The story of Belle Dingle and Tom King is in the public mind. Recently married , Belle has been the subject of abuse by a controlling husband. Now there are fears for her safety, the audience of Emmerdale watch on, powerless. The matter is playing itself out on our screens and is asking us questions about whether we are complicit with domestic abuse in our lives. Kane and Charity Dingle are driving to Wales to protect Belle but will there intervention be too little too late, or create more danger for Belle?

Kamala Harris is already the subject of abuse as she moves inexorably to be Trump’s challenger. She has been criticised by JD Vance called her a childless cat-lady (George Washington was childless- that didn’t seem to matter. Judging by Trump’s behaviour to Hilary Clinton, the abuse of Harris will be no less misogynistic.

“Misogyny”, hatred, contempt or prejudice against women and girls has profound consequences. Speaking on yesterday’s Newscast podcast, Jess Phillips reiterated her pledge to halve recorded instances of violence towards women in this country within a decade. When asked what that meant in numbers, she said she could not say for we do not know the numbers of abuse, we only know what is reported. Belle and Tom’s abuse is so far not a matter for anyone but the Dingles (and us).

We are of course witness to what is going on and the soap “holds the mirror up to nature”.

It is easy to see how Tom could continue his marriage with Belle for many years if it were not for the extended Dingle family and their strong cohesion. But too often, the family is part of the problem, condoning abuse as part of a societal norm. This happens across race, creed and class. That is why there were two million reported cases of violence against women and girls and a great deal more that went unreported.

Is this something to write about in a blog. As a 62 year old man, I have a senior place in my family, have many friends and recognise I have responsibilities, not least to be misogynistic myself. My work is with women who are my colleagues, my clients and often my friends. In the past I know I have been misogynistic and I’m aware that I have – as most men my age have – engrained attitudes that have no place in an equal society.

It is dangerous for us to be complacent and regard stories such as Tom and Belle’s as the stuff of fiction. I am very glad that Jess Phillips is an MP again (she nearly wasn’t). I am very pleased that Kamala Harris is standing up to the oafish misogyny she is facing and very pleased that so far opinion is behind her and against the abuse.

There will always be peddlers of hate against women, the Andrew Taits who influence others to do the same. Their behavior is detestable but it is no different to what we are seeing in mainstream American politics . I hear and see misogyny in the streets , on public transport and in the common meeting places of the City I live and work in. It is a failure of society.

Today I have in my backpack a print-out of the document below. I urge you – especially if you are a man – to read it too.