Shirley Tart: Red tape is stopping us from using our instincts

The Government has chucked out this righteous little regulation so those who sell the stuff – and those who buy it – must just read the can and be careful. Simple, isn't it?

Even in this daft climate of silly rules and regs, I had no idea of just how many there were. Unnecessary rules, dreamt up by some jobsworth.

The PM has said he's going to axe them all, apparently.

I wouldn't build your hopes up Dave. He'd have quite a fight on his hands.

Not only does all this red tape nonsense affect the small businesses that we are trying to help back on their feet but – get this – it actually removes so much of the personal responsibility which keeps us safest of all. And that's dangerous.

At the slightest ache and pain, it's the doctor. An insult, it's one of those 24-hour solicitor jobs. Bullying? That is unacceptable but there is a fine line between bullying and some mindless moron thinking he or she is being really clever by throwing a nasty remark your way.

And while that won't be quite what the PM has in mind, this blame culture does help create a climate where some people can't turn round without complaining about unpleasant treatment from fellow workers, the bouncer at the nightclub, the officious civil servant and so on.

Thing is, having been cushioned and cosseted by regulations you, quite naturally, don't feel able to deal with even the slightest problem.

I'm the first to want to protect the vulnerable and outlaw unacceptable behaviour. Beyond that, life is a school of hard knocks so we all need to toughen up a bit.

The latest mind-boggling legislation to get the axe is the ruling that if a customer insults you, you could sue your employer. That's the equivalent of being aged three and your best friend hits you, you hit your mum.

Same thing.