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Sailing off into the sunset ….

Posted by on Jul 30, 2009 in Uncategorized | 20 comments Like David Cameron, I have packed a selection of light reading (though not trashy!), for my holiday which starts tomorrow. It includes the works of two new authors for me, Justin Cartwright and A. L. Kennedy, as well as The Great Lover, by Jill Dawson – a novel about my adored Grantchester poet Rupert Brooke. I’ve bumped into Jill in my gym in Ely a couple of times and went to her book launch....
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Please vote for your favourite political blog

Posted by on Jul 30, 2009 in Politics | 3 comments Which political blog is your favourite? You only have until midnight on Friday to register your votes for the 2009 Blog Poll organised by Iain Dale for the TOTAL POLITICS GUIDE TO POLITICAL BLOGGING IN THE UK. As usual, it will be published in mid September in association with APCO Worldwide. Please email your ten favourite blogs (ranked from 1-10) to toptenblogs@totalpolitics.com. Naturally, I...
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Parliamentary support for Headway

Posted by on Jul 29, 2009 in Headway | 7 comments Headway Cambridgeshire this week welcomed Cambridge MP David Howarth for a visit and he was very impressed after learning about plans to develop and expand our services  for brain injury survivors in the county. As chair of trustees, I explained how we particularly wanted to reach out to BME groups who are brain injured and slipping through the net. I am also concerned about the long-term...
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The cost of being a political underdog

Posted by on Jul 26, 2009 in Politics | 9 comments I can’t help but feel sorry for Craig Murray, though I think he is being too harsh on himself by saying he is “probably the worst political candidate in history” following his experience in Norwich North. The Honest candidate who is a human rights activist, writer, and former British Ambassador, Rector of the University of Dundee and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Lancaster...
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Congratulations Chloe

Posted by on Jul 24, 2009 in Politics | 9 comments Congratulations to our terrific new MP Chloe Smith – the youngest in the House of Commons – who achieved an outstanding result in Norwich North beyond our wildest dreams. Chloe won 13,591 votes in the by election – more than twice as many as Labour candidate Chris Ostrowski, with a swing from Labour to the Tories of 16.5% on a turnout of 45%. Labour was down 26.7 per cent on the general...
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Community apple juicer beats anti-social yobs

Posted by on Jul 22, 2009 in News | 13 comments Full marks to the Cambridge Green Party councillor who came up with the wonderful  idea of making juice from fallen apples which kids had been using as missiles to pelt  at residents. Coun Margaret Wright came up with the juicy idea to tackle anti-social behaviour and campaigners have been awarded a sustainable city grant for its purchase, which is intended for community and local use,...
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Hoping we stay clear of swine flu

Posted by on Jul 21, 2009 in Uncategorized | 8 comments In about 10 days we set off for a cruise around the Med. But I am becoming increasingly concerned about the threat of swine flu. A friend we are travelling with – who works in a doctor’s practice – told me last night that one of their staff was off with swine flu. My husband then mentioned that three or four of his colleagues have been sent home from work as suspected cases. This must mean we...
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Damian McBride lands teaching job

Posted by on Jul 20, 2009 in News, Politics | 11 comments You would imagine Damian McBride was virtually unemployable after Smeargate. But he has miraculously landed a job as a business liaison officer at his old school, Finchley Catholic High, in north London. Its motto is: “Grant that we may always be truly wise.” He is even proudly listed as one of the school’s Famous Old Boys, where his name is sandwiched between screenwriter Troy Kennedy Martin,...
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Allan Brigham sweeps up honorary degree

Posted by on Jul 20, 2009 in News | 5 comments Congratulations to Cambridge’s most famous road sweeper Allan Brigham, who has been awarded an honorary Masters degree from Cambridge University. I had a call from the BBC World Service last week wanting to contact him after reading about him in one of my previous posts. Allan was given the honour for his unique historical tours of Cambridge – and he is open about not being a big fan of the...
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UK toxic waste returned from Brazil makes us a laughing stock

Posted by on Jul 19, 2009 in Environment | 3 comments News that the Environment Agency is paying for 1,4000 tonnes of toxic waste illegally dumped in Brazil to be returned to Britain has made us a laughing stock. I hope the companies concerned are fined and struck off any list of recommended companies dealing with waste and recycling. After all, this is taxpayers’ money and the companies concerned should be forced to pay all the costs incurred. The...
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Is Ian Gibson handing over his seat to Chloe?

Posted by on Jul 19, 2009 in Politics | 4 comments I can’t blame Ian Gibson, Norwich North MP, for his “stuff ‘em!” attitude after being deselected by Labour over the expenses row. However, his clear lack of public support for his would-be replacement Chris Ostrowski has certainly helped our very capable and stunning candidate Chloe Smith, who has had the full support of the top Tory machinery to help her snatch Gibson’s seat. Neighbouring MP...
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Robert Sturdy calls for unity following leadership election

Posted by on Jul 15, 2009 in PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP | 7 comments My Conservative MEP Robert Sturdy has called for unity after expressing disappointment in the way in which the election for the leader of the new group of European Conservatives and Reformist was conducted.  The original plans for Conservatives suffered a setback following the election of rogue candidate Edward McMillan-Scott, an accomplished and well-respected Tory MEP, as an independent...
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A nature walk around Sizewell

Posted by on Jul 14, 2009 in Environment | 11 comments I’m just back from a walking weekend in Aldeburgh with my old friend Heather (pictured – and old as in going back to before I was married, and not in years!) We decided to follow the advice given in one of the local walking guides which  recommended a stroll around the Sizewell nuclear power station; the writer said it was one of his favourites. When I announced my plans on Twitter,...
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One woman’s crusade to help dementia sufferers

Posted by on Jul 7, 2009 in Alzheimer's | 8 comments This is National Dementia Week and I am promoting it with this guest post written by Joanne Knowles, who is tirelessly crusading for sufferers to be helped with a clinically approved course which she feels passionately about. I can totally understand why Joanne (pic below) wants to do everything she can to help her mother who has dementia – they are pictured together here at Joanne’s 21st...
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Robert Sturdy and the new Conservative group

Posted by on Jul 6, 2009 in PR client, Robert Sturdy MEP | 2 comments My MEP Robert Sturdy has had the following letter published in tonight’s Cambridge News about the role of Conservatives in their new European group. Some people will be aware that David Cameron has withdrawn the Conservatives from the EPP-ED and led the formation of a new group, the European Conservatives and Reformists, a move that has generated significant misinformation in the press. Contrary...
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