Poor old Phillip Bennion. As he took up his seat in the European Parliament, the interpreter got a little confused and told the Strasbourg Parliament to welcome Mr Bunion.

Read more http://www.birminghampost.net/comment/birmingham-columnists/more-columnists/2012/02/17/jonathan-walker-the-meps-who-have-never-won-an-election-65233-30344463/

THERE are fewer than 80 days to go before Birmingham makes the big decision – whether or not to switch to a new system of local government by creating a directly-elected mayor to run the city.

Read more http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2012/02/15/birmingham-s-big-decision-lacks-choice-97319-30335557/

Liverpool is racing ahead with its plan to introduce a powerful city mayor.

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LIBERAL Democrat MP John Hemming (Yardley) has said in the past that he might be interested in standing for the post of mayor of Birmingham.

Read more http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2012/02/07/mp-john-hemming-still-in-race-to-be-mayor-of-birmingham-97319-30284148/

While the Conservative and Labour front benches argue about capping benefits, Labour backbenchers are proving they can be just as tough as any Tory.

Read more http://www.birminghampost.net/comment/birmingham-columnists/more-columnists/2012/02/03/jonathan-walker-whisper-it-but-labour-is-tougher-on-benefits-65233-30253790/

EUROPE is an issue that just won’t go away for David Cameron as MPs step up demands for a referendum on whether to leave the EU.

Read more http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2012/02/01/euro-vote-with-people-s-pledge-97319-30243756/

Conservative MPs queued up during Prime Minister’s Questions to proclaim their support for a cap on benefits.

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LABOUR’S Liam Byrne has perhaps the toughest job in politics at the moment, as he struggles to come up with a response to the Coalition’s plans to cap benefits.

Read more http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-blogs-views/birmingham-mail-columnists/jon-walker/2012/01/25/tough-workout-on-benefits-cap-97319-30197365/

Conservative and Lib Dem activists are having a great deal of fun on Twitter and various websites with a campaign to save Ed Miliband.

Read more http://www.birminghampost.net/comment/birmingham-columnists/more-columnists/2012/01/20/jonathan-walker-ed-miliband-s-leadership-credentials-put-to-the-test-65233-30158214/