French push bottles up German rear...

Had to whince at the headline on tonight's Lincolnshire Echo splash: Man held in clamp probe.

Sounds almost as painful as one of my all-time favourite newspaper headlines written in the First World War to report an Allied success during the German retreat.

Bank Governor praises prudence on interest rates...

The Governor of the Bank of England, Marvyn King has told the Financial Times that he is convinced the Bank’s independence has helped improve Britain from being the lowest ranked Group of Seven economy before 1997 towards the very top.

Before 1997, interest rates were used as political tool. They went magically down just before elections and then went back up again after elections.

Gordon Brown's first act as Chancellor ten years ago was to give the Bank independence.

The Tories opposed the move.

The FT's headlined their story: Stability is prize of Bank's independence.

Cameron praises successful UK economy...

Britain today benefits from strong international leadership and a successful economy...

Who says so...er David Cameron. The Tory Leader said, when talking about the UK:

...we can punch above our weight. We’re incredibly fortunate. We’ve got the English language, we’ve got a successful economy, we’ve got great links around the world through the Commonwealth, through the European Union, through our leadership in NATO, through our special relationship with America.

The successes he talks about are of course thanks to New Labour, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and could never be replicated by any Tory, particularly not David Cameron...

Successful economy?
Cameron's economic record is based on his time as adviser to the Tory Chancellor who presided over Black Wednesday and played his part in seeing huge numbers of families losing their homes.

Europe?
Any remaining influence the Tories had in Europe ended when David Cameron pledged to withdraw his Members of the European Parliament from the moderate EPP. As a result European leaders, including Angela Merkel refuse to meet him.

Relationship with America?
Cameron’s side-kick, wee Georgie Osborne, was totally humiliated when he claimed he'd been invited to the White House to meet the US President. When the truth unravelled, it transpired that Osbourne was actually one of 125 delegates attending a conference during Malaria Awareness Day!

LibDem MP demands change to voting for EuroVision

BBC are reporting that a Lib Dem MP is complaining about unfairness in the voting system in the EuroVision Song Contest after UK came almost last on the weekend.

Apparently, he is demanding that UK withdraws from future contests unless the voting system is changed.

So look out for Terry Wogan next year explaining proportional representation!

Veggies boycott Mars bars...and Cheese'n'Onion crisps

Today's news that vegetarians will boycott Mars bars because they now contain animal products reminds me of an argument between two friends some years ago...

Both professed to be strict veggies, and while one was munching away on a packet of Cheese'n'Onion crisps, the other chose Bovril flavour.

After studying the ingredients listed on the packets, they agreed that in fact Bovril flavoured crisps were suitable for vegetarians, while Cheese and Onion were not as they contained animal products!

Each to his or her own, but I'm a meat'n'two veg guy myself!

Benny Hill and me at Trimdon Labour Club...?

An American friend messaged me to point out that I'm in this picture from Trimdon Labour Club which appeared in the Washington Post - and syndicated across many other papers around the world.

At least that's what I thought he was doing...until he asked why Benny Hill was with Tony Blair in Sedgefield.

Cheek!

Britain's better with Blair...

An absolute privilege for my wife Gill and myself to have been at Trimdon Labour Club yesterday to hear Tony Blair's announcement that he will step down as Prime Minister next month.

Many friends have been phoning and emailing to say they've seen my ugly mug in some of the media coverage including on Sky News and on the front page of the Daily Telegraph!

This wonderful image which has gone round the world was taken inside the event by Owen Hargreaves of the Press Association.

(Looking at the pic, I'm the happy clapper immediately to the left of the red Labour backdrop: Gill's in green, second row!)

It was, as reported, an emotional occasion, for the Prime Minister and his wife, and also for the warm-hearted members of Sedgefield Labour Party who have backed Tony Blair for almost a quarter of a century.

But it was also very moving for myself and others who have worked as Labour Party staff through the Blair Years start to finish.

I even detected a tear or two among some of the hardened press corps who have followed Blair throughout his political career.

Of course, it all began 24 years ago in Trimdon. So it was fitting that he should return there for his big announcement yesterday.

For me, his arrival and departure yesterday was reminiscent of the amazing event in Downing Street on that historic new dawn on Friday, 2 May 1997 which is often re-broadcast.

Britain has become better under his leadership. No more boom and bust. More jobs, more police, more doctors, more teachers: We no longer have an NHS on the point of collapse, schools no longer forced to put buckets out when it rains, more help for families, millions of pensioners and children lifted out of poverty...

And so much more.

That's Blair's legacy.

It was good to see him go out in style, not forced out of Downing Street in tears - as was Margaret Thatcher's fate.

A historic day indeed.

'That was yesterday, this is today, tomorrow is tomorrow...'

The truly historic events in Northern Ireland today would have been impossible to even imagine just a short time ago: Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness and Unionist leader Ian Paisley, side-by-side, working together in a new power-sharing commitment at Stormont.

The only speech I heard in full from Stormont today were the wise, wise words from 80-year-old Ian Paisley who accepted office as First Minister as his sworn enemy Martin McGuinness was sworn in as Deputy First Minister.

Consigning the 'troubles' to history, Paisley said

'that was yesterday, this is today, and tomorrow is tomorrow.'

It was all the more astonishing, as I can't ever recall Paisley previously uttering anything that sounded like wise words in over three decades of conflict.

Just as astonishing today, was to hear McGuinness wishing Paisley 'all the best' as new First Minister...

Who would have thought we'd ever see the day when Sinn Fein leader shook hands with a serving British Prime Minister Tony Blair?

But the TV pictures I loved most today were those of Martin McGuinness posing for a snap with his mother and Tony Blair!

I'm sure we all wish that Paisley is right when he says:

I believe that Northern Ireland has come to a time of peace, a time when hatred will no longer rule.

I have to say my heart missed a beat later when I heard an unfortunate choice of words from one of the lesser politicians from the Province interviewed on 5Live.

He said local politicians were committed to peace, but went on:

we need the tools to do the job to be in our armoury...

I'm not sure exactly what he meant, but as long as he wasn't talking Armalites, there is hope!

Nil points for Tory in PM's backyard...

I failed to get elected in the local elections this week, but at least I can take heart that 652 people thought me worth voting for - that's 652 more votes than attracted by the hapless Tory candidate who stood in Tony Blair's backyard.

Shirley Bowes failed to attract a single vote - not even her own. .

Today's Daily Mail reports that the pensioner managed to come in with an almost unprecedented zero in the New Trimdon ward in Sedgefield where Tony Blair has his constituency home.

Shirley, said to be secretary of the South Durham hunt, couldn't even vote for herself because she lives outside the ward she was standing for.

She told the Mail she only stood as a favour to a friend:

I never have had any true political ambitions but I support the Conservatives and said I'd help out.

There was no Tory candidate in the ward and when my friend, who is a councillor asked me to stand I agreed so that at leats the party was represented.

No political ambition eh?

Sounds like she'd be the ideal Tory candidate to take on Ken Livingston in the next elections for London's Mayor...?

Sensational win as by pass campaigners take over Boston Town Hall...

Labour has taken control of Scunthorpe-based North Lincs Council directly from the Tories, while the Tories have gained Lincoln City from Labour.

But the most spectacular result across the East Midlands - and probably in the country - was the single-issue Boston By-pass Group taking control of their town hall.

They gained an astonishing 25 seats, wiping out Labour entirely and leaving Boston Borough with just five Conservative councillors.

It's good to see people power in action: but it will be interesting to see how they progress the case for a by-pass at Boston Borough Council.

I'm sure they realise that the highways authority is not Boston Borough, but Lincolnshire County Council...

But the result shouldn't come as a surprise. Boston has been gridlocked for years and the frustration has finally boiled over.

Wonder if we'll see a Grantham By Pass Action Group at the next elections?

MP's unjustified attack on me does the (dirty) trick..

Results are in for Deeping St James:

Ray Auger (Conservative) of Hereward Way.....968
Ken Joynson (LibDem) of Manor Way............943
Bryan Helyar (Conservative) of Langtoft......778
Fair Deal Phil Dilks (Labour) of Church St...652

So Ray, Bryan and Ken returned to represent us at Grantham.

Returns up to Wednesday showed me well ahead of Bryan - which is why the Tories resorted to portraying me as claiming a "staggering" amount in "expenses" as county councillor.

In fact, the Tories know the truth that I have never claimed a penny for the hundreds of 90-mile round trips I've had to make to fulfill my duties.

Yes, my leaflets were robust and obviously rattled them - but they were honest, justified and exposed the truth.

MP Hayes sinks to new low in personal attack...

Until yesterday, I always believed that our local MP John Hayes was a decent sort, despite being firmly on the hard-right of the Conservative Party.

But he's decided to make an unjustified personal attack against me for accepting an allowance for my work as councillor for Deeping St James.

In a desperate dirty trick to damage my credibility in today's local elections, John Hayes delivered an eve-of-poll leaflet to my neighbours, portraying me as claiming a "staggering" amount in expenses.

As John Hayes and the Tories know, the truth is rather different.

Unlike him, and most other councillors, I have never claimed a penny in travel expenses.

Over the years, I could have claimed thousands of pounds for the 90-mile round trip backwards and forwards to the council's offices. The public record shows I've never claimed any of this entitlement.

Unlike some, I don't do it for the money!

Boat thief caught red-handed...

Sharp-eyed police officers on routine patrol in Cowbit on Tuesday decided to stop a four-wheel drive vehicle which was towing a large trailer and yacht.

But as the vehicle made off towards Weston, the boat fell off, flipping the trailer.

The 31-year-old driver from Wisbech was arrested and taken to Spalding Police station on suspicion of stealing the trailer - and the boat, as well as driving while disqualified.

Police later identified the boat and trailer were later as having been stolen from Deeping St Nicholas.

Hope police check the villain's yard to see if there's any sign of my old Ford Capri which was nicked from outside my garage last summer!

Deepings man missing after helicopter crash...UPDATE

A Deepings man may be one of those killed in a helicopter crash at Wansford in the early hours of this morning as a party flew back from last night's Chelsea-Liverpool match at Anfield.

Jonathan Waller, said to be a 42-year-old debt collector from Market Deeping, is believed to have been on board the crashed helicopter.

He had flown to Anfield yesterday with two friends - including honorary vice-president of Chelsea FC Phillip Carter who owned the aircraft. All three men are missing along with pilot Stephen Holdich.

Cambridgeshire Police confirmed this morning that four bodies have been found in the remains of a Twin Squirrel helicopter which came down in woods near Wansford.

According to the BBC, the aircraft took off from John Lennon Airport, Merseyside, at 2300 BST on Tuesday and the last contact was made with it just under two hours later.

It had been due to land at Mr Carter's home at Thornhaugh, west of Peterborough.

UPDATE: Peterborough Evening Telegraph now has further details and photo of Jon Waller.

Crime down again in Lincs...

Good news from Lincolnshire Police. Crime is down again over the past twelve months and detections are up. Here's the figures just released for the year:

Homes Burgled - DOWN
A fall of 4% on the year - that's 96 fewer houses broken into and builds on the massive reduction of 46% in the numbers of Lincs homes burgled since 2002/03.

Serious violent crimes - DOWN
A fall of 13% – that’s 816 fewer victims. Lincs Police have also used pro-active policing of the night-time economy to prevent more serious incidents, many resulting from excessive alcohol consumption. More than 1,600 people have been dealt with by way of Penalty Notice for Disorder during 2006/07.

Detecting Crime - UP.
The target was at least 13,500 'Sanctioned Detections'. The actual total was 14,731. In each one, someone has been charged, cautioned, reprimanded, warned, issued with a Penalty Notice for Disorder or the offence has been taken into consideration at court. This figure represents 27% detection rate of all recorded crime in Lincolnshire.

Killed or serious injured - DOWN.
Preliminary year-end figures indicate a 15% reduction was achieved during 2006/07. That's 59 fewer people killed or seriously injured.

Public satisfaction - UP.
Final figures not yet in, but likely to be up from 73% last year to around 80%.

Well done to Chief Constable Tony Lake and all his team.