...the Standards Board and the Adjudication Panel for England.

I have few doubts that much of what Mr Morshead says about Ken is true...Ken's jibes 'endanger' democracy.

He is abrasive, has a habit of opening mouth before engaging his brain, and as a result upsets people. But for God's sake who created a system in which a quango could set aside the electorate's democratic decision? And it's worth remembering that in Ken's case at least, his is the most democratic system of election for a single position we have in this country so far.

But Ken's is just one of hundreds of cases every year where this body of unelected gamekeeper, judge, juror and executioner rolled into one hold in the balance peoples' political fortunes.

Surcharging, which the system was intended to replace, was indeed iniquitous. To suffer potentially the loss of everything for what might have been a horrible mistake seemed harsh. But in practice, was anyone ever surcharged if a hearing found they had made an honest mistake as opposed to having been genuinely corrupt or recklessly negligent? I doubt it.

What has replaced it is a system based on tittle-tattle where vexatious claims can be used to put local politicians effectively in suspense for months, often thus far at least with no prospect of even the basic right to expect your costs covered when the claim is disproven - and in some cases this must have come perilously close to the bankruptcy of surcharging anyway...despite having WON your case!

We have a system for getting rid of politicians if we don't like the way they behave, for example if we think their boorishness outweighs their effectiveness in doing the job they were elected to. It may not be perfect. But it does not rely on a kangaroo court of appointed placepeople that has little respect for natural justice. It is in the gift of us all. It's called the next election. If you don't like him, don't vote for him. It's that simple.

If anything threatens to endanger public confidence in local democracy it is that the Adjudication Panel can stick two fingers up at the electorate.