Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

Following Forest's 'ad blitz' last week, Cancer Research has followed suit.

Online ads supporting plain packaging have just appeared on Guido Fawkes, ConservativeHome, Labour List and other websites.

Well, you know what they say – imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Last week Labour List asked the ad agency MessageSpace to take down Forest's 'No, Prime Minister' ads. They're perfectly entitled to do that but I'm not sure what it says about Labour activists and open, democratic debate.

Update: Convenience Store reports that "The introduction of plain packaging in the UK appears to have stalled for the time being". I'm not sure that is true but judge for yourself:

Government runs out of time on plain packaging (Convenience Store)

Comments

[Christopher Snowdon]

"X said Y, therefore X is wrong when it says Z" is an obvious logical fallacy, but it would be fun to turn that round on the plain packers. For example, "ASH says that plain packaging won't lead to more smuggling, but it said that the smoking ban wouldn't hurt pubs", or "Cancer research says plain packs will make people give up smoking, but that's what they said about graphic warnings."

The possibilities are endless.

[Chris Oakley]

It is extremely unfortunate that CRUK has allowed its name to be associated with the murky campaign for plain packaging. I find myself unable to continue to donate, which is sad because CRUK does fund some excellent science. However, if the scientists will not stand up to the political wing of the organisation, thereby allowing themselves to be used to back a dishonest authoritarian agenda, why should anyone continue to fund them?

The tawdry spin you highlight above sums up CRUK quite neatly. It has become dominated by liars, spin doctors and masters of the non sequitur. It has become utterly contemptible and the gutless performance of those who should be defending its credibility does not bode well for its future.