Clippings

Mehboob Khan: Kirklees Council abolition plan is 'disruptive, bureaucratic and expensive'

A PLAN to abolish Kirklees Council would be “disruptive, bureaucratic and expensive”, according to a top politician.

Labour leader Clr Mehboob Khan last night claimed people in Huddersfield “wouldn’t even look” at the Conservative proposal.

Earlier this week the Tories unveiled a radical plan to split Kirklees, creating two new councils called Greater Huddersfield and Dewsbury and Spen.

The Conservatives also proposed sharing services such as payroll and human resources with Calderdale Council. But Clr Khan believes the plan is a bad idea.

Big Ears - Up the workers

Big Ears notes that the Luddite commemoration project being launched in Huddersfield tonight will be hosted by none other than the town's MP Barry Sheerman.

A fitting choice, as the Labour MP is a noted champion of the working man! In fact, Big Ears understands that "Loyal Lord" Sheerman is famous for always singing the wrong words to workers' anthem Red Flag! Up the workers Barry...

Uprising for the Luddite anniversary

Events to mark the 200th anniversary of the Luddite uprising will be launched by Lawrence Batley Theatre and the University of Huddersfield tomorrow night.

Funded by the Big Lottery Fund, Uprising a will be a yearlong series of creative events centred on the stories, themes and history of the Luddite movement in West Yorkshire. There will be a huge range of events, from art and performance to local activities and debates, all of which explore the legacy of the Luddites.

Huddersfield may be hosting the launch but of course the Spen Valley has rich links with the Luddite movement. It was the scene of numerous examples of Luddite activity - the doomed raid on Cartwright's Mill at Rawfolds chief among them.

Big Ears - Why so blue?

Big Ears received this photograph from his friend Tory Mole.

The Tories have come up with a ruse to save Kirklees from itself and save millions in the process... so why do they all look so glum and worried?

Clippings

Conservatives unveil plan to wipe Kirklees off the map and create a Greater Huddersfield

COUNCILLORS have unveiled plans to wipe Kirklees off the map and create Greater Huddersfield.

Top Conservatives yesterday revealed their ambitious proposal to split the council in two by 2014.

Kirklees Tory leader Clr Robert Light told the Examiner that the Government was aware of the radical plan and had agreed to look at it.

The Conservatives unveiled their proposal yesterday at a press conference at Battyeford Sports Centre in Mirfield. The plan includes: