Scottish licensees form political party to fight smoke ban
Licensees in Scotland are so angry at government plans to ban smoking in pubs that they have decided to form their own political party.
Two licensees have set up the Publican Party in a bid to block First Minister Jack McConnell's proposals to ban smoking in all public places from March next year.
Licensees Kit Fraser and Don Lawson (pictured) have forged ahead with the idea after they received overwhelming support from other publicans. One hundred licensees out of 103 asked have backed the new party and have pledged to raise £500 each to help champion the cause.
Mr Fraser, who runs the Hootananny pub in Inverness, told The Publican: "Something which at first seemed like a crazy idea isn't such a crazy idea after all. Collectively speaking publicans meet a quarter of a million people a week so we don't have to spend millions on advertising to get our point across to the electorate. A third of the population smoke - once a ban is enforced they are not going to be happy that they can't even go to the pub and have a quiet drink and a fag.
"Small independent pubs will suffer the most. Research from Ireland suggests that profits are 10 per cent down. If my profits fell 10 per cent - I would be bankrupt."
Don Lawson, owner of the city's Johnny Foxes pub, is standing as candidate for the Inverness East and Lochaber seat. He said: "This forthcoming general election is just a dress rehearsal and the opportunity to make a statement. By the Scottish Parliamentary Election in 2007, we hope to have two to three publican candidates standing for each of the 73 constituencies in Scotland.
"Our mission is to repeal a ban and instead call for the introduction of mandatory levels of ventilation in pubs that would get rid of 100 per cent carcinogenics."
The new party hopes it will receive backing from the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, major brewers, distillers and tobacco companies.
SLTA chief executive Paul Waterson said he was still considering whether to back the initiative.
To find out more log onto www.publicanparty.co.uk.
Could the same thing happen in England?
News that Scottish licensees have set up their own Publican Party could spur licensees in England to follow in their footsteps.
Andy Raper, licensee of the Ladywell Tavern is part of the Lewisham Pubwatch, which presented a petition against a smoking ban to Parliament as part of The Publican's Butt Out campaign. He told The Publican: "I admire what they are doing but it will require a lot of work. I would support a Publican Party in England - but I wouldn't stand as a candidate."
