Monthly Archives: February 2011

I’ve just returned from an intensive week in Hong Kong, with no fewer than sixteen briefing sessions with government departments, members of the Legislative Council (including dissidents and trouble-makers!) and others. I’ll write more about the visit later. At least … Continue reading →

At a European regional cheeses promotion this week in the European parliament in Strasbourg I took the opportunity to sample two cheeses from the region — a Long Clawson Blue Stilton, and a Red Leicester, served with a glass of … Continue reading →

Readers of this column will certainly be familiar with International Women’s Day, which falls on March 8th, and they may well be making their own plans to celebrate it.  So is the European parliament. The parliament is proud of its … Continue reading →

On Jan 25th I was in Kuala Lumpur at the invitation of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, to address their conference in Putrajaya.  I was invited to speak on “The Global Climate Change debate and Tax-Payer Funded Environmentalism”. I believe … Continue reading →

On Friday Feb 11th, Bill Newton Dunn MEP (Lib-Dem) and I went to Leicester Grammar School in Great Glen, at the invitation of Mr. Trevor Allen, Head of the Sixth Form, to debate the motion “This House believes that the … Continue reading →

What is it about taxi drivers?  They always seem to want to harangue their customers.  In London I often appreciate this, as I find that cabbies are a great fund of good common sense and homespun wisdom — at least … Continue reading →

For Conservatives of a certain age, Smith Square will always be associated with the great days of Margaret Thatcher and Conservative government.  Who will ever forget the jubilant scenes as Maggie was re-elected, and acknowledged the cheering crowds through the … Continue reading →

I’ve written a couple of pieces about my work in Jerusalem over the weekend, so I hope readers won’t feel it’s self-indulgent if I talk a bit about the city. I was raised in a Christian family where the stories … Continue reading →

I’ve just come back from a weekend in Jerusalem at a Conference organised by the European Friends of Israel (EFI).  This was a big event.  There were around 100 MEPs, and more than 200 national parliamentarians from 30 European countries, … Continue reading →

I’ve always been a great admirer of the equestrian statue of Richard the First, Coeur de Lion — Lionheart — in Old Palace Yard in front of the Palace of Westminster.  It lifts the spirit.   I was there yesterday, visiting … Continue reading →

I’ve just come back from a weekend Conference in Jerusalem, organised by European Friends of Israel (EFI).  It brought together a large number of European and national parliamentarians, and it addressed both the general situation in the Middle East, and … Continue reading →

The Shen Yun dance troupe has performed all over the world, introducing traditional Chinese dance to Western audiences.  On Wednesday, we welcomed them to Brussels. The dance troupe represents the Falun Gong movement.  Falun Gong something that I find difficult … Continue reading →

Glenis Willmott is the sole Labour MEP from the East Midlands, and is leader of the Labour group in the European parliament.  She’s generally a pretty level-headed person (we agree, for example, on nuclear energy).   But she couldn’t resist … Continue reading →

With all the media attention on the dramatic crisis of President Mubarak’s government in Egypt, and nightly television coverage of street battles, it’s all too easy to lose sight of another, longer-term tragedy in the country — the persistent abuse … Continue reading →