Unfortunately there are places where staff look down their nose at you, like you are intruding. Some are as miserable as sin. I am afraid local business has got so far up itself that it is making itself disappear. Hampstead resident Andrew Birnie thinks o

Unfortunately there are places where staff look down their nose at you, like you are intruding. Some are as miserable as sin. I am afraid local business has got so far up itself that it is making itself disappear.

Hampstead resident Andrew Birnie thinks our Keep It Local campaign will only help local shops when they learn to help themselves.

We've been here before. When I was first elected, debt and house repossessions were a massive part of my constituency casework. Good old-fashioned strength of character will pull us through.

Stoic words from MP Glenda Jackson amid the gathering economic gloom.

To my disbelief, the sophisticated Prada lady started sobbing hysterically as Obama took centre stage. The passion in the crowd was almost beyond description. That's when it hit me, that this was not just a political rally, this was history in the making.

Camden Labour supporter Tulip Siddiq had a ringside seat at the historical US elections.

The weather on Saturday evening may have been atrocious, but it doesn't seem as if it would have mattered how deep the puddles got, because our new boss would have merrily strolled across the top of them without a care in the world.

Spurs fans like our regular columnist Mike McKinley are beginning to believe that new manager Harry Redknapp can walk on water.

I do tend to just drift my way from place to place and [my daughter] Amy said that if she weren't there to stop me I would just get on any plane to anywhere with anyone. It is that easily-led quality. It's a Taurean thing.

Fortunately much-loved writer and actress Maureen Lipman hasn't left these shores with persons unknown.