Clegg leads and then Cameron tries to follow

Nick Clegg showed he is a Leader this week by criticising the Governments lack of proper finance into our armed forced for the correct resources in Afghanistan.

Nicks argument is clearly not with the service men and women as they have the full support of Nick and the Liberal Democrats.

The Government were put on the back foot with Nick's attack and spent time on Thursday and Friday trying to combat it.

Today, catch-up-Cameron has said the troops need helicopters!

Doh - Nick said that back on Wednesday and Thursday and that they need better armour on the troop carriers and that personal kit needs to be better and ensure that all service men and women have the full kit and equipment they need.

Cameron doesn't like the fact Nick is catching him and out manoeuvring him!

Carry on Nick.
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7/7 four years on

My day was a weird one on the 7th July 2005, to be fair given the Olympics announcement it was a weird week.

I was now Head of Office and Organiser to Lynne Featherstone MP and we had a good day when the Olympics result was announced - in fact we had been stood in the corridor behind the Speakers Chair when the announcement happened.

Anyhow, back to 7/7. I'd come into our Norman Shaw office early to deal with casework, parliamentary questions and the like but was due to take my laptop over to Southwark (previous job) so Matt could take EARS off.

I'd gone from Westminster to London Bridge on the Jubilee line and was halfway up the escalator when they stopped at the moment the first bomb went off. 3 tube staff ran, no, sprinted down past startled passengers.

I continued up and out to Matt, the staff at the top were saying power surge.

Afterwards I headed back into London Bridge but given the crowds headed up to the train station and onto a train to Charing Cross.

From Charing Cross I sauntered up Whitehall, still completely oblivious to what had happened although by now there was the sound of sirens across London.

It was only when I got back to our office in Norman Shaw that I realised the bombs had gone off bringing parts of London to a standstill, but worse, that people had died and more injured.

The eerie sound of sirens then sounded for the remainder of the day, no work was done, it was spent watching the news and just standing silently.

Lynne had driven in with one of her daughters that day and all the MPs were trying their best to act normal and strong in light of this terror attacks.

It was a day I will always remember and will never forget those who died or who were injured nor the people from the emergency services who were heros.

Thank you!
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East Coast Rail franchise

And now an email to stakeholders

Sent on behalf of Susan Goldsmith, Managing Director, National Express East Coast
Dear Stakeholder,

EAST COAST RAIL FRANCHISE

Following this week's announcements about the East Coast rail franchise, I am writing to assure you that National Express remains committed to ensuring that high standards of service are maintained and that any transfer to public ownership is conducted in an orderly and professional manner.

Contrary to some media reports, the Department for Transport has not nationalised the East Coast railway, nor has National Express been stripped of its franchise.

However, we have indicated to the Government that if current poor trading conditions prevail, due to the recession, the financial support available to National Express East Coast (NXEC) from its parent company, National Express Group plc, under the franchise agreement, will be exhausted by the end of 2009. In those circumstances, the East Coast railway will be transferred to public ownership. The Government has stated that it intends to tender for a new East Coast franchise operator from the end of 2010.Importantly, both National Express and the Government have confirmed that customers are unaffected by this week's announcements. It is business as usual for NXEC passengers, with services continuing to be run according to the published timetable, and tickets sold and honoured in the normal way.

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact either myself or Alan Hyde, NXEC's Head of Communications, at alan.hyde@nationalexpress.com or tel 0845 059 3155.

Yours sincerely
Susan Goldsmith
Managing Director
National Express East Coast
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Nottinghamshire Police dogs death

Here is the statement by Nottinghamshire Police, I am still very angry that this was allowed to happen.

I have written today to the Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable, Julia Hodson expressing my anger, concerns about lack of training and that they officer concerned should be prosecuted.

The address is Julia Hodson, Chief Constable, Nottinghamshire Police, Sherwood Lodge, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 8PP and urge you all to do the same.

Nottinghamshire Police in animal cruelty shock

Just realising via friends on Twitter and Facebook that Nottinghamshire Police have killed 2 of their dogs by allowing them to boil to death in effect.

Left in a police car with no ventilation!

I will be wrirting to the Chief Constable to urge the officer or officers concerned to be arrested and charged with animal neglect and cruelty.

We must all act to ensure there is no cover up - this is absolutely bloody appalling.

Shame on them!
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East Coast mainline

So, the Government have nationalised something else, the East Coast mainline, and David Milliband is this afternoon trying out the new Government service, on the 15.00 service from Kings Cross.

Here is the statement in an email just received from National Express themselves, with my comments <in brackets>

East Coast customer statement:

Dear Andrew,

Following recent announcements by National Express and the Department for Transport regarding the East Coast rail franchise, please be advised that our service to customers remains unaffected. <God help us all then>

National Express East Coast will continue to operate all its current services on the East Coast route to current timetables.

All existing tickets and travel documents will continue to be valid and honoured, including advance sales and bookings. Customers should continue to book tickets in advance for future journeys through the normal arrangements at stations, online, travel agents and by phone.

Visit nationalexpresseastcoast.com for up-to-date information.

Susan Goldsmith
Managing Director, National Express
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Royal Bank of Scotland at Wimbledon

So, after Sir Fred the Shred and the Government bailing the bank out you would assume they would learn how to do deal with our money?

Oh no, they've gone and spent £300,000 on one suite at Wimbledon but so ashamed of it they asked for all of the signage to be removed!

In the London Evening Standard a RBS spokeswoman said - the deal was a long-standing agreement and insisted it was customers rather than staff who were using the lounge.

Are you a RBS customer and did you get an invite?

Vince Cable MP said: "RBS executives simply don't understand or care that they are a publicly owned bank using taxpayers' money"

"While small businesses are being squeezed and depositors are getting a very bad deal top management is splashing around public money in this outrageous self-indulgent way. The tradition of Sir Fred Goodwin lives on".

Spot on Vince and shame on Royal Bank of Scotland!
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