"Up in smoke"

by Athole Murray Fleming

Devolution and the Scottish Parliament mean many things to many people. There are the usual moaners who complain about its very existence and others who are willing (after 300 years) to allow it time to settle in, say for the next 10 years or so...because that is how long these things can take.

But if there is one single issue that has justified the Parliaments very being, then it is the complete ban on smoking in all public buildings from March 2006.

"Wha's like is, damn few....an' there a' deid".

Not a great legacy to leave our children as the sick nation of Europe is it?

That is why every single one of us should stand behind our political leaders in Scotland on this matter...come the 26th of March...good riddance to the so called social smoker.

This small country of ours for too long has dragged it heavy feet behind its masters in London and Brussels. Now we have made probably the biggest and boldest step in attacking our shameful record of ill health at one stroke (no pun intended).

So we are too small to stand up for ourselves are we? I don't think so.

Politicians of all parties are used to getting it in the neck from a sceptical and often self-doubting public, however, with this complete ban on smoking in the workplace and enclosed public spaces, they deserve all the credit when you consider that England has made a complete mess of it....thanks to a Scot!

Well done Holyrood, and good luck to every reader who will now have the chance to really give up fags for good.

End of sermon from a reformed heavy smoker (now stopped for over 8years).