymous with political blogging for these people. As we've told you before many times you are the Labour Party's favourite Tory Boy blogger, it's not just Hazel Blears ...

idle said...

Roy Liddle???

Are Lib Dems SURE they rate him #3?
And who's this Camille Cavendish at #5?

Anonymous said...

What a shame that Ed Stourton (who is in many people's top five) has been axed from the Today Programme.

A Very Public Sociologist said...

Could be possible that many Labour MPs don't read blogs but so as not to appear out of touch they cite you. If that's the case your ubiquity serves you well.

Anonymous said...

Lib Con is precisely that - a Labour blog.

Er... said...

@Jonforest

That's Nick Robinson, former chair of the Young Conservatives and Oxford University Conservative Association, yes?

Anonymous said...

How deeply uncool is the Tory selection?!

Quentin Letts?!! Ha! Social suicide for the Tories. That man is a hideous journo.

Iain, be proud of your street cred. LoL

Anonymous said...

Mr Dale this surely shows how close all parties are when its a mismash or its just labour researchers checking what you have been typing ?

keep up the good work

MikeyP said...

Are you sure you want to be equated with Andrew Marr(ed) and Polly Twatbee?

Man in a Shed said...

Sir Michael White is only a popular read with confused Lib Dem MPs - that fits...

I bet their lying. (Which would hardly be a first).

Ed P said...

It's hardly a compliment if the same people who rate Polly think highly of you too. is it? And Michael Shite at third is no glowing affirmation either.

Grumpy Old Man said...

Shaun. "Liberal Conspiracy" is a US- style "progressive" left-wing authoritarian blog using the UK definition of Liberal as sheep's clothing.

Iain. Are you absolutely certain that being placed first alongside "Toenails" and Polly is a feat to be celebrated? Are you really that hungry for publicity?

Purple Man said...

Heffer and Hannan being that high on the Tory list seems absolutely astounding to me?

R Nosgrove said...

Off topic, but this deserves wider publicity

http://constantlyfurious.blogspot.com/2009/09/winning-votes-labour-way.html

Now we know how Labour plan to rig (sorry, win) the next election.

wv = licatend. Nice!

Guido Fawkes said...

Humph

Wrinkled Weasel said...

It just goes to prove that most of these high-profile buggers are pinching my ideas.

http://wrinkledweasel.blogspot.com/2009/04/hey-clarkson-stop-pinching-weasels.html

Tom said...

I think this poll demonstrates who should and who shouldn't host a party leader debate, should one ever happen. If there's a journalist who's popular with one set of MPs but not another there would be a problem. Hence Marr, Paxman, Wark and Humphrys should be out of the picture. By this standard Robinson is a shoe-in, although there should be other broadcast journalists up for consideration (such as Andrew Neil) who are, encouragingly, not listed at all.

Soho Politico said...

Why isn't the real story here that, whilst Labour MPs show an interest in reading both left and right-wing viewpoints on the blogosphere, Tory MPs seem much more inclined to insulate themselves in a cosy, hard-right reading bubble.

True Belle said...

No termagant squawk Wark for ANYTHING- please.

The remote is flicked and the box dies!

Anonymous said...

Judging from the comments left on LabourList, most of its readers are Tories.

Anonymous said...

i think dale is a pretty cool guy. eh is read by communists and doesnt afraid of anything.

Expat said...

Are you counting the Guardian Blog or Nick Robinson as the only labour blog in the labour top 5?

Anonymous said...

Guido would be a better blog if he moderated his comments more - mind you I swore at him the other day. But I thought he deserved it.

Just don't spill beer over him folks!

Anonymous said...

I think Guido's blog is not only aesthetically displeasing ...but it appears to attract a really nasty, ugly and mean-spirited crowd. It's very much an old skool Tory blog. It's such an old fashioned blog...

Iain's blog is more interesting because of his rather complex personality.

Ed C said...

Hi Iain,
Can you post a link to this research at all? I've gone to the ComRes website, but it's not on the front page and not obvious in their archive.
I'll check back here for a link, or you could tweet a link to @ejcallow if you have one.
Thanks,
Ed

tory boys never grow up said...

Perhaps Labour MPs are just more interested in the views of those with whom they disagree - unlike those of the other parties who just want to have their prejudices confirmed?

Unknown said...

It seems to be much easier to blog from opposition as I think people in America are seeing right now.

JPT said...

Mine? No.

no longer anonymous said...

"Perhaps Labour MPs are just more interested in the views of those with whom they disagree - unlike those of the other parties who just want to have their prejudices confirmed?"

Or maybe it's because right-wing blogs tend to be more prominent?

prj45 said...

I don't read your blog becuase I enjoy it Iain, I read it because it makes steam come out of my ears, just like when I read the Daily Mail.

Chris Paul said...

The Comres link provided still doesn't work and there is no sign of this work at http://www.comres.co.uk. Have you been Hiltoned Iain? Has any MSM outlet picked this one up and run with it, yet?

The finding that there are only 3 blogs mentioned by Lib Dems AT ALL doesn't bode well for the quality of this, if there is any real underlying research. And how would they weight the results for the overall composition? Was there and all parties table too?

Looks like a hoax.