And suddenly, it went dark... Day 1

Monday morning, the big storm that had wreaked havoc across the south-west was coming our way and, as I couldn't get to work anyway - all trains had been cancelled and I had decided to take a reading day so as not to waste it - I was talking to Ros when it suddenly went quiet.

The television, which had been on downstairs, was silent, so I tested a light switch. Nothing. So, I checked the fusebox, which seemed to be just fine. I popped outside to check our meter, which was out, so we had ourselves a power cut.

I learned from the last time that ringing UK Power Networks was pretty useless - they had told me to run a series of checks to test the household electrics despite the fact that I could see that the entire village was in darkness. However, they have a Twitter account, so I sent them a message.

@UKPowerNetworks We appear to be without electricity here in IP6 8QR, what's the prognosis?

— Mark Valladares (@honladymark) October 28, 2013

They responded pretty quickly, even though they didn't seem to be aware that we had a problem, so, having begun to appreciate the scale of the damage across the county, I left it at that for a while.

Ros got away, as the train service across East Anglia began to run again, leaving me in a dark, cold house in the expectation that matters would return to normal shortly. I ordered a pizza for home delivery and waited...

Still very dark in Creeting St Peter, due to power cut, am drinking chianti and reading about the Borgias...
— Mark Valladares (@honladymark) October 28, 2013

Sivuqaq: a love story

I admit that I have a fondness for animals, although not always the obvious ones. Sea otters, giraffe and orangutans are fairly obvious, I guess, but iguana, rhinos and aardvarks aren't. But I have discovered a new favourite.

Walruses are not exactly cute. They don't have the range of clever tricks that, say seals have. They aren't graceful on land, or dramatic in the water, but they have character. And, as someone who likes to describe himself as more walrus than gazelle, I find myself fascinated by them.

And so it was with some delight that I came across a documentary about walruses on BBC2 on Saturday night. Sivuqaq (he's the handsome devil on the right-hand side of the picture) is the hero of our story, with a range of delightful and charming habits, but with one flaw. Movie star, character actor - he was the walrus in 50 First Dates - but so far, not successful as a father. And, if I couldn't be what I am now, I suspect that I'd be quite happy being him.

Sadly, it's only on BBC i-player for another ten days, until 31 October, so I strongly recommend that you take some time to have a look.

You won't regret it...

Good(ish) news for Stowupland bus passengers

Following on from my story last month, it would appear that Galloways have decided that they might be able to run a bus service to Stowupland without subsidy, and will be introducing a new route 387 to replace First Group's route 87.

There are some particularly interesting features, with some extra buses in the morning to provide a half-hourly service during the morning rush (hourly otherwise), although the last bus leaves something to be desired if you're working regular office hours - it will run at 4.35 p.m. There will also be a Saturday service, again hourly, and again with a last bus from Stowmarket at 4.35 p.m.

Worse still, the last bus from Stowupland will leave at 2.45 p.m (Monday to Friday) or 3.15 p.m. (Saturday), which is not ideal. It is, however, better than nothing.

There are, it should be noted, a few later buses from Stowmarket on Galloway routes 384 and 456, but nothing to help if you want to leave Stowupland.

That leaves passengers dependent on the Suffolk Links Gipping North service, which I strongly recommend, which offers a demand responsive service, if not one that allows for spontaneous travel.

Editorial: think not what local government can do for you, but what you can do without...

This is a cross-posting from the Creeting St Peter Journal...

Recent announcements by both Mid Suffolk District Council and Suffolk County Council to the effect that they are both going to need to make hefty cuts in their expenditure to deal with reduced income from Whitehall can only mean one of three things. Either they will need to cut waste, raise Council Tax levels in real terms, or cut services.

Raising Council Tax levels isn't that easy. The insistence that any increase above a certain, arbitrary, centrally-defined amount triggers a referendum of voters means that local councillors are loathe to even try - running a campaign against an increase in your tax bill is pretty easy, and most local politicians would rather tell you what they think you would like to hear, i.e. you can have services and someone else will pay for them.

Naturally, if the media are to be believed, there are huge levels of waste in government which could be attacked to protect front line services. Sadly, whilst there is waste, it isn't necessarily caused by bad management, but by the fact that people want services supplied that, were they to have to pay for them directly, they might think twice about keeping.

And as for cutting services, well, most councillors would rather cut their own throats than tell you that's what is necessary. Even were they to be that honest, a political opponent will campaign against them promising to save whatever it is.

As an example, people like libraries. If perceived to be under threat, hundreds will demand that they be saved yet how many of them actually use them regularly? How many of those thousands of books are actually read by anyone? And in an era of Kindles and other e-readers, are library user figures likely to go up, or down? At what point do you accept that the cost of providing a service is too great for the benefits gleaned?

We have grown used, as a society, to the idea that someone else, usually government, will do things for us. Government will keep the streets tidy, so that we don't have to, it will maintain parts of our countryside for public use, build roads to make it easier for us to get places. Littering increases because, it doesn't matter, someone will come and clean the street, we take less care about our surroundings as someone else will, we grow used to having a direct route to places and worry less about the economic viability of having three routes out of a village.

And yet, we complain about the size of government, about its cost, about its remoteness from our communities.

Eventually, we will be forced to accept that, in order to maintain the services that really matter - health, education, social welfare, to name but three - peripheral services might have to go. The prize then goes to politicians who are willing to be honest with their electorate and engage them in the debate about what is core and what isn't. Here at the Creeting St Peter Journal, we're not holding our breath...

A village gathers in anticipation of pie

Last year, our Parochial Church Council varied their usual village pub night, introducing homemade pie. Real ale, rabbit and pigeon pie, what could be better?

And so it was with some pleasure that I spotted, on the carpet at the bottom of the stairs a few weeks ago, a slip of paper announcing that there would be another one. I admit to having anticipated the event for some time and, this time, Ros would be able to attend too.

We were so enthusiastic indeed that we invited Ros's sister to join us, and at 7.30 p.m. sharp last night, we set off down The Lane, with plates and cutlery (as requested) in expectation of some very fine homemade pie indeed.

Unfortunately, there was no rabbit and pigeon this time, but the substitute venison pie, with a rich gravy, lived up to my fondest hopes, and the shepherd's pie was almost as excellent. Beer, supplied by Bartrams Brewery in Rougham, accompanied the pies well, and a good evening was had by all.

I'm not a baker of pies, more a consumer of them, but it was an excellent evening, with five pies to choose from - fish, chicken and vegetable, vegetable, shepherd's and venison - and if you ever happen to be in the neighbourhood for a future event, I highly recommend it.

Editorial: is this the first step towards the Business and Enterprise Park?

This is a cross-posting from the Creeting St Peter Journal...

The announcement of the initial public consultation on the Mill Lane Development Brief ends a lengthy 'phoney war' over what would happen to the area on the Creeting side of the A1120 link road, opposite the Tesco supermarket at Cedars Park. And, whilst it was inevitable that the emergence of the UK economy from recession would lead to increased activity, there were hopes that the entire project had gone away, perhaps for good.

However, the proposed development brief is broadly in line with the steer given by the Area Action Plan, including tiered warehousing as tall as 15 metres at the south-western corner, tapering to a relatively small 6 metres at the northern extent. As indicated three years ago, the current route over the A1120 on Creeting Road will be closed to vehicular traffic, with a link road joining Mill Lane just north of the Clamp Farm area to the A1120 link road opposite Tesco.

A wetland area adjoining the River Gipping is included, although access from the village will only be possible via often blocked footpaths to the river itself, or by walking (or driving) through the industrial estate, hardly likely to attract local foot traffic. In addition, phase 2 appears to cut off vehicular access to the Creeting Lakes fishery, something that may not suit Quiet Sports, who own it, or the residents of Braziers Hall, whose only access it currently is.

Phase 2 will, if built, also cut the footpath that joins the village with the edge of Cedars Park, something which appears to go unmentioned in what is, admittedly, only a first draft. Indeed, the vaunted cycle/footway to replace Mill Lane and Creeting Road East will be an rather unattractive journey between warehouses and... more warehouses. It appears, on the face of it, to be designed to maintain the pretence that a right of way exists, whilst making it unlikely that anyone will want to use it.

There is an opportunity for villagers to examine the plans more closely at an exhibition, unsurprisingly located at the Cedars Park Community Centre, a building probably little known to residents of Creeting St Peter, as the District Council clearly don't believe that it is a matter that they should be concerned about.

However, forewarned is forearmed, and as many residents as possible should attend the exhibition at Cedars Park Community Centre, Pintail Road, Stowmarket, IP14 5FP on Saturday 19th October from 12 noon to 4pm.

Take the last bus to Stowupland...

Last week's news that the Stowmarket Shuttle, or bus route 87 as it is more prosaically described, is to cease operating in November, is bad news for the residents of Stowupland in particular. It was bad enough when the through service to Needham Market and Ipswich was lost, even though the timetable did theoretically allow for a connection in Stowmarket to route 88, newly extended to Ipswich Hospital, but this does come as a blow.

An 87 bus in Stowupland, soon to be history?

Whilst campaigning in the village two years ago as part of my candidacy for the District Council, I highlighted the loss of the Sunday and evening bus service and its impact on those people who had moved to Stowupland precisely because of its transport links - better than most other mid-Suffolk villages.

At one point, buses penetrated into the side roads of Stowupland - curiously, the bus stops remained long after the buses had been withdrawn - and it did seem strange that, given the number of elderly residents, a service using smaller vehicles had not been tried, rather than the full size buses used by First Group.

First Group have run the service without subsidy from the County Council since they changed the routes around last year, with the main route 88 linking Stowmarket with Ipswich, and route 87 now linking Violet Hill, Combs Ford and Stowupland with Stowmarket using a clover-leaf route every hour. They indicate, and I have no reason to doubt them, that serving Stowupland cannot be done on a commercial basis, thus their decision to withdraw.

What this means is that bus passengers in the village will have to rely on an occasional service between Mendlesham and Stowmarket, or switch to the Suffolk Links demand responsive service, unless the County Council can come up with some money - not something that inspires hope given the pressure on their budget.

Given that the Suffolk Links Gipping North service covers a swathe of villages across mid-Suffolk with only one vehicle, I fear that this means increased isolation for a number of elderly, potentially vulnerable people, so one can only hope that a solution can be found, and quickly.

Editorial: thank heavens for the Parochial Church Council!

This is a cross-posting from the Creeting St Peter Journal...

What makes a village community is the people who work to make it a better place. Parish councillors, community activists, church volunteers, all of them take an interest in their village and, hopefully, help to create a lively, more inclusive, atmosphere.

St Peter's, Creeting St Peter

As a relative newcomer to the village, I have been particularly impressed by the work of the Parochial Church Council, currently led by Alice Matthewson, whose attempts to maintain the fabric of our parish church, the only community building in the village, have led them to branch out into being the commnuity social organisers. Monthly coffee mornings, frequent pub nights, concerts - there is no end to their efforts to entice the rest of us to abandon our armchairs and socialise with our neighbours.

And yes, the funds raised do go to maintain the fabric of a building which, I must confess, I don't enter often - I'm a Roman Catholic, no matter how tenuously. But even a rationalist like myself accepts and appreciates the value of maintaining one of the cornerstones of our village life - Creeting St Peter would be by far a worse place without a church to call its own.

However, what might have started out of necessity has blossomed into something which makes me proud to be a resident of our village, as the enthusiasm with which the myriad volunteers organise the events, and welcome us to share them, acts as an example to us all.

So, thank you to Alice and the team, and may there be many more opportunities to say so...

George, debt, the deficit and despair...

I'm a mathematician by training. I respect numbers. And when I hear intelligent people confuse 'deficit' and 'debt', I shudder a little inwardly. I find myself thinking, "Perhaps that's why so many apparently well-off people struggle with their personal finances?". But when I see politicians, people who want to run the country, make the same mistake, in writing, I am even more troubled. Stumbling over the words 'debt' and deficit' when speaking happens - I get that.

This afternoon, my Twitter feed included this;

.@George_Osborne is in cloud cuckoo land. He's talking about a surplus when the deficit has increase on his watch! #clueless #cpc13
— Deborah Sacks (@deborahsacks) September 30, 2013

Deborah, or Debbie, as I called her when we were at university together, was a friend, and I follow her out of a vague sense of interest in how she's got on. She was bright, a Labour activist but not a tribal one, and was the lucky beneficiary of one of my more distracted moments as a Returning Officer - it's a long story but revolves around the fact that I calculated an STV surplus transfer incorrectly. Now, she's the Labour PPC for South Norfolk, one of neighbouring constituencies.

I politely pointed out that the debt has increased, whereas the deficit has fallen year-on-year, and studiously didn't point out that calling someone clueless whilst making such a glaring error oneself is hardly confidence inspiring. I also suggested that balancing the books had some merit, inspiring the reply;

.@honladymark Quite agree balancing the books "has merit". Just sounds a bit silly coming from a man who is failing so completely to do it!
— Deborah Sacks (@deborahsacks) September 30, 2013

I have to admit that I'm quite pleased that he hasn't succeeded yet, as the cuts introduced so far would have been a mere aperitif compared to what we've seen so far. However, being an inquisitive soul, I asked how she would balance the books - how much more tax, how many more cuts?...

@honladymark No it's about building a strong economy with more people working and paying tax. Not cutting the public sector out of ideology.
— Deborah Sacks (@deborahsacks) September 30, 2013

It's just a slogan, as opposed to some actual ideas, the sort of oppositionism for its own sake that gives politicians a bad name, and it makes me just a little more depressed about the future of this country than I might already have been.

There is a legitimate debate to be had in this country about the role of government, what sort of society we live in and how to finance those activities that would go towards building it. But if our politicians are going to regurgitate clever soundbites written by others, rather than express their own thoughts, and we, the public, are going to eschew the notion of gathering data and making an objective choice based on that data, we get the body politic we deserve.

It increasingly seems that, in the search for the illusive swing voters in the key seats, the spin doctors have forgotten why most people go into politics in the first place. It isn't to be 'on message', it is to change things for the better. Regardless of political philosophy, most people in the political sphere want to do that. The machine politics drives that individuality out of too many people, making them just another grey voice in a grey, sensible suit.

It's not for me, I'm afraid...

@MidSuffolk District Council - really that useless?

Ros approaches with a piece of paper.

"I thought that we'd paid this already.", she says, slightly irritated.

"What is it?", I ask, puzzled.

"The Garden Waste Collection Scheme renewal.", she replies, waving two pieces of paper, one of which bears a hand written note in my writing, indicating that it was paid in mid-August.

I stare at it, slightly perplexed. I then check our bank accounts, confirming that no such payment has left our bank accounts. I prepare to go back to their Customer Service Direct website to pay it again, but something tells me to check. There'll be an e-mail confirmation of the transaction, won't there?

I check my back e-mail and there, in my unfiled old e-mail folder, is an e-mail from them, confirming that, yes, I did attempt to pay, and yes, they would be processing it. How long does it take to process a payment? Is a week reasonable, or a fortnight? Perhaps, but forty-six days (and counting)?...

So, I have written a slightly annoyed e-mail to them, with a copy to my invisible District Councillor. Let's see how long it takes them to respond...

Cuba: the scenic route to a market economy

A few months ago, I noted how Cuba has opened up its economy to capitalism in an unusual way, starting from the bottom by allowing individuals to operate effectively as sole traders.

France 24 reports that another step has been taken on that road this week, allowing individuals to sell agricultural produce, act as telecommunications salespeople or sell real estate (property, it seems, is not necessarily theft...), amongst eighteen professions now made legal for individuals to take up.

Raul Castro - bringing capitalism for the masses?

One of the things that I noted on my trip to Cuba in February was that there appeared to be a lot of agricultural land unworked, the reason being that the lack of fertilisers made it harder to work it effectively, especially without any personal incentive. And perhaps, if a profit motive is introduced, it might encourage people to start to grow some of the foodstuffs that Cuban consumers want.

It also potentially offers an alternative for other Caribbean nations. Anyone who visits a resort in the region will note that much of the foodstuff, even the most basic items, are shipped in, often from the United States. If Cuba were to become a breadbasket for its neighbours, it might mean that the drain of profits to developed nations might be reduced somewhat, and I believe that the potential is there.

So, good luck to the Cuban people, whose government might have found a socialist route to capitalism, albeit perhaps through necessity...

* hat-tip to Andrew Emmerson for bringing this to my attention

Published Elsewhere - Film Review: InRealLives

This post was published earlier today on Liberal Democrat Voice...

Released this week, InRealLives takes a look at how the internet has impacted upon the way we live our lives, and flags up some issues that should cause us to reflect upon questions of privacy, personal relationships and sexuality.

Director Beeban Kidron might be best known for "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit" and "Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason", but here she delves into the lives of five young people as they talk variously about their use of pornography and its effect on their ability to connect emotionally, addiction to social media and computer gaming, cyber bullying and building relationships online.

Woven around these individual stories is an examination of where data is kept, how much of what we do is recorded, and the question asked is, do we have real privacy any more?

Kidron carries out the interviews off camera, allowing you to focus your whole attention on the interviewee, in their own homes, and asks the sort of questions that generate some thoughtful, and thought-provoking, answers. In doing so, she provides an insight into the impact of the internet on the next generation - just what are they doing with their smartphones all day?

The film addresses some difficult issues but also offers some optimism - I challenge anyone not to feel for Tom as he comes out on line and forms a relationship with Daniel.

All in all, this is a film for parents and grandparents who might learn why social media is so huge, and for young adults who might not entirely appreciate the loss of privacy that might ensue. Unfortunately, its 15 certificate does mean that some of those who might benefit from seeing it won't be able to do so, but nonetheless, it achieves its aim of challenging the way we see the online world with humour, honesty and integrity.

InRealLives was released on 20 September, and is produced by Dogwoof Productions.

Like Frankenstein's monster*, my village blog lurches back into life...

In 2011, I put my village blog to bed. Frankly, the hassle that I was getting from certain elements within the Parish Council meant that it just wasn't worth it. I had intended it as a means of covering village life and, almost as much as anything else, as a means of recording events - a shared diary if one will. And, if it was of use to anyone, that was all the better.

It has now dawned on me, however, that as I'm no longer a parish councillor, and therefore not covered by the somewhat absurd 'social media policy' for councillors (shorthand for "Mark, please stop writing about this"), I could resurrect it. So, I have. Think of it as a means to cover local events, debate issues of interest to the local community and to provide an insight for those of you who live in a more urban setting as to what life in a small village is like.

Yes, there will be references to the mobile library service, but I might actually do some 'proper' journalism from time to time. And with planning applications, a solar farm, issues about public transport and the never-ending entertainment that is the Parish Council, I'm sure that I can keep it ticking over.

* Many thanks to Jennie for noting that it was Frankenstein's monster who lurched, not Dr Frankenstein himself...

In praise of... the Abbeygate Picturehouse, Bury St Edmunds

I may have remarked in the past about the difference between the cultural life of Suffolk and that of London, where I lived for so many years. In order to have one here, I have to be more organised, more disciplined, if you will, as there obviously isn't the range of opportunities so taken for granted in a big city. Luckily, as my sense of organisation or discipline is not ideal, Ros tends to step into the breach from time to time.

And so, this morning, we set off from Needham Market by train for Bury St Edmunds, to see the new release from Beeban Kidron, "InRealLives", a documentary about the internet, its effects on young people and the loss of privacy that impacts upon all of us. I'll deal with the film later though...

I'd not been to the Picturehouse before, and was surprised to find it almost lurking behind a rather attractive cafe-restaurant. We obtained our tickets from the bar, and went upstairs to what turned out to be almost a screening room rather than a 'real' cinema, seating about seventy, with plush chairs with drink holders and, between some seats, a small shelf for popcorn and the like. Establishing that, yes, you can bring beer into the cinema, I popped out for a pint of the old Cannon Brewery's Best Bitter for me, plus some sweet popcorn, before settling into my seat for the entertainment to come.

Film over, I headed downstairs to discover that the restaurant was still open, allowing us to have a late lunch and still make our train home. The sharing platter was very good, although my eye was drawn to their Sunday brunch offer of Eggs Benedict (in various styles), or open omelettes plus a ticket for the first movie showing for £13.50 (20% off for members). They even have 'build your own' burgers, with a range of carnivore (plus one vegetarian) options.

Ros and I were both impressed, and I suspect that we might be back from time to time...

Editorial: are the lights going to stay on?

This is a cross-posting from the Creeting St Peter Journal...

Last night's power cuts are a reminder as to just how dependent we are on utilities that we generally take for granted. The village's nine street lights fall into that category too, and yet their long-term future is in some doubt.

The impact of higher energy costs, combined with the relatively low efficiency of the elderly equipment, hurts the Council budget. Worse still, EU regulations on light bulbs make the required bulbs obsolete, and hard to obtain. But, more importantly, the equipment is the property of the Parish Council, meaning that the County Council has no obligation to act.

A while ago, a paper was submitted to Parish Council which raised the question of turning the lights off between midnight and 5 a.m., as is already the case across most of the county. By purchasing meters, significant savings could be achieved, and the cost of the meters recouped over a period of less than four years. Parish Council was not convinced, however, and it was decided to leave things as they were.

The subsequent electricity bill did generate a discussion on whether or not to turn off the lights altogether, but nothing came of it.

Replacing the street lights with new LED versions - hugely reduced running costs, twenty-five year guarantee, reduced light pollution - will cost about £650 per light, so what is the Parish Council going to do?

Here at the Creeting St Peter Journal, I'll be keeping an eye open when Council meets to discuss its budget for 2014/15, to see if there is a plan, either to raise the capital needed to replace the lights, or to invest in new meters which will at least buy time.

I acknowledge that, whatever happens, there will be cost implications, either in terms of an increased precept or lost services/facilities. But surely, it's better to have a plan than to cross your fingers and hope for luck...

Nuclear weapons: why I might vote for an amendment that I don't agree with

Nuclear weapons? What are they good for?...

I am a relative defence hawk. Many years ago, I proposed a motion at a Young Liberal Council meeting which called for major improvements in defence procurement thus allowing the resultant savings to be spent on... more weapons. I am not a tree-hugging, cheese-eating surrender monkey. Well, I am cheese-eating, even though it is bad for my diet.

So, naturally, I'll be supporting the motion currently being proposed by my former colleague in the East of England, Julie Smith, won't I? It is, I admit, wholly reasonable, and addresses two of my concerns - support for veterans, improved procurement. But it does leave an enormous, pointy elephant - our nuclear deterrent.

You see, my viewpoint hasn't fundamentally changed. I believe that the United Kingdom should seek value in its spending, and that nuclear weapons are the very worst means of addressing the threats that we face - terrorism, cyber or physical, climate change, competition for resources. They make no meaningful contribution to our diplomatic effort.

So, I'm not minded to support the retention of a nuclear deterrent.

I am, however, minded to invest in properly equipping our armed forces, to establish them at a level that allows us to fulfil our international commitments, contribute to UN peacekeeping, and support those countries suffering from natural and other disasters. I also believe that our international aid programme acts as an adjunct to our defence strategy, addressing potential failed states and causes of support for terrorism across the globe.

The amendment allows me to trash our nuclear deterrent, but it does not actually commit to doing what I believe is necessary, and I suspect that the movers are merely making the 'right noises' in order to win over enough waverers to ensure success.

So, I agree with what the movers want initially, but not necessarily with their version of the future.

What am I to do?

It looks to me that I should vote for the amendment, and then vote down the amended motion. It is a gesture, possibly a futile one, but it expresses a view of a strong nation playing its part in maintaining our collective security.

I can't imaginably be on the winning side here, but I can at least be true to my beliefs...

What if I want a Stronger Society in a Fairer Economy?

The Conference slogan, "Stronger Economy, Fairer Society" is the on-message mantra of choice for the go-getting Liberal Democrat this week. Luckily, I'm not go-getting any more - was I ever? - so don't have to be quite so faithful to the 'line'.

I think that it was Simon Hoggett who suggested that you should reverse a slogan to measure its worth...

"Weaker Economy, More Unfair Society"

No, doesn't really appeal, does it?

But, whilst I gently poke fun at my Party, there is a point, indeed points, to be made.

I find myself wondering what a stronger economy looks like. Bigger GDP? Greater growth? In a world where emerging economies demand greater equity, wouldn't a sustainable economy be a stronger one? Might not sustainable levels of public spending make for a stronger, more resilient economy?

And as for a fairer society - and I must declare my sense of frustration over the casual abuse of the word 'fairer' - what does that mean and towards whom is it directed? Is taking a position supported by the majority 'fair'? And if so, what does that mean for minority members of our community?

A fairer economy (and that's still the sort of bastard phrase that might appeal to any weasel in a storm) might ensure that people are rewarded on the basis of genuine risk-taking and/or effort, might redistribute on the basis of genuine need. It might, whisper it quietly, punish the malevolent, the feckless and the corrupt.

A stronger society might, for example, engender greater personal involvement in one's community, encourage pride in that community, celebrate the achievements of its members. It implies a tangible change in the way we interact as individuals and within our wider community.

However, the people who write our slogans don't consult me, and they may possibly be a wee bit more qualified than I am, so...

The Financial Transaction Tax standing on platform 4 is delayed, due to a technical fault...

The news that the main legal advisors to EU finance ministers have concluded that the Commission's plan for a financial transaction tax infringes EU treaties is a blow for those who feel that it offered a relatively painless means to balance state budgets, whilst providing a disincentive against short-termism in the financial markets.

And it's been a good week for those who doubt the wisdom of EU intervention in the financial sector (I'm pretty certain that George Osborne is delighted).

The Advocate-General to the European Court of Justice has indicated agreement with the United Kingdom's position that the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) should be stripped of its power to ban short selling in emergencies, and it is apparent, according to the Financial Times, that Brussels will abandon any thoughts of handing direct oversight of Libor to ESMA.

I think, on the whole, that this is for the best, as it demonstrates that building alliances and using the existing framework and treaties can be effective, something that the British public need to know. It also strengthens the hand of pro-European Conservatives in arguing that an exit is not in Britain's interests.

However, it does mean that it is the task of the Coalition Government to develop a regulatory framework for our financial sector which protects the state, supports innovation and rewards sustainable practices. I have a funny feeling that, politically at least, George may yet wish that he'd left it to Europe...

'Bedroom Tax' - a good concept ruined by rotten politics

Whilst admiring the chutzpah of Michael Green Grant Shapps criticising a United Nations official for an inaccurate report, there is a danger of losing sight of the fact that Raquel Rolnik appears to make some interesting points in her report. And, regardless of your stance on whether or not it is appropriate for the UN to be examining a matter of internal state policy, it is intriguing to see what others make of our national choices.

For, even amongst my fellow Liberal Democrats, the idea that those in social housing should be charged a premium for occupying a property larger than their needs might indicate is a difficult one. So, when I admit to appreciating the concept, I do have an obligation to explain why.

I observe the long waiting lists for social housing with increasing despair. Families and individuals who lack stability in their lives tend do experience worse outcomes than the rest of us, bringing costs both in terms of personal loss and the implied need for intervention by state agencies. The most obvious, and rather attractive, option is to build more social housing, but when one sees the passion with which people, Liberal Democrats included, oppose the reality of major homebuilding, that begins to look like a long-term game plan, rather than a quick win.

An easier short term contribution is to make better use of the available housing stock. And that, for me, is where the concept of sticks and carrots comes in.

It strikes me as reasonable if, where someone is occupying a property larger than they need, that they pay a premium. However, they should have a real opportunity to downsize and not be punished because there isn't one. For that is where the current regime goes wrong.  The long-term failure to build sufficient housing, be it public or private, has created huge shortages of smaller properties, especially in villages like mine. Accordingly, there is no real choice, and the levy is, effectively, punitive.

I don't believe that people should be punished for having to rely on social housing. Indeed, I would have no fundamental objection to seeing opportunities to take up social housing be extended to a far broader range of potential tenants - it would create a better social mix and address the crisis brought about by the emerging ghettos of low achievement and aspiration that so concerned Caroline Flint when she was Housing Minister.

It's something that Liberal Democrats could, and should, lead on...

Travelling in style, Belgian style

I do like a good tram, and Brussels is an excellent place to find one.

Here's a shot of the interior of one of the new pre-Metro trams, which I took the opportunity to ride this afternoon. What it demonstrates is that you can build a public service vehicle which is efficient and stylish.

Compare and contrast with my friends at Greater Anglia, who continue to struggle with aged, decrepit rolling stock and poor infrastructure.

Depressing, really...