If Oprah is calling time then how about...

Yesterday Oprah Winfrey looked into the camera and told the millions of her loyal viewers what they already knew: She will be ending her talk show in September 2011, after 25 years on the air. I think she is making the right decision and tactically it makes sense to signal your departure early and leave people with a warm glow of appreciation and respect. Reflecting on Oprah's decision I could not help but think about whether some of the UK's most popular TV shows would be sensible to do an 'Oprah' and call time before it is called for them. For example:-

X Factor - how many more series before the public tires of the format, let alone Simon and Louis? It goes without saying that we are unlikely to tire of Chery in the foreseeable future!

I'm a celebrity get me in here (or whatever it is called) - I never watch it and cannot believe ITV still run it.

Strictly come dancing - is it just me but hasn't it lost it's 'sparkle' already?

Those are my top 3 suggestions - other would be gratefully received.

Susan Boyle, Wild Horses

My goodness there has been an awful lot of drivel written about Susan Boyle. Just listen to her new song, listen as though you did not know who was singing it. It is excellent - good luck to her.

The Tories and the police - trouble is brewing

Sir Hugh Orde is a police officer with a reputation for integrity, honesty and competence. When he makes a bold, uncompromising statement like the one he made on the Today programme earlier today you take notice. Sir Hugh, who is currently the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, told the BBC that his colleagues would resist Tory proposals for the reform of the police that would result in his senior colleagues being told how to protect the public by locally-elected leaders. Sir Hugh warned that in his view democracy would be undermined if there was even a "perception" of political influence over chief constables. He stated that "operation independence is absolutely critical," and that the perception that a local police service was under political influence would be a sad day for democracy.

When asked if he personally would quit if faced by the Conservatives' plans, he said: "I don't, sadly, have a police service anymore.

"But if I was a chief officer and was subject to direct political control, I absolutely would."

Is this really a fight the Tories want to pick? I doubt it is one they can win - nor should they.

Votes for 16 year olds

The voting age in Britain was last reduced nearly 40 years ago. Since then, there have been major changes in society's expectations of young people, and in young people's contribution to their local communities and wider society. Currently, 16 and 17 year-olds can work, pay taxes, join the armed forces and get married. They are often invited to set up school councils and youth councils, urged to take part in consultations, sit on local government and Ministerial boards, volunteer in their local community, keep out of trouble and work hard at school. Many will have caring responsibilities, a lot will have a job, some will be parents, and a minority will be leaving care or custody – but they cannot elect those who govern them.

A few years ago the Electoral Commission carried out a public consultation on the voting age which found that 72% of respondents were in favour lowering the voting age to 16. Interestingly the consultation attracted huge participation including 8,000 young people which suggests that when issues are made relevant to them, young people are more likely to vote and engage in matters of public importance. If the Government is to successfully deliver on its promise of helping to create more sustainable communities then it must ensure that all members of the community are fully engaged in the shaping and delivery of local services. Young people represent an important proportion of that agenda.I strongly believe that as a nation we must take the aspirations and desires of young voters much more seriously. Rather than young people being disinterested in politics (as opposed to voting), the more real danger is that we have become uninterested in them. We bolt on campaigns for young voters rather than build them into what we do. This needs to change, and we now have a once in a generation chance to make that change and listen to what young people are saying. We should dispense with old political assumptions and acknowledge that we are dealing with a different generation.

A first-time voter in a 2010 general election was leaving nursery school when Labour came to power in 1997. To them we seem like the establishment. I also believe that the divide between organised politics and young people is a symptom of a wider disenchantment. People who feel alienated have little trust in the institutions of our society. This adds to the wider sense of disaffection and makes it more difficult for our politics to work. Surely young people’s belief in politics could only be helped by them knowing that they had a direct influence in choosing who represents them. In Austria - where they recently lowered the voting age to 16 - in the last local and regional elections the turnout amongst 16 and 17 year olds was close to 75%.

The most effective means of achieving all of this is to lower the voting age to 16 and the sooner we do so the better.

At our best when at our boldest

At our best when at our boldest!

The clip below was played to this year's Labour conference prior to Gordon Brown's speech and will be Labour party political broadcast after Wednesday's Queen's speech.