Two years ago, I remember campaigning for election to Mid Suffolk District Council and the sun shone for the last six weeks of the campaign. This year, the weather has been pretty unfriendly for the most part, and I’m struck down by shingles. It really was better in the old days…

Only one principal authority by-election last night, in the Angmering ward of Arun District Council in West Sussex, which turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. The result;

• Andy Cooper (Conservative) – 878 votes (64%, +25% on 2011)
• Carly Goodwin (Labour) – 268 votes (19%, +4%)
• Jamie Bennett (Liberal Democrat) – 228 votes (17%, +1%)

Curiously, no UKIP candidate, as they picked up 15% in 2011, and the rest of the 2011 votes went to an Independent.

So, what else do we have today? There’s news for anyone with a disability who thinks that running for public office is not for them. It is, and there is help for you if you need it. We also have our regular(ish) report of events in the European Parliament, plus a preview of the forthcoming ALDE Council meeting in Pula, Croatia – there may be goats involved.

Meanwhile, the House of Lords returns to duty with a series of important votes. I use the word ‘return’, although the European Union Select Committee and five of its six sub-committees all met this past week to keep up with current issues in Europe or to finish off reports. I’ll be looking at some of the key matters before their Lordships’ House.

And, of course, who knows what else is out there?

Finally, for the benefit of Dr Pack, formerly of this parish, here’s a rather sad story from out here in the stalks. Bogus golden tickets have been found in fake Wonka bars in stores in Ipswich and Haverhill. Following intelligence received from BBC Fake Britain, Suffolk Trading Standards officers have seized several boxes of the fake Wonka bars which were claiming to have five prize-winning golden tickets up for grabs.

And how did they know that they were fake? Well, Nestle stopped producing the real thing in 2010…