Hockney urges rethink on cigarette branding

DAVID Hockney has blown smoke on the Government’s plans to ban branding on cigarette packets, wading into the row with calls for Ministers to rethink.

The artist, who has smoked for 58 years, called it a “draconian measure” in an article published yesterday, and said: “It suggests that the Government thinks it can control our thoughts and desires. Well it can’t.

“I admit there are many people who don’t like smoking, and things should be made convenient for them, but there are ten million people (myself included) in the UK who do.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He also claimed few politicians would have the “courage” to smoke in public, unlike George Galloway, who celebrated his win in the Bradford by-election by lighting up a cigar.

Mr Hockney added: “Who is going to stand up for the England of freedom? Baldwin, Atlee, Churchill, Macmillan and Wilson were five Prime Ministers who smoked. They wouldn’t believe what has happened to this country.””

Related topics: