Why are men getting away with rape?

Posted by on Jan 31, 2007 in Uncategorized | 38 comments Too many men are getting away with rape, probably going on to commit  further assaults against women. In many cases, police don’t believe the victims and report the rape allegations as “no crime”. Of course, police have to weed out the false allegations, but a report published today by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Her Majesty’s...
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Would you invite your ex to your wedding?

Posted by on Jan 31, 2007 in updates | 16 comments Wedding invites can be tricky and cause heated rows, especially  if you want to invite your ex along. If there is no animosity, should it be a big deal? Anyway, Hugh Grant will escape the pleasure of wearing a turban at the lavish wedding in India of his former flame Liz Hurley to Arum Nayar as he has been left off the guest list. I know rumours abound about Jemima Khan’s...
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Was the busty blonde necessary?

Posted by on Jan 30, 2007 in updates | 13 comments Thought that might grab your attention! A new era in punchy political campaigning was launched today by 18 Doughty Street with its first online video political attack against the    government’s record on tax. Do play the 90 sec recording and let me know what you think. I liked the clever use of the TAX swipe card to get its message across in a...
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Where is the joined up thinking in John Hutton’s plan?

Posted by on Jan 30, 2007 in Uncategorized | 4 comments John Hutton’s announcement today that lone parent benefits should be paid only until the youngest child is 11 instead of 16 could not have been timed more badly. The front page lead story in today’s Times tells how parents are being charged up to £19,000 a year for nursery costs, that the price of daycare for babies and young children has increased by almost 30% in...
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Great news for Manchester

Posted by on Jan 30, 2007 in Uncategorized | 11 comments News that Manchester won the super casino bid seemed to take everyone by surprise. How did it remain such a closely guarded secret? News presenters were this morning debating whether it would be Blackpool or the Millennium Dome. Glad I didn’t bet on either of those! Other casino licences have been granted too, including a large licence for Great Yarmouth, which I’m sure will be good...
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Don’t miss Newsnight tonight

Posted by on Jan 29, 2007 in updates | 12 comments  You’ll be kicking yourself if you miss Newsnight tonight as the slick new 18 Doughty Street goes through the Paxman grilling. This is how they are plugging it: “18 Doughty Street is the internet TV channel dedicated to all things political. The creators say that the mainstream political process is ignoring huge swathes of public opinion – a niche they propose to fill by...
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Community midwives’ pay slashed

Posted by on Jan 29, 2007 in Uncategorized | 7 comments Just as the government had extensive warnings about prison overcrowding in the last few years, it was also aware of the shortage of midwives putting mothers and babies at risk. Three years ago, “truly alarming” figures revealed that the number of midwives intending to work in the NHS was falling sharply.  Labour pledged to increase the numbers so that every...
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America uses wiki to promote open government

Posted by on Jan 29, 2007 in updates | 6 comments   With Gordon Brown’s admission that politicians had failed to use the internet to communicate, that they have to adjust to the growth of “audience power” through the rise of blogging, I wonder if he is closely following the new Politicopia site in Utah – a wiki for open government. It enables people to comment on legislation being considered by...
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My walking weekend

Posted by on Jan 26, 2007 in updates | 27 comments I must pack my bag now and prepare for my walking weekend in North Norfolk with Cambridge Rambling Club. I am vastly outnumbered politically with this group, the city council does not have one Conservative councillor. I was joined on one of their recent walks by a Respect member who told me how they are actively canvassing there. But we are all good friends once we put...
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How do you cope with a tantrum on a plane?

Posted by on Jan 26, 2007 in updates | 5 comments It’s every parents’ nightmare, having a child who throws a wobbly in a public place. But when the tantrum is on an plane and delays the flight, how do you cope, what can you do to placate an hysterical child, knowing everyone’s eyes are fixed on you? This is what happened to Julie and Gerry Kulesza who could not restrain daughter Elly, 3, with her seat belt strapped...
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Internet celebs favouring WordPress

Posted by on Jan 26, 2007 in updates | 11 comments I managed to get an early night earlier this week because so many of my favourite sites had problems with Blogger. I left a few comments suggesting they switch over to WordPress like myself. And especially as it seems that cool internet celebs are favouring WordPress too, according to top 25 internet celebrities listed by Forbes.com, including the No1 celeb LonelyGirl15, as well...
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Lembit takes his Cheeky Girls to Wales

Posted by on Jan 25, 2007 in Uncategorized | 11 comments Cheeky Girl Gabriela has given the thumbs up to the mid-Wales constituency  of her Lib-Dem lover Lembit Opik which she visited recently with twin sister Monica. And keen to establish herself as the perfect MP’s partner, she enjoyed a “Mad Friday” night on the town, as well as going shopping with two local newspaper photographers, gushing how friendly...
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What is Britishness today?

Posted by on Jan 25, 2007 in Uncategorized | 29 comments A report today recommends that schools in England should teach “core British values” in our diverse, multi-cultural society, I wonder exactly what this means. What is Britishness today? If we went to a school and asked the kids for their views on this, what would they say? They may refer to the queen, perhaps even parliament, in other words, our traditional heritage. Yet...
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The councillor, the travellers and that explosive remark

Posted by on Jan 24, 2007 in Uncategorized | 19 comments I’ve sat in many council meetings and had a job staying awake. However, my ears always pricked up at South Cambridgeshire Council when Deborah Roberts and Robin Page stood up because I knew I could expect a good quote. And Coun Roberts really let rip in expressing her anger and frustrations at the escalating travellers row in Cottenham, which attracted extensive national media...
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What is the judges verdict on John Reid?

Posted by on Jan 24, 2007 in Uncategorized | 34 comments Britain’s judges must be scratching their wigs in disbelief following John Reid’s plea to them to limit jail sentences as our prisons are full. The Home Secretary and law chiefs have told the country’s learned legal professionals, along with our magistrates, to only use jail for the most dangerous and persistent criminals – but hasn’t that always been the case?...
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Why didn’t police act sooner to stop looters?

Posted by on Jan 23, 2007 in updates | 19 comments We saw the stricken cargo ship on TV over the weekend, waiting for it to run aground, yet there was no effective contingency plan to deal with its aftermath. Instead, police stood by helpless and just watched as greedy scavengers descended on the Devon beach and helped themselves to washed up cargo. Such was their greed that they had no concern whatsoever about warnings to stay away because of...
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My appearance on 18 Doughty Street

Posted by on Jan 23, 2007 in updates | 38 comments I was delighted to join Iain and fellow bloggers Rachel from North London, Caroline Hunt, Kerron Cross and Andy Mayer on his squashy sofa at 18 Doughty Street last night. We discussed why more women are not blogging, ethics and fake blogs. I found the hour flew by and we had run out of time before I knew it, and there was so much more I wanted to say. I had expected to be a teeny bit nervous as...
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How can kids learn respect?

Posted by on Jan 22, 2007 in Uncategorized | 26 comments How can kids suddenly learn respect if it is something they have ignored in the past? How can “respect zones” succeed when parents, schools and various agencies have failed? The very word “respect” will turn kids off because to them it sounds too authoritarian, James’ story typifies the kind of challenge the government faces. And this is what Lisa, 18, says...
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Let’s support Jeremy’s trek to Africa

Posted by on Jan 22, 2007 in updates | 4 comments   There’s a defining moment in everyone’s life and for Jeremy Jacobs it came following his sister’s tragic death from breast cancer. Jackie was only 40 and had three lovely children. He has become an active fund raiser for the breast cancer campaign, and also visits schools to help raise its profile. His latest big venture is a challenging 125 mile...
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Congratulations Nadine

Posted by on Jan 21, 2007 in Uncategorized | 9 comments Congratulations to Nadine Dorries for being nominated ConservativeHome‘s Blog of the Week. Nadine, MP for Mid-Beds, is a lively and engaging writer and really seems to enjoy blogging. I attended the final count in her constituency on the night she was selected to represent Mid-Beds and saw her presentation. She was outstanding, a breath of fresh air, so vibrant and...
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Cameron backs cannabis for medicinal use

Posted by on Jan 21, 2007 in Uncategorized | 13 comments David Cameron is backing the use of cannabis for medicinal use. He is taking a brave stand knowing his liberal views could alienate some of his own MPs, as well as his right wing members. But he insists he is against decriminalising the drug for personal use as this would increase its availability and make it harder for parents who want to stop their children from taking...
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How should politicians use YouTube?

Posted by on Jan 20, 2007 in Uncategorized | 9 comments Two Tory MPs in East Anglia have added YouTube to their communications strategy to get across their political message. David Ruffley (right) speaks about the environment and Richard Spring (left)on education. North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham has also used it to express his concern about post office closures. If you have a moment to look at them, I would appreciate your...
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What future awaits Jade now?

Posted by on Jan 20, 2007 in updates | 17 comments  Jade was at least spared the public humiliation of being thrown into the lion’s den on her eviction from Celebrity Big Brother last night. She vehemently denied being racist and apologised for her offensive remarks,  but will this be enough to save her crumbling career which lies in tatters? What future awaits her now? I personally felt her response was very composed and...
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How can Tories win back the northern vote?

Posted by on Jan 19, 2007 in Uncategorized | 19 comments It’s an uncanny coincidence that the very same day I visit York to discuss campaign strategies for Julian Sturdy, our leader David Cameron launches the Party’s Campaign North. How neat is that, talk about great minds thinking alike. Julian is naturally delighted with this, his York Outer constituency is a new seat created as a result of boundary changes and we need to win...
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A day in York

Posted by on Jan 19, 2007 in Uncategorized | 9 comments I’m heading off to York today to meet up with Julian Sturdy and his team and discuss a communications strategy. He is contesting the new constituency of York Outer and stands an excellent chance of winning it. Julian has already been getting excellent coverage in the local media, and I’m hoping to get him started with a blog soon. Let’s hope that normal train services...
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