Unusual silence!

Well - all I can say is that I've been holding a watching brief since the last General election. Watching the man who won the seat I wanted, watching our MP's who have Ministerial positions. Feeling excited, wary, upset, cautious and ambitious - in equal measure. My immediate reaction to coming second was "Never again" - but, heck, I miss the cut and thrust of politics and I'm arrogant enough to think I have experience to offer - so I'm up for it again!!!

Saturday 26 September 2009

The reasons I vote LibDem

I can think of no better way to demonstrate my preference for the LibDems than to offer you a few speeches from what was a very rewarding conference:

Nick Clegg MP

Vince Cable MP
http://www.libdems.org.uk/news_detail.aspx?title=Speech%3a_Vince_Cable%e2%80%

Chris Huhne MP

More speeches over the weekend!

It would be a crying shame if wonderful politicians such as these were not given their opportunity - at the next election - to turn around the state of the nation. Not for nothing was the rallying cry at the conference:

"TIME FOR A FRESH START"

Time for a fresh start in South Norfolk too - but then, I would say that, wouldn't I?





Friday 25 September 2009

National Conference

Well - that was quite an experience!! For a person with a deal of healthy cynicism, I have come back from the conference in Bournemouth full of enthusiasm and determination to fight for the right to represent South Norfolk in Parliament after the next election. I think we've all watched orchestrated "standing ovations" at political conferences in the past - but these were the genuine article. We have such a great group of MPs - both in our Shadow Cabinet and on the backbench. They really do offer an exciting alternative to the red-blue, red-blue pattern we have been used to for so long.In the next few days I will go into detail - so watch this space!
By the way - not so enthusiastic about caravan dwelling but don't intend to go into ANY detail about why!!!

Saturday 12 September 2009

Election coming up !

Is it me, or is this Government insulting people's intelligence? As the cold wind of reality begins to blow around their sensitive areas they are proferring other parties' policies thinly disguised as their own - such as - this weekend - a referendum on electoral reform!! Surely to propose it to be on the very date of the next election is cynical in the extreme? Surely to notice suddenly that their promise to eliminate child poverty by 2010 is unlikely to come to fruition? Gordon Brown is covering himself in ineptitude and we are the only party to have been pointing this out with any accuracy. Time for a change - but not the obvious two party one I suggest - my party has taken an honest and credible stance and I believe the public know it!

Thursday 3 September 2009

Change in the air!

Well - Autumn arrived with a bang, right on cue and suddenly the caravan doesn't seem such a good idea! However, I've started so I'll finish and I shall hope the high winds today have dropped by then!!
I've been thinking a lot about the responsibility of offering to stand for election as an MP. Because I work at Westminster I have met and talked to a lot of MPs, of all political persuasions and, with some exceptions, they are hard working and commited people with a vast range of talents. There is great sadness that the cynical behaviour of a few has damaged the entire edifice. I have experience in a number of sectors which, in my view, equip me to be a good representative for South Norfolk people, but I am also driven by a wish to turn the reputation of politicians around - ambitious though that may be. We are a great democracy in the UK - we only have to look at other parts of the world whose people are suffering from dictatorship or civil wars to know that the alternatives to democratic government are unthinkable. I'd like to do my bit to improve MP's image and hope I get the opportunity
Spent the day with international students again yesterday and found myself quite moved by their bravery and optimism. Most of them are under 20 and have travelled alone half way round the world, drawn by our great capital city and civilisation, to study and qualify. They will take that experience back to their own countries but in the mean time - they are having FUN and making friends - great to see and worth the effort of leaving rural Norfolk to work with them!

A family photo

A family photo
Sun shining!

Who am I and what's this all about?

Hi - I am a Liberal Democrat, was a Liberal - will always be in this party, warts and all. Lots of us have staggered since the General Election as some compromises are hard to take but, in the end, my beliefs are exactly those of my Party and therefore --- I'm here for the duration (mine that is!!)