Yes, the allegations should have been made to the police, they should’ve been investigated and dealt with by the courts… or failing that, they should’ve been investigated and pre-disclosed at an earlier stage in the process with the police giving advice on the balance of probabilities.

I am not objecting to the allegation, I am objecting to the process. It’s become a combative event likened to a bullfight, the aim is to draw blood not check suitable candidates. It seems anything seems admissible and open to public scrutiny.

But this point needs to be made bipartisan. It wasn’t fair for Jackson and it wasn’t fair for Kavanaugh. It needs to be reviewed and improved - the circus should stop and a better way must found. We do the process a disservice by only arguing when it suits our side and the dignity of the office is what suffers.