Village Fare?

As reported on Guido today, everyone in Lanchester knows that Laura Pidcock intends to contest this Ward at next year's local elections.

Happy Retirement to Ossie Johnson, the first person for whom I ever voted, way back in 1996. We have not always agreed, but we have known each other for 35 years and he once even wrote me a job reference.

If Laura did not hold this seat, then I suppose that she really would be finished. At not quite 34. And while Ossie has a large personal vote, all other Labour candidates here have struggled one way or another during his long tenure. 

Ossie always tops the poll, but the second unitary County Council seat, and the other two District Council seats before that, have gone Labour only about half the time, otherwise being held by the highly organised and basically Tory local Independents. 

With Ossie out of the picture, then they will be making a very serious play here next year. Laura should assume nothing.