Mike's Columns in the Portsmouth News
Please read my latest articles featured in the Portsmouth News
You can also access an archive of all my previous news articles.
01 December 2009
Mike's column for December 2009 looks at the Copenhagen summit and the issues around Portsmouth pulling out of its bid to be a host city for Britain's World Cup
03 November 2009
Mike looks ahead to the summit in December on Climate Change
17 April 2009
I have found it both interesting and inspiring in recent weeks to visit a number of projects that are working with young people in Portsmouth.
01 December 2008
Due to the economic recession, last week’s Pre-Budget Report was of great importance. But unfortunately it was a real let-down for those of us who wanted help for hard-working people and a fairer Britain.
03 November 2008
Tomorrow, the American people will go to the polls to elect a new President. I hope they choose wisely because, as we have seen with the actions of George Bush, the US President has a great effect on the whole world wherever we live.
14 October 2008
Recent economic events have certainly been very worrying but they were not unforeseen – by some at least if not Gordon Brown.
05 September 2008
The end of this week sees the Lib Dems kicking off the party conference season. If a week is a long time in politics then a year is an eternity.
01 August 2008
I am delighted the Council recently backed my motion to give the Freedom of the City to Harry Redknapp and Pompey’s cup winning squad.
28 July 2008
A real problem that has developed with the current Labour Government is that it often does too little, too late.
01 June 2008
As this is my first column since the final, I would like to start by paying tribute to everyone at Pompey for winning the FA cup.
16 May 2008
Last week, the Labour MP for Portsmouth North, Sarah McCarthy-Fry described the recent local election results as “very disappointing” for her party. She was right!
06 February 2008
A major disappointment in the last few weeks has been the decision by Hampshire Fire Authority to close Copnor Fire Station – despite figures from the Fire Service showing that a large part of Portsea Island would have worse fire cover as a result.
08 January 2008
May I start my column by wishing everyone a happy and prosperous New Year. 2007 saw Brown finally becoming PM, claiming to be bringing in a new form of politics.
18 December 2007
The number of people coming to me as their MP with housing problems has dramatically increased in the last few years.
30 November 2007
I have been fighting the closure of Copnor Fire Station for some twenty years. So while it saddens me, it doesn’t surprise me that once again there is a proposal to shut it.
11 October 2007
A key issue in recent months has been whether we should have a referendum on the proposed European Constitutional Treaty.
15 September 2007
Following recent events in Iraq, I am reminded once again of the questions that Menzies Campbell asked in Parliament in 2002: “What is the exit strategy? Who will replace Saddam Hussein? How long would coalition troops be required to remain in Iraq? And will Iraq split up?”
10 August 2007
Since my last column, we have had the news of a reprieve for Portsmouth Naval Base.
23 July 2007
So, Blair has gone and we have a Brown government. But as well as Brown, this Government must be green.
06 June 2007
It has been reported that Tony Blair’s “farewell tour” is costing £1 million. If so, one of Gordon Brown’s last acts as Chancellor should be to check whether we are getting value for money.
14 May 2007
The beginning of the month saw the city elections and I was pleased that the Lib Dems held their own to remain the largest party on the council.
02 April 2007
The need to combat global warming may have hit the headlines recently but the Lib Dems have been committed to “green politics” for long time with our past two general election manifestos having “green action points” for all policy areas not just in a separate Environment section.
04 March 2007
You should judge politicians by their actions not their words. So the budget, last week showed that Gordon Brown is no friend of ordinary hard-working people, pensioners or those concerned by environmental issues
18 February 2007
Recent weeks have proved even more confusing time than normal for those following the pronouncements and actions of the Labour Government.
13 January 2007
A key issue for Portsmouth in this coming year will be the future of the Naval Base.
22 October 2006
It was a great pleasure to finally see Cdr Eddie Grenfell and the artic convoy veterans recently collect the first Artic Star emblems produced.
14 September 2006
I believe it is totally unforgivable that at the same time as we have British servicemen and women putting their lives on the line in Iraq and in Afghanistan, we have a Prime Minister, a Chancellor and it seems virtually the whole governing party at war with itself.
26 August 2006
The Home Secretary recently admitted that the Home Office wasn’t “fit for purpose”. Increasingly I think that could be applied to the whole of this Government.
04 July 2006
Recent days have seen very poignant remembrance services for the first anniversary of the London bombings and the new terrorist atrocities in India and I am sure all our thoughts are with those who lost loved ones.
28 June 2006
Good news recently for the city and the council has seen a new ferry operator for the commercial port which it owns and the colour and excitement that the stopover of the Volvo yacht race has brought.
09 February 2006
You’d think when the independent watchdog, the Audit Commission calls your education proposals: “unfair, inconsistent and poor value for money”, you might listen. But not so, it seems Tony Blair.
21 January 2006
2005 may be remembered for its disasters – the Tsunami, hurricanes in the USA and the London bombings and at this holiday time, my thoughts are with those who lost loved ones in these and other incidents.
07 November 2005
Ten days ago, the President of the Royal Society, Lord May, one of Britain’s leading scientists warned, that there was an urgent need to do much more to cut carbon dioxide emissions and prevent global warning.
02 October 2005
It is probably good for all politicians to have “nonsense” shouted at them from time to time!
08 September 2005
Recent weeks have seen the unfortunate early deaths of two Labour politicians.
