The incredibly unoriginal Moss Missives 2010 Review - part one
In a shameless attempt to give my review of 2010 a wider appeal I've appropriated a picture of a cute Christmas kitten.
How time flies when you're having fun. It barely seems a moment since I was writing the Moss Missives Review of 2009.
It was rapturously received (well I liked it), but of course life never stands still, and I always want to push the blogging envelope.
So I've been scratching around for a more original idea, a ground-breaker, an agenda-setter. Something which will catapult me to the pinnacle of the blogosphere.
And so....I can proudly announce....that....I couldn't think of one.
So here's the Moss Missives Political Review of 2010 in the North East and Cumbria, part one. (If it ain't broke, why fix it).
Tangled with tinsel and smelling vaguely of turkey, it's your Christmas treat from me to you.
Like so many festive gifts, you'll have forgotten all about it by the end of January. Enjoy.
Someone's fridge featured in January's political stories, but it wasn't hers.
The year starts off with news of a plot against PM Gordon Brown (remember him). There are the usual rumours that North East Blairites Alan Miliburn and Stephen Byers are involved. But actually the ringleaders are political rottweillers Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt. Not surprisingly then it fizzles out. David Miliband in particular kills off hopes of a coup by professing his loyalty to Brown although his pledge comes after several hours of silence and speculation.
Lib Dem hopes of unseating the PM's great mate Nick Brown in Newcastle East are dealt a blow when their parliamentary candidate Greg Stone resigns. Mr Stone was caught out posting inappropriate comments on the web about some of his political rivals. Durham's Roberta Blackman-Woods was described as "sour-faced", and Gateshead and Washington's Sharon Hodgson "thick". But of course it's Greg who ends up looking "rather silly" and "red-faced". (my words)
Lord Mandelson announces big cuts to higher education. The Russell Group of universities (which includes Newcastle) talks about the sector being "brought to its knees". I also speak to students in Durham who are disappointed that the Lib Dems are now only pledging to remove tuition fees over six years rather than straight away - ah more innocent times.
Conservative Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley moves to reassure North East voters that the NHS will be safe in Tory hands. He promises a health premium for poorer areas during a visit to Sunderland Royal Hospital.
Tyne Bridge Labour MP David Clelland announces he'll be standing down at the election. He had endured some bad headlines on expenses, but says it was the death of one of his colleagues (Leicestershire MP David Taylor) that focused his mind. Meanwhile, the party selects education adviser Pat Glass as their candidate for Durham North West. It's the seat vacated by Hilary Armstrong.
It's revealed that several of our politicians are appealing against demands to repay parts of their expenses. Stockton North's Frank Cook appeals against a proposed repayment of the £600 he claimed for a fridge. Sir Alan Beith (Berwick) and Chris Mullin (Sunderland South) are also on the list of appellants. Baroness Quin (the former Gateshead and Washington MP) also appeals against a repayment for a bathroom she installed just before leaving the Commons. David Clelland wins his appeal against a demand to repay part of his mortgage.
There's a temporary reprieve for the Corus steelworks in Redcar as it emerges it will stay open until at least the end of February while a buyer is sought.
In the locker room: Gordon Brown went back to school in February as he brought his Cabinet to Durham.
Sounds like good news for Durham as Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg arrives in the city promising to put extra bobbies on the beat. The bad news is that it will be paid for by scrapping ID cards - something which could lead to dozens of job losses at the Passport Office in Durham. Oops. Labour accuses Clegg of the first election year gaffe.
Figures released by Sir Thomas Legg reveal that the region's MPs have had to pay back almost £40,000 in overclaimed expenses. Darlington MP Alan Milburn's repayment of £11,600 in mortgage interest makes up a big chunk of that. He admits he's embarrassed by it. 24 others also settle their bills.
Baroness Quin. Sir Alan Beith and Frank Cook win their appeals against repayments though, as does (partially) Chris Mullin. There's some embarrassment as it emerges Chief Whip Nick Brown was yet to repay almost £700 for excessive cleaning claims. He promises to make good straight away.
Shadow Business Secretary Ken Clarke comes to the region and pays a private visit to a former shipyard on the Tyne which hopes to manufacture offshore wind turbines.
New research for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Newcastle highlights the vulnerability of the North East to public sector cuts. It reveals that 67,000 more people work in the region's public sector today than in 1998.
Nick Clegg returns to the North East to announce plans for £400m of investment to make our ports centres for green energy. He pays a public visit to a former shipyard on the Tyne which hopes to manufacture offshore wind turbines. Something which upsets Labour, who see him as gatecrashing their pet project.
Corus announces the mothballing of the blast furnace in Redcar. Stockton South Labour MP Dari Taylor accuses her own government of letting the area down. She says they should have nationalised it. But the Redcar MP Vera Baird says a deal to sell the plant could still be done.
The Cabinet meets in the North East for the first time, decamping en masse to Durham Johnston School. Corus dominates the visit though with Lord Mandelson going to Redcar, and the PM defending the Government. Gordon Brown becomes the third major politician in a month to visit a former shipyard on the Tyne which hopes to manufacture offshore wind turbines! (Note to politicians - time to use some imagination).
Labour picks two new candidates. Local councillor Mary Glindon is picked for Stephen Byers' North Tyneside seat, and NUM President Ian Lavery is selected for Wansbeck. The Lib Dems pick city councillor Wendy Taylor as Greg Stone's successor in Newcastle East.
I'm Richard Moss, the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s Political Editor for the North East and Cumbria. Welcome to my irreverent - but hopefully insightful - northern take on reporting politics for Look North and the Politics Show.
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