'I had hoped for a 1000 today at our initial protest against the cuts in Gloucestershire. In the end more turned up despite it being a wet November morning. Let no one be disabused that this is the start of something big. It was great to see trade unionists, politicians, religious leaders, community activists, civil society and members of the general public come together to start the campaign that will take the Coalition on here, there and everywhere. It will be enough to make them sick in their beer which in terms of Neil's Brew is probably a very good thing.'
I joined the Fire Brigades Union on Saturday morning in the Farmers Market to collect petition signatures against the proposed removal of the Fire and Rescue Appliance from Stroud Fire Station. This vital piece of equipment is located in Stroud because of easy access to the motorway and it has saved many, many lives.
If the Fire and Rescue Appliance is removed it will result in the loss of 12 jobs from the Stroud Station and will have a very damaging affect on the effectiveness of our local fire and rescue services which was why I was pleased to support the FBU campaign to draw attention to these unnecessary and unfair cuts. It will mean that the closest Fire and Rescue Appliance will be in Gloucester.
The investigation by the News of the World into corruption amongst the Pakistani Cricket Team may be very interesting and useful as it lifts the veil on what is wrong with international sport. However is it too much to ask that it now turns the spot-light on its own behaviour during the period when Andy Coulson was editor when it is alleged that there was widespread use made of phone-tapping. Certainly Coulson has much to answer about his role during this time and it is right that the Metropolitan Police re-opens its investigation into what happened given the new evidence that is coming forward.
What has been wrong is that the police seem to have limited its enquiry so far to the impact on the Royal family. Questions must therefore be asked on why the hacking of leading politicians' phones was largely ignored. What must also be questioned is why David Cameron knowingly took on Coulson as his Director of Communications. Clearly this lapse of judgement goes right to the top of the Tory Party. What with this and the amazing statement by William Hague it would appear that the Coalition is rocking already.
Knowing how a good MP can work brings me to the most laughable article in this week's papers. To quote this weeks MP's column in the SNJ
'There is a common perception portrayed in the media that being a newly elected backbench Member of Parliament means that you are just 'lobby fodder', whipped through the voting lobbies of Westminster supporting the government, and that you can't influence policy unless you are promoted to being a minister.
My experience as a new MP since May is that may have been the case under the last government but times are now changing.'
Now apart from the fact that what is said in the article is totally factually incorrect as the period of Labour Governments were amongst the most rebellious of all times, if anyone cares to read any of Philip Cowleys' books will adduce, one has to start to fear for the opinion of someone purporting to be an MP when on each and every occasion he has supported his own government, and failed to call them to account in any way at all.
Of course he is a new boy and the trappings of office are alluring but I hope that he quickly ends this period of self-delusion or at the very least gets rid of the teenage scribblers who seem to compile his ever more inane weekly ramblings. No wonder a letter in this week's SNJ wondered whether the MP had any opinions of his own on anything at all?