MPs to vote on plain packaging next Wednesday
Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 14:35 So, it seems MPs will get to vote on plain packaging next week, but there won't be a debate.
In the last hour the Telegraph's chief political correspondent Christopher Hope has reported that:
A ban on advertising on cigarette packets will become law through the House of Commons without a debate by MPs next week.
The controversial ban will be considered by a cross party committee of MPs on Monday and then – if the MPs agree – there will be a free vote without a debate on Wednesday.
The cross party committee that will consider the legislation is the House of Commons Delegated Legislation Committee whose members are:
Chair: Sir Roger Gale (Conservative)
Debbie Abrahams (Labour)
Luciana Berger (Labour)
Kevin Brennan (Labour)
Mr Russell Brown (Labour)
Paul Burstow (Lib Dem)
Neil Carmichael (Conservative)
Alex Cunningham (Labour)
Nick de Bois (Conservative)
Jane Ellison, Public Health Minister (Conservative)
Sir Edward Garnier (Conservative)
Richard Harrington (Conservative)
John Penrose (Conservative)
Chris Ruane (Labour)
Sir Andrew Stunell (Lib Dem)
Phil Wilson (Labour)
Sammy Wilson (DUP)
By our reckoning only three are opposed to plain packaging. A fourth is against but he's a government whip so he'll vote in favour.
Not looking good, but we knew that anyway.
Fury as Tory MPs denied a debate on plain packaging cigarette ban. Free vote on Wed; 100 MPs set to rebel. By me: http://t.co/EkV2K7Sxbd
— Christopher Hope (@christopherhope) March 5, 2015Meanwhile we've placed a sponsored post on Politics Home.
Stop the nonsense say critics of plain packaging | http://t.co/P5UeyY2Wbd @Forest_Smoking
— Central Lobby (@CentralLobby) March 5, 2015
Reader Comments (4)
Looks like now would be a good time to get into the cigarette case business.
It was a foregone conclusion that it would be a stitch-up. What I don't understand is why the politicians are pushing it through despite all the evidence showing what a thoroughly bad idea it is on just about every level.
I know it's a cliché that politicians are stupid, but in reality, we actually expect them to be intelligent, educated people with critical minds who make decisions based on the evidence. And that evidence has been in the public domain for long enough for them to have been exposed to it. Is it just blind adherence to the orthodoxy as laid down by Tobacco Control?
So this is democracy!!! - 1% of consultation responses were from funded health - 99% from an outraged public. 99% do not want yet another attack on/punishment for their lifestyle choice.
I bet I'll only hear and not see my sucky up to friends in the DoH mp, Andrew George but it's certain I'll not vote for him.
I'm afraid that there is only one way to sort this 'shite' out and that is to oppose Lib/Lab/Con at the ballot box on May 7th.
The Chantler Review proved absolutely NOTHING.
Australian PP has proved absolutely NOTHING
The 'people vote' (PC vote) proved EVERYTHING; ie people were sick of this nannyistic form of government - which also proved that democracy was dead.
Why people want to continue giving these bloodsucking human leeches anymore time in government is totally beyond me.
Smokers (& tolerant non smokers) simply have to get togetrher to form 1 voice..... and the vehicle awaits your arrival --> http://www.justice4smokers.co.uk/
The 'healthist' fascists are winning. They intimidate politicians to follow their platform of lies and in the process are decimating democracy. The evidence that the health risks of smoking have been exaggerated and that dissenting opinions on second hand smoke have been suppressed in large and growing but the media refuses to present it. Almost all recent surveys are against outdoor bans, against plain packages, and favor amending the pub ban, but these voices of the public are silenced. This must change!