She recalls meeting an 80-year-old retired doctor in a small country town while performing in a travelling drag show in the

She recalls meeting an 80-year-old retired doctor in a small country town while performing in a travelling drag show in the South Island. “He came up and said how much he liked the show and how he wished he could be like us. His wife had died, his children had grown up, and he was contemplating at his age having a sex change.” She pushes away her cup of tea and removes her large gold-rimmed glasses. Tears roll down her face.Beyer has sought to be an advocate both for her constituents and for the gay and transsexual communities – a dual loyalty somewhat resented by each side. She might judge a sheep show one day, march in a gay pride parade the next. Last year, exhausted and stressed, she said she would not stand for parliament again. There were howls of protest in Carterton and, after a few months of reflection, she changed her mind.The voters are delighted.

“She’s a go-getter and a good chap,” says one old farmer, who voted Labour for the first time in 1999. Another local says: “She stands and listens to you, even if you’re just off the street She can mix it with everyone, from top to bottom People round here think she’s one of us.”. The editor of the Daily Mirror claimed yesterday that Cherie Blair had been trying to get him sacked. At the last minute it was taken from us and given to the News of the World.

Apparently she had been upset about our leaders on Stephen Byers. Maybe she has come to her senses,” he remarked.”Cherie causes trouble between Blair and Brown because she hates him,” Mr Morgan added. “If you live next door, you have to get on with your neighbour. The number of school leavers applying for university places has fallen this year, prompting claims from opposition MPs that the Government is failing in its attempt to widen participation in higher education by those from deprived communities. Overall, when foreign students are taken into account, the rise is 1.9 per cent.The reduction in applications from school leavers may indicate that many young people are looking for a break from the pressure of tests.

This year’s second-year sixth-formers are the first to have taken external end-of-year exams in each of their final three years at school – GCSEs, AS-levels and A-levels.The figures will increase pressure on the Government to conclude its review of student finance, now delayed until the autumn. Many universities and colleges are actively developing initiatives with their local communities. I hope that over the next few years these developments will be reflected in rising figures for applicants in the under-21 age group.”Margaret Hodge, the minister for Higher Education, said she was “pleased with the steady rise in applications” and insisted the 50 per cent target was “achievable”.”We already have a participation rate of 41.5 per cent for those aged 18 to 30,” she added. “The Ucas figures do not include those applying for part-time study, which also contributes to the target.”Applications from overseas students are up 9.6 per cent to 32,868 in the under-21 sector, up 13.5 per cent to 14,258 in the 21 to 24 age group and up 15.1 per cent to 6,243 among those aged 25 and above.. A privately-run Christian company has emerged as the biggest supporter of the Government’s new City Academy schools programme.