Mandelson joins blogosphere
By Alex Stevenson
Government ministers including business secretary Peter Mandelson are backing the launch of the latest addition to the blogosphere today.
Labourlist.org is the left’s response to highly successful right-wing blogging sites like ConservativeHome and Iain Dale’s Diary.
Its founder Derek Draper, whose CV includes setting up Progress magazine and being married to Kate Garraway, says he hopes the site will “provide a platform for debate for every level of our movement”.
Peter Mandelson’s first contribution, which features an image of his avatar, reveals the days of forcing ministers to be ‘on message’ are over.
“When it comes to new media we have to recognise that the days of command and control are over. Instead we need to learn to embrace and engage,” he writes.
“That is why I am writing this blog. It is also why I will be returning here to respond to your comments in the days to come.”
International development secretary Douglas Alexander and skills minister David Lammy feature on the site’s list of contributors, alongside other Labour luminaries including Charlie Whelan, Philip Gould and Alan Milburn.
The blurb on the site’s front page adds: “LabourList will add to the already expanding network of progressive new media forces – Obama-style virtual phone banking drives, ministerial webchats and new blogs – that will help us spread our message and connect with people in this new year.”
