Brown's biggest gamble

As world leaders meet in London this weekend our PM will be facing what I consider to be the biggest political challenge of his long career. Firstly he must reconcile the differing interests of France & Germany as well as ensure that Obama remains in confident support of Brown, as he appears to be at the moment. Secondly he must ensure that the outcome of the summit is tangible and of immidiate value.

Whilst getting them to London is an achievement in itself, nothing less than the fate of his government hangs on the outcome. Only big changes to the international financial system, which are explainable to the economic illiterate majority will bring him any measure of victory anything less be viewed as a failure. Success would give Brown the chance to reshuffle his cabinet with a view to a possible Autumn election, failure and we may as well all give up now.

Photos of the ol'country

These three sites offer brilliant photos and titbits on my favourite places in France.

1 - Avignon In Photos

2 - Paris by Pete

3 - Paris Daily Photo

So thanks to Pete, Eric & Nathalie for making my day a little less grim.

Any more suggestions welcome

Home News & the International Story of the Day

On the Oscott front our esteemed local Councilllor Keith Linnecor has launched a campaign to save local shops, I wish him all the best it would be a real shame to see our part of Birmingham become a wasteland like some parts of South Birmingham where all the little independent shops closed a long time ago. One of my greatest complaints about the UK is the dire state of independent retail, we must value our little shops as they are what give our towns and cities their character.

Away from Home (in France to be precise) comes the news that Ségolène Royal will run for the leadership of the Socialist Party. For those not well versed in the ways of French politics the story so far runs a little like this. Ms Royal's former partner and father of her children, Francois Hollande is the current leader of the Socialists he is standing down, Ms Royal stood as the Presidential candidate and lost to Sarkozy, she blamed those inside her own party for not supporting her, M. Hollande wanted the gay mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoë to be the next leader, it was speculated that rather than stand herself Royal would support a weak third-party candidate, but now it appears she wants to do a Sarkozy and have the party to herself. (Thanks to French Politics for most of the info)