Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Today on SunTalk Radio, "Gaunty talks to Nick Hogan, the pub landlord who was jailed after breaching the smoking ban, and discusses whether he has reformed his opinion after serving time." Listen to it on a podcast HERE.
Friday, March 12, 2010 Thanks to Guido Fawkes for a sneak glimpse at this week's Guidogram which offers exclusive footage of the moment Nick Hogan was released from jail.
If you're not a subscriber you normally have to wait a few days to see the Guidogram. To avoid delay, click HERE.
Have a good weekend!
Thursday, March 11, 2010 
It's almost time to move on from the Nick Hogan story but the past week has been surreal - and no more so than yesterday when I found myself entering a category B prison with a man wearing a green Guy Fawkes mask and carrying a suitcase containing £9,000 worth of used £10 notes.
Anyway, some of you were asking questions about the length of time it was taking to get Nick out. All I can say is, Old Holborn worked around the clock from the moment on Friday when the fund reached its target, but it proved far harder to get the money out of PayPal than it did to spring Nick from jail yesterday.
Without exception, the prison officials we spoke to were polite, friendly and helpful - even with a group of journalists and photographers on their doorstep, which seemed to make some more senior officials a little nervous.
We had been warned, in advance, that Nick might not be released for two or three hours after the money had been counted and verified. In the event, he was fast-tracked out within 45 minutes.
Rewinding the clock, we wanted to get Nick out as soon as possible, but some obstacles proved insurmountable. Old Holborn and I discussed travelling to Manchester on Monday night and meeting at the prison at 8.30 the following morning. The money, however, was still stuck in a PayPal account and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
On Monday at 16:23 I got the message: "Alas, the funds have not arrived in the bank." On Tuesday at 07:59 it was a similar story: "Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but no monies came in overnight." At 16:35 I was told: "Money hasn't come in here yet but should do after midnight."
And then, at 7.15 yesterday morning, I finally got the email that told me the money had arrived and we were on our way: "Meeting Tory Bear and Lazy Hyena at Stansted at 10am. Be in Manchester as fast as I can."
(Tory Bear? Lazy Hyena? Don't ask. Or, if you have to ask, click HERE.)
And so to yesterday's events. To be honest, there's not a lot more to add.
We arrived at HMP Forest Bank shortly after two o'clock. We had already tipped off the local media - hence the journalists and photographers gathering outside. I had also spoken, the previous day, to Robert Hardman, a journalist on the Daily Mail.
Robert is (I think) an ex-smoker but years ago, when he worked for the Telegraph, he contacted Forest to see if there were any airlines that would allow him to smoke while flying from Britain to Australia. He now writes feature article for the Mail and I thought the debtors' prison angle (and the fact that we were having to travel a couple of hundred miles with a suitcase full of cash) might appeal to him.
Robert couldn't come but he passed it on a colleague who did. Hence the story in today's paper.
Once we knew that Nick was definitely coming out, Anna Raccoon contacted Denise, his wife, to tell her and Denise joined us 30 minutes later, sitting quietly, drinking coffee, in the visitor's lounge.
Shortly before four, we were told that Nick was out. It was done with the minimum of fuss. Officials wanted him off the premises as quickly as possible but we wanted him to speak to the press and have his photograph taken. We reached a compromise.
And then we were told that Nick didn't want to speak to the media. Aaaagggghhhh!
Fortunately, by the time we found him he had been reunited with Denise and was calm, if a little shaky. (He clearly needed a cigarette!) We had a quick chat and agreed that OH would read out a short statement on Nick's behalf, with Nick and Denise by OH's side.
And that's what we did.
Inevitably, one reporter wanted to ask a question ... and then another piped up. And before long the questions were coming thick and fast. And Nick answered them all. In fact, I think he enjoyed it.
"Did I do OK?" he asked me later, when I joined him for a drink in Denise's pub in Chorley.
Nick, I told him truthfully, you did just great. And so did Anna Raccoon, Old Holborn and all the other bloggers who helped promote the campaign.
And to everyone who contributed to the appeal fund, I'll say just this: without your donation, however small, Nick Hogan would today be facing 21 hours in a claustrophobic (his word) prison cell, bored as hell and moderately depressed.
Instead, thanks to you, he's almost certainly nursing a sore head and enjoying yet another bottle of Budweiser. So thanks to everyone and, well ... cheers!
Simon Clark
Media coverage includes:
Bolton smoking ban landlord freed from jail (BBC News)
Landlord who defied smoking ban freed from jail after punters pay his fine (Daily Telegraph)
Jailed smoking ban martyr is freed by a mystery crusader's cash (Daily Mail)
Landlord who defied smoking ban released from jail (Manchester Evening News)
Freed smoking ban rebel thanks blogger who led £8,500 release fund campaign (Bolton News)
Thursday, March 11, 2010 
Old Holborn (left) prepares to deliver almost £8,500 in £10 notes to the authorities at Forest Bank prison in Salford to secure the release of prisoner number DN5431 (aka Nick Hogan - see previous post). A few minutes later - while OH was talking to journalists outside - I handed the money to a prison officer in the reception area.
Five minutes later:
OH: "Where's the case?"
SC: "I've given it to them."
OH: "Aagh, it's got my laptop in it. I'll never see that again. There's some dodgy people in here."
Photo H/T Manchester Evening News
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 
17:00 ... Two hours ago I was sitting in the reception area at Forest Bank prison in Salford. Standing next to me was blogger Old Holborn, in full costume. OH had just handed over a silver metal suitcase. Inside the suitcase was over £9,000 in £10 notes.
One hour ago we were standing outside the prison talking to (former jailed landlord) Nick Hogan and his wife Denise. Around us was a scrum of photographers and reporters.
Full story of the day to follow. First, here's the news release, issued jointly by Anna Raccoon, Old Holborn and Taking Liberties, and released at four o'clock this afternoon:
NEWS RELEASE Wednesday 10th March 2010
Jailed landlord walks free
Nick Hogan, the former landlord jailed after failing to pay fines imposed when he defied the smoking ban, has walked free from jail.
Hogan’s release, eleven days into a six-month sentence imposed by magistrates in Bolton, follows an online campaign to raise the money to secure his freedom.
Speaking outside Forest Bank prison in Salford, Hogan, 43, said: “I was devastated to be sent to jail. The smoking ban has cost me my pub, my job and my liberty.
“I’d like to thank everyone who donated money to get me out of jail, and all the well-wishers who sent me cards and letters while I was behind bars. I can’t thank them enough.
“It’s wonderful to know that so many people feel as strongly as I do about the smoking ban and its impact on ordinary working people.”
The campaign to pay Hogan’s fines was launched by renowned blogger Anna Raccoon with the help of fellow libertarian blogger Old Holborn who set up an account so people could donate online.
Within 36 hours over £5,000 had been raised. A further £1,200 was donated over the next two days before the campaign received a crucial helping hand from Britain’s most popular political blogger, Guido Fawkes, who publicised it on his widely read and influential site.
By the end of last week donations totalled more than £9,000, enough to pay Hogan’s debts.
A host of libertarian bloggers publicised the campaign, which was also backed by the smokers’ lobby group Forest. A Facebook group, Justice for Nick Hogan, attracted over one thousand supporters.
Anna Raccoon, the blogger who proposed the campaign to secure Hogan’s early release, said: “Nick Hogan is free because ordinary, hard-working members of the public, smokers and non-smokers alike, dug deep in their pockets to raise the money to return this man to his wife and home.
“The fact that so many people responded is a powerful message from the voting public that politicians would be well advised to heed.”
Old Holborn, whose blog hosted the fund that paid Hogan’s fine, said: “Debtors prisons were abolished in 1861. To imprison a bankrupt man for his non-ability to pay fines imposed by the introduction of an unjust law is not something the international blogosphere was prepared to tolerate.”
Simon Clark, director of the smokers’ lobby group Forest which supported the campaign, said: “We don't condone people breaking the law but we do condemn the draconian nature of the anti-smoking legislation that has resulted in a previously law-abiding man losing his business and going to jail.
“It’s a scandal that landlords are not allowed to offer customers the choice of smoking and non-smoking facilities, as is the case throughout most of Europe, without the threat of imprisonment hanging over them.”
ends
More to follow, including pictures, as soon as I can. I will make sure that Nick reads all the comments on this thread when he has a moment.
See also Anna Raccoon and Old Holborn's blogs.
Update (for Iain Dale readers!): Nick Hogan - behind the scenes
Simon Clark
Yes, it really is true. See:
Landlord who defied smoking ban released from jail (Manchester Evening News)
Friday, March 5, 2010 I am delighted to report that our combined efforts to raise £8,669 to release former landlord Nick Hogan from jail have succeeded. And it took less than seven days. Old Holborn has an update HERE.
Please note: the nature of PayPal is such that it will take a few working days to access the money - and as I reported a couple of days ago, the authorities want the money in cash before they will release Nick.
Everything has gone very smoothly. Anna Raccoon, who wrote the post that kick started the campaign last Saturday, has spoken every day to Nick's wife Denise. Nick too has been kept informed and all is well. We look forward to seeing him when he is released next week.
Congratulations to Anna Raccoon and Old Holborn for a fantastic effort, and thanks to everyone who made a donation or publicised the campaign on their blog or website.
More to follow next week when Nick is released from jail. The process is well under way. Please be patient - and please leave everything to OH and Anna Raccoon.
PS. As Anna says elsewhere, thanks too to Guido Fawkes for help with the final push.
Thursday, March 4, 2010 You could be forgiven for thinking that it's gone a bit quiet on the Nick Hogan front - and it's true that donations have temporarily stalled - but behind the scenes a lot has been going on (not all of it welcome, I have to say).
Old Holborn posted THIS update last night. Donations currently total £6,224 and if Nick is to be released early next week we need another £2,500.
If you haven't contributed yet, or if you can afford to make a further donation, however small, please do so TODAY. Every little helps. Click HERE.
This morning we will be sending a second email to Forest subscribers, many of whom have already been very generous (see HERE). We will also be emailing the 2,500 registered supporters of the Save Our Pubs and Clubs campaign. Fingers crossed, we can reach our target very soon.
PS. I spoke to the prison yesterday on OH's behalf and was told that Nick will be released within two hours of the money being provided in CASH. Seriously. They won't accept any other form of payment. Welcome to 21st century Britain.
Simon Clark
Guido Fawkes is running the story HERE. I'd give the comments a miss, though.
Simon Clark
12:47 ... Great news. A combination of this morning's emails and Guido's support has resulted in a surge of donations. Current total is £7,571, an increase of £1,500 in just three hours ...
Tuesday, March 2, 2010 At nine o'clock this morning donations to secure Nick Hogan's release stood at £5,029.50. Some people are speculating that he could be out within 24 hours but I would caution against excessive optimism. The finishing line is in sight but we're only half way towards the target.
We'll see what happens today when the initial euphoria dies down, but my guess is that it will be difficult to maintain the same momentum we had yesterday - unless one of the major, largely libertarian bloggers like Guido Fawkes, Iain Dale or even Devil's Kitchen gets behind the campaign.
In my view a more realistic target for Nick's release is No Smoking Day (Wednesday 10th March). That may seem a lifetime away but imagine the photo opportunity!
Just a thought.
Simon Clark
Old Holborn has an update HERE. As I predicted, the donation rate has dropped sharply today - not helped, perhaps, by the suggestion that donations could be used for something other than Nick's early release.
"Help get Nick Hogan released" - that's what we urged Forest subscribers in an email yesterday afternoon, and many of them rallied to the cause in the belief that getting him out of jail was the sole purpose of the fund.
Libertarians ... like herding cats.
Monday, March 1, 2010 I may have mentioned it but earlier today I was on SunTalk Radio discussing the Nick Hogan situation with presenter Jon Gaunt.
Ninety minutes later Jon spoke to Nick's wife Denise who gave her reaction to Nick's imprisonment.
Both interviews are featured on THIS SunTalk podcast.
Simon Clark
18:20 ... Current total donated, £3,775.50
20.39 ... It's now £4,274.50
Monday, March 1, 2010 I understand that this is where former landlord Nick Hogan is being held following his imprisonment on Friday (see previous posts).
In 2007 the Manchester Evening News described Forest Bank jail in Salford as "one of the most violent jails in the country". The paper reported that:
"In 10 years, there have been 2,329 attacks by prisoners at Forest Bank jail in Agecroft. Last year alone there were 339."
Help get Nick Hogan released. Click HERE.
Monday, March 1, 2010 STOP PRESS: I'll be discussing the Nick Hogan situation with Jon Gaunt on SunTalk at 10.10 this morning. Click HERE to listen.
Simon Clark
Nick's wife Denise talked to Gaunty at 11.38. The programme asked: "Is the smoking ban working? Did a man deserve prison for flaunting the law? Email: gaunty@suntalk.com".
Simon Clark
14:45 ... We have just issued THIS eBulletin to Forest subscribers. Donations currently stand at £2,032.
Simon Clark
SunTalk has just updated its website:
Should landlord Nick Hogan have been jailed over his stance on the smoking ban? Director of the pro-smoking group Forest, Simon Clark, and the wife of jailed landlord Nick Hogan, Denise Hogan, join Gaunty to discuss the smoking ban in pubs.
Click HERE.
Simon Clark
16:00 ... Current total donated, £3188.50
Monday, March 1, 2010 There has been a lot of online activity over the weekend concerning Nick Hogan, the former landlord given a six month prison sentence for refusing (or being unable) to pay fines in relation to people smoking in his premises. (See earlier post HERE.)
Old Holborn, in particular, has been very busy. According to Anna Raccoon:
His wife, Denise, is now managing their present pub in Chorley herself. Their trade is so low that they don't even bother to open the downstairs bar. Nick is bankrupt, and had gone to court intending to argue that he could not afford the £500 a month payments demanded by the council towards their £11,600 bill for prosecuting him.
He has already paid off £1,600. The court gave him a six month sentence instead, and he is currently in Forest Bank prison in Pendlebury, unable to help to earn the money which would ensure his release.
Denise has not even been able to speak to him since he was sentenced. She has merely been told to phone the prison on Monday to enquire when she might see him. She is confused, frightened, and feeling very lonely.
If all the people who disagree with the smoking ban contributed a few coppers, then Nick would be released ... Denise has just said to me 'All the people who disagree with the ban - where are they now? - and my Nick is in prison'. Quite.
Denise has no idea how to use the Internet, she has no idea how many of us are against the smoking ban. Let's show her.
Full post HERE.
Old Holborn has set up a PayPal account where you can make a donation towards Nick's unpaid fine and costs. Click on the link above for more details.
I have made a donation and I have asked OH to keep us informed of the running total. I understand that £10,000 is needed to get Nick out of prison so all contributions welcome.
Later today we will be sending an e-newsletter with news of Nick's plight to the 2,000 or so Forest subscribers. A similar bulletin will be sent to the 2,500 registered supporters of the Save Our Pubs and Clubs campaign.
More info to follow.
Simon Clark
As of 09.45 this morning donations stand at £1,522. Check our tweets (top right) for updates.
Saturday, February 27, 2010 I know some of you will want to comment on the six-month jail sentence given to Nick Hogan (left) for refusing to pay fines for allowing people to smoke in his Bolton pub after the introduction of the smoking ban in 2007. The Daily Mail has the story HERE.
I'll comment further, when I get a moment.
Simon Clark
Simon Clark
I know Nick resigned as the party's candidate for Chorley, but he is still described as UKIP's "national spokesman for licensing and night-time economy". So why the deafening silence from UKIP about his predicament?
Not a peep on the party's website or any of the official "UKIP blogs". (See HERE.) Honourable mention, though, to Paul Nuttall, chairman of UKIP and MEP for North West England, who writes on his own blog:
"It makes me sick to the stomach to see Nick ‘go down’ because prison is for real criminals, for bad people who seek to hurt other human beings, not for people like Nick Hogan ... Nick may be behind bars today, but it is the wrong bar in my opinion and I for one will be there to meet him when he is released."
See HERE.
Update: I'm told that UKIP has issued a press release, but there's no sign of it on the party's website. (The report in the Mail bears no relation to the UKIP press release so the paper clearly didn't get it from that source.)
