At the weekend, I read that James Gray, the MP for Chippenham, had remarried. And, yesterday, that Michael Ancram, MP for Devizes (which includes Melksham) has taken the decision to stand down at the next general election. Goodness - how times change; four years ago, when I first got more actively involved in local activities, the MP in this blue part of the world seemed almost like a fixture! James Gray will still be standing at the next election - but for North Wilts which does NOT include Chippenham, Melksham will move to the new Chippenham constituency, so it's "all change". Realistically, we'll be represented here by either Duncan Hames or Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones; all three major parties have good local candidates, but realistically the seat is a LibDem / Conservative marginal with (on last general election results) it being wafer-thin to Duncan and the Lib Dems.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Michael a number of times, and he's a lovely, courteous gentleman. I have seen him in effective action in saving the hourly daytime train service at Bedwyn (population 1,800) when it was threatened with a reduction to every two hours, I have read of him in the Middle East working to help negotiate more peaceful times in the areas in and surrounding Israel. And I have seen his parliamentary / defence questions, keeping an eye on the government as is one role of an opposition. I also thank him for the representations he has made on behalf of the train services to the station here at Melksham in his constituency, where (for a population of 23,000) a cut to just 2 trains a day was threatened - and in this case carried through.

The new constituancy boundaries look far more sensible. A cluster of towns - Bradford-on-Avon, Corsham, Chippenham and Melksham form a natural constituency, separate from Devizes - that great open area which previously had add odd finger into West Wilts and its development / much more urban area. North Wilts, again a rural area, is a natural grouping too, with James Gray (at least as I write) standing there. In Westbury (including Trowbridge), there's a fine MP in Andrew Murrison; I am intentionally NOT making any party politics here, but I will say that "there is one very impressive person".

So - I may be up to a year early, but I wish Michael a long and happy retirement (I would love it if he found time as a swansong to help oil a few wheels for Melksham) and I look forward to this time next year when - at least - the layout of the seats in this county will be rather more logical, for the good of the people who live and work here.
(written 2009-08-13 08:36:35)

 Z300 - Politics and Religion
  [2640] How is your tax pound spent? - (2010-02-18)
  [2288] Wiltshire Community Area Partnerships - (2009-07-15)
  [2279] Understanding the new local government structure in Wiltshire - (2009-07-11)
  [2270] Wiltshire - a chance to improve life for everybody - (2009-07-05)
  [2257] Ramblings on church and state linkage in Melksham - (2009-06-25)
  [2206] Spot the odd one out - (2009-05-29)
  [2178] Melksham Candidates for Wiltshire Unitary Election - (2009-05-12)
  [2075] Supporting Parkinsons and Trains - (2009-03-11)
  [2028] Things people say on the phone - (2009-02-06)
  [2012] The Wiltshire Police - (2009-01-29)
  [1987] One Cheer for Local Democracy - Asda in Melksham - (2009-01-11)
  [1882] Wiltshire Council says - part 2 - (2008-11-14)
  [1881] Wiltshire Council says - part 1 - (2008-11-13)
  [1872] Barack Obama wins US Predidency - (2008-11-05)
  [1769] July child ponders on August children - (2008-08-23)
  [1729] Back from the future - (2008-07-30)
  [1579] Rome, and the faith of Rome - (2008-03-17)
  [1573] Budget tax increases hit vehicle market - (2008-03-14)
  [1526] Carers at work - court case changes - (2008-02-01)
  [1428] Travel Across Wiltshire - the game - (2007-11-11)
  [1386] New software product for warmblooded programmers - (2007-10-10)
  [1350] FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) Western Region - (2007-09-13)
  [1260] An inspirational business talk from one of our prospective MPs - (2007-07-06)
  [1247] An afternoon at a public enquiry - (2007-06-27)
  [1175] Local elections - choosing who to vote for - (2007-05-03)
  [1135] Government pressure on me to shut up after I make the papers - (2007-04-05)
  [1109] False imprisonment - a contrast from the news - (2007-03-15)
  [1060] What a relief from the tax office. - (2007-02-01)
  [1003] Room at the Inn, Guy at the station - (2006-12-21)
  [967] Realistic on line shoot'em up - (2006-12-05)
  [875] Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones - (2006-09-22)
  [780] Separation and Integration - (2006-06-27)
  [750] Almost everyone loses - (2006-06-07)
  [696] Is than an uphill or downhill task? - (2006-04-23)
  [682] Iran has enriched uranium ... - (2006-04-12)
  [674] Wiltshire to get an extra MP - (2006-04-07)
  [671] Both ends of the animal - (2006-04-05)
  [607] On being British - (2006-02-14)
  [602] MP face to face - (2006-02-12)
  [539] rich and famous - (2005-12-23)
  [505] Would you steal ... petrol? ... a training course? - (2005-11-26)
  [469] Yesterday was Kiss and Ride - (2005-10-19)
  [415] Campaign Drift and efficiency. - (2005-08-15)
  [384] Managing conflict and disappointment - (2005-07-20)
  [377] A Strengthened City - (2005-07-14)
  [335] Sad priorities - (2005-06-03)
  [326] UK Tax payment totals and where the money is spent - (2005-05-27)
  [313] Making bona fide international marriages more difficult - (2005-05-16)
  [301] General Election day, UK - (2005-05-05)
  [289] MP for Devizes, Wiltshire - (2005-04-23)
  [280] Spotted - the local MP - (2005-04-15)
  [257] Politics gets nasty. Must be an election coming up. - (2005-03-25)
  [216] Cheap purchase - votes paid for with selfish promises - (2005-02-15)

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Checking if the user has entered a number (Lua)
Passing multiple results back from a function - Lua, Python, etc
See this page in French
Training, Open Source computer languages
All change - Wiltshire Parliamentary
Printed Directories - the start of the updating season
Ternary operators alternatives - Perl and Lua lazy operators
Ten years in Melksham - looking forward to ten more.
Businesses effected by road works in Melksham
Finding literals rather than patterns in Lua