I heard this one the other day.

Apparently Telford and Wrekin Council staff had a great control technique to keep the Labour councillors on message, as it were.

They fed them with false information. Well, lied to them, to be more specific.

They tried to use this same control technique with the Tories.

However, this is not working as Tory councillors now treat each statement or advice from an officer as if it were a lie, checking what they have been told with an external source.

Apparently some Labour councillors have cottoned on to this and are equally distrustful of officers.

This is a sad state of affairs, but council officers only have themselves to blame.

Anyone else heard this?

And what is the real reason why so many officers are bailing out and departing so quickly? I have heard that the reason: "I can't work with the Tories" is a cover for something else...

Yes Matt, i've heard something very very similar from a very reliable source, you've just jogged my memory.

And what did your jogged memory hear, prey tell?

And the reliable source is? Not like you to keep secrets

Rats. Leaving the S.S. Labour Group.