The councillor who still makes a point – despite losing part of his finger

Angus Young: Off The Record

Despite his surname, John Black is one of Hull's most colourful political characters.

Like several leading local Labour figures, he's had his ups and downs over the years.

One minute he was being tipped as the next MP for Hull West and Hessle, the next obscure former postie Alan Johnson was being parachuted into Hessle Road to steal his thunder.

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After serving as Lord Mayor, Mr Black was suspended by the Labour Party while police investigated hospitality spending during his civic year.

No charges were ever brought but the case temporarily put his political career on hold.

When the former housing committee chairman did finally return to the Guildhall he found the Lib Dems had ousted Labour from power.

Now he's back doing what he does best, arguing the case for housing investment against the doubters.

This time it's about spending £15.3 million on Orchard Park.

Earlier this week, he defended the move in a typically robust fashion at a council scrutiny meeting.

One councillor present even described his performance as a tour de force, although I wouldn't go that far.

However, I can reveal the rebooted John Black is not quite the man he used to be.

For the past few days he's been sporting an oversized bandage on one of his fingers.

I'm told his fingertip was amputated recently following an unlikely gardening accident involving a hanging basket and a reclining chair.

It all makes John Prescott's broken metatarsal look a bit wimpy.