PBC chosen to be part of the National Web Archive
June 28th, 2007
Site seen as being of “potential historical importance”
Politicalbetting has been chosen by the British Library as one of very few blogs that will form part of the UK National Web Archive.
A number of institutions are involved and the British Library is handling “sites of research value reflecting national culture and events of historical importance. These could include web pages focusing on key events in national life, museum web pages, e-theses, selected blogs to support research material and web-based literary and creative projects by British subjects.”
This means that our archives will be copied and preserved by the BL so they are available to both current and future generations of researchers.
The archiving will not affect the day-to-day operation of the site and users will continue to be able to access all our records going back to March 2004 from our existing server. But it could be that something could happen to that and the BL archiving will ensure that everything that has been written on here will be available for posterity.
I’ve often been amazed at the information that’s contained in some of our threads which give a real flavour, sometimes minute by minute, of how political happenings are being seen.
The BL archiving will, hopefully, mean that we can slim down the records that we make available here - a factor that is now causing our server to operate less efficiently.
To give an idea of the scale of what’s involved an average of 30,000 words is written on the site each and every day.
All of those who have participated in the discussions can feel a little pride that what’s contained here has been recognised in this way.
Mike Smithson
MessageSpace Advertising
Congratulations
What excellent people they are at the British Library. It’s a fine tribute to the quality of the site and the people contributing to it, but especially to Mike and Robert. Well done, guys.
and well done to the rest of us as well!
Well done to Mike and all of the regular contributors. You all make this site worth reading every day.
Congrats Mike
From last thread:
“Ming gives permission for Shirley Williams to act as an independent adviser to the Government….
by RodCrosby June 28th, 2007 at 6:44 pm”
Whereas yesterday he said to camera “No LibDem will serve in a Brown government” and that was after being pressed for clarification as to whether it was “maybe” or “no” - he said “no”
What a useless sack of a leader
Perhaps she told him she’d serve with or without his permission, but either way it makes him look utterly weak
Well done indeed Mike, all we need now is a general election and they’ll see why they’ve made the best possible choice! Oh, by the way, I’d like to make a recorded wager on the locals in Wales in 2008 and start a recorded wager on the next election in Wales. Is anyone game? Cymrumark perhaps?
I’m not usually one for self-congratulation but it is well deserved in this instance. Keep it up!
Congratulations Mike. But not surprised. Just look at that Harman spike you showed the other week… Glad that’s on the record. Carry on.
Congratulations, Mike. I wonder whether there’s a market on which other sites make it?
Great news!
(Note for posterity, my spelling’s great it’s just my typing that’s rubbish….)
Well deserved. A creedit to your efforts in building up such a great forum/blog.
Well deserved. A credit to your efforts in building up such a great forum/blog.
I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m now feeling that hand of history on my shoulder!!!
I know I’ve been called a museum piece but this is ridiculous !!
Jack W is 104.
It is an excellent site and deserves this recognition. Well dome Mike
But today is not a day for soundbites!
And to think Jack W’s ARSE will be preserved for posteriority !!
It is indeed a relief to know that my description of Dave Cameron, as a “gaylording ponceyboots”, coined in a fit of pique after his welching on the EPP deal, will not be lost to future historians.
Well done the BL.
13
I’m pleased my bet with Nick Palmer can be pored over in future years by academics studying
either
a) the delusional state of many Labour MPs in the tail end of the Blair era, or
b) the delusional state of tories who have been waiting for the Brown bounce but can’t see it happening
this is a real credit to this site and well deserved. I’m sure the next GE threads will form the basis for many a doctoral thesis!
6 A good bet for you two would be I think Ceredigion next election. I this deal greatly helps Mark Williams
19. Or (c) the sudden surge in income of the Cats Protection League.
21: Oi Herdson! Enough of that.
Congratulations Mike, however if you want me to be really impressed how about spell-checking all my posts for the last 18 months?
And does this make the combined works of Will L into a national treasure?
Mike I am not a regular poster but I lurk here a lot, and as someone who spends many hours on research I can well see why this site, providing as it does a snapshot of events and opinions in the context of the time, has rightly been recognised as having all the makings of a valuable archive. May I add my congratulations to you on having received and deserved this marvellous accolade.
Evening all :). First, many congratulations to Mike and Robert. It’s welcome recognition for all the hard work you put in to keep this site so vibrant and entertaining. Whether it’s any reflection on us as contributors I shall perhaps reserve judgement
Re: 5 - Hardly surprising to see you getting so wound up about this, Testy. I’m quite relaxed about it. Shirley is an independent adviser, not a Cabinet member. As I argued earlier today, it’s perfectly proper for any Government to seek expert advice from all sources.
It is no more significant of LD intentions in the event of a Hung Parliament than me backing a winner at Lingfield is indicative of the fact that I’m a piss-poor punter.
re 22. What this does mean is that Roger’s predictions will be preserved forever.
Congratulations Mike and Robert, a wonderful way to pay tribute to all your hard work in setting up and maintaining this fantastic site.
My other hobby is family history and finding written information about the social history of times gone past is a valuable resource and fascinating part of my hobby.
22. If anyone looks at my posts they will lament the sad state of the spelling, misplaced words and punctuation.
Congratulations Mike.
Did your blog get in Benedict?
I said on the previous thread: As a non-partisan I find it alarming that the general view is that the government ought not to seek formal advice from anyone who is not a member of the governing party.
But where does it end? Is the British Library to be strictly controlled by government partisans? To the extent that its decision, a form of advice, to select a site run by a Lib Dem would be inadmissable?
Obviously a daft conclusion, but I do wonder where exactly the tribal divisions would be drawn if the more resolute partisans had their way.
28 - As I also wrote on the previous thread -
“You can spin it as being good but ‘think of the voters’.
At its heart, it puts across two poor messages - one, that you can vote labour and get lib dem (so why bother voting lib dem?) and two, that you can vote for a party but your views will be ignored because politicians (who are all the same) will just appoint people you didn’t want. As such democracy is sullied. ”
It’s a PR exercise of the most cynical sort, that neither Williams or Campbell seem to care about that is worrying for lib dem prospects.
An archive of poliitical rants from addicted gamblers. How appropriate to the ‘modernisation’ of ‘Britain’.
If I vote Labour, in a Lib Dem - Tory marginal, I’ll get Tory (and if I wanted Tory I’d vote Tory). In fact I prefer a helpful Lib Dem MP to an unhelpful Tory councillor. Then again FPTP does rather limit my choice.
Yes, my views will be ignored because politicians (who aren’t all the same, but the ones who run things are) will just appoint people I whether I wany them ot not.
Well done Mike and the team.
Is it just a rumour or will you accept the nomination to stand in the Sedgefield by-election?,
For which party I know not, seriously very many congratulations and long may this site continue.
HPj
That would just be a ruse to get journalists to attend LD press conferences … in the hope of a hot tip. Coverage, (both quantity and quality), would depend on performance. The ultimate payment by results?
HPj
That would just be a ruse to get journalists to attend LD press conferences … in the hope of a hot tip. Coverage, (both quantity and quality), would depend on performance. The ultimate payment by results?
31: Last (garbled) paragraph again (only for the Archive, you understand):
Yes, my views will be ignored because politicians (who aren’t all the same, but the ones who run things are) will just appoint people whether I want them or not.
The By Election Southall. Have the Lib Dems selected yet. Don’t say the Tories have beaten them to it. On the candidate the Tories have pulled what looks an ace from the pack. In other words a Dunfermline squeeze looks hard. Can Labour still be beaten or does the ant Labour vote have to fall in behind one Party for this to occur
36. Lib Dems haven’t selected yet because they are having a democratic selection and approved candidates were invited to apply, rather than a non-member being anointed. But it is being run very quickly and I expect them to select within a day or three.
Mike, Congratulations! I’d like to send you an email, but can’t find the address in ‘Contacting pb.com’ — am I looking in the wrong place?
37 Well done. But perhaps the Dictator like control Chris Rennard has over local Parties in these situations might play a subtle role n’est pas
Seeing as it’s a slow night (and for web posterity), here’s a picture Hazel Blears compared to an ancient giant penguin.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1128/646103475_eebd4e19a4.jpg?v=0
Congrats MIke.
Now let that be a warning to you all, to be nice to everybody!
Found it.
Excellent - well done Mike! But poor researchers of future generations, trying to make sense of it all…
agingjb is spekaing for the majority of people, though not activists, I think. Most of politics requires competence first and ideology second, and advisory jobs more than most. The idea that you need to be a member of the governing party to have any influence is a bad one, which taken to its logical conclusion leads to Tammany Hall.
My mother had a cousin who was a talented architect in New York. He flatly refused promotion above a certain level, because it would have made it a political appointment, and if the administration changed he’d have lost his job. As an architect!
By the way, the cats think it would be handy if ICM delayed their next poll till July 1 so the bets took effect with that one… can you arrange that, Mike?
Well done Mike. God, someone could be reading all this in 200 years’ time :-s
37.”But it is being run very quickly and I expect them to select within a day or three. ”
I read somewhere that the selection should be on Sunday
5,Test - did you come down with the last shower of rain? The bulk of contributors to this site, notwithstanding the fact that most are politically partial, are in touch with real politick. Shirley stated quite clearly on BBC 24 that she would not take a paid position with Brown and would have turned down any ministerial job offer. Given her work with the anti nuclear proliferation group in the US with which she is involved it makes perfect sense for her to be invited to act as ‘ADVISOR’.
Test - grow up and engage whatever grey matter you have been blessed with in gaining greater understanding of the real world rather than seeking to make cheap and hopeless,not even politically relevant, points.
LOSER!
Jim Murphy appointed Minister for Europe
46 - Of course labour supporters will be happy because it makes them look inclusive. It’s a pure PR exercise though nothing more.
I can imagine that Cameron is already ready to ask for a senior lib dem to help him with policy on restoring civil liberties. He’ll have to accede to that sort of request now.
Yes, there is already some Tory unhappiness on the forums that a non-member with no record of helping the party has been “appointed” to be the candidate in Southall purely on his radio station reputation. Very risky…but then the Tories had nothing to lose so they might aswell risk it…
Digby Jones to join Govt as Trade promotion Minister - Nick Robinson BBC says
The picture looks like Soviet architecture.
Nice if you like that sort of thing.
43 - As for Europe, the number of constituents who have asked me about a referendum currently stands at two.
by Nick Palmer MP June 28th, 2007 at 9:00 am
Make that three!!!
“here’s a picture Hazel Blears compared to an ancient giant penguin.”
But which of them makes the more sense when the beak is opened?
52 Vino. Have no fear. Nick is one of us. Let me quote from his Broxtowe newsletter of 29/08/2005, entitled “What does the EU Constitution actually say?”.
“. . .I believe in referenda as a democratic instrument and I’m glad we will collectively have the right to decide.”
You can’t say fairer than that. Three cheers for Nick being a democrat, I say.
52 Vino. You may have been one of the noted two !!
Now that we are in the Star Trek world of historical blogs we must ensure accuracy.
Beam me up Scotty !!!!!
55 “Jack W (It’s life Jack, but not as we know it) June 28th, 2007 at 10:23 pm”
What is that in “stardate” format?
Lib Dems select Southall candidate on Sunday. Shortlisting I believe Friday.
Of course by-election HQ up and running already.
Belated congratulations to Mike & Robert… can the National Lottry grant application (for site development only, of course) be far behind
?
49.
“non-member with no record of helping the party”
Perhaps less likely to defect than a ‘real’ Conservative?
47 - Double trouble for the Euro-politicians. First, they need to speak English, and now they have to decipher his odd Scottish accent.
56 Disraeli. Stardate : Malt Whisky Time - Several Sheets To The Wind.
…………….
BTW …. Thanks to Stonch from the previous thread for becoming Rik W’s public enema number one !!
I was bored this evening so thought I’d have a look around the websites for the six deputy leadership candidates, to see what they had to say:
Hazel Blears - an on-message ‘contest is good for the party’ post, conveniently forgetting to mention she came bottom.
Peter Hain - breaking news, he is apparantly now a front-runner in the contest due to the GMB backing him!
Hilary Benn - seems to have erased every possible reference to him having taken part
Jon Cruddas - an ‘I love you Harriet’ message.
Alan Johnson - apparantly we’ve only got 7 hours left to vote for him, get in while you can! (Also the headline on his main website is dated 01/01/07.)
Harriet Harman - just a short ‘I won’ message and the rest of her website is still asking for supporters.
I’ve got to say I’m not all that impressed by any of the websites, but Cruddas seemed to hit the right tone for me.
57.”Of course by-election HQ up and running already.”
How many forests have you planned to destroy for this byelection leaflets?
Will Sarah Teather show up to canvass and ask to some Labour MPs to vote LD?
Can I ask what has happened on the following points:
1) Why were Lib Dem Voice talking about Streatham?
2) What happened to these two defections that we heard about?
3) And what’s happened to this “Government of the Talents”? According to Michael Crick, all members of the Government must join Labour. Hardly what we heard on the doorstep of Number 10 yesterday
64.”Why were Lib Dem Voice talking about Streatham?”
LD Voice wasn’t talking about Stretham, just a poster mentioning it in a comment on a thread about byelections.
The sitting MP will retire at next GE and he said he will enthusiastically carry on his duties for the next couple of years, so short of LD killing him, there won’t be a byelection
37 they’ve only got until Friday next to get their nominations in
63. “ask to some Labour MPs to vote LD?”
Of course, how Labour MPs vote is between themselves and the secret ballot box. Who knows if the ecumenical Gordon Brown might have contributed to his own ability to consult his Liberal Democrat MP when he has any problems? Meanwhile, Gordon is the first prime minsiter in history to not have a single MP from his own party representing him in any one of his three ‘homes’.
Welcome to the archive Mike. Have a look under G for Guido.
67.”Who knows if the ecumenical Gordon Brown might have contributed to his own ability to consult his Liberal Democrat MP when he has any problems? ”
He can go to his Labour MSP if he doesn’t want to see his LD MP
69 I thought the Lib Dems won that in May as well purely from By Election momentum
70. I think Gordon Brown lives in North Queensferry which is in Dunfermline West at Westminster level, but in Dunfermiline East (his old constituency before 2005) at Holyrood level.
71 Maybe that its it. Why do the Scots make everything so confusing!
Well done Mike and Robert! Brilliant!
(Stonch and I are of course quietly sulking in the corner because we have not been invited
)
So Gordon’s MSP should be this Labour woman probably no-one has ever heard about!
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38893000/jpg/_38893113_heleneadie203.jpg
Congratulations Mike and all those who have worked to make the site such a success.
I guess in view of the great honour, we will have to smarten our acts up a bit. My own contribution will be to wear full evening dress when posting. What will others do?
69. “He can go to his Labour MSP”
Ah yes, the bloke who voted through Lib Dem policies giving Scottish voters better services than English voters get, which policies are denied to the English voters (who pay for them) by the Scottish Labour MPs who cannot vote against them being adopted in Scotland!
70. No, Punter, there are minor boundary differences and Gordon’s house is apparently in the one (Westminster) but not the other (Holyrood)constituency which have the same names. Of course, the question is whether Mr Brown voted for the MSP, or for the MP, or both or neither!
74.
“this Labour woman probably no-one has ever heard about!”
Including any good tailors. Toss her a kilt, quickly.
75.
“My own contribution will be to wear full evening dress when posting”
Strapless?
76. “there are minor boundary differences and Gordon’s house is apparently in the one (Westminster) but not the other (Holyrood)constituency which have the same names”
The “old” Dunfermline East (which is the Holyrood Dunfermline East) has been divided between the new Dunfermline and Fife West (31%), Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (58%) and Glenrothes (11%).
78 If that’s what turns you on, Wage Slave.
In the (highly probable?) event that future generations of scholars and acolytes will want to research the Life and Times of Augustus Carp, please could I put on the BM’s record that I am not a complete Divvot.
Thank you.
Well done Mike. Apposite and well deserved recognition.
QT was quite fun this week. Has anybody ever seen Yvette Cooper and Aled Jones in the same room?
congratulations mike
Indeed. Well done Mike. Congratulations. A glorious achievement, for Mike, for punters, for commentators, for the country, and for civilisation. Long may debate prosper and flourish under the warm welcome of Mike Smithson. Three cheers. Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah.
Excellent news Mike!!
Well done Mike- well deserved.
It will be interesting to see if the tone changes at all now people know they are ‘on air’.
Jack W. and Andrea will now be preserved for posterity in all their glory- as well as a whole lot of deeply obscure anorakish LibDem and Tory musings, and hopefully some worthwhile well-informed gossip.
I look forward to doing searches under ‘Bullingdon Club’.
87. ‘obscure anorakish LibDem and Tory musings’
Would this by happenchance be a Labourite? lol
Those LibDems and Tories currently represent the views of a lot more of the electorate than Labour. A little more humbleness, a little less arrogance - it goes a long way in winning an argument.
AN OBSCURE MUSING
So our great-great-great-grand children will be able to look up our wonderful insights on the era. Excellent.
Should paste in that 400,000 word essay I was working on. lol. (Of course, just joking. The book won’t be issued for at least another 10-15 years.)
70 You think right, Andrea. I had the job of delivering one of 2 forests of leaflets in support of Willie Rennie to GB’s road. Warned beforehand “DON’T deliver number….” (I can’t remember the no.) But it is a very substantial mid 19th Century house, with a biggish garden and a gorgeous view out over the Firth of Forth!
My congratulations to Mike and team also - I hope it doesn’t encourage us all to behave even worse now there is an audience from other times!
Re 83, SBS, No I have not.
Have we the first transgender minister? Surely Labour should be proud?
Well done Mike.
I glad the battles between myself and the Lord Matlock over the Conservative leadership election will be preserved for the good of the country.
Or at least we will be both be able to remember why we became friends!
P.S. For one last time vote DD.
Oh dear - how will a researcher in 2360 know who we really are -
Jack W is the Prince of Wales (the W is the clue).
Peter the Punter is a front for William Hill (profits up again).
Rik W is wrong
Icarus is broke
Benedict is a only a blog
Andrea is a massive computer called Hal
And given the Labours fondness for saying that it is the many and not the few that are important - excellent. No doubt they will stand down for the Liberal-Conservative coalition that represents the many, rather then the few represented by Labour!
Well Done Mike & Robert
Maybe I shouldn’t mention this as Benedict may take out a contract on me, but my blog was also listed.
Bit late, but just time to add my congratulations to Mike here as well.
The archives here should make fascinating reading for future students of political history - and no, I’m not being sarcastic.
94. Who am I? Spartacus?
Congrats to Mike and his team
I assume our emails etc will be kept in a secure part of the archive, Mike? I knew I wanted to ask a serious question, but was at the pub last night, so couldn’t get it together properly!!
Congratulations, Mike, and - well, all of us as well for providing decent content!
Congrats.
The thought of future academics reading Jack’s “Breaking Wind News” and one of Seant’s rants (when by then we will have world govenment from Peking) cheered me up enormously
Well done Mike and Robert. A terrific achievement. All those on Facebook should join The Politicalbetting.com Appreciation Society.
[98] Actually I am Spartacus…
Well done, Mike. Isn’t it about time PB.C had a search facility?
Belated congratulations, Mike. To think that when this news broke I was oblivious, sitting in a pub with friends like a normal person.
Needless to say I have learned my lesson and will endeavour to spend more evenings alone in front of a laptop contributing to history.
Congratulations on a remarkable commendation for a ‘betting’ site.
aso now we are all history - Jack W should be 105 by now he has been 104 for over 18 months now. This site is good for keeping up to date when you are away.
Congratulations Mike! That’s great news. And an eminently sensible choice from the British Library, I think they’ve done well. A fine quality of political commentary is to be had here, particularly from you, and even from some others in between the stuff they get from me! Well done Mike.