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# Just Not Listening
- URL: https://www.longspoon.uk/just-not-listening/
- Published: 2026-09-13T20:39:53.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-13T20:39:53.000Z
- Author: Lapérouse

There’s this not very old joke – actually it may be current – “My wife says I have two major faults. I don’t listen and … errrrr… I’m not sure what the other one is.”

Many say they value a good listener, I fear this may not have been said about me. Then there’s the constant bleat that the government just isn’t listening. But those accusers mean something else.

Take the U- turn on the early release of the men who helped kill PC Harper and their manslaughter conviction which might have qualified them for early release. It wasn’t murder, but if you are a passenger in a car which is dragging someone to their death and you do nothing then you are Guilty of being reckless as to whether they live or not. Hmm… that is exactly the manslaughter charge right there.

Anyway, after a considerable protest and criticism of the early release scheme finally the government “listened”. In this case that means they agreed and implemented the change demanded. Now then, I bet those in power did listen right from the start of the complaints. I bet they listened again and again as the protest swelled. But what they did not do until the last was agree, and agree to act.

Years ago in a TV production Green Room post discussion programme (c’mon there was free wine) I was forced to intervene to rescue a government minister, a woman, when an irate man was shouting at her with much finger-pointing and considerable intimidation. “YOU’RE NOT LISTENING” rang out and froze the room. It crossed my mind to say: “Well, we all heard that!” but I restrained myself and said: “The minister has heard you”, and led her away out of the room and into the care of her government driver.

The government has not agreed to those protesting who want a wealth tax, and they have not agreed to breaking the triple lock promise for pension increases, also demanded by some. But I bet they have “listened” and plenty of people in the corridors of power are thinking:

“What on earth shall we do? What the hell is possible, practicable AND, maybe, gains the most votes?” 

And there will be loads of politicians who heard all right but did not agree with one or other of those propositions. Not deaf, not distracted, not dismissive - just not budging.