Britain, Not Lapland

The Observer seems to be launching a most welcome campaign against lap-dancing clubs.

The proliferation of these vile establishments, which were unknown in this country a very few years ago, is one of the great social developments of our time. The surprise that so many of these women come from abroad is not shared by me. Who would want to display herself thus to her local community, when through the door at any time might walk, say, her neighbours, or her daytime workmates, or her brother, or her father?

The lap-dancing club in Durham went ahead after all, and the one in Consett was last year granted an extension to five o’clock because the District Council, to its great distress, was unable to find any legal ground for refusing the application. One of the conditions is increased security, including female security, since the worst trouble is on the “ladies’ nights” featuring male dancers. Some ladies!

Have these male dancers also come from abroad? Or is each of them perfectly happy to display himself thus to his local community, when through the door at any time might walk, say, his neighbours, or his daytime workmates, or his sister, or his mother?

And why on God’s green earth would any person, male or female, wish to look at strippers at half past four in the morning?