Simon Clark - Taking Liberties

Woke up to hear Forest being quoted on the Today programme.

The Welsh Assembly Government is today launching a campaign to 'persuade' parents not to smoke in their cars when children are present.

On Friday I did a pre-record for BBC Wales and also gave a quote to the Western Mail.

The gist of my comment was that Forest would support a campaign to educate parents because we do believe that smoking in a car is inconsiderate to a small child. Research suggests that the overwhelming majority of smokers believe this too, which is why they don't do it.

On the other hand we dispute the extent of the alleged risks and we will resist a ban because that would be disproportionate to the problem.

The BBC has the story on its website - Welsh government targets smoking in cars when children present.

PS. I am currently en route to Kings Cross to collect my mobile phone from lost property. On Saturday night a nice man from Network Rail rang to say it had been found on a train on Friday night. It must have fallen out of a pocket, on to the seat or the luggage rack. Good start to the week!

Update: A soundbite from my interview with BBC Wales was included in a report on BBC Breakfast this morning. Click here.

Update on Monday, February 6, 2012 at 14:59 by

Simon Clark

Email from a Mr Robert Evans:

Once again you bleating smokers whinge about how persecuted you are. OK, carry on smoking in cars and make children really ill with your selfish, foul habit? As non smokers, we have been persecuted for decades by you lot, not being able to have a night out without going home stinking of stale tobacco, having to shower as soon as you get in, put your clothes right in the wash.

The smoking ban was the BEST THING EVER, and if you selfish, whining pathetic lot don’t like it then tough luck.

The smoking ban does NOT cost lives, it saves them. If you want to carry on this filthy, pathetic, life shortening habit, do it in private and shut the hell up.

How this clown Clark can say ‘it’s a step too far to protect children by banning smoking in cars’ beggars belief. You selfish, ill informed fool. You want to step back, listen to the crap you spout, and concede that smoking is: expensive, socially obnoxious, going out of fashion faster than good manners, taking years off your life, and diminishing the quality of your last years in life.

Get a grip man and be HONEST, your argument, like your clothes and your breath, stinks.

Yours sincerely

From a smoke and stink free house.

Charming.