"Up the rebels!"

Photos of Forest's 35th birthday party are now online.

The 200+ photographs were taken by Cecelina Tornberg. To view them visit this gallery.

Dan Donovan – whose video Buzzin Me was featured – is editing a video of the event. We'll post it on YouTube next week.

PS. One person who couldn't make it was journalist Peter Oborne (Watch out: the anti-smoking fanatics now want to regulate drinking) who nevertheless replied to our invitation with this short message:

"Have a great party. Up the rebels!"

I couldn't have put it better myself.

Plain packaging: now French tobacconists are in revolt

French government minister Christian Eckert got a rough ride in Paris on Thursday.

Invited to address the Congress of Tobacconists the junior Budget minister was welcomed by the sight of 500 delegates wearing white masks to represent their opposition to plain packaging.

According to one report (I paraphrase):

The minister had to face boos and whistles from tobacconists, now unmasked. At times the minister was inaudible.

Despite this hostile environment Eckert outlined government policy on tobacco including key measures such as plain packaging, which was loudly booed by the audience.

In contrast Pascal Montredon, president of the French tobacconist federation, got a standing ovation when he declared:

“Tobacconists love France. The French love their tobacconists. But does this government love the tobacconists?”

Below: French junior Budget minister Christian Eckert addresses the tobacconists' national congress in Paris on November 6:

Photos: Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images

Action on Consumer Choice: another voice consumers can call their own

The party on Tuesday night was primarily to mark Forest's 35th anniversary.

Apart from a few nods in the direction of my predecessors however there was no time for nostalgia.

Forest@35 was about the future, hence the unveiling of our new campaign, Action on Consumer Choice.

It was what marketing people call a 'soft' launch. No hullabaloo, no million dollar promotion. We simply handed out flyers and announced the imminent launch of a dedicated website.

Quite underwhelming, really.

ACC will address issues concerning food, drink and smokeless tobacco so whether it's sugar, alcohol or e-cigarettes we intend to be on the case, fighting the nanny state on behalf of the consumer.

The promotional flyer reads:

The smokers' lobby group Forest was founded in 1979 by Battle of Britain fighter pilot Sir Christopher Foxley-Norris, a lifelong pipe smoker.

Increasingly the freedom to smoke in any public place has been eroded to the extent that public health campaigners are now calling for a ban on smoking in open air public parks. A once benign nanny state has become a bully state, coercing rather than educating adults to give up smoking.

Today the public health industry is targeting other products such as alcohol, sugary drinks and convenience food. Even e-cigarettes, a potential harm reduction product, are threatened with excessive restrictions including bans on vaping in public places.

For 35 years Forest has been the "voice and friend of the smoker". Action on Consumer Choice will embrace food, drink and smokeless tobacco including e-cigarettes and other nicotine delivery products.

Consumers who want choice, are prepared to defend personal responsibility and act with consideration for others now have another voice they can call their own.

With luck the campaign will develop legs (without impacting on Forest) but I've been here before so it would be rash to make predictions. Unlike fake charities like ASH we don't have a well of (public) money to dip in to when it suits us.

Meanwhile let me draw your attention to a post on the Forest website. It's the short speech given by Elise Rasmussen, publisher of Tobacco Reporter and director of Global Tobacco Network Forum (GTNF), at Boisdale on Tuesday.

I've known Elise for six years. We first met at another Forest event and I was delighted when she agreed to say a few words. She even flew home early from America to attend Tuesday's event.

Here's the full speech. Don't worry, it's quite short:

Tobacco publisher calls for more groups like Forest "to support smokers and vapers' rights"

Forest@35 – morning after the night before

That went pretty well.

Over 250 people registered to attend and despite the rain and the odd cancellation because of 'man flu' over 200 guests came to Forest's 35th anniversary party at Boisdale of Belgravia.

In other words, a full house.

Guests included at least six MPs. Brian Binley, Nigel Evans, Sir Greg Knight, David Nuttall, Ian Paisley and Laurence Robertson were the ones I saw and spoke to but there may have been more because twelve were on the registered guest list.

MPs' researchers were out in force and it was great to see representatives of various think tanks and pressure groups including the Adam Smith Institute, Institute of Economic Affairs, TaxPayers' Alliance, Parliament Street, The Bow Group and The Freedom Association.

Guido Fawkes (aka Paul Staines), "Britain's most popular political blogger", was there. Other bloggers included Dick Puddlecote, Chris Snowdon, Devil's Kitchen and Tom Paine (The Last Ditch).

Journalists included Tom Utley (Daily Mail) and Simon Hills (The Times), both of whom are old friends of Forest.

Simon has been writing for our Free Society website for six years (we're publishing a book of his articles shortly) and I first met Tom 13 years ago at an event hosted by the late Auberon Waugh and 'sponsored' by Forest in as far as we paid for the drinks.

Delighted too to see Joe Jackson, who flew in from Berlin. It's hard to read Joe sometimes but I think he enjoyed himself. He was still there when I left shortly after midnight!

In fact, six hours after the event began quite a few people seemed reluctant to go home, which was a good sign.

What I was most pleased about was the number of younger people, by which I mean people in their twenties and early thirties. I doubt many of them are smokers but they support our cause, which is encouraging.

Consequently the event highlighted the broad appeal of our message which, as someone tweeted this morning, is about one thing – choice.

Needless to say guests were far more interested in eating, drinking and smoking so we kept the speeches short. Brian Monteith (Forest's spokesman in Scotland before he became an MSP), Ranald Macdonald (owner of Boisdale) and Elise Rasmussen (publisher, Tobacco Reporter) had some nice things to say about Forest and I hope it wasn't too self-indulgent.

The heated smoking terrace was packed all night but those who chose to stay in the main restaurant had the benefit of being entertained by Hidden Charms, a young band I hope we hear a lot more from.

As always at Boisdale music was a feature of the event and in addition to the band we showed the Forest/King Kool video Buzzin Me. (Dan Donovan, who made the video, was also at Boisdale filming interviews for a short video of last night's event.)

Towards the close of the event we also played the Boisdale/Forest CD 'You Can't Do That! Songs For Swinging Smokers' recorded in 2007 and featuring the Boisdale Blue Rhythm Band.

I'll link to a gallery of photos later. Meanwhile here's a report in today's City AM:

Update: Just remembered - former LibDem MP Lembit Opik was there too.

Unusually for a Lib Dem Lembit is a genuine liberal. I didn't get a chance to speak to him but pictures of him at last night's event have been popping up on Twitter.

He appears to have had a good time!

Forest@35 – join us for the big event!

Looking forward to Forest's 35th anniversary party tomorrow.

Guests include MPs, political researchers, representatives of various think tanks plus numerous long-standing supporters. They include Trevor Baylis, inventor of the clockwork radio, and musician Joe Jackson who is flying in from Berlin where he lives.

Expect one or two short speeches (I may reminisce a bit) but there's no time for nostalgia because we're also launching a new campaign, Action on Consumer Choice.

Venue is Boisdale of Belgravia and the fun starts at 6.30pm with a cocktail reception followed by speeches (7.30), canapé supper (8.00) and live music (featuring the brilliant Hidden Charms) at 9.30.

Here's the press release:

Consumer groups marks 35th anniversary with smoker-friendly party in London

The smokers’ group Forest will tomorrow [Tuesday 4th November] mark its 35th anniversary with a special smoker-friendly party in London.

Two hundred guests are expected to attend the event, Forest@35, including several members of parliament.

The event, at Boisdale of Belgravia, will also be attended by long-standing supporters among them Trevor Baylis OBE, inventor of the clockwork radio, and musician and singer-songwriter Joe Jackson (‘It’s Different For Girls’, ‘Is She Really Going Out With Him?’).

Simon Clark, director of Forest, said: “We’re delighted to reach this milestone. The war on tobacco has been going on for a long time now. We accept that society has changed and smokers are now a minority but that doesn't mean they shouldn't have any rights or representation.

“The recent call for a ban on smoking in parks and squares was a step too far. Tobacco is a legal product and adults must be allowed to smoke somewhere without finger-wagging or worse.

“If politicians and campaigners don’t want adults smoking in front of children they should review the smoking ban and give proprietors the option of installing well-ventilated smoking rooms in pubs and bars.

“The freedom to smoke is not a human right but the state shouldn’t force people to quit. Unfortunately recent legislation, including the smoking ban and plain packaging, is designed to denormalise and stigmatise the consumer in the hope they'll give up."

The evening will also feature the launch of a new campaign, Action on Consumer Choice, that will cover food, drink and smokeless tobacco including e-cigarettes.

Clark said: “Since Forest was founded in 1979 Britain has changed from a benign nanny state to a censorious bully state that demands people change their lifestyle, whether it be eating, drinking or smoking.

“The attempt to over-regulate e-cigarettes suggests the battle is not about health, it’s about control.

“Forest’s role is to defend freedom of choice and promote personal responsibility. We’ll continue to do that in the knowledge there are millions of people who share and support our views.”

Update: I've just been told the event is fully subscribed. If you haven't registered it's too late!

Welcome to Team Freedom (smokers and non-smokers)

Great piece by Brian Monteith on ConservativeHome.

From @TheBlueTrot: Smokers are taking a hit for Team Freedom http://t.co/yPEcPZ1zdd

— ConservativeHome (@ConHome) October 31, 2014

Welcome to the world's most expensive cross-Channel ferry

It's been a curious week.

On Thursday (and Friday) I was in Dublin. Now I'm on Cunard's Queen Victoria.

It’s Day Two of a three-night mini-cruise that began yesterday in Southampton.

Technically we're “at sea” all day today. In practise we’re at anchor in the North Sea waiting to enter Zeebrugge harbour I don't know when. (I've been far too busy eating and drinking to check the schedule.)

Tomorrow we'll face a difficult decision: get a taxi/train to Bruges and spend the day shoulder to shoulder with thousands of other sweaty tourists, or stay on board the world’s most luxurious expensive cross-Channel ferry.

Tough choice.

Barring unforeseen developments normal service will resume here on Tuesday.

Hidden Charms to play Forest birthday bash

Delighted to announce that rising stars Hidden Charms will perform at Forest's 35th anniversary party on November 4.

"Infectious R&B with just a hint of youthful swagger … Hidden Charms have a giddy energy, a dancefloor frenzy which is more suited to legendary Mod club Tiles than any modern super-club." (Clash)

I'm told the band have been recording in Los Angeles and an EP or album will be released next year.

In the meantime you can download 'Sunnyside', their first (hugely infectious) track, also featured in the videos above and below.

"Clocking in at just over two minutes long, so it never outstays its welcome, this is spunky and funky blues-infused rock for a whole new generation." (Record of the Day)

See also: New Noise - Hidden Charms (Wonderland)

Oh, and the band is featured in the November issue of Tatler which has commissioned this short film with model Iana Godnia:

Hidden Charms: playing live at Forest's 35th anniversary bash at Boisdale of Belgravia on Tuesday November 4.

For further details click here.

To register email events@forestonline.org or call Nicky on 01223 370156.