Courage and conviction

Hats off to Pat Nurse who appeared on GB News on Friday evening.

Pat was invited to appear with Deborah Arnott, CEO of ASH, on the early evening programme hosted by former Apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry (above).

Subject: a new scheme whereby pregnant woman who smoke are to be offered £400 of shopping vouchers to quit.

I'll be honest. Whenever smoking and pregnancy stories come up I generally make my excuses and suggest the broadcaster or journalist contact someone with more experience of (a) smoking and (b) pregnancy.

I have an opinion – which errs on the side of caution – but as a man I really don't feel I'm best equipped to talk about it, and regardless of the arguments it probably wouldn't be a good look.

So thanks to Pat for accepting the poisoned chalice and appearing live on national TV.

I didn't catch the full interview because I was driving to Scotland so I only saw the short clip that was posted by GB News on Twitter after the programme aired.

Pat thought it was a 'fair debate and not too confrontational' so I hope she doesn't regret doing it.

Very few smokers are prepared to stick their head above the parapet these days.

To do so on this particular subject, knowing that social media can attract some pretty vicious comments, takes guts.

You might not agree with her but Pat's courage and conviction are indisputable.