Much amusement this afternoon as myself and fellow Councillors watched the media scrum outside the Town Hall as Hazel Blears made a rare visit to Salford.
David Ottewell reports that she looked “remarkably chipper” - for me that’s part of the problem, shouldn’t she be looking contrite? Many of her constituents don’t earn £13000 in a year never mind able to write a cheque for that amount at the drop of a hat.
Local Labour sources are sending out mixed messages on Hazel Blears – the Labour Group of Councillors have issued a strongly-worded statement yet her Constituency Secretary (Labour Councillor for Ordsall, Ray Mashiter) and Labour colleagues continue to give her full support.
The whole scrum rather overshadowed the installation of the new Mayor which I thought was a bit of a shame – and rather than stay on the sidelines Hazel seemed happy to milk the publicity for what it was worth. Congratulations to Cllr Roger Lightup the new Mayor and Cllr George Wilson the new Deputy Mayor.
Even *I* can WRITE a cheque for a Grand or so. That’s the easy bit.
The question is, will it be handed-in ..and will it be cashed? ..and will we ever know?
I still think she’ll try and hang on til the bitter end, can’t see her quitting and sticking the knife in Brown (not literally obviously), she’s too much of a Labour loyalist…
I never thought I’d hear Roger Lightup get a mention on the News at Ten (bet he didn’t either…)
“Im comin home, I’ve done my time, now I’ve gotten to know what is and isnt mine…”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fdQV3L6zmQ