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Sunday 14 February
Sorry for the slight gap since the last posting!
For the first time in thirty years I no longer have a paid job. I gave up running a business that manages investments for pensions and charities in order to campaign full time in Gloucester. I'd been 17 years with a very good employer, together through good and bad times. On the last day when my colleagues gave me some wonderful farewell presents it was rather emotional. There is no plan B and my ancestor's lines explain why:
He either fears his fate
Or his deserts are small
Who dares not put unto the touch
To win or lose it all
Helping many thousands of pensioners with theie assets was a good cause. But I leave for an even better one - to play a small part in turning Britain round, and to help Gloucester get through the recessaion and a record number of young unemployed.
Since then I've been rushing around and will write some of this up soon.
Sunday 24 January
He may not look the happiest man in this photo, but Brian Jones is this year's very deserving Gloucester's Citizen of the Year. Honoured last week with a civic dinner, Brian has worked to improve things for the homeless for a long, long time. I met him in the Vaughan Centre three years ago and it is quite true that anyone aspiring for public office should spend time there or at the night hostel. You can read about the world of the homeless in Dennis Apperly's Wasteland (available in The Citizen's shop). It's tough and it's not far off the mark. A caring society does and should care: keep at it Brian.
Wednesday 20th January
Thought I had to show you this photo of meeting Mini the Jack Russell on her doorstep. She is rather sweet, but too young to vote...
 
On the right hand side I'm congratulating my Man of the Match v Biarritz, Nicky Robinson. He was here, there and everywhere in an inspired Gloucester performance. Some people know that I haven't seen us lose at Kinghsolm since the winter of 2006 - and not just because I haven't seen all the games! Long may it last, and anyone who missed this game - well, sorry, you missed a great day.
The weather forecasters have come in for a bit of flack. But I think they have a great role: it's just not quite the one they're supposed to have. In many investment offices you have a 'reverse indicator' ie someone who always gets his calls on markets wrong.They're incredibly helpful: you just do the opposite. When they say it's time to buy gold, you know the market has peaked and you should start selling. It's the same with the weather forecasters: barbeque summer? Get out the waterproofs and head for the hills. The problem only comes when they start getting it right occasionally. Consistency is what we're looking for guys, just get it all wrong please...
Don't start me on consistency in politics. Is Labour after the core vote, the middle class vote, class warfare or just any vote? As for their candidates, I've just come from a meeting with the National Union of Teachers (NUT) in Gloucestershire where a Labour candidate (F of Dean) effectively disowned the Labour policy on education, Balls and Academies in particular. Then the Lib Dem said his party didn't like Academies but it wasn't quite clear whether he didn't himself. Both took refuge in the idea that all Gloucester's education problems were the grammar schools - the same case that the Labour/Lib Dems have taken to the electorate in twice in county council elections, and lost decisively. People don't buy it, guys and here's why.
For thirteen years we've had big government firing out directives on education, and our standards have gone down (just look at the difference between our GCSEs/A levels and Hong Kongs). The gap between rich and poor has widened, the lowest paid are worse off (net of housing costs) than they were in 1997, social mobility has dropped and we continue to drop down the world education results league. This has nothing to d o with grammar schools - it's to do with bad nationally primary school achievement because children weren't taught to read using phonetics, and other fundamental mistakes: weak support for teachers facing disruptive pupils, not enough discipline and so on. I know this as the son and brother of teachers. It is time to accept this and do things differently.
I believe we need more education that's better suited to the needs of some of our young, which is vocational. Rather than pretend that we can get great results by mixing eg Tommy Rich's and Bishops College why not get better results and more opportunities for the less academic by getting better equipment and more vocational options at a bigger Academy that can afford them, and with less bureaucracy too.
What the current consultation should then flag up is concern for all the detail that's crucial: how will the boy/girl mix work? Will there be both a Muslim and C of E faith element? Where will the best site be? Will year 10 and 11 students have to physically move campus? Can they stay on two campuses while the new buildings are put up? And so on. Of course the timing was purely political, and the speed of the Balls/Badman thrust all to do with the timing of the elections, but I can see real advantages for Gloucester - if we get it right.
So I'll campaign, as I said this evening, on the key issue of improving education for all and never accepting that the results can never improve or the young can't have more opportunities. A pupil premium for the poorest to help improve their chances, and a real focus on vocational studies as well as academic options. No closures of special schools: and an end to the war on grammar schools and Barnwood Park. Let's get the classroom discipline right, the standards up and the outcomes better - with less input from Whitehall. There has been a lof of Balls from up there, and on that I do absolutely agree with the Labour candidate.
Meanwhile last week I brought Shadow Cabinet Minister Francis Maude to meet the remarkable Hindu duet Ash Chavda and Babu Odendra, who have restored and re-opened the Picturedrome Theatre for Gloucester. If anyone believes immigrants are all spongers they need to look closely at what happens in Gloucester. Who keeps the GFC going? Eammon McGurk (family from Ireland). And now we have Ash and Babu on the performing arts side. Of course there are Gloucester born philanthropists too - Chris Gabb of Barnwood Construction for one - but I will always stick up for what outsiders have done for us here too. The whole history of Gloucester is about people moving here and making good and giving back to the city. That's what we should encourage and that's what I'm doing above, as Queen Elizabeth prepared her one man show on stage..
Sunday 9th January
It seems a long time since last Monday, when we were door knocking in cold weather but no snow. My elder son is just back from teaching in Africa and found it even more of a shock.
Compared to other parts of the county we haven't got much much snow, but it's enough to make the pavements lethal and broken wrists a real hazard. We must all keep an eye out for elderly neighbours. Meanwhile for those prevented from going back to school there is a Civic Trust photography competition with good prizes (see http://www.gloucestercivictrust.org.uk/downloads/Photography_Competition.pdf ).
We have a new resident in Brunswick Square: here he is, with creators Steve and Guy. Earlier he was more human, but then, alas, lost his head. I rather like the new version.
Others have been losing their heads too, with aggressive articles and letters, and plots to try and remove the Prime Minister. It's all a bit desperate - how you can ask the electorate to vote for a government and a Prime Minister whom only weeks before you were conspiring to get rid of, I do not know.
In weather like this it's worth remembering that 25% of our power is nuclear and much of it is supposed to be closing soon: and about 60% gas, and that we now import more than we produce from the North Sea. Plus we have lower reserves than our European nighbours. So when Gordon Brown says we have enough gas, we do: but if this cold period lasts another two weeks we will have to import at much higher prices. For almost thirteen years this government has failed to think ahead and plan for our energy future. Fiddling while Rome burns - except that it's while Britain freezes. We need to get on and build nuclear, fast. And yes, do more with alternative energy, but that won't contribute enough energy to keep the country warm in times like these..
Lastly it is really good to have received so many messages about David Cameron's visit earlier this week. Something tells me that the Prime Minister will not be visiting the constituency of one who thought he should stand down, but you never know..
Wednesday 5th January
Over three meetings in Gloucester yesterday, David Cameron showed what he is made of. With the media, Conservative members and floating voters in Barnwood Park Arts College he dealt with a wide range of issues, local and national, clearly and persuasively.
When I saw him make his pitch in Blackpool in 2005, as a 1000-1 outsider to become Conservative Leader, I felt that David Cameron had the right character and judgement both to lead the Party and become Prime Minister. Others felt the same thing last night. Here’s an extract from one e mail I got:
I have voted for both Labour and the Conservatives in recent years and consider myself to be a small c conservative floating voter. It was good to finally meet with a political leader with a clear idea where we as a country need to be looking towards. He was very impressive in the way he answered the questions raised..with clarity and a no-nonsense stance on what needs to be done to get Britain moving forwards..I think that you and the party you represent are the way of the future
On specific policy issues, David Cameron confirmed that we would back the government pledge to create a new Academy in Gloucester, combining Bishops’ College and Central Technology College, and I hope the government moves forward without delay to reach an agreement with the county council on the detail. But he also emphasised that Academies should not be pre designed and dropped from on high on cities like Gloucester, and that parents, schools and the county council should decide the detail. I have encouraged the county council to consult widely on how the best and most important elements of both schools can be carried into a new Academy.
Here’s the verdict of Citizen editor Ian Mean after interviewing David Cameron:
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/gloucestershireheadlines/COMMENT-Cameron-set-PM-chair/article-1673850-detail/article.html
Sunday 3rd January
A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL READERS!
Apologies to you all for not having kept up my website thoughts over Christmas when I had a beastly cold most of the time.
But before going down I was lucky enough to go to the Cathedral service on the 23rd - which began in darkness and silence, just a distant candle and a single, far away voice. The sound of singing grew, and the next hour was a magical start to Christmas.
Another highlight event for me was seeing the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in the Picturedrome Theatre (ex N.O.T.). It was long, ambitious - and magical too. Good to see the Gloucester Theatre Co starting so well.
DAVID CAMERON COMES TO GLOUCESTER - MONDAY 4 JANUARY
For his first meeting with voters in this year of the general election, David Cameron is coming to Gloucester - on Monday. It's a great compliment to the city, and offers a unique chance for Gloucester residents to ask unscripted questions direct to our potential future Prime Minister.
Some 250 floating voters, undecided who they will vote for in the next election, have the chance to put a question at 5.30pm. Just e mail info@gloucestershireconservatives.com or leave a message on (01452) 371 630 with your name/address/daytime tel no and someone will ring you back to confirm your ticket (so long as tickets are available) and tell you the venue (in the city) on Sunday pm or latest Monday morn.
David Cameron giving Debbie Llewellyn a social action award in 2008 for work in organising volunteers and water distribution during the floods
GLOUCESTER'S LAST MINUTE TRY..
The year started with a huge sigh of relief for all us rugby fans, as Gloucester scored a last minute try to draw against Worcester. Over the last three years I haven't seen Gloucester lose at Kingsholm for two years (which does mean I haven't seen every game..) - but there was a moment today when I thought my run was in trouble.
 
NEW YEAR HOPES
Here are some of my hopes for 2010:
That we create real apprenticeships for our young, not six month 'keep them off the unemployment figures' things and lower the number of young without jobs
That we find again the spirit of togetherness as a nation, all aspiring to be friendly, do better and be better: with leaders who believe in a One Nation approach, not supporting one part of society against another
That we see more of the 'can do' spirit in Gloucester - on the rugby pitch, in our businesses, in our approach to planning, our neighbourhood partnerships and charities
That we tackle dementia as we have tackled cancer - with strong resources, charitable vigour and determination not to let this disease destroy one in four lives for ever
So my hopes for the year - and I will try and do my bit on all is - work to find new jobs, support the businesses that provide the tax to fund our social welfare state, love our neighbours and face up to the worst diseases of our time. And I would like to help bring 20-20 cricket to Gloucester too..
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