I wonder if Cherie Blair ever discusses her work with Tony when they eat dinner, if she bounces ideas off her barrister trained husband. If so, I can imagine his horror at the thought of her fighting the government’s smoking ban, due to be implemented next week, on behalf of a lapdance club.
Flamboyant pink-suited Dave West wants her to launch a legal challenge to allow guests and staff to smoke in his clubs – which he describes as “an extension” of his home – and has appointed Cherie to fight the smoking ban in public places brought in by her husband and the rest of the government, on July 1.
He claims he specifically asked for the prime minister’s wife to represent him, although her chambers insisted she was simply the first barrister available. I think I believe his version.
Cherie reportedly agreed to advise the man in pink on how the ban could breach the human rights of staff and guests after taking a tour of the club, which has penis-shaped taps in the loos. Whatever turns you on!
I can’t understand how she doesn’t feel compromised or understands the huge embarrassment this heaps on her husband. I cannot believe her chambers would deliberately place her in this awkward position where there must be some conflict of interest as she must feel some loyalty towards her husband. She has never previously spoken out against this ban.
If Cherie is successful, it could well set a precedent and other clubs will follow suit, causing potential chaos for the smoking ban.
Whatever the outcome – and I predict she will lose – I think Dave West knows only too well that he has pulled a sensational PR coup here, attracting heaps of national publicity for his club.
I’m on his side.
I can leave a pub to smoke outside.
But going out on a Friday night is going to be a pain. Four-Five hours in a club and not able to smoke?
It is an appalling abuse of our freedom.
Crushed, I see no reason why smoking cannot be permitted in pubs and clubs. Pubs have smoke-free zones away.
In Greece, every other person smoked, particularly during meals in the hotel restaurant. It makes you realise how smoke-free we already are.
I read a report recently about a local authority in East Anglia that had banned smoking in its bike sheds too, fearing that is where staff will head for for a quick puff.
Yes, you think she would please “conflict of interest” here, wouldn’t you?
From my own point of view, it means that after July 1st local pubs will start to get my custom more regularly. And I shan’t go home stinking of stale tobacco and my bloodstream loaded with carcinogens that nicotine addicts are selfishly puffing out into public airspace.
At the end of the day, this will be decided on matters of law, regardless of whether or not we favour smoking in public places. The human rights issue is an intersting way of challenging this new legislation.
The tough jobs lawyers have to go through!
Cherie gets on my nerves because she can never quite make her mind up where she stands on anything. If she goes ahead and supports this, I shall lose any remaining respect I might have had for her. For goodness sake, the woman has everything – why can’t she just let it be?
They deserve each other – publicity seeking arch exponents of the celebrity culture in which we live.
If smokers switched to snuff not only could they go back into the pub but as it’s 90% better for them, according to the most recent health study undertaken by the New Zealand govt health dept, they could be saving their lives.
Of course he will lose.
He must have that pink suit made specially, I can’t imagine it’s an “off the peg” number.