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/2009/11/04/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 http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/06/24/lord-hattersley-questions-low-standards-of-parliamentary-questions-97319-23957613/ Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/06/24/lord-hattersley-questions-low-standards-of-parliamentary-questions-97319-23957613/ STANDARDS have slipped since Lord Hattersley was an MP. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/06/17/our-pal-digby-he-s-a-right-bastion-97319-23891234/ Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/06/17/our-pal-digby-he-s-a-right-bastion-97319-23891234/ FORMER CBI chief Digby Jones, otherwise known as Lord Jones of Birmingham, has always had critics among Labour MPs who accuse him of bashing unions and trampling on workers’ rights. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/06/10/latecomers-miss-out-on-backing-pm-97319-23833925/ Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:55:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/06/10/latecomers-miss-out-on-backing-pm-97319-23833925/ GORDON Brown secured his position – at least for now – by facing down his critics at a tense meeting of Labour MPs this week. Jon Walker http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/06/10/james-pays-for-a-solo-stance-97319-23833917/ Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:52:00 GMT http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2009/06/10/james-pays-for-a-solo-stance-97319-23833917/ SPARE a thought for James Purnell, the former Work and Pensions Secretary who quit the Cabinet in an effort to bring down Gordon Brown. Jon Walker