I am very grateful for all the comments and advice from Centre Right readers. In answer to the question from 'Tory Taxcutter' about smokers, I am in favour of a repeal of the ban in private clubs or working-man clubs - or even in restaurants where there is a strict smoking room only. I accept that it is fair enough to curb smoking in restaurants and other outlets where there is no special room - as blowing smoke all over someone's food is not a pleasurable experience.
I realise I have disappointed 'Auntie Ickle' in not commenting about Israel, so I hope I can reassure her by two additions below. I am grateful for excellent suggestions by Simon Chapman, Alex Deane, Gordon Henderson and to the chap who sent me an email about alienation of pro-lifers - my apologies, your email was deleted by mistake. I am not sure about Alex Deane's suggestion about teachers and nurses however. I don't detect any visible and particular animus against the Labour Government despite endless targets and re-organisations. They are disenchanted with all political parties. Some of the other examples I felt - whilst valid - were too wide to include as they do not strictly fit my definition of an interested party.
Anyway, the updated list is below, with new additions in bold.
(The weblink to the previous article on this subject is here).
- Bingo players - tax regime and smoking ban is causing many clubs to close across the country
- Civil Libertarians - ID cards and other draconian measures
- City Folk - handling of Northern Rock, refusal to confirm reappointment of Bank of England Governor, capital gains tax fiasco
- Environmentalists - failure to reduce carbon emissions as promised and destruction of green belt
- Euro-sceptics - Refusal to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution
- Fishermen - failure of the Commons Fisheries Policy
- Doctors and Consultants - state of the NHS and contracts
- Jewish voters in London - Ken Livingstone's embrace of extreme islamists
- Lorry drivers - the unfair cost of fuel in comparison to road hauliers coming from overseas
- Magistrates - re-organisation of the Court system and the Victim Compensation Scheme
- Media Commentariat - bottling election and clampdown on civil liberties. Dislike of clunking fists
- Motorists - the cost of petrol and stealth taxes like speed camera
- Muslims - the Iraq war
- Pensioners - robbing of the pension funds and tardiness in establishing a proper compensation scheme for pensioners
- Prisoners Office Association - reneging on the no-strike agreement
- Pro-Lifers - Governmnent stance on abortion and stem cell research
- Police - retreat on police pay award
- Rural folk- Hunting Bill and Farming Policy.
- Small Business - regulations, stealth taxes, capital gains tax fiasco
- Servicemen - Overstretch re wars in Iraq and Afrghanistan, failure of MoD to provide decent equipment. Failure of aftercare.
- Smokers - draconian anti-smoking laws (banning all smoking in venues, even in private and working mens clubs).
