* IF OXFORD Lord Mayor Elise Benjamin looks a bit taller recently, there’s a reason for it.

The diminutive councillor, 5ft 2ins unshod, told the Insider she’s been forced to start wearing heels to official engagements after the combination of looking up at people while wearing her heavy chains of office started to give her neck pain.

They do say public office is a heavy burden...

* Also undergoing an image transformation is Vale of White Horse District Council leader Matthew Barber.

He is one of the 100,000 “Mo Bros”, for whom foolishness and public-spiritedness collide, leading them to sprout a moustache in “Movember” to raise money and awareness for men’s health charities.

The formerly clean-shaven council leader put aside his razor on Tuesday, November 2, and his top lip will go unshaved for a month.

His unusually articulate six-month-old baby daughter posted on his charity fund-raising website: “Dear Daddy, Mummy says I can use my pocket money to help you grow your moustache.

“I’m not sure what I’ll think of you with a gerbil above your mouth but Mummy says it will be a bit like Grandad’s and I’m not to be scared or cry.

“I hope it’s not too scratchy and Mummy says it is only for a little while and then I can have my old Daddy back. Lots of love Emily.”

* One angry Eurosceptic has taken his revenge on Wantage MP Ed Vaizey by sending him a white feather – sent to those who would not sign up for the forces in the First World War.

After Mr Vaizey backed the Government in voting against a referendum on EU membership, Michael Price told his MP that the feather would “remind you of the time you allowed your political career to take precedence over your commitment to your constituents or your country.”

But the Insider suspects a request that the Minister for Fashion wear it on his lapel of one of his designer suits during his constituency surgeries is unlikely to be heeded – it would ruin the cut of his jacket.

* While the clergy at St Paul’s prevaricate over how to deal with the Occupy London protestors outside, the youth workers striking over the cuts outside County Hall on Tuesday had less luck in generating sympathy from council bosses.

Leader Keith Mitchell tweeted: “County Hall like a Mini St Paul’s today with a gaggle of deficit deniers parading around outside. Do they have jobs or are they on benefit?”

Well in answer, they did have jobs and they will soon be on benefits.