You might have read Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate Steve Goddard's latest propaganda sheet. But do so with caution, because you might get the wrong end of the stick.

The pamphlet - titled SOS for the NHS - shows the Oxford East candidate, right, at Oxford Children's Hospital with Lib Dem leadership loser Chris Huhne and holding a questionnaire about the health service, called Dr Steve Goddard's NHS Inquiry.

"Despite all the money New Labour has spent, its centralist control freakery is stopping the NHS giving us the results we deserve. Please help us send the Government a clear message," says Dr Steve Goddard.

As far as we can ascertain, Mr Goddard merely holds an academic doctorate, rather than having any first-hand professional knowledge of medical matters.

Talking of such political propaganda, if Oxford's waste recycling rate sets new records for March and April, I think we will all know why.

Presumably, like me, thousands simply throw the multitude of piffle that flies through the letterbox ahead of the May elections straight into the recycling box.

Isn't it funny how (recycled) promises are made every time there is an election looming?

The Insider is used to receiving strange requests at this time of year. It is, after all, election season.

One such popped up on the email this week from Lib Dem campaigner Tony Brett, the man booted out of his Holywell ward city council seat last time around. This time, he is trying his hand in Cowley Marsh.

"Do you want to come canvassing for a while in Cowley Marsh at some point?" he offers in an air of desperation. "I'd be willing to let you do so if you wanted."

No thanks.

So controversial are plans for a Cowley Marsh skate park that city council lawyers have had to intervene, The Insider learns.

In fact, no decision on the future of the park will be taken until after the May elections.

A meeting was due to be held later this month.

Honestly, fancy thinking some councillors might use the situation as a political football.

Thank goodness Gordon Brown is back at the dispatch box.

But at least someone thought Harriet Harman, right, gave a credible performance at last week's Prime Minister's Questions, even if the rest of us didn't.

Labour city councillor Antonia Bance said: "Do you know what, I don't care that Harriet Harman looked silly in a stab vest when out with the police in her constituency.

"But here's something I do care about (for the first time) a Labour woman will answer Prime Minister's Questions for a Labour Government. That's something to be proud of. She was really rather good. Hurrah!"