The European micro-state of San Marino has appointed its first Honourary Consul to Wales. Federico Podeschi will be confirmed in the job at a ceremony in his homeland before travelling to Britain to take up his post. As a consul, he will be charged with promoting the interests of San Marino and helping his fellow countrymen if they run into trouble while visiting the Principality. But he is unlikely to be rushed off his feet. Officials estimate that among the 30,000 proud citizens of San Marino, only 300 live abroad, with just one family based in the UK -- and they live in Manchester, not Wales.
The European micro-state of San Marino has appointed its first Honourary Consul to Wales.
Federico Podeschi will be confirmed in the job at a ceremony in his homeland before travelling to Britain to take up his post.
As a consul, he will be charged with promoting the interests of San Marino and helping his fellow countrymen if they run into trouble while visiting the Principality.
But he is unlikely to be rushed off his feet. Officials estimate that among the 30,000 proud citizens of San Marino, only 300 live abroad, with just one family based in the UK -- and they live in Manchester, not Wales.
Ploughing through 38 books should provide an insight into the brain of the Tory partyThis summer I decided to do something stupid: read the 38 books on the list that the Tory leader, David Cameron, issued his MPs for the recess. I must have been suffering from a chemical imbalance. I read fast. Still, 38 books was a stretch. But a lot was at stake: a glimpse into the brain of Cameron's Conservative Party, or at least how he would like them to think. When I started I was worried. At the local elections I voted Conservative for the first time because a friend was standing as a candidate for Northumberland's new unitary authority. He did not win. I have learnt to live with the guilt, but I certainly do not want to vote Tory again. Would the Conservative reading list turn me into a Cameroonie? At the very least, would it make me want to send my sons to Eton? Given that it was the summer holidays, unless I was prepared for my three children to divorce me, I knew that I would have to cut corners. My first insight into the Conservative brain at work. Three of the books were not even "out". (Keen as mustard these Tories, recommending books that are not yet published.) Another issue was price. I decided against ordering one for £66.99 and another for £46.75, on the ground that the Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, would not give any Tory the go-ahead for that level of spending commitment. I ordered the rest; including postage, it came to more than £500. So much money that I had to tell my commissioning editor that she could pay me for this column in books. This was not a good deal for a working journalist, unless the books made me such a convincing Conservative that I was selected for a safe seat at the next election. In which case, I would have to kill myself.
This summer I decided to do something stupid: read the 38 books on the list that the Tory leader, David Cameron, issued his MPs for the recess. I must have been suffering from a chemical imbalance. I read fast. Still, 38 books was a stretch. But a lot was at stake: a glimpse into the brain of Cameron's Conservative Party, or at least how he would like them to think.
When I started I was worried. At the local elections I voted Conservative for the first time because a friend was standing as a candidate for Northumberland's new unitary authority. He did not win. I have learnt to live with the guilt, but I certainly do not want to vote Tory again. Would the Conservative reading list turn me into a Cameroonie? At the very least, would it make me want to send my sons to Eton?
Given that it was the summer holidays, unless I was prepared for my three children to divorce me, I knew that I would have to cut corners. My first insight into the Conservative brain at work.
Three of the books were not even "out". (Keen as mustard these Tories, recommending books that are not yet published.) Another issue was price. I decided against ordering one for £66.99 and another for £46.75, on the ground that the Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, would not give any Tory the go-ahead for that level of spending commitment. I ordered the rest; including postage, it came to more than £500. So much money that I had to tell my commissioning editor that she could pay me for this column in books. This was not a good deal for a working journalist, unless the books made me such a convincing Conservative that I was selected for a safe seat at the next election. In which case, I would have to kill myself.
