Does what it says on the tin - Hodge Hill by-election.

Well there you go. My colleague Terry Davis is retiring to take up a job with the court of justice in Strasbourg. He was a good MP. Knew his own mind and spoke as he found. He'll have to step down from his constituency of Birmingham Hodge Hill causing a by-election. Please make it a quick one! One of my roles is on the Labour Party campaign team. That means helping out in the by-election. That means a lot, and I mean a lot, of work. If it's in the Autumn that means a summer of activity. If people move quickly (and they should) it will be in July. Historically by-elections are not fought in the months of August and September. That's a lot of casework not being done if there is no MP in place for three months. We should just get on with it.

Its been ages since I worked in a by-election. Over the years I've done dozens. Wirral South, Dudley, Tamworth, Hamilton South, Fulham, Islwyn, West Brom West, Falkirk you name it, I've delivered leaflets there.

Tom Findlay launches online parliamentarian. Impressive, very impressive.

Lib dem watch always brings a little ray of joy to my life. Sad, I know, but it does. I just love the idea of the Leader of the Liberal democrats in the second largest City in the country getting so riled that he has to email the editors of the site. If only Simon Hughes would do the same!

Then there's this bit about him not drawing a salary. He's a millionaire so I guess he can afford to make the gesture but where does the money go? He says he gives it to charity and to fund office expenses. What charities and how much does he give? What expenses and what are they for? I think that the people of Birmingham deserve to know. The comments box is open if he would like to share it on this site...

Er...not a lot to add really.

A number of people have recently contacted me about parliamentary by-elections. After the sad and tragic death of my friend and colleague Jim Marshall, there will be a by-election in Leicester South. We used to share the same room in the library and exchange hushed whispers whilst waiting for the early evening vote. I shall miss him.

Anyway, I thought that you might be interested in links to by-election sites in the uk.

UK By-elections
House of Commons library information
For real election statoes, check out Adam Carr, the most comprehensive site for election results I have ever seen.

If you know of any more by-election sites, please let me know.

If ever you have tried and get into the west wing of the Whitehouse or Congress you know that it can take an eternity. Lots of id checking, searching and scanning. You can't get a car within half a mile of the west wing. So what do you think the government should do with the House of Commons? This report from the Observer talks about a ring of steel. What are your views on the matter?

This story is intriguing. How on earth can such a serious criminal have been let out so early?

Bloggerheads is creating mayhem. Sarah Teather is my MP. She isn't but you know what I mean.

The Liberal Democrats have just signed up to a back room deal with the Tories to carve up Birmingham City council. 190,000 odd people voted for the Liberal Democrats a week and a half ago.They came third in the total number of council seats won. I would say that for at least two thirds of the people who voted lib dem, the prospect of a Tory administration is their worst nightmare come true. Already, lib dem John Hemming is talking about recruitment freezes. He's going to be deputy leader. There'll be hell on when the word gets out.

Oh, and his party have just launched a web site for Birmingham Hodge Hill where they don't even know the spelling of the neighbourhoods! "Boardsley Green" for example. I hope that they don't take the education portfolio.