The unofficial election campaign intensified this week in the unusual form of a row about wheel clamping. 

Conservative councilors spoke out against MP Mark Oaten that there are far more pressing issues to be tackled in the lead up to the impending elections than the problem of private wheel clamping.

MR Oaten, who is soon to step down from his position as Winchester MP, insisted that, "we should be outlawing private wheel clampers as an industry".

However, Conservative Councilor Ian Tait said that, "unfortunately our MP has slightly come off the boil because he's not standing for re-election, and I think some of the bigger issues are maybe ones he should be looking at".    

With Mark Oaten stepping down at the next election, it is quite possible that a national ban on private clamping will soon be pushed aside, and more important issues will be ignored until he leaves office.