Much as I try to avoid making political statements, I can't resist a comment on Nick Clegg's plans to ask the public to write in to tell him what laws they want ripped up. To remind you of the position we find ourselves in, during their first 9 years in office the Labour government passed over 3,000 new criminal offences. At the time (2006) the Independent called it 'Blair's frenzied lawmaking'. A year later the total was above 3,500 and even the Lord Chief Justice was asking for sanity to be restored.

Now we have that chance: a coalition committed to getting rid of some of the dead weight that hangs over all of us. Take the opportunity; write to Nick Clegg, make sure he has all the encouragement and support to do what's needed whilst the iron is hot so to speak. I shall be writing. My subject is charities. I can think of 3 areas where some quick gains can be made: Let's get rid of CIOs, which we never had anyway. Once the new Companies Act was in place they weren't needed, but could the government ever see that! Let's get rid of Substantial Donor Legislation, formed to deal with terrorists, but as usual the innocent law abiding charities get tied up in knots and those that aren't so law abiding carry on with their money laundering.  I think H & S laws need a savage cull; let the jobsworths and killjoys go and find something productive to do instead of robbing us and our children of so much pleasure.  This is only the beginning of what can be achieved.

I'm starting to rant. Please write to Nick Clegg. I'm going to have a lie down somewhere quiet.