Smoke free Oxfordshire - the story so far

Last week I mentioned that Oxfordshire County Council wants the county to be ‘smoke free’ by 2025.

Yesterday the council’s plan to extend the smoking ban to outside restaurants and offices went national after it was reported for a second time by the Oxford Mail and picked up by the Press Association and other media.

Ironically, as so often happens, the story broke just as I left home for a short break. In fact, I was blissfully unaware of it until we arrived in Cheltenham mid afternoon and I switched on my phone.

Fortunately it wasn’t too late to issue a response and so far Forest has been quoted by most of the national newspapers including The Sun, Mirror, Star, Mail, Express, Telegraph and The Times, plus 150 or so local newspapers online.

I was also interviewed by Eddie Mair on LBC and today I’ve been interviewed by ITV Meridian and a number of local radio stations including BBC London but I missed a late request to appear on Five Live Breakfast which was a bit annoying.

The IEA’s Chris Snowdon subsequently appeared on the Five Live phone-in with Nicky Campbell who asked him if he still thought people should be allowed to smoke in pubs.

When Chris replied “I do, actually”, Campbell’s response was to exclaim “Oh, God’s sake!” and laugh in what I can only describe as a good-natured but derisory fashion, if that’s possible.

When we drew attention to this on Twitter Campbell’s slightly defensive response was not to deny it but to say, ‘Play devils adv all the time. Took different position elsewhere. What I do.’

Meanwhile, following my appearance on BBC CWR, presenter Vic Minett told listeners, “Cards on the table, I hate smoking.”

Thanks for the clarification, Vic, but there was no need to state the obvious.

Anyway, must go - I’m on BBC Berkshire in a few minutes.

PS. I didn’t hear it but I’m told that Deborah Arnott, CEO of ASH, was on the Today programme (Radio 4) this morning.

If true what are the chances the presenter played devil’s advocate with her?