So, the man who would be king has announced his first major policy decision.

But Tory leader Colin Rigby's first public proclamation since the coalition which will oust Labour from control of Blackburn with Darwen Council was agreed can hardly fill voters with confidence about the future.

To vow that he intends to scrap plans for a statue in honour of Baroness Barbara Castle smacks of a petty swipe at the outgoing regime.

Yes, the woman who brought us the breathalyser and made a name as the hard woman of British politics before Margaret Thatcher, already has a road named in her honour in Blackburn.

But does the fact that she wasn't born in Blackburn and happened to represent the Labour Party negate the justification for a more fitting and substantial tribute?

Surely Coun Rigby must have more important things to consider and bigger changes to implement at the dawn of his regime than dumping a tribute to the woman who was this country's second most influential female politician of the last 50 years.

The Tories and LibDems have already betrayed signs of shallow thinking and opportunism by climbing into bed with six councillors who have demonstrated little feel for democratic principles.

If Coun Rigby is to become the borough's next leader, let's hope his utterance on the statue issue is not a sign of things to come.