Can conservative blogs survive a Cameron government?
James Forsyth 2:02pmOne of the puzzles of the blogosphere in Britain is why there is so much more energy on the right than the left. In Media Guardian today, Matt suggests that the reason for this is that blogging is an essentially oppositional medium. He points out that in the States the left is far more vibrant online than the right. All of which leads to the question of whether right-wing blogs will be as lively under a Cameron government. My hunch, and Matt’s, is that they will be. I don’t think anyone could accuse any of the big right-of-centre blogs in this country of being simple cheerleaders for the Conservative party and I doubt that a Conservative government will make them suspend their critical faculties.
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Comments
dave, surrey
December 10th, 2007 2:41pmThe American left is a totally different beast to the european left. Blogging goes against the grain of socialist thinking. It cannot be controlled by the state and because of this is often critical of our beloved leaders. The left don't like it, just take a look at the woeful labourhome website.
Tiberius
December 10th, 2007 2:51pmBut seemingly, James, the Republican blogs are quieter, though. Certainly the football and cricket message boards that I post to are always busier when the team in question are struggling. But with the Tory history of internal squabbling, maybe we could see an exception. Let's hope we get the chance to find out soon.
ChrisD
December 10th, 2007 3:19pmI agree, the right of centre blogs will carry on with a clinical political dissection of the government and the Conservative party who ever is in power.
In fact the Conservative Party have adapted and used the internet very effectively themselves. They have accepted the explosion of the political blogs and the fact that they are here to stay, whereas on the other hand the Labour government are uncomfortable with the lack of control and seem to immediately seek to stifle the debate.
callingallcomets
December 10th, 2007 4:55pmActually wrong about the USA - see Lucianne, Free Republic etc...and during the 2004 election it was the right wing bloggers who defenestrated Dan Rather and our Swift boat hero John Kerry
Oscar Miller
December 10th, 2007 5:05pmRight wing blogsites in Britain are where the energy is because it's where the ideas are. Apart from honourable exceptions like the Euston Manifesto and Harrys Place, the Left is bankrupt - they've been in a negative spiral for some time - more interested in denouncing and trying to gag ideas than generating them. Hence their tendency to troll on right wing sites. It's all they're up to these days. One of the reasons we need a Conservative government is to end NuLab's awful clonism and attempts to control the MSM. It will be tough for Cameron dealing with a lively blogosphere but so much healthier. And so much more fun.
TGF UKIP
December 10th, 2007 5:37pmAnd I don't doubt that a Blue Labour Government will give the Right plenty of ammunition.
fnusnuank
December 10th, 2007 6:06pmI read the blogs for entertainment. Stanislav on Guido would be funny whichever bunch of crooks are in Gvnt.
Herbert Thornton
December 11th, 2007 3:28amThe question is based on a false premise - that the Tories, as led by David Cameron actually are either right wing or conservative.
They aren't and he certainly isn't.
Mark from Sydney
December 11th, 2007 10:18amInteresting point James. Here in Australia our blogs were principally on the left (we had a conservative govt.). The Labor opposition was elected on Nov 24th. The blogs have quietened somewhat, but are still active. It will be interesting to see if the politcal bias shifts from now on. A few Aust sights worth checking are: Pollbludger.com.au http://possumcomitatus.wordpress.com/
Watch out for an Aussie (left wing) invasion when Mr. Brown is called to account.
Will MacKenzie
December 11th, 2007 12:44pm"...in the States the left is far more vibrant online than the right...". Have they actually looked at sites likes Powerline, Hugh Hewitt, National Review's corner, Weekly Standard, Contentions......?
Herbert Thornton
December 11th, 2007 5:33pmWill - Thanks for mentioning those sites.
When I got to the one called 'Contentions' I especially enjoyed reading this morsel -
"Aid for ‘moderate’ Middle Eastern regimes is meals on wheels, because it does not expect to rejuvenate."
Herbert Thornton
December 11th, 2007 5:34pmWill - Thanks for mentioning those sites.
When I got to the one called 'Contentions' I especially enjoyed reading this morsel -
"Aid for ‘moderate’ Middle Eastern regimes is meals on wheels, because it does not expect to rejuvenate."
Herbert Thornton
December 11th, 2007 5:36pmWill - Thanks for mentioning those sites.
When I got to the one called 'Contentions' I especially enjoyed reading this morsel -
"Aid for ‘moderate’ Middle Eastern regimes is meals on wheels, because it does not expect to rejuvenate."
Herbert Thornton
December 11th, 2007 5:52pmWill - Thanks for mentioning those sites.
When I got to the one called 'Contentions' I especially enjoyed reading this morsel -
"Aid for ‘moderate’ Middle Eastern regimes is meals on wheels, because it does not expect to rejuvenate."
Jack Bloxam
December 12th, 2007 2:41pmI am not convinced that even the bloggers of the centre right have much energy right now. Iain Dale is getting stale despite an inexplicably large number of hits on his site. He is clearly concerning himself with building his media interests and becoming and MP. Apart from one or two obvious exceptions most of the contributors are obsessive compulsives who are barely able to place one word in front of the other. Guido is a chimera; a self invented puffball who was cruelly exposed as such on Newsnight. What opposition? Perhaps only the Devil is in the detail or the Kitchen.