Scotland: bid to ban smoking in private vehicles starts today
Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at 8:20 Currently at Stansted waiting for a flight to Dublin.
Lots to talk about on the Irish front but, first, Scotland.
Jim Hume, Lib Dem MSP for South of Scotland, will today launch his bid to ban smoking in cars with children.
Yesterday Forest issued a short press release on the subject and looking at this morning's press cuttings I see we've been quoted by the Scottish Sun, Daily Record and several newspapers.
One thing no-one is talking about is whether the Scottish Parliament has the power to ban smoking in private vehicles.
After all, what will happen if Scotland introduces legislation but England doesn't?
In those circumstances you might be driving north and in a matter of a few seconds, as you cross the border, you could go from upstanding citizen without a stain on your character (or driving licence) to anti-social law-breaker guilty of child abuse.
Doesn't make sense to me.
Update: My colleague Angela Harbutt will be discussing this on the BBC Radio Scotland phone-in at 8.50.
Update: BBC News Online has predictably ignored our response and has run a typical one-sided report listing some of the organisations that support legislation without mentioning any opposition.
I have just called them (from the departure lounge!) to complain ...
Update: Forest's quote has now been added to the BBC report.
Update: Forest also quoted by the Scotsman, Herald, [Dundee] Courier, Scottish Television and others.
Reader Comments (1)
I note that this campaign is being led by an allegedly liberal politician.
I also note that the BBC report references one of its favourite charities, the British Lung Foundation (BLF).
The BLF is yet another charity run by marketeers, spin doctors and media people. It's resident medical expert is the appalling "Professor" Spiro, a man who thinks that smokers should be assessed for mental illness.