http://blog.dorries.org/Blogs/2008/Sep/30#30

In Birmingham. The sun is shining; and the mood booming.

http://blog.dorries.org/Blogs/2008/Sep/29#29

Just about to leave for conference. I have to confess, I loathe conference. It’s the factor of the ‘unknown’, anything can happen and I don’t like that.

I had said that this year I was going to watch all the speeches, something I don’t get to do when I am there, from my sofa at home.

That was until I agreed to speak at fringes, judge talent competitions, give interviews etc.

I will blog where and what I am doing as I go along.

http://blog.dorries.org/Blogs/2008/Sep/28#28

New York University Don’s decided to run an undergraduate course in feminism.

There were objections, based on the fact that the course was to be one of ‘expression’ rather than theory or academia.

After all, any woman could have a degree in expression and most of us are pretty good at it, especially when mad.

Regardless of the objections, the course began.

Three years later there was a proposal to establish a post grad course, again it passed.

A PHD course followed.

The feminist department decided they wanted to run their own faculty publication. It was called ‘Clitoral Hermeneutics’.

Following the publication of twelve peer reviewed papers by one particular author she became an associate professor.

Clitoral Hermeneutics? Strange name?

Maybe they called it that because they didn’t want the men to find it?

I am in the constituency today for meetings and surgeries and then off to London to speak at a dinner. My conference blogs will start tomorrow and I will be blogging over the weekend.

http://blog.dorries.org/Blogs/2008/Sep/26#26

Now here’s a strange one.

I have often said on my blog that there is nothing a sister on the left hates more than a sister on the right, especially one who is winning the arguments.

Not ever having been a ‘feminist’ myself, I do listen to the protestations of the sisterhood with a mixture of wry amusement and cynicism.

The cynicism is at its most evident these days when listening to comments aimed at Sarah Palin.

Among the comments thrown at Palin by the feminist elite, are that she should be at home looking after her children.

This is after they have spent years campaigning for more women at the top

Now, what exactly are they going to say to one of their own, on the left, who has decided to do just that?

http://blog.dorries.org/Blogs/2008/Sep/25#25

Yesterday - courtesy of the Henry Jackson Society - I welcomed Dr Herbert London, President of the Hudson Institute in Washington DC and New York to the House of Commons.

Dr London is an academic and listed in just about every American Whos Who. He is a prolific author, as well as a political and social commentator.

He is also Professor Emeritus of New York University, a Republican and likes Sarah Palin only marginally more than I do. He also has amazing recall.

His speech was focused on the forthcoming US elections; the global foreign policy challenges facing whoever becomes the next President; and his latest book ‘America’s Secular Challenge’ which I started to read last night.

His speech was peppered with anecdotes which gave balance to the very serious talk he delivered. Dr London’s message is that belief matters. How can you work or fight to retain what you believe in, if you don’t believe in anything?
He is well aware that his own beliefs do not enjoy much credence amongst the Liberal elite, many of whom mistrust religious belief of any kind. Yet he questions whether radical secularism offers a sufficiently robust alternative to religion – robust enough, that is, to nurture the core values of western civilisation at a time when those values are under siege not only from external threats of radical Islam, but also from the internal threats of moral anaemia and fecklessness.

In the UK we see, pay for and deal with, the problems of a broken society everyday, brought about by what Dr London would describe as fecklessness and the moral anaemia of drugs and prostitution.

In the UK it's too late for religious belief to answer the problems we face today and for that I lay the blame solely at the feet of the established Church.

However, his argument is based upon an even bigger problem which dwarfs that of the broken society, terrorism and radical Islam. If we are facing the clash of two civilisations, how on earth can a Western civilisation succeed without the focus and strength of core fundamental beliefs?

I had lunch after the talk with Dr Alan Mendoza, Director of the Henry Jackson Society, Herb and his wife Vicky who is a wealth of knowledge. They were such lovely people.

I have just opened a copy of the book Herb gave me and he has written on the inside, “To my favourite MP.”

As of today he is my favourite academic and if meeting him showed me anything, it was that there should be a much stronger working relationship between British and American  politicians.

We face similar problems both within our own society and on a global level. There is strength in unity and there are many ways to work the ‘special relationship’ other than between two men at the top.

http://blog.dorries.org/Blogs/2008/Sep/24#24

Local councillor Mike Gibson has been to Amsterdam to take a look at an eco town.

This is what he has to say:

I came back from Amsterdam convinced that the only time that we can properly challenge is now. We must redouble our efforts to convince those that have the power to make the decision, that under any criteria they could apply, Marston Vale is not the place for a new “eco” town.”

“I am absolutely horrified; what is currently being proposed is a trick of smoke and mirrors, and I urge all residents to make their voices heard against the so-called eco-town.”

 “My fact-finding trip to Amsterdam only confirmed and strengthened my initial worries that what constitutes a real eco-town bears no resemblance to what is being proposed in the Marston Vale.”

“To build on a beautiful greenfield area and to cite it as sustainable, ecological and a benefit to the local residents is a nonsense, and I will do everything in my power to stop it from happening.”

http://blog.dorries.org/Blogs/2008/Sep/23#23

Tomorrow I am welcoming Dr Herbert London - President of the Hudson Institute in Washington DC - to the House of Commons. I shall also chair a meeting at which he will be speaking in the Thatcher Room.

Click here for more details of the event, on the Henry Jackson Society website.

I am looking forward to meeting him and listening to his talk, which promises to be nothing less than fascinating.

http://blog.dorries.org/Blogs/2008/Sep/22#22

On Saturday 700 of us held up traffic on the A421 as we marched in protest against the proposed new eco town in the Martson Vale.

The Marston Moretaine Eco Town Action Group (MMETAG) and the Bedfordshire On Sunday, have both carried details of the march on their websites. It was a fantastic day and we couldn't have asked for better weather. I will add no more, except I will say that the next march will be a torch lit procession on the 9th October!

http://blog.dorries.org/Blogs/2008/Sep/22#22

I think it's time that we Conservatives started to remind people how bad it can get under Labour.
I spent my weekend doing exactly what I did last weekend: finding out how hard the looming recession was hitting business in my constituency.

A company providing equipment to the leisure industry told me they had announced the day before that the advertising budget was being withdrawn and to expect redundancies. “The phone just isn’t ringing”, said my constituent, “no orders coming in – we are drying up”.

As Conservatives prepare to work the country back up out of the mess Labour has once again dropped us into, we need to remind people every single day of the inevitability of a sustained period of Labour government: tax, tax, tax, spend, spend,spend, recession.

http://blog.dorries.org/Blogs/2008/Sep/22#22

Twenty four hours after I made my package for the ‘Daily Politics Show’, Sarah Palin gave a speech which carried exactly the same message!

My package isn't screened until next Monday. What am I to do?

http://blog.dorries.org/Blogs/2008/Sep/22#22

It’s Sunday 9.30am and I have had more shocks than any reasonable morning after a friends birthday party the night before girl should have to take - before her second cup of tea anyway!

The first began with the news that the Beds on Sunday have done yesterdays march proud in terms of coverage. Full blog post and links tomorrow.

The second was that there is a full page photograph of me wearing a £4000 suit (not mine!) in the Sunday Times Style magazine. The shoes are to die for!!

The third is the biggest. I am sat in front of the Television discussing the merits of Paracetamol v Alka Seltzer with my friend who is a Doctor. We are also watching Gordon Brown on Andy Marr.

My friend has just completed a course in cosmetic enhancements. Actually, he is now my best friend.

Suddenly he announces, “Wow, Gordon Brown has had fillers and Botox”.

At first I thought he meant dental fillings, but no, he assures me that  Gordon Brown has had a chemical filler  injected into the two craggy gaps lines which did run from the side of his nose; and he has had Botox injections in his face to relax and smooth his appearance.

He is absolutely 100 percent convinced.

I am not sure looking less scary is going to stop frightening the voters away Gordon.

I'm looking closer - I think he's right!

http://blog.dorries.org/Blogs/2008/Sep/21#21

Yesterday was spent preparing for and then filming a package for ‘The Daily Politics Show’.

The package was based on a comment I made in the House of Commons during treasury questions months ago. It’s nice to know someone notices!

I was allowed to write my own script, edited by the producer of course. The package is going out on the Monday of our conference and then I am being interviewed by Andrew Neil straight after.

Today I am leading a march of 500 people against the proposed EcoTowns down the A421. Motorists are going to love me!! However, it has to be done. We are not having 15,000 homes dumped onto our villages.

More on Monday with lots of photographs.

http://blog.dorries.org/Blogs/2008/Sep/20#20

In September my diary is packed full of constituency appointments.

I work on the basis that my constituents will be so sick of me by the end of the month, that they will happily let me concentrate more on my Parliamentary work, once October arrives.

Last night I spoke to another group of the WI.

It really is all tea, home made cakes and bring and buy. I love it.

As I pulled up outside the village hall just after eight, it was dark and damp and for the first time the air smelt of autumn. The warm lights inside welcomed me in and guided me down the dark path to the wooden front door.

I thought about the door I enter through when I arrive at the House of Commons each morning. I have to pinch myself. I still can't believe I am there and that I hold such an honour and privilege. As I look up at the arch over St Stephens, the same feeling overwhelms me every time.

As I left my car the noise of the central locking cut through the air. The village wildlife had obviously settled down following the arrival of the ladies - I must have been a bit of a surprise as an owl hooted and flew from its resting place on the Church roof.

It was a full moon and I could make out its silhouette as it went in search of somewhere less noisy. I had probably just startled its supper.

I lifted the latch and walked into the hall and was met by a scene straight out of Calendar Girls. Woolly cardis were sitting on wooden chairs. Everyone commenting on how hot it was in there, despite the fact it was freezing! Lots of giggles as ladies chided and teased each other in the same way they have been doing for years.

I gave a talk, answered lots of questions and judged a photo competition. Then tucked into the home made cakes, sausage rolls and tea, as compulsive feeders in the guise of mothers made me!

I left the ladies organising who was going to make what for the Harvest supper. Content, happy, at peace with their lives.

As I left the hall and closed the wooden latched door behind me with the sound of their thanks and warm wishes ringing in my ears, I felt that feeling of pride again.

I do realise that I am a very lucky lady to constantly be in the company of and to be able to meet such lovely people. - I have the nicest constituency.

Have I ever mentioned this before?

http://blog.dorries.org/Blogs/2008/Sep/18#18

Today I have received a letter from John Lyon CB - the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards - in response to a complaint made about my blog by a Liberal Democrat.

The complainant clearly has a lot of spare time on his hands, so much so that he felt it necessary to submit a 21 page dossier to the House of Commons authorities, about my 'conduct' with regards to my blog.

I must admit that before the complaint had been brought to my attention, I had never heard of the complainant! 

For the record, John Lyon's letter to the complainant states the following:

"The position is that no Parliamentary resources have been used to fund Mrs Dorries' weblog. Questions about whether its content is consistent with the rules in relation to Parliamentary funding do not therefore arise."

He goes on to state, "No further action on any point is required, and therefore consider your complaint now closed."

I wonder how much time, resources and money has been used by the parliamentary authorities to look into the matter of my 'conduct'?

This whole matter has been a personal wake-up call for me.  

There's the threat of international terrorism; a rudderless government in decline; huge economic uncertainty; the war in Afghanistan; a global energy crisis; the re-emergence of Russian aggression; and the spread of HIV in Africa.

But what about the complainant? Does the content of my blog really warrant such attention?   

I think this has been a most revealing episode as to his type of politics - it's certainly not mine.

http://blog.dorries.org/Blogs/2008/Sep/17#17

Last month food prices increased by 13 per cent and fuel by 16 per cent. House prices are tumbling, world banks falling and redundancies looming. Some say, and I include the Chancellor in this that we are entering a depression worse than that experienced in the 1930s.

I for one really hope this won’t happen; however, it has to be said, that there are those who have been predicting this scenario for some considerable time.

I have noticed a complete change in the type of problems my constituents have been bringing into my surgeries.
We are overwhelmed by debt.

I put the blame for this squarely at the door of Gordon Brown and the overwhelming number of direct and stealth tax increases he has imposed on British families during his tenure. At the last count it was well over 100.

Every mum and dad wants to dress their baby in the best clothes. All parents want to do the best for their children and all families know how hard it can be to make ends meet.

A local village shopkeeper in Mid Beds told me today of how he felt the kick for the first time this weekend.