Derek Draper's Blog

Book Launched!

2009-04-03T08:16:00.001-07:00

We had a great night last night at my book launch. The Daily Mail has got a good write up and some more excellent photos. Sadly Sukipo, who won the competition, couldn't attend but I am sending her a signed book. Early signs are the book's selling well, so thanks to everyone who's bought it.

Congratulations Sukipo! You'll be joining us this Thursday!

2009-03-28T12:46:00.000-07:00

One of my Twitter followers Sukipo has been chosen to be a guest at my book launch on Thursday. We'll be posting some photos of the event so, if she doesn't mind, you'll get to see her then. I will also ask her to do a short post here about how it was. This is the comment that made me choose Sukipo:

"I would love to win a copy of your book. I am 57 and unable to find paid employment after working for many years in Senior Management, ageism is. I am currently a volunteer mentor ironically working with long term unemployed.I could use all the help I can get to remain positive about my situation and perhaps some tips to help with my mentoring."

Come and join me as I celebrate the launch of my new book

2009-03-19T02:07:00.000-07:00

As you can see on the left, my new book is out next week. Do enter the competition to win a VIP invitation to join me at the launch party we're having on April 2nd. Here is the blurb from the back of the book cover:

Every day, psychotherapy helps thousands of people: They feel happier, achieve more success and enjoy better relationships. But not everyone can – or wants to – be in therapy. The good news is that dozens of tips and tools from the therapy room are available for you to use right now. In this book I explore over forty issues that impact on almost everyone’s lives and, using examples drawn from real life, help you gain a better understanding of why things happen, with clear insights and advice that will help you think about life’s challenges in new, more positive ways. The stories in this book will hopefully inspire you to change the way you think, feel and behave and show you how to be a better wife, husband, parent and friend. Above all, though, they will help you become a better you – because the more we understand why we do what we do, the more we can change ourselves for the better and enjoy the fuller, happier lives we deserve.

Paul Staines AKA Guido's latest lies really scrape the barrel

2009-03-13T10:42:00.000-07:00

Needless to say Paul Staines's latest post about me is inaccurate, offensive and libellous. I am beginning to think he wants to be sued. Luckily he doesn't have much credibility these days so it's not worth wasting too much time responding to him.

But on the basis that a lie can be half way around the world before the truth has got its boots on I thought I had better take 10 minutes to post a clear rebuttal of his lies. So, just for the record:

1. On Kate's court case, I will leave that to her solicitors who issued this statement yesterday:

“This report has got the wrong end of the stick. The Inland Revenue had overestimated the amount owed by Kate by tens of thousands of pounds. In the end the Inland Revenue and the court agreed they had indeed made an overestimation and lowered the amount owed. As soon as they did so Kate paid the lower amount immediately and in full. Kate and Derek’s mortgage and other financial details are private and people should make no assumptions on why they have done something based on partial knowledge. To bring Ok! Magazine and the couple’s new baby into this is even more misleading and offensive. This has got no connection whatsoever with the disputed tax bill which was paid last year. Kate has always believed in sharing the happy news in her life with her well-wishers and will continue to do so.”

2. I am clearly not going to get into my personal finances as these are no-one else's business but the picture Staines attempts to paint is patently ridiculous. You will note there are no names or actual facts just blanket and unspecific insinuations. If he had any actual facts why wouldn't he publish them?

3. I have excellent qualifications as a psychotherapist including an MA in psychology and another MA which I am about to receive from a very distinguished UK institution. I have never sought NHS patients, my work as a psychotherapist is wholly with private patients, and my practice is always full. In addition I write numerous articles, including a regular column on therapy and have a book "Life Support" coming out on April 2nd.

We know Staines is a former bankrupt and he seems intent on suggesting that I have "financial problems"too which I do not.

As I said earlier, though, luckily he has pretty much zero credibility and this is merely the latest instance of him gunning for me because of the success of LabourList and us holding him to account for publishing racist, sexist and homophobic comments.

Whatever lies he publishes about me we will carry on doing that. We will also continue to scrutinise his commercial dealings. We will be here long after he has gone.

An associate of his told me, "Paul just posts rubbish in an effort to get attention so he gets more traffic and can sell more ads. That's all he's about". What a pathetic career for a grown man.

New book calls for end to social networks

2009-03-12T02:32:00.000-07:00

(Photo source: Rob Brown's blog)

In his new book "PR and the non-social web" leading Lib Dem voting PR man Rob Brown calls for people not to build networks online. "Making connections and then letting people make connections to you is wrong and basically spamming" he says. "It's better to make silly cheap points against your political opponents because they are doing better than your party online". He concluded, "Buy this book from a man who clearly doesn't get social media and you're a bigger fool than me". Rob's doctors last night issued a statement confirming that he was the latest sufferer of a severe outbreak in Tory and Lib Dem circles of... http://twitpic.com/204jk

UPDATE 12.00 pm

Despite being known as a Lib Dem, Rob has twittered to say he is not one. Confusing eh?

UPDATE 1.30 pm

Good blogpost on this here

UPDATE 3.30 pm Friday

Another interesting post from politics, pr and marketing

and I have a twitter grade of over 99% whatever that means!

and I wish this rating was true!

maybe this one on twinfluence is?

Guido and Iain Dale have a bad case of...

2009-03-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

Guido and Iain Dale are upset that I am the most followed political twitterer. So they are saying that my account is suspended, which it isn't. Partly this is due to their obsessiveness about me and the success of LabourList but surely it's also a touch of jealousy...

(PS They seem to think that me following people to see if they want to follow me is somehow untoward. Why? Following people who have an interest in politics seems sensible, and if they CHOOSE to follow me, that's great. Plus, most of my followers didn't come this way, they are completely organic, and the number grows daily. Also, they say I couldn't possibly be following all those people so I "don't understand the internet". But actually I have a search function that alerts me to any one of the people I follow twittering about certain topics, so while obviously I don't follow nearly 3000 people every day I do keep a track of what they are saying about the things I'm interested in. Isn't that the point ? Or maybe Guido and Iain "don't get Twitter?":)

You might also be interested to read MattWardman on why Rachel Sylvester got it so wrong in yesterday's Times....

Another artistic tribute from my rabid right wing fans

2009-02-27T09:10:00.000-08:00

This one is from a sad twat calling himself tory-totty

I've said it before and I will no doubt say it again, we must be doing something right...

Rather Fetching I think?

2009-02-17T05:58:00.000-08:00

One of my many rabidly right wing fans has posted this.

Apologies and regrets over the use of a derogatory term

2009-02-16T04:44:00.000-08:00

It has been pointed out on various blogs that I referred to "windowlickers" in posts at the end of last week. I picked this up from another Labour blogger who alleged that Guido Fawkes has used it to describe the people who visit this site (I don't know if he ever has done so). At that point I thought the phrase meant someone looking in a window, like a kid at a candyshop, wishing they were inside.

When someone challenged me on the use of the term and said it referred to the mentally handicapped I said immediately that I was unaware of that and would check it out. Having done so it is now clear to me that the term does have this awful meaning and so I unreservedly apologise for using it and undertake never to do so again. As I say, sorry.

Guardian issue correction and Guido takes down inaccurate post

2009-02-12T23:29:00.000-08:00

I am posting this here because many commenters to LabourList said yesterday that they thought such a personal matter should not be part off that website, which should be kept for political discussion. While I accept that, and have acted on it, I would point out that the only reason Guido Fawkes and his cronies in the press are gunning for me is because I have founded LabourList and they, however much they slag us off, are threatened by it.

The Guido/David Hencke smear attempt on my qualifications yesterday is beginning to fall apart. This issue is important to me because I have worked hard for my professional standing as a psychotherapist and to cast my qualifications into doubt could have consequences for the often vulnerable patients I see each week. To attack my political views and activities is one thing, to attack my role as a therapist is another, and I will fight very hard to protect myself if that happens.

Today the Guardian publishes a correction, stating:

"Yesterday we stated that Derek Draper attended the Wright Institute in Berkeley, California, and said that the institute did not offer full-time degrees. We would like to clarify that Mr Draper did attend the institute full-time from 2001 to 2004 (Ex-spin doctor admits error on qualifications, page 11)."

Guido Fawkes also removed an inccurate post about the college I did attend in Berkeley, the Wright Institute. To clarify this I attended the Doctoral programme at the Wright Institute that lasts, on average, five to six years. Within that programme students qualifying receive an M.A. at the end of the third year. At that point I had completed a training that was very intense compared to UK psychotherapy trainings, and had undertaken many hundreds of supervised clinical hours, so returned to the UK to set up my practice. I always describe myself as a psychotherapist, have never claimed to be a clinical psychologist, although my degree is, in fact, an M.A. in Clinical Psychology.

The matter is not fully resolved, though, as the wider issue is being considered by the Guardian reader's editor. In addition, having consulted my lawyers, Schillings, I am reserving the right to make a complaint to the PCC (Press Complaints Commission) or take legal action. In particular the Guardian headline was inaccurate and not supported by the story.

However, it now seems clear that this episode was a clumsy attempt to smear me, concocted by Guido Fawkes and fed by him to David Hencke at the Guardian. A journalist I have hitherto always admired and respected. I think he was led astray by Guido Fawkes and made a genuine mistake. I did, however, as the Independent reports today, give him a bit of a rollocking when I saw him yesterday.

To recap: I have never said to anyone or written anywhere that I attended U.C. (University of California) Berkeley. The fact that Hencke himself wrote a "fact box" stating I had, which I never saw, was his mistake not mine. I attended the Wright Institute, a well respected graduate school for clinical psychology where after 3 years of full time study, I received an M.A. in Clinical Psychology. I have always said I studied in Berkeley not at Berkeley.

UPDATE

10.15 am Luke Akehurst has posted on his blog about this...

10.30 am So has Tom Watson...

11 am Kerry McCarthy is also having trouble with offensive right wingers