SIR – In response to Nick Clegg’s recent request, the first law to be repealed should be the invidious smoking ban – even non-smokers can see its detrimental effect on our national culture by now.
Just check the target criteria which Nick Clegg defined for any law-deletion: a) Laws that have eroded civil liberties; b) Regulations that stifle the way businesses work; c) Laws which are not required and which are likely to see law-abiding citizens criminalised.
The smoking ban ticks all the boxes, so at least every Tory and Lib-Dem must show loyalty, along with Labour members who remember working-men’s clubs.
That law has been responsible for the closure of thousands of good businesses, the loss of many thousands of jobs, significant reduction of Government revenue from company, personal and indirect taxation, and the loss of vital community amenities like pubs and clubs.
What’s more, there’s no empirical evidence that it made any positive difference to anyone’s health.
In fact, because so many are now smoking in more unhealthy places, it may have had a negative effect on the smokers and those around them.
Let’s stub out that damaging law first – the foxes can wait.
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