The Liverpool Comedy Festival is something to be proud of in the city. It captures the imagination of a collection of people for whom humour is their greatest asset. It has seen them through everything, from recessions, depressions and war, through political battles and turmoil. It has given them armour when the nation’s eye has turned against them and it has laughed alongside them and it has sheltered them from the worst excess of degeneration that the island of Westminster has seen fit to try and hurl their way. No amount of mud-slinging, of false accusations, so called friendly fire and destructive bombs can stop the people of Liverpool from enjoying it seems a well-timed joke, great plays, the well-armed comedian and the poets who set out to raise a smile.