H/T Rose for this Express report:
Cost of 20 cigarettes to soar to £15 A PACKET under new Government proposals
The proposals, put forward in a document by the Independent Cancer Taskforce, are part of the latest attempt to drastically cut down cancer deaths.
Currently, a packet of 20 cigarettes costs about £9.60, and tobacco is seen as being the main cause of cancer, followed by obesity.
The report suggests the 50 per cent price hike could be put into place by 2020.
The taskforce’s chairman, Harpal Kumar, said the proposals needed to be put into place as soon as possible.
He said: “We’re better informed than ever about how best to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease, and how to deliver better patient experience and quality of life. What’s needed now is action.
“We are a long way from where we should be. Our expectation is that the Government and NHS will now make the investments required and implement this strategy with commitment and speed.”
And NHS England’s chief executive Simon Stevens backed the report, saying: “The NHS will be backing this ground-breaking route map for prevention, earlier diagnosis, modern treatments and compassionate care.”
And I suppose that when cancer rates don’t fall, they’ll just double the price of cigarettes again.
This is state-controlled social engineering of a sort I wouldn’t have expected of a supposedly Conservative government (and we do now have a Conservative rather than a Lib-Con coalition government). Clearly the departure of Nick Clegg made no difference to the government’s ideological antismoking commitment. If state control doesn’t work, more state control is needed.
In other top down state control news, François Hollande is now calling for a eurozone government:
Mr Hollande’s proposals – in an article to mark the 90th birthday of the former European Commission President, Jacques Delors – were framed as a response to the muddled, much criticised and fragile eurozone response to the Greek debt crisis. His comments were, however, also intended to mark out France’s position in negotiations later this year on EU reform, before the in/out referendum in the UK next year or in 2017.
In an apparent swipe at both Germany and Britain, Mr Hollande said that the EU’s problems were caused not by the failure of the European dream, but by a return to national selfishness and a “turning in on oneself”.
“Our biggest threat is not too much Europe, but too little,” Mr Hollande wrote.
So the answer to the failure of EU state control is more EU state control.
Frank Davis 
” … the EU’s problems were caused not by the failure of the European dream, but by a return to national selfishness and a “turning in on oneself”.”
Errr, Mr Hollande, isn’t the latter merely a natural onward reaction to the first – and thus indicative that it is precisely because the “European dream” has failed that people are returning to “national selfishness” … ?
It’s always tobacco and obesity. They hardly ever mention other leading causes of cancer, the list of which I can only assume includes prolonged exposure to unicorns and sexual relations with leprechauns.
You do not need prolonged exposure to unicorns when you can have H.Pylorii and sexual relationships with leprechauns might be somewhat unusual, except that the leprechauns might well transfer a little HPV.
The list of cancer CAUSING (no need to talk of “related”) agents is indeed very long…
ZeroHedge
French President Calls For The Creation Of United States Of Europe
They say France financialy is right behind Italy spain and Greece Portugal in need of bailouts in the future. Likely whats driving the French to force unity if even by show of force would be my guess. But I don’t think the German people are behind any EU united states as theyd end up toting financially everyone of them on their backs.
ipwatch
In late May, global tobacco giants Philip Morris International (PMI), British American Tobacco (BAT), and Japan Tobacco International (JTI) sued the British government over new legislation that will introduce plain tobacco packaging to the UK in May 2016. The British legislation, aimed at curbing demand for cigarettes, requires that all cigarettes be sold in uniform packs with all branding, including colors, logos and other trademarks, removed. Companies are only permitted to print the brand’s name, in a uniform font, size, and location, on the pack, alongside health warnings and deterrent images. Other tobacco companies, such as Imperial Tobacco, have indicated that they will “be left with no choice” but to challenge the regulations as well.
The tobacco companies allege that the government’s plain packaging rules deprive them of property in the form of trademarks, and seek compensation that could extend into the billions of pounds. Specifically, the tobacco companies’ assert: (1) the regulations unlawfully deprive tobacco companies of their trademarks, in contravention of English and EU law prohibiting depriving private entities of property without fair compensation; (2) the regulations violate the EU law that says community trademarks can be used by identical means throughout the EU, which would be impossible if the UK government bans their use in the UK; and (3) the regulations obstruct the free movement of goods through means that are neither necessary nor proportionate to achieving the UK government’s public health objectives.
Ironically, when political entities start to lose control they increase their mechanisms of control. For a nation that means repression. For lifestyle crusaders that means calling for more bans.
One such ban is the call for a smoker beach in Brighton (there goes tourist revenue). ‘Brighton could be the first UK city to ban smoking on the beach’ at The Telegraph recounts the proposed ban and contains a poll (which is 86% AGAINST the ban as I post this).
The Telegraph article and poll is here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/11752483/Brighton-could-be-the-first-UK-city-to-ban-smoking-on-the-beach.html
For those who haven’t been, Brighton beach is not sand, it’s a bank of pebbles and very painful on the feet though you can find some nice fossils.
A visit to the wonderful Royal Pavilion makes up for that though.
How odd – the voting option has just started? I don’t think so. There can’t have been enough ASHites to vote for “yes”…..
This is state-controlled social engineering
This is World-controlled social engineering
My playtoy……….
Oceania, here we come. Maybe it’s time for us parboiled frogs, including we in the US, to see clearly that we no longer live in representstive republics, that the socialist engineers and the One World dremers are now on roll and the end game is everything we’d righteously fought against in two hot wars and one long cold one. The only way collectivist regimes can survive is by repression and purges, bribery of the dumb and carved out niches for cooperative elites. The rule of law is replaced by the rule of self-deluded men .L’etat c’est whoever can grab enough power and the thing they fear most is the natural incination of free individuals and free nation states to creatively, productively–and not without enlightenment– promote their own interests. Their aim is to make you feel ashamed of your ego and ashamed of your nation and on that score , it has to be said, they’re doing well. Your Little ared Book will arrive soon by mail.
typos by the dozen. Should be inclination. Should be Little Red Book.
What Brighton council may prefer to forget is that, even though there may be only one smoker in a family, that family will go on holiday to a place where all it’s members feel comfortable.
Frank, wrong link at the top of the page, the link to the Express story is this one.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/592360/Cigarettes-smoking-cancer-15-pounds-a-pack-price-rise-NHS
Thanks.
“And I suppose that when cancer rates don’t fall, they’ll just double the price of cigarettes again.”
Well so what? Let them do that. By that time no one will be buying them anyway, white van man is already doing a roaring trade. I know many smokers and not a single one of them buys from the shops, and that’s even before the rise to £15 a pack. I think for the government it will be a case of ‘be careful what you wish for’.
I think the Treasury may have something to say about it, after all, they are aready losing enough money due to the vapers,let alone the black market.
Quite a point Rise besides the costs of enforcement…………That’s what truly destroyed prohibiton lost revenues,business and enforcement costs. Problem is the government didn’t repeal its prohibition law arm they just renamed it the FBI.
Rose not Rise………….
It’s Time We Learned from Sin Taxes’ Impressive History of Failure
Advocates of new sin taxes would prefer to repeat same mistakes
July 21, 2015
http://reason.com/archives/2015/07/21/its-time-we-learned-from-sin-taxes-impre
It’s surprisingly more transparent. The “prohibition law arm” is now the ATF, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, which, of course, works closely with the FBI.
The treasury might regret this move – At £20/20cigarettes more people will make the effort to buy “elsewhere”. I stopped buying tobacco in England when 50g of Amberleaf cost £15.
Vaping does stretch my tobacco supply – and in case the treasury decides to heavily tax e-liquid I have started to make my own. After all, nicotine lasts incredibly long in the fridge! And excessively taxing propylene glycol as well as vegetable glycerine has some side effects.
As for excessively taxing tobacco flavour…..
OT
http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/sir-david-frosts-son-dies-age-31-while-on-morning-jog/ar-AAdgseZ?ocid=AARDHP
Miles Frost, the eldest son of Sir David Frost has died at the age of 31 while out jogging, it has been reported.
Mr Frost is believed to have collapsed during a run at the family’s holiday home in Oxfordshire on Sunday.
Friends said he had appeared fit and healthy and was in “great form” over the past few weeks, with no signs of any health problems.
This page is not available right now
We’re working to restore it as soon as possible. Please check back soon.
Click here to try this page again, or visit: http://www.msn.com
When I click on the link provided in the “page-is-not-available-right-now” message, I can see the page for 1 second.
I guess the hellthists on MSN don’t like the news…
Here the BBC link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-33605859
Just like the youngsters dying running the e.g. London Marathon (not well published) the news will be that he had “an-undiagnosed-heart-problem”…..
Considering the rate of which healthy people are urged to visit their GP for a “health-MOT” in order to prescribe long term medication, e.g. statins, for which’s serious side effects other tablet “need” to be prescribed, which in turn also have side effects for which more tablets are needed, is would appear somewhat strange that a serious “heart problem” would be missed.
A young colleague of mine ran some race (money for CROOK) and asked me to sponsor her. I asked her if she can state what this money was being used for – and what this ever scrounging CRUK can show other than propaganda. I also asked, what senior management in CRUK earns.
As my colleague ended up injured in this race and is off sick, I am still awaiting an answer….
Thought you’d like to see this piece of buffoonery.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-33607067
That on BBC knowing BBC’s political stand is absolute suicide. That story is great news for our side showing just how ridiculous anti-smoking laws are.
BBC is a tad to smart than to allow comments under its stories. They know how bad theyd be destroyed by real people who know.
http://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/farmer-facing-fine-for-smoking-in-his-tractor-cab/
“It is difficult to understand that in the same month we are being told the public sector has insufficient funds to improve road safety by cutting back hedges and verges in rural areas – yet a local council can afford someone to watch a tractor parked safely off the public road.
I take it, from a distance and perhaps the cowar…. erm, the tobacco control&friends officer hid in a green bin just like the German police does to catch speeders?
Row erupts between Council and Ulster Farmers Union over farmer spotted smoking in tractor
Belfast Telegraph
A war of words has erupted between Antrim and Newtownabbey Council and the Ulster Farmers Union – over someone smoking in a tractor.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/row-erupts-between-council-and-ulster-farmers-union-over-farmer-spotted-smoking-in-tractor-31393682.html
It was sparked by a farmer lighting a cigarette as he sat in his tractor which was parked off the road at a filling station.
Share
Some time later the owner of the tractor received a letter from the council detailing that someone had been observed smoking in the tractor and demanding the identity of that person or a fine would be issued.
It explained that a tractor is considered to be a commercial vehicle capable of carrying more than one person.
A UFU said as this was deemed to break smoking in the workplace regulations – and the owner of the tractor, who is also a contractor, has been ordered to give the name of the person smoking, or face a fine of up to £1000.
UFU deputy president, Barclay Bell said this was taking the smoking ban to extreme lengths.
“At one level this is a bizarre and even funny example of excessive red tape, defining a tractor as capable of carrying more than one person,” he said.
advertisement
“It is difficult to understand that in the same month we are being told the public sector has insufficient funds to improve road safety by cutting back hedges and verges in rural areas — yet a local council can afford someone to watch a tractor parked safely off the public road.
“Regardless of where you stand on smoking, in tough financial times it is justifiable to ask whether this is the best possible use of time and money.”
The owner of the tractor is a member of the UFU and revealed that the notice they received detailed the registration number of the tractor, setting out the time and location and warning of potential fines — complete with a two page form to disclose full details of the tractor, the person driving it and the tax status of what they said was “very clearly a John Deere agricultural tractor”.
The UFU says this is a warning to farmers that they cannot escape red tape, even in their tractor or off the public road.
A spokeswoman for Antrim and Newtownabbey Council said yesterday that investigations are still ongoing at this stage and no fines or fixed penalties have been issued.
“Under The Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, it is against the law to smoke in work vehicles used by more than one person. A tractor is classed as a work vehicle,” she said.
The council has one smoking enforcement officer.
The smoking ban was brought into action in 2007 making it illegal to smoke in workplaces, most enclosed public spaces and on public transport. It is enforced by councils.
The UFU says this is a warning to farmers that they cannot escape red tape, even in their tractor or off the public road.
Their OWN property? On their OWN on a tractor? What about property RIGHTS?
The council has one smoking enforcement officer.
But the council has not got the money to cut hedges which obscure the view of oncoming traffic? But it can pay a wage for uselessness?
Oh, clever! I was baffled at first.
French tobacconists sabotage speed cameras in cigarette packaging protest
“France’s tobacconists are protesting plans to force cigarette companies to use plain, unbranded packaging, by disabling traffic speed cameras.
The radar ‘hooding’ – by covering them with bin liners – is symbolic: a ‘cover up’ that deprives the government of money in the same way that the anti-smoking legislation will reduce tobacco sales, and tax revenue, the protesters say.
The first hooding took place over a month ago, and, by this week, speed trap cameras in as many as 20 of 97 districts had been affected, according to the group representing France’s tabac bars, the Buralistes Confederation.”
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/21/france-tobacconists-idUSL5N1013TG20150721?rpc=401
:)
I hope that those people come up with even more crazy good ideas to thumb their noses at the French Health Minister and all her minions.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-07-21/tsipras-asked-putin-10-billion-print-drachmas-greek-media-reports
In what may be the biggest story of the year, if confirmed, Greek newspaper To Vima reports that Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for 10 billion dollars in order to print drachmas. But the real shocker: on the night of the referendum, word came from Russia that Putin did not want to support Greece’s return to the drachma. After that, Tsipras had no choice left but to “surrender” to German Chancellor.
Also:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-07-21/buffett-johnny-depp-snap-cheap-greek-islands
Buffett, Johnny Depp Snap Up “Cheap” Greek Islands
Pingback: An Anti-Anti Anthem: Corrupting Lyrics | Library of Libraries