Ellee Seymour

For those of you who have been following James Turmbridge’s Herculean challenge for Mid-Norfolk, I’m afraid it ended with a disappointing result for him today, particularly after his stomach churning fight against the odds to make it through to the final selection.

He did brilliantly to stand against 18 A-listers and make it this far, he displayed considerable fortitude, professionalism and determination and his actions and performance impressed many.

James will no doubt continue with his search for a seat in Norfolk and will hopefully be given the opportunity to display his many talents in the next general election.

Without doubt, the finalists were all extremely capable and talented, and there can only be one winner. So congratulations to George Freeman, who last year led a very vigorous and solid campaign in Stevenage and can only improve on that result in Mid-Norfolk.

Gladiatorial Grant Shapps has reminded police to get their act together over the “cash for peerage” investigation, which has already had three extensions.

I’m sure one of those under scrutiny, former Cambridge-based biotech millionaire Sir Chris Evans, wishes the same. He hopes to be cleared for what he claims was a straight forward £1 million loan to the Labour Party.

He is convinced there is a “witch hunt” going on in the peerages row, which has embroiled the Government, and he longs for it to be over.

Sir Chris told his local paper (no link, I’m afraid):

“I haven’t done anything wrong and I am sick of playing ball with these people.The Labour Party has promised to return all the loan, plus interest next month…..I feel as if I am walking around with two massive lead balls on my shoulders ….I wish I had never got involved.”

His supporters claim it would not have made sense for him to have tried to “buy” a peerage as he would have been an obvious choice for the House of Lords anyway, not only for his allegiance to Labour, but for his scientific expertise. So how can we differentiate between genuine loans and those that are tarnished with sleaze and self-gratification?

That’s why capping loans makes sense, as well as some form of state funding. The latter may become a huge necessity as donors will have had their fingers badly burnt from this experience and all parties will be poorer both financially, as well as by reputation.

I would be very surprised if the House of Lords Appointments Commission did not have had all the relevant background info regarding loans made to all political parties, I wonder if their suspicions have ever been aroused and they have rejected a dodgy looking nomination? Or have they all approved?

Btw, reading up about Sir Chris, I discovered some interesting facts; he is the son of a steelworker born in Port Talbot and had a poor childhood, he started his biotech empire in a Nissen hut - and he took his wife to meet the Pope on their first date. Now that is impressive. He also loves drinking vintage wine while watching Coronation Street. He sounds an ok sort of guy to me.

Update: 22 October, Sunday Times report on plans to reform HoL.