For the second week in a row Jack Straw, Leader of the House of Commons, has quoted Nadine Dorries MP's blog during business questions. Now - Nadine writes one of my three favourite blogs by parliamentarians. John Redwood's always-thoughtful blog and Dan Hannan's new blog for The Telegraph are the other two. But there's something a little odd about the Leader of the House devoting precious parliamentary time to his interest in a Conservative MP's blog. Is it jealousy? Nadine's blog is certainly much more widely read than any of the dull stuff written by Labour MPs who have attempted to blog. David Milibandzzzzzzzz's blog comes to mind. No Labour MP runs a blog with the cut-through that Nadine's increasingly popular blog has achieved. It provides an insightful guide to a life of an MP - in an entertaining and accessible way. It's a very good shop window into politics and paints an winsome portrait of a Conservative MP.
Jack Straw recently made a real mess of the voting procedures for Lords reform. He needs to stop the cyberstalking and focus a bit more on his day job.
Which bit did he quote? The bit where she responded to someone asking if she enjoyed sex or politics more?
Posted by: Richard | March 01, 2007 at 16:58
Far be it from me to defend Jack Straw, but this criticism seems a little harsh - a blogger complaining that someone is reading blogs.
As it is part of his job as Leader of the House to keep in touch with all shades of Parliamentary opinion, it could be argued that this is consistent with his duties anyway - although I don't expect he reads the boring ones equally assiduously.
On Richard's question, it might send me to her blog to check that answer but, if I have any experience of people just after divorces (which I think is her situation isn't it? - apologies if I have that wrong), I expect that she'd have to be enjoying her politics a very great deal for her to be enjoying it more than the usually reinvigorated sex life in such circumstances.
Posted by: Londoner | March 01, 2007 at 17:57
"I expect that she'd have to be enjoying her politics a very great deal for her to be enjoying it more than the usually reinvigorated sex life in such circumstances."
I was referring to the piece on Iain Dale's diary where she made a controversial response to someone asking that question.
Posted by: Richard | March 01, 2007 at 18:13
Is this a rather facile attempt at 'dog whistle' politics because you are too 'frit' to make the point directly about allegations of sexual harassment levelled against Jack Straw ??
If you aren't willing to make them directly, piss off and discuss something more useful.
Posted by: Bedd Gelert | March 01, 2007 at 18:46
"If you aren't willing to make them directly, piss off and discuss something more useful."
What a polite and civilised person you are. Personally I thought this post was probably a bit of fun. You seem to be very worked up by it, any particular reason why?
Posted by: Richard | March 02, 2007 at 00:54
"Bedd Gelert" perhaps needs to be more careful if he is going to mention speculative allegations about Cabinet Ministers whilst providing what I assume is his real name as his email contact (clearly visible on my computer). A quick Google identifies this individual as a Conservative candidate at both the 2005 and 2001 General Elections in the same seat.
So it seems he is not only rude but naive.
Posted by: Londoner | March 02, 2007 at 10:19
Nadine's blog is very good. I agree.
Posted by: Umbrella man | March 02, 2007 at 10:28
I've just visited the blog for the first time.
IT IS GOOD!
Posted by: CCHQ Spy | March 02, 2007 at 13:51
I would expect Labour has a team of people who check the media, everything from opposition party blogs to old fashioned news print.
And I'm sure both other main parties do too....
Posted by: comstock | March 02, 2007 at 19:09