Talk is cheap

"The era of big, bossy, state interference, top-down lever pulling is coming to an end."

—David Cameron, Prime Minister, 2008

"For too long, laws have taken away you freedom, interfered with your life and made it difficult for businesses to get on ... This Government is going to transform our politics so the state has far less control over you ... We’ll get rid of the unnecessary laws – and once they’re gone, they won’t come back."

—Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister, 2010

"In the past government has had a tendency to shout at the public from the sidelines rather than being down on the pitch with them."

— Anne Milton, Public Health Minister, 2010

"All our decisions must be evidence-based, and on that basis, we do not currently support an introduction of minimum pricing."

—Andrew Lansley, Health Minister, 2010

Fast forward to March 2012...

CHEAP booze is finally facing the axe as David Cameron launches a twin blitz on drinks and fags.

The PM is ready to press ahead with plans to introduce minimum pricing in an attempt to stamp out binge drinking.

Meanwhile Mr Lansley will spearhead a TV ad offensive warning smokers not to light up near children.

The campaign will be followed by a ban on tobacco displays in supermarkets starting on April 6. Smaller shops will be forced to end their displays in April 2015.

Mr Lansley will also press ahead with plans to force cigarette firms to sell every brand in plain grey packets with a big health warning to make them less attractive to kids [erm, aren't we supposed to have a public consultation on that first? -  CJS].

Whoever you vote for, the Department of Health's fake charities always win.

David Cameron: "Cheap drinks for me, but not for thee."

Share

Tweet