proposed letter to Andy Burnham, Shadow Health Secretary

[remnant]

(I posted this earlier on UKVapers, and I'm reposting it here to solicit comments and criticisms before I send it out into the world. I wrote it as the realisation dawned - call me slow, I can take it - that it is the Labour party, of all people, and their allies in the EU, who are pushing the anti- e-cig agenda.)

Guys, I've just drafted an email which I'm planning to address to Andy Burnham, Shadow Health Secretary, cc'd to my MP, the various London MEPs and possibly others. I'm open to suggestions. I'm posting it here first, because I'd welcome comments. Is my reasoning okay? Do you think the tone is right? Have I missed anything vital? That sort of thing. Please forgive the length, but that's just how long it is.
It goes like this:

Dear Andy,
I am writing to urge you to oppose any moves to restrict the sale of electronic cigarette products in the European Union.
At the end of January, I moved to an e-cigarette, after nearly forty years of smoking. I didn't have any particular intention to give up smoking - if I had considered it at that point, I would have said that would be rather too much to expect - and yet after only three days, I was as certain as I can be that I would never smoke tobacco again. Six months later, I have not so much as touched tobacco products, and I have had no desire for them. I actually recoil from the smell of passing tobacco smokers in the street. This transformation is astonishing to me.
I am about to upgrade from the high street variety, cigarette shaped device with pre-filled cartomisers, to one which allows me greater control of my nicotine consumption. The greatest difficulty with this transition is that such devices are not widely available in shops at present, particularly here in London, so I have to buy my equipment and supplies online. This is not ideal, but I will cope. My intention going forward is to gradually reduce the nicotine levels in the juice; if I get it down to zero, all well and good. If I don't - even if I don't manage any significant reduction at all - that is okay with me, because by vaping rather than smoking, I have already escaped from a habit that may well have killed me, to one whose harm level is more comparable with drinking coffee. Whether or not I reduce my nicotine consumption is a very minor and very personal consideration.
I had no "help" giving up tobacco, beyond the simple availability of a product which allowed me do it, in my own way, on my own terms. I did not need to call on NHS resources. E-cigs are an exciting and revolutionary solution to a public health problem, but they are not medicine, and they should not be restricted as though they were. Nor are they "tobacco products", to be vilified along with the very problem they exist to solve.
I feel very strongly that any regulation or medicalisation of vaping which causes e-cigs to become less available to help smokers and vapers take control of their relationship with nicotine would be a disastrous and counter-productive step. Existing consumer protections are quite sufficient. By all means restrict the sale of e-cigs to those who are legally allowed to buy tobacco. By all means prosecute manufacturers of e-cig products which are not fit for purpose, but please, do NOT make it more difficult to obtain e-cigs, devices and supplies than it is to buy a pack of cigarettes. Millions of lives are at stake.
Yours etc.

[Karma]

I think that's a very well thought out letter, stating things from your own personal viewpoint, well done

[monty]

Like your letter, it will be interesting to read the response. In my opinion Labour MPs involved with the legislation have already taken big P's dollar (promise of a lucrative board room position on leaving politics or whatever). Even if I'm right that shouldn't deter you from writing. Good luck and thanks from us all for making the effort.

[giles]

Great letter. Only things I can think of to consider adding are that if you are willing & near enough to his constituency or London you could offer to meet him; and maybe ask him to convey your views to the relevant labour party MEPs.

[remnant]

Aug 3, 2013 13:41:48 GMT monty said:

Like your letter, it will be interesting to read the response. In my opinion Labour MPs involved with the legislation have already taken big P's dollar (promise of a lucrative board room position on leaving politics or whatever). Even if I'm right that shouldn't deter you from writing. Good luck and thanks from us all for making the effort.

Well, yes, I fear you may be right, but I am of a mind to write the letter, rather than not write the letter. I must admit, I'm one of those odd people who found the Labour party unsupportably right wing even *before* Tony Blair took it to hell, and it's been a long time since I engaged with politics. I don't think I'd even signed a petition in, oooh, twenty years, until this one came up on my radar. Vaping is changing me in some very unexpected ways. What is happening to me?