No Respect

Taking up the cudgels against New Labour vulgarity in its latest expression are a group of nonagenarians. Brighton and Hove council workers, on the side of the barbarians, have demanded to know if they are gay, lesbian or transgendered.

And were told to mind their own business. How dreadful that such questions can be put to anyone by council workers. How much worse that people who have most certainly done their share in fighting, quite literally fighting with weapons of war, the tide of fascism in the middle of the last century, are called upon again to defend us all as they did in their days of strength.

We are so very fortunate as well as honoured, to have them with us still. We need them still.

The Mail reports that Phil Wainwright, director of human resources for Pilgrim Homes, said he was told by Brighton and Hove council that the home had to ask residents if they were lesbian, gay, bisexual, heterosexual or ‘unsure’, even if they objected. Many of the elderly rebelled, however, and the home wrote to the council saying residents did not want to participate. The council workers took away a grant that makes a contribution to warden services.