Giving Journalism & Politics a Bad Name
- 23 Dec 2007
You know it's a light news day when a Sunday newspaper has a story about MPs' pay on its front page. Cue today's Mail on Sunday. Their front page headline screams MPs DEMAND 10pc PAY RISE. The story commences: "A political furore erupted last night after it was revealed that M...
EDP Diary: Has 2007 been a Good Year or a Bad Year?
- 21 Dec 2007
As I write this column on Friday lunchtime, I can’t tell you how guilty I feel. Not just guilty, but apprehensive. You see I’ve done my usual trick of not starting my Christmas shopping until the very last minute. One year I didn’t buy a single present until Christmas Eve...
EDP Diary: I hated School Sports
- 13 Dec 2007
The horrific killings of the five women in Ipswich have once again thrown the media under the spotlight, and in particular the twenty four hour news channels. While newspaper coverage has been reflective and non invasive, the thirst for a new angle on the story has led to chan...
50 is the new 65
- 10 Dec 2007
I've just read a piece about the new editor of The Times, James Harding. He's 38. Will Lewis, the editor of the Daily Telegraph is also 38. George Osborne is 36. David Cameron is 40. At the age of 45, perhaps I should be considering retirement! It's quite a thought to think...
EDP Diary: From Stalin to Mr Bean
- 7 Dec 2007
Attending three funerals in three weeks must surely qualify as having qualified for middle age. On Monday I went to the funeral of Rose McEwen in Hellesdon. Rose had died at the ripe old age of 94 and the turnout was testament to the esteem she was held in by the local communi...
Moving On from 18 Doughty Street
- 3 Dec 2007
Earlier in the summer I was tidying some files at home and a copy of a magazine fell out of a file. It was called THE POLITICO and I published three issues of it while I was running Politico's in 2003. I started re-reading it and began to remember what a brilliant reaction it ...
EDP Diary: I've Sent the Bed Back
- 27 Nov 2007
I hardly know how to my astonishment and anger over the events of the last few days. Twenty five million people’s privacy has been put at risk by the rank stupidity of people who work for HM Revenue & Customs. The chairman of HMRC has done the honourable thing and fallen o...
But It's 18 Inches too Big!
- 20 Nov 2007
Regular readers may recall that five weeks ago I ordered a new bed (see HERE). I wanted an oversize length bed so for the first time in my life my feet wouldn't hang out the end. So I duly ordered a 7 feet long bed. Beds still come in feet and inches, which is nice. Today I go...
Eulogy for June Webb
- 20 Nov 2007
This is the eulogy for June Webb, my sister Sheena's Mother in Law. The funeral took place in Ashdon Baptist Church. June was born in Linton on 10 March 1930, the eldest child of 5. Her brothers and sisters Anne, Russell, Sicily and Terry all mourn with us today. ...
My Eulogy to Eleanor Daniels
- 13 Nov 2007
This was the eulogy I gave at the funeral of my Godmother, Eleanor Daniels, at Little Chesterford Parish Church on 13 November 2007. I suspect that like me, most of you can’t believe that you are sitting here today, mourning the loss of a truly wonderful woman, Eleanor...
EDP Diary: Why Glen Roeder Isn't Right for Norwich City
- 8 Nov 2007
I’m going to tread very carefully in what follows. Apart from my political blog, I also write a West Ham blog. I’m a long suffering season ticket holder at Upton Park. Last week I wrote a piece on the blog commiserating with Norwich City fans – not because of their league posi...
Am I Being Taken for a Ride
- 6 Nov 2007
I have spent much of the day dealing with undertakers, vicars and solicitors so I am afraid I know nothing about the reaction to the Queen's speech. More on that anon. But I do want to share something that happened today. I am the Executor to my Godmother's will, so went to...
Eleanor Daniels 1933-2007
- 4 Nov 2007
Eleanor Daniels, my beloved Godmother, died last night in an NHS hospice in Cambridge. Three weeks ago she was admitted to Addenbrooke's Hospital. No one at the time could have believed that she would have been taken from us in such a short time. Eleanor was born i...
Saying Goodbye
- 28 Oct 2007
Over the past week my beloved Godmother, Eleanor Daniels, has been slipping away. Tomorrow I am going to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge to say goodbye to her. She's dying of cancer. Sadly, she has given up the fight and just wants to let go. Eleanor has been more than a...
EDP Diary: Tweedle Huhne v TweedleClegg
- 26 Oct 2007
Those of you who fear Norwich might be relegated to League One (as I suppose we must call it) should make a plea to Ed Balls never to invite Gordon Brown to Carrow Road. The man has a jinx. I can think of no international sporting event which the PM has attended wher...
EDP Diary: Being Hit by Cecil Parkinson's Egg
- 12 Oct 2007
I got a little over-excited on Tuesday when I got a telephone call which started with the words: "Hello, I'm calling from Question Time...". I say 'over-excited' because it was an invitation to appear on Question Time Extra on News 24 as opposed to the main programme, but I su...
When Hospitals Kill
- 11 Oct 2007
Last week, the Chief Executive of Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells Hospital Trust resigned. It wasn't before time. She had presided over four years of chaos and failure. I know, because I live there and saw at first hand what was going on. Local MPs' postbags were full of compl...
Upsetting Norman Tebbit
- 11 Oct 2007
I shan't be walking down any dark alleys in the next few days. It seems I have upset Norman Tebbit. In my Telegraph column a couple of weeks ago I warned Tories that they should be disciplined during their conference. During the article I wrote this... A speech by Sir Bufto...
Ann Widdecombe Blows My Cover
- 5 Oct 2007
Well thank you to all those expressing concern about my whereabouts! No, I wasn't kidnapped by La Widdecombe. I have been out at a meeting in Kent all morning, since you ask. I could tell you what it was about, but I'd have to shoot you [for the benefit of Chris Paul, it was n...
Conservative Conference Reflections
- 4 Oct 2007
Just before I vacate our little holiday chalet at the Ribby Hall Holiday Village (for more, read The Spectator Diary this week, which I penned yesterday) a couple of observations from the various fringe events and parties I went to last night. * Gordon Brown's trip to Iraq ...