Visiting Scotland

Practising what I preach I'm travelling to Scotland today.

I was going to get the train. Then I thought about all those people heading to Edinburgh for the Festival and decided to drive instead.

It will add a few hours to the journey but I'll be able to make one or two detours – a late lunch by the harbour in Anstruther, for example, just down the coast from St Andrews.

If I get a chance I'll post some pictures later.

Anstruther Harbour at 4.00pm this afternoon

Late lunch courtesy the Anstruther Fish Bar

View from my hotel room in Dundee

Sport: played and watched by individuals not automatons

Remarkable victory by Rory McIllroy in the US PGA Championship last night.

I didn't see it because I fell asleep at midnight when he was on the eleventh and still a shot behind Rickie Fowler.

Earlier they were predicting it would be too dark for the leading competitors to complete their rounds - bad weather caused the start of the final round to be delayed - and the tournament might have to be finished today.

Few top golfers smoke on the course these days but there are exceptions and last week I was asked to comment ahead of next month's Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

The question was framed as follows:

From the standpoint of Forest, does having world class professional golfers smoking either cigarettes or cigars on course during play at the 2014 Ryder Cup send out the correct messages to smokers and non smokers alike, young and old, with the event seen around the world on TV by over 500million viewers in almost 200 countries worldwide?

"The great thing about golf," I replied, "is that it's played by individuals not automatons.

"Smokers like Miguel Angel Jimenez are expressing their personality and perhaps their individual flaws. What's wrong with that?

"Some of the most popular [modern] golfers have been smokers. Jimenez, Darren Clarke, John Daly. The golfing public clearly doesn't mind so why should politicians and lobbyists?

"The idea they're encouraging young people to smoke is nonsense. Everyone knows the health risks of smoking. Seeing a golfer light up during a round isn't going to change that.

"It's not as if they're playing in a stadium or enclosed arena. They're in the open air, for goodness sake.

"The Ryder Cup should be a celebration not an opportunity to impose unnecessary regulations on players who already have enough to think about."

Of course it's not just golf that's played by real people not robots. The same is true of every other sport and the idea that every top sportsman (Arsenal footballer Jack Wilshire, for example) has to be a role model for our children is quite disturbing.

I'm told that both the Scottish Government and ASH Scotland have commented on the golf/smoking issue and it doesn't take a genius to work out what their position will be.

Frankly (and I don't care how much money the former has invested in the event) it's none of their business.

How dare the Scottish Government use an event like the Ryder Cup to make a political statement about people's lifestyle? Because that's what it is. It's lifestyle socialism and the sooner we use that term more often the better.

Today hardly any sporting event is immune from the politics of health. The London Olympics and Glasgow Commonwealth Games were both hijacked by lifestyle socialists who wanted to ban smoking and even vaping in every venue, the outdoor ones included.

At least London had designated smoking areas in the Olympic park and village. Needless to say ASH Scotland considered even that too tolerant for Glasgow. (ASH Scotland wants Commonwealth Games to be 'smoke free').

Hopefully the R&A and the organisers of the Ryder Cup will tell interfering outsiders where to go.

A ban on smoking on the golf course would be final proof the lunatics really have taken over the asylum.

Visit Scotland

In six weeks Scotland will vote on independence.

Belatedly people in England are waking up to the prospect of a diminished United Kingdom.

I've spent a substantial part of my life in Scotland. My family moved there in 1969, when I was ten. I went to school in St Andrews, followed by university in Aberdeen.

My wife is from Glasgow and for six years after we got married we lived in Edinburgh (where my children were born).

Today Clare is one of 750,000 people born in Scotland who live in England. She's against independence and is annoyed she doesn't have a vote.

But something else annoys her.

A lot of people in England couldn't care less about Scottish independence.

A couple of months ago the local television news interviewed an ad hoc group of people in Norfolk and the attitude was, "Let the Scots do as they like, it makes no difference to us."

Clare wasn't impressed.

I made the point that we English are in an impossible position. If we take part in the debate we're accused of telling the Scots what to do. If we say nothing or are apathetic we're accused of "not caring".

So I was interested when it was announced this week that historians Dan Snow and Tom Holland (both English) have written an open letter to the "Voters of Scotland" urging them to vote "No" in the referendum.

Most of the celebrities who have signed it are English too and, inevitably, the cybernats have ripped into them on social media.

But I think Snow and Holland are on to something.

Yes, some Scots will consider the campaign to be patronising and intrusive but I think it will appeal to a great many more – people like my wife, in fact, because I'm pretty sure her views represent mainstream Scottish opinion not the bellicose mob on Twitter.

Which brings me on to something else, which is kind of related.

When I was a small boy foreign holidays – for the masses, at least – were in their infancy. In any case, my parents wanted us to to discover our own country before we went further afield.

Family holidays abroad were therefore put on hold until we'd visited Cornwall, Pembrokeshire, Suffolk, the Shetland Isles and the Highlands.

I later visited Orkney, Skye, Lewis and the Outer Hebrides and if I had my way I'd jump in my car now and spend the rest of the month travelling around Scotland and the Western Isles.

Sadly however there's a vast number of people in England who have never been to Scotland, not even for a weekend.

I don't understand it.

I appreciate that some people want guaranteed sun, or something a little more exotic and 'different' for their annual holiday.

But it seems incredible to me that not once in their lives have they said, "Fancy going to Scotland?"

Edinburgh is a one hour flight from London. Alternatively it's five hours by train.

With the aid of a good book the journey passes in a flash and from Northumberland onwards you can enjoy some great views of the sea as the train rattles past Berwick-upon-Tweed and Dunbar.

Arriving in Edinburgh by train is always a thrill. Emerge from Waverley Station and there, right above you, is the castle. Magnificent.

Driving to Edinburgh (or Glasgow) from London takes six or seven hours. The road north of Carlisle – past Gretna Green and Lockerbie – is now a three-lane motorway but swing off at Junction 13 and you can enjoy a scenic 60-minute drive before arriving in Scotland's capital city.

Even better is the wonderful A68 that takes you to Edinburgh via Northumberland National Park and Jedburgh in the Borders. It will add an hour or two to your journey but if you've got the time it's well worth it.

What I love most about Scotland though is the sense of freedom you get when you leave Edinburgh and Glasgow behind.

Partly it's the absence of heavy traffic. This is especially true of the M90 to Perth and Dundee. Driving across the Forth Bridge into Fife I feel as if a weight is being lifted from my shoulders.

You might think differently if you get stuck behind a caravan on the A82 that takes you out of Glasgow and past Loch Lomond, but don't let that put you off.

The west coast of Scotland is as good as anything Ireland has to offer, and you can visit some beautiful islands with the bonus of a ferry or two to get there.

What Scotland lacks in picturesque villages it makes up for in beautiful scenery. Sure, the weather can be terrible but take the risk. Odds are you'll get away with it.

I haven't got time to list all my favourite places but no-one visiting St Andrews, Ullapool or Applecross will be disappointed.

What I'm trying to say is, if you're English and you support the union you have to visit Scotland (and Wales, and Northern Ireland) at least once.

It would be rude not to.

James Delingpole to address Forest fringe event

Delighted to report that James Delingpole will be joining us at the Conservative conference in Birmingham next month.

The outspoken journalist and blogger will speak at a special event hosted by Forest and Conservatives for Liberty at the Hyatt Hotel on Sunday September 28.

James has previously spoken at two Forest events, a Voices of Freedom debate in 2010 and the inaugural Freedom Dinner in 2012, so we're thrilled to welcome him back.

The Liberty Lounge: Stand Up For Freedom features a drinks reception (speaker: J Delingpole) followed by topical stand up comedy.

It's within the secure area so you'll need a pass but if you're going to conference make a note in your diary NOW!

Over 150,000 petition Government against plain packaging

I was in London today supervising the delivery of responses to the Department of Health consultation on plain packaging.

On Tuesday, as I reported here, we delivered to Downing Street over 53,000 letters addressed to the PM.

I can now reveal that in addition to those letters more than 100,000 people have signed the latest Hands Off Our Packs petition.

In total therefore more than 150,000 people have petitioned the Government against plain packs since junior health minister Jane Ellison announced in April that the Government was "minded" to introduce the policy.

Here's part of the press release:

A petition against plain packaging of tobacco has attracted more than 100,000 signatures and more than 50,000 people have personally written to the Prime Minister opposing the initiative.

Standardised packaging of tobacco is the subject of a final six-week consultation that closes on Thursday 7th August.

Simon Clark, director of the smokers' group Forest which runs the Hands Off Our Packs campaign, said: "The response demonstrates the enormous level of opposition to this ill-conceived measure. We urge the prime minister to think again.

"There’s no evidence standardised packaging will have any health benefits. Advocates base their arguments not on facts but on speculation.

"There must be no rush to legislation. It’s a huge step and no government should take it lightly ...

"Government has to get off people’s backs and trust the consumer to make informed choices without unnecessary and unwelcome state intervention."

Full press release here.

Update: A quote by Forest and a reference to our petition is in today's Daily Mail and Mail Online. The Daily Telegraph has the same story, again with a quote from Forest. 

Update on Thursday, August 7, 2014 at 16:38 by Simon Clark

Guido Fawkes has an item about our petition:

Ellison faces public plain packs backlash

The Grocer has this report:

Campaigners petition the PM against plain packaging for tobacco

And Convenience Store weighed in with this:

Thousands oppose plain packs as consultation closes

If you haven't submitted a response to the consultation there's still time, just. You have until 11.45 tonight to make your voice here.

Click here.

PS. Chris Snowdon has written a great post, Public Health England's self-lobbying.

If that doesn't inspire you to respond nothing will.

Special delivery: PM receives 53,196 letters opposing plain packaging

So, this is what we did yesterday.

As you know the Government is currently engaged in a "short, final" consultation on plain packaging.

Since public health minister Jane Ellison announced on April 3 that the Government was "minded" to introduce the policy Forest has been inviting members of the public to write to David Cameron opposing the measure:

Yesterday we delivered hard copies of those letters to Downing Street. Total: 53,196.

Understandably Downing Street didn't want them all delivered through the front door. Instead we were allowed to deliver 2,500 in a single box with the balance sent to another address nearby.

Permission to hand deliver had to be sought a couple of weeks in advance. No more than six petitioners are permitted entry to Downing Street, and placards, banners, loud hailers, fancy dress and any props are all prohibited.

The six petitioners had to be security checked so personal information was required a week in advance. On the day passports or driving licences were needed to confirm our identities.

(At this point I must thank the Downing Street Liaison Office run by the Metropolitan Police. They were extremely helpful and the entire procedure went like clockwork.)

Anyway, given the restrictions we decided to organise a photo shoot on College Green, opposite the Houses of Parliament, before we headed to Downing Street.

A full gallery of photos will be available later. In the meantime thanks to those who came along to support the cause.

Outside Number Ten (in the photo above) are me, Angela Harbutt, Martin Cullip and two Hands off Our Packs campaigners, Claire and Jess.

Others present included Chris Snowdon (IEA) and Kate Andrews and Charlotte Bowyer of the Adam Smith Institute.

Most important, thanks to everyone who sent a letter to the PM. I imagine they include many readers of this blog.

Finally thanks to photographer Dan Donovan who took the pics. Ten minutes after the Downing Street picture was taken we were in the Red Lion on Whitehall enjoying a well-deserved drink!

PS. Dan and Angela both asked the policeman outside Number Ten whether they could light up. The response, needless to say, was friendly but emphatic – smoking in Downing Street is verboten.

Let's hope David Cameron takes a more liberal view of plain packaging. Or, to put it another way: No, Prime Minister!

Note: you have 24 hours to respond to the Department of Health consultation on plain packaging. Click here or email TobaccoPackaging@dh.gsi.gov.uk.

An ashtray AND an Apple Mac!

Photographer Dan Donovan and I are in London on a secret mission.

Dan seems a bit overwhelmed by his room …

Is smoking in my own garden anti-social?

Email received over the weekend:

I have been a smoker for nearly 50 years now. My wife does not smoke, so up until recently I have smoked in my garden for years. I have been living in the same house for 35 years.

Up until about a month ago I had no idea I offended my next door neighbour with smoking outside (neighbours for eight or nine years who have regular log fires in the winter). It started with the odd comment that was obviously intended for me to hear and then something else happened, and I won’t go into details, that was done to show their annoyance and frightened me a bit. I am now really concerned as smoking is described by some as anti social.

Can smoking cigarettes/tobacco in your own home or garden considered to be anti social behaviour? My garden is about 30 yards long and even smoking right at the end wouldn’t make any difference. When I want a cigarette now I go to a large garden shed towards the back of my garden with door and window shut – but again I’m not sure that has made any difference.

I am not the type that wants to deliberately cause offence to anyone. In normal circumstances I would talk to them about it but after the incident of showing their annoyance I am not sure that would be wise. I am afraid I live in a much less tolerant society in recent years.

I responded as follows:

Dear xxxx,

Thank you for your email. I would suggest this is an entirely subjective opinion. There is no law against smoking in your garden and – speaking as a non-smoker – I would be astounded someone accused you of being anti-social.

It is true however we live in a much more intolerant age and I suppose it depends on whether clouds of smoke are drifting into a neighbour's garden. In my experience that seems unlikely but government policy on smoking has undoubtedly resulted in more people becoming intolerant of any level of tobacco smoke.

You don't explain what the 'something else happened' was but if you have had a falling out with your neighbours they could perhaps be looking for any little thing to complain about.

I'm afraid I can't offer advice. This seems to be something that ought to be resolved with a little common sense on both sides. Are you speaking to them at all at the moment? It would be a pity if the situation got worse because it's not nice to fall out with your neighbours but – without knowing all the circumstances – I find it hard to believe you are doing anything wrong by smoking in your own garden.

Comments welcome.

PS. The Guardian reports 'Victoria to ban smoking in all outdoor dining areas'.

It's pretty clear that smoking outside is the next battlefield, whether that be parks, beaches or outdoor dining/drinking areas.

The more smoking is banned outside, on the spurious grounds of passive smoking and the alleged danger to other people's health, the more "anti social" it will become, in some people's eyes.

This issue has to be addressed now because once momentum builds it will be very difficult to stop.