THE summer has witnessed an unprecedented amount of letter writing to this newspaper by Worcester’s New Labour politicians. Let us speculate on the possible reasons.

August can be a trying month for the denizens of Grub Street as many people tend to be away on holiday.

But judging by the recent scribbling frenzy, some of these movers and shakers haven’t strayed much further than their back gardens.

Consequently, our columns have been positively bulging.

Worcester MP Mike Foster and some of his councillors appear to be obsessed with one issue above all others – does the city council represent good value for money or should it ultimately make way for a unitary authority?

Of course, at first glance, such a course might appear to be an extremely attractive option.

No more doubling or even trebling up… just think of the money that could be saved.

However, I see no mention of the mass redundancies that would inevitably follow if such a course were pursued. What about all the sackings, Adrian Gregson of Unison? Why, yes indeed – how else would money be saved?

Then there’s the matter of EU directives. Brussels has made no secret of the fact that it wants to see a Europe of the regions in place quite soon and unitary authorities would be exactly that in all but name.

What the EU wants, the EU gets – as the rapidly losing battle over saving post offices would seem to indicate.

But the greatest prize is this.

If New Labour’s unitary daydream ever became reality, then Worcester’s Tory-led council would be no more. What could not be won by the ballot box would have been achieved at the stroke of the legislator’s pen.

I think we should all beware of strangers bearing gifts.

●IT gives me great pleasure to announce that Belgians are still free to smoke in public.

Despite being within mortar round shot of EU headquarters, a friend was able to enjoy a cigarette over a glass of wine in a bar without fear of being arrested by a health Nazi.

There is much irony here.

As we know, the gauleiters have jackbooted their way into all areas of existence, most notably in the consumption of nicotine department.

In Britain, smokers have been banished to ghettoes outside offices and pubs.

Not so in Brussels, where such draconian laws were devised for our own good.

Yup, life’s strange.