The state we're in
Monday, January 2, 2012 at 14:00 Last week wasn't the prolonged break I was hoping for.
On Thursday, for example, after Sky News cancelled a live interview from my home (scheduled for 7.10am), BBC Radio London asked me to talk about plain packaging on the Vanessa Feltz Show.
I like Vanessa. In my experience her views are broadly libertarian and she let's you put your point across without repeated interruption.
Unfortunately she was on holiday and in her place was someone called Jeni Barnett whose face (I Googled her) is vaguely familiar from television.
Barnett is an ex-smoker. I'm not saying the two things are connected but she gave the tobacco control spokesman (I didn't catch his name) the easiest of rides.
When it was my turn she argued with just about everything I said. At one point I accused her of being "patronising" and "middle class" in her attitude to smoking. She didn't like that at all and claimed (in a remarkably plummy voice) that she was far from being middle class.
"Well, I won that argument," she told listeners as I was faded out. So much for BBC impartiality!
The same day I was also invited to take part in the BBC Radio Wales phone-in.
The discussion was prompted by two stories – a report in the Western Mail (Ban on smoking in cars with children is backed by the Bevan Foundation) and the suggestion that the Coalition Government is going to introduce minimum pricing on alcohol.
A fellow guest was Ian Johnston, former president of the Police Superintendents' Association.
Johnston argued that a ban on smoking in cars was a step too far. Enforcing such a ban, he added, should not be a job for the police who had better things to do with their time.
If I heard him correctly, he also used the words "nanny state" and warned that if smoking is banned in private vehicles the next step would be a ban on smoking in the home.
His comments would be music to our ears but for one thing – he's retired. If only a serving officer would echo those words whilst in office!
The previous time I was on the Radio Wales phone-in (in November) I was joined by a GP who was also critical of a ban on smoking in private vehicles. He too was retired.
Now these may be isolated examples but I don't think so. The truth, I suspect, is that there are a lot of people in the public sector who are opposed to heavy-handed regulation but while they are employed by the state they dare not say anything for fear of jeopardising their careers. Only after they have retired will they risk speaking out - which, I'm sorry to say, is too late to influence the powers that be.
There are exceptions to the rule. A practising oncologist criticised the BMA for wanting to ban smoking in cars on the Today programme, but it's rare to hear that on national radio or television.
I understand the difficult position GPs, policemen etc are in so I'm not being uber critical. The conundrum is how to give them a voice without putting their jobs at risk.
Nurses For Reform is a brave attempt to change the NHS from within. What we need, in addition, is a broad church campaign that will challenge (from within) excessive state interference in people's daily lives. A bit like The Free Society but it has to be led by people who currently work in the public sector and are prepared to speak out.
Wishful thinking? We'll see.
Reader Comments (2)
Yes, sadly, wishful thinking Simon. Most of the public "servants" employed today are employed to bring about such bans and particulalry to hound smokers with the NuArmy of jobsworths created to follow them and fine them.
They will never be honest, decent, or humane enough to sacrifice their fat salaries for the greater good of a better, fairer, more cohesive society.
Sad but true. Smokers are the NuNiggers of the 21st century which is why the bigoted snobby biased radio presenter felt justified in taking a side. The "right" side no doubt.
A transcript of the practising oncologist (Caller Anne) can be found here.