Nanny Bans Jokes

I am beginning to suspect that dear old Nanny doesn't really have much of a sense of humour.

That certainly appears to be the case with her chums in Newcastle Upon Tyne Council.

They have announced a rather bizarre plan, to make comedians sign a contract agreeing to avoid jokes which might offend minorities.

Have they not understood that the very nature of humour and comedy is that it does make people feel uncomfortable by highlighting pain, idiosyncrasies and misfortune?

The members of the council, rather than addressing more pressing issues, have devoted their considerable intellects to banning performers whose acts are considered by some to be; offensive, racist, sexist or homophobic.

Step forward another of Nanny's humourless apparatchiks, public sector union Unison, who want to ban the comedian Roy Chubby Brown from playing the City Hall.

Chubby has performed there for the last 20 years but Unison, as befits a friend of Nanny, knows best; and does not believe that the fact that the show is a commercial success (ie people want to see it) should in anyway detract from their mission of interfering in people's lives.

The equalities board of Newcastle council has recommended that the council bans from its venues:

"acts contrary to the council's visions, values and social inclusion agenda, and which conflict with its community leadership role".

The bottom line is that Nanny, like all dictators, hates free speech; comedy is an essential part of free speech.