Richard Graham, friend or foe?

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.

#30 – Gloucester
Richard Graham is another Tory who has consistently voted in favour of further tobacco control. In February 2014 and February 2015 he voted for a ban on smoking in private vehicles carrying children, and in March 2015 he voted in favour of plain packaging. He's not alone but paternalistic Tories intent on infantilising the adult population are almost indistinguishable from their Labour and Lib Dem counterparts so genuine liberals in Gloucester may struggle to find a candidate they can wholeheartedly support.

2010 majority: 2,420 (4.8%)
Estimated number of smokers in Gloucester: 15,863*.
Principal opponent: Labour
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.