Iain Dale - MP for Maidstone and the Weald?

Everyone knows that premier league blogger Iain Dale is the former Conservative candidate for Norfolk North - which of course went spectacularly badly in 2005. He's still an aspiring MP though and would be the perfect candidate at the next election for the constituency of Maidstone and the Weald. Why? Well - as Lloyd Grossman might say - lets look at the evidence.

1. Ann Widdecombe is the sitting MP and has previously announced her intention to not run again at the next election - Iain Dale is mates with Ann Widdecombe so she is bound to put in a good word.

2. Iain Dale lives in Tunbridge Wells which is the adjoining constituency to Maidstone and the Weald. In fact some of the Tunbridge Wells constituency is moving into the Maidstone and the Weald constituency when the next boundary review is implemented. Iain is without going anywhere a local candidate.

3. Iain Dale as a former candidate, former chief of staff to DD, and as a man who knows everyone is a lock for the 'A' list.

4. The Conservative Association there obviously appreciate someone with a bit of character which Dale is able to provide.

Partly this will depend on how the blogging goes though - Iain Dale may well become the test case for whether it's possible to write a blog thats worth reading and still get elected.