Temperama

Brown's First Hundred: Day 3

The enormity of the discovery of the first of the two failed car bombs sunk in slowly through morning. As the minutes ticked by and new details emerged I found myself adjusting the start of my piece for CiF today (see below). Once it was filed, concentration was difficult. The TV and radio gripped me as tightly as they had yesterday when the cabinet was announced but, of course, far more chillingly. In fairness to Jacqui Smith, landed with a potentially catastrophic terror attack on her first full day in her new job, she cut a calm, confident figure speaking outside Number 10 with the newly appointed and rather daunting figure of Admiral Sir Alan West at her shoulder. It was easy to see why West, a Falklands veteran, was asked to be present. But as the BBC's reporter observed it was interesting that Smith, rather than Brown, emerged to address the cameras. Would Blair have stayed indoors in the same circumstances? Whatever the thinking behind that, it showed that Smith wasn't going to hide or be hidden, which was important I suppose. It's a big job, running a country. Sometimes I really admire politicians.

On Comment Is Free: Gordon The Brave?

I'd like to think so.

A Flooded Nation

A Doncaster salvage yard scene sent to the BBC by Paul Thresh. Here in London the weather has been merely changeable. Elsewhere it's gone insane.

A Fearful Nation

The back of bus driver's cab, Glasgow.

Say no more.

Marriage Isn't Working

Bad news for pro-marriage campaigners:

"The number of marriages in England and Wales has slumped to the lowest level on record, it was announced today. The 10% cent fall reversed three years in which an increased number of people had tied the knot. Provisional figures from the Office for National Statistics showed there just were just 244,710 weddings in 2005. In London the decrease was even more marked, with marriages falling by 35%. The figures follow changes in the law by the Home Office in February 2005 to make it more difficult for non-Europeans to win the right to stay in Britain by marrying. The ONS said it was unclear how the new rules had affected marriage figures. However, with regard to the sharp decline in the capital, its report said: 'Clearly the effect of the change in the law is one possible factor.' The long-term trend in marriage has been falling since 1973, the ONS said."

But my favourite finding is this:

"Separate ONS figures showed there were 18,000 civil partnerships between gay couples between their introduction December 2005 and December last year...The ONS said 10% of men and 24% of women entering a civil partnership had previously been married."

Seems the British may be even gayer than they thought.

Barra Airport-By-The-Sea

Having gone to Berneray the slow way I headed back to Glasgow the swift way. This meant catching a Twin Otter from Benbecula to neighbouring Barra, whose airport is almost literally a shed on a stretch of sandy beach.

Beautiful, isn't it? And landing there was quite a slice...

Then came the security strip search (not really).

Beverley Hughes

Children's minister Beverley Hughes was not promoted to the cabinet yesterday. Good news. More good news would be her removal from her present post when the remaining ministerial appointments are announced later today. Here's why.

On Berneray

The evening view from Silversprite's window...

...and a view of the blanched sands and sapphire sea.

Luverly.

Mika Brzezinski: An American Hero

Ms Brzezinski is an MSNBC newscaster who has refused to read out the "story" about Paris Hilton leaving jail in protest at it being made the morning lead.

My conclusions from watching this? One, Ms B stayed a lot cooler than I would have and, two, the show's presenter Joe Scarborough is a turd.

Brown's First Hundred: Day 2

The new cabinet is refreshing for its changed faces - I'll miss the gutless Doc Red Top and the haughty Margaret Beckett like a pair of verucas - and interesting for the signals it strives to send: young, brainy, as doctrinally eclectic as "New" Labour gets and ready to recant about Iraq. I'm very pleased to see John Denham get a job, though I'd have sooner seen him in the Home Office than at, er, Innovation, Universities and Skills. But that brings me to Jacqui Smith. Once we get past the novelty of her being female and fairly unknown we find a firm fan of ID cards who is convinced they will help fight terrorism and a big supporter of the war and replacing Trident. No change there, I think. Then there's loveable Jack Straw at Justice who I've just seen on Newsnight telling us how he'll be defining the citizen's relationship with the state. Shudder. And at Communities? Happy Hazel, the Blair cheerleader. Oh dear. I'm still trying to be optimistic, but I may need a lot help.