Titbits – Paper waits and socialist ‘scumbags’

Titbits birdCabinet member for energy Cllr Jon Burke is a prolific Tweeter. This week he took exception to a piece in the Socialist Worker criticising what the Trot newspaper dubbed ‘soft Left’ Labour MPs. Cllr Burke tweeted: “Socialist Worker, warning us about the people who actually deliver Labour victories. Hands off our party, scumbags.” Very energetic!

What has happened to council freesheet Hackney Today?, residents might be wondering. Fear not! The supposedly “fortnightly” rag – defended by the council as a way to get information to the public – is taking one of its seasonal breaks, with a whopping 28-day gap between editions (18 Dec to 15 Jan).

Readers may have to get used to the wait. In November the council’s Cabinet Procurement Committee noted plans for two four-year contracts worth £1,382,000 for Hackney Today’s printing and distribution. But the plans haven’t been mentioned since, and don’t feature in the next meeting’s agenda. When asked about the mystery, a council spokesperson said: “We are considering our options.” Informative!