Nanny State Legislation or Protecting the Workers? - Chiswickw4.com forum deliberates
Heated debate was inevitable following the Common's landmark decision to introduce a comprehensive smoking ban in England.
The Valentine's day vote, which was carried by a majority of 200 (384 for to 184 against), will see smoking banned in all public places from summer 2007 with the exemptions of royal palaces and prisons.
Ann Keen MP voted in favour of the ban and told Chiswickw4.com "As a former nurse I have seen first hand the terrible consequences of smoking to people’s health. Smoking related diseases have a devastating impact on families. This is historic moment and will change people’s attitude to their health and will positively protect the thousands of people affected in the workplace by smoke.”
In Chiswick, locals have been as vocal as ever on the Chiswickw4.com forum.
"Well...I am a smoker....and I'm glad they've banned smoking from pubs etc!! I did give up...then ended up being tempted while in a pub around smokers. I just wish they'd started the ban in 2006!! It's even worse now I'm smoking again...because from the experience of not smoking...I know how bad smokers smell!! I think it's time to try and stop again soon." wrote one member.
Another wrote "I am so looking forward to my first night out going to a smoke free club or gig! No more French Goths smoking, holding their cigarette away from themselves at arms length. No more twats on the dancefloor flouncing around waiving cigarettes in the air. No more burnt clothes (or skin) from irresponsible smokers. Even better no more wretching and heaving stinking if fags after a night out in hair and clothes. Smokers have had it their way far too long."
One member, who has experienced the ban in Ireland wrote "Get ready for ugly shacks spoiling pub gardens. Also, sales of garden heaters will be enormous, with all the benefits to the environment that go with them. In the short term, if Ireland is anything to go by, pubs will be much duller & emptier places, though hopefully over the years they could become better than ever. I'm a non-smoker. I respect people who agree with the ban, though I consider it ill conceived. I've never been convinced by pious ex-smokers though; none so pure as a reformed whore."
In total opposition to the ban, one member called the move "nanny state legislation" writing "As a serious smoker I am naturally appalled by this latest piece of nanny state legislation. Evidently the population is already being rather inconsiderate by living too long and becoming too expensive to keep vis a vis pensions and the NHS etc, but we are then told smoking (although remaining perfectly legal to buy fags) is about to make criminals of those who light up practically anywhere other than in the secrecy of their own home and this is to bizarrely to ensure we all live longer! Yeh right!"
Tobacco loving MPs were warned that even though Parliament (being a royal palace) is actually exempt from the ban, their indulgence could soon be stubbed out after the Labour chairman of the MPs’ admin committee called for a report on a total Commons ban, including MPs’ own offices.
Local Labour MP Stephen Pound, who is said to have had his first cigarette when he was 10, gave up his notorious 40 a day habit immediately following the vote “I actually felt ashamed of being a smoker.” he said.
February 17, 2006
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