There was a very interesting read on the re-vamped Cambria Politico earlier today, talking about the future of political blogging in Wales.

Tonight, I visited the website of the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) for a shuftie. The 2008 Convention will to be held in Denver between August 25-28.

I quickly realised, the acceptance of blogging has a long way to go in Wales (and indeed the rest of the UK), compared to US politics.

The ‘Media’ section on the DNCC ‘08 website gives the usual information for print and broadcast organisations on how to apply for credentials to attend Denver. However, the DNCC also gives information on the "blogger credentialing process".

The Democrats boast:

"In 2008, the DNCC has made the commitment to significantly expand Convention access for bloggers interested in covering the Convention. In line with the DNCC’s goal to engage more people in the 2008 Convention experience than ever before as well as Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean’s 50-State Strategy, the DNCC will both expand the size of the credentialed blogger pool and also offer for the first time a state blogger credentialing program in 2008. Under this program, the DNCC will offer the opportunity for one blog to be credentialed from each of the 56 states and territories. The DNCC will also credential national bloggers for the 2008 Convention, to include both political and niche bloggers as well as video bloggers from across the country. Bloggers selected for both the DemConvention State Blogger Corps and the General Blogger Pool will be notified in May."

Likewise the GOP, who will be holding the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-Saint Paul between September 1-4 to annoint the "presumed" Presidential nominee, John McCain, are as equally hospitable:

"The 2008 Republican National Convention will utilize numerous mediums – both emerging and traditional – to share our nominee’s vision with the American people. We have a great appreciation for bloggers and the ever-increasing role new media has in providing real-time information and shaping public opinion."

The GOP even go as far as to sub-divide bloggers into "Bloggers Affiliated with Traditional Media Outlets" and "Independent Bloggers".

Where US political parties dare to tread - as a rule - we eventually follow.

(This post first appeared on the Evidently Chickentown Blog on 24th May 2008)

The Spectator is not my favourite magazine (for very obvious reasons), however, their Coffee House blog can sometimes be an interesting read.

This headline in particular, made me smile tonight: ‘Labour Conference abolishes Britishness’.

Apparently, journos filling in application forms to attend this year’s Labour Conference, are shocked at their inability to declare their nationality as ‘British’ on the form. They have to choose from English, Northern Irish, Scottish, Welsh or a foreign nationality, instead.

This is an interesting administrative ‘oversight’ by the Party, given Gordon Brown’s neo-Unionist crusade of recent years.

In 2006, in an article for the Daily Telegraph (yes, I said the Daily Telegraph), Gordon Brown said, in a completely over-the-top statement: "It is now time for supporters of the Union to speak up, to resist any drift towards a Balkanisation of Britain." Bold words indeed from the man who rightly and immediately, recognised the new state of Kosovo, earlier this year.

Undeterred by this contradiction, Gordon has ploughed on, reiterating his message via another recent article for the Torygraph.

Two years on from the launch of Gordon’s ‘big-idea’, I think it is safe to assert that Britain - and importantly, England - has responded to his clarion call, with all the enthusiasm of John Terry being appointed Chelsea’s principal penalty taker.

In short, Gordon’s crusade on the Union has failed in message, direction and purpose. In the words of John Cleese in that famous sketch - "I know a dead parrot when I see one, and I’m looking at one right now".

Like John Major’s ‘Back to Basics’ policy that failed to connect with voters in 1993, Gordon’s neo-Unionism is of no relevance to the punters either.

Whether its Usk, Ullapool or Uttoxeter - neo-Unionism is proving to be an electoral turn-off, at a time when Labour needs turn-out.

Its time to find policies for the moment, not the past.

(This post first appeared on the Evidently Chickentown Blog on 23rd May 2008)

The authors were central players in ‘engineering’ Labour’s third successive (and arguably, its most difficult) General Election victory in 2005 - Matt Carter, Fiona Gordon, Philip Gould, Alan Milburn and Sally Morgan.

In his chapter of the pamphlet, ‘How Labour won the 2005 General Election’, Alan Milburn spelt out what lessons could be drawn from that victory and what, in particular, incumbent centre-left parties needed to do to stay in Government.

Milburn highlighted five imperatives for Labour to pursue during its Third Term in office:

“First, stay connected. This is the hardest task of all for an incumbent party of government. But the rise of right-wing populism in Western Europe and elsewhere is a reminder that a new politics – of identity – symbolized in issues like immigration and crime cannot be ignored by the centre-left. Investment in new means of campaigning – outside of election periods – is critical to getting messages directly through to key groups of voters on these and other issues.

“Second, turn incumbency to advantage. It is both a blessing and a curse. Make it an advantage by emphasizing, in a world of rapid change and mounting insecurity, the risks of radical change versus continuity in policy (on the economy, skills, technology, education and childcare) that help create security.

“Third, position in the centre ground of politics. In a world where deference has declined and traditional party loyalties hold less sway, electoral success goes to those who can genuinely demonstrate cross-class centre ground appeal.

“Fourth, emphasise values. Loyalties to institutions might be fading but belief in values remains strong. Finding dividing line policies that express a difference in values with opponents. Above all, ensure that policies are driven by politics and not the other way round.

“Fifth, face the future. Avoid the trap of incumbency by refusing to rest on your laurels. Always be on the side of reform. Conservatives conserve things. Centre-left parties change things. The longer the tenure of office the greater the need to keep changing.”

Wise words indeed. How Labour’s Leadership needs Alan Milburn ‘in the mix’ right now.

How I also wish Gordon Brown (and his long-time coterie) were humble and courageous enough to put the past behind them, embrace the wisdom and experience of the likes of Milburn, Stephen Byers and Charles Clarke.

Sadly it’s probably all too late. Arrogance and self-certainty has always been hard-wired into the psyche of Brown’s ‘people’. Bringing onboard those brilliant talents that kept Tony Blair afloat for all those years, would be a ‘mea cupla’ too far for the PM.