The day I met Ronnie Barker’s mother

Very few actors – let alone comedians – are honoured with a bronze statue as a legacy. Ronnie Barker, who was a firm household favourite, is one such man who has been immortalised this way, except I’m not too sure about the likeness. Like most great...
Next it’s Nigel Farage and UKIP’s leadership challenge

Next it’s Nigel Farage and UKIP’s leadership challenge

It was the brother v brother challenge that considerably livened up the Labour Party leadership contest. Imagine if the maverick Nigel Farage had a brother standing against him to lead UKIP, two larger than life Farages, it would never be out of the headlines. The...

What will you leave children?

The unconditional love of a mother, the trust of young children and joy of being with a family, is heart rending in this 40 second NSPCC video. Sadly, it’s not something all children experience. This evocative NSPCC campaign reminds us that children are our...
Why Ed Miliband is the loser

Why Ed Miliband is the loser

If Ed Miliband can find the time to conceive a child – or two – then surely he can find the time to register his name on his first born son’s birth certificate. It might not have been a priority for him, but it’s a ritual, and one usually...

Miliband ambition and regrets

Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon and saying they guessed long ago that Ed Miliband would be the next Labour leader, including Iain Dale and Guardian writer Jenni Russell, to name but a couple. But I believe he set his heart on it much longer than most people...