High-heels hokum

Whenever FErret is looking for the latest in feminist thought, or indeed moral instruction, he turns to The Sun, pausing only briefly on the first inside-right page.

The paper - alongside dozens of others from as far afield as Australia and the Middle East - was frothing about the scandal of the money wasted on a supposed course called “Sexy Heels in the City” at South Thames College.

Michelle Dewberry, former Apprentice winner, said: “Women didn’t fight for equal rights to be told that learning to walk correctly in high heels equates to how to get on in business.” So it’s a good job the college isn’t telling them that.

Ms Dewberry, by the way, is honouring the memory of Emmeline Pankhurst and Millicent Fawcett, as well as showing her disdain for superficial frippery, with her latest business venture, Chiconomise.com, which offers discounts on products such as designer shoes.

Meanwhile, the Taxpayers’ Alliance phoned in from their terrifying world of the imagination to say this was “most likely” diverting money from needy parts of the college. In fact, it was an extra-curricular activity funded out of the enrichment budget. It may have diverted money from badminton or street dance at worst.

So whatever you think of practising walking in high heels - FErret is opposed, it chafes the paws - the worst thing you can say about it is that some women chose what to do on their Monday evenings. What an outrage.

Sourcy minister

New further education minister John Hayes continues his habit of literary and historical quotation, taking in Churchill, King Solomon and Cardinal Newman in his latest speech.

“Let us act on what we have, since we have not what we wish,” he said, drawing from the latter. The origin of the quote is a commemoration of the founder of the Poor Clares, who rejected the communal ownership of property in favour of absolute poverty - much like the 2010 electorate.