What I wrote at Lib Dem Voice

June 04, 2006

Your nominations, please...

I'm going to out up a new poll over at m'other gaff soon, asking the question: who is your favourite must-read British political commentator? I'm going to short-list seven, probably from among the following (in alphabetical order):
  • David Aaronovitch (The Guardian)
  • Nick Cohen (The Observer)
  • Matthew d'Ancona (Sunday Telegraph / Spectator)
  • Danny Finkelstein (The Times)
  • Simon Heffer (Daily Telegraph)
  • Simon Jenkins (The Guardian / Sunday Times)
  • Boris Johnson (Daily Telegraph)
  • Dominic Lawson (The Independent)
  • Matthew Parris (The Times)
  • Melanie Phillips (Daily Mail)
  • Andrew Rawnsley (The Observer)
  • John Rentoul (The Independent)
  • Philip Stephens (Financial Times)
  • Alan Watkins (Independent on Sunday)
I've tried to give a reasonable spread, both of newspapers and of viewpoint (without resorting to the inclusion of 'look at me' controversialists, like Littlejohn).

Have I missed any? Want to lobby for one of those to make the cut? If so, let me know in the comments box.

Meanwhile, there's still time to vote in my current online poll to say when you think Tony Blair - and seemingly, by extension, John Prescott - should step down. A clear majority are currently urging 'Immediately', but there's a disturbing number of masochists who believe he should 'go on and on and on'. (Or perhaps you're really sadists, and think it's a punishment that fits the crime.)

7 comments:

Jock Coats said...

And do you include the one in your own ward as not a political commentator or as a 'look at me' controversialist?

Me, I'd like a "none - I know they think they are important and probably do have far too much influence but they all write tripe (compared with me...:)".

But I'd vote if pushed for Andrew Rawnsley so I hope he makes the cut - he even replied to an email I sent him the other day on Generational Theft.

Peter Pigeon said...

Riddell?

Sam Brittan and Martin Wolf for me.

David Morton said...

How can you leave out Polly Toynbee?!

Anonymous said...

Rawnsley and Parris, of those.

Jock Coats said...

Yeah Sam Brittan would get my vote too (he's pro LVT...:)

Stephen Tall said...

Rawnsley/Parris - yes.
Riddell - past his peak?
Brittan - fair enough.
Wolf - more economics than political commentator...?

How can you leave out Polly Toynbee?!
To ask the question is to answer it.

Anonymous said...

Bruce Anderson!!!

To paraphrase Sillitoe (via the Arctic Monkeys): "Whatever Bruce Anderson says he is, that's what I'm not!"