Three coins in a fountain

On Friday the Labour Group is throwing a party: what, you might ask, have we got to celebrate after our electoral drubbing in May?

I have to say, that despite the defeat, the labour group is in pretty good heart. Take a look at the divided groups opposite us and you'll see what I mean. Jenny is plainly unable or unwilling to assert her will over the Liberals - to us, it looks like the backbenchers are running the show and their lack of experience shows.

The SNP? I mentioned elsewhere our view that Mr Cardownie isn't making all the running, except maybe running scared now Mr Tymkewycz has time on his hands.

The Tories? Even Iain Whyte looks like he might have his hands full with definite grumbling on show at last week's Council.

What do each of these groups have in common?

Lots of new members all eager to strut their stuff; to show they can't be taken for granted. Politics, you see, is a deadly competitive business and never more so, than when you're in power.

And Labour? Well we've four new councillors, all extremely capable, all been given recognition and a clearly understood agenda that we're going to be the most effective Opposition this Council has seen. We've been handed a couple of open goals lately but it won't always be so... meanwhile we do have a job to do to lay out our stall and we aim to do that too.

So, the party is for fun, a get-together - the theme is 'Roman Holiday' and though, sadly I'm no Audrey Hepburn, and even more sadly there will be no Gregory Peck, we'll enjoy the company, the vino rosso and the pasta and we'll even have a Trevi Fountain to throw our coins into and who knows who'll be wishing for what...