Tory Radio - have you checked it out?

Visit our new site only at www.toryradio.com

Tell us what you think by emailing editor@toryradio.com

4 days to go....

Until the new website goes online.

And now you can nominate Tory Radio for an award.

We weren't shortlisted for the New Statesmans New Media Awards - but given neither were Guido or Iain Dale who am I to complain.

We have however been shortlisted by ConservativeHome. So if you fancy casting a vote for Tory Radio visit the link here and take part in their July Survey

Go on... you know you want to!

5 days and counting......

Apologies once more for the lack of posting. Those of you who know will realise that the day job has been pretty hectic over the last few weeks.

There are now only 5 days to go until the launch of the new Tory Radio website - so there is something to look forward to.

To mark the launch I will be publishing an interview a did a while ago with what you might describe as a professional family man who lived in a marginal seat that went Conservative in the last election. It make for fascinating listening as to hos perspective on how the Conservative party has changed - and what more he would like to see if he is to be convinced to vote Conservative.

The next upcoming attraction will be a superb interview with Tim Loughton. It's one of those where you wish you had twice as much time to into much more depth on some of the questions. Maybe we will be able to convince Tim to make a return visit to Tory Radio!

And now a word from our sponsor....

Well not quite, but I did want to that the person who has designed and worked on the new Tory Radio website.

Bluetorch Solutions is a small venture setting out to revoluntionise the way conservatives portray themselves online by building modern, interactive and good-looking websites that are proactively updated to ensure that users see the best you have to offer.

Prices start from as little as £89 per year.

Contact Mike Rouse for more details or a quote:-

mike@bluetorchsolutions.com
08714 261 550

Tory Radio Beta Testing

Only 8 days to go until the new Tory Radio Website launches. I thought it would be useful to give you all a sneak preview of where we are with it. Click the link below to take a look at what the new site will look like.

Click here to preview the new Toy Radio website

If anything doesn't work, or you have any comments ore suggestions please let em know:- editor@toryradio.com

Goldilocks and the three trains

I thought I would share the comments what someone who works for one of the train operating companies this weekk. When one passenger politely enquired as to why they couldnt manage to provide enough rolling stock time and time again, he said it was the weather.

"Our trains don't like it when it's too hot or too cold"

I suppose it has to be just right then!

Challenge the Chairman

In conjunction with ConservativeHome, Conservative supporters, members and bloggers took their opportunity to put questions to the Chairman of the Conservative Party, Francis Maude MP.

To listen to the exclusive Tory Radio interview click the link below:

Listen to Challenge The Chairman

• Find out what Francis has to say about the Bromley by election
• What his thoughts of the EPP decision are
• Whether Guido Fawkes will be allowed to attend Conservative Conference
• And how its time for the party to "raise our game"

Embattled Blair

Two pieces in the Guardian go some way to highlight what Labour MPs think of their leader at the moment.

In a letter to the editor Peter Kilfoyle, writing on the subject of fundraising , writes...."Is it little wonder that Labour party activists have given up in droves. They expect a higher purpose in their leaders."

And then what about former Health Secretary, Frank Dobson, who writes, "That's why the sooner he goes, the better for the Labour party and the country...."

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Tory Radio talks to Ken Clarke

Tory Radio took the opportunity to talk to recent leadership contender, and current Nottinghamshire MP Ken Clarke.

To listen to the Ken Clarke interview click here

To find out why he believes he isn’t Conservative Party leader, what his views on Europe are, and why every motorist may be justified in having “the hump with him, click the link above.

Evening Standard coverage of the Tebbit interview

What bright spark?

Having had the opportunity to live in the States as a child gave me the chance to visit various places I would never have otherwise seen.

One visit that sticks in the memory is visiting Thomas Eddison's House - the man widely acknowledged to have invented the light bulb. If memory serves me correctly the light bulbs in his house have never been replaced and are still working!

If a story in the Mail on Sunday is to believed, Government is pushing to encourage people to use energy saving bulbs (such as the one pictured here). Now surely this is to be welcomed, but then you hear how they are thinking of doing it.

They aren't trying to lowed the cost of energy saving bulbs - no - they want to tax less efficent ones.

So the Government who give people like my Nanas money in the form of her Winter fuel allowance, will now be taking it back off her by raising the price of normal bulbs. Is this really the best way to encourage us to be more energy efficient?

Forthcoming attractions

Well what a day for Tory Radio! Being flagged up on the BBC website certainly drove some traffic. And the articles om the Telegraph and Guradian website all helped. It was Brendan Carlin at the Telegraph who first picked up on the Lord Tebbit interview.

Then on the way home from a busy week in London I saw the interview being mentioned in the Evening Standard and also in their editorial. Its a pity they didnt manage to say Tory Radio conducted the interview isn't it.

Anyway, in between wlaking to towm, doing the shopping, painting my front door and trying to get my house in some sort of order so that it can go on the market, I am about to put together the interview I did with Ken Clarke - which will go online on Monday. Another fascinating "subject" to talk with for half an hour.

Its that time of the month again too - Your chance to CHALLENGE THE CHAIRMAN. I am sure Tim Montgomerie will let me flag this up on ConservativeHome, but if you have a question for Francis - you can also email me direct at editor@toryradio.com

Helping Tory Radio

Not only did Lord Tebbit spend time talking to Tory Radio - he also signed a House of Lords 2007 diary and a House of Commons 2007 diary.

If you'd like a great piece of political memorabilia email a bid to editor@toryradio.com - all proceeds to help with the running costs of this podcast.

No Honours will be given in return for your support!

Tebbit and hugging hoodies

Brendan Carlin of the Telegraph has written an excellent piece on the Norman Tebbit interview I did this week. You can access it on The Telegraph's site here.

Its also covered here on the Guardian's site

To listen to the full interview click the links below

Lord Tebbit interview part 1

Lord Tebbit interview part 2

I'm off to the Public Affairs News awards taking place tonight, so Ive been persuaded to put the interview online early.

I really think it gives an insight into the man which I never expected.

Let me know what you think.

What a difference a day makes.....

24 little hours, which brought about the arrest of Labour fundraiser Lord Levy, a pledeg by David Cameron to leave the EPP, with (if I understand it correctly) all MEPs who will stand at the next Euro elections also having to agree to leave the EPP, and of course three great interviews to go online.

A super interview with Shadow Childrens Minister Tim Loughton - one not to be missed.

A fascinating chat with the Big Beast himself Ken Clarke.

And COMING TOMORROW, an interview with the "Chingford skinhead", Lord Tebbit

Tebbit talks to Tory Radio

It takes a lot to make me me lost for words but today it happened.

I don't know what I expected when I knew I was going to meet Lord Tebbit. Here was a figure who was invovled in politics at the highest level when I was a lad. Here was a man who was a key member of the Thatcher Government. Here was a man who took on the Unions and won.

Here was a man who told me not to tell his secretary that he had forgotten he was meeting me, or he would get in trouble.

Here was a man who when I asked him if there was any decision he could change in his political career, he said to me that he would change his marginal decision whether on the Thursday evening of the party conference in 1984 he would to stay on in Brighton to be on the platform hte next day for the Prime Minister's speech rather than as hed been thinking, nipping off early and going home.

That really puts life into perspective doesn't it!

The two part interview I have just been putting together is a real insight into Lord Tebbit and what he stands for. It will probably be quite an eye opener to those who only know him by whats written about the man.

The TaxPayers Alliance Exclusively on Tory Radio

A few weeks ago I took the opportunity to interview Matthew Elliott, Chief Executive of The TaxPayers Alliance.

Click the link below to listen to the exclusive interview

Interview with The TaxPayers Alliance

Time to take out the trash?

First it was the Lib Dems who advocated having to pay for how much household refuge you produce, then it appears Mr Milliband has been won over by such an idea - though I suspect Gordon Brown needs to be persuaded.

Make sure you tune in to the interview with Matthew Elliott of The Taxpayers Alliance to hear what he has to say about environmental tax, and what advice he would give a future Conservative Government - exclusively on Tory Radio, Monday 10th July.

Exciting new interviews - any questions??

Next week I will hopefully have time to fit three interviews in when I am down in London. I will be taking the opportunity to speak to Shadow Health Minister Tim Loughton, the Big Beast himself Ken Clarke, and Tory legend Lord Tebbit.

Any questions - just email editor@toryradio.com

New month, New website

Fresh from the great news that Tory Radio has secured a regular Challenge The Chairman slot, I am pleased to announce that with a little (well actually a huge amount for which I can't thank him enough) help from Mike Rouse, Tory Radio will have a new, fresh, and hopefully more user friendly website.

For those of you using the blogspot web address, make sure you bookmark www.toryradio.com to ensure a smooth transfer from one site to the other.

Watch this space for more news as to when the new site goes live.

Tory Radio CD now available

For only £5 we can now send you a CD with all the Tory Radio episodes conducted so far (that's 31 MP3 files and counting) - so you can enjoy them at your leisure without having to download them.

These CDs will play on your computer - and on some (not all) audio CD players.

Email editor@toryradio.com

Challenge the Chairman - Francis Maude Exclusive

Tory Radio has the pleasure to introduce the first in what is a regular "Challenge the Chairman" slot with the Chairman of the Conservative Party, Francis Maude MP.

The questions tabled through one of the finest political blogs in the country ConservativeHome have all been tabled by you, and put to the Chairman last Thursday at Campaign Headquarters.

Apologies to those people whose questions weren't asked. With a limited amount of time we tried our best to group questions which sometimes were on the same subject which unfortunately meant some weren't asked - however given this is a monthly feature there will always be plenty of opportunity.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO CHALLENGE THE CHAIRMAN

If you have any comments, please feel free to email us at editor@toryradio.com, or leave a message on

020 7870 8658

Five minute News Review

Here is the second of our regular Five Minute News Reviews - well this one actually is over 6, but then Ive always been told I talk too much.

If you want to hear about Rooney's bad week, how many of us are working for the state, and why the Shadow Charities Minister believes private schools are providing a public good, click the link below.

Click here to listen to the News Review


Do not hesitate to get in touch - on any of the subjects covered in the news review, or if you have any questions:- editor@toryradio.com