The Smoking Ban

I oppose the smoking ban instinctivly. It is illiberal, unnecessary and is a fine example of the nanny state in action. I am also a former smoker who gave up almost four years ago. But I didn't take on the zeal of the convert and start coughing and spluttering theatrically if someone lights up within a mile of me. Nor do I claim to have to wash my hair or clothes if I have been within spitting distance of a smoker, that is just silly and juvenile. If smokers visit my house I regard it as inhospitable to force them outside. If they want a smoke, they are welcome to light up in the warmth and comfort of our home.

As with all the interfering nannying there are unintended consequences. Increasingly people are forced to stand outside their own homes to indulge as even non-smoking husbands, wives and other family members become obsessively convinced that passive smoking may knock a nano-second off their wonderful lives. Like waifs and strays they stand forlornly shivering on their doorsteps puffing away. I couldn't do that to somebody I claim to love.

But recently I thought my beloved had taken up smoking again. When I got in her car there was the definite smell of tobacco. I enquired whether her mother, approaching ninety and still puffing away like a good un had been partaking in the car. No, she hadn't, not that I'd have minded.

I then got a distinct whiff of nicotine in the kitchen one day. It was very definitely there, I knew I wasn't having some form of nasal hallucination. But Mrs B had been out at work for three hours. I looked at the cats snoozing on the settee. No, they may be very intelligent but no, it was definitely not them.

It then hit me. We live in a stone terraced house with the doorstep onto the street. The neighbours on both sides smoke but now have to stand outside when indulging. When my beloved's car smelled of tobacco next door's lad had been smoking and our car was right outside their house as he puffed away. The smoke had found its way into the car. Likewise to the rear the neighbours stand in the garden smoking and it floats up to our open windows and into the house.

Fortunately we don't mind. But it's yet another example of how the interference of mithering do gooders has negative, unintended consequences for others. Thanks very much.

UKIP's Mike Nattrass MEP on UKIP's Nigel Farage MEP

I always knew that Mike Nattrass would come good, and he's done it in style.

I ran Mike's Crewe and Nantwich by-election campaign in May 2008 and had known him for some time before that. Even as a Lancastrian I was impressed with his honesty and bluntness, you see he's a stubborn Yorkshireman. In fact I only mentioned Mike in an earlier blog post today.

So I wasn't surprised today to learn that he had told the truth about UKIP's famous spiv and charlatan-in-chief, Nigel Farage MEP. In the eternal words of the wonderful Morrissey:  'there'll be blood on the cleaver tonight'.
 
Here's what Mike had to say about Farage:

Dear All,


It may be too late but after all these years I can no longer stay silent.

In the previous Leadership Election I, together with all candidates EXCEPT LORD PEARSON were rubbished by Nigel Farage on TV and elsewhere. This ensured the election of Nigel's puppet Lord Pearson and allowed Nigel to continue to be the face of the party. That is Nigel's view of the election rules and I think it is only fair and high time that his methods were exposed, USING HIS OWN RULES.

Nigel already Leads the parliamentary Group and when he is also elected Leader this will amount to total control. Increasingly I am hearing the word "Spiv" used to describe him, from people who are not members but see his image. I am concerned that the UKIP party brand will be tarnished, even holed below the water line, by his monopoly of power.

Whilst Nigel is a very good speaker, he is also a control freak. He grabs all UKIP publicity to the detriment of any other UKIP spokesperson or MEP. He employs assistants with the MEP's budgets without allowing those MEPs any say. This, despite the fact that UKIP MEPs demanded a chance to interview those who were being employed with their money. Nigel agreed, then totally ignored that promise. Consequently he has his own "group funded" team around him and all "hiring" takes place via his close friend Godfrey Bloom MEP (this person is said to be banned by 4 hotels for urinating in the corridors)


Nigel's lack of experience in good staff management and his refusal to allow MEP consultation is complimented by the morals of an Alley Cat (and I will not go there). I have always said that this does not matter, because so long as we are all in the trench together with guns pointing at the enemy all are welcome. But he shot Nikki Sinclaire in the back when she became an MEP, for no Party reason, while she was giving all the effort she could give. She was expelled as a UKIP MEP for pointing out the Group facts. He does not like truth or competition.


I have put a lot of money, time and energy into promoting UKIP in the West Midlands and I watched it wrecked at the General Election by Nigel's chosen people (Lords Pearson and Monckton) who appeared from nowhere and failed to understand our basic strategy or even comprehend from where our votes are derived. Worse, Nikki, who has vast energy at election time, was stopped from being a UKIP MEP by Nigel and has not been given a chance to defend herself or to state her case (legal matters are pending). She and I were told by Lord Pearson not to get involved in the election and not to fund the campaign. In fact you will see that we both made considerable financial contributions but our campaign was deeply damaged. Also the subsequent enquiry into the campaign, requested by the WM candidates, was "dealt with" by Monckton (who thought I was behind it) and because of this we have had resignations from very keen activists.


All this West Midlands destruction because Nigel hates Nikki and wants to rubbish me!! Do you know how much money Nigel has contributed to this party...next to nothing.


I found allegations of fraud were brought against me when I stood for Leadership. These were in the Sunday Times. They melted away afterwards and had no foundation in truth, but they did the job intended.(My legal case against the Times is pending) Nigel has had a number of very real cases against him.. funny how that word does not get out.


My first major annoyance with Nigel's manipulations stem from the time when I was first elected in 2004 and all UKIP MEPs had a meeting to agree three very basic points. One was that we could not employ wives (other Parties did) and this was agreed. In fact my wife comes to each Parliament and does not get paid (not even travel expenses) and I said that she wanted to contribute any proper payment to the Party, but no, rules were rules and she could be paid nothing. It was then later exposed that Nigel's wife was being secretly paid out of his budget, breaking this rule. He did not seek any permission (to change his own rule) from the MEPs. He was simply "caught out" with both hands in the till. I fear that the whole Parliamentary Group in the EU is run for Nigel's financial and public image. I left that ugly group.


Nigel has derailed every leader since the very first, except peacemaker Jeffery Titford (under whom I was Party Chairman). He is therefore hated by them all (except JT). plus never to be leader Kilroy Silk who must feel that Nigel gave him a wrong prospectus.


I expect that Nigel will be elected leader as no one else is effectively allowed to stand without a spin campaign against them. I can see less MEPs in the UKIP squad when he does win.


There is a false attack on Tim Congdon from Boggers 4 UKIP, this must mean he is a real threat! Good.


Mike

Interesting to see Mike's comment about Farage's poodle Godfrey Bloom MEP. Farage really should get his poodles house trained.

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