Reading Roars!

You know those recent stories about David Cameron’s airbrushed face? They might be a little exagerrated. Going by yesterday’s Cameron Direct event at the Madejski Stadium, the Conservative leader’s face really does have an unusually smooth texture.

It’s probably designed to match his smooth manner on stage, because, well practiced at this sort of unscripted Q&A, he knew exactly how to behave in front of what was a fairly undemanding audience.

Actually, you could’ve lifted some of his moves straight from the MP’s Guide to Good Public Speaking. After opening with a quip about Reading’s cup success (he must’ve clocked John Madejski in the front row) the responses to most questions ran to a pretty standard formula:

1. Strike thoughtful, hand on chin pose while listening to question (see our photos, above).
2. Pay tribute to the questioner (”very good question”) while considering a response.
3. Look directly back while answering, to create that “forget everyone else here” vibe.

Let’s not be overly critical though. He did turn up. We got about an hour of his time. And we could ask whatever we liked. Politicians don’t do enough of this sort of thing, and we applaud any efforts to open a dialogue with us ordinary voters. (Gordon Brown, Nick Clegg, can we pencil you in? Update: actually, Clegg did hold a similar meeting in Reading in 2008.)

There was the odd bit of fawning from the party faithful; our favourite was a question which started “I’m already a Young Conservative…” (not a very well-informed one - they’re called Conservative Future these days) before drifting off into something to do with Carol Vorderman. Yes, really.

The hundred-or-so people present managed to cover a good spread of subjects. Faith schools (Cameron supports them), Afghanistan (”let’s get the whole of Whitehall on a war footing”), house prices (”housebuilding targets are wrong”) and NHS dentists all got a look in during the 20+ questions. Disappointingly, there was no argy-bargy - in fact the crowd was polite to the point of being almost deferential.

Carol Vorderman question aside, we listened to everything intently. Sadly, we don’t feel we learnt much. Barring mention of a possible new National Security Council, there was nothing new and, although keen to talk about his big themes (”bottom up” government versus “top down” was a favourite), there wasn’t much in the way of specifics.

Tellingly, when asked for his “elevator pitch”, Cameron gave a restrained, cautious, slightly negative response.

“I don’t want to promise you the shining city on the hill until I can deliver it.” “It’s going to be difficult.” “I can’t promise you I’m going to end the country’s problems quickly.”

Fair enough, tell it like you see it, but we’d really been hoping for something a bit more inspirational. This certainly wasn’t the UK equivalent of the Obama-effect. Yes we can? More like no, we probably can’t, unless we get a good following wind and a lot of luck, and even then it’s going to be dicey.

Where was the hope, the optimism and the it’s-not-great-right-now-but-we’ll-fix-it tenacity?

We’re glad we went. And we’re impressed by Cameron’s efforts to resurrect the old-fashioned public debate. More, please, from all political parties. But ultimately, we don’t feel much nearer to understanding what we’ll get if the country votes Conservative in the election.

Did you skive off work to see David Cameron at the Madejski? Leave a comment to let us know if you read it the same way as us.

We’re a little surprised (but not displeased) to learn that David Cameron’s snow-affected visit to Reading has been rescheduled with impressive alacrity. The leader of the Conservatives will now visit the Madejski Stadium (we’re not sure which bit) on Thursday 14 January at 5.15pm.

We hadn’t anticipated the event being rescheduled so soon and have been caught on the hop a bit. We’re hoping to make it along to find out what Cameron has to say, but - as we’ll be working in central Reading that day and the venue is definitely not in central Reading- we need to doublecheck our diaries first.

From our perspective, the venue and timing could be more convenient, but the good news is the email we’ve received says Cameron is now willing to take questions “on any issue”. Wonder if he knows what he’s letting himself in for.

The new date is bound to mean some people can’t make it, so if it turns out you can get along, head over to the Reading West Conservatives website and register your interest. Maybe we’ll see you there.

Right. Remember that Cameron Direct event we wrote about? It was meant to be your big chance to put questions about the NHS straight to the Conservative leader, in person. But now it’s been postponed.

The dodgy weather’s to blame (that or he was just scared of getting a frosty reception - geddit?), and while we understand the snow and ice might make it difficult for people to get to the venue, we’re rather disappointed nonetheless.

Still, it does mean we’re now free at about 6.30pm tomorrow. Wonder if Gordon Brown or Nick Clegg would be willing to fill in instead.

If you’re really interested to hear what Cameron has to say about the NHS, the event will still go ahead online. You’ll be able to watch it on the Conservatives website.

Having said that, given the choice between watching our possible future Prime Minister online or having a swift one in the pub, we’ll probably choose the pub, and wait for the rescheduled event in Reading. Who knows, it might come during a closely-fought election campaign. That’ll be interesting.

You’re probably still slap bang in the middle of your Christmas celebrations (or out braving the sales). However, if you’re starting to think about next year’s general election, you might be interested to hear that David Cameron will be heading to Reading in early January for a “town hall” style meeting.

It’s all part of Cameron Direct, a cheesily-named initiative which has seen the Conservative leader hold a series of meetings up and down the country. Here’s what Reading West Conservatives have to say on the matter:

“Mr Cameron will be coming to Reading to listen to people’s views and answer their questions on healthcare and the future of the NHS. The event will be broadcast live on the internet and will include questions from the online community.”

Hmmm. “Online community”. Wonder if that means us.

There’s limited information about the event at the moment, but it’s happening on 8 January in the “early evening” at a Reading venue. We vote for the Hobgoblin or Nag’s Head.

In all seriousness, it’s not often you’ll get the chance to quiz a prominent politician about, well, anything, so it should be worth getting along to this, no matter what your political leanings. To be honest, we’re sceptical about learning much that’s new, but we’ll try to keep an open mind and get along there if we can.

For full information and to reserve a spot at the meeting, check the Reading West Conservatives site. If you do go, take note that the meeting is about the NHS. So no sneaky questions about expenses. Or biscuits.

There has been much media excitement over Twitter in recent weeks.  The T word is rapidly becoming a household name.

It has yet to catch on with local political activists and councillors, however.  

A bit of quick research on my part has revealed that the following only are tweeting:   

• Daisy Benson (CllrDaisyBenson) -  Lib Dem councillor
• Dave Luckett (daveluckett) - Conservative councillor
• Warren Swaine (waswasere) - Lib Dem councillor
• Adrian Windisch (AdrianWindisch) - Chair of Reading Green Party
• Peter Skinner (PeterSkinnerMEP) - MEP, represents SE England

Glenn Goodall (Lib Dem councillor) is less than convinced, describing it as “a little pointless“.  

Martin Salter MP is also unenthusiastic, though it will reportedly be much easier for Labour Party MPs to engage with constituents using Twitter with the recent launch of a new CMS.  I will then have more scrolling to do on this MPs who tweet page (currently there are just 15).

Have I missed anyone locally?

The Tech Savvy/Luddite debate is hotting up.

The Evening Post published an article this morning on Richard Willis’ blog entry, Tech Savvy or Luddite?, featuring a comparison by the councillor of local parliamentary candidates and MPs’ online activities.  Martin Salter MP didn’t score very highly in this analysis and was labelled a “Luddite”.

In response, Martin suggested to the Evening Post that the blogosphere is “the last refuge for tragic  insomniacs who lack social skills”.  Strong words.

Obviously, I don’t agree with that view (not fully, as I could use more sleep).

The way I see it, Martin doesn’t have to blog, especially if he feels uncomfortable with the idea (though I have an inkling he might be good at it, as he has a way with words - whether you agree with them or not), or set up a Facebook profile or group.  Ultimately, blogging and/or Facebook don’t work for everyone.

The opportunity to engage online mustn’t be ignored, however.  There is an array of tools to consider, with new ones emerging all the time. If  blogging doesn’t feel right, then look for an alternative (keeping objectives and target audience in mind).

The increasingly significant Twitter, for example, is dead simple to use: no need to worry about constructing long articles with links, images and so forth.  A simple sentence can be fashioned and sent in seconds (e.g. “I am meeting x and y”).  No technical knowledge required.  And it’s hip (or hipper), with Jonathan Ross and Stephen Fry joining the party recently.  Meanwhile, Labourist.org published their first “tweet” four days ago - and now have 118 followers.

Other responses to the “Luddite” story were published as follows:

• Jane Griffiths’ posted her thoughts in an article headed tragic insomniacs
• Richard Willis updated his blog with Salter Confesses to Luddite Tendencies

It’s probably worth stressing at this point that we mustn’t get too carried away!  As Richard Willis himself said, “It’s just a bit of fun”.

A promising new local blog has surfaced on my blog radar: Reading List.

The blog has a local politics theme.  Its Lib Dem author, “Oranjepan” , who I strongly suspect is also responsible for the political blog Not Yet Out Of The Woods, explained:

I’m immensely annoyed about the coverage of local politics in this bijou borough of ours, so I’ve decided to start up this blog in order to create a space for a balanced commentary of events.

Frankly there have been lots of claims made about which side is better than the rest at using teh interwebs to communicate their messages best, but I’m not convinced by any of them. Willis, Griffiths and Jones go hammer and tongs at it pushing their usual agendas, but I’d like to see them explaining what difference they think their online presence has made, or is it just an outlet to express their own frustrations?

Oranjepan was referring to opinions initially published by independent councillor Tony Jones (December 2008) and more recently by Tory councillor Richard Willis (January 2009), before Jane Griffiths joined the debate.

Richard considered the online presence of local parliamentary candidates and current MPs on his blog, Richard Willis’s Blog, launched last December.  In his entry Tech Savvy or Luddite?, Richard compares sites by Rob Wilson MP, Gareth Epps, Anneliese Dodds, Rob White, Alok Sharma, Patrick Murray and Martin Salter MP.

I can’t say that I agree with all that Richard wrote (is Anneliese Dodds’ “microscopic font” “noteworthy”?  And where is the link pointing to such a page?), but it’s nevertheless interesting to see such analysis emerge.

The use of social media by local politicians is worthy of further and more comprehensive independent study, I believe, to include also Richard’s blog (which features a rather grainy image of the councillor and no Search), as well as other websites of note, such as the satirical muckspReading.

Reading East MP Rob Wilson has remarkably suggested changing the town’s name to Reading-on-Thames in order to “make Reading more appealing”.

Interestingly, this tactic is being tried already - by London Street’s English Language Courses (ELC). Stated on ELC’s homepage are the words:

Welcome to the online brochure of: ENGLAND LANGUAGE COURSES in Reading-on-Thames, Berkshire, England.

The words “Reading on Thames”, arguably more attractive to the overseas reader (and potential customer) are again printed on a map displayed on the same page.

I really don’t think a name change is necessary. I do think we need to address the town/city confusion, however. We should either refer to Reading as a town or city, one or the other - not both. Reading Borough Council leader David Sutton, for example, responded to Wilson’s name suggestion with the following:

I would like us to continue to market Reading as a town which sits astride two increasingly attractive rivers

In an earlier statement, Sutton announced:

Chatham Place is a vitally important part of the reshaping of the centre of Reading, as we continue to create a vibrant European city of the future

I’m sure I’ve also seen the word “City” printed on the town’s buses.

On a less serious note, I myself had a go at giving Reading a new name. How about the following (silly) suggestions:

• Redding - To eliminate the usual confusion about the way the town name is pronounced
• Rdng - Reading for the txt generation
• Revving - A mecca for motorists
• Weading - A perfect destination for couples!
• Greying - Red no longer has the same allure. Grey is the “in” colour, apparently

In parliament, PM Tony Blair recognised efforts made in Reading to cut crime and underlined the need to implement tougher actions still. Blair said that the new powers were making a difference. Really? I’m still seeing drunk and disorderly people, fights and evidence of vandalism. Must try harder, I think:

Martin Salter (Reading, West) (Lab): Yesterday, the Prime Minister launched the respect action plan to give communities better opportunities to tackle crime, drugs and antisocial behaviour. Does he recognise that, in Reading, under the dynamic leadership of the local Labour council, supported by Chief Superintendent Dave Murray, excellent progress has been made in cutting crime through the use of antisocial behaviour orders and getting drug-addicted criminals into treatment programmes? Çelik kapi modelleri jeneratör kiralamaHow will his respect action plan help us in Reading and throughout the country to do even better?

The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend is right that there is a dynamic leadership in Reading that has indeed delivered the action on antisocial behaviour that he describes. The important thing is that the powers that we outlined yesterday build on that. For example, they extend the ability to give fixed penalty notices and there are tougher actions for homes that are used forantisocial behaviour and for antisocial behaviour especially by younger kids. He is right that, in Reading and other areas, which I have seen for myself recently, such as east Manchester, Harlow and Swindon yesterday, where local authorities, local police and local residents use the powers, they make a real difference. Anybody who believes that they are simply a gimmick
or knee-jerk populism should go to those areas, hear what local residents say, see the difference that they have made and recognise that they are a major part of an agenda for restoring community life in this country for the time in which we live, and allow local communities to put the law-abiding citizen, not the criminal, at their heart.

The war between former Reading East MP Jane Griffiths and the Reading Chronicle continues.

In her Çelik kapi modelleri jeneratör kiralamablog, Jane attacks Reading Chronicle journalist Karl “silly-boy” Plunkett for allegedly slamming the phone down on her when she called about an article published in the paper. The Chronicle’s “boys” have a “dangerous obsession” with her, she continues, that “seems to know no bounds”.

Interestingly, Jane also claims a Reading East resident informed her that Reading West MP Martin Salter

has now made enough money from his property connection to retire, and will be standing down at the next election to go and live in Canada and go fishing

So with one MP going to Latvia and the other, allegedly, to Canada, what is wrong with our lovely town?