How Hamish fell foul of UKIP
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 
I was interested to read the story that appeared in yesterday's Blackpool Gazette. It involves UKIP and former Blackpool bar owner Hamish Howitt who has a fairly colourful track record opposing the smoking ban.
I don't know the full story and I don't want to take sides. But I thought it might interest those who have followed Hamish's fortunes and those who intend to vote UKIP on the strength of the party's opposition to the smoking ban.
Forest was criticised in some quarters for not getting right behind Hamish when he was prosecuted for allowing people to smoke in his bar after the introduction of the smoking ban, and later when he stood for parliament as an independent candidate in two parliamentary by-elections.
Hamish is a great guy but he is a loose cannon and, like many campaigners, he is single-minded to the point of obsession. I also thought it was irresponsible to encourage him to fight a battle he had no chance of winning and could cost him his business, which it has.
You can read the story in the Gazette HERE.
Above: me, Roger Helmer MEP, Hamish Howitt and Brian Monteith at the 2007 Conservative party conference in Blackpool
Reader Comments (20)
There is only one reason why Hamish is in this situation - the smoking ban. My thoughts about UKIP are the same. I admire Hamish's stance and I think it is wrong that when landlords like him stuck their necks out for this cause back in 2007, no-one backed them but shrunk away because of fear of a bad, hated, and discriminatory law.
However, law is law, and once made if we live in a civilised society, then we must adhere to it. If UKIP encouraged law-breaking at any level - even a law as prepostrous as this one, then what hope of them gaining the wider support they need.
God bless Hamish - he was betrayed - not just by his own country, but his own profession. He should have had support, and so should Nick Hogan. We all let them down.
Throughout history, many have been persecuted for fighting against unjust laws.
Well said Chas, and where would be today if those people hadn't taken on those fights?
'it's every man's duty to disobey unjust laws' Martim Luther King.
I suppose Jesus was a 'loose cannon' then was he? Most famous figures against some form of oppression were described as 'loose cannons'. It goes with the territory.
No-one will get Forest's support if they disobey an unjust law. It's a pity the whole damn hospitality industry didn't do just that, and this law would be history, but they still wouldn't have been supported by Forest.
Exactly Lyn- apparently this was done without the Leadership knowing and I heard from a reliable source that the culprits behind this shall be spoken to.
I am in the North West and have been advised today that the UKIP NW Regional Office are making their own statement in the Blackpool Gazette and that this article was done without the knowledge of the regional office - who aren't very happy about it either!
The NW Regional Office fully support Hamish and have already arranged a public meeting in Blackpool where UKIP officials are speaking along with Hamish too.
Let's see what the follow-up article says first. I believe there has been a lot of sour grapes over the final selection of the candidate when there were several willing candidates wanting to stand.
When human beings form any kind of organisation, there are always those who feck it up (am I allowed to say feck Simon). It happens in brass bands, stamp collectors, wine samplers and political parties, to name but a few. Hamish Howitt is a legend. Hamish Howitt is an hero. Hamish Howitt represents ordinary, uncomplicated people who don't want to think about how to live their short bodily existence, just get on and enjoy it while they can.
I admire him. Everyone else just talks about how unfair the smoking ban is. The truth is that it still exists because smokers just are not that bothered. A few months ago I suggested that Forest produce credit card sized cards advertising the amend the ban campaign, which we could buy to hand out to smokers sitting outside puibs and cafes. Even this simple and obvious step was not taken. I can't see the ban being amended without some sort of mass action.
It's called a general election,Jon, but even smokers can't stand together on that either. We have no chance and we are our own worst enemies.
Jon, one of the most sensible posts I have seen on here for ages, and about the only one worthy of a reply I would say.
You are spot on when you say smokers are just not bothered, and it isn't just smokers, but almost everyone. I write a lot on political blogs and websites, and I can guarantee that every time I mention the smoking ban, the general consensus is to shout me down, "Oh no, not that old chestnut again" and "we can live with that, what we need are answers to the big problems, not bloody smoking".
It's true Jon, the vast majority just do not care, they accept almost everything that is thrown at them. They moan a little to start with, and after a few months just get to accept it, "Oh well, it had to happen didn't it".
As for your idea of getting Forest to produce credit card sized cards advertising the amend the ban campaign, this is a great idea, but like you say, great ideas on here are just ignored. I came up with one about the cigarette butt bins, saying Forest should advertise on these, and like yourself I received the cold shoulder on this. It was the same when Joe Jackson said we need big business behind us. What bigger business could we have than the tobacco industry? But where are they, where is their voice?
You say we need some sort of mass action. Again you are 100% correct, of course we do, but you try organising any sort of action, the most you might possibly get would be half a dozen.
OAPs organise better marches and demonstrations than smokers do, as do the Countryside Alliance, and many more groups throughout the country.
From what I can see, the average smoker expects to sit back and moan a lot about how hard-done by they are, and get a new government that will run their socks off trying to placate them, for they really do believe that they are the controllers of the vote.
I say to smokers and drinkers and everyone else with a gripe, think again. If you really want something bad enough, you will get up from behind your screens and do something about it yourself.
I do, Peter, and so do many others - we are being ignored. ... unless anyone out there fancies throwing themselves under the Queen's horse at Ascot!
Traditional voters do not change tack lightly. We are being let down. The vote, for me, is the only way to put these behind the screen moans into active complaint.
Pat, you are one of the only people I know of that actually does put your money where your mouth is, and I admire you for that, but I disagree with you completely when you say that the vote is the only way to change things.
The political situation at this moment is so bad that you might just as well put your X right across the whole paper.
The OAPs whom I mentioned earlier, along with other groups, and unions, do not rely on their X on the day putting their world to right once again. They demonstrate and publicise their causes. As someone, whose name I forget, once said, one picture is worth a thousand words.
Substitute picture for publicity, and word for X and you have before you what needs to be done.
Peter - I have to vote with my conscience or not vote at all. I sincerely wish the Tories would demonstrate that we matter. In my opinion, smokers have compromised over the last 20 years. It is our turn for consideration and we do not ask for much.
Even if we decide to march, to protest, hold banners, and scream outside the gates of Parlt, I doubt that we could get it organsied effectively before the election and unless it was an earth shattering approach - as the lorry drivers did a few years ago when they brought the country to a standstill because of the price of petrol - then we will be ignored.
That is why I think this far into the process, the vote is our only weapon. If Cameron begins to see his own core suppport begin to fall away, I think he will finally begin to listen to us. I honestly think this is the best way we can stand together as a lobby group.
Giving him the vote when he has made it clear that the bully state will be ratcheted up a notch under a Con Govt will not do smokers any favours but rather seal their fate.
That is my view and my honest belief.
I second what Pat says here.
As smokers are so disorganised and spread out and lets face it, with even pin money so scarce to come by, with job losses and stealth taxes being forced upon us to survive, smokers feel they havent much clout when cig money is being seen now as a luxury.
When you add the 'dirty' image the antis have succeeded in labelling it, smokers feel they havent a fighting chance I would imagine.
The only chance smokers have now is to vote for the party who have been honest with us and have bravely stated in public to all concerned that they will amend the smoking ban.
What more do you want, we should help those who help us and you wont get better than that in this climate and it would be good enough for me as a smoker.
To hell with the three main parties even if it does result in a hung election. So much the better if it does, things couldnt get much worse and might even result in getting better.
The Tories from what they're spewing in their manifesto seem to be gearing up for more of the same interference in our bodily parts as the Labour lot.
Big EU Brother is only getting started with new restrictions.
I just saw in a news report recently where Romania is going to tax fast foods and Denmark is going to put a tax on chocolate in the fight against 'obesity' and England is going to put a tax on alco pops and certain drinks.
A hung parliament is a very small price to pay in this scheme of things I think!
.. and I would add, that smokers should contact their local UKIP branch, see if they have the required number of candididates in their area and if not, stand yourself, and if you can afford it, pay your own election fee. If they have candidates, get involved in whatever way you can, leaflet dropping, door to door campaigning, or just spreading the word. This way, it makes the party your own, you can influence it, it does speak for the people!
A hung parliament Ann, will result in all the things we all dread so much, A hung parliament allows the extremists to get their way, and for all popular issues to be floored.
Peter - it feels like we already have a hung parliament. Nothing can be worse than the three party alliance that rules us, disallows choice, and depends on the apathetic voter to muscle their way back into power, when in truth the majority of people don't want what they are offering but feel that they have little power to change it.
UKIP is the only party that is offering us a chance to change this. I won't be wasting that chance. I can only hope many more people do the same. For the first time in many decades, I am voting FOR something and not against it.
via Peter Thurgood - "Jon, one of the most sensible posts I have seen on here for ages, and about the only one worthy of a reply I would say."
I speak highly of you as well Peter!
I just hope that after the General Election, and we have another Labour Government, for another five years, all those that let them in by the back door, will hold their heads in shame and apologise, not just to us, but to the next generation as well.
... and I hope that those who vote Tory or Lib Dem will do the same