Letter: Shropshire Star

Smoking ban turns into farce

England has finally got its long overdue amoking ban. Shame it's a farce.

The proposal put before parliament waa a full ban on smoking in a public place.

What we got was a ban on smoking in places that serve food and for that we have John Reid to thank.

John Reid is a former health secretary and represents a Scottish constituency.
The ban on smoking only extends to England, as health is a devolved matter.

Mr Reid's constituents in Scotland will be enjoying the full ban that was proposed for England from April 2006, thanks to the Scottish executive.

How much longer will we be forced to tolerate Scottish and Welsh MPs forcing unwanted and inferior legislation on England?

We didn't elect them and we can't vote them out of office - no wonder that Jeremv Paxman called the British government the Scottish raj.

We need an English parliament.

Stuart Parr
Telford