GOOD old Aubrey Tarbuck is hoping to stand again for Worcester City Council next year - but will he still be a Tory?

The veteran politician, who has upset more people in his own party than Norman Tebbit could ever aim for, says he’s still got the X-Factor for the voters of St Peter’s.

But he’s been on the phone to The Source in recent weeks suggesting if the selection process goes belly up, he’d be fully prepared to stand as an independent.

I still remember the time he rang up WN towers saying David Cameron hadn’t done a “real job” in his entire life.

And who can forget the astonishing comments he made when Conservative Simon Geraghty become city council leader in 2006 while being in County Hall’s cabinet - suggesting his colleague couldn’t possibly wear “two hats”.

A bit like Frank Sinatra, he’s done it his way alright.

But if he is de-selected would anyone be surprised?

* THE Source loves a good rumour, and the latest printable one doing the rounds is that Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier fancies a “job for life”.

The rich Tory, a former high-flying investment banker, is said to be eyeing up the eagerly-anticipated selection process for a Conservative parliamentary candidate in Mid-Worcestershire for 2015.

Peter Luff, of course, is saying goodbye at the next General Election, and has a safe-as-houses 15,864 majority, compared to Mr Garnier’s slim 2,643.

* INTERESTING letter in the Worcester News this week from Chris Winwood, entitled ‘privatisation doesn’t work - look at the facts’.

It goes on to suggest flogging treasured public assets to greedy private hands doesn’t reduce prices, help accountability or make life any easier for the ordinary punter.

Moreover, in a very persuasive argument, he then claims it “appalling” that services we all own are hived off, without politicians pausing to think of the long-term effects.

Mr Winwood is the chairman of Worcester Labour Party, which ironically helped create one of the biggest privatisation crusaders of them all: Tony Blair!

* TWEET of the week comes from the Lib Dem conference on the party's official feed: 'Correction: The aim of our party should be to realign British politics by NOT joining up with one of the other parties.'