Cornish Pips

conference

2009-09-25T16:15:00.000-07:00

So that’s the conference done then and the media have had their cheap jokes about Nick not been known and Vince has had dropped his conference bombshell on super rich homeowners (hummmm haven’t we been against taxes based on home values) and we now all wait for the labours get together in Brighton.
For at last the MP’s are back (kind of) and silly stories about kittens lost in suitcases and big brother (yep apparently it’s over) are at an end. We can now start the big build up to the election.
Yet we all know it doesn’t really matter, who ever wins we are facing a mess. There will be big tax rises and cuts and more pain to come especially now as the banks are back making money, so hold on to your hats everybody it’s going to be rough.

birthdays and canvassing

2009-07-17T15:44:00.000-07:00

In about 15 minutes I will be 44 years old.
So as I you do these last few weeks I have been reflecting at my lot in life. This was aided by a trip to see friend’s in the House of Commons.

Now I have been there several times and each time gets to see a bit more of the building which I didn’t know about and spend a little time in the mad world of politics.

Of course you won’t be surprised to hear that I love it and it always peps me up, this time my mate took me through the members lobby where statues of leaders past stand and where world events have been played out in the next door chamber. Here they make history, good or bad here you matter, your thoughts reflect a million voices and you strive for something better then now.

For those of us who want this it is an important place it would be good to be able to stand there in my own right but in the mean time I hope I have done okay, that I haven’t made to much of a mess and have made a difference be it in a small way.
All of which led me to tonight canvassing support in my latest attempt to become a PPC. One member said to me “I like your leader. Paddy Ashdown….so as you have come to my door I’ll vote for you” I smiled and walked away democracy hey great isn’t it.

ppc 123

2009-07-05T15:00:00.000-07:00

Just a quick blog after spending the evening working on my leaflet as I attempt to get selected in Plymouth.

Now I am sure a quick google will tell you what a struggle winning either Plymouth seat will be and so you might be surprised that actually quite a few applied for the two seats.

So I was pleased to be shortlisted and was then faced with the task of putting together a leaflet by the deadline. Unfortunately it also tied in with a really busy week in London and a quick trip to Bristol yesterday to do a topographia (no don’t ask ….it involves maps!) so with limited time I turned to my old friend Phil who is a professional graphic designer and who can put these things together in no time at all. So I sent him the word files a couple of pics and an idea of design and surprisingly he did it ready to print in a matter of a few hours ….. great… wonder what the others are like

Hazel blurrrrrrrrrrrrr

2009-06-12T15:14:00.000-07:00

Oh dear poor old Hazel!

Tonight she had to apologies for leaving the government on the eve of poll and being not so nice to Golden Brown ( I am still here so there!)…. Oh and wearing that brooch.

So why now, did she wake up this morning and think “oopps, what was I thinking!”
I don’t think so, more like s###t my local party is holding a no confidence vote better be nice if I want to keep my seat.

For me Ms Blears is everything I hate about self centred politicians from across the hue of parliament who seem to care less about people and more about themselves and what they can get .

So I’ll be hoping that her local party see sense and vote her out …….to be followed I hope, by many more.

For if you want to know who is to blame for the BMP getting in, it was politicians like her who kept voters at home and left democracy in such a sad state of affairs.

Those bloody expenses!

2009-05-17T12:21:00.000-07:00

Like many activists I have been knocking on doors canvassing for the County and Euro elections.

It has been going well and we have been getting good results across the county. But Because of work commitments I haven’t been able to canvas for a few days. So Friday evening was my first opportunity to call on people since most of the stories broke about the MP’s.

To begin with things went okay, everybody were pleasant and friendly as usual and as I made my way through one of the many small villages in my ward. My canvas returns matched previous results and everything remained promising.

Then I moved to a different part of the ward, now it was later, and people were watching the news and then coming to the door. Still it was okay, but now there was defiantly an edge. Most were still okay but other were, well angry ……… and the thing is I can quite understand their point of view because actually I agree with them.

Now as it happens I have been working directly or indirectly for local government most of my working life, and of course I have claimed expenses, mostly travel and overnight stays.
But I didn’t have to be told that I was effectively spending tax payer’s money and I should ensure it was spent wisely and efficiently. So why can’t some MP’s see that too?

Actually you know, I don’t care about how much an MP spent on a sofa, I do mind if an MP flipped their second home to make more money or pay for moats and tennis courts.

I mind if they claimed for both homes because both Husband and wife are MP’s and so apparently can.

I mind if they carry on claiming when they have paid for their home

and I mind when caught out they pay it back and think that’s enough!

Cameron says he will do something about it…….okay but why didn’t he do something about it when he first became leader or is he really telling us that he didn’t know anything about his own party MP’s before last week?

Labour solution is to suspend the worse offenders and “sacked” (sorry that’s ask to stand down), others from Government, although of course they still get to be MP’s and can carry on claiming!
Even our own party has had MP’s claiming when maybe they shouldn’t (no moats or house flipping as yet!). ………..It’s all too much.

I don’t know about you but I feel let down, really, really let down and I know it’s not all of them, never-the-less it’s hard to defend politics on the doorsteps under these circumstances. I just hope there isn’t too much more for this…. But I fear more is yet to come.

cornwall canvassing

2009-05-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

So here is a snippet of Cornwall canvassing ……

With our local MP we called in on a an elderly woman as she laid tucked up under her crocheted blanket and her feet up, sitting in her living room with her carer tidying up around her.

She explained that she recently suffered her third stroke and although she was recovering well she wouldn’t be able to help us with this election. She told us that she used to help that nice Mr Pardoe (who was an MP in 1966!).

We thanked her for her support and I asked her if she would rather have a postal vote this time, “oh that would be nice” she said ….. I explained she would need to fill in a form, she said she was too ill to do that, but her daughter calls around in the evening and would help her fill it in.
I leave promising to put a form through the next day.

After a successful day canvassing I called again at the lady’s house. As promised I brought with me the form to complete to send off for a postal vote .

I knocked on the door “hang on a minute” I hear her say from inside, a neighbour parking his car near- by shouts over to me that he thinks she is out as she often take herself to Plymouth on a Friday. “surely not” I think to myself “not as she is so ill at the moment”.

The door swings open and I’m greeted with a spritely old lady cigarette in her mouth, pushing her dog back with one leg.

“yes what do you want?”

“Hello” (I smile), “it’s me Phil Hutty I called to see you yesterday…… I have that form for you to fill in”

“What form?”

“Sorry,” (I check her name) “Mrs V ######?”

“yes” she leans forward and fixed me a glare.

“sorry, err…. I called yesterday ….. with the MP?.........We talked about Mr Pardoe?…… I said I would bring this form for you so you can have a postal vote?”

“What for the election in June?”

“Yes” (I felt I was getting somewhere), “you remember I said I would. You told me your daughter would help you fill it in.”

“What the elections! The elections!!!!…….. I don’t think so…. That Mr Brown and Mr Cameron……..oh no I don’t think so!!!!!”

“No, no, I’m from the lib Dem’s “

Clearly that worked…….

She slammed the door in my face!

I moved her vote from the certain to vote for me to the “Probable” line on my canvas card.

Expenses and Gurkhas

2009-04-30T15:08:00.000-07:00

So quite a busy few days in Parliament then.

First the plight of the Gurkhas came to the chamber with the government thoughtfully telling us about the apparent cost of 100 of thousands of pounds as the Gurkhas are set to swarm the country.

The fact that only about 1000 or so Gurkhas actually want to come to our country, seem to have missed them. But hey……. let’s not let the truth spoil the governments scaremongering!

Now to be fair I don’t know too much about the Gurkhas , except that they had formed one of the most revered regiment in the army they are still recruited from the foot hills of Nepal and have been part of the British Army for almost 200 years.

I also know we owe them a lot they have been fighting (and dying) on behalf of our nation in some of the major conflict around the world, as a child I remember that they were part of the force that re took the Falkland’s and of course they have been fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
so I think it was fair to say we owe them. That’s why they have earned the right to move here if they wish. After all if they were commonwealth soldiers with four years service can live here no problem.

That’s why I was proud that the Lib Dem’s used there opposition day debate this and what was more surprising was the fact there motion won. The first time that had happened for twenty years.

Dan (Rogerson MP) was telling me today that he was the teller and was surprised the labour MP’s held their nerve and voted with them. As the MP’s filled past him he suddenly realised he would have to give the result to the Speaker, something he has never had to do and he was a bit worried that he might get it wrong on such an auspicious occasion. Of course he was fine, I bet it was great to be there.

Not so today…… as the MP’s talked around the issue of their expenses.

The BBC reckons that it wasn’t a bad day for Gordon, as although he had to scrape the attendance allowance idea, they did go with researchers being employed by Parliament, having to prove all claims with receipts (welcome to the real world!) and not paying for second homes for MP’s representing constituencies in greater London.

Actually I’m not against them getting expenses and tonight’s changes seen reasonable to me.
I just wonder why suddenly Gordon felt the urge to intervene. What does he know that we don’t? ...... I look forward to the July disclosures.

Rumour has it in Westminster that some MP’s are in deep trouble and maybe three of them may have to resign imediatiely causing by elections……. We shall see.

wet delivering

2009-04-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

After a frustrating week away from Cornwall, working.
I returned last night to carry on my campaign so today I spent a fair portion of the day delivering soggy newspapers in the villages and collecting names for my nomination paper.
Lots of people out and long drives to walk up in the rain with, and maybe this is a Cornwall thing, no post box!
… no really they simply don’t have one, your just expected to open the door (not locked of course) and throw the mail in !
At one point with the rain pouring down and the wind chucking it all into my face I thought “is this worth it?” ……. I’ll let you know

Cornwall canvassing

2009-04-06T16:19:00.000-07:00

Over the last few days I have been out conducting a resident’s survey in one of the nearby villages. Of course all of Cornwall is fab (err that’s why we live here!) but this village is quite idyllic. It has a village green, a pond with ducks, a village shop with post office (and it’s not even closing!) a small community centre, primary school and of course a pub.

But things aren’t a rosy as you would expect, for this village is in fact two villages separated by a field, and each holds tight to its identity. One householder refused to fill in the form because it had the other village name on it (which also gives the name to the ward). Another blamed their biggest problem (which is parking at school pick up and drop down time) to those from the other village who won’t walk up the hill with their children. (Odd really because many a time I have passed through the village on my way to work seeing children and parents walking upwards the school). One neighbour spoke to me at length about Dog poo on nearby Kit Hill. Did you know 61000 dogs visit the hill every year? No I didn’t either, but this potential voter seemed very sure of her facts.

Anyway I have to say I love it, knocking on doors is great, especially when they haven’t had a visit for over ten years. One man says to me as I thrust a survey into my hands.” Oh you don’t want to give me that I’m right of Ghengis Khan” I retort that even Ghengis Khan is entitled to a voice about where they live, later I retrieve a completed form.

In it he has said the he might vote conservative but also might also vote lib Dem.
I’m sure the tyrant of the ancient world would have approved!

Super council Cornwall

2009-04-02T15:07:00.000-07:00

So here we are in the brave new world of the Cornwall unitary council, out canvassing tonight I called on a house with the woman answering the door was wearing a Caradon Council t-shirt “ oh” she said ,“I work in government all the time I’m not interested in politics” others seemed surprised that the council had changed.

On their minds was more mundane things like dog pooh (61000 visits on kit hill each year apparently- how they know that I’m not sure but the person who talked at length about this seemed certain of her figures) and parents parking their cars twice a day as they pick up their kids at the nearby school.

Yet in the party we have had many an angst meetings about it, some councillors and members have even left the party, such is the strength of feeling.

But that’s how it is, most people don’t really care as long as someone is there to resolve the dog pooh issue, oh and the parking. And why should they?

I mean does it really matter if it is unitary or not as long as it works and serves the public. Isn’t that just good government? Of course it’s early days but I am hopeful after all the council has been through that it works out okay.

What now for Social work?

2009-03-31T14:55:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I am off to speak to the Social Work task force set up in the wake of the untimely death of Baby P and the subsequent Lord Laming report.

They meeting has been set up to answer the core Question “What now for Social work?”
It will be a difficult question to answer.

For a long time social work has been heading in a certain direction set by the Government and legislation, driven by the likes of you and me.

We have rightly raised her hands in horror at the many human tragedies which have been splashed across the media and said “No more, something must be done” and then asked our politicians to come up with an answer that will keep all children safe.

Of course isn’t possible, children and vulnerable people will, am afraid, always dying in the hands of malice determined people who will not be stopped by any intervention short of taking the vulnerable away from them.

Even then things are never really okay, for every professional knows removing children from their family can have serious consequences emotionally and there is always a difficult balance to be made.

Actually in most cases the social worker and other professionals do get it right, but is never perfect and the scar’s can be carried for life.

I think we have got it all wrong, we simply can’t keep play this macabre game of catch up trying to cover the flaws in the service with the sticking plaster of new practice and legislation.

We have to ask: ”Do we, as a society, really want to help all children? Do we want to protect and stop abuse? Do we want children and vulnerable people make the best of their lives supported by us, you and me?”

……. if you answered “Yes” then you will need to get yourself involved because if we really want to do this we have to look at the fabric of our society and change it. Make child care the responsibility of every citizen, make it part of our everyday life’s.

Be proactive instead of reactive.
Oh and be prepared to pay for it because it will cost a lot and we won’t be able to prove it’s been money well spent for a generation.

Cornwall Dave to quit

2009-03-12T03:21:00.000-07:00

Splashed all over the front page of yesterdays western morning news came the report that David Whalley Lib Dem leader of Cornwall county council is to stand down at the next election. It cited personal attacks against him as part of the reason but of course that wasn’t the real story.

I have met David on several occasions over the past few years, and whilst his and my Mum was still alive, we would often swap “Mum” stories whenever we met. This normally centred around the fact both his and my Mum still had quite grasped that we were in fact grownups (in my case in age only) and we would tell stories of food parcels and motherly advice with a smile on our faces!

Actually I like him a lot and like a number of long time members he has been a solid worker in the party, turning his part of the world (Bude) from a few members to a strong hold for Lib Dems.

Four years ago he took on the role as leader of the council and steered it through difficult times as Cornwall decided to move to a unitary authority. A move which remains controversial, and at times has been bitterly fought. Unsurprisingly David has bore the brunt of these attacks, added to by his style of management which hasn’t suited all in the council.

The last time I spoke to him he was planning to stand again, but had already made it clear that he didn’t plan to lead the new council should are party retain it after the elections.

His change of heart will be a great loss to the party and council. I hope he doesn’t also feel this marks the end of involvement in local politics. We continue to need voices from all aspects of our society in order to make politics work. The fact we may not always agree with them stops us being a meaningless glob spurting out the kind of incepted rubbish the other parties broadcast.

The real story should not be the effect of personal attacks on him, but that fact that he has for so long he has stood up and tried to effect real change in our society.

Standing for public office takes guts and is something an increasingly less amount of people are able or willing to do. I sure there would have been many things we would have disagreed on but at heart was his wish to serve his constituents and for that we should all thank him for his service.

Why I won’t be going back to social work

2009-03-03T10:20:00.000-08:00

This morning it was announced that The Local Government Association (LGA) will be trying to encourage ex social workers back into the profession. The LGA, which hopes to tempt back 5,000 of us, says 10% of posts in the profession are unfilled.

This is sited because of the death of Baby P, but I’m sure is not helped by the government limiting overseas social workers coming to this country from outside the EU, who have previously been picking up the shortfall of qualified workers.

Added to this Reading University has decided to cut the social work course something other universities may also follow.

So what’s going on is it that the profession has been spooked by Baby P or is it deeper than that?
Well I have been a practicing social worker for a very long time now and don’t think a child’s death no matter how tragic hasn’t substantially hit the exodus from the profession.

No the main barrier is the red tape which now surround the workers. Now I am not saying all paperwork/ IT is bad, but when you travel around the country as much as I do meeting Social workers you hear the same issues reoccurring time and time again.

In essence social workers don’t prevent abuse, they stop more occurring. They have become social policeman and are blamed for every bad parent in the country.

There are good things brought by the development of our service of course, built on good practice and sound judgement. But there is too much that now hinders this. Managers talk about outcomes and timescales rather than the quality of the practice. The average social worker can now spend about 80% of his or her time ticking boxes without achieving anything nobody asks how long you have spent with a child they just want to know that you saw the child.

Of course there is no simple answer to this, no quick solution or ground breaking theory. Just lots of ideas as the profession plays catch up with society’s views.

Personally I feel we will never make any real ground until we can all grasp the idea that children’s welfare is everyone’s responsibility. Social work has to be part of our society not an overseer of it.

It’s not money that would drag me back. It is the ability to be able to practice my profession which for me is a way of life not just a job.

Check s and balances our fine, we need to be accountable but let’s be driven by good practice not politicians. Social worker started by good neighbours and friends helping each other, after all parenting is the hardest thing to achieve we all need every help we can get and it’s time for our society to recognise that and get involved.

Cars and computers

2009-03-01T15:15:00.001-08:00

My friend came around to our house yesterday and asked me to help him fix his car. As we struggled to fit the front light back on it occurred to me that if he had a more modern car we probably would be able to fix the car without a computer programme.

Today the local news leads on the story that the legislation that compels the manufacturers to provide the independent garages with the technical information they need, is being reviewed and may be withdrawn.

Now this is bad news, particularly for our local garages who provide a great service to us car owners who oddly are not to keen about paying over the odds for our car to be looked at. It will hit not only local jobs but local subsidiary jobs in the parts industry at a time when things are bad for them anyway.

For the car manufacturers I am sure they will talk loftily about intellectual rights and business confidentiality they may also throw in the odd “health and safety” argument.

But my local garage tells me that the software they sell to the garages cost thousands and they are forever upgrading which demands even more money. On top of this if the car maker falls out with a franchise dealer will they stop selling upgrades to them?

…. And if this does happen will future cars come with a government warning ?
We will have to see

Bankers

2009-02-28T13:45:00.000-08:00

What a fun day not only did I finish decorating my son’s bedroom (red and black hummmm nice!) and help my friend fix his car (very middle aged dad!) but also we got a nice letter from our bank telling us that unfortunately they have been unable to lower their lending rate even though the bank of England had lowered their rate by 0.5% last month. Their explanation was that this was due to “difficult banking conditions”.
Couple of things firstly how come it has taken so long to tell us, I mean it’s not like the monthly meeting to set the base rate took them by surprise, Hey guys it’s a monthly meeting if you want the date’s only too happy to help you.
What about you getting off your fat backside and meeting immediately afterwards?!
Secondly this is not the first time this has happened in fact one month you even put it up when the bank of England didn’t.
So forgive me if I don’t agree with you when you describe the account as “a great place to keep your money” it’s not.
But then we have a Virgin one account owned by RSB. That’s right the bank that likes to give their last boss Sir Fred Goodwin the odd £650,000 a year.
Now I’m not so stupid as not to realize that we all have to pay for the banks greed and our assumptions house prices would always go up in value. It’s just that when you didn’t take risks getting a mortgage up to our limit, when you plan your budget and stick to it when you even chose a bank which had nothing to do with the big four (should have seen that coming though Richard is always selling his “Virgin” brands) it hurts to hear the people responsible getting big payouts and a government doing nothing but saying “can we have your pension back?”.

Hustings for one

2009-02-24T01:07:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I attended the weirdest Hustings.

You see about three months ago I agreed to act as a returning officer in the selection of candidates to fight the forthcoming local council elections.

Now in my experience us activist usually spend our time trying to find just one person for a vacant seat in the council elections and I’m sure like a number of you, have in the past, actually spent a “fun” evening before the close of nominations trying to fill that last spot by calling on every member in that ward and begging them to be a candidate.

But hey this is Cornwall and those days have long since past and so like an ever increasing number of places we actually have to select from a strong list which in this case, includes leading members in the council. So as you can imagine it was a tough election.

The turnout was incredible, over 90%. In fact on the election day, there was just a handful left to vote, and two of them were candidates!

So I wasn’t exactly expecting a pile of people.

Anyway ,I arrived early, set out a few chairs and briefed the candidates. Then we waited for someone to turn up.

With just a few minutes to go we had exactly one person he sat in the middle of the room waiting for the Hustings to start.

I checked the corridor looking for any lost souls but there was no one.
The voter said that he felt bad about being the only one and did we want to go ahead with the Hustings? But I explained that he came today to hear a Hustings and was about to base his vote on that, the Hustings had been open to every member and he had the right to hear the candidates.

So I asked them to begin ………..

Each candidate duly came in gave their speech, some stood and read their prepared statement out others sat down and just chatted and answering questions.

Soon it was over and time for him to vote, there was a short silence and everyone in the room kept a discreet distance from him whilst he marked his ballot paper and then it was over.
Democracy in action!

The count on the other hand took somewhat longer, using a system of Single transferable votes we slowly worked out which four candidates would be selected and in which order.

With no fancy computer programme to help there was much scratching of heads and over worked calculators.

Did the members vote make a difference? Well I don’t know, but I like to think it did.

One thing for sure, with over 90% voting we certainly heard what the members thought and that makes me proud to be a Lib Dem.

Is it time for Vince?

2009-01-29T15:20:00.000-08:00

Well it’s been over a year now and the election is starting to peek over the horizon

So Nick should be getting his act together, but whenever he is front of the media …..I’m just not convinced.

It’s not that he is rubbish far from it……. it’s just that I believe, he isn’t good enough to be take on this demanding role.

He looks uncomfortable in front of the camera, he sounds hesitant on the radio and lacks the cutting edge at question time.

It seems to me sitting from afar, that his close advisers and speech writers are struggling to present him in the right way. The result is a frankly lacklustre polling results and no real momentum to take us further forward.

But I know we do have the right argument s, MP’s freely admit that Vince is right on the button whenever he speaks, and there has been quite a few occasions when the Lib Dem policies is recycled into either the government or Tories latest "new idea".

So my question tonight is how long before we call Vince back in and ask him to take up the leadership role again, only this time shouldn't we give him a real chance to run our party?

UkIP and Prestcott

2009-01-25T11:58:00.000-08:00

Well I took some time out today to watch the politics show, as ever Mr Prescott was on form trying to convince the viewers that he is “hip” cause he has 2300 facebook friends and his party has now launched a blog page……

best bit of the interview was when he was asked if he would be blogging about the report in today’s Sunday times newspaper report on labour peers accepting “fees” for “helping “clients push through favourable amendments to new legislation. It was hard to make sense of Mr “lets use ten words when one will do”, but I in essence i think he said that he wouldn’t be commenting on that cause, apparently blogging wasn’t about commenting on current events…..!

In the same programme we were also treated to some quality time with the UkIP leader as he made mischeve in the European parliament

oh what fun as he stood up and told parliament that the euro is doomed………. and then there is the naughty smoking where he shouldn’t ….… such a wheeze!

I think that It is such a waste, such a portrayal to the voting public.

I mean clearly I never voted for the party, but here in the west country we returned two, MEP’s who promised to pull out of Europe and led this country to the free trade with the USA and a perfect future!

Instead we get this rubbish with Nigel Farage MEP complaining about how little he earns (shame).

I do hope the voters are kept informed about how ineffectual they have been and how (and isn’t this ironic!) much time and money they have wasted sitting in the European parliament.

I guess we should be grateful that ¼ of the elected members are no longer part of their party (for various reason) and the elections this year should see them lose more ground.

Nigel should remember it’s okay to make fun of any political system. But you are part of it, you except our tax payers money, and your voter deserve more.

QT

2009-01-22T15:16:00.000-08:00

So I’m watching Question time and the first 20 mins have been about the economy started around the bonus to be paid to northern rock staff. (for doing their job apparently – so I’m in the wrong job then!)

So a part from Dimbleby usual interrupting before the panellist gets a chance to draw breath, yet alone answer the question. What is depressing is the opposition (us included) saying how awful the government is (which of course they are) without being constructive in their criticism.

Why can’t they say “this is bad, this is what we would do …let’s work together to sort it out”

…after all in the end doesn’t what all parties want is to serve the country

…. Or is it just a job for the boy’s/girls?!!!

itch

2009-01-19T16:07:00.000-08:00

All day, in fact all week, I have had a nag at the back of my mind, it’s something I can’t put my finger on it, an itch if you will, that I can’t reach.

I’ve tried sleeping on it, talking it through to myself (now, how sad is that?!!!) Systematically eliminating reason s for this unease.

But , as yet, nothing. Not even close.

Certainly there is a lot going on in my life, and this time of year for reasons you don’t need to know, has always been tough for me.

So it would be reasonable to assume that that was the core of it, but again No, I’m pretty sure it isn’t related to that. Well ,not this time.

I think it has something to do with what’s going on at the moment, or should I say what’s not going on.

The government has given heaps of money to the banks, who appear to be haemorrhaging it to God knows where, the government appears to be struggling and yet the opposition (including the Lib Dem) are, whilst saying this is not working , not going for the kill.

Yes I know they are criticizing the government’s actions, and let’s face it we can’t expect too much from the Tories who generally don’t seem to have an idea what to do…..
but I still I feel we’re missing something, a bit of information from underneath the credit crunch.

Like a sentence in a film which you missed when you went out and made yourself a cup of coffee which later turned out to be the most important scene.

What it is, can’t tell you, but my guess is we will know soon enough and I will let you know when I know.

Election certain in 2009

2008-12-24T02:56:00.000-08:00

So it’s Christmas Eve, and shops will be full of people buying that ”must have gift” which they have been going to buy since August but never had the time!

Worse still is food shopping, when the population collectively decide to pop down to the shops to buy enough food for a year because heaven forbid, the stores will be closed for TWO DAYS!!!!

Still I digress, Christmas and the new year is always the time when we look back and plan forward. For us political sort, it’s not long before the subject turns to when is the next general election?

Like most of you I’m sure we all have are pet theories, mine centres around when the troops come home from Iraq, I have never believed Brown would go to the country with that still around him.

Afghanistan, however is another story have you noticed the little stories around the theme, “still work to do” and “the children of Afghanistan still need us” ?

Anyway my guess for next year is it will be called either JUNE or OCTOBER, no later……… so what do you think?

Has it sold out yet

2008-12-20T03:24:00.000-08:00

The Saturday before Christmas has to be the busiest shopping day of the year, not food shopping, no that pleasure is yet to come! Today it’s present shopping that will fill most of our time.

Shops rarely visited throughout the year will be packed with disgruntled customers picking presents they think relatives want. Certain toys will be the must for Christmas. Perfume chocolates and lingerie will all brought in heaps buy husbands lovers and boyfriends all desperate to get something for that special woman in their lives. ( if you’re a bit bored today try hanging out in the lingerie department and take sharp intakes of breath whenever a man picks up a flimsy thing that clearly wouldn’t keep their partners them warm in bed and aren’t all that comfortable! )

one thing is for sure, whatever we buy their will be an air of disappointment by the queens speech on Christmas day when the toy turns out to be expensive tat, the clothes won’t fit and perfume makes you smell like …… well awful.

Still regardless of the state of the economy we will all over spend and over eat, forgetting that this is supposed to be a religious festival celebrated three or four days after winter solstice (which it was meant to replace) and several months after Jesus is thought to have been born. …..and still the food shopping to go!

A quite night in the house

2008-12-19T15:13:00.000-08:00

Okay no names but a pile of us plus a sprinkling of MP’s popped out for a Christmas drink this week

Hear are just a few highlights for you to enjoy as you sip on your snowball drink and eat out of date, savoury snacks ……or is that just me!

“It’s good to see you again, thanks for coming” – A labour MP said to me the first time I have ever met him as I gate crashed his party

“ I was going to save you but then I spotted the scotch eggs” – a member of staff explain why he never helped his MP boss who was choking on a sausage roll.

“We are going to the wrong Pub….. my mates are going to one on the embankment” said by a stranger who for some reason got into our taxi as we made our way to a club south of the river.

“My name is MR Wilson I’m in room 144………What the room isn’t booked to someone in that name! ….. Sorry, it’s in my wife’s name Mrs Wilson!” said by one of us as we successfully conned our way into a hotel for a drink about 3am in the morning.

“ I can tell you now my mates are not coming here” says the man from the cab as he knocks back his second pint and whom it turns out none of us know!

And finally from a researcher on her leaving do “last time I saw you I was so drunk I don’t remember it”

Suicide - is it painless?

2008-12-10T06:45:00.000-08:00

There was a TV show in the eighties called MASH the theme tune of which was a song called “suicide is painless “ Actually it is anything but, particularly for the families and friend left behind and of course anyone unfortunate enough to witness the event.

So tonight on SKY TV we are about to shown a man who will commit suicide.
It is a controversial subject and one I have very clear views on and some understand off.
I think suicide is a selfish act, It has to be, because someone deciding to take their lives (and I am not talking about people who do it for attention) really must conclude that ending their life is a rational move, the only option.

Often of course it isn’t but your mental health state blocks the natural human instinct to survive and dismisses the understanding of the effect of people near to you. Concluding that if anything, you are a burden to all and removal of you is the right decision.

But although it is true that tonight we will have the opportunity to observe a suicide. It was not carried out by someone who was, as far as we know, suffering from the same mental distress common with people who attempt suicide in our every day life’s.
For this was a man who was dying and whom had decided that he wanting to be in control of when and how it should happen.

At this point I want to tell you that I have some experience of death having watched both my Dad and more recently, my Mum die. For my father it was an awful experience as he fought for every breath taking three long days and nights before the painkilling drugs and brain tumour won. My mum simply drifted away whilst my sister and I held her hands. For both Suicide was not an option. But if they had asked I would have agreed , without hesitation.

Moreover listening to my father rasp away his last hours in discomfort and some pain (it was the seventies and painkillers were not always that effective) whilst his young family watched on (he died at home) I would have been happy to give him a fatal dose to end the pain earlier. Not just for him but for us waiting to grieve.

Now I know there are many arguments on religious grounds for not allowing suicide in this country and such a system should be fraught with problems as we would need to be sure and suicide is not the result of pressure from others.

But I think we need to have a serious debate on the subject not just in parliament but in every home. What we have now is not sustainable or acceptable. How can it be right that we can put a pet down who is pain, but not a human?

All I ask is tonight, if you can, watch with an open mind. For I know, having had professional experiences of all kinds of people in all sorts of difficult situations that one solution rarely fits all and maybe for a few, suicide is, the least painful solution.

Councillor Neil Trafford

2008-11-27T15:19:00.000-08:00

Tonight surfing the web I came across the fact that Neil has died in a car crash this week.
I didn’t know him well but we did meet a few time at conference and around in Cornwall when he worked here.

People who knew him better will be able to say more eloquent words about him. So all I will say is how very sorry I am that he has gone. Death is never pleasant but somehow more cruel when it takes a life of such a nice man starting to make his mark in life.

How very sad