Staines PaulStaines Paul

Paul Staines è lo scrittore del blog Guido Fawkes, uno dei blogsites politici più seguiti della Gran Bretagna, sui complotti, le chiacchiere e le cospirazioni dei parlamentari. Interessato alla politica già dai primi anni ‘80 e dopo esperienze burrascose nella finanza che lo portarono alla bancarotta nel 2003, comincia a scrivere il suo blog nel settembre 2004. Staines critica spesso i media tradizionali, in particolare la BBC, sostenendo che è troppo vicina al potere politico e che mantiene segreti al pubblico gli scandali politici; per questo chiede ai suoi lettori di trasmettere documenti politici e informazioni direttamente a lui, che le pubblica senza censure sul suo blog. Negli ultimi anni grazie alle sue segnalazioni ha fatto dimettere più di un deputato.

Paul Staines is the writer of the Guido Fawkes blog of parliamentary plots, rumours & conspiracy. It is one of Britain's leading political blogsites.

He acquired an interest in politics as a libertarian in the 1980s and promoted acid house parties in the early 1990s. He then spent several tempestuous years in finance before declaring himself bankrupt in October 2003, leaving him with plenty of time to devote to his blog, which he started in September 2004. He encourages readers to forward political documents and information to him, which he then publishes on his blog. Staines often criticises the mainstream media, in particular the BBC, claiming that it is too close to the political establishment and that it keeps political scandals from the public. In April 2009, Staines exposed in his blog that a series of scurrillous e-mails had been prepared by Damian McBride, a political adviser working at 10 Downing Street, smearing a number of Conservative MPs. This led to the resignation of McBride and expressions of regret to the MPs concerned from the Prime Minister Gordon Brown. In September 2010 Staines published rumours about the Foreign Secretary William Hague, alleging that he shared a hotel room with his newly-appointed special advisor. Hague admitted that he had shared a hotel room with the young man but denied any improper relationship.