In an earlier post on this thread I wrote: "In some respects Nanny State and / or Nanny Plod are perhaps being a little too overbearing at the moment. Nonetheless, during these unprecedented times, we should probably give Nanny S. (if not always Nanny P.) the benefit of the doubt – as long as the nannies don’t go on being too bossy for words once life returns to normal(ish)."
Now, in a speedy example of life imitating pessimistic prediction, I see that the Chief Constable of Northamptonshire has just said this: ""We will not, at this stage, be setting up road blocks. We will not, at this stage, start to marshal supermarkets and checking the items in baskets and trolleys to see whether it's a legitimate, necessary item. But again, be under no illusion, if people do not heed the warnings and the pleas I'm making today, we will start to do that."
Once Nanny Plod starts deciding which items we have in our trolleys, it's time to head for the hills.
I am, for example, quite partial to olives, but I think there's a fair chance that if Nanny P. found a jar of them in my trolley, he'd class them as an illegitimate – and indeed suspiciously alien – purchase, and insist I buy lardy cake instead.
