Council accused of double standards over Viagra email

Bournemouth council will have a new leader by the end of the month, as the previous head Stephen McLoughlin has voluntarily stepped down.

Last year the councillor was threatened with being thrown off the local authority, after pornography was discovered on his work laptop in December 2008. The council eventually decided that it would take its inquiries into the discovery no further and Mr McLoughlin was allowed to continue in his post.

This decision led to cries of double standards though, after 20 council employees were sent home 'on leave' in March 2009, following an explicit Viagra-related email that was circulated between them. The council defended itself by arguing that there were different rules for councillors and council employees.

Mr McLoughlin has now voluntarily relinquished his position after saying he wants to “draw a line” under recent events. Conservative councillor Peter Sharon will step into his place.

Seeing the humorous side

Viagra is an easy target for humorous email-revelry in workplace offices. In the past impotence and erection problems have been a source of embarrassment, shame and frustration for men, so in light of Viagra becoming available 11 years ago it seems somehow fitting that we should now be able to look on the lighter side of the problem. Doing so may make some men more willing to open up and talk about erectile dysfunction.