Labour MPs given free vote
Labour MPs and government ministers have been given a free vote on bill to ban smoking in public places, increasing the chances of a total ban. Pubs not serving food and members' clubs were to have been exempted from a ban but pressure from Labour backbenchers appears to have prompted the decision to allow the free vote. Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt is expected to vote for a blanket ban.
Source: BBC News (11 January 2006)
posted by Simon Clark @ 18:33
7 comments
7 Comments:
Another shameful cave in by the government to the more hysterical of their backbench MPs and another broken election manifesto.
The whole bill and now this “free vote” is yet another example of New Labour‘s increasingly authoritarian and cynical attempt to ride on the wave of a political correctness that seems to have afflicted this nation.
I hope the Tories have the good sense [and the desire to protect our personal freedoms] to whip their MPs into voting against any amendment that would ban smoking altogether in all enclosed public spaces. The day might still be won!
Can't rely on the Tories! Shadow health spokesman Andrew Lansley "said he would be voting for a ban in all pubs" (BBC News).
OK, so he supports an exemption for private clubs but he also wants "a workable, fair and effective outcome which protects children, staff and the public from the clear dangers of second-hand tobacco smoke".
Clear dangers of passive smoking? Don't you just love gullible politicians?
I have just read that MP's will be told that a partial ban would be an infringement of Human rights, For those that still allow smoking.
But a total ban does not infringe smokers rights, because they will "still have the choice on where they can smoke, in their own homes, in prison and in care homes".
So your choice is stay at home or be locked up or institutionalised.
It would be preferable if the Tories were to put forward an alternative amendment, whereby pubs and restaurants would be licensed to allow smoking similar to a license to sell alcohol on the premises.
Minimum standards would apply to the provision of ventilation and area cleaning systems in the designated smoking areas.
This would keep everyone happy - smokers and non-smokers a like.
However, this proposal is all too sensible and reasonable, but unfortunately in New Labour they do not have exhibit these attributes.
I would challenge any Tories MP to table such an amendment to the present proposal that are a total mess and a further erosion and intrusion into the British way of life.
I like the comments by Anonymous. I firmly believe that pubs, restaurants, clubs, wherever should be allowed the choice of being a Smoking venue or a non smoking venue. The only stipulation I can see that the Government would need to make is for people seeking work and who are on benefits so that they are not penalised for turning down a job in a smoking environment if they are non smokers and vice versa.
This, of course, is a far too simple and fair solution for the likes of Politicians to think of.
If I were to give up smoking I would become obese and consequently totally unfit and with a mountain of other problems, not least of which would be depression. I would also likely end up on a variety of other medication for my nerves and for stress, all of which conditions would cause me to be visiting the doctor and possibly the hospital on a regular basis, which I don't need to do now.
Finally, how does the Government intend to fund all the other ailments that will clog up our hospitals if all us smokers quit? Where will the revenue come from that currently comes from us smokers? Perhaps people have noticed that hospitals are being closed already due to lack of funds being available and that is just the start.
Is there anything at all that can be done? Are adverts allowed that pass off unproven facts as the absolute truth? It seems that the stop-smoking adverts show people with lung cancer, clogged arteries etc and we are then told that passive smoking is a "killer" and us "selfish" smokers are killing the population - how bloody absurd. Surely this should not be allowed to be shown as it is based on unproven facts. Its time that something was done but what can we do? The whole world has gone mad! I think I need a fag! luckily Ive got blue eyes.
I'm still puzzled by the fact that pubs and restaurants are declared public. There is no right nor obligation to have restaurants, they are operated on private initiative and in private property. How come hospitality organisation don't stand up for the rights if their members and challenge the bans as unconstitutional?
There is no obligation to go into a smoky restaurant. Would I go to a rock festival and then demand that they play Mozart because I don't like loud music?
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