I AM having to do it again and I hate it. Asking for money is not my forte, especially when it’s a matter of asking our loyal readers for more just when everyone is suffering the cost of living hike inflicted by this government’s catastrophic and destructive policies.
I’ve no doubt from my daily email bag that it’s this crisis that is the reason why, regretfully, several have cancelled their donations. We do understand, with energy bills doubling, that subs are amongst the first things to go. But it’s a bitter pill for us. We opposed the government’s economically ruinous lockdown and net zero policies from the start and now, because of the economic devastation that we warned all along these policies would cause, at the very time when our criticism of this reckless government continues to be most needed and it most needs to be held to account, our much-needed donations have been reduced, weakening us at the very time we need to be strongest.
People would be surprised at how little we run this journalistically and technically professional outfit on. We punch well above our weight on the basis of extremely limited resources, massive voluntary unpaid effort and dedication.
I know from emails and conversations how well regarded we are as a platform for genuine conservative thought and opposition. I am told that TCW‘s is the most important alternative, serious, political voice. We have never been afraid to put and keep our heads above the parapets. Unlike other sites we are not anonymous. We are not afraid to say who we are, or what we think.
I know too that we are a thorn in the side of the ever more corrupt Westminster establishment, never afraid to question and to expose its dishonesty, hypocrisy and incompetence.
As a direct result we are bullied and harassed by those in power to take blogs down or to change them with the threat of legal action. We have held our ground on more than one occasion but at cost of several nights of my sleep. Now in this last year have come new attempts to silence us: three Internet Service Providers have blocked mobile phone access to us on what are without doubt specious ‘adult content’ grounds as set out by the British Board of Film Censors. Our disputing this has, so far, fallen on stony ground. We failed their adjudication! Where the complaint came from and who sat on that anonymous tribunal we have no idea. Since Christmas my Twitter account has been blocked three times and Laura’s once, though much more questionable tweets by others routinely pass unmonitored. We stand our ground, but it’s a constant and time-consuming battle.
What it does serve to remind us however is that in this fast-changing, increasingly intrusive and authoritarian world, what we do at TCW is regarded as a threat and therefore all the more important. We know too that we are lifeline for readers; you tell us we help maintain your sanity in an increasingly insane world.
So those of you who value what we do and do still have the means, please think about donating to us (if you do not already) on either on a one-off or a regular basis, or upping your existing payment if you can. We are better value than a subscription to the Times or a BBC licence fee in our opinion!
We never want to go behind a paywall. We want everyone to be able to read us, rich or poor, right or left, young or old. That’s why we ask those who can to give, and those of you who already do, if you can afford it, please to give more.
To each and every one of you who have given or are giving to us on a regular basis, please know that, quite simply, we exist and persist because of you. And thank you.
