Can't we just scrap councils and keep our money?

In Belgium back in 2010 the political parties couldn’t agree a coalition government and the country ran for almost two years without one.

It didn’t make much difference. The monks continued to brew hellish fruit beers that make you giggle after a gulp and fall over after a glass and tourists were still served chips with mayonnaise.

In Northern Ireland they have been without a government for more than two years.

Their bins are still collected their taxes are still processed.

Calls for slashing or scrapping local government grow louder on an almost monthly basis.

Our current crop of representatives aren’t doing themselves any favours as they argue over who should control Carlisle, Allerdale and Eden councils.

Does it really matter to the good people living in Carlisle, Allerdale and Eden districts?

Do we really need cobbled together coalitions?

Do we really need councils?

Can’t we take politics out of local government and just employ people to run our services and save money on the decision-makers and people who commission all these reports that end up stating the bleeding obvious but cost tens of thousands of pounds to write?

If there’s a big decision to be made, why don’t we just hold a mini referendum and get people to decide whether a new road has to be laid, a waste disposal centre built or if we need a leisure centre on a flood site?

n Maybe the best way to decide who should take over local councils is to have a Hunger Games-style competition where contenders have to take each other on – or what about a Game of Thrones battle?

Both would probably encourage more of us to vote.

It could be staged at Carlisle castle with all profits going to charity.

I have to say I’m glad to see the back of Game of Thrones – and I haven’t even seen one episode.

I’m just fed up of hearing people on Monday mornings complaining about how unlikely or far-fetched certain events are and how awful and clunky the script is.

Helllooo! It’s a story about dragons and magic and weird creatures. It’s like complaining about the fact that the three bears couldn’t cook porridge properly.

IT’S A FAIRY STORY. But I fear it will continue to run and run.