Hockney 'Smoking'

The Yorkshire artist David Hockney is in Brighton today to rail against the "dreary" Labour politicians who want to ban smoking in all public places. Hockney called Julie Morgan, the Welsh Labour MP who is heading the government initiative, "too bossy" and "absolutely dreary", describing the planned ban as "ridiculous". "Death awaits you whether you smoke or not. Pubs are not health clubs. People go to drown their sorrows," he said. The Government hopes to ban smoking in workplaces, cafes, and pubs and bars which serve food in England by 2008 and a report is due soon based on a public consultation on smoking in public. Hockney, who was the only living British artist to make the shortlist in a BBC poll of the nation’s favourite painting, said in a statement released by Forest ahead of the meeting: "Smoking calms me down. It’s enjoyable. I don’t want politicians deciding what is exciting in my life." For the full story - click the title Irish Art