MPs reveal all
Snapped
Parliamentary snappers produced their own calendar last year. I’m told the pictures submitted by MPs and Peers for the 2008 edition is of an exceptionally high standard. Undaunted I’ve submitted these three. 
Two are of the beautiful and spectacular Cwm Hedd Lake and the Transporter Bridge.
The third is our family holiday destination.
Emotions stirred
Raw politics, deep sentiment and churned-up family emotions made up a memorable Chartist celebration at St Woolos Cathedral last night.
It commemorated the laying of laurel wreathes on the unmarked graves of the 10 slain Chartists in the years following 1839. Relatives laid their tributes at the dead of night to avoid the retribution and punishment was still meted out to Chartists and their loved ones.
Last night’s celebration was the biggest ever. There were ten speakers led by the Mayor Allan Morris, the Chair of Newport West Labour Party Jacqui Mitchell, an MP and an AM, the Cathedral Dean and Council Leader Bob Bright.
A descendant of the Chartist John Lovell told of the powerful emotions she felt standing yesterday in the same dock in Monmouth where her relative was sentenced.
Afterwards the mayor entertained with a bowl of Chartist gruel and a roll. Very civil of him to give hospitality to those remembering a group who tried to kill one of his predecessors. The Mayor produced a tour-de-force with a brilliant exposition of the Chartist cause – a blend of history and passion.
Les James, Patrick Drewitt and the group Accent deserved the thanks of Newport for bring together a large group of descendants determined to ensure full recognition of their families’ sacrifices.
Tomorrow the following Early Day Motion will tabled as one of the first of the new parliamentary session.
Democracy Bank Holiday
Early Day Motion Number 8
On an early day
That this House believes that the pioneering sacrifices of those who sowed the seeds of British democracy should be celebrated with a new Bank Holiday on the Monday nearest to November 4th, the anniversary of the killing of more than 20 Chartist insurgents in 1839, recalling other significant events in the history of the Suffragettes (1903) and the Putney debates (1647): calls for a fresh appreciation of the value of the courage and vision of past generations in order to defend, promote and develop our democratic institutions.
Hell (mand) on earth
Thanks BBC for tonight’s shattering picture of our current bloody catastrophe. Hard to believe but this mission was supposed to last 3 years without a shoot being fired.
Results so far since we invaded the southern province.
Bad:
British dead 75. Two and a half million shots discharged. Local dead, several thousands including hundreds of women and children. Poppy crop increase of 60%-an all-time record. Heroin the cheapest ever on the streets of this country. Al-Qaeda stronger that ever, recruiting children here. The threat of terrorism here increased. 100s of school for girls closed. War weary Afghans previously glad to see the expulsion of Taliban, now resigned to welcome them back. Corruption in Afghan Government out of control.
Good: Some reconstruction but only a fraction of that planned. Territory won, but is likely to be lost and fought over again next year.
Yet all main British political parties support this mission. For how long more can they remain blind to the awful truth?
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