This blog is truly coming of age.  I have now reached the dizzy heights of a blogger profile in Total Politics. 

I am naturally very pleased to see the blog recognised in this way.  I reach far more of you through the blog than I would by going to meetings.  The blog also gives me the opportunity to talk about what actually goes on in the European Parliament.  I hope I can challenge some of the distortions which appear in much of the British media (with a few honourable exceptions, of course).

I have also used this blog for campaigning, notably the petition to keep the Metropolitan Police human trafficking unit, and conducted polls, in particular on Ryanair’s use of practically naked young women in their advertising.

I’m also pleased that the reach of the blog extends far and wide.  I get hits from all over the world, and have in the past done an interview about blogging on French radio.