Honestly - haven't the police got better things to do and what sort of humourless person found it necessary to make a complaint to the police?

 

It's part of the national identity of Great Britain to be able poke fun at each other and our supposed individual national traits and rivalries.

 

What sort of nation have we become where this sort of nonsence takes up police time & resource?

Has David Cameron just let the cat out of the bag at PMQ's a minute or two ago?

 

He clearly said "6 weeks before an election"

 

Is there a big announcement imminent?

Hertfordshire Police Authority has announced a 3.5% increase in their share of the Council Tax.

 

This means that a band D property in Hertfordshire will pay £147.82 towards the police in 2010 - 2011.

 

My colleague Martin Kennaugh made an interesting point at last nights meeting of Broxbourne Council.

 

He pointed out that the 2 elected bodies (Herts County Council & Broxbourne Council) have frozen their elements of the council tax for 2010 - 2011 but the unelected quango (Herts Police Authority) has had to increase its precept.

 

As Martin said - isn't this a good arguement for elected Chief Constables with dirtect accountability to the public!

I hadn't heard of Nigels Dodds MP (DUP Belfast North) until an e mail from the Bruges Group hit my "in box" this morning.

 

On Friday Mr Dodds is presenting his private members bill "Lisbon Treaty (Referendum) Bill 2009-10" to Parliament for its second reading.

 

The text of the bill isn't yet in the public domain (apparently this is quite usual for a private members bill).

 

However just based on its title this is just the sort of bill that those of us of the Eurosceptic persuasion will welcome.

 

It will be fascinating to see how many MP's turn out for the debate, what approach the Tory party will take to supporting Mr Dodds and how many Tory MP's will support him.

 

Clearly this bill will "die" fairly soon when the current Parliament is dissolved but wouldn't it be nice for it to progress on Friday - if for no the reason than to show that our Parliament still has the guts to make a symbolic stand against the EU.

 

You can track the bills progress on Parliaments website by clicking here.

Looks like "The Mercury" has has overhauled it's website: