Blogs - East Anglian Daily Times

Author

I’m Paul Geater, the Evening Star’s political writer – and I’m not short of opinions of my own on political events here in Suffolk and in the wider world.

I’m also interested in sport (football, cricket and motor-racing), wildlife, heritage, and transport issues (the steamier the better when it comes to trains). My musical tastes have to be heard to be believed!

Suffolk born and bred, visit this blog to keep up with my thoughts on life – and follow me on Twitter @geates.

Archives

Attacks on Ipswich betray dark fears in tolerant town

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 6 comments

WHEN I wrote my defence of my hometown in The Evening Star today I had expected some reader reaction - but I must confess I've been surprised at some of the criticism that has been levied. Some of the writers have raised valid points which are perfectly...

Ipswich cannot compete with Norwich - it needs a different approach

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 0 comments

I'VE just returned home from a shopping trip up the road to Norwich. We know the city well - I was a student there many years ago - and we like the place very much and know where the great independent shops are. St Benedict's Street is slightly...

A lament for the Sunday papers

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 0 comments

I love lazy Sundays like this - and one of the joys used to be the Sunday papers. One heavy and one a scandal-sheet (usually NotW). I said I bought it for the sport, but there was usually some other interesting titbits as well. We all know what caused...

Politicians need to get real

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 0 comments

I'VE just heard part of Ed Miliband's speech to the Labour conference and I'm not much more impressed by him than I was a year ago - he doesn't have the charisma he needs to become Prime Minister. However my beef is really with all politicians...

Calm heads needed at Portman Road

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 0 comments

I'VE loved watching sport for as long as I can remember, well since the 1970 World Cup, and football has always been my first love. Over the years I became interested in cricket and motor-racing as well - and when the Olympics come along I'll...

Thank you and farewell Harry Potter - until I watch you again!

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 0 comments

WE'VE just seen the last film of the Harry Potter saga - Deathly Hallows part two - and it is a superb finale to what has been a splendid series of films, tying up a whole host of threads that have been left fraying since the end of Goblet of Fire...

Think before you break up News International

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 0 comments

IT IS quite understandable in the wake of the hacking scandal and further revelations about the relationship between News International, the government, and the police that there should be calls for media giant to be broken up. The reports coming out...

Why the library campaigners won't go away

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 0 comments

THE county council insists that all libraries are safe but these protestations don't seem to have cut much ice with library campaigners who are trying to keep up the pressure. The issue dominated Thursday's meeting of the full council - kept it...

Is it really the end for the News of the World?

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 0 comments

I HAVE a guilty secret. Every Sunday I read the News of the World. I tell myself it's for the great sport coverage, particularly transfer gossip, but if I'm honest it's also to keep up with the latest scandals. Over the last few days, though...

Glastonbury a triumph for the BBC - whatever the tabloids say!

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 0 comments

I'M sure the BBC don't need me to defend them, but after some of the bilge I've seen in some national tabloids over the last few days (you know who you are) I'm afraid I could not shut up for any longer after some of the ludicrous attacks...

The European dream is fading

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 0 comments

I'VE been interested in politics since I was a teenager - and the first issue to really grab my attention was the European referendum in 1975. I was a couple of years too young to vote, but followed all the arguments and I was sure what the right...

Major challenge for Ipswich Town boss Paul Jewell

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 2 comments

IPSWICH Town manager Paul Jewell probably already has a number of targets set down by club owner Marcus Evans - but I have a new one for him today. Get me into Portman Road to watch a Town match for the first time since Roy Keane's first home match...

Television Olympics again

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 0 comments

I MUST confess to being more than a tad disappointed to miss out on the Olympic tickets I bid for - but then I'm in good company. Only two people I know of have got tickets and I know of far more than six who applied so Lord Coe's one third of...

General strike talk does unions no favours

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 0 comments

I HAVE considerable sympathy for public service trades unions who are fighting to protect their members' pension rights - but talk by UNISON general secretary Dave Prentiss of the biggest dispute since the General Strike is foolish and inflamatory...

Has the Daily Mail gone completely bonkers?

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 0 comments

I'VE never written anything slagging off another publication before - but there's a first time for everything, so here goes! Having read the Daily Mail's diatribe against the government decision to abandon plans to force councils to revert...

What's wrong with Hollywood blockbusters?

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 0 comments

I'VE just returned home from watching the latest Hollywood blockbuster, X-Men First Class at Cineworld - and I have to recommend it as a great way to spend a wet Sunday afternoon. I'm a blockbuster fan - and I've seen most of them over the...

Why Greatest Hits aren't all that great

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 0 comments

OKAY HMV (or rather Swansong Records) you almost got me this morning. There I was browsing the bargain racks and came across the 2007 double CD Mothership by Led Zep. For those of you who don't know this was the "greatest hits" album they...

Station expansion makes sense

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 0 comments

As well as my blog, my column from the Evening Star is also on line - this week looking at the future of the Ipswich railway station and the possibility of expannsion: MONEY is tight for Network Rail as well as everyone else at present, so I am not expecting...

Why aren't Labour doing better?

Posted over 2 years ago by Paul Geater with 0 comments

THE government is presiding over an economy that is stuttering. The "third party" is in coalition with them and is about as popular as the bubonic plague, but yet Labour has not been able to make hay while the sun shines - and in recent opinion...

Welcome...

Posted over 2 years ago by Ben Brett with 0 comments

I’m Paul Geater, the Evening Star’s political writer – and I’m not short of opinions of my own on political events here in Suffolk and in the wider world. I’m also interested in sport (football, cricket and motor-racing...

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