God knows it’s not easy to feel sympathy for anyone with the surname Thatcher, writes blogger Andrew Owen, but this BBC business is getting a bit out of hand.

Yes, what Carol Thatcher said in a private conversation was appalling. Stupid. A word which, to be honest, I wouldn’t have thought anybody still used these days. But it was a private conversation. Should she really have lost her job over it?

As far as I know the person she was speaking to did not complain, and the person who made the actual complaint only overheard the remark. (Meanwhile, old Jonathan Ross manages to offend thousands of people by ridiculing an old man on air, and he’s allowed back to work after a brief suspension. Good old Auntie.)

And did you read about the nurse threatened with the sack for asking a patient if she would like a prayer said for her? The patient didn’t complain – but someone else decided to take action anyway.

Is it just me or is it becoming rather a frightening place, this country of ours?

Are we still allowed to have private conversations, or can we expect the authorities to come a-calling if what we think or say doesn’t reflect the “correct” view?

And who are these people who take offence on behalf of other people? Whatever happened to free speech?

The fact is, if someone makes a remark that offends you directly, you should have the right to confront them over it. However, they still have the right to say it.

What you don’t have is the right not to be offended.

And you certainly don’t have the right to take offence on behalf of another person just to show off how politically-correct you are.