There's a loss of faith in the banking system that for so long has been the backbone of prosperity and growth.

Some argue that now isn't the time to push the green agenda - that all efforts should be on preventing a serious recession. That is a false choice. It fails to recognise that climate change and our carbon reliance is part of problem - high fuel prices and food shortages due to poor crop yields compound today's financial difficulties.

As the prospect of a Tory government gets nearer, many traditional Labour voters - some who switched away in recent times and many who stayed at home - seem more determined to prevent that happening.

Indeed, when all parties campaign effectively the overall effect is to push up voting rates, as you see in tight marginal seats or close general elections. That must be good for democracy.

You're wrong if you think young people don't deserve the vote.

Connecting people to jobs and to each other is absolutely vital to a city's economy (and to the wider economy).

The cost of motoring is a massive issue at the moment, there's no question. The price of petrol goes up every time you go to the petrol station.