WHAT is fairness?

It’s a simple question and I’m sure you all could have you own two penneth on what the answer is.

After all, we’ve all had times in our life which we view as not being fair.

It might have been that you were overlooked for a promotion at work.

It might have been that you’ve been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.

It might be simply that a shop has sold out of something that you really wanted or the Albion let in a late goal denying them three points.

On the scale of fairness, these all vary dramatically.

But that doesn’t mean that the cocktail of anger, disappointment and sadness is any different.

I had my own “unfair” moment earlier this week.

Having left work later than normal, all I wanted to do was get home as fast as possible.

Turning the corner on to Old Steine, I saw my bus pulling into the stop and passengers boarding.

I sprinted as fast as someone could possibly do in clip-cloppy brown boots while juggling a bag and a laptop.

But just as I came alongside the vehicle, the doors closed, the indicator went on and the bus pulled away leaving me alone on the pavement looking rather red-faced and cheeks blowing.

During the 20 minute wait in the cold for another service, aside from a little bit of cursing, all I could do was think about how unfair the whole situation was.

On reflection, I realised things could be a whole lot worse.

The issue of fairness is at the forefront of city politicians’ minds at the moment.

In a bid to reduce inequality, Brighton and Hove City Council has launched its own Fairness Commission.

Made up of 12 people, it’s an independent body which is hearing evidence from people about what they think could be done to make things better in the city.

The aim is for it to report back in the summer with a list of recommendations about how life can be made fairer for people in the city.

Now, most of you may be reading this and thinking what’s the point.

I mean, haven’t we been here before, where the council asks people what they think? Months are spent drafting a big report and then those working there decide that the change is too radical so they carry on as they were.

Isn’t that how things work in big organisations, particularly the public sector?

But those at the top really believe that this commission will be different, that it will be more than a talk shop and actually bring about some change.

The problem they will have though is solving the issue of what “fairness” is.

Councillor Emma Daniel, the city council’s lead member for communities, told me she thinks fairness means “a fair chance to good health, good education and good work”.

I’m not sure anyone out there would disagree with that.

But the problem is, how do you define what a fair chance is?

Ask anyone how they classify a “good education” and you’ll get a million and one responses.

For some it will be about getting top grades, or a decent drama club, for others it will be having a teacher they can talk to like a friend.

The differences of opinion are massive.

Likewise with work, housing, family, in fact everything that all us humans have in common.

As much as I believe the concept of a Fairness Commission is a good idea, I remain hesitant as to what it will actually deliver, particularly when there’s so little money about for town halls.

After all, life is entirely subjective.

While the concept of being fairer is great, there will inevitably be some who make the best of what they’ve got while others will always believe they deserve more.

To completely misquote a wise man, fairness is in the eye of the beholder.

Some of those who you may think have had the most rotten luck in the world will be the most content.

Others meanwhile will simply think they’ve always missed the bus.

The Argus:

Growing up, I thought Scrooge was someone who only existed in a film with the Muppets.

But it seems every corner I turn, there are more and more of them creeping out of the woodwork claiming to hate everything about the festive period.

I don’t know where it’s come from, but all of a sudden it’s like Miley or Beiber or Zoella has said it’s cool to hate Christmas.

Well, I’m having none of it.

The tree is up, the lights are flickering and the mince pies are in the cupboard.

And if I hear one more person moan about Christmas, I’ll throw a few of Mr Kipling’s finest in their face.