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Freedom To Choose is an unfunded volunteer group of licensees and members of the public who feel that the Government has lied to them on the smoking ban issue by not carrying though the promises made in its manifesto. Even more concern is surfacing since the Health Minister, Lord Warner, declared that there is a possibility of the ban extending to outside areas.

The argument that secondary smoke is dangerous was certainly not debated or held up for scrutiny and media debate has greatly over-represented the views of the NHS and ASH, whose scare-mongering tactics are all that most of the public saw and heard. What about the publicans, club secretaries, restaurant and cafe outlets and their patrons? Who consulted them?

Feelings are so intense that many of our members have given up their own free time to take a firm stance against this ban and are working toward making the Government listen to the people of this nation, who feel cheated and disillusioned.

We have been campaigning since February and our petition has, to date, exceeded 15,000 signatures and is still growing in number. It is available to download from The Big Debate.

With more legislation undoubtedly in the pipeline, spurred on by the Anti-smoking zealots, who will not be satisfied until smokers are outlawed from all public places, including outside areas, the time has come to say “enough is enough” and we are now engaged in raising financial support throughout the affected industries, to apply for a legal Judicial Review to challenge the Government.

A Judicial Review such as this will be very costly and this site has been launched, not only to bring together like minded pro-choice individuals, but also as a vehicle to raise sufficient funds to make the challenge. Our members have already personallly donated several thousand pounds for the initial consultation stage with solicitors but we need to raise much more to cover the costs of legal representation.

FOR THIS WE NEED YOUR HELP.

We are not seeking a membership fee to join this site, but just hope that those who feel strongly enough to join us in this fight, will make a voluntary donation to the campaign as without sufficiant funds, with the best will in the world, and all the evidence we have uncovered in the past months, we will not be able to make the challenge.

To the best of our knowledge, there is no other challenge being made on the British Government and so the success of our campaign is our only hope.

Once a member, you will be able to access the Judicial Review noticeboard and keep up to date with progress, both legally and financially. Full details of our acting solicitor and barrister can be accessed by members. Please remember that we are not seeking to fully overturn the ban - we merely wish to amend it in order to include the provision for ventilation and air filtration - it works - we can prove it works - the Government, on advice of the Anti-Smoking lobbyists just chose not to listen to how it works.

They had their choice and in making it they have taken away that Freedom To Choose from millions of others.

If every smoker, tolerant non-smoker and libertarian donated as little as £1.00 or if every pub and club who will be adversely effected by the ban were to hold just one fund raising night, and raised as little as £50.00 each, we would have all we need within a week!! This would enable us to stave off the ugly precedent this legislation contains for further erosions of personal liberties in the future.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/The_Big_Debate/