Michael Edwards for South Derbyshire

Having seen the "In the Thick of It" specials this week and last, I was so expecting to enjoy the film "In the Loop". 

My judgement hadn't been affected by meeting Alastair Campbell the previous evening, or by the questions Alastair had been asked about the Malcolm Tucker character.  It is possible to draw the distinction and not treat Malcom as a portrayal of Alastair. 

It was slightly strange to see some of the actors in the series play the same roles, and others completely different ones.   And I perhaps didn't know enough about American politcis or understand the role that their committees / conferences appeared to have. 

But I think the main problem was that the British Cabinet Minister was given no credibility at all; there just wasn't one instance whereby you could believe in him because of his actions, yet his torment was the spine of plot.  And the finale gave a stronger emphasis to the content of policy when the series had managed much more to stay on the level of process. 

Still some great scenes, the most memorable of which for me was the destruction of the fax / printer, stamped on by foot.  Picture that, Winston. 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/tvandradioblog/2009/apr/21/in-the-loop-iannucci 

The personal cannot always be political. 

But when citing reasons to be proud of Labour's progress, it is the personal experiences when bring home that what we were and are doing touched people's lives and in turn touched me. 

persoanl experiences that are a reward for what we do. 

So to my personal list of reasons to be Proud to be Labour; proud  -

• of the better attainment at schools;  results at the school I chair have improved and are improving, such that kids from a challenged background, of whom only one-tenth got 5 good GCSEs, now have nearly have a half;  and I remember watching pupils and parents coming to school last August to find out what they'd achieved; 
• of the best tram in the country;  and I remember the joy and the packed trains on the day it opened;
• of the joy people exhibit when they’ve attended their British citizenship event;  and I was pleased to offer the chance to show them around council HQ; 
• that I could attend a civic ceremony in The Council House, where my friend and colleague, the next Sheriff of Nottingham, got married to Jonathan; 
• that when I spoke at a climate change conference in Chicago of the progress made in Britain, American Councilmen could so relate to it, 6 years into George Bush’s Presidency;
• when pensioners acknowledge to me on the doorstep how they feel much better off, as happens often, most recently in Stenson Fields; 

There are more, and there will be more to come. 

So last night, a great night was had as Eddie Izzard and Alastair Campbell entertained over 500 people, mostly students, at Nottingham University. 

And from the make-up of the front 2 rows, mostly politics students - only 1 of whom had read Bernard Crick's "In Defence of Politics". 

Two exceptions in the front rows were Physics students - oh yes! - both from Spain. 

Alastair's most powerful point concerned the findings of a focus group, whereby members of the public most highly rated Barack Obama, but most decidely disliked politicians, seemingly not appreciating what Barack Obama does for a living.   And the same group valued the NHS but were not so keen on Gordon Brown, again not getting that Gordon Brown had marshalled the vast increase in resources (treble 1997's spend this year), that so contributes to the value of the service. 

Encouragement from Eddie and Alastair to those of us involved in politics, and encouragement to the audience to get involved. 

Eddie cited entrepreneurship as one of his passions, and not just because the word orginates from France.  I think Britain still has to improve.  Nott'm University does important research on sustainability and engineering on things like wind turbines.  And yet often the findings of their work is developed into businesses and jobs elsewhere in Europe. 

Further reading  -

http://www.alastaircampbell.org/blog.php?id=88 

Eddie Izzard then went on to do a late-night event - 

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/entertainment/Review-Eddie-Izzard-Lakeside/article-946578-detail/article.html 

DRAFT; TO BE UPDATED

Strange that having decided to press on last month with a plan to sell-off South Derbyshire’s council housing, local Tory Councillors have got a bit confused on how to justify it. 

Cllr. Pat Murray, Tory vice-chair of the Council, was reported by the Burton Mail as saying –   “As vice-chairman of the committee I cannot show any bias either way and so I must toe the party line.”  Go figure. 

A Tory leaflet put out to promote Charles Jones, blames a system requiring money to be returned to Gov’t for the investment made to build the council housing in the first place – a system created by the last Tory Government. 

The leaflet also blames a requirement of the council to review its position – which does not explain why the Tories still want to explore a sale later in the year. 

Labour's own survey work has found tenant opinion to be “stay with the council”.   The housing service is regarded well and there is no generally held view that some kind of reform to improve the service is needed.  The Tories offer no immediate need for change. 

The leaflet asserts “The Conservatives do not want to lose their tenants.”  Their tenants? 

“The Conservatives do not want to lose their tenants.”  Well then; DON’T!   

South Derbyshire Tories have decided to press on with preparations to sell council housing stock to a registered social landlord. 

This despite a survey of tenants finding tenants are overwhelmingly against.

Tenants that attended the South Derbyshire District Council meeting to witness the debate, found that the Tories did not express their views. 

A lot of money has been wasted on this exercise already; and it would appear to be pointless since such a proposal can't be carried through without tenants' support. 

To push on in the face of such opposition, the Tories must have another agenda.  They should meet tenants on the doorstep and explain what their motives and intentions are.  

-

Expanding, a consultation 4 years ago showed overwhelmingly that tenants wished to stay with the council and canvassing on the doorstep have shown views have not changed significantly since then.  The housing stock in South Derbyshire is in good condition and will readily meet the decent homes standard.  There is no urgent need for additional funding.  The government is carrying out a review of housing subsidy.  It is therefore unreasonable to suggest a ballot on stock transfer when a new system may well revise some of the financial assumptions on which an argument for stock transfer might be made.

South Derbyshire Tories have decided to press on with preparations to sell council housing stock to a registered social landlord. 

This despite a survey of tenants finding tenants are overwhelmingly against.

Tenants that attended the South Derbyshire District Council meeting to witness the debate, found that the Tories did not express their views. 

A lot of money has been wasted on this exercise already; and it would appear to be pointless since such a proposal can be carried through without tenants' support. 

To push on in the face of such opposition, the Tories must have another agenda.  They should meet tenants on the doorstep and explain what their motives and intentions are.  

South Derbyshire Tories have decided to press on with preparations to sell council housing stock to a registered social landlord. 

This despite a survey of tenants finding tenants are overwhelmingly against.

Tenants that attended the South Derbyshire District Council meeting to witness the debate, found that the Tories did not express their views. 

A lot of money has been wasted on this exercise already; and it would appear to be pointless since such a proposal can be carried through without tenants' support. 

To push on in the face of such opposition, the Tories must have another agenda.  They should meet tenants on the doorstep and explain what their motives and intentions are.  

So Prince Phillip tries to steal the limelight again. 

Barack Obama explains to the Queen that he's met the Russians, the Chinese and David Cameron today. 

Prince Philip butts in to say "how do you tell the difference?" and then laughs at his own remarks. 

Obama's reply is not shown, which leaves space for us all to imagine our own answers. 

I suggest "David Cameron is the one who's not credible on a world stage". 

(Especially with his new far-right alliance in Europe with far-right parties from Poland and the Czech Republic.) 

Happy to hear other suggestions, but not at Prince Phillip's level.  

So Prince Phillip tries to steal the limelight again. 

Barack Obama explains to the Queen that he's met the Russians, the Chinese and David Cameron today. 

Prince Philip butts in to say "how do you tell the difference?" and then laughs at his own remarks. 

Obama's reply is not shown, which leaves space for us all to imagine our own answers. 

I suggest "David Cameron is the one who's not credible on a world stage". 

(Especially with his new far-right alliance in Europe with far-right parties from Poland and the Czech Republic.) 

Happy to hear other suggestions, but not at Prince Phillip's level.  

So Prince Phillip tries to steal the limelight again. 

Barack Obama explains to the Queen that he's met the Russians, the Chinese and David Cameron today. 

Prince Philip butts in to say "how do you tell the difference?" and then laughs at his own remarks. 

Obama's reply is not shown, which leaves space for us all to imagine our own answers. 

I suggest "David Cameron is the one who's not credible on a world stage". 

(Especially with his new far-right alliance in Europe with far-right parties from Poland and the Czech Republic.) 

Happy to hear other suggestions, but not at Prince Phillip's level.