The programme which revealed Iris Robinson to be a common criminal is not on the iPlayer. Click here to go to the site and watch it. It’s a must-watch and one of the most exciting/shocking stories to hit UK politics since the expenses scandal…so not long..but you know what I mean. Only available to UK residents unfortunately. You’ll just have to move here if not.
Popularity: 7% [?]
BBC NI Spotlight programme about Iris Robinson available on iPlayer
Painfully homophobic MLA MP, Iris Robinson is in a spot of bother. Not only has she committed adultery with a person 1/3 of her age, but she has been found to be contributing to the extra-marital affair by financially rewarding her teenage lover with money, given by the taxpayer, for his business. If that isn’t corrupt politics then I don’t know what is!
Peter Robinson isn’t faultless, he failed to declare to commons authorities that he knew of the case either, as he did early last year and I expect him to resign shortly. There are also rumours of an ‘open secret’ that people are too afraid to report in the newspapers or online, which I certainly am too. If you search on twitter, you’ll find it. hint: @softmutt.
Exciting times for Northern Irish politics! Gerry Adams is rumoured to be stepping down – this would be a perfect opportunity and I’m sure the Robinsons would be happy too.
Popularity: 6% [?]
Iris Robinson: What Would Jesus Do?
This is in relation to my previous blog.
I’ve been reluctant to write this blog as I felt it might undermine a party that I would still vote for and have friends within, but the more I think about it, the more I’m sure that this case is not unique and is rife across the entire political spectrum, regardless of whichever party and needs exposing.
A week last Sunday on Twitter I was watching The X Factor Results show on Sunday and tweeting along with the show, ranting my opinions on each contestant like most young people too poor to go out drinking. In the heat of the moment I referred to one contestant as looking like a ‘pikey’. Unbeknownst to me, this is an apparent racist term, something which I wasn’t aware of and used it to describe someone who was rather scruffy. Anyway, a couple of tweeters including @snorestore and @ChrispLOL were adamant that I was a racist and as I was Conservative Future Chairman for UWIC at the time they said they were complaining to David Cameron.
In the heat of the moment I regrettably referred to them both as ‘cunts’, which I must say released a lot of anger and tension, I fully recommend it, as does Malcolm Tucker.
Anyway, the following Tuesday I had a call from a person rather high up in the Conservative Party (who shall remain nameless) saying that there had been a complaint addressed to David Cameron that he needed sorting out. He advised me that I should “write a grovelling apology on Twitter” and he would put the mistake down to “inexperience”. Also, after I apologised he said “maybe you will think again before pressing ’send’”.
Looking back on it, I’m furious with myself for apologising and rolling over when he insisted. I’m done with party politics. I may still be a Conservative voter and the people I’ve met in the party have all been fantastic, but the truth is that I can’t be doing with being told what to say, think, write etc. It’s not me.
UPDATE:
I’m rather surprised and heartened at the amount of positive responses I’ve received. A few people have blogged their opinions on it and I think it’s only polite to list them here. Thanks;
Tory Bear: http://www.torybear.com/2009/11/why-i-left-conservative-party.html
Working Class Tory: http://www.workingclasstory.com/2009/11/cardiff-blogger.html
Empire Chronicles: http://www.empirechronicles.co.uk/2009/11/03/we-don%e2%80%99t-live-in-a-free-country-%e2%80%93-and-that-won%e2%80%99t-change-either
Irfan Ahmed: http://www.irfanahmed.org/2009/11/councillor-gets-sacked-for-being-93.html
James Burdett: http://jamesburdett.co.uk/2009/11/03/sad-new-about-cardiff-blogger/
Organised Chaos: http://eventsdearboyevents.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/shame/
Sharpe’s Opinion: http://sharpesopinion.co.uk/2009/11/cardiff-blogger-cuts-ties-with-party-politics/
Stephen’s Linlithgow Journal: http://linlithgow-libdems.blogspot.com/2009/11/what-i-find-surprising-about-caroline.html
Popularity: 100% [?]
Why I left the Conservative Party
This would have made a good 100th blogpost but unfortunately it’s the 101st.
I am amazed at how well Cardiff Blogger has performed in the Total Politics Top Political Blogs this year. I only started blogging a week before the voting window closed, I assume it gained votes from the now deceased The Right Student website which is a passing only surpassed in emotion by Michael Jackson and now Patrick Swayze.
Looking at the table we have the usual suspects hogging the top – Guido Fawkes and Iain Dale. I admit voting for both of them but Iain before Guido. I find Guido can be a bit too harsh (Brown’s constant mental illness mocking is a bit too much for me) and in his blog’s comments there’s as much intelligent debate going on as an @BevaniteEllie and @KerryMP twitter conversation.
Political Betting is my favourite blog, purely for how interesting their articles are and how news stories are often broken in the comments. It’s more like a political chat room than a noticeboard or journal. Paul Waugh makes an incredible new entry in at 7, well deserved but next year I think he should keep his computer with him on holiday, he was missed.
Nadine Dorries slips to 46 and I imagine she’ll slip even further next year now she’s banned comments on her blog. It’s pretty irritating when she writes something I disagree with (or sometimes agree) and we have to just bottle it up.
Other fantastic blogs that deserve a mention include Ellee Seymour, Malc In The Burgh, Old Holborn, Dylan Jones-Evans, Organised Chaos and all in my blogroll which I read frequently. I don’t just shove anyone on my blogroll, only the best!
Next year’s objective is to push a few Plaid bloggers down in the rankings. I’ve no idea how so many of them occupy the top spots in Wales but it needs to change. Get Plaid Out!
Popularity: 19% [?]
My Review of the Top 100 blogs
I know that the heading may cause you to spit out your Cheerios but if you felt that The Right Student deserved a place in your top ten and you like the way this blog is going then do please vote for me! I’m sure it will be the youngest blog included in the directory/chart and would certainly give this site a fantastic early boost that it needs.
To vote, simply select your top ten political blogs (if you’re stuck for ideas, look at the blogroll on the right) and email them to toptenblogs@totalpolitics.com – make sure they’re ranked!
If I make it in there I’ll be astounded so please do and I’ll give you all cwtches!
Popularity: 10% [?]
Vote for me in the Top Political Blogs!Right, an explanation.
I can now reveal that I am Benny Austwick, the other half (better half :p) of The Right Student. TRS has been down for over a month now as the web host was taken over by someone, didn’t send out invoices and is now refusing to answer any of our emails. I’m not sure how likely it is that it’ll return.
Anyway, The Right Student is no more.
Since I returned from my holiday I have wanted to keep on blogging, therefore whilst TRS was down I started up Dry Tory, relieving my need for blogging and earning a few fans along the way (thanks to all who added me to your blogroll!). Now The Right Student is no more, I have decided to ‘come out’, reveal my identity and rename the blog to Cardiff Blogger.
My twitter has also changed to www.twitter.com/Cardiff_Blogger so please add me on there!
Popularity: unranked [?]
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