Who was the first MP to write a blog? And which party has the most parliamentary bloggers, can you guess the ratio? These are some of the recent findings from my research project into MPs who write a blog.
I will tell you the answer when I return from London at the end of the day. I have interviews lined up with Ross Ferguson, Director of the Hansard Society’s eDemocracy programme, Labour MP Austin Mitchell and Tory MP James Duddridge for my assignment.
Austin describes Gordon Brown’s premiership brilliantly on his blog as “Cromwell takes over from CharlesI”, hinting at the austere times ahead. Austin is another Labour blogging gem. I always thought Tom Watson wrote the definitive Labour parliamentary blog, but I’m not so sure now.
But where, or where, is Labour’s answer to Tory MP Nadine Dorries, whose blog is fresh and humorous, warm and witty? It is pure Nadine and unmissable. If you don’t believe me, you can catch up with her latest exploits and discover what happened when she took to the wheel of a tractor in Covent Garden – and how she upstaged the Cheeky Girls!
Oooh ! She’s that age – Mmmmm.
I met Nadine …she was very nice and a bit flirty actually . I had the impression that she was , in a general sense , hot to trot.What do you think ?
Maybe some MPs don’t blog because they’re too busy taking care of their constituents. Blogging is time consuming.
I see that the stresses of your recent relocation have not dampened your ardour and that you still have an eye for the ladies, Newmania. I agree, a fine filly if ever I saw one.
(You realise we have to keep this up now, everytime a lady appears lest they feel neglected – what silly-billies we are)
I’m sure many MPs could write brilliant blogs if they put their minds to it.
Just met up with Ellee. Fab lady bubbling with ideas. Clearly I need to do a lot more with my blog and add comments asap. Keep your eye on my site for the improvements…
Boris’s blog is the coolest!
http://www.boris-johnson.com/
I’ll be over later to find out the answers. Meanwhile, I’ll check out AM’s blog – I did used to like him on radio 4 programmes.
I have to tell you! I was able to use your statistics you have been giving us about the number of MP blogs vs the number supposed in conversation at lunch today. I felt so INFORMED. Thank you dear. I look forward to stealing more of your hard work for my own nefarious purposes.
Many thanks to Ross, James and Austin for giving me their time, it was such a helpful and informative day.
James, I shall be watching your site with interest. Just go for it, the sooner the better, don’t let the sceptics hold you back.
Newmania, in your dreams! Just because a woman is friendly, why is it so often misinterpreted as being something more? Just wishful thinking, perhaps.
[…] A day in London with MPs and their blogs […]
My research shows that twice as many Labour MPs are writing a blog than Conservative. Although Tom Watson is regarded is the first, in fact a Lib Dem MP Richard Allen started a month or so before in January 2003. He did not stand for re-election in 2005, so Tom would be the longest blogging MP. I believe Boris started the first Tory parliamentary blog.