Dolly Parton splits Rotherham council

You'd have thought the burghers of Rotherham would have been delighted: Dolly Parton has chosen their town to be the site of the UK launch of her reading scheme, the Imagination Library. The council has arranged a small jolly for the elected few, with a bit of nosebag and a chance to shake the hand of Ms Parton.

Not everyone, though, is thrilled: Tony Mannion, who sits on the council as an independent, is fuming that Dolly is delaying the start of council business by an hour:

I’m boycotting the lunch and I am outraged that democracy is being put on hold because of a celebrity,” Mr Mannion told The Times. “I have nothing against Dolly Parton. Not that I know much about her except that she sang 9 to 5. That’s about the top and bottom of my knowledge. And I think the literacy scheme is a good idea. My objection is over the timing. We have vital business to discuss, for example the siting of a power station in the middle of a nature reserve. And we have few enough council meetings as it is.

“I’ve spoken to the Labour leader. Apparently, he’s a Dolly Parton fan. I suppose my complaints will fall on deaf ears and that some might say it’s a storm in a D-cup, or double D-cup. But it’s the principle.

Mr Mannion, then, appears to also know about Dolly's breasts as well as her having sung 9 to 5.