Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes "Time to stand up to woke brigade bullies"

Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: 

Forty years ago I remember sitting in a Merseyside council chamber as the local elected representatives debated a really important issue.

Those present, including council officers, were being paid to be there – at great expense to local residents through their council tax.

And this most vital and important issue? Should manhole covers in the borough be renamed PERSONHOLE covers to avoid causing offence to women?

Thankfully, despite a long, long debate the motion was defeated.

Foolishly, I thought we had put all that nonsense to bed.

But fast forward to today.

The Rolling Stones have just been forced to delete Brown Sugar, released in 1969, from their song list as its lyrics may cause offence to black people.

Just the latest example of cancel culture and I'm sure you can think of your own examples of woke warriors demanding we rewrite history.

Welcome to the UK in 2021.

But enough is enough. I'm convinced the vast majority of people totally disagree with cancel culture. But they're reluctant to say so because they know they will be bullied on social media.

Thankfully, I'm retired. Everything I write on social media is on a voluntary basis. So my critics have no one to complain to, no one to demand I be cancelled or be sacked.

And I say now: we must never, ever allow ourselves to be dictated to by a small minority of people - and I have to say from the left wing of politics - because if we do we put the much fought-for principle of free speech at risk.

You have the right to say what you think. Be proud of that and use it.