Keir Starmer has confirmed the Government could ban smoking in pub gardens and other outdoor areas, arguing it would reduce the “burden” on the NHS. The Telegraph has more.
The Prime Minister told journalists in Paris on Thursday that ministers were looking at tightening smoking restrictions. Critics labelled the potential move as “authoritarian” and a “nanny state” policy.
Sir Keir said: “My starting point on this is to remind everybody that over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking. That is a preventable death, it’s a huge burden on the NHS and, of course, it is a burden on the taxpayer.
“So, yes, we are going to take decisions in this space, more details will be revealed, but this is a preventable series of deaths and we’ve got to take action to reduce the burden on the NHS and the taxpayer.”
The Government is considering a ban on smoking in pub gardens as well as other outdoor areas like outside football stadiums, outdoor restaurants and open-air spaces at nightclubs.
The proposals, first reported by the Sun, will be subject to a public consultation but they have sparked a furious backlash from politicians and the hospitality industry.
Nigel Farage, the Reform U.K. leader, said the Government was guilty of a “massive overreach”.
He told Talk TV: “It is not nanny-statism. It is authoritarianism. It is ‘I know what is best for you and you will damn well do it and what I am going to do is I am going to take your legal activity and make it illegal’.
“That is really what they are saying here. A smoke-free Britain by 2030. Really? Will it be drugs-free by 2030? Will it be obesity-free? Will it be alcoholism-free?
“This is a massive overreach by Government. I loathe these people and their very instincts.”
Tory leadership contenders also condemned the proposals. …
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “We do not comment on leaks. Smoking claims 80,000 lives a year, puts huge pressure on our NHS, and costs taxpayers billions.
“We are determined to protect children and non-smokers from the harms of second-hand smoking. We’re considering a range of measures to finally make Britain smoke-free.”
Worth reading in full.
If smoking kills 80,000 people early each year, surely it is likely to be a net gain to the public purse? Not that this is the right way to make public policy (what happened to personal freedom?) But if you’re going to make law based on what “relieves the burden” on the NHS and public spending, you should at least make sure you’ve got the calculations correct. More likely, of course, any excuse to clamp down on the common people’s pleasures will do.
Stop Press: Starmer is facing a backlash from Labour MPs and ministers over his “mad” smoking ban plan, with one source claiming some ministers believe Sue Gray is behind it.
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Yep I was having difficulty believing these figures until I worked out the lads don’t even realise they are doing it because it’s institutional rapism.
Am I reading this wrong, is this parody?
Yes.
Or at least I hope so!
I was wondering that, it went straight over my head.
Am I reading your comment wrong, is this Poe’s Law?
My efforts to understand the first paragraph ended in a serious case of brain entanglement. I had a cup of tea and then went for a walk. Much better now.
“My efforts to understand” … this article have failed miserably.
‘Before things get ugly.’ The article has the sole redeeming feature of reminding me of Paul Newman’s eponymous ‘Harper’ in the 1966 film. The Sheriff (bad guy) says to our hero: “I could get ugly about this.” To which Newman replies: “You ARE ugly.”
It’s far too early to spark one up Ian.
“To understand the sheer scale of the violence against women on U.S. college campuses, we have only to refer to the Association of American Universities’ 2020 report, which points out that 18% of women taking a four-year undergraduate course will have been raped at least once by the end of it. This isn’t just unwanted touching or groping, but rape. And this figure is closely replicated in another study by RTI International”
I recall a report about a “U.S.” city where after guns were legalised, various crimes, including violations of women, decreased. Whether protecting women and children is a priority for the Democrat party in that country is another matter (and I think also of the massacre that was prevented by a passer by armed with a gun who stopped the assailant).
I might also add, I seem to recall a piece in a newspaper some years ago (possibly the Guardian?) which claimed that the hard left have a bit of a blind spot about violations of women.
And Jews.
Wow, this is certainly positive news;
”Switzerland stops the Covid vaccinations: all vaccination recommendations have been withdrawn, doctors can only administer the controversial vaccines in individual cases under certain conditions – but then bear the risk of liability for vaccination damage.Whilst it is unfortunate that they cite high prevalence of natural immunity and low levels of virus circulation as primary motivation, rather than the complete ineffectiveness and damage caused by the “vaccine”, it still represents the most courageous act by a public health authority.
Nevertheless, they do still mention those last two facts. It’s progress. Pushing liability onto the doctors is very welcome. Maybe, they’ll put a bit more thought into the part they are playing in the democide.”
https://metatron.substack.com/p/switzerland-withdraws-all-covid-vaccination
“Pushing liability onto the doctors is very welcome”
For those Drs and others in the medical industry in the UK who bother to do some research or engage in periods of CPD (continuous professional development) this development must surely be a wake up call – he wrote optimistically – or perhaps even a ruddy thunderbolt.
Welcome news nevertheless because it puts medics everywhere on notice.
“Not me guv” just won’t wash anymore and neither will “acting under orders your Honour.”
“Acting under orders” never worked. Remember Nuremburg Medical Trials…?
Good news Mogs. Do you think this court action had anything to do with it?
https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/will-swiss-court-action-over-vaccine-injuries-turn-the-worldwide-tide/
I was thinking it’s possibly something to do with the banker who’s currently suing the Swiss Health Minister regarding his fraudulent claims about the death jabs;
https://theswisstimes.ch/swiss-banker-files-criminal-charges-over-false-covid-vaccine-statements/
I’ve no idea what point this article is trying to make.
Two words:
Ian
Rons
WTF??
ChatGPT hacked poor Mr Rons’ brain.
Looks like the DS nas been hacked.
Too subtle for me, had to look twice at the headline and still don’t get it.
Lawlessness reigns on these campuses, inside and outside the classrooms.
Yeah, I’m taking the fucking piss. Weird how many people affecting English didn’t get it.
We all got it, Ian. Anyone not appearing to get it was only taking the fucking piss.
Well don’t get upset old chap, old bean, old man.
Weird that you say “we all” though.
I’m only taking the fucking piss, Ian.
Spoken like a true… erm… Englishman.
If you have to explain the joke…
The West will have to arm trans activists in order to win.
Your tenks are stronk. Russian tenks. Stronk.
Oh, do shut up.
Weird how a p1sh article like this was allowed to be published in the first place.
Are we not supposed to be Sceptics, to see through the blarney and bullshit? Well, this article is good training. We should take nothing at face value and THINK!
Trolling the Daily Skeptic again.
Might have been funny a week ago.
What a weird article! I sincerely hope it’s parody! I don’t like IR bringing in the Russia/Ukraine conflict which has absolutely nothing to do with the problems real women are having in sport (and everywhere?). If all the DS articles become like this, I will unsubscribe!
@Ian Rons – are those stats you quote correct about 18% of female undergraduates being raped – that seems quite high?
I lived in the district of Dunwoody, greater Atlanta GA, some 25 years ago. The neighbouring district of Kennesaw had recently prior had a problem with significantly increasing home burglary, so they mandated that every household must keep a loaded gun on the property. Burglaries fell to near zero. It’s how America works.
Now if you take guns away mayhem will ensue.
I presume this meant to be satire, but it misses any humour, so doesn’t work.