25/1/10

Well, it’s an interesting idea, this Tory dream. In fact, it summons up romantic images of the classic 1973 film ‘Papillon’ . A personal all time favorite.

 Cameron’s floating prison proposal is an imaginative attempt to tackle the unpopular early release scheme. Apparently, 75,000 inmates have been released early since Gordon Brown came to power and that 1,500 offences have been committed by people on early release.

Not that it’s a particularly new or novel idea, mind. Britain’s last floating jail, HMP The Weare, was sold in 2005 after eight years holding prisoners off Portland – Dorset.  OK, admittedly Portland’s not quite as romantic a destination as Papillon’s chosen island Guiana, South America. But I’d settle for less.

Maybe the government could turn this into a money making, Victorian-esque seaside parade? I can hear the town crier now: Roll out the pomp and circumstance and wave your flags, the men in black and white stripes are docking in town!

Jenny Riddell

17/01/10

So, the far right have been at it again. Nigel Farage, former leader of UKIP, is expected to make a formal announcement today (watch out for it, it should be posted here) warning of the threat of Islam on the fabric of British society (Yawn. Getting tired of this debate, it’s well trodden). The burka, together with the ‘threat’ of the Sharia are both apparently inconsistent with ‘traditional Britishness’, and more specifically the burka needs to be banned, urgently…[Continue Reading]

Jenny Riddell (7/11/09)

I don’t often like Iain Dale, but his interview in this month’s Total Politics with Michal Kaminski (on the left), the Polish MEP and head of the Conservative and Reformist group in the EU, was quite frankly -fantastic.  

He clearly has little time for this man, and neither do I.  To be honest,  much of my dislike for Mr Kaminski rest on his appearance: he looks more like a worm than a politician. I wouldn’t have trusted him with a vote because of his face alone, forget his politics. Sadly, many of the active voters in Poland disagree….[Continue Reading}

It’s always been a mystery to me how there are people out there who look identical to their pets.  And then, there are the other spooky contenders who suit their name so perfectly it almost makes me believe in fate.   Let’s consider David “Camera-On” in the later camp. Whether it’s his new ‘man of the people and rolled up sleeves’ image, or his caught-on-camera personal fitness regime proving he can pump iron with the best of them, Mr Camera-On is the perfect embodiment of  21^st century spin: Script, makeup and perfect camera angles win votes.…[Continue Reading]