Door Knocking & Bond

Today was a mixed bag with a relative lie-in (well up at 7.30 and back into bed by 9) followed by a trip with the UEA Conservatives to offer some mutual aid to the Norwich North Conservatives. We went door knocking on one of the new housing developments in the area and two things struck me - firstly the sheer volume of property turnover in such areas, much worse than it ever was in Bowthorpe in my humble opinion. And the second was how many people are now willing to stop and talk politics on the doorsteps on a freezing November afternoon. Overall very good for the Conservatives but with a noticeable number of Green voters too - on today's canvass they beat the LibDems for third. Interestingly we had Iraq re-appear as an issue (it had died down) but also the state of local parks, housing and anti-social behaviour are consistently topping the list.

This evening Lou & I managed to get out and see the new (well, re-made) Bond film. We both think that Craig made an excellent Bond and it was a great film. Much less formulaeic than other Bond films with loads of twists and turns - plus a bevvy of beauties and gun fights galore. Obviously I loved every moment, but the fact that Lou enjoyed it too (and she doesn't "do" Bond films) says a lot for how well it was made. Plus you get to hear Dame Judy Dench's opinion of backbench committee MPs...

LibDems can't agree on Unitary

I enjoy Nich Starling's blog and he has an excellent post here in which he joins me in slamming the Council for spending £27,000 on the Unitary survey. Nich says that few people he knows in Norwich are clammering for Unitary - well said that man.

But the Fakenham Councillor from North Norfolk fails to mention that the LibDems in Norwich are in favour of Unitary and voted for all this money (and much more) to be spent.

The LibDems are all over the place on this issue. Nich, who (shall we say) takes a lot of interest in Norwich and Broadland issues, demonstrates this in spades.

We know that Norwich LibDems are in favour and Broadland LibDems against. So will they campaign against themselves in 2007? We'll have to wait and see!

The way politics works

Blairites hate Brownites. Some Blairites pretend to like Brown because they want jobs in his next government (the one he'll have without the need to win a general election). Some Blairites will just keep their mouths shut. The party looks like it might rip apart.

Then the public decide that they like Cameron more than Brown and Labour people of all shades get worried. They all start to back Brown to try and brow-beat Cameron down. The party suddenly becomes very united and all and sundry say Brown will win by default. Hence Blears saying that Blair will back Brown today.

So what happens now? An unchallenged Brown leadership? No. When Labour feel they've been ghastly to Cameron enough and nearer the time of Blair's departure, all these people who have been nice to Brown will suddenly turn again.

Expect a contest between Brown, Reid, Johnson and McDonnell.

Milton Friedman has died

One of the great men of the capitalist free market economy has died today. CH.com has a nice obituary in the way of his quotes here.

12% of people know about the Unitary issue ... Labour claim it's a triumph!

From the gushing press release from Norwich City Council and the equally gushing story in the EEN today, you might be forgiven for thinking that the City has come out overwhelmingly in favour of Unitary status.

However, when you read the small print the story becomes very different. The figure that struck me was that 88% of people who responded said they knew little or nothing about the issue! Shouldn't the council be spending money educating and informing people about this rather than commissioning dodgy surveys?

In fact the survey, with all of its inherent bias, came out 41-25 in favour. But if 88% don't know about the issue, how can we even trust or believe that result?

Answer: we can't. But Unitary is now hanging by a thread and Labour are willing to cling to any straw they can.

Action for Bowthorpe Tree Belts

After a lot of campaigning I was pleased to recieve this e-mail:

Major tree works are planned to a number of tree belts in Bowthorpe this winter. The belts in which we are set to carry out work include:

· Rawley Road to Cloverhill Road
· Rawley Road to Beloe Ave
· Joe Ellis Ct
· Wendene (Both sides including areas covered by Braithwaite Close and Anwick Ct)
· Tippett Close
· Chapelbreak Road oppersite Astley Road
· Rear off Edrich way / The Columbine

Bowthorpe Cycle Way (Inc Stylman Road)
Bowthorpe Park
Chapel Break Centre

The work, scheduled to start later this month, will involve both thinning and coppicing operations. Thinning is the removal of selected trees to relieve overcrowding and to allow for the future growth of remaining specimens. Coppicing is the process of cutting back woody plants close to ground level and allowing the stumps to re-grow. The overall result will be more open, lighter, less oppressive tree belts that are more encouraging for wildlife, and safer, healthier individual trees.

Well Done Norwich City Council!

Proud to be supporting our community

Last night's meeting of the Bowthorpe Community Partnership started to discuss the response to recent tragic events. I am pleased that all councillors, from both councils and both parties, have agreed that the way forward is a mass community petition that asks for a full safety review of all of the major roads - including Clover Hill Road, Chapel Break Road, Three Score Road, Bishey Barnabee Way and Dodderman Way.

It will make a powerful statament if we can make a unified stance on this - and I'm also glad that the BCP agreed to front this. A local man from Three Score is taking the lead and Councillors will be pleased to support him.

Lewis gets going in Great Yarmouth

It was good to hear from Yarmouth PPC Brandon Lewis about his plans to start campaigning for the seat. His website is changing over next Monday but you can read about his reaction to being selected HERE. It sounds like he has some great plans and has already got an action day and a parliamentary event organised. That's some going! I am surprised that the media seem to have overlooked him so far - although I'm sure he'll change that pretty quickly!

Norwich Tories select candidates

Over at the NorwichConservatives.Com site there is a news update with the local government selections.

Sitting Councillor Eve Collishaw will fight for Catton Grove again


Long-time resident and campaigner John Wyatt will build on his best result in Town Close for many years


Popular local resident Vic Hopes goes for Eaton after halving the LibDem majority last time.


Campaigner Niall Baxter heads for success in Wensum Ward...


Also UEA student Kristofer Wilson is standing in University Ward and Carrie Chandler is selected in Mancroft. Lakenham, Nelson and Thorpe Hamlet members will decide on their candidates in the next few weeks.

Never Forget their Sacrifice

Thanks to ConservativeHome for this graphic. A reminder of what today is about.

Today is not about the glorification of war, it is about the sacrific of those who died for freedom.

Different advice

Of all the people that have contacted me about Yarmouth - both through the comments section on thig blog and through e-mail - two stand out as polar opposites about how the party is feeling at the moment. You know how I fele on the issue but CCHQ have to take seriously the issue of what to do with disapplied candidates (those not on the A List) and those who fail to win their "local" seats. Take a look at these two and decide for yourselves.

Antony - the way in which you have handled this rejection shows what an asset you are to the party. Coming from the NE I had never really heard of you but after reading CH.com I googled you to see what your story was. You are clearly a dedicated campaigner who has spent his life promoting the Tory cause. We need people like you ... stick to the rules of the party, work hard and you'll get there. I promise.

and in contrast...

Like you Antony I am white, middle class, middle aged, happily married, able bodied and have been a hard working member of this party for many, many years. I am not on the AList and am not allowed to apply for local seats either because of the awkward nature of CCHQ. I spend my free time helping to run an association and run campaigns. Why is Dave Cameron asking so much of me with so little in return? I work for the party but the party doesn't work for me. You ask what you should do - leave them to it. Enjoy your kids for a few years and come back when sanity returns to the asylum that is CCHQ. You don't need this in your life if you don't get anything in return. Not so many years ago hard working meant something in our party. Now it's "what you are" rather than "what you do". Sorry to be so negative but so many of us feel this way.

A record breaking day

Yesterday this blog attracted 5 times as many visitors as normal - thanks to the interest in my reaction to not winning a parliamentary candidature. How many would I have got if I had of won it (fewer, I'd imagine)?

I hope those people will continue to check back in the future. If you want me to add a link to your site, just get in touch.

Thanks!

Yarmouth says "No": So, what now?

Tonight Brandon Lewis, the Leader of Brentwood Borough Council in Essex, has been selected as Conservative PPC in Yarmouth. He's a great bloke and a real campaigner - actually an asset to the 'A'List and I feel confident he'll turn the seat blue. Well Done to him.

However, this certainly has to make me think about the future. You see, as I'm white, middle class, a male, happily married, able bodied and not a celebrity (this blog not withstanding) then I am nowhere near being on the Priority List and hence unable to apply for seats around the country.

I could go on and on about all the fabulous things I've done for the party - candidate, agent, local Chairman, Deputy Chairman, campaign co-ordinator, councillor and group leader. I could talk about how jolly unfair all this is and how I should be given the chance to fight a safe seat.

But the truth of the matter is I did all those things for the benefit of my communities, my country and my party. All three are "bigger" than I am and I shall continue to furrow my ploughs for the Conservatives because I care about why I am doing this.

I, like fellow local candidate Kay Mason, have no right to that seat in the way no candidate has any right to any seat.

One day all this A List nonsense will be seen for what it is - and until then people like me must carry on, because politics matters at every level. Tonight was a shame, but it won't stop me saying loud and proud to everyone who'll listen:

I'm a Conservative. I'm proud of my party and I'm proud to be a Conservative. I back Cameron all the way to Downing Street. So come on board and let's change this country for the better.

Is the Senate the GOPs Wandsworth

So the results are almost in and, if as expected, the Democrats have indeed won the last two Senate races in Vermont and Montana then the Senate will be 49 R, 49 D and 2 I.  Despite being crushed in this poll, the good thing for the GOP is that they will continue to hold the Senate.  Why?  Well the top two parties are tied and existing administration always holds on.  Hence until the 2 Independents official defect then the Democrats will find themselves shut out.  On a day-to-day basis they will vote with the Dems and Republicans will find themselves out-voted.  R with the power but not the votes, D with the votes but not the power – American democracy.

 

And all this time the GOP says “we held the Senate”.  Single to Wandsworth, anyone?

 

My Yarmouth Thanks

I cannot reply to you all individually because of numbers, but I would like to thank everybody who, either directly on e-mail or via ConservativeHome or PoliticalBetting.com, have sent their best wishes and luck for the Great Yarmouth final this Friday.

Thanks ... and fingers crossed.

US Mid Terms: Can the GOP do a Wandsworth?

All the polls and pundits predict that the Republicans are on for a mid-term drubbing at tomorrow's polls. Certainly the Democrats have a small poll lead - circa 4% - but all American elections turn on turnout.

During the dark days for the Tories in local government, one night the party was slaughtered across the country. However the party held a single council - Wandsworth - against the trend and that single council was proof that the Tories hadn't done badly after all. The Sun even exclaimed that Labour were "poll axed" because of their failure to take that single council.

Given the record of the GOP party machine in winning elections, I wouldn't bet against them holding the Senate and even stemming the losses in the House. But I wonder if they manage to hold an unexpected state if their spin doctors could somehow claim victory from the jaws of defeat? More on this tomorrow...

EDP: Norwich Congestion Charge investigated

When I mentioned the threat of a Congestion Charge over 2 years ago, the reaction of my opponents was fanatical to say the least. They accused me of scaremongoring, they said I was lying and they rubbished my name.

These people can leave their apologies in the comments section - though I won't hold my breath.

ONLY the Norwich Conservatives oppose this madness.

The Speaker is in trouble

The House of Commons as a whole has never had very much respect for Speaker Michael Martin. Elected more or less on a Labour block-vote, breaking convention when it should have been a Conservative, I believe that Martin was the result of a dominant Labour Party in 2000 proving that they (or their majority) owned the House.

I am a strong believer in respect for such positions. Usually I would say that I wouldn't care if a coatstand was elected Speaker - I'd still respect them. But I feel I cannot say that with Speaker Martin.

His outrageous "saving" of Blair at PMQs this week was both totally pointless (in fact Tony got himself out of the situation rather well this week) but also badly handled. Clever Cameron won't make an official complainy but if Tory MPs do either stage a walkout or not listen to him, then what remains of his credibility will crumble. You see whilst Tories make up a significant minority of the Commons, losing the trust of a section of the House could be damaging.

The ever-reliable Mail on Sunday reported yesterday that Speaker Martin only wants 2 things in political life. To out-do Boothroyd in terms of years as Speaker and to ensure that his son, Paul Martin, inherits his Glasgow parliamentary seat.

Unless he kisses and makes up with the Tories, he'll achieve neither.

Lazy Sunday Morning (and one hell of a Saturday night!)

Look ... no baby. Louise and I are sprog free this morning. The house is clean, we got up after 10am and may even enjoy a hot, cooked breakfast. Wow, that's something.

All because Emily is at Nana and Grandad's probably having the time of her life away from the parents. Yesterday was a bit of a day for us ...

... the morning we drove to Great Yarmouth and enjoyed a walked along the front looking at the new development there. Emily came with us and rather predictably wanted to collect stones off the beach. Then after we dropped off the babe I went on the first leg of a friend's stag-do (an hour late, tut, tut). As if life couldn't get better we then saw the matinee of Buddy at the Theatre Royal - the last day of the run here in Norwich but you gotta see it at some point! Absolutely fantastic. We then walked into the City and went to the Earlham Park fireworks display. Great fireworks, but who ever was in charge of the music should be waking up with a hangover this morning ... it all went dead half way through!

Anyway, we're off out for breakfast and then off to collect our little one.

BBC: British Youth is very worrying

Drinking, violent and sexual active ... British youth according to a survey. Our youngsters are agressive, rude and disrespectful compared to other European countries. Now compare that to the high proportions of teenagers who only hang out with their mates and don't eat with their parents. It also shows that children with married parents do better than single parents or even those with co-habiting parents.

And all this comes from a centre-left think tank!

UPDATE: BBC reporter said that next week's report on what to do about this won't suggest the normal idea of setting up a youth club! It will suggest that far from spending more time away from home, these kids need to be with their parents or other adults.

Interesting.

Green Policy on Car Parks

I'd like your views on this:

Green Councillors policy in Norwich is to simultaneously reduce the number of parking spaces in the City whilst increasing the price of those left to maintain the income.

Last Nights Votes In Full

Last night we had questions on ..

Eaton Skatepark (Cllr Lubbock, LibDem for Eaton)
Yellow Lines in Three Score (Cllr Little, Conservative for Bowthorpe)
Waiting Restrictions on Woodcock Road (Cllr Collishaw, Conservative for Catton Grove)
Safety on Magdalen Road (Cllr Divers, LibDem for Thorpe Hamlet)
East-West Rail Link (Cllr Couzens, LibDem for Eaton)
City Hall use of recycled paper (Cllr Stephenson, Green for Nelson)
Allotment waiting lists (Cllr Llewellyn, Green for Wensum)
Clarence Harbour site (Cllr Gledhill, Green for Nelson)
Future of Heathgate (Cllr Jago, Green for Mancroft)
Sale of Mariners Lane Car Park (Cllr Altman, Green for Mancroft)
Nottingham Declaration (Cllr Read, Green for Wensum)
Recycling plastics (Cllr Ramsay, Green for Nelson)
Car Parking (Cllr Holmes, Green for Wensum)

If you want to know the answers please just let me know.

On putting £150k into the Unitary bid it was carried 34-2 (only Conservatives opposing it).

On the Tree Strategy it wa scarried 27-0 with 9 abstentions (The Green Party)

The Packagaing and Waste motion was referred to the Waste Working Group by 27-9 (Greens opposing, all others in favour)

Educational Attainment was carried 34-0 with 2 abstentions (Conservatives)

Green Party: One Track Minds?

Rupert Read has never been the most respected political figure in Norwich and his regular outbursts at full council will ensure that he never is either.

The Green Party frontbencher speaking on Transport Issues said this last night:

"Councillor Little spends a long time telling us why he is against Unitary. I'll tell you in two words why I'm for it ... Westlegate pedestrianisation."

He then went on to say that this was his only reason (not that, ONLY) why he was in favour of unitary.

You could say that Cllr Read was willing to financially screw the City and its residents and destroy local services over a piece of road.

Or you could say that he can't cope with the complexity of the issue.

Either way, his contribution did his party no good.

UPDATE: Thanks to an e-mailing friend who points out that Green County Councillors vote on issues that only effect county areas, like Cromer, Great Yarmouth or Diss. If they believe so strongly in the unitary principle will all Green - and Labour and LibDem Councillors - promise to abstain on issues that don't affect the City? Don't hold your breath.

Finally ... an answer

Bishey Barnabee Way is one of the main roads around both Three Score and Bowthorpe. They've had their fair share of traffic problems with the developers and now people parking on the road too. It is on a hill and pretty dangerous. But, seen as there haven't been any accident, nobody will act on the suspicion that it is a dangerous bit of road. I had been asking question, as had local people, about the chances of yellow lines. Nothing came forth other than "no". So I put down a question to full council - the nuclear button for backbench and opposition councillors - and I am pleased to say that I actually got a reponse!

They are going to measure traffic flow after the development has finished and see if there is need because BB Way is part of an important bus route ... short term bad news but long term good news I think!

Anyway it is just good to get a firm answer (for once).

LibDem U -Turn on Unitary Referendum?

The LibDems are hardly known for their political consistency. As a Green Councillor recently pointed out in a council debate, the LibDems don't so much have 2 policies in different areas of the country as 2 policies at different ends of the same street.

Their opposition to my referendum on Norwich's Unitary bid was a bizarre act of political opportunism. A typical Cooke attack of me was launched and the vote was lost. I questioned at the time why the party that was most committed to the use of these votes was against the plans. I never got a reply but it seems obvious now that they would never hand me the political victory.

Anyway, it has been bought to my attention that Andrew Stunnell MP, LibDem Communities Spokesman and political giant, has now declared:
"When it comes to changing democratic accountability in an area, I think there's a good argument for a referendum"

Great news, I look forward to Cllr Cooke's support when I bring this issue back to Council!

NO SHOCK: Government win vote on Iraq

I don't know why everyone gets so excited about the govenrment losing votes. Today's opposition day motion on Iraq, tabled by the Nationalists, was a classic example. First it wins LibDem support then also the Conservatives. Then a few typical Labour rebels play up. Then the bloggers go bananas saying Labour will lose and then the media pick up on it. Everybody goes over the top and ... hey presto a small but workable government majority of 25.

I knew Labour would win this one ... the perenial rebels have isolated themselves and the middle ranking trouble makers haven't got the guts to rebel when they should do. And do remember that there are still hundreds of clones on the Labour side ready to do Blair and Brown's bidding.

So next time you hear the inevitable phrase "government set to lose" ... just calm down and think it'll never happen. Not because of the Labour whips, but because the hearts of Labour MPs aren't in ousting Blair (yet).

Now Hereward Cooke thinks he's an MP

A while ago a LibDem activist told me that he thought that then-Deputy Leader Cllr Hereward Cooke may have bene losing it a bit. The now-Leader of the Opposition thinks he is an MP ... well, given some comments from tonight's council meeting anyway. Take a look...

"This motion bought before the House" - for House, read Council Chamber

and...

"What is written down here on the order paper" - for order paper, read council agenda

A few of us in that council want to be MPs, but pretending you are is going a bit far!

p.s. Interesting that outgoing LibDem Leader Ian Couzens insisted on speaking to nearly every debate as well as incoming Leader Hereward Cooke. Whilst the real Deputy Leader Brian Watkins said nothing. Does Couzens think he's made a mistake?

Great Council

Last night I went to a residents meeting and to a Conservative Campaign Group. Tonight was full council - it was great! However I am now official shattered so will give you all the gossip tomorrow!

Town Close Survey Results

During the last few weeks we distributed personalised surveys to local people in Town Close. We enclosed freepost envelopes and the return rate was well over 25% - not bad for a party political survey. Here are the results (more or less) in full.

Take careful note of the voting intentions - as this survey was sent to people of all political sorts and none. All figures are percentages.

How would you vote in an election tomorrow?
Green Party 30
Conservative 27
Liberal Democrat 22
Labour 21

Are you in favour of Norwich going Unitary?
Yes 20
No 35
Don't Known 45

Are you satified with the state of your local park?
Yes 20
No 80

Do you think that council tax is...
Too High 72
Too Low 1
About Right 27

What should happen to the junction at the corner of Brazengate and Grove Road?
The no-entry sign should be abolished 45
The no-entry sign should be strongly enforced by the police 36
Don't Know 19

Are you concerned about parking in your area?
Yes 37
No 45

Would you like to see your area become a 20mph zone?
Yes 49
No 36

What is your view of the bus service in Norwich?
Good 26
Poor 26
(The rest do not regularly travel by bus)

Where are the local litter hotspots?
These all appeared several times: Tesco Express (Grove Road), Lakenham Way, Brazengate, Trafford Road, Unthank Road

Do you support a twin bin system for Norwich with waste one week and recycling the next?
Yes 10
No 81

I will let you decide which of those are worthy of note, but keep in mind that roughly two thirds of respondants would vote for a left-wing party and less than 30% are out-and-out Conservatives so you cannot say that the response group is biased.

I think the council should note the numbers of people not informed about unitary as a priority (we shall see if this is matched in other areas).

What do you think?

Beer and Politics

My day has been in three very distinct parts today. Firstly I was made to clear out the room which is to become the nursery (again). I did it, with only a minimum of whinging. Then I went off for a couple of hours to a Group Leaders Meeting at City Hall. All very interesting but highly confidential. All I can say is that Adrian Ramsay and I sat in the wrong room for a quater of an hour like a pair of plums - typical City Hall plot! Then when all the serious stuff was over I met up with friends and we went off to the Norwich Beer Festival to enjoy some of the cultural offerings! Crawled home some time later ... although a few people wanted to extend the drinking (much braver than me and with fewer small children). The Beer Festival is one of the best thing about Norwich and is a time when everybody comes together. They should have been proud of their efforts this year.

Those quotas in full

Instead of putting quotas on the religion of pupils in schools, why don't we have a quota on Labour Education Secretaries who are good at their jobs?

Well, actually, a single one would do!

People are too quick to attack Osbourne

George Osbourne already has one of the hardest jobs in Westminster - being Shadow Chancellor. But to do so when you are young, posh and best mates with Cameron must make it worse. So every utterance of the Shadow Chancellor is analysed and he is being torn to pieces by a press determined to prove that the young turk cannot take on Brown and win.

However the most recent episode - an apparent rebuke for using an F-word about Brown in the Commons isn't what it seems. Whilst the pres sbang on about a lack of judgement etc. I wonder if they bothered to look at this in context.

Osbourne was quoting the Pensions Sevretary John Hutton who had said that Brown would make "an effing awful Prime Minister." Such division is good play for the opposition.

Speaker Martin was right to ask Osbourne to apologise - and, by the way, his apology was excellent ("I withdraw the quote from the Work and Pensions Secretary") - but the press are wrong to persue Osbourne in this way.

Osbourne is a very intelligent guy who is doing a fine job as Shadow Chancellor. I think the media always like to pull down a winner, perhaps?

39-31-16 - vital statistics

I love opinion polls (it's the teacher in me...) and tonight Sky is reporting that YouGov have Cameron on 39%, Labour on 31% and dear old Sir Ming down there on 16%.

That puts Yarmouth and Norwich North into the blue column still but does at least give Charlie a majority of 970 over the Conservatives, according to the Baxter site.

He's still in our sights...

And to think that we pay Bob's wages

Bob Russell is the Member of Parliament for Colchester and has a reputation for being clever and a decent constituency MP. So why does he get involved in stupid things like this?

Bob got upset when a Downing Street briefing referred to the "black market". Bob believes this, like persumably any phrase with the word "black" in it, is racist and tried to make political capital out of slamming No.10.

Bob thinks we should call it the "grey market" - although apparently senior citizens groups are outraged at the LibDem MPs suggestion. Can't think why...

I don't like the PC culture but have to admit that it has benefited the country in many ways. The good work of the PC culture is being drowned out by this nonsense. And to think, we mere taxpayers forked out for Bob's time to make such a silly complain.

Last Day of Half Term

...is tomorrow and to celebrate I am going to a Group Leader's Meeting whilst Emily has her jab at the Lakenham Surgery! I have been very busy with a number of constituency issues this week, in particular the case of the play equipment on Toftes Place and the parking issues that continue in Three Score. I will be in a position to sort through the last of the surveys this weekend and should have some scores on the doors for you early next week. I am also quite worried that my Alfie, our big fat ginger Tom, is being bullied by another cat. Ho-hum!

I knew she couldn't last!

Gillian Shepherd is a politican through and through. Despite giving up her role as a Tory MP and taking on one as a Tory peer, she doesn't seem to have calmed down in the way that a lot of their Lordships do. Iain Dale reports that she has now been elected as Chairman of the Association of Conservative Peers. I was at a recent meeting where she was elected President of the Norfolk & Suffolk Area Conservatives too. No rest for Gillian it seems!

LibDems targeting this blog? Don't make me laugh

I do this blog because I have the time and energy to do so. People can log on and see what I'm up to and read my views on various issues.

However recently I have had a lot of comments from "annonymous" people complaining about this, that and everything. That's OK, I love political discourse. The past few days I have had several all of which fall into a certain pattern. It goes like this.

"I have been a Conservative voter for 114 years until I read this blog. You are being so horrible towards those jolly nice LibDems that I have switched my allegance of a thousand years and will be backing Sir Ming and his yellow troops. You are the worst kind of Tory and I hope you perish in as vile a way as possible."

Again, I quite like the cute notion that die hard Thatcherites read this blog and suddenly start trying on their first pair of sandals.

But to recieve that many in just a few days? "Shurly Shome Mistake?"

Well, no ... one of their number has let slip that this is part of a "LibDem campaign to discredit" me and this blog! Oh dear, the e-equivalent of writing a letter in green ink.

Firstly, why bother? And secondly ... why bother?

I'm not so sure that any number of LibDems have the time and energy to do so but if there are any likely lads (or ladettes) out there doing so, I'm glad to waste your time!

EDP slams Norwich South LibDems for being secretive

The EDP has been stalking Tory selection processes for as long as can be remember and one man, political editor Chris Fisher, has almost made a career of it. In today's column he talks about how positive and open the recent spate of Tory selections has been - after a few jitters, both Mid Norfolk and Great Yarmouth Tories have been open and democractic in their selection procedures including inviting non-Tory members to contribute. Mr Fisher compares this to the secretive world of the Norwich South LibDems where one day, bish-bang-bong, Simon Wright appears as their PPC. The LibDems then have the nerve to complain that the Tories have got loads of coverage and their man got very, very little. Mr Fisher says they would have reported on it if the LibDems had told the press that they were selecting! Maybe Chris had ought to read my blog which had been predicting this for months? Anyway, Chris Fisher then blasts the LibDems for keeping their selections quiet and praises the openness of the Conservatives. Nice to be praised for a change.

However, I can't help this feeling that the reason that the Norwich South LibDems kept their selection contest a secret was because of the man that they were about to select. Simon Wright is not a hard working local campaigner, nor a national 'A' Lister, but a full time LibDem politican in the paid employ of the party. He quit work as a teacher in order to fulfill his political ambitions. He represents Fakenham whilst living in Eaton and has some very fruity political opinions to boot. He is interested in getting elected as an MP rather than serving a community as their MP.

The Tories are open about their selections because our candidates are good, strong, campaigners with positive track records.

The LibDems stay silent about their selections because they are embarrassed about their candidates, their pasts and political motives.

Full Council Agenda

Tuesday 31st October if you want to turn up - in the Council Chamber, 1st Floor at City Hall.

Agenda

1. Lord Mayor's Announcements
2. Long Service Awards
3. Declarations of Interest
4. Public Questions (that's your bit!)
5. Petitions
6. Minutes of the Last Meeting
7. Questions to the Executive - I will be asking about parking on Bishey Barnabee Way in Three Score and Eve is putting one down about how fast the council can obtain short stay parking bays outside of shops.
8. Council response to the Government White paper
9. Approval of the Tree Strategy
10. Motion on Waste (Proposed by Cllr Stephenson) - see below
11. Motion on Educational Attainment (a joint one by Cllrs Morphew and Cooke)

It is worth pointing out what the Greens want to achieve under point 10 motion:
- Reward scheme for businesses to reduce packagaing on their products
- Get the council to encourage people to complain about excessive packaging
- Write to retailers asking them to introduce carrier bag tax
- To write to the government to offer Norwich as a pilot area for a national plastic bag tax.

Your thoughts on this would be appreciated as I am certainly in two minds on this.

And one last point, about the tree strategy - why couldn't this be produced as an online PDF only as thus save a few dozen trees in the process? I've now had three copies of this document...

Hope to see you there

Poll joy for Cameron as Tories take 10 point lead

David Cameron will no doubt be toasting ICM tonight as a mixture of the Tory tax proposals and the shock (a-hem) resignation of Clare Short from Labour have rocketed the party into poll position.

Cameron's Conservatives are now at 39%, whilst Labour have collapsed to 29%. Sir Ming's LibDems trail even the unpopular Blairite government at 22%.

According to leading election experts such a result if reproduced at a general election would give David Cameron a working Commons majority.

Seats that would fall to the Conservatives would include Norwich North and Great Yarmouth. Charles Clarke's majority over the Conservatives would be slashed to just 378 in Norwich South ... one more heave guys?

Beckett, Howard and Pritchard

Margaret Beckett is the most useless Foreign Secretary since the last Labour Foreign Secretary. Her warm-ish words about Iraq, splashed over today's Times, will win her no friends on either side of the fence.

Michael Howard is a good witness to call on the Cash for Peerages enquiries. How long now before PC Plum goes knock, knock, knocking on Tony's door? I'll bet if we find the PM guilty ... it'll be after he leaves office anyway. Good on Howard for being so honest about the whole thing.

Ros Pritchard is the BBC's new political drama where a housewife and supermarket manager becomes PM via starting her own Purple Alliance Party - fighting off toffish Tories and useless Blairites. It is political insanity but I'd forgive that if the script or acting was any good. But as neither are, I'm going to have to say that this is utter crap and once again my license fee is wasted. I'm watching Torchwood tonight on BBC3 so that had better cheer me up. The only good thing about Amazing Mrs Pritchard is it may go some small way to convincing people that politics isn't rocket science, but it isn't easy either.

New Homes, Old Problems

Grafitti, litter, fly tipping, cutting trees, speeding, street cleaning ... all problems faced by every community, right?

Of course, but whereas you could go straight to your council or councillor to sort out those problems people in Three Score don't have that luxury.

You see Three Score is a new development (well, by new, we mean four years old) and as such all of these jobs seem to lie with the developers and not the council. But do the developers do what they are told? Don't hold your breath.

But wait a moment - do the people of Three Score get a council tax reduction because they get fewer services? Of course not - living in Bowthorpe means paying all the tax and getting fewer services.

This is a disgrace and should be sorted. ASAP.

UPDATE: An equally bizarre fact came to my attention tonight. Whilst, for example, Bladewater Road and Mardle Street are not adopted, the pathways that links them is. Could the system be any more complex?

WARNING: Mother-in-Law Watch

I have recently been informed that the world wide web, and this site in particular, has been breached by my mother-in-law and thus all of my abusive and rude comments must cease (regarding her that is, not the other parties.) Oh dear.

Just joking, as if I'm brave enough to take her on!

Blogging Scrutiny Meeting

Following a heady couple of days of throwing stuff out of my house to make way for lots of new stuff to clutter the place up, I went to a scrutiny meeting this afternoon which was discussing, amongst other things, the transport strategy and the future of disabled parking in Norwich.

I have to admit to quite liking scrutiny. I know that other councillors find it a bit tedious at times but the much quieter and more thoughful debate that goes into it seems to get better results than some of party politiking at other meetings. Of particular interest today was the incredibly interesting submission of Labour Councillor David Bradford on why disabled blue bagde holders should still get free parking in the surface car parks in the city. He is disabled himself but is very much able to see all angles of the debate. A great contribution. This led onto an interesting sub debate about the enforcement of the current legislation, the number of diabled car parking spaces available and even the systematic abuse of "parent and toddler" spaces!

There was a funny moment when a few councillors complained that we didn't have the right info to scrutinise the NATS (transport strategy) in full ... it turns out because traffic stats need to be collected over a minimum of 4 years to make them worthwhile. I have to say that the document in front of us was pretty 1D on stats concerning itself only the number of cars and not factoring in speeds, journey times or anything like that.

As I say, a good meeting all in all. However it is just a pity that the public turn up to watch the slanging match that is full council but not a single person attended today's meeting!

p.s. For those who care, I voted against charging the disabled for their parking, I questioned in depth the spending policies of the council and I got utterly confused by NATS.

Coming Up...

Tomorrow I am taking part in a mass sponsored walk raising money for various charities. It is taking part at Whittlingham Broad and should be good fun ... depending on rain fall! Also tomorrow is pub day with some old friends to catch up on the gossip. It is also Louise's last day at work before maternity leave! Scary thought! Baby in 7 weeks and counting...

Bamboozled by American Express

I have just had the women who can speak the fastest ever in the world wide world just try and sell me something from American Express and I cannot work out if I bought into it or not. Remarkably for me, I couldn't get a word in egdeways. What the hell just went on? Who am I? Where am I?

What Norwich is saying about Unitary Status

As part of our recent survey we asked if people were for, against or undecided about unitary. 12,500 surveys have been devlieverd across the City in the last 3 weeks. Although I don't have the finite results, I'd thought I'd share today's post bag with you. The comments about unitary are often more thoughtful than anything us politicans come up with.

"Are you in favour of City Hall taking more power as a Unitary Council" - voting intention in brackets

No - If anything the districts should be abolished and Norfolk County Council shound run all the services (LibDem)

Don't know - but then I don't know what the word unitary means (Con)

Yes - Well, services can't get any worse (Con)

No - Labour have always dreamed of this (Con)

No - It'll cost a lot more in the long run (Con)

Don't Know - but no if Labour continue to waste money like they have done (Con)

No - for unitary, read 'expensive' (LibDem or Green, undecided)

Yes - but I rarely visit City Hall (Lab)

Yes - I feel that the county uses Norwich (Con)

Yes - It'll save money by not having to have that bloody awful magazine (Lab)

No - I don't consider City Hall competent enough to spend my money wisely (LibDem)

No - I just don't think City Hall could cope with any MORE powers!!! (Con)

Yes - Anything to get power away from central govt. (Con)

No - Typical waste of time and money (LibDem)

Yes - subject to the council being able to organise itself (LibDem)

No - Smacks of Big Brother. Expensive (Won't Say)

Yes - It will mean a return to proper Tory opposition in Norwich (Con)

No - Until we have decent leadership (Lab)

No - £2m overspend. Have YOU people forgotten??? (LibDem)

No - Bonkers. Bonkers. Bonkers. And that's just the politicans (Green)

Yes - Brings services closer to people (Won't Vote)

I will have fuller figures available soon as to the breakdown. My two absolute favourites from today are the man in Eaton Rise who attacked the £2m overspend ... and then said he'd vote LibDem and also the one who said 'yes' ... but I rarely visit City Hall.

Ah, the electorate! More survey responses later in the week.

Labour Leader opens his heart to "Little's Log"

I am pleased that Council Leader Steve Morphew has set a few things straight regarding some of the gossip currently floating around City Hall.

Firstly he says that he will re-stand in Mile Cross. This is good news for the Mile Cross Labour Party and bad news for the LibDems.

Secondly he says that some bored hacks and loose lipped councillors have been pulling my chain regarding the so-called Labour vendetta against me. Working relationship is a-ok between us.

I am also pleased that the second highest office holder in the City (behind the Lord Mayor, who doesn't have time I'm sure) reads this blog.

Glad to set the record straight Steve.

The Last 4 in Mid Norfolk

Mid Norfolk Tories now have 4 people from whom to choose their next MP - Vicky Ford, George Freeman, Laura Sandys and James Tunbridge. I only know James, who unsuccessfully challenged Norwich North last time, but I wish them all well.

And I urge them not to believe rumours doing the rounds on blogs that some sly members have voted for some weaker candidates to make it easier for whoever the chosen one is.

Twelve strawberries and a raspberry in a bowl ... which do you pick?

My Day

This morning I was dragged around Norwich kicking and screaming being forced to buy furniture. Then we met up with friends and headed off to the National Childbirth Trust event in Wymondham (I have to say, again not my choice.) I am just back from delivering leaflets in Clover Hill, have put Emily to bed and will catch up with some council work. The tragic events of this week demand action from the community's elected representatives. I hope we can find a way forward on this and prove that politicans can achieve something.

Labour's news update

I have tonight been passed something that is very interesting indeed. Either Labour in Bowthorpe are about to change council policy dramatically or somebody is going to be very embarrassed. More later.

Mid Norfolk Tories to select on ability

Lots of foaming mouths over at ConservativeHome as the Mid Norfolk Conservatives shock the world by proclaiming they'll select their candidate based upon ability rather than by some kind of 50:50 gender ratio. I'm sure the EDP (and Mr Fisher) will be seething too, but the fact that so many candidates have withdrawn means that local chaps James Tumbridge (who lost Norwich North in 2005) and John Flack )Regional Deputy Chairman) get another bite at the cherry despite losing out first time around.

Mid Norfolk Tories should stick to their guns - and pick the best person for the job.

Live Blogging BBC Question Time

Is it safe to release people with tags?

Clive Anderson (TV broadcaster): Doesn't sound safe but we have a huge prison population. We need to integrate people back into society. A good half way house? But this can't go too wrong as people won't stand it. An experiement worth having.

Alan Duncan (Conservative Shadow Trade Secretary): No, and it's getting worse. This is meant to rehabilitate by phasing in, but this is being forced on us by the prison crisis. There are only 80,000 prisoner places - with only 200 places left. Government is to blame. Is challenged by David Dimbleby (DD) on how you can predict prison population. Duncan bats off question. No applause yet.

Vera Baird (Labour's Constitutional Affairs Minister): A great opening line - "he would say that, but he's wrong." Defends the Labour government line. Praises the judges - says that tagging is not meant to reduce prison numbers. It is a halfway house. Challenged by Duncan and DD on that matter - says it helps but that isn't the main purpose. Rather a lot of praise for Home Secretary Dr Reid. DD asks if the numbers will change the policy. Baird says no. Still no applause.

Member of the audience says she cannot work out what tagging means. Surprised to note that tagging doesn't mean an absconder will be picked up.

Nicola Sturgeon (SNP Deputy Leader): Tagging is good but no alternative to prison. Says Scottish prisons are at 15% above capacity. Says that prisoners re-offend. Wants alternatives to custody. But we must lok up dangerous people. Applause at last.

Audience: Tackle the causes of crime!

Tommy Sheridan (Founder of Solidarity Party): Speaks of his time in prison and the number of people with drink problems. Says we need confidence in the system. Suggests leagalising cannabis to cut prison numbers. Gets a small clap. Says that tagging is prison on the cheap - blames government too,

Baird: Says none of the people released are violence.

Anderson: They are made violent by prison. Clap for a very stupid remark.

Audience: Programme has a good effect on re-offending rates.

Anderson: The scrubs was built by prisoners ... wants a third cut off sentence for good behaviour and a third if they undertake work to build more prisons. Big clap.

Baird gets out of that one very well. Quite impressive so far.

---

When can tabloids investigate the private lives of MPs?

Duncan: Politicans should never complain about the press. The press do behave badly and often not warranted. He says he has suffered. Says that the newspapers shouldn't break the law or fake things. DD asks why Duncan was investigated - says he can't remember. Says the press should remember about the misery caused by family. Says we should have a free press. A good, honest answer. Audience member laughs at this.

Sheridan: Says he is sensitive. Says 42% of all press is owned by Murdoch - not free press. Drags journos down to the gutter. Murdoch is vindictive against people he doesn't agree with. Says the press can get stuck into politics. Hates the Sun and News of the World for following people and for enjoying people's pain.

Audience: Does Sheridan regret wriiting a column for the NOTW?

Sheridan: Never have!

Strugeon: Justified when the press thinks that a public figure is in the wrong or being hypocritical. Should never use children or break the law. However they should also be held accountable. Also backs the free press. Somebody jests that it is only OK if the MP is a Conservative! Sturgeon agrees with this - Anderson quips with "you can't have one rule for the Tories and one for the Tommies." Sturgeon is humiliated by the audience laughing at this. Agrees that Labour is as bad as the Tories. Says Sheridan has integrity but people won't vote SSP again.

Audience: Should hunt down hypocritical MPs, but it should only be exposed if it affects their work.

Sheridan: Papers should only attack love-rat MPs if they lecture other people about their lives and their morality. "The NOTW lied about me"! Says the NOTW still hasn't paid.

Anderson: Backs freedom of the press but doesn't like the papers. I'm finding Anderson very irritating. Press like stories with sex in it - soap stars, TV presenters etc. But it isn't their fault because we like reading it! Says that Murdoch isn't plotting personally against Sheridan.

Sheridan: Impossible for working class people to get justice in issues like this because there is no legal aid. People need lawyers! Jury decided they believe Sheridan rather than Murdoch.

Baird: Doesn't need to be hypocritcal - all politicans are targets. So much press intrusion in MPs families too.

Audience: Appeal is a right, Sheridan would have appealed! SSP rejoiced with McLeish (former First Minister) and McLetchie (former Tory Leader) fell.

Audience: Sheridan puts self image above his party.

Audience: Country is run by business and the press.

Audience: Why has this taken up so much time in the show?

Sheridan: Doesn't oppose NOTW appeal. Murdoch hates socialism and trade unionism. Gets a big clap.

---

Why should countries with nuclear weapons stop other countries from having them?

Baird: We have reduced our nuclear weapons. Is non-nuclear but wnats to listen to the arguement.

Sturgeon: Doesn't want North Koreans to have nuclear weapons. Should act to stop them. But UK should reduce our nuclear weapons.

Duncan: North Korean has a risible nutter as their leader. Get real. Shouldn't give up nuclear weapons because people would take advantage. Most serious forum is India and Pakistan.

Anderson: More worried about nuclear power than nuclear weapons. Makes a feeble gag about Bush.

Cue big row on QT about America, Iraq etc etc Have swtiched off. Have found a blog written by one of my students - you can find it here. My lessons are described as fun but fast moving. I'm also the most important Tory in Norwich South - hurrah!

---

Is Gordon Brown too Scottish to be PM?

Sturgeon: Brown is trying to pretend he isn't Scottish! He isn't fooling anybody in England and is annoying Scotland. Why isn't he trying to be PM of an Independent Scotland!

Anderson: Scottishness shouldn't get in the way. This is put about by his rival - ironically John Reid (who is Scottish). Raises the West Lothian Question. If Brown doesn't get it, it'll be a tradegy.

Duncan: Shouldn't matter where you come from. There is, however, tension between England Scotland and that needs to be sorted out. Duncan says he was misquoted on Brown. Says his policies will lose him the election not being Scottish!

Baird: Says Brown is proud to be Scottish. Gets big laughs by saying Blair is a democrat.

Decsends into chaos again. Come on DD get a grip.

---

Cue another boring question about Iraq.

Thank god it is over - a great start but became very predictable.

Blair crushed at PMQs

I know, I know.

William Hague was brilliant at PMQs and regularly beat Blair to within an inch ... and then went on to lose the 2001 election.

However it gives a boost to the Conservatives to watch Cameron do the same to Blair too. With Labour and the government on their knees, Cameron knew when to kick a man when he's down. The paper reviews today were spectacular and certainly rebuffed those who say that Cameron doesn't get stuck into Blair.

Cameron bobbed and weeved and stuck several good blows - particularly on the spat with Brown. In comparison, Sir Ming Campbell looks like a political pygmie still...

I know that a good PMQs doesn't a summer make ... but it's a good start to the autumn.

Giving Westminster government a bad name

Sion Simon is a former Telegraph hack, uber-Blairite and now Labour MP for a Birmingham Constituency. Yet despite holding these responsible positions, Mr Simon has appeared dressed in a T-Shirt and baseball cap declaring his name is "Dave" (Cameron) and asking voters to sleep with his wife, live in his house and take his children.

This is a disgraceful nasty personal attack from one of the House of Commons biggest hypocrites. Having been shown up to being such a nasty piece of work, you might have thought that he'd apologise - but no. Mr Simon may have given a boost to Mr Cameron's real website, but has once again lowered the extremely low name of MPs. This particular attack - on Cameron's family integrity and particularly that of his wife - was one of the nastiest things I have ever seen in politics.

Given his inability to see why this is so wrong, why isn't Labour taking action against this vile little man?

Guido has the video here.

Giving local democracy a bad name

As you might have guessed from this blog I like Steve Morphew - he is by far the best Labour Leader in a long time, he is competent and has the long term city interest at heart. Yet tonight I learn that he has refused to help a UEA student with his dissertation because he is doing so under my tutorage. Cllr Morphew is holding a sword above the head of a good student because of his percieved "row" with me (one sided, as far as I'm concerned). He even cited this blog as his reason why.

The UEA student is party politics free and is working with me because UEA's Prof. Greenaway approached me to work with him. I agreed because I have his best interest at heart. Yet, despite representatives from Greens, Tories and LibDems agreeing to work with him, Cllr Morphew (and thus Labour) refuse to help. My head is in my hands over this one.

Why Steve, why?

Telegraph: Tory bedblockers set to frustrate Cameron's A-List

The Sunday Torygraph has an amusing contrast today. On the frontpage it screams about Cameron's surging lead over Labour in general and Gordon Brown in particular. Then, much more interestingly, on page two it talks about a plot by ageing (well, 60s and 70s) Tory MPs not to stand down from their seats.

The failure of scores of Conservative MPs to resign means that Cameron's A-Listers may (shock of shocks) have to fight and win marginal seats off Labour and the LibDems instead of being parachuted in safe seats. Now I know that some A-Listers have, shall we say, limited campaigning experience but you might have thought it was better to put the "best and the brightest" into the seats where we need to win instead of the ones that we already have?

Anyway, old codgers such as Nick Winterton, Douglas Hogg and Peter Viggers have said that they are ready to stand again, and again, and again.

I am (quelle surprise) no fan of the A-List but I do rather want it to work, if only because I believe Cameron when we says that he wants the party to change. These MPs are rather a spoke in the A-List wheel.

I wonder, at the end of this parliamentary session of selections, how many people will have failed to be selected (or elected) despite being on the A-List? A lot more if CCHQ don't find some way around the Tory codgers department!

Who should be the next MP for Mid Norfolk?

A Conservative, of course, but which one? The plum Tory seat is selecting this week from the 20 remaining hopefuls - 18 of David Cameron's A-Listers and 2 local candidates.

Unlike many seats Mid Norfolk isn't a single coherent community constituency and should be one of the safest Tory berths in the country. Some people have called for the locals to reject the biased and unwanted A Listers (Corrie star Adam Rickett has been plastered all over the EDP saying he'd give all manner of bodily parts for the seat - wouldn't we all, darling?). Others have said that this seat should select somebody who'll make the frontbench (and the ministerial limo) straight away. Others say they should choose somebody young who can grow into being a star.

As I didn't apply for Mid Norfolk and had no interest in doing so, I feel I can comment from a position of objectivity.

I am opposed to the A List and feel that some seats should be fought by local people capable of overturning key Labour and LibDem majorities. However, if we are to support Cameron and make the A List work, then Mid Norfolk must be one of the seats that selects from it. Whoever is selected will work hard and become a part of the community. This is a banker seat and perfect for an A List candidate who can demonstarte how the party is changing.

Who should it be? I don't know, but when Gillian Shepherd stood down we have had a vacancy for a strong female Conservative MP in Norfolk.

An 'A' Lister would be good, a female candidate would be good, a future cabinet minister would be good. As long as they are a Conservative, I will be happy.

Make Eve's Day

Rumours are flying around City Hall at the moment (prompted by an annon comment on this blog) that Labour's Leader is going on the chicken-run at the next election. Steve Morphew is currently councillor for Mile Cross. Vic Elvin used to be the LibDem Councillor for the same ward. Labour always comfort themselves saying that Vic won on a personal vote and was the only LibDem who would win Mile Cross. The Vic sadly passed away and a young guy called Carl Mayhew went and held onto the seat for the LibDems. Now, apparently, Labour is convinced that if the seat could be won by Mayhew, it could be won by any LibDem. So our Steve, so vital to Labour's success, if off on the chicken run, all the way to ... Catton Grove, currently held by Conservative Eve Collishaw.

Is Eve scared of the challenge? Not a bit of it ... the Tory warhorse declares to me, "Bring it on Morphew"!

David Cameron starts blogging

The great leader, Mr Cameron, has started blogging and more importantly it includes a webcast with Tory Radio superstar Jonathon Sheppard and blog supremo Iain Dale. Read it - it's great.

Survey responses

We have had a lot of survey replies back already - as a veteran of these things, this sort of reply has been excellent. You normally get fairly few in the first days, it then peaks at 4-7 days and then dies off. We'll see ... and I'll publish results as they come in.

Review of Tory Conference: Day Two, Monday

The conference was dominated by the speeches by the public services team - Health Spokesman Andrew Lansley and Education Spokesman David Willetts - and also by David Davis on beating crime.

But the two most interesting things happened away from the conference floor. Firstly the row over Tory donors and the role of CCS within the party. The media are, bless 'em, trying their best but Cameron has disarmed this story with his frank answers. Cameron is more and more relying on honesty - and it seems to be paying off. Cameron said that the party works within the law and that he had rewarded no donor with a peerage. Class act.

Secondly was the film with BBC anchor man Huw Edwards, shwon tonight at 10pm. Cameron came across extremely well and it showed him as very human. He tackled all of the issues head on. Such films - second on the running order - will certainly impact on the voters far more than the first issue.

Letwin did a good job on Newsnight.

Here in Norwich South, the good folk of Sunningdale, the Groves, Eaton village and the Branksomes got the Tory treatment. This evenning I was out with a team from Norwich North in Catton Grove too.

Today in Norwich South

Last night Louise and I went to see Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" at the Theatre Royal - an excellent performace and a great night out. We then went on to dinner and drinks with friends on Tombland. With Emily safely with Nana and Granddad, we got up late and has breakfast at Olive's on Magdalen Street. A trip to feed the ducks in Ringland and onto Sunday lunch later. I found time to watch a few hours of the Conservative conference (well, all of it really).

Today we've been delivering our surveys in the Mile End Road area, Christchurch Road area and Cecil Road area. We've started to get them back already - and I can exclusively reveal that it is currently 4 Conservative to 1 Green. No Labour or LibDems yet! Catton Grove Cllr Eve Collishaw was also doing hers today.

A busy day and am now very tired - need to go to work for a rest!

Rating the Tory Conference: Day One, Sunday

Francis Maude MP, Party Chairman
Said everything that needed to be said, but hardly the rabble rousing Chairman speeches of old. You never get the impression that the membership like Maude as much as they should. I was a Maude admirer of old, and was disappointed that he stayed off the frontbench for so long. Good on Howard for getting him to return and Cameron for keeping him on. Spoke well, sound speech - but no standing ovation and a pretty poor applause. My rating 7/10, Audience rating 5/10.

David Davis MP, Shadow Home Secretary
A very very good speech (much better than last year) during which he spent much of the time going over great former Tory PMs. His words on the likes of Pitt, Disraeli and Churchill went down well, but not as good as his remarks on Thatcher. Davis then spent the rest of the speech pledging to work with Cameron, which he did with real passion and I, for one, really believed him. A great effort, well recieved and we look forward to his set piece speech. My rating 8/10, Auidence rating 7/10.

William Hague MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary
Absolutely stunning - the master of conference speeches. It was joke laden, but serious where he needed to be. His jokes at Prescott's expense were just perfect. Clearly grown in stature. A mighty force in Tory politics - he is the most easy-to-listen-to Tory going at the moment. Great knock-about stuff. Audience went nuts and gave him a really great reception. Genuine and quick standing ovation. My rating 8.5/10, Audience rating 9/10.

Senator John McCain, US Republican
The man who many people think could be the next US President. I'm afraid he didn't show enough character for me and this felt much too much like a lecture. He did well to refer to Cameron as "my friend". His choice of subjects were rather predictable, and I would have liked him to speak on the future of the public services in the US. Obviously, though, he steered clear. He can do better than this, but still a coup to have got him as a speaker. The only speaker that I felt I could leave the room during the speech. However, conference seemed to really take to him. My rating 5/10, Audience Rating 7/10

David Cameron MP, Leader of the Conservative Party
Started off rather wooden but soon got into it with a series of good jokes. Cameron is a very natural speaker and his blast on Labour's initiative culture was brilliant. He was right to avoid mentioning the LibDems and will win plaudits, I'm sure, for moving his speech onto how the Tories will improve. The bulk of the speech was on the responsibility culture. He said he was proud of the Tories for supporting the recent education bill (good!). He mentioned crime - challenging the party to say that there was more to crime fighting than sounding tough and building prisons. Plenty of references to his family, although Samantha never looks natural in these circumstances. He made a great finish with his talk of sunshine winning and the party being about optimism. Audience clearly lapped it up, and he got a long applause - delegates on their feet for a while. I feel that this speech was better on content than delivery - he'll save his best for Wednesday. My rating 8/10, Audience rating 8/10

A word on the set and logo - excellent. I feel like the only person who really likes the oak tree. The set is simple but effective. The logo "A New Direction" was well chosen.

A word on the BBC - crap. The BBC Parliament channel spend their time focusing on various old people having a doze and Adam Ricketts. Apparently the conference looks and feels differently this year, so why won't the BBC show this?

A word on conference organisation - even crapper. I hear people have been queuing all day for their passes.

A great start.

The True Firepower of Norwich South

Today we started a big new survey campaign across the constituency asking people what local issues Norwich City Council should be tackling - we're following up the issues from last year, like parks, recycling, tax and roads. We're also collecting views on the Unitary issue.

We had 10 people (ten!) out delivering across the constituency - that is the biggest force on the ground since the general election. Teams went out in the South Park estate, Bluebell Road, Eaton village and in different areas in Town Close. We're doing the same tomorrow so I hope we get as many volunteers. It's not only great to get so much done but you get a better feeling of being part of a team.

We've already had some filled out responses through my letter box at home. So fingers crossed this is a big survey!

Well Done Jane

Whilst some people bitch throughout blogworld, I'd like to congratulate Jane Ellison for being selected as Conservative candidate in ultra-marginal London seat of Battersea. Elected on an open primary (with the vote of BBC reporter Michael Crick, I believe) Jane is the choice of the constituency.

I met Jane during her massive efforts in the 1997 Uxbridge by-election and we've enjoyed drinks at conferences since. Jane is fun, hard working and good value - unlike some on the so-called A-List. I'm thrilled that she'll be on the green benches soon, and Jane is exactley the kind of person the party needs to push forward.

Well done Battersea, and well done Jane!

Is Sue Sands really an assasin?

I like Sue Sands. Sorry, but I do. I've met her frequently on the doorstep (before I knew she was a Labour candidate and at at least 2 election she said she'd vote for me). I'm assuming that she lied, but I cannot help but like her still.

Sue is now the newly elected Labour Councillor for Sewell Ward in the North of Norwich, better known as the Silver Triangle. At Tuesday's Council meeting she laid down a rather vicious question regarding our policy on traveller's - only she seemed to make up our policy and then asked the Labour executive to cost it. A waste of taxpayers money went into researching that, another opposition Councillor declared very loudly during the meeting. Now, I'm very thick skinned and she clearly asked the question without any sign of malice and so I have to say ... I still like Sue Sands.

But, following an interesting conversation with a local journo it has come to light that Labour is now officially "out to get me". Oh dear, I'm terrified. Perhaps Cllr Morphew's piss poor efforts on Tuesday were the start of that policy? No, I'm told Cllr Sands question was. I'm not sure I care either way. But even more interesting is that I am told that Labour are targeting the Tories, rather than either LibDems of Greens.

Why? Because we're the only real opposition they get in the chamber. They are annoyed by us a great deal. But mostly because we stand to pick up their seats at the next poll.

A totally bizarre choice of assasin ... but I still can't bring myself to care about it ... and I still like Sue Sands.

Is Morph losing it?

Steve Morphew is the best leader that Labour have had in Norwich for many, many years. Unlike the collection of weak trolls who went before him, Steve has proved himself time and time again - culminating in his election win last May. However, his performance in the Council Chamber last night has raised eyebrows - on all sides of the political divide.

I understand that Morph (as he is affectionately known around City Hall) has bene storming the corridors telling anybody who would listen that he was going to crush us two mere Tories and that I personally was on for a pounding.

So why did he put up such a piss-poor performance on the floor of the chamber then? As he attempted to attack the Unitary Referendum Motion, his own side held their heads in their hands (for all to see) and afterwards the talk around the place was how he managed to fluff this. He sounded barkingly odd - a bizarre speech that made very little sense. Although Cllr Bremner's speech was, I believe, designed to make Morph's look intelligent and well thought out.

I'm afriad that, save one blast against the Greens economic policy and a great line about the City only being able to cope with so many Organic Greengrocers, Cllr Morphew looked pretty limp last night.

His colleagues, and other Councillors, not only noted it but saw fit as to speculate why.

One Fantastic Day at the UEA

Today was the Fresher's Fayre at the UEA in Norwich. It is always an amazing sight at the various clubs and socs attempt to get students to part with £3. In recent years it has been tough going for the Tories at these events with students tending towards a left leaning option. Our previous membership high, I think, was around 50 under the Chairmanship of Ian Mackie, who is now a Tory Councillor in Thorpe St Andrew.

However, things looked better this year. Labour are collapsing, the LibDems are a joke. We has gorgeous Boris posters and T-Shirts around the place. Richard Davies is proving to be a pretty dynamic Chairman of UEA Conservative Future. And importantly the polls show a big rise in Tory support, even amongst young people.

The result of the day was outstanding even given those positives. We recruited 86 members - by far the most ever! The stall was swamped all day and people from all backgrounds seemed determined to sign up to Cameron's Conservatives.

Labour won't have an official society this year as they had less than 30 paid up members. The LibDems struggled also, even with (or despite) the presence of Fakenham Councillor Simon Wright and his two giant LibDem correx posters.

We await the news, but we even think we out-did the Greens.

It was one amazing day to be a UEA Tory and I think that things can only get better for us. We have Harwich MP Douglas Carswell coming to speak on Friday and I will be doing a small section on political life in Norwich too.

With the age of being a candidate set to fall to 18 soon, I hope a lot of our new recruits apply to stand in May 07 as well.

Full Council tomorrow night

What's on the Agenda tomorrow - meeting 7.30pm at City Hall:

1. Presentation on Norwich in Bloom
2. Lord Mayor's Announcements
3. Presentation of Long Service Awards
4. Declaration of Interest
5. Questions from the Public (always interesting if there are any)
6. Petitions (ditto)
7. Minutes
8. Questions to the Executive (I am asking about parking in Three Score and Eve is asking about the cost of the Unitary Bid).
9. Statutory Accounts for the Year 05-06 (watch the sparks fly)
10. Report of the Joint Waste Committee (very interesting)
11. Waste Alleviation
12. Constitutional Report (a public yawn)
13. Post Offices Motion (moved by LibDem Cllr Lubbock)
14. Referendum on Unitary Motion (moved by Conservative Cllr Little)
15. Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change Motion (moved also by Cllr Little)
16. Development of Sport Motion (moved by LibDem Deputy Leader Cllr Watkins)

Still nothing much from the Labour benches.
SHould be a good meeting, do come along if you can.

Will Luntz do for Reid what he did for Cameron?

Frank Luntz is a former US pollster who does work with focus groups. His work is highly regarding and he is extremely sought after. Almost this time last last, he took a mix of rock solid Tories and swing voters and displayed the Tory challengers for Howard's crown. They dismissed Sir Malcolm Rifkind, disliked Ken Clarke, boosted Liam Fox and threw cole water on David Davis. However, they put a rocket up David Cameron's campaign and that episode of Newsnight was said to have been the lift-off that Campaign Cameron needed. The rest, as they say, is history.

Tonight he did the same for 6 potential Labour leaders - 4 cabinet ministers in Chancellor Gordon Brown, Education Secretary Alan Johnson, Home Secretary Dr John Reid and Environment Secretary David Milliband. They also included Blairite former Health Secretary Alan Milburn and left-wing backbencher John McDonnell. At the start they seemed to plump for Brown and Reid as the two people they had heard of. But after they were given biogs, the group split between Brown, Reid and Johnson. After watching videos, they slammed Brown for being old, Scottish and assoicated with the past. They said Johnson was too left-wing, but Reid was tough and speaking their language. By the end, Reid was the run-a-way winner.

I'm sure that people have their views, but I strongly dislike this form of focus group. There was definitely a bandwagon effect, with Reid gathering votes by being popular. They also seemed to suffer from voters having no idea what was going on - or making strange switches. All this means that we have to doubt their part in this exercise. Two examples spring to mind.

First of all was the guy in black who said how impressed he was with Brown, but began by saying he'd back Johnson. He ended up with Brown ... via Reid.

The second was the elderly lady at the front. She began by backing McDonnell on the basis of his photo and biog. Then she said Alan Johnson was too much like a trade union leader ... and ended up voting for Reid.

All nice stuff for us political hacks, but I'm afriad I don't believe a word of it.

If you thought ConservativeHome was bad...

There are a lot of people in the party who believe that ConservativeHome is just about Tory members venting their spleen against Cameron in public. It has been attacked for being negative.

Well i urge you to read LibDem Forum and see what they have to say about their Leader, policies and performance. There are lots of brown nosing threads called "LibDems winning everywhere - hurrah!" but the ones with loads of posts are about Sir Ming's leadership and their dire 06 poll performance. Read this one, for example.

Here are some examples ... you'll never moan about CH again!

sorry for sounding like an angry football fan, but its the manager. ming is so uneclectable, charismaless and on the whole a bad move for liberal democratic thinking.

followed by...

"we need someone to shout liberal democrats where ever he goes. that is camerons best asset. he has told everyne n this country to vote conservative, has ming?

next GE i think ming will step down. not suprised by the election results we didnt actually campeign on any issues that a larger party wasn't supporting so why would people vote for a smaller party"

and this one...

Ming is a pathetic leader for a fantastic party. We need someone who says the words Liberal Democrats in evey damn sentence.

He is old, talentless, no charisma and is certainly the wrong person to lead us into a general election. I didn't vote for him to be leader.

Whoever did, needs to explain their actions !!

It gets worse...

As a shellshocked candidate who was pushed into 4th place by the BNP we need to address the following issues now:

1. I voted for Huhne in the leadership contest fearing Ming just wouldn't cut it and I'm sorry to say he hasn't. Lacklustre PMQs, poor soundbites and a lack of humour. He may not lose us votes but he ain't winning us any folks. All the Tory lealfets had Cameron on - he's their great electoral asset - yes he's false, yes he's a chameleon and yes he cycles to Westminster with a car following on 50 feet behind him, but the punters like him and they feel as they know him. They see Cameron as the man to challenge Blair.
On a similar theme - yes it's great our young MPs are getting media opportunities but Sarah Teather was completely out of her depth last night on the BBC - where's the likes Phil Willis? Why wasn't Simon H doing the biz - sorry they might have been later but I went to bed at midnight.

2. Policies - the voters are bored of ID cards, Iraq and tuition fees. Come on let's be brave and distinctive. Are we soft on crime? What do we think of mass immigration? (Questions I was repeatedly asked)
We're not even seen as the strongest party on green issues now.

3. Leafleting - the Lid Dem way is to deliver half a South American rainforest in Focuses, leaflets, blue letters etc but such is the level of junk mail that I think it's effectiveness is rapidly diminishing. Let's get media savvy.

I'm off to spend more time with my wife and kids

Oh dear, it just carries on...

For god's sake tell the voters what we stand for. Oh, that's right, even we don't know!! Tuition fees is old and Opposed to Iraq is even bloody older !! Howver, not as old as our leader. It's like a supply teacher with his students. However the students know more and are much better at the subject than their substitute teacher! Lets get a decent Captain to save this gradually sinking ship !!!

and...

HERE'S THE GOLDEN RULE: Always assume the national party / leadership / election campaign will be crap [a safe assumption - they usually are] - and win it with your own LOCAL campaign

I know this is all knockabout stuff, but I really think it is great. Not because it is LibDem members doing their own side down, but because they are willing to be honest.

The point about the policies is what a lot of LibDems have said in private for a long time - they are seen as being only about fees, the war and ID cards. They need to be more than a catch all giant protest party. And also the acceptance that the old campaigning ways don't work anymore - mainly because the Tories have copied them and made it work better. The LibDems need to go beyond simply whacking hundreds of Focus leaflets through each door.

I said previously that the LibDems are very bad at splits - they'd prefer to shut up and put up with something they don't agree with rather than rock the boat. This is the first bout of honesty I have sene from them and long may it continue!

Michael Brown jailed for 2 years

The biggest LibDem donor in the UK, Michael Brown, has been sentenced to 2 years in prison for perjury and passport deception.

I won't interfere in private family grief (LibDems take note, you gloat rather too much when Tories and Socialists get into trouble) but I do think it is right to ask if the £2.4m he gave before the last election will be paid back.

A Norwich LibDem seems to think not: "It'll bankrupt up completely" he said, rather too honestly.

I hate these things ... but I do them anyway

You Are 60% Capitalist, 40% Socialist

While you are definitely sympathetic to a free economy, you also worry about the less fortunate. Wealth and business is fine, as long as those who are in need get helped out too. You tend to see both the government and corporations as potentially corrupt.

Are You a Socialist or Capitalist?

And that's the reason why I hate them. I am an economic liberal and capitalist through and through, but I do believe there is such a thing as society and people do have responsibilities outside of their own zone. Didn't somebody once tell us that we're all in this together??? Oh dear, because I rate the environment and education I seem to have been mistaken for some kind of weirdo trot. I could handle those surveys that tell me that I am Toby Ziegler or Gonzo from the muppets ... but 40% socialist? One Nation Toryism should never be mistalen for socialism!

Was this really ever "popular" culture?

I wandered across this - the little known B side to the more famous Spitting Image Chicken Song. It has some startling lines about South Africans. Did Mr Cameron say something about this recently? Put into the context of the 1980s it must have been fine, but to watch it now makes you cringe. It is a wonder it ever made it into the mainstream of anything. I am putting it here for you to see and make up your own mind - for historical perspective. Only click if you don't mind being offended. You have been warned!

Tory news stories

If you don't read the news section on the Norwich Conservatives website, you should do! It is regularly updated with important stories regarding the City Council and the party nationally.

Two stories of note from today - Tory motion causes Labour U turn on climate change policy and the strange disappearance of the whole street sign budget.

Green Taxes: More LibDem hypocrisy

Oh dear, they've done it again.

Whilst dear old Sir Ming pontificates all week about how jolly "green" the LibDems are (despite having a total of no energy saving lightbulbs and being forced by media pressure to sell his gas guzzling Jag), a senior member of the Norwich LibDems appears to be leading the hypocritcal charge from the grassroots.

As I was filling up my Astra family car with petrol this week - note to all, I use a tank per month on average - up pulls the most enormous 4x4, a veritable monster truck of a vehicle. It overshadowed all other cars and nearly took up 2 lanes in the petrol lanes. Surly the owner was some Tory landowning toff? Not a bit of it, out stepped a certain former LibDem Councillor and a gentleman once described as a future leader. Until he lost his seat ...

And to boot, I nearly chocked when I saw the self righteous LibDem PPB later that week - full of gloating that they are an eco-party!

Why was Sir Ming so vile towards Cameron?

I had the deep misfortune to watch Sir Ming's speech. It was a dull but worthy effort, and rather overshadowed by Charlie's contribution earlier in the week. If Sir Ming had asked my advice on what he should have done, I would have told him not to have given Kennedy stage-room and to have stuck to serious policy issues in his speech. Sir Ming always had a certain gravitas as Foreign Affairs Spokesman, but always sounds out of his depth when he moves into knock-about stuff.

Most bizarre was his attack on Cameron. He seemed to have far more venom saved up for the Tory Leader than even for the government. With Labour in their current disarray, you might have thought that Sir Ming might have had enough of a barn door to hit. So why bother with Dave?

Is it because Sir Ming realises that it is Cameron, not Blair/Brown/Reid/Benn/Johnson, who holds the key to his electoral fortune? If Cameron does well, then no matter how many gains the LibDems make from Labour, then the party will move backwards (because they are far more Con/LD seats than LD/Lab ones).

But I fear it doesn't matter what Sir Ming says or does ... it is clear that of all the party leaders, it is Cameron who's the winner.

I'm on Wiki!

An old school friend informs me that I have official landed on planet politics - I have an entry on Wiki!

Oh the joy.

Fantastic Blog!

I smile a lot, I appreciate humour, but I very rarely laugh out loud.

But this blog, about somebody who likes to monitor queues, made me gaufaw to the point where the children realised I wasn't really marking their books...

I'm back!

After my family difficulties and technical problems (the lap top blew up) I am now back blogging. I have to say that very little seems to have happened whilst I was gone.

Sir Ming attempted to relaunch his failed leadership (again). The bizarre story about Kennedy's failure to shake Campbell's hand shouldn't really worry the new Leader - not after he saw BBC One's Question Time. Kennedy could not have made it clearer that he seeks the leadership again.

John Reid was shouted down whilst delivering a message that Muslim parents should (shock horror) keep an eye on their children. Meanwhile, Party Chairmwoman Hazel Blears had been forced to call for calm. Is there any Labour MP at the moment who isn't seeking 44 signatures?

Cameron continues to lead in the polls - and has changed the party logo. I actually quite like the tree and, unlike the torch, I can do a pretty good free hand sketch. Cameron seems set to have a bust up over the size of his next government's tax cuts. But watch this space - if a senior CCHQ aid didn't leak that story I'd eat my own hat (after purchasing one). It reminds people that we are in favour of tax cuts whilst making Cameron look strong for standing up for public services.

Anyway, I've got a few weeks of blogs to catch up on!

My views on Children's TV

I know I'm not exactly in the best frame of mind at the moment, but I cannot contain my utter contempt for children's TV any longer. The programmes made under the Tories are heavily weighted with an eye on educational outcome and are normally presented by some homely looking middle aged woman with an honourific title of Aunty. However, what really annoys me are those programmes made under Labour which look like they've been created by the Institue for Politically Correct Light Entertainment (IPCLE). It looks like they've spent longer putting the presenters and participants together to represent a good day out at the UN than actually bothering with the script. Even the programmes that involve animation or puppets are laden with regional accents. I don't suppose they are related but I really think that this desire to represent the face of New Britain is the reason why all these programmes are utterly crap. And now I hear ITV want to spend less on kids TV. Oh dear.

I'm not having a good morning.

Sad News

I was told tonight that my Uncle has passed away, aged 46, seemingly from a heart attack. This has shocked and upset my family and I greatly and I will be in London for a while. Please excuse the lack of posts or if I fail to return your e-mails.

LibDem Leadership: Runners and Riders

Councillor Hereward Cooke: The Sir Ming of the Norwich LibDems. Partisan to the extreme but with a reputation of statesmanlike qualities. He has a strong media profile and is very lucuid in the council chamber. Hereward is an experienced political player who was a major force in the LibDems winning the council first time around. However, his age is against him and so too is his wafer thin majority in Lakenham (where Labour hold the other two seats). Also, Hereward was very close to Ian Couzens and the blame for the financial mess at City Hall may fall as easily at the Deputy Leader's feet as it did at the Leader's. Add to that his public pledge to stand down in 2008, he'll be seen as the caretaker leader.

Councillor Brian Watkins: Seen as the thinking mans choice. Brian won re-election in Eaton last year but saw his majority cut by the Tories. He is intelligent, popular and thoughtful. More of a conservative-minded LibDem too, which may not play well with their left-wing membership. Add to that his current role of Deputy Mayor it may be difficult to stand. However, if he stands he stands a great chance of winning.

Councillor Judith Lubbock: The combative member for Eaton is thought to be the only female challenger. Judith is popular amongst LibDem grassroots and is a long serving councillor. She has been the most effective frontbencher in the chamber since May and has a great grasp of council policy. As she was a committee chair outside of the executive she could avoid the blame for the LibDem mess at City Hall. However, Cllr Lubbock is not well liked around the council and all of the other parties would find it difficult to work with her in the future. She also has few friends within the local media.

Outside chances of standing: Cllr Lowe

Who'll win? I have no idea, but whoever they choose won't be able to shake of their reputation for financial mismanagement.

Ian Couzens: Pushed or Jumped?

City Hall is currently buzzing with the shock news of Ian Couzen's departure, as predicted by this blog (several times) in the past. Councillors and staff now await the result of a leadership election. Couzens will shortly announce that he is standing down as Eaton Councillor in May 07 (again, predicted here some time ago).

The questions looming large and now, why did he resign and who'll replace him.

The timing of his resignation is odd. You might have thought that having been roundly humiliated in May, Cllr Couzens may have chosen to resign with some dignity and honour in the days following 5th May. That way the AGM of the Nowich LibDems could elect the new Leader as would normally be the case. However, if you remember at the time, his own Deputy made an attack in the press saying that the leadership was under discussion. Being pretty gutless, the LibDem Councillors who should have made a challenge didn't and he has since got away with being a pretty ineffective leader of the opposition. Since then, the plotting has been rife and rather open too. As I've said here before, Cllr Lubbock has been playing guerilla warfare in the council chamber and Cllr Cooke has been building up his own reputation. Then, a few months on, Ian finally resigns. Why? The best time had passed - does he think he won't hold his seat next May, or were there threats to revolt from his own frontbench team?

Either way, the LibDems now find themselves on the electoral slide, financially adrift, leaderless and with their reputation and media profile in tatters. I'm sure Charles Clarke is crying into his pint as you read...

With the Green Party now tied to the Labour apronstrings, you can be sure that the Conservatives will step up the mantle - what shall we call ourselves, the "real opposition"?

Ian Couzens quits

Our media team have just released this:

Commenting on the news that Councillor Ian Couzens has resigned as Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Norwich City Council, Conservative Group Leader Councillor Antony Little said:

”First and foremost we should thank Ian for all of his work as a Councillor for a great number of years. Anybody that goes into public service – let alone being a party leader for 10 years or heading up an authority – deserves a pat on the back for their work.”

“However, Councillor Couzens did not enjoy much success as Council Leader and his legacy will be a massive financial black hole and a failure to progress on several key areas. His administration was plagued by problems which ultimately led to their election failure last May.”

“The LibDems must now choose a new leader of the opposition, but I fear whoever they choose will not be able to move their party away from a reputation for poor financial management.”

“With this new Labour council needing a strong opposition, it is increasingly clear that it is coming from a Conservative Party renewed by a strong leadership.”

Soapbox Councillor

I am grateful to one of the comments on the EN Campaign thread for pointing out that my recent letter to the Evening News was used as the Soapbox piece (sadly not available on line).

This is a coverted position in the newspaper, and only the second time I'd done it (the othet time was the launch of our Tax It, Spend It, Waste It campaign). David Cameron's stance on anti-social behaviour has won plaudits as has our local stance.

Tomorrow the Evening News will be covering the arson attack on a bin in Bowthorpe Southern Park too.

Top 5 Conservative Bloggers

THe forefather of Conservative blogs, Cllr Iain Lindley, has put me in his top 5 blogs here.

This all comes from Iain Dale's efforts to list the 100 best Tory bloggers in time for the Party Conference in October.

I won't be too obvious, in saying ConservativeHome, Dale himself or Cllr Lindley - but here are 5 that I read that are less "discovered".

In no particular order, firstly is James Cleverley, who recently made a brief run to be Tory Mayoral Candidate in the capital. He comes from Lewisham and is now on the A-List.

Then there is Gavin Ayling, self styled English rationalist and liberal conservative. He is also the unopposed district councillor for Buckingham on Adur Council. His blog is thought provoking and often very funny.

I was very pleased that former Tory Councillor Kevin Davis didn't stop blogging after he lost his seat (by 6 votes) last May. He was an excellent PPC for Kingston and I hope he goes for it again!

Also Stuart Penketh is one of my favourite posters on PoliticalBetting and has a blog of his own. Great read especially about the excesses of Labour in Bury!

And finally I have really enjoyed reading the thoughts of CF Chair candidate Mark Clarke - honest to say the least. Even though I didn't get a ballot paper (for reasons best left to CCHQ), I'd have voted for Mark if I had of done.

Registered!

Having voted 'yes' on the Built to Last document via the internet yesterday I was pleased to be able to register my household to vote by telephone today. It was quick, efficient, secure and totally convenient. How unlike Norwich City Council...

Shoemaker: Action sooner rather than later

In a world where pubs are decreasing in popularity, one derelict pub site has stood empty for months. The Shoemaker, in West Earlham, has been vandalised, had its windows smashed and is now a source of litter.

I recently visited the site and has spoken to local people about the pub. What is clear is that this site is becoming a magnet for anti-social behaviour and is an eye sore that the neighbours have to live with day in, day out.

I am pleased that fences have been put up after I reported this to the property team at City Hall. But that is only a short term measure. Local people are desperate for action on this site.

I understand that there are plans for a community centre here, or maybe housing. Whatever goes here, the site is now so untenable that action must be taken quickly.

Morphew under pressure: Council Leaders rally against Unitary

My post below on the "secret" MORI poll that Norwich City commissioned to ask the people of Broadland and South Norfolk what they thought about unitary (without telling those councils first) has hit the headlines in today's EDP.

You may be unsurprised to hear that Tory County Council Leader Shaun Murphy, Tory Broadland Council Leader Simon Woodbridge and Tory Leader at City Hall (me!) are all against this biased propaganda exercise. But what is most telling is LibDem Leader of South Norfolk Council, Vivian Clifford-Jackson, has also slammed the scheme.

Oh dear. The Tories are in full flight on this and the media is interested - if the left cannot unite on this, then the scheme is dead in the water.

p.s. It's not only South Norfolk LibDems who are splitting on this issue - I have been told by a reliable source that the Norwich Greens won't be able to support this scheme for much longer. Oh dear.