Wednesday 22 June 2011

Smokin'!

The Daily Telegraph today highlights the case of Conservative MPs who have accepted hospitality from tobacco manufacturers, mentioning Philip Hammond, Edward Garnier, James Gray, Christopher Pincher and Mark Spencer.

Philip Hammond would appear to have managed to be absent quite often when votes on any smoking legislation have been needed, as has James Gray. Whilst Edward Garnier has voted moderately against a smoking ban, Christopher Pincher has voted against and Mark Spencer has never voted on any smoking ban, being another who was absent.

It could be said that four of these MPs were acting hypocritically in absenting themselves from votes on any smoking issue, rather than siding with either the "Yes" or "No factions. 

You may well think that, but I could not possibly comment - to coin a phrase.

3 comments:

cuffleyburgers said...

I disagree - you could interpret this as "where I have received hospitality from x it would be inapporpriate for me to vote on matters regarding x" and avoiding a conflict of interest.

To me it is the honourable course of action.

Or have I missed something?

kenomeat said...

cuffleyburgers - It could be argued that Hammond et al would have voted for the ban had they not received hospitality.

WitteringsfromWitney said...

cuffb: The small matter you have missed is that you no doubt speak as someone with principles - unfortunately we are talking here of those whose previous actions suggest otherwise.....

k: True.