alan, with respect, I think that for a supporter of the current labour government and council to use the word "cronies" is a bit rich, especially given the recent revelations about cash for peerages and the dubious ftiendships which your leaders espouse - tax-avoidance lawyer husbands, far-right american politicians, corrupt italian politcicians, extremely dubious fundraisers and so forth. Perhaps John Leech and friends will be as bad if they ever get in power. But until they do so, I suggest you remember the old saying about people in glass houses not throwing stones. Labour needs time out to rediscover itself and rid itself of the parasites attaching themselves to it