Ellee Seymour

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.

Parliamentary correspondent Bill Jacobs reckons Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt could be in line for the sack.

He says many at Westminster were stunned when she kept her job in the last Cabinet reshuffle. And as the NHS lurches from crisis to crisis, they will be amazed if she keeps it much longer.

Angry NHS staff at Addenbrooke’s hospital have already threatened to strike to save services following the announcement of £28 million cutbacks to their budget. I doubt this will make a jot of difference to Hewitt and will bring further chaos to our health services if it happens.

Doctors and nurses’ jobs are also to be axed at nearby Hinchingbrooke Hospital at Huntingdon, it is predicted that more than 200 jobs there are threatened. At the same time, the hospital has infuriated staff by spending £250,000 on consultants fees to find out how to save money - talk about adding salt to an open wound.

Outraged protesters have already taken to the streets in protest at proposed cuts in Cambridge. But remember, things have never been better.

As Bill says in the local rag (no web link available): “The financial meltdown of hospital, primary and community care services in Cambrigeshire is just one symptom of a nationwide disease which is eating away at what was once seen as the jewel in Britain’s welfare state crown.

“The announcement of plans to spend £250,000 on consultants to save cash at Hinchingbrooke, which is making 200 staff redundant, is typic of her (Hewitt) idea of how to cure the problem. The only consultants she ever asks to diagnose the illness and prescribe the answer are accountants - never the medical ones who might know what they are talking about.”

So who will be first to join Charles Clarke on the back benchers - Prescott or Hewitt? It should be Hewitt because her bungled mismanagement will directly affect us all and she has alientated herself from everyone connected with the NHS and morale is at an all time low.

Remember, don’t move to Cambridge if you have an illness, GPs have been told to cut back on their referrals to Addenbrooke’s.