Esther McVey's smoking ban tweet labelled repugnant by Jewish group

[LeftishBrit]

Former minister Esther McVey has stood by her posting of a famous poem by Martin Niemöller, describing the inaction of some against the Nazis within Germany, before claiming they were "pertinent words" in relation to Labour's proposals for pub gardens.

A tweet from a Tory MP about proposals to ban smoking in pub gardens has been called "repugnant" by the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Sir Keir Starmer confirmed on Thursday that his government was looking at outlawing smoking in some public spaces, including on restaurant terraces, outside nightclubs and in some parks.

But responding to the news, former minister for "common sense" Esther McVey posted a famous Martin Niemöller poem about inaction from within Germany against the Nazis during the Second World War, adding: "Pertinent words re Starmer's smoking ban".

https://news.sky.com/story/esther-mcveys-smoking-ban-tweet-labelled-repugnant-by-jewish-group-13205684

[LeftishBrit]

1. While I'm not sure...

that banning smoking in pub gardens should be Labour's priority right now, given all the other problems the country has, this tweet is RIDICULOUS. Yes, it trivializes the Holocaust; and also it's just so lacking in *common sense*, which she always claimed to be Minister for.

[T_i_B]

2. Good opposition is not about hyperbole

Good opposition is about calmly scrutinizing and refuting what the government of the day is doing. With the aim of becoming a better alternative to the government of the day.

I also think that banning smoking outside pubs is a terrible idea. At best it's unenforceable. At worst it will drive thousands of pubs out of business, at a time when we desperately need more people to get socialising with each other again. So we need good opposition to stop the government enacting bad policy here.

However, over the top hysterical nonsense such as Esther McVey has provided isn't what's needed to stop this from happening.

[LeftishBrit]

3. Oh, if she'd just said the idea lacked common sense, I'd have agreed

It's the Holocaust comparison that's so outrageous.

But while we are on the subject, why are both this government and the last one so preoccupied with smoking? 40 years ago, it would have made sense, but only 13% of the population smoke nowadays, and it's going down all the time.