OK love?

Oops me saying that in his pub could lose my pub landlord his licence. Why is that NotaSheep? Here's the story, Women and Equalities Minister, Harriet Harman has used a statutory instrument that does not require a division or debate in Parliament to bring in some new legislation. This legislation will bring into force in the UK the European Equal Treatment Directive which says that women at work should not be "subjected to any conduct related to their sex which violates their dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment". As a result, business bosses will be held responsible for protecting their staff from sexual harassment by customers - and that those who fail to do so can face unlimited compensation claims. The regulations mean that a pub landlord could be sued if a barmaid complains about being called "love", or if she overhears customers telling each other risqué jokes. Restaurant managers and hoteliers risk being sued if staff object to an insult from a diner or a guest asking for a date.

Of course being an EU/Labour regulation there will be bureaucracy and signage, businesses will be advised to show they have tried to clamp down on sexual harassment of workers by customers if they are to guard against the risk of compensation claims, whilst pub landlords will be advised to put up warning notices telling drinkers that "harassment is not tolerated". The law will be policed by the Government's Commission for Equality and Human Rights.


So now the new puritans lead by the ever efficient Harriet Harman have found yet another way to impose their will upon the poor taxpaying public. Is there any end to the freedoms that this Labour Government will not try to restrict? Totalitarianism is the new Labour watchword.