BOURNEMOUTH and Christchurch councils both look as though they are sending identical messages to that monumental waste of space of a bureaucracy, the regional assembly: we've got no room for a travellers' site.

All authorities have been told by the assembly they must come up with land to provide a certain number of pitches, a mixture of permanent and transit.

Two points. If any of our councils can identify any land at all, then it should be used to provide affordable housing. And as so many travelling folk seem to set up camp where they like, when they like, what on earth is the point of a site anyway?

  • About three years ago I had a very brief insight into one family's overwhelming heartbreak and, as a parent, I often think about it. I returned a photograph we had borrowed of 17-year-old Stephen Ruggier to his mum Debbie. Stephen had just died from an adult form of cot death and the pain of a mother trying to understand how the natural order of things had been overturned so inexplicably was etched all over Debbie's face. Next week, the family will release balloons to mark Stephen's 21st birthday. I'd like to offer them our very best wishes on what is bound to be a difficult day.
  • One of Gordon Brown's big selling points as PM was that he wasn't the other bloke.

But following recent fiascos, there are clearly some who are looking back a few months with a degree of fondness.

When Mr Blair was economical with the truth, boy, did he do it with style.

Mr Brown may not want to take any lessons from David Cameron, but a few tips on chutzpah might not go amiss.