But not, it would seem given recent headlines, as rare as the lesser spotted Sharon Green.

Who she? some may well ask. Miss Green is the councillor for the St Michael's ward of Liverpool, although town hall twitchers could be forgiven for not having spotted her at any recent council meetings.

She has, it would seem, attended only 30% of the meetings she is required to attend, although still having pocketed the £10,000 a councillor is entitled to for carrying out their civic duties.

But if Cllr Green is a rare site, there is one city leader who is positively as ubiquitous as the common pigeon - that being Labour cabinet member for employment and skills Cllr Nick Small.

A recent trawl of the Post's picture archive reveals he has been photographed on more than 150 occasions in his few years on the authority, which makes him certainly one of the most oft-sighted of all of them.

Now, Mr Brocklebank once wrote that 'he wouldn't call Cllr Small publicity hungry, but he can hear a lens cap being removed from a thousand yards away'.

He is, with his love of being photographed, 'the Princess Diana of Liverpool politics', as one of Mr B's colleagues remarked.

But the crucial difference, Mr B contends, is that Cllr Small would give chase to the paparazzi, rather than the other way round!

THERE are many in political circles are increasingly fearful of the Americanisation of the institutions of British government.

Given that a few of those who took up running the country not long after starting shaving were educated in the USA, and that they could only dream of having the status and charisma of a Barack Obama, it is hardly surprising they should look longingly across the Pond for guidance on how to craft their image.

Look no further than Wirral West Tory MP Esther McVey's office for proof.

Her man in the constituency while she is away in Westminster is local Conservative Cllr Chris Blakely. On his emails, he signs himself of as the 'Chief of Staff' of her office.

Apparently there's a new political drama in the offing to be made on Merseyside ... the Wirral West Wing!

THE importance of sounding important is particularly important to those who feel unimportant, so Mr B contends.

And what better way to feel important than to be honoured by Queen and country.

Mr B has learned that someone in Merseyside political circles is looking to go a step further, canvassing his parliamentary colleagues to put him forward for one of the highest accolades in the land, the Order of Merit, no less!

As one of Mr B's sources said: "There'll be hell on if he gets it. He must think he's some kind of saint."