In what should have been a quite week in politics, its hard to know where to start this week. At the risk of being predictable I cant help but start with "Gate Gate" or "pleb gate" as it was known. Andrew Mitchell, known un-affectionately within his party as Thrasher, allegedly called two police officers plebs. In what could have been a scene from TV satire The thick of it, were it not so unbelievabley insensative and arrogant, Mr Mitchell called the two PC's plebs and told the officers that they should know their place, that they did not run the country and that they had not heard the last of this. Ironic then that the story is still simmering on over a week later as certain members of all three parties have called for resignation.
To add insult to injury for the police force, amazingly this happened the day after the country was left shocked and disgusted at the cold blooded murder of two female officers.
The bullying deluded self importantance of the Tory whip not only highlighted how out of touch his party is, it proved once again just what terrible judgement Premier David Cameron has when he came out in support of Thrasher, saying that he believed his denial.

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Last weekend Liverpool football club played their first home game since the revelations about the Hillsborough disaster were made public. In a brilliant spectacle of support before the game Patrick Evra and Louis Suarez took part in the tributes and shook hands putting the racism row behind them and the importance of the day before their own squabbles. Fans around the country paid tribute to the 96 men, women and children who lost their lives and supporters inside Anfield held up mosaics with the words "justice" and "truth".  Sir Alex Ferguson called for respect from fans and asked the sick songs and chants that have blighted the game for years be stopped.The respect and behaviour of the United fans was impeccable.  Sadly, once again at the end of the game a few mindless thugs ran to the Manchester fans and made gestures about the Munich disaster.
Why, even in what should have been a day of remembering, a day of support and togetherness echoing the words of the adopted Anfield anthem- you'll never walk alone, do the minority have to bring shame and disgust to the game?.  It is that senseless minority that got English clubs banned from Europe in the 80's. It is that vile bunch that got Liverpool football club the reputation that doubtlessly contributed to the events and actions of the police and media at Hillsborough. Liverpool football club should ban these despicable people from the game. They should name them, shame them and ensure that the appalling aspect of the game is booted out for good.



Staying with football, John Terry was today banned for four games and fined £220,000 (less than two weeks wages) for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.
Terry who was previously cleared of the charges in a court of law, stood down from the England team on the eve of his court appearance. The fine and ban are ludicrously light when compared to the ban Suarez was handed at Liverpool or Joey Bartons 12 game ban for his playground tantrum in the final game of last season.
The FA needs to have a good long look at itself and decide what message they are trying to end out.
For me the whole incident should have been put to bed months ago. Two spoilt millionaire footballers winding each other up playing the game that has given them such privileged lives, could have shaken hands and put it away long ago. Obviously, racism is wholly unacceptable but this debacle of a court case and an FA investigation has done the game more harm than good. Both players should be banned for season and fined massively for bringing the game into disrepute and refs should lay down the law and send players off  when they hear any foul and abusive language . These idiots are role models to millions of kids and act as though they are Hollywood brats. Its time they and racism were kicked in to touch.


There is little duller in politics than Lib Dem part conference week, but these days the tree hugging, sandal wearing bearded hippies have been replaced by actual government ministers. Has this livened the conference up? No
A week of speeches that promise nothing and mean less are just a disguise for jostling for position in the race to replace doomed leader Nick Clegg. Vince Cable the clear favourite to be next party leader, must be rubbing his hands in delight as the highest ratings poll Clegg has managed in two years is in the  pop charts after his sincere apology to students was mocked and chopped into a charity single. To his credit, Mr Clegg did allow his words to be used as long as Sheffield charities benefited from the proceeds. At last the Sheffield MP and deputy PM has done something for his constituents.
Meanwhile leader of the opposition Ed Miliband has been invisible for a couple of weeks only raising his head above the pit to say that churches that want to marry same sex couples should be allowed to do so.

Talking of the church, I thought almost all religions taught love and tolerance. So why is it that gay men and women are still treated as outcasts by most faiths? Religion- like governments, like society has to learn to adapt to changes in culture and attitude or die out. If they are to maintain any credibility they need to address issues of today not live by opinions formed in the dark ages.
I'm not just talking about Christian or Catholic faiths. There are millions of Muslims living in this country and their arrival on this island means we now live in multi cultural, multi belief, multi religion society. They only way these different worlds can get along in such a small place( the world), is by learning to understand, respect and tolerate the views of other humans.
No where in any of the faith books does it say it is acceptable to molest children. Nowhere does it say it acceptable to treat people who are different as though they are insects.No where does it say that it is acceptable to kill and bomb and burn people who we do not share an opinion with. I am not a church goer but i do not need a book to tell me that these things are simply wrong. I don't need to pray or flaunt symbols and badges to force my beliefs on others to know the difference between good and bad.
If Muslims and Catholics and Christians want to be accepted and  wish to live beside each other  then the violent extremists that overshadow the peace loving respectful majority must be eradicated and shown that some behaviours should not be be tolerated.