VETERAN Tory Councillor Maurice Broomfield has been rather unique in Conservative circles by opposing the £120 million incinerator at Hartlebury - but now his own career is being quietly incinerated.

Councillor Adrian Hardman and pals have decided to reshuffle their pack of Tory politicians at the fire authority and it was deemed that our Maurice will no longer be sitting on the 25-member body, with his position taken by Gordon Yarrington.

But in a smooth pathway from conspiracy to cock-up, nobody from the party actually told Maurice about his axing, which led to him suffering the humiliating fate of turning up at fire service HQ for a meeting only to be informed by a rather sheepish officer that he was no longer on the authority.

Cllr Hardman, in his latest written briefing for Tory county councillors, put it down to "a series of communication failures" and took the blame himself, describing it as "embarrassing".

But they might have picked on the wrong bloke, judging by what Maurice has told The Source.

"I didn't really step down at all, I was replaced - I'm not happy, I'm annoyed," he hissed.

Oh dear.

* TALKING of unhappy bedfellows, ever since power swung back from Labour to the Tories at Worcester City Council there's been a powerful air of hostility among either side at the Guildhall - but that could change.

At last month's planning committee meeting it was decided that councillors from both parties would be mixed up, so they all sit next to opposition politicians rather than stick to their groups.

Rumour has it the order came from managing director Duncan Sharkey, who presumably is as fed up as the rest of us about the endless Punch and Judy shenanigans.

Only one word of advice: many forced marriages are doomed to failure.

* THE Local Government Association is a very influential organisation which impacts upon people's lives much more than many tend to realise.

For many years now there's been a lingering resentment that Worcestershire gets ignored by the body, illustrated by the fact no councillors from around here ever get placed on their various boards or committees, or given any positions of responsibility.

Councillor David Sparks, a rugby fanatic and Labour leader of Dudley Council, is about to take the hotseat from Sir Merrick Cockell as chairman, which means I wouldn't expect Worcestershire's position to change.

In a note to fellow Tories, Councillor Adrian Hardman has pre-warned them that "David Sparks and I have never exchanged a civil word".

Crikey.

* IN an effort for the new Mayor of Worcester Cllr Alan Amos to become more popular I suggest he gets sweaty, bites someone on the shoulder and rolls around the floor.