The topic is not whether Howard Jones (or anyone else) approves or disapproves personally of anyone's contentious material. It is about whether an artist whose repertoire includes such material should be booked for a public platform from which such material may cause offence or distress.

The original case against Richard Digance displaying racist tendencies remains manifestly unproven and there is little point in pursuing it. Some of Vin Garbutt's material is undoubtedly confrontational and causes great offence and distress. It has often been suggested that he be asked not to perform some of it in front of general, unsuspecting audiences, which people may or may not regard as an acceptable compromise. Predative, intimidatory behaviour at venues is a problem for organisers to address, and it is clearly within their interests to do so if they want audiences to return. Even if the music is right-on, women on the wrong end of sexual harassment from those encouraged even in this day and age by backwoods beliefs that it is OK to behave so crassly will be offended and/or scared and not come back.