After all, he might not have the chance to do it for very much longer as it seems odds on the Tories will win the next election.

In his latest attack, Mr Jackson, rounded on the Government's policy of providing extended free bus travel for pensioners, because – it appears to me – it has proved so successful.

Such as been the take-up of the scheme that the money allocated to Peterborough City Council to pay for it has fallen short by more than £400,000.

I'm sure for the bean counters at the council this is a bit of a headache but I can't get too worried about it.

The scheme is an excellent one, giving much needed freedom and enjoyment to older people.

A report in the Daily Telegraph this week calculated that pensioners are facing 13.7 per cent inflation because rising utility bills are hitting them so hard, so I reckon they need all the help we can give them.

Presumably, it's not only in Peterborough that pensioners are flocking to the buses so all councils will be in the same boat. So the free bus travel will be funded by council tax or income tax – either way, it's all our money.

Mr Jackson said in Friday's ET: "I am very concerned that this additional cost to the taxpayer will result in increased pressures on front line services like adult social care and schools in Peterborough."

Fast forward a few pages to the revelation that the city council has invested/lost £3 million of our hard-earned cash in two failed Icelandic banks.

That cash would fund the free bus travel shortfall seven times over, but we're told the loss of it wouldn't affect services at all.

Leader of the council Cllr John Peach promised it would have no effect on day to day services nor on council tax bills.

He said: "People in Peterborough will not be affected by this at all. This is a prudent and well-run council. We have £6 million in reserve to balance any loss."

That's a relief. Who knows there might even be a few bob left over to pay for a couple of grannies from Gunthorpe to enjoy a day out.

No winners in rigged election
The jailing of former mayor and city councillor Raja Akhtar and two other men for election fraud hopefully brings to an end a sorry chapter in the city's history.

This case and a previous one which saw another former mayor, Mohammed Choudhary, sent to prison, also for vote rigging, have dragged the city's good name through the mud.

With a loaded gun pointed firmly at its collective size 10s, the ruling Tory group didn't exactly help the situation by making Gul Nawaz, who had been jailed for benefit fraud, the city's deputy mayor.

I met Akhtar on several occasions during his year as mayor and he came across as a likeable and charming man. But charming or otherwise, Akhtar deserves to spend time in jail for undermining the democratic process. And I'm not impressed by his not guilty plea which meant a lengthy trial at the taxpayers' expense, coming on top of the extensive police operation that in itself cost £1 million.