IT hasn’t been the best week in Ed Miliband’s career, with the Labour leader’s policy ideas at his party’s Brighton conference being largely trashed by the national press.

Maybe he was badly advised, but if he is looking to insert some fresh energy into his team, The Source would warn him to avoid his regional spin doctors.

A barmy press release arrived in our inbox this week, extolling the virtues of Councillor Joy Squires, Labour’s 2015 General Election parliamentary candidate.

It said Coun Squires, who has just returned from Brighton after networking with Labour’s high and mighty, is a part of “Worcester Town Council”.

It then went on to say she is proud of the work the “town council” is doing to “create jobs in the town”, which frankly is more than a little insulting to this historic, Faithful City.

But let’s ignore the fact the author of this dreadful piece of PR obviously knows nothing about Worcester, and delve into the contents further.

It quoted Coun Squires saying “from January, Worcester's Labour council will pay city employees the living wage”.

There was me thinking the policy is subject to a vote before full council this November before that can be confirmed.

Or does full council not matter any more?

* TALKING about Labour conference, here’s a picture of our very own Coun Squires with Ed Balls, both sporting acute red faces.

This was probably taken after Mr Miliband announced plans to freeze energy bills if he enters Downing Street, which inadvertently wiped £2 billion off the value of power firms, affecting pension funds across the entire country.

You’ve nothing to be embarrassed about, honest.

* FRUSTRATION at County Hall this week, where Councillor Richard Udall reckons it’s taking him longer and longer to negotiate Worcester’s traffic.

The St John’s politician was chairing a scrutiny board meeting on Wednesday, and said it took him “50 minutes” to reach the building due to the congestion.

I thought you were into public transport!