THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SHOULD BE LOCATED IN BRUSSELS

Yes, I am returning to the Strasbourg question. My British colleagues from all parties , as far as know without exception, want the European Parliament to meet in one place. That place should obviously be Brussels. There is at present a Written Declaration (similar to an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons) before [...]

CYPRUS INDEPENDENCE DAY DINNER

The National Federation of Cypriots in the UK and the Greek Cypriot Brotherhood held their annual dinner to celebrate Cyprus Independence Day yesterday. In the delightful Atrium Restaurant in Westminster we were privileged to hear Cyprus Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou tell us about the current position in the Cyprus talks. He was cautiously optimistic, as [...]

KILLER HEELS

During the past week I have seen half a dozen articles in serious publications about high heels , for women that is. And not just two – three inches, but five to six inches. Celebs such as the absurd Victoria Beckham and Gwyneth Paltrow, a talented actress who seems to be going off the rails, [...]

THE TORIES’ PRETTY LITTLE HEAD

Did you know that the Tories have hired a marketing firm called “Pretty Little Head” to advise Cameron and Co on how to relate to women? Obviously the Old Etonian Bullingdonites feel women are a bit beyond them. The evidence bears this out. A recent Ipsos Mori poll for the Fawcett Society found that 44 [...]

FRIDAY IN LONDON

I don’t usually write about my days in London as they are generally taken up with going through work with my staff based in the Region and similar activities. However, last Friday I met up with Glenys Thornton (Baroness Thornton) who is an old and close friend. She also happens to be a Whip in [...]

CANVASSING

Yes we still do it, and more often than many of you may think. I was out in Kentish Town on Sunday where there is a Council by-election this coming Thursday. As a Camden resident and a member of Holborn and St Pancras Labour Party, which includes Kentish Town, I wanted to make a contribution [...]

THE PEER, THE BANKER AND THE OLIGARCH

Jonathan Dimbleby on the “Daily Politics” this morning quoted a former Tory grandee as telling aspiring politicians to avoid invitations to cavort on yachts. What a wise man (they were all men in those days). The tangled saga of the peer, the oligarch, the banker and the Rt Hon Tory seems set to run and [...]

THIS BATTY BLOG

I, your very own batty blogger, returned from Strasbourg yesterday evening. I must say I am glad to be back in London. The Strasbourg circus takes its toll and it’s always good to get home. I thought I’d go in for a bit of light relief today. Please see Martin Meenagh’s comments on my blog. [...]

EXTENDING EDUCATION IN EUROPE

On Tuesday we voted on a report by French Liberal Marielle de Sarnez seeking more participation in the new Erasmus Mundus programme. As a member of the Culture and Education Committee and Labour Spokesperson on the Committee, I watched the fate of this report with great interest. The EU is well placed to extend learning [...]

THE RESULTS IN PLENARY

During this week in Strasbourg we debated measures to clarify the status and rights of temporary workers in the EU, which covers paid leave and rights for pregnant women, amongst other things. We also discussed steps that will clarify which court has jurisdiction when people of different nationalities divorce. MEPS BACK TEMPORARY WORKERSThe number of [...]