UBER Cameroon Ed Vaizey, who has turned into something of a Tory luvvie since he was given the Shadow Arts Minister job, is still very much a frugal chap at heart.

You may remember the Wantage MP was hit with a congestion charge fine last month when he entered his wife Alex's index number when attempting to pay the fee. After being stung for £58, a philosophical Ed said at the time "I don't think the powers that be will accept my excuse".

However, news reaches The Insider the Vaizey family are earning something of a reputation as consumer champions.

Said Ed: "Alex has just got £100 back from Alliance & Leicester.

"Then she got £15 back from Tesco for charging her an administration fee for changing her insurance details - plus they even said they would look into changing their terms and conditions.

"And now she has appealed my congestion charge fine - and won. Incredible."

DOG-HAIRED Boris Johnson, who was bitten by an Alsatian while out jogging near Thame in 2005, has now turned his attentions to catching prolific dog-nappers in the badlands of South Oxfordshire.

Apparently the spate of canine crime is so serious, Mr Johnson, and an unlikely delegation consisting of Thames Valley Police, county council officials and gamekeepers meet tomorrow o address the problem.

THE last piece of party propaganda to be churned out of www.oxfordlabour.org came last year - September 23 to be exact, after Bob Timbs won the Lye Valley by-election.

So just what is up with Labour? It seems whatever it is, it's affecting everyone.

The usually vocal Antonia Bance, the one time Labour Parliamentary candidate for Oxford West and Abingdon, has not written a blog on her website since February 19 which, for members of the blogging community, is something of a cardinal sin.

IS IT any wonder the Liberal Democrats on Oxfordshire County Council are "jobsworths and whingers", as Tory county councillor John Howell put it, after they withdrew their support from a recent review of county council services?

After all, the Tories filled every scrutiny committee chairman's post with one of their own following the elections in May, 2005.

And remember, scrutiny committees are there to challenge the decisions of the executive - which just so happens to be all-Tory too.

Far from us to suggest the Tories are "jobsworths", but...

ALMOST a year on, the thinning group of Oxford East Liberal Democrats - with rumours abound more are set to leave - are yet to find anyone who wants to take over as chairman.

So in the meantime, poor old party stalwart Margaret Godden soldiers on as acting chairman.