And speaking of young people, 20-year-old Cllr Jake Morrison was on hand to give an opening speech to the youngsters about the importance of getting involved in politics.

He recited the tale of how, when he was canvassing for the 2011 local elections, one woman on the doorstep remarked icily to him that she had 'fish fingers in the freezer older than you', which raised a titter from the assembled whipper-snappers.

However, there is one crucial thing about the term self-deprecation: that being the word 'self'. So Mr B could not help but crack a smile when, on introducing Cllr Jake before hand, Mr Hancock remarked to the school children in the chamber that 'he's not very much older than you', or words to that effect, which Mr B is sure young Jake
appreciated being reminded of.

SPEAKING of Cllr Morrison - following on from his high-profile defeat of Mike Storey in the 2010 general election, his next foray into the limelight was when he and others protested very publicly against the British National Party holding their annual conference at the Cricketers club in Wavertree.

You know the one - the one at which the party's Mike Whitby rented an old pigeon shed in order to be eligible to stand in the Liverpool mayoral elections.

Anyway, Cllr Morrison found himself the subject of much opprobrium from the extremists for his role in calling for the club to be shut down, although it appears its owners, who were spared losing their livelihoods by the licensing committee and subsequent appeal, are quite the magnanimous bunch.

For, believe it or not, they have invited young Cllr Morrison to be a judge of the most ghoulish character to turn up at their forthcoming Hallowe'en party.

Were Mr B a gambling man, he'd put his house on Nick Griffin walking away with the prize!

ON THE issue of taking gambles, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne's rumbling last week for sitting in the first class compartment while having only paid for a standard class fare, shows just how poorly travelled the gentleman is.

For, were he more worldly, he would go to hide in the latrines when the inspector approaches.

Well, it certainly works for Mr B every time!