Don’t be a Greg…. when sorry is the hardest word
Another week – another tale of misogyny and harassment dressed up as ‘banter’. Tiresome. Hopefully his ‘middle class women of a certain age’ defence will spell the end of his career given the almost universal derision it was met with. I just find myself thinking ‘how hard is it really to not be a Greg – you know – to just go to work and go about your life not harassing people’.
In more positive news of course the Assisted Dying legislation passed its first vote – fairly comfortably in a rare scene of parliament actually debating with dignity and taking a view that remains much more ‘popular’ with the public than with the MP’s. Maybe more votes should be un-whipped and we might get better laws. The arguments will continue of course with lots of talk of ‘slippery slopes’, expressed fears of coercion and changing nature of the relationship between state and citizen. Many of these concerns are no doubt genuine and they are definitely emotive. What they are not – is rooted in evidence. They do nothing to alter the cruel status quo that most people want neither for themselves or their loved ones. Anyway for those of you who read Helen’s blog last week you’ll recognise that this is a positive step and potentially one less thing she will have to worry about.
In even more positive news it looks like continued investment into drug treatment services is to be maintained. The rate of entirely preventable drug related deaths in this country remains a disgrace as well as a public health crisis. The continued investment will provide some level of resilience into a vital sector. As I’ve said before most adult drug services in this country are provided by the Voluntary Sector so the rise in employers National Insurance will have an (unintended) disproportionately harsh impact on charities working with those most at risk.
The stated intransgience of the PM and Chancellor to look at this (amongst other things) aligned with some dreadful messaging is starting to feel quite ‘energy sapping’. I am as bored now by ‘mission driven government’ (without any real definition of what the mission is) as I am by the Spurs manager telling us that our inability to ‘play out from the back’ is a style. Trust me – its not a good week to be a Spurs fan (if there ever is).
Got a frenetic week ahead – work deadlines and presentations looming, tensions fraying and fingers typing in my sleep. But also some positives to look forward to – including live music, dinner with friends and a visit from the Ukrainian woman who used to live with us. Both the daughters are making an appearance over the weekend for some early celebrations before D1 heads off to Australia for a few weeks. Not jealous. At all.
Also still enjoying being absent from Twitter (and account deactivated). Building up a new network on Bluesky makes for a much more pleasant and quiet experience. Come and find me if you like mikewp@blueskysocial etc
