Aliens invade (my) Liberal Democrat conference

I have a confession to make.

I know you'd expect me to be lapping up every moment of political debate here at the Liberal Democrat conference.

But last night, frankly I'd had my fill.

So instead of dabbling on the Fringe, I watched a lot of people being splattered.

Relax, it wasn't a ritual slaughter of Lib Dem dissenters. Just a trip to the cinema to watch District 9.

And I must admit a good dose of gore and gruesome aliens (and a political subtext I hasten to add) has left me far more refereshed for the day than the equally X-rated Lib Dem Glee Club sing-song.

But my thoughts are also turning to Friday and the excitements of Parliament coming to Middlesbrough.

It's the Regional Grand Committee to be precise - a new wheeze which aims to hold the Government's regional ministers to account.

Basically, the North East's MPs will gather together to question Nick Brown and debate the state of the economy.

There'll be a novelty value to having a parliamentary committee meet in Middlesbrough Town Hall.

But also some contention.

Alan Beith will be the only non-Labour MP there, as the only other possible Opposition attendee - Peter Atkinson - is away.

When I spoke to Sir Alan the other night, he seemed up for the challenge, but some will question its rigour and usefulness.

The equivalent meeting in the East of England wasn't quorate because so few MPs turned up.

It'll be interesting to see whether there's a better response in a Labour heartland.

We'll be covering the committee and the debate surrounding it on Look North this Friday and on the Politics Show on Sunday.

Make the most of it, if the Tories win the next election it might turn out to be it's one and only incursion into the region.

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