Author: Max Frances
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Not a Dry Eye

Less than a year ago, Bristol police stood aside and watched a mob tear down a statue and hoof it into the harbour. The top cop on the scene gave an interview explaining how he ‘understood’ the protestors. He probably understands them a little better today. Those chickens are not only coming home to roost…
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A Wee Cranky

Nicola Sturgeon is looking a wee cranky after some committee concluded that she misled the Scots Parliament, and her pants were metaphorically ablaze. Whenever you see the term ‘committee’, expect to witness a hatful of controversy and vendetta, dressed up as principled authority. This one appeared biased because it didn’t contain the now mandatory SNP…
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Foot. Aim. Fire!

Having just witnessed some heavy-handed policing of some drippy sit-in at Clapham Common, the essence of the fledgling Policing Bill has now crystallised. A new maximum penalty of 10 years in jail for effectively hurting people’s feelings is on the cards. It seems a tad weird that a Government that claims to care about freedom…
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Dick Out

It is peak irony when a candlelit vigil for the victims of male sexual violence is punctuated by chants of ‘Dick Out!’ They may well get rid of Dick, but their affront at male sexual oppression will not get soothed until they pull their aloe-veraed fingers out. This is of course the same Dick who…
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We Need All Our Freedoms…

The vaccine passports debate is gathering momentum, and like all matters corona, it is going to go pear-shaped at a rate of knots. The underlying principles are nothing new. For many ailments, such as meningitis, polio and yellow fever, documents confirming vaccination are mandatory for travel. Of course, in terms of lethality, these are significantly…
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Whale Being

Unless you are self-employed, you are likely part of a 21st century workforce and will almost certainly been struck by the wave of organisational well-being initiatives. Bosses are frantically setting up helplines, arranging gym discounts, and handing out snack-sized, sample nutty bars among the seemingly more level-headed of interventions. I’ve also witnessed aromatherapists, magicians, and…
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Virgin on the Ridiculous

While a plethora of UK businesses have merrily slashed customer service and unapologetically tossed the blame onto COVID, the irony of their switch-hitting is not lost on the casual observer. Resource and volume distribution challenges are nothing new. Back in the day, contact centre providers would largely differentiate themselves through their innovative use of technology…



