Meet a real world freedom fighter

“Once our right to smoke and vape is taken away they’re going to take away a lot of our other freedoms,” campaigner Venice Allan told Reform MP Lee Anderson on GB News yesterday.

I say ‘yesterday’ but the programme, Lee Anderson’s Real World, was recorded on Thursday morning, then broadcast ‘as live’ on Friday evening - hence the faux pub vibe, including glasses of beer that sat largely untouched.

Anderson presides over the programme like a benevolent headmaster. One guest even had to sit at the back, literally in the corner, alongside a sign that read ‘Left in the Corner’. Geddit?

At least Venice got to sit at the same table as the presenter so she could eye-ball him directly.

As it happens, Anderson (an ex-smoker) is relatively tolerant when it comes to smoking. Smoking outside hospitals, however, “winds him up”.

To be fair, with Venice’s encouragement he did concede there “should be a place” for smoking on hospital grounds, but not directly outside the building.

She has since written on social media:

‘I really wanted to talk about the madness of the generational smoking ban and the simultaneous government attack on vaping, despite vapes being the most successful smoking cessation device ever invented.

‘Freedom-loving nonsmokers, ignore the Tobacco and Vapes Bill at your peril!’

You can watch the full programme here.

The interview with Venice - a genuine freedom fighter not the vocal armchair variety - starts at 19:40 and includes an unexpected reference to “nappy fetishists”. Enjoy.