Small-screen celebrity Stacey Solomon has ‘sparked outrage’ after photographs showing her smoking in an alleyway outside work were published in the Sunday People. Stacey is seven-months pregnant.
But who, here, is actually outraged?
Clearly, the health lobby, which gets paid for it, and the mainstream news media, Nanny’s useful mouthpiece. After all, the timing couldn’t be better. But, judging by the responses to ‘shocking’ articles like this, the vast majority of ordinary people are simply not buying into the hysteria.
For many decades, doctors have advised women NOT to suddenly stop smoking during pregnancy, but instead to cut down. Indeed, Stacey says this was what her own doctor recommended. It’s a policy that recognises the stress and potential harm that any sudden change in habit can cause.
The smoking ban has put women like Stacey out on the streets, to be snapped by opportunist photographers and offered up for public ridicule. How uplifting, then, to find that the public aren’t biting. Most people are kind and decent, and have a greater sense of proportion than the ‘experts’ who want to change our behaviour.
Their response sends a clear message to the health lobby, and the message is, ‘Leave her alone!’.