Mersey Partnership chief Thomas O'Brien, not content while he worked for the World Bank, to screw 'third world' countries while trying to convince them if they keep quiet and tolerate poverty they will eventually get a few crumbs, has come here to Liverpool to teach the local business elite how to do it to us. Like all the other spongers before him, he has hailed 2001 has a great success for business. He cites a few examples of this success.
Services company 7C is creating 700 jobs at Garston's old matchworks site.
Supermarket giant Somerfield is recruiting 400 for a new distribution centre in St Helens.
Further good news on the jobs front is that Merseyside's unemployment rate is falling faster than anywhere else in the UK. (Nothing to do with New Deal or other crap schemes pushing people off the register).
Visitor spending from tourism is also rising and the current spend of £600m compares with £483m in 1995. Employment in the tourism sector has also soared from about 16,000 to 22,000 Merseysiders.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport has been officially recognised as Europe's fastest-growing airport based on passenger numbers.
Looking to the future, Mr O'Brien and his team unveiled an economic strategy for the region in consultation with several partners, including the North West Development Agency, which has handed the Partnership the prestigious role of the regional voice on economic development for the North-West. Call me cynical or unlightened by the great news - but I don't see anything but parasites making loads of money and the people of Liverpool being forced into cheap labour jobs. Can anyone out there enlighten me!