Yesterday Showed New Labour's Detachment From Ordinary Working People

Gordon Brown's actions yesterday were reprehensible. His attack on a lifelong Labour supporter as a "bigoted woman" showed the difference between public and private actions for the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister's actions showed quite how detached New 'Labour' has become from lifelong Labour voters and ordinary hard working people. It is no wonder that thousands of lifelong Labour voters are set to desert Labour in seven days time.

The truth is that New 'Labour' has comprehensively ignored the people who have formed the electoral base of the Labour Party since its formation. All too often, New 'Labour' has taken its core vote for granted and watched as the national economy grew more unbalanced, inequality grew wider and bankers in the city of London grew richer. All too often, New 'Labour' has turned a blind eye to the feelings of ordinary, working class voters in Labour heartlands - leading to a high level of political disenchantment and disengagement in working class areas.

Yesterday illustrated starkly and utterly the gap between New 'Labour' and working class people. It showed how far the Labour Party has been driven away from its roots and values by Gordon Brown, so it now represents something that barely resembles the values based party of 1945. It shows how far Brown and Blair moved the party away from the proud roots of Hardie, Bevin, Bevan and Morrison. Whereas the Labour Party used to stand for and listen to ordinary, working class voters, the new beast of New 'Labour' treats their views with contempt.

The issue of immigration is a massive issue on the doorstep. It needs a proper response and real action - notably Conservative proposals for a clear annual limit and a Border Police Force. What it doesn't need is people like Gordon Brown looking down their nose at ordinary, hard working people.

The Second Debate Should Be On Terrestrial TV

TV debates have already become part of the furniture of British elections. I have often said that it is quite right that a democracy such as ours has televised debates between party leaders. They are a crucial part of engaging the electorate in the political arena.

Plenty of people I'm speaking to on the doorstep are telling me that they will be watching the final two debates as they decide who to vote for. People in the shops of Sacriston and Chester-le-Street, where I was canvassing today, were talking about the debate to come on Thursday with a fair degree of anticipation (a good example of how debates are crucial to the process of re-engaging the public in politics).

What quite a few people don't realise is that the second televised debate isn't actually going to be on terrestrial television. As the scandal of test match cricket being shown only on Sky has shown, events not being televised on terrestrial TV gain far smaller audiences.

It surely isn't too late for BBC or ITV to reschedule some programmes and put the second debate on terrestrial TV. It is only right that such an important event is broadcast to as wide an udience as possible.

Campaign Day 10 - A Conservative Surge In The North East

Only three weeks to go and there remains a strong desire for change in North Durham. Our canvass returns continue to show that well over 50% of respondents will either vote Conservative or strongly consider voting Conservative on May 6th.

And what we are finding on the ground is backed up by a recent You Gov poll, discussed by Lord Bates today. The poll shows that Labour support has fallen by more in the North East than in any other region of the country. It also shows that Conservative support has surged in the North East and that Liberal Democrat support has plummeted in our region since 2005.

This confirms what we are finding when we are canvassing on the doorsteps of North Durham. Firstly, there is a real sense of betrayal at a 'Labour' Government that so many people placed so much faith in thirteen years ago. This Government has ignored the North East and done nothing for ordinary, hard working people. Under this Government decisions are made by distant bureaucrats in London and Whitehall, who have no knowledge or understanding of our region. Secondly, the poll confirms that the Liberal Democrat is falling flat on the doorstep. People realise that the election is a choice between real change and four more years of Gordon Brown.

Please feel free to add comments. You can donate to my campaign for change in North Durham via the following link: http://tinyurl.com/y9whlnx

Campaign Day 9 - Brown's Apology Over Banks Doesn't Go Far Enough

Yet another gloriously sunny day in North Durham today. Very positive canvassing, interrupted only by some top class food in Ashley Tea Rooms at lunchtime and some very competitive games of pool later on in the afternoon. People remain very eager for change.

Today's admission by Gordon Brown that he has made mistakes over the regulation of bankers is welcome but all too late. Brown's mistakes and lack of banking regulation meant that reckless bankers brought the economy to its knees. Under Brown, nationalised and part-nationalised banks have continued paying outrageous bonuses and have failed to meet their obligation to lend to small and medium sized businesses.

Words from Gordon Brown are not enough. Gordon Brown spent 13 years cosying up to the banks and allowing our economy to become terribly unbalanced in favour of financial services. His lack of regulation created the conditions for the banking crisis. In the same time, we have seen over 95,000 manufacturing jobs lost in our region alone and the economic gap between the North East and other regions has grown.

We need a levy on the banks and international agreement on a global levy on the banks. We need bold leadership over financial regulation and bold leadership to get the back for taxpayers every penny we put in to rescue the banking sector.

Please feel free to leave comments. If you would like to donate to my campaign, you can do so here: http://tinyurl.com/y9whlnx

Campaign Day 8 - A Radical Decentralisation Of Power From London And Whitehall To Our Communities

Another very positive day of campaigning across North Durham – with plenty of lifelong Labour voters saying that they are ready to vote for change and a strong local voice come May 6th.

I popped down to the North Eastern launch of the manifesto at Cullercoats, where there was a real buzz in the air – a real sense of enthusiasm and excitement. The manifesto contains a very central idea – trusting the people.

It is based on the idea that power should be redistributed from London and Whitehall to local communities and local people. In the North East, politicians in London have ignored our region for too long. We need passionate North Eastern representatives in Parliament to stand up for our region and our area. And we also urgently need to kind of radical decentralisation of power from Whitehall to local people set out by the Conservatives today.

Please feel free to add comments. You can donate to my campaign for change via the following link: http://tinyurl.com/y9whlnx

Campaign Day 7 - Tackling Anti Social Behaviour In North Durham

The first week of the campaign is almost over and the sun is still shining in North Durham. If the weather continues at this rate, I might end up getting a tan by the end of the campaign.

As well as canvassing and leafleting today, I spent some time talking to Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling MP, on a visit to the North East today, about the problems of anti social behaviour in North Durham.

North Durham has one of the highest rates of anti social behaviour in the country and the highest ASBO breach rate in the country. People from across the constituency have told me how their life has been badly affected by the menace of anti social behaviour.

That is why, as Chris Grayling, set out to me today, Conservatives will take tough measures to crack down on the anti social behaviour that affects ordinary, hard working people the most. . This includes giving the Police the power to take instant action against troublemakers and louts, including the power to confiscate items. He also outlined measures to ensure that the Police spend more time on the beat and less time filling in forms.

We need to take real action to fight back against anti social behaviour and reclaim our streets from louts. We need to stop the anti-social minority making life a misery for the hard working majority.

Why Should We Believe Brown's Promises After Years Of Failure To Deliver?

I’m reading an excellent book at the moment by Giles Radice, the former MP for North Durham, about Clement Attlee’s Government, called ‘The Tortoise and The Hares’. Clearly, Gordon Brown was trying to take a bit of the magic of that great reforming 1945 Government, with the front cover of the Labour Manifesto harking back to the imagery of 1945 and some pre-war Labour posters. Well, Gordon, it takes more than a picture. One of the worst post war Governments has a bit of cheek in trying to compare itself with one of the best.

Where Attlee, Bevin, Cripps and Bevan presided over lasting and necessary social reform, Brown, Balls and Harman have presided over economic collapse and widening inequality. Under Gordon Brown’s stewardship, manufacturing industry has shed almost a million jobs while the highly paid gamblers in the City of London were given total licence to carry on with irresponsible folly and bring the economy to its knees. At the same time, the North-South divide has worsened, social mobility has stalled and unemployment has increased.

Brown may have promised radical reform today, but why should we believe it any more than the promises made in 1997 (anybody remember the promise of a referendum on PR in 1997 - repeated this year or the promise of House of Lords reform) or the promise of full employment made in the 2005 manifesto. Why should we trust Gordon Brown to be a reformer of public services when he constantly blocked Tony Blair's attempts at reform?

To put it another way, why should we trust Labour to undertake radical reforms when Gordon Brown has failed to deliver that reform in the past 13 years?

Day 6 - We Must Do All That We Can To Tackle Youth Unemployment

It has been a glorious day today in North Durham. Hopefully this sunny weather will continue all the way through to May 6th.

One of the biggest tragedies of Gordon Brown's recession is the impact it has had on young people. We now have the highest level of youth unemployment in Europe. Over a million young people are not in education, employment or training. This is a national disgrace. The Conservatives have made it clear that a key priority in Government will be tackling youth unemployment.

200,000 new apprenticeships will be created over two years, as well as 100,000 extra work pairings and 100,000 additional Further Education places. Young people will also be given expert careers advice and quickly assigned to relevant training courses.

We need to ensure that the young people who are out of work because of the recession do not become a 'lost generation'. We must do all that we can to make sure that out of work young people are given every opportunity to fulfil their potential. Anything less would be a betrayal of our nation's future.

Please feel free to add comments. If you would like to donate to my campaign, you cn do so via the following link: http://tinyurl.com/y9whlnx

Day Four - Time To Make A Move Towards Genuine Fairness

Yet another great day of canvassing in North Durham. The weather has behaved itself so far in the campaign and there has been very sunny response on the doorstep.

People across North Durham tell me that the Labour Party that has governed for the past 13 years isn't the Labour Party that they grew up with. Since 1997, the economic gap between the North East and other regions has grown. In the past 2 and a half years, unemployment has increased by 140% in North Durham. In the same time, the gap between rich and poor has widened and social mobility has stalled. Manufacturing industry has been weakened, while the Labour Government was busy unbalancing the economy in favour of super rich bankers in the City.

I have already written about the obscene reward packages in the banking sector. This is particularly obscene given that bankers still owe the taxpayer money for rescuing the banks from their folly.

There are also other elements of unfairness and inequality in society that a Government must address. One of these is the discrepancy in public sector pay, with the people at the top of public sector organisations being paid a ludicrous amount out of the public purse and a multiple considerably higher than the lowest paid people in that organisation. This kind of unfairness and inequality needs to change.

That is why the pay of public sector chiefs should be linked to the lowest paid person within their organisation. That is why David Cameron announced today that a Fair Pay Review will be established to consider pay inequality in the public sector. The Fair Pay Review will be asked to introduce a pay multiple so that no public sector boss can earn over twenty times more than the lowest paid person in their organisation.

The country has become less fair and less equal under a Labour Government. It is time to take some steps to create a society that is fairer and more equal.

Please feel free to leave comments. If you want to donate to the campaign for change in North Durham, you can do so via the following link: http://tinyurl.com/y9whlnx

The Best Sporting Weekend Of The Year?

The first weekend of the election campaign also happens to be one of the vintage sporting weekends of the season. Timing of door knocking has to be fairly carefully watched this weekend.

The US Masters at Augusta has been even more keenly anticipated than usual this year, with the might Tiger Woods making his long awaited comeback to golf following his much publicised personal problems. I have always said that Tiger should be judged by his golf alone and I have no doubt that he will let his golf do the talking this weekend. The Masters always creates sensational drama and excitement and I have little doubt that will also be the case this weekend. Tiger winning would be quite a story.

If that isn't enough, it is also the FA Cup Semi Finals this weekend. Sadly, there is no North Eastern representation (on the subject of which, congratulations to Newcastle for their promotion back to the Premiership) but some top notch sporting excitement is promised. Surely, Portsmouth making the final is this terrible year for them would be quite something...

If all that isn't enough, the Grand National takes place at Aintree this weekend. A tremendous spectacle and , although lacking the quality of the Gold Cup, certainly makes up for it in terms of excitement. Watch out for the number of horse racing analogies used by political reporters on Grand National day. Also, watch out for a politically themed winner doing what 'Party Politics' did in 1992!

Day 3: Protecting And Creating Jobs Must Be Our Priority

A great day of campaigning so far today in North Durham. An excellent response on the doorsteps, with plenty of lifelong Labour voters telling me that they were ready to vote for change and vote for a progressive Tory candidate, with a real passion for the North East and the area.

So many people mention the major problems that unemployment is causing in the area. Since late 2007, unemployment in the constituency has increased by about 140%. Almost every family in the constituency has been directly or indirectly affected by the unemployment caused by Gordon Brown's recession.

We need to do all that we can to protect jobs and create jobs in the area. That most certainly does not mean increasing the costs on business at a time like this, which is what the Government's proposed National Insurance increase will do. I have spoken to small business owners who are very concerned about the potential effect that the National Insurance increase will have on their business and their worries about the effect it will have on jobs.

That is why we need to ensure that Gordon Brown's proposed National Insurance rise must not happen in full. The potential impact on jobs will be devastating. And job creation must be a major priority in North Durham, so badly hit by unemployment in the past few years.

Feel free to add comments. If you would like to donate to my campaign for change, you can do so via the following link: http://tinyurl.com/y9whlnx

Empowering The People

Day Two of the campaign and a great day of canvassing and leafletting, along with a visit to a Working Men's Club for refreshment and a really good discussion with local small business owners. People have had enough of being taken for granted by a local establishment and are ready for an MP who puts the North East and local people first.

This election is all about empowering and trusting the people, as part of the wholesale reform that our politics needs. That is why I'm enthusiastic about the idea that local people will be given the power to recall and MP they don't feel is performing or they are not happy with. This will keep all MP's on their toes and ensure that they always focus upon serving the constituents who sent them to Westminster.

This is only part of a wholesale political and constitutional reform package that we need in this country. Empowering the people needs to be the hallmark of this political reform.

With four weeks to go, there is a real desire for change on the doorstep in North Durham. Please feel free to add comments. If you want to donate to my campaign for change, you can do so via the following link: http://tinyurl.com/y9whlnx

As The Campaign Launches - This Is What I'm Fighting For

At long last, the campaign is under way. The chance to deliver radical, progressive change to North Durham is here. I have spoken to thousands of people over the past few months in North Durham - all hungry for change and I look forward to speaking to thousands more over the next few weeks.

During this campaign, I will be fighting on behalf of:

• The thousands of people across North Durham who have become unemployed because of Gordon Brown's recession. Unemployment is up by 140% over the past few years. If elected, I will take real action to tackle the jobs crisis, create new jobs and make North Durham and the North East the centre of the green industrial revolution.
• The hard working people across North Durham who are the victims of anti social behaviour, which affects our area so badly. The old lady I spoke to who is scared to leave her house after dark. The single mother who is terrified of the anti social behaviour in her neighbourhood. The local angling club who cannot go to their traditional 'spot' because of anti social behaviour.
• The proud North Easterners, such as myself, who feel taken for granted and ignored. I have made quite clear that, if elected, I will ALWAYS put the North East and North Durham first.
• The local people who, quite rightly, want and expect first rate public services for all. That is why I'm supporting year on year spending increases on the NHS. That is why I want to protect local GPs' surgeries against Labour cuts. That is why I'm supporting the strengthening and protection of local Sure Start centres.
• The pensioners who have seen their savings and pensions decimated by the Government. I will be fighting to ensure that pensioners get a fair deal and that, at last, the link between pensions and earnings is re-established.
• The local people who have seen the Labour Party they were brought up in betray their interests. They have seen a Labour Government support super rich bankers at the expense of manufacturing industry. They have seen a Labour Government preside over mass unemployment and widening inequality. I was brought up with the strong values and instincts of our area. I'm proud of those values. I will be the candidate fighting for progressive, radical values in North Durham in this election.

This campaign is not about old style party politics. I am standing up for the thousands of people ready to vote for change and vote for a Conservative candidate for the first time in their lives.

I will be updating this blog on a daily basis. Please feel free to add comments.

If you want to donate to the campaign for change in North Durham, you can do so via the following link: http://tinyurl.com/y9whlnx

Helping Hard Working People and Reversing Labour's Tax On Jobs

Gordon Brown's National Insurance rise is a tax rise that hit ordinary working people the hardest. It is a tax rise that hits companies and risks jobs at the same time as the recovery is so fragile. That is why the CBI described the rise as a "serious mistake [that] will hold back job creation and growth". The Small Business Federation described it as an "attack on jobs" that "will cause deeper unemployment."

When we need to be doing all we can to encourage job creation, throwing a tax rise on ordinary, hard working people and their jobs is both economically ridiculous and morally wrong.

That is why a Conservative Government will stop the planned National insurance increases for anybody earning less than £35,000. This means that 7 out of 10 working people will be week better off, with the poorest benefiting the most. Nobody will be worse off.

Reversing Labour's tax on jobs will be crucial to helping hard working people and encouraging job creation.

The Banks Must Pay Back To The Taxpayer Every Penny From The Bailout

The behaviour of the banking sector brought immense damage to the British and global economy. The taxpayer had to bail out the banks for their folly as they came close to collapse. Indeed, the Treasury estimated in April 2009 that there may be a loss to the taxpayer of between £20 billion and £50 billion because of the banking bailout.

Now, less than two years after highly paid bankers paid a large part in bringing the global economy to the verge of collapse, multi million bonuses are being paid again and the banks are failing to meet their obligations to provide loans to business to help get the economy moving again. I have made clear before that this is simply not good enough. It is also time to make clear that the banks need to pay back to the taxpayer every penny used to rescue them in the bailout package.

Gordon Brown spent 13 years cosying up to the banks and allowing our economy to become terribly unbalanced in favour of financial services. His lack of regulation created the conditions for the banking crisis. In the same time, we have seen over 95,000 manufacturing jobs lost in our region alone and the economic gap between the North East and other regions has grown.

We need bold leadership over financial regulation and bold leadership to get the back for taxpayers every penny we put in to rescue the banking sector. We need to tackle the vested interests in the banking sector. That is why we need to introduce a new bank levy to get our money back from the banks and to protect taxpayers in the future. It is why we must also seek international agreement on an international banking levy.

More Must be Done To Tackle Unemployment As The North-South Divide Widens

Unemployment has affected so many people in North Durham. So many people I speak to have either been made unemployed themselves or have had friends or members of their family who have been made unemployed over the past few years. It is clear that we must do more to create jobs and tackle unemployment.

The unemployment figures announced last week show that, in North Durham, unemployment is over 140% higher than it was in September 2007. The North East has the highest rate of unemployment in the country and there is a growing North-South divide.

We need bold action to tackle the jobs crisis caused by Gordon Brown's recession. That is why Conservatives are proposing an additional 400,000 apprenticeships, training places and placements, as well as an additional 50,000 Further Education places and 10,000 Higher Education places. We also need to do more to incentivise business to create jobs and create a world class all age careers service. This would be the decisive action we need to tackle unemployment.

Now Even Barnett Says The Barnett Formula Should Be Reformed

The Barnett Formula is thoroughly unfair on the North East and needs to be reformed. It is yet another example of how the North East has been let down by this Government. We know that the North East receives £8,156 per head and has a lower GDP per capita than Scotland, which receives £9,032 per head from the formula.

The North East has not had a fair deal from the Barnett Formula and neither former North Eastern MP, Tony Blair, or Gordon Brown have lifted a finger to help the hard working of the North East who placed so much faith in their Government.

And now even Barnett himself has come out against his own Barnett Formula. Lord Barnett has said that reform was "vital" for the future of the country. He has told a Select Committee that we must "do something about it soon."

He is, of course, right. We should have a needs based formula that is fair on the North East. People in the North East have had quite enough of being taken for granted and are ready to elect proud North Easterners, such as myself, who will stand up for our region.

North Eastern Manufacturing Jobs Have Been Slashed Under Labour

Manufacturing should be an integral part of our regional and our national economy. As I blogged the other day, the North East should play a leading role in the development of an export led economy, with our region being a trailblazer in terms of green industry and high tech manufacturing.

This makes it even more troubling that manufacturing has been hit so badly in the past 13 years. Since Labour were elected in 1997, almost 95,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in our region. It is extremely worrying that, in the same time period, the number of advanced manufacturing jobs (in the medium to high tech sectors) has fallen by 56 per cent. Our area has a proud manufacturing tradition and an enormous potential to be a world leading manufacturing region. Sadly, Labour have not shown the vision, the ideas or the actions to ensure that our region meets its potential. It should also be noted that our balance of trade has nose dived in January, as the chart below (originally produced by Left Foot Forward and taken from the latest ONS figures) illustrates:

We need bold ideas, real vision and real leadership to ensure that the North East fulfills its potential to be a world leading manufacturing area. That has not come over the past 13 years. It is time that the Labour establishment in the North East steps aside to make way for proud North Easterners who bring vision and determination to ensure our region fulfills its economic potential.

The North East Must Be At The Forefront Of High Tech Manufacturing

Here in the North East, we have a fantastic tradition of engineering and manufacturing. I believe that we can build on this proud tradition to be at the forefront of a new wave of high tech manufacturing and green industry jobs. That will happen if we have the imagination and if we have the vision to ensure that the North Eastern economy becomes a trailblazer for the next generation of new industries.

Yesterday, James Dyson set out his report aimed at making Britain Europe's leading generator of new technology and Europe's leading creator of high tech jobs. It made clear that we should do much more to encourage high tech businesses, as well as ensuring that we take the best new ideas from the universities into the marketplace.

In the North East, we have a peerless heritage of innovation and engineering. We have the natural resources, the people, the skills and the universities to be major players in a new, high-tech manufacturing economy. Sadly, in recent years we have seen the economic gap between us and other regions increase. We need dedication, vision and leadership to become trailblazers in high tech and green industries and regain our rightful place as an economic and manufacturing collosus.

6 Music Should Be Saved For The Sake Of Alternative Music

I’m a huge supporter of public service broadcasting. I think that the BBC is one of the great British institutions and one of our greatest cultural exports. It is true that the BBC should not be paying multi million salaries to entertainment presenters. Sadly, the decision to axe 6 Music and the Asian Network represents a complete derogation of the BBC’s duty as a public service broadcaster.

6 Music should not be judged on listener figures alone. It provides a platform for alternative music that would not gain a platform in the commercial sector. 6 Music performs a crucial role in providing a platform for new or unsigned bands that they would not gain in the commercial sector. Providing an opening for new and unsigned bands and providing a stage for alternative music that would not otherwise gain exposure is surely the very essence of public service broadcasting.

Indie music, alternative music and alt country are all well served by 6 Music in a way that they are not well served and would not be well served by the commercial sector. They have every right to be regarded as culturally and socially important as other forms of music that might be played on Radio 3. Indeed, rock n’ roll and indie music continues to be a great British cultural success story and the likes of 6 Music are crucial to ensuring that this British creative industry continues to thrive.

Without a radio station set up to encourage and nourish alternative music, the commercial sector is more likely to play popular, 'middle of the road' music than music that genuinely pushes boundaries. 6 Music encourages musical creativity and innovation.

The BBC should re-consider the decision, for the sake of public service broadcasting and for the sake of British music.

Lifelong Labour Voters Back The Conservatives Over The NHS

I have blogged before about how lifelong Labour voters will be voting for a radical and progressive Tory Party at the next election. One of the issues I care about most is protecting and strengthening the NHS. And this week, lifelong Labour voters who work in the NHS have said that they will be supporting the progressive Conservatives at the next election.

The first was Dr Anwari Ali. Dr Ali is GP and, until this week, was a Labour Councillor. In a past poster campaign, Dr Ali has been chosen as one of the faces of the NHS. She said:

“I have been a lifelong Labour supporter, but I believe the country cannot afford five more years of Gordon Brown. As a GP working on the frontline in the largest practice in the East End, I have become increasingly disillusioned with Labour's failure to reform the NHS. The past decade has seen this Government waste millions of pounds on bureaucracy in hospitals. Gordon Brown's obsession with top down targets and a tick box culture has ruined the morale and goodwill of the national health staff. Ill health and early death in the East End is a direct result of Labour's failure to bring real reform to the NHS.”

The second was Professor David Kerr, a lifelong Labour voter who campaigned with Tony Blair in 2001. Professor Kerr was the winner of the Nye Bevan 'award for innovation'. He argues:

“To say that we have run out of steam, I would say definitely, definitely yes... We have got lost in the blizzard of increasingly irrelevant targets. The position now is disenfranchising, dull and disconnected. That is the clinical reality.”

Professor Kerr suggests:

“[The Tories] are more committed to the NHS that we love and understand as free at the point of access and offering universal care. Only that degree of certainty would convince me to go and work for them.”

The NHS is a great British institution. I'm enormously proud of the NHS and enormously proud of the fact that healthcare in Britain is free at the point of delivery. Dr Ali and Professor Kerr have this week confirmed that we are now the party of the NHS.

Publicly Owned Banks Should Not Be Paying Obscene Bonuses

People are quite right to be angry about the action of the bankers that helped create the longest and deepest recession since the Great Depression. People are right to be angry that the irresponsible actions and speculative excesses of bankers has had a devastating effect on the economy of 'main street'.

People are right to be angry that billions of pounds worth of taxpayers money had to be used to bail out the bankers and that, since then, the bankers do not seem to have changed their behaviour. People are angry that taxpayers money is being used to fund the ridiculous levels of bankers pay. Bonuses are up 40% at a time when everybody else is having to tighten their belts. Huge bonuses are being paid for on the back of taxpayer funded financial support. The banking sector has been quick to forget that without taking billions from the public purse they would have collapsed as institutions.

This morning, 85% taxpayer owned RBS announced a staggering £3.6 billion loss. Astonishingly, they also announced that they had paid out a shocking £1.3 billion in bonuses.

At the same time, it is becoming clear that banks like RBS are not fulfilling their obligations to provide finance to business.

People are quite right to demand action on this. Pay in the banking sector has become entirely out of kilter with the rest of society. It is frankly unjustifiable that banks who have relied upon the taxpayer for their very survival are effectively using taxpayers money to pay ridiculous bonuses while, at the same time, making a massive loss. That is why I support co-ordinated action to deal with excessive pay in the banking sector. I also strongly support the need for international agreement for a tax or levy on speculative financial transactions.

And the British people are right to suggest that the banks should probably think about paying the taxpayer back for keeping them in business before giving outrageous bonuses to their bankers.

Where Is The Fairness In Durham County Council's Closure Of Care Homes?

We have heard a lot about 'fairness' from Gordon Brown in the past few days. However, I don't think the residents of seven residential care homes for the elderly in County Durham have seen a great deal of fairness from Gordon Brown's Labour Party. The elderly and frail residents have been told that Labour controlled Durham County Council is 'consulting' on its plans to close seven care homes in County Durham.

Two of the care homes marked down for closure, Manor House in Annfield Plain and Stanfield House in Stanley. Local residents are very angry about the proposed closure and local residents have every right to be angry. The residents of the care homes are distressed by the news and the families and friends of the residents are very much opposed to the moves to close the care homes. The highly skilled staff who work in the care homes are understandably upset by the news.

Indeed, this morning's Journal carries the news that a local Labour activist in Lanchester has hit out at his own party's plans to close the care homes and has threatened to quit the Labour Party over the plan.

As a society, we should be judged on how we treat the elderly, as we should be judged on how we treat the weakest and most vulnerable members of society. There is no fairness in this closure of care homes. It impacts some of the most vulnerable people in society and the Labour Party and Durham County Council should hang their heads in shame for treating the elderly in this way.

David Cameron's Love Of Darts

I have blogged a few times about my love of darts. Indeed I'm typing this while watching a cracking Premier League match between Phil 'The Power' Taylor and Ronnie 'The Rocket' Baxter. It is a sport with supreme skills, working class roots and one that provides gripping, enthralling entertainment.

I was delighted that David Cameron said in an interview with 'ShortList' magazine that he is a huge fan of the game and of Sid Waddell's brilliant commentaries. Apparently, he also has a board on his office wall. Indeed, during the interview he cam face to face with some legends of the game couple of years ago:

'I was switching on the Christmas lights in Witney and they always quite rightly think that a member of parliament isn't important enough to do this alone, so they often get other people to help. One year it was John Lowe, Eric Bristow and Keith Deller - I was a bit starstruck.'

The Cabinet Visits The North East. Where Have They Been For The Last 13 Years?

The Cabinet arrived en masse in the North East today -holding their meeting in the comprehensive school where I went to sixth form.

Of course, it is always good to see our region getting some national media attention. But the question I would ask to the New Labour Ministers who descended on the North East this morning is 'where on earth have you been for the past 13 years?' It is all well and good Ministers visiting the region with a couple of months until an election, but that doesn't justify them ignoring our area when it isn't election time.

Over the past 13 years, the economic gap between the North East and the rest of the country has grown wider. We have one of the highest rates of unemployment in the country; the lowest average gross weekly pay in the country; and the lowest GDP per head in the country. After 13 years that began with so much promise but ended in disappointment, a 'Labour' Government has ignored the North East over the Barnett Formula, high speed rail, the widening of the A1 and dozens of other areas.

It is time that they focused on the North East all of the time, not just when they are panicking about the North Eastern vote in the pre-election period. That is why, if elected, I will always put the North East and our area first. It is time that we had strong voices for the North East 365 days a year, 7 days a week.

Unemployment In North Durham Up 6% In One Month

Unemployment in North Durham has gone up by some 6% in just one month as the North East continues to be the region hit the hardest by the recession. Indeed, unemployment in North Durham has increased by a shocking 125% since December 2007.

That is over 1,500 more families suffering from the devastation of unemployment over the past two years. I have spoken to so many people in North Durham over the past few months who have been terribly affected by unemployment and are, rightly, demanding that the Government should do more to create jobs in the area.

That is why I'm calling for the creation of 100,000 new apprenticeships and training places; 50,000 new Further Education places and 10,000 more Higher Education places. I'm calling for more to be done to incentivise job creation and to encourage business to create jobs. I'm calling for action to put our area at the forefront of green industry and I'm calling for a personalised careers advice service for everybody looking for work.

We need urgent action to deal with our area's jobs crisis. This Government is not proviing the action we need.

Lifelong Labour Voters Are Ready To Vote For Change In North Durham

I have blogged before about how lifelong Labour voters will be voting for my campaign for change at the last election. People who have voted Labour all of their lives are tired of being taken for granted and are annoyed that the Party they placed so much faith in has actually delivered mass unemployment, widening inequality and declining social mobility.

In the North East, lifelong Labour voters are sick of our region being forgotten and ignored by a Government that has 27 out of our 29 MPs. Since 1997, we have been represented by the likes of Blair, Mandelson, Byers and Milburn but the North East has still fallen further behind every other UK region and has the highest unemployment in the UK.

That is why lifelong Labour voters are ready to vote for change in North Durham. And lifelong Labour voters are ready to make the switch across the country, as this video shows:

People across North Durham and across the North East are ready to vote for a progressive alternative. They are sick of the traditional values of the Labour Party being ignored and are set to support a candidate who will stand for fairness, action to create jobs and will be a strong voice for the North East.

Saddened, But Not Surprised, By Kraft's Betrayal Of Trust

Despite promises made by Kraft in the process of their hostile takeover of Cadburys, yesterday they announced that they would be shedding 500 manufacturing jobs in the UK. It is clear that their promises stood for nothing. The promises of the Labour Government have counted for nothing and it is British workers who are suffering.

I made my misgivings about this takeover clear a few weeks ago. The deal was called a “bad deal” by Warren Buffett, criticised across the political spectrum and resulted in falls in the share price of both Kraft and Cadbury. My main misgivings were based around the fact that:

• Kraft are heavily in debt to the tune of £18.6 billion, more than double the level of debt in 2006. To fund the takeover, Kraft have had to increase their debt still further, with Kraft’s debt to earnings ratio increasing to nearly four times. This level of debt is not sustainable and it is likely that Cadburys UK production will bear the brunt of Kraft’s attempts to reduce their debt;
• Cadburys was a lean, well run, profitable company, with a long history of respecting workers’ rights. Kraft is a global conglomerate with a massive pool of debt and a long history of asset stripping. It does concern me that lean, well run companies are so often the targets of global conglomerates;
• The UK economy has, for too long been unbalanced in favour – with too much focus being placed on the financial sector in the South East of England and not enough being placed on manufacturing. We need to rebalance the economy. The sale of one of Britain’s great manufacturing names is hardly a statement of intent;
• The power of short term hedge funds and institutional shareholders in the takeover process, who have a vote but no real interest in the long term health of the company. Long term manufacturing vitality should not be decided by short term interests in the City;
• The takeover was funded by a loan provided by a bank owned by the British taxpayer

Despite the protestations of free market fundamentalists, I’m cannot see how the Cadburys takeover has been at all positive for Cadburys workers or the long term health and vitality of the British economy. All of Lord Mandelson’s assurances have counted for nothing.

It is surely time that we re-thought our ethos around takeovers and the power of corporate finance. There is a strong case for ‘public interest’ tests when it comes to corporate takeovers, along with the need to seek proper assurances in terms of jobs and social impact. Kraft’s sudden about turn was sadly predictable. Cadburys workers have been badly let down by a toothless Government. It is about time we made sure that the same is not allowed to happen again.

New Research: Labour's Legacy - The North East Has The Highest Rate Of Unemployment In The Country

Look North has been running a series of reports this week about the health of the North Eastern economy after 13 years of Labour Government. The findings have been fascinating and more than a little worrying.

The report pointed out that we have the highest rate of unemployment in the country in the North East. According to the report:

Over the period May 1997 to December 2009 the North East has consistently been

one of the worst performing regions in terms of unemployment... unemployment has risen steadily in the North East to stand at 85,625 or 5.4% in December 2009 – the highest rate of all the regions of the UK and significantly higher than the UK average of 4.1%.

According to the report, the unemployment problem in County Durham is even worse than in the rest of the region:

County Durham experienced the most marked increase in claimant unemployment between May 2008 and the latest figures for December 2009 with a 105% increase in the number of people of working age claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) with the unemployment rate more than doubling to 4.5% from 2.2%.

I have spoken to so many people who have been suffering from the devastation of unemployment. And the Government hasn't been doing nearly enough to help create jobs in our area. We need to incentive business to create jobs; provide personalised careers advice to people looking for work; create 200,000 new apprenticeships over two years; and get credit flowing to business again.

Yet Another Over The Odds Council Tax Increase For The People Of North Durham

The Labour Council in Durham are engaging in a bout of self congratulation about the fact that they have managed to restrict the Council Tax rise this year to 1.9%. This comes after years of big Council Tax increases for people in County Durham. Indeed, the Council is only able to 'boast' of a 1.9% increase because it looks low in relation to the scale of their Council Tax hikes in recent years.

Why they are congratulating themselves about this little fact when so many people in North Durham are having to tighten their belts is absolutely beyond me. For this to happen at the same time as the Council is closing Care Homes and cutting back other facilities is shocking. For Council Tax payers to be hit at the same time as Labour Councillors vote for a 20% allowance increase in unforgivable.

That's why I'm calling on the Council to freeze Council Tax for this year. A Conservative Government would work with local authorities to freeze Council Tax for two years. The Council Tax payers of North Durham deserve better than yet another Council Tax hike.

I'm Backing National Apprenticeships Week

I'm a great believer in the importance of apprenticeships, which is why I'm backing National Apprenticeships Week this week. Apprenticeships are a hugely valuable form of work-based training and vocational education and they will play a major part in helping our economy compete in a global economy that places a premium on skills.

There are plenty of excellent examples of apprenticeships being run by businesses throughout North Durham and throughout the North East. And we need to go even further to promote apprenticeships.

That's why, as part of the Get Britain Working programme, we have pledged to create an additional 200,000 apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship training places over two years. Contrast that ambition to Labour's failure in this area - with a fall in new apprenticeships of more than 20,000 between October 2008 and October 2009.

Time For The North East To Get A Fair Deal Over The Barnett Formula

Gordon Brown has shown time and time again that he is prepared to ignore the North East and take our votes for granted. Nowhere is this more obvious than his continuing support for the unfair, outmoded Barnett formula. It has been shown time and time again that the North East gets a very bad deal out of the formula. As has become typical of his Government, Mr Brown is utterly unable or unwilling to lift a finger to help the North East and to put right a proven wrong.

It is only right that any such formula must be needs based. The Barnett Formula blatantly isn't. Although information about funding has been clouded by the Government, we know that the North East receives £8,156 per head and has a lower GDP per capita than Scotland, which receives £9,032 per head from the formula.

The fact that the Government refuses to act, according to yesterday's Northern Echo, for fear of a "backlash from Scotland" is shameful. It is yet another example of the Labour government ignoring the North East and taking our votes for granted. North Eastern Labour MPs have utterly failed to stand up for the North East and to make sure that the North East gets a fair deal.

That is why I will be putting the North East first. If elected, I will fight for the interests of our area after years of Labour complacency.

The Groundswell For Change In North Durham

We just had a very good action weekend in our campaign to bring about change in North Durham. We had almost twenty people spreading the message of real change to the people of North Durham. And the response was overwhelmingly positive. Local people are sick of the North East being ignored and taken for granted by this Government.

They are highly supportive of a local candidate who cares passionately about our area and our region and will stand up for the North East and North Durham. People tell me about the concerns they face about unemployment and their belief, which I share, that much more needs to be done to tackle unemployment and create jobs in our area. People told us about their concerns regarding anti-social behaviour and their support for tougher action to be taken against the anti social minority.

So many people in North Durham have had enough of a Labour Party that has taken us all for granted. That is why lifelong Labour voters will be voting for change in North Durham. There is a real groundswell for change in 2010.

Transfer Deadline Day. Agony, Ecstasy... and Anti-climax

Today was transfer deadline day. A day that could have been invented by (and for) rolling sports news channels. It is incredible how much outlandish speculation is spread on transfer deadline day and how it so often arrives, and departs with little more than a damp squib (unless you were a Man City fan a couple of seasons ago!)

Speculation had linked my team, Sunderland, to virtually every player in the country. In the end, we managed to sign one player - in a loan move! A feeling of anti climax that quite a few fans around the country might be sharing now.

At the same time, the message boards; special sections from the BBC, Sky and Sporting Life were going into speculation overdrive. Sky Sports News treat today as a mammoth news event.

I'm not convinced that there is any need for the transfer window. But it certainly adds some excitement, speculation and intrigue to the first day of February. Now the rumour mill gets working again in preparation for the Summer...

Former Daily Mirror Editor: I Will Vote Conservative For The First Time In My Life

I have spoken to so many people in the past few months who have said that they are lifelong Labour voters but will be voting for my campaign for change at the next election. They have grown tired of a Labour Party that has lost touch with its roots; taken local people for granted; allowed the gap between rich and poor to grow; and has done nothing for the people of the North East and our economy.

There is a fascinating article in one of today's papers about a lifelong Labour voter and a former editor of the Daily Mirror, who has decided that, at the next election, he will be voting Conservative for the first time in his life. In the article, he reflects on what the Labour Party used to stand for:

I was brought up to believe the Labour Party was the best hope for ordinary people to make a better life.

The men I was taught to revere - Clem Attlee, Stafford Cripps, Ernie Bevin and Herbert Morrison - were people of the finest moral values who put their crusade for a fairer society before personal advancement.

He then points out that the present Labour Party is not part of this crusade for a fairer society:

Today, the hierarchy of New Labour has no such scruples; they shift and slide like desert sands depending on how the wind blows. So I can only hope that my ancestors would understand when I vote Conservative at the next election. It was the hardest decision I have ever made.

He the goes on to say quite how much he has been disappointed by New Labour:

The truth is that Old Labour principles of fairness and equality and support for the working classes seem to have evaporated under this Government. Also, personal integrity among its senior politicians no longer seems to exist... the experiment with New Labour has ended in catastrophe and that this Government has wasted money like no other in history. So I shall vote Conservative for the first time in my life.

He is just one of many people who placed so much faith in New Labour only to be met with crushing disappointment. There will be so many people who have voted Labour all of their lives turning their back on a party that has, for too long, turned its back on them, and voting for change at the general election.

Labour Should Be Ashamed Of Their Record On Child Poverty

This morning's Journal carried the shameful news that there are 73,000 children in the North East classed as being in severe poverty. That is 14% of the children in the North East, compared to a national average of 13%. Nationwide, 1.7 million children are regarded as being in severe poverty - this number actually increased by 260,000 before the recession.

The is something about which the Government should be quite ashamed. I was brought up to believe that a Labour Government would simply not allow 1.7 million children to live under poverty. That the Government has allowed this to happen really is a damning indictment.

As Fergus Drake, from Save The Children, has suggested:

"It’s shocking that at a time when the country was experiencing unprecedented levels of wealth, the number of children living in severe poverty – we’re talking about children going without a winter coat, a bed and other day-to-day essentials – actually increased."

It is shocking that one of the richest countries in the world still has such a large number of children living in extreme poverty. That is why we need action to tackle both poverty and the causes of poverty. To quote Lloyd George, one of the greatest Prime Ministers our country has ever had:

"I cannot help hoping and believing that before this generation has passed away, we shall have advanced a great step towards that good time, when poverty, and the wretchedness and human degradation which always follows in its camp, will be as remote to the people of this country as the wolves which once infested its forests."

The Gap between The North East And Other Regions Has Grown Under Labour

Labour take the North East of England for granted. They regard us as their natural heartland and are happy to ignore us when it comes to major decisions about infrastructure and public spending. We have been worst hit by Gordon Brown's recession and, only last week, unemployment continued to rise both in the North East and in North Durham.

An organisation called the Centre for Cities has produced what it calls a 'Cities Outlook' . One of the stark findings from the report was that the gap between the North East and other parts of the country has grown over the past 13 years. This is illustrated by the chart above, taken from Page 18 of the Cities Outlook. It shows that, in the past 13 years the gap between the North East and the rest of the country has grown. As the report points out, between 1997 and 2008, real GVA in London increased by 61%, compared with only 32% in the North East.

Despite having 27 of the North East's 29 MPs, Labour have done nothing to help the North East economy. We need urgent action in our region to close the gap with other regions and overtake them. The vision and leadership that is needed is, quite simply, not being provided by a Labour elite that has lost touch with its roots and isn't doing enough for our region.

Labour's Betrayal Of The North East Over Unemployment

The unemployment figures dealt yet another blow to Labour's reputation in our region. Families across North Durham and across the North East are suffering from the devastating impact of unemployment and the Government is doing next to nothing about it.

Unemployment increased again in the North East last month. We have the highest rate of unemployment in the country. We have the highest rate of young people not in education, employment or training. That is the sad legacy of thirteen years of 'Labour' Government.

Labour have 27 out of the 29 North Eastern MPs. On their watch, we have fallen further behind other regions using almost every economic metric. Labour's policies have left the North East with the highest rate of unemployment in the country and have left the UK with the highest level of youth unemployment in Europe.

The Labour Party have taken us for granted for long enough. It is time that they made way for those of us who really care about our area, have ambition for our region and are ready to fight for the North East every step of the way.

Unemployment Up Again In North Durham. We Need Action To Create Jobs.

Unemployment has increased again in North Durham. The number of people claiming Job Seeker's Allowance now stands at 2,540, up from 2,515 a month ago. That is 27% higher than it was a year ago and a massive 112% higher than it was two years ago.

So many people I speak to in North Durham have been directly affected by unemployment. So many people I speak to feel that nowhere near enough is being done to tackle our jobs crisis.

We need to do more to tackle unemployment. We need to incentivise job creation and to more to help businesses create jobs. We need to create 100,000 new apprenticeships and training places; 50,000 more Further Education places and 10,000 more Higher Education places. We need to create a personalised careers advice system that genuinely helps people get back into work.

We need action to create jobs. It is clear that the Government's lack of action is impacting our area.

Keeping Cadburys British Should Be The First Step In A British Manufacturing Renaissance

I was greatly saddened to see that Cadburys, that iconic British owned manufacturer of chocolate, had agreed to a hostile takeover by American conglomerate Kraft. It is bad news for British manufacturing and, I fear, bad news for workers at Cadburys.

Lets take a look at the facts behind the takeover.

Cadburys is a great symbol of British manufacturing. It is an iconic, well run British firm, which has recorded very strong profits in recent years. From the beginnings of the 'model village', through to the fact that Cadburys is renowned for providing highly skilled manufacturing jobs, with good terms and conditions, Cadburys has always been a good employer and a very well managed firm. In the past four years, organic growth has averaged 6%. It is a real British manufacturing success story.

Kraft, on the other hand, is an American conglomerate struggling under a huge amount of debt. Long-term debt at Kraft has increased from 7.08 billion in 2006 to 18.58 billion in 2009. The suggested takeover of Cadbury is also to be debt financed. By any standards, Kraft is a less well run and less vibrant company than Cadburys. A takeover will shift control and direction of the firm from the UK to Illinois and will, alomst inevitably, have a detrimental impact upon Cadburys and British jobs. When Kraft has taken over American companies in recent years, it has re-located jobs to Mexico. I fear that this takeover will result in Cadburys workers in the UK losing their jobs.

The power of institutional shareholders is also reflected in this takeover bid. Having a great British manufacturing name fall victim to a hostile takeover is symbolic of an unbalanced economy in which institutional interests in the city can weaken a great manufacturing name.

That is why, in the words of Churchill, we need to make "finance less content, and industry more proud." Other major manufacturing nations would be fighting tooth and nail to save their major, iconic manufacturing companies. We should be fighting tooth and nail to keep Cadburys under British and independent control. We should not just stand meekly aside and let another British manufacturing giant fall into foreign hands. This should be done for the sake of British manufacturing, our long term economic health and viability, and jobs in the Cadburys plants in the UK.

Chester-le-Street Deserves Better Train Services

One of the big areas of controversy amongst people I talk to in the Chester-le-Street area is the quality of the train services for the town - particularly between Chester-le-Street and Newcastle.

As well as being a major economic base in its own right, Chester-le-Street is also home to thousands of commuters to Newcastle, Durham and other local cities. Why is it, then, that our local station is often so badly served?

All too often, the rush hour trains are so jam packed when they arrive at Chester-le-Street that it can be literally impossible for commuters to even board the train. Is it beyond the wit of the train companies to add even one extra carriage to trains that are jam packed on a daily basis? Services to and from Chester-le-Street are not as frequent as they could and should be.

Quite simply, Chester-le-Street deserves better train services.

Delighted About Suede's Reunion

Suede are reuniting for a one-off gig for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

It has been a good few months for Britpop reunions. I was there when Blur got back together at Glastonbury, which was quite an occasion.

I would argue that Suede were one of the most important bands of the nineties. The debut album kicked down the door and allowed Britpop to happen. Dog Man Star was an album of end to end, pure magnificence and Coming Up has nuggets of pure gold that reverberated around indie dancefloors. True the final two albums were disappointing but live, until the very end, they still packed one hell of a punch.

It's great news they are getting back together. Let's hope that Bernard Butler can get back involved somewhere along the line. And let's hope that it is more than a one off reunion. Hopefully Glastonbury in June awaits.

The People of North Durham Are Ready To Turn Their Back On Gordon Brown's Labour Party

As election day draws nearer, the anger of the people of North Durham about Gordon Brown’s Government shows no sign of abating.

People are, quite rightly, angry and frustrated at the way in which the North East has been consistently ignored by a Government that has 27 of the region's 29 MPs. People are angry and frustrated about the fact that a 'Labour' Government has presided over mass unemployment and widening inequality and has done next to nothing about either of them. People are angry and frustrated about the anti social behaviour that blights their day to day lives.

That is why the people of North Durham are ready to vote for change at the next election. Across North Durham, from Annfield Plain to Sacriston, from Ouston to Stanley, people who have voted Labour all of their lives are telling me that they will not be voting for Gordon Brown next time round. They are ready to vote for a local candidate, prepared to stand up for our area.

Please Do What You Can To Help In Haiti

The situation in Haiti is utterly horrifying. Estimates now have the number of dead at between 50,000 and 100,000.

Please, if you can, help the DEC earthquake appeal to help with the relief effort.

Details of the appeal are below.

DEC HAITI EARTHQUAKE APPEAL

Your donation can save a life

Please donate any time day or night

0370 60 60 900

www.dec.org.uk

Registered Charity No. 1062638

On behalf of DEC members: ActionAid, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Save the Children, Oxfam, Tearfund, World Vision UK.

Gordon Brown Must Appear Before The Iraq Inquiry - Before The Election

The Iraq War was the biggest foreign policy decision made by a British Prime Minister since Suez. Its botched execution and a disastrous failure to 'win the peace' also made it was also one of the biggest foreign policy catastrophes since Suez.

I am in awe of the bravery and brilliance of our brave troops who have served us in Iraq and Afganistan. I am deeply saddened by the fact that our brave troops have been let down by poor leadership and poor planning from the Government.

It is now clear that Gordon Brown was intimately involved both in the decision to go to war and in the failure to ensure that post war plans were even close to adequate.

Evidence to the Iraq War Inquiry so far has made Brown's role quite clear. He was not the semi detached observer of events that he likes to portray himself as. Instead, he was a key player in the decisions around Iraq.

It is right that all of the key players in the decision to go to war are being called before the Iraq inquiry. As one of these key players, Gordon Brown must also be called to give evidence before the inquiry. And this should happen before the General Election. Gordon Brown should not be able to let political expediency and electoral timing prevent him appearing before the inquiry.

Please Do What You Can To Help In Haiti

The situation in Haiti is truly awful. Many thousands of people have died and tens of thousands more have been left without homes, shelter or security.

The Disasters Emergency Committee, composed of 13 British NGOs, have set up an appeal to provide humanitarian aid.

Donations to the appeal can be made by calling 0370 60 60 900 or visiting www.dec.org.uk

Ricky Hatton Has Nothing Left To Prove

Ricky Hatton has just announced that he is making a comeback to the ring.

Ricky Hatton has nothing left to prove. He has been one of the greatest British sportsmen of the past decade. I have been lucky enough to have watched quite a few of his fights at the MEN arena in Manchester. I followed his World championship triumphs and him being soundly beaten by Floyd Mayweather Jnr. He also had a good chat to a few of us at the World Darts Championships a few years ago.

But there is often a golden rule in boxing that old fighters should go out at the top and shouldn't try to come back.

I hope Hatton's comeback is a triumph. I also hope that he remembers that he has nothing left to prove to the British sporting nation.

Time To Say Enough Is Enough On Anti Social Behaviour

I have consistently said that not enough is being done by the Government about anti-social behaviour.

According to the Durham Constabulary web site:

"several residents and retailers [have] contacted Durham County Council and the police about ongoing problems with anti-social behaviour. "

This, of course, begs the question of why the local Police have had to be prompted to act about a problem that has been clear and prevalent locally for months. Indeed, no subject is mentioned more to me on the doorsteps than anti social behaviour.

Like most of this Government's failures, the problem with anti-social behaviour affects ordinary hard working people the most. I have spoken to hundreds of people who have had their routine disturbed by the menace of anti social behaviour.

It is time to say that enough is enough.

It is time to adopt a zero tolerance approach to the anti social behaviour that blights the lives of so many people. We need to give the Police real powers to tackle anti social behaviour.

We need to stop anti social behaviour making life a misery for the hard working majority.