This site has slipped to second place from first last year in the annual Total Politics Blog Poll of MPs websites. This is not of course an MP’s website as narrowly defined – it is a running commentary and an invitation to my readers to a debate on the state of the nation and the world economy. However, there will be no excuses for this slip in the polls. I must do better.
Starting from today there will be more satire, more analysis of a kind you cannot read elsewhere, and more campaigns. Satire is difficult, when events are often beyond parody, so categories one and two will often merge! Happy blogging.
August 18, 2009
Who cares about Total Politics you’re blog is by far the best.
August 18, 2009
Sorry, I meant to write “your blog”.
August 18, 2009
If its any comfort John, I have no idea how Tom Harris’s blog came top – well done for demolishing A Eagle on Newsnight last week by the way
August 18, 2009
It’s my fault. I forgot to vote this year!
Just keep up the usual quality of posts and it will sort itself out next year!
August 18, 2009
Your still my favourite John!
August 19, 2009
Irene
“your” is a possessive pronoun.
“you’re” is a contraction of “you are”.
I think you wanted the latter.
August 18, 2009
well i think your blog is best
why dont you do a round the houses of each policy area?
the headings from conservative party web site are
Business
Community Relations
Countryside
Climate Change and Energy
Crime and Justice
Culture, Media and Sport
Defence
Democracy
Economy
Environment
Europe
Family
Foreign Affairs
Health
Housing
Immigration
International Development
Local Government
National Security
Schools
Transport
Universities and Skills
Voluntary Sector
Welfare and Pensions
Women
why dont you give us a post on each of these? especially the ones you dont do regularly
just an idea
August 18, 2009
If you promise to provide some satire to help me cope with the destruction of our country, I’ll try to visit more often.
August 18, 2009
[…] Last year’s winner, John Redwood, came second and promises more satire over the next 12 months. […]
August 18, 2009
Even so congratulations, I didn’t realise you were first last year. This is a very informative blog and often an insight into Westminster workings, fascinating. That is important, is it more important than being first? Are we going to see Mr Redwood becoming a celebrity now, dropped in some jungle reality TV show eating kangaroo balls to get airtime? I doubt it or seriously hope not.
August 18, 2009
Don’t change it, John. Let’s stay authoritative rather than populist. Keep it up. Respect!
August 18, 2009
Well done John,
Whatever position you appear in the league tables, if I want a clear, concise, well thought out response to an issue facing the country I can normally find it on your blog.
keep up the good work
August 18, 2009
‘Must do better’? Don’t be too hard on yourself. Are you interested in popularity, or in quality?
August 18, 2009
Aha! The fightback for top spot starts here.
Good stuff, you can’t beat a bit of satire to balance out the serious stuff. Looking forward to it…
PS Congrats on second, a fine result even if it is 1 spot down on last year.
August 18, 2009
You’ve got worthy competition Mssrs Harris and Carswell, and all three of you are unmissable reading in your own ways. Thanks for another year’s worth of thought-provoking material and analysis.
August 18, 2009
Mrs Dale has become a champion of Labour blogs so what do you expect John? And yes, me and many others have noticed this and know what we are talking about.
August 18, 2009
I hope that is a joke.
The serious discussion of important matters found on this blog is the reason for it’s success. No thank you to soundbites, popularity contests and soundbites please.
August 18, 2009
You can edit out the first soundbite 🙂
August 18, 2009
If you can raise your game even further I will be truly impressed. As it is you already out-produce most supposedly full-time columnists in the mainstream media. Thanks for a great blog.
August 18, 2009
You want to satirise this government? THIS government! You’re kidding? One of the problems is that they are beyond satire. They are just useless, and in my opinion always have been.
But Mr R your lot are not blameless. The complete lack from 1997 to about 2007/8 of an effective and challenging opposition – admittedly when given the admittedly rare opportunity by the Labour ‘shut down the debate technique’ – is unforgiveable.
August 18, 2009
Lola: “The complete lack from 1997 to about 2007/8 of an effective and challenging opposition ..”
Seconded.
Of course many of the ‘Big Tory Beasts’ were quite happy to join that nice Mr Blair in his ‘big tent’, now it looks like the Tories may regain power well, whadaya know! The Big Beasts are back in the shadow cabinet.
Lola: ” unforgivable”
Yes.
August 18, 2009
[…] thing.5. John Rentoul berates Gordon Brown for leaving Tom Harris languishing on the backbenches.6. John Redwood promises to be funny.7. Tim Montgomerie’s seven defences of political blogging.8. Stephen […]
August 18, 2009
Sorry, didn’t vote. Your comments are in a class of their own and your industry an example to other MPs.
If there are not enough serious readers out there, that is not your fault.
August 18, 2009
There is nothing like a bit a competition to incentivize one to try harder to serve one’s customers!
August 18, 2009
Postal votes?
August 18, 2009
Another thought, is Labour blogs are gaining popularity maybe this is just part of their natural transition to HM opposition?
August 18, 2009
How about a clip of you singing the Welsh National Anthem?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIwBvjoLyZc
I always found this ‘beyond parody’
Reply: So kind of you to share the BBC;’s enthusiaism for me to be the one politician who enjoys eternal youth at every showing!
August 19, 2009
Hah ! Advantage, Mr Redwood !
August 18, 2009
Oh John, I wouldn’t let this affect your blogging style. Continue as you do.
Of course Tom Harris came first. He’s Iain’s pal.
August 18, 2009
John I like your blog because it is thought provoking whether I agree or disagree.
August 19, 2009
Don’t change a thing John. This is by far the most informative blog I have come across from an MP. Better luck next year too. I don’t have an axe to grind with Tom Harris, though. He has one of the few Labour blogs I actually like to read and contribute to.
For me MP’s blogging is a fantastic way for them to keep in touch with the opinions and concerns of the public. In these days when MP’s are so often accused of being out of touch with the public, blogs like his and yours are good examples of how that’s not always the case.
August 19, 2009
Well it ain’t OUR fault as we voted in this poll for the first time – and inded had you at No 1 (by a long way) and – as good Essex boys – the ever-stroppy Carswell at No 3.
Your blog is good technically and user-friendly as well as authorative, interesting and sometimes very funny. As we say, whenever it appears, the circular from the CEO of UK plc is a classic!
If it gets any better that will be an unexpected bonus but, yes, satire and humour are under-used weapons in our political system and good analogies always hit home with the man on the street.
As we say out here in ‘God’s Own County’…bloody well dun mate!
August 19, 2009
John
Well done, and thank you for the opportunity to make comment on a range of subjects.
I am at last begining to understand a little about Government finance and how it works (I think) thanks to your knowledge.
Good to see an MP is not afraid to put his opinions on the line, wish we had a few more of them.
Please do not go over the top with the satire.
August 19, 2009
I must look at Tom Harris’ blog!
If it is even better than this, I am expecting something along the lines of Samuel Pepys!
August 19, 2009
Well done John. Second is impressive as this is not a chatty blog but one that deals with serious and complex issues but in a way that us ordinary mortals can understand.
So keep up the good work and let’s hope that you have considerably less time to devote to the blog come next June.
August 19, 2009
Don’t feel bad to losing out to Tom Harris. You know, for a Labour MP, he’s not half bad.
August 19, 2009
The total of voters on that poll was 1500 so my guess is that about 5-10 votes separated you from the winner. That is pretty much within statistical variability.
If you are that keen on winning next time all you have to do is put up a reminder & link here a few days before. Personally I would suggest you do what you are happy with & let the chips fall where they may.
August 19, 2009
Tom Harris (Tom Harris!) has the most popular blog?
On an unrelated note, some people prefer burgers to Chateau Petrus
August 19, 2009
Grannie always used to say that quality mattered more than quantity.
August 19, 2009
I demand a re-count!
It was compulsory to vote for 10 political blogs and I don’t regularly read 10 so that put me off voting.
I have checked out other political blogs, but this is the best one and I recommend it to others. JR’s posts are clear, topical, informative, meaningful, and have given me much insight into the workings of our government and the state of our economy in these difficult times. The site is user friendly and the comments are also worth reading which is more than can be said for many other blogs.
I would like to raise a glass to Mr Redwood for the effort, time and commitment he puts in to maintain this site. Thank you.
August 19, 2009
Sorry to be late for the party, but sincere congratulations anyway. Don’t worry about being No2, as many have already said, the general tenor of your blog is just right. Any changes should be just a touch on the tiller.
Far too late in life I’m beginning to understand a bit about government finance and economics, which you always express so lucidly, and how they should be (and shouldn’t be) handled.
Surely there should be a place for you on the Front Bench?