I read with interest yesterday that Stephen Hesford the current Labour MP for Wirral West is standing down as parliamentary aide (though remaining the Labour MP) in light of the Baroness Scotland affair. He is quitting  as  an ‘act of principle’ and I have to say I agree with him for standing down. For here we have the chief legal advisor to the government refusing to leave her post, comparing her actions to forgetting to pay congestion charges when in fact she broke the law. Her arrogance is startling and endemic of this entire Labour administration. This latest episode serves only to confirm the gross ineptitude, double standards and double dealing of this Labour Government. A government that continually refuses to tell the truth until forced into a position where it has no alternative, from government spending to prisoner release, from home office data loss to smear tactics. This government has lost its way.

 Now as we draw closer to the General Election we may well see MP’s seeking to distance themselves from their party supposedly acting as independently minded individuals, but a glance at their voting in Parliament shows they serve only to bolster and maintain this Labour Government.

Yes, principles are at stake, a Nation’s principles, and it’s time this entire failing Labour Government stood down.

Today I was invited to the launch of ‘You’re The Voice’ in Liverpool City Centre, a project that is educating children through music to have a voice and use it to stand up against gun, gangs and knife crime. Through music workshops  6,000 children from Croxteth  and Norris Green  have come togther and produced a CD called ‘You’re The Voice’ which is released today. I have followed ‘The Voice’ from  inception, watching it grow and watching more and more people get involved, so I was delighted today to be at the launch of the CD.  

Here’s to more people finding out about the anti violence Voice Project and getting involved.  It doesn’t matter how you get involved, buying the single would be good enough….. and wouldn’t it be great if we managed to get it to  number one!

Over 1,000 local residents came to mark the opening ceremony of Meols Park.  The Mayor of Wirral officially cut the ribbon to open the new park and China Crisis sang. There were donkey rides, a Punch and Judy Show, a football tournament, rides, stalls, 7 Waves radio, burger bars, candy floss….. you name it … Even Andy McClusky of OMD came to wish the park well too.  He told us how as a boy he’d lived just up the road and how the park had played a key role in this life…. he’d even formed his band OMD there!

The event was a huge success reflecting the success of the community coming together to rebuild it. Link to www.friendsofmeolspark.co.uk to see all the photos and news from the day.

Delighted members of Families Fighting for Justice open their new drop in centre, the first of the kind in the country.

It’ll offer a centre and haven for families who’ve children have been murdered as well as provide a base for these families to lobby for changes in sentencing.

Pictured : Me cutting the ribbon with Jean Taylor, June Hopley, Joan Lavelle,  Becki Tyson and fellow family members

Latest information from the Council on the Thurstaston Roundabout:

The first phase of the scheme was completed in October 2008; during this phase new sandstone walls and fencing for landowners were put in place and works to divert Utility Companies’ pipes and cables in preparation for the main scheme was also completed.

Subject to completing the remaining land purchase the final part of the programme is provisionally scheduled to begin in mid September.

The council has worked closely with conservation officers and the roundabout has been developed to ensure it is in keeping with the existing environment; red sandstone will be used in the boundary walling and conservation kerbing will be put in place.

The roundabout central island will be an oval shape and landscaped with a feature of sandstone boulders surrounded by miniature gorse and heather plants. The roundabout will be slightly larger than the nearby roundabout at Caldy.

 New street lighting will be installed at the roundabout, designed to pool light on the roadway in order to reduce light pollution.

The present ornamental gateway to the former Ismay estate will remain as it is at present and the access from Station Road will be enhanced with block paving.

Road safety is a major priority for the Council, and the new scheme includes enhanced pedestrian facilities to assist people crossing the road.

The works will take approximately six months and include completion of the Utility Companies’ pipe and cable diversions.

The roundabout will be constructed in two halves by running traffic on Telegraph Road along a temporary roadway in conjunction with closures of Thurstaston Road and Station Road to through traffic.

Prior to the work beginning, residents, schools and businesses will be informed of the exact start date as soon as it is confirmed.

Full traffic details, temporary road closures and diversionary routes will be provided and detailed on roadside signs. Access for residents and businesses will be maintained throughout the works.