Blog
Did Harriet Harman blog her way to victory?
I spent half an hour on Saturday studying the blogs of the contestants running for deputy Labour leader and my conclusion was that Harriet Harman clearly deserved to win, even though the odds were against her. But at least one poll showed she should win on trust. I'm...
The missing – China’s brick kiln kids
More than 1,000 missing children in China are believed to have been abducted and forced to work as slave labour in brick kilns for 16 hours a day. The children, some as young as 8 and still wearing their school uniform., were guarded by fierce dogs and thugs who...
Vodka and the EU treaty
Robert Sturdy MEP reports from the latest EP sitting at Strasbourg: Forget the Cold War. This month in Strasbourg the Vodka War reached its conclusion with casualties on both sides. After months of relentless debate and negotiation, and several vodka tasting...
My blog is to be archived at The British Library
I feel incredibly privileged to have been asked by The British Library if they could include my blog in an archived collection of blogs for research purposes. They are inviting 150 "key sites" for this project, cordinated by the UK Web Archiving...
My new Sony Ericsson phone
I haven't upgraded my mobile phone for over two years and realised I was paying a high tariff on my contract, especially when calling other mobile phones. After hearing about a great offer that Sally signed up for with T-Mobile (the same company I use), I decided to...
Cherie challenges government’s smoking ban
I wonder if Cherie Blair ever discusses her work with Tony when they eat dinner, if she bounces ideas off her barrister trained husband. If so, I can imagine his horror at the thought of her fighting the government's smoking ban, due to be implemented next week,...
Will Nancy enjoy Manchester life?
I assume that Sven and Nancy are still an item, which makes me wonder what she thinks about moving to Manchester if he should becomes the new manager of Manchester City. I don't know the city very well, but during visits there have found the people to be much...
The missing – Charlene Downes
Charlene Downes, 14, kissed and waved goodbye to her mother in Blackpool town centre in November, 2003 and has never been seen since. Charlene was known to have been among a number of young white girls who congregated around a district of Asian fast-food shops in the...
The Gordon Brown meme
I have been tagged by Nadine Dorries on the things Gordon Brown should be: Proud of: His wife and family His thick skin Apologise for: His policies which resulted in the poorest fifth of households comparatively paying more tax and receiving a lower share of benefits...