Can anyone see any benefit to us?

You have probably seen the verdict on the Somali woman who had no rights to residency here that the EU Courts of Justice have floated down from the top of their gold plated ivory tower.

It gave her the right to UK benefits despite being acknowledged as a "burden on the social assistance system".

Since arriving she has " never been self-sufficient, and depends entirely on social assistance" and she depends on the National Health for medical care despite having no medical insurance.

But because two of her four children are in school here under the judgement she is now entitled to a council house and full benefits. It seems the EU now dictates our immigration and benefits system and the Government wonder why the BNP are picking up votes.

The woman's case, by the way, which opens up a bumper-sized, catering pack can of very expensive worms, was funded by . . . you guessed it, legal aid.

There were some claims that Shelter paid her legal costs which the charity deny saying they only gave her help and advice stating emphatically "none of our funding or donations from the public or corporate sponsors has been used. The case was wholly funded by legal aid through the Legal Services Commission."

Which all sounds like a fear that the next fundraiser might find there is a bit less rattle in the old tins.