Sir Menzies Campbell presses all the right buttons

Today Ming Campbell will "relaunch" his leadership of the Liberal Democrats. He outlines his vision in today's Independent - see here - and I find myself wholeheartedly agreeing with just about every aspect of it, especially on the policies of taxation, the environment and decentralisation of government.

It's this latter point that really strikes a chord because it's blatantly obvious that Labour's increasingly authoritarian air has coincided with increased centralisation in an attempt to wield more power. If I wanted to do something about an issue in Shrub End, some quango in London isn't going to help, but a stronger borough council might.

Perhaps if Colchester had the power it could do something about the hypocrisy of reycled logos on type-5 plastics which can't be recycled in this country. It's now three months or more since I wrote a letter (as in posted it as opposed to emailing it) to the government minister in charge of waste to ask him about this dichotomy. I never received a reply - in direct contrast a question on this issue to my councillor canvassing in the run up to the local elections resulted in a written reply within two weeks. I know who I identify with - and it ain't Tony Blair or his power-hungry cronies...

[Listening to: Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses]