I honestly thought more than 10 MPs would turn up to the Westminster Hall debate about high heels in the workplace last week, even if they only went for curiosity’s sake or to kill some of the otherwise dead hours of doing their parliamentary duty. In the event, the turn-out was p*sspoor. Still, what we lose in rigorous discussion and forward legislative motion we gain in hope.

You remember, I’m sure, the news that prompted the debate over banning mandatory corporate dress codes. Receptionist Nicola Thorp was sent home by her employer after she refused to wear high heels to work. She launched a petition entitled ‘Make it illegal for a company to require women to wear high heels at work’ that quickly got over 150,000 signatures and prompted the Petitions and Women and Equalities committees to investigate sexist dress codes in the workplace and call for a review of the rules covering them.

“You can take your heels and...” Lucy Mangan on the high heels debate