Between now and the General Election on May 7 I'm going to highlight my top 40 'target seats', those where the candidate standing for re-election has consistently supported anti-tobacco policies, and those where a leading candidate is a consistent opponent of excessive lifestyle regulations and policies that infantilise us all. With a few exceptions, I'm focussing on marginal or semi-marginal seats.
#1 - Thanet South
Whatever you think of Ukip in general (and I have my reservations), party leader Nigel Farage has been a consistent and outspoken opponent of comprehensive smoking bans and other tobacco control policies. Ukip's manifesto commitment to amending the smoking ban in pubs and repealing the plain packaging legislation bears Farage's personal stamp so he deserves support for sticking to his convictions in a hostile environment. If elected Farage will be the first unapologetic smoker in the House of Commons since Ken Clarke, a sad reflection of our PC age. (One MP admitted to me that he smokes but never in his constituency for fear his constituents will see him.) If Farage falls short (comedian Al Murray is also standing in Thanet South) Ukip will lose its leader and smokers will be denied a potentially influential voice in parliament.
2010 Conservative majority: 7,617 (16.6%)
Estimated number of smokers in Thanet South: 14,068*
Principal opponent: Craig Mackinlay (Conservative)
Nigel Farage, friend or foe: Friend
Target rating: Too close to call
*Based on 20% of the registered electorate in 2010
Note: marginal seats have been defined as those with majorities of 10% or less that require a swing of 5% for the incumbent party to lose.