editor's blog

The lovely Portillo effectively revealed he didn't vote for Boris, because the campaign was an insult to his intelligence.

Oh itmust be so nice to be so superior to the masses Michael. One may suggest that it could be that attitude which led to you failing to be leader of the party.

Just a thought?

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So the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith suggests that young thugs should be harassed and hounded by the police. Sometimes I wonder whether peoiple live in the real world.

Let me give the Home Secretary two examples of who young thugs are allowed to do exactly what they want, and why at some point I really would not be surprised if there was an upsure in vigilantism in the UK.

1) Two yobs driving their mopeds on a toddlers play area opposite my house. We call the police - but instead of getting put through to Newark, we are passed to possibly Nottingham and then Worksop who take that long taking details we think what's the point. Previous experience of this hasn't even brought a police office out. The local police station shuts at 5:00pm according to locals.

Now gobsmacked as I was the police actually sent a car up, and as luck would have it he pulled the little bastards over. Another neighbour went out and gave them a rollocking for driving over his garden (criminal damage I would have thought). The punishment for driving over pavements gardens and the like? A letter to their house. Oh well that will put a stop to it won't it. I'm glad my three points have finally gone off my licence this month - or I would be seen to be more of a criminal than them!

2) Problem family lives close to my wifes grandparents in council accomodation. This week we learn one of them was caught with some stolen lead. Funnily enough on Tuesday - some time after the police had previously caught him, yet again he had more lead on his bike. The Chairman of the local tennants group has pointed out there are stolen bikes in the shed they use. The kids do not attend school. The Council do nothing to evict this family, or enforce attendance at school. The residents have asked if one of the five cameras pointed inwards at the local police station could possibly point outwards to the trouble spots. Oh no - apparently because of data protection issues? Again absolute nonesense.

To the Home Secretary. People like me and my family are now more and more reluctant to even bother calling the police because NOTHING IS DONE. I havent reported whoever scratched one of my hub caps all over when parking near to the station, as nothing will be done. But perhaps when we see crimes being committed it would be nice to think a police officer could possibly come from the station which is less that a mile away? Or how about this as an idea - maybe some regular patrols would actually prevent the anti social behaviour taking place in the place. Just a thought.

These kind of incidents are happening up and down the country and they are getting worse, and I for one am getting sick and tired of the softly softly approach of the police, and then judicial system that seems to be more on the side of the criminal than the victim.

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Last week I went back to my old school and chatted with a few students who were studying Economics at A/ AS level. We spoke about many things from current affairs to whether they would vote at the next election.

Now I don’t claim to be an expert in education, and whilst I do seem to remember something being said about kids getting paid to go to school, I have to say I hadn’t thought about it too much.

Apparently an Education Maintenance Allowance or EMA is a weekly payments of £10, £20 or £30 which gets paid directly into a students bank account. The amount received is calculated by looking at household income.

On top of the weekly amount a student can also receive bonuses – but only if you continue to do well and meet targets set by your teacher, tutor or provider when you start.

Perhaps I’m being a cynic – but the ones who handed the forms to the teacher so they could get their allowance seemed to be the pupils who were least interested in the lesson. In fact their complaint was they had to go to school 5 days a week, when those at the local college only had to do 3 days a week to get their allowance. Hmmm, hardly a ringing endorsement of the scheme is it?

So what message are we sending? Have £30 to go to school kids- but hey it doesn’t matter if the curriculum is appropriate to you, as we know you will attend just to get the money. I wonder what evidence there is that these payments have either increased educational attainment, or is money well spent in any way shape or form.

I believe there is a lot of research which points to the fact that if you want to increase educational standards money may be best spent at a primary level that at any other point of the educational lifespan of a pupil, as that’s where most rewards are reaped If you get it right at primary level, then the rest follows. It makes you think what primary schools would do to get an extra £30 per head – rather than just handing £30 to certain pupils to stay at school who quite frankly may not be that interested in stopping on.

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Whenever I plan a corporate party or a social event, I take time to carefully choose my invitations. Invitations are made and sent to wow your guests. They should be frame worthy and something that will always be a tangible reminder of your perfect day.

The most recent development in corporate invitations and unique invitations involves high-concept customizing that reflects the party's theme as well as the personality of the party-giver or guest of honor.

Using bold theme colors, "branding" the invitations with custom monograms and logos, and using designer styles and papers are just some of the ways I choose one of a kind stationery for my events.

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Well the results are starting to come in.

Selected highlights include winning a seat in Sunderland from Labour,

Wins in both Oystermouth and Fairwood in Swansea.

A gain in Chorley.

I wonder how the Government will portray tonight? Mid term blues?

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11 years ago I was swanning around on a hot May 1st, having fought my first ever parliamentary election. I lost.

11 years on and it's May 1st, and London faces a crossroads. Does it vote for more of the same... more Ken, or does it vote for Boris.

I read a really amusing piece by former Minister Phillip Oppenheim on the pros and cons of all candidates. As someone who doesn't live in London, and who doesn't have local elections where I live I have to say I'm experiencing a bit of feeling like the world is passing me by. Do I care if the capital has bendy buses or routemasters? Not really - even though I commute to the capital. Am I bothered about London public transport - only if it can get me to work on time.

Should I be bothered about the result of the Mayoral Election? Absolutely. Why? Well because it will the best indicator yet that the country is willing to return a Conservative Government to power.

If London can vote for Boris, then the country can vote Conservative.

The sobering thought is that I am now 33 and ever since I have been able to vote, the Conservatives have lost ever General Election. I will probably be 35 by the time Gordon Brown finaly decides to go to the polls. So the vote in London and the local election isn't just a vote to save London.

It's a vote to save the country. Go out and do the right thing!

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33 today - how time flies! It's also great having a birthday on St George's Day. It really is about time it was a public holiday here in England!

Anyway make sure you take a look at this St George's day message from Roger Helmer and Chris Heaton Harris.

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Following my marathon "triumph" I am wondering what I should do next. I was sent a link to the extremepie website which has all you can want in the mens clothing line for various sporting activities.

So what next? A bungee jump? Maybe skydiving. Hmmm not so sure. Maybe I will just be content with buying some new sunglasses a new shirt, and spectate from the sidelines.

And it's my birthday tomorrow - so perhaps Mrs Sheppard will get me one of these too! I can lthen ook like a surfer without any of the exercise!

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We are in the final stage of moving out of one house into another, and now comes the most frustrating part. You know when you haven't accessed that online bank account that you don't really use for quite a while and you have forgotten the various usernames and passwords.

Well that happened to me last night. As a treat we are ordering a nice TV from John Lewis. I think it's the first thing I've ever bought from there. I thought if it's good enough for the taxpayer, well it's good enough for me.

There I was online ordering with my Visa card and up pops some Visa verified page. Suddenly it asks for a password and username - nope that doesn't work, so I ask for them to be resent. I am asked to put the details from my card and my date of birth etc and apparently they can resend it me. Three goes later and my card gets locked. So I have to call the building society in question and then my card my be unfrozen for online use in a couple of days.

No worryies though, as I  can use my Amex card. I put all the details in purchase the overly big LCD TV and head of to bed.

This morning my blackberry buzzes to tell me the transaction has been cancelled. Why I ask when I call. Oh apparently Ive given the wrong address. Well I have changed my card to the new address. Oh no Sir - that takes 10 days to be accepted. You will have to use your old billing address to order. OK I say and do it all again.

I won't get started on how I have to let people from HMRC in Glasgow know that I am moving, but then I have to call people in Nottingham to let them know me as an individual (as opposed to running a company) is also moving. I then get told that I have to call Cardiff - as if you have worked for an MP your file can be made secure so the people in Nottingham can't access it.

I wouldn't mind - but I'm only moving from number 31 to number 11 on the same street.

I does make me wonder how I managed to lock one of my own credit cards, and have another transaction cancelled, yet the same building society allowed over £1000 of fraudulant transactions to go through on my wifes card, who lookly checks her outgoings online most days so spotted them early enough to put a stop to them.

Surely there has to be a better system for online buying than having to have hundreds of different usernames and passwords? I would have thought somone like Dizzy would be able to help. I bet he doesn't have a scrap of paper with usernames and passwords written on like most people I know. This interweb thingy..... sometimes it's just beyond me!

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I think all sides will be mouring the death of Gwyneth Dunwoody.

Iain Dale has already written about her sense of humour. I remember in the space of a month some time ago I seemed  to bump into her almost every day somewhere in Parliament, so much so that she finally said, are you waiting for someone, or just loitering, in her usual wicked way.

I said, well I suppose you could say loitering, to which she replied, well good good, carry on dear boy!

One of a kind.

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92,000 people originally applied to run in this year’s race

Approximately 45,791 applications were accepted.

More than 35,300 had registered to run by 5.00pm on Saturday.

35,044 people started

More than 34,000 people finished

Approximately 40 runners were admitted to hospital accident and emergency department

4093 runners required medical attention during the race

And here I am at the end with my medal

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Just a quick note of thanks to all the kind people who sponsored me for doing the London Marathon. You will be pleased to know that I finished in a slow but sure time of 6:44:20. Not my best time, but not my worst either.

If you think doing a marathon is impressive, just take a look at what these two chaps have done. Completely mad if you ask me - but you have to admire them!

Well I didn't manageto beat Brian Paddick - he took 4:52, though I suspect he didn't get many leafets out!

For those of you who think they fancy the challenge of the marathon - well have a look here and get your name down. If I can do it, I know most people could!

It did get me wondering though. Does anyone know which Tory has done the most marathons? I know on the Labour side Howard Stoate MP has run a fair few. Our own Roger Helmer MEP has done four marathons.... Any MPs Lords or members who can top that?

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Many people think they can do it. Around 100,000 apply each year. 50 odd thousand are given places, and 45 or so thousand actually finish. It is now the worlds biggest annual fund raising event.

Well I'm hoping to raise a little bit, and as for times, well  I'm just hoping to run walk or even crawl my way to the finish line!

If you see this vest worn by a chap who looks like he really shouldn't be doing this type of thing anymore - do say hello. I'm just hoping I won't be needing the excellent services of the men and women who I'm doing the marathon for!

I believe the Lib Dem Mayoral candidate will be doing the run too (undoubtedly quicker than me). I wonder if he will be delivering any leaflets as he passes through a London borough or two?

Lets just hope this isn't my last blog post for a while.... (note to wife..... get that deep heat in now).

PS - For those of you who like a bit of interactivity... I intend on twittering away through the marathon - so check out the widget at the top of the right hand column from Sunday morning.

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The media has given plenty of coverage, as have bloggers like Ellee Seymour, about the Maasai warriors who are over in London, complete with shields and spears (though I believe they won't have them on race day) to take part in the London marathon.

I did have to smile - as having done it twice before it has always p****d me off when much fitter and younger people zoom past me wearing those heavy heavy Rhino costumes to highlight Save the Rhino. Now is it just me, or should we be worried, about what the Maasai warriors will do should they see a Rhino trundling across Tower Bridge? Hmmm I hope the Rhinos have thick skin. Those spears are awfully sharp!

Anyway - only £96.61 more to raise.... so go on.... donate away...

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If my memory serves me correctly, didn't the Government recently embark on getting rid of lots of legislation that is on the statute book, that quite frankly is pointless these days.

You know - like the right to wlak a 2 legged goat across Westminster bridge under a full moon if you happen to be a Lord (well that's how it seemed to be portrayed).

That got me to thinking. What about more recent rules, regulations and even laws that are currently in place that aren't enforced. It's always been a bug bear with me, having rules, that no one ever bothers to enforce. If we don't enforce them - then we may as well get rid of them.

My question is, what do you think are the top rules, regs, laws etc that are in place, that are constantly flouted as they aren't enforced.

I 'd start off with:-

1) Using a mobile phone in the car (always happening never enforced)

2) Cycling with no lights at night

3) Flouting disabled parking rules

Come om ... I know you must have more!

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I was made aware of this great site which provides lots of different campaaign materials, and it got me to thinking. What is the best piece of campaign material that you have ever come across?

In the 97 General Election the Referendum party used the innovative approach to send a video to millions of households through the post. It didn't do them much good mind you, but could be seen as the precursor to how YouTube could impact upon campaigns in the future.

But are blogs, and the internet the best campaign techniques of today? What about the great idea of Boris to give away branded taxi receipt books? A political master stroke surely?

And what about bumper stickers that are used in the US. Why haven't we seen them over here.

What is the best campaign tool you have seen?

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No Champions League final for Wembley.

Oh dear oh dear.

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Ive just watched a news bulletin on todays story about the suggestion that school kids should be kept on sight during school time. I think I agree they should, but not particularly because it will mean they will have a healthier diet - just for reasons of safety.

In the same bulletin I saw that one school had BANNED packed lunches. Now I don't have kids, but on what grounds does a school think it knows better with regards feeding children, than me, if I was a parent. Granted some parents may give their kids crap food to eat. But then they will do that at home as well.

The state may have a role in ediucating kids, but it does not have the right to tell parents what they can feed their children.

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I have just read Phillip Oppenheim's latest blog post over at Party Political Animal, which has me chuckling away.

If you want to know why he  "always find it comforting to know that my TGV trip is being subsidised by some cassoulet gobbling Citroen worker" then go and have a read. Well worth it.

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Well according to this story they do.

I'm not sure when you see your cat tear arse up to the top of yoru curtains it will make you calm. More likely to induce a heart attack than prevent one I would have thought!

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Apparently that's what the divorce settlement is worth that you know who got from Mr McCartney.

Almost temps me into wanting to marry him!

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Over at Party Political Animal, Phillip Oppenheim has a great piece which seems to show the issue of MPs expenses is certainly not new.

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On Thursday I had a chat with a Labour MP who I've known for quite a while.

The end of the conversation went as follows, and really amused me:-

Me: Did you know I was doing the marathon?

Him: No really

Me: Yes, for St John Ambulance - you can sponsor me if you like.

Him: Hmmm. I've always made it a point not to encourage suicide!

(Well he does have a point... though in fairness he did say he would sponsor me)

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I've just listened to a debate on radio and have been left flabbergasted.

Essentially Radio 2 had a deaf couple on who were arguing they should have the right to choose a deaf child. Now their argument was, that they didn't accept deafness was a disability, and that they wanted their child to be part of their community.

I haven't heard of anything so selfish in quite a long time. When it was pointed out that if they actively chose to have a deaf child, that child may well miss out on hearing music and so on, their response was that the child could go to a deaf group and have conversations, and the caller, a hearing person, would feel left out in that situation.

I think that fact that a hearing person could learn sign language, but a deaf person could not LEARN to hear was completely lost on them.

Now if I had a deaf child, I would want to the best I could for them, but if I was deaf, I can only imagine I would want any child to be born with ALL their senses, and not try to limit their opportunities or experiences, just so they could be part of my "community" (their word not mine).

This couple may have been deaf - but they were also blind to arguments of common sense.

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