Best Local Government Blog shortlist

All Saints Gazette: Robin Millar was quick to see the potential of blogs as a way of communicating with his constituents, starting it in October 2004 and receiving a local award in 2006. He is a senior member of Forest Heath Council and the founding director of a consultancy company that deals with local government. All Saints Gazette is usually updated every day and often features videos and light-hearted links to break up the more serious, yet approachable pieces.

Councillor Iain Lindley: Iain, a young councillor in Salford, also started blogging towards the end of 2004. He has written over 400 posts since then, mostly sticking to issues that are relevant to Walkden. In terms of national politics he can be seen debating local elections on a very popular non-partisan forum he set up, as well as criticising ConservativeHome!

Maida Vale Conservatives: This blog is multiple-authored by the three Conservative councillors in this Westminster City Council ward. Working together means they can keep it regularly updated with very focused posts on local issues. Their side-bar is very well designed with pictures of themselves, prominent contact info, surgery times, a Meebo box, local links and online In Touch leaflets.

Deputy Editor

Comments

[Umbrella man]

Very good of you to nominate Cllr Lindley given the frequency with which he criticises ConsHome, Samuel.

[Matthew Dean]

A good couple of Conservative local government blogs from Southampton;

Councillor Jeremy Moulton;
http://www.jeremymoulton.blogspot.com/

Councillor Gavin Dick
http://www.gavindick.blogspot.com/

and another for your readers to look at
councillor Matthew Dean (elected last Thurs!)
www.mattdeansoton.blogspot.com

Enjoy!
Matt Dean.

[Chris]

Congratulations again Matt on your election. Hopefully see you on Friday for the post election party.

[Toby Harlon]

A good selection. The Maida Vale one is a good example of something more local tories could do on the web.

[Donal Blaney]

Great to see another member of the Southampton University Mafia elected: congratulations Matt!

[David Walker]

I find Iain Lindley's egocentric blog a huge turn-off.

[Daniel VA]

Good luck, Iain. You were still wrong about Stafford though! ;-)

[Chris]

Donal, I'm publicity officer at Southamton university at the moment. Feel free to come and visit some time, you'd be more than welcome!

[comstock]

The Maida Vale one is a good example of something more local tories could do on the web.

I would say a good example of something more local councillors could do on the web ( regardless of political party.)

Maida vale blog would get my vote, piping Iain's by a short nose. Whilst I would profoundly disagree with all four of these people on many national issues, they are clearly working hard locally.

I wish my local (LibDem) councillor did something like this. We get semi regular editions of 'Focus' through the door, but they tend to be anti Labour as much as anything positive.......... For instance trying to compare the closure of a local sports centre with the war in Iraq - (!! eh? !!), or criticising Labour for going into coalition rule with the Tories (when until recently the LibDems had been doing exactly the same thing in the city!!!!!)

[James T]

Maida Vale's blog is very impressive and looks great. An example for Conservative campaigners up and down the country !!

[William Norton]

Comstock: you must have particularly repellent Lib Dems in your place if the Party of Truth & Beauty prefers to coalesce with Labour.

[Lee S]

The Maida Vale blog is indeed a great example of what a local councillor's blog should be. Very impressed!

[Lindsey Hall]

Lee Rowley's Maida Vale blog is brilliant. Am planning to set up similar site next door in the Abbey Road Ward. It is exactly how new generation Conservatives should be communicating with the electorate. Moreover, what a campaign tool for the next election! Every Conservative Ward should follow suit...