REBUFFING opposition to Blackburn with Darwen forming a partnership with a Polish town, the council's ruling Labour group insists the tie-up with some place called Tarnow is essential if BwD is to continue to receive high levels of EU money for regeneration after 2005.

This is specious tripe. Since when have twinning agreements been a condition of grants from the EU?

It might be nice for us to play at being 'good Europeans' through the formation of such links. But with two twin towns on the Continent already, why then does Blackburn with Darwen need a third?

If councillors can specifically spell out the benefits -- other than those enjoyed by the delegations of them who go off to these places on jollies (sorry, fact-finding missions) -- and show that they outweigh the costs, I will apologise -- in Polish.

Meantime, I think it's a case of: "Daja nad!" -- which loosely translates as "Give over!" (with the bullshine, that is).