CONGRATULATIONS must go to Sir Peter Luff, who was finally given fitting recognition for his 22 years service in parliament and the county by being knighted.

The fact the 58-year-old’s name appeared in the New Year Honours list should come as no surprise to anyone with an insight into the way he’s contributed to Worcestershire and the country.

Understandably bursting with pride, the MP was told about the award several days before Christmas but didn’t even tell his two grown-up children until the evening before it was made public, so determined was he to keep it secret.

If his Twitter feed is anything to go by, he spent New Year’s Day celebrating his knighthood in the correct way by drinking plenty.

In response to a tweet from a member of the public suggesting he “scarpered off” after the boundaries were altered in 1997, becoming MP for Mid Worcestershire instead of Worcester, he wrote: “Sorry about that but I followed my rural ‘constitents’ (sic) so I’m still around to fight for ‘Worcesershire’ (sic).”

You missed the hiccup off the end!

* INCIDENTALLY, the Daily Mail produced an alternative take on Luffy’s award by running a rather hateful piece on Wednesday with the headline: ‘Knighted, the Tory MP who had his Aga serviced on expenses.’

The paper then claimed there was a ‘backlash’ growing over David Cameron handing gongs to his mates, quoting, predictably, a Labour shadow minister.

It didn’t go down well with Peter, who tells us “every single story the Daily Mail has ever written about me is completely and utterly wrong and factually incorrect”, saying if he could be bothered he’d call the lawyers in.

* WORCESTER Conservative Association has mysteriously pushed back its selection process in the St Peter’s city council ward for this summer’s elections.

Originally expected well before Christmas, it was delayed until after the festive period, presumably to avoid upsetting Councillor Aubrey Tarbuck, who admits he will “probably be de-selected” due to his regular spats with fellow Tories.

Even the Conservatives couldn’t stomach knifing one of their own, if you could call Aubrey that, during the season of love and goodwill.

* According to a YouGov poll, only 30 per cent of Lib Dem supporters think Santa supports their party.

Best concentrate on wooing the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.