A few weeks ago the Accident Group kicked the bucket, and workers in Speke are probably glad they nicked a few computers on the way out. They were sacked, denied wages and NI contributions, and now a rumoured buy-out will not happen. Meanwhile, companies like the Accident Group are helping to drain public funds with claims about roads and pavements. Still, another nice bunch of people are moving into Speke; Eli Lily - one of the world's largest drug companies will be making a useful-sounding drug there, plus 75 jobs. Due to the fact they make Prozac however, they are being rapped for not disclosing the serious side-effects, massive over-prescription of the drugs, as well as dodgy testing and marketing practices.

Economic wisdom dictates we must look to these guys to bring jobs to our cities. A lot of regeneration money has already been spent on luring big business here, and 'sanitising' some areas of the cities for well-paid professionals. Recently, most of the city has got behind the council in advertising how great Liverpool supposedly is for the same basic purpose. Why do we have to depend on the big men from London, America, etc to prop-up our local economy? All money that enters the city returns to its owner multiplied, and this appetite for profit sees our own small businesses priced out of the market, and - in the case of Church Street traders - forcibly moved. It's not a stable system: a factory or call centre can close at a moment's notice when economic conditions determine it and there's nothing lasting to show for all the hard local work.

Big sums of money are already pouring into the city, as part of the Capital of Culture and 'regeneration'. As the Council claims to be consulting us on how to use this cash, why not put them to the test and suggest some non-exploitative, community-controlled projects?