THE INSIDER: What's he afraid of? (From Oxford Mail)

THE INSIDER: What's he afraid of?

10:00am Thursday 22nd July 2010 in

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Just what is Keith Mitchell afraid of? This week the Oxfordshire County Council leader rubber-stamped his response to the Queen’s Speech – detailing County Hall’s thoughts on everything from the Emergency Budget to school academies.

But it was the Government’s edict that councils should publish all payments over £500 that attracted a lengthy response.

While the county “agrees with the principle of open and transparent government” it feels £500 is far to low for a ‘strategic’ authority of its standing.

To quote Mr Mitchell: “There needs to be a balance between proper transparency and the curiosity of individuals with time on their hands to interrogate payment lists endlessly.”

So transparent, but not too transparent then?

The Insider thinks the leader doth protest too much.

For the past week, Oxford has been the attention of a large group of students of government on a visit from China.

The eager scholars have appeared in the public gallery at both the town and county halls, keen to learn more about British democracy by observing Oxford’s power brokers in action.

The students scribbled notes at a furious rate and snapped away happily – worrying the odd press officer about the legality of taking photos within the hallowed council chambers.

It will be interesting to see what the People’s Republic makes of it all – but, equally, what can we learn from our Chinese friends?

They managed to stick out a county cabinet meeting for precisely 11 minutes longer than they could sit through the city council’s full council, lasting 41 and 30 minutes respectively.

Given both meetings dragged on for several hours, they will need to work on their stamina if they want to import Oxford’s brand of democracy.

Witney MP and Prime Minister (he does both y’know) David Cameron revealed a role model this week in the unlikely figure of fictional TV bully Gripper Stebson.

In the early 1980s, Stebson bullied fellow pupils at Grange Hill before he was eventually expelled – but not before inspiring an impressionable young Etonian.

What could DC have learnt about power and control?

Will Nick Clegg enlighten us when he visits Oxfordshire this weekend?

Will DC meet the same fate as his TV hero and be expelled once his antics are revealed?

Tune in next week to find out.

The Prime Minister was, however, allowed on a school trip to America this week.

At the customary photo-call, he and President Obama, were both wearing the correct, and identical, school of modern politics uniform – sharp blue suit, crisp white shirt, nice blue tie.

And you thought politicians were all the same!