Wednesday 14 September 2011

Will Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Bans Get A Green Light Tonight?

Remember Conservative MP Bob Neill's statement on the Localism Bill less than a month ago?

"Reports suggesting that the Localism Bill will allow the introduction of smoking bans in public places are wide off the mark. There is nothing in this Bill that provides additional powers to prohibit smoking in open spaces or in private cars."
Nothing in the Bill at the time of that quote, no. But then, the final wording hasn't been decided yet, has it?

In fact, according to the BBC's Democracy Live, they'll be discussing exactly that in the Lords tonight. And just look at the amendment Baroness Gardner of Parkes* has submitted to proceedings.

193 Insert the following new Clause—

“Power to make byelaws about smoke-free places

(1) A local authority may make byelaws designating as smoke-free any place or description of place that is not smoke-free under section 2 of the Health Act 2006.

(2) The place, or places falling within the description, need not be enclosed or substantially enclosed.

(3) The byelaws may provide for such places, or places falling within the description, to be smoke-free only—

(a) in specified circumstances,
(b) at specified times,
(c) if specified conditions are satisfied,
(d) in specified areas,
or any combination of those.
(4) Terms used in this section have the same meanings as in the Health Act 2006.”
Baroness Gardner, by the way, is a Tory.

Now, she could just be an irritating old pecksniff - her other amendment enabling councils to force homeowners to decorate at their neighbours' request suggests as much.

I do hope so, because if the Conservative machine has nudged her into dropping this amendment in where most wouldn't notice it, they're slippery two-faced maggots. And if Trixie has been prompted by ASH ... well, it'd be just more proof that they are a political lobby group and shouldn't be classed as a charity, wouldn't it?

As for Bob Neill, perhaps we'll need to have a word or two with him should this amendment get passed.

* Another bloody interfering Aussie!


15 comments:

Pat Nurse MA said...

I knew he was lying. Milton has said in the past that the localism bill could be used in this way and I did even write about that because I know my council will.
It is run by smokerphobic bigots who began banning before banning was as popular as it is now with the NuPuritans.
If this goes ahead, I predict a riot!
Please please stop voting Tory and give 'em a message. I fail to see how else we can make them listen unless they fear losing their seats.
LibLabCon - what difference?

Angry Exile said...

As Pat says, another nail in the coffin of the idea that the main parties are different. When it comes to self righteous paternalism you couldn't get a cigarette paper between the bastards, not least because they'll have banned cigarette papers by the time you try.

Twenty_Rothmans said...

I'm Australian, can't I cancel that curtain-twitching old ratbag out?

I note with interest that her family political past is a little muddled, with her father and uncle having been Labor politicians. Did some come here to escape that horrible legacy?

She should stay out of politics and get back to what old people do best - having arthritis and forgetting things. That's what I do.

Humph said...

Jesus fucking wept. Does this man that they will also have to ban bonfire night, New Year's Eve and whatever else seems to happen every other day for whatever dumbass reason, you know, on the basis that inhaling noxious firework vapours must be a lot worse than (not) inhaling a smidgey fraction of cigarette smoke? No? Thought not.

I only have utter contempt for these people. Bordering on hatred. Actually, it wouldn't displease me to see a rogue Doberman rip their fucking throats out. I guess they'd just ban Dobermans then ...

Fuck this country. Fuck the deceitful politicians and fuck the fucking idiots who vote them in each time.

We all must have a breaking point and I really think I'm reaching mine pretty quickly now. Enough is enough.

Bill said...

The EU force the Greek government, sorry governor,to impose an extra tax on the ordinatly Greek leccy bill.
Word on the street is Mr & Mr Stavros will ignore this tax and won't pay it.

Here we take it as a gven that at some point this lunacy will happen because it's a government, our governors, implementing it.

We really do deserve the 'sheeple' tag.

Frank Davis said...

My comments here.

NewsboyCap said...

Sorry Pat but I have to disagree, Bill is right we are nothing but Sheeple.
There'll be no riot, no protests, maybe the odd shaken head, sharp intake of breath, nothing more.
We have become spineless, we are not up for the fight any more.
Words are fine but nothing has changed since the ban, TPTB ignore us,ignore the truth about 2nd hand smoke and frankly don't care what we want or say.
It is time for positive action, to step up to the plate and face the consequences.

George Speller said...

The only outdoor ban proposed so far at Stony Stratford crashed and burned.

Twenty_Rothmans said...

The only outdoor ban proposed so far at Stony Stratford crashed and burned.

George
You've seen Straw Dogs, haven't you? They'll try another entrance, then another, then another. Our forces are too dispersed to repel them. We are not paid to do what they do - they are.

RB said...

We do realise, I take it, that the wording of the proposed amendment enables a ban on smoking in your own home?

Ian B said...

I think RB is right. IANAL, but it reads to me like a council could just declare their entire town "smoke-free", homes and all.

handymanphil said...

Humph said...
"I only have utter contempt for these people. Bordering on hatred. Actually, it wouldn't displease me to see a rogue Doberman rip their fucking throats out. I guess they'd just ban Dobermans then ...

Fuck this country. Fuck the deceitful politicians and fuck the fucking idiots who vote them in each time."
Humph my friend, the only thing you missed off really.............err........this country IS FUCKED - BIGTIME!

westcoast2 said...

As far as I can tell they never got to Amendment 193 (The smoking one) and it seems the next meeting on this matter is in October.

The actual amendment seems out of line with the rest of the Bill.

It will be interesting to see what happens. I wonder whether the Lords that opposed the original 2006 Bill will speak up.

Anonymous said...

I think it's time for mass disobedience if this is implemented. I mean what are they going to do, enter a park containing hundreds of people smoking, that would surely mean instant death!

Z

handymanphil said...

I totally agree, mass disobedience IS the only resort left. I've said before, what is "call me Dave" going to do when central London is blocked up by 500,000 angry people-I assume that out of 63million there are 0.35% (approx) who would actually get off the arses for once!