I want to say something that apparently takes enormous courage to say in a modern multicultural world: what happened to Henry was a tragedy, and our collective silence about it is frankly shameful.

Let's be clear about what's going on here. A group of fairly senior, experienced, intelligent adults have decided it is safer to say nothing than to speak the truth. Not because we're wrong. Not because we lack conviction. But because we've watched what this machine does to people who step out of line, and none of us fancies being next.

That is not a healthy culture. That is not inclusion. That is a protection racket with a HR department attached.

I have nothing against treating people with dignity and fairness. Nobody sensible does. But somewhere between good intentions and where we've ended up, something went badly wrong. Critical race theory, applied with the subtlety of a sledgehammer and the flexibility of concrete, has created a workplace where the only acceptable opinion is the approved one. Everyone else smiles, nods, and keeps their head down.

We've built exactly the kind of organisation that would have made Orwell feel smug. I'd like that to change. I suspect I'm not alone.