You see, by cleverly cherry-picking his figures, loading the scales with absurd imaginary costs while simultaneously ignoring very tangible financial benefits, he managed to 'prove' that each cigarette smoked cost the country 6.5p.
The fact that he is a rancid, obsessive anti-smoker on personal terms with the board of ASH had, of course, nothing to do with his torturing of data.
Henry Featherstone (left) at the ASH AGM top table
He posted his strange - and seriously pathetic - rubbish on Conservative Home, where it was promptly rubbished. The same treatment followed from the IEA, the Telegraph, and Alex Massie at the Speccie.
I comprehensively explained at the time precisely why his calculations were little better than those of a nose-picking 10 year old, and suspiciously like an advert for Champix/Varenicline and Pfizer who manufacture it. Do go read it for a refresher (but then I would say that, wouldn't I?).
Most of the MSM and, significantly, the BBC avoided his report like the plague for fear of their reputation being tarnished by its inherent laughable naivety and bias.
However, the supposedly esteemed Faculty of Public Health are apparently quite happy to regurgitate such wishful bullshit in their latest members' magazine [PDF page 20].
The figures haven't changed, he still ignores savings on pensions, still reiterates sunk costs such as street cleaning, still hasn't tidied up the massive over-exaggeration of loss to GDP (apparently, Henry believes that smokers earn, on average, £725,000 per annum), is still unaware of the existence of the insurance industry, and still attaches no value on the enjoyment that renders smokers happy to pay a premium on their supplies, a general 'given' amongst free marketeers, surely.
No-one in their right mind would give an airing to this incontrovertibly nonsensical trash, yet the self-described "standard setting body for specialists in public health" proudly nail their colours to Henry's standards-vaccuumed, addle-brained mast.
Moon-howlers all, quite obviously. And certainly not worth being taken seriously, eh?
Well, not really, no. 'Cos, you see, Henry's wibbling lunacy isn't any reason for him not to be installed as a Chair of two Tory Conference fringe meetings tomorrow [PDF].
What Information Do Patients Want?While the Tories attempt to position themselves as cheerleaders for change and liberty, this odious, innumerate, tobacco control sock-puppet is welcomed to the fringe - and possibly conference itself - at the right hand of Andrew Lansley. Yet we're supposed to believe that the Tories are so very different to the last bunch of evidence-bastardising control freaks.
10.00, Tuesday 5th October
Room 101, The Jury's Inn Hotel, 245 Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2HQ
Speakers:
· (CHAIR) Henry Featherstone, Head of the Health Unit, Policy Exchange
· Rt. Hon. Andrew Lansley CBE MP, Secretary of State for Health (Invited)
· Tim Kelsey, Senior Expert, McKinsey and Company
· Kieran Mullan, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, The Patients Association
Olympic Health Legacy: Fitter Or Fatter?
14.30, Tuesday 5th October
Room 101, The Jury's Inn Hotel, 245 Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2HQ
Speakers:
· (CHAIR) Henry Featherstone, Head of the Health Unit, Policy Exchange
· Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (Invited)
· Professor Lindsey Davies, President, The Faculty of Public Health
· Christine Hancock, Director, C3 Collaborating for Health
Hmmm. I dunno about you, but Henry's prominent presence really doesn't inspire much confidence, does it?
