Between now and the General Election on May 7 I'm highlighting a series of 'target seats', those where the candidate standing for re-election has supported anti-tobacco policies, and those where a leading candidate is an opponent of excessive lifestyle regulations and policies that infantilise us all. With a few exceptions I'm focussing on marginal or semi-marginal seats.
#18 - Brighton Pavilion
For all their hippy dippy chic the Greens are no friend of the smoker. Quite the reverse. If Britain was to be governed for any length of time by a coalition of "progressive" parties comprising any combination of Labour, the SNP, the Greens and Plaid Cymru smokers would have a simple choice – quit or leave the country. In 2010 the Greens sole MP Caroline Lucas voted against a relaxation of the smoking ban. In 2014 she voted to ban smoking in private vehicles with children present. She's also been an outspoken supporter of plain packaging which she argued will "save lives". Meanwhile the 2015 Green manifesto has called for sharp increases in tax on alcohol and tobacco to help fund the NHS. Brighton Pavilion is a three-way battle so it should be close.
2010 majority: 1,252 (2.4%)
Estimated number of smokers in Brighton Pavilion: 14,810*
Principal opponents: Labour & Conservative
Friend or foe: Foe
Target rating: Vulnerable
*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.