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I'm a proud Mancunian and I have nothing but love, respect and sympathy for those killed, injured, bereaved or affected by the events in London on Saturday night. I am also myself the victim of terrorism, albeit the bombs I have felt were planted in the name of Irish republicanism, rather than extremist Islam.

I therefore sincerely hope that the observation I am about to ask will not be considered to be offensive, spiteful or opportunistic. I certainly do not intend it to be any of those things. Certainly, I do not begrudge anybody who avails themselves of this pro bono assistance, and I have a lot of respect for those who offer to give it.

However, I do have an observation, and it is this. I find it terribly, terribly sad that victims of violent crime are now subdivided into stratas of worthiness, such that a young victim of a stabbing attack in London two weeks ago will be deprived the assistance offered to a victim of Saturday's atrocity.