Update from Councillor Jenny Dawe - Leader The City of Edinburgh Council

UPDATE ON COUNCIL WASTE DISPUTE - 31 July 2009

I am pleased to report that that talks yesterday (30 July 2009) with the trade unions, regarding the waste dispute, were very comprehensive and amicable. The Trade Unions have agreed to further talks with senior officials on Monday.

esidents, businesses and visitors should not have to put up with unacceptable cleanliness standards. That is why we have put in place a range of contingency arrangements to tackle the backlog in refuse collection and street cleaning.

Summary of contingency measures

• On Wednesday 29th July, more than 20 private contract staff began night shift working - emptying bins, collecting refuse and sweeping and hosing down streets in the city centre area and will be providing these services for the duration of the festivals. Council staff will be carrying out their normal daytime street cleaning and litter picking duties. We will therefore have a 24/7 service over this period;
• An additional private refuse collection crew has started this week to deal with particular problem areas across the city. This team will operate two shifts a day and, from Monday 3 August, will concentrate on communal bins that have not been emptied ;
• Also this week 5 extra crews will start carrying out household waste collections and will be joined by a further 5 new crews next week; and
• 40 temporary refuse collectors are being recruited to help get the city back to normal.

Unfortunately, Unite has not called off the unofficial action at this time and is continuing to ballot its members on official industrial action. However, I am very hopeful about impending negotiations. We will continue to work with private contractors in the meantime to limit the damage the Union's action is causing.

Councillor Jenny Dawe

Leader City of Edinburgh Council

Labour and Britain's shame over Gary McKinnon

The "hacking case" involving Gary McKinnon is taking over the print media and the online media by storm, and rightly bloody so. Unfortunately for all of the wrong reasons because Gary McKinnon has lost his case.

If the boot was on the other foot, or the hacker in the other country how different it would be.

Can you imagine Barack Obama allowing a US citizen to be dealt with in this manner?

No, me neither.

Today's decision is a major blow both to Gary McKinnon, his long suffering family and supporters.

There has been a succession of Government Ministers over the last 7 years who have just left this to drag on and on. Today, each one of them should hang their head in shame.

The Government must ensure that the US-UK Extradition Treaty is repealed and that its replacement treats US and British citizens equally.

The DPP has refused to order a trial here in the UK, saying the bulk of the evidence was located in the USA and that Gary McKinnon's actions were directed against the US military infrastructure so that is where the trial should be. Alan Johnson MP in his second stupid statement this week as Home Secretary (the first being ID cards) has backed up the DPP and court judgement.

Alan Johnson is the 5th Home Secretary to deal with this case, it started back when David Blunkett was in the job!

There are a lot of different blog postings about this around and about but the best one by far is here especially the line about David Cameron is bound to jump on this bandwagon as he did the Gurkha's.

The Free Gary campaign site is here - http://freegary.org.uk/

Cameron, Brown and Clegg and the big TV debate

So, Peter Mandelson hints that Gordon Brown will participate in an Leaders TV debate at the forthcoming General Election (I still think it will be in October).

Gordon Brown's Downing Street spokesman slaps that down and says no way.

So Cameron then writes to Brown to clarify;

"I am writing to ask you to clarify the Government’s position on the issue of a television debate between the leaders of the main political parties.

Five months ago, when I challenged you at Prime Minister’s Questions to a televised studio debate, you refused. This morning, Lord Mandelson said you were open to the idea. But within an hour, a Downing Street spokesperson back-tracked, saying this was not the case.

The Government seems to have a number of positions on this.

I’ve only ever had one: a prime time televised debate is just what our political system needs.It would help to energise our democratic process, engage the electorate and restore trust in politics. Democracies across the world – from Australia to America to Brazil to Indonesia – have benefited from the invigorating effects of these debates. Even in Iran a series of television debates was held during the recent election campaign.

Your previous objection was that a televised debate was unnecessary as the issues were aired each week in parliament. But Prime Minister’s Questions simply cannot compete with the accessibility of a primetime studio debate. I want the chance to set out the choice at the next election to many more people than those who watch on a Wednesday lunchtime.

For these reasons I hope you will today make clear your position on this crucial issue."

At least Cameron has been sensible (gulp) and realises the only way this can happen is for the three main parties to participate in this debate, I am really pleased about this as Nick Clegg will hold his own on this kind of event.

Bring it on!

Howard Stoate MP resigns before losing

As I lived and campaigned in Dartford for 14 years I know a little bit about the politics there, did you know Margaret Thatcher stood for Parliament for the first time in Dartford and I was a Parish Councillor there as well? - facts you may or may not have known.

Just recently, in the last ten minutes I have seen various Tweets and emails that Howard Stoate MP is to stand down blaming the new rules on second jobs, as he is also a practising GP.

I have never heard such a load of tosh in my life, the Labour Party in Dartford has been in a decline over recent years since the Tories took control of the Council and key members of the Labour Party passed away or moved out of the area. Labour have taken Dartford for granted for some years.

The volume of literature had gone from regular labour leaflets to a letter from Howard Stoate now and again, when I moved to Scotland I emailed Howard and mentioned that if the local Labour Party didn't pull it's finger out and get going again he was doomed.

The local Tories are divided on the choice of their candidate but fair play he did get within 706 votes last time, but the Liberal Democrats candidate Peter Bucklitsch and his amazing Agent, Andrew Reeves ran the most intense campaign for some time that the Lib Dems had done thus preventing Dartford becoming a Tory gain in 2005.

I have said for some considerable time that Howard Stoate would lose at the next General Election so his decision not to stand does not surprise me at all.

EdTwestival Local - Thursday 10th September 2009

I have been on Twitter for well over a year now and have seen some of these events before, they seem amazing and raise a lot of money for a nominated charity.

The Edinburgh Twestival (EdTwestival Local) will be on Thursday 10th September 2009 and will run from 7pm to midnight at a venue still to be confirmed.

But, the battle to nominate the charity that will benefit from all the fundraising there has already begun.

You can vote for a charity using all 3 votes you get when you visit the site or give 1 vote to 3 different charities, http://bit.ly/C4zdf

You can also nominate a charity, all of the guidelines, rules and instructions are on the website.

I voted for three charities;

1. LGBT Health and Wellbeing Centre
2. Leith FM Community Radio
3. Teenage Cancer Trust (Lynne McNicoll)

This is a fantastic idea and I applaud the organisers, although I do wish they would update their main website with details of the September event as the main Twestival site no longer links to Edinburgh!

UPDATE: The EdTwestival main website has now een updated.

John Terry to stay at the Bridge

I have to be honest, I never thought the god that is John Terry was leaving Stamford Bridge and especially to go to Manchester City.

Today JT has decided to announce his commitment to Chelsea here on the BBC website.

Here is John Terry's statement today;

'There has been a lot of speculation recently about my future and I want to clear this up once and for all. I am totally committed to Chelsea and always have been. Chelsea have also made it clear to me consistently that there was never any intention to accept any kind of offer.

'When you are linked with any club, or with a manager who I have huge respect for, it will always make headlines but me leaving Chelsea was never a possibility.

'I know there has been comment that I should have made a statement earlier. However, throughout this period there have been numerous discussions between myself, the owner and the Chelsea Board and we all agreed that the timing of any statement would suit everyone involved in those talks, not any outside influences or agendas.

'What is clear to me following those discussions is that Chelsea's ambition remains as high as ever.This has been further proved by the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti. I am certain that he will take this club on to the next level.

'Another important factor was knowing that Chelsea would be securing key current players for the long term. The strengthening of the squad around this core is crucial to pushing us onto greater success.

'I am as committed as ever to helping drive Chelsea forward and I will be proud to lead the team for as long as I can.'

John Barrett MP to stand down at the next election

John Barrett, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, will be informing Edinburgh West Liberal Democrat members today, 25th July of his intention to step down from parliament at the next election.

Over 25 years Mr Barrett has been a Liberal Democrat standard bearer on the west side of Edinburgh, as a Community Councillor and campaigner, on Edinburgh City Council and at Westminster, where he was first elected to parliament in 2001.

His majority of 13,600 is now the second largest Liberal Democrat majority in the UK, after Charles Kennedy MP. He was elected to Edinburgh City Council in 1995, was the election agent in 1997 when the Liberal Democrats captured Edinburgh West from the Conservatives and he then went on to be David Steel's campaign manager for his election to the Scottish Parliament in 1999.

Mr Barrett said: “Serving the people of Edinburgh West at parliament has been a great privilege and honour and I have enjoyed every moment, however, after over 25 years campaigning, I believe the time is right to stand down from Westminster

“I am absolutely not retiring – at 55 years of age and while I am both fit and healthy I feel I have another challenge left in me. Another full term at Westminster would take me to 60 when I feel it would be much harder to make a fresh start at something new. Much of my work at Westminster has been with the poorest and most vulnerable people in the developing world. I hope to use the experience I have to continue with work in this field in the future.

“I have never been a career politician, I was a successful businessman for 20 year and a community campaigner who went to Westminster to serve my local area, not to further my political ambitions and I now I am looking forward to the next challenge. I am still 100% committed to supporting the Liberal Democrats at all levels.

“The only way I know how to do the job is to give it 100% commitment to the job and this usually means working long hours and most weekends. As a grandfather of two lovely grand-daughters, I would now like to spend my weekends with them instead.”

More photos from the RBGE

Inverleith House and giant lily pads

Royal Botanical Gardens

The first photo is the new wild flower meadow, the second photo is a flower in the gardens and the third photo is the ceiling of the building within the Queen Mother Memorial Garden.

Lily in the pond at RBG Edinburgh

A photo from our day out at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh - enjoy!

Emergency services under attack

I was utterly appalled to read this story on the BBC website about the firefighters in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire who after being called out to a fire in a rubbish chute on the 17th floor of a block of flats were pelted with missiles when they arrived.

Perhaps the morons who attacked the firefighters didn't read the newspapers or watch the news on the 3rd of this month when this story broke about a fire in a multi storey block of flats where people tragically lost their lives.

The emergency services do an amazing job, whether its the police, firefighters, coastguard or the ambulance crews, they deserve our support. They put their lives on the line every day and when morons do things like this my heart sinks.

Keep up the good work to all of you in the emergency services, the majority of us appreciate everything you do.

Police officer to face prosecution over dog deaths

I first blogged about this back on the 2nd July when the story broke and then again, here, on the 3rd July.

Now, according to the BBC website the Police Officer responsible is to face prosecution.

A police spokesperson said: "Following a review of the circumstances into the deaths of two police dogs, Nottinghamshire Police has taken the decision to suspend the police officer involved.

The Met Office said it reached 28.1C (82.5F) in Nottingham on 30 June.

The RSPCA has said the force reported the incident to them on the day it happened and had co-operated with the charity in the investigation.

Anyone convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal could face up to six months in prison and a £20,000 fine.

I still, a month later am so angry about this, and really do hope that the Nottinghamshire Police Force hold its nerve and go all the way with this prosecution.

Glasgow North East by-election quashed

A bid to call the by-election in former Speaker Michael Martin's Glasgow North East seat was defeated by the Government today in the House of Commons.

MPs voted by 238-127 to move the writ for the by-election when the House returns after the summer.

So, the people of Glasgow North East have already had no MP for one month, and now have at least three more to go. Four months without an MP. The earliest the by-election can be is November 5th, (although more likely to be November 12th) this is absolutely outrageous and plain silly.

Why oh why did Labour not call it for the same day as the Norwich North by-election? Why should the good people of Glasgow North East go without an MP for so long?

SNP Tactical Voting offers an explanation here. Tom Harris MP tweets about it, saying the SNP moaned Glasgow East was in the Summer and now moaning Glasgow North East isn't.

Willie Rennie MP doesn't mention the date, but does talk about the SNP's third candidate.

Why Labour think it is acceptable for people to have no representation for over 5 months I have no idea, only they can tell us the answer.

Chloe Smith already works in Westminster

It has been great fun helping April Pond and the Lib Dem team this weekend at the by-election HQ in Norwich North. A great way to spend some holiday time.

Today April did great on the Radio phone in interview, it was a great pity though that no-one tackled Chloe the Tory who claims she's independent and not part of the politics of today or the Westminster scandal......

Because in today's The Times "She (Chloe Smith) describes herself as a “business consultant” but is vague about what she does for Deloitte. Perhaps this is because she is on secondment to the Conservatives’ implementation unit. Ms Smith, who is registered as an assistant to James Clappison, a Shadow Work and Pensions Minister, is drawing up plans on how the party would govern once in power."

Come on Cameron, how the hell do you and your party claim that she isn't involved, she's actually working for the Conservatives?

Here is your Tory candidate working for James Clappison who was embroiled on the expenses scandal for gardening etc etc, she is involved in the Westminster village already, why not be honest with the voters, what are you hiding or scared of?

Chloe holds a Parliamentary pass because she works for the Conservatives in Westminster at the moment but they won't tell you that, what's in the cupboard?

From the frontline at Norwich North

Arrived in Norwich yesterday and picked up at the station by my good friends Sarah and Rhiannon and then we went straight to Subway for the lunch run!

I was instantly impressed by the sheer level of Liberal Democrats garden stakeboards as we drove back to the HQ.

It was also clear from those and window posters that the race in Norwich North is in fact between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

Labour are out of the race, and the Green party were never really in it but their voters and Labour's probably could make the diference between a Tory or Lib Dem win.

All Green Party voters should read my previous blog posting here about how green the Tories are when David Cameron flew by helicopter from London to Norwich - shame on him!

I was covering front of house yesterday and it was our busiest day ever!

I also met April who is a really great candidate she is Norfolk through and through.

She's got a great record of campaigning for local NHS services such as St. Michael's Community Hospital. Her priorities for Norwich include cleaning up Westminster after the mess of MPs expenses, tackling climate change and dualling the A11.

Its time for change in Norwich after the way the Labour Party just dumped Ian Gibson, so this Thursday vote for change, vote for April Pond.

Nick Clegg talking more sense on Afghanistan

Nick Clegg is in today's Independent newspaper talking sense about our troops and the campaign in Afghanistan.

Yet again it is Nick Clegg challenging the Government on this very important issue, I guess again David Cameron will try to catch Nick Clegg up as I blogged last week here.

Nick Clegg says "We must stop asking our troops to fight modern wars with equiment designed for the last century. If we duck these choices yet again, it will be future generations of British servicemen and women who will pay the price for our mistakes. That would be the ultmiate betrayal of their dedication and sacrifice."

Yet again Nick Clegg shows he is the only Leader of a mainstream UK political party with his finger on the button on this and with Vince Cable watching over the economy, what a team, it's time for change I agree, but lets not go back to awful days of the Conservatives, I remember them the first time.

David Cameron's green flight to Norwich - NOT

So David Cameron visits Norwich North for a campaign visit, all good so far.

He only stayed for around 20 minutes at the venue, again, not too bad.

He met experts from the University of East Anglia working on cutting-edge research aimed at turning crop waste into fuels. Again this isn't too bad.

BUT.........................

He flew by helicopter to get there!

Remember the crap slogan - "Vote Blue, get Green", well what a load of tosh.

Firstly only the Liberal Democrats manifesto's were voted the Greenest, secondly the Tories were the dirtiest Party in Europe and now have joined a homophobic group.

The good people of Norwich North have a real chance for change next Thursday after Ian Gibson resigned. The Tories are not green, the Greens don't have a real chance but yes, April Pond the Liberal Democrats candidate would stand up for Norwich and will use the train to Westminster not "Dave's" helicopter.

Vote: Your top ten best political blogs

Email your ten favourite blogs (ranked from 1-10) to toptenblogs@totalpolitics.com

It's that time of year again, when Total Politics asks you to vote for your Top 10 favourite blogs. The votes will be compiled and included in the forthcoming book, the Total Politics Guide to Blogging 2009-10, which will be published in September. This year the poll is being promoted/sponsored by LabourList and LibDemVoice as well as Iain Dale.

The rules are simple.

1. You must vote for your ten favourite blogs and ranks them from 1 (your favourite) to 10 (your tenth favourite).
2. Your votes must be ranked from 1 to 10. Any votes which do not have rankings will not be counted.
3. You MUST include ten blogs. If you include fewer than ten your vote will not count.
2. Email your vote to toptenblogs@totalpolitics.com
3. Only vote once.
4. Only blogs based in the UK, run by UK residents are eligible or based on UK politics are eligible.
5. Anonymous votes left in the comments will not count. You must give a name
6. All votes must be received by midnight on 31 July 2009. Any votes received after that date will not count.

If you have your own blog, please do encourage your readers to take part. Last year, more than 80 blogs did so. We hope this year it will be far more than that. BUT, DO NOT list ten blogs you think your readers should vote for. Any duplicate voting of this nature will be disallowed.

If you do not wish for your blog to be voted for please email katy.scholes@totalpolitics.com.

There are many ways of measuring a blog's popularity. Wikio and Technorati have complicated logarithms which measure the importance of incoming links and traffic. Google Analytics does it by measuring how many people visit. But the TP poll gives blog readers the opportunity to vote for the ones they like and visit most often. It's not scientific. It's impossible to achieve 100% balance and no one pretends it's perfect.

The results of the poll will be published in the forthcoming book the TOTAL POLITICS GUIDE TO POLITICAL BLOGGING IN THE UK which will be published in mid September in association with APCO Worldwide.

So, go to it. Email your Top Ten Favourite Blogs to toptenblogs@totalpolitics.com

And feel free to nominate my blog, I really don't mind :-)

John Lamont MSP admits he wants to be part time MSP

MSP Lamont now targets Westminster seat

Chris Walker stands down as Conservative candidate

This is the headline and sub-headline in today's Berwickshire News. The fact that Chris Walker is standing down is not the main headline shows how much Conservative John Lamont MSP wants this more than he does being an MSP in my opinion.

Also, I did predict this earlier this week on my blog.

"Speaking to The Berwickshire News Mr Lamont was clear that should he be selected, and be successful at the next general election, he would also continue to serve as an MSP until the next Scottish Parliament election"

So, not satisfied at being the MSP, he now wants to go for Westminster, fair play, but to admit that if, and I say if, (because Mike Moore MP is a fantastic constituency MP and a Liberal Democrat and already holds the job of MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk), John Lamont beats Mike (highly unlikely) he will only be a part time MP.

Go to Mike Moore MPs website, go on please, go and read how much Mike has fought recently for people as firm after firm in the Borders has shed more jobs. Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk needs a full time MP. Their MP is Mike Moore and he is full time, and wishes to remain so, standing up for the people of the Borders. The Conservatives attacked Mike Moore MP when he was campaigning to save 5 local Post Offices and to build the Selkirk by-pass. Yet Mike Moore continued to do his job for the people of BRS and the Borders.

The other MP in the Borders is Conservative David Mundell, who in February this year "Mr Salmond has two jobs when many people in Scotland don't have a single job at all. That is quite wrong."

I assume David Mundell will mention this at some point to his colleague John?

John Lamont MSP also says that he thinks (assuming he wins) a by-election for his MSP seat would be "an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer" however, his boss in Holyrood, Annabel Goldie thinks the exact opposite of Alex Salmond in Banff & Buchan.

A light hearted moment

For my regular readers, up to 15 now (wow, thanks guys) you will all know that my life is made up of three key things;

1. Roger
2. Zennor
3. Politics

So, you will not be surprised when I tell you about the latest activities of our cat, Zennor.

For those who don't know, here's a brief summary - we got sisters Zennor and Madron as 6 month old kittens, 15.5 years ag. Tragically Madron died in 2007 and Zennors eyesight has deterioated, she gets by but has bad days!

Anyhow, we moved her up with Roger last August to join me in Edinburgh at our flat in Stockbridge, and then another move to our current pad in Platinum Point on November 1st.

So, remembering that she has this week discovered our air bed (yes its been here since August) she has to clamber up the side to get on so we've had to cover it thick blankets.

6.30am this morning;

Miaow - pause - miaow - pause - miaow

I awake get up to see what she wants, and she just jumped up (well clambered) on the bed as the photo shows, so turfed out my own bloody bed at 6.30am!

Hmmmm, who's in charge?

Lol - I wouldn't have it any other way
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Chris Walker, Tory PPC for Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk - pushed?

So, the Tories have dumped a candidate, not really big news but is it all as it seems?

There are a lot of unhappy Tory activists who are sounding off all across the Borders.

Chris Walker's email to Tory Members paints a picture of a busy hotelier wanting to spend more time with his business - good on him for that, especially in the current climate.

But is it more about canvassing targets not being reached and not enough doors being knocked on, or just the fact that the Liberal Democrats in the Borders ran a super European campaign? Or all three?

The Conservative European campaign in the Borders was lightweight, no addressed election freepost leaflets, hardly any supersigns in farmers fields and not that much door knocking!

So, let us see what John Lamont MSP does over the coming days, I understand they want to get a new candidate in place by early August, let us see if John Lamont MSP is about to turn his back on Holyrood?

Boris Johnson and the £250,000 chicken feed

Boris Johnson is soooooo out of touch with the people he represents, or sort of represents.

I still retain a small interest in London as I ran Brian Paddick's Mayoral campaign for the Liberal Democrats, and am still angered by some of the silly claims made by others during that election.

Now we have a Mayor who thinks £250,000 per year is chicken feed, get a grip Boris, for crying out loud, get yourself out of City Hall and go and visit some of the voters in the inner London Boroughs (not the Tory Boroughs) who earn around £16,000 per year - it would take them over 15 years to mass that kind of money. I appreciate that you give some of it to charity - whooppee whoo.

I give a decent percentage of my salary to charity too Boris, but I don't crow about it.

You have to read this great story by The Guardian, to actually appreciate the Mayor's sheer arrogance and also how out of touch he is not only with his Party Leader but more importantly the great number of Londoners who don't earn £140,000 a year with additional earnings of £250,000 for writing a few words on paper!

Donations to political parties must be from UK taxpayers

Responding to news that the Government is to perform a U-turn on its opposition to a ban on donations from ‘non-doms’, Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice Secretary, David Howarth said: "Jack Straw has finally bowed to pressure from across Parliament to ban the biggest exercise in buying constituencies since rotten boroughs."

Well done David!

But it really shouldn't have taken so long for Labour Ministers to see that it’s right in principle to stop large donations from people who do not pay tax in Britain.

Now those Tory donors will have to pay their dues to the country before they pay their subs to the Conservatives.

David Howarth added; "David Cameron must now explain whether he will hold Lord Ashcroft to his promise on paying UK taxes, or stop accepting his millions."

Given the hoo haa on MPs expenses it is time to clear up the donations as well.

SNP candidate for Glasgow North East stands down

Today's Sunday Herald carried the story that James Dornan the SNP candidate for the forthcoming Glasgow North East by-election has already stood down, less than a week after being selected, stating he had illegally taken a position despite being declared bankrupt.

James had apparently accepted a position as 'partner Director' and trustee with Glasgow Culture & Sport, an arms-length council organisation which was a charity. despite section 52.1 of the body's Articles of Association stating that an "undischarged bankrupt" (which James Dornan was at the time) could not take such a position.

As this is obviously a really technical side of the law, at least he has done the right thing, given the current climate with politicians and trust and stood down and therefore also turn the attention of the election back onto Labour's record in Glasgow, whether it be Westminster or even the Council.

Will David Kerr now come to the fray again, or feel as he was rejected the first time that he is no longer interested?

The SNP's initial PPC Grant Thoms stood down and now his replacement has stepped down less than a week after being voted in as the candidate. I am not criticising this, because sometimes these things happen, but it isn't a good start for the SNP.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats are shortly about to announce their candidate and who knows with the Conservatives.....

Clegg leads and then Cameron tries to follow

Nick Clegg showed he is a Leader this week by criticising the Governments lack of proper finance into our armed forced for the correct resources in Afghanistan.

Nicks argument is clearly not with the service men and women as they have the full support of Nick and the Liberal Democrats.

The Government were put on the back foot with Nick's attack and spent time on Thursday and Friday trying to combat it.

Today, catch-up-Cameron has said the troops need helicopters!

Doh - Nick said that back on Wednesday and Thursday and that they need better armour on the troop carriers and that personal kit needs to be better and ensure that all service men and women have the full kit and equipment they need.

Cameron doesn't like the fact Nick is catching him and out manoeuvring him!

Carry on Nick.
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7/7 four years on

My day was a weird one on the 7th July 2005, to be fair given the Olympics announcement it was a weird week.

I was now Head of Office and Organiser to Lynne Featherstone MP and we had a good day when the Olympics result was announced - in fact we had been stood in the corridor behind the Speakers Chair when the announcement happened.

Anyhow, back to 7/7. I'd come into our Norman Shaw office early to deal with casework, parliamentary questions and the like but was due to take my laptop over to Southwark (previous job) so Matt could take EARS off.

I'd gone from Westminster to London Bridge on the Jubilee line and was halfway up the escalator when they stopped at the moment the first bomb went off. 3 tube staff ran, no, sprinted down past startled passengers.

I continued up and out to Matt, the staff at the top were saying power surge.

Afterwards I headed back into London Bridge but given the crowds headed up to the train station and onto a train to Charing Cross.

From Charing Cross I sauntered up Whitehall, still completely oblivious to what had happened although by now there was the sound of sirens across London.

It was only when I got back to our office in Norman Shaw that I realised the bombs had gone off bringing parts of London to a standstill, but worse, that people had died and more injured.

The eerie sound of sirens then sounded for the remainder of the day, no work was done, it was spent watching the news and just standing silently.

Lynne had driven in with one of her daughters that day and all the MPs were trying their best to act normal and strong in light of this terror attacks.

It was a day I will always remember and will never forget those who died or who were injured nor the people from the emergency services who were heros.

Thank you!

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East Coast Rail franchise

And now an email to stakeholders

Sent on behalf of Susan Goldsmith, Managing Director, National Express East Coast
Dear Stakeholder,

EAST COAST RAIL FRANCHISE

Following this week's announcements about the East Coast rail franchise, I am writing to assure you that National Express remains committed to ensuring that high standards of service are maintained and that any transfer to public ownership is conducted in an orderly and professional manner.

Contrary to some media reports, the Department for Transport has not nationalised the East Coast railway, nor has National Express been stripped of its franchise.

However, we have indicated to the Government that if current poor trading conditions prevail, due to the recession, the financial support available to National Express East Coast (NXEC) from its parent company, National Express Group plc, under the franchise agreement, will be exhausted by the end of 2009. In those circumstances, the East Coast railway will be transferred to public ownership. The Government has stated that it intends to tender for a new East Coast franchise operator from the end of 2010.Importantly, both National Express and the Government have confirmed that customers are unaffected by this week's announcements. It is business as usual for NXEC passengers, with services continuing to be run according to the published timetable, and tickets sold and honoured in the normal way.

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact either myself or Alan Hyde, NXEC's Head of Communications, at alan.hyde@nationalexpress.com or tel 0845 059 3155.

Yours sincerely
Susan Goldsmith
Managing Director
National Express East Coast
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Nottinghamshire Police dogs death

Here is the statement by Nottinghamshire Police, I am still very angry that this was allowed to happen.

I have written today to the Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable, Julia Hodson expressing my anger, concerns about lack of training and that they officer concerned should be prosecuted.

The address is Julia Hodson, Chief Constable, Nottinghamshire Police, Sherwood Lodge, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 8PP and urge you all to do the same.

Nottinghamshire Police in animal cruelty shock

Just realising via friends on Twitter and Facebook that Nottinghamshire Police have killed 2 of their dogs by allowing them to boil to death in effect.

Left in a police car with no ventilation!

I will be wrirting to the Chief Constable to urge the officer or officers concerned to be arrested and charged with animal neglect and cruelty.

We must all act to ensure there is no cover up - this is absolutely bloody appalling.

Shame on them!
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East Coast mainline

So, the Government have nationalised something else, the East Coast mainline, and David Milliband is this afternoon trying out the new Government service, on the 15.00 service from Kings Cross.

Here is the statement in an email just received from National Express themselves, with my comments <in brackets>

East Coast customer statement:

Dear Andrew,

Following recent announcements by National Express and the Department for Transport regarding the East Coast rail franchise, please be advised that our service to customers remains unaffected. <God help us all then>

National Express East Coast will continue to operate all its current services on the East Coast route to current timetables.

All existing tickets and travel documents will continue to be valid and honoured, including advance sales and bookings. Customers should continue to book tickets in advance for future journeys through the normal arrangements at stations, online, travel agents and by phone.

Visit nationalexpresseastcoast.com for up-to-date information.

Susan Goldsmith
Managing Director, National Express
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