IT is, of course, hugely ironic that the Blackburn and Darwen Racial Equality Council, which consumes thousands of pounds of public money for the purpose of fostering harmony in the community, is itself so manifestly riven by internal strife that it cannot hold a meeting for five minutes without a big falling-out do.

Just what goes on at this set-up into which council-taxpayers have poured more than £11,000 in grant money in six months and provide it with use of the St John's Centre in Blackburn on top of what it receives from the national Commission for Racial Equality and the Lotto?

Apart from the farce last week when the meeting aimed at sorting out its troubles ended in chaos as most of its members promptly walked out, we have had allegations of misconduct, the suspension of two of its officers after an alleged incident and the suspension - and subsequent reinstatement - of its director, Abdul Chowdry after another alleged incident. And following this, there came the resignations of former chairman Dr Salim Najia and deputy Janaid Qureshi for "personal reasons" last month.

All this is cloaked in so much vagueness - 'alleged misconduct,' 'alleged incidents' and 'resignations for personal reasons' - that any semblance of accountability to the public who are funding it with their hard-earned money is hard to discern. Don't taxpayers deserve to know what is happening?

The only clear impression one gets of this body is that its capability for dissent and division within itself is more evident than any fulfilment of its purported role in the community.

Now, Blackburn with Darwen Council is warning that unless changes are made by the end of the month, the REC faces having the plug pulled on its cash. About time, too.

But given what has gone on at Blackburn of late and in the past in similar bodies elsewhere in East Lancashire, I'd say that their disposition for internal strife and power struggles is such that hope of any lasting settlement is so slim that they would be doing the community a favour if they fail to behave and, so, starve themselves of the council's financial support.

Then, they can fall out all they want, as long as they want - at their own expense. And if that was the case, I wouldn't expect that the cause of racial harmony would be any worse served than it is at present.