Mornington Crescent

Up to a year ago, it was quite common to hear people say that all this state regulation was to prevent another Harold Shipman. There is practically nothing you can say to this because it is beyond reason. Straight forward nonsense. It has been a relief over the last year to notice that his name has been dropped off the register. Another empty phrase came to circulate as justification for all these new jobs, these plush offices, these new procedures ... they are for 'public protection'. But, today, at the HPC PLG for C&P, over the finger buffet lunch, the Ghost of Shipman reappeared.

I was asking why the HPC board was being replaced. I was told: because of Harold Shipman.

There is a long running radio-show the game called Mornington Crescent which has people screaming with laughter for no apparent reason but that the phrase and game is engaged in so seriously, and yet is totally meaningless.