Re-christen cigarettes cancerettes?

A UK clergyman has launched a new front in the war on smoking – by suggesting that cigarettes are renamed cancerettes, according to a story in the Coastal Scene newspaper.

The Rev Charles Mugleston, from Witnesham in the county of Suffolk, has launched a petition on the 10 Downing Street website and could have the issue debated in parliament if he gets 100,000 signatures within the next year.

“Having recently taken a burial service for a very fine man whose body was destroyed by lung cancer and seeing his wife, children and friends devastated – suffering much agony which could have been averted – I reflected on the situation,” he was quoted as saying.

“I came up with an idea which may help lessen the 100,000 – Statistic from Cancer Research UK – people who die every year in this country because of tobacco inhalation leading to lung cancer.

“The idea is very simple, and hopefully will prove effective. It is simply to rename cigarettes cancerettes – in the hope that it will make people think twice before they light up.”

Mugleston accepted that there was a steep hill to climb before he could get the petition debated – but hoped that the case would be taken up by smoking charities.