A huge, frightening, amount of money will be spent and a very very complicated system will be used to decide who the final two challengers will be. The Democratic race seems a 2 horse one too many but there is always the dark horse and the Republican race seem fairly open at present and as a result may actually be a more interesting process to watch form here.

I have friends in the States who have always voted the same way, a fair number, but who now really are not sure. It all depends on who the 2 eventually are. A clear indication of how the US system does still differ from ours. I cannot deny that many of us will vote in an election (especially a General Election) for the person they want (such as David Cameron) but generally people tend to vote for a Party here. In the US it is far more personality based, at most levels in fact.

I will give my thoughts and views as the races develop Comments from you on your thoughts as matte ogress are welcome and it all starts tonight in the US with the big one of the early deciders in New Hampshire.

For BBC coverage of US Elections click here.

Work for Benefits:

I also note that Gordon Brown and Labour, who have overseen the lost data, ID cards fiasco and cost, the crash of northern Rock money and shares and a loss of nerve over a General Election now claims that he will do more for those out of work and he will do more to ensure those can work and should work, do work. Yet he likes to try and criticise ours. David Cameron has outlined a progressive policy to develop a better way forward; this will release more money in our economy for individuals and help the simplification of taxes eventually. It will also ensure that those who need help and support get it quicker. More details are on www.bbc.co.uk.

I fully support these fair and strong proposals, they will help many get their dignity back and everyone also get the help they need. Getting to work at any level is a step on the economic and social ladder for many. Whether it is a step towards a first car, a first home, supporting oneself or one’s family, it is an important step. We should do all we can to help people get onto the ladder and to ensure that ladder gives us more choice and dignity over what we can do with and in our own lives. An economy based on and overly reliant on government welfare support is never going to grow as large as one with a free and low tax economy with people having the chance to improve their own lives and that of their families.

I have spoken to a large number of teachers over the years who have continually said that we test too often, too young and don’t leave teachers enough time to teach.

There is, as in so much of our public services, so much paperwork and red tape that it prevents the professionals spending the time they would like actually delivering the front line service they are trained to.

It appears that the man who supposedly was part of the on/off election is behind the update. So did Labour fail since 1997 and do they accept that? Will they get it right this time? Is there nay evidence from the past to let us think they will succeed?

If millions are being spent on new playgrounds and other facilities that would on the surface seem a good thing. I only hope that the money really does go into the schools and facilities and that many thousands or millions do not get wasted through paperwork and management costs, as so often seems to happen.

Brandon Lewis, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Great Yarmouth, has this week offered advice to Great Yarmouth residents who fear they may be at risk following the loss of Child Benefit data by HM Revenue & Customs.

Brandon said:

“As a result of the Government’s catastrophic mistake - the names, the addresses and the dates of birth of every child in the country are sitting on two computers discs that are lost in the post. The bank account details and national insurance numbers of 10 million parents, guardians and carers have gone missing.

“Local people here in Yarmouth are quite rightly worried by the scale of this data loss and the ensuing risk of bank fraud and identity theft.

“I hope that the following information may be of use to local people and help to ease some of their concerns.”

Questions & Answers

Where can I go for more advice?

The HMRC has set up a Child Benefit helpline: 0845 302 1444

Should I close my account or change my security details?

No. There is no reason to close your account. There is no evidence of an increase in suspicious activity on any customer account involved since the data was mislaid. The details lost are not in themselves sufficient for an ID fraudster to access your bank account - additional security information and passwords are always required.

HMRC is advising customers that if they use any personal data, like child’s name or date of birth in their password, they may wish to consider changing their password.

What do I need to do to protect my account and prevent my details being used by a fraudster?

As always, you should be vigilant and follow existing security advice to help you spot and stop ID fraud being committed using your details. This includes always checking your statements, opening post and checking bills, and if you spot an unfamiliar transaction you should contact your bank, building society or service provider immediately.

If you are the innocent victim of banking fraud as a result of this incident, as a UK customer, you are protected by The Banking Code, which means you should not suffer any financial loss as a consequence. 

What details of mine have been lost?

The HMRC has confirmed that the missing data contained sort code and bank account details, national insurance numbers, dates of birth, names and address details of all families in receipt of child benefit, as well as the names and dates of birth of those children for whom child benefit is payable. These details are not enough in themselves for an ID fraudster to access your bank account - additional security information and passwords are always required. No other details – for example passwords or card details - were contained within the missing data.

Do I need to contact my bank or building society?

No, not unless you spot a transaction on your bank account that you didn’t authorise.

What happens if I am a victim?

If you are the innocent victim of banking fraud as a result of this incident, as a UK customer, you are protected by The Banking Code, which means you should not suffer any financial loss as a consequence. 

What can an ID fraudster do with this data?

No password, security details or card details have been compromised, so a fraudster cannot access your bank, building society or card account. However, HMRC is advising customers that if they use any personal data, like child’s name or date of birth in their password, they may wish to consider changing their password.

If this data were in the hands of a fraudster – and at present there is no evidence that it is – this type of information might help them to commit account takeover fraud, although additional information would be needed. There is also a risk of a fraudster using those details to set up other credit or financial agreements, e.g. mobile phone accounts.

If I notice something unusual – if an account has been opened with a bank or business with whom I have no relationship - do I contact them or do I contact the police?

Contact the bank or business concerned and contact the police.   

Top Tips

Customers can help protect their bank account and prevent their ID being stolen by taking the following steps: 

Check bank statements, and check receipts against your statements regularly and thoroughly. If you find an unfamiliar transaction, contact your bank immediately.

Some warning signs of ID theft and fraud:

• Your regular bank or credit card statements fail to appear.
• You notice that some of your mail is missing.
• You receive a bill or statement for a service or items you have not authorised, purchased or ordered.
• A debt collection agency contacts you about goods you have not ordered or an account you have never opened.
• You receive a telephone call or letter saying you have been approved or denied credit for accounts you know nothing about.

What to do if you have been a victim of ID fraud:

·         Contact your bank or the financial organisation concerned and keep a record of all communication.

·         Contact CIFAS on 0870 010 2091.  They can earmark your name and address with 'Protective Registration' so that anyone applying for credit in your name will automatically be double-checked, such as by requests for further proof of identification.

·         Check with the credit reference agencies detailed below.  If applications           for credit have been made in your name you can ask to have any incorrect information removed:

Experian:  0870 241 6212 (www.experian.co.uk)

Equifax:  0870 010 0583  (www.equifax.co.uk)

Call Credit:  0870 060 1414 (www.callcredit.co.uk)

I was on a panel reviewing the issues of the day with mark Flanagan. It was good fun and interesting to be debate in such a direct way. It was a good opportunity (if you watch the archive you can see) to highlight some of the issue sin Great Yarmouth and some of the good work being done here in Great Yarmouth too.

This primarily was around recycling. In 2000 when the Council was taken over by the Conservatives recycling rates were almost 0% and now they are up around 255, last time I checked. Which is a great step forward. Now the government is talking about charging for our bin use. I believe that we pay council tax to have our local authority do a range of things, many residents say to me that they like the regeneration (inc Outer Harbour) that the Council has enabled and all of the extra work they do and yet the 2 core expectations of our Council Tax are clean streets and our rubbish to be collected. So if the government now wants to tax us for our rubbish in yet another stealth tax, we start to wonder what Council tax is for! If we want more recycling we should encourage and educate our residents to do more, not penalize via more tax!!! This in itself could just lead to more fly tipping as well.

Who knows we have had indecision on a general election, on the euro treaty, on the funding for schools (payment shave to be given back and then they don’t) and now this. Last week the PM stopped this and now the bin tax is trying to be launched via the back door of a different Bill. It is still a stealth tax on rubbish and that simply is not the answer to increasing recycling.