Wednesday saw my first budget meeting on Kirklees Council. It began at 2.00 pm and finished at 9.00pm - not too bad compared to some there have been in the past. As is now the pattern the proposed budgets from all the groups were voted down. But prior negotiations between the Conservatives, the Lib Dems and the Greens had led to a consolidated budget which was then put to the vote and accepted. The Labour group naturally claimed a foul - but they had the opportunity to join in the negotiations at an early stage but chose to play silly games instead. The Lib Dems got all their proposals into the budget except one. I spoke in the debate on our scheme to put an extra £600,000 into mental health services for veterans and was delighted to see it passed. I also managed to secure £30,000 for maintenance of war memorials. A good day’s work.

It’s been a very good week. On Thursday I went to help in the Kirkheaton by election of Kirkburton Parish Council. The by election was caused by the resignation of a Conservative elected last May but who had attended only one meeting. A Lib Dem, Alison Munro, stood for the first time and stormed to victory with 70% of the vote in a 3 cornered contest. This bodes well for our chances in Dalton ward in May - Kirkheaton makes up a large chunk of the ward.

To complete the week I had coverage in the Huddersfield Examiner on 3 successive days, 2 with pictures. Can’t complain about press bias now!

Just got back from the local branch coffee morning - I reminder that local politics still requires local activity. Despite the snow overnight there was a good turnout and so the local party coffers will be refilled. It seems a world away from the national scandals of dodgy donors and family patronage - a world 0f 10ps rather than offshore tax havens.