When I wrote three weeks ago about the problems the government was facing, things appeared to be pretty difficult. There was the hope, to use a well know phrase, that “things can only get better.” But as of now that has not been the case. Things, in fact, have gotten worse.

Labour supporters are however eternal optimists. On the positive side we didn’t lose any seats in the Walsall council elections. But it would be an act of self-delusion to see things bottoming out. Yet having been in politics for forty years I have seen the highs and lows before. So to those hopeful replacements my advice would be don’t give up the day job. There will be many who will read this who will hope for a revival of the public bickering by senior party members which helped to destroy credibility of the Conservatives in the mid-1990s. People should learn the lessons.

Politics is about making tough decisions. Governments do no one any favours by shirking them. Indeed it usually makes it worse in the long run; eventually that delayed decision will have to be made.

I was invited, but not able to attend, a meeting on the future of the site of the former Three Crowns School, which has stood empty for three years. Property developers have cast their eyes on this green belt site. Had I attended (there was a big vote in Parliament preventing me ) I would have informed those there that the site is within the green belt and is therefore protected; secondly I have seen a document which guarantees it will not be built on.

Thirdly there is a strong organisation set up to oppose any further building on the green belt. Finally I know of a local Christian school who are considering bidding to occupy the disused school. I earnestly hope that Councillors will throw out the proposed plan by the property developers. In the meantime I have written to the Department for Children, Schools and Family who have a role in this process urging them to turn down the application when it is submitted.

As a Welshman people expect me to be a good singer. Wrong! But I love choral singing and I give great support to the Shelfield Male Voice Choir. They perform every year in Walsall Town Hall and I was delighted to be there last week. I go every year, but this year was extra special. The Choir was brilliant as usual, but this year accompanying them was not a brass band or another choir but a pop group that I vividly recall from my younger days. The audience is always dominated by the middle aged or those in retirement. This was the exact audience to remember the Tremeloes from their late teens/early twenties. The audience were waving their arms, many standing up, sticks thrown away and enthusiastically joining in the wonderful choruses of such memorable songs as Silence is Golden and Even the Bad Times are Good. What a wonderful evening. Next year perhaps they will invite some other pop heroes from the mid-60s.

I’m off for a few days next week to Georgia, not the Georgia with its capital Atlanta, but Tbilisi in the South Caucasus. I shall be observing the forthcoming parliamentary elections. I am resolutely committed to helping to build capacity in democratising legislatures and in promoting democratic institutions. I headed the election observation by the international community four years ago which played a major role in exposing corrupt elections. Rumours have been circulating that there was a bit of ballot rigging in our own local elections last week and I suspect, indeed I hope, if evidence is provided there will be a full inquiry.