Back in the 1970s, there were the militant, reds under the bed trade unions at the car production plants who would walk out on strike if a worker was disciplined or some new regulation that meant they had to work an extra five minutes was introduced.

Then in the 1980s, along came Derek Hatton, the left-wing deputy council leader who enjoyed his 15 minutes of fame ranting and raving against Margaret Thatcher and then carved out another 10 minutes' worth as a brief media celebrity.

And now they're at it again, with present-day council leaders calling for any film having a scene in which someone smokes to be given an "18" certificate.

The logic behind this thinking? Apparently, it might encourage non-smokers to take up the habit.

Really?

Mr Pendle has watched television since he was a young boy and watched countless films and serials featuring people smoking without ever once feeling the need to take up the killer weed himself.

So why should the youth of our Capital of Culture 2008 be any different?

Do they not have the brains to work things out for themselves?

And do the city leaders think that by giving films an "18" certificate, they will stop youngsters from watching them?

Surely the minute a young person sees an "18" label on a film, they are immediately going to think it contains something they are not supposed to see, and will therefore try that much harder to get their hands on a copy.

That was how it was when Mr Pendle was a young man – and as far as he is aware, things have not changed that much since then.



WHAT is the Labour Party's stance on the new town councils for Nelson and Colne?

Studying the list of candidates announced this week, Mr Pendle could not help but notice no one appears to be standing on the Labour Party ticket.

But several of those standing in Nelson share the same name as prominent Labour political figures, as does the one unaffiliated candidate in Colne.

Mr Pendle was not surprised to see many current Liberal Democrat borough councillors offering themselves for election to the new council – they are, after all, the architects of this latest jobs for the boys, grab more council tax folly.

One of them even offered to let Mr Pendle have a nomination paper – but then said if he offered himself as a candidate, he would be "humiliated" at the polls.

Why? For having the temerity to suggest something the Liberal Democrats are doing might actually be wrong? Surely not?