The silent majority needs to speak up

Following publication of Forest's new report yesterday, ConservativeHome ran an article by yours truly.

Headlined 'If May really wants a fairer Britain, she should end the war on smokers', it concluded as follows:

In her first speech as Prime Minister Theresa May said she wanted to make Britain “a country that works for everyone”. In Birmingham last week she added that the Conservatives will use government to “restore fairness” in Britain. In the coming months, as the government’s new smoking strategy is finalised, ministers should reflect on what that truly means. A significant number of adults smoke, and enjoy smoking, and their contribution to society is substantial (£12 billion a year in tobacco taxation alone, far outweighing the alleged cost of treating smoking-related diseases). Further discrimination against smokers would be the clearest sign that this new One Nation Conservative government is not as inclusive as it purports to be.

If the Prime Minister really wants to stand up for millions of ordinary people who are sick and tired of being patronised by politicians and the professional classes, she must stop her government introducing further policies that will discriminate against the UK’s seven million smokers. Enough is enough. It’s time to stop this spiteful war on ordinary people who choose to smoke.

These were some of the comments:

Of all the ridiculous things I have heard over the past few days, this one has to take the biscuit.

Those who wish to stick paper and tobacco in their mouths and then set light to them are quite welcome to do so as far as I am concerned - as long as they put a leak-proof bag over their head and don`t pollute any further the air I have to inspire.

I am appalled at this language which is deliberately inflammatory and offensive to those of us who have had to put up with smokers depriving us for decades of clean air and costed our NHS billions of pounds of tax payers money.

I approve of the legislation and regulations that have already been brought in to control smoking and would support further measures to control smoking in public spaces.

The laws on smoking in public places were the best thing to come from 13 years of New Labour government.

There were some supportive comments too but I find the level of intolerance a bit depressing.

Thankfully I don't think they're representative of the population as a whole (as our report makes clear) but the silent majority are just that – silent.

What politicians (and the media) hear constantly are the moaners, people who spend their lives looking for things to grumble about, and the internet and social media has given them the perfect platform.

It's notable too that there are fewer people willing to stick their heads above the parapet and defend smokers. I guess it's easier to keep your head down, more's the pity.

Anyway it's not too late to comment on ConHome so if you get a moment click here.