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This is where you can find my thoughts on what our politicians are up to in the West of England
15:25 UK time, Thursday, 26 April 2012
Paul added analysis to:
She's been in charge through some troubled times - even within her own party.
Barbara Janke is proud of her record leading the Liberal Democrats, increasing their councillors, and winning the party overall control of the city.
14:10 UK time, Thursday, 26 April 2012
Paul added analysis to:
The last time there was an election for all the seats on Swindon Borough Council, the ruling party lost control. That was in 2000, and it was Labour who took a battering as the Conservatives made enormous gains.
This time it's the other way round - and the Tories hope history doesn't repeat itself. They've presently got a comfortable majority, but boundary changes, and reducing the number of councillors by two to 57, forces them into an all-out election at a difficult time.
11:08 UK time, Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Paul added analysis to:
"A disaster in the making" was how one senior Conservative described it. He and his cabinet colleagues may lose their positions (and their pay); they're so angry they could just walk away from power, leaving Labour and the Lib Dems to grasp the nettle.
Rule by cabinets is pretty modern: councils were pushed towards it by the last government, which regarded the committee system as slow and ineffective.
15:03 UK time, Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Paul added analysis to:
They had faced months of pressure and protests, but North Somerset councillors did not shy away from making yet another round of painful cuts.
The council's ruling Conservatives have complained repeatedly that they get a raw deal from government funding, while reminding residents that council tax level is lower than many of their neighbours.
19:36 UK time, Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Paul added analysis to:
His £183,000 salary had faced criticism from the start. There was more controversy in May 2011 when it emerged he was due to get a £6,000 increase.
After initially defending it, Andrew Kerr yielded to pressure and cancelled his rise, accepting it looked bad when other staff were losing their jobs.
13:15 UK time, Friday, 17 June 2011
Could the government be about to perform another U-turn, this time over controversial plans to cull badgers?
An intriguing insight into the difficulties facing a minister who's long called for culling was provided in this revealing interview by my Politics Show colleague Martyn Oates.
09:11 UK time, Sunday, 5 June 2011
In the rural West country, residents have long complained that their way of life is under threat. And it seems changing the politicians in charge makes little difference.
Three years ago I visited the village of Kingsdon in South Somerset to report on one village's struggle against closures.
09:48 UK time, Thursday, 19 May 2011
Welcome to my new page on the BBC News website.
Here, in one place, you'll be able to find all my latest updates on politics in the West of England - plus analysis and a selection of my TV reports.
Paul began working for the BBC in 1992 and has specialised in politics since 1999.
Election are always highlights in his working life - "it's the day of reckoning when politicians can get their come-uppance from the public".
"Last year's General Election was amazing, both for the rollercoaster of a ride we went on with the opinion polls, and for the result which has propelled us into new and intriguingly uncharted political waters".
He has lived in Bristol since 1989.
Martyn Oates
Political editor, South West
A take on South West politics from Portland to Penzance
Patrick Burns
Political editor, Midlands
Analysis and thoughts on politics in the Midlands
Andrew Neil
Daily and Sunday Politics
People and policies that make Westminster tick
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