Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Pandora: Blogosphere blues for David Cameron

Alice-Azania Jarvis
Wednesday 19 May 2010 19:00 EDT
Comments
David Cameron
David Cameron (KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/AFP/Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

It wasn't the Internet wot won it, in the end, for David Cameron. Just as well, you might say. The modern man of a PM has yet to wrestle control of that all-important URL davidcameron.com. The website - set up, presumably, before predictions of a "digital election" forced every would-be MP to reveal their lunch details in under 140 characters (no redactions allowed) – is a one-tracked attack on the Conservative leader. The most recent entry describes how "Ashcroft and Clegg help Cameron hobble to power." Number 10 claim to be aware of the hatchet's existence, but know not whence it comes. As for whether or not there are any plans to attempt a buy-out, a spokesman declined to respond. If there are, they may prove costly. Its author is listed as one Reza Sobati. Back in 1999, after a similar stunt, Sobati put the address www.gordonbrown.com up for sale at a cool £30,000. Samantha's Christmas gift perhaps?

You can't pick your backers

Does anyone want Ed Balls to lead the Labour party? Apart from Gordon Brown, that is. The answer, it seems, is yes: the Tories do. Yesterday the former Children's Minister attracted vocal support from party activist Iain Dale and Conservative website Tory Radio. Ups the numbers, though perhaps not quite in the manner Balls might have hoped for.

* Gosh, we're not quite sure what to make of this one. Anyway, here we go. In the latest instalment of our occasional series, Overheard on the Number 89, a commuter, female, is vociferously discussing her yoga lessons with Jeremy Irons. He is, apparently "a great communicator". But how flexible might he be, we wonder?

* Grace Jones provided the entertainment at the Belvedere's Cannes party – though wasn't, it seems, her usual outlandish self. "It was her 62nd birthday so organisers got her a cake to bring out. She was so embarrassed she ran off stage despite everyone singing 'Happy birthday'." The celebratory chorus was a mixed bunch: Lindsay Lohan and Didier Drogba could both be seen but not, sadly, the former culture minister and die-hard fan Ben Bradshaw. Pity!

Speaker got your tongue?

Disappointment for those seeking a drop of Nadine Dorries', um, wisdom yesterday. The Tory MP's usually entertaining blog was oddly unavailable. Her Twitter account appeared to have vanished, too. She wasn't so shy the day before, penning both an irate comment piece in the Daily Mail, and a heartfelt email to colleagues, arguing against the Speaker John Bercow's reinstatement. Why the sudden silence?

pandora@independent.co.uk

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in