Blog
Who can bail out the charities?
I have just signed up for an excellent one-day conference aimed at helping charities overcome some of the huge challenges they face today in order to survive. I am attending in my role as chair of trustees for Headway Cambridgeshire, which supports those with an...
Enjoying my new iPhone
My new best friend is very slinky and creative and never fails to amuse me. I'm hoping she won't get me lost either with her satellite prowess. I'm talking about my fabulous iPhone which I have had for a week now and is simplicity itself. Apple has to be...
Sarkozy and the future of journalism
Is it just money down the drain? I am a news junkie and love the printed media. But I love citizen journalism too and the social media. So I was fascinated to read that the a very generous French President Nicholas Sarkozy is pumping 600 million euros in emergency aid...
Pesticides, Russian oil and the Czech presidency
This is all in a week's work for my MEP Robert Sturdy. Please read and enjoy his latest report from Strasbourg: R.I.P the British carrot. Yes, the nation’s third favourite culinary vegetable is quite possibly facing the chop. The big news came last week when the...
Good luck President Obama
Good luck Mr President. You will need more than luck to live up to the high expectations of world leaders who are pinning their hopes on you improving relationships globally, as well as your countrymen who voted for change. You are expected to be a miracle...
BNP shamed for subversive booking in Norfolk
The far right British National Party has been named and shamed for using subversive tactics when booking a meeting room in Norfolk under the pseudonym Broadland Historical Society. An email was sent to sent to members planning to attend the meeting at the White Horse...
UK govt urged to fight pesticide ban
Disappointingly, Conservative MEPs, even with the support of the UK government and NFU, were today unable to prevent a ban on the use of a large number of pesticides in the European Union. The ban was approved by the European Parliament today, despite warnings from my...
The changing face of Britain’s High Street
The future of Britain's High Street is in our hands. It's no good moaning if we lose our unique and distinctive independent shops, including those friendly book stores with heaving shelves. Like me, you might have a favourite book shop you would hate to lose. An...
My one weakness, and other news
I've been unashamedly stocking up on 100 watt light bulbs because I can't live without them in my office. I only use one, or two at the most, in my house. I need them because my eyesight is not brilliant and I can't function in a dimly lit room. I first wrote about...