New Conservative Future Branch For Birmingham

Birmingham is well known in Conservative circles for the activities of the branch based out of Birmingham University which has over a 100 members. However, there has been a gap in the market for an organisation serving all young Conservatives in the city and especially those who don't go to Birmingham University. For example, my home association has several members from Aston University. Well this weakness is being rectified with the creation of a new Conservative Future for Birmingham. Conservative members from the city (including the university) can claim automatic membership or you can join up by coming along to one of the regular events the organisation has planned.

Three of the four founding members were council candidates in May. Best of luck to Amil, Gareth, Gary and Louise with making a success of this welcome initiative. For more, go to their website or mail the Committee at birminghamcf@gmail.com.

Tax Simplification Idea

Now that the Office for Tax Simplification has been set up, I suppose they will be looking for ideas. Mine would be to abolish all property taxes (council tax, stamp duty, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, business rates and telly tax) and replace with land value taxation. Further reading on the case for land value tax, here.

Golden Boy

I didn't expect to be saying this, but my firstborn has bowled me over. Adam is, without doubt, the cutest baby. He's only 2 months, but has been smiling since he was 3 weeks old. Of course, he will smile back at you now, but he also smiles with his eyes - and melts your heart in the process.


He's also been able to hold his head up since a very young age and flatters you with his full attention by lifting his head and staring at you when he's lying down on his front.


He's a real water baby who loves being washed. Even at his baptism he didn't cry. This picture of Adam in the bath turned out beautifully.


I can happily spend hours watching Adam sleep. In between him mouthing something or other and waving his arms about, he looks like this.


Dads can sometimes feel useless, but I found my niche as a winding specialist. I would tap or rub his back to try to get trapped air to rise. Thing is Adam started to massage me back. That's what he is doing in this picture.


How cute is that? To cap off, he was looking pretty alert and aware of the camera in this photo which I have made my facebook profile for now.


My personal view is that the time of maximum cuteness has passed - we shall see.