According to Websters, 'woke' means: “aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice)”.

For this Government, on the other hand, ‘woke’ groups and individuals are troublemakers who obstruct the daily lives of 'ordinary people' going about their business.

Coutts is at the centre of a row involving Nigel Farage, who accuses them of ‘woke capitalism’ for closing his bank account, because he is considered to be a 'politically exposed person'.

He is outraged, as are many people, including the Government, although their concern seems not to have been extended to many other individuals whose accounts have been closed without explanation.

Could it be because some of these are held by charities considered 'woke'?  

The noise surrounding this cause celebre distracts from other concerns, such as air and water pollution, climate change, poverty, and public disquiet over the writing of new laws and the tightening of old ones that will subject us ‘ordinary people’ to ever more restrictions on our civil liberties, if I may use that ‘woke’ term.

I find it really concerning that social awareness is in the dock while genuine troublemakers claim sympathy - and, it seems, make a lot of money - for being victims and crusaders.

Alison Vaspe

Anna Valley

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