Some while ago, February 18th to be exact, I wrote to my MP. Below is a short piece of it.
You'll have to forgive the loose format. Blogger is buggering me about.
Dear John Stanley, Just a little message about how you and your ilk have badly let the old,
and lonely down, with your illiberal smoking ban.
Some of the quotes I have collected are taken from the blog site of Frank Davis, and from those who have made comments there. Frank has posted regularly and movingly on the subject of loneliness and the smoking ban, and particularly its effect on older people.
I give you one example, of a poignant letter written by pensioner Jane Daniel in the evening of New Years Eve 2010. “I have accepted all of that and never smoked where I was
So now I only smoke in my own home. This is a very lonely
existence and I would love to be able to go to a pub for a drink
occasionally. However, as a smoker I know that I can't do
this and enjoy a drink and cigarette in safety and comfort in a pub.
I accept all this and am sorry that my pleasure upsets so many people.
I wish that my life was different, but after smoking for over 60 years
it is difficult to stop.
It really hurts me to hear that smokers are now classed as
disgusting filthy death carriers as I really hadn't considered
myself to be thus.
Now that I am all these horrible things I am glad that I am
nearing the end of my life. How cruel and malicious are
these people that have ostracised me and cast me out from society.
I am so sorry if my 'habit' has offended people and wish that I
had never taken that first cigarette all those years ago.”
not welcomed to do so. I am now in my mid 70's and can
now only smoke either at home or in the open air. I am now
disabled (accident damaging my hip) and so can not get out
as much as I would like to.
existence and I would love to be able to go to a pub for a drink
occasionally. However, as a smoker I know that I can't do
this and enjoy a drink and cigarette in safety and comfort in a pub.
I accept all this and am sorry that my pleasure upsets so many people.
I wish that my life was different, but after smoking for over 60 years
it is difficult to stop.
It really hurts me to hear that smokers are now classed as
disgusting filthy death carriers as I really hadn't considered
myself to be thus.
Now that I am all these horrible things I am glad that I am
nearing the end of my life. How cruel and malicious are
these people that have ostracised me and cast me out from society.
I am so sorry if my 'habit' has offended people and wish that I
had never taken that first cigarette all those years ago.”
There were many more of these sad stories in my Email to Sir John.I finished it of with this:And you think that you stand up for a conservative way of life. You should be ashamed to the very core of your being. From being a lifelong conservative voter, I decided that I couldn't vote for labour light at the last election. IE the Cameron, left thinking big society. I'm unable to understand why the party I used to believe in has become so intolerant to smokers, and bends over backwards with funding to fake charities such as ASH and Alcohol concern.
I would appreciate an answer that doesn't involve spin and obfuscation, which is what is normally sent to us proles who question the status quo. Are you man enough? Your reply will say it all.
Hint: 25% of the voting public smoke.
Your obedient servant(Not)The Filthy Engineer
Now you would think that I’d get a sympathetic reply. Nope. I get this cockwaffle following the party line.
From the Rt Hon Andrew Lansley CBE MPSecretary of State for HealthDepartment of HealthRichmond House 79 WhitehallLondonSW1A 2NSTel: 020 7210 4850
The Rt Hon Sir John Stanley MP House of CommonsWestminsterLondon SW1A OAA29 MAR 2011
Thank you for your letter of 2 March enclosing correspondence
from your constituent Mr Filthy Engineer of Filthy Mansions, Somewhere in Kent,about smokefree legislation.The smokefree provisions in the Health Act 2006
were carriedout in free votes across all parties by large majorities
in both Houses of Parliament. This Parliamentary support for smokefree
legislation reflected the very widespread public support.
The primary aim of the legislation was to protect workers and the
general public from exposure to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
Medical and scientific evidence shows that exposure to secondhand smoke
increases the risk of serious medical conditions such as lung cancer,
heart disease, asthma attacks, childhood respiratory disease,
sudden infant death syndrome and reduced lung function.
Smoking is the largest single cause of preventable illness and premature
death in the UK. It kills over 100,000 people every year and a recent
academic study suggests that the cost to the British taxpayer is more
than £5billion a year.
ANDREW LANSLEY CBE
Note the first bit if disinformation in the second paragraph.”reflected the
very widespread public support.” Well I wasn’t consulted, nor was
anyone I know.
The second paragraph is more waffle not facts. Notice the phrase that is
used by the bansturbators of all colours. “ increases the risk”. I would like
to know Mr Lansley how you can state that asthma attacks are increasing
and blame it on SHS, when the percentage of smokers has fallen dramatically
in the last 50 years.
What about having a look at this study which I think may have some small
bearing on our health. What are you doing about that? Nothing.
As for the last paragraph even that arch antismoking group ASH (January 2011)
doesn’t agree with that made up figure of £5 billion..
Smoking costs the National Health Service (NHS) approximately
£2.7 billion a year for treating diseases caused by smoking.
About 76% of the price of a packet of cigarettes consists of taxation.
And as for the reply from my MP enclosed with that letter.
Just a note from one of his minions.
Oh well, time for a blood pressure pill, and shortly a large whisky or two.*
*And you too can bugger off, Alcohol Concern, if you read this.
