At what point does someone stand up and say "No, this is wrong!" ?

Never?

You don't treat someone who's worked for you for so very long like this...

If Smooth Ops were also in on it they too should hang their heads in shame...particularly as John Leonard is a friend of Mike's....

I'm sick of shitty people treading on others to advance their careers or stay in with 'the BBC Boys' whilst saying how 'cherished' someone is to them...

Personally, as I'm sure you know, I've NO respect for Smooths Ops or the BBC after their behaviour towards me, but I was of no significance in their working day. Mike had worked for them, WITH them, for many many years and as such he should at the very least have been treated in a decent manner, with him being informed first and then Mark going to him to see if it was OK...

But hey, that's just lil' ol' me..