Titbits – Tale of two halves

◆ A number of politicians slipped into their running togs for the Hackney Half. Borough leader Caroline Woodley completed the 13.1-mile course in a respectable 2:53, while her health chief Chris Kennedy finished in 2:19. But neither came close to Hackney’s former transport boss, Mete Coban, who is now at City Hall. Coban, who has faced criticism for racking up air miles, sailed through in an impressive 1:39. Perhaps he realised the event was sponsored by Wizz Air and hotfooted it to avoid being spotted?

◆ Running with the Half, the three Labour politicians were jointly raising money for Rising Tide Trust and Hackney Migrant Centre. Despite a modest target of £1,000, the trio had only managed to net £615 by time of writing – and that includes £25 from ex-Labour colleague and now opposition councillor Penny Wrout. A sign of dissatisfaction with the incumbent government? It certainly explains the lack of a post-Half press release on the council’s website.