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John Bercow, Conservative MP for Buckingham, is the new speaker of the House of Commons. He was elected to government in 1997 and served in the Shadow Cabinet under Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard. Bercow has increased his majority to over 18,000 at the General Election in 2005. He has risen quickly through the junior ranks and was brought into the Shadow Cabinet in 2001. During this time Bercow stated that he lacked ruthlessness which would stop him from rising higher. John Bercow’s website states “You elected me and sent me to the House of Commons to speak and vote for the people of Buckingham. You might not agree with some of my views and that is OK. That is what representative democracy is all about. Some politicians these days try to have bland views on everything so that they please everybody. However I have always taken the view that there is no point in being an MP if you don’t have opinions and you say nothing. I can’t fight the corner if I have no opinions and don’t kn...

Oh dear - poor Gordon Brown. He has been "hurt" by the crises that have plagued him the past months as Prime Minister, and could "walk away tomorrow" and perhaps become a teacher. Walk away Gordon ... PLEASE walk away....but for heavens sake don't inflict yourself and your hurt on our children any more ! Doesn't this country need plumbers, or electricians or something that does not involve PEOPLE that Gordon could work at ?

Documents and receipts relating to MPs' allowances are published today on the parliament website. www.parliament.co.uk From today the public will be able to view printed documents and receipts relating to MPs’ claims dating back to 2004/05 and up to 2007/08. The expenses claims of every MP for the past four years have been published, but, ironically with some key details not shown. The Commons authorities have published the details after the long-running Freedom of Information battle. Addresses and correspondence that claims relate to have been removed for privacy and security reasons. This means it is not possible to see if MPs "flipped" second homes which is a main part of the Daily Telegraph's revelations from its leaked version of the data. This news comes on the same day that Kitty Ussher, a Treasury minister, has been forced to resign after avoiding paying up to £17,000 in tax on the sale of her constituency home. Another case of "acting within the rules...

In an earlier blog I have commented that the Rt Hon Kevin Barron MP has refused to answer my questions about politics as "it will go on the blog". Some of us have discussed the possibilities of which blog this could be and want to ensure that Kevin gets to know all the questions that his constituents want answering and also give an opportunity for him to reply direct (in the absence of his own website) This blogger http://rothervalley.wordpress.com has asked a direct question to Mr Barron and I have posted the blog below. Keep going to the site in the off chance that Kevin may reply some time in the none too distant future. Mr Barron ... I also would welcome a reply on this blog , if it happens to be the one that you read. Hi Kevin I know you read this blog – the letter you wrote telling me about it is one of my most prized possesions. I also know that you said you weren’t going to write to me anymore because I have published your comments on this blog. What I didn’t know is...

Maltby Festival 2009 - Sunday 5th July - Saturday 11th July Sunday 5th July - Gala Day,Maltby Main football field, Muglet lane, Maltby 10 am - 4pm Stalls, rides, disco, childrens entertainment, dancing and a medieval re-enactment, White Post Farm, circus workshop, competitions: kids fancy dress, gurning (funny faces), knobbly knees, glamorous granny and scruffy pet. Each competition winner will be announced on the day. All competitions will take place between 11-2pm Lots of prizes to be won. Monday 6th July - Zion Youth Group, Coronation Park, Maltby 6.30-8.30pm Wild West night, including a Bucking Bronco and disco by DB Entertainment Tuesday 7th July - Art Exhibition, Wesley Centre, Blyth Road, Maltby 2-9pm Presented by Dave Brennan - local artists including students from MCS displaying their work. Refreshments available. Bar from 6pm. Free admission. Supported by Maltby Community Development Trust Wednesday 8th July - "Camp Fire" in Coronation Park, Maltby Sin...

Sir Alan Sugar, “businessman and TV personality” has been offered the position of Enterprise Champion a position in the UK government responsible for advising the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and promoting entrepeneurship. I say “offered” the position , as in an interview with him this morning, Sir Alan appears a little confused as to why the government has given him this title and exactly what the title infers. He says that the role is totally non political and that he is intending to do what he does best, which is encourage and promote business and training and this title gives him the opportunity to spread this work further afield. All good stuff, except … the role of Enterprise Champion carries with it a Labour peerage. The future Lord Alan Sugar, can’t say what would happen if the Government became Conservative led, as he does not know enough about David Cameron to back the party. Yet he has been a personal friend of Gordon Brown, he says, for at least 10 y...

Dear Friend. Thanks for the photo. Really can't say that I have seen her before - but you know my memory for names and faces and it's not for me to remember her anyway. That's your job. I understand the throwing out photos and stuff - I have done a bit of that kind of thing myself..... and more ! But have now come to the conclusion that it's not necessary. Obviously when things are raw you tend to go crazy and want rid of everything connected to that person and situation. You don't need that person's face smiling out at you from a photo on the mantelpiece when you enter the room. You don't need that kind of reminder at all. This person's features are etched into your very being, the touch of them and the thought of the touch of them is difficult enough. Keeping those thoughts to the back of your mind is what you need, at first. But then, as we are constantly told by family, friends and trained professionals, time does alter our thinking.We don't ev...