Blog
Is California heading for bust?
I am shocked to read in today's Times that the state of California could go bust this month if an agreement cannot be reached on fixing a budget to cover its $42 billion ($28.4 billion) deficit. This is the home of Silicon Valley and Hollywood. Its streets, once paved...
Government’s failure on dementia
I believe you judge a society by the way it care for those who are vulnerable. What is so disappointing about the government's National Dementia Strategy which has just been announced is that it sadly fails to support much needed research into dementia. Ask anyone...
Protectionism and "Buy American"
I am glad to see that President Obama is having second thoughts over his protectionist "Buy American" clause to help revive his country's flagging economy. He is now quoted as saying: “I agree that we can’t send a protectionist message. I want to see what kind of...
Would you want to be a kid today?
I don't see how family life is going to change in the UK. I am referring to the disturbing report on modern childhood which describes children's lives as being blighted by obsessive testing, relentless advertising and a long-hours culture that contributes to family...
Cod pieces and butter mountains
This is my MEP Robert Sturdy's latest report from Brussels and includes reforms of the Commons Fisheries Policy and butter mountains: The European Commission is muddying our waters again unnecessarily. This time, it is our recreational sea anglers who face the full...
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...