I'm not making a party political point at all. There are good people in all the main parties, but out of 650 MPs there are all too few who can genuinely call themselves 'conviction' politicians.

There are far too many clone MPs happy to nod to the party whips as they go to vote, unclear sometimes even of the implications of what they're voting upon.

Miss Widdecombe, who retires soon will be a great loss to the House of Commons. She is one who doesn't let party whips dictate her convictions. Love her of loath her, it can't be denied you know what she stands for.

Compare Ann to the likes of some of New Labour's top brass – particularly Peter Hain. The only reason he could be called a conviction politician is because he's facing a police investigation!

I was pleased last week when he resigned; I always detested his smugness. Our Nigel of course has to shadow him as shadow Pensions Minister – I'm sure he will shed no tears at not having to see him over the despatch box any longer.

Post Office

I take no pleasure in seeing the first of my 2008 predictions come true. Willingdon Post Office is set to close.

This is outrageous. As a kid that was my local sweet shop (well, one of them…), and it's part of the history of the whole area.

Nigel Waterson has described the closure as an act of 'social vandalism'. He's right.

The owners have promised to keep up the fight – I wish them well, but unfortunately they're dealing with a government who don't make a priority of building community feeling, rather destroying it as part of their centralising agenda.

IPOD

I currently spend about 3 hours a day on the train – so I've become an ipod addict. I recently put on there Andrea Bochelli's 'Vivere' album – it's quite superb, I highly recommend it.

Have a good week!

Ian Lucas writes his own blog at www.iloveeastbourne.co.uk