Nigel Farage has clashed with his health spokesperson Louise Bours as she has said she would listen to cancer experts’ advice on the good points for plain packaging of cigarettes and tobacco, due to be introduced in England and Wales after a parliamentary vote this week. Farage responded to this by saying it is “counter to freedom”.
Farage and Bours have already clashed over his suggestion a “debate” was needed on changes to the NHS making it closer to an insurance-based institution. However Ms Bours backs a state-funded system, saying “This is not going to change at all, no matter what Nigel’s personal opinion is”.
On plain cigarette boxes Bours has commented thus:- “I listened to a doctor from Christie [the cancer hospital] – that is the kind of person I want to listen to. He felt it worked..he’s a guy, a top oncologist, a top anti-smoking expert telling me that”.
On freedom of choice however, and debates of this sort, we could then say motor racing, boxing and horse racing endangers health and life, to mention a few issues where the same topic occurs, alcohol being another one.
More news on the debate later. Watch this space.