Believe it or not I am typing this in a bedroom in Windsor Castle. No, I'm not being held prisoner pending a transfer to the Tower of London. Today I have been attending a St George's House Consultation on rebuilding trust between politicians and the media. I seem to be the New Media representative. It's all done under the Chatham House rules thingy so if I told you what went on I'd obviously have to shoot you, but there has been some lively debate about the changing relationship between politicians and the media. The twenty attendees are a mixture of media types, academics and politicians and the whole thing is being chaired by Martin Lewis.A highlight this evening was a private post-prandial tour of St George's Chapel. It's very rare my breath is taken away but the ceiling of the chapel is something to behold. The whole place just exudes history. It was fascinating to see the tombs of so many monarchs and to learn a bit about their history. Delighted also to see Lady Thatcher's Garter seat and plaque. Her crest contains two lions. John Majors contains three cricket balls. Says it all really.
UPDATE: I've just been wandering round the Castle grounds and who should I bump into but a certain regal presence. "And what do you do?" she ventured. "I write one of Britain's most widely read blogs, Ma'am," I replied. "You're not Iain Dale are you?" she asked. "Indeed, Ma'am," I greased. "Very good story about Mr Brown today. Goodnight." And with that she and the corgis disappeared.
UPDATE: Thur 4.30pm I should tell tell you that the last paragraph of the story below was a joke. I'm only sorry Ellee Seymour seems to have, ahem, fallen for it! As does Guido. Or not, possibly.
So, a Royal Warrant, 'Blogger to HM Queen Elizabeth II'?
ReplyDeleteIain, have you been at the Sherry?
ReplyDeleteDoes HM live at Windsor at this time of year?
I suppose given a choice of watching the BB debate and taking the dogs for a walk...
How diplomatic of her not to mention West Ham. That's breeding for you.
ReplyDeleteJade Goody ("mi chavi' quoth mum) is BB contestant by appointment to HRH QE2, surely? "The Indian" is surely nausing the kraut HRH too, as of course are the "working' but loyal chavi trioka, and the incidental Jerm-ajesty fella to boot? Ma'am wouldn't have got drawn in to the unwashed subjects' baiting as Ma'am has been trained up better ...
ReplyDeleteMy laddo Tomas who was in my own home tonight won the Windsor Half Marathon at a canter a couple of months ago but ducked the opp to go to root around the Castle, shake Phil's hand etc etc as he thought "am I bovvered", or perhaps the Ethiopean-born but now-GB equivalent. Which appears to be around how much Phil would be paying to meet him.
Iain, are you having a laugh?
ReplyDeleteI ask because never mind you being at the sherry (as if!), but spare a thought for me and the couple of large brandy's I have consumed!
We all know you worship Thatcher. She ceased being PM in 1990. Move on Iain. It is the Tory Party's biggest problem. Ironically Labour will have no problem moving on from Blair and nor will HMQ.
ReplyDeleteCould this be a Peeerage without approaching Lord Levy?
ReplyDeleteOh dear Iain... 5 seconds work with Google & the Court Circular ..... and your exclusive disappears.
ReplyDeleteWatch out! The Blog police will be after you once Guido has been dealt with ! You have been warned !
When you think about the kind of brave-new-muddle created by Tony Blair past ten years you have to appreciate the semantic back-stop the royal family stand for.
ReplyDeleteDoes she think Cherie is psychologically flawed?
I have been attending a St George's House Consultation of rebuilding trust between politicians and the media.
ReplyDeleteand no doubt to follow will be Why the public distrusts the Media and
Why Politics is Seen by the Public as a branch of Organised Crime
These Consultations are held near the Chapel and have been going for about 40 years I believe. BBC World Service had a prog on it with interviews with Duke of Edinburgh
Iain, was your update about how proud you are that the Queen reads your blog or a tribute to her skills at making other people feel important?
ReplyDeleteHM knows a lot more than she is given credit for
ReplyDeleteMmmm Sir Dale ..sounds good . I do not like the sound of rebuilding trust between the media and the polticians. Surely distrust , not to say disgust is a natural and healthy attitude between the two .
ReplyDeleteI suppose its inevitable that some Blogging will go native and repectable and I wonder if in the end you won`t be able to tell the pigs from the people ?
Peter HITCHENS has a new blog http://peterhitchens.blogspot.com/
"Iain, are you having a laugh?"
ReplyDeleteAre you 'aving a laugh?
Is he 'aving a laugh?!
Ian, you have been telling FIBBY THINGIES. I asked my mother about it last night and she insisted she had never met you.
ReplyDeleteHer Majesty should start blogging, if only to have a good whinge about how ghastly Tony Blair is, the unifying cause of Lefties, Righties and In-Betweenies at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI bet she has had to grit her teeth on more than one occasion. She sounded bored to death reading out his speech...
Rebuilding trust between politicians and media
ReplyDeletesurely this should read the people ? or has Blair made a another new law
Sir Iain Dale!?!
ReplyDeleteIs that true, Iain?
ReplyDeleteJust for once I agree with newmania.
ReplyDeleteIt's very bad news when politicians and the media start cuddling.
As H.L.Mencken put it, the relationship between the press and politicians should be the same as that of a dog to a lamp-post.
Did Michael Fagan drop by while you were there, perchance?
ReplyDeletewas this regal prescence in favour of an English Parliament or mention europe?
ReplyDeleteClearly a case of mistaken identity.
ReplyDeleteHelen Mirren is in the States.
'The Chatham House Rule is a rule that governs the confidentiality of the source of information received at a meeting. Since its refinement in 2002, the rule states: '"When a meeting . . is held under the Chatham Hous Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed."
ReplyDeleteThe rule originated in June 1927 at . . Chatham House . . with the aim of guaranteeing anonymity to those speaking within its walls in order that better international relations could be achieved.' [wikipedia]
So, stop being so coy and tell all.
10:00 Rachel said; "Her Majesty should start blogging..."
ReplyDeleteWhy ever not? I think her commenting on Guido's site under the 'Peter Hitchens' nom de plume is a tour de force.
RACHEL- the unifying cause of Lefties, Righties and In-Betweenies at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThere is no such thing Rachel.Tony Blair is irrelevant if somewhat irritating . Your left wing politics are part of the problem and will remain a source of evil in the world. Nothing can unify , or should unify right from wrong.
PS(I `m right by the way)
PPS(..and you are wrong)
Rule Daletannia!
ReplyDeleteIf Ma'am reads your posts, and that's a big If, then presumably she scans the comments.
In that case, I apologize for all the swear words, your Majesty -- it's actually all Guido Fawkes' fault, not to mention Peter Hitchens. The tower for them both!.
If this isn't a total fairytale, then I think the regal presence was that of the famously candid and intelligent HRH The Princess Royal.
ReplyDeleteAs I recall, I do not remember bumping into any stranger. Quite often one of the maids take the corgis for a walk. If I discover that one has been wearing one of my robes, her head will roll and Charles will use it for a chukka!
ReplyDelete"rebuilding trust between politicians and the media"
ReplyDeleteI would suggest that they should both be rather more concerned about earning the trust of the people since both of them come behind used car dealers in public polls of trustworthiness.
Not you obviously Iain (crawl crawl) or indeed other bloggers generally where feedback tends to restrain the sorts of flights of fantasy editors & ministers try on.
I'm astounded. She has certainly gone up in my estimation.
ReplyDeleteDisappeared- as in a puff of smoke ? or just wandered off like any other mortal, (would be impressed if the corgis could do this trick)
ReplyDeletei have to admit "Sir Iain Dale" has a certain ring to it.
ReplyDelete"the changing relationship between politicians and the media."
ReplyDeleteThe age old 'which is the bum, which is the toilet paper, and which is the msot covered?' quandry?
Sir Iain, are you knighting that man or are you just pleased to see him?
ReplyDeleteHang on Ellee thinks you are serious . Are you , it never occurred to me . Please clear up the confusion . I do not believe for one second that the Queen reads Iain Dale.
ReplyDeleteShe is on the other hand a keen contributor to Guido often postiong as PETER HITCHENS
Jesus she`s got a gob on her hasn`t she phew...
Any way did this happen or not
April 1st is not for sometime yet, even though we wish the winter away.
ReplyDeleteHave the Polish plumbers finished working on her boilers?
ReplyDelete>How diplomatic of her not to mention West Ham. That's breeding for you.
ReplyDeleteThat would have been your dredibility (yes that's not a typo) gone forever!
Sir Iain, the gong is on its way.
ReplyDeleteI am in the room 4 doors down from you Mr Dale - I have stolen a bottle of cooking sherry, I heard you were fond of it. Shall we meet up later and down the lot - like we did last night?
ReplyDeleteDALE Lies embarrass Queen.
ReplyDeleteIain Dale frankly admittted today that his fleeting and tender moment with the reigning monarch did not happen. "I didn`t mean it seriously " he whined .." but what can you do with the world`s most gullible woman"
TEK A BOO ELLEE SEYMOUR !
Something of a scoop bunny at the moment, Iain. Did the fact that she thought it a good story indicate a dislike of His Brooding Bitterness.
ReplyDeleteIain, the "Picking Losers" blog has had a link to you for some time, please can you give us a reciprocal link?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pickinglosers.co.uk/
The site aims to create a debate by drawing attention to the downsides of government intervention. Whenever economic or social problems emerge, governments are expected to intervene and save the day. In fact many "targeted" government action do more harm than good. This website aims to draw attention to the worst examples of policies which are in fact "picking losers".
Iain, I ALWAYS believe you. I thought you might have been invited to share dog walks with your Jack Russell and exchange some more juicy snippets though. Perhaps that's as unlikely as John Prescott becoming a monk.
ReplyDeleteP.S. It made an amusing post and I've had some great comments too.
ReplyDeleteHmm..It is always dangerous to joke about things relating to the Royals [or anything else for that matter ] as there is always the danger that 'truth is stranger than fiction'.
ReplyDeletePrivate Eye had a Christmas cartoon about the Queen doing a podcast, and as one of the letter writers pointed out, her Christmas message was indeed 'podcast' at the same time as it was 'broadcast'.
Although I think we all know that a gentleman like Iain Dale would have been far too discreet to let on, don't we ?
next james bond film
ReplyDelete"hello james - i am Sir Iain Dale director of blog monitoring" - followed by a scene showing over numerous screens and constant monitoring of anti-james bond blogs and websites collated into the central MI6 computer brain.
yeah - that works. "sir iain dale" - pure hollywood spy movie character. ask Liz the next time you bump into her if she has any spare gongs going.
Did you suffer attendance? Was it inflicted upon you? Then you might be considered to have been an 'attendee'; (c/f escapee - they were not actively escaping but suffering it).
ReplyDeleteWhen you drive your car are you a drivee or a driver?
Hmmmm.
Your's is too good a blog to be weakened by English language journalistic errors.
Iain, you can bin this one so long as you read it.
Consultation on rebuilding trust between politicians and the media.
ReplyDeleteGetting both sets of ****s to have a crack at telling the truth a little more often might be a good place to start!