The best propaganda does not look like propaganda. This is a lesson the Liberal Democrats have learned well. While other parties cheerfully emblazon their political literature with their emblems, logos and colour schemes, the Lib Dems carefully give their pamphlets the veneer of impartiality.

Take the Watford Lib Dems’ quarterly screed Watfordwide News, for example. This political leaflet has the distinct appearance of a newspaper, with a bold masthead and news-style articles.

A glance at this pseudo-newspaper will tell any reader it is overwhelmingly biased towards the Liberal Democrats as each article breathlessly lauds the party for what seem to be an endless string of stellar achievements.

Yet the only clear indication that it is a political publication is the tiny font under the masthead, which tells you it is published and promoted on behalf of Watford Lib Dems.

This is all within the limits of the rules around political publications and is a long-established strategy for the party nationally.

However, this week I came into possession of another piece of literature with a strikingly similar editorial line – Watford Borough Council’s quarterly magazine, About Watford.

Now this is a taxpayer-funded organ distributed by the authority to homes in the town. As such, residents would expect it to have an impartial tone devoid of political connotations.

Yet, while the lead story on Watfordwide News is “Lib Dems freeze Council Tax again”, by an interesting coincidence, the central message on the taxpayer-funded About Watford is “Watford’s share of council tax frozen”.

There was duplication for a number of other stories such as similar pieces on the health campus. “Watford Health Campus plans – listening to local people” read the headline in About Watford, while the Watfordwide News chorused “Local people have say on health campus”. Both publications also document the council’s £6.6 million bid to spruce up Cassiobury Park.

Seeing as the council is run by the Liberal Democrats, it is not unreasonable for there to be some crossover in the issues the publications highlight. But it is concerning to see the presumably more costly About Watford’s editorial line in such lockstep with a nakedly political leaflet.

 

London Midland is currently rethinking its new £1 million layout of Watford Junction station – and about time, too. The ostensible cause for this trip back to the drawing board is the fact the current set-up is an almost marvellous feat of ineptitude.

In fairness to London Midland, who could have foreseen that removing the easily accessible drop-off bays from the Station Road entrance and replacing them with a short stay car park down a one-way road (which motorists have to take a circuitous trip down Clarendon Road, then St John’s Road, and then Woodford Road to reach) would create problems? It’s not like people catching trains are under any time pressure... Drivers now drop-off and pick up passengers in the middle of the busy Station Road.

The current arrangements are not just inept, they are treacherous and, even if it costs, London Midland has a responsibility to to rectify the situation it has created.