December 2008: Iain Dale's Diary

Blog of the Month for December is Iain Dale's Diary. Iain Dale is a right-wing political commentator, author, columnist for the Daily Telegraph and appearer on TV and radio. He also enjoys standing slightly above quiet shores in green jackets facing away from the camera.

Iain Dale's Diary is an illustration of how blogging has transformed in the last couple of years. Once upon a time it was the underground home of left-field one offs but now it is more an online space for anyone in the mainstream media. That is not to denigrate Mr Dale. This is a very professional site. It's slick, looks good and is definitely the kind of thing you'd take home to meet your mother. All of the things David Cameron's Conservative Party could claim to be since the current Tory leader finally steered his band out of their years of disturbed darkness.

Dale is sharp, amusing and forthright. He communicates his views with style and conviction. He is among the most influential of contemporary political commentators and his brave admission of a childhood interest in Esther Rantzen is only likely to win him even more admirers.

Garan Holcombe