http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/ Our columnist, Jon Walker comments on his pick of the latest Birmingham news and current affairs across the UK. en-gb Birmingham Mail no Our columnist, Jon Walker comments on his pick of the latest Birmingham news and current affairs across the UK. Jon Walker, Birmingham news http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/11/18/gisela-can-vouch-for-german-market-97319-25196311/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:26:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/11/18/gisela-can-vouch-for-german-market-97319-25196311/ MP Gisela Stuart has discovered a new home for the House of Commons – in a top Birmingham school. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/11/18/politicians-all-talk-no-action-97319-25196307/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:24:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/11/18/politicians-all-talk-no-action-97319-25196307/ HERE’S evidence that making announcements is much easier than doing things. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/11/11/watson-true-to-his-image-97319-25141864/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:31:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/11/11/watson-true-to-his-image-97319-25141864/ GEEKS everywhere knew Tom Watson (Lab West Bromwich East) was one of their own when he arrived in the House of Commons in 2001 – and promptly installed a Playstation in his office to help staff wind down during their lunch break. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/11/11/die-hard-tories-tell-kirkbride-where-to-go-97319-25141826/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:29:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/11/11/die-hard-tories-tell-kirkbride-where-to-go-97319-25141826/ Despite announcing plans to quit the House of Commons over her expenses claims, Tory Bromsgrove MP Julie Kirkbride plans a U-turn. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/11/04/mp-spouse-ban-is-still-a-long-way-off-97319-25088485/ Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:07:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/11/04/mp-spouse-ban-is-still-a-long-way-off-97319-25088485/ GOOD news for MPs who employ their wives or husbands. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/11/04/tories-too-slow-off-the-mark-97319-25088445/ Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:06:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/11/04/tories-too-slow-off-the-mark-97319-25088445/ A MINOR victory for Richard Burden (Lab, Northfield), chairman of the official House of Commons committee for the West Midlands. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/10/28/crozier-s-lack-of-tack-in-post-dispute-97319-25034021/ Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:54:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/10/28/crozier-s-lack-of-tack-in-post-dispute-97319-25034021/ WITH postal workers apparently set again to go on strike, Royal Mail managers have shown a remarkable lack of tact and diplomacy. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/10/28/mp-s-all-clear-on-expenses-97319-25034018/ Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:52:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/10/28/mp-s-all-clear-on-expenses-97319-25034018/ BIRMINGHAM MP John Hemming received the all-clear in the latest review of MPs’ expenses, which found he had done nothing wrong. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/10/21/mps-travelling-woes-97319-24983211/ Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:36:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/10/21/mps-travelling-woes-97319-24983211/ MPs FROM Birmingham, the Black Country and nearby constituencies got together for the first meeting of the West Midlands Grand Committee – the body dreamt up by Gordon Brown to make us all feel the Government is paying attention to the region. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/10/21/awkward-question-time-97319-24983209/ Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:35:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/10/21/awkward-question-time-97319-24983209/ Beware asking Birmingham City Council too many awkward questions. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/10/14/palace-looks-certain-to-miss-cuts-97319-24926977/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:53:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/10/14/palace-looks-certain-to-miss-cuts-97319-24926977/ MINISTERS are planning to sell off the family silver as they look for ways of plugging the hole in the Treasury’s bank account. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/10/14/jacqui-i-m-so-sorry-97319-24926947/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:52:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/10/14/jacqui-i-m-so-sorry-97319-24926947/ REDDITCH MP Jacqui Smith, the former Home Secretary, offered a quick apology to the House of Commons over her expenses claims this week – but only after making a short speech claiming, in so many words, that she hadn’t really done much wrong. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/10/14/furniture-exes-price-puzzle-97319-24926889/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:50:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/10/14/furniture-exes-price-puzzle-97319-24926889/ OUR MPs must have hoped the expenses scandal would go away. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/10/09/david-cameron-sets-out-his-vision-for-the-future-97319-24890562/ Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/10/09/david-cameron-sets-out-his-vision-for-the-future-97319-24890562/ IS David Cameron a traditional Tory? Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/10/09/david-cameron-sets-out-his-vision-for-the-future-97319-24891714/ Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/10/09/david-cameron-sets-out-his-vision-for-the-future-97319-24891714/ IS David Cameron a traditional Tory? Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/07/22/fight-is-on-for-out-of-favour-jacqui-97319-24213238/ Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:48:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/07/22/fight-is-on-for-out-of-favour-jacqui-97319-24213238/ Jacqui Smith, the former home secretary, is still hoping for a return to high office. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/07/15/will-simon-say-brum-s-new-capital-97319-24158190/ Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:09:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/07/15/will-simon-say-brum-s-new-capital-97319-24158190/ BIRMINGHAM’S civic leaders, businesses and arts bodies were none too happy when Liverpool was named European Capital of Culture. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/07/08/tory-dig-at-government-over-rover-97319-24103149/ Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:45:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/07/08/tory-dig-at-government-over-rover-97319-24103149/ PLENTY of outrage in the House of Commons as Conservatives accused the Government of burying the Rover report to cover up their mistakes. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/07/01/angry-cameron-i-predict-a-riot-97319-24040937/ Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:50:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/07/01/angry-cameron-i-predict-a-riot-97319-24040937/ CONSERVATIVE leader David Cameron didn’t pull any punches when he claimed a Labour general election victory could lead to “riots in the streets”. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/07/01/still-no-sign-of-rover-report-97319-24040914/ Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:48:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/07/01/still-no-sign-of-rover-report-97319-24040914/ MP Richard Burden (Lab, Northfield), pictured, has been urging the Government to publish a report into the collapse of MG Rover. Jon Walker