Someone else's train, someone else's countryside

Ah yes, Belgium. Famous for its linguistic divide, its inability to form a government from time to time and for its beer. Ah, beer...

But I am here for none of these things, I am here to work. And, although my meeting doesn't start until 11.00 on Monday morning, I am carrying out some important research work first. Yesterday evening, I explored the area around Place Jourdan (alright, I admit, there may have been a little beer involved), with the Hon. Jamie, and today I am off to Liege, possibly to examine European shopping.

As a member of the ELDR Financial Advisory Committee, it is important that I have a sense of such things. The beer is merely refreshment.

It must be said though, that the countryside between Brussels and Liege is very nice, quite like Suffolk with its gentle, rolling landscape, its patchwork of green and brown. And Liege-Guillemins station is described as looking like a glass and concrete manta ray. You don't see those every day...

Music for a quiet evening in...

I understand, from reading some of the work of my fellow bloggers, that providing some indication that I have a life beyond politics is a good thing. You know, hobbies, favourite movies, that sort of thing.

And indeed, I do have a hinterland, whatever that is. My taste in music is, like my religion, catholic, ranging from Mahler at one end, to Madison Avenue at the other (what do you mean, you don't remember Madison Avenue?). And whilst we're on 'M', what about this from, and I know that it's hard to believe, 1998...

Cabinet Reshuffle 2012: how it affects Suffolk

With only two of the county's MPs surviving the 2010 General Election, and with five newcomers to the House of Commons, it wasn't terribly surprising that we were unrepresented within the serried ranks of Government Ministers at first.

Tim Yeo is, to put it bluntly, past it, with no likelihood of preferment, given that there were rumours before 2010 that he wouldn't be running again. David Ruffley, who might have been preferred had it not been for the Coalition, suffered from well-reported health problems, and the added stress of ministerial office might have exacerbated those.

The newcomers were a mixed bunch, with the three held seats going to outsiders, much to the chagrin of local Conservative activists, none of whom were considered worthy of the sinecure that is a safe Conservative shire county seat. Indeed, very few were considered to be worthy of inclusion in a shortlist to be put before local members. On the other hand, the target seats went to two candidates with excellent local credentials.

So, now that they've bedded in, they fall into the category of 'bright young talent', and therefore, potential new ministers.

Matthew Hancock was always likely to get on, as an acolyte of George Osborne, and his former chief of staff. West Suffolk was not his first choice of seat, having applied for selection in Macclesfield where, apparently, he was pretty awful in front of the members. Clearly, George bringing him to the Treasury is a way of instilling greater loyalty, and his future is very much tied to that of his sponsor.

Daniel Poulter's promotion to become a junior minister at Health is more of a surprise. Not because he lacks talent, as I happen to think that he is one of the more thoughtful, collegiate members of the 2010 Conservative intake, but because the idea of appointing someone who knows what he is talking about seems rather unlikely. If I were a health professional, I would be reassured by the presence of a practising surgeon within the Department of Health - he spends part of his recess at the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston.

Still no job for Peter Aldous, Therese Coffey or Ben Gummer, but as two of them will have tough battles for re-election in 2015, and Therese Coffey is a woman, no great surprise there.

So, Suffolk is closer to the centre of government following the reshuffle. It would be nice if it felt like that to the average voter...

London Metropolitan: that's another fine mess that Tory stupidity over immigration has gotten us into...

The combination of administrative ineptitude by the authorities at London Metropolitan University, and the pressure self-induced by an absurd promise by the Conservatives has created a nightmare for a group of innocent students far from home.

There is no doubt that, if the university authorities have failed to fulfil their obligations to ensure that only genuine students are admitted to the United Kingdom, sanctions are appropriate. But whilst the university may suffer in the medium and long term, the Government has a responsibility to protect legitimate visitors to our company.

So, instead of giving the students sixty days to find a new course, with the stress and risk of financial loss that this entails, why not ban the university from offering places to any new students, announce that their current student body will receive rather more scrutiny than might otherwise be the case, and impose an inspection regime for students to be financed by the university?

Something must be done quickly, because the current situation is fraught with danger for our university sector. If it were to become the case that overseas students could find their courses abolished at a moment's notice, they might decide that the risk is too great, and that going to the US, or Canada, or Australia might be a safer choice. And given the revenue that accrues to British universities from overseas, that loss could dwarf the costs of immigration that so trouble the Conservatives.

But once again, the Conservative insistence on setting an entirely impractical target has proved to have created more problems than it could ever solve. The response of the UK Border Agency is designed to appease the political agenda, rather than solve the problem. I would suggest that any benefit that might have thought to accrue from such a hardline stance will be dwarfed by the criticism that this will attract from those who believe in fair play and natural justice.

The hills are alive with the Sound of Music...

An evening of high culture here in Suffolk, as we've been to Snape for a singalong Sound of Music, accompanied by the charming and erudite Jonathan Fryer.

I know what you're thinking - it isn't obviously a place for a jobbing bureaucrat, but I do enjoy a good sing from time to time. Perhaps that explains why I tend to avoid Glee Club at Party Conferences...

However, having been persuaded, somewhat against my better judgement, that it would be fun, we set off for Snape, taking the opportunity to tell Jonathan a bit about the old demesne - he may have been to nearly two hundred countries, but not to Suffolk, it seems. We detoured to Aldeburgh which, despite the rain, put on a decent enough show. One must, I admit, ask how many wine merchants does a town that size need - three is possibly excessive - but it is wonderfully genteel.

But, time was passing and, if you're going to sing, you should do so well-fortified. The Plough and Sail at Snape Maltings is apparently under new management, and their food was marvellous. Duck liver parfait... mmmmm...

Sometimes, I'm told, Sound of Music singalongs are done with the film, and you join in. This evening, it was rather more of a performance. Accompanied by a three piece band, with Alex Woolf on piano (I know this because he subsequently contacted us via Twitter - @alexwoolf), who looked as though they were enjoying it without any loss of professionalism, we ran through the songs with proper musical direction, although not so much as to make it stilted and overly serious.

And with an audience who were clearly up for a fun night out, some dressed as nuns, others as brown paper packages tied up with string, as well as the odd Maria, singing was done. There was the occasional dress that looked like it was made out of curtains... or it could have been Laura Ashley - I often find it hard to tell the difference.

By the time we'd made it to the interval, we were tolerably good, but the second half was going to be the test. With a proper West End singer, and the Aldeburgh Choir, to do the hard bits, we'd have to be up to the mark. And we were or, at least from my untutored ear, we seemed to be.

Having approached the event with a degree of dread, I found myself enjoying the sheer silliness and enthusiasm of the thing. Surrounded by hordes of people out to enjoy themselves come what may, and steered gently by musicians who had a finely tuned sense of what worked, we gave it our best shot, and Rodgers and Hammerstein would have probably enjoyed the fact that we were doing so.

We started at the very beginning (a very fine place to start, it seems), we yodeled along with the lonely goatherd, and we climbed every mountain (without leaflets). And all too soon, it was time to escape over the mountains to Creeting St Peter, stopping only to generously and enthusiastically applaud the real performers. Luckily, the mountains of East Suffolk aren't too high...

Absolutely committe(e)d to road safety around Stowmarket

In the past, I might have noted the concerns that my fellow parish councillors have traffic speed through our village. So, when the opportunity arose to nominate a member of the Stowmarket and District Road Safety Committee, I had rather expected one of my colleagues to step forward.

Expectation is a funny thing though, so when it became apparent that there wasn't going to be a volunteer, I could see that my future would include the occasional debate about pedestrian crossings or road layouts. And it hasn't been so bad, made easier by the expert chairing of Keith Scarff and the excellent secretariat in the form of my stepdaughter, Sally.

So, when at our AGM there was a silence in the room as it became clear that our serving Vice Chair wasn't present, it was with a degree of caution that I offered my services to replace him - and was duly elected unopposed.

I'm not expecting to add a vast amount to my workload as a result of my elevation, but it acts as another connection between Creeting St Peter and the outside world. And that can only be a good thing, can't it?

Dipping her toe back into the water... Ros blogs again...

It is, I suppose, my fault. It was with my encouragement that she first began to blog in 2008, under the title 'Because Baronesses Are People Too...', as I thought that her commentary would be of interest, both as part of her campaign for the Party Presidency, and as a window on what she does. I had, perhaps, not thought out the consequences...

So, when things became a bit tense, some people thought that her blog offered an opportunity for a public dissection of the events of the day. In truth, that wasn't particularly viable, as Ros is not the sort of person who enjoys that sort of public confessional, and more importantly, as she was in possession of all of the facts, some of them quite personal and sensitive, it was impossible to properly correspond.

Under pressure, she took the sensible decision, to my mind, of calling a halt to proceedings. That wasn't easy, but I understood her dilemma. And since then, she has not blogged, nor have I suggested to her that she might. I have offered her a space here, but she hasn't felt the need to take me up on it.

However, she was recently approached by the Hansard Society to become a contributor to 'Lords of the Blog' and, slightly to my surprise, was sufficiently interested to 'give it a whirl'. And I suspect that this will work for her, as it suits her rather more gentle style. She isn't really comfortable with the partisan 'my party right or wrong' approach, and she likes to talk about ideas. It also gives her an opportunity to post on a more occasional basis, without the pressure to report back frequently.

So, we'll see how it goes, and for those of you interested in what Ros does, or thinks, here's the link to her first posting...

Creeting St Peter: a small problem for my Parish Council

I have, in the past, touched upon my Parish Council's difficulties with social media, in particular the divergence of views between myself and our Chair, and the Parish Clerk.

Our Chair is deeply suspicious of individualism, pleading collective responsibility as grounds to discourage personal commentary on the activities of the Parish Council. Given his background, such a stance is understandable, even as it vaguely bothers me.

Our Parish Clerk is more interested in using our website to communicate, and has initiated a Twitter feed (@creetingstpeter) which occasionally broadcasts news of potential interest - flood warnings, local events and the like. She does like to manage our external communication, which occasionally comes into conflict with the notion of independent councillors, but nonetheless, we are fairly cutting edge by rural parish standards.

But now, Eric Pickles has changed the game somewhat. His announcement that broadcasting of council meetings, live blogging from the public gallery, and even Twitter, are to be encouraged, nay welcomed, rather changes the balance of things.

The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 will come into force on 10 September 2012. Amongst the changes are new legal rights for citizen reporters. Local authorities are now obliged to provide reasonable facilities for members of the public to report the proceedings as well as accredited newspapers (regulation 4). This will make it easier for new 'social media' reporting of council executive meetings thereby opening proceedings up to internet bloggers, tweeting and hyperlocal news forums.

Which means that I am able to tweet my way through Parish Council meetings from here on in, and blog about them afterwards. Giving that public attendance at our meetings is generally low, and getting lower it seems, it won't create many issues in terms of facility provision, but it does create a window of opportunity for yours truly.

Mwah ha ha ha...

Tales from the Pacific Northwest... in no particular order

We've been away, as the deafening silence on the blog in early August might indicate. But we've been busy enjoying ourselves, far from the madding crowd...

And this is a picture of Tanu, the sea otter, at the Vancouver Aquarium. Tanu was part of Ros's birthday present this year, as I had arranged for a 'sea otter experience' for the pair of us, given Ros's love of sea otters.

The experience starts with a behind the scenes talk about sea otters, where they live, what they eat, what issues they encounter, and you get to find out some interesting things, such as, a sea otter has more individual hairs per square inch than a human has on their entire body, making their fur extremely soft and thick. 

That turned out to be pretty bad news for the sea otter, as fur traders rapidly discovered this, and hunted them pretty close to extinction. Fortunately, before it was too late, they became protected, and whilst they are nowhere near as prevalent as they once were, they are rebounding to a degree. They rely on that fur because, without blubber, they have no other way of keeping the cold out, and the Bering Sea and North Pacific are seldom anything other than cold.

Naturally, sea otters eat seafood, floating on their backs whilst they rip crustaceans and the like to bits, and using rocks to break open the shells of clams and other bivalves. I was surprised to find that, if a sea otter finds a really good stone, it can keep it in a sort of fur pouch in its armpit behind its front paws.

Our next experience was to visit the marine mammal kitchen, where we learned about how you keep sea otters amused with toys, varying them from day to day, and what you feed them. They may be cute, but they're expensive, eating squid, shrimp and scallops. It would be fair to say that Ros was slightly envious of the quality of their diet...

So, we knew a lot more about sea otters. But what we really wanted to do was meet one, and we were shown up to the exhibit and, whilst Tanu was the subject of the 'Sea Otter Talk' at front of house, we were being introduced to Elfin in the back for feeding time.

You aren't allowed to get too close to Elfin, for a whole bunch of really good reasons, but feeding him was tremendous fun, as he floats around looking adorable, and you get to toss him bits of squid, or shrimp. Elfin can strip the casing of a shrimp rather more effectively than I can, and watching him go to work on his food rather gave me an appetite too.

But sadly, that was the end of our 'experience'. I did buy Ros a mug with sea otters on it, a coaster with sea otters on, and a fridge magnet... with sea otters on, as a momento of our trip. 

One day, we'll go and see them in the wild...

Asil Nadir is guilty, but what is the effect on Hampshire?

Those with a long memory will remember that what made the Asil Nadir case most interesting to some was his record of donations to the Conservative Party. He was, to put it mildly, generous, giving £440,000 during the late 1980's, just before the Polly Peck campaign collapsed amidst allegations of theft and fraud.

I note that there have been calls for the Conservatives to return the funds, based on a curiously naïve declaration by Lord (then Sir Norman) Fowler that, were the funds proven to be stolen, they would be returned. Now, far be it from me to criticise, especially given the Liberal Democrats' own issues with Michael Brown, but I might reasonably assume that, given the response from Conservative Central Office, we might hear rather less self-righteous carping on the subject from the likes of the Times.

But my attention is drawn to a fragmentary memory of a news report from early July, that the former East Hampshire MP had been selected to be the Conservative candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner in November's election. That would be Michael Mates, whose rather unfortunate contribution to the Nadir saga was being forced to resign from John Major's government after it was discovered that he had given Nadir a watch inscribed "Don't let the buggers get you down" just before the latter fled prior to his trial in 1993.

I don't doubt that the good voters of Hampshire will be called upon to ask themselves whether or not selecting someone with such poor judgement should be given responsibility for policing matters, especially as, at the time, it was clear that there were irregularities in the financial arrangements at Polly Peck, even if criminality had not been proved. Indeed, I suspect that the Labour campaign manager is scouring the archives right now.

Or will Mates jump before he is pushed?...

Assange and Pussy Riot - am I missing something here?

The way in which some individuals or groups become heroes often seems random to me. Why this activist over that one, why that cause and not another, is a bit of a mystery. And I find myself a bit bemused about both of this week's cause celebres in particular.

Let's start with Julian Assange. I am minded to favour transparency over secrecy, and I don't want my government to break international law, so the notion of a group dedicated to uncovering covert acts is a worthy one. However, the way in which WikiLeaks operated, releasing information in such a way as to make individuals vulnerable to arrest and persecution without seemingly any concern for them, and leaking private communications expressing the true thoughts of diplomats and the like for no useful purpose other than embarrassment did not impress this civil servant. Occasionally, people have to deal with those they would rather not have to, rather unpleasant regimes for example, and diplomacy is often about being courteous to people you just can't like.

I can understand why the Americans would like to get hold of him, whether I believe that they should have a chance to try him or not. However, Assange is accused of serious sexual misconduct, offences which, had anyone else been accused of, we would be insisting be dealt with in a court of law. The Swedish authorities have sought to extradite him, he has sought to have the extradition refused using every legal weapon at his disposal, and at every stage, it has found that he should be sent to Sweden to stand trial.

And yet protests continue against his extradition. I don't see too many people speaking up for the rights of the women who claim that he abused them, or is the great Assange far too noble to ever do such a thing? Well, for someone of noble spirit, jumping bail and leaving your supporters to suffer significant financial hardship is hardly a demonstration of integrity. Clearly, their loss is of no importance compared to his freedom.

I would suggest that Julian Assange has, by his behaviour, indicated that he lacks morals sufficiently to raise legitimate doubts as to his honesty and integrity, thus making him a rather dubious poster child for freedom and transparency.

Pussy Riot are more complicated. Their behaviour in violating the sanctity of a holy place for the purpose of an anti-government protest was extremely stupid, and is worthy of contempt rather than applause. The freedom to practice one's religion without hindrance is a basic one, and the members of Pussy Riot weren't exactly respecting the freedom of those attempting to worship. The fact that they were videoed does not suggest a spontaneous act, either.

They probably deserve a slap on the wrist for stupidity and, perhaps, a public order offence. Two years in a penal colony is a quite deliberate, possibly provocative, response to their act.

Traditionally, the Soviet regime used the charge of hooliganism to take anti-Soviet elements off the streets, dissident poets and the like, discouraging opposition and potential opposition voices. In the current political atmosphere, where opposition voices are repressed by bureaucratic means, and occasionally arrest and police brutality, such a sentence as that handed down to Pussy Riot is a reminder of fears that Vladimir Putin wants to lead Russia back down the path towards a totalitarian state, a future which worries its neighbours and its potential rivals.

That said, Russia does have laws, some of which appear to have been broken. The fact that we don't like them much, and wouldn't have them here is somewhat irrelevant, compared to the question of whether or not they have been applied in a punitive manner in this case, the answer to which I do not know. If Pussy Riot have broken such laws, and their punishment is consistent with the usual range of sentences in such cases, we would be better off attempting to persuade the Russian authorities to change their laws. And if their punishment is disproportionate, then some diplomatic pressure might be appropriate.

But, fundamentally, the members of Pussy Riot have sought to provoke a reaction from the Russian authorities and have now succeeded in doing so. They didn't need to use a cathedral as the setting for their protest, but they did, thus providing the opportunity for the authorities to punish them. I'm not sure that they are that worthy a cause under those circumstances...

European Selection Diary: Day 29 - phase two over, now what?

Applications have closed, and I now have a pretty good idea as to what happens next. So far, so good. Our next task as a shortlisting committee is to decide how many we aim to shortlist and decide how to get from where we are now to what we want. We also have to decide upon a spending limit - there is a recommended amount, which I am minded to agree - and on a format for the members meeting in Cambridge, which we're working on.

So, what's next on the agenda?

There are doubtless some applicants who have either assessment days or conversion interviews outstanding - it isn't always easy to schedule them earlier - so shortlisting committees will have to choose whether or not to wait for them and, if they choose to wait, how long they wait for. I tend to the view that applicants should be given every chance if possible, but that isn't necessarily a shared view.

There isn't a tearing hurry - shortlists aren't scheduled to be published until 3 October - but there's never any point in leaving things to the last minute. Time to roundup the committee, methinks...

Note to self: don't sing in public if you can't sing, eh Mitt?

One of the benefits of being here in the US as the Presidential campaign heats up is that you get to see what the candidates are doing to each other.

So, without further ado, here's the latest Obama campaign ad...

European Selection Diary: Day 28 - everything's under control, time to fly.

It is traditional that, if I am involved in a European Parliamentary candidate selection, that there will be a complication. Most of the time, it has involved being somewhere a long way away when a key part of the process was scheduled.

In 1997, I missed all of the hustings, as I had booked a holiday before even being appointed as Returning Officer. In 2002, I had to approve the manifestos via a somewhat unreliable internet connection from a hotel in Buenos Aires.

In 2007, I did something different. I met Ros, and by the time we reached the shortlisting phase, we were engaged. It would be fair to say that I was a mite distracted throughout.

And so, on the day that applications for the selection closed, where was the Chair of the Shortlisting Committee? In the departure lounge at Vancouver Airport, heading for Portland, Oregon. After all, we're not scheduled to carry out shortlisting interviews until September, and everything else is the responsibility of the Returning Officer. Besides, Ros and I needed a holiday.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, the sun is shining, it's pleasantly warm and, after a pleasant enough flight yesterday, we are jetlagged out of our minds - we are now eight time zones away. To come, sea otters and Alaskan ferries, a Lords reunion and a gold rush to the Yukon, some of the best craft-brewed beers and more seafood than you can shake a crab stick at. There will be politics, as we're in the US as the Presidential campaign heats up and turns nasty.

So, enjoy the Olympics, we'll be back soon...

European Selection Diary: Day 27 - everything's under control, time to fly.

It is traditional that, if I am involved in a European Parliamentary candidate selection, that there will be a complication. Most of the time, it has involved being somewhere a long way away when a key part of the process was scheduled.

In 1997, I missed all of the hustings, as I had booked a holiday before even being appointed as Returning Officer. In 2002, I had to approve the manifestos via a somewhat unreliable internet connection from a hotel in Buenos Aires.

In 2007, I did something different. I met Ros, and by the time we reached the shortlisting phase, we were engaged. It would be fair to say that I was a mite distracted throughout.

And so, on the day that applications for the selection close, where is the Chair of the Shortlisting Committee? In the departure lounge at Vancouver Airport, heading for Portland, Oregon. After all, we're not scheduled to carry out shortlisting interviews until September, and everything else is the responsibility of the Returning Officer. Besides, Ros and I needed a holiday.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, the sun is shining, it's pleasantly warm and, after a pleasant enough flight yesterday, we are jetlagged out of our minds - we are now eight time zones away.

To come, sea otters and Alaskan ferries, a Lords reunion and a gold rush to the Yukon, some of the best craft-brewed beers and more seafood than you can shake a crab stick at. There will be politics, as we're in the US as the Presidential campaign heats up and turns nasty.

So, enjoy the Olympics, we'll be back soon...

European Selection Diary: Day 15 - it's so much easier being the Chair of the Shortlisting Committee...

Five years ago, I was juggling three 'activities' at once, being Returning Officer for the South East European candidate selection, serving on the London European selection committee and... dating Ros. Yes, we'd been seeing each other for about a week by now, and I was attempting to burn the candle at both ends and the middle.

I have to admit that chairing the shortlisting committee is rather easier, as I have nothing really to do now, and all of the work is in the hands of our Returning Officer, who doesn't appear to have much to say for now.

So, we've gone to Latitude, courtesy of the BBC. And no, it isn't a freebee, as Ros is here to be on Pienaar's People, on Radio 5 Live at 7.30. Well, I suppose that it's a freebee for me, because I'm only here because Ros is. But I did navigate her here successfully...

And, unusually, the sun is shining, albeit intermittently, and Simple Minds are performing in the Obelisk Arena. I admit that I was always more of a Hue and Cry man myself, but the slightly more mature crowd appear to be enjoying themselves well enough and the mosh pit appears to be pretty packed - at least I assume it's a mosh pit, we really don't have such things at Snape for string quartets.

Interestingly, somewhere out there is Therese Coffey, the Conservative MP for Suffolk Coastal, who is, it seems, a Simple Minds fan. I shall eschew the obvious gag... but feel free to carry on without me...

European Selection Diary: Day 12 - the dilemma of the level playing field

One of the key problems of European selections is, as I have already noted, the incumbency factor. The processes are designed to, as far as is possible, create a level playing field. The reality, of course, is that no such thing exists.

The profile of a sitting MEP is huge, relative to virtually any potential opponents, a point seemingly oblivious to those who design the selection process. For only someone oblivious to that inbuilt bias would restrict the ability of individual candidates to actually campaign, which has been the position in the past. Luckily, I have, in recent years, found myself in a position to try to change that, as a member of the English Candidates Committee, and I did the best that I could.

It isn't easy, and there are legitimate arguments against 'letting a thousand flowers bloom'. In the first list selection, some very clever candidates exposed gaping weaknesses in the then rules, spending unimaginable amounts of money in search of that elusive top position on the list which almost guaranteed electoral success and a ticket to Brussels. And why not? After all, it really mattered because you could actually win.

The powers that be weren't going to be fooled again, and the rules became more restrictive - no buying electoral success because that wasn't fair, was it? But in an age before Twitter and Facebook were so potentially influential, the cost of telephone calls, letters and leaflets was potentially a hurdle to candidates without means, so making it virtually impossible to use them was obviously a good thing, right? Well, no, it wasn't, was it?

The internet has changed the way we campaign, albeit more so in internal Party affairs than amongst the general public. It is free, or at worst cheap, which is good. From a Returning Officer's perspective, and in terms of control, it offers an interesting challenge, however. The old philosophy, whereby a Returning Officer acted as an all-seeing gatekeeper, becomes impossible when you can theoretically send an e-mail to 2000 or more members without recourse to him or her (usually him, in my experience, for reasons I can't begin to comprehend).

Instead, the emergence of the Returning Officer as a policeman has become desirable, whereby instead of approving everything, an arduous task at best, he or she merely deals with complaints, leaving the candidate to take responsibility for reading the rules and acting accordingly. It always puzzled me that, in a Party which believed in giving people power over their own lives, we put such restrictions on those who wish to put those principles into practice as elected politicians.

So, we'll see if our people are up to the challenge. As an optimist, I'd like to think that they are, although my experiences have demonstrated that you shouldn't presume anything. And as I won't have a disciplinary role this time, it won't be my problem anyway. Let's just say that I'm not exactly unhappy with that...

European Selection Diary: Day 10 - some thoughts on how winners emerge

One of the most difficult aspects of list selections is the incumbency factor, and it now acts to dissuade potential candidates from running. For, let's face it, a credible MEP has the advantage of recognition, and a profile across the Region which is, in electoral terms, worth its weight in gold. And, unless you have a similar reputation, you're going to have to go out and earn it.

Publicity is a good idea, but it's harder to get than one might think, and remember, you're trying to persuade party members, many of whom aren't terribly active. So, whilst attending a lot of events around your Region is a good thing, what you do when you meet people is key to your success.

Making friends and influencing people is the name of the game, and if you can persuade people that you are a 'good thing', you might be able to persuade them to help out with your campaign. Twenty telephone calls that they make to members on their patch is twenty calls that you don't have to make, and if someone they know tells them that you are worthy of their support, they are certainly more likely to vote for you, or at least give you a higher preference.

And in a Region like the East of England, stretching across six counties, having someone in each Local Party, or even just some of them will help. Remember, there'll be probably just one hustings, in our case at the Regional Conference, and less than 5% of the electorate will be there, and so, unless you can find some way to reach the others, the only things they'll see about you is the manifesto. Believe me, there isn't that much that you can say in a manifesto that will make you stand out from the crowd.

It does, of course, depend on the quality of your opposition, and the reason you've chosen to run, but whatever the motivation, you need a plan, and you need it now...

The heady social whirl that is the Liberal Democrats in the summer

There was a time, when I was a Regional Officer in London, when I attended a fair few Liberal Democrat social events. As the husband of the President, I attended a lot, sometimes more than one in a day.

However, now that I live full time in the country, there are less events to attend. Except that, during the summer, local branches like to hold outdoor events, so last week we were in Little Finborough for a Stowmarket Branch lunch. And no light repast either, with a proper roast lunch, desert and a cheeseboard, at the home of Bosmere's county councillor, Julia Truelove.

And despite the slightly fickle weather, everybody had a great time, although we had to leave before the tortoise hunt (it escaped, and hadn't been found yet), we did win a bottle of wine in the raffle, and I managed to get some Local Party business done.

This week's event was on Saturday in Baylham, a Central Suffolk and North Ipswich barbecue at the home of John and Kay Field. John is the county councillor for Gipping Valley, and throws a mean barbecue. He was a bit luckier with the weather, and there was an opportunity to keep up with the tennis.

Next week was supposed to include a Thedwastre branch event at Rattlesden, but sadly it has been cancelled due to the weather...

European Selection Diary: Day 9 - I remember the good old days...

It is hard to imagine now, but there was a time when European selections drew a crowd.

In 1997, I received a telephone call from the then Candidates Officer, Sandra Dunk, asking if I could act as a Returning Officer for the European selection, with South East England as my intended assignment. I considered the timetable and offered my apologies, as I had already booked a trip which coincided with the scheduled hustings phase. And, although I did suggest that, if nobody else could be found, I was willing to fill in, I didn't expect to be involved.

Two days later, the call came. "Yes, we do need you,", I was told, "and we'll cover the hustings for you.". Under the circumstances, how could I say no?

South East England was, to say the least, going to be a lively contest. A zipping arrangement had been mandated, whereby the list would alternate by gender, organised by means of two separate, but contemporaneous ballots. And whilst it was suggested that the choice was gender to top each regional list appeared designed to favour certain individuals, in South East England there was every likelihood of electing two MEPs. Emma Nicholson, who had recently defected from the Conservatives, was the odds-on favourite to get the female slot, but the male contest was anyone's guess.

And the organising wasn't easy. Trying to bring together three Party Regions (South East, Hants & Wight and Chiltern) and ensuring that all three felt part of the process was a challenge, especially as Chiltern was involved in the East of England selection too. But the selection committee, chaired by Lord Dholakia, gelled together, and we were ready to go. We needed to be, especially when more than seventy applications arrived.

And boy, what a contest it turned out to be. But that's a story for another day...

Creeting St Peter: culture, courtesy of the Parochial Church Council

Whilst we are small, if perfectly formed, our village is not exactly a hive of cultural activity. Yes, we do have an artist, in Isobel Clover, whose tapestries are highly regarded, but we're not on the touring schedules yet.

Let it not be said that the Parochial Church Council aren't trying though, and it was their efforts that drew Ros, her sister Ann, and I to St Peter's on Saturday evening for a concert given by Acafella, a local barber shop quartet, who performed in front of an audience of thirty or so from the village to raise funds for the maintenance of the church and its surrounds.

I happen to be rather fond of traditional barber shop, and although the performance including quite a few adaptations of popular songs, all of which were performed with enthusiasm and no little skill, I was pleased when they performed some of the more classic repertoire. They were very good nonetheless, and the first half of the concert flew by, before a light supper and drinks were served, which we ate outside in the churchyard - the rain held off - before returning for the second half.

There was a raffle first though, in which I won a bottle of wine (this appears to be becoming a habit). Luckily, we do seem to able to drink the stuff, and the fridge is designed to keep five bottles nicely chilled for consumption as required.

More singing, much applause and, before we knew it, the concert was over. Three encores were sung, and enjoyed, and it was time to go. It was a delightful evening and, apparently, we can look forward to a harp recital in October...

European Selection Diary: Day 8 - allowing myself to be distracted in, and by, Norfolk...

Even a candidate selection buff like myself has to have other things to do in life, and apart from building a mass transit system for Needham Market, and attacking the Iroquois (I'm playing Civilisation 3, for those who were wondering), Ros and I do like to get out and about at the weekend.

And so, after a late breakfast, we set off towards South Norfolk, crossing the Waveney on our way to Kirstead Hall, for a tour organised as part of the 'Invitation to View' programme. It's a programme of particular fondness for Ros, as she was involved in its launch, nearly twenty years ago in her early days as a county councillor, and she still enjoys visiting the odd property when time permits.

Kirstead Hall is owned and occupied by the Murphys, who showed us around the Tudor hall, the dovecote and the furniture restoration workshop, before giving us tea and scones. I particularly enjoyed the tour as I spent a good part of it with an orange cat over my shoulder, which can only be a good thing.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in South Norfolk, more work was coming my way. I am, amongst other things, the Returning Officer for the selection of a Police and Crime Commissioner candidate for Norfolk, and Richard Carden, a figure familiar to anyone who has been involved in politics in these parts, has been organising things. This evening, he has presented me with draft documents and, on that basis, their advert will be going live this week.

And as for the European Selection? Well, our Returning Officer, Mike Thornton, is having computer trouble, but we seem to be alright still. Fingers remain well and truly crossed though...

European Selection Diary: Day 7 - Hello? Hello? Is there anybody out there?

Now that I am able to sleep like a normal human being again (that is not to say that I will, but I could if I wanted to), there is a little time to reflect.

In the past three list selections, I have been the Returning Officer, dealing with the influx of requests for application packs and the like, and so have had a pretty good idea what is happening. As Chair of the Shortlisting Committee, all I know is what our Returning Officer is willing to tell me, so I'm not as well-informed as I might otherwise wish. All I can do is wait...

However, there are things to ponder about. Will we have enough, indeed any, women candidates? Will BAME applicants emerge to take part? And how much effort should I make to do something about that?

There is a conflict of interest, in that as Chair of the Shortlisting Committee, I must remain strictly neutral. However, if I am expected to seek out women and BAME applicants, and encourage them to take part, does that not engender a sense of obligation on my part, in that, having gently twisted their arms to compete, it would be unfair to then reject them.

So, if I can't actively encourage them, what can I do? Well, having mulled over the question, I have concluded that I can ask what the relevant 'lobby groups' are doing, i.e. the Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats, the Campaign for Gender Balance and the Women Liberal Democrats. After all, one of their roles is to support and encourage, isn't it? And it would surely be better coming from them, I feel.

Doubtless, when this is over, there will be another round of recriminations diversity. As a shortlisting committee, we can, and will, do everything in our power to make all applicants feel comfortable. But we can't campaign for them and, unless they can beat an incumbent MEP (very unlikely), or are prominent in a Region without an incumbent, their chances of ultimate success are relatively slim.

Applicants might be better off thinking about the Shortlisting in terms of a long-term strategy. Building a campaign team and across six counties doesn't happen overnight, it takes months and indeed years of networking, building links, making friends, which you then utilise when the campaign starts. And despite the fact that I've been pointing this out for a decade, very few people appear to listen.

But, if you are interested in being a European candidate, regardless of who you are, or where you come from, do think about applying. We want the very best lists we can construct, and we want to draw on all of the talent that we know is out there. And I'm sure that I speak for the whole Region when I say that...

European Selection Diary: Day 6 - and they're off...

I'm not going to say that it was pretty, but at 11.50 last night, I was satisfied that all of the paperwork was finalised, and could drain the wine glass on my desk in the knowledge that the application pack was ready to go.

There is an awful lot of paperwork for prospective applicants to read, and only two weeks to complete the application form and submit it to our Returning Officer, Mike Thornton. And, in spite of my concerns about the shortness of the application window, I am already hearing rumours of potential contenders, which bodes well.

This is, for applicants, quite a difficult exercise. In a relatively short period, a candidate needs to develop a campaigning strategy, build a team of supporters, and organise their time so as to maximise their opportunities to reach thousands of members across six counties in a Region that stretches from Cromer to Tring, and from Peterborough to Southend. Attending local events involves covering many miles, with no guarantee of success. The reward is, for most of those on the list, a position which offers no likelihood of final success, merely the satisfaction of a job well done and, perhaps, some wider exposure which might be cashed in later as other opportunities arise.

Of course, as we've discovered in this Parliament, the incumbent might stand down part way through their term, creating an opportunity for a runner-up...

Finally, a good showing might put an applicant in a better position for the next selection, establishing credibility and contacts for the next time. It is a strategy that has worked for at least three current members of the European Parliament, and it could be you (yes, you!) next time. Remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint.

So, the shortlisting committees can take a well earned breather, whilst the Returning Officers issue application packs and await completed application forms.

The contest starts here...

Time flies by when I'm a driver of a train...

Amidst the unexpected chaos that arises when you are given a last minute vital job, I haven't had time to report on my Christmas present from Ros, which I took up on Saturday.

Ros drove us to Castle Hedingham, in North Essex, in increasingly poor conditions, for my 'Steam Train Experience' on the Colne Valley Railway and, I have to admit that, as the rain beat down ever more insistently, I was rather nervous at the prospect of attempting to drive a large metal mechanical object, especially given my lack of experience driving anything.

Luckily, we weren't alone, and I left Ros to meet friends whilst I underwent my induction into driving a steam engine. The session started with a forty-five minute course, with PowerPoint presentation, on the history and mechanics of steam locomotives, with namechecks for Richard Trevithick and George Stephenson, and quite a lot of technical detail. I hung on as best I could and, by the end of it, I had a pretty good idea what to expect.

The three trainees, Jim, Jeff and myself, were then split up - Jim and Jeff to the steam engine, and me to the signalbox, where I was introduced to Harold, the signalman. The rain had stopped, and the sun was shining by now, and Harold explained how the signalling system works on their short, but perfectly formed length of working track.

After a few demonstrations, it was my turn to operate the various levers, and I was surprised at just how heavy they are. However, I managed to operate everything in the right order to avoid a train wreck, and the logical progression of signalling appeals to my inner bureaucrat.

Next, it was time to rotate trainees, and I donned my new, suspiciously clean, overalls for my first turn on the footplate of our steam locomotive, learning the role of the fireman. My instructor, Tim, was particularly good at flicking big lumps of anthracite into just the right spots in the firebox to ensure an even burn and maximise engine performance. It isn't simply about chucking vast amounts of coal in, and the art is about maintaining a relatively thin layer of coals whilst avoiding holes in the coverage.

Another thing that I learned is that the best position for a fireman to stand is facing at right-angles to the direction of travel. This minimises the amount of movement and maximises the amount that can be shovelled from the coalbox. But be careful, everything to your left is VERY hot, so try not to fall against it.

And finally, it was time to actually drive the locomotive. Malcolm, my instructor, showed me the six things to operate, the handbrake, the steam brake, the gearstick, the regulator, something else whose name escapes me, and, best of all, the whistle. It was at this point that my lack of driving experience presented an interesting challenge. You see, most drivers are used to a fast response when braking and, as a result, leave their braking too late. I expected the braking to be far slower than it actually is, and initially ended up stopping rather sooner than I had intended.

But I grew more confident as we ran up and down the track, hitting my braking points and enjoying the sound of a steam locomotive in motion. The sun shone, and I was able to wave at Ros as we travelled. It was hugely entertaining, and Ros tells me that I was beaming away as I sped past.

All too soon, it was over though. But as I took off my overalls and headed back to my beloved Ros, it was with a real sense of achievement and satisfaction. An excellent ploughman's followed (the buffet car at the Colne Valley Railway is rather good, and very reasonably priced if you're in the area), and all in all, I would describe it as a day that I won't forget in a hurry.

So, thanks to Ros for another amazing present, and to the Colne Valley Railway for providing such a great experience.

European Selection Diary: Day 5 - no time to relax, it's later than you think...

The final day dawns before the advert goes live, and we are still to agree a Regional Profile. As Chair, my role is to produce a draft, incorporate the proposed additions and corrections, and reissue it in time to get everyone's agreement. Well, I say everyone but, at this stage, getting a majority of the Selection Committee onboard may be the best I can hope for.

I have discovered some things that I had previously been unaware of. For example, did you know that Norfolk has the only milking herd completely run by a robot? No, I didn't either.

I think that we've agreed the Selection Criteria, the application form follows from that, and apart from the fact that we haven't physically met (there simply wasn't time), I think that we're in pretty good shape. I've even found time to write a report for the Regional Executive who, conveniently, meet on Saturday, presumably in Cambridge. I won't be there.

In another of those unexpected coincidences, I am also responsible for publishing the article written by the Senior Returning Officer, Jonathan Davies, for Liberal Democrat Voice on Friday. And, whilst I have noted my concern over the two week window for applications (a mite short, perhaps?), I wasn't around when the decision was taken, so I'm not taking any responsibility for any unhappiness that follows.

So, a bit of scrabbling about still to do, but it looks as though we'll be ready, by the skin of our teeth for the starter's pistol tomorrow morning. And I'm led to believe that there are candidates already raring to go... 

European Selection Diary: Day 4 - sleeping is for the weak...

In forty-eight hours, we've made pretty good progress. The selection criteria are almost agreed, a draft Regional Profile has been circulated, and a vast array of papers have turned up from Party HQ in the nick of time. For me, this is pretty amazing, as I am prone to leaving things to the last moment.

The Selection Committee and Returning Officer have been hard at work, reading documents, letting me have their thoughts, and generally being great, and we're even now talking dates for the shortlisting phase.

The one members meeting (you can't call them hustings any more), will take place at the Regional Conference in Cambridge on 20 October (I think that I chair that), and I am encouraging Local Parties to organise events elsewhere to give the applicants an opportunity to meet members.

I do have some concerns, however. As the deadline for publishing the advert was missed, due to the failure to appoint a Returning Officer for South West England until very late in the day, the deadline for applications is only two weeks after the advert goes live. That does potentially mean that anyone going away on holiday will have very little time to complete their application form, and I do wonder whether or not more time could be given, especially as we have more than ten weeks to agree the final shortlist.

That may be something we need to look at in the coming week...

Did you ever wish that someone actually listened to you?

Yesterday, our office received an unexpected visit from a senior member of HM Revenue & Customs, apparently wanting to hear our views about Pacesetter, the workflow management system that we use. Less than two hours notice was given, and we only had about twenty minutes, but it was at least an opportunity.

And so, there she was, talking to us briefly about who she was and what she did, before it was our turn. Apart from one individual's attempt to hijack the session with irrelevancies, my colleagues raised various concerns in an entirely reasonable way, issues such as deskilling, such as working to targets rather than responding to customer needs. All very courteous, all entirely constructive.

Her response? "It all seems to be working very well for you.". Cue raised eyebrows as she headed off to her next session.

Bear in mind that this is in a Government Department with desperately poor levels of staff engagement, and one realises that, regardless of how well-meaning our leaders are, unless the culture changes throughout an organisation, creating a more engaged and enthused workforce will always run into the sand.

I'm rather hoping that said senior manager won't return to this office, as I might feel obliged to be slightly less polite next time...

European Selection Diary: Day 3 - introducing Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band...

So, who are these terribly important people who will be responsible for producing a shortlist of candidates for the delectation and delight of Liberal Democrat members in the East of England? And who made us king, anyway?

Like so many areas of the Party's bureaucracy, it comes down to those mad enough to volunteer, and those too slow to hide when a 'volunteer' was sought or, in particularly unfortunate instances, the person volunteered in their absence (and let that be a warning to you!). 

So, let me introduce the East of England Selection Committee, in no particular order;

Jon Whitehouse - Epping Forest Local Party, trained Returning Officer, councillor for Epping Hemnall ward on Epping Forest District Council, and a fantastic campaign organiser. I've worked with him in the past in London, and know that he knows his stuff.

Barbara Rix - Broadland Local Party, another trained Returning Officer, councillor for Buxton ward on Broadland District Council, where she won in a glorious by-election in 2009 and was re-elected last year. Some of you will know her as one of the stewards at Federal Conference. Impossible not to like.

Henry Vann - Bedford Local Party, our Parliamentary candidate for Bedford and Kempston in 2010, councillor for De Parys ward on Bedford Borough Council, active in Liberal Youth not so long ago.

Rupert Moss-Eccardt - Cambridge Local Party, known to some as 'that guy that explains Connect', active at Regional Party level.

Kate Sayer - South West Norfolk Local Party, Regional Candidates Chair, East of England, another trained Returning Officer. The person who appointed me as Chair - either a move of genius or insanity, we are yet to discover which.

We also have two reserves, Catherine Smart, the former Regional Candidates Chair, and Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne, who fought Central Suffolk and North Ipswich in 2010, so the substitute bench is a strong one.

And finally, me. I've done this before, as Returning Officer for South East England in 1997, 2002 and 2007, and as a member of London's Selection Committee in 2007. I understand the Rules, the process and the psychology of a European Selection. If it does go horribly wrong, I'll at least know why...

We also have a Returning Officer, whose job it is to manage the candidates and to ensure that we, the Selection Committee, fulfil our obligations. But more about him another day, I think...

A Conservative initiative I'm sure we can all support...

Catching up with the Sunday papers last weekend, Ros brought my attention to a story of immense personal interest, although of little to most readers.

In a 10-minute Rule Bill today, Oliver Colvile, the MP for Plymouth Sutton & Devonport, will present the Honours (Equality of Titles for Partners) Bill, which calls for "husbands and civil partners of those receiving honours to be allowed to use equivalent honorary titles to those available to women".

Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph, Mr. Colvile said "The current system is uneven and rather outdated.

"If you are made a peer or a knight, your wife automatically gets the title lady, but if you are gay or are a woman and become a dame your partner gets nothing.

"I just think it's an anomaly which needs to be put right.

"In a lot of marriages the other half ends up playing a very significant role in their career. I think we have got to make sure it's recognised in the same way for men and women, and in civil partnerships.

"It's important that there's equality in this things and I think this is something which needs to be sorted out."

Now, I have to admit to having mixed feelings about this. On one hand, a title really isn't obviously me, after all, I can hardly use it at work. On the other though, it does seem rather unfair that a wife gets a title, whereas a husband or civil partner doesn't.

It does appear that the Government are taking this seriously though, and I presume that it falls within the responsibilities of Lynne Featherstone, so I await events with interest...

European Selection Diary: Day 2 - now that we've found love, what are we going to do?

An application pack for a European Parliamentary Selection consists of a number of elements. The Selection Rules, obviously, and an application form, of course, form part of it. However, from the perspective of the Selection Committee, the elements that require most work are the Selection Criteria and the Regional Profile.

The Selection Criteria, for those of my readers who don't get involved in the details of candidate selection, are basically a list of attributes that we, the Selection Committee, deem to be most necessary in a candidate. You will note the potential flaw here, in that a good candidate might not necessarily make a good MEP. However, that's never really proved to be a problem, and given that we've never elected more than two candidates in any European Region, one must acknowledge that nearly all of our applicants, and most of our candidates, will need campaigning skills first and foremost.

Theoretically, the criteria are used to achieve two things - to inform the candidates as to what we're looking for, and to use as a measure during the longlisting and shortlisting phases, assuming that we have either. They should be fairly standard across the English Regions, although there is scope for variation, depending on local circumstance. You might, for example, want particular knowledge of a specified policy area, or of a particular type of campaigning.

The Regional Profile is designed to inform applicants about the Region, the Regional Party and activity around it at local level. This helps applicants to campaign, by indicating informally where most members are, where we have councillors, key issues and the like.

So, we have started work on these documents as a priority. Actually, I've sent out a first draft of the Selection Criteria, in the hope that everyone will accept them, and asked for volunteers to write parts of the Regional Profile. At least this way I'll find out how engaged my fellow Selection Committee members are...

European Selection Diary: Day 1 - what do you mean, I'm in charge?

You know how it is sometimes, when in a moment of weakness, you say, "Oh yes, I'll serve on that committee, it shouldn't take up much of time.", only to discover that there's rather more to it than meets the eye. Well, for me, it's the European Selection Committee for the East of England.

Last month, it was noted at a meeting of the Suffolk County Co-ordinating Committee that we were supposed to nominate someone to serve on the Selection Committee, and that we hadn't had a volunteer. Noting my experience in this particular field, I let my name go forward and was promptly proposed. And then it went fairly quiet. Our Returning Officer had asked for some information about us all, some of which I was a bit bemused by, but no matter, and I assumed that all was under control. Until this afternoon, that is.

I was minding my own business at a Stowmarket Branch lunch - very nice roast lunch, with a cheeseboard, no less - when my pocket buzzed rather persistently. Yes, I know, I should have left it alone, but... I reached for my BlackBerry to find a message from our Regional Candidates Chair, Kate Sayer. It appeared that, due to a degree of confusion between various parties, the application pack for the European selection had not been prepared which, given that the advertisement will be published on Friday, presented us with a slight problem.

As the Selection Committee hasn't met, there is a degree of urgency, and it was suggested that I become Chair of the Selection Committee and, thus, responsible for dealing with the problem. Luckily, deep in the bowels of my home computer is an entire application pack for the 2007 South East England European selection (I was their Returning Officer), so the task was suddenly that little bit easier.

So, I have accepted the appointment and, unless anyone disagrees, I'd better get on with it...

Wish me luck!