Once again I had the delight of stepping in for Paul Linford as Saturday's Journal political commentator. To bring me crashing back down to Earth I put together a what really happens when ministers visit type piece.
For those who didn't read it, enjoy.

NICK Clegg has a curious talent for being able to pretend he recognises regional journalists.

Comments by Media Minister Ed Vaizey hinting at possibility of BBC bosses reconsidering cuts to local radio may well have taken on added weight tonight.

Earlier this week, Mr Vaizey was facing another MP worried about the impact of cuts following a previously well-attended debate.

He said: "As we know from the debate about local radio, which focused on the proposals in "Delivering Quality First", the BBC is looking to make savings of about 10% in local radio, if we take into account the cuts and the fact that the BBC wants to put more money back into programming.

"In that debate, I defended the BBC's approach in "Delivering Quality First", because I felt--and I still feel--that it has taken a strategic approach, and some of the changes that it proposes for local radio are based more on quality than cost cutting.

Update: The Government today announced successful bids to the second round of applications to the regional growth fund. It has been titled as a £950m boost to local economies and jobs.

Here's some of the spiel: "It will support 119 bids from businesses and local partnerships with projects to expand their operations, create new jobs and attract private investment. Discussions are ongoing with a further 10 bidders about their projects.

"Of the 201,000 jobs created or protected, around 37,000 will be directly created jobs, and more than 164,000 will be in the supply chain. The Government investment will support nearly £6 billion of private investment secured by the successful projects."

Of course, there was this row about companies actually getting the cash. Ministers have stressed that was down to a a due diligence process. Today, in its website, the Business Department said:

"The Government expects the money to start being passed on to the bidders in the spring."

Well it had to come to an end eventually didn't it? I have to admit a hint of cockiness in thinking that our long unbeaten run wouldn't end on Wednesday night against Blackburn. All good things must come to an end though.

Interesting comments from Martin Callanan, leader of Tory MEPs, on the furore around the European Union (EU) and Tory MPs demanding a referendum on Britain's membership.

"I have a lot of sympathy with Conservative MPs. At the end of the day, they are responding to massive demand in the country," Mr Callanan told me.

The North East MEP also said: "I have no problem with a referendum out of principle. I think they seem to have been established more and more in the British politic recently.

"I don't think we should leave the EU. But I would like to see a substantial renegotiation and repatriation of substantial powers to the UK."

Well this is getting silly, isn't it? To save myself some time, I could probably replicate my other blogs from the last 8 weeks. But I know you all love reading this bilge (I hear I have 5 regular readers now (thanks Mum, dad, brother, Colly, Dave and Twiz).

I had a wide-ranging interview with Ed Balls on Tuesday. Subjects ranged from the economy, youth unemployment to high-speed rail and David Miliband.

I also felt that the Shadow Chancellor feels that his message on the economy is now being heard and voters are listening to Labour.

For him, the key question is why the coalition is pressing ahead with cuts when economic growth had collapsed and the dole queue was getting longer.

"I don't think they live in the real world," said the Shadow Chancellor. "If you go back to the early 1980s, that recession, youth unemployment in the North East rose for four more years after the end of the recession. It didn't peak until June 1985."

And so it goes on. We are now unbeaten in 13 games. Yes, you read that correctly. It is 13 games since we tasted defeat at Anfield at the beginning on May. Who'd have thought it?

The Prime Minister's response to Liam Fox's resignation from the Cabinet today.

Dear Liam,

Thank you for your letter.

I understand your reasons for deciding to resign as Defence Secretary, although I am very sorry to see you go.

We have worked closely for these last six years, and you have been a key member of my team throughout that time.

You have done a superb job in the 17 months since the election, and as Shadow Defence Secretary before that.

You have overseen fundamental changes in the Ministry of Defence and in our Armed Forces, which will ensure that they are fully equipped to meet the challenges of the modern era.

On Libya, you played a key role in the campaign to stop people being massacred by the Gaddafi regime and instead win their freedom.

You can be proud of the difference you have made in your time in office, and in helping our party to return to Government.

I appreciate your commitment to the work of this Government, particularly highlighting the need to tackle the deficit, and the relationship between Britain's economic strength and our national security.

You and Jesme have always been good friends, and I have truly valued your support over the years. I will continue to do so in the future.

Yours ever,
David

From Wall Street to Westminster, protests have erupted. Are those taking part just the latest in a long line of whiners or are they the visible vanguard of a general demand for change? Political Editor WILLIAM GREEN investigates

THERE is a strong desire amongst all of us to deny that anything is happening. We are in denial about that and most of us would like to return to business as usual, but have a definite sense of foreboding that business as usual isn't on the cards."

That's the assessment of North East commentator Fred Robinson, who is based at St Chad's College, Durham University, when I asked him yesterday about whether he feels there is a feeling of "fin de siècle" in the air.

It's a question borne out of the economic crisis that has staggered on since the credit crunch, the fading trust in politicians in the wake of the expenses scandal and now journalists after the phone hacking controversy.

Across the Atlantic, a political row has raged over the Occupy Wall Street protest that has spread from New York to other American cities.

Protesters there say they are speaking out against corporate greed, unemployment and inequalities. Hundreds of people have been arrested.