A double standard in England. Go figure.

Great Britain's imperious, heavy-handed government decreed in 2006 that all workplaces and enclosed public spaces in that country were henceforth to be non-smoking, despite a great outcry from those who wished to engage in that lawful activity in places that welcomed such patrons, such as certain pubs, private clubs, etc. Nope, said the government - we've set the policy, and all must comply.

Except for the government itself , at least in regards to accommodating foreign world leaders, as Britain's august rulers, dominated by Labour Party nanny-state liberals, seem to have "amended" the law to allow smoking rooms for the G20 economic summit being held there in April, although apparently no one can find out for sure:

"It is believed that laws have been changed to get around the smoking ban and provide specialist rooms that the visiting dignitaries can use."

Notice that the paper can postulate only that "it is believed" the laws were altered, and elsewhere in the article we're also helpfully informed that "It is not clear which Government department has amended the law for the venue".

What a country they live in, when the local press watchdogs can't even find out for sure what new laws are in place or if and when the existing ones were changed, and just who the heck in charge did the changing or adding.

I guess the message England's rulers want people to take away from this action is that the idiot citizens over there can't be trusted to be able to decide for themselves whether they wish to expose themselves to such legal substances, but high-ranking dignitaries from other countries are to be accorded that privilege, even though it's flatly denied to the common peasant, because of the muckety-mucks' exalted and "special" status, of course.

"Conservative MP Anne Widdecombe said: 'It's one law for one, and one for another, and I think that sums up this Government.'"

Yep, Ms. Widdecombe has hit that one right on the mark, unfortunately for those who live there and have to put up with that double standard.