Harassment, pure and simple?

Is this how it has become? You are harassed into being an hypochondriac???

I’m a Doctor, trust me?

This is not the first phone call I have received this dying year from my local doctors surgery asking me about my smoking habits where I have refused to reveal it, one way or the other, but I guess they know by my intransigence that I am a proud smoker.  Today they surpassed themselves.

The first phone call this morning came from the practice nurse who “needed to update her records” and wanted to ask me a few questions whilst saying she was sorry for phoning me on New Years Eve. I said “I’ve an idea what you want to know, but please continue.”

She then went on to ask me if I had the Flu shot, Swine Flu shot, another shot I’d never heard of and whether my height and weight still remained the same before leaving the question I thought she would have asked first, do you smoke.

I explained, on political terms,one by one, why I didn’t have the Flu shot, Swine Flu shot etc and would not divulge if I smoked or not, telling her that I was a member of F2C and was diametrically opposed to the smoking ban and my political stance on it (I was fuming by then, no pun intended) and I ran their office. The upshot was that she told me that the practice would not ask me those questions again…I’ll wait with baited breath!

Two hours later!

The head receptionist phoned me up (I answered in the same tone as above) with one question about Beryl’s (my wife) health* but didn’t ask me if she had her Flu shot, Swine Flu shot, or the other Flu shot I’d never heard of, or her height or weight or her fucking Alzheimer's …no, she asked if she still smoked!
 
Once again I was told that these questions would not be asked of me…I wait with baited breath.
You have to ask the question WTF is going on today?

*Because of Beryl’s Alzheimer’s I have legal authority to act and speak on her behalf but that does not stop me from feeling terrible for her not being able to, especially where her health is concerned, say what she thinks. I know she is a mild smoker and, in her present condition, she hates this intrusion into her smoking habits. She does not understand this vicious smoking ban when she socialises.

Thought for today... And maybe tomorrow. Merry Christmas everyone...

...even to those who hate me for my lifestyle choices... now there's a buzz word or two if ever I heard them!

I'll let my doppelgänger explain:

Stress

A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience,
Raised a glass of water and asked,
"How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter.
It depends on how long you try to hold it.
If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.
If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.
If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance
In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

He continued,
"And that's the way it is with stress management.
If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,
As the burden becomes increasingly heavy,
We won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water,
You have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.
When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."

"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home You can pick it up tomorrow."

"Whatever burdens you're carrying now,
Let them down for a moment if you can.
So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while."

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon,
And some days you're the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet,
Just in case you have to eat them.

* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be
"Recalled" by their maker.

* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone £20 and never see that person again,
It was probably worth it.

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time,
Because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can't dance well.
Just get up and dance.

* When everything's coming your way,
You're in the wrong lane.

* Birthdays are good for you.
The more you have, the longer you live.

* You may be only one person in the world,
But you may also be the world to one person.

* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery

On a detour.

Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today . . . I did.

Have a Happy Christmas dear readers and have a very, very Merry New Year. All within government guidlines of course...yeah fookin' right!

TheBigYin

Let the festivities begin but...

By John Watson

You are invited to this year’s New Years Eve party, I regret that The Healthists have laid down a few rules before it is permitted:
 

OFFICE OF ANTI-FUN AND GOOD HEALTH

　
NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTIES:

In line with Anti-Fun and Good Health Policy the structure of New Year’s Eve Parties has been revised:

OBESITY.

In order to reduce expenditure on healthcare for the clinically obese the following orders are implemented:
1) All meats served will be lean or meat substitutes.
2) The use of butter is forbidden.
3) The eating of Haggis ‘neaps and tatties’ is forbidden.
4) Ethnic foodstuffs remain unaffected.
5) The serving of Crisps, Savouries, Hotdogs, Hamburgers or Kebabs are strictly forbidden.
6) No salt permitted.


By order:

Horace Beanpole.

Essengauleiter (District Leader Eating) UK.

DRINKING.

In order to reduce expenditure on healthcare for alcoholism the following orders are implemented:
1) All beers are to be low alcohol.
2) Absolutely no Spirit’s with the exception of Ghosts, Ghouls And Poltergeists.
3) All soft drinks are to be sugar free.
4) Energy drinks will be permitted for those over 65 years provided they are accompanied by both parents.

By order

Sir Reginald Ratted-Boozey MBE. OBE.

Trinkesgauleiter (District Leader Drinking) UK.
　
TOBACCO.

In order to reduce expenditure on healthcare for Smoking Ailments the following orders are implemented:
1) There is to be no smoking indoors.

2) Smokers will be provided with an outside enclosure not less than 1000 metres from New Years Eve Parties.

3) Armed guards, razor wire, searchlight towers with or without machine gun posts and dogs are available from your local garrison on request.

4) Demonstrations such as the singing of Auld Lang Syne are forbidden.

5) Any attempt to have fun is forbidden.

By order:
　
Sheila von Gorbals.

Rauchsgauleiterin (District Leader Smoking) UK.

By order this day 22-12-10

Heideki Banzai III.

Deputy Fuhrer Anti Smoking.

Stanley Von Grass.

Fuhrer Anti Smoking.

I wish that you all Have A merry Christmas and a Very, Very, Happy New Year!

John Watson.

 Happily filtched from the Taking Liberties blog.

True Irish logic & eleutheria !

In 2004 Southern Ireland were basically bludgeoned into implementing a smoking ban, which they duly did.

Nothing much was said about it over here as it obviously did not affect us at all. The problem was that nobody thought to publicise the fact that in the first year alone 1,000 businesses closed throughout the country. Now, for a relatively small country that is one hell of a lot of businesses! I cannot imagine the cost in revenue to the government but then I'lI suppose they never really considered the losses either amid the furore of being the trend setters in smoke-free!

In a bid to curb smoking habits the government had a brainwave; that being to ban the sale of packs of 10 cigarettes-the logic being that 'ten packs' were all that teenagers (and lesser ages) could afford. Hello? Anybody consider that young Seamus & young Tommy might pool their resources and by a twenty pack? Apparently not, so that was a complete waste of time and effort on the part of the Dáil Éireann.

The next 'gem' was the inevitable increase in the price of a pack of twenty, which at € 8.55 a pack “are the highest in the world”. So that's the smoking problem sorted then-again!

On top of that the goverment ensured the ending of in-store displays and advertising for tobacco products, presumably under the misguided premise that what you can't see you won't buy! Righty ho then.

Southern Ireland is now the laughing stock of Europe unfortunately for not only has the smking ban cost them £millions in lost revenue from now closed businesses, it is costing them £millions in lost revenue from tobacco sales! Now you would think that this loss might be acceptable but that is far from the truth because smoking rates have increased by at least 2% and tobacco sales have fallen due to the amount of smuggled tobacco coming into the country!

The Irish government now estimate that they are losing out on £1m per week in tobacco revenue but who can have any sympathy with them? They have ensured that a nation of carefree smoker/drinkers lose 1,000 watering holes, kicked the smokers out of whatever is left and yet still expect to profit from the exercise.

Unfortunately for them, their populace has stuck two fingers up at them-and fair play to them for that! Link:- http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/1217/1224285736185.html

Meanwhile the Greeks have done their ususal and gone way OTT in refusing to accept a smoke ban! There, they have made their disapproval clearly known as a spate of letter bombs in Athens and widespread ignoring of any form of ban.

You see, the greeks take these things rather seriously, well, as a personal affront actually so there is plenty of chance of civil riots kicking off again if the government tries too hard to enforce the ban. It appears that even the health minister admits that the smoking law cannot be effectively implemented so I don't think there will be much compliance-if any.

Link:- http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2010/1217/1224285735360.html

Amazing really when you compare the diabolical lethargy by licensees in this country to the volatile Greeks and the slow but methodical Dutch. The Dutch soon got 1,200 licensees together @£250 per annum each to fight for their rights-and they won. They now have the right to earn a decent living and contribute to the Dutch economy once more. What do our miserable lot do? SFA-that's what! Instead of forming a licensees army to take on the government they sat back and continue to sit back in the hope that they survive! You see, the fundamental difference is that the Greeks believe in "eleutheria" (freedom) whereas we do but don't really want to do anything about it-until it's too late.

Wake up you numpties, what have you got to lose-apart from what little bit of sanity is left!

I didnn't realise what was happening!

I was just merely getting on with my life in my own way until the moral majority decided that I was declared persona non grata! I was deemed  a non person, someone that has a lifestyle (smoking a fag is a lifestyle?) that someone else does not agree with, which I have heard most of my life but it never came to a head until recent years when it was declared open season on smokers..then all hell let loose!  WTF have I done wrong? Am I black? Am I a Jew? Am I a homosexual? Ok, maybe not a Fauxmily but it is appropriate in this instance.

Now I am an outcast because of my ‘lifestyle’ as a smoker. I am deemed not worthy of sitting alongside  my fellow human beings that do not smoke, whether they object or not, because the law lies lays in the pretence of the non-smoking friends of mine, the pretence that my smoking, and to be particular, the Second Hand Smoke that I give out, is lethal to the point of death!

Would I do that to my beloved friends and family? No! Why?? Because I know that SHS is nothing more than an irritant to the non smoker.

Now I’m no scientific genius, just a smoker who knows a con when I hear it and am appalled at the suggestion that I am killing all around me by my ‘lifestyle.’

I want the smoking ban in the hospitality industry REPEALED…but I am told that that is unrealistic, I am told that the general public love the ban, I am told many things by many ‘informed’ people with vested interests what is good for me and I am also told that the DEBATE is over, period!

It doesn’t matter what ‘lifestyle’ choice I partake of, having an enjoyable puff on a cigarette/pipe/cigars/shish pipe or imbibe the new taboo, alcohol, or like a burger now and again and even like a shake of salt on my food there is a fascist out there who has the ear of government and the government listens without question because they are concerned about us dying without reason, the same government that sends our sons and daughters to their deaths on a whim and expect us to accept the same old drone that the DEBATE is over, period!

Well the debate is far from over, no matter your hatred of  that debate.

Below is an edited version of such a debate about the smoking ban here in the UK and the recent rolling back of the ban in the Netherlands. Listen to Wiel Maessen’s common sense approach to anti business, anti smoking nannyists with an axe to grind who are terminally offended at the drop of a hat.

Listen at the absurdity of the Dutch passing a swinging smoking ban whilst  trying to hang on to it’s liberal attitude about smoking pot, a thing I have never done in my life but will not condemn anyone that does so. Nor will I condemn someone that eats at McDonalds or drinks too much wine!

Listen also to one of my hero’s in the anti smoking debate, Nick Hogan, who ran a successful hospitality empire in the North West, and note the word HOSPITALITY, business and suffered the consequences of defying the ban by a) losing his business and b) losing his health!

And there's more...

Petition from Save Our Pubs & Clubs

Sign the petition against more EC regulations!
The smokers’ lobby group Forest, a leading member of the Save Our Pubs & Clubs coalition, has launched an online petition against new proposals to regulate tobacco throughout the European Union.

The Morning Advertiser reports that proposed changes to the European Commission’s Tobacco Products Directive include a ban on the display of tobacco products, the introduction of plain packaging, the enlargement of picture warnings on packs and the prohibition of all types of smokeless tobacco products.

“We support measures that educate children and adults about the health risks of smoking, but we oppose unnecessarily restrictive regulations that are designed to denormalise a legal product and will threaten jobs and small businesses and inconvenience millions of law-abiding citizens throughout Europe,” said Forest director Simon Clark.


“We urge everyone who opposes these proposals to sign the online petition that will be submitted to the EC as part of the consultation. It is essential that we make our voices heard in Brussels as well as in Westminster.”


Clark, who is also director of the Save Our Pubs & Clubs campaign, added, "Although the consultation is about tobaco products, it is all part of the war on tobacco. If we can influence this battle it will put us in a stronger position to address the issue of smoking in pubs and clubs."

Signatories to the petition will be delivered by Forest to the European Commission in Brussels on 17 December. To sign it visit www.forestpetition.eu.
.................................................
 
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Freedom 2 Choose Newsletter

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Conference of the Parties, fourth session
November 15 - 20, 2010

Organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the FWTC Conference of the Parties is a biennial gathering of anti-tobacco delegates from any country (or Party) that has signed or ratified WHO’s international treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

November’s gathering, in Punta del Este, Uruguay, is the fourth such Conference of the Parties - hence COP-4 - and continues its self-appointed task of framing and implementing anti-tobacco measures around the world. Working groups appointed at Conference spend the next 2 years examining specific articles on the Conference agenda and drafting new guidelines in time for the next COP gathering, at which their drafts are amended and/or voted for inclusion within the treaty.

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is a work in progress.

On the agenda at COP-4

Article 6: Price and Tax.

Both are too low, according to the Framework Convention Alliance. Developing countries have most to gain, but even countries long familiar with the notion of Sin Tax could be squeezing more out of their smokers.

Article 9: Regulation of the contents of tobacco products
Article 10: Regulation of tobacco product disclosures

These two articles have triggered widespread opposition from tobacco growers, especially fearful that article 9 (banning additives and flavourings used to enhance the taste of burley tobacco) will damage their livelihoods. The International Tobacco Growers’ Association erected a marquee outside the conference area when denied access to the conference itself. Such is the resentment of Articles 9 and 10 (and to a lesser extent Articles 17 and 18) that Zimbabwean farmers of all hues are uniting in protest.

Article 12: Education and Training


Article 13: Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship

Two ways of drowning out the opposition’s voice: get more people to shout up for your side (art. 12) and legislate the enemy into silence (art. 13). Much emphasis on the global nature of the task in hand; targeting women, youths and other ‘disadvantaged’ populations; advertising bans; warning messages; plain packaging; the force of law and penalties.

Article 14: Cessation

Accepted in full by Conference. These guidelines for making us stop smoking were drafted by a working group that included the UK, which probably explains why the methods outlined are almost all depressingly familiar. Almost - but not quite. Nestled between the need to economise (‘use existing systems’) and a thumbs-up for quangos (‘political collaboration’) is a call for mandatory recording of smoking status on medical records.

Article 17: Viable alternatives to tobacco
Article 18: Protecting the environment

Areas considered much too big for a mere working party. Seventy countries (Parties) have been operating as a study group, researching economically sustainable alternatives to tobacco, since 2006. Their results were brought to COP-4 as a progress report. Government subsidies will be needed to make other crops an attractive alternative for tobacco farmers. No blame to the farmers - all blame to the manufacturers with their helpful start-up packages, efficient marketing schemes, above-average payments, community programmes, sponsorship and political collaboration.
The group will continue its studies, with a further report to COP-5 in 2012.

Article 19: Liability

Great disappointment that so many Parties are failing to sue the tobacco companies.

The Best Laid Plans...

The Framework Alliance is feeling the pinch.

All Parties are required to pay a biennial sub, known as a voluntary assessed contribution (or VAC), set at levels reflecting each country’s financial worth. VACs are the Framework Alliance’s ‘bread and butter’ revenue and fundamental to getting FWCT articles off the page and onto the streets, so the projected US$4, 938, 256 shortfall in VAC payments for the 20010/11 budget means difficult choices ahead.

Pet projects may have to be shelved.

Only 78 out of a total 160 parties were fully subscribed as of November 2010.

Forty-six countries have VACs set at US$113 per biennium, the lowest assessment made.

Top payer is Japan on a whopping US$1,762,925 pb. (Latest subs still unpaid as of October 31st.)

UK ranked 3rd highest contributor at US$752,280 pb. Ireland (US$50,441) is fully paid up.

European countries not only pay their own VAC, but also donate a further US$283,328 through the EU’s contribution (still outstanding as of Oct 31st).

Other Items of Note from Punta del Este

Plain packaging - Theme of lunchtime seminar; part-hosted by Australia who is showing us what Article 13 really means by adopting by this proposal within the next two years. The tobacco companies are complaining.

Meanwhile, back in Britain - Health Minister Andrew Lansley is said to be flexing his elbow to follow suit.

Gender, Women and the Tobacco Epidemic was the title of

Tuesday evening’s side show, a collaborative presentation by the WHO, the Framework Convention Alliance and the International Network of Women Against Tobacco.

Meanwhile, back in Britain - Smoking women are finding themselves, once again, at the sharp end of a public health campaign. Anti-smoking charity Quit is hoping to persuade them that giving up smoking won’t make them stressed or fat. Thankfully for Quit, the Scotsman, the Telegraph, the Sun and the Mail are all on hand with the barely less risible claim that smoking in pregnancy ‘breeds criminals’. Little wonder that most women prioritise giving up smoking 'above improving their career and having a happy relationship'.

A protocol on Illicit Tobacco is being created. Even the Framework Convention Alliance concede that high prices lead to more contraband and weaker tobacco control. However, strong tobacco control comes at a price - around US$3 million a year is the estimated budgetary requirement for this pet project.

Meanwhile, back in Ireland - A quarter of all cigarettes smoked are bought through the black market, depriving the legitimate trade of €692m, a figure that is expected to rise this year.

Smoking Cessation - Debbie Arnott of ASH UK writes of saving more than 180 million lives by 2050 (FCA COP-4 Bulletin 108), through the enactment of Article 14's evidence-based guidelines. (The UK was a 'key facilitator' in drafting the guidelines for Article 14.)

Meanwhile, back in Britain - Imperial Tobacco announce increased UK sales, bucking an international trend in the opposite direction; Cancer Research UK release figures showing that the number of British people attempting to give up smoking has fallen by half since the same period last year; and even though it enjoys one of the lowest smoking rates in Europe, Britain finds itself at the top of the EU's deaths by lung disease chart.

You can subscribe to the F2C newsletter here.

Blogger Tags: F2C Newsletter

Meet Dave Atherton

Dave has been a member of F2C for many a year now but this is the first time he has talked publicly. Dave is a family man and would not put his wife and children in danger and sees things as they are, he does not suffer fools gladly. Take it awayt Dave!

PS, sorry for the titles and music, I have a new toy in the editing department and have been playing with it.

Click To Play

New Voice, new times

For a long time now, yours truly has been voicing opinions on tne radio on a saturday, then a sunday night. Of course the ridiculous nature of the smoking ban and all the pain and misery it has caused is the subject.

Councillor Pat Carney has been invited onto the show as have representatives of ASH but, it seems, they do not wish to debate anything with me, Paul Ripley (the presenter) or anyone else for that matter! What a shame, for month after month we show up the absurdity of the ban.

I am handing over 'the reins' to my friend and colleague Dave Atherton as I think people are probably tiring of my voice and thoughts, therefore a fresh voice is needed and Dave is just the man for the job.

So folks, if you all listen in about 10.10pm tonight you will hear Dave's debut at:

http://www.manchesterradioonline.com/

Dave is very knowledgeable and very much into statistical figures that supposedly represent this, that and the other so it should be interesting.

Don't forget that Paul welcomes phone calls to the show, it all boosts ratings!

I'll be listening in-will you?

You can listen here or go straight to the radio website at: http://www.manchesterradioonline.com/

Finally, the Health Loonies get their way!

Long we have bemoaned the state of this country as the 'healthists' marched ever onward, invading our lives in every way possible. The smoking ban was, without doubt the pinnacle of their single minded assault on our freedoms-and they achieved that in 2007, much to the disgust of approximately 12 million smokers. I won't bother to go into the usual splattering of wordage to describe the effects of their dastardly work save to say WE WARNED YOU THEN!

In 2007 we warned you that the smoking ban was just the start. Alcohol would be next and 'fatties' (no offence intended of course) would be third on the list; and so it has proven to be.

With 6.500 venues already gone and many more yet to fall, it seems incredible that this new coalition (who have actually sworn to support the British Pub) have introduced more 'stress' for licensees under The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill unveiled today. Let's have a little wander through some of the wordage:-

* New powers to stop premises selling alcohol late at night and punish those that persistently sell alcohol to children with fines of up to £20,000 Can't faul;t that one folks.

* Everyone will be given the chance to comment on individual licensing applications – not just those living close to the premises No0w just WHAT does 'everyone' mean? Living in Leicester am I now entitled me to object to someone's licensing hours in Glasgow or the Isle of Wight? Can I, as a private individual, object to any license application I feel like objecting to?

* Health bodies will become a responsible authority This is where it gets worrying, very worrying indeed! Primary Care Trusts and Health Boards will be listed as a responsible authority under the act, which means they can object to licences and call for a licence review. We4 are in dangerous territory here folks for this could mean that all hospitals have a hit list of pubs. A blacklist of pubs that provide most drunken fools or injured persons. Could be an innocent passer by who happens to trip outside "The Nags Head" but the unfortunate "Nags Head" will receive a black mark against its name.

Three strikes and you're out maybe? PCT's & Health Boards will weild the 'Sword of Damocles' if they so desire - a system wide open to blackmail, corruption and abuse by some!

* Charge for late-night licences to pay for extra policingWell, money had to come into it somewhere along the line didn't it? Hit the licensee yet again with extra costs, ensure that the pubs are all closed by 11pm at night again. Just think, home drinkers will be able to totter down to their local (if it's not been shut down already) and have the last pint of the night straight from the pump! Won't that excite licensees who have struggled to find customers all night. How much will this cost night clubs one asks? Is it possible that we will see a rapid increase in the closure rates of these younger generation venues? The smoking ban has got rid of 10% of them so far, perhaps financial encumberances will get rid of another 10%-20%-30% of them, who knows? Sure seems a good way to cull the hospitality outlets to me.

* Suspend licences if fees are not paid Just a natural follow on.

* Scrapping bureaucratic and unused alcohol disorder zones Something moderately sensible for if these zones are not being used by people because they now stop at home instead then they are a pointless exercise!

* A commitment to review the mandatory licensing code within 12 months of its introduction to assess its impact and any unnecessary burdens on business An absolute classic! Like the smoking ban then-all they'll do is listen to the Health Lobbyists (who will have found plenty to grumble about in 12 months) and then decide more restrictions are needed; like plain labelling on bottled beers or beer pumps must be hidden from the sight of children whilst out eating with their parents. It won't occur to these purile wankers that another 6,500 pubs, clubs, Bingo halls or night clubs have fallen by the wayside - oh no - the Healthists are on the march, zerom (minimising) costs to the NHS is their only concern. They sit at night dreaming more restrictions up as they quietly finish of yet another bottle of supermarket wine.

Ther link to all this 'gubbins' is here.

I will leave you to make your own minds up, mines already made. Freddom2choose stated 3 yeas ago that it was Smokers..1, Booze/Drinkers..2, & Obesity..3. Exactly the order any old government (it now seems) are taking. So much for 'call me Dave' & the secret puffer 'Cleggerons' promise to reform the previous gestapo's heavy handed legislation! They all 'piss in the same pot' it seems, which does not bode well for the rank & file of this country who basically want to finish a days work and pottle off down the pub for a fag and a pint but are finding such welcoming abodes harder and harder to come across as legislaters march ever onwards.

Anuerin Bevan instigated the National Health service on July 5th, 1948 so that all inhabitants of this once fair and just land could receive equal medical treatment irrespective of creed or class. Fifty years on and we find a tier system operating for those who can afford BUPA can have faster medical attention-from the same bloody doctors/surgeons at your local NHS hospital! Sixty years on and we see a divide growing as some loonies demand that smokers be refused treatment on the NHS as it 'costs' too much or 'it's self inflicted'. The mere fact that the smokers prop up the NHS to the tune of £11bn or £12bn per annum seems irrelevant to the health loonies for they are so blinkered. These are people so devoid of imagination that if tobacco was totally outlawed & smuggling eradicated, they would not understand why Income Tax had just risen by £30p to compensate for losses of revenue. Would they then ban AIDS sufferers from health care for that is 'self inflicted'? Would sports injuries, DIY injuries etc be banned from treatments for they are all 'self inflicted'?

For the Health Lobby to gain a foothold in the say so of our heritage, our British pubs, it is akin to starting a bush-fire - how far will the damage spread? The might of the health Lobby is so great in this day and age that no hospitality venue is safe from their scrutiny.

I shall be interested in phase3 because when you look around our hospitals you would be amazed to see just how many of the staff are obese or clini8cally obese. Now just what are the health Lobby going to do about 'regulating their own ship' I wonder? Three weeks to lose a stone in weight or you're out perhaps? Every single hospital will be very short staffed after 4 weeks.

Beginning to see just how far and how dangerous a road we are now on? Yet 'call me Dave' and the schoolboy 'Cleggeron' have done nothing to thwart the ominous advances of the health Lobby The countries Chief medical Officer might just as well now be Prime Minister!