Mr and Mr Duncan?

Congratulations to Alan Duncan who will be the first Tory MP to enter into a civil partnership later this year.

A politician deciding to get 'married' would not ordinarily be so newsworthy but given that the Conservative party, fairly or unfairly, have often been deemed to be homophobic in the past, it is a great advert for them that a person in the shadow cabinet is taking this step.

And, by coincidence, this weekend saw the 30th anniversary of Sydney's Mardi Gras. The 29th such event was one that I very nearly attended but, in the end, the very reason for my trip to Australia, a good friend's wedding, meant that I had to miss out seeing the spectacle up close.

By all accounts it was a raving success....