LISTEN to this taken from 'Talking Politics' in last week's Express.
'In June 2003 a working group with representation from all sectors was formed to draft the local compact and set about the task with the belief that it is not the document per se that is important but the working process that would be beneficial.
'Following consultation the Compact document is now complete.'
Now try this: "I am doing the three-day trek for Scope because my daughter has cerebral palsy. I have to raise £1,400 but I am aiming to raise more."
The first was a statement by a Conservative Party councillor on voluntary work, the second by 33-year-old Gary Lee of Broken Cross.
Now, if you were in dire need of assistance who would you prefer to have on your side (per se)?
Were you planning to be in need at some unspecified future stage you may like to wait until 'all sectors are formed to draft the local compact' but by then Gary Lee and his mates will probably have walked up and down Everest on their hands.
When 'all agencies are working together' the only thing you can be sure of is... they are not.
Personally, I'd skip the twaddle and send for Gary.
- THE views expressed on this page are those of Vic Barlow and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Express.
