Mirror 'vote' highlights lack of public enthusiasm for plain packaging

This made me laugh.

The Mirror asked the most loaded question I have ever read and still couldn't get a majority of their predominantly Labour supporting readers to vote in favour of plain packaging.

Here's the question:

A tobacco firm gave Tory MPs £50k worth of freebies as as the industry fights the planned plain box laws. Should cigarettes be sold in plain packaging?

The result was 50-50 yet five of the six comments they published highlighted the futility of the policy while the sixth ("Yes, but they should stop making cigarettes altogether") was on the barking end of the spectrum.

If that's the best they can do ...

Comments

[Pat Nurse]

Pet journos in the media are doing their bit and clearly moulding public opinion ready for when plain packs come in because they will. Journos in the pocket of the prohibitionists's job is to ensure that the majority of the public doesn't complain about it when it happens and if anyone does, they'll be silenced, ignored, dismissed as crazy, supporting child abuse etc.....

[nisakiman]

Yes, Pat, you're right. Doubtless they are even now working on how they can accuse the 'deniers' of being closet paedophiles; paedophiles being the 'bête noire du jour'.

[Chris Oakley]

I am stunned that any media organisation could approve asking such a blatantly leading question and expect to be taken seriously. You are correct in your analysis. Even with the help of a partisan political rag, the plain packs campaign cannot claim grass roots support. The leaders of all three main parties should take note, especially Miliband who has used the campaign to score political points.