And another thing…

I think you should be more worried about what tomorrow’s Daily Mail has got. They’re actually being nice to you!

You mean he isn’t always at the hair stylist?

I think that there is a danger of confusing “blogging” with “journalism”.

The reason your blog is brilliant is because essentially we get to learn more about you, and your take on topical issues of the day, and life in and around westminster, while also interacting with you via blog comments. This blog is you interacting with the electorate.

Therefore, no-one’s here for breaking inside news stories, and no-one expects that from you or any other blogging public figure.

Granted, there are some bloggers that are arguably “journalists”, a la Guido and Iain Dale, but even then they are 99% political commentary with 1% inside scoop now and again.

How are you finding twitter now that you’ve used it a while btw? Is it worthwhile do you think? I don’t twitter, so I have no idea how it works, but if i’m honest, i do enjoy taking a look at the right hand side of the page and reading your twtter updates. Although twitter updates that just point to your latest blogpost via tiny URL do seem a bit pointless and boring. Many bloggers use twitter that way though (with Guido using it exclusivly for that purpose), so perhaps it’s just me?

Have you noticed how he is almost always behind David Cameron at PMQ’s?
You can’t miss the hair.

Somewhat OT. It is now 12.45 am and there is not a single word about Gordon Brown’s speech to Congress on Conservative Home.

He must have done good!!!

OT (as we bloggers say) I was dumfounded to find you have blocked me as a follower on Twitter. Is it something I said?

As I recall, I queried why you were travelling back to Glasgow after only a day spent in the HoC following the half-term break. I did also ask, jokingly, if you were “freet” of PMQs. (Sadly, this turned out to be the day that little Ivan Cameron died and the session was cancelled.)

I had no intention of offending you Tom and am pleased I’m still able to comment on your blog. (Incidentally, your piece on morality was excellent.)

So, I hope you can “unblock” me soon!

It would be even worse if someone used a phone to send real time images and sound.

It is very bad form, the MP should be reprimanded by the committee.

Confidentialit works both ways,It shows the Tories have less to hide and are not as fixated on keeping information from people.
Not all parties lack openess like Labour.

Are MPs still permitted to have ostensibly confidential meetings?

Whatever will civil libertarians or conspiracy theorists make of that?

Yes, that’s definitely too far. “Won’t someone think about the children!?”

The name Michael Fabricant always brings two thoughts to my mind, probably both of which are very old hat:

A) Fabricant is a perfect surname for a Tory MP from the sleaze era.

B) Vincent Hanna (rest in peace) and Andrew Rawnsley said on their programme* ‘it used to be that Parliament was divided between the Whigs and the Tories, now it’s the Wigs and the Baldies’.

Fabricant’s magnificently flamboyant hairpiece was figured prominently as evidence.

*was it A Week in Politics?

Rapunzel @ 12:48 am

Somewhat OT. It is now 12.45 am and there is not a single word about Gordon Brown’s speech to Congress on Conservative Home.
He must have done good!!!

No, they’re probably still reeling in stunned shock from the news that someone as odious as ted kennedy could be granted an honourary Knighthood…

Slightly O/T I know, but it seems your previous piece, now measuring in at a hefty 145 comments, has achieved what you were wanting; it’s raised your profile, got you some inches in the Guardian and maybe even given you a shot at higher ministry in the next government/opposition….

Nicely done.
I’m guessing with the topic of your “coming-out” piece you’re aiming at Home Secretary, but you’d be happy with junior minister, like welfare etc.
All that remains now is for the long knives to come out. Who’s going to do the deed, and will it be sooner (ie. soon enough for a snap election in June) or later (so you can say “Oh, we’ll be going to the country, but let’s wait till May recession etc.”) and and will the old adage about (s)he who wields the knife never wears the crown hold true?

I don’t blog about the detail of the 9-5, not since I lost a contract for one comment about a non-work thing.

Regarding the comments relating to teenage mothers. I am shocked, I really am… I find myself in complete agreement with a Labour MP.

Now, about this benefits culture and children being a choice over an education and working for a living. Have a word with your boys Alastair and Gordon and tell them to stop feeding the money in and the babies may stop popping out!

One feature of a Blog is that you are your own editor, there is no reviewer. That is dangerous. Examples include Dolly Draper’s self destruct mission and Sunder Katwala publishing a clearly friendly letter from Phil Woolas and exposing him to the full flak of rightwing emtyvessels.

So rule 1 is don’t abuse the freedom.

Rule 2. Please, it ain’t clever to publish “Top 10 corporate referring websites” and you should protect commentators anonymity.(And yes I support your family’s right to keep their address off-record).

My MP Mr Gordon Brown PM wants money to be made available to struggling families and SME’s to borrow. The very people who want to borrow money are the people that banks will not lend money to. Why not give these people their own money back? I am talking about the billions of pounds that banks have stolen in bank charges. Four law lords have now laid down judgments but still people are having their homes repossesed and this billion pound scam continues. If we take this further and consider what these victims would do with their own (money) windfall, they will pay off debts and they will then spend on the high streets across Britain. Toxic debts would be paid, meals will be eaten out and shoes will be bought. Revenue will flow into the government and interest rates will rise and savers will get a return on their cash. Let’s not forget that the pension paid to Sir Shred is based on profits which were illegally obtained. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7880745.stm
When you next meet my MP will you ask him if he will contact me as I would really like an answer to this?