THE Insider predicts that Oxford Union president James Wise is courting controversy, having decided on a motion of This house believes it's grim up North for his farewell debate later this year.

Speakers have yet to be confirmed, but for those considering attending the debate the words of literary sage Mark Twain might well be worth noting.

He wrote: "I would like to live in Manchester - the transition between it and death would be unnoticeable."

However, we are reliably informed things have changed for the better since he penned those lines.

Afterall, the Tories held their spring forum in the city earlier this year.

NEWLY-ELECTED Labour city councillor Mohammed Abbasi failed to send his apologies ahead of the Westgate Centre planning meeting this week, a cardinal sin for those failing to show up to crucial votes.

However, the most notable outcome of the night was that all four women on the planning committee voted against the £300m scheme.

Nuala Young, Tia MacGregor, Elise Benjamin and Claire Kent all said a firm no - while every man voted in favour of the application.

Has the world gone mad? Since when have you ever heard of women voting against the prospect of scores more shops?

ONE of the reasons Mr Abbasi did not attend Monday's planning meeting could have been due to all the fun he had the previous night hosting a special Eid - or end of Ramadan - party at the unlicensed former Gala Bingo hall on Cowley Road.

You might recall that back in September council licensing chiefs decided fears over increased crime and public disorder meant they could not grant an application to turn the hall into the biggest live music venue in Oxford.

But that did not stop Labour activists - including Oxford East MP Andrew Smith - living it up.

Mr Smith has already angered a section of Muslims across the city after he posted thousands of 'Happy Eid' cards, pictured, through their letterboxes.

KEITH Mitchell, the leader of Oxfordshire County Council, is so concerned that Oxford City Council is in the running for self-rule as a unitary council that the 'battle for the city', as it has been dubbed, is threatening to turn into a nasty - and very public spat.

Last week The Insider mused that Mr Mitchell's County Hall powerbase would be undermined if the Town Hall was granted unitary status, as is widely expected.

But he has retaliated by saying the city could think again if it expected him to hand over schools, highways and social services departments.

Clearly something has rattled his cage.

Is it the thought of losing the jewel in Oxfordshire's crown?