Watching the detective – doh!
Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 13:36 This is quite amusing.
Yesterday I wrote about the Save Our Pubs & Clubs cover wrap that adorns the latest issue of The Publican's Morning Advertiser. (Visit the Info page on the Forest website and click 'Out in the cold')
Since it merged with The Publican last year, the Morning Advertiser is the only weekly pub trade publication in the UK. It is distributed free of charge to 32,500 licensees of "quality independent freehold outlets" as well as many of the key decision-makers in the industry.
Anyway, over two pages of advertorial (or what Total Politics might call a "special report") we highlighted (a) why many smokers have turned their backs on the British pub, and (b) the more relaxed smoking restrictions that apply in Europe. The gist of it is summed up by the headline, 'It's time to relax the smoking ban'.
My post provoked the following comment from someone called 'Sarah Connelly':
Yawn, special pleading by tobacco industry funded organisation. Wonder who paid for the advertorial. Most people don't want the current smokefree legislation changed - and even on your poll, just of smokers, only a tiny majority want change. Keep taking the money Simon, really don't know how you sleep.
Remarks like that don't bother me so I didn't give them a second thought. In fact I would have forgotten about it had it not been for Dave Atherton ferreting around as only Dave Atherton can. (I think that's a compliment.)
Dave did some detective work. His first attempt at finding out who 'Sarah' is missed the target but second time around it seemed a bit more believable. Either that or it's a huge coincidence – in which case I apologise in advance!
Dave discovered that LinkedIn has a profile of someone called Sarah Connelly whose occupation is - wait for it - policy manager at the Department of Health!
As 'Sarah' said yesterday, Sarah Connelly is quite a common name but I am tempted to think that Dave may be right this time because the Internet address of the computer Sarah used to post her comments includes the letters 'doh'. Spooky.
Nevertheless we need to be very careful before we speculate or point the finger at individuals – not without hard evidence, anyway. The Internet is a harsh environment and I don't want to be responsible for people being targeted unfairly.
So let me be clear. If the 'Sarah' who commented on this blog is not the Sarah Connelly who works at the DoH it's all Dave Atherton's fault and I will be happy to put the record straight!
If however it is then it her comments provide a fascinating insight into the mindset of those working in government.
Reader Comments (8)
Errare humanum est..as my own inglorious comment on that post proved.
"In short, we need to be very careful before we speculate or point the finger at individuals – not without hard evidence, anyway."
Having discovered that anti-tobacco's main method of silencing all critics is by smearing them as shills for Big Tobacco, it's a reasonable assumption that these intermittent comments are from Tobacco Control astroturfers.
The ban is nearly 5 years old why would anyone else bother?
Unless of course the topic was in some way threatening to the alleged consensus that the smoking ban was a "Huge Success", why try to disrupt the flow of conversation?
Which Sarah did magnificently, I have to say.
I'd never heard of astroturfing before the ban,but it started in America apparently and was imported here in 2005. "See The Dirty Tricks Election" Dispatches
An example from Canada
"....... A key aspect of any smoke-free campaign is to mobilize the silent majority. Most non-smokers do not speak out against smoking, but you have to tap into their power to win your case. Angry smokers who feel they are losing what they feel is their right to smoke will likely speak out in a variety of ways
--- letters to the editor, comments sections of online articles, radio call-in shows, etc. Their voices can seem very loud, even though they represent a significant minority of the population. (page 36)
........ For the next few months, strive to ensure there are positive media stories, letters to the editor, etc., that tout how well the bylaw changes are working. There will no doubt be a backlash from smokers in the beginning until they get used to the changes. In the meantime, you have to counter their negative comments in the media, in comment sections of online news pieces and blogs, on radio call-in shows, etc. Your job is to make politicians continue to believe that they did the right thing. It is not unheard of for councillors to backtrack on their decision and water down legislation. (page 48)
http://www.smoke-free.ca/pdf_1/Smoke-free%20outdoor%20spaces%20advocacy%20-sept2010.pdf
The more you find out, the more interesting it seems to get, in a disturbing kind of way.
As Dave's alter-ego once famously said "Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth."
I can see it now Sherlock Atherton and Doctor John Clark.
Whether employed by the Tobacco Control Industry or just a lone Smokerphobic makes no difference. People like that are in the minority either way and the only thing that gives them such a big gob to make such a huge noise is the money they get from our taxes from a bigoted blinkered Govt that is not listening to the grass roots.
Because of that I have signed and carry to a link from my blog to a petition calling for No Confidence in the UK Govt.
It can be found directly here :
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/petition-for-a-motion-of-no-confidence-in-the-uk-coalit.html
We smokers have more reasons than many to distrust this incompetent Govt and its broken promises, attacks on industry and consumers, but there are many, many more reasons to get them out and vote in grown up intellectuals instead.
It really is in the National Interest to do so.
Firstly I would never post anything that was not in the public domain. For example I know where Rollo Tomassi lives.
I scored a bullseye (in Pam Steven's own words) on Chris Snowdon's blog.
I posed: @Pam Stevens
Are you the Pam Stevens who is "Director of Finance & Research Administration at Klein Buende."
Klein Buende's business is "Our research focuses on skin cancer prevention, physical activity, nutrition, tobacco cessation, substance abuse prevention, and mental health."
Anonymous Pam Stevens said...
Bullseye! Good digging Mr Atherton. Nothing gets past you does it. Like the difference between prohibition and pricing policy of a legal product."
The "Sarah Connolly" at the BMA is spelled with an 'O,' the Sarah Connelly on TL has an 'E'. Also the BMA has its own domain @bma.org.uk
I have a LinkedIn network of over 500 people and very few are out of my range. Barack Obama and David Cameron are 3rd connections.
A Sarah Connelly is the author of, "Current legislation and future needs – understanding the frameworks and policies designed to protect children.
Sarah Connelly, National Safeguarding Delivery Unit, Department for Children, Schools and Families"
Asked by Tim Loughton: "To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families...when he expects the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit to have developed guidance on referral and assessment systems for children affected by (a) domestic violence, (b) adult mental health problems and (c) drug and alcohol misuse;"
Seems like Sarah has embraced tobacco too. Not only that it also appears that a Sarah Connelly reports into Anne Milton.
"Slightly over one year ago, in October 2010, Public Health Minister, Anne Milton set out the Government’s vision for the future of health visiting in England, repeating its commitment to increase the health visitor workforce by 4,200 by 2015 and launching a new service model to improve care for children, families and communities going forward."
I will repeat that if it is the Sarah Connelly full marks for posting in your real name. However it would be helpful that you brought to our attention why you have an interest in the subject.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090602/text/90602w0035.htm
http://www.swdc.org.uk/silo/files/a-call-to-action--one-year-on.pdf
Thanks, Dave. I have revised my post in order not to implicate anyone by the name of Sarah Connolly! My point stands, however. It's legitimate to ask questions about a person's identity but until there is clear evidence or the person deigns to respond it's speculation, nothing more. Interesting, though!
True - and interesting nothing from this "Sarah" over the weekend - I guess civil servants don't work on a Saturday or Sunday.
And they say only smokers skive as they push for them to be discriminated against in the workplace with yet more false lies and misinformation to ensure they get sacked from their jobs.
Interesting what's said about Milton given that she denies favouring one side of the argument over the other, denies there are any Tobacco Control Industry stooges in the DoH and denies that the Govt's mind is only open to how quickly it can further punish adult smokers who won't quit by removing their consumer rights under plain packaging.
A great piece on the "consultation" over at Dick's place.