John Hemming's Web Log

The link is about a secret jailing in Nottingham.

A few more pictures Mummy (of the kittens) is tired. The babysitter (is actually only 6 months old) More babysitting (actually about a week ago - kittens grow quickly) Lord and Lady Mayor plus two members of the leaders office at the coffee morning for breast cancer. It is difficult to fully comprehend James North's attention to detail. A pink tie and pink braces are visible, but he does also have pink socks.

Following Rachel Pullen's story being public I have been contacted by more people who are being messed about by the system. In essence the "experts" generally avoid being held to account. The story in the Daily Mail continues another of those examples.

The link is to the Nottingham Evening Post which today carries the story of how Rachel Pullen was prevented from objecting to the adoption of her daughter.

Cumbria CC, Penrith East LD Patricia Bell 800 (59.8; +14.7), Con 380 (28.4; -2.20), Ind 123 (9.2; +3.6), Green 34 (2.5; +2.5), [Lab (0.0; -18.7)]. Majority 420. Turnout 29.7%. Ld hold. Last fought 2005. Great Yarmouth DC, Nelson Lab 329 (42.5; +0.1), Ind 257 (33.2; +33.2), LD Nick Dyer 96 (12.4; +12.4), Ind 49 (6.3; +6.3), Green 43 (5.6; -1.8), [National Front ( 0.0; -22.9)], [Con (0.0; -27.3)]. Majority 72. Turnout not known. Lab hold. Last fought 2007. Harlow DC, Little Parndon and Hare Street Lab 794 (52.6; +3.4), Con 598 (39.6; +0.5), LD Nick Macy 117 (7.8; -4.0). Majority 196. Turnout 28.4%. Lab hold. Last fought 2007. Harlow DC, Toddbrook Con 728 (45.2; +5.4), Lab 713 (44.3; +3.3), Respect 102 (6.3; -6.6), LD Julian Watkiss 67 (4.2; -2.1). Majority 15. Turnout not known. Con gain from Lab. Last fought 2007. North Devon DC, Witheridge Con 448 (58.5; -0.2), LD Kate Palmer 318 (41.5; +0.2). Majority 130. Turnout 42%. Con hold. Last fought 2007. Penwith DC, Gwinear, Gwithian and Hayl...

I am trying to get details, but it appears that someone was jailed for 20 months for talking to his grandson in Nottingham this morning.

The BBC are looking at the failure of the government to answer questions. (and hte cost of red boxes)

The link is to a summary from the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine's levels of Evidence (from May 2001). This looks at the question of how reliable evidence is. Much of the "evidence" in the courts is from the lowest level (5) of certainty viz: "Expert opinion without explicit critical appraisal, or based upon physiology, bench research or "first principles"."

The link is to a petition in the House of Commons tabled last night. This raises a number of interesting question as to how capacity is determined and who should be allowed to determine capacity. If you have a number of parties to a court case it appears to me as wrong that one party should be able to pay someone to give an opinion which strikes out the capacity of another party. I am also quite unhappy in the way that CAFCASS obtain opinions that the opinions of children that are "gillick competent" are invalid and strike out the children's capacity to express a view. The official solicitor issue (see Hansard) is not one that will go away.

What I found interesting from Herr Fell yesterday was that the UK government is actually lobbying to prevent the Germans from encouraging renewable electricity generation. He also explained how the MPs had to fight the government to force through legislation to achieve what is being done in Germany. I presume it will be the same here.

The link is to the story in "The Guardian" about energy supplies. I am scheduled to meet the German MP behind this later today. I will comment about the details in the report when I have read it. In essence, however, the thesis is valid. The minor details as to precisely the rate of decline and date of peak are not so important. What matters is that peak is "about now" - within this or the next parliament.(making reasonable assumptions as the normal length of a parliament.) Most importantly (as has been mentioned previously on this weblog) other primary sources such as U235 (with a reasonable energy cost of extraction) face peak as well.

An advantage journalists have in dealing with the media is that they understand how journalists think. Hence either Chris or Nick is likely to do a good job as far as Public Relations go. The problem, however, is that the conventional wisdom within the media as to "what should be done" is: a) Not necessarily something that will achieve the objective. b) Not necessarily something politically popular. A good example for this is the debate about "Healthcare acquired infection". It is possible to change the management of hospitals to prioritise hygiene. However, this would probably mean inter alia taking the cleaning contracts "in-house". This does not fit the conventional wisdom of the chattering classes. It sounds a bit luddite and traditional. On the other hand it would work and would be politically popular. I, however, am not a moderniser. I am happy to be described as a progressive. However, I do not believe in change for changes sake - modernisa...

Its a bit late now and even it was a bit late then, but my leadership candidature was discussed on 18 Doughty Street on Wednesday night. Here it is.

Basingstoke and Deane DC, Whitchurch LD Eric Dunlop 858 (52.8; -5.6), Con 709 (43.6; +2.0), Lab 58 (3.6; +3.6). Majority 149. Turnout 42.5%. LD hold. Last fought 2007. Congleton BC, Sandbach West Con 445 (45.1; +3.6), LD Patrick Darnes 382 (38.7; -3.1), Lab 160 (16.2; -0.5). Majority 63. Turnout 19.2%. Con hold. Last fought 2007. Ellesmere Port and Neston DC, Rossmore Lab 504 (54.4; -4.0), Con 325 (35.1; -6.5), English Democrats 60 (6.5; +6.5), LD Graham Handley 38 (4.1; +4.1). Majority 179. Turnout 20.0%. Lab hold. Last fought 2007. Meltham TC Ind 819 (53.9), Con 394 (25.9), LD Graham Colledge 307 (20.2). Majority 425. Turnout 24.1%. Ind hold. South Derbyshire DC, Church Gresley Lab 639 (43.8; -23.0), BNP 516 (35.4; +35.4), Con 304 (20.8; -12.4). Majority 123. Turnout not available. Lab hold. Last fought 2007. Wellingborough DC, Croyland Con 698 (52.6; -7.3), Lab 448 (33.8; -6.3), Ind 125 (9.4; +9.4), Green 55 (4.1; +4.1). Majority 250. Turnout 25.4%. Con hold. Last fought 2007. Wigan...

It is quite clear that I will not be a candidate in the Leadership Election. I will, however, not decide for now who I will support and I will announce that in the future when I have discussed matters with the other candidates and colleagues in Birmingham.

Health: University Hospital of North Staffordshire: Research Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies were undertaken at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire involving children from overseas in the 1990s. A: The information requested is not centrally held by the Department. The NHS West Midlands strategic health authority reports that University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust has recently written to the hon. Member following a similar request under the Freedom of Information Act. Dawn Primarolo (Minister of State (Public Health), Department of Health)

During the last Leadership election I found that the rules permitted nominators to sign more than one paper. The rules have, however, since been changed. I do have one person other than myself willing to sign my own paper. However, I can see that there is going to be a challenge getting nominated. It is, however, important to have a debate about the party's direction. The two front runners don't really have any political strategy differences. Getting the 200 signatures from constituenties, however, is relatively straightforward.

It surprised me just as much as anyone else when Ming resigned yesterday. We must thank Ming for the way in which he brought stability and improved the professionalism of the party although we still have further to go. Unsurprisingly I am interested in putting myself forward for Party Leader. I am writing this note as a “position statement”. The reason I wish to stand is to be able to argue, and potentially implement, a particular strategy for the party. The first point I will make is that we as a party must retain our system of involving party members in the determination of policy direction. I do not think all the detail should go through such a process. However, I do believe that anyone wishing to lead should first persuade the party and then persuade the country. However, anyone wishing to lead has a responsibility to put forward the basis of the direction in which they wish to take the party. The first question that is asked is about the Left/Right Axis. This demonstrates...

The link is to Pauline's story in the Independent. Note the behaviour of the social workers. The Police would not harrass people in this way. I cannot understand why this behaviour is permitted from Social Workers.