Plain packaging: update on response to Government decision
Thursday, January 29, 2015 at 15:50 Where were we?
Oh yes, my last post (on Tuesday) suggested the PM and his officials were struggling to shut down the plain packaging story.
So, how's that been going? I'll leave you to judge.
From The Times this morning:
Opponents of plans to introduce plain packaging, led by the pro-smoking group Forest, have urged the government to publish the report on last year’s consultation on the issue “without further delay”. Forest said it was “incomprehensible” that it would press ahead with legislation without doing so, while the Department of Health insisted the responses could be published “very soon”.
And here are a handful of tweets since I last posted.
Government urged to publish plain packaging consultation report and regulations http://t.co/EN6uZLDA0e
— Convenience Store (@CStoreMagazine) January 29, 2015"Customer views will show plain packs isn't just a commercial argument," says Jacob Rees Mogg MP. His petition guide: http://t.co/fEIXjLKGXl
— Chris Gamm (@ChrisGammRN) January 29, 2015Tory MP @PhilipDaviesMP calls plain packaging for cigarettes "idiotic nanny state proposals"
— Iain (@Iain_33) January 29, 2015No 10 refuses to say if David Cameron backs standardised tobacco packaging #shambles http://t.co/7lGevsskX2
— Luciana Berger (@lucianaberger) January 29, 2015.@lucianaberger is right, it's a shambles. Sort it out Prime Minister. Say no to plain packs! http://t.co/SxM75xvNkw pic.twitter.com/EJtkQbm0Zo
— Hands Off Our Packs (@NoToPlainPacks) January 29, 2015PM's spokesman bizarrely won't say whether Cameron personally supports plain cigarette packaging, only that we can deduce he wants a vote
— Rowena Mason (@rowenamason) January 28, 2015Plain tobacco packaging under threat from Conservative rebels: Government accused of bungling reforms http://t.co/4hf0GhyGG5
— SFTA (@scotfoodtrade) January 28, 2015Packaging News | Plain pack opposition rises, Government urged to publish report http://t.co/TKDYPvPL0T
— Hands Off Our Packs (@NoToPlainPacks) January 28, 2015Second Tory Cabinet minister criticises plain packets for cigarettes http://t.co/VfYEaIpQOj via @Telegraph
— Hands Off Our Packs (@NoToPlainPacks) January 29, 2015
Reader Comments (2)
I find it interesting and concerning that tobacco control advocates and government officials (civil servants and elected officials) continually seek to deliberate on tobacco control issues in secret deliberations and avoid transparency. What are they trying to hide?
It is all very comical, Simon, and I admire your efforts to combat the Zealots. But the really insidious plan is the car ban (with kids present). It is that plan which is most dangerous. It implies that feeding kids chips is OK (which it is), but feeding them ONE chip which might be a bit over-cooked and a bit burnt becomes a criminal offence since burnt chips are carcinogenic. There is no safe level.