Dale Go Up !

Well Rochdale finally got promoted today , 28 years after I first started supporting them and 36 since they dropped out of the old Third Division. I suspect tomorrow will see my midlife crisis begin having waited so long for this but for now I'm enjoying the moment.

Rowan Williams / Chris Grayling

Two issues to comment on this weekend. Rowan Williams says Catholic priests in Ireland have no credibility. What's that to do with him ? This is similar to his idiotic statements about sharia law. Are there no problems within the C of E requiring his attention that he has to treat us to his thoughts about other faiths ?

Chris Grayling the shadow Home Secretary has said B & B owners should be allowed to refuse gay couples. Predictably Tatchell , Bradshaw et al have been out in force on this one. I'm with him part of the way. If these establishments receive free publicity in tourist brochures or bookings through information centres funded by the taxpayer then it is iniquitous to shut out people who've helped support them. If they don't receive help in that way then yes they should be allowed their liberty to choose who enters their house. Of course the discreet majority of gays could use the facilities anyway ; gay rights is only about giving the likes of Tatchell free rein to flaunt his peculiarities in your face.

I have considerable humps to get over before supporting the Conservatives, a visceral loathing for Margaret Thatcher and all she stood for and Cameron's general sliminess but if they're going to take on political correctness I might have to reconsider.