Accrington Web - Out with the old and in with... the retro?

Intersting news in this weeks observer concerning the balance of power within HBC.

The Labour Party's busybody, Councillor Jean Battle, has had to step down as leader of the Labour group after she secured a position in the Cabinet of Lancashire County Council. However, Jean needs the dosh and so has not given up her seat on HBC entirely as some had hoped.

The vacuum left by her resignation as leader was the focus of a bit of a scrummage between Tim O'Kane, David Myles and our very own pet councillor, Graham Jones - now we know why he has been conspicuous by his absence from the forum- from which Councillor Myles of Altham emerged as the new Leader.

In a separate development, the Overton Ward in Great Harwood elected Susan Shorrock to be its voice. Congratulations, Susan.

This reduces the majority of the conservative group on HBC to ONE SEAT! Cons.18, Lab. 17)

Not much worth commenting about there really. Its all a bit swings and roundabouts and business as usual, isn't it? Well yes it is except for the fact that in the person of its new leader the lunatics appear to have taken over the other half of the asylum as well.

If you thought the Idiot-in-Cheif was a liability wait till you get an eyeful of Councillor Myles!

The eminent councillor is about as right on as it is humanly possible to be, without actually dying of it. Not only is he of the opinion that attending Council meetings in a shirt and tie could place barriers between himself and the electorate but, he recently celebrated his wedding dressed from head to toe in medieval armour. Oh, and by the way, as you might imagine, he is also studying for a degree in SOCIOLOGY! Can you get any more "seventies" than that?

Still, I suppose his heart is in the right place -beneath his fourth chakra- and we must hope for the best in the event of another byelection.

Commiserations to Cllr Jones - never mind Graham I am sure there will be other opportunities for you to shine.:D