News that RBS is still stuffing money in to the top pocket of Chief Executive Stephen Hester has angered people across Manchester today.

Tony said, ‘I am still meeting many small businesses in Manchester who can’t get loans at reasonable rates from RBS. David Cameron’s failure to deal with this is in stark contrast to his words and does once again bring forward calls for legal controls on top pay. People in Manchester will be dismayed that at a time when the economy is struggling bankers still have their snouts in the trough.’

At last the Ukrainian Christmas celebration – very lively.

The reception, held on 13 Decemeber 2011, raised awareness of meningitis and septicaemia. Dr Hilary Jones and Dr Nelly Ninnis from St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, were available to speak to guests.

You can read about this here.

Putin loses credibility but wins seats. The big loser – the Russian people. Even on these results it is a serious blow to Vladimir Putin and those who operate with him.

I saw a ballot box which had been left unsealed allowing votes to be added and removed without altering the total. Local observers had tried to get this fixed without success until International Observers – my Danish colleague and I insisted. The local official was very anxious we saw this as “just an oversight”.

Elsewhere a police officer tried to stop us entering a polling station and asked us to go to the police station to confirm our status. I refused and in this case the local polling official was helpful and we were able to observe. Another colleague was physically prevented from entering the place where local results were totalled to give the regional totals and where fraud is very possible. In the end by complaining loudly and to the higher authorities, he was allowed in.

All these give credibility to the widespread complaints of opposition politicians that fraud was widespread.

Tony is currently in Russia as an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly official observer.

Exhibition today on Turkey which we should work with on the EU and Middle East.

You can read the article by John Healey MP at Labour List.

A new home for Manchester’s Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Temple which I visited on Friday.

On Friday I also attended the celebratory ‘Oscars Evening’. The event showcased a intergenerational animation / filming project called ‘Animating Lives’ developed with young people living at the Manchester Foyer and older customers living at Dunston Court a Sheltered Scheme in Moston. Some great animation, Wallace and Gromit should worry.

Saturday: Viridor’s waste plant in Moston – a source of noise and unpleasant smell for locals.

Nephra Community Group’s Christmas Fayre New Moston – must be the first Xmas event anywhere but a lovely community.

Remembrance Sunday, Clayton.

Family Action and the St George’s Youth and Community Association celebrated the opening of the revamped St George’s Community Centre on 28th October. The centre has been refurbished and extended through a mix of Department for Education money through Partnership for Schools and Family Action funding from the Norma Leigh Trust.

The opening was a fantastic day with over a hundred local families and children taking part in a number of activities to re-launch the centre including face painting, arts and crafts, sports, pom-pom making and food and refreshments. Tony Lloyd MP, Sir Richard Leese, the Leader of Manchester City Council, as well as local ward councillors and other community organisations attended the event.

Mark Wheeler our Interim Director of Operations attended the St George’s opening. He said: “It was great to see St Georges so packed with local families and organisations. It is a fantastic centre and testament to the great work of Alison and Mel and our Manchester service. I’m sure the Centre will go from strength to strength.”