fabric of this once great nation. Otherwise, if we do not, the days when to be an Englishman meant something, when to be an Englishman was code for being a gentleman, are sadly numbered. As someone who is English by accident of birth, I am proud of many of the attributes of this country's male progenitors, especially their dignity, restraint and on one level, respect for women. That is something which has clearly been lost over the ensuing decades. I have never hit a woman in my life, but I am certainly not proud to admit it. I say I am not proud that I have never hit a woman, as I don't think one should be proud of not doing something which is morally unacceptable, flawed and despicable anyway. Not hitting women should be, in any properly civilized society, the normal state of affairs for men, not a departure from the norm for which one can derive elevated status or regard. One should not gain extra brownie points or kudos, so to speak, for not hitting women. That is the least they deserve normally. So where do we go from here? In the first instance, we must strive to create a climate where women feel more confident to come forward and report domestic abuse or violence against themselves, of any degree. That strikes me as essential, as fear has unfortunately often been a major factor in prohibiting women coming forward and giving evidence against their aggressors. Despite those cultural