Iain Dale

Iain Dale
Born	(1962-07-15) July 15, 1962 Cambridge, England
Occupation(s)	Media personality, author, political analyst, former publisher and bookseller
Years active	1985–present
Known for	Hosting talk show on LBC, founding Total Politics magazine, managing director of Biteback Publishing

Iain Dale (born 15 July 1962) is a British media personality, author, political analyst, and former publisher and bookseller. Having started blogging in 2002, he launched Total Politics magazine, which he ran from 2008 until 2012, and served as managing director of Biteback Publishing until May 2018. Since September 2010, Dale has been the host of a regular talk show on LBC. He received the Radio Presenter of the Year award at the Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards in both 2013 and 2016. On 28 May 2024, Dale declared his intention to step down from LBC to pursue a parliamentary candidacy in the 2024 United Kingdom general election, but retracted his bid three days later and resumed his broadcasting role on 3 June.

Early life and education

Dale was born in Cambridge and grew up in Essex. His education included Ashdon County Primary School followed by Saffron Walden County High School. After taking a gap year working as a nursing assistant in West Germany, he pursued higher education at the University of East Anglia, where he studied German, linguistics, and teaching English as a foreign language. His studies included a year teaching English at a gymnasium in Besigheim. He graduated in 1985 with an upper second-class honours BA degree.

Initial positions

Between 1985 and 1987, Dale served as a research assistant to Conservative MP Patrick Thompson. He then worked as public affairs manager for the British Ports Federation from 1987 to 1989, followed by a role as financial journalist at Lloyd's List during 1989–90. Subsequently, he held leadership roles including deputy managing director of the Waterfront Partnership and managing director of the Waterfront Conference Company from 1990 until 1996.

Authorship

From 2007 through 2009, Dale contributed a biweekly column to The Daily Telegraph, and has also written for publications such as The Guardian, The Independent, GQ, The Spectator, Attitude, and New Statesman. Between 2006 and 2013, he maintained a weekly diary column for the Eastern Daily Press, returning in 2018 with new weekly contributions for both the Eastern Daily Press and the East Anglian Daily Times.

Dale has authored or edited a total of 46 political books. Notably, he co-wrote with blogger Paul Staines an exposé on alleged misconduct within the Labour government published in 2006, with an updated edition released in 2007. He has also produced historical accounts of football clubs such as West Ham United and Norwich City. In 2015, Dale published The NHS: Things That Need to be Said. More recently, he co-edited Honourable Ladies, a series of biographical essays on female MPs since the introduction of suffrage in 1918; its second volume appeared in 2019.

Broadcasting career

Dale’s radio career began on BBC Radio 5 Live, where he covered for Andrew Pierce on Sunday Service and produced documentaries including Counting Chickens during the 2001 general election. His presenting credits include programmes like BBC Radio Four's The Westminster Hour, BBC World Service's People & Politics, and episodes of What the Papers Say between 2010 and 2016.

He joined London’s LBC 97.3 in 2010 initially as a stand-in presenter before co-hosting their extensive six-hour election night broadcast. That year also saw him hosting various phone-in shows and budget coverage. By late 2010, Dale secured a permanent evening slot which lasted until March 2013 when he transitioned to the Drivetime show airing weekdays from 4 to 7 pm. He continued presenting weekend political programmes before returning to an evening schedule (7–10 pm) starting September 2018.

Additionally, Dale presented Planet Politics on Oneword Radio and was lead presenter for internet TV channel 18 Doughty Street. His work earned him accolades including two Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards (2013, 2016) and a Silver Sony Award for Interview of the Year in 2014.

Currently, Dale co-hosts the political podcast For The Many alongside Jacqui Smith. He is also a frequent guest on television programmes such as Newsnight, The Andrew Marr Show, Jeremy Vine, and Good Morning Britain.

During the final match of the 2024 European Football Championship, Dale mistakenly criticized Spanish players for not singing their national anthem without realizing that it is officially wordless.

Blogging

Dale was the author of the blog Iain Dale's Diary, which received a nomination for Political Blog of the Year from The Guardian in 2005. In July 2011, he introduced the political blog Dale & Co, featuring contributors from a broad range of viewpoints. Additionally, he writes West Ham Till I Die, centered on West Ham United.

Until 2021, Dale regularly contributed a weekly diary column to ConservativeHome, where he also published an annual ranking of the '100 most influential people on the Right' up to 2018.

Retailing and publishing

In 1997, Dale established Politico's Bookstore and Coffee House in Westminster, specializing in political literature and memorabilia. This venture grew to include related publishing and web design firms under the Politico's brand. The following year, he founded Politico's Publishing, which he sold to Methuen Publishing in 2003. After closing the physical shop in 2004, operations shifted to Kent as a mail-order service; Methuen later reopened the original location as Westminster Bookshop.

In 2006, Dale sold Politico's Bookstore to Harriman House and revived Politico's online presence in 2012 through his Biteback Publishing company. He was also publisher of Total Politics magazine from June 2008 until its acquisition by Dods (Group) PLC in December 2012.

Political activities

Dale was the Conservative candidate for North Norfolk in May 2005 but was defeated by Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb. Subsequently, he acted as chief of staff for leadership contender David Davis during the Conservative leadership contest that same year.

He was included on the Conservative A-List in 2006, and sought selection as a candidate for Maidstone and The Weald as well as Bracknell, though without success. In the 2010 Bracknell selection, he placed third behind Rory Stewart and Philip Lee.

On 17 June 2010, Dale withdrew his name from the list of Conservative candidates and later declared his intention to cease blogging and involvement in party politics by year's end.

In the 2016 EU referendum, Dale cast his vote in favor of "Leave".

In May 2024, he announced his intention to seek Conservative candidacy for Tunbridge Wells but subsequently withdrew after a past podcast clip resurfaced where he expressed dissatisfaction with living there. He explained that concerns over opponents exploiting this remark made winning the election improbable.

Police caution for assault

On 24 September 2013, Dale became involved in a confrontation with Stuart Holmes, an anti-nuclear demonstrator and pensioner from Manchester, on Brighton’s seafront. Holmes’ placard appeared behind Damian McBride during a breakfast television interview held at the time of the Labour Party conference. McBride, formerly Gordon Brown’s special advisor, is among Dale’s authors at Biteback Publishing. Although not part of the interview itself, Dale attempted to remove Holmes from the camera frame, which led to a physical dispute.

Following interviews conducted by Sussex Police with both individuals, Dale accepted a police caution for assault on 26 September. He apologized to Holmes, then Labour leader Ed Miliband, law enforcement officials, and his colleagues.

Personal life

Dale has been openly gay since he turned 40. On 15 June 2008, he and his long-term partner John Simmons formalized their relationship through a civil partnership ceremony held at Wadhurst Castle, East Sussex, which was later converted into marriage in 2015. The couple has been together since 1995 and currently lives in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Prior to this, Dale resided in Walthamstow, east London, from 1988 until 1994.

Bibliography

Dale's authorship, editorial work, or compilation credits exceed forty titles, predominantly addressing political themes and personalities:

• Unofficial Book of Political Lists, Robson Books, 1997
• As I Said to Denis: The Margaret Thatcher Book of Quotations, Robson Books, 1997
• The Blair Necessities, Robson Books, 1998
• Bill Clinton Joke Book, Robson Books, 1998
• Tony Blair New Labour Joke Book, Robson Books, 1998
• Dictionary of Conservative Quotations, Politico's Publishing, 1999
• Wit & Wisdom of Tony Banks, Robson Books, 1999
• Labour Party General Election Manifestos 1900–97, Routledge, 1999
• Liberal Party General Election Manifestos 1900–97, Routledge, 1999
• Conservative Party General Election Manifestos 1900–1997, Routledge, 1999
• Memories of Maggie, Politico's Publishing, 2000
• Tony Blair New New Labour Joke Book (2nd ed), Robson Books, 2000
• Directory of Political Lobbying, Politico's Publishing, editions from 2001 & 2003
• Directory of Political Websites, Politico's Publishing, 2001
• Directory of Think Tank Publications, Politico's Publishing, 2001
• Memories of the Falklands, Politico's Publishing/Biteback Publishing, originally 2002 with a reissue in 2012
• Prime Minister Portillo & Other Things That Never Happened, Politico's Publishing, 2003
• Times Guides to the House of Commons (1906–10 and 1929–35), Politico's Publishing, 2003
• Politico's Book of the Dead, Politico's Publishing, 2003
• Margaret Thatcher: A Tribute in Words & Pictures, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2005
• Little Red Book of New Labour Sleaze, Politico's Media, 2006
• Big Red Book of New Labour Sleaze, Harriman House, 2007
• 500 of the Most Witty, Acerbic & Erudite Things Ever Said About Politics, Harriman House, 2007
• Guide to Political Blogging in the UK, Harriman House, 2007
• Little Book of Boris, Harriman House, 2007
• Total Politics Guide to Political Blogging (2008–11), Biteback Publishing/Total Politics across various years
• Margaret Thatcher: In Her Own Words, Biteback Publishing, 2010
• Talking Politics: Political Conversations With Iain Dale, Biteback Publishing, 2010
• West Ham United: When Football Was Football, Haynes Publishing, 2011
• Prime Minister Boris and Other Things That Never Happened, Biteback Publishing, 2012
• The Bigger Book of Boris, Biteback Publishing, 2011
• Norwich City: When Football Was Football, Haynes Publishing, 2012
• The Margaret Thatcher Book of Quotations, Biteback Publishing, 2012
• The Blogfather: The Best of Iain Dale's Diary, Biteback Publishing, 2012
• Memories of Margaret Thatcher, Biteback Publishing with an expanded edition planned for 2025 (originally published in 2013)
• Politico’s Guide to the 2015 General Election, Biteback Publishing, 2014
• Seat by Seat, Biteback Publishing, 2015
• Gay Shorts (Collected Attitude Columns), Biteback Publishing, 2015
• The NHS: Things That Need to be Said, Elliott & Thompson, 2015
• Prime Minister Corbyn and Other Things That Never Happened, Biteback Publishing, 2016
• The Honourable Ladies Volume I & II: Women MPs (1918–2019), Biteback Publishing released in two volumes during 2018/2019
• The Big Book of Boris, Biteback Publishing, 2019
• The Bernard Ingham Diaries: The Slow Downfall of Margaret Thatcher (ed.), Biteback Publishing, 2019
• Why Can't We All Just Get Along?, HarperCollins, 2020
• The Prime Ministers 1721–2020: Three Hundred Years of Political Leadership, Hodder & Stoughton, published in 2020
• Prime Minister Priti & Other Things That Never Happened, Biteback Publishing, released in 2021
• The Presidents 1789–2021: 250 Years of American Political Leadership, Hodder & Stoughton, published in 2021
• On This Day in Politics – British Political History in 365 Days, Allen & Unwin, issued in 2022
• Kings and Queens –1200 Years of English & British Monarchs, Hodder & Stoughton came out in 2023
• British General Election Campaigns 1830–2019: The Fifty Campaigns That Shaped Modern Politics, Biteback Publishing scheduled for release in 2024
• The Dictators, Hodder & Stoughton planned for September 2024
• Two editions titled Memories of Margaret Thatcher - New Expanded & Updated Edition, by Biteback Publishing (April) and Margaret Thatcher, by Swift Press (June), both set for publication in 2025

This comprehensive list highlights Dale’s concentration on British politics and political leadership as his primary areas of expertise.

External links

• Iain Dale's Diary blog
• Iain Dale's official website Archived 18 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine
• Iain Dale's profile on LBC