Blog
Why political parties need all-women shortlists
I’ve just been reading some latest figures about the number of women candidates selected for parliamentary seats which were presented to the Speaker’s Conference. This conference is convened by the Speaker of the House of Commons following an invitation...
Copenhagen talks must not stall like Doha
I’ve been closely following the Doha trade talks as my MEP Robert Sturdy, who as vice-chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary World Trade Organisation Committee, has played a key role in these negotiations. I know his frustrations only too well as year after year, world...
How the NHS should clean up its act
Today’s alarming report on the Dr Foster Hospital Guide about our under performing NHS trusts - based on a range of indicators including death rates, infection rates and staffing levels - reminded me of something worrying I learnt at the Infection 2009 conference...
Have you gatecrashed a party?
Appearing confident and dressing the part – as well as being daring - opens any doors, as Michaele and Tariq Salahi discovered when they gatecrashed a presidential dinner at the White House hosted by President Obama and his wife Michelle. “I belong here too,†is...
Getting to grips with depression
Depression is one of those terrible illnesses we handle so badly. Mental illness is sadly still tabooed, and it is only when we hear about those who can no longer live with their tortured minds and commit suicide, like Germany’s famous goalkeeper Robert Enke,...
Insanely protective French parents of Zoe
I’m a protective mum, but not in the insane way as French parents who are furious that the name Zoe has been chosen by Renault for its new electric car. They regard it as a slur on their daughters called Zoe. Zoe has become one of the most popular names for French...
Suffolk swedes and apples
First our Norfolk folk were insultingly dubbed the “Turnip Talibanâ€. And now Conservatives in the neighbouring county of Suffolk who are selecting a parliamentary candidate this Friday have been mockingly lablled the “Suffolk Swedeâ€. Hey, why does the media...
Describing life after a head injury
This is one tragic example of how an acquired head injury can dramatically change your life for ever. Felicity Aston, the polar adventurer and Antarctica scientist, has described the terrible events which followed after her younger brother Spencer, now 21, was...
How can divorce be made fairer for kids?
With the Conservative Party pledging much needed support for families, it is worth remembering that almost half of marriages in England and Wales end in divorce. It is surely these fractured families, with children often torn between bitter, warring parents, who...