Politicians, what are they like?
Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 10:20 That's weird.
I've just received a letter from my MP. It was written in response to the letter I sent him, asking him to vote against plain packaging.
It reads:
Thank you for contacting me about standardised packaging for cigarettes.
As you know, the final agreement by members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords delivers on the Government's commitment to introduce standardised packaging regulations before the end of this parliament.
I realise that you have strong feelings about this issue. However, I think this is an important measure, and the evidence from Australia – where similar measures have already been put in place – has shown that this will reduce levels of smoking and save lives.
Smoking remains one of our most significant public health challenges. It is a major cause of cancer, heart and respiratory disease and almost 80,000 people in England alone die every year from ill health caused by smoking. It places an enormous strain on the NHS.
That is why I believe that the policy is a proportionate and justified response to the considerable public health harm from smoking tobacco.
Thank you again for contacting me on this issue.
The weird thing is this: on March 11 the MP concerned voted against plain packaging!!
And that's not all. A few days before the vote I emailed another MP:
I know you have previously voted in favour of plain packaging but ahead of a possible vote on the issue this week I attach some information that may be of interest to you.
This was his reply:
I must say that I cannot remember why [I voted in favour of plain packaging]. At present I'm minded to vote against it, on the grounds that it makes counterfeiting easier. Isn't that the best argument against it?
I'm pleased to say the MP concerned did vote against plain packaging on March 11 but it's odd he "can't remember why" he previously voted in favour.
Meanwhile my own MP votes against but, two weeks later, says the measure is a "proportionate and justified response to the considerable public health harm from smoking tobacco".
Politicians, what are they like?
Reader Comments (5)
Oh Simon, Simon, when are we ever going to get any common sense spoken by our MPs on this issue? Labour, Conservative, Lib Dems, they are all the same where the smoking issue is concerned. I wouldn't mind if they spoke their own minds about these issues, but when they spout quotes from Chairman Arnott's little red book, which is made up on a daily basis, it is all so purile. Just take the one quote in the letter to you about Australia. "It has worked there" they say. Do they really think we are all complete morons who never take the time or trouble to read facts for ourselves? Of course plain packaging hasn't worked there.
They also go on to say "almost 80,000 people in England alone die every year from ill health caused by smoking" This is yet another fallacy - a made up statistic. As we have all been saying for many years now, there is not one single death certificate ever been issued with the cause of death put down to smoking.
A doctor might ask the relatives of someone who has died, "did he or she smoke?" and if they say yes, the doctor automatically assumes their death was caused by smoking. I wonder how many doctors would assume a person lived a long and healthy life because they smoked, which as we all know, does happen?
Politics is such a grubby game
@Peter…Yes sadly you’re spot on. It made me smile too that these politicians seem to have no reason to fully investigate the outcome of this policy in Australia. Either they’re too lazy to do so, too dumb…or they have to follow the party line however overwhelming the evidence that it simply isn’t working is. We’ve been down this road before haven’t we?
Here’s one statement in Simon’s post that exemplifies the thinking of these half-wits!
“I realise that you have strong feelings about this issue. However, I think this is an important measure, and the evidence from Australia – where similar measures have already been put in place – has shown that this will reduce levels of smoking and save lives.”
Does it not cross his mind for one moment that Simon might just know how well or otherwise this policy is working in Australia…after all the years Simon’s being doing the job? You will also notice that the MP doesn’t give any verifiable evidence that would support his stance in any way.
Notice also the good old ubiquitous figure of 80,000 or as often used 80%. You see 75 is a tad too small, and 85 or 90 just too high…but 80 serves all purposes.
So, 80,000 die each year (ludicrous of course) from smoking or smoking related diseases? How are these figures collated, how is smoking attributed to certain diseases or deaths? For example if someone dies of a so-called smoking related disease, how can this be established through post-mortem. Do smokers die of diseases that non-smokers don’t die of? Name one disease that a smoker dies of that doesn’t affect non-smokers too…can’t can you…thought not…and of course you have to include other confounding factor too, like vehicle pollution and so on…you get the picture.
A pathologist will tell you that there is no difference between a smoker’s lungs and non-smoker’s lungs – unless the pathologist was told which one smoked – then he couldn’t tell them apart.
This situation will only change when these bigots are dragged kicking and screaming into the light. I know, like you that this day will come…how soon...who knows…but the zealots that infest our society – can rest assured that it will.
When I wrote to Mike Kane, Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East concerning plain/standardised packaging, I did not expect a reply. I was however shocked when I received an email two days ago, which I found both humiliating and an insult to my intelligence.
I will not bore you with it’s contents, let’s just say that it was the usual claptrap we are familiar with, in fact, it looked more like a draft from Deborah Arnott. This email was not actually from my local MP, it was from his secretary, and looked more like thanks for my support!
I do not expect my local MP to agree with every opinion I have, but neither do I expect to be patronised. I wrote to my former Labour MP Paul Goggins, who died unexpectedly 14 months ago, several times. He always replied to me personally by post, putting his case fairly, having obviously researched my arguments, which earned mutual respect.
Firemen save lives, surgeons save lives, life boat crews save lives. These fools endeavour to impose longevity and force people to die from a politically acceptable causes. That is not "saving lives". Their arrogance and stupidity really is insufferable.
I would try to get some face time with this MP and ask the question. It may be that a misguided aide sent the letter 'on their behalf'?