Top 10 Blogs

I've always shied away from doing these type of posts but a mix of factors has combined to bring me to where I am, bestowing my opinions on the Scottish blogging scene.

A gentle low in the level of chat, a nice gooey feeling from Doctor Vee's kind words, an inability to think of anything else to write about and a keenness to beat others to the chase to avoid the ignominy of having my own humble blog excluded (again) has made me think mentioning my favourite Scottish blogs is a fine idea indeed.

Most people at this stage go to pains to say that their list is in no particular order. I will not be so quick to fall over myself with guilt. These are very much in order so may I direct any disagreements or whining to the comments section... ;-)

(1) Kezia Dugdale

Let's be honest, we wouldn't want to be in Kez's position for love nor money. The Labour party both north and south of the border has moved closer and closer to implosion and a lesser blogger would have hung up her boots a long time ago.

Not so with Ms Dugdale. Kez brings a much-needed balance to the SNP-heavy blogging scene and has written epic posts on the 10p tax debacle, student funding and many, many other topics to almost single-handedly 'take on' the anti-Labour majority.

Her well known position as an assistant to George Foulkes coupled with her recent stint working for Wendy Alexander means she is perfectly clued up and well placed to defend the Labour viewpoint.

I understand her much-anticipated thoughts on independence will be with us soon and will no doubt mark another example why the SoapBox is the first link I click on after logging on.

Notable wingmen for the Labour cause are: Matt's Mic, Andrew Burns and Ewan Aitken.

(2) Mr Eugenides

What can be said about the erratic Greek that has not been said before? And how has this angry man not been talent-spotted by a political magazine or mainstream newspaper and been given an article, nay, a double-page all to himself?

The acid tongue of Mr E is legendary and his love of all things Wendy coupled with his often x-rated disdain for New Labour and Gordon Brown has me constantly in a mixed state of wonder and hysterics.

The sheer width of knowledge and variety of his posts is another marvel to behold.

When Mr Eugenides is rich and famous we can all boast that we knew him when he was, quite literally as his main page displays, a baby.

(3) Scottish Tory Boy

A blogger who is on first name terms with the entire Tory benches (and a good chunk of the other MSPs) not to mention his ability to be ahead of the mainstream media with the news, it is easy to imagine that Tory Boy has more stories and gossip than he is able to reasonably post on any given day. His blog has fast become a leading Tory light on the internet with the comments field often filled with interesting chat.

I also (grudgingly) accept he is a first rate predictor of constituency elections and has a savviness on voting patterns that is difficult to be rivalled.

It's well worth noting his most memorable 'scoop': first to publish Ms Alexander's 5th October letter to Paul Green proving she knew about that dodgy donation for weeks before the issue surfaced.

(4) Scots and Independent

With the seeming demise of Tartan Hero's blogging efforts (hopefully temporary) I believe Scots and Independent's Richard Thomson has picked up the mantle of leading the SNP blogging charge.

An undeniable expert on the intricacies of what Scottish independence would entail, I can safely say that his blog and his tireless explaining of the advantages that would accrue to an independent Scotland is one of the chief reasons for my coming round to a 'yes' vote in the coming referendum.

As parliamentary candidate for Gordon, we may well see more on tv than we read on the web of what Richard Thomson has to say before too long.

(5) J Arthur MacNumpty

Eminently sensible commentary is always on hand from the wonderfully named J Arthur MacNumpty.

His faithfully delivered Sunday Whips, self-confessed geeky football posts and insightful thoughts on the news of the day certainly raises the standard of chat within the blogging world.

(6) Ideas of Civilization
A posting machine bringing us not only one article to chew over a day (on average) but invariably an article with a unique opinion and a new slant with which to consider the news item of the day. An awesome knowledge of Scottish Politics and an ability to remain uncommitted and non-partisan in the majority of posts while discussing issues from a range of angles suggests a high intellectual capacity, thus adding to the increasingly cryptic mystery of who, exactly, this Ideas of Civilzation person is...?

(7) Two Doctors
Relatively new to the blogging world, Two Doctors brings us thoughts from a Green standpoint.

The necessary environmental issues are interspersed perfectly with regular chat and an interesting and amusing breakdown of a recent independence debate in Edinburgh is a particular stand-out for me.

(8) Doctor Vee

Guardian of the Scottish Round Up, Doctor Vee makes up for a scarcity of posts of late with thorough detail and a tireless approach to breaking down any subject that is lucky enough to get his attention.

Were I more of an F1 fan I'd be pushing him much further up my list too.

(9) Linlithgow Lib Dems

A plethora of posts from Stephen Glenn of late who is unfraid to protest on other blogs at posts he disagrees with. And that, after all, is what good blogging should be all about.

His anger at Labour shenanigans and delight in their recent problems is there for all to see on his blog which mixes pushing the Lib Dem banner and speaking his own mind.

(10) Holyrood Chronicles

As the "Best of Blogs" in the Sunday Herald and Scotland on Sunday regularly testify, Holyrood Chronicles does fine work with a mix of politics, humour, business and entertainment posts. A regular poster and a canny eye for stories of the day that are blog-friendly always has me checking back for more.

And there we have it. Somewhat late as I meant to post this on the May 3rd anniversary and I couldn't bring myself to wait for 2009.

So in these predictable times maybe a spontaneous, if highly subjective, Top Ten Blogs is the answer.

PS notable mentions are required for great blogs with infrequent posts: Tartan Hero, Fred Barboo, Political Dissuasion, Malc in the Burgh, Bellgrove Belle and Jamie Hepburn to name but 6. I often click on these pages and rue the lack of a new post.