Bob Blackman MP: Laws to protect children from smoke in private vehicles reflect true Conservative values

Bob Blackman is the MP for Harrow East

A couple of weeks ago, Anna Soubry MP received considerable media coverage, and widespread praise from medical professionals and health charities, for expressing her personal support for legislation to prohibit smoking in private vehicles in which there is a child passenger. Not only do I share Anna’s views, but I believe that we as a party – a party for whom the protection of society’s most vulnerable is a core principle – have a duty to adopt the introduction of such legislation as official policy.

There are inevitably concerns in some quarters that such legislation would constitute yet another unwanted Government intrusion into the private lives of honest Britons. Others fear it would be the thin end of the wedge, leading inexorably to bans on smoking in all cars, smoking within the privacy of one’s own home, or even an all-out ban on smoking anywhere.

However, while we as a party are right to be cautious about any unnecessary encroachments by the ‘nanny state’, such objections to this particular piece of legislation miss the point. This law would not be an attempt to discourage or marginalise smokers by limiting when and where they are able to light up. This is a child protection issue: a law protecting children from the proven dangers of concentrated second-hand smoke when travelling within the small, enclosed confines of a car. And to assuage any concerns that such a law might be the start of a slippery slope leading to ever more pervasive prohibitions, it is worth reviewing the scientific evidence that make the arguments for this very specific ban – only in cars carrying children – so compelling.

Bob Blackman MP's frontline report from the Feltham and Heston by-election

Bob Blackman is the MP for Harrow East

Campaigning in Feltham and Heston is now well underway, with the by-election being held in less than two weeks. Conservative MPs including Robert Halfon, Paul Uppal, Alok Sharma, Sir George Young, and neighbouring MP Mary Macleod, have been working hard campaigning in the seat over the last few days, and below, Bob Blackman, the MP for Harrow East, writes an exclusive frontline report for ConservativeHome:

"Campaigning in the Feltham and Heston by-election is off to a strong start with a large number of MPs and activists flowing through the campaign offices.

We have an excellent local candidate in Mark Bowen. He's the only candidate from the main parties to live in the constituency, with all three of his children born in the borough. Mark works for British Airways, a major local employer in a seat which neighbours Heathrow airport. Having been a local councillor for nine years, he is a true champion for the area, who understands the challenges and pressures local people and businesses face.

Mark has represented his constituents in the Feltham North ward for almost a decade and has a great track record of action. That much is clear on the doorsteps, where even traditional Labour voters know Mark and know how hard he works on behalf of the people he represents.

Feltham and Heston is a seat that Mark has contested in both 2005 and 2010 and he has whittled down Labour's majority. This by-election is a clear two horse race - it's Labour or Conservative. There are no Lib Dem councillors in the constituency, and no other parties are on the borough council. It is a clear choice.

The message coming back from the doorsteps loud and clear is that the issues of controlling immigration, getting a grip on Labour's debt and tackling Labour's something-for-nothing culture are at the forefront of people's minds in Feltham and Heston. These are all areas where Conservatives are taking action in government. We have a strong, positive message that people are listening to.

As we enter the weekend, the campaign enters a new phase, with a new swathe of leaflets turning the fire onto Labour. So I hope that all Conservatives reading this will be moved to volunteer to help Mark, preferably by paying a visit to the seat, or alternatively by volunteering to do telephone canvassing from the comfort of wherever you are."

Bob Blackman MP: The tobacco display ban will be a powerful and healthy nudge

Bob Blackman is MP for Harrow East.

Our society is changing: it is getting older and we are living longer. The baby boomers are reaching retirement age, while 1 in 4 children born today are predicted to live to be over a hundred. With the changing nature of our population is the concomitant strain on the health services. Health care providers are faced with new demands on time and resources and it is imperative that we increase the standard of care provided to tackle preventative illnesses.

In March, the Secretary of State for Health published the tobacco control plan; the document highlighted the dangers of smoking and the detrimental effect that the consequences have upon smokers and their families. Smoking kills 100,000 people a year in the UK – a horrifying figure when most smokers want to give up decade long addictions. Policy Exchange calculated that the costs to the UK including NHS services, absenteeism, lost productivity due to premature death and fires caused by smoking were £13.7 billion.

My parents both died of cancer brought on by habitual smoking and I passionately believe in encouraging young people not to start smoking in the first place. I remember one lesson in a biology class at school which demonstrated the damage done to the lungs as a result of smoking. As University President thirty years ago, I introduced a smoking ban in the University Union cafeteria, which was a resounding success in making meals more pleasant for everyone. The impact of the more recent smoking ban in pubs, restaurants and public buildings has now made these places more enjoyable. If people want to smoke they can do so, but outside so they do not impact on non-smokers.