Now that's what I call a result
Monday, August 13, 2012 at 19:15 Had to laugh at the plain pack lobby last week.
On Wednesday we had Cancer Research claiming 75,000 signatures in favour of standardised packaging. Then Plain Packs Protect tweeted that they had "over 170,000" which suggested a combined figure slightly above the Hands Off Our Packs total of 235,000 (which we had announced the previous day after CRUK reported their figure).
We then pointed out that, if you added the 30,000 signatures submitted by shop workers via the Tobacco Retailers Alliance, then the 'No' lobby actually had a minimum of 265,000.
Come Friday ASH was claiming that "more than 200,000 members of the public have responded to the Plain Packs Protect campaign", an increase of 30,000 in 48 hours.
Add CRUK's 75k and suddenly the 'Yes' lobby had leap-frogged the 'No' lobby yet again.
But wait. It was still not clear whether the PPP figure included the CRUK figure. Did it or didn't it?
Well, tonight the mystery appears to have been solved. A message on the Plain Packs Protect website declares:
A BIG THANK YOU
FOR HELPING PROTECT
OUR CHILDREN
203,114* Supporters
We would like to thank everyone who has shown their support for plain tobacco packaging. The Government consultation has now closed, and with over 200,000 sign ups, there’s a good chance we could all make a big difference to help protect our children from the dangers of smoking.
*This number reflects the total amount of people who have signed up to support the plain packaging of tobacco products, via the Plain Packs Protect Partnership (logos below), British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK websites.
So it's official. Despite having received over £460,000 of public money and having the full weight of Cancer Research UK, the British Heart Foundation, numerous PCTs and countless public health organisations behind them, Plain Packs Protect has raised fewer signatures than the Forest-run Hands Off Our Packs campaign.
Now that's what I call a result.
PS. We weren't the only ones who were bemused by PPP's antics last week. See Fun and games with calculators (Dick Puddlecote)
Also on the subject of plain packaging, I enjoyed reading Back of fag packet legislation (Think Scotland).
See Dick Puddlecote (again) here: Buying support at £2 a pop ... out of our taxes.
And even my old friend Madsen Pirie has pitched in: In praise of packaging (ASI blog)
Update: There's a good piece on The Commentator by Dave Atherton, Tobacco Control wins the gold medal for dishonesty on plain packaging.
See also: Anti-smoking campaigners 'hooked on legislation' (Chris Snowdon writing for Public Service Europe)
Reader Comments (6)
Well done and thanks. It will be interesting to see how the Govt responds to this and the consultation. When does it announce its decision?
Pat,
If previous government actions tell us anything, they tell us that:
a) The D o H says nothing at all.
b) The D o H issues a brief statement saying that the matter of consideration of plain packaging will await the decision of the Australian courts (thus kicking the idea into touch for the time being).
c) The D o H will claim 'overwhelming' support and drive PP through.
Our best hope is that enough members of the Cabinet raise their voices against PP. Even the dopiest of Cabinet Ministers must see the consequences as regards the knock-on effects, and the probability of other prohibitionists making similar demands.
I hate to sound like the harbinger of doom and gloom but I read a statement only last week by Andrew Lansley, where he said he didn't care a jot about polls - he knows what needs to be done and he will carry it out (words to that effect)
This cretin of a man is supposed to be working for us - the people. Instead of which he blindly follows his own distorted views to the detriment of the people and freedom.
Nice to know we have friends like that in the Government isn't it?
I presume that, if it it suits them, the Government will use only the numbers of submissions to its consultation. So who would be the winner? It is, any case, incredible that Government policy should be decided in a far dodgier way than the winner of the X Factor. It reminds me of a dispute I had about the pronounciation of the word "scone". I remember winning because I could claim the whole of Greater Manchester.
The Plain packs campaign whimpers on, about protecting children from the dangers of smoking. Now there is a display ban and cigarettes cannot be seen such an argument holds no real weight whatsoever. Couldn't they just tell the truth for once, that this is about them gaining control of the tobacco, the pack and its size. Perhaps truth is something that Ash tobacco control dictators are incapable of.
Any argument to tug at the emotions of the general public, that they must now take for complete fools.
I think this result proves that the public really are not that gullible and that the overwhelming majority by not signing their Plain Packs Petitions, are against.
... and control of the contents and taste. They aim to make tobacco so foul we will all go running to the black market so they can criminalise us which is all part of the plan to eradicate smoking and force it underground. Even contaminated stuff will taste better than what the Govt proposes to sell us.