After ignoring me for many months yesterday the BBC sprung into life and wanted my views on the proposed change of law over the sale of tobacco. Why? I have never written or spoken about this matter. I have not been lobbying on it, and there was nothing on my website or tweets that morning to arouse interest before they rang.
They seemed ill informed about the proposal as they asked about a proposal to ban tobacco. I explained the proposal was to increase limits on the sale of tobacco by stopping anyone under 14 from ever buying it during their lives, on top of the current ban on sales to anyone under 18. It only becomes a ban on sales for all after around 90 years have passed. It is not a proposal to criminalise smoking. I said I wanted to hear how it would be enforced as retailers would need to be able to judge ages as the age of permitted purchasing went up, and would want to know what the penalties were going to be. They then gave up pursuing it. I reminded them that I set out daily views, and offer stories like the big losses on bonds by the Bank, the problems with carbon accounting and with some self defeating so called green products and services , and  the productivity collapse in public services which they ignore.
I was also telephoned and offered a BBC interview last Sunday. I asked what it would be about and this was unclear. I said I could do an interview from home on line on the Sunday or at the conference on Monday, as they sounded keen to interview in Manchester. They said they would get back to me, but never did. Why?
BBC Radio Berkshire did want an interview on rents, housing and the PM’s speech, which I did undertake yesterday morning with ten minutes notice.
October 6, 2023
Good morning.
Wow ! Those who sell and consume a product that does real harm get 90 years grace but, those who wish to choose their mode of transport and not use one that is both expensive and had some major issues get around ten years and are now, assuming you drive a non-compliant ULEZ vehicle, charged more when you use it than a packet of cigarettes. Unbelievable.
Auntie does not do news, just propaganda.
October 6, 2023
Mark, fully agree on your last line. I’m sure Sir John is being politic in his comments, knowing full well why the BBC want to talk to him about some topics but not others. The message has to be controlled.
âOrthodoxy means not thinking–not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness.â
Orwell, 1984
We’ve reached the point where our national broadcaster will no longer suffer contrary opinion.
October 6, 2023
Mark, it is like saying who is vile the drug dealer or the ones who buy the drug? Utter nonsense. There was never a war on drugs the govt and police turned a deliberate blind eye, but Sunak must ban smoking!!
BBC is a govt propaganda unit. If Tories wanted change they had 14 years to do so. The govt was lying about all and any change. BBC led campaign to stop Brexit, promote climate scam, trans nonsense, diversity on steroids and all other culturally Marxist agenda without balance whatsoever.
Has the BBC asked by poignant questions to Sunak about his nutty announcements: How is cannabis mainly taken? Those Tory politicians who announced they took drugs might like to help Sunakâs understanding. He does not drink alcohol so I suspect that is to be banned next. Sugar tax already in existence, not allowed to have hateful thoughts, not allowed to disagree with the state, can only protest against themes the govt. agrees with. Forced to take covid vaccines or lose your job. Smart metres so state can control your energy needs. Brainwash children of tender years they can be a man or woman or cat or whatever they choose to be!! Mays snooper charter so govt can see what you look at on your computer, she even wanted to ban pornography! Hmmm, what is not to like under this totalitarian cherished Chinese regime. Canât wait for BOE to take control of my spending. JR would have us believe he is in a Conservative Party!! Oh, I know, it is everyone elseâs fault.that wretched BBC eh.
October 6, 2023
Exactly.
October 6, 2023
I am surprised they did not ask you about trains.
All that money wasted on HS2 and then a last minute attempt to address the enormous cost and hopeless budgeting by pretending Conservatives had suddenly found a better use for the money.
The excuse that rail travel has permanently changed since lock down does not wash either. When motorists have been hunted off the road for Net Zero public transport will be the only alternative.
Meanwhile, âRail minister Huw Merriman has tried to explain why four train firms which have improved since renationalisation must return to private hands.â Source âPrivate Eyeâ.
LNER, Northern, Southeastern, TranssPennine Express are the firms. OLR (operator of last resort) is the way government have to handle the many failures and screw ups amongst franchisees.
It all looked so good on paper but the government will never admit rail privatisation was the mistake that has now become so obvious.
Reply Nationalisation is worse. HS 2 was a state run organisation.
October 6, 2023
JR,
Really? How many billions wasted on HS2?
Was former Labour minister and staunch EU supporter Andrew Adonis appointed by Cameron and Osborne for infrastructure projects?
October 6, 2023
https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/hs2-chaos-all-around-and-not-a-peep-out-of-lord-adonis
Adonis was not the only culprit but blame shifting is the name of the game.
On a side note somebody called Lord Adonis should be much better looking. Trade Descriptions Act?
October 6, 2023
HS2 was bonkers from when Adonis and Brown started the disaster rolling.
It seems Rishi is now reading your blog and replies and doing about 5%-10% of the right things. But we need at least 80%-100% if he is to turn things round.
Ditch Net zero fully, HS2 in full cull 75% of degrees most are worthless, cut taxes, fire half the state sector most do little of any value many do serious harm.
October 6, 2023
One day I was a bit taken aback by the BBC getting in the faces of Tory MPs by fact checking them. One instance was Mark Harper, I think, who said 15 minute cities were about controlling people. This the BBC presenter said to his face wasn’t true. It was later pointed out to them that this was exactly what Oxfordshire Council want to do, which they dismissed as ‘not really controlling’. Being restricted to the days you can go out of your area to shop, not controlling? I would hate to see what met their criteria of controlling.
I also noted that the Tory party conference had hardly closed, and the BBC was giving Starmer a friendly question session with the BBC’s local news networks, and Nick Robinson was promoting his ‘engrossing’ , his words, interview with Starmer, I fear the next week is going vomit inducing as the BBC presents us our Dear Leader in waiting, no in their face fact checking for them.
October 6, 2023
Mark Harper (the Transport Sec) quite wrongly seems to think EV cars help to us to get to net zero. But on any rational analysis they actually increase CO2 compared to keeping your old petrol or diesel car. But I suppose the BBC were not interested in fact checking this falsehood they are rather selective.
The governments website also claims that cycling and walking produce not direct or indirect CO2 again total B/S. Four people walking 50 miles is fall worse in CO2 terms than taking them in a small car.
Is it unreasonable to expect the Transport Sec. to at least know these basic facts? No wonder these Ministers piss hundreds of ÂŁbillions down the drain on things like EV subsidies and HS2.
October 6, 2023
Iain I hadn’t heard of Oxford until this was mentioned at conference. City planners are having a hay day.
“The county government of Oxfordshire approved a system of âtraffic filtersâ for six busy roads on which drivers will need a special permit to travel during daytime hours. But Tony Ecclestone, spokesperson for the Oxford City Council, said the countyâs initiative is separate from the councilâs endorsement of the 15-minute cities concept, which is a key part of a city planning document itâs developing.” AP News
Non-compliant drivers could be subject to a fine, well what is that if not a barrier to constrain people? A government leash some people call it. All those fit young students cycling around will no doubt agree to it as long as they can jet off on holiday in term time.
When everyone says it is a conspiracy I start to take notice, because old conspiracies keep coming true from controlled banking, the cancellation of alternative view points.
The biggest problem with 15-minute cities is that our kids have to move away to make a start in their career, so much is centred in cities if you don’t live in a City you are screwed on transport point allocation, when you start out you can’t buy right near where you work, what if you get a job in central London what under 25 can live in zone 1 unless it is with parents/family? The same councils that want this build the very ghettos people try to get away with, how many of our towns have over 20% social housing in their area, look there first and you will find failing schools, over-worked GPs, poor quality landscaping, poor quality shopping, no evening entertainment, low-quality leisure offers, restaurants other than Indians and Fish N Chips and Chinese takeout. Its nice in posh little places like Oxford that the rich want to keep for themselves, that’s ok I say as long as you take your 20% of social tenants too, and start building those cheap high rises there with the small windows.
October 7, 2023
I fully agree, these ideas are fermented in the bowels of the blob, surface as a nudge, then snuck in on some part of a Bill , and if you seek it highlight it at any point of its journey to become law, you are dismissed as a conspiracy nut. Around here, Wiltshire, they were concocting some 20 minute village plan.
October 6, 2023
Interesting. ULEZ stops Londoners being gassed but if you have ÂŁ12.50 a day to spare then Mayor Khan says you can gas ’em all you like.
October 6, 2023
It has been proven that the air on London’s streets is far safer than the air in the Underground. ULEZ is not about caring for peoples health but a shameless money grab aimed at the poorest in society.
October 6, 2023
Are you suggesting that its really about revenue collection and control
October 8, 2023
Older folk of my acquaintance on London’s borders are now having problems because District Nurses, Charity home helps, and meals on wheels (among other older assistance) have had to stop services to their area. The people who were providing them live just outside London, the scrappage scheme is only offered within London, and as these service providers were on low or minimum wage (or volunteers), they can’t afford ÂŁ12.50 a day. It is more than an hour’s earnings at minimum wage, and a straight-up tax on volunteers.
October 6, 2023
The merger of BBC News (in the UK) with BBC World Service (I believe it became effective early this year)has been little discussed but is highly significant.The latter is to all intents and purposes a propaganda channel-and has always been so.
Whose rules apply in the merged format?
(Rhetorical question!)
October 6, 2023
The government interferes too much already in our lives. What next? An age limit for buying an ICE car or a gas boiler? Stop it!
As for health, look at what the government’s handling of Corona did for freedom and excesses deaths…and I’m still getting NHS messages urging me to get yet another “vaccine”.
Finally, as the Daily Sceptic pointed out yesterday, smokers save the government money through dying earlier and paying tobacco duties. If they enjoy smoking, let them get on with it.
October 6, 2023
Indeed far too much interference and red tape, far too much tax and far too much misdirected Government in general.
The deluded Theresa May wanted the moronic vandalism of Net Zero to be her legacy. Sunak obviously wants the abolition of A levels, forcing more maths and english lessons from 16-18 onto people who do not want them and the banning of tobacco sales to people at an arbitrary birth date.
He did at least finally kill part of HS2 alas not all of it and 15 years too late. Plus he wants to cull rip off degrees. If he actually does this the university crony industry will be reduced by about 75% but he clearly will not deliver this. But he was the chancellor giving soft loans for all these duff degrees.
Worse still he is still following Mayâs net zero lunacy and economic vandalism.
October 6, 2023
I got a text message from NHS Central re a combined ‘flu/Covid jab. I’ve never had either and don’t intend to, since I value my health. You can disable the messages.
October 6, 2023
We’ve just had the Flu Jab, not in such a hurry to have the Covid one. Seems like we’ve had quite a few over the past several years and maybe we are suffering from Covid Fatigue? We are “old”, so I think it makes more sense for our demographic (unlike children) but even so….
October 6, 2023
and millions and millions have been ordered, and will have to be paid for!
October 6, 2023
Good call. They certainly seems to have done very sig. net harm. Yet still they are being pushed on the over 65s here and overseas even to the young. Follow the money or gross incompetence seem to be the only explanations for this the stats seem very clear.
October 6, 2023
I got the same message. It’s not combined. I’d advise the flu jab, not the Covid experimental one.
October 6, 2023
It is one jab in each arm. I had the flu jab which has been fine for a number of years. I declined the COVID one. I wondered why there was a big queue of oldies not signing in on the surgery computer with date of birth. They had obviously all turned for COVID jabs.
October 6, 2023
Defund them.
October 6, 2023
Exactly. I’ve been musing on all the important issues NOT mentioned by Sunak in his ‘warm and cuddly’ speech; the BBC is one he could have hit, and been cheered for it. Where is the profound, big issue thinking?
Sorry to say Sir J, but it looks like you’ve got another political dilettante in No. 10, not a PCP saviour.
October 6, 2023
It’s on the WEF website and fishy is a star member. Plenty more nonesense to come from that quarter.
What is he going to do to recoup the 19 billion in lost taxes.
Alcohol next, then red meat.
October 6, 2023
Did the smoking ban come from WHO? Is Sunak implementing their policy? He is forcing UK to act in lock step with EU.
October 6, 2023
I checked the website, Hope! Yes, it is a WHO initiative!
October 6, 2023
@Mike Wilson; Much of the problem is that Ofcom is out of control, with their woke broadcasting regulations, policies and Cancel Culture, whims that all broadcasters have little choice but to panda to. It’s not just BBC editorial standards that are suffering, ITN and Sky News have both changed out of all recognition over the last few years, and now as their ‘BARB’ ranking increases GBN is quite clearly now in their firing line too. De-funding the BBC will not stop such ‘Wokness’ when it is being driven by a regulator who has become a law upon themselves.
Time to de-fund Ofcom perhaps, in the same as the FCC in the USA had their branches pruned some years back?
October 6, 2023
In Wokingham Conservatives yesterday there is a report about you consulting your constituents over this matter.
Could that be where the BBC got the idea?
I wonder if they have been googling your name along with the word âtobaccoâ? ( Could they be that daft?).
I would avoid an interview situation like the plague!
Reply No. I put that up after the phone calls.
October 6, 2023
Reply to reply
Ah OK.
Well there is a very weird tobacco/Redwood connection (Google). Could it be a lefty style wind up based on this? Or they actually believe you are linked to cigarettes?
Reply I have no connection with the tobacco industry and do not smoke.
October 6, 2023
I KNOW!
Gosh! I was only trying to help!!
October 6, 2023
I think you read what he meant, wrong, John!
Most of know you’re a non smoke, you’re too tight to blow all that smoke out the window! ;-}
Please answer the serious question below, if you can! If you know anything?
Regards,
RDM
October 6, 2023
The BBC is demonstrating their impartiality by requesting your views on the proposed restrictions on tobacco announced by Sunak at Conference.
I was impressed with the BBC’s coverage at Manchester. They reported on the issues under discussion with clarity. They did not pan the camera to the half empty main auditorium during the presentations, allowing the belief that delegates had attended en mass.
Reply Nonsense. I had not expressed a view on the smoking policy so I could not supply balance. Why did they suggest an interview on Sunday then not follow up?
October 6, 2023
They wanted someone (a Tory MP pref.) to point out how bonkers this Sunak policy is, as is his maths, english and abolition of A levels policies are. Knowing you generally had sensible views they thought you might help get some blue in blue attacks going.
October 6, 2023
+++
I bet theyâd set some sort of nasty trap.
But I think JR has mentioned before ( I may be wrong, if so, sorry) that they often call and then go silent or even arrange an interview and then cancel or donât even bother to cancelâŠjust let the interviewee make a wasted journey.
I think that also they sometimes get people on and ask about something else entirely. Views on GB News debacle?
October 6, 2023
As you have observed in the past, the BBC are not keen on articulate voices challenging the public sector establishment. So blobbery like QE and the subsequent bond sales, woeful public sector productivity, the baleful effect of high taxes and the uselessness and impossibility of net zero is not subject to scrutiny and criticism. They seem to have decided the main policy announced by mr Sunak is the rather curious rising limit for tobacco purchase, which is to be a free vote in Parliament anyway. They clearly want to steer public consciousness away from popular Conservative policies like reducing the damage from net zero, at least reducing the waste of HS2 and the determination to face down the lefty lawyers on illegal immigration.
Iâm not sure theyâre correct, but I think they fear all this might be enough to swing the election for the Conservatives especially since, as Rishi pointed out, Starmer is attempting to get elected without any policies at all (except vat on school fees).
October 6, 2023
Starmer is attempting to get elected without any policies at all (except vat on school fees). And abolition of NonDom status. Neither will raise any net cash as people will be forced onto state educations and some schools will just go bust killing an export industry. With NonDom many people will leave and inward investments will be reduced. Non Dom in Ireland will look very attractive many other choices too.
Once in he will destroy the economy even further, be even more net zero than Moronic May and rig the voting system and the age for voting so the Tories will perhaps never get into power again.
October 6, 2023
Indeed. âLabour would be even worseâ could be a winning slogan.
October 6, 2023
Conservatives are in damage limitation mode. They all believe the next election is lost. The task is to restrict the number of lost seats and prevent the party being completely wiped out.
Meanwhile others spread the story that the party will become more conservative again. Hence stories that Nigel Farage is about to take control of it. This despite him having already said he would not join after the appearance at conference.
âConservative Homeâ laughably await the return of David Gauke and his chums after the defeat.
October 6, 2023
They could still win but for the stupidity or Tory MPs and Ministers.
Ditch net zero, turn back the boats, cut taxes hugely, deregulate, cut government waste, stop the mad wars on car & van drivers, landlords, small business, the self employedâŠ
October 6, 2023
I don’t think Tories next election is necessarily lost. Labour and Lib Dems are abysmal (not just their policies but the quality of their politicians).
October 6, 2023
The Scottish voters at Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election have given their views on the shenanigans at Manchester; the Labour candidate won easily and achieved a 20% swing on a 37.2% turnout. The Conservative candidate lost his deposit.
The recent anti-environment, pro-fossil fuel decisions by the un-elected Sunak have not had a positive effect on Scottish voters and do not bode well for the party’s prospects at the next election. Sunak will now delay the election until Jan 2024 to allow the autumn statement tax cuts funded by scrapping HS2 to have their effect
October 6, 2023
Apologies for the Jan 2024 typo, this should have been Jan 2025
October 6, 2023
Surely it was the SNP that was in the cross hairs?
The tories havenât been successful in Scotland for ages.
This is very bad for the SNP.
Maybe that young teacher has convinced the voters locally ( local issues) but is there a fag paperâs difference between the SNP and Labour ( in power)?
At the very least, as we can see from present shifting, the tories arenât zealots.
They are open to suggestion.
October 6, 2023
Or much difference between Suankâs Tories and Labour. Both are tax to death, net zero pushing, regulate to death anti-growth, open door immigration dopes who will not take real advantage of Brexit by shadowing the EU.
October 6, 2023
Yes.
Sadly I think you are probably right!
And I am SO sad for this country.
I never wanted to have to take an interest in politics. I just wanted to live my life!!
Neil Oliver said something about how he constantly mourns the life we had ( pre covid and reset) and I do agree with him.
It is like remembering a lovely dream.
October 6, 2023
Just because you donât take an interest in politics does not mean that politics wonât take and interest in you.
Democracy is not exercised once every 5 years. The Government is held to account by Parliament on a daily basis, and Parliament is held to account by us – on a daily basis.
October 6, 2023
You are kidding yourself Lifelogic, you wait until this Labour government comes to power and the Non-Doms don’t stay to pay for everything promised from new dentists to more money for public sector workers to settle strikes and make everyone happy. They’ve already spoken of Council Tax reform, they’ll freeze taxes for one year whilst they ‘reform’.
I think one of the reasons lots of wealthy parents pay thousands to educate their children is that sending rich kids to a State school is a bully’s dream, just listen to Labour and their verbal attacks on people who aren’t them ‘scum’, ‘selfish’, ‘wouldn’t kiss a Tory’. I come from a working-class family, grew up and out of a council estate I have never liked envy and jealousy, a lot of the kids I grew up with have done well for themselves, builders, joiners, landscapers, IT specialists, plumbers, we don’t all have to be lawyers and it is often these high flying socialists who start these class wars and feel all superior.
October 6, 2023
Scotland is not a good predictor of an election where the great majority of seats are contested in England.
October 6, 2023
Scotland and Wales ALWAYS give Labour their majority, England ALWAYS votes Tory. But England accepts the socialist disaster imposed on it by the Celtic fringe because thatâs what the electoral pact is – acceptance of the majority will of the people of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Scottish Tories vote tactically, depriving Labour of victory by voting SNP. But that is now too punishing for Scotland itself.
October 6, 2023
They benefit from their socialist elections too Lynn no student loans, their hospital staff higher wages, they donât pay for prescriptions or hospital parking, they have great infrastructure, new bridges they donât have to pay tolls for unlike in England where we pay road and bridge tolls. These Scottish graduates can sit working next to an English graduate in our own nation and one earns 9% more over the lel. They have a lot more rail lines to small conurbations.
October 7, 2023
They pay 20% death duty over ÂŁ36,000.00. They subsidise the âsolar panelsâ in the south and their rebates and subsidies while living in the darkest, coldest part of the country. They have huge distances to travel and pay disproportionately huge motoring taxes.
The Scots have a few points which decent Tory Representatives should make, but donât.
Same goes for those speaking for Northumberland.
October 8, 2023
What is this 20% death duty on ÂŁ35,000? I thought as in England you can inherit ÂŁ325,000 tax free.
What solar panels are the British government buying that you feel are subsidised, donât they have the majority of the windmills up there subsidised in the windy north, they seem to have when I visit.
They have a much better rail system to connect small towns.
October 6, 2023
@ Philip P. – true, no doubt, but be damned to the SNP for we shall never be rid of the gaberlunzies now for “an independent Scotland in Europe” is a faded dream.
October 6, 2023
Sakara
I think the result and reason may be something to do with the SNP and their recent revelations.
October 6, 2023
It said nothing other than their desire to get rid of the SNP.
The SNP who suddenly after so many successfully led years by Sturgeon is imploding. Timely.
October 6, 2023
Regarding fossil fuels, oil was meant to fund Scotland according to the SNP at the independence referendum and there’s still many Scottish jobs that depend on the oil industry. Abolishing oil might not be as popular as you claim.
October 6, 2023
SG
You forgot to mention the negative effect of the behaviour of the previous person who represented that constituency.
According to pollsters (and even the SNP) this was a big reason people voted differently.
October 6, 2023
Apologies for the Jan 2024 typo; this should have been Jan 2025
October 6, 2023
You should apologise for getting the election outcome so wrong. This was a rejection of SNP, reverting to the historic voting of Labour.
October 6, 2023
I suppose the govt. that canât even control our borders has heard of smuggling and the Black Market?
Is it also aware that this will stimulate a market in other smokables?
Are some people maybe growing such crops ( Tansy, Woodruff, Chamomile, Coltsfoot and others) on their rolling windmill-sprinkled acres?
And in their desperation to screw us even further do they know that tobacco was regularly grown in the U.K. pre-WW2 along with the cabbages.
Have they missed a trick there?
Coffee and tea and sugar next? Luckily I have a couple of tea bushesâŠ.and beet is easy enough.
But thenâŠI daresay they will eventually take our gardens.
October 6, 2023
+1
October 6, 2023
Air travel is an obvious future target to be treated as Sunak proposes with tobacco.
October 6, 2023
+1
Yes I saw a vid about how apparently they plan to do that. Holidays ( flying especially I guess) restricted to a personal carbon allowance or somesuch.
I was just thinking of substances ( like tobacco) connected to the slave trade.
October 6, 2023
Trying to set you up. âThis right-wing-nutter wants to ban smoking – so everything else he has to say is also authoritarian rubbish.â
Well sidestepped Sir John.
October 6, 2023
+++
Agree
An elephant trap.
Nasty. Nasty.
October 6, 2023
Smoking policy is a cover for ID cards to prove age. Gestapo by the backdoor and treating adults like infants. What a silly boy Sunak is. He looks like a child and sounds line one.
And the BBC, vile, authoritarian and utterly repellent
October 6, 2023
To me he sounds like a dim, pedestrian head boy talking patronisingly down as if to dim 11 year olds. I was with the brighter kids at the back of the hall throwing the brick bats at head boy and teachers when they were being idiotic at my Northern Grammar.
October 6, 2023
Smartphones = Smart ID Cards
October 6, 2023
“BBC sprung into life and wanted my views on the proposed change of law over the sale of tobacco.”
So the government want’s us to believe, it has a concern for the health and welfare of the British citizen?
Meanwhile the government still advocates that citizens inject themselves with an unnecessary treatment which is highly correlated with elevated death rates among the population. Note we only have a correlation because there has been no studies to determine the cause of this mysterious elevated death rate. But there is also an elevated rate of stillbirths, and an elevated rate among otherwise healthy fit people experiencing ‘Suddenly’.
When one MP, Andrew Bridgen, hears from his constituents that an unusual number have reported side effects related to the anti COVID vaccine, and thinking it might be of interest to his constituents wants to discuss these apparent coincidences. Poof! not one MP in the chamber wishes to discuss the issue.
So, Rishi Sunak, cares for our health and wellbeing ? Pull the other one!
October 6, 2023
It’s not Sunak’s policy, it’s from the World Health Organisation. The Global Health Fascists are still in control.
“WHO Member States adopted the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2003. Currently 182 countries are Parties to this treaty.”
https://fctc.who.int/who-fctc/overview
October 6, 2023
In a nutshell
October 6, 2023
Any government that really cared about the health and safety of its citizens would not have brought in smart motorways. There were plenty of warnings given before the policy was even started. Ditto lockdowns.
October 7, 2023
J: Seems likely. The ban is utterly bonkers & a misguided step to ‘save our NHS’ It will produce a whole raft of other problems. The push to get the health message across & encouragement of personal responsibility should continue of course. On the subject of bans I think more people would be interested to know if this government after its moderation of the timescale to net zero, proposes to ban the related ludicrous net zero fines on us and on car dealers e.g. in their net zero enforcement attempts and any other non compliance threat which may be lurking unseen.
October 6, 2023
I’m sure you do not need my advise Sir John but my gut feeling is the BBC, like so many media outlets (including, worryingly, the new challenger stations, GBN for example), are not so much interested in your views on the stated subject but whatever ‘supplementary’ issue(s) they try to add, alleged backroom plots being hatched at fringe events for example, hence their interest in doing a ‘topical’ interview from Manchester!
October 6, 2023
As for the ‘progressive’ smoking ban; smacks of Prohibition era thinking, and even less enforceable!
The 18 year old in 2027 will just get their older siblings, mates, even parents to make a legal purchase (as many underage smokers/drinkers no doubt already do…), and as our host points out, how in the years to come will retailers, even the police, know if a purchase is legal or not. Is the idea of compulsory photo ID cards also going to resurface?
October 6, 2023
The proposed smoking ban is curious, it is based on the misguided idea that banning something will stop its use. Well, certain drugs are banned but I believe their use has been widespread for years within certain sections of the community including the BBC, the City, and Parliament. Likewise the ban on single use vapes – selling single use vapes to teenagers is already illegal so why not just enforce the law instead of adding another law which if enforced would have the same effect ?
Also, where was this in the manifesto ? What gives Sunak the idea he can rule by decree ? For example scrapping A Levels just on a personal whim with no debate, vote, or evidence in favour of a change ?
October 6, 2023
@Roy Grainger; A silly argument, that if a policy was not in the last manifesto it should not exist, were was the policy of sending arms to Ukraine in the 2019 manifesto! As for “rule by decree”, nonsense, Sunak stated very clearly any Bill will be subject to a free vote (at least on the govt benches), that is the definition rule by democratic consent, short of a referendum (even if it does create bad Law)…
October 6, 2023
No, the BBC didn’t behave oddly, the BBC behaved like it always does. It lights upon a minor issue which was intended to catch the attention of those who usually pay no attention to politics and attempts to turn it into a major one. In so doing it ignores more serious issues which it would prefer people didn’t know about/discuss.
It then invites on an MP, who it is confident will oppose the policy and attempts to generate a noisy argument and – if they’re really lucky – a “gotcha moment.”
What the BBC really doesn’t want is a well-informed Conservative MP discussing the serious issues of the day – particularly the destruction of our economy which the LibCONs and NuLabour State have caused.
The authoritarian criminalising of tobacco purchase, based on an ADULTS age and the year they turned 18, is just the latest piece of Health Fascism originating with the WHO and pushed by the Government’s Nudge, Nudge, Kick Unit. All it will do is enrich drug pushers. But it is another very good reason not to vote for the Westminster Uni-Party.
October 6, 2023
“I said I wanted to hear how it would be enforced as retailers would need to be able to judge ages as the age of permitted purchasing went up, and would want to know what the penalties were going to be.”
More of a point, of course, to be answered by those proposing the legislation, rather than by left wing TV journalists looking to find gratuitous fault. There is a wider point for the legislators in the present context, which Nigel Farage summarised in a different context as “when laws become enemies of men, men become enemies of laws”.
October 6, 2023
It would be hilarious when retailers are expected to weigh up whether to challenge youngish women about their age!
October 6, 2023
Another worrying trend that I’ve heard of.
In addition to the rampant and increasing shoplifting that is going on. I’ve heard of retailers now being threatened into selling age related products to those of not of the required age. Such products include tobacco, alcohol and various energy drinks – including ‘Prime’. If they refuse, threats of violence, harm and damage to property are forthcoming.
However, as per usual if such things are reported, the Police do diddly squat. The retailer also faces action being taken for selling age related products to under age persons – when they had very little choice to do so.
October 7, 2023
@Mark J; Strange assertions… Unless of course the threats of violence to these retailers are the cause of increased theft (shoplifting); if someone is threatening actual bodily harm or criminal damage, why would they then make a purchase? Are non compliant retailers, perhaps, simply alleging such behavior when challenged for selling age restricted products to under-age people, after all unless any CCTV has an audio track body-language alone doesn’t tell the whole story.
October 6, 2023
Smoking is an idiotic thing to do, as is getting drunk.
They tried prohibition of alcohol in the US and the policy utterly failed.
I predict tobacco prohibition will similarly fail, because you can’t fix stupid.
October 6, 2023
“Smoking is an idiotic thing to do, as is getting drunk” Yes Dave, I completely agree with you and whilst It used to be ‘ Cigarettes and Whiskey and Wild Wild Women…’ (as the song goes) times change.
Fortunately I managed to give up smoking 40 years ago, unfortunately the ‘Wild Wild Woman’ all got old too – so that just leaves the Whiskey I’m afraid… đ
October 6, 2023
Do you still have the numbers for any of the wild, wild women? Just asking…
October 6, 2023
Dave Andrews: “I predict tobacco prohibition will similarly fail … ”
From what I hear, you can already buy ‘cheap’ east European tobacco products in most large UK cities.
October 6, 2023
I don’t think either is idiotic. Many a problem has been solved after rolling a fag and relaxing a bit. Much creativity has been accomplished whilst intoxicated – it also brings a bit of randomness and the unexpected to one’s life.
October 6, 2023
Because you are not going to give them the ‘got you’ moment and the latest ‘you lied’, ‘you are a liar’. Never in all my life has so much discord been sewn. This ‘liar’ on anything a minister doesn’t want to discuss ahead of time is disgusting.
It is now coming into schools, children calling each other liars, it is not good for England for civility and the art of politicking to be debased in such a way. Rishi needs you, the fact he hasn’t called for your help as a media representative says a lot.
October 6, 2023
Sir John
Yes it is the BBC, but it is following the MsM trend for sound-bites that can be interpreted to mean anything just to create click-bait. For most media streams that is to keep up revenue streams from advertisers going, for the BBC it is to make it look like it has a purpose(which is still trying to ensure revenue)
There is no longer ‘News’, of ‘Interest’ just attempt s to justify a position, promote an agenda. That is why ‘Headlines’ never match content. It is never about keeping people informed, really informed. A bit like this Conservative Government you don’t do things, you don’t carry out the objectives you are paid to do, you create noise for personal self gratification.
October 6, 2023
+++
Oh goodness yes!
All progs utterly dripping with it.
Even a formerly lovely gardening one telling us what plants can replace those which will not survive the âboilingâ. Urrrrrgh.
October 6, 2023
Gardener’s World is interesting because I live only ~20 mins. from Monty Don’s garden. In my view he exaggerated the ‘severe cold’ last winter. It didn’t fall to -15 degC (see Met. Office data for Shobdon). He overstated the ‘hot summer’ 2022 and the 2022 ‘drought’, while significant, seems to have been less prolonged than 1975-76, i.e. the number of successive months with below-average rainfall.
People under MSM propaganda become conditioned to think in a particular way and can’t change it. Very worrying. With few exceptions, the IPCC hasn’t said that ‘climate change’ will lead to more severe weather events. It’s quite careful and cautious. Nor has it said we face a climate emergency, catastrophe, global boiling or any other similar terms. The media and governments ignore the facts and go for scare stories.
I’ve not had to replace any plants in this garden. What ‘boiling’?! A few crops that could have done badly 50 years ago now do OK. That’s the only difference I see.
October 6, 2023
The BBC have their own agenda JR, no matter what the subject.
October 6, 2023
The BBC needs cutting back to near zero. The saving should be used to reduce costs and free people of broadcasting nonsense.
October 6, 2023
Why not ânet Zeroâ?
October 7, 2023
There are a few signs of quality, perhaps on World Service radio or occasional period productions. Beyond so few exceptions Zero would be appropriate.
October 6, 2023
Today the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West have demonstrated that the lunatic side of the UK Political system needs and can get a good kicking.
The result proves nothing other than if you don’t serve the electorate that pays and empowers you, if you seek to punish,ban and control for personal self gratification – you ain’t going to be given a second chance.
Our political class have forgotten you dont and you cant win elections â you just get to loose them.
To late now for this anti UK Conservative Government, unless the Conservative Party gets to grip and wakes up and recognises they have lied to the electorate, they have deserted a nation of Conservatives.
October 6, 2023
It’s time to stop the BBC funded licence
October 6, 2023
Thames Water has warned regulators it faces a ÂŁ2.5bn budget shortfall unless it can hand investors bigger paybacks â even as it prepares to raise consumer bills by nearly ÂŁ300 per year.
They have kept paying their shareholder while neglecting their Customer, it has all been take, take take. Having no competition means they have been able to ‘burn’ the consumer, ignore their service obligations, failed to run a consumer focused business. A slopy outfit
Now the PM wants to just ‘give’ them and their likes more taxpayer money. In the Thames Water statement that infers the money they get will, be for the benefit of their share-holds, not their customers or their service obligations.
They should be encouraged to collapse, go bankrupt â so if we the Taxpayer has to step in what rises from the ashes is working to purpose.
October 6, 2023
+1
October 6, 2023
You don’t actually say it, so I will. Clearly the BBC hoped that on this issue you would give the leaders of your party the kicking they so thoroughly deserve for considering this policy at all, never mind adopting it. Well done for sidestepping the elephant trap, but for me it is the last nail in the coffin of this government. A breathtakingly arrogant unconservative interference with the autonomy of adults and an incentive for the creation of new criminal enterprises. If your party does not want to lose even more of its natural supporters it will fail to find parliamentary time for it before calling an election.
October 6, 2023
James
They already have interfered often enough – ie LOCKDOWN
October 6, 2023
There is literally nothing that I like or admire about the BBC now – and literally everything it does now can be done by commercial TV (I mean ITV did the excellent Brideshead Revisted back in the 80’s).
The BBC can exist for one reason and for one reason only and that is to create original / creative TV that commercial TV cannot do. But the BBC is not doing that. It’s just aping commercial TV, paying its top brass commercial rates, whilst taking the money off the tax payer.
I don’t want to get rid of the BBC. But the BBC has to be dramatically transformed.
October 6, 2023
It’s reported that obesity is a bigger problem for health than smoking and the irony is that many smokers claim that smoking keeps their weight down.
October 6, 2023
On the USA 77% of men who would otherwise be available to be called up must be excused on health grounds! Drugs, mail-nutrition manifesting as obesity. The current standing army is 70,000 btw.
Seems smokers are fit to fight so perhaps we should tackle drugs and mail-nutritionist before smoking tobacco?
October 6, 2023
The BBC has an agenda. Your participation woumd only be used to further that agenda. They would be looking for views that indicated variance with the government or anything else they felt they could ridicule on its own merits. Read the Guardian to get an idea of where their interests are. As time passes they will get even more frantic as their listeners diminish against the increase in those for GBNews. As far as I could judge from programming they showed utter disdain for the CP Conference, I look forward to their treatment of the LP Conference. By their acts they should be judged.
October 6, 2023
Radio 4âs political news programmes are so biased weâve decided to stop listening to them and the same goes for their aligned TV shows. So often their presenters are rude and arrogant lacking balance pursuing one perverse narrative.
October 6, 2023
Speaking of smoking (guns) – this is interesting –
Putin on the resumption of gas supplies to Germany via Nord Stream: âOne branch of Nord Stream-2 remains in place. It is not damaged and 27.5 billion cubic meters of gas can be supplied to Europe through it. This is only the decision of the German government. Nothing more is needed. Today is the decision – tomorrow we turn the valve, and that’s it – the gas is flowing. But they do not do it. Because, as we say, the Washington committee does not allow it. To the detriment of their own interests.â
October 6, 2023
Pity the BBC does not report any of this news. In Germany and Austria where the PMI for manufacturing has slumped to -39%, Germans might see a way of saving themselves and their country and make these globalists put their little egos on ice!
But the BBC donât even cover the crime, the consequences which are dire for the whole of our continent and the fact that there is a solution!
Say âsorryâ for Godâs sake! Stop the war! Letâs get on with life! European donât want the 90,000 Ukrainian KIA since 4th June on their bank statement! 500,000 in all!
We need a news service and the BBC do not fit the bill.
October 6, 2023
Hi John,
Just a quick question; Where did the debt for HS2 come from?
Treasury sourced, money markets? 30 yrs Guilts?
The whisper is the ECB/EU has a majority stake, and is using it as leverage in our negotiation with them? There has to be a reason we have negotiated so badly, or should I say, so weakly! Take WA, or “Taking back control”, and BJ accepted to not mis-align away from the Customs Union, which why we can’t do any Supply-side Reforms, etc,..
Do I have this wrong? Do you know anything that might help?
Regards,
RDM.
Reply General UK govt borrowing
October 6, 2023
reply to reply ….so who is daft enough to keep providing money to the spend, spend. spend Government?
October 6, 2023
Smoking is banned or controlled just about everywhere.
Was surprised to see India, China and Japan have various limitations.
It seems that there is some idea of tar being the problem ( well they always said that) but nicotine being health-giving ( thatâs what is saidâŠIâm not saying it!)
So voilĂ lovely, shiny new Reset products. Expensive, upmarket vapes? Cheap throwaways set for banning I think?
In 1919 the tobacco industry was making ÂŁ1million per hour.
What a conundrumâŠsince at least Blairâs time always controversy over Party donations!
And nowâŠtobaccoâŠa crop associated with you know what! Sugar next I bet ( wellâŠalready underway?). Cotton is already a no-no.
October 6, 2023
Sir Redwood,
The BBC wanted you because you voiced opinions against this âbanâ and all they want is anti government interviews.
You are right about the ban, smoking is declining and this sort of ban will only play into the criminals hands giving them access to new and largely innocent group.
October 6, 2023
The more important odd behaviour by the BBC is its apparent failure to take note of your recent criticisms @ https://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2023/09/30/the-bbc-attacks-gb-news/
You wrote then of the BBC: – “They read little and talk to few sources outside a circle of similar thinking establishment figures. They promote every kind of diversity save diversity of thought.”. The likes of Lord Reith would have recognized investigation with a view to change was imperative. Not so today’s management, it seems.
October 6, 2023
Sir John, The BBC only contact you if they think they can put you in a bad light. I am sure they class you as extreme right wing. They came unstuck on this occasion and quickly retreated as did not fit there WOKE liberal left intention.
October 6, 2023
Sir
Apparently, the BBC can pretty much do what it wants …. so it does…..and WE have to pay for it.
October 6, 2023
The BBC are notoriously anti-Tory.
October 6, 2023
Well done, Sir John, for avoiding an obvious trap laid by the BBC.
Anyone who believes the BBC is impartial on climate science and energy policy must be either a religious Malthusian, a grant chaser, a greedy self-server, a globalist elite or simply a useful idiot.
The BBC is a climate change denier. It denies there was any climate change before the Industrial Revolution despite an ice age which ended just 11,000 years ago. That barley was grown in Greenland 1000 years ago proves that our current temperature is not âthe hottest everâ.
The work of Happer & Wijngaarden showing that that increasing CO2 does not lead to further GHG warming because of IR saturation blows CAGW from burning hydrocarbon fuels clean out of the water. This work has never been refuted by the IPCC just ignored as their remit is to find anthropological reasons for climate change not to find the reasons for climate change.
October 6, 2023
How can the BBC be denying climate change when one of its recent programs âEarthâ (presented by Chris Packham, over five one-hour episodes: Inferno, Snowball, Green, Atmosphere, Humans) was all about the various climate changes that the Earth had gone through since its formation 4.5 billion years ago?
October 7, 2023
Nobody denies climate change. Were it not changing it would be news. The issue is that it changes anyway as you have pointed out, irrespective of whether I rev my diesel at the lights.
So no Man-Made-global-Warming.
October 6, 2023
It’s the wrong way around.
The BBC builds a narrative (restricted to their limited world-view) and then build content around that narrative.
We end up with propaganda, usually from a minority point of view.
October 6, 2023
not half as oddly as the Met Police act, or the NHS act, or the FCA act, etc
we have had wholesale woke lefty extremist takeover of many public bodies.
October 6, 2023
Sir John, perhaps the BBC are trying to get some mature sanity into public discourse, to respond to many disaffected listeners. But wisdom and discernment are needed to avoid the pitfalls, and it would seem that this was certainly one of them.
In terms of enforcement re tobacco usage in the young, one can see that this could double as a justification for Digital ID, and thus empower the WHO. Arguably, the policy could improve health overall, but in terms of freedom, it is likely to be counterproductive. In softer behavioural issues like this, going with the grain of human nature requires patience and hope, until good sense prevails. ‘Education and facilitation’ aligns with freedom, whereas ‘smart’ style manipulation by ‘coercion’ and ‘prohibition’ goes with central control, is culturally alien, and ideologically cultic.
October 6, 2023
The BBC acting oddly? Nothing new there! I’m actually more surprised they wanted a Conservative politician on one of their various stations.
As for the gradual banning of Tobacco.
What is this ‘Nanny State’ Conservative Government doing? I am an ex-smoker now using various products. I really do not agree with the Government dictating how people live their lives with legally purchasable products. It also opens up a rather slippery slope. Who is to say that Alcohol will not be next to be gradually banned, if some ‘bright spark’ PM decides to do so.
I also find this policy a joke when no action is taken by either the Police or Politicians to stamp out the rampant and increasing use of drugs on our streets.
You can’t walk anywhere nowadays without the stench of cannabis emanating from somewhere in a public space. I’d rather see efforts concentrated at dealing with this and the people who think it is acceptable to use their drugs openly in public.
October 6, 2023
I am not surprised by Sir John’s comments about the BBC , it has gone seriously down-hill over the years with its direction and quality of staff ; today I hardly watch it . The decline in its operations and standards were first announced to me many years ago by Duke Hussey – its then Director General . My office was geologically close to his and we met several times for lunch . On one occasion he was seriously critical of its management and I recommended that he should appoint McKinsey who , hopefully , would create the change Duke wanted . Structure changes were subsequently introduced but the basic problem persisted and Duke left . The BBC’s reputation has continued to decline and my view is it should now be disbanded . The Licence Fee charging is a disgrace and it should cease immediately .
October 6, 2023
It is not all bad:
The BBC has witnessed Chinese vessels blocking Filipino supply boats to an outpost in the South China Sea.
The incident took place as two Philippine coast guard ships – one of which the BBC was aboard – and two tiny commercial boats made their way to the Second Thomas Shoal. They were met by a ship marked as the Chinese Coast Guard that was five times bigger than the commercial boats.
The encounter between the two sides lasted several hours.
Tensions between Manila and Beijing remain high after the Philippines coast guard cut China’s barriers in disputed waters last month.
Manila resupplies its outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal, in the Spratly Islands, every month to reinforce its economic rights to waters that are both rich in fish and mineral resources.
Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, including the Spratlys, which is also claimed in part by the Philippines.
Our Government should strongly protest to the Chinese, but haven’t the balls.
October 6, 2023
Donât you think itâs time our Government began to mind itâs own business?
October 7, 2023
Why should our government ‘protest’ on behalf of one side in a dispute between two foreign countries that are ten thousand miles away? What would we say if China protested e.g. at the way Britain has treated e.g. the Chagos islanders (half that distance from China)? Or if China protested at the way Westminster has allowed Northern Ireland to be separated from Britain by a trade border?
October 7, 2023
The imperial mindset is very hard to dislodge especially when a lot of very well paid livelihoods are involved in trying to sustain the delusion that we are a great power with global reach.
October 6, 2023
Maybe the BBC werenât so interested in your views of the smoking habits of the populace but your views on a Tory government that continues to âbanâ things
October 6, 2023
With a total of 30,531 votes cast in yesterdays Scottish by election, the green party only got 601 votes âŠ..so why are we doing the net-zero and green revolution if thereâs no support from the voting public
October 7, 2023
This is the single most important point.
October 6, 2023
Given their left wing history, the BBC should be disqualified from being our national broadcaster as they have demonstrated many many times that they are in fact, anti-British and anti-democracy. If they wish to attempt to persuade us Brits that we were wrong to vote to leave the EU and wrong to believe in true conservative principles and policies they MUST decvalre themswelevs an independent and forgo the ÂŁ3+ Billions they receive from britsh taxpayers annually and generate their own income.
They MUST be shown that ‘biting the hands that feed them’ is deliberate act of agression against the people of this country. Bottome line: They have to be pro-British or be shut down. No more messing.
October 6, 2023
When is the Tory Party going to get rid of the tax on watching live programming whether of the BBC or not? When is the Tory Party going to DO anything to make our country better rather than worse which is what they have been doing ever since taking office?
By the way, if the Scots vote to leave the UK, do you intend to attack them with Storm Shadow missiles?
October 6, 2023
+1
October 6, 2023
Has any civil servant, minister or quango or senior HS2 manager had to resign over the massive short coming and cancellation of project
October 7, 2023
I understand and sympathise with Sunak’s avowed aim of ending tobacco smoking but what he is proposing is crazy.
The moral case for overriding individual liberty is that smoking is mostly not a real expression of free will but a very dangerous addiction that eventually kills approaching half of smokers. However the moral case cannot support a policy that will only fully stop smoking in 90 years. It is also absurd that in 20 years time sale of tobacco to those aged 34 and below would be banned but allowed to those aged 35 and above. It is insulting to ask somebody that age for proof of their age and anyhow older people would buy tobacco for younger people.
Yet the political consequences are dire. Nobody favouring the prohibition of tobacco would alter their vote for a policy to end smoking in 90 years. Yet many ardent libertarians (many exist in all stratas of society) are likely to stop voting Conservative. So Sunak won’t get the policy but will only get an even bigger loss at the election.
If he actually wanted to end tobacco usage immediately he became Prime Minister he should simply have banned (as I advocated when I was at University) the import of tobacco(which, unlike drugs, would be difficult to smuggle in quantities sufficient to maintain addictions). Then people would have had time to become unaddicted and may have been grateful to him instead of his running an election on his looming threat to people’s freedom. Sunak’s fiasco over this policy shows yet again Sunak is not up to the job of being Prime Minister and needs to be replaced now.
October 7, 2023
I was fascinated by the refinement in democracy over the pond called âThe Hastert ruleâ. It allows a Republican House Speaker to not bring up any bills for voting unless a majority of their party agree with it. The rule works as follows, as per Wiki:
In the House, 218 votes are needed to pass a bill; if 200 Democrats are the minority and 235 Republicans are the majority, the Hastert Rule would not allow 200 Democrats and 100 Republicans together to pass a bill, because 100 Republican votes is short of a majority of the majority party, so the Speaker would not allow a vote to take place.
If we had had this House Rule, we would never have entered the EU, for example. No Tory leader could tack to the Socialists and concede God Knows What in exchange for getting their support for unpopular legislation with the representatives of the majority – this is the same deformation of democracy as PR (all types) represents.
October 7, 2023
Sounds good, perhaps Rishi could leave it as a nice present if polls are true right now and heâs done for.