Smoking and walking, that GMB 'debate' in full
Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 14:36 I was in Dublin this week so I had to turn down an invitation to appear on Good Morning Britain.
I was asked to take part in a debate about the proposal to ban smoking while walking in New York City.
The prospect of smokers having to stand still every time they smoked a cigarette would be funny if it wasn't so absurd.
Unfortunately, policies brewed in the madhouse of New York have a worrying habit of being picked up by politicians and campaigners in other jurisdictions.
Anyway, unable to appear on the programme, I suggested some like-minded people who I thought would oppose the idea.
One of them was Ella Whelan, assistant editor of Spiked and winner of a 'Voices of Freedom' award at last year's Forest Freedom Dinner.
Unknown to me Ella had been on GMB a few days earlier so she nominated her colleague Fraser Myers.
And that's how Fraser ended up sitting alongside Big Brother contestant Rebecca Jane, 'mum of two and an entrepreneur who thinks smoking is vile and should be banned entirely'.
To watch the 'debate' in full click on the video below. According to GMB it 'lit up a huge debate on our social channels'.
Reader Comments (4)
This prohibitionist gambit is extreme and unnecessary. There is no risk from incidental exposure to second hand smoke--especially outdoors. This is a move to further persecute smokers with an eye toward comprehensive outdoor bans. This proposed ban should be soundly rejected and similar moves resisted at every turn.
Fascinating video and a lesson to us all.
"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt"
What puzzles me is how she ended up on GMB instead of a more usual representative from ASH or Public Health England, didn't they want to go near the story?
Why her? Bizarre.
GMB is just a troll station for the unemployed and housewives. I wouldn't have even bothered to discuss a debate with them. As you can see from this clip, you're arguing with idiots who just shout over everyone.