Well, the very thing that people in Northumberland feared has been announced.

The Government has ignored the public. MPs and councillors in Northumberland and have gone for the single unitary.

The ‘brand new council’ trumpeted by Peter Hillman is about to be forced on the people of Northumberland by one of the most vilified leaderships we have yet to see.

With the submission to the DCLG changed and changed again by Mark Henderson he has committed the council to an elected Leader/ Mayor and an elected Cabinet – against the vote earlier this year by the Labour group and against the document approved by the Council.

But we are talking about Hillman struggling for his very existence.

He must realise by now that he is the most unpopular person in his ward at the moment, not least of which with his own wards party.

Now ‘FOLLYS’ has heard that officers (Jill D?) have been trying to persuade the DCLG to forgo elections next year with a continuing authority, which will keep the ruling group in place until 2009.

A continuing authority scenario does away with the façade of a NEW COUNCIL, with new elections and an elected leader.

Has Peter lied again to the public? Reply to us Peter and we will print your reply!