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Simon Clark .... Stuff and Nonsense
Jump to full article: Taking Liberties (Simon Clark blog) (UK), 2009-05-04
Author: Simon Clark .... Stuff and Nonsense
Intro: Will the real liberals please stand up?
Sunday, May 3, 2009
The Observer reports that "Controversial government plans to ban retailers from displaying cigarettes are likely to be thrown out by parliament this week following intense lobbying from newsagents and tobacco companies".
Don't celebrate too soon. The fact that this story appears in the Observer, part of the Guardian newspaper group, makes me think that this is a rallying call to Labour peers. Also, by playing up the prospect of defeat, the Government will be able to spin it as a morale-boosting victory should they win the vote on Wednesday.
As I said last week, it's the LibDem peers who appear to hold the casting vote. They're the ones with a free vote. Let's hope that, for once, they embrace the word "liberal".
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