Babies and the reconomic recession

"There is one area in particular where we both believe there is a need for urgent change. It is shocking that in many parts of Europe women still do not have equal rights in the workplace. [my emphasis] This is not just unfair; it makes no sense - because it deprives our economies of their full potential as workers and consumers."

Amazingly, the "we" who wrote the above are the prime ministers of the UK and Sweden. It is in an article in today's Financial Times - Reining in Europe's deficits is just the first step
It makes you wonder whether David Cameron is fully aware of how our country lags behind Sweden in terms of workplace rights not only for women, but for men too.

It is not good enough to keep the focus on women alone. Urge legislative change on behalf of women all you want, but that in itself won't shift cultural attitudes. Sweden's pro-active legislation for men in the workplace has made

Tory tosh about caring for rural areas - 1

Anyone who thinks the Tory-Lib Dem Govt will actually care about - or even understand - rural issues may want to re-think.

One month into the new Govt and here's the first revelation.
Rural poverty will be tackled by voluntary organisations which will help to rescue people from being "stranded on benefits" and get them into work.
Don't ask what work, since it is clear to me when meeting young people across Central Devon that finding a job which lets you live in your own village is nigh on impossible.

Buried in his House of Commons speech on tackling poverty Chris Grayling, Tory Minister for Work and Pensions, made this startling admission

Harold Wilson's choice

Twice Labour Prime Minister between 1964 and 1976

Harold Wilson is remembered for his Government's

progressive and occasionally radical legislation including 

abortion, censorship, divorce, homosexuality,

immigration, membership of the European Community 

and especially the abolition of capital punishment.

I remember on my first visit to the Isles of Scilly
seeing him on St Mary's harbour quayside embarking
on one of the off-island trips.

He chose to retire to the Scillies and every time I go back for yet another holiday on those beautiful islands I think what a good choice he made.

To anyone who has not experienced this superb part of the UK - do go!

To anyone who wants to see a progressive and radical Party back in power - get involved in the Leadership contest, join us to restore the Party, help us get re-elected and see your beliefs put to work.

Call this Christian?

Such intensity of feeling brought so many Newton St Cyres residents to their Parish Hall last night that not only was there standing room only, the standing room included those who were outside the hall leaning in to listen through the open windows.

The reason?

Underneath the well-drained, fertile and

beautiful farmland of nearby Winscott Barton Farm

lie 3 million tonnes of gravel and sand

 which could be extracted and sold

to bring in money

for the Church Commissioners

who own the land.

As tennant farmers, four generations of the same family have made Winscott Barton a highly productive dairy and crop-producing farm. If the Church Commission gives them notice to quit and the gravel extraction goes ahead all this will be lost, not just for the twenty or twentyfive years it takes to sell off the gravel, but forever, because the reduced amount of farmable land that is left will drain so poorly.

Why might the Church Commissioners even entertain the idea of ruining forever a good farm - when everyone knows our country falls well short of producing all its own food?

Their investments haven't always been guided by an ethical approach as is now ensured by their Ethical Investments Advisory Board. But recently they did eventually decide to pull out of controversial dam building in India.

So if they can back off from harm in far off India,

perhaps we can persuade them to do no harm in Devon?

Please let the Secretary of the

 Ethical Investment Advisory Board 

know how you feel about the idea of

Winscott Barton Farm

becoming a gravel quarry.

"Women" won't do.

So far we have two Eds, two Millibands, one David and a Balls.

Three men, no women.

Does this look like the right kind of leadership election?

Going by theyworkforyou.com's listed voting records

 there's not a huge amount to choose between -

Ed Balls

David Milliband

Ed Milliband

Unhelpfully, theyworkforyou.com's list doesn't include  a "women's issue" voting record, though of course the whole list is of interest to both women and men.
Contrary to the media's simplistic and superficial 'take' on the gender imbalance in Parliament and Government, "women" does not ..........