At the Conservative Party Conference there will be a bloggers stand, for the first time. I'm not entirely sure what it will be, who will be on it or what it will look like, but rest assured that the profile of bloggers at the Conference will be higher than it has ever been.
I'm about to produce a leaflet which will be given out to people at the conference which will explain what blogging is to the uninitiated and give a list of what I consider to be the Top 100 Conservative Blogs (anyone out there wish to sponsor it?!). The list will be primarily made up from those in my links section (see down the left hand column), but I am sure there are plenty of others which I have not yet linked to. If you'd like to nominate a blog for inclusion in the list, please do so in the Comments Section.
The ranking will not be arbitrary but it will obviously by definition be subjective. I will be marking each blog out of 100, for design, writing ability, freqency of posting, personality, humour, commentary, popularity, independence of thought, range and interaction.
So, let's hear your thoughts on who should be in the Top 100...
UPDATE: I am grateful to Sir Bentley Pauncefoot for this comment: I have no strong views as to which bloggers should appear on your list, just so long as at least fifty percent of them are women...
UDATE 2: Please nominate Conservative related blogs that do not appear in my links or that I might never have heard of. All of those who have nomianted their own blogs can rest assured that they were all in the list anyway!
I thought the Conservative party was supposed to have democratic internal processes?
ReplyDeleteSurely you mean you'll be holding a poll to determine the rankings?
:-)
I think I should be no. 98.
ReplyDeleteTop blog without a doubt - Dr Crippen.
ReplyDeleteHonourable mention - EU Referendum.
Best vented spleen on Gordon Brown, La Toynbee and associated low-lifes - Devil's Kitchen.
You're not going to mark them all on your own are you?
ReplyDeleteAlso, if there's going to be a stand, I reckon we should have a "blog clinic" facility so that we can share/spread best practice. In my case, I have picked a template design from blogger.com and am fairly loath to try anything remotely adventurous in case I bugger the whole thing up.
I have no strong views as to which bloggers should appear on your list, just so long as at least fifty percent of them are women...
ReplyDeleteI have to wonder if mine would be on the list, and if so where would it be.
ReplyDeleteBeing a top 100, and looking at Iain's criteria, I suspect I might be 198.
I would nominate my Blog, Views from the UK 2006.
ReplyDeleteYou should look at podcasts too :o)
ReplyDeleteI think my blog shouldn't be considered, although it is by nature Oakeshottian. Cameron probably thinks Oakeshott is a type of real ale.
ReplyDeleteEugenides, Dale, Prodicus, Dunderheaded would all get my vote.
RS
For goodness sake, if you want your blog to be considered, the least you could do is actually give it's bloody domain address. Not rocket science, is it?!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, and I forgot, Iain has a march on the rest of us Conservative bloggers because:
ReplyDelete1. He is the judge.
2. Quite a lot of his posts are humerous.
3. His blog gets more hits that the rest of us put together.
(git) no, I am not jealous at all. Honest.n
Well, Iain, you have got a link to mine, but just in case here it is:
ReplyDeletehttp://aconservatives.blogspot.com/
It strikes me as being somewhat cheeky to nominate ones own blog for the top 100 list, but in fairness if I don’t nominate my own blog I’m pretty sure it won’t get nominated. Anyway, it’s Tory in the Wilderness. I hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI think us Iains should stick together... :)
ReplyDeleteCllr Iain Lindley's Diary
I like mine, http://theospark.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeletenot for the faint hearted!
I post a lot on CH, it's good on info, but yours is more entertaining.
ReplyDeleteBut Cranmer can't be beaten for theological-political insight. Muslim/Christian tensions especially.
http://www.archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.com
http://www.anenglishmanscastle.com is a true voice of conservatism, though not always of the Conservatives....
ReplyDeleteDizzy thinks you should include him. Especially as he beat Mr Dale thanks to a glitch :-)
ReplyDeleteI should hope that Ellee and Croydonian get in, as well as the Serf.
ReplyDeleteIain,
ReplyDeleteIs there going to an A-list? And what about local bloggers? And will there be primaries or not?
Surely this contest should be held along market lines - the winner should simply purchase the top slot, in line with Conservative philosophy. (whatever that is!) Similarly, the losers can be dumped over the side, they bloody deserve it.
ReplyDelete1)ToryRadio
ReplyDelete2) Wat Tyler
3) Serf
4) Right links
I imagine that the bloggers' row will be a real den of juicy gossip - lovely! The press will be hovering, waiting for you to spill the beans/calm troubled waters etc.
ReplyDeleteI trust your judgement re the bloggers' A-list, I have always found you to be very fair minded.
I'm sure my favourites will be there, including Dizzy, Croydonian, Tory Radio, Paul Linford, Serf and Praguetory.
Iain,
ReplyDeleteinstead of this friendly backslapping, I am quite amazed that none of the 'right wing' blogs are concerned with the scandal
of British Troops in Afghanistan facing criminal charges. I would have thought fom a Tory point of view this is a massive own goal by this government that has sent out the troops to 'fight???' in their wars! But no...also as the Daily Telegraph points out a serious lack of equipment.
Come on iain less of the fishing for praise and more pointing out the scandalous behaviour of this rotten administration.
Do the Tories back out armed services these days? I cannot recall Cameron visiting Basra as yet!
Suggest Nelson Mandela's blog. All the rage with the Cameroon top brass at the mo, I hear. Great vote-grabbing features include the ever-popular Get your Very Own Red-Hot Necklace, otherwise known as Win with Winnie (Or Else).
ReplyDeleteStrapworld, oh do lighten up. Only a few weeks ago you (or someone else) were bleating on about Cameron never having been to Afghanistan. A few days later he was there. Do stop trying to paint him as something he's not.
ReplyDeleteI can;t possibly cover every subject on here. I cover subject which occur to me when I happen to be in front of the computer. I tend not to rehash things which have been in the papersm if I can avoid it unless I have something original to say.
If you feel so strongly why don't you start your own blog?
Here is my domain address for my blog, http://viewsfromuk.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteNormally good taste would preclude me from submitting my own humble efforts, but given the vast amount of blatant self-promotion going on may I humbly suggest http://remittanceman.blogspot.com?
ReplyDeleteI don't know whether the rambling right-wing loonery I purvey meets your criteria so feel free to rank me 101 in the top 100 if it pleases.
By the way Nonnie 6:56; where have you been hiding these last few years? Nelson and Winnie are hardly on speaking terms and haven't been for quite some time.
ReplyDeleteThe new Mrs M is called Graca (after the wine) and used to be married to Samora Machel of Mozambique (must have a thing for presidential limos or something).
Well said Iain.
ReplyDeleteOf course http://www.antonylittle.blogspot.com is clearly up there amongst them!
I'll get straight to the point. The Done Thing, written by, er, me.
ReplyDeleteI hear Tory in the Wilderness is Excellent. But then I would say that.
ReplyDeleteEllee, Paul Linford, terrific though he may be, cannot, under any circumstances, be described as a Conservative blogger!
ReplyDeleteI will certainly put a word in for Adrian Yalland, even though he doesn't link to me yet and failed to mention my blog when he commented. Still, we used to work in close proximity and he's a bloody good bloke.
Talking of working in close proximity - I sat side by side with Tommy G at CCHQ in 2001 and he is a must on your list. For a good long time, Tommy made his Conservative feelings very clear about all sort of things. Then he went and got an important job with a VIP and all of a sudden... Anyway, the archives are full of outstanding posts.
So here's the real question. Do I beg forgiveness from the Judge for holding contrary views on renewable energy which have previously incurred his wrath, or do I stand my ground and hope he respects my position?!! Hmmm??!
Oh and I do promise to post more now that the summer hols are nearly over. Needed some time to settle in as a NEWLY ELECTED CONSERVATIVE Councillor and get my life re-balanced.
That's enough crawling - ed !!!!
ReplyDeleteHas anyone seen the Hilton Global Initiative?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dominichilton.blogspot.com/
Might I suggest:
ReplyDeleteChoice Cuts
Ellee Seymour
A Plague of Opinion
I also have one more suggestion - but which has not yet been officially launched (but will be before the conference). I"ll email you about it soon.
I think I should be no. 75 or thereabouts ...
ReplyDeletewww.declaim.blogspot.com
Will I be modest enough not to submit my own blog?
ReplyDeleteThe ThunderDragon
Apparently not.
i'd like to nominate two
ReplyDeletehttp://coppersblog.blogspot.com/
PC David Copperfield's utterly brilliant (and conservative) look at life in the modern police
and
http://frankchalk.blogspot.com/
Frank Chalk's equaly excellent blog about modern teaching, in the shambolic British edukashun system
cheers
Andy
Iain, you said: "I'm about to produce a leaflet which will be given out to people at the conference which will explain what blogging is to the uninitiated and give a list of what I consider to be the Top 100 Conservative Blogs."
ReplyDeleteThat's some leaflet. Have you considered a wall chart?
Adrian - mine is most definitely a local blog for local people.
ReplyDeletekidbrooke.blogspot.com
Mine's ok (www.petersmallbone.com), but I nominate Praguetory (praguetory.blogspot.com). See you all at Conference...
ReplyDeleteMe
ReplyDeleteIain, how are you going to judge whether a blog is a Conservative blog? Slavish promotion of Conservative ideas, whether the author is a Party member or someone who has purchased Conservative books or diaries from Politico's?
ReplyDeleteMikey, I fear you have just relegated yourself ten places :)
ReplyDeleteI nominate a Young Conservative's Point of View, its updated quite frequently and he does try and include some dry humour!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jbiggs.blog.com
Verity ; )
The real Verity does not use emoticons.
ReplyDeleteRichard - honoured that you gave my site a plug - but do you ever read the tripe I write??? I don;t think I get many visitors though (I am the Billy No Mates of the blogosphee)!
ReplyDeleteI ought to link to lots of sites, but it involves messing around with HTML and stuff. If Iain would be so kind as to just email his link list which I could just cut and paste into mine - I'b be a very happy bunny!
I will link though. Honest Cllr!
Congrats on getting elected - and you didn't ask me once to come and canvass for you! Didn;t wnay me to frighten the horses eh!
Also Iain, don't know if Injured Cyclist is a Tory blog, but it's and interesting blog though!
Andy Jennings - had a quick look. Are you going to be the PPC Royston Vaisey!
ReplyDeleteHave a look at mine adrianyalland.blogspot.com
Iain, my nominations are:
ReplyDeletehttp://prodicus.blogspot.com/
http://remittanceman.blogspot.com/
http://www.iaindale.blogspot.com/ (not trying to curry favour, I swear)
I am a newbie and my own blog http://sceptered-isle.blogspot.com/ is only six weeks old, but if anyone feels generous enough to nominate it (be it out of pity of hope of reward) I would be ever so grateful!
For parochial politics from Southern Hampshire and regular baiting of hapless Labour MPs like green-obsessive Alan Whitehead, John ‘I’m against the war once my constituency party told me they would de-select me if I voted for it!’ Denham and Lib-Dems like the hapless Chris Huhne may I suggest my humble organ…?
ReplyDeletewww.MattDeanSoton.blogspot.com
whatever happened to Croydoninian? Liked his posts...have not seen him here or at Guidos..
ReplyDeleteAll of you wishing to get more readers to your blogs are welcome to submit your sites to www.rightlinks.co.uk.
ReplyDeleteAs my blog has already been mentioned, I can pretend to be humble :)
Richard, Paul Linford is listed on my Tory blogroll and has not objected.
ReplyDeleteI'll nominate my own blog thus saving my readers the trouble:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.votefranco.blogspot.com/
Also I'll nominate:
http://sceptered-isle.blogspot.com/
(Iain apologies if this is being sent a second time, I'm not sure whether it went through the first)
ReplyDeleteIn common with other respondents, my blog is very much a local blog for local people. See the link from Iain's main page.
That said, in the first few days of October many of you will be local people for me, so it may of interest.
For the record, the part of Bournemouth I represent starts at the Bournemouth sign on the A338 and runs through to the King's Park/AFC Bournemouth exit.
Dear Iain,
ReplyDeletemine is definitely the worst so you can start their and work your way up to more refined heights...
www.cityunslicker.blogspot.com
Seeing as everyone else is doing it... my blog, Brentwood
ReplyDeleteUK.
On the other hand not many people read my blog so it's probably better if you don't.
And its mostly waffle anyway.
www.spinblog.co.uk
ReplyDeleteThe place to be.
I often find that people's blog addresses are in their profiles. However, I am a rocket scientist.
ReplyDeletehttp://conservativemindc4.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteP.S.: Its not very good!
http://partyreptile.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeletegets my nomination - and no, it isn't my blog!
Thanks Richard (I am Tommy G).
ReplyDeleteThe reason I've laid off the politics a bit is that I now work in the public sector.
I would return your compliment, sincerely, by championing your own, excellent and provocative blog!
kevindavis.org.uk is superb. Shows how a local opposition politician should do it.
ReplyDeleteAnd no I'm not Kevin Davis ;-)
All of those who have nomianted their own blogs can rest assured that they were all in the list anyway
ReplyDeleteEven me! Hurrah! Recognised at last for the shining wit that I am.
Well my blog is inclined to the Conservative Party albeit the more libertarian amongst them. This one is pretty good too http://sceptered-isle.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteSince everyone else is going it, my blog is at
ReplyDeleteNot sure if he's strictly Conservative http://chasemeladies.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteI might as well throw my hat in the ring...
ReplyDeleteI nominate myself!
I'm quite new to blogging so be as critical as you please.
a-young-conservative.blogspot.com
What? everyone else did it!
Well that attempt to post the link worked out well! http://timrollpickering.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteIn the spirit of self promotion I'll nominate myself -Conservative and Unionist don't you know?
ReplyDeleteI've never seen so much self promotion! I'm apalled with you all.
ReplyDeleteSo: Gavin Ayling