Extract from STaN's column

Its sparkling and has already been applauded on our Twitter page.

Anyone going to drink to this item ?

"There are a quite incredible SEVEN Labour couples standing in NPT which means that if all were to be successful then 22% of all the Council's 64 seats would be taken up just by these seven couples.

The reasons for all these couples running are debatable. The Labour Party membership hit new heights last year. So where are these new members? These seven couples are hardly representative of the new membership. In fact, Anthony Taylor and Michael Harvey (see below) were two of those councillors that signed a national letter against Corbyn's continued leadership in 2016.

The number of couples suggests to me Labour are in dire straits locally. They either have insufficient new blood of the experience and quality to put before the electorate or if they are there, they are kept out of things by the stifling, suffocating death grip of the Old Guard. That's not Old Guard as in "Old Labour" principles. It's Old Guard as in "New Labour" philosophy, the type that supported Owen Smith. And NPT council is full of these bu**ers. You can include Christina Rees and Jeremy Miles as out and out "Oily" supporters as well. Do not be fooled by Ms Rees' sudden show of loyalty towards Corbyn. It will last precisely as long as he does."

............. Continued - see STAN DIRECT in menu.

And from our Twitter page:

"I believe that the public should know the kind of facts set out in that article. It might be an uncomfortable read for the couples concerned but when you are putting yourself up for election, what you already get out of the public purse is relevant IMO.

With 64 seats for grabs you'll inevitably get a few couples standing, but 7 from one Party - and the Party with by far the largest membership at that - smacks of something seriously amiss. Or a stitch up!"