WHILE it seems in some quarters to be open season for hunting down MPs of all parties, the business of Government has to go on.

The vexed question of Wirral libraries has now dropped on to the desk of Ben Bradshaw as culture minister, following Andy Burnham’s move to health in last week’s Cabinet reshuffle.

Whether Mr Bradshaw will be any more receptive to Wirral Council claims that the planned shake-up, incorporating several closures, is the only way forward, remains to be seen.

Certainly, Mr Burnham gave every impression that he was reluctant to help Wirral extricate itself from the mess it had found itself in. Hence the opening yesterday of a public inquiry designed to find out if Wirral can meet the 1964 Libraries Act after the shake-up has gone ahead.

Inquiry chairman Sue Charteris had something of a baptism of fire yesterday as she took evidence for the first time.

Rounds of applause for every criticism of Wirral’s plans are not the stuff of every quasi-legal hearing. Much as it reflects the prevailing mood, it is not the sort of behaviour one expects, and Ms Charteris may have her work cut out to keep feelings in check – especially when it comes to hearing Wirral Council’s side of the case as the inquiry goes on.

Particularly given the fairly tightly- drawn remit of the hearing, we would not seek to anticipate its eventual decision.

But it is worth repeating that this is a case in which, even at this late stage, Wirral Council would probably be best off climbing down with as much grace as its opponents will allow, and looking for a new formula that could draw on at least a measure of support from across the parties.