Caught Napping

Value for money from our elected officials is a hot topic at the moment. We all want them to be dedicated professionals, devoted to serving the public need and preferably not flogging off their contacts list to the highest bidder.

One of the requirements we might justifiably demand is that when they attend important meetings, they pay attention. Not place space invaders on their smartphones.

Last week, The Westmorland Gazette had a splendid story and set of photographs showing a local councillor happily playing Solitaire on his iPhone … whilst attending a Cumbria County Council meeting to decide the county's budget for the next year.

I submitted a number of ideas for this story. You can see below the one which my steamed editor picked for the front page of the newspaper. But did he pick the right one* ? Vote in the comments below.

* No.

Banks bunking off

Banks are disappearing from rural communities. Like post offices, the village bobby, pubs, telephone kiosks and flashers, what was once part of the fabric of rural life is now going the way of the dodo. (They're disappearing, not being hunted and eaten by sailors.)

The assumption is that these days everyone can do internet banking. Country residents still struggling on internet dial-up, slow broadband speed or frequent breaks in service may care to disagree. And many of them won't relish the prospect of a long bus journey to their nearest high street bank.

The closure of more branches in South Lakes is one of the main stories in this week's Westmorland Gazette. It seemed a good target for the front page cartoon. 

Below are four ideas I submitted to my steamed editor. His choice is shown at the end. But which one would you have chosen? Make your vote in the comments below.