The Sunday Post (Inverness)

What a relief! Santa’s present may keep businesses afloat

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yes he did! Oh, no he didn’t!

The debate rages on whether Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called Westminste­r’s Widow Twanky Theresa May a “stupid woman” or, as he claims, her Tory front bench “stupid people” at PM’S Questions.

Why should we care what he said – both terms are bang on the money.

She IS a very stupid woman, for acting like the back-end of a horse by turning this precious moment of parliament­ary time, before all they scurry off on holiday, into a poisonous attack on Corbyn.

She treated the whole proceeding­s as a panto instead of addressing the very serious matters at hand.

Namely, her continuing to lead the UK towards a Brexit dead-end.

Anyway, why is it suddenly so wrong these days to call it as it is?

I don’t like his politics, but Corbyn has been the subject of all manner of personal abuse, vilified as an antisemite, a Commie traitor, a Czech spy or a terrorist sympathise­r without so much as a murmur of complaint.

But call an inept and incompeten­t female a stupid woman and our zerotolera­nt world implodes in horror.

Sadly these are the politicall­y correct times we now live in.

Our normally enlightene­d and balanced Scottish Parliament took the biscuit, recently renaming At last, some good news for beleaguere­d Sauchiehal­l Street businesses who have been put through the mill because of a dramatic drop Gingerbrea­d Men as Gingerbrea­d Persons in a bid to reduce sexism.

And if this makes you cry in despair, don’t ask for a box of man-sized tissues, as they are being phased out by the same stupid reasoning.

Our freedom of speech is being eroded, the vast majority of the public is being shamed, marginalis­ed, and sometimes even criminalis­ed by a very vocal minority, just for having a different view.

That has to stop.

Incidents like those mentioned trivialise the debate.

This does not bring people together, it encourages division.

In the wrong hands (such as the in footfall caused by the regenerati­ve road works and the Glasgow School of Art fire in June. Economy Secretary Derek PM’S pals in the DUP with their stance against homosexual­ity and single-sex marriage) our zero-tolerant obsession with political correctnes­s becomes a weapon of hate, not a tool for peace.

It emboldens people like Trump, Rees-mogg and Farage and gives them an excuse to go on the attack, adding fuel to their polarising fire.

It diverts attention from the very real issues that really need sorting out. Issues such as Brexit.

On that salutary note, I’ll leave you with a seasonal message of goodwill.

No matter to what race, creed, religion or gender you belong, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Mackay MSP has donned his Santa hat and announced all affected businesses in the wider Sauchiehal­l Street area will receive 100% business rates relief for three months from January.

I would have preferred three years, but it’s a start.

 ??  ?? The Cabinet leave Downing Street after a meeting with PM Theresa May...or possibly a charity visits last week
The Cabinet leave Downing Street after a meeting with PM Theresa May...or possibly a charity visits last week
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