Top 100 Left Blogs

Back in July I predicted socialist bloggers would be squeezed by new Labour blogs and the participation of LabourList, Conservative Home and LibDem Voice in the annual Total Politics top 100 poll of political blogs.

I was wrong - so much for the science of perspectives! Overall the position of the proper left has improved in the top 100 left of centre blogs. Here's the top 20:

1 (1) Tom Harris MP
2 (2) Hopi Sen
3 (-) LabourList
4 (-) Alastair Campbell
5 (13) SNP Tactical Voting
6 (6) Luke Akehurst
7 (12) Harry's Place
8 (-) Next Left
9 (3) Stumbling & Mumbling
10 (27) The Daily (Maybe)
11 (59) Guerilla Welsh Fare
12 (17) A Very Public Sociologist
13 (10) Dave's Part
14 (-) Third Estate
15 (43) Two Doctors
16 (73) Blog Menai
17 (11) Sadie's Tavern
18 (-) Blackburn Labour
19 (74) Kerry McCarthy MP
20 (-) Malc in the Burgh

What's that blog at number 12?

What I would count as counter-hegemonic blogging has gained more than it's lost. I'm glad to see excellent new blogs like The Third Estate, The Polemical Report, Left Outside and Cllr Tim Blog make the grade. It's also gratifying to see Charlie Marks, Liam Mac Uaid, Shiraz Socialist, GrimmerUpNorth, Madam Miaow, Stroppyblog, Splintered Sunrise, Derek Wall, Lenin's Tomb, Though Cowards Flinch, HarpyMarx, Penny Red, The F-Word, Socialist Unity, The Bickerstaffe Record, Dave Osler, Jim Jepps and Chris Dillow maintain and in most cases improve their rankings.

There's no reason these and the many other fine left blogs who didn't make the list shouldn't continue winning new audiences and building the profile of socialist blogging over the next 12 months.

For last year's results, see here.

And yes, just like a year ago myself and Brother S toasted our success over a green tea!