Do you have your own Army?
It's one of the oddest questions I have ever been asked. In the Philippines, the home of my questioner, some MPs do. They also have $2 million each to spend as they desire in their constituencies.
'Doesn't that lead to corruption? ' I asked. To a certain extent it does. What surprised my visitor today was that I did not have half a dozen security men guarding me. The situation was much more informal that he expected as we sat in my garden with a member of one of the local Rotarians clubs. They are sponsoring young politicians from the Phillipines to learn about our political system.
My vistor, Michael already has a senior post working for an officer of the Philippine Parliament. He is extremely well-informed and quizzed me on foreign affairs. Relations with China and Israel were particular interests of his. There is concern from the Asean nations about the growing power of China. He asked if we were worried too? Probably not as much as we should be.
It was pleasure to meet Michael. His country will benefit from his service in future - even if it does take a modest private army to protect him.
Super Superstore
The bliss of winning the election in May struck home tonight.
I had a preview of the giant New Sainsbury Supermarket that opens in Newport tomorrow.
Sumptuously stocked with a vast array of food, drink and clothes the store is a modern wonder of plenty and excellence. My parents' generation would have been astonished by the variety of food on offer in modern shops. A young Romanian visitor in 1991 burst into tears when she visited her first supermarket in Newport. She was used to the empty shelves with odd jar of pickled cabbage in the shops of Bucharest.
Sainsbury's has always been a family favourite since they opened their first supermarket here in 1984. I was deputy leader of the council then. I had misgivings about the very favourable deal the city offered the firm to settle here. But they have been a success providing a good service and acting as model employers. One lady I met today has been working for the company since 1985. The staff are bursting with pride in their new habitat. All the employees of the original store have moved to the new one.
It was a thrill to see some old friends from Crindau School which is situated a stone's throw from the new supermarket. Sainsbury's had made the school one of their charities. For many reasons, I am well disposed to the Sainsbury's brand. One is my friendship with members of the family. I retold a story about David Sainsbury when he was an MP.
I was buying some Christmas House of Commons bottles of drink at the Commons' shop. I had my cash ready to pay. David signed the bill. 'I didn't know we could do that' I said. 'Oh yes', David explained 'My credit is quite good.'
Sergeant Andrew James Jones 1975-2010
Very sad news today. The most recent soldier to be killed in Afghanistan is from the city of Newport. He was a former pupil of Lliswerry High School- the one my children attended. He leaves a wife and three children. Yet another terrible personal tragedy that demonstrates the true cost of war.
How long before politicians see sense?
Sgt Jones leaves his wife, Joanne, and children, Natasha, Caitlin and Liam.
Mrs Jones said in a statement: "Andrew was a happy, funny and caring man. He was a loving husband, father and son, and he will leave a gaping hole in our lives.’’ Sgt Jones, who previously completed a tour in Kosovo, was serving in Afghanistan as a reconnaissance engineer with The Queen's Royal Lancers.
Our condolences to the family.
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