Those who haven't been following the elections or the numbers the situation was a delicate 17-17-1 with a deal between ex-Labour Malcolm Pritchard acquiring the Mayorality in exchange for giving Conservative Cllr. Britcliffe Council leadership.
So the week began with a trip to London early Monday morning. A trip made easier with Virgins 2 hour high speed tilting train from Preston. The afternoon I was in the House of Commons the oath of allegiance to the Queen. I managed to mention Haslingden despite the Boundary Commission's restrained view that the constituency is simply Hyndburn.
Monday was a series of induction's and meetings including my second PLP meeting followed by a newbies evening meal, the 2010 club. The evening finished with England v Mexico back in the hotel.
Tuesday was the Queens Speech with all it's resplendence and grandeur. I managed to follow advice and tag Black Rod into the Lords. Commoner's allowed presence inside the doors of the House of Lords.
It was back to Commons at 2.30pm and David Cameron's speech which I though was delivered rather unflatteringly for a Prime Minister. Reflecting the anger of opposition rather the dignity of leadership. By contrast Harriet Harmen's was dignified and courteous.
To a packed Commons it felt much like the cut the thrust of County Hall, just a notch up. County Hall is the North West's little brother, a magnificent historical bastion of regional politics.
The highlight on the day for me besides being honoured by this constituency to sit on the hallowed benches was the witticisms of parlance in Peter Lilley's ceremonial opening speech. If you have a chance watch it. Cleverly constructed to dissect the antibiosis of Cameron and Clegg.
Flat search Tuesday evening was cancelled much to my disappointment. The flats has been taken by other MP's!
Wednesday was an early start. News suggested that the Mayor would not attend Hyndburn Council AGM denying 'the heir apparent' his 'twenty pieces of silver' mayoral meal-deal. In the end it all became an ignominious comedy as the sick were wheeled in to play the thespian role of a tragicomic character and deliver out of the hospital transport TD1 the vital one vote, 18-17.
For John Broadley who deserved the mayoralty. Who has never done anything but be a quiet committed Councillor. Whose own councillor tenure is in the last year, a make or break decision on the mayoralty was lost out to so-called Conservative friends who had prior promised support but who in the cauldron of self political survival, played out their own version of Brutus.
Et tu, Munsif Dad as the Deputy mayoralty revealed the voracity of Conservatism to crush any opposition.
My resignation followed and it ended a 8 years of hard work as Councillor for Peel Ward. A voyaged hitherto to check on the new windows being constructed at 69 Hodder Street and warming to the thought of whilst the political end at District had come to an end, I was still rooted physically there. And as County Councillor too.
Thursday and Friday my concentration was constituency work with case work accumulating and a need to set out a diary of intentions and ambitions. It was also press heavy with meetings with all the negative news of cuts in Hyndburn culminating in the Housing disaster story front page of the Lancashire Telegraph.
