Although he rushed out a statement to make clear that he condemned all forms of domestic violence, this was an unsurprising response. After all, Clegg leads a party that has been slow to check bad behaviour by its male politicians towards women.

The cost of mopping up the consequences of violence against women and girls was estimated by a report in 2004 for the Women and Equality Unit at £23 billion a year in England and Wales, and yet Women's Aid, Rape Crisis and other organisations providing services for victims of sexual violence have to beg for funding. 

If the government can pour resources into encouraging people to quit smoking and drink-driving, why not also into stopping violence against women? It is time to demand radical action. 

The Macpherson inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence famously found evidence of "institutionalised racism" in the Metropolitan Police. We need a similar public inquiry into why victims of domestic violence are not getting sufficient protection. Sexism is rife in the police service — currently at least 169 police officers and support staff are being investigated for sex offences against women. 

Perhaps now we know that even a rich and successful woman can fall victim to an abusive partner something radical will be done to stop men — whether multi-millionaire entrepreneur or working-class council tenant — from being violent towards the women they profess to love. A slap on the wrist is no substitute to being banged up behind bars.