The 2013 county council elections might be next spring, but The Insider has already heard rumours of musical chairs within the Tory party.

Former leader Keith Mitchell, pictured right, is due to stand down at the election next year, and his Bloxham division is being eyed up by those seeking a safe seat.

Or maybe some councillors just fancy a change of scenery.

  • MODERN-day Sherlocks are seeking out a missing “L” after renaming one of their own bobbies in a release on their website.

Jim Holmes was referred to as “Jim Homes” in the piece, visible to all media outlets and the public.

The mistake came after a near miss involving a burglary victim.

In a release, the press office identified the name of a home which had been targeted, but were saved because they spelled the road name wrong.

DRUG companies could get an unexpected boost after unprecedented advertising from NHS Oxfordshire.

On its Twitter feed, the organisation warned cold sufferers to avoid antibiotics in their quest for good health.

It said: “Lots of people have colds right now. We wish u all better & remind u antibiotics won’t help – pop to the chemist for over the counter remedies.”

Who said our NHS was being privatised by the back door?

  • CONGRATULATIONS must go to Mark Lygo, right, the Town Hall’s parks and sports guru, who once again fought his corner in the Oxford Half Marathon on Sunday.

But members of our reporting staff now know his secret, after bumping into the councillor and Labour colleagues at the Oxford Beer Festival last Thursday.

We don’t know for sure whether the night’s diet of real ale and a Cornish pasty helped him across the finish line, but we’re sure it played its part.

  • THE Princess Royal was afforded every luxury on her visit to Oxford.

As Princess Anne stepped out of a helicopter onto the Kassam Stadium’s car park, she was greeted with a car.

It’s a good job the car was on hand, otherwise the Queen’s daughter may have had to travel the 100 metres to the stadium entrance on foot.