Pythons and pyjama shoppers

Posted by on Jan 30, 2010 in News | 17 comments I’m just back from spending the day in Wisbech with my mother and we did a spot of shopping.  I can tell you they are very well dressed shoppers in the Fenland capital; we did not see one slovenly dressed shopper wearing slippers and pyjamas. I was looking out for trolley pushers in their nightwear following the appearance of a bizarre notice in a Cardiff Tesco store which states:...
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Blair and Iraq

Posted by on Jan 30, 2010 in News, Politics | 9 comments I never expected an apology or regrets from Tony Blair when he gave evidence at the Iraq Inquiry.  What I have always found surprising is that public fury over the war, the sexed-up dossier of weapons of mass destruction and the tragic death of Dr David Kelly in July 2003 did not cost Labour the general election two years...
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Robert Sturdy supports ivory ban

Posted by on Jan 29, 2010 in Robert Sturdy MEP | 3 comments My MEP Robert Sturdy is urging the UK government to support a ban prohibiting the sale of existing ivory stock by two African countries as he fears it could lead to the slaughter of more elephants and possible extinction. Robert, who sits on both the International Trade Committee and the Sustainable Hunting Intergroup where this has been discussed, believes the European Parliament should...
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Apple iPad or iPhone 4G?

Posted by on Jan 28, 2010 in Uncategorized | 8 comments The new Apple iPad looks amazing, particularly its price tag which starts at £310. But it’s hard to justify buying if, like me, you already own a MacBook and iPhone. One of its feature which could tempt me one day is its iBook, but as I already have a score of books on my heaving bookcase which I haven’t had time to read, I doubt I will get round to it on this super slate either. But it is...
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All female parliamentarians are “tissue paper”

Posted by on Jan 27, 2010 in Women MPs | 2 comments This is what has been said about women parliamentarians in the Punjab Assembly. I sympathise with the struggles they  face to be taken seriously by their male counterparts. Here is the report when the derogatory remark about all female parliamentarians being “tissue paper” was made, which went unreprimanded, despite strong protests from the women. Disappointingly, support from fellow...
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Norfolk braces itself for the big switch off

Posted by on Jan 26, 2010 in News | 9 comments It’s an eerie thought. Street lights switched off throughout the country between midnight and 5am to reduce carbon emissions. I wonder if this could really happen. It’s already set to happen in parts of Norfolk, despite fears that it will lead to soaring crime when the streets are plunged into darkness. The switch off is already happening in Devon where more than 8,000 street lights will...
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Join Headway and Abba Queens next month

Posted by on Jan 26, 2010 in Headway | 1 comment If, like me, you are an Abba fan, you won’t want to miss the chance to boogie along to Dancing Queen and Waterloo at our Headway Cambridgeshire ball next month. The Abba Queens tribute band will be topping the bill at Chilford Hall, near Cambridge on Saturday 27, February during our night of glitter and glamour. There will also be a casino and charity auction led by my husband who has the...
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Where does your out-of-hours doctor come from?

Posted by on Jan 25, 2010 in News | 3 comments I cannot make any sense of it all. How can two GPs be expected to provide professional out-of-hours medical cover for an entire county? It’s been reported that this is sometimes the level of cover provided in Suffolk. When my mother-in-law was dying last year, we called the out-of-hours emergency number and were surprised when she was visited at her home in Cambridgeshire by a doctor from...
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Celebrating 30 years of Newsnight

Posted by on Jan 23, 2010 in News | 8 comments As I celebrate a friend’s special birthday tonight, I must confess that my thoughts will not be with Jeremy Paxman and his guests from the political and celebrity world who are marking 30 years of Newsnight. I’m recording this on Sky+ to watch later. It’s a considerable achievement for a programme to remain fresh, relevant and revered over three decades as Newsnight has done. Among the...
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Parents of torture boys should be held to account

Posted by on Jan 22, 2010 in News | 25 comments It’s pot luck for a child whether it is born into a loving and supportive home or one where violence and fear prevails. Pity the child if it is the latter. Hearing about the cruel and sadistic violence inflicted by two brothers when aged only 10 and 11 against a 9 and 11-year-old because they were bored has been truly shocking.  One of the helpless victims was only moments from death when...
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A question about telephone election canvassing

Posted by on Jan 22, 2010 in 2010 general election | 9 comments Thousands of people, myself included, have opted not to receive cold calls from double glazing salesmen by registering with the Telephone Preference Service. However, I wonder how many householders realise that by doing this, it also means they cannot be called by political parties. In the run-up to an election, and with all to fight for in marginal seats, there are hundreds of telephone...
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No wonder supermarkets are so rich

Posted by on Jan 20, 2010 in Personal, PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP | 8 comments I have a savoury tooth, rather than sweet, and often enjoy a slice of wholemeal bread (preferably organic) topped with crumbly cottage cheese (to keep the calories down). At least, it always used to be crumbly, but now it looks more like stodgy looking porridge. I’ve just opened a pot and was forced to scoop out several large spoonfuls of milk from the top before I could get to the cheese,...
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Conservative candidates’ policy priorities

Posted by on Jan 18, 2010 in 2010 general election | 8 comments I was fascinated to read the results of the ConservativeHome survey of Tory candidates regarding their policy priorities. Disappointingly, they placed reducing Britain’s footprint at the bottom of the list, an issue close to David Cameron’s heart, and I hope it remains so, though he seems to have failed to have got the message across about this. It’s no surprise that during our economic...
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Trustees – the unsung heroes of charities

Posted by on Jan 16, 2010 in Headway | 1 comment Because this is a subject close to my heart as chair of trustees for Headway Cambridgeshire, I am republishing this article in full. We are currently recruiting new trustees and are extremely fortunate to have had applicants from very skilled, professionals who are willing to give up some of their free time to volunteer their services. Being a trustee is an extremely rewarding role and I strongly...
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Increasing disabled parliamentarians

Posted by on Jan 16, 2010 in 2010 general election | 4 comments The Speaker’s Conference is actively seeking to promote more disabled parliamentary candidates, as well as more women MPs. Immediately after its recommendations were published this week, Conservatives  pledged a £1 million four year fund to help more disabled people become MPs, councillors and civil servants.  ConservativeHome has written about it here. Tory spokesman on disability...
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Theresa May and Conservative women candidates

Posted by on Jan 14, 2010 in 2010 general election | 10 comments I recorded this video yesterday of Theresa May, Shadow Minister for Women, outlining Conservative support for more parliamentary women candidates. Let’s hope they are selected in winnable...
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Another son on the road

Posted by on Jan 12, 2010 in Personal | 18 comments It’s hard to believe that my youngest son James is 17 today; where have the years flown by? Like his elder brother, we have bought him some driving lessons. It’s a very nerve wracking experience teaching your son to drive in your car which you treasure. A number of times David wouldn’t speak to me after I yanked up the handbrake in a moment of panic, and I dread re-living those anxious...
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Will only quotas increase women MPs?

Posted by on Jan 11, 2010 in 2010 general election, Politics, Women MPs | 23 comments I know there is all party support for more women MPs, the problem is getting women candidates selected by associations in winnable seats. Of course women want to be stand alongside men and be chosen on merit, but it doesn’t necessarily work that way, which is why there are currently 126 women in the House of Commons compared to 519 men, and 15 MPs from ethnic minorities: it would have been...
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Did you play footie with Cameron?

Posted by on Jan 10, 2010 in Politics | 3 comments I enjoyed David Cameron’s confident and decisive performance on Andrew Marr’s  Sunday morning politics show today, and the unexpected revelation he used to play footie with Chris Evans, who was also appearing on the show. Evans was goalkeeper while Cameron was an orange bib wearing striker for an opposing team; they shared friends in common and would meet up to kick a ball about together...
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How do you prove ageism?

Posted by on Jan 9, 2010 in News | 7 comments An employment tribunal will next week hear claims that experienced television journalist Dianne Stradling lost her job with Anglia TV because of ageism. But how easy is this to prove? Dianne (pic left) was one of several reporters made redundant last February in a savage round of job cuts, which felt like she was “thrown on the scrapheap”. Hr case will be heard last week. About 30 jobs – a...
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One of the UK’s top 50 bloggers

Posted by on Jan 8, 2010 in Social Media | 11 comments I am stunned to find that I have been ranked among the UK’s top 50 bloggers for “politics, technology and style”, according to data analysed by the global media intelligence organisation Cision. It’s particularly unexpected because my blogging has taken a back seat over the last year or so due to my other varied commitments. I am amazed to find I have squeezed in at 47 after spending...
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Frozen Britain as seen from space

Posted by on Jan 8, 2010 in News | 3 comments This is a truly amazing picture, captured by NASA’s Terra satellite yesterday, as Britain continues to freeze to as low as –21C – almost as cold as the South Pole. Never mind school closures and rail delays, we should  be helping the homeless who rely on night shelters for a bed, like Jimmy’s in Cambridge. I often see them queuing there at night waiting for the doors to open. Lots of...
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Where are the local Suffolk candidates?

Posted by on Jan 7, 2010 in 2010 general election | 5 comments Stephen Oliver, who is on the Conservative approved list of candidates, wonders why no local candidates have been selected to contest Richard Spring’s safe West Suffolk seat. There is no doubt a wealth of talent applying for seats, and I sympathise with those who don’t get through to the next round. Not everyone can make it, but luck and persistence will pay off for those who are determined,...
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Which website will influence most women for the election?

Posted by on Jan 6, 2010 in 2010 general election, Politics | 2 comments With all political parties actively courting women’s votes, it’s no surprise that their leaders are keen to woo them on Mumsnet, the UK’s top website for parents? How many mums at the school gate have heard of our top bloggers Guido Fawkes and Iain Dale, both widely read political sites? Which are sites are the mums getting politically active at? Mumsnet mums are no pushover and proved...
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Would you support a community allotment?

Posted by on Jan 5, 2010 in Environment, Politics | 9 comments Last year I suggested that community allotments might be a good idea and encourage us to be more self-sufficient by producing our own food. I like to think this could help unite communities too by encouraging school children to participate, as well as getting pensioners involved who are used to digging up spuds – especially in The Fens where I am based. There are plenty of unused allotments...
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