Having spent most of the day pounding the streets of Dursley I’m quite glad to return home.  I quite like Dursley, don’t get me wrong (the views from Hardings Drive across to Long Down are splendid), But my feet ache!

All issues are ‘local issues’ someone once said.  I am in politics for ‘local issues.’ Oil price inflation due to conflict in the middle east is a local issue for anyone struggling to make ends meet.   Climate Change is ‘local’ for the the people in my ward who lost homes and livelihood in the summer floods.  It goes on… (But I promise not too!)

I was also struck today about the CNN report on the African principle of ‘Umbuntu.’ (brotherhood of giving) Something we should take more notice of in our own lives.  Class war is a thing of the past but poverty exists even in the ’so called’ western world.  I’m a believer that markets can bring freedom and oppertunity but compassion and solidarity are absolutely essential to make soceity work.