How will government respond to Ukip's success – more regulation?
Friday, May 23, 2014 at 9:11 Woke up to the news that Ukip has done rather well in the local elections.
Already there is speculation about how the mainstream parties will react. One analysis – in the Independent – suggests the Coalition parties will respond with a flurry of measures in the Queen's Speech to demonstrate the Government has not run out of ideas.
Plain packaging is one of them although technically there is no reason to include it because the legislation already exists. Effectively it will be a statement of intent.
Odd, isn't it, that the Tories in particular would respond to Ukip's success by introducing a policy that Ukip (and certainly its leader) is firmly against.
Of course plain packaging is just the tip of the iceberg of over-regulation and paternalistic practices that have dogged this country for years. That's why it's so important.
Many of you may think plain packaging is a done deal and not worth fighting. I disagree. There's a lot at stake and much to play for.
Over 650,000 people responded to the public consultation on plain packaging in 2012. Almost two-thirds of them opposed the policy. That must never be forgotten.
Over the next few days I will reveal what more you can do to help in the run up to the Queen's Speech and the "short final consultation" the Government has said it will conduct but has yet to announce.
This battle is far from over. Watch this space.
Reader Comments (5)
It just shows how out of touch they are. They are still playing to the privileged elite and are not listening to ordinary voters who just want to be left alone. If Cameron's Conservatives continue to back the smokerphobic professional bigots and nasties who target smokers, drinkers, fatties for abuse, the Tories will lose GE2015. Don't blame UKIP for that. Blame Cameron.
UKIP and Tories have much in common. Labour is our joint enemy. If Cameron wants to pretend the NuTories are Labourites then he gets what he deserves.
#WeSmokeWeVote
Political parties who persecute smokers must be reformed as a smoker like me would not contemplate voting for any of them.
Neither would I Gray.
For those who argue that a political party supporting the smoking ban is not a reason to vote for that political party anymore need to open their eyes.
The smoking ban was the tip of the ice-berg; it demonstrated how career politicians can manipulate their constituents just like their predecessors did in the past.
It doesn't work anymore. All it does is keep pen-pushers and non-productive members of our society in their jobs.
It's no longer about the ban but the march towards criminalising elderly legitimate consumers and the next generation of young people who might smoke - all done in the fascist name of a "Smoker-Free World".
This is a fight against fascism and is not about being able to smoke where and when we like or even inside anymore. It's about the British values of tolerance and consideration.
We want to be left alone. No more bans, no more abuse, and definitely no criminalisation of vulnerable people who are unable to fight back against powerful anti-smoker lobbyists who use our own cash to attack us
I've ruled out any political party who uses tax taken from me and used against me as electable because I happen to be one who smokes.