Will the real liberals please stand up?
Sunday, May 3, 2009 The Observer reports that "Controversial government plans to ban retailers from displaying cigarettes are likely to be thrown out by parliament this week following intense lobbying from newsagents and tobacco companies".
Don't celebrate too soon. The fact that this story appears in the Observer, part of the Guardian newspaper group, makes me think that this is a rallying call to Labour peers. Also, by playing up the prospect of defeat, the Government will be able to spin it as a morale-boosting victory should they win the vote on Wednesday.
As I said last week, it's the LibDem peers who appear to hold the casting vote. They're the ones with a free vote. Let's hope that, for once, they embrace the word "liberal".
Full report HERE.
Simon Clark
"Take ciggies off display say children" (Cancer Research survey, published today). Well, they would, wouldn't they? Ugh!
Reader Comments (14)
As I said last week, it's the LibDem peers who appear to hold the casting vote.
That's the newsagents screwed then.
Seriously, though, didn't Norman Lamb come out saying it was a poxy idea? It will be interesting to see if their peers listened to him.
The upside is that if it goes through, Labour will be further shown to be a festering heap of illiberal bullies.
In fact, even if it doesn't, they will probably still show themselves as a festering heap of illiberal bullies as theyworkforyou.com will tell us exactly who voted for it. Can't wait to research some more Labour Lords, who knows what we shall find. ;-)
Let's hope that, for once, they embrace the word "liberal".
"Hope" being the operative word.
I stopped voting Liberal after 95% of Lib Dem MPs voted for a complete smoking ban. That was THE END, as far as I was concerned. For ever. I'll never vote for them again.
I'm no more likely to vote for them again than I would attend a Catholic church whose parish priest had just been found to have been conducting black masses. It's over. It's all over. Finis. End.
I don't know what the Lib Dems are any more. And I really don't care. In these illiberal days, they ought to be doing much better in the polls, as disenchanted Labour voters sick of the bully state go looking for something a bit more liberal and tolerant. But they're not doing well. Their vote seems to be shrinking. And it doesn't really surprise me, because while they may have been winning support from disenchanted Labour (or Tory) voters, I'll bet they have been losing smokers like me in droves.
So if it comes to Lib Dems being asked to do something liberal, forget it. They won't. Or at least, not for any liberal reason.
Bring back the hereditary peers. They owed their place in Parliament to no living patron or slavish behavioural conformity.
Zanulibdems probably.
As for CROOK sorry spelling mistake CRUK .
Isn't grooming children illegal ?
"Isn't grooming children illegal?"
No need, if they are taken to the dentist. See an interesting development to "Sign of the times", below.
'Cancer Research survey, published today'. I wonder what answer we would get if somebody was to ask them, under the freedom of information act, who they asked and what question they asked.
I have just read the research:
The sample of 11 to 16 year olds came from households across the UK. Sampling involved a random selection of 92 electoral wards. Within each of the selected 92 wards a quota sample, balanced across gender and age groups, was obtained.
Sample numbers were Scotland (128), England (1168), Wales (61) and Northern Ireland (44). There were 703 males and 698 females in the sample. 956 were never smokers, 135 were regular smokers (smoking at least one cigarette a week) and 307 smoked occasionally or had smoked/tried smoking in the past
The vast majority were non-smokers
77% of 11 year olds agreed
51% of 16 year olds disagreed.
If it was made illegal for under 18s to purchase cigarettes then they would be less inclined to buy them and it would also stop Trading Standards from using children to entrap shop-keepers.
But, Chas, it IS illegal for under 18s to buy cigarettes (they just get someone else to buy for them or cadge from over 18s).
What bothers me is that we now have the views of 11 year olds - children - being utilised to influence business and adult purchasing behaviour. Sorry to sound like an old witch, but in my day I'd have been told to be quiet and get on with playing with my toys!!
I say all the adults should bring back hard labour for 11-16 year olds! Get 'em down the mines!
Seriously, folks. This "random" survey was targeted to produce results dominated by never smokers and some who had smoked but don't now.
What 11 year old would dare say in front of his non-smoking parents, that he agreed with smoking? I'm surprised that the high proportion of pro-smoking 16 year olds [51%], slipped through the net.
What a load of rubbish. What a waste of time and money. And, yes, what abuse of children.
All the adults concerned should get a life.
Imagine the scene: The classroom is full, the kids are swearing and throwing things at each other and having their final fag before the teacher arrives.
Enter the teacher with Doctor Li from the World Health Organisation (Chinese division).
Teacher: All right settle down everyone, this is Doctor Li, and she wants to give you a few simple facts and ask you a few simple questions.
Dr Li: Good morning boys and girls, as we all know, smoking is a terrible thing. It causes cancer and heart attacks, not only in the smoker, but also to those who might be near to a smoker, through their second hand smoke. Is there anybody here who is not sure of that?
One small boy puts his hand up.
Small boy: My dad says that's all rubbish miss...
Dr Li: Is your father a doctor then?
Small boy: No miss..
Doctor Li smiles and nods her head.
Dr Li: Well I am, so who do you think knows best, your father, who is probably a bus driver or a dustman, or me, a well known doctor?
The class start to snigger and mutter names to the small boy, such as "tosser".
Dr Li: Now please tell me if there is anybody here who would want to see their parents die in terrible pain and agony?
A tall girl with red hair puts her hand up.
Tall girl: Me miss, I hate my parents...
Everyone in the class laughs.
Dr Li: Very funny...but I can assure you this is not a funny subject, this is reality. Seventeen million people die every day through being in close proximity to someone who is smoking or has smoked in the past. Even the smell from their clothing can cause almost instant death, and I am sure you all know that smoking takes at least 50 years off the average lifespan...you did all know that I presume?
Small boy: But my grandad's 86 and he smokes 60 Bensons a day and he's still alive.
Dr Li (ignoring the boy): So let me ask you...all of you..if we can take cigarettes off the shelves in your local shops so they cannot be seen, and this saves those seventeen million lives every day, would any of you say that is a bad thing?
Small boy: But my grandad's 86 and he smokes 60 Bensons a day and he's still alive.
Dr Li: Just imagine, seventeen million lives. Put up your hand anyone who would want to kill seventeen million people like this?
Small boy: But my grandad's 86 and he smokes 60 Bensons a day and he's still alive.
The class falls silent, no one puts up their hands apart from the small boy, who still has his hand up and repeats once again.
Small boy: But what about my grandad's miss, he's 86 and he smokes 60 Bensons a day and he's still alive?
Dr Li turns to the teacher, a big smile on her face.
Dr Li: Thank you very much, I think that was rather conclusive don't you?
Dr Li thanks everyone and leaves. The teacher thanks the class and then calls the small boy to him.
Teacher: (to small boy). I suppose you think you were terribly funny didn't you? Well let me tell you, this was a very serious exercise which you tried to sabotage, and I am going to have you expelled, do you understand me?
Small boy: But my grandad is 86 sir, and he does smokes 60 Bensons a day and he is still alive sir.....
Teacher: Get out..
Yes Peter, and I notive that Dr Li was a woman
Love that last comment by Peter Thurgood, was the small boy who questioned Dr Li about his 86 year old grandad smoking 60 Bensons a day wearing one of those ,"propeller head caps" ?
Majority 94 in favour of the legislation
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_3310794.html?menu=news.topheadlines