I wrote earlier that ConservativeHome actually has a revenue stream – it’s Conservative Intelligence section.

Writing on the Tribune magazine blog, David Hencke has more:

Conservative Intelligence – whose slogan is “Not Access. Not lobbying. Just Intelligence” – is also run by Mr Montgomerie at ConservativeHome. To get the weekly newsletter costs £1,200 a year, according to the website. Mr Montgmerie says this has now been reduced to £1,000.

To get on the priority list for events organised by Conservative Intelligence to meet Shadow Cabinet ministers such as George Osborne, Michael Gove and Jeremy Hunt will cost another £2,500 a year.

In January, subscribers to the priority list will be offered the chance to see an “unofficial Conservative Party manifesto” and a “draft timetable for a Conservative’s government’s first year” – with plenty of time to try to influence any changes they may want to see.

Mmmm. Any suggestion that events organised to meet shadow cabinet members should be classed as “access” will not be kindly received by them obviously.

Tim Montgomerie tells him: “If you say we are offering general access for people who pay for the newsletter, then I plead guilty. But we are not offering facilities for lobbying. If, say, BAA wanted a meeting with our transport spokesman, we would refuse.”

But what if BAA had corporate people subscribed to the CI list, and they just happened to run into the transport spokesperson at the event?

Tim Montgomerie’s efforts to make money from his highly influential site are laudable – people have to make money somehow I guess.

But isn’t there a conflict of interest if the editor is also trying to introduce people to the very people he writes about? (if there is a strict wall between the two operations then this possibility would be lessened. I’m not aware if this is the case or not – just asking)

At Next Left Sunder Katwala has a suggestion so Montgomerie can show his editorial independence: An unlikely alliance to end big donor politics

Reader comments

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9. Liberal Conspiracy

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   [Original tweet]

10. Phil BC

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    [Original tweet]

11. James Graham

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    [Original tweet]

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    [Original tweet]

15. Top 5k

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    [Original tweet]

16. topsy top20k

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    [Original tweet]

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