Thursday 28 November 2013

It's Like Christmas Eve For Nick Clegg

Personally, the news of another review of plain packaging looks like a stitch-up to me.

It is being conducted - in double quick time, we are told - by Sir Cyril Chantler, a paediatrician who is bound to believe all the rigged evidence or else he'll be ostracised by the rest of the public health Mafia. There is also the small matter of "enabling legislation" so that if a green light is given, plain packs can be on your shelves before you can say '20 Benson and Hedges please'.

However, others seem to think it's just a bit of politicking, see here from Simon Clark and here at ConHome. I was also taken to task by a lifelong Tory friend on Facebook, and a fellow jewel robber in Westminster commented via e-mail that "interesting politics are going on here ... pressing ahead just before or after next May's elections would be pretty unwise".

They may have a point, who knows? I suppose it would explain why Andy Burnham has been less than happy today despite Labour's wildest dreams of sticking it to the working classes apparently coming true.

And, it surely can't have escaped the coalition's attention that the public really can't be bothered to get excited about plain packs, as the public consultation showed.


Or maybe it did. Because Health Minister Jane Ellison - following on from Anna Soubry as the DoH's latest Nicola Murray - claimed on Radio 5 this morning (from 2:16:00 here*) that:
"When we did the consultation in the summer, actually, it was more in favour of going ahead"
Utter nonsense, of course, which was contemptuously corrected by the IEA's Mark Littlewood immediately after she'd finished waffling. But it is interesting that, despite the largest response to a public consultation in the history of the UK government, the results should be so badly represented.

What she was restricting her commentary to were the 'detailed responses', rather than mentioning all who had expressed an interest. By that, she meant almost exclusively state-funded departments; fake charities; single interest pressure groups; and other professional 'stakeholders', rather than, you know, the public. The fact that the figures showed a tiny difference between those paid to spend their time writing, as against those of us who sent detailed responses on our own time should send a message to Ellison. If she received it, though, she isn't letting on.

Perhaps someone should point out that there is a 'public' bit in the term public consultation.

Anyway, sod all that, this tabloid guffer can't be doing with trying to analyse why politicians seem so resistant to listening to the public right now.

But perhaps there's a clue in the reaction of Nick Clegg. This was the most telling quote of the day for me (do go watch the video clip).
"We have an open mind as a government on this, and if the evidence from the review emerges in favour of plain packaging, which I hope it will, it's a measure we would then proceed with".
He's like a kid at Christmas, isn't he?

Not "I hope it shows that we don't need to interfere", not "I hope, as a liberal, that more rules will be unnecessary".

Nope, Nick can't wait to get started. He is crossing his fingers and praying that he will be able to take business away from the packaging industry; desperate to see gratuitous gore become a part of everyday life; and almost coming in his pants at the prospect of causing inconvenience to retailers.

If the review were to find that there is no need for legislation, I guess he would be right pissed off. And even if the review found that plain packs harmed kids rather than deterring them, he'd presumably be frustrated and depressed. Because he was so looking forward to banning something, so he was.

This is the same Clegg, remember, who wanted to ""roll back the power of the state" and "restore British liberties" with the Freedom Bill that went nowhere.

What a pathetic mess politicians manage to contrive every day, eh?

* And if anyone cares to record that lie and stick it on Soundcloud or something for posterity, I'd be grateful.


13 comments:

Sam Duncan said...

“This is the same Clegg, remember, who wanted to ""roll back the power of the state" and "restore British liberties" with the Freedom Bill that went nowhere.”


Yeah, the same Clegg who co-authored the Orange Book and is therefore one of the Real Liberals in the LibDems, honest, guv'nor. No wonder they're following the old Liberal Party round the U-bend of history.



As I commented over at Counting Cats earlier, this whole thing has the overpowering odour of fish about it. Either Cameron is an illiberal git just like the rest of them who doesn't give a flying wank about freedom - which is, let's be honest, not at all unlikely - or the government is having its arm twisted by the real sovereign power over the water. Or both.

Ivan D said...

Spot on! But don't forget the left wing autocrats who couldn't hack being front line medics. There are a fair few of those around too and they get even bigger pay packets for doing nothing useful whatsoever.

Sackerson said...

Clegg: deeply creepy. Can't abide his "Man of Sorrows" demeanour.
Sackerson.

truckerlyn said...

As I have said before, nisakiman, we are all individuals, not to be fitted into the same little square boxes that government want us to be. On that basis we will all heal differently and react differently to everyday things - something to do with genetics! So, smoker or not, some may heal quickly and well whilst others may not.

John Davidson Jr said...

Imperial Tobacco and BAT pledge to fight new packaging rules as shares in the two firms fall after Government U-turn

Read more: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-2515237/Imperial-Tobacco-BAT-pledge-fight-new-packaging-rules.html#ixzz2lzKvBhry

John Davidson Jr said...

Clegg Admits He Still Smokes, But Backs Plain Packets
http://www.lbc.co.uk/clegg-admits-he-still-smokes-as-coalition-goes-for-plain-packets-82082

DP said...

Dear Mr Puddlecote

This activity is in direct conflict with our written constitution, as indeed is much of our government's current activities, includng their continued support for the enslavement of the British peoples in the evil empire that is the EU.

That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted;

The Declaration of Rights 1688/9

http://www.tpuc.org/the-declaration-of-rights-16889/


Every breach of our constitutional heritage is treasonous and should be prosecuted as such.


DP

Ivan D said...

In common with much of the rest of the party he leads Clegg is a social democrat. I doubt that he or his party will survive the next election which as a liberal I view as a very good thing indeed. I cannot find the words to politely express my feelings for him.

The Old Brigade. said...

Lets get real about these so called "Liberals" and "Tories",they are little more than slavish marionettes, hand puppets with Fabian fists
up their trembling butts. Gutless,spineless,not a medal in sight.they chudder,waffle and wring their lily white palms over issues totally devoid of public interest just to pander to the Village People
Never mind the RED CROSS collecting food for BRITONS
Forget the 2 1/2 million rotting on benefits,1 milion 18-24 year olds
fermenting in bed till midday,tax dodgers,sink estates,slavery on the increase,industrial towns becoming ghost hamlets.
Instead they clog the nations screens with their hand wringing,breast beating,shroud waving,well funded anger and concern, for WHAT?
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?? PLAIN PACKAGING FOR FAGS??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We can assume (the writer being a tee totaler) plain wrappers on
alcohol products will SOON be on the agenda (for the kiddies sake of course)
No I will not be voting for those even sadder deviants ,LABOUR.
The Old Brigade

nisakiman said...

Bravo! :)

truckerlyn said...

Why be polite? They damn well do not deserve respect, never mind politeness!

truckerlyn said...

They need to look up the word Democracy too!

truckerlyn said...

And hanging would be too good for them!