Blogging (Here) May Be Light

I know I only said that on Thursday and I mean it again. I have some rather exciting news which I will blog about tomorrow probably after a few of the finer details are sorted out.

So don't say I haven't warned you. I do love blogging as a medium and I do intend to get back to it as soon as I possibly can with the same gusto as ever. I'm just warning you that may be some changes around here over the next few months and this page may not have new content as regularly as you are used to over most of the last five years.

I am also turning comments moderation back on. Basically because if the amount of time I may be able to commit to the blog is limited I feel it best not to take risks with the comments left by others. I hope you understand.

But I promise you this blog is not dead. Keep it on your blogroll or aggregator, stuff will pop up from time to time. All posts will remain visible as will comments, the moderation of which may take a little time.

Fair ye well, but stay tuned.

Busy Day for Northern Irish Bloggers

Considering that both Michael and I were taking a 'break' from blogging over the weekend (somehow we still managed the odd one here and there). Today was almost as if we were unleashed back unto the world with a vengeance or possibly it was displacement theory while we're both waiting to find out who may have got a certain job. I'd also managed to wake up three hours before my alarm clock.

Anyway speaking of the job Michael and myself both managed a post about the Alternative Vote, hmm, I wonder why? On the subject of AV Michael also had an issue with Nick Clegg and Simon Hughes' email to members yesterday evening, I know I heard his disgust as he read it. I on the other hand looked at what Nick said, or rather didn't say about the emails that had gone to him about tuition fees. I'd also blogged about prisoners being given back the right to vote. While Michael blogged about getting another Golden Dozen, so I guess I need to up my game again or else he might just overhaul me.

Northern Ireland formed the remainder of the blog posts, firstly the bomb alert in North Belfast affecting the community where Michael lives, some waylaid campaign literature of mine. However, the most pertinent question after the discovery of the body of another of the 'disappeared' what effort to find the perpetrator or this and other disappearances?

Last night I did blog that I was off to "rescue a friendship, hopefully" well a peace treaty was signed in the Pizza Hut at Victoria Square. However, I was truly concerned at one point on Sunday. Although we have also just had another pleasant evening after an LGBT Consultation Forum meeting.

PS By the way this is also a post from Michael as indeed is this.

The Browne Report - Just What He Said

While I was sleeping it appears that my friend and fellow Northern Irish blogger Michael was having some fun with Wordle and The Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance Browne Report.

He's also done a nice Wordle of my short story on the Browne Report as well.



Update: There is now a Facebook Group called Lib Dems Against Scraping the Cap, joining other PPCs, AMs and others.

UUP Leader Elect Elliott : My Reader

Last night the Ulster Unionist Party elected Tom Elliott MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone as their new leader. This morning he said:

"What I want to see is a party that actually represents the population of Northern Ireland.

"I want to see for the Ulster Unionist Party the same as I want to see for the people of Northern Ireland - that is a working together, that is an integration, not a carve up between two parties or two sections of our community.

"I want an all-embracing party that actually represents Northern Ireland."

However, how all-embracing a party can it be if the leader of the UUP is not prepared to attend Pride events of GAA sporting events. As my friend and colleague Mícheál pointed out not in certain communities. 3000 Versts asks questions about what direction the UUP is going to take, again asking will it retreat back to Orange Order and the 'unionists'. Over at Slugger O'Toole there is still a warning that the party need to take off the brake and come out of reverse, something that must not be forgotten simply by the size of Elliott's victory.

Slugger carries this analysis of the result, much in line with the feeling on BBC Northern Ireland's Hearts and Minds last Thursday:

"The DUP will be happy tonight. Alliance will be happy that the UUP won’t be steering too far into their centre ground. And the SDLP will be upset that they’ll still not have a credible ally in the centre ground – the UUP and SDLP tend to succeed together and fail together."

So the reforming campaign of Basil McCrea had fallen by the wayside. Does it seem that the UUP have taken the lesson from the 2010 election that being too liberal is not the way to reach out to Northern Ireland? If it is and Elliott retracts to the right the fight for certain parts of the community of Northern Ireland will become harder once again.

Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Read Me Now I'm 65

Ok I know the Beatles song is 64, and no I haven't slipped in a few extra birthdays. But hey best I could do because somebody should have given me a slightly higher ranking. Yes I'm looking at you (only joking). Thank you everyone who voted for me in the Total Politics Poll.

Total Politics have announced numbers 51-100 in their poll today and I'm delighted to say that my good friend Caron is not to be seen on that list. Why? Because she was convinced she wouldn't be in the top 50 so this morning I put all the lists thus far into a spreadsheet and proved that I was right and she was wrong.

I personally would love her to be number 42. Then I will certainly have to get my Towel out to celebrate.

However. It is quite tight with three Lib Dems in the 60s Liberal England is at number 62, I'm at 65 hence the title of this post and Jennie Rigg is at 68 (she may be wishing she were one place lower for a jokey title).

Doctor Packula is just ahead of us lot at 57 and Liberal Vision just ahead of him at 58. Meaning that there are 8 Lib Dem in the top 70. Sara Bedford's blog Always Win When You're Singing is in there too at 94 and Andrew Reeves the remaining blog from the Top Ten Lib Dems was at 105 in yesterday's list.

As for the Scots:

53 Cute Greek Baby
61 Bright Green Scotland
65 Me
73 Two Doctors
74 Subrosa
80 Malc in the Burgh
96 Alex Massie

Worryingly though with Slugger O'Toole only being at number 100 (down 49 on last year) I am in essence the top Northern Irish blogger.

BOTY Time is almost here again

For the next hour if you sit anywhere near a Lib Dem blogger be nice to them.

Why?

Well the lovely Auntie Helen had earlier this morning gone and ruined all our mornings by telling us that the BOTY (that is Lib Dem Voice Blog of The Year) shortlists will be announced at 12:30
I'll give my opinion later on who is in, who is cruelly omitted and where I think the little golden men will be heading home to after Saturday night's award.


In the mean time, too many hooks remained tentered. Too many bottoms remain squeaky and in an hour's time some carefully polished willies may be put away again for another year without being waved.

Scottish Success in the Top 75

Earlier this evening Total Politics announced the top 75 Liberal Democrat blogs from a poll of over 2,200 blog readers. There was some good news for the Scottish Blogosphere.

First up the top woman is one of the Scots as Caron is at number 3. Little did I know when she first asked me 'How do I start a blog?' that she would climb to this height, only Lib Dem Voice and Mark Reckons.

She is not alone in the top ten this year. As with Scottish list I take her number 7 and Andrew Reeves is number 10 a climb of 9. Our top Councillor Fraser Macpherson from Dundee also in the top 20 at 18 up 13 luckily for him. So that is 20% of the people who can use this button are Scots.

Elsewhere however there are other Scots. Our general election candidate for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock James Taylor with his Liberal Thought blog is the one I'm envious of with his number 42 spot a new entry. He was omitted off the Scottish list but should have been another in the Scottish top 50. Liberal Youth Scotland climb 3 to 54, Edinburgh Cllr Paul Edie enters in the 69 position*, while Montrose Cllr David May is at 72, Aberdeen Cllr Ian Yuill is at 73 and former Angus candidate candidate Sanjay Samani brings up the rear at number 75.

That is ten of the top 75 hailing from north of the border. A very real sound of gunfire from up here, a real strengthening from 5 years ago when I was one of the few Scottish voices in the Lib Dem blogosphere.

Although I've also just heard that Mícheál has just submitted his blog to Ryan at Lib Dem blogs, so seeing as he's spurred on by the friendly competition I may not be the top Lib Dem blogger in Northern Ireland this time next year, just as for the last two years I haven't been top in West Lothian despite being second in Scotland.

But thank you for everyone who voted for me and all the other bloggers on this list. I now also know that if I'd been elected I would now be in the top 10 MPs blogs as well, ho hum. Of course last year I came 11th, 11th and then 101st overall. With two 7ths under my belt this year wouldn't it be strange if I was 77th overall.

* You didn't think I'd avoid double entendre there did you?

Is Group Blogging the New Black?

I was having a little joust with James Mackenzie (aka Two Doctors) on Twitter last night, I mockingly said that I wasn't going to say the nice stuff I was planning to say about his, Jeff and Malc's new venture Better Nation.

I jest of course because I have enough in common with all three of them to make our disagreements just that, a disagreement, a point of contention and not full blown out warfare. It'll be interesting to see how their group dynamic develops as co-editors having seen them together over the odd pints. It would be a shame to lose any of the three of them from blogging and that was the danger that Malc and James were facing over recent months so this new impetus may be the boost to revitalise their creative juices.

Of course I'm also embarking on a new collaborative project, not as James thought with Caron and Andrew as he suggested; like Freedom Central is for the Welsh Lib Dems but for Scotland. No instead I'm getting together with Mícheál setting up the Lib Dems in Northern Ireland blog.

Not of course there hasn't been talk of setting up a Scottish equivalent of Freedom Central. Stephen Tall editor of Lib Dem Voice talked to me about it at conference last year and I talked to Alison Goldsworthy about it there too. So why haven't we got around to it in Scotland?

I think firstly and the three of us have talked about it at times. We are very strong as individual bloggers. By that we are all prolific, hard hitting and bring a personal slant to the issues even if all three of us post on the same subject you will get three very unique perspectives. Secondly such a tool would be to encourage the other Scottish Lib Dem Bloggers. With the notable exception of Fraser Macpherson one of the top 10 Councillor bloggers in the UK, that is in a constant state of embryonic flux. There are some good ones out there like James Taylor, and Paul Edie, but the youngsters Ruaraidh, Callum and Kieran have all given up.

Whereas with Mícheál and me there is a challenge to highlight the Lib Dem brand over here. With a wealth of experience gained in different areas and fields. There is also the obvious media face and the backroom organiser between the two of us. Yes the deal has been struck that if/when I stand in Northern Ireland we know who the agent will be. There are two different styles yet similarly to with Caron and Andrew compatible. I think the boost of my returning has got Mícheál's creative juices running which I hope Better Nation will also do for Malc and James. We'll see how both those projects pan out

As for the Scottish Lib Dem collaboration it remains loose Alliance, with interlinkage and retweeting of stories. Plus, and this is a little secret, occasionally feeding one of the others, in the big three, a story because they would do it more justice because of the way they write.

I'm In Seventh Heaven

It is indeed that time of year again. Total politics are currently in the middle of announcing the list of the Top Political Blogs for 2010.

Today it was the turn of one of the categories for which I am eligible that of the Top Scottish blog. For the past two years I have actually finished in eleventh place in Scotland on both occasions. This year however I am into the top ten at number 7, the spot held last year by my dear friend Caron, she has climbed to number 4. My spot for the last 2 years was so nearly taken by another Lib Dem Andrew Reeves is however only at number 12, journalist Alex Massie assumes the Stephen Glenn position.

Other Lib Dems in the list include Cllr Fraser Macpherson climbing 10 to 18 and Liberal Youth Scotland a new entry at 34. Another blog from Linlithgow and East Falkirk is that of Love & Garbage in at number 44.

Here is the top 10 political blogs in Scotland for 2010 (last year's position in brackets):

1 (1) Tom Harris MP
2 (3) Underdogs Bite Upwards
3 (2) SNP Tactical Voting
4 (7) Caron's Musings
5 (4) Mr Eugenides
6 Bright Green Scotland
7 (11) Stephen's Liberal Journal
8 (5) Two Doctors
9 Subrosa
10 (6) Malc in the Burgh

You can view the top 50 at the Total Politics site.

Of course heaven knows what nation/region list I'll qualify for next year.

My Top Ten for 2010

With voting over for the Total Politics top blogs and as I'm busy this weekend I thought I'd tell you just who it is that I did vote for. So in reverse order.

10. Eric Joyce's Blog - As much for the twitting that Eric does as well as the blogging. He has come to this lately and has shown that he has got the idea of being online. Of course as the agent of the Lib Dem candidate against him I had to answer the GE question about his meeting on the Digital Economy Act by saying "if he is re-elected".

9. Liberal Democrat Voice - Still the go to place for a range of Lib Dem and external views. The team has be bolstered this year and the Hon Lady Mark set a high standard as the first guest editor earlier this month.

8. Subrosa - Should have had one of my votes last year (though I did mention her in the Scottish review what I wrote) but she withdrew herself from consideration. Gives a differing view on things in Scotland, being of a more esteemed generation than most of us.

7. Cardiff Blogger - Is one of the Tory leaning Bloggers that I was able to keep reading even through the General Election campaign. If you haven't caught his and Arnie's weekly podcasts, where have you been? Sometimes irreverant, sometimes cutting edge, often very much tongue in cheek. Always cheeky.

6. Slugger O'Toole - The Lib Dem Voice best non-Lib Dem Blog of 2009. I know I had to make the imprumptu acceptance speech before handing it over to Mick Fealty on the Monday after the Total Politics fringe. The centre of Northern Irish political blogging. I expect my return there will see me contributing more to it in upcoming months.

5. The one, the only, the very fluffy Millennium Elephant - I know that both his Daddies must be very proud of how this 10 year old can write satire worthy of That Was the Week that Was. There were times when I thought how can I cover this political story with worthy words and Millennium would find the right slant, the right EMPHASIS, the tune that would make me smile even if I was angry with the actual story he was extrapolating.

4. Green SNP Tactical Voting - Jeff have moved to Nodnol but he is still somewhat focussed on Scottish politics, though recently his has joined his second politic party. Basically because the SNP are not going to be fighting his local MP and fellow blogger Lynne Featherstone.

3. Caron's Musings - I was worried that if Caron got better she would be less able to keep up the standard of blogging she got into when she was ill. I'm glad to say that the standard of both blogging and writer is doing great. Often Caron and me can find ourselves blogging about the same story at the same time. Yet from largely the same segment of the party will come up with a different way to portray it.

2. Mark Reckons - Very sadly earlier this week one of the most well researched blogs has taken his final bow. I know I'm not alone amogst Lib Dem bloggers in linking to him because he has often asnwered the question of the day in such a way that there is perceivable comeback. I know from personal experience how hard it is to keep up his quality and quantity of output, which sadly is the reason he is hanging up his keyboard.

1. Stephens Liberal Jounral - This is the first time I have ever voted for myself in a Blog of the Year poll. However, I do think I've had my best year, even if politics got in the way of blogging for part of it. I've throw punches in all sorts of directions and judging by the backlinks, comments and retweets many of them landed. I'm not going to match Mark for research or Millennium for satire but I have a niche between the two. Knowledgeable in certain areas but often with a barbed wit to make a point. Of just finding the right combination of words to make a point.

So there you have it my top 10 for last year. Normal service will be resumed shortly.

I Didn't Reckon On This

Earlier this year somebody said to me that there were two very strong contenders for the Lib Dem BOTY this year. I asked who and that individual said me and Mark Thompson. Obviously I was chuffed to be held up in such company.

It was at a time that the two of us in our own inimitable style where ripping into the Conservatives and Labour, pulling apart their policies or lack of with whim, vigour, reasoned argument and not a little humour in the run up to the election. Of course for me the actual election got in the way (being a candidate, agent and helping when I could in a target seat) so I took a little bit of a dip, but have recently got back into full flow, but today I've been knocked sideways by this news.

I have come to a decision that due to other commitments I am going to stop blogging.

This will be my last blogpost....

Cheers

Mark (Reckons) Thompson

Now as I've always told anyone who's asked "How do I start blogging?" one of my two key points is blog when you want to and are able, don't feel the pressure to be as prolific as some of the others (myself included). So therefore it would of course be hypocritical of me to tell Mark to keep at it, I know he will have his reasons, some of which he explains on his final blogpost.

The will be a gaping hole left by Mark's departure. He is currently the top individual Lib Dem blogger in the Wikio rankings at number 13 only nine places behind Lib Dem Voice. If I recall correctly he did manage to hold the Stephen Glenn Position just outside the top 10.

While I know that he is giving up his Mark Reckon's blog I know that the door will always be open when something really powerful needs to be typed from his keyboard as a guest piece on Lib Dem Voice or elsewhere. At least I hope so.

But as one of the older hands in the Lib Dem blogosphere it is always a shame so see another bright light extinguish itself and Mark was certainly one of the brightest, most thoroughly researched, accessible and perceptive blogs we had in our corner. I had the privilege of meeting him at Bournemouth last September and I look forward to having a drink with you again in Liverpool mate.

So long and thanks for all the fisks.

What Mark Thompson is After

Mark Thompson has just posted a rather timely reminder that there are only TWO days left to vote for your favourite blogs of 2010 in the Total Politics Best Blogs Poll 2010. Having just starting reading my copy of the magazine this morning. I had too good a time at Wagamama last night to start when I got in, I'd say very worth while.

The poll is run by Total Politics (backed by ) and for the second year running it is also being co-promoted/sponsored by Liberal Democrat Voice and LabourList.

A quick reminder or instruction as to the rules folks:

1. You must vote for your ten favourite blogs and ranks them from 1 (your favourite) to 10 (your tenth favourite).
2. Your votes must be ranked from 1 to 10. Any votes which do not have rankings will not be counted.
3. You MUST include at least FIVE blogs in your list, but please list ten if you can. If you include fewer than five, your vote will not count.
4. Email your vote to
5. Only vote once.
6. Only blogs based in the UK, run by UK residents or based on UK politics are eligible. No blog will be excluded from voting.
7. Anonymous votes left in the comments will not count. You must give a name
8. All votes must be received by midnight on 31 July 2010. Any votes received after that date will not count.

Mark says it would be rather spiffing if you voted for him, I say go ahead just as long as the following mathematical formula applies

Number beside Mark Reckons > Number beside Stephen's Liberal Journal (as per rule 2 above)

ie 2 Mark Reckons > 1 Stephen's Liberal Journal (simples - just remember to include at least another 3)

See having been working hard in the campaign trail I know that the higher the preference the better, preferably number one. I'm sure Mark would concur.

Time for the BOTY Nominations

Last years little shindig in Old Harry's Bar, Marriott, Eastbourne was so jam packed that I was fortunate to turn up early with Lionel to claim a good spot near all the action. Sadly Mike Fealty the big man behind Slugger O'Toole was mistakenly told that the upstairs bar was Old Harry's so I had to step up to claim the BOTY for best non-Lib Dem Blog as a contributor. Titter ye not, tis true.

Yes there may be just under a week left to vote for the Total Politics Blog of the Year but the main event of the summer has just been announced. Yes that is right the Lib Dem Voice BOTYs are entering their fifth year. Men, women and elephants of the Lib Dem blogosphere will be getting sweaty palms, or around the collar or itchy trunks. But don't also forget there is more than just the best blog that gets awarded in the veritable smorgasbord of awards.

This year’s awards are as follows:

Best new Liberal Democrat blog (started since 1st September 2009)

Best blog from a Liberal Democrat holding public office (The Tim Garden Award)

Best use of blogging / social networking / e-campaigning by a Liberal Democrat

Best posting on a Liberal Democrat blog (since 1st September 2009)

Best non-Liberal Democrat politics blog

Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year

Full details of the classifications can be found on Lib Dem Voice. As are details of the esteemed judging panel. It would appear that Costigan Quist has done a Reggie Perin the the pile of clothes and shoes seen beside Eastbourne pier at the end of conference last September were merely a decoy, as the esteemed mystery man or woman or cuddly toy whose Himmelgarten Cafe was winner in 2009 maintains the tradition of last years BOTY winner sitting on the panel.

He will be joined by:

Prateek Buch, who blogs at consider, evaluate, act

Jonathan Calder, who blogs at Liberal England

Lee Chalmers, co-founder of the Downing Street Project, leadership consultant and blogger at Lee’s random blog: Leadership, politics and women’s stuff

Ryan Cullen from Lib Dem Voice, who also runs Lib Dem Blogs and his own blog at The Artesea

Helen Duffett (that’s me) from Lib Dem Voice and also my own blog

Mary Reid, former Kingston Upon Thames councillor, who continues to blog at Mary Reid

Jo Swinson, Liberal Democrat MP for East Dunbartonshire

Ros Taylor, Deputy Editor of the Guardian’s Comment is Free

Andy Williamson, Director of Digital Democracy at the Hansard Society

Please feel free to nominate this blog indeed as Iain Roberts said on Liberal Democrat Voice early in the period for consideration.

"Stephen Glenn celebrates his well-deserved success. Recognise his genius, damn you!"

And who are we to argue?

Indeed the Hon. Lady Mark kindly when posting my Slugger acceptance speech said 'At some point, it would be nice if Stephen won an award himself.'

So make it happen. All recognition of my genius will be happily accepted by emailing Helen Duffet at helen@libdemvoice.org

Why Wasn't I Call Adam or Something?

Somebody has only just come to my blog through the Total Politics list of Liberal Democrat bloggers. Now it must say something that when I first started you couldn't see the next Lib Dem blogger for the trees.

There is slight irony that my blog is currently located by alphabetical order on page 11 of the Liberal Democrat bloggers.

Don't forget it is time to vote in the Total Politic Blog of the Year



The rules are simple.

• 1. You must vote for your ten favourite blogs and ranks them from 1 (your favourite) to 10 (your tenth favourite).
• 2. Your votes must be ranked from 1 to 10. Any votes which do not have rankings will not be counted.
• 3. You MUST include at least FIVE blogs in your list, but please list ten if you can. If you include fewer than five, your vote will not count.
• 4. Email your vote to toptenblogs@totalpolitics.com
• 5. Only vote once.
• 6. Only blogs based in the UK, run by UK residents or based on UK politics are eligible. No blog will be excluded from voting.
• 7. Anonymous votes left in the comments will not count. You must give a name
• 8. All votes must be received by midnight on 31 July 2010. Any votes received after that date will not count.

I Could Be Shameless, But I'm a Little Vote Weary

You know I've spent too much of recent months asking people to vote for me.

First there was the Westminster election. Then there was the shortlisting panel for Edinburgh Central who in their wisdom made for a very interesting contest (including me). Then it was the Liberal Democrats of Edinburgh Central and it may not be over yet of course.

So therefore I'm all out of shamelessly asking people to vote for me. I know that in recent months I have been very busy with all of the above and this blog has suffered as a result. But as Iain Dale is asking for your votes for the annual Total Politics Blog of the Year Award may I ask one small favour.

I want to finish ahead of the Stephen Glenn Position©. This is about a full year and there has been some good stuff. As well as an awful lot of it. Like when I was laying into Jan Moir's unpology over her Stephen Gately comment. For the sake of balance I also laid into Stonewall for their hypocrisy about some gay people who wish, for whatever reason, to keep that private. There was also my concern over the extreme right American Family Association's personal hygiene over something they wrote.

Warning for Caron don't click next link*. There was also the story of Kerry Robertson and her baby Ben snatched from her in Ireland by Fife Council. I also stood up for Science in the face of Labour's flat earth society. And oh so much more.

But as ever dear reader I leave it up to you. After all some of you may be getting me asking you to for for me far too often over the next few months if you haven't already.

* At least not without copious amounts of tissues.

The Wikio MacBlogopshere Rankings March 2010

The March political Wikio Rankings are out, so before I head into the conference hall in Perth for day two of the Scottish Lib Dem Conference I'm going to have a quick look at how us Scottish bloggers are doing.

The trend this month is a lot of minor slippage at the top end Tom Harris remains top but slips down one spot. The cute Greek baby who used to own the number 16 spot has dipped out of the top 20, Alex Massie and Subrosa both drop one spot. Jeff returns to the top 40. Bishop Hill jumps a couple of spots and is not breathing down my neck. Caron slips and Andrew climbs up just behind her in what is the flux of the top three Lib Dem blogs.

Scottish Round Up has a far better second 'album' month in the listings that Andrew Neill. Of the three PPCs on the list only James climbs this month. Yousuf who was edging towards dropping out of the top 100 bounces back strong, but Underdog Bites Upwards will need to rise upwards again having slipped out of the top 100.

As usual here is the complete list with last month's rankings in brackets.

1. Tom Harris MP And another Thing... 7 (6)
2. Mr Eugenides 21 (17)
3. Alex Massie's Spectator Blog 27 (26)
4. Subrosa 29 (28)
5. SNP Tactical Voting 32 (41)
6. Stephen's Linlithgow Journal 48 (48)
7. Bishop Hill 49 (62)
8. Caron's Musings 62 (58)
9. Andrew Reeve's Running Blog 65 (80)
10. Scottish Round Up 68 (84)
11. Andrew Neill's Blog 74 (67)
12. Ranting Rab 79 (77)
13. Two Doctors 86 (88)
14. Yapping Yousuf 96 (96)

See you same time, same blog next month folks.

Year of the (not so) Nearly Blog - Month Foxtrot

I'm keeping the slight title change from last month. The reason being that the Wikio rankings lifted to number 4 Lib Dem last month.

Considering February has three days less than January I'm quite happy about stats. Last month I had 3,816 absolute unique visitors up from 3,753 in December up 2.5%. They made 5,623 (5,419) visits +3.8% and 6,980 (6,798) page views +2.7%. All of which are new records for this blog. My busiest day was the 15th February although both the 14th and 24th were just behind. The 24th was when for some reason google images in Australia started to hit my number one blog of the month.

But that's enough of the procrastinating on with what you're all waiting for my top 11s* for January.

Top referring sites were:

1. (1) Google Organic
2. (2) Direct Hits
3. (5) SNP Tactical Voting
4. (3) Lib Dem Blogs
5. (9) Facebook
6. (-) images.google.com.au
7. (6) Lib Dem Voice
8. (7) Twitter
9. (4) Iain Dale
10. (-) images.google.com
11. (11) Google Referral

I wrote 102 new contributions to the blog down from last months exceptionally busy 153 but exactly the same umber as in December. The 11 stories that you've been reading most (by direct page views) are:

1. Chinese Deathly Whispers (for the first time being top on a month)
2. Kung Hei Fat Choy 2010
3. Further in the Nicola Sturgeon Situation
4. Comedian Jason Wood Dies Aged 38
5. ***BREAKING*** Only MP with Two Premiership Teams Steps Aside
6. Standing Down and Defection
7. So Tory Bear Describe a Typical Paedophile
8. Where's the Reader's Digest Prize Draw When They Need it
9. Green Blogger Joins Lib Dems
10. SNP Glasgow Counciller Defects to the Lib Dems
11. Future Freefall for All #LabourSlogan

Where did you all come from? There were ten less territories than January with only 72.

1. (1) United Kingdom
2. (2) USA
3. (5) Australia
4. (3) Canada
5. (4) Ireland
6. (7) Germany
7. (10) Philipines
8. (6) France
9. (8) Netherlands
10. (-) Belgium
11. (-) Hong Kong

Green Blogger Joins Lib Dems

Former Green Student blogger Kristofer Keane has been on a bit of a Political journey himself. he say he started supporting the Scottish Socialist Party, then in the 2007 elections supported the Scottish Nationalist Party, when he went to University he joined the Greens but now has left them to join the Liberal Democrats.

He gives 3 different break downs on a recent blog post of why he has come to his decision. On Political Position he says:

"I have never really expressed great support for Green policies on other matters though, and this was exemplified recently by the debate of our position on the deficit for going into the upcoming election. The Liberal Democrat position on widespread cuts and efficiency savings is far more realistic and appealing to me than some Green Party campaign on preserving spending levels as they are now. Furthermore, I feel the Greens have their priorities wrong in choosing this time to talk about abstract ideas such as contraction and convergence....

"I have been reading the Liberal Democrat manifesto and I found myself in agreement with them on many issues. To a far greater degree than I found myself agreeing with the Greens anyway."

Similar thoughts on preserving spending levels could be argued against the SNP at present as well.

On electoral strategy and hopes he tells of his just missing out in Glasgow North East but how he saw more of Lib Dem candidate Eileen Baxendale out on the campaign trail than he did of David Doherty the Green Party candidate. He adds:

"The Scottish Greens have been very lucky after the 2007 elections in that the remarkably tight party balance at Holyrood means their two votes often matter. However, no balance at Westminster is going to lead to one Green MP being able to make any changes and, with Labour down and out, the best hope to prevent a Conservative majority is for a hung parliament to emerge where the kingmakers will be the Liberal Democrats. Therefore the best chance for bringing in environmental legislation within the critical timeframe of this next parliament lies with the Liberal Democrats."

A final thread of his thought process comes down to local politics in Motherwell and Wishaw where he hails from he speaks highly of Lib Dem candidate Stuart Douglas how I have known since he was a fresh faced 15-year-old making his debut speech at conference. Adding:

"The Greens won’t be having a candidate in Motherwell and Wishaw, and ultimately Motherwell and Wishaw is where my political concerns are concentrated.

"In terms of the next council elections too, the Liberal Democrats are much more likely to make advances in North Lanarkshire than the Greens, and North Lanarkshire desperately needs to break the Labour majority and have a Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition executive formed to stop Labour running through whatever they want – the sort of power that has let them railroad through bad project after bad project."

Therefore welcome Kris to the Liberal Democrats, it appears that you have made this latest transition after some considerable thought. I hope to get to know you over the coming years as we journey on Lib Dem ship together. A lot of what you said rings true with me, though as a student for me joining my first party the economic policies of the Lib Dems were more feasible then along with their environmental heart to get me in and keep me there these last 21 years.

MacBlogopshere Wikio Rankings February

They are here the February political Wikio Rankings. Last month I finished with "So until next time when the snow may or may not still be with us, bon chance, bon spiel and careful how you go." Well the snow has largely gone around me except where it was heaped up, yes we still have some of the snow that fell in December with us in February, the Bonspiel didn't 'officially' happen, and some of you have had one or two minor mishaps.

First up apologies for last Month missing off Captain Ranty who entered the top 100 at 80. Sadly this month he has just slipped out of the top 100 to 108. So belated welcome for last month, maybe you'll climb back into the top 100 next month, these rankings are quite volatile, well apart from Tom Harris who is wedged into 6th spot again and the Cute Greek Baby who has climbed one spot back to 16th.

However, there are two Scottish new entries this month that I did pick up on. First up if we are counting Alex Massie, and we are, we'll have to count Andrew Neill as well who appears at number 67. Maybe he'll prompt Brian Turner to add himself to Wikio and we can have a journalistic competition in the MacBlogosphere as far as Wikio goes. The other new entry is Scottish Round Up at 84.

Using the Scotblogs Political Rankings as a guide how have our top 25 done.

Numero Uno SNP Tactical Voting is only 5th by Wikio, the Cute Greek Baby is second in both. We drop to 6th Scot Blog and find the 3rd in Wikio for Mr Massie. Caron followed him and was the top Lib Dem but Wikio has her dropping behind me (21st Scotblogs) again this month, but then she does say seven is her lucky number*. Subrosa was last of our top ten to make the Wikio charts at 4th.

The absence of J Arthur Macnumpty, Go Lassie Go, Lallands Peat Worrier (172), Gerry Hassan and Indygal Goes to Holyrood (183) from our top Wikio blogs is because three of them have not listed themselves on Wikio while the other two as indicated in brackets are in the lower reaches of the Top 200. Although you can submit a site to be added to Wikio at http://www.wikio.co.uk/addsource

Yousuf scraped into the Scotblogs at 25 and slipped again in the Wikio rankings as our lowest but 15th Scot to 96.

Tom Harris, Bishop Hill, Ranting Rab, Andrew Reeves, Underdog Bites Upwards and Two Doctors are all in the Wikio list(Mr Harris as is customary at the top) but didn't feature in the Top 25 Political ScotBlogs. Therefore in the space of a week we have two very different looking lists showing the strength in depth of the Scottish political bloggers.

As usual here is the complete list with last month's rankings in brackets.

1. Tom Harris MP And another Thing... 6 (6)
2. Mr Eugenides 17 (18)
3. Alex Massie's Spectator Blog 26 (25)
4. Subrosa 28 (26)
5. SNP Tactical Voting 41 (35)
6. Stephen's Linlithgow Journal 48 (50)
7. Caron's Musings 58 (46)
8. Bishop Hill 62 (56)
9. NEW Andrew Neill's Blog 67
10. Ranting Rab 77 (70)
11. Andrew Reeve's Running Blog 80 (75)
12. Underdog Bites Upwards81 (71)
13. NEW Scottish Round Up 84< href="http://twodoctors.org/">Two Doctors 88 (73)
15. Yapping Yousuf 96 (88)

See you same time, same blog next month folks.

* BTW Caron is also 7th Lib Dem UK-wide in Wikio rankings this month

Proud to be a Politico

I'm proud to be referred to a Politico, it is a word that predates the Internet, one quick Internet search shows it appears in Webster's dictionary in 1913. In the UK there are Labour politicos, Lib Dem Politicos, Green Politicos and Tory Politicos.

One of the latter is of course Tory Politico but heaven forbid that the might of corporate legislative America should claim that a word in common parlance should be copyrighted and used exclusively by them. But that is what they have done to Tory Politico.

I note that this company claiming copyright has a Wikipedia page which states that they were founded on 27 January 2007. Now forgive me if I'm wrong but I seem to recall Tory Politco being around before that. I know blogs come and go and the old memory of who started when is a little shady.

Their lawyers claims that unsurprising for an English language blog based in the UK that the second most populous country for hits is the USA. Well I dare any UK blog to check their hits and prove otherwise, unless they specialise in Australia or Canadian subjects of interest. For each month I've been tracking the USA is my second most common country of traffic origin, I'm glad the American's have taste and some of them check out UK angles on US stories.

The also claim that Tory Politico's template is similar to theirs.

Let me see:

• Header Check although Tory Politico uses larger font and centres his title
  
• List of stories Check but then we all do that
  
• Sidebar right Check but then we all do that (or should) for Mobile viewing
• Colours red, white and blue Check watch out Union Flag you're next with your colour scheme
• Ads Not Check yeah Tory Politico is ad free but they are all over the Politico

I'm sorry that anyone thinks that Americans are stupid enough to confuse Tory Politico's reporting of UK politics with The Politico's reporting of US politics. I would have thought that the lack of daily Obama stories, congressional race intrigue or Senate Filibusters may have been a give away. Facing attacks on Gordon Brown or praise for David Cameron may just have given that away.

Tory Politico is standing his ground to use a word of Italian and Spanish origin that some US ENGLISH blog claims is their word. This blog stand shoulder to should with them. The NFL earlier this week almost tried to imposed image rights on the fleur-de-lys after the Freedom Fries the French would have been bombing NFL HQ.

UPDATE I noticed that someone on TP's comments has spotted that Politoco's (oops sorry that is Iain Dale's trademank) the lawyer of Politoco is called Dow Lohnes, maybe we should all alert the New York Stock Exchange that someone is using a name very similar to their index to add gravitas to their stupudity.

Hat tip to Iain Dale.