Watch my BBC Daily Politics Report & Debate on the blog NOW

Good evening all,

Regular Twitter and Blog Followers, and BBC Daily Politics Show Viewers will already know about my special report that aired this week (April 27th) on BBC2.

The piece is pretty self-explaining, but to stress, though I am not, and never will be, a disability rights campaigner, the injustice of guide and assistance dog users being turned away from businesses with no lawful reason is just too big to ignore.

You can watch my BBC report, and read the copy online  and indeed it would be helpful if you showed your interest by clicking the link.

An eagle eyed youtube account holder has put the report and debate on youtube. Please make sure you click the BBC link above, and bear in mind that all copywriter and usage rights belong to the BBC - but to make life easier for screen-reader users, the youtube video is directly below. I would appreciate your comments and tweets.

Remember, you can watch in full screen mode.

Are the mainstream media cowards? A reply to A. Lee Firth

Thank you to A Lee firth, who took time to leave a comment on my super-injunction post below.

I have pasted the comment below.

A. Lee Firth said...

If I were a journalist I'd consider it to be the highlight of my career to be imprisoned for merely telling the truth.

The mainstream media has been complicit in maintaining this attack on the freedom of speech and it's about time someone breaks rank and actually does their job properly...reporting the news.

*** End of A. Lee Firth's Comment ***

I have a great deal of sympathy with the notion. The bottom line is that I would fight for freedom of speech, and like most other journalists, I am not at all keen on these super-injunctions, not least of which because they do not come from British Law at all.

I speak for all my colleagues in the Lobby when I say that we do report the news, and if there were something that were very clearly in the public interest, we would consider our options, but there are Orders of the Court punishable by jail, and perhaps strangely, the injunctions relate to matter that are entirely unimportant, and entirely not in the public interest.

I support totally your notion - and I assure you that if anyone ever seeks a super-injunction having abused kids, then we'd be talking an entirely different game.

Some things are not worth going to jail for. This is one such thing.

My character is very important to me, and indeed important for my charitable work, and my Commons Security Pass Clearance.

Can we ALL just calm down dears?

Have we really come to the stage where the Prime Minister of the day is not permitted to make a cultural reference at PMQ's?

It's about 250 miles north of insane to suggest that David Cameron used the term "calm down dear' to a woman when he wouldn't use the term to a man. It's a reference to Michael Winner's eSure Ads - and I will happily put my hand up and admit I've used the term to men and women equally.

It's a bloody joke so can we all stop pretending to be offended?

Super-injunction - naming and shaming?

I have had a couple of conversations in the last few hours with reasonably high profile people (not politicians) who are considering naming and shaming those who are hiding behind super-injunctions.

We all know in media circles who these people are, and whether we like the idea of using European Law to block free speech and freedom of the press, the fact remains that the Court has made an Order, and it is a brave (read very stupid) person who would flout that order.

Lets be clear, this isn't some airy fairy concept that tweeters and bloggers don't have to pay attention to. If you decide to name "and shame", you'd better start planning your prison visitation schedule now.

I'll keep you posted on what these reasonably high profile individuals are saying - but I'm afraid porridge doesn't much appeal, and so this is not the place to find out who has and hasn't got super-injunctions.

It is quite probable however that details will emerge in the press very shortly. I understand that risks may be taken by some.

Your political week ahead: A busy 3 day week - and the rest

Good Easter Bank Holiday evening to you,

Parliament is back for 3 whole days before everyone goes in to some kind of hysteria for the Royal Wedding – then like me, they'll be off for another 4 days.

No longer can it be said that a week is a long time in politics!

The day starts tomorrow on Tuesday, and the Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham is up before the Home Affairs Select Committee giving Evidence on phone hacking.

The Joint Committee on the draft detention of terror suspects hears from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer. He'll have to be considered for a Commons Pass surely with the amount of time he's spending in the Palace lately?

Andrew Lansley seems certain to be grilled about his no confidence vote in the Commons at Health Questions today. This is the first opportunity MP's will have to score some points in front of Mr Speaker Bercow. Dom Rob has a Ten Minute Rule Bill on changes to voting rules on industrial action, and the Finance Bill gets it's Second Reading.

In the Lords, it's Day 2 of the European Union Bill. The whole House will sit in Committee.

The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee continue their work on investigating Football Governance, and Sports Minister Hugh Robertson is kindly assisting them today.

Wednesday

It's Prime Minister's Questions at midday. It's usually quite impossible to guess what's going to be raised at PMQ's, precisely because the PMQ's teams like to shake things up a little and they hate predictability, but at a guess, I'd say it's possible AV splits and cosmetic nose jobs may come up.

This is the first PMQ's in about 3 years at which I may be absent. I'm on the Daily Politics Show (from 11:30am) debating a film I've made on an unusual subject... but I'm likely to observe PMQ's at Millbank Studios, and I hope to tweet updates as usual. Do watch the Daily Politics piece, or I'll send guide dog Chipp round to lick you in to submission!

The Opposition Day for Wednesday is apparently still TBA – anyone on the Labour Business Team able to enlighten us?

In the Lords, it's the Pensions Bill, Third Reading, and also the Second Reading of the Police Reform and Social Responsibilities Bill.

Business Secretary Vince Cable is at the Biz Select Committee. Who knows what he may say?

Meanwhile, Dr Liam Fox is up before the Defence Select Committee – so a big one for the backbenchers today.

Those lovely, fair people at the Child Support Agency publish figures detailing how much money they've had from how many people, and levels of compliance. CSA dealings are in my view still hugely under-exposed. I do not have ANY children, so the CSA don't impact on my life, but I am aware of a case last year where a pensioner on £500 per month (no other incomings) had ALL but £91 docked by the CSA, and there was, apparently no appeal to the Court... anyway, sideline – so forgive me.

A Committee of Lords are sitting in relation to the draft Defamation Bill. One to watch I think.

We're also expecting the preliminary GDP stats for Q1 of 2011. Should be interesting actually given that we're talking pre-budget and coalition cut whispers galore.

Thursday

Happy birthday 'Duffygate'. It's one year ago today since Gordon Brown was caught on a badly placed radio mic calling Gillian Duffy “a bigoted woman”, much to Mrs Duffy's horror. Really, she should be celebrating the anniversary, since I understand that she's received a few bob from HM Gutter Press for her story.

Royal Wedding Guest Jeremy Hunt is in the Commons for Culture, Media & Sport Questions. Sir George Young is due to make his regular Business Statement, and Paul Beresford has an important Adjournment Debate on the Government's reaction to the human form of Mad Cow Disease.

Friday

There's some weding on apparently. Don't mean to be a party pooper. I wish William and Kate Middleton all the very best – but surprised so many people are flapping so excitedly about it all.

Prime Minister David Cameron, and Mrs Cameron will be hosting a party at Number 10 to mark the Royal Wedding.

… And of course, it's another bank holiday – as is Monday. Harold Wilson would love it – a real three day week for two weeks of 2011.

Ok, that's your lot for the week ahead – but Wednesday is jam packed.

Evenin' all.

First couple of hours with the new Macbook Pro

I must admit to having headed out this morning like an excited schoolboy to pick up my brand spanking new Macbook Pro.

An awful lot of people in my industry swear by macs - and I'm sure in time I'll agree that Apple Mac's are the best thing since electro-pop, but for me, it's an entirely new experience - not just because it's a new operating system, but because it's a totally new screen reader to me, and you use it ENTIRELY differently to a PC screen reader. This said, I've had the Macbook Pro for a few hours, and already I've been able to log in to my blogger account and post this blog entry.

I have a terrible confession! One that makes me less of a man, and I'm hanging my head as I type this. I couldn't work out for the life of me where and how the power cable fitted in. It seemed not to fit anywhere... and so, pride set aside - I had to ask the teenager in the computer shop to show me where I was going wrong. THE SHAME! It seems there was a plastic guard on the end of the power cable, and I just couldn't feel that this was the bliter blocking me from playing about with the new computer.

In any case, I'm sure you're now as tired reading this as I am writing it, but I wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who advised me and de facto persuaded me to go Mac... will I go back? Well we'll see, but in all likelihood, I'll put windows on it as well so I can get used to Mac OSx in my own time... but a big thank you to Tom Watson, Chris Wimpress, and my Guide Dogs Branch Events Coordinator Lorna Copland for all your time and help.

The weekly look ahead will follow this evening.

Happy Easter everyone!

The weekly look ahead

Will appear here tomorrow.

I'll be able to get fuller details - and I'm bushed.

Good night all.

HUGE increase in blog readership: Thanks to all readers

I've just had a nose on Google Analytics, and I have been pleasantly surprised to note that many thousands more people have been visiting this blog over the past few weeks.

I just want to say a big thank you to all of you for stopping by, and I always welcome tweets @seandilley with suggestions of what you'd like to see more of.

Teaser: My BBC @daily_politics special report: Wednesday 27th April from 11:30am

I feel truly priviledged to have the opportunity to question public figures from the Prime Minister downwards and to report their words, and my conclusions to radio listeners, TV viewers, twitter and blog followers, and newly to print readers.

So I am quite excited to tell you about a film I've made for the Daily Politics Show - both because the Daily Politics happens to be my favorite show, and because I honestly believe we're highlighting a very important issue, which is surely the point of all journalism.

If you don't know me, you may not know that I am a registered blind guide dog owner. If you do know me, you'll know that I'm not at all chippy, and I do not spend my time moaning about the cards I have been dealt, but I was invited to work with the talented team on BBC2's Daily Politics show to highlight an all too frequent injustice.

Now this is way off my usual subject matter. I'm really not a disability rights campaigner, but the mere fact that I happen to work with a guide dog means that I, in common with 4,600 other guide dog owners, and many thousands of other assistance dog users experience descrimination, often from groups of people who have themselves experienced the worst kind of descrimination.

Never can I be 100% certain when I leave home in the morning that I am not going to be booted out of a cafe, refused access to a newsagents', or shouted at by a restauranteur who despite legislation to the contrary refuse to serve me because I work with a guide dog.

... But despite the disgusting descrimination that I experience many times each year, I do not normally have the opportunity to raise my plite with Legislators because I take the professional and ethical constraints of being a Parliamentary Lobby Journalist very seriously indeed, and it would be a serious breach of trust to use my priviledged access to Parliament to do otherwise.

So seriously do I take the ethical constraints of my position as a Lobby Correspondent that I shall state here for the avoidance of doubt that I have shared and cleared the filming we have done with the Commons Authorities, and my engagement for the task will appear in the next update of the Register of Journalists interests. This is,catagorically a one-off.

Health warnings made, I shall return to the matter of the exciting project. In our film, you will see my take on the law as it stands today, and my view on whether it is fit for purpose, but most notably, you will see some truly shocking footage of how some business owners react to guide dogs.

I promise you it's a must watch, and will offer a true insight in to the kind of scenes I have experienced, probably over a hundred times in my thirteen years of guide dog ownership.

So set your Sky +, or even better, watch us live on BBC2, this Wednesday 27th April from 11:30am, and set your faces to stun!

....................................
Well deserved credits

EDITOR: Robbie Gibb
PRODUCER: Helen Gray
CAMERA OPERATOR: Adrian Pinsent

The Weekly Forward Look (Recess time)

Good evening, and welcome to the Sunday look ahead.


This being Recess and in the run-up to the May 5th Elections, the forward look is as quiet as one might expect - but it's below.

May I firstly mark today, April 17th as the 27th anniversary of the killing of WPC Yvonne Fletcher. She was doing her job and keeping the peace on this day in 1984 when a gun was fired from within the Libyan Embassy.


Monday

Firstly, Happy Birthday Mrs Cameron. Samcam turns 40... so hoping for his sake that the PM makes her his priority for the day.

The Institute for Public Policy Research report that AV is better suited to modern voters because we sway more in our political leanings.

David Cameron will meet Donald Tusk, the Polish PM ahead of their Presidency of the EU.


Tuesday

A bunch of bikers are in Court today fighting Westminster City Council's daily parking fee.


Wednesday


The Scottish GDP stats for Q4 2010 are out today.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb will be speaking at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers Conference.


Thursday

*** Bloggers debate at the Adam Smith Institute ***
Harry Cole, Douglas Carswell and Tim Montgomerie debate the future of blogging. Since it's a very quiet forward look, I should like to add my own two-penny's worth.

Clearly I run this blog, and I hope from time to time, I hope this servs to inform and entertain... but I tend not to describe myself as a blogger because this blog does not hold a candle to that of Guido's and Tim's - and neither is it designed to do so.

I am a HUGE supporter of new media and blogging. Hacks tend to be split on bloggers because as journalists working for mainstream print or broadcasting organisations, we have clear rules to follow when it comes to publishing or broadcasting things that we hear. Bloggers have no such restriction, and consequently, the occasional story gets out somewhere in to the blogosphere that simply isn't true. This said, I remain keen on the work of bloggers because the very best blogs have made news when the mainstream outlets have shied away. Blogs cannot be ignored.

Anyway - also on Thursday, Public Sector Finance Stats are out for the month of March, and retail sales stats for March are also out at the same time.

Nick Clegg Popularity Debate on Sky with @markpack and myself

Thank you to Mark Pack, Co-Editor of Lib Dem Voice for the Youtube Vid.



This was Mark and me (and yes Mark and me is the correct wording) chatting on Sky News Sunrise yesterday. It was short and sweet - and in an ideal world, I'd like to have had a stab at the intern story. Regular followers will know this is a subject I am deeply passionate about :).

... But great fun as ever - and for all you Producers and Bookers out there who read this blog, Mark is a must have contact for all Lib Dem / Coalition stories.

Your RECESS look ahead

Good evening,
Parliament is in Recess, consequently, things are really very quiet. I've found a few bits though.



Monday

The much anticipating Independent Commission on Banking has it's interim report out on splitting retail banking from investment banking. The full report is due out in September.

William Hague and Franco Frattini, the Italian Foreign Minister will be meeting in London (the two men will share a media platform).

Theresa May is in Luxembourg for the EU Justice and Affairs Council, where EU Ministers will discuss the use of passenger data for prevention of terrorism.


Tuesday

Sir Roger Morgan's (Childrens' Rights Director) report on Younger Children's Views is out today.

Leaders of all Councils in London will meet to discuss business (yes, Tuesday is a very quiet day in terms of prospects)


Wednesdsay

*** Unemployment and claimant count data is out today *** This will be a big story d uring Recess.


Thursdsay

*** The Electoral Commission publishes political donations for this month. ***

Today is the deadline for those wishing to register to vote in the May 5th Elections.

EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meets in Luxembourg.

*** PURDAH PERIOD BEGINS FOR MAY 5 ELECTIONS IN ENGLAND *** This means the news agenda will seem VERY weird until May 5th. Government Departments will not make any policy announcements until after the election to avoid influencing the polls.


Friday

The IMF and World bank meet in Washington today.

Stormont rises today for Easter Recess.

Social Mobility and how to get in to the media (even if you have no experience)

Twitter followers may have been aware of my rantings on the notion of ending unpaid internships and work placements off the back of the Deputy Prime Minister's announcement on Social Mobility.

I've just filed a package on said subject for "The Week with talkSPORT's George Galloway", presented during the election period by the excellent Duncan Barkes. You can hear it tonight, circa 10:30pm I would guess.

Before I clarify a few points, I should just like to say that I honestly believe the DPM's heart is in the right place, but I'm not sure, if ever implimented, that plans on ending unpaid internships would help rather than hinder those trying to break in to a rather competative industry.

My first bit of advice to anyone considering a career in the media is THINK ABOUT IT CAREFULLY!

Media is full of egos, with the least talented shouting the loudest - frankly because they subconciously doubt their own ability. These characters will give you hell and you'll need a thick skin to survive... but IF you decide media is for you - you should go for it, and you should expect to work a few free shifts. It's a great way to get your foot in the door. Find out the correct contact name at your local newspaper, radio station or regional / national TV news channel. Us media types always need extra pairs of hands. Email the person, addressing them by name and politely ask them for a placement and prove your enthusiasm. Then all you do is nag until you achieve your goal :).

It's worth remembering that there are a few really decent, good people in media who will try to help you, and speaking for myself, I will ALWAYS try to help new people in to the industry. Feel free to try me.

I feel that Nick Clegg's Social Mobility proposals, regretably would be likely to have an unintended effect, potentially ending, or severely restricting this highly effective way in. If only formalised arrangements were allowed, it would be impossible for me, or for my reporter / producer / presenter / researcher colleagues to help new-comers out. We would be forced to pass them on to a central contact, and they'd have to take their extremely unlikely chances of getting on to one of perhaps four or five placements a year.

Ironically, formalised, paid schemes would actually increase the potential for nepatism.

... But nobody need panic just yet. The Deputy Prime Minister's announcement only asks big companies in media, law, banking and politics to sign up to a voluntary code - and a code that would be impossible to police... but for now, we're not talking about legislation.

Few!

Weekly Digest & Political week in review

Welcome to the weekly digest. The usual health warning applies that there are some things that may not be included, either because they're very operational for security reasons, or frankly because I don't yet know about them... but all the main flashpoints should be below.

Meanwhile, take a listen to my chat with Tony Grew from ePolitix.com discussing one or two political happenings from the week just gone. (Recorded on Thursday evening).




Monday

There should be a Green Paper released this week detailing changes to the State Pension - for instance, the £140 per week figure should be set out (although some reports suggest that when this measure is introduced in 2015, the actual figure will be £155 per week, accounting for inflation).

The MoD will have Army and Navy redundancy figures today, as promised by Dr Liam Fox.

Eric Pickles is up in the Commons for Communities and Local Government Questions, the Opposition Debate on Police Cuts, and Anne Clwyd has an Adjournment debate about the treatment of Private First Class Bradley Manning.

It's a big day for my friends at Sky as the House of Lords take questions on the proposed take-over of BSkyB before moving on to Day 2 in the Report Stage of the Public Bodies Bill.

*** Lord Goldsmith Jack Straw, David Blunkett and Charles Clarke are all up before the Joint Committee on draft detention of terrorist suspects Bills Inquiry ***

Dave Richards and Richard Skudamore, Chairman and Chief Exec respectively of the Premier League are up before the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee discussing football governance.

Today is the deadline for submissions to the powerful Commons Procedure Committee on Commons sittings and the Parliamentary Calendar.


Tuesday

Foresight News reports that DPM Nick Clegg is likely to publish his stratergy for measuring the effect of government policy on a person's life (Social Mobility). I haven't been able to stand this up personally, but Foresight News are normally pretty on the money!

*** The Public Accounts Committee publishes a report on accountability for public money ***

The Commons rises for Easter Recess today, but before they do, it's DPMQ's in the Commons - then Mike Gapes has a Ten Minute Rule Bill on Electoral Registration.

The Building Regulations Review Bill gets it's third reading in the Lords before the Lords sits in Committee on the European Union Bill.

The Director of Public Prosicutions Keir Starmer is giving Evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee on phone-hacking.

The Biz Committee hears from outgoing NUS President Aaron Porter on the future of Higher Education in the UK.


Wednesdsay

Council Tax Bills are sent out by today.

The Lords are debating telephone hacking before sitting in Committee for Day 4 of the Postal Services Bill. Then the Lords will join their Parliamentary colleagues in the Commons for Easter Recess!!

*** TAX CHANGES *** The upper limit of Basic Rate Tax decreased to £35k today, and the personal allowance rises by £1,000 to £7,445. The 42% income tax threshold is reduced to £42,475.

The Adam Smith Institute hold a debate entitled "To AV or not to AV" in the St Stephen's Club in London. I think the premise of this one is quite simple.


Thursday

Foreign Secretary William Hague is visiting Brazil today.

*** Bank of England monthly interest rate decision due ***

*** Julian Assange biography, 'Wikileaks versus the world' is published today ***.

EU Finance Ministers meet in Hungary today for an informal meeting.

*** MP's Expenses for November & December 2010 are published today by IPSA ***
And I'm sorry, but I've really got nothing for Friday unless I'm to bore you with unimportant, unworthy events.

There's your week in review. Do please listen to the weekly podcast above.