When Iain Dale announced in 2010 that he will shut down his personal blog for a new multibloggers uberblog, I was sad to see one of my absolute favourite blogs disappear but was comforted in that he will continue to blog. Even if I was unsure if it will be the same, but as a friend I wanted and hoped Dale & Co becomes a success.

So when earlier this month Iain announced he is shutting Dale & Co down and returning to his single blog, I was delighted.

As the King of Blogging and the person who inspired me to blog, as a blogging mentor who was always generous with candid advice and support and as a friend it is good to have Iain Dale the blog back.

Sorry to learn Dale & Co suffered, but I can see why. Most contributors had their own followers elsewhere and Dale & Co was never their primary.

Yes, I was one of those who missed the fact that he never ruled out a return just as I and many never stopped hoping that one day he will come back.

I don’t know if Iain remembers it. But in 2007, in Blackpool at the Conservative Party Conference, I told him he well be wasted in Parliament, with all the whipping and the party line towing. And although he is/was an A ‘Lister at the time, he was made for journalism, this type of on the spot published commentary. What Nadine Dorries called “a bigger scope than Ben & Jerry’s”. This is what he was born to do.

I was right. Iain Dale is today a formidable journalist and one of the most influential political commentators in our country. As a Tory he makes me proud, as a blogger I look up to him and as friend I rejoice in his success.

Welcome back and may it continue for a very long time.

It is no secret that Iain Dale had some influence in me taking up blogging. I admire and respect him and can actually call him a friend. Announcing earlier today that he will stop regular blogging although a huge blow to the blogosphere especially on the right, this announcement did not come as a total surprise, nevertheless his departure will be an immense loss.

Could this signal the end of the blogging greats, first Tom Harris MP, Tory Bear and now Iain Dale? Although in Harris’ case it was a surprise but Iain has hinted at the possibility of him quitting in many occasions plus with his work and business commitments it was inevitable, and as he put it (something had to give)

We will miss you Iain (I love my Ben & Jerry scoops) and I’m positive many on all sides of the political spectrum do too. I shall look at your departure as a coming of age and although I will miss the blog there is still your nightly show on LBC and judging by my reading taste I will always be reading something with your figure prints all over it.

Good luck my friend with everything and thank you for being a trend setter!