The future's not so bright with Orange!

Hello readers,
Firstly, as you may be aware either through my tweets, or from me grissling about it in person, I have been moving house, and so I have not been at all atentive to the blog.

... But I've moved now, and I'm back!

I've been occupied doing all those things you do when you move - unpacking, storing things, cleaning things and arranging sofas and tables and the like, but finally, barring a box or two, it's all sorted and loving the place.

Now the reason for this post (in default of anything exciting happening in the world of UK politics) is to highlight stupidity on the part of my otherwise excellent mobile telephone operator.

I have two phones with Orange - one a Nokia, the other an iPhone - but combined with my work phone, I'm walking about like some kind of drug dealer at the moment, so ideally I want to ditch one. The Nokia is out of contract, so ideally I'd cancel that and switch the number to my iPhone - but that would be far too simple, and computer says no.

Instead, I must get a pay as you go sim card on another network, transfer my number over using a thing called a PAC code, THEN once that's done, transfer my number back from the pay as you talk sim to the iPhone.

I thought perhaps I might explore whether they would do me any special deal on a SIM only arrangement to save sodding about. This way I could just divert all calls fromthe SIM to the iPhone - but they weren't willing to budge. I was told that the cost would be £30 on a SIM ONLY deal, and the best they could do was £25 on loyalty.

How times have changed in the world of mobile customer retention. So nothing more to it, I'm doing the rediculous thing of transfering to another network and right back again.

What a load of old rot.

Kennedy catogorically denies speaking to Labour about defection

Charles Kennedy has just said that he totally denies being involved in ANY discussions with the Labour Party.

He says suggestions the contrary are "complete rubbish" and he'll go "head on" in to the story with his Lib Dem Membership card in his pocket.

BBC Wrongly under fire over Ray Gosling Euthanasia Claims

The BBC are under fire after Inside Out Presenter Ray Gosling was charged yesterday with wasting police time.

The charge results from a claim by Gosling that he killed his partner to relieve him from his pain.

Speaking about the claim, Ray Gosling said,

"I said it out of my heart, out of my feeling for people who had told me their intimate private stories and it got out of hand and I'm sorry."

I will not, and cannot comment about Mr Gosling, or the circumstances around his case, but I shall comment on the criticism being directed toward the BBC for supposedly neglecting their duty to prove the claims were true.

Why on earth would you doubt such a claim? How on earth could you substanciate such a claim without launching your own police style investigation?

I think it entirely rediculous to attack the BBC for allowing the comments to be broadcast without a full investiation. If we as journalists (and I don't work for the BBC) must check every claim, the cost of programming will rocket, the quality of the output will suffer, and you the viewer and listener will pay the price for such stupid objections.

'Ave a word with yourselves complainerss.

Foreign Office Statement on Iran's nuclear programme

Iran's "Nuclear Programme" continues to run.

The Foreign Office have released a statement supporting Iran's right to use nuclear fuel for civil purposes, and have today commented on the use of Russian fuel at the Bushehr nuclear power station.

"The loading of Russian fuel into the Bushehr nuclear power reactor demonstrates that Iran can have the benefits of nuclear power. We have always respected Iran's right to develop an exclusively civil nuclear power programme.

The problem is Iran's continued refusal to satisfy the IAEA and international community that its work on uranium enrichment and heavy water projects are exclusively peaceful.

UN sanctions have never sought to prevent the construction and operation of the Bushehr power reactor. But until Iran suspends its proliferation sensitive nuclear activities and responds in full to IAEA concerns about potential military dimensions it will be in contravention of six UNSC Resolutions and have to bear the economic cost of sanctions.

We continue to urge Iran to take advantage of the open door to hold talks with the E3+3 on all aspects of its nuclear programme. International anxiety about Iran's proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities can only be ended by Iran complying with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and satisfying the international community that these activities are for peaceful purposes. "

Football Super Injunctions: What an insulting waste of time

What on earth is the point in the super football injunctions?

Two well known footballers have obtained the gagging orders known as "super injunctions", so called because even the reporting of their existance is prohibited.

It's ok blog readers, I am fully legally trained as a journalist, and the above facts are in the public domain.

It is absolutely stupid that the idendity of these two players are currently witheld from the public, particularly since their names will eventually get out, and the stories they are seeking to stop being reported will could end up getting more attention than they otherwise would.

Like many others in my game, I am fully aware of the names of the players, but unlike some others in my game, I am not going to start giving clues. Someone will end up getting themselves in to A LOT of criminal trouble for doing this one day.

... But the point of this post is to express how strange I think the existance of these 'super injunctions are' whilst at the same time saying how stupid I think it is that anyone gives a rat's bottom.

*****
Polite note to readers - please do not attempt to guess the idendity of the super injunction players in the comment box since I would be OBLIGED to do something that is absolutely against everything I personally believe in, and delete any such comments on legal grounds. Be assured that I would never delete a post for any other reason, and indeed I have never had to delete a comment thus far.

The weekend of fun begins

David Cameron is in Cornwall scoffing clotted cream scones and tea, and Nick Clegg is having the time of his life love him. It's amusing to think that Nick 'the boy wonder' Clegg is the UK's most senior Minister in Whitehall right now.... Oh how 103 days is such a long time in politics.

...
It seems I upset some non David Miliband Labour supporters last night by describing DM as the next Labour Leader. "Who says", asked one tweeter! I say because I'm tuned to reality FM.

...
This is my last MAJORLY busy weekend ahead of my move next week. I hand over the keys to my current place on Sunday night before technically being homeless for a week - at least as far as 'the man' is concerned.

...
It's the end of my full first week back at Talk since my two and a half week break, and though I couldn't possibly be any more exhausted than I am now, the week has also absolutely flown by.

...
So this weekend should be filled from start to end with final packing and tidying of my current place, and possibly a spell on Sky News Sunrise on Sunday. I normally get the call on Saturday, but this would be the 11th slot since the very end of May, and the 5th week in a row if I get the call. I enjoy each appearance as if it were my very first. In any case, my next slot on talkSPORT will be on Sunday night, reviewing the week that was in UK politics.

David Miliband pops up in an unexpected place

I was greeted off the train home tonight than none other than the next leader of the Labour Party, David Miliband.

Mr Miliband called over to me for a quick chat about life, the universe and everything.

I was surprised to meet the former Foreign Secretary walking casually around Stevenage railway station, but not as surprised as when about 12 excited A Level students came up around us and mobbed DM - ALL of whom knew exactly who David Miliband is.

I was extremely impressed that Mr Miliband (D) kept his composure when the group of loud and drunk teens circled him, singing songs, and even posed for a facebook photo with the A Lever celebrators, and I can honestly say that I've never witness any politician engage so effectively with such a large group of young, drunk teens.

Apparently the Leader of the Opposition to be had been meeting with the Labour Party in Stevenage, and was making his way home on public transport, and not a Special Branch Jag with blue lights as we might have expected.

Sunrise Political Review this morning

This is my stint on the Sky News Sunrise Political Review, hosted this week by Stephen Dixon.



There is SO much politics about, and so little time to fit it all in - but we crammed as

much politics as we possibly could in to a three minute slot.

I look forward to doing it all again with Talksport Radio's Matt Forde later tonight.

Some of the week that was in politics

It has been a good week for accountability in spending as the coalition’s policy to publish all expenses over £500 kicked in at the Department for Communities and Local Government… but not such a good week for the Audit Commission who have been biffed by the Secretary of State for playing silly beggers on publishing their own expenses over £500.

I must admit to being slightly confused as to why a quango would go out of it’s way to irritate an anti-quangocracy government. It’s a bit like a turkey biting Bernard Matthews on his shin - but there you go.

It has also been a bad week for civil liberties as Prime Minister David Cameron, in a clear attempt to show willing to Iain Duncan Smith, has announced that private companies will be paid bounties for catching welfare cheats, and credit reference agencies will be given free access to all our personal details JUST IN CASE we’re fiddling the rock and roll.

… And in an attempt to out-Labour the Labour party, David Cameron has signalled support to the local authority in Manchester who wish to impose a minimum price per unit of alcohol that could see some bottles of wine doubling in prices. The minimum amount per unit would be set at 50p which is anti-competitive, and anti small Government to boot. It could lead to local pubs shutting down whilst at the same time making locals travel a few miles out of town. Our streets clearly are out of control with drunks creating havoc, but the answer isn’t to raise the price of alcohol sold by supermarkets. An extra £2.50 on a box of ten beers isn’t going to stop people boozing up. The answer is to enforce the law of the land that prevents alcohol sellers from serving drunk people.

It really is that simple, but the Government don’t make so much money this way.

…
100 Days in to the Coalition and 57% of those asked for a Daily Mail survey described it’s performance as “disappointing”. The Harris survey showed good support for David Cameron, but worryingly for the main political parties, it ranks the tories at 29 points, and the Libs on JUST 12%.

I note that the Telegraph have quoted “a tory source” as saying that he or she and five others, including David Cameron are happier to be operating as part of a majority coalition than as a 100 seat majority. A journalist’s sources are guarded more than the Crown Jewels, but I strongly suggest an urgent investigation as to who these six people might be who prefer a coalition to a simple majority so that we can arrange for them to be banged up under section 135a of the Mental Health Act.

…
The curious death of Dr David Kelly continues to baffle specialists. Nine leading specialist Pathologists have questioned the official cause of death which suggests the Weapons Inspector took his life in 2003 by slashing his wrists following a bungled attempt to kill himself with Co Proximal (pain killers that are little more effective than Nurofen but that have been phased out in the UK due to the number of suicides they were used in).

The Specialists suggest that the ulnar artery that was cut would have little to no chance of causing his death and question the original PM on the grounds that there is no generally available evidence to suggest that blood loss was measured at the scene and that remaining blood was not measured in the body. In any case, the medical evidence has been classified for 70 years.

… And just to confuse things further, friend and UN Weapons Inspector Richard Spertzel has written to Attorney General Dom Grieve to call for a public inquest, telling Mr Grieve that Dr Kelly was on a death hit-list in the last years of his life. Dr Spertzel says that he and David Kelly were informed that they had prices on their heads in 1997 by the Russian Embassy.

There is now far too much suspicious evidence around to just sweep it under the carpet. Even assuming that everything was done correctly at the time of Dr Kelly’s death, it’s now time for an inquest to answer the unanswered.

…
I see that the Secretary of State for Defence and the Chancellor as still locked in a bitter battle over funding for trident.

The two men have been involved in tense private conversations which have spilled over in to the public arena via the media, and this week, Dr Fox has refused to comment further than to confirm that trident would be paid for out of the defence budget, and that discussions are ongoing as to how those funds may be negotiated. He said that he has enough in private.

Dr Fox has conceded that the forces will need to be leaner and “more responsive” but he has denied suggestions that the Navy and RAF could be put under the Army’s control.

In an apparent snub of the Coalition’s high command, he said that we need to be responsive to threats of the future rather than focusing on the threats of the past. Quickly justifying these comments, he attacked his own department, the MoD for being TOO prepared for the long gone cold war, and not nearly ready enough for multiple modern threats.

…..
In DC, President Obama has stepped in to give his view on the proposed erection of a mosque near Ground Zero in New York. He said that Muslims should enjoy the same rights as other Citizens and should be able to build a place of worship on private property. It may be the common sense approach, but I’m auite sure millions of Americans will disagree with the Presidents views, and he’s sure to feel it in votes. This could be the final nail in the coffin that sees President Obama taking his place in history as a ’one termer’.

…
The Scots have got their knickers in a twist again - this time because David Cameron told the tourist industry that he would consider getting rid of GMT, and extending BST all year-round when Tory Backbencher Rebecca Harris from Castlepoint lays her private Members Bill. The Prime Minister was at an event in London when he was asked about the issue, and he signalled that he would be keen to action it, but that the Scots would need to agree.

So dear friends North of the boarder, you’re not agreeing to it, so he can’t action it. Calm down. Nothing lost.

…
The first thing any good head teacher will tell you is once you’ve made a decision, stick to it. Unfortunately, Education Secretary Michael Gove doesn’t share this school of thought clearly since he yesterday performed a U-turn that Lewis Hamilton would have blushed at, and says that his plans (announced last month) to cap head teachers pay to that of the PM’s at £142,500 by September is too complicated to implement in time - but for now, it’s just a temporary climb-down. A cap could be introduced by September 2011.

Today and tonight is being filled with packing some final bits before returning to work on Monday - since I have to be out the following Sunday.

Amused to see Vince Cable throwing his toys out of his pram on Sir Phillip's appointment to watch over spending. He's reportedly upset because he wasn't consulted before the appointment was made.

Why should he be consulted?

Why should I have to pay more for beer because yobs go unpoliced?

I'm genuinely struggling to tell the difference between some of the policies of the new coalition Government and the Labour Party that both the Libs and Cons lampooned for nanny state politics.

Earlier this week we had revilations about the use of private data being handed freely to private companies for nosing - and today we hear more about minimum pricing of alcohol.

I am fortunate enough to be in a position where I don't have to give too much thought to the cost of a pint - and still further well placed in that I often pay out Commons prices, which are less than those of pubs in the Westminster area - - but for many thousands of people, probably hundreds of thousands of people, this will really hit them in the pocket.

I'm not talking Drinkin' Dave from Doncaster or Boozey Barry from Bogna, but rather every day Ernie who under the coalition's plans will no longer be able to pick up a cheap box of beer because this Country's supermarkets don't enforce the regulations well enough on selling to the under-aged - and because frankly the police service are occupied doing their grannies for having the wrong kind of number plate on their car.

Why should the decent man and woman suffer for the actions of an unpoliced and un-principled minority?

BESIDES - I honestly do not believe that a box of beer that can currently be purchased for £5 would not be purchased for £8. It's all about symbolism and show-boating.

Coalition plays good cop, bad cop with our lives

Norman Baker has pledged to put an end to the DVLA releasing private details to a host of private firms due to the unacceptability of such a practice.

YET on the other hand, the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions are about to make available deeply personal details such as credit applications, dates of birth, current and previous addresses, late payments and enough detail to facilitate the worst of idendity thefts and false credit applications - just in case people are fiddling the dole. I say it again - you're tackling this from the wrong end.

The coalition are doing worse things for civil liberties than the previous government ever managed - while at the same time doing popular things too.

You're doing a fine job of persuading us that it's all falling apart guys. Well done.

Come on Mr Cameron, have a word with yourself!

I'm not impressed with the coalitions tactics on benefit bounty hunters

I am all for criminal scum bags being caught when they fiddle the safety net benefits system that we have in the UK, but I am deeply concerned to hear that a Conservative dominated coalition Government, in partnership with a libertarian Lib Dem Party are encouraging credit reference agencies and other private companies to nose too deeply in to people's financial affairs.

Surely the way to ensure entitlement is in the application process for things like Job Seekers Allowance, incapacity benefit and disability living allowance - not by giving private companies access to official government records.

It sickens me that these two political parties, who in opposition were complaining that private companies had access to government records and to the DVLA database of drivers should now themselves be carrying on in such an Orwellian way.

Orwellian seems to be the watchword of the week.

By all means get your house in order on benefit entitlement, but stop sharing confidential, personal and private official records with the private sector.

Silly season replaced by Lib Dem growing pains

Kicking off with the Lib Dems - amused to note that Chris Huhne, the Government's Energy and Climate Change Secretary has said that the Lib Dems were never opposed to nuclear power plants on any moral grounds, but rather economic ones instead.

Funny that, perhaps I mis-remember a drunken night with several senior Lib Dems in the Westminster area telling me otherwise... but in any case, Mr Huhne has indicated that the Libs may now NOT campaign against nuclear power plants in the Commons. I wonder whether Simon Hughes will agree?

Meanwhile, Vince Cable, who sounds remarkably like Dr Evil from Austin Powers would sound if he had an English accent has described his Government job as satisfying, but "not err, you know, wonderful" and admitted that he finds it uncomfortable. Opposition was, he said "more fun".

Well Vince, you know what you can do if you really object.... and if you do, we'll all understand and respect you for it. If however you go along with things now and then blast the coalition later, you'll lose a lot of respect. So it's time to fit in or f word off.

Lastly on the Lib Dems, I am very sorry to hear that Charles Kennedy and his wife have split. I am sure that all our thoughts are with you both.

THE COALITION AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

Militant union leaders are said to be planning a MASS coordinated strike involving everyone from postal workers to railway men and women. The unions would be protesting against coalition cuts and the intent of the coordinated strike would be to bring the Country to a hault.

Great idea guys and girls... that'll dissuade the coalition from restricting your right to strike.

... Lastly, where has the silly season gone? Normally at this time of year, when Parliament is in recess, there is literally nothing to talk about. Lets hope the silly 2season has gone forever - but not holding my breath.

Which party is 'The weekest link'?

A new Comres Poll has the Tories on 39, Labour on 33, and the Lib Dems on their lowest level for months at just 16 points.

Are Labour doing well to be sticking around their current mark, or is the coalition falling to bits?

I'm just asking.

The Sky Sunrise Political Review

I was back on Sky reviewing a couple of political stories for Mark Longhurst on Sunday morning. I do always enjoy my stints on Sky News.



this finds itself on the blog in the early hours of Monday morning. Apologies. I like to wack them up here, but have had a busy one today.

The only thing to add to the VT here to to say that I meant to get on to the PM and President Obama discussing DC's "Exporting terror" comments ahead of time - and also what I didn't get round to clarifying is that the whip system I mentioned absolutely includes backbenchers - but I feel that as such a senior backbencher, jack Straw will be virtually untouchable.

I do think that Jack Straw will contribute much more from the back-benches since he will be free in practical terms to follow his own agenda.

Don't carry on Doctor: GP's out of control

The Chairman of the Royal College of GPs (? No, me neither), Prof. Steve Field has warned us that if we eat unhealthy food, we might get fat. If we drink too much alcohol, we might get alcohol related illness. If we smoke too much, we could get cancer.

What next, the Chairman of the Royal College of swimming instructors warning us that if we go swimming, we might get wet?

This was one of the subjects we didn't get on to, on the Sunrise Political review on Sky News this morning, but it's one I want to visit.

The RCGP's are urging the government to take more control and force people to be more personally responsible can you believe? Is that even possible?

Are doctors OUR doctors, or are they the State's doctors? (Or the Big Society's doctors for that matter).

Some doctors are getting way too big for their boots. We all know that if we do unhealthy things, we will pay the price in damage to our bodies, but this is, like it or not, a personal choice - unless of course you want an Orwellian 'Big Brother' system where the big society makes you exercise at certain times of day.

David Cameron writes in the Sunday Times

Some governments sleep in the summer. Not this one. Throughout August and September, we will be working on our most pressing task: completing the Spending Review so that in October we can make serious savings, restore health to our country’s finances and confidence in our economy.

Most people are now well aware of why we must do this. Britain is borrowing over 10 per cent of its GDP this year. One pound in every four the government spends is borrowed money. The simple fact is that we are living dangerously beyond our means and, following the successful and radical Budget in June, a Spending Review of unprecedented ambition is the right remedy.

But this process cannot just be about doing the right thing for our economy by any means necessary. I don’t just want people to look back on this government and say ‘they were fiscally responsible’; I want them to say ‘they were socially responsible too.’ In other words we’ve got to do the right thing in the right way. That’s why this week I was clear about the two vital elements of our approach. First, people power, so that through re-thinking public spending and public services we can give people more power and control over their lives. And second, long-term thinking so we move from short-term strategising to taking the decisions necessary to equip Britain for long-term success. That means prioritising things like better schools to give all children a fair chance in life, and infrastructure improvements so that we can build a sustainable economy for the future.

So if those are our guiding lights, how will this Spending Review work in practice? I can best describe our approach as like the methodical turn-around of a failing business. When a company is failing – when spending is rising, sales are falling and debt is mounting – you need someone to come in with energy, ideas and vision and take a series of logical steps.

You start by getting the books out and scrutinising every penny spent, asking whether it is necessary, seeking out any waste you can cut. American Airlines famously removed one olive from all salads in their on-board meals and saved $40,000. The point is that for the most scrupulous, effective business, no detail and no sum of waste is too small to escape the microscope of efficiency. The same must be true of this government. That’s why we are having a root and branch audit of recent public spending so that we can learn the lessons of the past, prevent those mistakes from being made again and cut out waste where it still exists.

If dealing with obvious waste is the first step to turning a failing business around, the next is identifying the ingrained waste – over-spending that is taken for granted as being in-built in the structure of your organisation. For a business, ingrained waste might be an excessive number of sick days taken every year, seen by many companies as inevitable and impossible to deal with. In the case of government there is one area of ingrained waste that out-ranks all others – welfare and tax credit fraud and error. This costs the government £5.2 billion a year. Many see it as a fact of British life that we have no hope of defeating. I passionately disagree. Simply shrugging our shoulders at benefit fraud is a luxury we can no longer afford – which is why Iain Duncan Smith is working on the radical steps we can take to deal with it.

Next, like any business we should ask whether there are activities we are undertaking that should not really be part of the programme. ID cards and some of the complex government databases fall into this category – and we have scrapped them, saving millions of pounds.

In many ways cutting out the waste and stopping things that aren’t necessary is the easy bit. All of these savings arise from clear examples of ‘bad spending’ that should have been prevented in any circumstances, deficit or no deficit. But the next step for the Spending Review is to identify the spending I’d describe as ‘acceptable in the good times, unaffordable in the bad times.’ To continue the business analogy, employee benefits like company cars might fall into that category. They’re appreciated by all, but if you’re suffering losses for the third quarter in a row you’ve got to drop them. In government we’ve made a similar decision on some benefits, like tax credits, for families in the middle income bracket. These transfers are not an intrinsically bad idea, but in the context of cuts to other services, they are clearly not as high a priority as they once were.

Because our deficit is one of the highest in the world, we have to go even further. We have to change the way we deliver public services to deliver more for less. That means putting power in the hands of the people who use and provide services, instead of trying to control everything from the centre. But even with reform, the truth is there will be some things that we genuinely value that will have to go because of the legacy we have been left. I don’t like that any more than anyone else, but this is the reality of the situation we’re in and it’s the duty of this government to face up to it.

So far these steps are all about reducing outgoings. But as anyone who has turned a business around knows, there’s another half to the battle: raising revenue. That’s why in the pages of the emergency Budget you will find a boldly ambitious growth plan, including significant cuts to corporation tax and red tape. It’s why I’ve been travelling the world drumming up support for British business. And it’s why over the coming months we will be setting out some other creative ways we can raise revenue, by selling off or better utilising some of the assets owned by the British taxpayer. These are your possessions and we owe it to you to get the best value we possibly can out of them.

If we do all this – if we cut the obvious waste, attack the ingrained waste, stop doing things that don’t add value, if we are realistic about the things we can no longer afford and creative about raising revenue, we’ll be able to prioritise the things we really care about. Of course I can’t promise to put a ring of steel around every service and every job. But by taking a methodical approach to stripping away every pound of spending that doesn’t add much value, this Spending Review can help us minimise the impact of the cuts.

The coming months will undoubtedly be difficult. Throughout this time I don’t want anyone to forget where this is leading us. For a failing business the prize for taking the tough decisions is prosperity. The prize for our country is more profound. This Spending Review is about setting our country free from the debt that is holding us back – free to grow, to generate wealth, to create jobs, to compete and to prosper. That’s the light at the end of the tunnel – and I am determined we will get there.

A new home

Today ** should ** in theory be my last day of hectic house hunting.



Here's the new place, subject to paperwork completion, but with any luck, I should be installed within weeks.

I love the location. The road outside is a little on the busy side - but there's a nice court yard arrangement, and the place is arranged over three floors.

That's what's kept me from blogging today - but I'm up bright and early to head in to Sky News in the morning. I'll be on Sunrise at around 8:10am talking President Zardari and other political nuggarts of joy.

Evenin' all

The Cameron that broke the Straw's back: Happy retirement Jack Straw

Jack Straw has announced that he is to step down from the frontbench., having held frontbench positions in Government and Opposition for 30 years.

He'll stay in post until the new Shadow Cabinet take their elected roles in opposition - and in time, he'll be writing a book too. My advice, don't let 'Mandy' give you ANY advice.

Mr Straw's main reasons for stepping down is David Cameron's victory, and he believes that Labour needs to regenerate using fresh blood and fresh ideas.

So, put your party-politics aside and wish Mr Straw a happy retirement from the frontbench, and join me in wishing him well for his future on the backbenches, where incidentally, I truly believe as a Labour MP, he can make the bigger and more meaningful contribution to public life.

PC Rathband: It may be dark, but I can still feel the sun on my face

Have you seen the 'Tonight: In the Line of Fire' interview with PC David Rathband?

You can watch it HERE

I have just caught the interview on ITV Player, and I can honestly say that no other interview has moved me as much as this one. Just look at the 'posted at' time and you'll see what I mean.

I commend David Rathband for his attitude toward Roul Moat. Other than saying that he was a timebomb waiting to go off, he says he doesn't hate him because "hate" is a very strong word, and an emotion you can't have toward someone you don't know.

The 42 year-old Officer talks of adjusting to life with his new disability, and the interview takes you through an emotionally charged journey.

For me, what really stands out is the very end when PC Rathband says that where he is, is a much better place than where Roul Moat is,

"It may be dark, but I can still feel the sun on my face".

The raw fact is that people have probably forgotten about Roul Moat now, and posts relating to the killer probably don't grab huge interest - but I blog on the subject of David Rathband and his incredible approach to a deeply scary situation.

AUGUST 6: MY TEN YEARS AT TALKSPORT

On this day in 2000, I began working at talkSPORT. Just five months old (the radio station, not me), I was excited to be part of something new.

I was a big listener to Talk Radio - the name of the station before it was re-launched as talkSPORT in January and I was relatively young in experience.

It is an absolute testament to talkSPORT that when I started working for them, if I told anyone who I worked for, I would then have to spend five minutes explaining what talkSPORT was. Now the mere name evokes instant recognition from the man on the street to the Prime Minister and virtually all 650 MP’s.

We’ve come a long, long way and I’m proud of it.

I have a lot of very fond memories of the place, but when I’m in the pub talking to a fan of the station, one memory will never leave me.

Poor old John Thaw died in 2002, and Alan Brazil explained on the breakfast show that the acting legend lost a long battle with throat cancer.

In all sincerity, and with all the best intentions, Al said,

“John, if you’re listening pal… I’m sorry”.

I have been privileged to work at the UK’s largest commercial speech station for exactly ten years today, and wherever my career may take me, I will always hold a special place in my heart for the ONLY radio station where free speech and creativity is encouraged at every level.

It is also the 65th anniversary of the Nuclear bomb. At least it’s the 65th anniversary of the first nuclear bomb being dropped on Hiroshima.

It is a little known fact that the United States had planned to show the nuke off in some obscure part of the world to intimidate Japan out of the war, but it was decided that the bomb would have to be dropped in Hiroshima because no one knew how effective the device would be.

At the time, it was estimated that the bomb was 200,000 times more powerful than the most destructive conventional device available. The scary thing is that the US dropped bomb then doesn’t hold a candle to the power and devastation a nuclear bomb would cause today.

Well done talkSPORT

Congratulations to all my colleagues at UTV Radio's talkSPORT as the station celebrates it's highest listnership in it's ten year history.

The Guardian quite rightly identify that the station has worked hard on sport and indeed politics too in recent months with the World Cup and the General Election

I will be celebrating my tenth anniversary at talkSPORT tomorrow. What a fantastic achievement by all involved.

I am pleased to see the radio industry doing so well as a whole. It's a very special form of media, and we as broadcasters are invited in to people's homes, cars and workplaces. It looks like we're doing something right.

Welcome new readers

I am very grateful to Iain Dale, since without exception, each time he mentions this blog, or mentions me with a link to this blog, there is a huge spike in the number of hits.

If you are a new reader, welcome.

I first set the blog up as an election diary type thing - and I had great fun charting my progress around the UK, as well as the fortunes of the main political parties. I remained quite dedicated to the blog until about 6 - 4 weeks ago, and was prompted to pick it up again on at least a once a daily basis after kind words from Tim from Conservative Home.

So once again, welcome. It's great to have you reading and I hope you come back soon.

Responding to Iain Dale's blogpost on the Press Gallery

In response to a blogpost by Iain Dale earlier today:

I am a Member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, and indeed the Parliamentary Press Lobby. There is a difference, but it’s rather theoretical in 2010.

The Press Gallery are indeed offering full temporary membership of the Press Gallery to applicants from the black and ethnic minority population, provided that the applicant passes all the necessary security checks.

The Press Gallery rightly recognise that people from black and ethnic minorities are under-represented in the Gallery, and in a clear message of good will, they have set up this scheme. I am not going to criticise the Gallery or House Officials. They are doing what they believe to be the right thing.

In order to qualify for the scheme, as well as being black, or from an ethnic minority, applicants must be from a publication that is not already represented in Parliament, so for example, it’s no good a black reporter for the Guardian applying because they won’t be considered.

I understand that there are three such placements per year, and there is no mechanism by which a temporary passholder can obtain full membership unless they land a job with an organisation who has an allocation of passes.

Iain Dale ponders as to whether I think there should be a scheme that encourages blind people to become Lobby Journalists. The answer is no, I would find it so patronising and insulting if such a scheme were introduced that I don’t quite know how I would react.

I have had to fight a lot of closed minded bigots to get to where I have got in life, and after having done so, I had to persuade the House authorities that I, and my organisation were worthy. It has to be said that the House Authorities were excellent and accommodating – and the bigot comment absolutely does NOT apply to them.

The point I am making is that because I have had to fight harder than most to achieve the things I have achieved, no one can credibly say that I haven’t competed on equal terms to my peers. I dam well have. If I held a Parliamentary Lobby Pass under such a scheme, people could point a finger and say you’re only there because you tick a box… and you know what, I wouldn’t be able to say otherwise.

The Parliamentary Press Gallery scheme IS very well intentioned and it shows that the Press Gallery are actively trying to encourage black and ethnic minorities to get in to Lobby / Gallery journalism. I am proud to hold membership of the Gallery and of the Lobby.

… But since I have been prompted to address the issue, I am against any form of positive discrimination, or tick box scheme however well intentioned.

Mrs Chav's Day Off

First thing's first - can we all stop looking at Mrs Chav, the 'woman' who took her eight children to Roul Moat's funeral with her eight children and hero worshipped him.

It is disgusting, it IS child abuse and it is unforgivable, but she's loving the attention.

She posted on Facebook that the funeral was "a better day out than legoland" after having travelled from Surrey to the North East.

She is just wrong, and the sooner we stop looking at her, the sooner she can return to her anonimous and inconsequencial life.

....

I'm on annual leave from talkSPORT this week and next, so I'm taking a rare opportunity to head in to town and enjoy the evening knowing that I don't need to be a namby pamby shandy drinker since I won't be cropping up on air later.

So you will have to forgive me for this being my last post today (probably).

It would be great to have any thoughts on the blog. Perhaps you'd like to see some things you're not at the moment?

By the way, thanks to 'Chief of Men' for your suggestions in the comments box. You'll see that I've implimented them, and there's now a link-list on the right hand side.

We'll NEVER forget: Top ten political blunders of 2009 / 10

These are ten political blunders or gaffs that I think we'll never forget. Please feel free to add your own.

1. Two bog-seats Prezza being made "Lord John Prescott".
2. Gordon Brown's Mrs Duffy Bigot-gate

3. Hazel Blears sporting a "Rock the Boat" brooch.
4. Dan Hannon describing the NHS as "a 60 year mistake" on Fox News (at least he's honest about his views).
6. Chris Grayling hoping Richard Dannat's political appointment was "not another gimmick".
7. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg describing the war in Iraq as "illegal" while answering for the PM at PMQ's in July.
8. Chris Grayling understanding B&B owners who would turn away gay couples.
9. David Cameron using a live TV camera as a vanity mirror

10. BNP Leader Nick Griffin showing off his invite to the Queen's Garden Party.

talkSPORT debate: Should Blind people be allowed to serve on a Jury

I have just spent 15 minutes on the Ian Collins Show on talkSPORT alongside journalist Piers Hernu arguing that blind and deaf people should not be banned from serving on a Jury.

I would be interested in Jerry Hayes' view on this - and I'm Jerry will chip in - but Piers was of the view that blind people should be stopped from serving on a Jury - before slightly moderating his view, but not much, and saying that blind people should only be able to serve on a Jury when the case involves no visual evidence. I'd like to hear of that case!

I absolutely assure you that I would be a better Juror than 95% of the population. I would take it seriously, and I would have any visual evidence described fully, and by different people.

People's closed minded attitudes never stops amazing me.

The debate is continu9ing on talkSPORT - Sky 0108, 1089 / 1053am and on digital radio. Also on the brand-spanking new website at www.talksport.co.uk

Politicians: Sod safety, we'll do it on the cheap

Before I get going here, no one should judge the professionalism of Special Constables in general following the conviction of SC Lightfoot of the Greater Manchester Police for assault and lying in Court.

I am assuming that everyone is up on this story, but if not, you can read it HERE

I have just had a frustrating conversation with a politician, and since s/he wasn't listening, I'll have my say here.

Special Constables are dedicated people who give their time for free to tackle crime and anti social behaviour, and unlike the situation of old where they were considered a complete joke, a member of the public would have real difficulty telling a Special from a regular Officer. They wear the same uniforms, and these days, they perform nearly exactly the same duties. I say nearly the same duties because for instance a Special cannot join the dog section or a firearms unit (it has been suggested to me that they can join firearms in the City of London, but not sure about this).

Special Constables make a VERY real contribution to policing.

So there you have the case FOR Special Constables. Now, lets look at some hard, cold facts. Special Constables agree to give up 16 hours per month and do their policing outside of their regular job.

It takes a Special Constable a year and 7 months to complete the same duty hours as a regular Officer completes in just 25 days. It doesn't take a professor to work out therefore that Specials simply cannot be as experienced as their regular counterparts.

This isn't supposed to be putting the case against SC's, but rather setting up some background before I attack the decision of politicians, both local and national for deciding to reduce the number of regular officers and increase the number of Specials.

Both specials and regulars are important to policing, and they do the same job - but because SC's don't have the same experience as regulars, it is not right to replace the former with the latter.

Yet this is what's happening around the Country. Thousands of SUCCESSFUL Metropolitan Police Applicants who were told to wait for a start date recently had their applications terminated UNLESS they were prepared to become an SC for a year and 7 months, at which point they could be RECONSIDERED.

... And so it really annoys me when politicians say that cuts are not damaging the frontline. They are!

The Met' are looking to increase numbers of unpaid specials on the streets of London by 6,000 in time for the Olympics in 2012, at exactly the same time that they've definitely reduced the number of regulars by 2,000.

The streets of London alone will not be safer. Suggested new slogan for the Met', 'Working together for a cheaper policed London'... And the picture is the same right round the UK.

Bit of a rant, I'm sorry, but a senior coalition bod has just been trying to persuade me of the value of specials. Theey are valuable, but they're not regular. They're dedicated but part time. They're fantastic but not a replacement for paid officers.

The coalition slash advertising budget - well done ou

The Government's decision to scale back the operations of their government advertising office the COI, or Centroal Office for Information must be praised.

Commercial TV and Radio stations may feel the pinch because COI have been a MAJOR source of revenue for them, but at the end of the day, those adverts aren't free. You and I foot the bill.

It is never good news to hear that 287 people have lost their jobs, as they have in this case due to down-scaling, but I think you would have to agree, the pure number of government advertisments on commercial outfits were getting slightly beyond a joke.

To be clear, these are my own views, and not those of any organisation I may be linked with, but surely the only justifyable publically funded advert is one where there is a clear and substancial public interest in quicklkly spreading an urgent message relating to a health risk or the like?

I am no cheerleader for the coalition - they've big enough to look after themselves, but this is exactly the sort of saving that will be popular with the public - and you can't say that about many other cuts in the pipeline.

How do I link to your blog?

I am very keen to get a link bar to other blogs on the right hand side of this here blog.

It's a blogspot / Google Blogger account. Any help will be gratefully received.

Please leave a comment, or contact me in one of the thousand other ways.

Lapdancing and Estate Agents

If you are an estate agent who has hit on this site for the first time after a sus google search, then I must let you down. There are no offers of cheap lapdances for estate agents, but rather a quick rant about both.

Totally agree with @iandale at www.iaindale.com on the issue of advertising jobs in lapdancing clubs in job centres. I hold the view that anyone who cleans drains for a living is doing a dirty job, but I don't object to such employment being advertised. I tend to think it's rather patronising to women to ban such advertising on the grounds that it does women a dis-service. Women are people and they can make their minds up about which job they do or do not wish to take.

... And on estate agents... well don't get me going. As you know, I am currently looking for a new place to move in to in the next few weeks. Unfortunately, excesses in lending etc means that every mortgage company I've spoken with want a 30% deposit. That's not happening, so rental time for the next year for me.

Estate agents have always taken liberties with trying to charge one fee or another, but it seems now that too many idiots have been paying them money, and so they expect money from everyone. Can you believe that an estate agent is trying to charge me £250 in fees, on top of a six week deposit and month's rent up front? The cheak of it.

A victory for the motorist: The death of the speed camera

Many councils are following Oxfordshire's example who have now turned off their network of speed cameras with many counties already having expressed an intention to stop speed trapping motorists.

Clearly speed cameras are incapable of judging circumstance and time of day - and so the fact that more focus will now have to go on proper roads policing must be welcomed by all.

Happy days!

MP's throw their toys out of the pram as the politics of envy spreads in Westminster

The politics of envy has spread like wildfire throughout Westminster as certain greedy MP's (only those who have raised concern about this story) are stomping about like sulky school children who have just found out that the kid next to them has a bigger chocolate bar than they do.

None of the content of this post applies to the many Members with a brain who would disassociate themselves from such stupidity.

Some Members are upset because the Clerk of the House of Commons, Dr Malcolm Jack earns up to £200,000 a year when they only earn £65,738. The Assistant Clerk earns up to £140,000 and the head of catering earns up to £100,000 per year.

Ok, the last one is hard for me to defend - and I am slightly surprised that the Sergeant at Arms and her Deputy's have not made it to the Mail on Sunday story, one assumes because they haven't broken through the £100k mark.

Certain MP's are screaming from the Terrace Garden Rooftop because the Clerk of the House earns £60,000 more than the PM. To be clear, he doesn't. The PM may take £142,500 per year, but as I have blogged before, this is political showboating, and the PM is actually entitled to take £198,000 per year... but this is besides the point.

The pay for an MP is £65,738. There is absolutely no reason that everyone working in the Commons must earn less than them. It is the view of various characters that the particular outrage arises because the Commons Officials, the so called 'men in tights' are there to serve them. No they are not!

To those who share this view, get over yourselves. Who on earth do you think you are? Commons Officials are there to serve democracy and the Crown, as are YOU!

There are many fine MP's in the House, many with distinguished careers under their belt, but it is not fair and honest to compare the wage of an MP, for which there is absolutely no minimum qualification, IQ or compitency requirement whatsoever, to the wage paid to people who do not have such cozy terms of employment.

I'm genuinely annoyed by this. It's the politics of envy. I don't like it.

Sky News Sunrise Contribution: Sarah's Law and Ian Huntley

I was invited to speak about Sarah's Law on Sky News Sunrise with Mark Longhurst this morning.



I do like Mark Longhurst. Such a genuinely nice guy.

My worry about Sarah's Law is that even in the four force area pilot, police have already disclosed criminal convictions that had absolutely nothing to do with child sex offences to a Grandfather.

You may be surprised to hear me objecting - but in this case, the partner of the grandfather's daughter had previous convictions for violence, and the police told the grandparent about it.

We can all sympathise with such an offence being disclosed, but where do you draw the line? What if someone has previous for not paying their road tax on time? Would that be disclosed? Probably not, but already, the spirit of 'Sarah's Law' has been broken.

The other concern I have is that sex offenders will be driven underground (as we saw happen in the pilot scheme) and police won't know where offenders are living because these manipulative people have beaten the system. Further, I am worried that the public will be forced or encouraged in to a position where they will attack sex offenders which will in turn force offenders to go underground rather than being exposed and beaten up every so often.

I am not being a softy here. Frankly, I couldn't care less if you threw away the key rather than tried rehabilitating child sex offenders in the community, but if they're there, lets make sure we know where they are, and not just where they tell us they are.

On to Ian Huntly, the low-life scum bag who killed Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, and who now wishes to sue the Government and the Prison service for £100,000 in compensation and punative damages, at a cost to the public purse of one million pounds in legal aid.

I suppose it shouldn't in a civilised society be possible to bar even the lowest scum on this planet from seeking legal recourse if they feel they have been wronged, but I think you give up your right to legal aid in civil matters when you are in prison. If you can fund it yourself, then fine - BUT should you win your case, your victims should benefit.

Holly and Jessica's life were only worth £11,000 each. £22,000 for the lives of two lovely little girls.

So no, it doesn't sit right for this low-life to be allowed to take legal action at the public's expense.

We should stop it by any means necessary.

Why Andy Burnham could KILL your media career before it ever takes off

Labour Leadership contender Andy Burnham is calling for an end to unpaid work experience with the BBC because he says it disadvantages those from less well-off backgrounds.

I have always had a lot of time for Andy - and still do, but this is why you're wrong Andy;

The truth about breaking in to the media is that you can definitely do it if you want it enough. Things have changed slightly since I got in to media, but not that much. Radio and TV stations always need extra pairs of hands.

The true cold fact about work experience people with no industry experience is that they do not have the skills to start contributing effectively for some time. It is a real investment on the part of the journalist / producer / broadcaster etc who is taking them under their wing.

It IS a pain to arrange work experience for people in any organisation - and it's certainly not something you have time to actively chase. My personal belief has always been that I should help anyone who is keen and dedicated enough to nag, nag, nag.

If you nag, you will get in!

Please do not misunderstand where I'm coming from on this. I started off on unpaid work experience at the BBC, and I ended up building myself a career with no media based qualification. Free work experience is NOT a one way street balanced in favour of the employer in short.

If every work experience kid has to be employed as full time, or casual staff, then simply, there will be less opportunity for people to get in, and bright careers will be killed stone dead before they ever develop beyond a thought in the back of the mind of a talented individual.

Simple maths here, if you pay a work experience person 33% of what you pay their full time, experienced counterpart, WHY ON EARTH wouldn't you cut three work experience people and invest the money in one experienced full timer who will be productive from day one?

Cruel and unkind? Maybe, but that's media baby!