The Chorlton Park Posse in Northenden

Lib-Dems from across the Mersey. Pictured from left to right: Cllr Norman Lewis and Bernie, both from Chorlton Park. Mary Di Mauro from Northenden, John Leech MP of Manchester Withington (also Councillor from Chorlton Park) and Martin Eakins from Northenden.

Lib-Dems were out in force at the weekend delivering our latest Focus leaflet and the 2008 calendar in Northenden Village.

Our good friends from Chorlton Park came along and gave us a hand on Sunday, meaning we got most of the Village delivered in one weekend.

Good to see Norman, Bernie and John again. They frequently give us good advice on serving our community, who to contact over casework and helpful tips on campaigning.

Thanks guys - much appreciated!

Looking down the barrel of a gun in Northenden

On Monday I had noticed an article in the MEN that three locations in Wythenshawe and Northenden had suffered an armed robbery, Tescos being the location of the Northenden site.

On Tuesday night I went along to Northenden Civic Society, as I usually do, and asked the PCSO there what was being done to combat gun crime. His response was surprising as it was disappointing. He told us that Gun Crime in Northenden "isn't too bad".

If we had the odd raid every other year or so, perhaps we could say we're not suffering from a gun crime wave, but to have two armed robberies in as many months, on top of all the other armed robberies throughout the year, is too bad.

It is unacceptable and intolerable - in the truest sense of the words.

After the meeting, a few of us went for a couple of drinks at the Lounge About where we all caught up properly. At about 11pm most of the customers had left, leaving only four of us and two bar staff. We were just finishing our drinks when three masked lads wielding hand guns and a sword burst in!

Events moved quickly, but two of the lads quickly secured the bar area and starting taking cash, the third rounded up us customers and moved us into the gents.

Once in the gents he told us all to hand over our mobile phones, and then pointing the gun at my head said "You - pick up the phones and give them to me". It was a very weird situation, looking down the barrel of a gun in my home town, after just having been told by the police that gun crime "isn't too bad".

He said to us that he wasn't stealing the phones, just making sure we couldn't use them until they had left. He was lying of course, but I claimed my phone wasn't with me and I actually lost nothing.

He was such a young guy - maybe 17 or 18. He was very calm, and dressed like a ninja with a scarf across his face. I remember him having a good look at us - as if he was registering our features.

We all remained calm, and soon he left the gents telling us to lock the door and they then escaped through the front door.

We emerged when it was obvious he had gone, and I immediately saw one of the bar staff in tears in the corridor. I gave her a hug and comforted her, then ran out to the front to see if I could see where they went. They had already left the scene and I dialled 999 and asked for the police to get here as soon as.

So that was it - more or less. We gave all our details to the police (who arrived rapidly and in force) and I walked my friend home and had a stiff drink.

I have written to my local inspector asking her to assure us that she doesn't share the same view as the PCSO. Gun crime is a real menace across south Manchester, open a local newspaper and you're bound to see several examples of armed robberies. Northenden is particularly suffering at present - it's as if we've turned into the Wild West!

If you think you can help the police with their enquires, click through here.

Update: The local Inspector has been in touch and she has described the PCSO response as "not appropriate" - which is assuring.

Nick Clegg's first PMQs

Nick Clegg pressed the Prime Minister to act over Fuel Poverty that will claim an estimated 25,000 lives this winter

Nick Clegg performed well for his first Prime Minister Questions today as party leader.

Unlike his predecessors, he's now sat further away from the speaker, so no longer perched on the end of a bench, but surrounded by his colleagues. I think this looks like he's speaking "from the crowd" rather than picked up from a lonely perch, and does look more like he's part of a bigger team.

He also strides out, almost to the middle of the aisle, turns to the Prime Minister and asks his question. A confident move which shows just how at ease he is in the chamber.

The questions he used were about relief for the poor who pay the most for their energy on pre-payment cards. Energy prices are rising and a predicted 25'000 people, mostly elderly and poor, will die this winter from the cold.

He pressed for a commitment that the government would "take action to stop the energy companies from hitting the poorest families with higher bills on pre-paid meters, so we can end the scandal of the poorest families paying the most for their energy needs?"

Brown gave a typically weak answer that the government has "asked" fuel companies to "look" at pre-payment meters. Hardly the action that would prevent so many poor families having to default on payments, or worse, turn off the heating during these cold, dark winter months!

The shocking state of decay under Labour

Just before Christmas I noticed that Labour had sent out a leaflet in Benchill announcing a new Skate Park to be sited inside Hollyhedge Park, in neighbouring Sharston.

Curiosity got the better of me and I went over to check out how Hollyhedge Park is doing these days.

I must say, that I when I turned a path and laid eyes on Sharston Youth Centre, I was totally shocked! I just hope that the Skate Park doesn't share the same fate as the Youth Centre!

(click to zoom in)

I am totally disgusted by these sights, and totally frustrated at how lazy, complacent and totally ineffectual this pitiful Labour administration is at governing.