When vanity isn't enough

I'm joining Tim and asking for this site not to be included in the Total Politics poll of political blogs.

I did take part in it last year, and it was quite exciting from a vain point of view, and I even put the little widget on the website. It was very nice.

But the longer time goes on, and the more I learn about Iain Dale, the less I want to have anything to do with him. I couldn't give a shit if I don't therefore get the links that give me a little bump up the Wikio rankings. I'd rather have nothing from Dale and his mates. He didn't invent blogging and I don't even think he's particularly good at it. There's no reason for anyone who has a blog and who wants it to be successful to be in thrall of him. Moreover, there's every reason to keep away if you want to have any integrity.

Here's a man, after all, who said there were 'no border controls'. A man who vilified Tory MP James Gray, whom he doesn't like, when he was *falsely* accused of having claimed a remembrance wreath on expenses, yet said nothing when Boris Johnson, whom he does like, actually *did* claim a remembrance wreath on expenses. A man who regularly links to John Redwood and Nadine Dorries, as if they're people worth reading rather than laughable fools.

Do I really want anything to do with his shabby blog poll this time around? No thanks.