The news that the predominantly male Trade Union Congress is proposing a motion to ban high-heeled shoes from the workplace quite frankly pains us more than a night out in our new Nicholas Kirkwoods. 'Heels are sexist and pose a health and safety hazard,' they scream from the comfort of their loafers! They claim that the only reason women feel pressure to wear them is because they see models tottering around in vertiginous heels on the catwalk. But they should take heart from the TUC's safety-in-heels guide for employers, which declares: ‘heels should have a broad base and be no higher than 4cm (1.5 inches) or, if worn for long stretches, no higher than 2cm (0.8 inches).' 0.8 inches?! Does that even count as a heel? Now we're more than partial to a French Sole ballet pump, Converse plimsoles on a Friday, not to mention brogues, boat shoes and loafers, but surely we reserve the right to wear ridiculous heels if want to? Even if they do cripple our feet so much we have to buy bags big enough to fit in a spare pair of flats? There's nothing like striding into a board meeting in a new pair of Manolos. Resigning practically demands a pair of stilettos to give you that confidence boost. And without heels, how would we be able to wear boyfriend jeans, pencil skirts or kick-flare trousers in the office? Let's leave it to Tory MP Nadine Dorries for the final argument on how extra height can help women in the workplace. She added: 'I'm 5ft 3in and need every inch of my Christian Louboutin heels to look my male colleagues in the eye. If high heels were banned in Westminster, no one would be able to find me.' We rest our case.