Cameron, Boris and me
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 
I was interviewed yesterday by Jon Gaunt for SunTalk Radio. Jon was broadcasting from a tiny booth in the main conference centre (above). Monday's programme had featured David Cameron and Boris Johnson. Yesterday I followed shadow home secretary Chris Grayling.
Jon asked about the Save Our Pubs and Clubs campaign and enquired whether there was any prospect of an amendment to the ban under a Conservative government. He also asked what groups like Forest hope to achieve at party conferences. "It's mostly about awareness, and raising our profile," I told him.
I told him about some of the events we have organised at previous conferences and Jon gave a plug to last night's party at Beluga (see below). He particularly admired the printed invitations that were cut in the shape of a pint glass.
Sadly, he couldn't come to the party because he had to go back to London. Apparently, he's broadcasting from Spain later this week - with the help of Ian Botham and others who are taking part in a celebrity golf match.
Reader Comments (8)
Keep plugging Simon and confront all the bullys till we see smoke signals on the horizon.
Hi Simon,
Jon asked in advnce for questions we would like him to put to Cameron. Mine are below. I'm assuming he didn't put them to him, but he obviously brought up the issue.
Dear Mr Cameron,
When you win the next election, will you please reconsider the blanket smoking ban and allow choice for private proprietors?
Now that all "public" premises are smoke free, will you also end discrimination for foster parents who smoke, and employers who advertise jobs to "non-smokers only" ?
Now that we live in a smoke free world, and the cultural perception of smoking has changed, would you consider scaling down the smoke-free quangos that have cost the tax-payer almost half a billion pounds over the last five years?
A reminder that Oct 9th is the deadline for offering opinions on the proposal to ban smoking on ships except in designated outdoor smoking areas (in a twenty mile an hour wind, assuming the ship is travelling at 20mph). The link is:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/smokingonships/consultationletter.pdf
The Government's objectives are listed as:
(i)
reduce the risks to health from exposure to second hand smoke;
(ii)
recognise a person's right to be protected from harm and to enjoy smoke free air;
(iii)
increase the benefits of smoke free enclosed public places and workplaces for people trying to give up smoking so that they can succeed in an environment where social pressures to smoke are reduced; and
(iv)
save thousands of lives over the next decade by reducing both exposure to hazardous second-hand smoke and overall smoking rates.
Link should be:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/smokingonships/consultationletter.pdf
I'll try again:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/
open/smokingonships/consultationletter.pdf
Will listen later Simon, still reeling from last night. Well done you and all concerned.
jon
Thanks for the reminder about the 'smoking on ships' consultation. I have just sent in my opinion.
The consultation takes the form of a simple email in which you can write what you want. I have said, very simply, that Masters of Ships know when and where there is danger on their ships from smoking. That it would be wrong to interfere with their responsibilities by enacting this legislation.
"Masters of Ships know when and where there is danger on their ships from smoking."
Danger, Junican, danger? Whose side are you on?