In another less than probing interview, in a glossy taxpayer-funded publication by the name of It's Liverpool, Mayor Anderson remarked that the difference between him and London boss Boris Johnson was that Joe was far too busy to follow in the blond bombshell's footsteps and go on satirical TV panel show Have I Got News For You.

That said, the repetitive nature of Joe's gag- cracking of late does make it appear that Mayor Joe is living on comedy repeats channel Dave at present.

It would appear it wasn't only Bob Monkhouse who had his joke book stolen - for the third time in as many weeks the Mayor has rolled out a joke about how, if Liverpool One sold £1m of perfume, the local press would headline its story "Liverpool People Stink".

(Of course, the local media should never be slow to criticise the Mayor when it sees fit, and must take it on the chin when the reverse applies).

But the Mayor's gift for repetition has prompted some in political circles to start playing a new game - that being "Joe Bingo".

It can be played with reference to any other of the moment's great statesmen with a knack for repetition - Cameron, Miliband, Clegg (didn't you say great? Ed.)

"Twelve new schools". . . got that one . . . "£14m for new housing" . . . there it is . . . "talking to ministers on the phone three times a day" . . . I'm winning here, come on, come on! . . . "I came into politics to do something, not be someone" . . . this is it, this is it! . . . "we're building five thousand new homes" - HOUSE!!!

AN EMAIL came through the other day from Militant Tony Mulhearn stating he'd lost his wallet while in holiday in Madrid, which had put a considerable downer on his trip.

In an incident reminiscent of when council Liberal Democrat group leader Richard Kemp had his email account corrupted by a similar phishing scam (and needless to say to his chagrin no-one coughed up any dough), Mr Mulhearn's account had been put to use by someone intending to bleed money from the unsuspecting.

The email read: "I am sorry if I am inconveniencing you, but I have only very few people to run to now.

"I will be indeed very grateful if I can get a loan of 2,750 euros.

"This will enable me to sort our hotel bills and get my sorry self back home.
"I promise to refund it in full as soon as I return."

Mr B's advice to the bogus Tony - Japanese or Swiss banks are usually amenable to lending to Militants.

Better still, just spend money you haven't got!