UKIP leader Farage backs new freedom to smoke campaign

Britannist · 09-02-2007, 05:20 AM

UKIP is officially backing a new campaign which calls for people and public houses to decide for themselves if to smoke or allow smoking:

There's more at:

:arrow:
http://www.ukip.org/ukip_news/gen12.php?t=1&id=2868

eublues · 09-02-2007, 09:31 AM

This statement needs a bit more detail to deal with the obvious ripostes to be expected (eg about employee health).

Britannist · 09-02-2007, 09:42 AM

There are plenty of smokers out there who will be impressed at this very un-politically correct move to speak for their rights and freedom.

Millions of smokers must be fed up with the campaign to turn them into pariahs.

These people have votes and if any of them get to read Mr. Farage's comments on this matter will be pleased he has spoken for them.

eublues · 09-02-2007, 09:50 AM

I agree with the message in terms of leaving it to individuals and keeping the state out of it, but the statement on the UKIP site is unhelpfully brief.

It needed to mention some of the measures that pubs could take as described on the freedom2smoke website.

That is, give the UKIP minded person the answers to obvious criticisms of this position.

g hall · 09-02-2007, 10:13 AM

Until it is made illegal it is up to the individual. Certainly businesses should look at the provision of both smoking and non smoking areas

Having been brought up in a pub in the 60's I know what the ceilings looked like, I don't smoke

The situation back then was a consequence from the WW2 when people were encouraged to smoke.

My only objection as a non smoker is people smoking where food is served and eaten

Obviously the smell from cigarette smoking is not very nice especially from ready made commercial ones but it's something you may not mind putting up with in exchange for the chosen company

I have more objection to the current trend to hawk up and spit everywhere

Millennium3 · 09-02-2007, 10:59 AM

I believe this is a good policy and also agree there should be some safegaurds for staff.

It is a brave move.

There are 12 - 14 million smokers according to FAGS - that's nearly enough to win the next GE!

Britannist · 09-02-2007, 11:29 AM

Exactly. If all the smokers in the land united to back the same party, they could defeat this politically correct excuse for a Government which clearly has it in for smokers.

Smokers - through the huge tax they pay on cigarettes - are paying to keep the NHS going.

Westcountryman · 09-02-2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Smokers - through the huge tax they pay on cigarettes - are paying to keep the NHS going.

I'm not sure I can buy this. How much revenue does tax on cigarettes actually raise? And what is the cost to the NHS for treating all smoking-related illnesses and smokers?

cookie65 · 09-02-2007, 04:43 PM

I am still at work so not much chance to check my sources, but I think it is 10.8 Billion in tobacco taxation, Against 1.7 Billion in DIRECT NHS costs.

This latter figure does not take into account the indirect costs of smoking.
I am a Smoker

exo-politics · 09-02-2007, 05:04 PM

The annual health budget is currently £96bn per annum, so duty on Tobacco going by the previously mentioned figure for revenue of £10.8bn amounts to 11% of the NHS budget.

09-02-2007, 05:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 23,172	UKIP leader Farage backs new freedom to smoke campaign UKIP is officially backing a new campaign which calls for people and public houses to decide for themselves if to smoke or allow smoking: There's more at: :arrow: http://www.ukip.org/ukip_news/gen12.php?t=1&id=2868

09-02-2007, 09:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 23,172	Mr. Farage and smoking comments There are plenty of smokers out there who will be impressed at this very un-politically correct move to speak for their rights and freedom. Millions of smokers must be fed up with the campaign to turn them into pariahs. These people have votes and if any of them get to read Mr. Farage's comments on this matter will be pleased he has spoken for them.

09-02-2007, 11:29 AM	#7 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 23,172	Smokers paying to keep NHS going Exactly. If all the smokers in the land united to back the same party, they could defeat this politically correct excuse for a Government which clearly has it in for smokers. Smokers - through the huge tax they pay on cigarettes - are paying to keep the NHS going.

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09-02-2007, 09:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
eublues Uber Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3,194	This statement needs a bit more detail to deal with the obvious ripostes to be expected (eg about employee health).

09-02-2007, 09:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
eublues Uber Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3,194	I agree with the message in terms of leaving it to individuals and keeping the state out of it, but the statement on the UKIP site is unhelpfully brief. It needed to mention some of the measures that pubs could take as described on the freedom2smoke website. That is, give the UKIP minded person the answers to obvious criticisms of this position.

09-02-2007, 10:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
g hall Uber Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: erewhon Posts: 5,938	Until it is made illegal it is up to the individual. Certainly businesses should look at the provision of both smoking and non smoking areas Having been brought up in a pub in the 60's I know what the ceilings looked like, I don't smoke The situation back then was a consequence from the WW2 when people were encouraged to smoke. My only objection as a non smoker is people smoking where food is served and eaten Obviously the smell from cigarette smoking is not very nice especially from ready made commercial ones but it's something you may not mind putting up with in exchange for the chosen company I have more objection to the current trend to hawk up and spit everywhere

09-02-2007, 10:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
Millennium3 Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Berkshire Posts: 4,762	I believe this is a good policy and also agree there should be some safegaurds for staff. It is a brave move. There are 12 - 14 million smokers according to FAGS - that's nearly enough to win the next GE!

09-02-2007, 04:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
cookie65 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: hyde cheshire Posts: 648	I am still at work so not much chance to check my sources, but I think it is 10.8 Billion in tobacco taxation, Against 1.7 Billion in DIRECT NHS costs. This latter figure does not take into account the indirect costs of smoking. I am a Smoker

09-02-2007, 05:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
exo-politics Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 54	The annual health budget is currently £96bn per annum, so duty on Tobacco going by the previously mentioned figure for revenue of £10.8bn amounts to 11% of the NHS budget.