tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-218232802012-01-26T18:59:57.623ZAbout me, my life, my politics, my travels, my thoughtsJonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.comBlogger15191100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-51637895540922358812012-01-26T18:59:00.001Z2012-01-26T18:59:57.655Z

Despite carelessly leaving my blackberry switched on overnight, the email to Lib Dems from Vince Cable at 6.19am didn't wake me. So an hour later when I was awake, I was even more awake after reading Vince's message. So, Nick Clegg was calling for an earlier implementation of the Lib Dem policy of raising the tax threshold to £10,000. Excellent stuff. What was of most interest however was

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-83724705112294685062012-01-04T18:39:00.002Z2012-01-04T18:57:00.458Z

I have just done the stats for 2011 and have found that during the year, my videos were viewed 625,638 times on YouTube. And though my travel videos continue to have the most individual viewings (the one I shot in a former Soviet submarine base in the Ukraine has nearly 240,000 viewings though only 40,000 of these are from the past year), my gardening and cookery videos are now breaking into my

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-85436496117725449662011-12-19T12:47:00.003Z2011-12-19T13:02:36.287Z

It seems that there will be an announcement of a possible resolution of the public sector pensions dispute later today. The strike on 30th November was not supported by Ed Moribund, Labour's beseiged Leader. In an illustration of just how little notice Labour members on the ground take of their Leader, many of them joined demonstrations and picket lines. Indeed, the people who were thin on the

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-39292234697000183202011-12-19T12:15:00.002Z2011-12-19T12:46:00.277Z

In Gateshead each ward has a local community fund which can be spent on local projects, as long as it does not leave the council with an on-going revenue cost. The fund is not vast, about £40,000 per ward. In my ward, my two colleagues - Councillors John McClurey and Marilynn Ord - and I have put in requests for various schemes. One was to have daffodil bulbs planted on the grass verges leading

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-16863226958330821032011-12-18T18:01:00.002Z2011-12-18T18:44:34.852Z

I went to Whickham Pharmacy on Wednesday, not because of anything to do with my state of health (political opponents will be delighted to know that I am in the best of shape!). The visit was on the invitation of the owner of the business, Mark Burdon. In the summer he contacted me to help with a planning application. At that point his shop was in a smaller unit but a bigger shop had become vacant

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-64377667793120302872011-12-15T11:02:00.001Z2011-12-15T11:04:08.786Z

Northern Democrat No 60 December 2011(function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "http://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })();This is the latest edition of the Northern Democrat, the newsletter I produce for

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-74707002440084675302011-12-14T21:53:00.002Z2011-12-14T22:13:29.464Z

A few weeks ago, I was invited to become a contributor to an American website, http://members.beforeitsnews.com/. The editor of their self-sufficiency section was a reader of my allotment blog (www.self-sufficientinsuburbia.blogspot.com) and wanted to include the material on their website. I would also be able to write to material specifically for the site. So I agreed to their request.The

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-89644060233323650692011-12-14T15:35:00.002Z2011-12-14T16:03:50.967Z

Ed Miliband's decision to oppose the recent public sector strike whilst trying to look as if he backed the unions appears to have won him no friends. A survey by Labour List has found his popularity (or lack of it) has plummeted since the day off taken by public sector workers. Only 26% rated him as excellent or good. Remember, this is a survey of genuine Labour anorak wearers so these are people

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-25992824195133106932011-12-06T18:17:00.002Z2011-12-06T18:24:48.644Z

Elaine Dobson is the Labour candidate for Lib Dem held Whickham North in Gateshead, the neighbouring ward to mine. She has stood a number of times before and has an impressive record of defeat at the polls, including in my own ward when she stood as Labour candidate in a by-election in 2008.Back in the autumn of 2007, when the election-that-never-was was happening, Mrs Dobson edited a leaflet

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-21618477900040307312011-12-06T13:00:00.002Z2011-12-06T13:25:28.624Z

This made me laugh! According to Labour Councillor John Eagle at Gateshead Council's last meeting, I am "a Tory" because I was wearing a blue shirt and tie. When I say "laugh", I mean laugh at Labour, not with them, as Labour descends even further into the shambolic mess that is their comfort zone. Cllr Eagle is, shall we say, not amongst the best when it comes to public speaking. That

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-87827956768273956452011-12-01T20:25:00.002Z2011-12-01T20:55:34.393Z

There is little about Jereny Clarkson I like. Indeed, I'm trying to find anything in his high-octane, petrol propelled promotion of carbon guzzling technology with which I could agree, and so far, I've found nothing. He is a person who promotes himself by shock value. He thrives on making controversial and offensive statements. They get him noticed and he therefore increases sales of his

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-50385488179900489002011-12-01T12:10:00.003Z2011-12-01T13:16:12.486Z

The Prime Minister described yesterday's strike as a "damp squib". Though I don't support the strike and I think it was more a case of chest-beating by the trade union leaders who want to parade as the leaders of the Labour movement, filling the void left by the Labour Leader Ed Moribund, the fact was that a large number of public sector workers did fail to turn up for work. Whilst the levels of

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-6769636216482367082011-11-30T12:38:00.001Z2011-11-30T12:38:17.215Z

Anyone watching the news recently would have seen the degree to which Ed Moribund has avoided answering the question about whether or not Labour supports the public sector strike today. Eventually, a journalist was able to crowbar an answer out of Little Ed. Apparently he is against the strike, well sort of anyway, in an I'm-comfortable-sitting-on-the-fence way. Basher Balls was at it as well

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-31971113909984457462011-11-27T13:31:00.001Z2011-11-27T13:31:24.948Z

Back again to the back-of-a-flag-packet policies put forward by Labour in their spoon fed motion they had copied and pasted from the national Labour website and which was debated by Gateshead Council on Thursday. I have already blogged about Labour's out-of-touch belief that the typical household in Gateshead earns £50,000. And I've already looked at Labour's magical bank bonus tax which raises

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-46044959727119477542011-11-26T11:27:00.000Z2011-11-26T11:26:57.285Z

I am currently on the bus heading to Gateshead to catch the Metro to Tynemouth. Today is a history day for me, in which my gardening, food production and political campaigning activities take a back seat. Every few weeks I meet up with fellow historians for lunch. We invariably discuss local history and forthcoming holidays that involve visiting historic sites. I've just booked a tour of WW2

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-81169780936537964962011-11-25T09:46:00.002Z2011-11-25T10:49:13.137Z

Labour's back-of-a-fag-packet policies were debated yesterday in Gateshead Council when a Labour motion, copied and pasted from their national website, was debated. I've already discussed the section of the motion which referred to their magically regenerating bank bonus tax which they are able to spend 3 or 4 times over. What I didn't mention is that many Labour members also claim that the bank

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-16300026255901932082011-11-24T21:10:00.006Z2011-11-24T22:56:48.694Z

Labour on Gateshead Council today proposed a motion on the economy that had clearly been cut and pasted from the national Labour website. There were no surprises in it: it contained the half-baked, uncosted, unrealistic, back-of-an-envelope proposals that are the best that Labour can come up with at the moment.In their motion, Labour claimed their proposal for a bank bonus tax would raise £2

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-57368018294068553332011-11-24T19:24:00.002Z2011-11-24T19:31:38.468Z

The Xmas lights were switched on in Whickham on Tuesday. Here are the photos I took.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-12218747458128634882011-11-24T10:08:00.001Z2011-11-24T10:08:15.201Z

I am sitting on the Metro heading towards Sunderland for a committee meeting. The irony is that it is my birthday and the meeting I am heading for is the Tyne and Wear Museums Committee! I'm old enough to be an exhibit myself!The meetings don't end there. I have to come back to Gateshead for a full council meeting in which Labour are proposing a motion which claims they left a golden legacy for

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-86479951232225062492011-11-20T22:57:00.002Z2011-11-20T23:14:22.549Z

Gateshead Council's Strategic Land Review proposes a number of areas in or new my ward should be removed from greenbelt and used for house-building. Were these sites to be agreed, it may not be until 2030 that the land is used. The two biggest sites in my ward are to the south of Sunniside, the village where I live. Sunniside currently has around 1650 houses and the proposal is to add a further

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-5933042326310873912011-11-17T18:04:00.002Z2011-11-17T18:25:01.732Z

The internal row in the Labour Party on Tyneside burst out for all to see earlier this week at the North East hearings on the Boundary Commissions proposals for new constituencies. Labour MPs are openly arguing for the retention of their own constituencies with the knock on effect that they inadvertently (or arguably deliberately) dump all over their colleagues. Our regional newspaper, the

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-61500613608194081512011-11-15T11:20:00.002Z2011-11-15T11:54:57.315Z

Labour MP for Blaydon, David Anderson, proudly announced in October last year that he was "delighted to have been asked to play a role in building our [Labour Parliamentary] team". Mr Anderson's comments were made as he had just been appointed to the dizzy heights of Opposition Assistant Whip. He was going to help "devise a reasonable and convincing alternative" to the Coalition.Alas, Mr

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-62486936500893416622011-11-14T22:47:00.002Z2011-11-14T23:04:55.474Z

I attended the Remembrance Day parade in Whickham yesterday. My ward colleague, Councillor John McClurey, laid the wreath on behalf of the Mayor and residents of Whickham South and Sunniside. This was the biggest parade I have seen for many years. 30 wreaths were laid by a wide range of organisations and individuals.Here are some of our photos of the parade and ceremony.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-27207035867805464772011-11-14T17:13:00.002Z2011-11-14T18:20:13.548Z

St Paul's Cathedral is London's newest campsite. It comes with its own "university", light musical entertainment, first aid tent (especially useful for those suffering from Attention Seeking Syndrome) and wonderful views of the next tent. Conveniently situated near St Paul's tube station, you are able to get there easily after a good night's sleep at home in a comfortable bed, and leave just as

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-55477557792585694362011-11-12T13:31:00.001Z2011-11-12T13:31:20.655Z

My week of leisure and business in London is now over. I am on the train heading back to the North East. It was quite an enjoyable week. I saw the new party HQ, walked past the "occupation" of St Paul's Cathedral (watch out for my forthcoming photos), got blockaded into a pub because of a passing demonstration and visited a significant number of hidden historic sites around the City.Tomorrow I

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-28134353321464750212011-11-10T17:44:00.002Z2011-11-10T18:02:06.450Z

I came into central London yesterday to do a walking tour of little known historic sites in the City. We had planned to avoid the student protesters but found that the route of the protest went right past the pub where we where having lunch. The result was we were locked in and the protesters were locked out. Nevertheless, I was able to take some photos of the protesters going past through the

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-17947585594531181722011-11-10T17:09:00.002Z2011-11-10T17:22:47.530Z

Party President Tim Farron MP was the guest speaker at the Northern Durham Liberal Democrat dinner last Friday. I was there with camera so here are a few of the photos I took.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-14898611733346898412011-11-10T13:50:00.001Z2011-11-10T13:50:20.755Z

I had a meeting this morning with Hilary Stephenson and Shaun Roberts from the Lib Dems' campaigns department. It was held in HQ in Great George Street. It was my first visit to the new HQ. I worked for 7 years at Cowley St so I got used to its warren of rooms and corridors. The new HQ is completely different. It is all open plan and all on one floor. I was impressed. It may not have the historic

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-46689903400828854452011-11-09T15:52:00.001Z2011-11-09T15:52:22.207Z

Today is supposed to be a day off for me. We were aware the student "protests" would be taking part in London (I am down here for a few days) but wanted to do a tourist day out in capital. So we got our lists of historic sites and planned a route.Alas, all great plans hit a brick wall, or in this instance, a cordoned off route along which an extremely large number of police were to direct a

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-54563131521748955312011-11-09T13:01:00.001Z2011-11-09T13:01:07.570Z

I had an interesting email from YouTube a couple of weeks ago. They wrote to me as an "expert chef" and YouTube partner, inviting me to apply for their Next Chef programme. For the 12 lucky people selected, there would be lots of new camera equipment and additional promotion of their YouTube channels. I rather liked the fact that I had been invited, thought it would be fun to apply, held out no

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-88109719576726854252011-11-07T18:15:00.002Z2011-11-07T18:23:25.913Z

My YouTube activities seem to be going from strength to strength. I can now announce that I have passed another YouTube milestone. Over the weekend, I reached 2 million viewings of my videos.The channel can be viewed at www.youtube.com/jonathanwallace.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-84371133933966824732011-11-07T12:47:00.002Z2011-11-07T18:13:10.318Z

The Gateshead Lib Dem Council group held a meeting last week with the local leaders of the GMB and Unison. It was at our invitation though we were not sure how they would react to us - and, indeed, how we would react to them. Nevertheless, we felt it was important to have a dialogue with them. I'm not at liberty to report what was said. Both sides agreed that in advance but by all counts, we

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-58727872707135964902011-11-06T14:05:00.002Z2011-11-06T14:29:47.013Z

I came to London last night and was persuaded by a group of Labour friends to join them to watch the Crystal Palace fireworks from the Grape and Grain, the pub at the top of Anerley Hill. Apparently, it was going to cost £5 each to get into the park for a top notch view of the display. Why not watch it for free at the top of the hill, from the comfort of the pub courtyard? What a great idea! That

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-21840215454753940882011-11-05T13:59:00.001Z2011-11-05T13:59:26.668Z

Sunniside Methodist Chapel are always happy to see me at their fairs and I always make it a personal requirement to go to them. They are a useful source for plants for the allotment and garden and for cakes. And so this morning, when I was there, I bought their entire stock of wild strawberries. At the cake stall, I mentioned I needed some cake to eat on the train to London this afternoon. This

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-19437403484330246572011-11-05T09:53:00.002Z2011-11-05T09:56:11.293Z

On Monday I visited the Sita energy from waste plant on Teeside. We had a look at the line that deals with Northumberlands waste but in 2014, an almost identical plant will be opened next door which will be used to burn Gateshead's waste.This is the video I shot inside the plant.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-30653079256886940072011-11-03T09:44:00.002Z2011-11-03T10:51:31.264Z

The Electoral Commission's recent proposals for new constituency boundaries are, with a few exceptions, a politician's rather than a people's issue. In my 24 years as a councillor I've never had anyone beating a track to my door to raise the issue of ward or parliamentary boundaries, even when changes are proposed. When my ward boundaries were last changed, I wrote to every constituent to tell

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-18705699318831387372011-10-29T23:47:00.002Z2011-10-30T00:58:41.758Z

The welcome decision to end male primogeniture for the monarchy has presented historians like myself with an excuse to step outside the realm of history and speculate on what could have been. The current rule on primogeniture saw Prince Albert Edward become Edward VII in 1901 despite having an older sibling - a sister called Princess Victoria. Keeping up with the tradition of the age, Victoria,

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-30404169998215926632011-10-27T10:52:00.003Z2011-10-27T11:37:55.137Z

Secretary of State for Business Vince Cable had a good line in his speech at Liberal Democrat Conference last month: cars, not casinos. The point was that after 13 years of a Labour government sucking up to the financial services sector and letting manufacturing go to the wall, the Coalition has moved us in a new direction in which we support manufacturing. Build cars rather than back the casino

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-32559386047765114682011-10-25T16:08:00.002Z2011-10-25T16:33:10.499Z

It appears that the anti-capitalist protesters see fit to rally to the cause only during daylight hours. A thermal imaging camera panning across the rows of tents in the grounds of St Pauls quickly spotted that during the night, the overwhelming majority of the cathedral's unwelcome guests disappear from the site. Presumably they head back to their comfortable, upper middle class homes where they

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-8588134744484529532011-10-24T19:23:00.002Z2011-10-24T19:48:14.191Z

The obsessive personality disorders of various rightwing Tory MPs are on display today. Europe is back at the heart of Tory troubles. And the right is making as much sound as possible on the vote due shortly in the Commons. Whether or not this will turn into a significant rebellion or a whimpering whine is yet to be seen. My experience of the last government was that there would be a great deal

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-29011491104654725872011-10-24T12:22:00.002Z2011-10-24T12:46:10.373Z

Saturday saw the North East Lib Dem regional conference held in Gateshead Civic Centre and I was there with my camera to snap a few shots. On arrival I was greeted by Labour Councillor Peter Mole on the stairs leading to the civic suite. I was a bit surprised by his presence, thinking to myself, he couldn't possibly have defected to us as the Lib Dems are far too radical and progressive an

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-82785233394334292662011-10-23T10:43:00.001Z2011-10-23T10:43:42.397Z

It was North East Regional Lib Dem Conference yesterday in Gateshead. The speakers were, as expected, our very own Alan Beith and Ian Swailes along with peers Diana Maddock and John Shipley. The speaker from outside the region was Gordon Birtwhistle, PPS to Danny Alexander. For me, he was an unknown quantity before this conference. I had not met him before and never heard him speak. So I didn't

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-24752216616420188342011-10-21T17:26:00.002Z2011-10-21T17:44:15.663Z

I went to Bill Quay Community Farm in Gateshead this morning for the breakfast launch of Bill Quay Local Food Connection. As a food and social historian and allotment and cookery webcaster, this was clearly going to be of interest to me. The information we were sent explains the project:Thanks to grant funding from the Big Lottery Local Food Programme, the Farm’s facilities now include a

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-71788586713039552562011-10-19T14:54:00.002Z2011-10-19T15:20:12.910Z

A couple of weeks ago we had the official unveiling of the coal tub planters in Marley Hill, a village in my ward in Gateshead. Marley Hill is a former pit village. The pit closed in 1983. It was the last in the North East to use pit ponies. Two coal tubs from the mine were placed outside the village school and used as part of a floral display after the mine closed.The closure of the school in

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-55312275446070449922011-10-18T21:01:00.002Z2011-10-18T21:35:52.470Z

A special council cabinet meeting had been scheduled for today (Tuesday) with a special council scheduled for Thursday. One item on the agenda of each: Gateshead Council's redundancy policy. Both ourselves and the Labour group had meetings scheduled to take place last night. But around midday yesterday, we were sent a message to tell us that the meetings had been cancelled. Clearly something had

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-13651453110529631372011-10-18T12:29:00.002Z2011-10-18T12:33:22.044Z

This is the latest programme I did for the Horticultural Channel. It is the September edition of Self-Sufficient in Suburbia and follows me in my attempts to grow all my own food. We were on Sky earlier this year but the channel is currently internet based and I'm continuing to make programmes for it.Since we filmed this we have bought another 3 hens so suggestions for names would be appreciated.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-53036739166958723482011-10-18T11:41:00.003Z2011-10-18T11:51:51.787Z

It was my first ever visit to an army barracks last Friday and by a strange coincidence, it was the day Liam Fox resigned as Defence Secretary. Once the stories appeared about him, it was only a matter of time before he went.The barracks I visited was Catterick in North Yorkshire and the reason for it was to attend the passing out of Gareth Jones, a Welsh Guardsman and son of a friend. Apart from

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-15372418570173195152011-10-18T11:33:00.002Z2011-10-18T11:39:57.807Z

I had let this blog fall out of use earlier this year. It wasn't a deliberate decision, it was simply squeezed out due to lack of time. I have kept by allotment blog going (www.self-sufficientinsuburbia.blogspot.com) which continues to get thousands of visits each month. I have, however, received a number of comments from people who have expressed some degree of sadness/loss/devastation to their

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-33448978887371060222011-03-15T13:28:00.002Z2011-03-15T13:30:40.650Z

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg addressed Liberal Democrat conference on Sunday 13th March in Sheffield. This video contains the full version of the speech.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-38587513238267000462011-03-06T14:39:00.001Z2011-03-06T14:39:18.968Z

Councillor Malcolm Brain is the only Brain in the Labour Group in Gateshead. Whether or not he lives up to his name is a point on which I leave readers to make their own judgement. However, I throw into the melting pot of consideration the latest brainwave from The Brain Himself.At the Council meeting on Thursday last week, Cllr Brain attacked us for going in to Coalition with the Conservatives.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-7312034627208652272011-03-03T19:12:00.002Z2011-03-03T20:02:35.892Z

Dignity and restraint by some Labour Councillors have been evaporating since the country saw fit to remove the Labour Party from power last year. In Gateshead they are indignant with rage that the Lib Dems have formed a Coalition with the Conservatives rather than keep them in office. This of course ignores the complete lack of interest within Labour ranks last year in forming a Government with

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-49196087281965960182011-02-25T14:15:00.001Z2011-02-25T14:15:29.651Z

I am now on my way back to Gateshead on the train. I came down to London a few days ago to film two episodes for the Horticultural Channel. I am one of the five presenters. I do the cookery section. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would end up as a tv chef! We filmed the two programmes in my kitchen in my London home on Tuesday. The original plan was to film in Gateshead but we decided

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-87905912975731511552011-02-17T10:12:00.002Z2011-02-17T10:14:58.509Z

This is the video I have been working on recently which will be emailed to constituents shortly asking gthem to vote "Yes" in the referendum on 5th May on changing the voting system.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-11240882735421779042011-01-20T18:37:00.001Z2011-01-20T18:37:21.171Z

Well, well, well. I heard the news about the resignation of Alan Johnson as Shadow Chancellor whilst I was stuck in a traffic jam after today's Gateshead Council meeting. One kilometre down the road I got the best news of the day: Ed Balls is to be his replacement. If the Conservatives had John Redwood, the Vulcan, Labour's very own alien from outer space is Ed Balls. Alan Johnson served a useful

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-35655072360416784832011-01-15T00:03:00.002Z2011-01-15T00:11:35.887Z

If you want to know why my blog has been a bit quiet in recent weeks, this video is part of the explanation. I've been touring Syria and Lebanon, visiting Phoenician, Roman and Crusader sites, plus brief tours around Damascus and Beirut. The video covers most of the sites visited.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-17332295743409380362011-01-14T22:07:00.002Z2011-01-14T22:15:46.412Z

I have reached a video milestone. This is my first video to reach 200,000 viewings on YouTube. I filmed this in a former Soviet submarine base in the Crimea on the Black Sea. It was dug out into the base of a cliff. Until the early 1990s no westerner was allowed to visit this area. Now it popular was a destination for cruise ships.The next YouTube milestone I expect to reach is one and a half

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-81395438881750190482011-01-13T23:57:00.002Z2011-01-14T00:14:20.990Z

Ed Davey seems to be quite busy at the moment. He is the minister responsible for transferring Royal Mail to the private sector to ensure it has a strong future rather than the slow death it has been undergoing in the public sector. But today he has been leading on the proposals to end forced retirement at the age of 65.With an aging population, this is the right move. Back in my policy unit days

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-13354128086782947612011-01-12T13:21:00.002Z2011-01-12T13:42:14.136Z

Parliament is back in session after the Christmas break and that means PMQs is back as well. So what did the weekly cockpit punch up bring us this time? As expected, bank bonuses were at the top of the agenda. Miliband Junior tried to lay some punches by taking up this issue. He had mixed results. He scored a hit when he was able to quote Cameron's remarks in opposition about the need to clamp

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-66325373845276409632011-01-04T12:18:00.003Z2011-01-04T13:35:03.277Z

It's VAT Rise Day today. The Opposition, the self-appointed "Taxpayers' Alliance" and the Beer Retailers Association have all made noises opposing the rise. So what are the alternatives?The first is to do nothing. This may be comfortable for some commentators and is often a line adopted by some in the Labour Party. It saves their having to put forward an alternative and proffers the scenario of

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-82177618091891455802010-12-09T15:03:00.000Z2010-12-09T15:04:14.172Z

Opponents of the government's tuition fees proposals have put forward very few alternatives as to how higher education could be financed. The total oppositionists simply state that it should be free (ie free for the student) and so should be financed from general taxation. There is of course no explanation whatsoever from any of these people as to how such a gigantic spending commitment can be

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-10200873321712718622010-12-08T15:47:00.001Z2010-12-08T15:47:43.325Z

I guess they can be called growing pains. The rather messy debate in the Lib Dems over tuition fees has well and truely put us in the spotlight. There is a significant lesson here: don't make unrealistic commitments. Given that all our other commitments were properly costed and realistic, questions have to be asked as to how it was that such a generous spending commitment (phasing out tuition

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-72194704808887622142010-12-01T22:09:00.002Z2010-12-01T22:33:40.246Z

Another lacklustre performance from Ed Miliband today who succeeded in getting verbally punched up by Cameron in Prime Minister's Questions. The most telling moments were when the cameras caught Miliband's expression of indignant innocence when Government backbenchers asked questions and passed comments about the Labour party. These are early days for him (though they are not a flying start) but

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-19466168763469022542010-11-23T16:31:00.002Z2010-11-23T16:42:28.662Z

Ed Balls describes the Government as being in "wholesale retreat" on setting an immigration cap. He even praises Vince Cable for his work in watering down the policy of having a cap. It is not clear whether or not having Ed Balls patting Vince on the back should be regarded as something to shout about or a kiss of death. Nevertheless, the comment by Balls was interesting. Labour are constantly

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-385735803643182612010-11-02T17:05:00.002Z2010-11-02T17:08:00.373Z

Northern Democrat No 56 Oct 10 This is the latest edition of the Northern Democrat whch I produce for Lib Dem members and supporters in the North of England. It includes coverage of the Lib Dem presidential election and North East regional conference.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-25583464118290454102010-10-31T16:30:00.002Z2010-10-31T16:48:44.045Z

I've had a rather busy few months with the past two weeks in particular being exceptionally hectic. It wasn't helped by the arrival yesterday of a tv producer from London who spent a day filming me on the allotment, in local fields and in my kitchen for a programme for the Horticulture Channel on Sky which is starting next year. The Channel starts next March (the website is at an early stage -

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-14899260135232380662010-10-29T12:49:00.000Z2010-10-29T12:50:29.391Z

The outcry from the airline operators about the coming rise in air passenger duty (APD) comes as no surprise. I wouldn't expect anything else. Any sector of the economy will always argue against paying more tax. Yet their complaints overlook the huge tax advantages they currently enjoy.Air travel is free of VAT. That is a huge advantage in the retail market. Whilst most other goods and services

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-47485466519685036792010-10-28T15:15:00.000Z2010-10-28T15:16:29.045Z

Excellent news from Parliament yesterday over plans to privatise the Royal Mail and to mutualise Post Office Ltd, the franchising body for the branch network, 95% of which is already made up of private businesses. And what an interesting reappearance for Clause 4, last seen when Take That folded in the mid 90s and, just like Take That, now appears to be returning for a Comeback Tour. As with Take

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-11529876080905056932010-10-15T15:35:00.001Z2010-10-15T15:36:23.540Z

Northern Democrat No 54 Oct 10 This is the latest edition of the Northern Democrat which I edit and produce for members in the North of England.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-43507408691630560152010-10-15T09:23:00.002Z2010-10-15T09:27:05.017Z

This is the video programme I filmed at the Liverpool Lib Dem Conference last month. Presented by me and Greg Stone from Newcastle, we interview 2 Cabinet ministers, lots of members and take a look at the exhibition area and the fringe meetings.Click on "close to play" at the bottom of the ad to play the video rather than the advert.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-2614407069172818482010-10-12T18:04:00.000Z2010-10-12T18:05:36.331Z

I had a diary cockup today. Somehow I got my council scrutiny committees mixed up. My diary said it was the "Place" scrutiny committee (ie the one dealing with environment). When I got there, I discovered it was "Healthier Communities" scrutiny committee. As I am not a member of healthier communities I realised then why I had not been sent any papers for the meeting. Anyway, I decided to stay.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-38107504437527137112010-10-08T12:15:00.000Z2010-10-08T12:16:11.405Z

The first announcement of the Shadow Cabinet appointments brings a few surprises. Mr and Mrs Balls are sent to Home and Foreign Offices respectively. Of more interest is the appointment of Alan Johnson as Shadow Chancellor. Of all the current Opposition front bench he is the one for whom I have most time. Nevertheless, quite how he fits into the "new generation" is not clear.---Sent via BlackBerry

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-12332350546370969692010-10-07T12:48:00.001Z2010-10-07T12:50:20.336Z

The next video from Lib Dem Conference is now edited. This is it: Nick Clegg's speech as Leader and Deputy Prime Minister.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-19669003246344382712010-10-07T08:59:00.000Z2010-10-07T09:00:33.500Z

The interim report published today by John Hutton into public sector pensions has produced no surprises. It reveals what we already know: we are living longer, current provision is unaffordable in the long run and those in the public sector pension scheme will have to pay more into it and work longer. The proposal to end the final salary scheme was well trailed under the last government. So again

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-75925594055878331272010-10-06T11:55:00.003Z2010-10-06T12:00:39.596Z

A couple more videos from Lib Dem conference are now ready and on YouTube. These were shot at the pro-AV rally. The first is of actor Art Malik, the 2nd of Nick Clegg.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-28784620578937864592010-10-05T22:01:00.003Z2010-10-05T22:16:09.400Z

I left London this morning to return to Gateshead. On arriving back home I caught the weather forecast. Not good news tomorrow. Rain, rain and more rain. I had planned to go to local woodland to pick wild hazel in the morning. The wild food foragers amongst you will know that hazel is something of a wonder food - high in protein, essential oils and vitamins. Picking them in heavy rain however is

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-62798894021050749092010-10-04T15:38:00.000Z2010-10-04T15:39:03.176Z

Making cuts is a difficult and often unwelcome activity, but when you are running out of money and spending vastly more than you are earning, cuts are necessary. When making cuts, the chief targets should be to stop spending on things that are not necessary. Targetting benefits of the wealthy is therefore necessary in times of austerity. When cash is short, giving child benefit to those earning

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-33612136952388072512010-10-04T09:54:00.002Z2010-10-04T09:57:29.797Z

I am gradually editing the videos filmed at Lib Dem conference last month. This is the speech of the Deputy Leader Simon Hughes MP.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-84833190523917651992010-10-03T14:54:00.000Z2010-10-03T14:55:01.715Z

Cuba is one of the few remaining communist countries left. It survived the collapse of communism 20 years ago. Whilst most countries sent socialism packing, Cuba clung to it, though at an enormous cost to its economy and standard of living. I visited the country 4 years ago and saw at first hand how threadbare and rundown everything is. Now I see that under the leadership of Raul Castro, Fidel's

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-50646424377416311932010-10-02T18:21:00.000Z2010-10-02T18:22:46.794Z

I got a message from East Coast Trains through the week telling me that their free wi-fi service is no longer to be free. Had the service they inherited from National Express been any good, the decision to charge would have been understandable. The problem was, the wi-fi was at best intermittent. The rest of the time it was just plain frustrating. I often tried to use it and ended up plugging in

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-80928830343427424022010-10-02T13:37:00.002Z2010-10-06T08:29:51.643Z

I blogged last night about going to see a play called Ghost Stories. Well, I went, I enjoyed and I saw it through to the end. And yes it was scarey. But, for me, it wasn't quite scarey enough. I can't tell you what happens at the end however. We are all sworn to secrecy. But if you get the chance, go and see it. And be prepared to jump out of your seat.....---Sent via BlackBerry

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-1626544221755246132010-10-02T10:59:00.002Z2010-10-02T12:08:45.322Z

Anyone see the speech by Ed Balls to the Labour Conference? It strikes me that if anyone wants to delve into history to lecture us about historical precedents and the "lessons of history", they should at least get their historical facts right.Mr Balls claimed:And the previous Prime Minister to say ‘there is no alternative,' was a Labour Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald, in 1931, two years after

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-25430027020772231212010-10-02T10:08:00.002Z2010-10-02T10:49:42.461Z

At last, I've got round to sorting all the photos from Conference. A selection is now on Flickr. You can see them at www.flickr.com/photos/jonathanwallace. I sent out the link to 700 people on my email list yesterday with the result that there were 500 visits to the site yesterday. The photos can be used in Lib Dem literature.I've included a few of my favourites below.The Cabinet Q&A on the last

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-47127191066941144162010-10-01T16:11:00.001Z2010-10-01T16:11:55.783Z

I was supposed to do some filming today. I had been booked in to shoot some video at 3pm in London. Alas, the weather was vile. We have rescheduled it to another day. Instead, I spent time working on members' newsletters. Tonight I am off to see a play called Ghost Stories. Apparently it's had rave reviews. I shall report on it sometime this weekend.---Sent via BlackBerry

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-76372495333863426412010-10-01T08:16:00.000Z2010-10-01T08:17:41.666Z

In the battle for hearts and minds over the deficit and cuts, Labour have employed Ireland as evidence to support their anti-cuts position. Their argument is that spending must continue and that borrowing should be maintained to cover the gap between revenue and outgoings. The events in Ireland yesterday show what happens when that argument holds sway. Another bank bailout in Ireland took place

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-88096327028161559412010-09-30T15:25:00.000Z2010-09-30T15:26:41.140Z

Three hours on a train and there's plenty of time to catch up on some of those little jobs that have been shelved for the past couple of weeks due to conference. I was hoping to get more posts up during the week but the great thing about great plans is that they never go to plan.Anyway, my most embarrassing moment of the week was on Tuesday evening. We have just bought my mother's VW Golf.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-13553228371838773002010-09-30T14:47:00.000Z2010-09-30T14:48:01.090Z

The departure of David Miliband leaves politics generally the poorer. It also leaves the Labour party with a hole at the centre. DM may not have taken up a position that I would agree with every time he made it, but he was a centrist politician who understood the importance of remaining in the centre ground. As I said on Friday, his election as Labour leader at least would mark a recognition that

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-13325733959952955902010-09-30T13:58:00.001Z2010-09-30T13:58:56.884Z

I am currently heading down to London on the train for a few days. I've been asked to do some photos and video for someone. As usual, I choose the days of travel with impeccable bad timing. Having had loads of rain through the week which stopped me from getting out to pick various crops, today is sunny and warm, ideal fruit picking weather. I just hope the fruit survives until I'm back next week

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-50684906391750078402010-09-27T13:07:00.000Z2010-09-27T13:08:41.675Z

If I were David Miliband, I would be hopping mad about the byzantine electoral college that gave his brother the Leadership despite the latter being rejected by the members and MPs. I blogged a couple of weeks ago about the tricks used by the GMB to ensure the bosses got an endorsement for their candidate. This included sending out the ballot papers in Ed Miliband envelopes which urged members to

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-32558634749473387192010-09-27T11:02:00.000Z2010-09-27T11:03:18.508Z

I've just listened to Alisdair Darling's speech to the Labour Conference. A long defence of what he did in Government. Fair enough. An attack on the Tories in the last Parliament for failing to come up with any solutions to the banking crisis two years ago. Fair enough. That of course is all history. Where was the content about the future, about the way forward? Apart from a quibble with the

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-85683508074562235382010-09-27T10:23:00.000Z2010-09-27T10:24:24.048Z

Ed Miliband stated yesterday that Labour will not oppose every cut. Quite which cuts he will not oppose are not explained but it is at least an attempt to be credible on the deficit. Miliband's attempt to reposition himself away from all the claims of opposition to cuts he made during the Leadership election however were instantly torpedoed by Ken McCluskey, deputy boss of Unite. This morning, in

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-73557535239804077242010-09-26T22:53:00.002Z2010-09-26T22:58:07.697Z

This is the first of my Conference videos and probably the one of most interest to fellow Lib Dem bloggers - the Lib Dem Blogger of the Year Awards. Alas, everyone somehow forgot to nominate me for anything! Undeterred, I still turned up with the camera to film the event.

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-43659139606639576922010-09-25T16:07:00.000Z2010-09-25T16:08:28.482Z

I never thought the Labour party could be so interesting! So the Geek has got it. Ed Miliband was rejected by the MPs and the Labour members, but has been foisted on the Labour party by the Trade Union vote. Labour wanted to go in the direction of electability. The trade unions wanted to go back to the 1980s. They have won. Labour have lost.---Sent via BlackBerry

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-23002232494156056452010-09-24T19:36:00.000Z2010-09-24T19:37:14.694Z

With less than a day to go to the declaration of the Labour leadership result, I thought it would be worth delving into the what the outcome could mean. I don't think there is a need to waste our time on the non-Milibands as the consensus from all sides is that Abbott, Balls and Burnham are out of the running.So firstly, David Miliband (DM). He was clearly the front runner in the eyes of the

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-66604071635371412772010-09-24T15:39:00.001Z2010-09-24T15:39:58.391Z

The publication today of the Commission into Banking's report on the issues they will consider has not come a moment too soon. They have a year to come up with their proposals to reform the banking system. I am looking forward to what they come up with. As a supporter of liberal economics, for capitalism to work properly, competition is needed. When markets are dominated by a small number of

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-4411690415077004662010-09-22T18:18:00.000Z2010-09-22T18:19:00.775Z

It is always disappointing to learn of a defection from the Lib Dems just as it is pleasing to learn of defections to us. Alas, I have to give you the disappointing news. Yvonne McNicol, councillor for the neighbouring ward to mine, has jumped ship to sit as a Labour councillor. It's a pity she never at any point raised concerns with us. I had counted her as a friend and as someone who worked

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-63544387554507645242010-09-22T15:23:00.000Z2010-09-22T15:24:17.245Z

This is the first opportunity I have had to get a post written since I was on my way to conference on Saturday. I am now back on the train, waiting to leave Liverpool and head home.I predicted previously that the media would report on a different conference to our own despite journalists attending in record numbers. What news coverage I saw suggests the party was in uproar over the coalition. My

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-42456638853633868472010-09-18T09:13:00.000Z2010-09-18T09:14:18.614Z

It was all planned in detail. I would take our car to conference. It would be its last journey. It is being replaced and is heading for the second hand rust market. However, I hate driving and have not driven any long distance for over a decade. So this morning, I woke up and decided I couldn't face the prospect of driving all the way to Liverpool. The detailed route I had drawn up to get there

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-52228448018397620792010-09-17T13:31:00.002Z2010-09-17T14:31:52.445Z

I discovered what at best can be described as a dodgy election ploy and at worst as little better than a Mugabe style voting tactic when I returned from holiday earlier this week. Let me explain....The Trade Unions have made no secret of their desire to see Ed Miliband as the new Labour leader. They see him as a more leftwing character, more in tune with the wishes of the union barons (trade

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-64015409604285522172010-09-15T22:53:00.000Z2010-09-15T22:54:19.175Z

I got back home from holiday around 7pm this evening and settled down to reading council papers and the local newspapers from the past 10 days. A small story in yesterday's Journal caught my attention. Headlined "Queen's Speech delay sparks Labour anger", the article was about the decision to move the Queen's Speech from its normal November spot to late spring. The aim is to bring it into line

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21823280.post-53356181468199042462010-09-15T13:37:00.000Z2010-09-15T13:38:22.306Z

Has the TUC gone completely mad? The latest suggestions from the "brothers" gathered at the Trade Union Congress is for the elderly to take to the motorway system on foot to lead sit down protests against cuts! Well, that's very nice of Bob Crow, leader of the RMT union, and author of this remarkable call to action, to volunteer the elderly as the shock troops of this unbelievable plan of protest

Jonathan Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12335108244369275069noreply@blogger.com0