Monday is November 5th and, aside from being Caz's birthday, it's the day that we in the UK remember Guy Fawkes and the failed plot to blow up Parliament in 1605. I would like to suggest that it's time we left this arcane and offensive day behind.

We should no longer be celebrating the persecution of a religious minority to the point where they felt compelled to take matters into their own hands in the way Fawkes and his co-conspirators did. In the days of a Labour government who are hell-bent on persecuting the Islamic minority in our country, resulting in events such as that seen on July 7th 2005, that such activities are still lauded in this way is dangerous and extremely offensive.

Practically, the traditional modes of celebration - fireworks and bonfires - contribute to carbon emissions and so to climate change.

Lets stop celebrating the persecution of the Catholics - I know I have.