Titbits – Festive scrapes and lucky escapes

◆ Christmas may almost be upon us, but Hackney Mayor Philip Glanville was in no mood for cheer at a recent full council meeting. Tensions boiled over when a Labour councillor accused one of the Conservative group of taking an “aggressive” tone in the chamber. In a rare fit of pique, the borough leader then made clear his ire for the Tory opposition. “The Greens have done more in six months than you have in four years,” he spluttered. Actually, with all the arguing, it was a bit like a family Christmas!

◆ No early present for Glanville’s transport chief Cllr Mete Coban, who finished second in the contest to select Labour’s next parliamentary candidate for Kensington, despite many expecting him to win. Among the commiserations from party colleagues on Twitter, a few Kensington locals were slightly less sympathetic. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” one exclaimed. “A lucky escape for the residents of the royal borough and their neighbours.” Oof.