After the local elections and the byelection in Crewe, politics seems to have returned to something a bit closer to normal this week. Like many other candidates (I hope!), I spent most of the weekend out speaking to people and campaigning.
Apart from some people being quite surprised at the Labour party knocking on the door in the current context, the issues raised were largely the expected: alley gating; bus services; activities for young people; and the cost of living and petrol prices.
The Tories: back to normal too
They may be riding high in the polls, but have the Tories misjudged their position on the changes to vehicle exercise duty, as raised in PMQs this week?
The cost of motoring is a massive issue at the moment, there's no question. The price of petrol goes up every time you go to the petrol station.
Whatever your views about climate change and environmental policies, there's no disputing the fact that the main reason for this price hike is diminishing supplies.
Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and our reliance on oil will come to an abrupt and tumultuous end, causing global economic and social turmoil.
Individuals alone cannot reverse this situation; it takes investment in new technologies, switches in energy supplies and major behavioural changes. That's where politics and leadership comes in.
At times unpopular measures are needed in order to change behaviour. As reports have shown this week, people are already choosing more fuel-efficient and smaller cars in place of gas guzzlers. That's exactly what the changes in vehicle excise duty are designed to deliver: rewards, in lower taxes, for greener choices; penalties, in higher taxes, for non-green choices.
At one time, David Cameron presented himself as the champion of the green agenda. Now, it seems, his sniff at electoral success has left him pursuing short-term popularity. Unfortunately for him, history shows that in the end the electorate doesn't reward such obvious playing to the gallery.
Zimbabwe: The galling sight of Mugabe in Rome
Like many people, as the results from the recent presidential elections emerged, I had hoped that Zimbabwe might soon be free of the tyranny of Mugabe.
How different that now looks. In an increasingly desperate attempt to cling on to power the Mugabe regime is becoming ever more violent and extreme, turning the forthcoming second-round election into a charade.
The sight of Mugabe speaking at an international conference on food shortages was particularly offensive, coming only hours before he in effect expelled aid agencies from Zimbabwe, leaving many more of his own people vulnerable and hungry.
The international response is still not strong enough. Britain, Europe and America are united in their condemnation. But further pressure needs to be put onto neighbouring countries, especially South Africa, in order to totally isolate Mugabe and his propaganda machine.
Free swimming
News this morning that free swimming for the over 60s will be followed by free swimming for all is an excellent move. Manchester Labour introduced free swimming for the over 60s in April, as I reported, and it proved instantly popular. Making swimming free for the under 16s will bring huge benefits too, as long as decent and accessible facilities are available.
