John Hemming's Web Log

Huntingdonshire DC, Ramsey Con 626 (38.1; -8.1) UKIP 520 (31.6; +9.8) LD Robert Mumford 432 (26.3; -0.9) Lab 67 (4.1; -0.8) Majority 106 Turnout 25.8% Con hold Percentage change is since May 2008 Redcar and Cleveland BC, Dormanstown LD 809 (42.4; +17.3) Lab 667 (35.0; -17.1) BNP 305 (16.6; +16.6) Con 125 (6.6; -16.2) Majority 142 Turnout 36.8% LD gain from Lab Percentage change is since May 2007 Leeds City, Temple Newsam Con 1785 (28.0; -5.9) BNP 1502 (23.6; +1.4) Lab 1476 (23.2; -6.4) LD Ian Dowling 1468 (23.1; +15.6) Green 137 (2.2; +2.2) [Ind (0.0; -6.9)] Majority 283 Turnout not known Con gain from Lab Percentage change is since May 2008 Camden LBC, Belsize LD Tom Simon 1136 (46.0; +5.4) Con 952 (38.6; +1.7) Lab 270 (10.9; -3.2) Green 109 (4.4; -3.9) Majority 184 Turnout 29.8% LD hold Percentage change is since May 2006 Huntingdon TC, East Con 751/716 (51.2) LD Patricia Shrapnell 567 / Jacqueline Buck 562 (38.6) Lab 150/103 (10.2) Majorities 184/149 Turnout 21.1% Con hold x 2 B...

This is further on the klimate kamp kettle.

This CNN report is interesting it is another symptom of a reverting to the politics of the early 1600s (prior to Habeas Corpus and the Bill of Rights). An interesting theme is the throwing of a shoe. It is sad that people take it out on the police. However, the strategy of the police including imprisoning an MP (Tom Brake) - who was not guilty of any offence - is something that needs reviewing. The danger of the strengthening of the executive (the King) against the people is a generalised striking out against "the system" which does not try to analyse its failings, but is merely a randomised retaliation. We do need to reemphasise democracy. However, arguing for that is a challenge in the environment where MPs are seen as spending more time on filling in expense returns rather than protecting the people of the UK.

The link is to what Angela Eagle said exactly one year ago today viz: The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Angela Eagle): The Liberal Democrat motion has been much commented on, possibly because it reads like the storyboard for “Apocalypse Now”, or perhaps even “Bleak House”. According to the motion, we are facing an “extreme bubble in the housing market” and the “risk of recession”, and we must “act to prevent mass home repossessions”. Presumably that is why the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Browne) got through his entire speech without mentioning any of those things until the last minute—they obviously keep him up late at night. Fortunately for all of us, however, that colourful and lurid fiction has no real bearing on the macro-economic reality. In difficult economic times—here I find myself in agreement with the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban)— [ Interruption. ] —at least in part; I do not want to get him into trouble. In difficult economic times, it generally pays to remain...

Birmingham City Council's press office have uploaded their first video.

These are the other presentations. Video 1 Video 3 Video 4

Whilst people are at it we really should consider what other payments are made to members of the House of Commons and House of Lords. In the lords there is no "salary" only "expenses". Ministers' and other Office‐holders' salaries: 1 April 2008 Salaries of Ministers and other office‐holders detailed in this table are the maximum available; post holders may accept a lesser salary. Where it has been announced that post holders are drawing a lesser salary this is noted. Ministers (with the exception of those who are provided with an official residence or any Lords’ Ministers who receive Night Subsistence Allowance) may choose to receive £2,916 London Supplement or, if eligible, to retain the Additional Cost Allowance. Office‐holders in House of Commons Ministerial Entitlement (£) Total (including parliamentary salary of £63,291) (£) Prime Minister 130,959 194,250 Cabinet Minister 78,575 141,866 Lord Chancellor 78,575 141,866 Government Chief Whip 78,575 141,8...

There is a fuss about expenses going on at the moment. This comes from the fact that historically allowances have been used to boost MP pay. This was obviously a mistake, but has been hidden until the current decade. Gradually it has become clearer and clearer that what is going on is indefensible. My own view is that the rules of MP expenses should be determined by an independent body. The outcome of this would be properly justified. The expenses for 2007/8 have just been released. It is important to distinguish between those figures which are for supporting the constituents and those figures which are for supporting the MP. My own figures are: Constituency and Research Staffing: £82,588 (I have published a list of staff none of whom are relatives) Office Costs: £29,031 (basically 1772 Coventry Road and postage costs) Communications: £6,313 (annual report etc) Personal costs Additional Costs Allowance: £21,375 Travel by Car: £1,415 Travel by Rail: £1,737 I am one of few MPs w...

The link is to a story on the Mail on Sunday where Nicky Webster and her new born daughter are pictured. Their sibling group of five is now split into three families. One sibling sees the other two, but the remaining two are isolated from their siblings. I know of other situations where judges are deciding to remove and adopt one child from a family whilst leaving the rest together with a grandparent. That is such an absurd decision as there has to be some other pressure on decisionmaking beyond "the best interests of the child".

I have a response from Ofsted as to what they are doing now about encouraging councils to have more children adopted from care. They say: 2059SC - PAF CF/C23: Number of looked after children adopted during the year as a percentage of the number of looked after children at 31 March (excluding unaccompanied asylum seekers) who had been looked after for six months or more on that day (BVPI 163) Notes on Interpretation: This indicator is designed to give some data on the effectiveness of the end of the adoption procedure and seeks to encourage the use of adoption. For most children the best place to grow up is with their birth parents. Where this is not possible, society has a clear responsibility to provide children with stability and permanence in their lives. The Government believes that more can and should be done to promote the wider use of adoption which offers the only legally secure placement for children unable to return to their birth families. This does not mean that adoption i...

Roger Kennedy of the Cassell Hospital organised as justice for families? event at which I spoke amongst others last Wednesday. It was unique in having system people and non-system people at the same event. I found it quite useful talking to some judges about the issues. We took four tapes of the speakers and have so far uploaded one of them. These are now on youtube. The presentation is available here.

North East Lincolnshire UA, Yarborough LD Peter Bailey 763 (35.8; +4.4) Con 513 (24.1; -0.3) Lab 437 (20.5; +2.5) BNP 370 (17.4; +17.4) The Generalist Party 49 (2.3; +2.3) [Ind (0.0; -4.7)] [Ind (0.0; -21.4)] Majority 250 Turnout 25.5% LD hold Percentage change is since May 2008 Redditch DC, Headless Cross and Oakenshaw Con 764 (48.2; -14.7) Lab 502 (31.7; +8.5) LD John Stanley 162 (10.2; -3.7) Green 113 (7.1; +7.1) Ind 45 (2.8; +2.8) Majority 262 Turnout 23.2% Con hold Percentage change is since May 2008 Newham LBC, Royal Docks Lab 723 (46.3; -0.2) Con 708 (45.4; +13.9) Christian Peoples Alliance 94 (6.0; -6.2) Respect 35 (2.2; -7.5) Majority 15 Turnout 22.8% Lab hold Percentage change is since May 2006 Wolverhampton MBC, Ettingshall Lab 1274 (58.8; +0.3) Con 449 (20.7; -3.8) LD Stephanie Kerrigan 366 (16.9; -0.1) Ind 77 (3.6; +3.6) Majority 825 Turnout 25.2% Lab hold Percentage change is since May 2008 Oxford City DC, Headington Hill and Northway Lab 548 (38.3; +2.0) Con 443 (31....

The link is to one report from the meeting about government efficiency. What interested me was that there was general agreement that more openness is needed in government and that the secrecy allows bad practise.

The link is to the evidence session from the Procedure Select Committee. Questions are being asked of Chris Bryant MP (Rhonnda) who is Harriet Harman's deputy (ie the Deputy leader of The House). The enquiry is into written questions. In essence what he says is that if a minister refuses to give a proper written answer to a question then the solution is to beat the government at the next general election. This issue about the refusal to explain the details of policies is at the nub of how things go wrong so many times. Apart from using the Freedom of Information act it is difficult to find out precisely what is going wrong by using parliamentary procedures. If we don't know what is going wrong then we cannot fix it. The theory is that the legislature holds the executive to account in between elections. To hold to accounts requires asking questions and getting answers. However, at times the government simply refuses to answer. Here is an extract Q70 John Hemming: I think it i...

A number of people have contacted my office with questions about what is happening with the Community Libraries in Yardley. There are proposals on the agenda to have additional hours in Acocks Green, Sheldon and South Yardley. There are also proposals for some outreach work in Sheldon and to move Kents Moat Library from inside the Poolway Shopping Centre to just outside (in the Neighbourhood office). The Glebe Farm library is to remain as it is. The meeting is Thursday night.

Staffordshire Moorlands DC, Leek East Con 452 (38.7; -7.6) LD Roy Gregg 238 (20.4; +20.4) Ind 197 (16.9; +16.9) Staffordshire Independent Group 189 (16.2; +16.2) Green 91 (7.8; +7.8) [Lab (0.0; -20.4)] [Residents (0.0; -33.3)] Majority 214 Turnout 30.2% Con hold Percentage change is since May 2007 Salford City MBC, Pendlebury Lab 1055 (38.2; +1.3) Con 874 (31.6; +0.4) BNP 373 (13.5; +0.2) LD Paul Gregory 368 (13.3; -0.9) Ind 49 (1.8; -2.6) Green 43 (1.6; +1.6) Majority 181 Turnout 30.7% Lab hold Percentage change is since May 2008 Waltham Forest LBC, Larkswood Con 1393 (73.5; +19.4) Lab 255 (13.5; -2.1) LD Henry Boyle 144 (7.6; -4.1) Green 102 (5.4; -4.3) [UKIP (0.0; -8.8)] Majority 1138 Turnout 23% Con hold Percentage change is since May 2006 Thatcham TC, Thatcham South and Crookham LD Marvellous Ford 1053 (60.8) Con 680 (39.2) Majority 373 Turnout not known LD hold South Oxfordshire DC, Chiltern Woods Con 382 (79.4; +9.4) LD Philip Allison 99 (20.6; +5.2) [Ind (0.0; -4.1)] [Green (0...

It is good to have a local Internet TV channel for Birmingham. I have linked to their piece about the St Patricks Day parade. http://www.youtube.com/stpatricksbirmingham http://www.stpatricksbirmingham.com/media.html

The link is to an article in JEP as to whether it is possible to either have a private prosecution or judicially review a decision by the Attorney General in Jersey to prosecute. Viz it says: THERE is no mechanism in Jersey to launch a private prosecution if the Attorney General decides not to pursue a case. Attorney General William Bailhache told the States this week that private prosecutions were not part of Jersey law and added that there was a question mark over whether his decisions could be the subject of a judicial review. Mr Bailhache gave the information in response to a question by Senator Stuart Syvret, who asked what appeal mechanism was open to alleged victims of crime if the Attorney General decided not to prosecute. Mr Bailhache said that private prosecutions could not take place in Jersey, unlike in England as the laws were different.

The saga in the Health Service is the same as the saga in Child Protection. The introduction of targets changes the decisionmaking processes to lead towards hitting the targets. That is what they are supposed to do. In areas in which the decisionmaking processes are complex and require subtle judgment targets are more damaging in ways that cannot easily be forseen than in making rivets.