Smoking ban: petition the deputy PM
Thursday, May 20, 2010 Further to the Deputy PM's speech yesterday, blogger Dick Puddlecote has created a Facebook group called "Nick Clegg: Include an Amendment to the Smoking Ban in the Repeal Bill".
The problem with Facebook and the Internet generally is that it's like the Wild West and very soon there could be dozens of groups - each one with a handful of supporters - saying pretty much the same thing.
Nevertheless I like the look of DP's group. The message is simple:
On May 19th, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced what has been dubbed 'The Great Repeal Bill' with this promise: "And as we tear through the statute book, we'll do something no government ever has: we will ask you which laws you think should go."
An amendment to the unnecessarily spiteful nature of the smoking ban has been provisionally tabled as part of this bill.
We believe that an amendment which allows an element of choice for the UK's 12 million smokers is not only fair to grant, but also grossly unfair to deny if we are to profess to living in a free and civil country.
Our aims are very moderate. We have no desire to inflict our smoke on people who do not desire it and ask that private members clubs, pubs, and restaurants that derive a significant proportion of their income from cigars, be allowed to allocate a separate, well ventilated room for patrons who wish to smoke.
The UK and Ireland are the ONLY countries in the EU to have treated smokers in such a spiteful manner. All others have implemented workable solutions which respect both smokers and non-smokers alike.
Over 5,000 pubs, clubs and bingo halls have closed, and 100,000 have been made unemployed by this vindictive law. Much of this damage could have been easily avoided by providing accommodation for smokers where those who are sensitive to smoke wouldn't be remotely affected.
As part of the Great Repeal Bill, we ask that the relevant clause in the Health Act 2006 be amended to afford a social environment which is acceptable to all.
To join DP's Facebook group click HERE.
Simon Clark
Simon Clark
There are a lot of posts about repealing/amending the smoking ban on the Telegraph website here: Nick Clegg: tell us the laws that you want scrapped. Keep them coming.
Reader Comments (4)
The Bulgarians must be one of the first countries to repeal a spiteful smoking ban. Well done to them.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=116382
Some very interesting responses on the 'Telegraph' website.
But why is it so glitchy - or is it just my PC ?.
And, incidentally, a VERY worthwhile analysis of Certain Recent Events by Christopher Booker here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7705599/General-Election-2010-The-Tory-gamble-that-failed-us-all.html
(Any chance of getting HIM into the Coalition ?)
Simon,
Smaller Pubs should be excluded from a ban as they havn,t got the space for a smoking room(like in Germany) also some pubs used to have 90% of their clientel who were smokers ,if the ban was amended they would be stood in a que to use it,perhaps we should have No Smoking rooms instead ? ha !
I agree with Chris W. I think it is wrong to be campaigning for seperate smoking rooms in pubs - they are not pleasant places to enjoy a cigarette. It won't affect you being a non-smoker but these places (as I have experienced in Germany) are terrible. Give the pub the choice - smoking or non smoking. Or alternatively campaign for a smoke-free room.