It is why we should be very suspicious about any figures of speech that imply the gut, metaphorically or otherwise, can be relied on for important decision-making.

‘Gut instinct’, ‘listening to your gut’ or ‘trusting your gut’ have all climbed into the lexicon of linguistics in recent years.

The latter is used relentlessly in the hit television series The Traitors, when some of the utterly clueless participants feel they have no choice but to rely on an entirely unproven method of instinct, curiously hidden away in the echelons of their digestive system.

It is not only gross but grossly misguided. Their guts fail unfailingly. Shortly thereafter they report feelings of being ‘literally gutted’.

It is precisely the sort of feeling Keir Starmer has when he recklessly relies on his gut rather than what is blazingly obvious.

The wretched record of ‘gut instincts’ could even be linked to the slew of unscientific products claiming to improve gut health.

Maybe people are so convinced by the role of non-brain-based knowledge that they are prepared to consume minute portions of fancily packaged yogurt in order to expel all manner of gibberish and hidden prejudices.

Style over content? Bile over content.

It is a reminder that clinical trials and data-driven conclusions are here for a reason.

Pharma would never have hired the former Ambassador to America because it would have asked the question about integrity 10,000 times and the answer would always have been no.

Enjoy the mag,

John Pinching
editor

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