Will 'Red Wall' and 'Blue Collar' Tories stand up for smokers?

A Conservative MP has condemned the “sickening" selfishness of smokers who buy "knock off fags".

Writing on Facebook following a litter pick in his constituency, Andrew Percy, the MP for Brigg and Google, complained:

There was the usual array of rubbish but I have to confess that what really gets my goat is the large amount of knock-off cigarette packets.

If you are one of those who buys knock-off fags from one of the well known vendors in the town can I say thank you for denying the NHS and other public services vital taxation at the time when health and social care costs are rocketing due to Covid-19.

Your selfishness is sickening.

Moreover, what sits behind knock-off booze and cigarette sales is normally organised crime which often involves modern slavery, violence and the exploitation of vulnerable people. Still, as long as you get your cheap fags.

Now, I don’t condone littering or the sale and purchase of illicit goods, partly for the reasons Andrew Percy mentions above. Illicit sales also hurt legitimate tobacconists and convenience stores.

Nevertheless there's a very simple reason why many smokers are driven – yes, driven – to buy tobacco from illegal sources and it has less to do with their “sickening” selfishness and more to do with the sickening greed of politicians who are determined to squeeze every last penny out of Britain's 6.5 million smokers.

Thanks to years of punitive taxation, the UK shares with Ireland the dubious distinction of being the most expensive country in Europe in which to buy tobacco.

Last year tobacco duty was increased not once but twice – the first time in March, following the Budget, and again in November when it was barely commented upon.

As a result of this and a decade of above inflation tax increases, between 80 and 90 per cent of the cost of cigarettes and rolling tobacco currently goes to the government.

This arguably immoral rate of taxation discriminates against the less well off and punishes millions of consumers for purchasing a perfectly legal product.

Rich and poor, Britain's smokers collectively contribute around £10 billion (plus VAT) a year to government coffers.

Not only does this figure far exceed the alleged cost of treating smoking-related diseases on the NHS (said to be £2.7bn, although estimates vary) it helps pay for many of the services that Andrew Percy mentions in his Facebook diatribe.

Did he thank the overwhelming majority of smokers for their generous contribution to the cost of Britain's public services?

Of course not. He chose instead to vilify the small minority who, perhaps in desperation, resort to the black market.

To be clear, I'm not suggesting that it's only the less well off who buy illicit tobacco. That would be absurd and equally insulting.

I've known people, comfortably off and 'middle class', who have found the offer of less expensive tobacco hard to resist. That's human nature.

Nevertheless it's a fact that the majority of smokers today are from lower socio-economic backgrounds so the temptation to buy illicit tobacco may be greater for those finding it hard to make ends meet.

With that in mind, a bit of empathy – even sympathy – wouldn't go amiss.

Former Labour health secretary John Reid once argued that a cigarette was one of the few pleasures a young single mother living on a sink estate might enjoy.

He was heavily criticised by tobacco control campaigners but he was the last minister I can remember who was prepared to stand up for smokers, especially those from poorer backgrounds.

Labour abandoned smokers – working class smokers in particular – when they introduced the smoking ban which hit urban, wet-led pubs (and working men’s clubs) far harder than the more gentrified gastro pubs.

Unfortunately the Conservative party has been no better since coming to power in 2010. For every Philip Davies or Sir Greg Knight there’s a Tory who is every bit as judgemental about smoking as Labour and the 'Liberal' Democrats.

Many convince themselves that the purpose of punitive taxation is entirely altruistic. It's designed, they say, to 'help' smokers quit.

What nonsense. It's designed to force smokers to quit, especially those who are less well off and can’t afford the astronomical prices.

Last year an anti-smoking group in New Zealand surprisingly but rightly supported the New Zealand government’s decision NOT to raise tobacco tax for the first time in four years.

According to the New Zealand Herald:

An anti-smoking advocacy group says this is good news as too often it was vulnerable groups that were hit the hardest and it wasn't effective to helping people quit.

Deborah Hart, director of Action for Smokefree 2025 (ASH), told the Herald the increase in tobacco taxation over the years had helped New Zealanders who couldn't afford it quit.

"But now what we have left is people from low socio-economic groups who are smokers and increasing the taxation is just punitive and wouldn't be serving what we want which is to help people to quit."

Hart said ASH supported the Government's call not to hike tobacco tax, particularly at the moment where a lot of people were finding themselves in economic hardship.

"Increasing the taxation would just be inappropriate."

“Inappropriate” is exactly what the new class of 'Red Wall' and 'Blue Collar' Conservatives should be saying about further increases in tobacco duty in the UK but so far I’ve heard nothing to suggest they will.

I have enormous respect for the likes of Dehenna Davison and Esther McVey, MPs who genuinely seem to care that the Government makes good on its election pledge to help disadvantaged and less well-off communities, especially in the north.

But if they really want to support their less well off constituents, a significant minority of whom still smoke, shouldn’t they be speaking out against the exorbitant tax on tobacco, and even the smoking ban?

We know, for example, from opinion polls carried out in recent years, that a majority of the public would even now support an amendment to the ban that would allow separate smoking rooms in pubs and working men’s clubs.

But politicians of all stripes won't go near the issue. I know why but surely they should try to represent the interests of all their constituents not just those who have been browbeaten to conform to the Government's idea of a 'healthy' lifestyle?

Meanwhile, before he continues with his war on smokers (an easy target so no medal for bravery), Andrew Percy might at least try to understand why some smokers are driven to buy "knock off fags”. (Note how those words reek of condescension and old-fashioned snobbery.)

Perhaps, by accusing smokers who buy illicit tobacco of "sickening selfishness", he was hoping to strike a chord with non-smokers, anti-smokers and even smokers who buy their tobacco from legitimate sources.

Well, I have news for him. Polling commissioned by Forest in the UK in 2017 and Ireland (2020) found that the overwhelming majority of respondents (68 per cent in the UK, 70 per cent in Ireland) believed that, given the current rates of tax, it is “understandable” that smokers would buy tobacco from the black market.

In other words, and contrary to what Andrew Percy may think, there is remarkably little stigma attached to buying illicit tobacco. That doesn't make it right but he might bear it in mind before he has another pop.

There is of course the argument that says if you don't have the money you should only buy what you can legally afford, and I have some sympathy with that view. After all, everyone has to cut their cloth according to their circumstances.

However I also have sympathy for those whose lives are so tough that a cigarette may, as John Reid suggested, be one of the few things they have to look forward to each day.

If I said that of course it would sound condescending. But Reid could say it because he represented one of the poorest constituencies in Britain and knew what he was talking about.

He himself had been a heavy smoker (and drinker) which is why he probably empathised with those who were similarly addicted or took pleasure and comfort from smoking and drinking.

In contrast, what does Andrew Percy know about the backgrounds of the people he criticises for buying “knock off fags”? Without that insight how dare he judge them for succumbing to temptation and buying tobacco that might be at least half the price of tobacco sold legally.

Since the election we've heard a lot from 'Red Wall' and 'Blue Collar' Conservatives and how the Government needs to do more for people in those old Labour heartlands the former (in particular) now represent.

My question is, will ‘Red Wall’ and ‘Blue Collar’ Tories put to one side any anti-smoking prejudices they may have and fight the snobbery and discrimination that working class smokers increasingly face?

Punitive tax on tobacco not only discriminates against poorer smokers, it fuels illicit trade at home or encourages many smokers to buy their tobacco abroad (when they can).

Smoking is a habit increasingly but not wholly restricted to lower socio-economic groups. It's easy then to fall into the trap of believing that most people smoke only because they lack a certain level of education.

Wrong. There are very few people today who don't know that smoking is a potential health risk. Implying otherwise is not just patronising, it's insulting.

As I have argued before, there is also a clear parallel between the Establishment's attitude to smokers and those who voted for Brexit. The argument after the referendum went something like this:

If you voted for Brexit you didn't know what you were doing. You ignored the facts and stupidly voted to leave against all the 'best' advice. We will continue to berate and insult those who voted to leave - using every avenue we can - until you change your mind.

Smokers of course have been treated in a very similar fashion for decades.

If you smoke it’s because you don’t understand the risks. Anyone who ignores the facts and continues to smoke must be stupid so we will continue to belittle and insult you - adopting every anti-smoking policy we can - until you see sense and stop.

My message to all MPs is:

• Don't patronise or insult adults who smoke
• Understand and try to empathise with adults who smoke
• Oppose unfair discrimination including punitive taxation

Above all, defend an adult’s right to make informed choices about their lifestyle and respect that choice even if you disagree with it.

Like the 17.4 million people who voted for Brexit, smokers aren’t stupid. They know the risks and they can decide for themselves.

We’re not asking MPs to condone smoking. We’re simply asking politicians to treat smokers like the sane, responsible, independent adults most of them are, and respect their right to live their lives without excessive interference from central or local government.

As for Andrew Percy, I have this message:

Who do you think you are, accusing a tiny minority of “sickening selfishness” while playing the NHS card with a view to shaming smokers who buy their tobacco on the black market?

Save your ire for governments that have created a society in which a legitimate consumer product has been so demonised that it’s no wonder that many smokers see no moral difference between tobacco purchased legally or illegally.

If you’re already marginalised and treated like a pariah for smoking legal tobacco, it’s easy to see why you might not give a second thought to buying and consuming illicit tobacco.

Far from changing their behaviour, Percy’s petulant outburst will probably strengthen the ‘us and them’ attitude many smokers have towards authority.

Is that what the self-righteous member for Brigg and Poole hoped to achieve?

Comments

[Bucko]

Governments waste far, far more money that they loose through knocked off fags. I wonder how much he claims in expenses?
Tobacco has been far too expensive for a very long time. I spent the last decade (? or so) buying all my tobacco from abroad, but now brexit has finally happened (coupled with the lockdown), I use the black market.
Even if I could comfortably afford the tax, I refuse to give them that money and watch them waste it on a plethora of blithering rubbish. I include the NHS too, as that is just a massive sinkhole of wasted cash in desperate need of reform

[Pat Nurse]

Some smokers actually want to deny the Government tax as the only protest they can make about the discrimination, bullying, and exclusion they are targeted with paid for out of those taxes.

One minute smokerphobics like Percy say we smokers are costing more in healthcare than we pay in tax, which is just not true, and in the next breath they claim we are irresponsible for not funding everyone else's healthcare as well. It is not our job to keep the health service afloat. We have a responsibility to pay our way and we do.

As for the political parties, none of them want our vote so none of them will get mine.

Smoking and health policy has just become abuse at legitimate consumers because they know they can get away with it.

I wonder how much Percy has contributed to the healthcare of the nation during Covid from his fat MP's salary?

The selfish ones are the swivel eyed like him demanding or supporting ever increasing tax on the product to force smokers into poverty and then complain that the tax forces them to cheaper, and often more harmful, black market products.

The cure for this is simple. Set fair tax, stop the government backed hate campaign and stop wasting our money on smokerphobic political activists using charity status as a front and put it into direct healthcare for all.

[Rose2]

In the middle of a pandemic and according to last years studies, it seems to be the knock off cigarettes that are keeping them out of hospital.

Andrew Percy, should busy himself being thankful for people like me.

Rishi Should Thank Smokers
May 29 2020

"Following studies showing smokers are both less likely to catch, and less likely to be hospitalised with Covid-19, there is more to praise this too often maligned section of society.

With VAT receipts down 93% and tobacco duty revenue up 137%, the Chancellor should thank Britain’s smokers for doing their patriotic duty. Billions in revenue to HMRC… "
https://order-order.com/2020/05/29/rishi-should-thank-smokers/