Some of you are complaining about delays or even wrongly suggesting censorship. I am exceptionally busy at the moment with a new Parliament, a new government to influence and a backlog of cases to take up for constituents. During an election there are no MPs, so MP cases have to await re election.
My constituents’ cases take priority over moderating this site, and influencing the new government also takes precedence. I hope to catch up with the longer recent contributions this evening if my other work is then done.
If you want faster moderation then please follow these rules
1. Only submit short contributions
2.Do not add supportive links which I have to find and read
3. Do not libel others or make allegations about individuals that are contentious. I have no libel lawyer to read my site in the way a newspaper does.
One regular contributor who normally supplies interesting and well based material with official sources (which are fine) has for example complained that I did not publish allegations against the Conservative candidate in Thanet South before the election, and implies bias or unfairness in my editorial policy. As I made clear during the election I did not take comments on any candidate, positive or negative, in an individual contest, without a) a full list of candidates in the election and b) good proof because of election laws. I have incidentally often vetoed allegations against Mr Farage and UKIP to protect them, just as I have vetoed allegations against Labour or Conservative figures.
May 16, 2015
As an extremely wordy person myself, I have no complaints. I understand (& I suspect the majority of your other posters do, too), that there is only one of you.
I think it’s nice that you engage at all. Many politicians don’t.
Please keep on doing what you do 🙂
May 16, 2015
All fair comments John
I hope your hard work and attempt at influence, is rewarded with some interesting policy announcements.
Perfectly understand your constituents need to come first.
May 16, 2015
I recall that you asked for shorter posts and fewer links some time ago. It seems that some of us did not get the message. This is a very enjoyable blog and it would be a pity to lose it. I hope your request will be heeded this time.
May 16, 2015
I am amazed you manage to achieve all you do in the time you have available. I assume you only sleep for an hour or so each day.
May 16, 2015
The most important part of your job is to provide some intellectual input & a working compass for Cameron and stop him reverting to LibDim think as he is rather likely to.
May 16, 2015
My apologies for being a bit pushy over yesterdays submission.
Yes we can cut out the links and avoid abusing whoever, however many of your offerings merit more than one liner replies. If I am going to agree with you or the opposite I feel it is incumbent on me to spell it out. You write about interesting and often complex projects so bear with similar reasoned thoughts.
May 16, 2015
I have no intention of falling out with you over this, JR, especially as I anticipate that within months you will be one of the leaders of the Berkshire campaign for an “out” vote in the EU referendum on May 5th 2016, or less likely in October 2016.
However I would gently point out that my first comment about the Tory candidate in Thanet South was submitted on May 11th, after the election, and my second yesterday was primarily intended to illustrate the perpetual anti-UKIP bias in the media.
I can understand that you do not have the time or inclination to follow up all the links which may be offered, but on other hand other people who are commenting may wish to check that there is evidence for statements which have been posted.
May 17, 2015
Contrast Evan Davis’s confrontational and bullying style with Farage with his cosy chat with Sturgeon.
There for all to see on YouTube.
May 16, 2015
This is a great site by one of the very few Politicians who I admire (not adulate!) and I thank you for it, JR. I enjoy all of your input and also that of the commenters.
May 17, 2015
John Redwood (though he may not believe it) is a hero of mine.
Whether or not he publishes my comments is his prerogative so I’ll never complain if he doesn’t.
May 16, 2015
No complaints. Excellent Blog.
May 16, 2015
I can fully support JR’s assertion that any censorship is minimal on this blog.
I don’t agree with JR’s definition of austerity economics. I’m constantly in disagreement with his argument that the government’s deficit should be its prime concern or even a major concern. I tell him that the only way to reduce it is to reduce the current account deficit (trade deficit) too.
None of which I would expect he’d want to hear, yet he still allows my comments!
Thanks for that tolerance.
May 17, 2015
John, I wasn’t going to contribute to this thread as it seemed pointless and quite counter productive to add to your workload, you made a statement of fact, that should have been the end if it, no comments needed…
But on reflection, can I point out that a lot of frustration regarding delayed moderation might be caused due to your software/website moderation interface and the way that you seem to be forced to moderate newest first – oldest last (within debates, and not over the whole site) thus some are still waiting for a comment made at 07:30 to be published but a comment that is quite possibly far longer made at 13:30 is present. No criticism of you John as you have what you’ve been given but if your IT consultant or webmaster has any control over this moderation listing order then it might be worth considering if changes need to be made?
I do sometimes moderate from oldest first, but usually do shortest in the recent batch, as have already done shortest in previous batch
May 18, 2015
Have you purchased public liability insurance covering libel?
Reply No