A couple of weeks ago I made reference to the harassment scandal sweeping through the Westminster village. I understand that one reader has expressed anger and sadness at my suggestion that we were in danger of ending up being governed by nuns, monks and eunuchs rather than “normal” people if this scandal was allowed to get out of control.
The point I was trying to make, perhaps badly, was that some of the accusations made related to perfectly legitimate consensual relationships that weren’t harassment at all.
And that if every activity, no matter how legitimate, is going to be publicised in the way these were – by being grouped together in a list with examples of other activities which were clearly totally unacceptable – thus creating an impression they too were somehow wrong, then we’re in danger of ending up in a very bad place.
In no shape or form do I condone harassment at the workplace, or anywhere else for that matter. I didn’t intend for my comments to suggest that I did.
But I’m horrified that if I expressed myself badly I may have caused some – possibly many – readers upset, and for that I am very sorry and apologise unreservedly.
Essex franchising?
Meanwhile, Tory-controlled Essex County Council has decided to explore the case for introducing bus franchising. If even true-blue Essex County Council is prepared to consider bus franchising, then you surely have to sit up and wonder how many other local authorities are quietly wondering if franchising might be an option for them too.
A few weeks back I said that the surest insurance policy against the threat of bus franchising was a partnership agreement, and if Essex County Council is exploring the franchising option then you don’t really need a much better example of the threat that still exists.
I was with some Labour friends of mine the other day who were bemoaning the fact that Labour’s focus on transport was all about the need to renationalise the railways even though the railways are effectively renationalised already, and that no attention seemed to be paid to ‘doing something’ about buses.
Of course, my Labour chums didn’t have an answer to my point that reregulation won’t solve the real curse of the bus, namely congestion and poor highway management.
Existing powers
Nor did they realise that local authorities can tender in additional services where the commercial market may not be operating, especially in rural areas. Nor could they explain why local authorities were so unwilling to exercise their rights to hold local referenda to increase council tax above the cap set by the government if they wanted to lay on additional bus services, but were strapped for cash because of government cuts.
My chums spluttered indignantly, but had no serious response. Perhaps the debate about bus policy will never go away, especially if the knee-jerk reaction is that it all central government’s fault.
