Tony Bennett

So cam someone who is in UKIP please tell me what the official UKIP policy is on the soon-to-be-introduced ban on smoking in public places (which a great many people and nearly all non-smokers support):

'Bloody-minded' MEP beats Euro smoking ban

[Picture: MEP Nigel Farage]

A Eurosceptic MEP has told how he believes that sheer “bloody-mindedness” has proved to be a way to beat the ban on smoking indoors.

With just three months until a total ban on smoking in public places comes into force in England, UKIP leader Nigel Farage has revealed how a similar rule became unenforceable in Brussels… inside the European Parliament buildings.

And it is possible that similar actions could lead to the collapse of the new law that came into force in Wales this week, with England to follow on July 1.

On New Year’s Day this year smoking was banned in the European Parliament building.

But a dedicated band of smokers – including South East England MEP Mr Farage – refused to obey the regulations.

Now the Euro Parliament buildings in both Brussels and Strasbourg both have dedicated smoking areas in bars, coffee rooms and offices.

And it has left Brussels Eurocrats in a difficult position when they force ordinary people across Europe to obey new laws.

Mr Farage, who lives in Bromley, said: “I found the rule that the European Parliament building should be smoke free unacceptable and ignored it from day one.

“I just carried on smoking in the areas I always had done so. The whole thing just fell apart as other smokers were doing the same. Once one smoker refused to obey then other people joined in. So the rule has now been thrown out.”

Mr Farage emphasised that he was “breaking building regulations, not the law” when he defied the Euro-ban, and he said he could not encourage people to light up in pubs when the law comes into force.

“Lawmakers cannot be lawbreakers and so I can not urge people to break the law," he said.

“But I totally understand their frustration with it. Either we are adults or we are not.

“If we believe that the people of the British Isles are responsible for themselves and their lives then we must allow them to choose how they live by themselves.

“If a publican wishes to go smoke free, great, that is their choice. If they don’t, that is also their choice.“ What is unacceptable is that this Government thinks it can impose its own solutions in private spaces.

“It’s not of their business to legislate on morality.”

Mr Farage added he is totally opposed to the new law.

“The only word I can use to describe it is monstrous,” he said.

“What I am hoping is that tolerant zones – maybe resembling Chicago-style ‘speakeasies’ – can be set up in pubs and bars where people can exercise their right to choose.

“This is one of the most draconian laws which has ever been bought in and although I know pubs will have beer gardens and may even find other ways to get round it, it is extremely bad news for the freedom of the individual.

“It is also very bad news for the pub business. In rural areas – such as many parts of Kent – we have seen many establishments closing in recent years and this move will be a further blow to trade, as has happened elsewhere.”

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stathan

If you're going to put a poll up mate also add an...' I agree with the ban option' otherwise it becomes a totally one sided skewed opinion poll.



I'll start it off with.... 1 vote for not having to breathe in the smelly stinking **** that other ignorant people have always been happy to belch over others without a thought for their wish not to be engulfed in putrid cancer causing fumes.



I'm not sure that you can fit that in a one liner on a poll but give it a go out of respect for others if you could please.





'I see that you've changed the options as I typed, perhaps not as strong as I've suggested but better than the previous voting option'


Thanks!

mkpdavies

Up to the pub (IE privately owned business). If you don't like it, don't use it.

For genuinely public places, then democracy rules.

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NFs comments on smoking.

kernow

Spot on in my opinion!

g hall

Any business should be allowed to choose. We are having freedoms removed from our lives by a bunch of bossy boots whose own lives are only fulfilled when they can bully others - how about a law banning that

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devilskitchen

Come, come, we're discussing cigarettes not cars here...

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Bellatrix

UKIP is a libertarian party and as such we believe that the individual should be able to make the choices which govern their own lives.

This includes smoking.

This law is utterly draconian and shows the real nature of this Labour government. They want control over every aspect of your life from what you eat, to how and when you travel on public transport, who you employ in your own business, how long you can work, and now whether or not you can smoke.

How dare the government and in particular Patsy Hewitt tell private member clubs that they are not allowed to have smoking rooms? A landlord of a freehouse that he cannot let people smoke in his own property?

Whilst some people may not like smoking, it's worth looking at the true nature of the law rather than just the cosmetics which the government are proud to push.

stathan

It's quite simple, don't blow smoke all over non smokers, don't endanger the health of workers by forcing them work in a cancer inducing enviroment or limit their job opportunities, complete the apparently hugely difficult task of actually putting out a cigarette before discarding it in a bin rather than the floor.

Make a start in a few of those areas and you'll find the objections of others towards the sheer ignorance of smokers will start to decrease.


The rather smug asertion that non smokers can just go to non smoking venues is just that, the smug self centred mantra of those who basically don't give a s**t for anyones else civil liberties, the sheer irony of those who whine about the infringement of the right of people to smoke and pollute the air of others who wish not too is frankly staggering.



Chuck in the fact that fires caused by discarded cigarettes from those incapable of even putting out a finished fag are the biggest cause of death by fire in this country and maybe even the dullest of so called libertarians might grasp the scale of ignorance and arrogance displayed by those apalled by the current affront to their civil liberties caused by the smoking ban.



It might be worth pointing out that the dope who made the mind boggling decision to include the ludicrous overturn the smoking ban pledge on election leaflets for the Welsh Assembly, is already losing us votes and new members. On one day alone last week 3 seperate letters and one irate phone call pointing out that potential members had torn up partially completed membership application forms upon spotting the smoking pledge were recieved at Welsh HQ.


It may be argued that perhaps some votes may be picked up from committed smokers, but whats the point if you cheese as many other people off on an issue that really didn't need to be highlighted on our literature?

mkpdavies

Theres only one person I see being smug and self centered around here, demanding private rights being binned for health fascism.

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