That's entertainment!

Brilliant interview with Forest's Angela Harbutt on BBC Radio Merseyside.

Subject? Smoking in hospital grounds.

Presenter Simon Hoban summed it up nicely: "Angela, that was entertaining. Thank you for being on."

Click here. Item starts at 01:08.

Comments

[Junican]

An excellent response from Angela. What she said emphasises precisely what was wrong with the Zealots' about-turn on the smoking shelters affair at the Royal Bolton Hospital. If you recall, the hospital board said that they would build shelters if the public voted for them. The public DID vote for them, but various FORCES (and I use that word deliberately) consisting of Local Authority Councillors and hospital employees like oncologists shouted it down for 'sending wrong messages'. What These Zealots did not consider was the wishes of individuals.
Tobacco Control is a totalitarian concept. I know that it sounds surreal, but it is true. 'Sending the wrong message' is indicative of 'one size fits all' (totalitarian). It smacks of 'new-speak' and denial of freedom of speech. In effect, it says that only one 'message' is correct.
Angela emphasised the needs and desires of individuals. I particularly liked the way n which she reversed the argument and suggested that the solution to the 'clouds of smoke' argument outside the doors of hospital could be removed by the creation of smoking rooms!
Beautiful!