April 16, 2008
Boris courts the tobacco vote
Boris Johnson told the Sun’s website today that he would like an online referendum in London about giving boroughs the power to bring back smoking in pubs and clubs.
It’s a curious idea. Not least because most of us - even some smokers - have got used to being able to breathe fresh air during a night out.
It’s the second clear policy idea which seems to diverge from Conservative central office. The other was Boris backing an amnesty for illegal immigrants in the UK capital.
Not that Ken Livingstone ever suffered from distancing himself from some Labour policies in the past.
(Boris: “What is the point of having local democracy if we don’t leave decisions like this to a local level? If I had my way, we would have an online referendum in London about whether to give boroughs back the power to give discretion over smoking to pubs and clubs.”)
Update: Boris believes his quotes have been misinterpreted. Not sure I believe him for one.
