tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post4497507898127505444..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Public Service AnnouncementIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-27326436765388744982008-01-09T12:49:00.000+00:002008-01-09T12:49:00.000+00:00My mole tells me that Sir Alan Haselhurst will ret...My mole tells me that Sir Alan Haselhurst will retire after the next GE.<BR/><BR/>Iain for Saffron Walden!!!! Lets start a camapign!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-36348691336618667982007-12-28T23:03:00.000+00:002007-12-28T23:03:00.000+00:00Bad luck Iain. Everyone knows you are doing a gre...Bad luck Iain. Everyone knows you are doing a great job for the party with your media workAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-75259216157858883692007-12-22T10:56:00.000+00:002007-12-22T10:56:00.000+00:00Perhaps it was simply the combination of your real...Perhaps it was simply the combination of your really poor result in Norfolk in 2005 with the jitters of the near loss of a the safe seat in not-too-far-away Bromley in 2006 made you just too much of an unecessary risk Iain.<BR/><BR/>On paper, all you good media work could never offset such a bad result. Perhaps you need to first erase that blemish by fighting a seat that will (hopefully) show you can *increase* or at least maintain the Tory vote.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-23333252024111994532007-12-22T10:44:00.000+00:002007-12-22T10:44:00.000+00:00Iain, I thought you were v.good on the Sky papers ...Iain, I thought you were v.good on the Sky papers review yesterday. This news is Maidstone's loss clearly however have you not thought of defecting to Labour? They always reward defectors. You don't even have to be an existing MP to be welcomed with open arms: http://www.labouronline.org/wibs/165220/5998c290-b35c-c134-c922-d0be59cac454Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-75298281603221835642007-12-21T19:23:00.000+00:002007-12-21T19:23:00.000+00:00First Rhydian and now this. People are clearly mo...First Rhydian and now this. People are clearly morons.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1769230661144854512007-12-21T15:32:00.000+00:002007-12-21T15:32:00.000+00:00Iain: my politics and yours couldn't be more diffe...Iain: my politics and yours couldn't be more different - but I'm afraid that to go from a Christian conservative to a gay libertarian in one leap may have been too much of a shock to the system.<BR/><BR/>I will never, ever vote Tory, but as we have to have Tory Mp's (!) it may as well be you....Merseymikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07231364271812168188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-86484930487943616142007-12-21T00:43:00.000+00:002007-12-21T00:43:00.000+00:00Kalingrad??Kalingrad??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-87611250745654440862007-12-21T00:39:00.000+00:002007-12-21T00:39:00.000+00:00Only the truly evil with contacts can get a seat o...Only the truly evil with contacts can get a seat of power. Think yourself as one of the less-evil. Or not-evil-enough.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-58097658328180412482007-12-20T13:53:00.000+00:002007-12-20T13:53:00.000+00:00Iain, don't think for a moment that Labour blogger...Iain, don't think for a moment that Labour bloggers would wish you any ill feeling on your attempt at becoming a candidate.<BR/><BR/>I'm sure that some of your old enemies that travel through here would have loved the chance at turning you over from across the floor.<BR/><BR/>I won't say better luck next time, as you might not believe it, but perhaps you need to have a second look at your approach or get someone else to do it for you.<BR/><BR/>It needn't be this hard.<BR/><BR/>GaryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-28561404315813745532007-12-20T12:16:00.000+00:002007-12-20T12:16:00.000+00:00Nicola Name (and others who have made similar poin...Nicola Name (and others who have made similar points)<BR/><BR/><I>You are about a million times more influential as blogger and businessman than some bankbencher will ever be</I><BR/><BR/>True - but you are assuming that if elected as an MP, Iain would remain a backbencher. I wouldn't assume that.<BR/><BR/>The point I was making was not necessarily to argue that Iain should or should not give up his media career to become an MP, but that the House of Commons badly needs more people who have done things outside of machine politics - in his case run a successful business (it only closed because of Ken's congestion charge.)Paul Linfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01977920120772282561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-87578914375321551862007-12-20T12:05:00.000+00:002007-12-20T12:05:00.000+00:00I agree with Verity on all her points. 1. They had...I agree with Verity on all her points. <BR/><BR/>1. They had a candidate preselected. I wonder who he/she is. <BR/><BR/>2. You are about a million times more influential as blogger and businessman than some bankbencher will ever be. <BR/><BR/>3. please please really think twice about the whole nonsense and about better ways of serving your country while you have the chance.<BR/><BR/>and very best of luck in whatever you do decide.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-91536801331307112992007-12-20T11:53:00.000+00:002007-12-20T11:53:00.000+00:00If they turned you down Iain, the quality of the o...If they turned you down Iain, the quality of the other candidates must be phenomenal. Sad for you but good for the Tories. There's always another seat: why not try Coventry? We haven't had a decent MP since the late and much missed John Butcher.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358349301959327747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-15288660094185970902007-12-20T11:16:00.000+00:002007-12-20T11:16:00.000+00:00Couldn't Matthew Parris give you some advice ?? He...Couldn't Matthew Parris give you some advice ?? He famously did well in the Tory Party, despite Mrs Thatcher having a rather low opinion of him..<BR/><BR/>Perhaps you could dive into the Thames to save a drowning dog ?? <BR/><BR/>Or you could tie some 'water wings' to Gio and 'rescue' him from your local duck pond - voters love that sort of 'Have a go hero saves cuddly pooch' far more than any real policies or 'I want to help my fellow man' stuff..<BR/><BR/>p.s. I am waiting for the first 'Iain is taking money off an atheist ' [sorry, the 'agnostic end of atheist' ] Don't you just love the Lib Dems ?...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-86801208905222662392007-12-20T10:13:00.000+00:002007-12-20T10:13:00.000+00:00@ WallensteinI concur entirely with Iain's comment...@ Wallenstein<BR/><BR/>I concur entirely with Iain's comment. <BR/><BR/>But I'd possibly go further and suggest that in some (nameless) quarters it may even be <I>de rigeur</I>.<BR/><BR/>One's opinion only, of course.Unsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08307116169498533047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-26022005099213110402007-12-20T09:53:00.000+00:002007-12-20T09:53:00.000+00:00I'm sorry. You've had a rotten year.I hope 2008 b...I'm sorry. You've had a rotten year.<BR/><BR/>I hope 2008 brings better prospects.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-57538379181678437192007-12-20T09:24:00.000+00:002007-12-20T09:24:00.000+00:00Sorry to hear it Iain.At least you could apply tho...Sorry to hear it Iain.<BR/><BR/>At least you could apply though, hundreds of men on the candidates list cannot even send in a CV.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-39361663170496510922007-12-20T07:44:00.000+00:002007-12-20T07:44:00.000+00:00I'm sure you would have fared far better had you c...I'm sure you would have fared far better had you conducted the vetting and voting process yourself.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292436411579226284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-84696849686165673662007-12-20T03:28:00.000+00:002007-12-20T03:28:00.000+00:00Such an upscale, sophisticated (even aristo) const...Such an upscale, sophisticated (even aristo) constituency seems an unlikely spot to harbor significant anti-gay sentiment.<BR/><BR/>IF the fix was already in, why didn't they let Iain make the finals THEN screw him? That's the way old Mayor Daley (and Lord Beaconsfield) used to play the game: keep your enemies close enouogh to wack'em good & proper.<BR/><BR/>As always, these things come down to one thing: who has the votes, and who does not. Clearly on this occassion Iain didn't have the votes while others did. Why? is difficult to answer as the selection process is opaque to say the least.<BR/><BR/>Think a poster above may have been on to something re: Miss Widdecombe. Could be that significant sentiment exists (even among some great fans of AW) that the constituency "deserves" a more conventional MP.<BR/><BR/>IF this is true, then Iain's greatest strengths would have counted against him IN THIS CONSTITUENCY at this particular time.Sea Shanty Irishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02962821593752274830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-45945648173349119842007-12-20T01:29:00.000+00:002007-12-20T01:29:00.000+00:00Wallenstein - What's your nickname? Wally? We go...Wallenstein - What's your nickname? Wally? We got your "drift". So now, could you do everyone a favour and drift away?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-76456098607817742452007-12-20T01:12:00.000+00:002007-12-20T01:12:00.000+00:00Wallenstein, No I don't. I think it is wrong to ju...Wallenstein, No I don't. I think it is wrong to jump to that conclusion.Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-28474811673991364002007-12-20T01:08:00.000+00:002007-12-20T01:08:00.000+00:00Iain,Although not a Tory, I do feel you'd be an as...Iain,<BR/><BR/>Although not a Tory, I do feel you'd be an asset to British parliamentary politics - do keep pushing, we need more intelligent, articulate individuals in the Chamber.<BR/><BR/>I would echo the thoughts of other posters by agreeing wholeheartedly that you'd represent a real benefit to opposition/goverment.<BR/><BR/>Dare I ask whether you feel you particular "personal circumstance" (go, how twee... but I'm sure you get my drift!) had anything to do with your failure to advance to the next round of interviews, especially in that part of the country?<BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/><BR/>WallensteinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-58012976445413587252007-12-20T00:45:00.000+00:002007-12-20T00:45:00.000+00:00Sorry to hear that Iain. Better luck next time.I ...Sorry to hear that Iain. Better luck next time.<BR/><BR/>I don't understand why they'd not go for a nice guy like you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-4526268423518236172007-12-20T00:00:00.000+00:002007-12-20T00:00:00.000+00:00I'm sorry to hear this news, Iain. Would you addre...I'm sorry to hear this news, Iain. Would you address this question specifically: do you believe your sexuality was an issue for the selection panel?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-86674593250425456732007-12-19T23:51:00.000+00:002007-12-19T23:51:00.000+00:00Hope you aren't feeling too cut up. Like Verity, I...Hope you aren't feeling too cut up. Like Verity, I think you are very much on track with what you are now doing, and that you'd be better off perfecting your skills as a blogger, commentator, and writer, than trying so hard to get into parliament. What you have acheived here is quite remarkable. Keep it up, develop it, and continue improving, and I really think the best is yet to come. <BR/><BR/>SiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-3760529876470508482007-12-19T23:47:00.000+00:002007-12-19T23:47:00.000+00:00Come On. Iain didn't have a hope in hell.He's soft...Come On. Iain didn't have a hope in hell.<BR/><BR/>He's soft on jails for a start. Maidstone has a proud tradition of locking people up. (Wikipedia.) It could be a hub for asylum detention and a thriving forwarding point for those destined for the new Lakeside Prison Ship complex in Tilbury.<BR/><BR/>The many neighbouring motorways are ripe for clocking speeding motorists and Maidstone council is in the forefront of parking fines and sniffer bin pay as you throw rubbish technology.<BR/><BR/>This is the council that spent public money (council tax) on a report about young people 'hanging about'. (As if there's anything to do in Maidstone.) That should tell you something.<BR/><BR/>http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1705689<BR/><BR/>The council hates the idea of Maidstone being anywhere near the University of Kent . . . . Oh My God . . . Students. Talking to anyone in Maidstone Council is like talking to Robert Morley in the old Cliff Richard films from the Sixties. <BR/><BR/>Only a time warp fascist will get selected anywhere near Maidstone. It's probably the most of out of touch gulag in Britain.copydudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15643509201486589477noreply@blogger.com