Gosling's Grouse: Constructive criticism

Constructive criticism

"It's a free country, I can say what I like," is apparently what a cashier at a Tesco said after allegedly verbally abusing a lesbian couple she served.

I will not repeat the alleged comments, not because I am scared of being attacked by supermarket cashiers, but because they are highly offensive and add nothing to the hallowed pages of Investment Week. But as we debate free speech in the wake of the Paris outrage, there are some uncomfortable truths we all have to face. The cashier is, of course, entitled to say what she thinks, but not to her customers, unless they happen to ask for her opinion on their lifestyle choices. You do not expect to pop out to the shops and be verbally abused and, for Tesco, it is one of those issues that ...