Reid challenged on smoking comments
Anti-smoking groups and political opponents have been lining up to attack the Health Secretary after he allegedly described smoking as an “obsession of the learned middle class”.
Dr John Reid used to be a heavy smoker but he quit upon becoming Health Secretary.
According to The Guardian, Dr Reid told a south London group that: “I just do not think the worst problem on our sink estates by any means is smoking, but it is an obsession of the learned middle class,”
“What enjoyment does a 21-year-old single mother of three living in a council sink estate get? The only enjoyment sometimes they have is to have a cigarette.”
Dr Reid apparently went on to argue that attention needs to be focussed on the underlying conditions that lead people to smoke. He argued: “You have got to be very careful that you do not say to the 75-year-old that ‘you are better off if you are not going to be able to go to a working men’s club and smoke’.”
The timing of Dr Reid’s comments is particularly surprising, as the Prime Minister only last week hinted that the Government is considering giving local authorities powers to restrict public smoking.
Anti-smoking groups have reacted with outrage to Dr Reid’s comments.
Director of ASH, Deborah Arnott, said: “If Dr Reid’s contribution to the White Paper on smoking is to say ‘let the poor smoke’, then his policy on obesity will presumably be ‘let them eat cake’.
“Fortunately Mr Blair has shown more concern for the damage that smoking does to every section of society – and poorer communities in particular.”
“Secondhand smoke kills more poor people than any other group in society. Smoking is also the single greatest cause of the large difference in life expectancy between the rich and the poor.”
According to ASH, smoking kills a disproportionate number of people from social classes D and E and is the biggest single contributor to health inequality among the classes.
Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: “It is impossible to see how the Government can promote a consistent public health strategy when with one hand it is funding the British Heart Foundation’s ad campaign against smoking, and with the other John Reid makes remarks likes these.
“If John Reid believes individuals should be free to make their own choices, why at the same time is Tony Blair talking up a ban on smoking in public places?
“To suggest that for a poor mum with three kids to be smoking is anything other than damaging, coming from the Health Secretary, is regrettable.”
Paul Burstow, the Liberal Democrat health spokesman, slammed the comments, saying: “This is yet more evidence that the Health Secretary has no clue when it comes to public health. His statement is patronising, damaging and based on weak assumptions.
“The Health Secretary must stop making these shallow comments and come out in favour of a smoking ban in public places. Such a ban would deliver substantial health benefits and protect staff and customers from the effects of second-hand smoke, and would help many more kick the habit.”
