Political TV fans (and No Geek Is An Island fans, of course) will be delighted to hear that I’m returning to internet TV station 18 Doughty Street tonight, along with fellow LibDem blogger Andy Mayer.

We’ll be on air from 9pm. If you can’t tune in tonight, you should be able to watch all three shows we’re doing on the 18 Doguhty Street website from tomorrow.

Visiting South Kensington this afternoon, I was puzzled to see people queuing around the block. The line went on so far I couldn’t see where it ended, or, therefore, the reason for it.

On my way back, I noticed the French flag hanging from a building near the back of the queue and realised the people were French voters waiting to cast their votes at the embassy for the French presidential election. This was confirmed by a Frenchman overheard commenting, “If the queue is that long, I won’t bother voting.”

And here they are:

One of the pleasures of working in Westminster, for a politico-geek, is seeing our parliamentarians out and about in almost a natural habitat – collecting their dry cleaning, being interviewed on College Green, or just marching purposefully towards an important meeting.

Our office is close to John Reid’s London pied-à-terre, but it was only a couple of days ago, as I headed towards the office carrying a guily bacon roll, that I first saw him close up as he passed in the opposite direction, mobile phone clutched to his ear.

He seemed calm and relaxed, which must mean that everything is going swimmingly at the Home Office. Remember him proudly announcing that he would work 18 hours a day to sort of the foreign prisoners farce? I guess that must be all sorted now. Hang on, Home Office Watch will know:

Remember the foreign offences scandal? 27,500 files, detailing serious offences committed by British citizens abroad, were “lost” in the Home Office. Tackling that backlog and getting the offences noted on the Police National Computer was clearly the top priority. Such a high priority in fact that John Reid promised it would be completed in three months. His statement is here.

Three months was up, well, ages ago quite frankly, but not a peep from Dr Reid. Could they have missed a deadline? The Home Office? Surely not.

The Government not crowing about an achievement? Doesn’t seem the most obvious explanation…

Went to see the Oscar-winning film The Lives of Others the other night and was very impressed. It’s a film about the Stasi, the East German secret police, and a cautionary tale to anyone who believes in a surveillance society and a “If you’ve got nothing to hide” attitude. Having not studied mid-20th century history, the story of East Germany is still one I’m not hugely familiar with, so the story, about a Stasi agent who becomes obsessed with one investigation, was an eye-opener.

The lead, Ulrich Mühe, reminded me of Kevin Spacey in Se7en. I agree with Bernard’s review (which I also recommend), including his reflection that the end is a little on the long side but worth it. Go and see it now.