Out of all the mess around MP’s expenses which has quite rightly dominated the media recently, a few bright lights have shone out.

On last night’s news five MP’s were singled out as having second homes for which they did NOT claim expenses. One of those singled out was Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Justice Dave Howarth.

So what’s that got to do with Walsall and its surrounding Districts? Those of us who go back to the early 1980’s (me included) will remember Dave as a young activist trudging round the streets of Bloxwich and Willenhall delivering Focus newsletters and campaigning against the ultra left wing Labour council of the day which thought more about spending public money on a council newspaper than getting services up to scratch.

Some things don’t change, only difference is it’s  the local Tories spending public money on “Walsall Pride” the glossy version of what was nick named “Walsall Pravda” back in the 80’s.

Dave lived on the Mossley and went to Queen Mary’s before going onto Cambridge. Good on ya Dave!!