OXFORD Mail reporters have been noting the movements of two of Thames Valley’s most senior police officers. Earlier this month, Deputy Chief Constable Francis Habgood was sent to face the media over plans to close police stations and offices in Oxfordshire and across Thames Valley. Sums of tens of millions were being talked about at the briefing on this key issue.

The Chief Constable, Sara Thornton, was nowhere to be seen, as if often the case when the Press are around.

The following day, Ms Thornton was seen tucking into venison whilst sitting two seats down from the Queen during the Maundy Thursday celebrations in Oxford. Her deputy Mr Habgood was nowhere to be seen.

The Insider wonders how they decide on who goes to what? Our money’s on paper, scissors, stone.

PARKING in the wrong places seems to be all the rage at the moment, and Her Majesty the Queen isn’t one for being out of fashion.

Before George Osborne was snapped parking in a disabled bay outside McDonald’s, and before David Cameron overstayed his welcome in a restricted bay in Witney, Her Majesty did her best to flout the rules in Oxford.

During her visit to the city recently, the royal car was parked on double yellows for long periods of time, and an aide was heard murmuring about hopes they wouldn’t get a ticket. I wonder where all the parking attendants who normally so ably walk our streets were at the time? 

CANDIDATE lists for the forthcoming county elections have been published, and it’s heartening to know the great and the good of Oxford have been picking sides.

Former Green councillor Chip Sherwood, along with his mother Lillian, are both standing for the Tories, an interesting leap from left to right... Mr Sherwood claims the Greens ditched him as a candidate so he joined his “friends” on the blue benches.

But sources tell The Insider that Mr Sherwood hasn’t ‘officially’ been a Green councillor for some time after failing to attend party meetings.

He has just been sitting with and voting with the Greens at council meetings... If he’s hoping to be elected, we fear Mr Sherwood has backed the wrong colour horse this time, as there is more chance of a Green Prime Minister than a Tory win in the People’s Republic of East Oxford.