I thought it might prove interesting for readers if I take this opportunity, as we launch the NEW Tangled Web site, to review why ATW came into being, how it has changed  over the years (and me with it) and where I hope it will go to!

Let me start by sharing a little background on myself. Some readers may know that I spent a number of years in "front-line" politics in the cauldron of seething discontent that is Northern Ireland! Now being in the "front-line" in Northern Ireland politics has a very distinct meaning - as the graveyards around the Province pay grim testimony. And the thing is, it all happened by accident. It either takes a very brave or a very stupid person to enter this arena, so I'll leave you  to draw your own conclusions about me! 

I was a relatively normal person in a mad world who was avowedly non-political. Yes, I was a unionist in a vague sense, yes I had known friends and family suffer because of the IRA terror campaign, but in all honesty I was too busy building up my career and helping bring up my young family to worry too much about the State of the Union. Shocking, isn't it? I was also someone brought up in a Christian household and whose faith has strengthened over the years, rather than diminish. 

Yet I can remember deciding to go to a public meeting one night in the Ulster Hall - it was hosted by a group Professional & Business people for the Union. I suppose I trace my active interest in politics to that night. I became a member of that organisation, and eventually rose to the stellar height of Chairman of the bored.  Our group met with all the main Unionist parties, we met with the likes of the CBI,  the Church Leaders....it was a fascinating time.  I was able to base my emerging opinions of the political class on having met with them and hearing what they had to say. I recall meeting a newly elected David Trimble, a feisty Ian Paisley, a combative Bob McCartney, a demure Sir George Quigley....and so the beat went on.

From this beginning, I actually ended up in the UK Unionist Party, led by Bob McCartney! That was the beginning of a turbulent five year period during which the Party achieved some modest success, only to be foiled by serial in-fighting and ego-battles, none of which pleased me a jot. I ended up as Deputy Leader, but eventually became totally disillusioned by the petty jealousies that prevailed. You'd be surprised how much time this took up - and by this time I was writing pretty extensively in both local and national press. But as is the way, the topics that  I wrote about were tempered by Party policy, and I've always struggled with the notion that ANY given Party can be all knowing on every subject.  So the day on which I publicly resigned from the Party  was a day of great release for me. Walking away from party politics was a wonderful feeling! Plus, I have many great tales from my political days which could make interesting reading - someday! 

During  my political time, I became involved with the media, and made the odd appearance (Some would say very odd!!) on TV and Radio shows. I became more media literate, writing a multitude of press releases, contributing sections to election manifestos, writing speeches etc. And as I came to understand the MSM better - the more I disliked it.

And so it was that around 2000, I decided to publish A Tangled Web.  It was around that time that I had walked away from party politics, so I suppose you could argue that ATW was a soapbox of convenience from which I could pontificate.

At the beginning, I covered Northern Ireland political affairs, pretty extensively. I then realised that there were distinct connections with some of the issues we faced in Northern Ireland, and those encountered elsewhere around the world. And so the scope of the site increased into mainstream UK topics and then more broadly into international topics.

9/11 made a huge impact on me - as I saw the world now forced to awaken to the menace, the sheer evil of terrorism.  By this time A Tangled Web.co.uk  had changed platform and gone onto blogger and subsequently onto Typepad platforms.

During these years I had been joined by Andrew McCann, as a fellow writer. I would like to pay tribute to Andrew at this point for his commitment, his loyalty, and his courage in helping tackle some of the toughest and most controversial issues over the past several years.  I am a prolific writer, and ATW has always produced a much more frequent daily output than the average blog.  Andrew's contributions have eased the strain of me trying to write for ATW, and still find the time to write other things.  I know that Andrew writes in a no-compromise manner and as far as I am concerned, his plain-speaking so typical of a man from Yorkshire combined with his erudition, makes him absolutely central to the success of the site over the years.

Site traffic has continually grown, and our comment threads are amongst some of the most vigorous on the UK political web. I try to edit as little as possible, and only ban those posters who provoke extreme offence.  With a thousand comments each week being the norm on ATW , I rely on you, the reader, to adopt an appropriate moderated tone.  I do not have time to follow every thread, so please do not take offence if you think I am ignoring you. That is very rarely the case!

Most recently, the ranks on ATW have swelled with the addition of FIVE new writers. (See "About our Writers" for biog details) This is a big step forward insofar as it means that you, dear reader, can experience a greater diverity of opinion on a wider number of topics. I salute Mike, Alison, Tom, Richard and Mr Smith for taking this leap of faith and they all have already made an impact with several quality posts.

Going forward, I want you to know that my commitment to this site is absolute. Regardless of where we appear in faux lists of UK blogs, the clear vision is to be "head of the list, cream of the crop,  top of the heap" (With apologies to Mr. Sinatra!) based on the quality of the writing. I hope we will continue to engage you, infuriate you, maybe amuse you, and always prove ourselves worthy of your time visiting us.  Thanks for all your support so far, and I hope ATW will continue to be a place you will find visit daily. If you visit other good sites and notice that they do not link here, tell 'em I sent you and that they should really make the ATW link. We may be right-of-liberal, but we are also open to argument, if you have one.

Welcome to a new Tangled Web - enjoy the ride...!