Steve Pound Proxy Weblog

Steve Pound on Brian Sedgemore

2005-04-27T13:29:00.000+01:00

Labour MP Brian Sedgemore recently defected from the Labour party to the Lib Dems, a move that doesn't seem to have impressed Steve Pound much, who described Mr Sedgemore as "immensely pompous, incredibly self-important and stupefyingly boring". Full story available here.

Ealing North Candidates Round-Up

2005-04-22T09:22:00.000+01:00

The Ealing Times has just published a round-up of the six candidates standing in the Ealing North constituency. You can read it here.

Question Time

2005-04-19T10:31:00.000+01:00

Steve Pound will be present at a question time for residents at 8pm at Petts Hill Primary School, Newmarket Avenue, on Thursday, April 21.

More details at the Ealing Times.

The wit of Stephen Pound

2005-04-11T09:18:00.000+01:00

An extract from the Pendennis column in The Observer:

"If only every Labour MP had the wit of Stephen Pound, a third landslide would be in the bag. On the return flight of Virgin Atlantic's inaugural trip to Mumbai, the affable Pound quaffed rather a lot of champagne and fell into conversation with a hack who was also enjoying Sir Richard Branson's lavish hospitality. 'So, Stephen, how long have you been an MP?' the great man was asked. Turning to the very attractive Virgin Tour Operator on board, Steve gave a wink and replied: 'About five foot seven and a half.'"

From here.

Updates

2005-04-08T09:17:00.000+01:00

Now the election date has been confirmed, I'll be updating this site more regularly. I'll scan and post any relevant campaign material that I can, and keep an eye on all the local papers.

Also, this site is now ranked number 2 in google for the terms Steve Pound in Google, behind Steve's official site. Which is nice.

Electioneering

2005-04-08T09:08:00.000+01:00

With the election date confirmed as 5th May, all of the Ealing-based candidates have been out campaigning. Steve Pound "went on a whistle-stop tour of as many of the borough’s Tube stations on Tuesday evening to rally support", according to the Ealing Times.

Steve Pound on Michael Howard and abortion

2005-04-08T09:02:00.000+01:00

Speaking on GMTV, Steve Pound has the following to say on Michael Howard's stance on abortion:

"This is the George Bush agenda. Michael Howard has seen there’s a hard-right fundamentalist, anti-abortionist, tax-cutting agenda that’s worked in America"

From this Times Online article.

MP opens football pitch

2005-03-13T14:22:00.000+01:00

Steve Pound opened a new football pitch on the Gurnell Grove estate in Greenford. The Ealing Times article is here.

Assyrians in Iraq

2005-03-13T14:17:00.000+01:00

A letter sent by Australian Assyrians to George W. Bush highlighted some of the efforts Steve Pound has made on behalf of the Assyrian community in Iraq.

You can read the text of the letter here.

Steve Pound on Ken Livingstone

2005-03-13T14:14:00.000+01:00

In this This Is London article, Steve Pound is quoted as saying "Anyone who has known Ken for 10 minutes will know he is not anti-Semitic. But he should have apologised the moment the Standard reporter said he was Jewish and offended."

It is perhaps unsurprising that this article was on the This Is London website, the online wing of the Evening Standard, whose reporter took such offence at Ken's comments.

Commenting on Michael Howard's grandfather,

2005-03-13T14:09:00.000+01:00

Steve Pound had the following to say:

"There is a certain element of 'do as I say, not as I do'. Michael Howard's grandfather was extremely lucky in two things, one in finding asylum in Britain and two that Michael Howard was not Home Secretary when he came here."

From this Telegraph article.

Parliament smoking ban

2005-03-13T14:06:00.000+01:00

In an Independent article, (40 a day smoker) Steve Pound describes the banning of smoking in parliament as "a profound culture shock".

I'm afraid I can't link to the article as you have to pay to view it.

Assyrian Referees

2005-03-13T14:03:00.000+01:00

Assyrian immigrants have shown "...prowess as football referees in the Middlesex amateur league..." according to Steve Pound, quoted in this article.

Stephen Pounds long lost daughter

2005-03-13T13:52:00.000+01:00

There have been many articles concerning Stephen Pound's long-lost daughter, but this BBC article sums it all up neatly enough.

The essence being that Steve Pound fathered a child in the 1960s, but the mother kept the pregnancy a secret. The daughter tracked her father down via Friends Reunited. Mr Pound's family, and the family of his daughter have all been very supportive. Mr Pound described it as "...a pretty horrible thing with a pretty happy ending."

Lack of updates

2005-03-13T13:49:00.000+01:00

Apologies. I've been busy with other things. I'll attempt to catch up with things this afternoon.

Stephen Pound MP and Opus Dei

2005-01-17T19:37:00.000+01:00

In an article in today's Independent Review section (available online here), Steve Pound is mentioned as being a guest speaker at Netherhall House, an intercollegiate hall of residence run by Opus Dei, the Catholic organisation that has come to prominence recently as a result of the way it was presented in Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code. The tone of the article seems to imply that Steve Pound, as well as several other public figures, are associates of Opus Dei. This is echoed in a statement (apparently) from the National Secular Society, available here, citing The Mail on Sunday as a source. I couldn't verify this as the MoS website requires paid registration, and it will be a cold day in hell that I give that particular publication any of my money.

As far as I can ascertain from a good many web searches, in 2001, Steve Pound MP gave a talk at Netherhall House, entitled "Where Does the Left go from Here?" (as listed on the Netherhall House website here), but has no other obvious connection to Netherhall House or Opus Dei that I can find.

Whilst Opus Dei has rightly complained about how they were presented in The Da Vinci Code, I'm sure that Mr Pound can understand that an association with Opus Dei could be a cause for concern for many of his constituents, especially in the light of the media furore over Secretary of State for Education Ruth Kelly's publicly stated association.

I have emailed Mr Pound regarding this, and, with permission, will post any response here.

UPDATE: In response to an email on the subject of Opus Dei, Mr Pound had the following to say (quoted with permission):

I gave a talk to the students at Netherhall House some years ago and
have certainly never been inclined to join nor, more significantly, have
I been offered the opportunity.

I actually have considerable admiration for the principles of Opus Dei
but as one who is on the liberal wing of the Roman Catholic Church I
doubt that I could adhere to the practices.

Which I guess shows that a) it's really not that difficult to check facts with those concerned before publishing them, and b) the internet is not always the most reliable source of information. Not a surprise, perhaps, but worth bearing in mind.

Blair vs. Brown

2005-01-11T17:26:00.000+01:00

Stephen Pound on the Blair/Brown rift:

"There is a lot of anger in the party because we can see what we are trying to do being jeopardised by this, it's that serious," - Reuters.

Backbencher Stephen Pound tells GMTV's Sunday Programme today that Blair has been a 'damn good' Prime Minister, but suggests he is nearing the end, adding: 'I think you can't blame the man for being, if not demob-happy, then at least saying "I'm on the last lap now". - Guardian.

Camelot Tsunami Donation

2005-01-05T11:29:00.000+01:00

"Calls are growing for national lottery operator Camelot to donate the 16 million pounds worth of unclaimed winnings from last year to Asia's tsunami appeal.
"I think it's a wonderful opportunity for Camelot. I can't imagine how they could possibly say 'no,'" said Labour MP Stephen Pound."

From this Reuters article.

Monarchy

2005-01-05T11:26:00.000+01:00

There are several quotes from Steve Pound on the British monarchy in this BBC News article on the subject.

Steve Pound vs. Lembit Opik

2005-01-05T11:20:00.000+01:00

Mr Pound is well known for his dislike of the tackier aspects of Christmas. Here, the BBC puts him head to head against the Lib Dems best known asteroid spotter, Lembit Opik. Link.

Steve Pound on the Euthanasia Bill

2005-01-05T11:15:00.000+01:00

“This is a sane and sensible piece of legislation that sadly may contain within it the germ of something deeply disturbing, and we would like to see that cut out.

“This Bill is not about euthanasia but there is sufficient concern around for the need to make it absolutely clear that it is not about euthanasia. We are in a real mess on this one because a lot of us were mollified by the Howarth amendment. But if the Government is not going to accept that, this is one of those odd things where MPs do have a conscience and we are genuinely worried about this.

“We do not want to lose the body of the Bill but we do not want to be seen to be opening the door to the say-so of a third party — imagine the pressure on families.”

From a Times Online Article here.

Catching Up

2004-12-04T18:33:00.000+01:00

I've been a bit slack about updates recently - sorry about that. So I'll stick all the recent stuff in this post. Starting with:

22nd October: Stephen Pound calls for an Administrative Region for the ChaldoAssyrian Christians of Iraq.

30th October: Stephen Pound on the Gambling Bill "I just really think that we have made a terrible mistake here...over all of it hangs the shadow of the men in the chalk-stripe suits with names that rhyme with spaghetti.”.

4th November: Chancellor Gordon Brown thanks Steve Pound for his work towards a new building at Downe Manor Primary School in Northolt.

8th November: Steve Pound speaks out against gambling bill: "No-one has ever come up to me on Greenford Broadway and said that what this area really needs is a local Las Vegas, but the Government seems to believe that MPs are crying out for a constituency Caesar's Palace to "regenerate" the area. We have a system that works and if it's not broken let's not try to fix it. Unless I see more concessions from the Government I'll be voting against at the third reading.".

21st November: Steve Pound on last minute amendments to the hunting bill: "Madness, pure madness.".

25th November: Steve Pound attends opening of Gifford Primary School, in Greenhill Gardens, Northolt, along with Fame Academy star Kwame Kwei-Armah.

and saving the best for last:

26th November: Steve Pound regrets choice of bedfellow: "I got no sleep and could not settle down to read Harold Wilson's History of the Labour government 1974 to 1979 because Russell was snoring so loudly the windows were rattling. It's the last time I spend the night with a Liberal Democrat", he said.

MPs Expenses

2004-10-22T13:52:00.000+01:00

Last (financial) year, Steve Pound MP claimed £84,601 in parliamentary expenses (one of the lowest claimants) The source document is here (pdf file):

Link.

He's obviously just not trying hard enough. I mean, Claire Curtis-Thomas, MP for Crosby, managed £168,889. More details in this Times Online article.

Of the 10 highest claimants, 9 are Labour MPs.

Local Post Office for Local People Saved

2004-10-08T10:58:00.000+01:00

"A Post office earmarked for closure has been saved. The Boston Parade Post Office in Boston Road, Hanwell, will not close after extensive lobbying from residents, Ealing Council and Ealing North MP Steve Pound."

Full story here.

Children's Act Reform

2004-09-29T10:12:00.000+01:00

Steve Pound has given his support to a campaign to abolish the "obsolete, outdated and discredited" notion of reasonable chastisement, and give children the sanme rights as adults under the law on assault.

More details in this Ealing Times article.

Also, details of the NSPCC campaign here.

Steve Pound on the Lib Dems

2004-09-29T10:02:00.000+01:00

Never one to bite his tongue, Steve Pound has been quoted as describing the Liberal Democrats as:

"...a nasty social disease."

in this article by Iain Macwhirter in The Herald. However, I couldn't find the original context. If anyone knows, please drop me an email.

Updates and Boris Johnson

2004-09-20T18:18:00.000+01:00

The list of MPs who have blogs written for them has been updated, and Boris Johnson has been added to the list of MPs that write their own blogs.

Come on Steve, if Boris can do it...

Janamashtami celebrated in House of Commons

2004-09-15T11:20:00.000+01:00

Janamashtami being a ceremony commemorating the birth of Lord Krishna. Steve Pound, being the chairman of Labour Friends of India, had this to say:

"...the journey that began 5,000 years ago, with the birth of Lord Krishna, still continues today. This journey is inspirational and joyful."

This from an article in The Hindu.

Steve Pound on sex slavery

2004-09-07T16:27:00.000+01:00

Just saw this on epolitix.com:

A London MP has called for more to be done to rescue unwilling prostitutes from the "physical and mental torture of their sex slavery".

Full article here.

Choice quote?

"Ealing has many wonderful things to attract the tourist but I wouldn’t put the whore houses on the itinerary," he said

Steve Pound and Public Telephones

2004-09-01T15:38:00.000+01:00

There was an article in this weeks Ealing Times about BT plans to remove 37 phone boxes from across the borough. Steve Pound is calling on any constituents who object to the plans to contact him at the House of Commons on 020 7219 1140.

Blogging MPs

2004-08-27T10:52:00.000+01:00

Some good advice for prospective MP bloggers, from Tom Watson's excellent site.

Steve Pound's Gazette Articles

2004-08-27T10:35:00.000+01:00

It's worth mentioning that Steve Pound writes a weekly column for our local paper, the Ealing Gazette. An archive of his articles are available on this section of his official site.

The most recent article is on the situation in Darfur, and provides an illuminating, if depressing, explanation of how the disaster has developed.

Steve Pound on the Human Tissue Bill

2004-08-27T10:23:00.000+01:00

For many good examples of Steve Pound's "voluble" debating style, see this debate on new clause 1 of the Human Tissue Bill.

Steve Pound vs. Robert Kilroy-Silk

2004-08-27T10:17:00.000+01:00

From a debate on the European Constition, 21st June 2004:

Sometimes, I look at this nation and despair. When the Conservative Benches ring with the inchoate fury and synthetic outrage designed solely to appease a party led by an orange-skinned, Spanish-resident escapee from the dregs of daytime television whose one-word manifesto is no, I despair. In the case of the various factions masquerading as an Opposition—

At this point he was interrupted by the speaker, calling for order. I do rather agree with Mr Pound though. Full text here.

Erudition

2004-08-27T10:09:00.000+01:00

Steve Pound has a lovely way with words. See, for instance , this extract from a question put to Hazel Blears (MP and Home Office Minister), on the subject of binge drinking:

Stephen Pound:

To what extent his Department is working with the alcohol industry to deal with the binge drinking culture.

Hazel Blears

We are working closely with the alcohol industry to tackle binge drinking and the crime and antisocial behaviour it causes. That is a priority area for us and last Friday the police standards unit launched an enforcement drive across the country to try to address it.

Stephen Pound

There may be some who doubt that I am wholly objective on this subject, but God loves a sinner who repenteth and I hope that the House will be similarly indulgent. I thank my hon. Friend for a typically concise, helpful and positive response. In that Las Vegas of drinking that is central Ealing, night after night people move from being verbose to jocose to bellicose to lachrymose, and end up comatose. In the intervening period, they do great damage to themselves and the environment, especially as so many of them are young people not legally entitled to drink. Will my hon. Friend tell me whether her discussions with the industry have included discussing the appalling issue of under-age drinking?

The full text is here.

Civil Contingencies Bill

2004-08-27T10:02:00.000+01:00

Comments from Steve Pound during the debate on the Civil Contingencies Bill, New Clause 2 — Emergency Public Education And Training Board:

"...On the occasion of the purple powder-packed prophylactic projectile, everyone's natural instinct was to flee, when it would have been logical to stay and die for one's country and avoid spreading the problem. It is that measure of seriousness. How on earth can we educate people that it is better to stay and die than to go and spread the problem? That will be difficult. With the best will in the world, it will be beyond websites."

Nice alliteration. For the whole text containing all of Steve Pound's comments, and to see the full context of the debate, click here.

Registrars and Civil Marriages Debate

2004-08-27T09:56:00.000+01:00

A link to a transcript of Steve Pound's speech in the Registrars and Civil Marriages debate (Thursday 13th May 2004).

An extract:

Sham or bogus marriages are entered into by coercion, threats, bribes or other mechanisms, almost entirely for the purpose of remaining in the United Kingdom when all normal citizenship application mechanisms have failed. The problem is especially prevalent in London and the south-east, but it is certainly not unique to our part of the world. In fact, of the 80,000 ceremonies conducted annually, the Society of Registration Officers, the professional body that represents registrars throughout England and Wales—I am delighted that its patron, my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon) is here today and can attest to the scale of the problem—estimates that one in five marriages celebrated, if that is the word, in a register office are bogus.

Steve Pound's Rebel Votes

2004-08-16T15:53:00.000+01:00

Here is an interesting list detailing in which votes Steve Pound voted against his parties majority. This caught my eye:

"I beg to move,

That this House declines to give a Second Reading to a Bill which, by establishing Foundation Trusts and introducing other layers of bureaucracy, would increase disparities between hospitals and detract from the Government's commitment to a primary care led NHS, free from excessive bureaucracy, and believes that alternative ways of encouraging accountability in the NHS should be considered and a consensus established before legislation is introduced."

Steve Pound agreed, the Labour majority did not.

Steve Pound - Politician and entertainer

2004-08-16T15:43:00.000+01:00

From The Guardian Diary, 9th July 2004:

"Richard Littlejohn, entertaining friends in a private room at Westminster restaurant Shepherds on Wednesday, to mark the occasion of his being axed by Sky on the basis of poor ratings and the station's Isleworth canteen simply buckling under the pressure. Guests included Amanda Platell, my so-called rival at the Times, Little Alan Duncan, David Davis, Steve Pound and Rory Bremner - so heaven knows who Jay Leno made do with that day. Everyone was invited to perform a turn, with Steve giving his Tony Benn and Little Alan his Ali G."

Sounds to me like the author was a little put out at not being invited. Although why anyone would want to attend an event where Richard Littlejohn is present is beyond me.

Steve Pound - A proxy weblog is born

2004-08-16T12:53:00.000+01:00

Hello. First of all, let me make it clear that this is *not* the official website for Steve Pound, MP for Ealing North. You can find the official site here: www.steve-pound.org.uk.

I decided to set up this site after reading this article: www.bloggerheads.com/mps_weblogs.asp, and after two emails that I sent to Steve Pound suggesting that a weblog can be a very effective communication tool went unanswered. My intention is for this site to be a source of information about my local MP, as well as a forum for discussion of relevant issues. Comments and suggestions are welcome.