This site pulls together in one place most of my online writings, social network activities and so on. I'm Associate Director, Digital at Mandate Communications and co-editor of Liberal Democrat Voice. Previously I was Head of Innovations, Liberal Democrats, but this is my personal blog. Take a look around - and do comment on what you see.
Politics
Is MI5 covertly funding market research surveys for ISPs?
Not perhaps the most likely of allegations - I'm sure MI5 can commission its own research and ISPs don't need MI5's money to do their own market research either - but then that's what the music industry lobbyists have been suggesting may be the case. In a leaked circular about the Digital Economy Bill sent to music [...]
- Tax policies aren’t just about who gets what money 13 March 2010
- Unofficial mocking trumps official campaigning online – again 12 March 2010
- A question for people who believe in no-platforming the BNP 12 March 2010
Technology
TV election? Not where it matters most
Left Foot Forward has an eye-catching headline today: 2010 will be the “television election” say social media experts, and in some ways it's certainly a welcome change for internet pundits to be talking down rather than talking up an imminent internet-fuelled revolution in British political campaigning. However, I think the post (or rather the people who [...]
History
An amazing tale of bravery and sacrifice
I'd never heard of Denis Avey until I read this piece in The Times about his bravery during the Second World War. He smuggled himself into Auschwitz (yes, into) so that he could bear witness to the mass murder taking place there. What an amazing person - and a shame that people like him get so [...]
- What’s left of Gladstonian Liberalism in the Liberal Democrats? 10 February 2010
- Did Lewis Carrol visit Llandudno? 17 January 2010
- What did a constituency election campaign cost in 1910? 15 January 2010
Media & PR
Why do men dominate newspaper letters pages?
If you look at the political blogs which are most read by MPs and political journalists, you find that they are run by a nearly all male cast: Jonathan Isaby, Tim Montgomerie, Alex Smith, Stephen Tall, myself and so on. As I wrote when looking at the impact of the internet on politics in 2010: That’s not [...]
Pink Dog's Blog
- Sainsbury’s is coming to Stroud Green Road 11 March 2010
- Oh no, here we go again… 10 March 2010
- W3: do you use this bus route? 8 March 2010
