Problems, Problems

"Social policy," said Strand, with the cadence of a lecture she'd given to new councillors, "is the principles under which a government directs economic resources to meet social needs. Three things. Problems, like crime. Needs, like the old and the poor. And conditions, like planning rules and lighting." She unwrapped a sweet. "Conditions are the one nobody votes for. Marian wanted them on the register next to the people. I told her conditions don't complain. People do."

She mentioned, almost in passing, that the festival was kindly sponsored by the Fairweather Foundation, the Global Quarter underwritten by Harborline Group "and its investors, Blackwood Holdings among them. Sir Hugo has always been generous to Dockside, in his way."