THE world has moved on, clearly, since the more chauvinist decades of the last century. But there are some things we do not wish to see changed.

And dinner ladies is one of them.

Dinner ladies across Oxfordshire - in schools that still have the service - will be among those downing tools, or ladles, when the local government strikes bite later this summer. And good luck to them.

This week, a lady - presumably with a sense of humour - wrote to The Insider complaining at the use of "dinner ladies" was somehow sexist and suggested we used a "gender neutral" term in future, like dinner person.

WHERE is Peter Tatchell when you need him? Not in Oxford, apparently. You might remember the Green Party's Parliamentary candidate for Oxford East, right, promised to move to the city last year, soon after he was selected.

However, we understand he is still living in London and travelling to Oxford for constituency engagements.

Given the current political and social unrest in Zimbabwe, perhaps he could be better used in Africa.

He has twice tried to perform a citizen's arrest on the country's controversial President Robert Mugabe.

We bet he wouldn't dare do just now. Would he?

POLITICAL opportunist of the year: Number 17. Opposition to the planned eco-town at Weston Otmoor, near Bicester, has reached hysterical proportions, with those living near to the site predicting Armageddon if a scheme to build 15,000 new homes gets the nod from the Government.

More houses for those who need them appears sensible, but protesters have raised objections about green fields being ripped up and butterflies disappearing.

So guess who should turn up banging the protest drum this week for a photo-opportunity? Grant Shapps MP.

No, we hadn't heard of him either.

But apparently Mr Shapps is the Conservatives' shadow housing minister.

ED VAIZEY is a brave man.

Earlier this year, you might recall the Tory MP for Wantage, below, stuck his neck out and predicted the US presidential election would be contested by Mitt Romney and Hillary Clinton.

Er, wrong - on both counts.

So we take his latest attempt at being Nostradamus with a large pinch of salt.

He claims to have heard whispers that a UK General Election will be held on December 3.

However, perhaps hedging his bets, he doesn't say whether it is this year or next.

We'll be watching, Ed.

Email me at theinsider@oxfordmail.co.uk