Serves smokers right? Not a smoker, so it doesn't effect you?
Just a way for Government to make even more money?

Please, people, wake up: The licence, if it goes through, will generate a central registry. All smokers will be registered. The logical next step will be to exclude registered smokers at least partly from health care, because they brought their diseases onto themselves. Never mind that they pay for the health care with their taxes, just like non-smokers do.

And then - what next? Easy: Have every smoker wear a sign on their outer clothes. For their own protection, of course. It's been done before, hasn't it? Now, Prof. le Grand, if you're already thinking of a design, here's a hint: Yellow stars and pink triangles have been used in the past.

We all now what came after that - and if you don't, then look into a history book. Do you want that kind of state? I think not.

M. Langer, Troisdorf, Germany

I'm a fervent anti-smoker, but I think this is a terrible idea. Imagine the risk it would expose GPs to, if they give the OK for a patient to smoke, then that patient suffers a health crisis that can be attributed to smoking? Think of the lawsuits. I imagine that if this is passed, most GPs, either from a sense of self-preservation or to honour their own moral values, would have a policy of not signing *any* smoking permits.

Natalie Anne Lanoville, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Serves smokers right- ha ha ha :)

Walter, Browbridge,

oh dear another disapointment from "new labour"voters,
last weeks was saying people in council houses must look for a job,(well at least those who dont have one).
bet they thought only those nasty old tories would do such things!

ken, shrewsbury, shopshire

Lets check what people spend there money on, a local group of good people who can stop you doing anything they dont like the look of. Could be used to stop crime, political sweetners and excessive pay for the fiddlers. A licence to use money while your at it.
Where will it stop.
Paternal state, what a joke.
Only as long as they rake in the money.

Flintlock, Bracknell, Berkshire

What i load hogwash another stealth tax Labour out Labour out , just wait the ballot box will have its day and keep the Con's out as well, remember the Poll Tax ???

Barry, Stevenage, Herts

Why cant some scientist come up with an alternative cigarette, as where by the smoker gets all the desired effects but with no risk of any disease to themself or others.

If this £10 stealth Tax ever got in I would happily riot for my freedom, its a shame that Guy wasn't successful.

Darren, Bristol,

In response to Roger T.

I specialise in PSM. You obviously have no club about the real costs of the NHS Vs the revenue from smoking. I assure you there is a vast difference.

Dr Ponlin, London,

yeah, of course this will work, if cancer won't put people off smoking, a tenner will do, genius.

cooper, Grimsby , England

My husband doesn't smoke but often buys my cigarettes for me, does he have to have a non smokers licence to buy a smoker some cigarettes ??

Patricia Smith, Lincoln, United kingdom

a perfect scenario for massive production of counterfeit cards.

Oh dear and I voted for this government. It seems we never learn from the history of socialism and their need to intrude on our lives. Especially when the government appears to be in it's dying days, having been in power far too long now and having nothing better to do, like paying OAP's more, or things that really count for something.
The true blues beckon in 2010.

phil, northampton, northamptonshire

This stalinist dictorial government hasnt got long left, they havnt got a cat in hells chance of being voted in again. All they know is ban this ban that, they want the state to own your body when you die and whilst you live they want every detail about you stored on data bases that grow legs and walk. I am not a smoker but if I was I would be furious at this suggestion. What I am interested to know is which party 25 million smokers will opt for at the next election

Charlie, Derby,

Thank you Mr Le Grand for admitting that passive smoking does not kill. Also, the number of smokers in the UK has been decreasing every year, but making people buy a licence will stop people from giving up, as they will have a licence to deter them

chas, suffolk, england

This is just typical of the Labour government these days. Not content to try and run the country and sort out the many problems that already exist, every week it seems we get some hair brained scheme to foist another new tax on us, as if we didn't have enough already.

I see their infatuation with getting peoples photographs on shiny wee cards hasn't subsided any either, one which will no doubt contain your health records as well.

R MacMillan, Ayrshire,

This could happen. I mean if they can seriously consider changing the law so possession of drug less harmful than tobacco (cannabis) is punishable by a 5 year jail sentence then they can get away with doing this.

Just wait till they classify tobacco as a class B drug, then smokers will really know what persecution means.

I hate Labour, they're authoritarian and dictatorial. The Tories aren't any better though.

David, Aberdeen,

This sounds to me like just another group trying to justify their wages. They should be looking at a better way to make products that would ease the withdrawl much cheaper for everyone who wants them, and better.

Also, this idea does not mention how much it would cost to run, how much an appeals system would cost, and what a smoker would do if their license from one year is not replaced by slow departments before their present one ran out? Would the smoker be breaking the law because of anothers fault? And what about the store keepers, can they afford the time to check every singel person every time the buy products.

I wonder what the next think tank will come up with.

Peter Sims, coventry,

My father always said it's the easiest thing in the world to give up cigarettes he did it every Monday, the truth of the matter is most people want to give it up but can't and it the licence is anything like other government schemes if will have to rise because of admin costs.

John Lawson, Doncaster, West yorkshire

More tyranny from the Fascist Left.

John, London,

Another unworkable idea by this government.
Its reported that the £10 will go to the NHS-Hmmmm think not!
It will go to the government coffers probably help to pay for the
2012 olympic games.which some people don't want.
So if you are a visitor to the country from abroad and you smoke it will drive away visitors.
I just get the impression that the current government are running out of ideas and want to loose the next general election.

Allan P, Stafford, Staffordshire

The figure of 25 million smokers seems very high for the population of the UK. Are you sure this is correct?

Richard, Cardiff, UK

Yet another rule/law we could be looking at. I get the feeling we are living in a kind of dictatorship these days. maybe not a government lead by one person. Although we as a population sure dont seem to have that many rights over what goes on anymore. We are all told what to do by a bunch of people that call themselves a democratic government! I'm 33 years old and dont think i can remember any democracy. Just rule after rule after rule. WE ARE EVER SEEMINGLY IN A DICTATORSHIP IMO!

W Smith, Dereham, norfolk

what next a on the spot fine for breaking wind

knight, aberdeen, UK

Is there no end to the different ways that the Robber Barons who masquerade as our government will use to extort money?

Mike Poulsen, Reading, Berkshire

well I am a smoker and could not believe this story a permit to buy cigarettes this is bound to work, what about a permit to walk to the shops to so you can buy them as a smoker I am now forced to smoke outside in all weather, so a question for all the politicians
why not go the full hog and BAN THE SALE OF CIGARETTES
I think not as the loss of revenue from tax would be too great unless those in power come up with another idea to tax people, perhaps a tax on oxygen just think how much our politicians would have to pay, this may make them think twice about talking rubbish Yours a disgruntled voter

J Stevens, bishop auckland, County durham

Potty!

Bill J, Telford,

This is all well and good, and as a none smoker, it does not affect me. I have one question though and that is, where is the government going to get the revenue from if everyone stops smoking? Forget all the rubbish about smokers costing the NHS millions because they contribute far more in taxes than they cost the health service.

Roger T, Nottingham, UK