Ukip – what a shambles
Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 15:00 I've heard everything now.
This afternoon, on the Daily Politics Election Special (BBC2), Andrew Neil questioned the health spokesmen representing the five main parties.
I wasn't watching but I followed the debate on Twitter.
Incredibly Ukip's health spokesman, Angus Dalgleish, is reported to have said smoking should be banned in parks but not pubs because children play in parks.
WTF! Is this official policy (it's not in the manifesto) or did he make it up on the spot?
I can't believe I even toyed with voting for such a shambolic party.
Update: Angus Dalgleish is a "consultant physician specialising in cancer medicine". See Cancer expert Professor Angus Dalgleish to stand for UKIP in Sutton and Cheam
Ironically he's standing in a constituency where the incumbent is the Lib Dem's Paul Burstow, chairman of the APPG on Smoking and Health run by ASH.
It's a marginal yet Burstow could retain his seat if the Conservative vote is split by Ukip. If that happens, a good Tory candidate (Paul Scully) will be lost to parliament.
Update: Ukip press officer Gawain Towler has responded via Twitter to Forest's disbelief: "He was giving a personal opinion as an oncologist."
Our response: "Perhaps you should release a statement saying that is not Ukip's official policy. Many people will be disappointed/confused."
Further update: Response from Ukip's head of media to a media enquiry:
"There is no written policy from UKIP on banning smoking in parks, Professor Dalgleish, as one of the country's leading oncologists, was giving his personal opinion as he is more than entitled to do."
He may be entitled to have a personal opinion but Dalgleish's comments demonstrate utter contempt for (or ignorance of) Ukip's official position.
Here's Forest's reaction in full:
"With the possible exception of the smoker, smoking in the open air doesn't harm anyone.
"Angus Dalgleish's comments will confuse many people who may have been persuaded to vote for Ukip because of the party's opposition to the smoking ban and plain packaging.
"There's a suspicion Ukip only supports an amendment to the smoking ban because of Nigel Farage and without his influence they would be the same as every other party on tobacco control.
"If the party wants to appeal to Britain's ten million smokers they need to state very clearly that Dalgleish's comments do not represent party policy and they are firmly committed to rolling back the nanny state, not adding to it."
Another update: To be fair to Ukip's media office, they've been quick to distance the party from Dalgleish's "personal" views.
Unfortunately the damage had already been done. See Election 2015 health debate: UKIP on park smoking ban (BBC News).
Reader Comments (9)
Election 2015 health debate: UKIP on park smoking ban
8 minutes ago
"Smoking should be banned in public parks - but not in pubs, according to a UKIP spokesman in a TV debate.
Angus Dalgleish was the only one of five speakers to back the move in a Daily Politics debate on health policies in England hosted by Andrew Neil.
The presenter went back to the UKIP spokesman to ask why he would back a New York-style ban on smoking in open places, but not in pubs.
Mr Dalgleish said he adopted the position to protect children's health, but said "it does sound paradoxical."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32522124
Should make the papers shortly.
Just for the avoidance of doubt. Professor Dalgleish (a clinical oncologist remember) was talking of his own personal opinion, both on the issue of smoking in public spaces, parks and the like, and on the issue of a sugar tax.
UKIP has no policy, nor does it have any intention of introducing any policy that would restrict smoking, either in public spaces, public houses (where it would introduce the idea of smoking rooms, a policy that Professor Dalgleish supported) or private spaces such as cars.
I hope that is clear.
Thanks, Gawain.
Such a shame that this fool did not say it the way Gawain did-but then what else would you expect from a clinically minded person? Dear oh dear me :(
@ Gawain
Prof Dalgleish may well have his personal views on the subject, and I applaud the policy of allowing members of the party to express their personal opinions. It is the sign of a party at ease with itself.
However.......
You are in the throes of a General Election, where every utterance by every politician will be scrutinised by both the press and the opposition; the former looking for a (perhaps vote-changing) headline, and the latter looking for a propaganda advantage. Would it not have been wise, given that the professor was taking part in a televised debate on health, to have briefed him on party policy with regards the smoking issue? Particularly in the light of how many votes may be influenced by your policies on smoking. As Simon points out in his sidebar, "smokers are voters too", and there's a potential 20%+ of the voting public out there.
Whether it is 'Party Policy' or not, Prof Dalgleish's comments may have done huge damage to your party's eventual outcome in the coming election.
Since there is NO risk to others from second hand smoke (indoors or out) the park ban--and all outdoor bans--should be soundly rejected.
Might I suggest, Gawain, that UKIP shold reconsider using Prof Dalgleish as their Health Spokesman? I realise that your PR bods will no doubt think that having an 'eminent' clinician as health Spokesman is some great coup, just as the other parties seem to grant this role to any old clapped-out GP who happens to become an MP.
But what makes you think that a clinician makes a good politician? From my own, not inconsiderable, NHS experience, I can assure you that such people are as detached from the real world as are the PPE graduate, public school numpties that you rightly condemn. Surely this is evidenced by his rather pathetic argument that banning smoking in parks would magically protect the health of children!
It may well be only his personal opinion, but his subject knowledge is doubtless based entirely on an unthinking acceptance of the mendacious rubbish regularly spouted by Cancer Research UK and other such quasi-clinical NGOs. There are too many medics - especially those working in 'public' health - who believe that their personal prejudices are far superior to the opinions of the little people, and have no compunction when it comes to advocating for legal action to restrict the lives of those of us who lack their clarity of vision and vast intelligence (they believe). I know - I've worked with many of them, including many 'eminent' faces.
When we, the people, stop treating such individuals as if they are bloody gods, maybe they will stop believing that they are gods. Then their ridiculous personal opinions will carry no more weight that yours, mine or anyone else's.
I speak as a strong UKIP supporter of nearly 10 years' standing. Importantly, though, if UKIP policies on smoker protection regress to being the same as the other parties, then you can kiss goodbye to my vote - and that of many thousands (at least) of others.
Angus Dalgleish is a professor, why is someone of his stature agreeing with a ban on smoking in parks, this would affect the liberty of the smoking population and their friends, this seriously affects the credibility of UKIP, being there is no significant harm from second hand smoke, he as a professor and should know better, we have had enough of the lies espoused by the Lib/Lab Con, we do not need idiots from UKIP, agreeing with the propaganda machine against smokers.
Just watched the following day's Daily politics where this was brought up again and Andrew Neil has been in touch with UKIP, ( allegedly ) and said no one from UKIP was available for comment. Not good.