Hugh Muir"s diary

‘Making it up as he goes along? That just does not sound like Dave.’ Photograph: Getty

• Huge information from PM Dave, who faces the dilemma of making an attempt to lift the nasty celebration stain from his Conservatives with no generating the celebration seem to be so politically proper that all of the crusty varieties defect to Ukip. There have been targeted initiatives aimed at lifting the Tory minority ethnic vote above the sixteen% of 2010 – making flights to the Caribbean low-cost by amending air passenger tax and a promise from Theresa May possibly to appear again at disparities in end and search. Still, there is a mountain to climb and every single little will aid. Dave discovered time this week to seem on the black music and speak internet radio station Colourful, and when it was place to him that the government may oblige organizations to disclose to the world the ethnic composition of their workforces, he did not bat the concept away. “I will certainly seem at the notion,” he said encouragingly. “I am satisfied to search at concepts for a lot more transparency.” Some recommend he was just currying favour, and that the possibilities of him forcing a lot more monitoring and reporting on enterprise is really quite unlikely, but we have been shouting them down, for currently there is as well a lot cynicism. Producing it up as he goes along? That just isn’t going to sound like Dave.

• There will be transparency inside of our hospitals, says Jeremy Hunt, meanwhile. But isn’t going to the principle also require embedding in Whitehall itself? Government is not exactly blabbermouthed when it comes to discussing its very own failings. Consider the personal computer techniques. We throw many millions at private contractors, but it by no means quite goes to plan. This kind of has been the situation not too long ago with 3 government departments the place tinkering meant that workers could not get electronic mail, open documents or use the scanners. The irritations lasted up to 4 weeks and raised pressure levels to new heights. “If the buildings weren’t sealed, the pavements would be littered with pc gear,” one toiler told us. Lessons have been discovered, a Whitehall spokesman told the FT. But will the firms be hit with swingeing penalties, on the basis that private companies reap the income but bear the hazards? Will not hold your breath.

• The great and great pitched up at the London School of Economics, exactly where acting and would-be chair of the BBC Trust Diane Coyle set out her stall this week. Observers say she impressed. Later, at the exclusive reception with the BBC glitterati from Lord Hall downwards, the black and minority count appeared significantly less extraordinary. Just a handful from a group numbering 60 or so. The all-new diversity drive is much essential at the Beeb.

• Coyle convinced many doubters, but she did not search very at house with the technical side of her presentation. She struggled with easy replay of video and had to phone on the skills of a nearby helper. He was not much greater. They misplaced the vital powerpoint slide evaluating Walford in EastEnders to Walthamstow in true life. The perils of public speaking but specifically irritating for Coyle probably, the wife of the BBC’s technological innovation correspondent, Rory Cellan-Jones.

• For all these unlucky candidates who failed to be elected in final month’s neighborhood council elections, the opportunity to serve presents itself (the prospect of fame can wait). The Elections Centre at Plymouth University, run by Professor Colin Rallings, has invited all 17,000 candidates, regardless of whether they won or misplaced, to take part in a particular survey. For all that indicator up, there is possibility of a reward following random choice, 3 respondents will get Marks &amp Spencer gift vouchers. Those who lost won’t even have to declare them.

• Finally, though Colin Firth jilted Paddington Bear, claiming that he could not discover the correct voice to do the character justice, other people have trod that path with out self-doubt. In his memoir My Life, David Jason tells of arriving at a voiceover studio and encountering the excellent Sir Michael Hordern. “I said ‘Sir Michael – what are you carrying out right here?’” Sir Michael was unapologetic. “‘What am I carrying out here? My dear boy,’ he stated. ‘I am carrying out what you are performing. I am currently being a vocal whore.’”

Twitter: @hugh_muir

Hugh Muir"s diary