On 17th February, workmen close to Switch Island discovered the body of John Barrett, 67. He had been suffering mental and physical health problems, but his daughter had so far failed to find him a place in a Liverpool care home. His family feared that without proper care “it was just a matter of time before he would be found dead”, but as reported in last month’s newsletter, thirty homes have been closed in the Liverpool area since the council slashed funding. If just one of those homes had remained open, Mr Barrett may not have died in such a tragic manner.

Meanwhile, executives on the council have just been awarded pay rises of up to 20% over the next four years. This is justified, according to leader Mike Storey, since “If we want the best and want to keep the best we have to pay the best.” But the best at what? The death of John Barrett shows that the only thing the council excels at is gorging itself in public money whilst denying help to the most vulnerable in society.