DENNIS Skinner, the infamous socialist MP dubbed the 'Beast of Bolsover', has taken many political scalps in his 44-year career, and this week Worcester's MP was very nearly next.

Mr Skinner, a former miner who has the dubious distinction of being suspended from parliament on at least 10 occasions, happened to be around the commons when Robin Walker was collecting signatures to try and secure a debate on fairer funding in schools.

Knowing he needed at least one Labour MP's signature to give his request some credibility, he ended up approaching Mr Skinner, which as a Conservative is a bit like dangling your hands into a bear's cage and seeing if they come out intact.

"It was like stepping into the dragon's den," Robin tells us.

Happily, The Source can report that the Beast did indeed sign his motion, which is sure to signal the start of a long, happy friendship between the two.

Isn't it wonderful?

* POLITICAL and business leaders of every clan are hoping Worcester's potential City of Culture bid for 2021 is a success, so they can jump on the bandwagon and take credit for it.

Top of the list could well be Peter Pawsey, chairman of Worcestershire's Local Enterprise Partnership, who insists the idea was his very own.

But let's hope the all-important people who make these crucial decisions don't get to hear about what Mr Pawsey thinks of their judging skills in selecting Hull as City of Culture for 2017.

"If Hull, with John Prescott can become the City of Culture, I'm damn sure we can," he hissed.

You're meant to be buttering these guys up!

* TALKING of culture, Sajid Javid is popping the champagne this week after being promoted to David Cameron's inner team.

The Bromsgrove MP and Margaret Thatcher super fan is now the culture secretary, replacing Maria Miller, and more power to his elbow for it.

But The Source wonders if he's also pretty relieved at leaving his role as Treasury Minister given the issues he could have faced this summer.

In July the Government is going to decide which Local Enterprise Partnerships will start to benefit from a yearly £2 billion pot of investment for jobs, roads and growth.

Worcestershire's bid, as publicised in this newspaper, totals £250 million with some massive projects included like £70 million on dualling the Carrington Bridge and £56 million on revamping Junction 6 of the M5.

Sajid, acutely aware as Treasury Minister he'd have to help judge all 38 UK bids, has resisted lobbying from county politicians to endorse Worcestershire's plan, aware of the conflict of interest it could create.

He even refused to sign the final document, the only county MP of six not to do so, but was pictured with it during a Westminster launch last week grinning broadly.

Steady as you go.

* I've just seen Nick Clegg at the DFS sale. He's trying to replace all the seats being lost in next month's elections.