Going through the motions
Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at 16:42 So here I am in Edinburgh.
I arrived on the overnight sleeper which left Euston at 11.50 last night.
I got the train because I'd accepted a dinner invitation in London and knowing I had to be in Scotland early the following morning it seemed like the best option.
Anyway, a quick explanation.
I'm here at the request of the Scottish Parliament's Health and Sport Committee which is considering the Smoking Prohibition (Children in Motor Vehicles) (Scotland) Bill.
It's a foregone conclusion that the Scottish Government will follow England and Wales and introduce a ban on smoking in cars with children but that's no reason to throw in the towel. Far from it. In my opinion any invitation from government should be accepted, whatever the odds against a change of heart.
Sadly not everyone shares that view and I found myself giving evidence on my own.
Contrast that with the session after me. No fewer than four organisations – Police Scotland, the Law Society Scotland, Glasgow City Council and Stirling Council – supported the principle of a ban although there were some concerns about enforcement.
And if you're wondering about ASH Scotland, don't worry - they gave evidence last week along with several more pro-ban groups. Incredibly, at this stage of the process, Forest appears to be the only group still opposing the Bill.
Actually, the concept of giving evidence is rather misleading. There was no time, I was told, for witnesses to give an opening statement so they went straight to Q&As, picking apart Forest's written submission.
It could have been worse, it could have been better. I was quizzed by only two or three members of the committee and the session was over in 35 minutes.
It felt like we were going through the motions a bit but having the committee to myself meant there was plenty of time to respond to questions.
The convenor was cordial. There was some very mild hostility from one MSP but nothing that made me feel uncomfortable. Most of the committee kept quiet.
When it was over one MSP strolled over and thanked me for standing up for smokers. Ironically he had just spent several minutes grilling me whilst telling his colleagues that as a smoker himself the Bill held no fears for him!
So here I am, on a dreich day (as they say in these parts), wondering what to do next.
I think I'll go home.
Update: The BBC has a report, with a quote from me, here - Enforcing smoking ban in cars with children 'difficult'.
The BBC also covered the committee meeting live here: Experts give evidence on car smoking ban (scroll down to 11.00am when I make my appearance).
Reader Comments (2)
Congratulations Simon for representing smokers against these dragons of the mist but you & FOREST are not "Forest appears to be the only group still opposing the Bill".
Justice4Smokers also vehemently opposes the Bill but these anti smoking organisations do not bother with us as they cannot accuse us of being tobacco funded! Hilarious really when they are funded by so many 'other' sources!
Frankly, Simon, I am beginning to come to the conclusion that you are being used. "Where can we get some sort of 'balance' from? I know, let's get a quote from Forest".
I sometimes wonder if it would not be better to refuse such invitations because you are being suckered. Alternatively, insist on prior knowledge of what questions are to be asked and compose responses. Further, you are not obliged to follow the agenda decreed. You should use Arnott's trick: "Before I answer that question, can I just say....."
You did a wonderful job in your most recent clash with Arnott. You PUNCHED. Well done!
But it still remains appropriate to wonder whether or not there is anything to be gained by engaging with the enemy full frontally, or whether it might be better to engage in guerilla activities. For example, to what extent does Forest engage with individual supporters of Forest? Have you any idea of how the spread of supporters engages with constituencies in the UK? Should Forest ally its supporters with vapers - if vapers are not too much under the impression that miracle will occur (as we smokers thought in 2007), and that, somehow, the Zealots will relent.
The Zealots will not relent.
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Everyone, including such persons as Chris Snowden, yourself, Dave Atherton, etc, must start to think about disengaging with organisations like ASH. ASH is just the mouthpiece of the RCP (Royal College of Physicians). Refuse to engage with ASH - insist on engaging with the RCP. Sideline ASH. Refuse to engage with that 'publicity stunt'.
Are students in universities funding tobacco control departments in those universities? If not, then who is, and why? That could be a major scandal. Ask the questions.