Political blogging - just for the Opposition?

A recent article in the Guardian reported that New Statesman co-owner Mike Danson has invested in LabourHome. His aim is to mobilise grass roots activism on the left which, until now, has not managed to gain the kind of online traction that popular rightwing/anti-establishment blogs such as Iain Dale, ConservativeHome and Guido Fawkes have achieved. Is this a new media specific problem? Are the left failing to get to grips with online technology? Is this about the Labour grassroots feeling that the party leadership aren’t listening so there is little point in blogging, or is it a more general lack of appetite for political campaigning amongst Labour activitists?

After three terms of a Labour government are leftwing bloggers suffering from ideological fatigue – is there anything more to say?  If the Labour grassroots aren’t talking to themselves how can they begin to provide a coherent and united set of policies to present to the electorate in future elections?

Perhaps, the state of leftwing blogging is more to do with the current political context. Grassroots activity and the ability to listen to your core membership would seem to be much more crucial when a party is at a reforming and storming stage. At present, the Conservatives are a hive of activity, putting together policies with which to fight the next election. They sense their best chance of victory in a decade and it’s always easier to define what you are against than what you are for.  Responding to, or being seen to sympathise with, public opinion is also easier in opposition as it doesn’t often require much more than words.

It will certainly be interesting to see what happens with rightwing blogs if there is a change of government at the next election. If this happens, will Labour activists step up their game, finally having something to rail against?

It would appear to be a lot easier to run a successful blog in opposition than when your party is in government. It is harder still when your party is an unpopular government. Talking up those in power doesn’t seem to be a successful recipe to attract readers, viewers or listeners.

If the blog is a tool most successfully used in opposition then it will be interesting to see what impact the injection of new capital, resources and energy into LabourHome has on its popularity and reach. It would appear to have an up-hill battle on its hands.

Beccy Allen, Researcher, eDemocracy Programme