Hamish Champ: Could the smoking ban become an election issue?

The recent case of smoking ban licensee Nick Hogan has brought the ban back in to the spotlight - and reminded me of a literary classic.

For those unfamiliar with the situation, Hogan was last week freed from prison where he was serving a six month sentence for non-payment of fines, costs and whatnot following his conviction for allowing punters in his Lancashire pub to light up in contravention of anti-smoking legislation.

A campaign to stump up the cash needed to pay Hogan's fine succeeded in raising the required sum - £3,000 plus £7,125 in costs - in a matter of days.

Readies accumulated, his dues were paid and a clearly delighted Hogan walked.

I have to admit I didn't realise that when banged up for non-payment of a fine all one had to do was find the cash and freedom beckoned, regardless of how much of the sentence had been served.

The situation reminded me of Little Dorrit​, Charles Dickens' door-stop of a novel in which Marshalsea, the debtor's prison which stood not far from Publican Towers, features quite a bit. Can't pay your debts? In the slammer you go. Raised the money? Out you come.

I don't doubt that Hogan's case riled a good many people. Some of his supporters have suggested the smoking ban could now become a political hot potato. That Hogan received such a show of support, said one blogging type, was a message that politicians would do well to heed.

I'm sorry but I can't see it myself. There isn't the political mileage in it. Yes, the ban infuriates some people, smokers and non, but I don't believe any of the electable political parties will decide to place the ban at the heart of their respective manifestos.

However strongly some people feel, however much the libertarian argument espoused by a few well-placed individuals might hold water - enough, perhaps, to douse a fire started by a carelessly discarded fag-end - there won't be many Parliamentary candidates in the forthcoming general election canvassing the doorstep with the message "We'll bring back smoking in enclosed public places."

There will be some, meanwhile, who point out that Hogan needn't have gone to prison. He could have observed the ban. Then he wouldn't have been slapped with a fine, which he then couldn't afford to pay. But he wanted to make a stand, and like many such principled individuals before him he paid a high price for his beliefs.

It will be interesting to see if others follow suit and allow punters to smoke in their pubs during normal trading hours. The ramifications could be significant. I mean, look at what Gandhi achieved with his non-violent protest movement; brought down British rule in India, didn't he?

However the smoking ban isn't the only reason some people don't go to pubs.

I spent Saturday night with two friends - both heavy smokers - and rather than go to the pub as I had suggested they wanted to stay in.

Since our host doesn't smoke indoors our evening was punctuated by one or other of them nipping outside into the freezing cold to draw down a Marlboro Light in record time.

But lest anyone think that in this instance the ban was the reason for their eschewing the local public house I must disappoint you. My chums, both women, loathe standing in pubs. And in hostelries in our neck of the woods on a Saturday night, that's what beckoned.

Makes you think, doesn't it…