Ellee Seymour

If Diane Abbott can score an own goal and win the support of Labour leadership rival David Miliband who also persuaded a string of his backers to the same, will this heaven sent endorsement influence trade unions and other Labour supporters to do the same? It certainly was bizarre in this once in a lifetime contest, even if it was intended to undermine his rivals. It could spectacularly backfire against him.

Diane Abbott also has the support of acting Labour Pary leader Harriet Harman who nominated her, and I believe she will engage a far wider audience and enliven the contest. What she has to prove is that she is not a token black woman standing against men in suits, that she has the qualities needed, and that she knows and cares about the views of their supporters  – and the country – who are suffering in today’s economic decline.

Could she be the change the Labour Party needs to revive itself? Didn’t the other contenders have their chance to make their mark while in government and fail to grasp that moment, especially as they refused to challenge Gordon Brown’s leadership at a time when it was clear to everyone else that he was hugely unpopular and they were sinking fast?

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Whenever I visit Cambridge close to where I live, I always have to stop and admire its latest attraction which has become very popular with tourist – a £1 million golden clock created by an incredible inventor, Dr John Taylor, for his old college. It is an amazing legacy, and always attracts huge crowds who, like me, are fascinated by the movements of the giant pendulum driven grasshopper which sits on top. It is totally absorbing to watch.

It was officially set in motion by Prof Stephen Hawking in September 2008 and is fixed to the outside of Corpus Christi College on King’s Parade.  Dr Taylor has now designed a unique sequel called the Midsummer Chronophage will be unveiled on 24 June, Midsummer Day. It has an an even more startling beast like creature at the head of the golden timepiece; this mythical looking creature, while using its front foot to pull on the clock’s gears as its predecessor does, also has wings, a sting, and a sinister blinking eyelid.

The new timepiece will also  differ in its workings to reflect the different perception of time that people have; some minutes on the Midsummer Chronophage will race by, others will drag, some will disappear and others will appear to stand still. Every five minutes, the clock will then “correct” itself, and start the same process. That is so ingenious, and these thoughts are very similar to how Salvador Dali portrayed time with his melted clockfaces.

Chris Elliott describes how these timepieces have been painstakingly made in the Cambridge News:

“The mechanism of the monster clocks pays homage to the brilliance of John Harrison, the 18th century English clockmaker who invented the marine chronometer, the device that allowed sailors to establish the East-West position, or longitude, of a ship at sea. One of Harrison’s clock-making triumphs was the grasshopper escapement, a device that releases the clock’s gears to move forward by a fixed distance after a constant number of swings of a pendulum.

‘The escapement designed by Harrison was so-called because its metal parts resembled the outline of a grasshopper, and Dr Taylor took that a stage further by encasing his version of the escapement in a metal sculpture of the insect.

“The innards of the timepiece are a mass of cogs and wheels, of differing sizes, but there are no hands to tell the time. The seconds, minutes and hours are revealed by a combination of electronics and mechanics.

“There is no computer programming. Electricity is used, but only to power a small motor which winds up the mechanism and runs a set of blue light-emitting diodes. These shine through slits on the front face, propelled in a circular motion reminiscent of a zoetrope, to tell the seconds and minutes.

“Making the face of the clock is also a remarkable procedure. A template of the design has to be blasted onto a 1.5 metre diameter stainless steel sheet – using a depth charge – underwater. This is not done in England, but in Holland, and it is later plated in 24 carat gold.”

The timepiece will go on show to the world on Midsummer Day at Masterpiece London, described as “a unique showcase for the most covetable objects in the world”. It is likely the clock will then be shown at other locations before being offered for private sale. No price tag has yet been disclosed – but I bet he won’t be short of offers. I would love to own a mini version, but suspect that would be out of my price range too.

Meanwhile, back in King’s Parade, I couldn’t resist recording a video of the Chronophage to show its amazing workmanship, ducking and diving between the motorists and cyclists.  I hope you enjoy it.

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I know I won’t be the only person keen to hear what John Bercow says in the Hansard Society’s Speaker’s Lecture this week entitled “Reform in a new Parliament: Reviving the Chamber“.

I want to see if he will keep his word about the need to increase women parliamentarians which was reviewed recently for Speaker’s Conference – only the sixth to have taken place in the modern history of Parliament. It recommended that if political parties failed to make significant progress on women’s representation at the 2010 general elections (there was only a small increase of 16 women, read this link for full details), Parliament should give serious consideration to the introduction of prescriptive quotas. With political parties beginning candidate selection within 12 to 18 months of the election, these selections will be important for securing cultural change within parties and the House of Commons, and a decision should be made about this now.

Despite all party leaders giving evidence to the Speaker’s Conference in support on more women MPs, where is the evidence to show they meant it? It is now time to put their rhetoric into action. The Centre for Women and Democracy is also very concerned that the issue is  being ignored as none of its recommendations appeared in the new Government Coalition Agreement.

When women are more equally represented, it makes perfect sense that half the Cabinet are made up of women, as Harriet Harman suggests, and they will be there on their merit, just like their male counterparts. I believe it’s only a matter of time before this happens, and would estimate around 15 years, at least three governments, if John Bercow is proactive about encouraging more women MPs as part of his reform plans for reviving the Chamber.

Unless a government is truly representative of its people, how can it be in tune with the experiences of the people it serves?

I’m a member of Hansard and hope to go attend the lecture and will ask the Speaker about this if I get the opportunity.

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My husband and I are heading for the smoke today to see the Grace Kelly exhibition at the V&A, whose elegance and beauty is still unsurpassed. The story of the Hollywood star and Princess of Monaco continues to fascinate us all and I’m really looking forward to seeing her clothes and learning more about her life.

We have also booked tickets for the West End to see the five-star rated Arthur Miller production of All My Sons, starring the superb David Suchet and Zoe Wannamaker, a gripping drama about guilt and tortured lives. I remember sitting next to the wife of Suchet at a friend’s wedding – he was away filming – and hearing about their family. He is such a genuine guy.

Everyone has secrets, and this play has plenty to unravel dramatically. It is based around Joe Keller, a thriving businessman who reveres the twin American gods: family and profit. That, ultimately, is his justification for his wartime action of allowing defective parts to be fitted to air force planes, and letting his former partner take the rap. But, in the course of a single day, Joe is confronted by the consequences of his moral abdication. One son, Larry, died three years ago in the war. And when the other son, Chris, decides to marry his dead brother’s fiancee, both Joe and his wife, Kate, realise that the lies by which they have lived are destined to be exposed.

It’s clearly going to be a day of highly charged emotions….

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You will be pleased to know that my plucky author friend Jean Adamson has made an excellent recovery from her brutal attack by a ruthless mugger in our Cambridgeshire village, though disappointly the cowardly culprit has never never found.

We are both garden lovers and after flicking through our local National Gardens Scheme booklet, we planned which ones we wanted to visit over the next few weeks. I was attracted to our first garden by the romantic name of the house, Island Hall, a stone’s thrown away in Godmanchester, and home to Christopher and Lady Linda Vane Percy. The full history of this elegant 18th century home with immaculate lawns spread out like a carpet rolling down to the river and the island can be read at this link.

Briefly,  it was bought by his ancestors in 1804 and is today renowned for its picturesque Chinese bridge which is much admired.  The garden was restored by Christopher Van Percy, a distinguished interior designer, in the 1980s having been destroyed during the war years. The house had then been used as an airman’s mess and was sold to the local council in 1958, but was bought back by Christopher and his wife in the 1980s who set about restoring the 18th century garden.

An immaculate host of the house greeted us as we arrived and told us he was a descendant of Thomas Percy, one of Guy Fawkes’ fellow conspirators,  while his lovely wife served teas in a cosy woodland cafe. Jean and I certainly plan to return to this fascinating home to learn more about its history and fascinating inhabitants on one of its special tours for groups. She is going to mention it to her W.I. group this evening and I hope to tag along with these stalwart women.

Next weekend we will be visiting a group of Ely gardens, including the walled garden at Bishop’s House. I’m looking for inspiration to replant a stretch of garden along my driveway where I lost plants to the frost. The plan so far is to plant a variety of sweet scented roses, with slender irises and alliums. Do you have a favourite garden flower?

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Congratulations to Andrea Gillies for winning the coveted Orwell Book Prize, Keeper: Living with Nancy. A journey into Alzheimer’s.

It’s not a sexy subject, and normally this award is given for a political book. But this true, poignant swept judges off their feet. Maybe they thought that one day it could be them, just like it could be us. Maybe they have a loved one battling this disease, for which there is no cure, no hope, just helplessness and fear.

The Keeper tells the bewildering story of a human being stripped bare of normal reasoning, responses and functioning abilities through no fault of her own. That’s Altzheimer’s disease for you. It’s a book I am reading right now, and I can resonate with Andrea’s painful experiences as she describes caring for her much loved mother-in-law with this cruel disease, and the untold agony it causes the families and loved ones, as well as confusing turmoil for sufferers.

I was in the gym the other day when Dot, a sprightly, cheerful senior citizen on the cross trainer next to me, asked about my plans for the week. She thought the eclectic mix of events I had lined up was fascinating, and said: “You won’t get Alzheimer’s then.”

If only it was that easy, I thought, that all you needed was a stimulating and varied lifestyle to save yourself from the grip of this disease of the brain. I reflected on the tragic fate of Iris Murdoch, whose brilliantly intelligent and active brain failed to save her from the grasp of Alzheimer’s – and her life must have been so much more interesting than mine.

I hope Conservatives still press ahead with their pledge to increase funding into research for Alzheimer’s. I made a video about it, which you can view at this link, at the last Conservative Party conference with the then Shadow Health Minister Stephen O’Brien speaking in support of more research, though I see he is now a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Dept of International Trade.

I am also disappointed that Conservative manifesto plans recommending a voluntary insurance scheme of up to £8,000 to fund care for those with dementia has been replaced with a commission into long-term funding of adult social care which could take a year to report back. A decision about this needs to be tackled now, and not put on the back burner and forgotten about.

Andrea, if you read this, please send every MP a copy of your book in the hope that it will influence them too. If it can win the Orwell Prize, maybe it will move politicians into making decisions to funding much needed research into this disease and fund long term care. After all, Alzheimer’s is a disease which sufferers cannot prevent and for which there is no cure.

*The number of people with Alzheimer’s is expected to at least double over the next two decades. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting around 417,000 people in the UK.

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David Laws is not in judgement for being gay – that is hardly a scandal these days for MPs – though this might be the case for Premier football players. I accept he wanted to have a private life and not tell all and sundry about his lover James Lundie. But what people don’t like is when MPs who have been caught out trying to manipulate the meaning of words in the rule book. In this case, that word is “partnership”.

The Daily Telegraph today exposed the Chief Secretary to the Treasury for claiming up to £950 a month for eight years to rent rooms in two properties owned by his partner which could be against parliamentary rules governing MPs’ second home expenses, and are subject to scrutiny by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.

Paddy Ashdown speaks in defence of David Laws and says he was caught out by the “unprecise meaning of the word partnership”. I don’t believe the definition of “partnership” is anything to do with sharing bank accounts or social friends which Laws refers to, but whether two people share a bed together and the intimacy this involves, particularly over a sustained period, which is what seems to have happened here. Lots of married couples could have separate banks accounts and friends, and surely Laws knows in his heart whether he regards Lundie as a partner or not.

At a time when the new coalition government is making great progress, this makes very uncomfortable reading and leaves the public feeling we have gone forward six giant steps in recent weeks, and now taken ten steps back. Despite this, I actually feel he should stay in his position and could do a great job in the Treasury.

*Iain Dale says on Twitter that David Laws has just resigned. I admit I feel saddened about this, though it was maybe inevitable if the government wants to win back public trust and respect. It’s the kind of story that would run and run….

Why, oh why, is it still so hard for MPs to confess publicly they are gay?

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I spent an evening at the gracious Cambridge Masonic Lodge this week where I was presented with a cheque for £1,250 on behalf of Headway Cambridgeshire, one of many local charities to benefit from the generosity of City & University of Cambridge Masonic Charitable Trust Donations totaling £58,250.

They are keen to let the wider world knew of their philanthropic spirit, denying any secrecy about their organisation. “What kind of secret society would list itself in the telegraph directory and have an information officer,’ we were told, as we enjoyed our buffet and their warm hospitality in our collegiate surroundings.

Apparently Cambridge has one of the smallest provinces with only 27 lodges and 1,500 members, compared to 333 lodges in Essex. The Freemasons’ ethos is based on brotherly love, relief (supporting charities) and truth and integrity, and members who wish to join must have a religious belief of any denomination.

We were invited to tour their splendid lodge, a former theological college, and it was fascinating to read the beautifully written noticeboards and observe their symbols, which I confess I still know little about.

I would like to thank the Freemasons for their generosity and support to local charities, including Camsight, Red Balloon, Arthur Rank Hospice, Alzheimer’s Support Group, Emmaus and Prostrate Cancer Support. It is much appreciated.

*Being based in Cambridge, a centre of academic excellence, has many advantages, and today Headway Cambridgeshire was able to enjoy the benefits of this when two lovely students, Rosemary Pringle and Catie Mackenzie, from the Judge Business School, used our organisation as a case study to research fundraising options on our behalf. They collated a wealth of valuable data and presented it to us, including the revenue raised by a number of Cambridge charity shops which I previously knew nothing about; it was a real eye-opener. One suggestion is to hold online Ebay charity auctions, and if you have any other ingenious fundraising ideas, then please do let me know.

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Grassroot Tories from my association in South East Cambridgeshire are to meet our MP James Paice to discuss their concerns about the Lib Dem-Conservative coalition. Some Conservatives are still anxious about this new partnership (I expect Lib Dem supporters are too), and they will be meeting Jim, our Agriculture Minister, next Friday, 4 June to question him about it.

An email from our association chairman says: “There have been some issues raised by members regarding the Conservative coalition with the Liberal Democrats to form a government. I, and others within the Association, have been asked questions that we have done our best to answer, but it does concern me that there are members who feel frustrated that they are not being listened to, and that they did not vote for this situation.

“In response, I have asked Jim Paice to address a meeting where members can voice their concerns, or approval, for the coalition, and Jim will answer your questions.”

It’s true they didn’t vote for this coalition, but there’s no going back for the next five years. I’m sure they will be listened to by Jim, who will explain that we have entered a new political era, that we must see this through and that both parties must work together to get the economy back on its feet.

This issue is a huge challenge for party associations who are still expected to field candidates for local elections with Lib Dems and Conservatives in opposition, and for party members who retain strong political values and allegiances.

Jim doesn’t have a crystal ball, but I’m sure he will do his best to allay fears while at the same time being truthful.

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Julian Sturdy, newly elected MP for York Outer, talks to The Yorkshire Post about his new life and how he will juggle family life with his parliamentary duties in Westminster.

Julian Sturdy: Welcome to Westminster – it’s a new world for rookie MP

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By Jack Blanchard

HE had only ever been to the Houses of Parliament once before, to drop off a petition about post office closures.

But now York farmer Julian Sturdy will spend his working week at Westminster as part of the biggest intake of new MPs in recent memory.

Mr Sturdy, the newly-elected Conservative MP for York Outer, was one of 232 rookie MPs voted into office earlier this month, a huge group of novices who will make up more than a third of the House of Commons.

He is the first to admit his experience of life at Westminster is limited – but with his own result balanced on a knife-edge throughout the campaign, it seems planning for the aftermath was not a viable option.

“In a marginal seat like York Outer, there’s very little preparation you can do for winning,” the former Harrogate councillor says. “I suppose it’s a sort of self-protection – you don’t want to think beyond the election because you don’t want to get too carried away and then see it all evaporate. All I was focused on was up to election night, and then I would take it from there.”

Such unwillingness to tempt fate is understandable, but the reality is that for a 38-year-old crop farmer with a young family at home, victory has turned his life upside down.

The brutally fast turnover of the British Parliamentary system meant new MPs such as Mr Sturdy were due to report for work in Westminster just 72 hours after discovering they had won. He will be staying in his sister’s spare room in south-west London for the next few weeks, until he finds a flat to rent.

“It’s a huge change,” he agrees. “For someone who’s a Yorkshire farmer, and spends all their time in Yorkshire on the farm or campaigning in York Outer, to suddenly spending my working week from Monday to Thursday down in Westminster, it will be a huge change, obviously. But I am excited about it, and I do think it’s important we have people going into Parliament who have got experience outside of the political circle.”

That’s certainly true of Mr Sturdy, for whom the trip last Monday to enrol as an MP – passport and utility bill in hand, to prove his identity – was only his second visit to the House of Commons. “Some new MPs have worked in the House before and been on numerous occasions,” he says. “But for me it was a very exciting and new experience.”

But the thrill of being elected has been tempered somewhat by the knowledge he will see considerably less of his family, working away as he will in London four days a week. “It is difficult,” he admits. “But what’s so important is to make sure you put time aside for family. You’ve got to say, ‘Okay, it’s a Sunday, I’m not doing anything political on this day’. I think as long as you do that then the children know that this is their time with Dad. I’m very conscious they mustn’t feel pushed out because of it.”

His wife Victoria is taking it all in her stride. The 38-year-old supply teacher says that after several years supporting her husband on the campaign trail, his election to Parliament comes as something of a relief.

“It’s calmed down now, certainly,” she says. “For the past two years there’s been a lot of work. It has been hard, looking back, with the family and also campaigning with Julian. It was flat-out for the last 12 months – we’ve worked every single weekend. But it’s been a great experience.”

It’s clear she has no worries about looking after the children while her husband is working in Westminster.

“For the last couple of years, he hasn’t been around an awful lot, so I’m quite happy dealing with the children,” she says. “In some ways, it will be easier now he’ll be down in London and then here at the weekend. Before, he was coming home at 10 or 11pm and hadn’t eaten, or he was coming back just as the kids were going to bed, and they’d get all excited and want to get up.”

George, six, and Florence, four, understood their dad was involved in the election, though they were not allowed to stay up late to watch on the night itself – it was, after all, a school night.

“George is quite aware of what’s going on, and could recognise the different leaders on television,” Mr Sturdy says. “It was sort of done in a football terminology, I suppose – Daddy was supporting David Cameron. He understood that. I don’t think he quite understands that David Cameron and Nick Clegg are now together – that’s slightly harder to explain.”

So is Mr Sturdy worried about missing out on aspects of his children growing up? “My love outside politics is sport, and my son has just started playing cricket early on a Tuesday night after school with a cricket club,” he says. “So I’m going to struggle to see him in that, and that’s a wrench. We’d been practising in the garden, and now he’s going to be out doing that. But there will be times when the House is not sitting and I’m working in the constituency and I can do that sort of thing. ”

He is not considering moving his family with him down to London. “We’d always agreed that if I ever was successful, then our main home would always be here on the edge of York,” he says. “Yorkshire is my home, I was born and bred here, my children were born and bred in York – this is my home, and will always remain my home whether I had won or lost. I couldn’t move out of Yorkshire. That’s sacrosanct.”

Julian is pictured at his home with his wife, Victoria, and children, George, six and Florence, four. Picture: Mike Cowling, Yorkshire Post.

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