From all at Tory Radio, Happy New Year - Here's to a healthy, happy and successful 2007!!

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Britain always has a history of knocking its own success stories - and Tesco is certainly a success story. But when is nbig too big? A story in today's Sunday Times suggests that Tesco has taken control of half of all new shopping space in Britain this year, once store closures are taken into account. Retail analyst Richard Hyman, states this statistic is "mind-boggling". According to his figures, Tesco has opened two million sq ft of retail space this year.

As with all things like this - before we moan about the growth of Tesco - perhaps we should ask ourselves when was the last time we used the local baker, butcher or corner shop. And aren't Tesco just giving people what they want - choice at a low price?

The worry has to be the size of the Tesco land bank. Just how much property do they control and how big do they really want to be?

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Remember you can still sign the online petition to support your local post office by visiting this link.

 As we end 2006 it would be great to send a message of support for the Post Office network.

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Had the most amusing comments from a former Labour press officer which go as follows,  

"By publishing details of his private life on this blog in the past, he has opened himself up to questions."It's like hypocritical celebrities moaning about adverse press coverage when they have spent most of the previous year doing anything and everything to try and get noticed.

Apparently I'm like a celebrity. I will have to phone my Nana!

If you have nothing to hide, Jonathan, why don't you tell us what you're up to now? And why you left 18DS? And was it under a cloud? I agree I have no right to demand answers from you, but if you have nothiing to hide, why not come clean?

Why should I answer anything you ask?

I agree about 18DS being a total failure, I'm wondering if Jonathan agrees with me? Again, I bet you will block this comment from appearing, becuase you realise the questions I am asking are perfectly legitimate. Whoever it was who accused me of stalking him and being a manic really needs to get out more.

Happy New Year comrade. Im sure 2007 will be very good for the Conservatives.

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One of the most informative blogs out there - and even better - he lives in Derbyshire (God's own county). Paul Linford writes from a different political perspective from myself, however he really gets to the heart of a story. He also produces an absolutely superb weekly podcast, which could certainly teach Tory Radio a thing or two.

We give Paul Linford a Tory Radio "CBE" - for services to political podcasting

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Now what can you say about the appallingly addictive Guido Fawkes. He is the only person I know who seemingly succeeded in getting into Tory Conference without a hitch, perhaps a sign that he is the one blogger all politicians fear.

Given some of the stories he has written about, including the peerages issues, surely it would only be right for Tory Radio to give Guido his own peerage.

Lord Fawkes.... hmmm.... has a certain ring to it.

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Conservative Party Chairman Francis Maude has had an interesting year. Not least was one of his regular appearances on Tory Radio when he made the much talked about "mincing metrosexual" quote. Francis has constantly made himself available each month to Tory Radio, allowing ordinary members to ask questions of him on pretty much any subject.

Francis is one of the few MPs to understand the power of the internet, and what effect it will have on communication, and campaigning in the coming years. The Intermet, blogging, and podcasting holds inherent dangers for politicians - but it also holds huge benefits.

Tory Radio awards Francis Maude an "OBE" for recognising the power of the internet in politcs.

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One of the best blogs to come out during 2006 was Ellee Seymour's.

It doesn't just focus on things political - but covers a plethora of topics, and has quickly developed quite a cult following. One of the moset informative and thoughtful bloggers out there, Ellee has demonstrated blogging, and more importantly good blogging isn't just the preserve of males.

Ellee Seymour gets a Tory Radio "CBE" for showing women are just as good at political blogging (if not better) than us men folk.

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A year ago had anyone heard of "PragueTory"? Today this is another blog which has to be on your favourite lists. This man of mystery has quickly established himself as a veritable online rottweiler who has seen how powerful blogging can be in terms of campaigning. Not everyone in blogging agreed with the position he took against Labour blogger Councillor Bob Piper, however what was clearly apparent is the power the internet now has at setting news agendas.

Prague Tory gets a Tory Radio "CBE" for work done to higlight blogging as a campaign tool.

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For me one of the best reads this year has been Dizzy Thnks. He writes on anything from politics to the latest development in web based technology,

He has also proved more than once that a picture is often worth a thousand words.

Dizzy thinks is one of those blogs that has to be on everyone's favourite lists for 2007.

Dizzy Thinks - gets a Tory Radio "CBE" A blogger who isnt afraid to break the news rather that just write about it.

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If you were wanting a diary for the new year, you could do no better than asking for Iain Dales Diary.

Iain has moved the bar to a new level with regards political blogging and has seemingly had a scop for every week of the year. During 2006 he must have becomethe nemesis of more than a handful of journalists having broken story after story only for the mainstream media to follow in his wake.

Not content with being one of the best sources political gossip in the country, he now fronts the ever popular 18 Doughty Street internet TV station, and was co-editor of the highly readable Little Red Book of Labour sleaze.

Arise "Sir" Iain Dale - for services to political blogging and gossip

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The first Tory Radio honour is a Tory Radio Knighthood to Mr Tim Montgomerie of ConservativeHome.

Tim, a former Chief of Staff to Iain Duncan Smith has been instrumental in supporting the emerging online Tory grassroots movement in the UK.

ConservativeHome is THE website to visit if you want to know what is going on within the Conservative Party.

You may not always agree with the things on ConservativeHome (as David Cameron pointed out) but it cannot and should not be ignored. Without Mr Montgomerie giving me some sound advice Tory Radio may not exist today.

Arise "Sir" Tim Montgomerie - for services to the emerging Conservative blogosphere.

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First Tory Radio did a Christmas podcast, and then Her Majesty the Queen followed.

This time the Queen has published her New Years Honours List, and Tory Radio will follow her example. Over the next few hours we will be honouring the various great and the good in political blogging who we think deserve a mention for their work over the past year.

And the great thing is that there have certainly been no cash for honours in these awards - though if you do want to donate - do click the button at the top of the left hand column!

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Yesterday I wrote about the fact that a Labour Cabinet Member was campaigning locally against her own Government's policy, and asked whether it would be honourable for her to resign in order to do so.

Colleagues have now leapt to her defence saying it is of course quite acceptable for a member of the Government to openly campaign against the policy of a Government they are in, if that policy isnt right for the locality. Indeed according to BBC News Online, Health Minister Ivan Lewis said every MP, including ministers, could approach the secretary of state, Patricia Hewitt, if they felt a decision was not right for their area.

I'm sorry but I have never heard such nonsense in my life. Are they honestly saying that it would be OK for example for the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to oppose Post Office closures in their own constituency. Or perhaps the Secretary of State for Health could oppose hospital cuts in her constituency? This smacks of being the most blatant case of nimbyism I have ever seen. Its a fine policy - but cant happen in my constituency.

This is yet another sign of how out of touch Labour is. Even its own MPs are actively campaigning against its very own policies.

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BBC News Online has picked up on an interesting story, where Labour Cabinet member Hazel Blears MP is campaigning against the closure of certian services at a local hospital. Indeed on her own website includes the following text:-

Hazel Blears, MP for Salford, Barbara Keeley, MP for Worsley and Ian Stewart, MP for Eccles have written to the Salford Advertiser pledging their support for the campaign, run by the local newspaper the Salford Advertiser, to save Hope Hopsital's neonatal and maternity facilities.

Their letter is below:-

“We would like to congratulate the Advertiser on the campaign to keep Children’s services in Salford and we give our full support to the campaign.

"We have been involved in discussions with regard to the future of Children’s services for many years now and at all times have tried to ensure the best services for Salford people whilst acknowledging the need to make the best decisions for the service as a whole.

"We are very concerned that the Strategic Health Authority is proposing to close Hope Hospital’s maternity unit as we are determined that Salford families should continue to have access to the highest quality maternity services and children’s health services close to home.

"As Salford MPs we will be working with the community and the local authority to ensure that Salford people retain access to these vital services for themselves and their families.”

Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP
Barbara Keeley MP
Ian Stewart MP

Surely given that any such reduction in services is  a direct result of Government policy, and given she was in the Cabinet, she has an obligation to resign, so she can campaign against Government policy.

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The first Tory Radio honour is a Tory Radio Knighthood to Mr Tim Montgomerie of ConservativeHome.

Tim, a former Chief of Staff to Iain Duncan Smith has been instrumental in supporting the emerging online Tory grassroots movement in the UK.

ConservativeHome is THE website to visit if you want to know what is going on within the Conservative Party.

You may not always agree with the things on ConservativeHome (as David Cameron pointed out) but it cannot and should not be ignored. Without Mr Montgomerie giving me some sound advice Tory Radio may not exist today.

Arise "Sir" Tim Montgomerie - for services to the emerging Conservative blogosphere.

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http://toryradio.podbus.com/challengethechairmannumber2.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/laboursupporterinterviewpart1.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/laboursupporterinterviewpart2.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/timloughtoninterview.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/roberthalfoninterview.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/davidgoldinterview.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/lordbellinterview1.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/lordbellinterview2.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/markclarkeinterview.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/andrewyounginterview.mp3

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http://toryradio.podbus.com/edvaizeyinterviewpart1.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/edvaizeyinterviewpart2.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/cherylgillaninterviewpart1.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/cherylgillaninterviewpart2.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/jessenormaninterviewpart1.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/jessenormaninterviewpart2.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/matthewelliottinterview.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/lordtebbitinterviewpart1.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/lordtebbitinterviewpart2.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/kenclarkeinterview.mp3

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http://toryradio.podbus.com/andrewturnerinterview.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/francismaudeinterview.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/francismaudeinterview2.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/adamrickettinterviewpart1.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/adamrickettinterviewpart2.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/adamrickettinterviewpart3.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/adamrickettinterviewpart4.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/iaindaleinterviewpart1.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/iaindaleinterviewpart1.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/bobneillinterview.mp3

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Below are links to podcasts 1 -10.

http://toryradio.podbus.com/grantshappsinterview1.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/gregclarkinterview.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/idsinterview.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/rogerhelmerinterview.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/timmontgomerieinterview.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/ChrisGraylingInterview.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/zacgoldsmithInterview.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/zacgoldsmithinterviewparttwo.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/toryradioelectionspecial.mp3

http://toryradio.podbus.com/michaelhowardinterview1.mp3

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There aren't many times when I have much sympathy for our beloved Deputy Prime Minister - but when I heard he had taken ill over the Christmas period, well I have to say I felt for him. My Dad has been over from America, and along with the fine gifts he brought, he also was kind enough to give me a stomach bug which struck on Christmas Eve, from which I still haven't recovered.

I will know things will be back to normal when the Toblerone starts to look appealing once again - until then its a piece of toast if I can face it.

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They say a week is a long time in politics - so 2006 has been a long time for Tory Radio. Who would have thought that when the first interview went online, on 13th March, featuring an interview with Grant Shapps MP, come the end of the year there would b 50 Tory Radio podcast files to listen to. Given during that first interview my equipment didnt start recording until a couple of minutes after we had started, some may be surprised Tory Radio is still going.

 Some podcasts were better than others - with some getting much more media attention that others. Who can forget Francis Maude's "mincing metrosexuals" comment - but credit to the party Chairman who has been prepared to be interviewed each month by Tory Radio!

And then of course Lord Tebbit who commented he backed a hug a hoodie policy which was picked up by the papers. Then there was Ken Clarke who admitted he regretted introducing speed humps to the UK.

In case you have missed any of the podcasts from 2006, we will be publishing links to our whole back catalogue. Enjoy - and any comment for future interviews can be left at editor@toryradio.com.

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Well it won't rival the Queen's and it won't make it to No. One in the Charts - but here is a little politically incorrect Xmas message which I thought you would appreciate.

Have a great Christmas and lets look forward to a great 2007!

Click to listen or download

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Hot on the heels of the original little Red Book of Labour sleaze blogging supremose Iain dale and Guido have announced a new project.

I wonder how many chapters they will be going for this time? Get in touch with Iain if you want to write someting

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