SO, this is 2014, and what have you done?

Another year over. And a new one just begun.

And how has it begun for our north west political representatives?

First up, Tatton MP and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne starts the year after being dubbed ‘Briton of the Year’ by The Times.

The Knutsfordian understands the title ‘Briton of the Year’ was awarded to the person who had set the agenda for the year.

Let’s hope George’s agenda for 2014 includes a few more visits to meet the real people of Tatton, not just his ‘party faithful’.

Whilst The Knutsfordian is considering the ‘party faithful’, he was quite taken with an article in the Daily Mail which stated Cheshire businessman Peter Emerson Jones, who received an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list, has donated £31,000 to the Tatton Tories in the past five years.

Mr Jones, of the eponymous Jones Homes, founded in 1959, received the gong for services to business in the north west.

Cheshire East’s own Jones (no relation) continues to have trouble with his homes as all sorts of dire predictions as to new developments unfettered by such niceties as a local plan sweep the borough.

As 2013 drew to a close, CEC, the council committed to transparency, was forced by the Information Commissioner to release the report into what really happened over Lyme Green.

The Knutsfordian had hours of fun guessing which name had been redacted where.

In 2014, rumour has it that CEC will be forced to release more details from its business plan regarding the proposed BeWILDerwood development in Tatton Park.

The Knutsfordian trusts CEC has got a very good deal on black ink.

Knutsfordians should not forget that 2014 heralds the next European elections.

The Knutsfordian frequently forgets that we are represented by a number of MEPs (quite how many seems irrelevant given he never hears from them from one Parliament to another) but guffawed loudly when he read the news that North West MEP Nick Griffin has been declared bankrupt.

Happy New Year – let’s hope it’s a good one.

- PS Dear George, please stop using the phrase “hard-working”.

The Knutsfordian feels it makes mock of the retired hard-working, the former hard-working struck down by illness or disability, and those who crave to be hard-working if only they could find a decent job.

- PPS The Knutsfordian’s purchase of the week, a parrot training harness from Knutsford Market.