Mama, Weer All Eequal Now

5,000 new crimes later, there's no sign of legislation fatigue from Labour. Or Harriet Harman to be precise.

Yes, this one is a loony idea, but boy do I like it.

VEGANS and teetotallers are to be given the same protection against discrimination as religious groups, under legislation championed by Harriet Harman, the equalities minister.

“A person who is a vegan chooses not to use or consume animal products of any kind. That person eschews the exploitation of animals for food, clothing, accessories or any other purpose and does so out of an ethical commitment to animal welfare.”

Funny enough, I am a committed consumer of vegetation too. I choose not to use alternative pharmaceutical products of any kind. I eschew the exploitation of dull-minded politicians and public sector numpties by state and pharma-funded fake charities and quangoes. I do so out of an ethical commitment to the freedom of the individual to determine their own choices in life.

Don't you denormalise me, you fascist. Harman's on my side. I should be protected.

So this will have to stop, as will this, and if you even think about this*, I'll have your guts for garters.

CAMRA will no doubt be pleased with this bit too.

People for whom abstention from alcohol was a way of life would also be protected.

So, by the same token, those who see warm smelly beer as 'part of their being' would be equally deserving of lifestyle status protection as purse-lipped temperates. They may even qualify under the religion qualifications too. Sandals, Aunt Meg's 1987 Christmas sweater, and the facial hair of Bungle could be re-classified as religious attire.

“A belief need not include faith or worship of a god or gods, but must affect how a person lives their life or perceives the world.”

It's all good, I tell ya.

Harman is letting everyone know that they should be allowed to live their life free of condemnation or ridicule based on their own personal belief systems.

It's like libertarianism but in an authoritative, legislative, kinda way**.

Bring it on.

* Do have a read of that.
** Or she could just scrap all positive discrimination laws and go back to how it was before. Respect for the personal views and choices of others. Might need a decent school system for that, though